Pizza Express launches UK first online payment app

In an innovative collaboration from high street restaurant Pizza Express and online banking service PayPal, the restaurant chain has this week launched an iPhone app enabling customers to pay for food and drink via their iPhone in a market first for the physical retail industry.

Appealing to our 'app'etites, the user is able to source all the usual information of a good restaurant app inclusive of full menu list, how to book a table, a location based search for nearest restaurant and relevant directions; there’s also the great addition of a storing facility for downloadable voucher codes for all us savvy savers too. The real star attraction of this app however, is that payments can now be made without bank cards or other external equipment in every one of their 370 stores across the country.

Riding on the back of Pizza Express’ WI-FI roll out throughout their stores via The Cloud, payment using the internet looks set to be easy, hassle free, secure and somewhat revolutionary. Here at The Lounge, we have already noted the convergence of the online-offline shopping experience in our Insight into Social Shopping blog post. The development of this app for high street restaurant purposes certainly adds yet another new dimension to the ever changing face of consumer experience.

Whilst the scenarios used in the ‘How the Pizza Express PayPal app works’ promotional video are somewhat contrived and the date scene whereby the young Romeo thrusts his phone to the waiter to indicate he wishes to pay the bill on his iPhone is invariably rude,  the key highlights of the app are nevertheless noted.  The Pizza Express app waves goodbye to living in fear of card carrying forgetfulness, potentially saving the customer from undesired embarrassment. It also boasts greater privacy for those ‘do not disturb’ dinner dates along with the ability to save time when you’re on a working lunch. Even redeeming those many 2 courses for £10 voucher offers you are repeatedly emailed with could not be easier, simply type in the voucher code after the twelve digit code set out at the bottom of your total bill and your transaction is complete.

The simplicity of online transactions made tangible in an offline retail environment is a second to none service; if you’re an iPhone owner that is. For those out there using Blackberry’s, Samsungs, Nokia’s etc, then I’m afraid you’re still going to need to need to remember your bank card when next visiting Pizza Express!

Sweet Valley Confidential: 10 years on

Much like reading War and Peace, Pride and Prejudice and Great Expectations, I feel I am on the cusp of reaching another milestone in my reading material. Today my good friends, the Wakefield sisters return to the UK, ten years on, in Sweet Valley Confidential.

Forming the staple of my pre-adolescent literature diet, I am much excited about tasting the new offering as dished up by author Francine Pascal and Random House. 180 books since my journey first began, I anticipate spending this weekend catching up with other old friends - Enid, Winston, Lila, Bruce, Todd and Stephen - in a quest to learn the meaning behind the books' tag line; “What unforgivable thing did Jessica do to her own twin, and can their relationship recover?"

US cover - nodding to NYC's most scandalous elite.
2 points for guessing who the reference is to. You know you love me. XOXO.

UK cover - traditional design as circulated during their publishing heyday in the 80s

With two cover editions available for purchasing I have yet to determine whether to fully embrace that we have moved on 10 years - rumour has it residents of the Utopian SV community in southern California tweet, use facebook and engage in other social media activity - or whether to have a cover reminiscent of where we all last left them. Always one for tradition, I'm inclined to opt for the latter.

To buy your copy of the UK version click here 

To buy your copy of the US version click here

Whilst waiting for the book to be delivered why don't you take a trip down memory lane and get the low down on Sweet Valley today - click here to be taken to the official Sweet Valley Confidential website.

Personal review status: PENDING!

London Coffee Festival: An insight into the highlights

Based in the Old Truman Brewery you would be forgiven for attributing the London Coffee Festival as merely a destination for the crazed caffeined, sleep deprived and narcoleptic amongst us - despite the blue skied laid back picture on the leaflets.


Walking up the entrance steps to the event and finding myself in Hyde Park I was certainly not expecting a room flooded with light, decked out with a mock lawn, sun loungers, picnic tables, bean bags and parasols. It instantly said quality time with others shared over a cup of coffee rather than extra shot Monday morning espresso territory. Even more attractive was the assortment of drinks on display; everything from coffee to hot chocolate, tea to pressed juice, coconut water to Espresso Martinis. To satiate stomachs as well as taste-buds, invitations to samplings of fudge, yogurt, brownies and other such sweet treats were on offer to fully compliment the flavours and textures of the beverages in store.


