Trendy Tendencias: US & Mexico

New Blog: GreenerMiami

2006-03-14T12:07:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone, I'm over at GreenerMiami now!

I Haven't Fallen Off the Face of the Earth!!

2006-01-26T16:39:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note to anyone that might be a reader of this blog:

On October 23, Hurricane Wilma came through Miami and really gave us a pounding. I lost power for 4 days, but I lost internet for 2 months! Additionally, at the same time, I realized that I had been blogging so much that I had injured both of my arms. I'm still working on getting my arms back in shape, and while I used to be on the computer for at least 8 hours a day, I currently am not even logging in on a daily basis. I hope to return sooner rather than later, but please don't think I've disappeared completely.

In the meantime, I recommend that you visit the sites I was contributing to, as I consider them to be incredible publications: VivirLatino, PSFK, and eco.psfk.

Saludos - Hope to be back soon.

Mexicana Introduces Medical/Airfare Packages

2005-10-21T16:45:00.000-05:00

An airline teams up with a hospital to create a travel package? That's right, folks! I know a few families in Mexico that go to Texas or where ever in the US a few times a year just to go to the doctor. Someone finally decided to capitalize on that!

The whole article, since it's a short one, via El Universal:

Mexicana airlines and a hospital in San Antonio, Texas, announced Thursday new medical vacation packages for Mexicans that include airfare, hotels and an exam by U.S. doctors. The packages, sponsored by San Antonio's Methodist Healthcare System, will go on sale Monday. Three physician groups in San Antonio are participating. The packages also include options like referrals for a specialist or help purchasing tickets to a show or amusement park.

Introducing: VivirLatino!

2005-10-12T11:22:00.000-05:00

As I have previously mentioned here at Trendy T's, I've been working on a new blog with a fantastic group of people. Created with Latinos in mind, our new blog discusses everything from culture and entertainment, to society and politics.

VivirLatino (VL) is written by three totally different ladies, myself being one of them. VL's other editors, Jennifer Woodard Maderazo, and Maegan "La Mala" Ortiz, each have their own style of writing and topics that interest them. One of the coolest parts is that we are located all across the country: San Fran, NYC, and Miami...all very large Latino communities.

VivirLatino is the debut blog for Blogs Media, a new company specializing in nanopublications, blogs and blog consulting.

It is a project that I am proud to be associated with. We offer lots of new content DAILY. So please come check us out...we are officially "LIVE" at http://vivirlatino.com/ ...and leave us comments to let us know what you think!

Real Estate Boom on Both Sides of the Rio

2005-10-10T13:47:00.000-05:00

A recent article via Yahoo News points out that the real estate isn't just booming in the US. What some call a housing bubble, has caused real estate markets across the US to explode. Here in Miami there is no end to huge residential towers being built all over the city. And so far, the bubble hasn't burst! Houses doubling in value in less than 5 years.

So lately, Americans have taken their investing over the border. The Cabo market in the Baja Peninsula has really grown similarly to a lot of the hot markets in the US. Investments in property have doubled in value in the last couple of years. Most of the deals are occurring with 100% cash purchases, so it is unlikely that if the US bubble pops, these residences will lose value.

Queretaro state families leave for US, Causing decrease in students

2005-10-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

According to today's article in El Universal, "Migration Depletes Queretaro Schools", the Sierra Gorda region has seen a significant decrease of school-aged children enrolled this year. Migration is being blamed, stating that many of the families have gone to the US to work.

Jalpan's Mayor says that this trend has been occurring for several years now. Schools have been closed, others have had to lay off teachers. It is estimated that at least 900 students overall have left. Of the six schools that existed just a few years ago, only three remain open.

The article ends with the following information:

According to the state population commission, more than 5,000 residents of
Queretaro migrate each year to the United States. The majority, says the
commission, come from the Sierra Gorda region where poverty and marginalization are widespread.

In the community of Arroyo Seco, for example, one in four
homes is supported by dollars sent home from family members working in the
United States, according to a study by the commission.

Revisit: Publix Sabor

2005-09-28T13:43:00.000-05:00

Today I'd like to revisit one of my first posts, Hispanic Marketing Case Study: Publix Sabor. As many of you know, I know live in Miami - Latin America's capital inside the US. I really thought that it would be a lot easier to find Mexican products here than it is. I can't find good tortillas, and it took me 3 grocery store trips before I found serrano chiles. So my strategy has been that each week that I go to the grocery store, I visit a different branch. As I was on the Publix website, I realized that there was a Publix Sabor store not too far away. I remembered posting on this store in May and decided to check it out.

