comScore down, Compete moderately up, and Quantcast is going through the roof. Which one will open up and start collaborating with other platforms (in a simple way)?
I’d be the first to sign up.
You may consider this as a confession of an addicted user.
It’s Friday, and I can’t help it but express my opinion about the multiplying Starbucks around downtown Montreal. Especially since the previous post is about Starbucks as well.
Ever since I came back from Japan I’ve been completely addicted to the nectar of gods brewed there. It all started in Tokyo because of a Starbucks right outside our hotel, it quickly became a daily ritual. Then a twice-a-day ritual, which is where it’s at now. Sometimes it’s more, but it’s rare. Fun fact: there are now 21 Starbucks locations in Montreal, compared to just a couple a few years ago.
So here’s the thing: all these locations are not all made equal. Here is the review, as a public service. From me to you, so to speak. In no particular order.
The one in Chapters on Ste-Catherine: Pretty good, but usually all-anglophone. I don’t know how to say “petit corsé” in English, so I end up always ordering in French. Service is good, but Chapters opens at 9AM. Not so convenient.
[rating:3.5]
The one in Cours Mont-Royal: Worst service ever. I’ve never seen anything worse than there, in any city in Canada or overseas. Slow, everyone always looks completely lost and depressed, not familiar with products. Overall bad vibe as well. Morning or evening, no change.
[rating:1.5]
The one in Place Montreal Trust: Pretty good, I would classify it as second best after the one on Ste-Catherine. Wait times are sometimes long because of all the traffic there, but it’s alright. There is a confrontational employee there (seen her engaged in verbal fights with customers at least three times), but she’s usually right so it’s OK.
[rating:4.5]
The one on Ste-Catherine: Best one in Montreal, as voted by me. Good vibe, good people, excellent staff, excellent location.
[rating:5]
The one in Bonaventure: Probably 2nd worst after Cours Mont-Royal. Long wait, clueless and depressed staff.
[rating:2]
That is all for now. If there’s some sort of a Starbucks detox I could go through, please let me know.
Starbucks Corp., the company that popularized the $4 cup of coffee, is testing a $1 cup and free refills of some of its offerings.
AMERICA’S favourite television presenter is paying a painful price for her intervention in the US presidential campaign last month. Oprah Winfrey has been dubbed a “traitor” by some of her female fans for supporting Barack Obama instead of Hillary Clinton.
Women turn on ‘traitor’ Oprah Winfrey for backing Barack Obama - Times Online
Appreciate the fact that you’ve considered knighting me, but no thanks.
Beer is a recession-proof industry.
2008 will be saved by Olympics and Politics. 2009 screwed.
Ad Industry Honchos on 2008 Ad Recession Outlook: Grim - Silicon Alley Insider
Inspired by Bubblegen
Most interesting news today: Rogers Media to sell WOM services under BzzAgent name in Canada.
Another great example of media behaving increasingly more like advertising agencies, because people are increasingly behaving more like media.
According to WPP’s Group M, the first country where Internet ad spend will surpass that of TV will be Sweden, and it will happen in… 2008. U.K and Denmark will follow. Interestingly enough, Swedish broadcast statistics institute MMS released a report in late 2007, stating that two out of five Swedes between the age of 16 and 30 regularly watch pirated TV shows. Unsurprisingly, Sweden is the also the country that gave us The Pirate Bay and features a very high percentage of population involved in filesharing.
A good write-up on the study, with all the details, was done by The Guardian here