The atmosphere was casual, warm, friendly and vibrant with cheerful chatterings between those exhibiting and amongst event attendees alike. With a noticeable lack of 'he who shouts loudest' tactic deployed, each stall and offering was able to personally speak for itself and market its product to the enquirer when prompted. Leaving before the event opened to the public at 5, the stage and bandstand already set up in the main room led me to believe the fun and festivities looked set to amplify in the hours to come.


Highlights during my three hours mooching around the festival on Friday afternoon were as follows:

Launching that day, Kokoa Collection - the tasty initiative of Paul Eagles - was born out of a noticeable gap in the drinks market. As consumers we are so very keen to know all about where our tea and coffee is sourced from but never question our hot chocolate. The Kokoa Collection is therefore a 'hot chocolate by origin' label prepared by baristas with tablets of real chocolate. No coffee expert would declare powdered instant coffee to be as fine a quality as the freshly ground bean variety. Why ought chocolate be any different? In the name of 'market research' I indulged in a 70% cocoa hot chocolate sourced from Ecuador. Choosing to add nothing to the drink, other than the milk with which it is made, I am amazed at the transparency of quality. The buttery/oily after taste and texture that can follow with powered chocolate is replaced with a rich velvety and smooth sensation in the back of ones throat. With the option to experiment with flavours of chili, cinnamon, rose, orange, lavender and seasonal specials, not to mention the various origins of cocoa bean on offer, the combinations are endless!



I must state that the picnic themed area mentioned earlier was courtesy of Innocent and provided the perfect summer backdrop for sipping on an apple, lime and kiwi smoothie - apparently a favourite with many due to lack of banana in the mix. Those manning the Innocent Carafette were keen to intro - juice you to their drinks whilst leaving you guessing the number of mangoes in a jar - (if the answer is 42 you can contact me here).

Never previously having sung high praises for Starbucks as a chain, I therefore find myself rather surprised to be so taken with Starbucks Reserve. With my Aged Sulawesi Kalosi coffee filtering, Aneta (the Barista) had just enough time to inform me of the beans history. Indigenous to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the coffee is grown alongside the fruits and vegetables in the garden of only 12 families. Handing me my expertly produced cup of coffee she asks whether I know 'how to properly drink coffee,' I admit I don't. Rule number 1: Coffee ought to be tasted much like a good wine. Admittedly I consume my coffee like most of you out there, gulping and glugging it down my neck, allowing little time to appreciate its taste. Smelling and swirling before finally swallowing, I am reminded of outdoor camp fires as I sense the toasted marshmallow flavour come to life. An experience in itself! 

Taking on an ancient Chinese proverb of 'better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one,' Mangajo provided the perfect hydration requirement after one too many cups of coffee. With an emphasis on health, sustainability and great taste, I felt instantaneously healthier and fully nourished upon trying the 'most popular' Lemon & Green Tea drink.  With 5 great tasting drinks currently on the shelves and with more set to appear in the pipeline, I anticipate exciting things for this self confessed super juice label. Watch this space.


Given the array of drinks and variety of coffee beans alone, we clearly like choice, so why not house your perfectly blended beverage in an equally personally container? With the option to pick the size and colouring of every element going into its construction, KeepCup allows you to sip away in style. Excellent!

Last but not least, I paid a visit to the supplier of my most welcomed weekend cup of coffee. Olivier and his team at the Bean About Town had clearly bean preparing for this event for quite some time. Setting up on the back of one of his carts, it was clear that this stall was going to be quite the attraction with badges and build your own coffee fleet cut outs to amuse oneself with whilst sitting down to one of their finest hand-pulled espressos on a bench. The option to switch from regular espressos to an Espresso Martini was greeted with a fervent 'yes please' and was consequently served up with a yellow cocktail umbrella, pink straw and garnished with 3 beans. The perfect last drink of the day!