It certainly does look a bit different...the sign out in the front of the store does not use the typical Publix logo, but a more colorful logo. The bakery offers hot cuban bread, fresh Colombian bread loaves, and guava & cheese turnovers among others.

There was a larger selection of salsas and fresh cheeses than I have seen in other "regular" grocery stores, but I still think that Mexico is not as strongly represented as it could be.

Something I would encourage Publix Sabor: offer even more produce items that are not pre-packaged. Recently coming from Mexico, I could select all of my produce by hand. I am not interested in buying squash that is behind plastic on a styrofoam tray (besides the fact that it is a huge waste of materials, I like to choose my veggies and the amount).

I think that the Publix Sabor stores will be popular and successful as long as they pay attention to the first rule of real estate: Location, location, location.

The Invisible Blogger

2005-09-19T13:31:00.000-05:00

Most of you probably think that I have dropped off of the face of the earth. Actually, my life is just a bit crazy now. I'm also involved in a couple of group blogs at the moment, which I believe may be the key to the future. Please check me out at eco.psfk.com and I will soon be announcing another new blog soon.

If anyone is interested in guest blogging on this site, please write me a note in "Comments" and I will get back to you!

Hispanic Kids Most Likely to be Uninsured

2005-08-18T10:10:00.000-05:00

I haven't had a ton of time lately, I'm still in the process of moving. So in the meantime, if I find interesting articles, I'm just going to make quick posts!

From HispanicBusiness.com, an article discusses insurance and children. Hispanic children are the most likely to be uninsured. This is a problem for many reasons, including:

"Childhood obesity is not being treated in many cases, and it's leading to diabetes, which is going to affect all of us," she said. "These people are going to be expected to support the economy as adults, but they are much more likely to have a limited ability to work."

We've discussed diabetes and childhood obesity in the past.

40% of Mexicans Would Move to US

2005-08-17T13:29:00.000-05:00

This article lays out the results of a study conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center.

Basically:
Over 40% of Mexicans say they would move to the US if they could, and 20% would do it, even if it meant crossing illegally.

What's interesting is that the numbers don't change as significantly as you would think for college graduates. Over 33% want to come to the US, and 12.5% would do so illegally.

Once you think about it, though, the results can't be that surprising. The thing is that even people that are in the US illegally are making so much more money than they would in Mexico. The minimum wage in Mexico is about $4 USD a day...here it's almost $7 USD/hour. Many college graduates in Mexico get about $12,000 USD / year in Mexico for a job that would pay about $40,000 USD / year in the US.

Talking about the corporate level, a few years ago when the economy was super hot in the US, it was so easy to get a work visa sponsored by a company because there just weren't enough people to do the work in the US. When the economy busted and unemployment was high, you couldn't find a soul to sponsor you.

One last quote from the article:

More immigrants come to the United States from Mexico (population 106 million) than any other country.

This is one trend I don't see going out of style!

25 Most Influential Hispanics in America

2005-08-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

Time Magazine's article is out. I'm still reviewing it, but please check it out!

TIME.com: The 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America

Cheap Flights in Mexico: Coming Soon!

2005-08-09T16:59:00.000-05:00

The International Herald Tribune reports that an end is coming to the outrageous airfares within Mexico. This is great news considering that it normally costs over $350 USD to fly from Monterrey to Mexico City, a flight lasting less than 1 hour and 30 minutes. I'm ashamed to say that I was not aware that Aeromexico & Mexicana are state-owned airlines. The story reports that basically the two airlines will be privatized and sold individually, and an additional 5 budget/discount airlines are going to be arriving soon.

Because flying is so expensive in Mexico, most people resort to taking the bus. But don't think that you get off cheap by doing this! My husband & I once took the 11 hour bus ride from Monterrey to Mexico City...and it cost $75 USD ONE-WAY...each! Now I have to admit that this was the high-end bus, not the cheapest...but still! If I have to suffer 9.5 extra hours of travel, I would expect to save more than just 50%!

I wish luck to the new airline industry in Mexico and encourage everyone to get traveling!

Technorati tags: Mexico, Air Travel

Spanish language music mixed in!

2005-08-03T11:05:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I’d like to welcome you back to the “fall season” of Trendy Tendencias! I took quite a long break that we’ll call summer vacation, but there was no resting involved whatsoever!

