Random Observations and Trends
I like to randomly observe what is going on around me to spot new trends or changes. Changes = Opportunity.
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I tried to sell bottled water, this Real Estate Investment Club just gives it away to attract visitors to their booth:
I have seen this truck around Austin more than once, and I was intrigued by their unique way of advertising on the streets for free. This moving billboard can go to any high-traffic area and park, allowing their sponsors to target specific demographics and locations (e.g. Night time at 6th Street = Beer advertisement).
I noticed that this bulletin board in the Student Union used to be more crowded when I was a freshman at UT. I'm guessing most of these "For Sale" ads are replaced with CraigsList posts.
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I enjoy seeing huge changes happen in front of me, and one thing I've seen taking a dramatic change is the function of libraries. The largest library at UT recently opened a coffee shop inside! College students + Studying + Coffee Shop...needless to say it is doing quite well.
The UGL (A popluar undergraduate library) used to be a 3-storey library filled with books, a small computer lab and some desks. Now they have completely removed all the books and made the entire thing into a giant study lounge.
The 1st floor outside area is a loud, group-study area:
I find it facinating this LIBRARY doesn't have a single book. I've also heard they are currently adding a coffee shop to this library also. The library is now becoming a much cooler place to go!
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I tried to sell bottled water, this Real Estate Investment Club just gives it away to attract visitors to their booth:
I have seen this truck around Austin more than once, and I was intrigued by their unique way of advertising on the streets for free. This moving billboard can go to any high-traffic area and park, allowing their sponsors to target specific demographics and locations (e.g. Night time at 6th Street = Beer advertisement).
I read more about the company and found out they are using a loophole in the Austin advertising ordinance to stay in business. They use 100% green-biodiesel to power the truck, or people get mad they are unneccessarily polluting by aimlessly driving around town.
----------------------------------------I noticed that this bulletin board in the Student Union used to be more crowded when I was a freshman at UT. I'm guessing most of these "For Sale" ads are replaced with CraigsList posts.
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I enjoy seeing huge changes happen in front of me, and one thing I've seen taking a dramatic change is the function of libraries. The largest library at UT recently opened a coffee shop inside! College students + Studying + Coffee Shop...needless to say it is doing quite well.
The UGL (A popluar undergraduate library) used to be a 3-storey library filled with books, a small computer lab and some desks. Now they have completely removed all the books and made the entire thing into a giant study lounge.
The 1st floor outside area is a loud, group-study area:
I find it facinating this LIBRARY doesn't have a single book. I've also heard they are currently adding a coffee shop to this library also. The library is now becoming a much cooler place to go!
posted by Neville @ 1:03 AM
22 comments
22 Comments:
cuz thats not really a library anymore then, is it? heh
but yeah, many university libraries are now digitalizing their catalogs
I think google's still workin on that ambitious program of theirs to scan millions of book and make the text searchable online..
Can you please address these prior comments you made:
"Believe it or not, there are times when the principle in worth more than the money."
"For some odd reason, I am very strongly compelled to leave this site free of advertisements because this is my personal financial journal. It is NOT a money making venture."
"Funny as it sounds coming from a financial blog author: I don't want this site to be dictated by money."
They have actually been digitizing books for quite a while. I know online I can checkout E-Books from the UT library.
I doubt actual books will go away anytime soon, but for research purposes, the digitzed formats are much more useful.
Anon,
Yes, clubthings is and has been my supplier. I give this information away all the time, it's no secret.
Johnie,
Wikipedia recently surpassed the traffic The NYTimes gets, pretty impressive. I use it quite often!
...And they used to have a very good movie collection at the UGL. With lounges, coffee shops and movies, the UGL must be attracting kids like honey these days!
Kevin
The PCL used to have a sign that said 'No drinks and food beyond this point' heee ... and now they have a coffee shop inside it!
Do you see these as gradual organic changes aka the Tipping Point or the University making a business decision?
Anon,
Why the heck would Nev have to explain his prior comments? Is he a freaking politician???? NO!! Everyone has the right to change their mind.
Dave's Journey to Financial Freedom
Fellow Longhorn here, (alumn '99) here. I always used to wish they would open a coffee shop at the PCL, it would be very convenient! Instead I had to get my finals time caffine-fix from Jester.
I'm curious as to what time the coffee shop is open? I think night time is when most students drink coffee, hopefully they don't close early.
Anyways, the PCL has a neat idea on their hands. Bookstores put coffee shops inside, why not libraries??
-Drex
P.S. Anonymous is an envious idiot who is very obviously obsessed with you.
Actually clubthings.com is not his supplier (at least I dont think) notice how both of those sites have the same thing when added to the shopping cart in the URL "sc/order.cgi?rd=1&storeid=*"
I think he is using some kind of dropshipper which ships several kinds of products...would love to know which one.
-Murray
http://capitalideas.blogspot.com/
I am interested in the 8 improvements in your online shopping site.. did you manage to fulfiull them all?
David Hornik - ventureblog.com
Kirsten Osolind - reinventioninc.blogspot.com
Tim Wolters - timwolters.blogspot.com
Joe Kraus -bnoopy.typepad.com/bnoopy
The Cracked Cauldron ccspillings.blogspot.com
Brad Feld - feld.com
The Entrepreneurial Mind - forum.belmont.edu/cornwall
Cool Business Ideas - coolbusinessideas.com
Like a commentor in the previous post said, "Anonymous has a man-cruch on Nev!"
If you prefer those other blogs, please go read them! We get the point, you don't like Nev.
You are also missing a drastic point: Nev is MUCH much younger than all of those other writers.
Nev,
At my college in the NorthEast they are starting talks to "reduce" then number of books present in the some of the libraries. Real Estate is extremely precious in my part of the country, and students at my university needmore space, not more books.
They are having problems because we don't have too many libraries too export books to. I looked at the Utexas.edu website and saw your university has over 15 major libraries! No wonder they can empty a whole library!
Anyways, take it easy! -Jase
Cool links!
C'est la vie. I love your observations. I have seen cool trucks advertising the local Saturn Dealership in State College, PA. They drive around on Saturday "game weekends" with all the foot traffic. Definitely gets "impressions".
Keep up the great posts Nev
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