Other lines of note for the upcoming few months include Bespoke Tea, MOMA! and VITA COCO!


Not being a member of the coffee trade I opted not to attend the talks being held in the Lab, although from its entrance I could hear high levels of conversations and dialogue. So all in all a very enjoyable experience for those involved.


Personally I found the more challenging aspects of the event involved entering and exiting the Old Truman Brewery. Where can't you pay entry on card these days and can we have a few simple signs indicating the way out next time please? That said, it was the first time the event had been held so I will allow its organisers this slight leeway; Those exhibiting more than made up for it!


For more information from the event itself please click here. 

The London Coffee Festival

As the weather picks up and we dare allow ourselves to think Summer is in sight, the Great British public suddenly become full of beans and the joys of spring.

Now it looks like starting tomorrow Londoners may be quite literally full of beans as the very first London Coffee Festival comes to the capital this weekend. Seeing off UK Coffee week, this festival

which is being held 8-10th April at F Block of the Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL, will begin as a Trade Day until opening to Joe bloggs from 5:00pm-10:00pm. 

Joe and fellow general public will have the opportunity to indulge in an Espresso Martini or two at the official Launch Party from 7:30pm. Not being adverse to an Espresso Martini myself - I do seem to find myself repeatedly ordering them whether at Fifty Five Bar in Camden, The Arc in Angel or Aqua Spirit in Soho - you can sign me up! Saturday and Sunday holds 3 sessions per day for visitors to drop in and join the best baristas around for Brunch, Lunch or Teatime! Time slots can be found on the website.

The festival also has a series of themed zones for its visitors including:

Hyde Park
Wander through the parkland village. Grab a flat white and a delicious artisan toasted focaccia. Watch coffee being roasted before your eyes and soak up the delicious aroma at The Roastery. Sit on the grass with your friends, sipping an iced mocha and enjoy live acoustic music from the bandstand.

Soho
Explore edgy ‘Out of the Box’ coffee shop experiences. Talk coffee with the experts and be dazzled by live barista demos. Visit the Ten-Bean Bowling Alley, sample deli produce and indulge yourself with a hand-made cup cake.  Listen to a fine selection of world beats and jazz from local artists and DJs.

Shoreditch
From artisan food stalls to the finest boutique roasters, Shoreditch is the place to be seen admiring and sampling a range of gourmet food products and tasting the most unique coffee blends. Visit the coffee art gallery before relaxing in the retro lounge with a boozy smoothie and some vintage tunes.

The Hub
Where coffee and food meet the Arts.  The Espresso Martini Launch Party will be held here on opening night!

The Growing Community
Learn more about the journey of the coffee bean from crop to your cup with interactive elements throughout the zone. Bring yourself good luck with a visit to the wishing well!

The Lab
Be the first to witness the ‘Fourth Wave’ science of coffee! From the latest pod technologies to the vacuum pot, revolutionary brewing methods will be demonstrated and showcased in The Lab, where you will discover new taste sensations.

 

With an official Coffee Guide accompanying the event, this is also one for the more serious coffee connoisseurs. The London Coffee Guide 2011 was born out of a desire to find the best coffee out there; chains, independents, kiosks, carts - if it serves good coffee it's in it! As a Camden resident I am favourable to the Bean About Town, the niche coffee cart that can be found at Camden Lock/ Kensington Olympia / St Katharine Dock / Dalston Kingsland / Clapham North.  Much like the infamous Avis ad by Doyle Dane Bernbach - 'When you're only Number 2, you try harder. Or else.' - you get the feeling that the size of the company means your custom is truly appreciated.  Served with this, is a relatively inexpensive cup of super smooth, rich organic coffee with a wholly personal experience; They will certainly be receiving top scores from me.