So here we are. First post of the season! (I guess it’s my Season Premiere?) I was recently driving from Mexico to Miami with my husband…the 2,150 miles took us 4 days. When we arrived in Texas, we stopped into Best Buy and purchased the “NOW 19” CD to add to the music that we brought along with us. And with this, I came up with my first post!

Most of you know that these “NOW That’s What I Call Music” compact discs are filled with current popular singles – mostly pop and rap music. I was amazed to see that mixed in with all of the songs in English was “La Tortura” in Spanish with Shakira and Alejandro Sanz!

Many Latin singers have broken into the US market in the past such as Ricky Martin, Thalia, Enrique Iglesias and Shakira. (I guess one of the first would have been Julio Iglesias?) All of these singers have had hit songs in the US…but traditionally these songs have been in English.

The fact that “La Tortura” was released in the US in Spanish indicates a shift in the level of acceptance by the American culture. In almost any other country in the world you will hear songs in various languages, one of them almost always being English…because many popular songs come from places such as the US and the UK. However in the US, if anyone has ever wanted to break into the American market, the song had to be in English.

Congrats y Felicidades to Shakira & Alejandro Sanz. Also check out Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” and duet with Puffy Daddy at this year's Billboard Latin awards.

Need a little time off...

2005-06-20T12:38:00.000-05:00

I'm planning on taking a couple of days off of blogging, because I'm trying to prepare for my move, and I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day!

If anyone would like to "guest blog" here on Trendy Tendencias, I'd be glad to have you!

Otherwise you might want to browse around some of the trend sites that I have linked to on the sidebar. Don't forget that I am also now a contributor at PSFK, and you can check out some of my previous posts there.

Thanks, and if you'd like to contact me, just leave a comment and I'll get back in touch with you.

Rebecca

Diabetes in Mexico

2005-06-14T15:59:00.000-05:00

El Universal recently published an article discussing the sharp increase of Diabetes in Mexico. One of the biggest reasons this is happening is related to a previous post of mine on the increased consumption of Instant Soups - dietary habits are drastically changing, and not for the better.

From the article:

"According to the Mexican Health Secretariat, the number of patients with diabetes grew seven times in the last 20 years, making the disease the fourth highest cause of death in Mexico."

If this problem continues to grow, it will cause serious economic hardship for the healthcare system here in Mexico. Education is also going to be an issue, as it is estimated that 35% of diabetics in Mexico don't even know they have it. Of all of Mexico, the border areas are the most at risk and have higher rates overall of Diabetes and obesity.

Technorati Tags: Diabetes, Mexico

First Time DVD Releases: Mexican Films

2005-06-13T18:24:00.000-05:00

Univision is getting into the DVD business and will be soon releasing some Mexican films from the 80s & 90s. The DVDs will be sold in stores such as Wal-Mart & Best Buy for $9.99. Basically, as the Sun-Sentinel article points out, the Hispanic market is no longer a "niche"...this is a real market segment with huge buying power.

From the article:

Jerilyn Kessel of Centris Research recently conducted research that shows
Hispanics bought slightly more DVDs per month than non-Hispanics and also rented
more discs per month. Yet only 1 percent of the 1 billion DVDs sold in the
United States last year were in Spanish.

Technorati Tags: DVD, Hispanic, Mexican

Hispanic Population Growth

2005-06-10T17:56:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been all over the news this week that Hispanics are now 1/7th of the population in the US.

I doubt that it comes as much of a surprise. I grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and when I was in high school about (wow) 10-14 years ago, I knew ONE girl that was Colombian. ONE. That was the whole Hispanic population that I was familiar with. Sarasota is on the Gulf of Mexico, the opposite coast from Miami...and it was very different then. Now, on my recent trip home, I would go to the bank, Wal-mart, etc. and I was definitely hearing more Spanish spoken than English. Sarasota even has its own tortilleria now.

Things have changed. And from what I'm seeing, most people are embracing this change. That is great news!

So what does this big change in the US population mean? Well, it seems to me that we are really seeing the "Melting Pot" come to life again, as it did when my grandparents were growing up. I, an American, am married to a Mexican. I never thought of ourselves as an "interracial couple" but I guess we are. As some people and articles are saying the "face" of America is changing.

