Sarah Wilson wrote an intriguing column in the Sunday Life magazine on the weekend. Making observations and referencing a trend feature the New York Times recently published, she undertook an experiment to connect with strangers. The end result? She felt “thoroughly uplifted”, having shared moments of intimacy and putting herself in potentially (socially) risky situations.

Through divulging information with strangers, we’re sharing, yes. I wonder though, does this not sometimes mimic the nature of sharing in the digital space?

• Hayley
• DATE: 28 April, 2010  |  COMMENTS: 0

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Congrats to DDB, June Laffey, for the new Golden Crumpets TVCs. As a mum of two boys, I can recall so many of these cracker moments that will never leave me. But where is the community? The microsite where I can share my own moments and have a laugh with other mums when I am feeling a little down?

• Jane
• DATE: 27 April, 2010  |  COMMENTS: 5

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I’ve just joined Sister as Head of Digital Engagement and I am super excited to be part of an agency devoted to capturing the attention of women. And for the men out there it isn’t just about stereotypical women’s products like tampons, laundry detergent, and nappies… it is also about bringing a woman’s touch to brands that are mostly in the male domain… imagine if those products suddenly had a new audience, what a difference that would make to the end of year profit figure…yet these brands ignore an audience that makes 80% of the household decisions about purchases.

• Claire
• DATE: 27 April, 2010  |  COMMENTS: 0

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Sitting in on a research group recently (with mass market women: 40+ CDE), I was shocked by the massive leap in the way the women were articulating visuals.

Five years ago, the same group would have struggled to explain why they did or did not like the cover of magazine or a page layout. But today, they are talking like leading graphic designers. Verbatims included, “I don’t mind that font”, “I think her skin tone is a bit dull”, and “yes, those muted colours look good”.

• Jane
• DATE: 26 April, 2010  |  COMMENTS: 0

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We loved the DINKs, the SINKs, and we now welcome the PANKs: Professional Aunts No Children. I think Holly Buchanan coined this phrase, although it’s often hard to know where these acronyms come from. But yes, more and more women are choosing not to have children:

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 1999) figures estimate that 28% of Australian women currently of childbearing age will not have children, up from approximately 10% in the early 1970s

…or are delaying having children: 62% of Gen Y will delay having kids; 49% of Gen Y say their career is more important (Schering and Plough, 2007).

• Jane
• DATE: 26 April, 2010  |  COMMENTS: 1

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I am not a normal person! If I could do absolutely all my shopping online I would. And it goes without saying that I most certainly try, even more so now that I have two small fry and the idea of dragging them around shops let alone a supermarket does my head in. But since moving back from the UK I have found that my online purchases have taken a significant dive. I no longer buy 12 pairs of shoes from Asos.com and return 10 pairs, I no longer buy books and baby products galore from Amazon.co.uk, and I am surprised I have preserved with shopping for my groceries with Woolworths online because as an online shopper I feel no more valued as a customer than a beggar outside one of their supermarket entrances (not that beggars really exist in Australia either – but you get the point!).

• Claire
• DATE: 26 April, 2010  |  COMMENTS: 2

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I’m noticing a dramatic increase in the number of my friends purchasing iPhones, particularly over the last 6 weeks.

After checking back on the most recent sales figures of Apple’s iPhone (as well as a dramatic improvement in Apple’s share price), there are no surprises around the fact that sales of the iPhone are skyrocketing: up 131% in the same quarter YOY.

• Hayley
• DATE: 25 April, 2010  |  COMMENTS: 0

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