October 2007 - French | West

The Zonbu is what’s new in environmentally responsible computing. Ready to go out of the box, with nothing to install, the Zonbu works solely off of a broadband connection. Comparable to the Mac Mini in size, the Zonbu starts at $99. The Zonbu uses just one-tenth of the power of a typical desktop computer, saving electricity and reducing CO2 emissions. At just over two pounds, the Zonbu consumes at least four times fewer chemicals and fossil fuels during manufacturing than conventional desktop PCs, and it’s 100% recyclable.

TheFindGreen is the newest go-to site for locating eco-friendly products online. TheFindGreen brings together more than 300,000 products from over 1,200 stores, making it easy to shop for and compare products from environmentally friendly, organic brands and green stores, all in one place. TheFindGreen is the newest addition to the family of TheFind shopping sites.
According to a recently released NPD Group study, purchasing environmentally friendly home products becomes more important to consumers as they get older. Four out of five consumers, aged 55 and older, rated eco-friendliness as important in their purchase choices of major appliances. However, prices continue to be an important factor in purchase decisions for home goods. Sixty-two percent of respondents said they want to purchase green products, but are unwilling to pay a higher price for them.

YoZone by YoNaturals is a vending machine dedicated solely to organic products. YoNaturals offers an alternative to the typical vending machine, with more than 150 natural and organic foods and beverages to choose from, including fresh fruit, Tazo tea, Clif energy bars, Vitamin water and Stacy’s pita chips, among many others. Owners and operators select vending items, place orders through an online ordering system and have products delivered and re-stocked in less than three days. YoNaturals is actively seeking locations, for placement of YoZone machines, where they can cater to consumers on the go who are interested in healthier food options. According to the USDA, sales of organic foods in the U.S. have increased 20 to 25 percent annually since 1990.

Consumers who want to experience the ultimate in customization can now have a signature scent created based on their DNA. With over 30,000 fragrance brands on the market, consumers are increasingly looking for an exclusive scent to call their own. Customers submit a swab of their saliva to My DNA Fragrance via mail and receive their custom fragrance within 7-10 business days. Customers’ DNA codes are kept on file for future orders.

Nike recently unveiled a sneaker just for American Indians. Aimed at promoting fitness in a population with high obesity rates, the Air Native N7 is designed for the distinct foot shape of American Indians. The Air Native N7 features culturally specific designs, including sunrise and sunset patterns, feathers and stars. It will be distributed solely to American Indians, with tribal wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide purchasing the shoe at wholesale price ($42.80) and then passing it along to individuals, often at no cost. This is the first time Nike has designed a shoe for a specific race or ethnicity. All profits from the sale of the shoe will be reinvested in health programs for tribal lands.

A recent study by Teenage Research Unlimited discovered which of today’s athletes and musicians are most influential to teenage boys. 1,600 young men were surveyed on their top athlete and musician picks. Rankings are based on the “percentage of teens that are familiar with each performer and say that they like that person very much.”

Athletes: 1. Tony Hawk 2. LeBron James 3. Shaq 4. Peyton Manning

5. Dwayne Wade 6. LaDainian Tomlinson 7. Tiger Woods 8. Steve Nash

9. Reggie Bush 10. Vince Young 11. Carmelo Anthony

Musicians: 1. Nickelback 2. Red Hot Chili Peppers 3. Akon 4. Green Day

5. Eminem 6. T.I. 7. Hinder 8. 50 Cent 9. Three 6 Mafia 10. Usher 11. Nelly
IKEA’s new ad campaign is bringing new meaning to “home,” with TV commercials that do not feature any products. Instead, spots promote the value of a home, such as, “a place for love, for memories, laughter and sharing.” The Swedish retailer’s new brand-positioning campaign is a result of a survey in which 94 percent of Americans polled said “home is the most important place in the world.” The campaign includes TV spots, outdoor ads, a documentary film that profiles how seven American families live, and an opportunity for U.S. shoppers to be featured in a digital book shot by some of the nation’s top photographers called “America at Home.”

The Wall Street Journal plans to introduce a new monthly glossy magazine, called Pursuits, sometime early next year. The magazine will take the name of the leisure section called Pursuits, which was introduced with the Weekend Edition in September 2005 and was recently renamed "Weekend Journal."
Five years after DailyCandy.com started its national edition focused on kids, the publisher recently expanded the concept to five local markets, increasing its overall number of editions to 21. The localized weekly DailyCandy Kids now targets New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston with information on events, products, and services aimed at the “young-moms-with-money set.”

National Geographic Kids, the multi topic, photo-driven magazine for 6 to 14 year olds, debuted its first annual “Green Issue” this month. Cameron Diaz was the special guest editor, sharing her tips for eco-friendly living.