One thing I hadn't thought about until I was reading it this week, without this population burst from Hispanics, which is based partially on immigration and partially on child births, we would be a very "old" country right now. Our baby boomers are getting older, and without this growth in population, we would really have a different economic outlook on our hands - too many retirees and not enough young blood to support them. 73% of Hispanics are under the age of 40.

I'm looking forward to see what's in store for the US in the next generation or so. I expect a lot of changes, but I believe they will be for the better. Plus, it's always fun to see multiple cultures combine, hopefully drawing on the best aspects of each.

Technorati tags:Hispanic, Latino, Population

In personal news, I am planning to move soon from Mexico to Miami, but will definitely be planning on keeping up with this blog. I also am now a contributing author for another trend site PSFK. Check it out.

Personalized Funerals

2005-06-09T09:15:00.000-05:00

I wrote recently about the ultra-customization of all sorts of products and services, and how everything seems to be moving towards a niche market. People are demanding personalized services, such as this USA Today article discusses: Personalized Funerals.

This US trend is only just beginning. Options include sending ashes into space, using the ashes to create a cultivated diamond, and creating an artificial coral reef from the ashes. Customized caskets & memorial services, both created to represent the life of the deceased, are also increasingly popular. The trend is said to be because of the demands of the baby boomers.

Cremation is becoming increasingly popular, and it is estimated that over 40% of Americans will choose cremation by 2025.

In a comparison with Mexico, we recently had a death in the family, and I was amazed at the difference in the actions that we took. Once the body arrived to the funeral home, it was placed in a casket in a room that was for our family and friends. This occurred at about 9pm. Many people stayed all night long, others left late and returned early. Every once in a while a family member would recite the rosary. We were there until the scheduled cremation at about 2pm the following day. After the cremation was complete, we received the urn, and we all left. Most of Mexico is Catholic, and it is customary to have 9 days of mass following a death.

I don't see it likely that Mexico will follow this funeral personalization trend any time soon.

Technorati tags: Funerals, Cremation

Piracy

2005-06-08T15:56:00.001-05:00

Piracy in Mexico, and many countries like Mexico has always been a big problem. A country where the law is at times very flexible & salaries are low...becomes a formula for piracy.

Here in Mexico City you can get DVDs of movies that are in the theaters, CDs, purses, and all sorts of other knock-offs. (Although I'm sure in New York you can find the same things.) However this recent article about piracy in Mexico I found quite interesting.

Tidbits of note from the article:

300,000 people in Mexico are selling pirated products for a living
New products are now being pirated: Condoms (which imposes a health risk)
Pirated CDs account for 60% of music sales in Mexico

Mexico has recently engaged in what I think/hope will be a fairly successful anti-piracy campaign. The slogan that is kind of repeated throughout translates to the effect that Pirated movies look bad (quality of the picture), and by buying them, it looks bad (they are really showing how it's hard to teach your kids right and wrong if you bend the rules on things like piracy).

Technorati tags: piracy

Housing: Hotel-Condos

2005-06-06T18:42:00.000-05:00

This hotel-condo hybrid is becoming very popular around the US. Basically, you can purchase a unit in a Four Seasons, for example, and when you are not using it, they can rent it out...and you can get about 45% of the income.

The media has been all over this in the last couple of weeks. Check out the USA Today article, this Chicago Tribune/Times Argus article.

The prices for these units are much higher than if you purchased a similar sized unit in the same city, and I believe that maintenance fees apply for when you are occupying the room (I imagine to cover your linen service, breakfast and other hotel services). People are buying them for the potential investment income, and the services.

With this business model the hotels are sharing some of the investment risk/burden with the private investors.

Technorati tags: Hotels, Housing, Condos

Wine Trends

2005-06-02T16:25:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to cover this topic for a while. It seems like every time I turn around the last couple of months, there are more changes going on in the wine industry. Here I have compiled a few items that go under the topic of "Wine Trends".

US Supreme Court allows direct shipping for out-of-state wineries.
This is great news...and should help the wine industry overall. Now you can order directly from your favorite winery and have it delivered to your door. It doesn't matter that the winery is in California and you are in New York. This will help the small "niche" wineries stay alive & grow, as well. I guess it helps all of these "Wine of the Month Clubs" as well!

Screw Caps are going to take over the market. Goodbye corks!
Okay, first of all I never knew that cork comes from special trees, and that it is quite a process to create a cork. And there is somehow a stigma attached to screw cap wine...do most of you think of Boone's Strawberry Hill? (On a personal side note, a friend called me up in college and said "I found the coolest thing, it's called Boone's, and you get a whole bottle for $1.50, and it doesn't even taste like alcohol!")

