Sale Math I’ve previously posted on the (increasing) practice of retailers heralding something as “sale-priced” when in fact it’s marked down from $20 to $19.49 (at the grocery store, make that $2.89 instead of $2.99). See, “Micro-Coupons and Micro-Sales.” So, I feel obliged to note (brag about) the terrific savings I scored at JC Penney’s...Read More
Brand Confusion Since Manager Josh Kaplan’s switch to another office (actually, two) last Spring — see, “Edina Realty Shake-Up!” — I’ve been the sole “Kaplan” in Edina Realty’s City Lakes Office. Which has meant a dramatic drop in errant email’s, voice mails, etc. But not to zero. I received a forwarding message the other day...Read More
“White,” “Green,” “Fall Colors” — & “Brown” Non-residents may think Minnesota only has one season: winter. Locals sometimes joke that there are actually two: winter and road construction (the same people suggest that Minnesota’s state bird is the mosquito). However, in addition to marking the seasonal ebb and flow by the calendar and thermometer, I keep track...Read More
Better Title: ‘Michael Lewis, Recycled’ It’s hard to find fault with Michael Lewis, one of the best business writers extant (or ever, for that matter). And the prose and insights in his latest effort, Boomerang, certainly don’t disappoint. So, what’s the problem? All but one of the five essays that comprise the book (the one on Iceland, titled “Wall...Read More
What’s in a Word Letter? OK, it’s a little cute (a lot?), but consider how little separates the words “induct” (“Edina Realty Founder Emma Rovick inducted in Realtor Hall of Fame”) and “indict” (“Wall Street bad guy indicted for fraud, insider trading”). The difference? Where “induct” has a “u,” indict has an “i.” And maybe there’s...Read More
“The odds of finding yourself behind a slow-poke driver on a single-lane, no-passing-road vary proportionately with how pressed you are for time.” –Murphy’s Law of the Road (or at least, my version) “The odds of said driver having exactly the same destination as you — thereby maximizing the amount of time you’re stuck behind them —...Read More