As with any fun festival, there is often a more serious note underpinning the event - in this instance, Project Waterfall, the charitable component of UK Coffee Week™.  It aims to raise more than £1million to deliver safe drinking water and sanitation projects for up to 100,000 people, specifically in coffee producing countries in Africa. In an attempt to achieve this The London Coffee Festival will be donating 100% of all proceedings made from ticket sales to Project Waterfall. You can do your bit too by voluntarily adding 5p to coffee and food purchases at any of the wide range of participating branded and independent coffee venues across the country during UK Coffee Week™. For those who don't drink coffee but wish to support the cause, there is also the option to text/email a donation (see online for details).

So let's pray for good weather, good company and seeing that caffeine is meant to significantly reduce the risk of developing skin cancer, a good old cup of coffee too.

Status syncing in social media: Seamless or silly?

Prompted by a conversation started in Social Media Today on LinkedIn, I found myself thinking about the syncing of facebook and twitter updates; seamless integration of content vs boring blasts of information.

Content generation for social media is time consuming and at the end of the day who doesn't desire an easy life? A social media portal or a new app such as Sociable enables you to send the same generated content to all your social media platforms at the click of a button and to its furthest possible reach  - what isn't attractive about that? You think brilliant - simultaneous status updates - I'm sure to gain maximum coverage and reach now.

What would you say to the idea that such a strategy for a personal account is boring at best, and for a brand it is nothing short of detrimental?  Simply 'feeding' the same content to all platforms runs counter current to Web 2.0 interaction and engagement. It moulds an image of 'I know I ought to be involved in social media but I'm not quite sure what to do so I'll send everything to everywhere. At least this way I'm doing 'it.'' The element of dialogue goes out of the proverbial window. Hardly social then is it?

More importantly from a marketing stance I'd also argue that brands who operate such a strategy are actually providing a discentive for the for their customers/fans to follow them on their various social media platforms. Why bother if everything gets sent to all accounts? May as well just be a fan on facebook and that's it, you'll be always up to date and you needn't check out any other of their online activity. Is it not obvious that the knock on effect of such a choice would mean less re-tweets, less youtube sharing, less social media engagement and consequently less coverage, reach, exposure and identity for your brand.

So really on a cost benefit analysis scale, perhaps spending the extra 30 minutes generating some more unique content for each of your social media sites might not be such a tiring prospect after all.

Hidden Histories

Whilst searching for more information on the widely advertised 4 part movie event 'The Kennedys' on the History Channel website, I stumbled upon one of my more exciting discoveries to date. The History Channel has teamed up with Foursquare in an innovative way to help you learn the history all around you.   

With over 600 places to check into in London, keep your phone firmly at the ready as you walk the streets to uncover the secret history of your current location. Check in to any historical location enough times and you could unlock the limited edition HISTORY™ ♥ London badge. Bag the badge and you also automatically be placed into the History Channel prize draw to win a fantastic VIP weekend in London. 

Watch the video below for a guide to how to begin unlocking London.

Fun huh?! Whoever said history was dead and all in the past can be served up an ample slice of humble pie!

So start checking in and learn about the past. Today.

The Jennifer Aniston Sex Tape

On the off chance that you missed THE viral of the year so far, I strongly recommend you watch the new smartwater ad for a tongue in cheek campaign in response to the million dollar question, 'how can we make this go viral?'


The checklist: cross off when completed
1. Talk to the camera. 
2. Budget home edited 'quality'
3. Cute puppies
4. Dancing babies
5. Featured techy geeks
6. Shameless sexual plugging
7. Body popping of twitchy children
8. Dodgy soundtrack


This video succinctly highlights how stagnant and generic viral marketing really has become. It has, therefore, lost its original appeal and charm.  Viral to me, is something that you couldn't do again if you tried; Take 2 just doesn't exist. 


Maybe You've been Framed is more worthy of being noted than I would care to admit!

Good Design that Tastes Good

I am sure I am not alone in my love affair for all things innocent. And no I am not talking about a possibly endearing character trait, but the rather scrumptious design from food and drink line innocent.

Now the design may be outrageously sweet but you can guarantee the food won't be. Oh no, this is a brand that prides itself on being packaged eye candy whilst perfectly balancing all things innocent for our insides.One tasty little Veg pot - the Moroccan pot being my personal favourite -washed down with a 250ml smoothie for your lunch, ensures you hit that all important 5-a-day target in one simple sitting.