Anyway! They have just completed a 5 year study of Screw vs. Cork and found that the screw cap actually allowed the wine to age more evenly. It's time to stop associating these caps to cheap wine...many wineries are bottling even their reserves with this cap. There is still some debate, however, in how the screw capped wines will age over many, many years. Another article on the topic tells us that 95% of wines purchased are consumed within 8 hours...so apparently this aging topic will not be an issue for the "common" wine drinkers.

High Alcohol Wine
This trend is apparently being demanded by the consumers. This higher alcohol wine is created by leaving the grapes on the vine longer, so that they are "ultra-ripe", which in turn causes them to lose some of their water content. Basically what I understand from the article on the topic is that the smaller vineyards that are doing this are therefore not receiving as much product from the grapes, costs go up, and it's making it really difficult for them to make a profit.

Largest winemaker aims to pick off No. 2
Just some wine industry news that the #1 Winemaker is trying to buy #2.

I guess that's it for Wine Trends! We can't forget the recent film "Sideways" which I understand has really created a lot of demand on the wineries in the region that was visited in the movie.

Technorati tags: Wine, Corks

Sudoku

2005-06-01T15:31:00.000-05:00

I hadn't heard of this until I read the "My Days Are Numbered" article in Slate...and I can see what all of the fuss is about! Basically a numbers/logic game that is really hot in the UK right now is going to come to the US, and I assume the world, rather quickly.

The basics: The game is a grid that consists of nine boxes (3x3), and each box has nine squares (3x3). They pre-fill in some numbers for you, and then you need to fill in the rest, making sure that in each box, row and column the numbers 1-9 are used only once.

It's fun, and I can see that probably at least 50% of us will receive a Sudoku book, daily calendar, or some other Sudoku merchandise as gifts once the holidays roll around.

The fact that it's a numbers game will also going to help the craze go worldwide in no time, since no translations will be needed.

Where to check it out: Daily Sudoku, Sudoku.com (which at the time of post is not currently working)

I'm still trying to figure out if there is any opportunity left in this market, as it will be big, and then it will fall...kind of like those pictures you had to look at really hard to see something else (I NEVER could), and Where's Waldo...Although I'm sure it will have it's lifelong fans, and maybe will live a long life next to the crossword and the word jumble.

Technorati Tags: Sudoku

Sending Money Home II

2005-05-31T08:41:00.000-05:00

First of all, I'd like to say that if my posts seem somehow lacking a certain "umph" lately, I'm sorry. I'm totally distracted and hope to explain the details on why soon!

I'm just going to revisit one more topic, and hopefully tomorrow I'll start out again with new material. It's not for a lacking of topics, I have a list of probably about 20 things I'd like to discuss, but I'm experiencing some sort of "blogger's block" lately.

I discussed earlier this month the topic of Sending Money Home...and what a big business money transfers from the US to Mexico is. Prices can be up to $16 or more per transaction. Well, according to a recent article that I have found, the US Fed is giving the banks a shot at this Mexico money transfer market. Mainstream banks currently receive a REALLY small percentage of this business (3%), and could charge only $4 to the customers making the transfer...and still make a profit. It only costs the US Federal Reserve $0.67 to make the transfer.

There are still problems to overcome such as trust (some fear being deported), and the fact that some banks will require Social Security Numbers (which many people don't have).

Still, it's a huge market, and the prices are ridiculously inflated, and it will be nice to see some cheaper competition come into play.

Technorati Tags: Mexico, Wire Transfers

Tagging

2005-05-29T21:31:00.000-05:00

Tagging, a way to categorize posts or other types of internet data, is becoming more and more popular. I only recently became aware of tags, and have decided to start trying it out with this post.

AP Story on Tagging...

Wikipedia definition: tagging

Technorati tag: tagging

Previous Post Updates: New News, Similar Trends

2005-05-26T16:33:00.000-05:00

Being gone for so long, I had TONS (100s) of my Yahoo Keyword News Alerts to review, and as I finally finished last night, I had about 10 new topics that I wanted to post about. But I also saw some similar topics that related to some posts that I had previously made. So I thoughts that I would revisit those for a minute:

1. In my Childhood Obesity post, I explored new businesses that are resulting from this growing trend. Well yesterday I found an article about Yoga for kids, that may not necessarily be as a result of childhood obesity, but could be a result of: A) a new fitness trend for kids or B) the fact that kids are just naturally more mature these days and may be subject to much more stress than we ever were.

