The news can be so damn depressing sometimes. It’s been so lately with all the droning on about the economy. But if you get your “news” from other sources, like Springwise, an entirely different world begins to come into focus. In this world, bright people are working on interesting things.
While headlines in 2008 focused on failing markets, foreclosures and fear of worse to come, our network of 8,000+ Springspotters had no trouble finding bright new business ideas as they continued to pop up around the globe.
In the marketing & advertising category, Springwise lists 10 ideas, each of which is deserving of it’s own post (which Sprinqwise kindly provides, follow the links below). That’s how nourishing this gumbo is.
- Tennent’s Mutual — Prefunded, crowdmanaged music festival
- Matter — New spin on direct mail: a box of matter
- SOOPZ — Food blogger turned intermediary & purveyor
- Mindstorm’s iBar — Interactive touch bar combines drinks, ads & games
- IKEA — A nap hotel in a Stockholm mall
- Steelcase’s Workspring — Meeting space doubles as product testing ground
- Northland Professional — Billboards give away free love
- Pomme Bébé — Tasting bar for babies serves up tryvertising for tykes
- PlaceVine — Site connects advertisers with content producers
- Ecocabs — Pedal-powered taxis deliver free love
I haven’t had a chance to read up on all 10 here, but I did click through to Workspring.com, which is a brand-sponsored coworking space in downtown Chicago. I’m impressed, for it’s a brilliant experiential marketing idea for Steelcase, which furnished the space with its offerings. It might not be advertising, but it’s Brand Building 801.