For some food for thought whilst you chomp merrily away, the recycled cardboard sleeve provides some interesting reading material; including 101 things to do with your pot, how to make your very own veg pot gym for winter workouts and some additional serving suggestions too.

Innocent certainly do provide more than an apple a day to keep that doctor away; so committed are they to their 5-a-day campaign, that they have hit back at the Government's New Responsibility Deal just yesterday with their very own press release highlighting that by not including 5-a-day, they were missing the most important thing.

The company had in fact previously responded to the Government’s public health White Paper: Healthy Lives, Healthy People just last month with their very own colourful counterpart; the Orange Paper. Within this zesty covered Orange Paper, innocent recommended that:

• The Government makes healthier choices more affordable by exploring fiscal or public health interventions to make such food and drinks more accessible and affordable for

consumers

• The Government re-balances the messages aimed at children by maintaining stringent restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy food and drinks to children and ensuring that NGOs or those in the food industry that make healthier products do not fall foul of such restrictions

• The Government makes it easier for people to reach their 5-a-day by reviewing the scheme so that it includes composite foods such as soups and readymade meals that contain fruit or veg

• The media make better use of credible and qualified nutrition professionals to underpin their communications, by including more science and evidence-based reporting of nutrition or public health.

It is perhaps for this commitment that I will overlook that their deliciously designed recipe book contains the recipe 'grandmother's lemon merigue pie' as its most popular. Personally, I'm more preferable to a meringue pie, but each to their own as they say. Such a slight typo will most certainly not put a bitter taste in my mouth however for I am addicted to the brand and a fully fledged member of the innocent family.

Exploring London the Foursquare way

In my ongoing quest to explore London city, I have become more dependent than ever on a fairly recent Blackberry Application of mine - Foursquare.

75 badges and counting...

Foursquare's updated 2.0 version of their nifty little mobile app. enables users  to 'check in' to various locations and share reviews - an exciting development from merely sharing your location with friends. Tips can be suggested, to-do's created, points and badges earned for new check ins and benefits for customers who loyally check in to the same place. It provides all the obvious features of Twitter but with an answer to the hey OK so I'm here, so what? What do I do now??

Last month, The World Economic Forum announced Foursquare as a Technology Pioneer for 2011 and it is easy to see why.  Even the most staunch Twitterati amongst us would surely love to know where one Stephen Fry checks in to and his top tippys? And points for being adventurous? Pass me my Fedora and call me Indiana Jones!

I am currently working on becoming Mayor of Hummus Bros - achieved by checking in there more times than anyone else. I am sadly still quite a way off  (Foursquare kindly keep me notified on the number of days left until Mayordom is mine). The prize for such chickpea consumption? 2-4-1 on main courses for both myself and a friend - and the title of King.

So if you're a venue in London I strongly recommend you sign up to Foursquare to promote your business and sustain and reward your most mobile customers. You can even track how your business is performing for free thanks to some simple yet robust venue analytics!  

I have a great desire for a new badge this week - any suggested check ins chaps?

How will you actively resist?

Vivienne Westwood has long been known for her stance on 'no art. no progress,' and in an exciting and innovative collaboration with Lee Jeans, we are all being encouraged to actively engage with 'Active Resistance' for 100 days following on from the curtain closing on London Fashion week, September 2010.

So, what's it all about?

34 - 24 - 34: The Vital Statistics of 
A Victoria's Secret Model

As if Butter Wouldn't Melt...

Anchor Butter's cows may have been bringing our great grandparents their butter back in 1886, but Daisy, Gladys, Gloria and Co. are  now mooooching around again as the Anchor Dairy just got tech savvy - the cows have found facebook!

With a new series of Billboard posters having been concurrently commissioned around London in which artists were tasked with replicating hand painted art work nodding to the heritage of Anchor, the creative team at CHI & Partners seem to be cleverly heading a double fronted campaign and one which I am finding udderly charming...