In any case I think it's a great idea, because my 8 year old niece loves doing yoga with me, and I figured that there must be a specially designed program for kids.

2. In my Environment: Global Warming post, I started a series of posts, which I will continue soon, to talk about the mess that is happening with this planet. This week I came across another article that talks about how the Earth's surface is brighter now. While there seems to be some scientific debate about this that I'm sure I wouldn't understand even with more detail, this seems to mean that more heat is reaching the ground.

3. And finally, in regards to my post that actually got a little bit of discussion going (yeah!), Pregnancy & Ultrasound Centers, I found something that somehow I feel is "similar but different": Medi-Spas. The idea here is that you can do a little bit of shopping, go to the spa, go to the dentist, and maybe even get your annual physical exam all in one spot. I guess I'm seeing the similarities here in that Medical services are being customized, just like everything else right now (see yesterday's post).

It seems to me that most of the new services are really catering to the $$$ upper-class $$$.

These trends that I'm discussing are basically based on the US view. I still haven't seen anything like these topics in Mexico yet.

Customization, Design Your Own Stuff & Have Your Own Online Store

2005-05-25T15:28:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of combining 3 trends into one post here, because I feel like they can be very much related. Look at a company like cafepress.com where you can create your own T-Shirts, have your own online store, or buy any one of their 8 million existing products.

As you look around the web (and even my own blog) people can set up their own shops, be it through Amazon or any number of other sites such cafepress mentioned above...and it's quite easy! A Blogspotting post talked about this last week...and if it poses a threat to eBay.

And we are also seeing a huge "customization" trend...Customers designing their own products or having ways to give their input to the companies that they frequent.

Customization of motorcycles is creating a challenge for mechanics, as well. This trend is said to be related to the program "American Chopper", and I imagine that "Pimp My Ride" is doing the same for cars!

So bringing the two topics back together: You can make your own products and easily set up your own online store...and at the same time we are seeing a big demand for anything "unique". Normally unique = expensive but I think some companies are figuring out how to still be original on a budget.

And just to let everyone know, I was traveling the last couple of weeks and am now back home...so I will be back to daily posts again.

Teen Pregnancy

2005-05-18T22:40:00.000-05:00

I've been reading recently about a new sex-ed film that is being released to the schools in Texas - Toothpaste - made by students living near the Mexico border...in an area where 3.7% of the girls 17 or under get pregnant. That is the highest rate in Texas, and one of the highest in the USA.

I see huge amounts teen pregnancy and "surprise" pregnancies happening here in Mexico, as well. And as surprising as it might be to some people...I really believe that many people do NOT know about condoms, or understand their importance.

There is a huge education gap here, and it's bringing a lot of babies into this world before the mothers are ready, and before they finish their EDUCATION.

You know, I actually see billboards for condoms in Mexico City, and the marketing is totally different than it is in the US. It's a picture of a family, and it discusses the benefits of keeping your family smaller, in order to provide them a better life.

There is a huge amount of opportunity in the US Hispanic market and in Mexico to educate the population, and provide birth control and other related products and services. Additionally, lowering these pregnancy rates will allow the economy to improve, as these mothers can finish school, get better jobs, and plan their family.

Environment Series,# 1...Global warming, worse in Mexico City

2005-05-16T14:30:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to address the environment and Global Warming, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to start the discussion. Let me first just say that I'm freaking out about the environment. I'm in the US this week, and I just can't get over the amount of trash that is being created by Americans, in the name of convience. (I mean, individually wrapped orange wedges??) But, of course, the US is not the only to blame...we are doing it all over the world.

So even though I'd love to address a trend that is leaning towards protecting the environment (we could talk hybrids, but there is nothing new to report there), I sadly have to discuss the trend that has been created by such a mess in this world...global warming.

I just found an article stating that the world's average temperatures have risen about 0.6 C (~1.1. F) in the past 100 years, while the temperatures of Mexico City have risen a whopping 4 C, (~7.2 F)! This rise is attributed to the removal of trees for more concrete & buildings, which affects the weather, etc. We should expect record highs & lows, and weird weather phenomenons such as floodings. They predict that over the next 20 years the temperature could increase another 2 C (3.6 F).

