As the mother of a 4 month old I am extremely familiar with the term ‘teething.’ It’s not something I heard other mothers and fathers talk about. Going into it I didn’t think Gavin teething would be a very big deal. He’d probably cry a little and then *pop* he’d have teeth! No. This is not how it works. And like most things having to do with parenting and babies, there is no telling how it’s going to be or when it’s going to happen.
I have to say when it did happen I was a little under prepared. I had gotten a plastic, water-filled teething ring at my baby shower and when my mother suggested that maybe his bouts of tears and open mouthed wailing were the result of teething, I popped it in the freezer and expected that this would be my answer.
Consumer purchasing decisions are based on several factors. Below you will find equations and possible outcomes for a variety of purchasing patterns.
Cost > Quality of Product
Cost = Decision
Buying products when they are on sale or the right price.
Example: Razor Blades. The prices keep increasing and my bank account can’t keep up with my favorite brand. (Not to mention Razor Blades and Shaving Creams packaging are entirely wasteful.) So instead of opting for my favorite brand that creates the smoothest legs in my household, I use Brand B. It is a third of the price but the quality of the product is fair in comparison.
Quality of Product > Cost
Quality = Decision
The Quality of a Product over rules the cost! Although in these times is difficult to make this type of purchase it can happen. Since I decreased my standards for razors I knew I couldn’t do the same for my shaving cream. After feeling not so eco friendly with my razor purchase I felt I needed to balance the equation. After zoning the aisle for eco friendly products I found Kiss My Face Moisture Shave. (A variety of aromas but Cool Mint was my choice) It was a perfect match. Contains no animal ingredients, no artificial colors and was not tested on animals. Also, the bottle is recyclable!
It is difficult being a consumer. There are so many choices that we need to make and so many responsibilities related to the outcome of the decision. Choose wisely and balance the equation.
Starting this fall we will have a series of artists and partners write for our blog about their experience and practices. We have loved collaborating with Chace + Smith for photography (they helped us with Pratt Street Ale House and Mercersburg Summer) and we are loving their amazing creative writing!
What does Americana mean for each of us? Where is that sacred space of nostalgic national identity we each hold in our hearts? Ryan and Larissa Smith of Chace + Smith Photography decided to try and find the answers to these questions on a month-long tour of the American Northwest. Here is an account of what they discovered along the way:
When we wrote a summary of our Creative Highways Project on our website prior to our trip, we described our purpose as “searching for the last bastions of Americana.” What does this mean, and is Americana really disappearing? I believe our search uncovered more than a yes or no answer to this question.
Our client and friend, Geoff Stack from Stack Coordination, had a wonderful opening last night. It was a fantastic mix of people from Baltimore’s own green family: architects, landscapers, builders, artists, designers, photographers, family, friends, writers, entrepreneurs and certainly a wide variety of green folks.
Check out the video recap from the event. And GO GEOFF!
Photograph taken in Cape Cod, MA by Arthur Gonoretzky
Often times, Tilt discusses the fact that visuals have the only true opportunity to create change. As the world’s most global communication method, visuals represent the wave of the future. We are often surrounded by mixed-media with large advertisements, graphics and signage (wayfinding, mostly) providing us with direction on what we should be doing, how we should be doing something and offering us additional suggestions if we don’t want to listen to the first two options provided. Visuals provide a quicker reaction than the written word. Often times people can reference colors, shapes and emotions featured in a visual, so the meaning becomes stronger and longer lasting as a memory.
This month, Cafe Karuba from Kwik Trip Stores was featured as the Top Banana Award in the CSP (Convenience Stores/Petroleum) Magazine. This honor is particularly special since Tilt is responsible for the overhaul of Kwik Trip’s Cafe Karuba Brand earlier this year. Take a look at the before and after photos below and click here to read the entire article from the most recent issue.
This past month, Tilt’s E. Rachael Baird was featured in Mercersburg Quarterly Magazine in the “Sustainability: Growing Green” issue. Along side friends Matt Roberts (a Tilt Foundation Board member) and Sarah Reed (a good friend and LEED certified designer), this issue reached the wide variety of Mercersburg Academy students and Alums, spreading the message of creating change using intellect.
We continue to learn through collaboration and shared knowledge from social networking... Send us cool stuff! Being a part of this global community enables constant flow of ideas and innovation and we are so lucky to be a part of it.
