Peep would like to thank Jan Chipchase for his inspiring talk at last week’s Good Ideas Salon. We certainly left impressed and inspired. Who else could cohesively tie together loan sharks, shanty towns, KFC and graffiti – to name just a few of our favorite examples from Jan’s presentation.

The east and west coast technorati showed up en masse at the recent IAB Social Media Conference in New York’s Roosevelt Hotel. From Facebook to Kraft and the social web’s premier designers, programmers and analysts – this audience was engaged and tweeting about thoughts all day. Best practices were unveiled, branded examples were shared, myths were debunked and most of all- the audience’s fears and hesitations were assuaged by normalizing this emerging yet already highly populated and lucrative space. The underlining call to action was to get your brand out there now to listen, test and to learn. Peep listened, [...]

Amid much fanfare, Art We Love launched its free-access site during New York’s massive Armory Arts Week. After a year of members-only access, now anyone can use the site to explore and discover the global contemporary arts scene. The site acts like your own personal art consultant, featuring worldwide venue and show listings, expert commentary on up-and-coming artists and recommended shows, and inexhaustible information on new artists and trends. Most importantly, Art We Love invites visitors to “explore art on your own terms.” Users may search by artist, emerging markets, techniques, movements and styles. They may then archive or share [...]

Marketers often tout the potential of the Chinese Internet based on sheer numbers — the country has more people online than in any other, an estimated 298 million users. But analysts add that the Chinese, especially youth, use the Internet in a fundamentally different than their Western counterparts. Recent advertising efforts in cosmetics have taken advantage of that difference – with surprising results.
Earlier this year, young Chinese viewers obsessed over “Sufei’s Diary,” a web series about a college girl in Shanghai. In China, episodes chronicled Sufei’s teasing classmates, tough boss, snooty coworker, and older crush. Most [...]

Athens just announced that the long-anticipated New Acropolis Museum will finally open this summer on June 20th. The ambitious museum and conservation project, almost 30 years in the making, calls for a state-of-the-art facility in the middle of the city’s historic center.
Although we were disappointed to have to wait another few months, our recent sneak peek of the galleries left us more than impressed. Instead of throwing up columns and attempting to blend into the ancient cityscape, the museum is completely abstract and modern. The controversial design resembles a stack of mislaid books, with the top floor [...]

For some, Easter-time means stuffing yourself with chocolate, jellybeans, and marshmellowy delights. But it’s not just the recent holiday that has crowded the candy aisle. The economic downturn appears to have a distinct sweet tooth. Candy stores around the country are reporting a jump in sales since the slowdown last fall, as people everywhere rush to fill up on sugary snacks.
No one knows exactly why the recession inspires candy cravings. A recent New York Times article pondered possibilities for the candy craze: Penny pinchers looking for an affordable pleasure? Stressed adults nostalgic for their childhood? The [...]

Sneakers can speak volumes, both about their owners and the times. In fact, in many countries sneakers are considered cultural artifacts. It’s no surprise that people around the world collect, critique, and obsess about kicks. But the lengths some sneaker fans will go, and then spend, often seems a mystery. Mysteries make us curious, and beg decoding.
Peep Insights recently conducted a global sneaker culture immersion, talking to sneakerheads in key cities like Tokyo, London and Sydney to get an insider’s perspective on trends and attitudes. We got the chance to talk with the owners of [...]

I just learned I am a supertaster: someone who experiences taste with far greater intensity than the average person.  The term originates from the work of experimental psychologist Linda Bartoshuk who has spent much of her career studying genetic variation in taste. Bartoshuk is Director of Human Research at the University of Florida’s Center for Smell and Taste, where her work helps treat patients suffering from smell and taste disorders or loss of taste due to disease or cancer therapy.
Recently Peep had the chance to attend a research lecture hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences which may have [...]

With the Inauguration behind us, advertisers are once again focused on the “Big Game” this weekend.  Critiquing the ads has become a ritual at many Super Bowl parties.  Typically brands vie for your attention with celebrity laden, expensively produced 30-second spots.  The media cost alone of running a 30-second ad is about $3 million dollars.
In this economic climate, some brands are opting out, and creating a bit of category disruption along the way.  Miller High Life is taking one second during this year’s game to get its message across.  The 1 second ad, which will feature the brand’s popular deliveryman, [...]

January: a time of resolutions for many – with wellness always at the top of most people’s lists. Quitting bad habits, working out more, eating better, stress relief,…the list goes on.
Of course there are always a myriad of excuses and obstacles to keep you from making good on your New Year’s resolutions – the cold, the cocktails, your relentless travel schedule. In light of all these potential setbacks, Peep found a little something that should help you stay the course.
TravelFit Guides is an easy-to-read, pocket-sized series for the health conscious traveler. Currently the guides cover London, Paris and Rome. [...]

As winter sets in and we brace ourselves for the coldest days of the year, we begin contemplating one of our favorite topics here at Peep: male grooming.
It’s that time of year, when men start to grow beards…and we can’t help but stare. At Peep, we’re fans of all things masculine. Over the years we’ve sponsored screenings of the Glorius Mustache Challenge, attended Movember, and most recently became advocates of Bearduary.
2009 brings much talk of positivity and good ideas that inspire change. We can’t think of a better way to do good and show off one’s [...]

Friends We Love is a compelling collection of videos and photos following artists and creators from a diverse panorama of modern life as they move from inspiration to expression.
Conceived, produced and directed by Mike Vargas and Moni Pineda, these insightful ten-minute portraits ultimately pay tribute to the greatness in the working lives of the producers’ favorite people.
Friends We Love takes viewers on a journey through a myriad of trades and disciplines, each narrated by a distinctive personality. The series includes a wide array of subjects ranging from painters, musicians and stylists, to choreographers and entrepreneurs – all sharing their [...]

Despite a long list of “must try” restaurants in our neighborhood, last week we opted for an entirely new experience and attended the launch of the Good Knife, a new underground supper club in Manhattan’s Gramercy area.
Originally, many such clubs arose as a means of allowing chefs to stretch their creativity. Participants could enjoy an intimate and casual setting, welcome in an era ruled by theme restaurants and grand settings. Foodies especially jumped at the chance to sample new talent. As the popularity of underground restaurants and eating clubs grew, so did the scale and spectacle of [...]

With the threat of decreased consumer spending and a weak U.S. economy, fast food chains have had the most to gain from value-driven, price conscious consumers. Brands have employed a wide range of strategies to reach consumers during a time when every penny counts.
Aside from the ongoing dollar or value menu wars, chains have stepped up their efforts to match each other on both menu offerings and prices. Following the success of McDonald’s “Snack Wrap”, KFC has aggressively pushed its “Toasted Wrap” and “Snacker” while Wendy’s has responded with “Chicken Go Wraps”. And the food wars have not been limited [...]

Mintel estimates that the natural and organic personal care product market has grown by 35% since 2005 and is currently valued at $465 million. The success of this burgeoning market has been enjoyed by both major brands like Wal-Mart and smaller boutiques. The latest entry in this marketplace, mastihashop caught our attention.
The brand recently opened an outpost in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and showcases a wide range of products featuring mastiha, a therapeutic cure-all long hailed in the East. Mastiha is an all-natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial resin harvested from the sap of trees found exclusively on the Greek [...]