The Bay wins Gold @ Olympics Cash Register

I had a chance to visit The Bay's main store on Granville between business meetings today and let me tell you the place was an absolute madhouse of international travellers and locals lined up to buy official Olympic gear.

The Canada stuff is selling like hotcakes - I have not seen crowds like this since a boxing day run for a cheap TV s. The Bay have done well with this line and everyone is buying it - men, women and kids - I think it is hotter than the Roots stuff of a couple years ago. They also had a special Russia Sochi 2016 section - great idea and superb execution and of course, the Americans were grabbing the Ralph Lauren Team USA Polo gear.

Well done Bay - and your staff was smiling through this mob scene!

Related updates: Granville is alive and well - fabulous art displays and wonderful to see everyone from all over the world taking it in. The Skytrain is awesome - clean, on time and moving everyone nicely, but you can feel the crowds starting to come in now - no long line ups and again, the TTC needs to get out here to see how it is done.

Lot's of last minute touch ups at City Live park, but everyone seems to have a smile on their faces. 5 days to go as of tomorrow, and many people back at work - let's see how the commute is tomorrow

Spring time at the Winter Olympics

Well say what you want about this global warming thing, but I am at the WINTER Olympics and it is close to 17 degrees in beautiful sunny and clean Vancouver. Just back from a quick meeting in West Vancouver (no snow I Cypress I could see) and watched people kayak, bike and stroll with a light jacket on. Back downtown by Canada Place the boardwalk is full of people stretching out in .... shorts!

After years of planning for this I am here and you can feel and see the excitement. The big news last night was the lane closures and this Australian flag flying from the balcony of the athlete village - this has turned into some sort of IOV brou-ha-ha for reasons I will never figure.

The road closures and security are getting very, very tight - much of the core is now blocked out and there is a bit of eery quiet as talk of a protest is taking over the agenda. Let's see what happens but one cannot help but feel a bit of trepidation about that - however, everyone is friendly and the security people and cops are going out of their way to be nice.

The sky train is the way to go and Adam Giambrone should be here - vending machines that take cash, credit and debit, the system is clean, easy to read and gets you from Burnaby to downtown in just about 15 minutes. I have yet to see a sleeping ticket taker - becasue the don't have one!

Overall a great vibe - everyone is excited and the city is a see of blue and green.

I was just given a new company ski jacket, inside layer and neck warmer - I think we should be issuing golf shirts and shortls

Favourite quote on how small crowds or individuals can change history

The smaller the attendance the bigger the history. There were 12 people at the Last Supper. Half a dozen at Kitty Hawk. Archimedes was on his own in the bath.— Tony Wilson.

Pepsi Drops Super Bowl To Focus On Facebook (via brandchannel)

This is beginning to read like an obituary for traditional media - especially when brands like Pepsi make strong decisions about marketing spend - good for them - this is the future

Pepsi Drops Super Bowl To Focus On Facebook (via brandchannel)