What is it about the holiday season that gets us to pause and think about the things that we are thankful for? Maybe it’s that special time with family/friends, maybe it’s that desire for a feel-good moment or maybe it’s a reflection of our own life blessings.

Merriam-Webster gives the following definition for thankful:

1. conscious of benefit received
2. expressive of thanks
3. well pleased

Last Sunday’s Star Tribune featured an article on giving thanks and helping. It reminded us that it is our responsibility, as members of the community, to help our neighbors who may be going hungry. We have all heard the stats on the record number of Minnesotans that are out of work and how this unemployment affects families. The Tribune reports that one in ten of our friends and neighbors (many are children) will go hungry this holiday season. One in ten – that’s heart breaking.

Twin Cities food shelves are feeling the pinch: the demand is up, donations are down and budgets for government agencies have been cut. The good news is you can help by volunteering at your local food shelf, donating food items that they need this holiday season and/or by making a financial donation.

Feeling truly thankful, Curb-Crowser wanted to take action and get in front of the holiday need, by making a $500 donation to the Hanover Food Shelf. Throughout the year Curb-Crowser has supported and given back to our community, by helping a variety of causes among them, Police and Fire Departments, Teens Alone, Special Olympics, Education, Animal Shelters, Cross Food Shelf and U.S. Military Veterans. We’ve also helped in the fight against diseases like MS, Cancer and Crohn’s.

This year, we would encourage each of you to find an organization near and dear to your heart and support them with your time and/or donation. We welcome you to come back and share your thoughts on thankfulness and the organizations you support.

Recently someone posted a clipping from CH!CKS magazine in our office kitchen. It compared communication styles of women and men:

click image to enlarge

Truth is men and women are different. But you didn’t need a magazine or me to tell you that. Curb-Crowser is a retail creative group. We are always looking at insights that apply to retail customers and shopping behaviors.

Martia Barletta, author of Marketing to Women, points out that men and women make purchase decisions differently:
•    Men want quick minimal information
•    Men are more likely to purchase on impulse
•    Women want more information
•    Women are more likely to consider several products several times before deciding to purchase

Industry pubs, like Shopper Marketing, are taking a closer look at how women and men shop differently. Below are some key takeaways from the October and November issues:

Women account for 85% of consumer spending in the U.S. Women also care about the total shopping experience – from the parking lot  (ease of parking, cleanliness) to the color pallet and mood inside the store.  Women respond to the messaging and how it relates to the things she cares about (value, family, community, earth-friendly).

Men are becoming more and more the retail decision-maker. When shopping they are looking for more grab-and-go items, they want to easily navigate the store and they want to be able to touch the products.  With the economic changes value has become more important to them.  Men are less focused on the experience. Many of them do not enjoy spending time at the store.  The key is to convince them that they will save time and money without sacrificing quality.

The challenge becomes finding that perfect balance of creative that attracts and moves products off the shelf.

With the line between the computer world and the real world becoming ever so blurred I found this project by Eric Testroete quite interesting. Not only did his process lend itself to a new world (3D imaging) meets old world (papercraft) quality, but the resulting images leave the viewer wondering whether the head is real or a computer simulated effect.

Check out his process:
http://testroete.com/index.php?location=head

Great packaging and awesome cause.

http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2008/12/project-7—7-a.html

“Project 7, a consumer goods company passionate about social change and dedicated to addressing the seven most critical areas of need in the world today, as determined by Project 7 – Build the Future, Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Help those in Need, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, and Save the Planet.

http://www.tixinda.com.mx/ingles.html

Fusion of Urban Ethnic art with design.

Very cool and awesome illustrations. Looks like they have done stuff for Nike.

Unfortunately you can’t order any of the items yet. I will be back, I love all their stuff.