Monthly Archives: January 2014

Innovation Goes to the Dogs?

Innovation Going to the Dogs?

In case you missed it, a team from Scandinavia thinks that they’ve nearly cracked no, not the human-computer interface, but the dog-computer interface, so that some day soon we might in fact be able to understand man’s best friend.

What does the dog say?

Well, this question begs another question, do we really care? Or do we really want to hear it all of the time?

They’ve launched an IndieGoGo campaign and have already exceeded their campaign funding goal, so I guess they’ll be moving their research and product development on to the next stage.

So, what do you think, if they push the product to the finish line, will it be an invention or an innovation?


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Starbucks Train Making Connections with Customers

Starbucks Train Making Connections with Customers

What happens in Switzerland if you forget to buy your latte or cappuccino before you get on the train?

Well, Starbucks has taken the next leap in connecting with customers as they make their rail connections, moving beyond retail locations in train stations across Europe to opening its first store on a Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) car, the national railway line for Switzerland.

Starbucks Train InteriorThe new Starbucks train café is one of the smallest the company has ever designed, and they have managed to include space for 50 people, baristas, a pastry case, standing bar, and a lounge area, all tastefully assembled into a two level train car.

This latest Starbucks retail twist may only be a test, and the first of its kind for the company, but it now officially puts them in planes, trains, and automobiles, and is a smart way to extend the customer relationship and maintain their connection with existing customers while also possibly building new ones in a captive audience situation.

It’s a smart move for Starbucks to test this format even if it fails like Amazon Tote.

Starbucks Train CustomersIt’s incredibly important for companies like Starbucks that sell daily indulgences to be in the places where people are looking to enjoy that little treat, and with the level of quality increasing (at least in the coffee experience) at competitors like Dunkin Donuts, McCafe, Caribou Coffee, and others, Starbucks has to do everything they can to reinforce their premium image and customer loyalty.

The questions every retailer (or business for that matter) must continuously ask themselves include:

1. What type of customer relationship do we have?
2. What type of relationship does the customer have with our product or service?
3. What products and services do we have our customers’ permission to provide?
4. Where do our customers want us to be?

If you have a copy of my popular five-star book Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire, you can dig into the ideas behind these questions more in Appendix A where I look at a number of different “Customer Relationship Types” and “Levels of Customer Permission” in an effort to help you maximize the customer relationship

If you are looking for additional opportunities to serve your customers, maintain existing customer loyalty, and to build new customer relationships, you might also want to check out Appendix B in Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire, where I get into my framework for visualizing the customer purchasing journey and my framework for visualizing the core business operations that support the customer purchasing journey.

And then when you’ve got some ideas that you want to possibly pursue, you might want to run them through The Innovation Baker’s Dozen framework in Appendix C.

There is a lot of great content hidden in the book in various places, which is why it has done so well, and this exploration of the new Starbucks Train is the perfect time to highlight some of the insights captured in the appendices.

So, ask yourself the four questions above, check out the appendices, think about what Starbucks has done with their espresso train and let me know what you come up with!

Here is the official video announcing the Starbucks and SBB collaboration on the Starbucks train experience:


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Please Take a Minute to Vote for Me as a Top 5 Innovation & Creativity Speaker

Vote Braden Kelley a Top 5 Innovation & Creativity SpeakerSpeaking.com is running their annual Top 5 Speaker Awards voting, and if you’ve heard me speak, enjoyed my book Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire, or enjoy all of the written content and video content that I bring to the innovation community, then I’d sure love your write-in vote in the Innovation/Creativity category.

And you might win $500 in the bargain!

Click here to vote

Just write in my name in the space provided (I don’t have a checkbox because they aren’t one of the speaker bureaus that represent me – yet) and scroll all the way to the bottom and fill in your FIRST NAME and EMAIL – and that’s it!

Easy as pie.

They are posting the winners January 21, 2014 so there is only ONE WEEK LEFT to vote.

Click here to vote

Thank you for your support!


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Start 2014 with an Innovation Catalyst Certification

Start 2014 with an Innovation Catalyst Certification

I’m a certified Innovation Catalyst. Are you?

Did you know you that for FREE between now and January 31, 2014 you could become certified as an Innovation Catalyst by the Global Innovation Management Institute as a special offer in preparation for the launch of four (4) full levels of innovation certification?

Four Innovation Certification LevelsThe FREE Innovation Catalyst certification is a subset of what will be offered as part of the Level 1 Certification (Innovation Associate), which people can prepare for by either:

  1. Self-study
  2. Attending a TWO DAY in-person training session conducted by an approved trainer
  3. Completing eLearning that I will be providing

The Level 1 Certification for Innovation Associates will be much more involved, but to give people a taste of what will be included the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) has created the FREE Innovation Catalyst certification, and because it is a subset of the Level 1 content, it will help you get off to a running start in the achievement of the other more detailed levels.

Earn the FREE Innovation Catalyst certification in FOUR EASY STEPS:
(Sorry, the free BETA period expired January 31, 2014)

Udemy Innovation Catalyst Certification CourseSTEP ONE: Register for the FREE Innovation Catalyst certification

STEP TWO: Download and print out the study guide

STEP THREE: Enroll in and complete the FREE Innovation Catalyst eLearning

STEP FOUR: Study and take the test!

Start the new year with a bang and join me as a certified Innovation Catalyst!

Register now for the FREE Innovation Catalyst certification Signup now for the FREE Innovation Catalyst certification eLearning

Sorry, this offer expired January 31, 2014


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