The Winnipeg Free Press in Canada, has opened a news café in the city centre where some of its multi-media employees now work permanently. The paper aims to create an environment which allows the public direct engagement and dialogue with the newspaper including its journalists and editors. The paper also organises on-site Q&A sessions with cafe guests. This interesting jump for the paper has created plenty of content for their social media activity and helped attract a more younger demographic.
Source: www.springwise.com
Inc.com and Architizer teamed up to present the World's Coolest Offices and although Missing Link, based in Johannesburg did not take first prize... for us this is the winner. They have introduced graffiti throughout the office to create a relaxed urban feel and used furniture in an offbeat way (such as a bathtub as a reception desk) to carry across their non-traditional creative personality. The office also includes a treehouse, tattoo parlour, firing range (to help staff eliminate stress) and a fireman's pole. This is just awesome and so inspiring! Click to see all the other finalists.
Hotel Kakslauttanen located in the Saariselka area of Finland, in all its Lapland glory, offers tourists the most incredible accommodation in the form of glass igloos. These totally unique rooms offers the best views of the Northern Lights of the Arctic Circle and the hotel also claims to have the world's largest smoke sauna.
Aershot Pure Energy delivers an airborne shot of instant energy. Each shot contains 100mg of caffeine, equivalent to a large cup of coffee. Users puff in a fine powder that instantly dissolves in the mouth. Each Aeroshot contains 6-8 puffs. Aershot is hitting stores in NYC and Boston in 3 months but visit their site to register for a sample!
Having visited Top Drawer, a retail buyer trade show in London it was impressive to see so many cool products to tempt retailers. On the love list was Scottish-based Claire McVinnie's quirky, vintage print bird clocks. They were totally original and just gorgeous. They retail for £34 through her own online store and also available through other retailers too. Visit www.clairemcvinnie.com to see more cool products.
Cyber Clean, a silly-putty-like slime that blots out the muck from every crevice of your keyboards with a grime-slapping antibacterial action. While compressed-air sprays and tiny brushes will just move the dirt around in your keyboards, telephones and other electrical gadgets, this devilish ooze will splurge into every tiny corner, swallow up dead skin, hair and food and absorb it back into itself. Because it's made from an unique antibacterial formula, the dirt is actually neutralised and sanitised while it's inside the putty - up to 80% of all germs can be destroyed in this way. Cyber Clean is available through Firebox and costs just £7.99.
The Uglydoll brand is very distinctive and if you get a chance to hear how the company began then visit their website, it is very romantic. We have spotted this very colourful cookie jar which would look good in any kitchen that has a sense of humour!
TUMTUM is an innovative UK company that offers a range of well-thought out tableware and cutlery for kids that make eating times so much easier for parents. Designed by parents the products are a result of totally fresh thinking that address common everyday problems such as food landing on the floor, kids chasing their dinner around the plate and general frustration from both parents and kids. We love all the products which we also should mention are bright, stylish and affordable. The trainee egg set is so clever with the egg cup built-in to the plate and the cutlery is longer and easier to use for kids. The curved plate with corners provides stopping points for difficult foods such as peas and overall the company has brought to the marketplace products which are not simply scaled down versions of adult tableware but products that are designed from start to finish with children in mind.
www.tumtumtots.com
nails inc, London has introduced their Magnetic Attraction series which allows the user to create stunning 3D patterns using a unique magnetised cap. Once the nail polish (containing magnetic particulars) is applied, passing the magnetized cap over the nails produces the 3D zebra-print effect. The series comes in silver, gold and purple (each names after famous London landmarks 'Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament) and costs £13 for each. In addition £1 from every sale is donated to the Princes Trust.
The Kitchen Bull from Australian business Toro Legno combines unique, playful design with practicality. Designed in the shape of a bull, with cute little horns the Kitchen Bull combines a miniature bookcase, knife holder and chopping board and we think it is a great piece to have in any kitchen.
