Weekly 5 of the Best: 19 October 2009
Barefoot Wine & Bubbly
Barefoot Wine & Bubbly not only makes flavorful, fruit forward wines and bubblys, but as a company it is committed to non-profit organizations like the Surfrider Foundation and AVP. They take the steps to engage the whole experience from in-store purchase to social media and beyond. Barefoot has the sole of a great company and always gets it right.
thomas anderson
V8 Supercars
When it comes to motor sport racing, the Australian series of V8 Supercars is regarded by many, including me, as the greatest touring car racing sport in the world. It takes place in all states of Australia, as well as rounds in the Northern Territory, New Zealand and Bahrain with Abu Dhabi joining the calendar in 2010. The V8 Supercars themselves take as their basis either the Ford Falcon or Holden Commodore. A sport that once a year stops a nation (Bathurst 1000) where heroes are born and legends are made!
Tony Chadwick
Howards Storage World
Finally, Howards Storage World that claims to have “a place for everything" has opened its first store in Belgium. Their products just make me want to start big storing projects and with their help, it is not boring. I especially like "elfa" a wonderful "design your own storage" series, easy to put up and use. It makes you feel handy and smart.
Ylva Nordström
Crutchfield
Let's start with the disclaimer: I worked for Crutchfield for 15 years before leaving in 2007. However, rather than create a built-in bias that fact is the basis for my nomination. While at Crutchfield, no matter where I'd go - be it on vacation in the Outer Banks, or New Orleans, or wherever, when I told people where I worked many of them had heard of Crutchfield, and many of those who had heard of Crutchfield told me how awesome the company is. Many told me a specific story about a purchase, and the support they had received. After leaving Crutchfield and moving to Houston, this "let me tell you my Crutchfield story" phenomenon has occurred even more frequently. I have met people here who have said "I wouldn't buy electronics from anybody else". Crutchfield is a relatively small retailer - they are no threat to Best Buy (though I do think they contributed to Circuit City's demise). Yet year after year after year the company, its service, and its web site are recognized for exceptional customer service. BizRate has recognized them with their Circle of Excellence 10 times - of the thousands of companies BizRate measures, Crutchfield is the only 10-time recipient. Though small, the company is highly innovative. Their website is world class - in this regard I am definitely biased, but it's the best consumer electronics site in the world.
Kemp Honeycutt
Vegemite
The brand is mighty, the taste is unique, and the jar is an Australasian pantry icon. So why change it to ‘Vegemite iSnack2.0’? No reason and so said a chorus of voices and emails to Kraft. So why change it to ‘Vegemite Cheesybite’? Simply because when Kraft went back to the alternatives and asked which name promotes their new spreadable Vegemite best, 30,000 competition entries said ‘Vegemite Cheesybite’. Lovemarks to love bites and one is left wondering why have a cheesy bite when you have Vegemite; a Top 20 Lovemark?
Chris Lund