Work At Home Dad - Ty Tribble

$299 Dell Desktop Computer

I am somewhat in shock. I am in the market for a couple of desktop PCs and I found the Dell Dimension 2400 Desktop Computer for $299.

$299 for a computer, Windows XP, monitor, and printer. It's even delivered to your home in 2 days for the regular shipping price.

Why doesn't every single classroom in America have a computer at least as good as this one?

"Free Prize Inside" Market Testing

I am known as "The Popcorn Guy" at my daughter's school. That's right, the Work At Home Dad is chairman of the popcorn/treat committee. Twice a month we sell popcorn and treats to the kids at their lunchtime recess.

While shopping for today's treat, Easter candy, I got this idea to give away one chocolate Easter bunny during each of the three recesses. So we put a sticker on three of the 350 bags of popcorn and let the kids know that if you got the bag with a sticker, you would get a Free Prize!

Picture in your mind a group of crazed teens getting a glimpse of the Beatles in the 60's. Now multiply that frenzy by 5 and you have a good idea of about what happened when we introduced the "Free Prize Inside" concept to the local elementary school.

$5.07 worth of chocolate bunnies created a frenzy. I wonder what would happen if an Internet specialty retailer put an iPod in one or two random packages a month. I'll tell you in May.

A Night At The Public Library

The Work At Home Wife is having some kind of thing with 20 other women in our home tonight. I think it's a cross between poker and keno, aptly named Pokeno.

The best thing about nights like these aside from the time I get to spend with my kids is that my wife really goes to town cleaning the house.

I am off to Mickey D's and the library....ciao!

The Official Shoe of Work At Home Dad

The "shell toe" came out in 1969, and I followed soon thereafter. Word.

According to Cool Hunting:

In 1986, Run DMC paid homage to their favorite shoe – the adidas Superstar, a.k.a. the “Shell Toe.” Now, at 35 years old, the ubiquitous shoe is again being honored, this time by its creator -- adidas -- by introducing dozens of styles in five different series (ed note: check the city series here), including, of course, a Music Series.

Adidas tapped seven artists – Run DMC, Ian Brown, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roc-a-Fella Records (Damon Dash), Underworld, Bad Boy Records (P. Diddy) and Missy Elliott – to create their own shoe. Each shoe reflects the artists’ individual style and dedication to the brand – of course adding personal touches, like Missy’s crown insignia on the heel or Run’s signature black and white color scheme.

Run DMC:

my Adidas only bring good news
and they are not used as selling shoes
they're black and white, white with black stripe
the ones I like to wear when I rock the mic

The Idea Sandbox

I like this idea. It sounds kind of like Starbucks with white boards and and LCD projectors.

"With three themed rooms, two with the capacity for 30 Ideators and one for groups up to 70, Idea Sandbox will be chock-full of visual, aural, tactile and mental stimulation. Rooms will be outfitted with practical high-touch tools such as white boards, flip charts, Play-Doh and toys... Required-tech tools will include... LCD projectors, DVD/VCR players, Wi-Fi Internet access, and satellite radio. Our kitchen will be stocked with food for thought and creative juices – tasty snacks and crisp drinks to keep the ideas flowing.

Ideators may book single or multiple rooms on a half-day basis (under 4 hours) or for the full day (4 to 8 hours).

The primary way solutions will be generated will be through facilitated brainstorming sessions... Where Ideators are guided through the various stages of ideation - from ‘blue sky’ to the ‘fewer, bigger, better’ list of actionable ideas. Alternately, Ideators may choose free-range sessions and use the inspiring Idea Sandbox space for brainstorming, planning sessions and team building activities.

Hopefully that’s enough to whet your appetite... Let’s see how this experiment goes! I look forward to your feedback!"

The Idea Sandbox will be based in Seattle (yeah!) and you can offer Paul at the Brand Autopsy Blog your comments and feedback here.