2019年7月21日

Adidas is appealing to the Instagram generation with an exclusive event

Though violent outbursts prevented Adidas from dropping its much-anticipated Arizona Iced Tea collaborative sneaker on Thursday, elsewhere in New York City the retailer was in the throes of building a very different type of shopping experience: an interactive adult playground.

Each activity at the one-day-only Boost Experience serves as a component of a three-part installation “designed to boost your brain, creativity, and future,” according to Adidas. It’s also undoubtedly developed to be an Instagram hot spot, rife with opportunities for bloggers and iPhone-wielding shoppers to post photos filled with Adidas logos to their feeds.

Adidas is now taking a cue from Instagram-friendly experiences like the Museum of Ice Cream and Rosé Mansion to sell shoes. For brands like Adidas, the power lays more so in the social content that derived from these fleeting events, and less from the actual sales generated from them.

The Adidas Boost Experience is situated on an unassuming block in Chelsea. The pop-up appeared to be the type of place you have to know about in advance, which added to the allure. Once inside, we were immediately overwhelmed with the bright bursts of sunshine yellow emanating from every corner. “[The Boost Experience] helps bridge the gap between the hardcore performance running world of the shoe and what it was designed to do, and the practical applications of using it in everyday life and and wearing it around,” Petticrew said.

First up is the maze, or the “Boost Your Brain” part of the experience. The exercise is designed for visitors to get a sense of what it’s like to do a physical cognitive thinking exercise in the shoes. Next up is the seesaw, or the “Boost Your Creativity” part of the agenda. The seesaw is intended to evoke the playful energy of childhood while testing out the spring capacity of the Ultraboost. Lastly, there’s a vertical jump test, referred to as “Boost Your Future.” The running jump motivates shoppers by letting them leap for a prize, showcasing the flexibility and bounce of the shoe.

Trump says 'we have bigger problems than plastic straws'

President Donald Trump weighed in on the hotly contested debate over plastic straws being replaced with paper ones through local ordinances or changes in business practices. Trump dismissed the idea that plastic straws are an environmental problem, just hours after his 2020 reelection campaign began selling packs of Trump-branded straws for supporters to purchase.

“I do think we have bigger problems than plastic straws,” Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One on Friday. “It’s interesting about plastic straws. You have a little straw,” Trump added. “What about the plates, the wrappers and everything else that are much bigger and they’re made of the same material? So the straws are interesting. Everybody focuses on the straws. There is a lot of other things to focus on.” Several cities across the United States have undertaken efforts to curb the use of plastic straws while high profile businesses, including McDonald’s and Starbucks have announced they would be replacing them with paper products as an expression of environmental consciousness.

But it appears Trump is not as interested in the straws as a pressing issue.

Acorns, the app that lets you turn your spare change into an investment portfolio

When it comes to investing extra cash, many people are unsure where to begin. You may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of investment opportunities available, or perhaps you don’t have a large sum of money to start a portfolio in the first place. Are there any investment opportunities for you? Acorns allows you to invest small sums (as little as $US5) and you can also round up your purchases and invest that extra change; the app was designed with diversification in mind and provides insight into the best portfolio for your financial goals.

The sign-up process is easy and takes only minutes to complete for verification. First, provide a valid email address, verify that you are a US resident, and link your bank account to your Acorns account. Note that if your bank account isn’t on the list of supported banks, you can still link your checking account to Acorns. However, the list of banks and credit unions linked with Acorns is extensive; customers who bank with local or obscure banks might be surprised to find their institution on the list.

After the sign-up process is complete, you can start building your own personal investment portfolio. Acorns requires users to start by investing $US5, and you’ll have a few investment options, including several different asset classes. Asset classes are groups of similar investment opportunities that behave the same way in the market, such as real estate, government bonds, corporate bonds, and stocks in both large and small corporations. Acorns portfolios range from conservative to aggressive, emphasising different types of asset classes according to your individual goals.

Let’s look at an Acorns case study to see what kind of profile would be recommended for you. If you are in a low income bracket, it might be prudent to try for a long-term investment strategy instead of shooting for short-term return. That way, investing doesn’t become a major financial strain, but you can still build your portfolio in the background of your everyday life. For a consumer in a low income bracket with assets worth less than $US10,000, the suggested portfolio is moderately conservative, meaning it leans heavier on corporate and government bonds rather than emerging markets and real estate. By starting small and investing long-term, you might be surprised at the size of your returns. Note that you may update your info as it changes; your changing financial health will affect your optimal portfolio and investment habits.

To use the app, Acorns will charge you a minimum of $US1 per month for balances under $US5,000, and .25% of your balance each year when your account reaches more than $US5,000. Acorns will also keep track of your current financial profile and remind you of your past investments and trends. Using that past data and present settings, Acorns will project your earning potential into the future. Going back to our previous example of a low-income, moderate profile – with a $US10 monthly investment plus round-ups – the initial estimate on a projected return after 40 years of consistent investing breaks $US80,000.

Keep in mind that Acorns works just as well for folks with major capital to invest, but it is important to emphasise its usability for those who do not. Whether you are building a small play portfolio with spare change or have the ability to go big, Acorns can help you get comfortable with the idea of investing and build your portfolio.