The fact is that even if only a few people are paying attention to the environment now...we will all be forced to look at it in the future. We NEED to support alternative energies and recycling, save forests, and anything else that we can think of to save this planet.

And I know, money talks...and getting in on this now, in any way that you can, will pay off...because soon we will have no choice!

Instant Soups

2005-05-15T23:17:00.000-05:00

According to an article in Mexico's newspaper El Universal, popularity of instant soups among the poor in Mexico has grown huge amounts in the past years. Governmental support programs have decided to include the instant soups in their food packages.

There is a concern about the low nutritional value of these soups. Malnutrition in children is rising, childhood obesity is also becoming a problem, and these soups don't provide the vitamins & minerals needed. Instead of urging people to eat something different, some people support the idea of making these instant soups more nutritional.

From my personal view, these soups seem to be growing more popular across the world, as people become more and more limited on time. If you look at the back of the packages, they have maybe 10 or more grams of fat in just one cup! (Despite that fact,I do buy them for my husband for emergencies if he can't leave the office for lunch...because there is really nothing else!)

Hispanic Marketing Case Study: Publix Sabor

2005-05-12T23:37:00.000-05:00

Well, as I mentioned, I'm currently traveling. I'm actually on vacation and at "home" visiting my family in the US. I'm from Sarasota, FL, and growing up we did not have much of a Latin influence in my city. (We are a city on the Gulf of Mexico, the other side of the state from Miami.) So much has changed since I lived here. There are various special small Latin grocery stores, a REAL tortilleria, and a weekly spanish newspaper. I went to the stores and bank today and was amazed that I heard just as much Spanish being spoken as I did English. This is such a change from just 5 or 6 years ago!

A large grocery chain in Florida is Publix, and they have been planning & developing a new store style built to attract more latino customers for about 2 years...and it has finally launched: Publix Sabor. The differences in this store and other regular Publix stores includes: bilingual signs, large perishable departments including over 50 recipes for the deli department, store layout, and bilingual staff.

According to various articles I've read the "analysts" are betting against the stores' success, stating that other companies have tried it and miserably failed. (With the exception of HEB, which would up also moving into Mexico and becoming oner of the large supermarkets in a city that I lived in: Monterrey.)

My guess? I haven't seen the store, so it's kind of a tough call for me. I'm going to bet that it's mostly going to be a marketing game here. If they figure out the right way to approach the hispanic market while at the same time being an attractive place for "gringos" to shop...they'll do all right. But I really can't predict the future on this one. I hope it does well. I think it's kind of a cool concept, and it would be nice to have a company succeed so that others have someone to learn from. In the end, I think that this might represent a general shift that we will see over time...and someone has got to get it right sooner or later!

I'll be following their progress, and we'll try to revisit this Case in a few months.

Chill-Out Music

2005-05-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

I personally started hearing about "Chill-Out"music about a year ago. (It's called "Chill-Out" in Mexico, too.) Now I'm totally into it. For those of you not familiar, it's just cool music that you would probably hear in a lounge...nothing intrusive...just chill!

The interesting thing that I have found about this trend is that the music has actually been around for a long time...a lot of the songs that I listen to in a chill-out mix are from the early 90s...it just took a while to catch on. Apparently it has European roots, but now people are creating it all over.

Check out this article on the topic.

And in other news, I'm currently traveling for the next week or so, and will be trying to keep up with my posts, but please don't abandon me, I'll be back soon! -R

Pregnancy & Ultrasound Centers

2005-05-06T20:08:00.000-05:00

As far as I know, this is a pretty new trend...I just came across it today. Basically, in the US, these Ultrasound & Pregnancy Centers are popping up. They are not doctor's offices and do not offer medical services, but they are a place that you can go to get 3-D and 4-D images/videos of your unborn baby. They can tell you the sex of the baby, as well. In addition to these ultrasound packages that start at about $150, some of these places are retail stores for baby products as well.

All of the stores seem to use the same machine, the GE Voluson 730, which seems to start pricing at around $55,000.

It seems like it could be a great concept in a very high end market. I imagine main competition would be the doctor's office.

Check out these articles and store websites:
Article: Shop caters to expectant parents
Store in NJ: Envision Ultrasound
Store in FL: Look Who's Kickin'

Thanks for visiting...

2005-05-06T11:51:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, I have been getting a ton of traffic since Neville mentioned this blog on his site. I'd like to thank you for visiting, and please leave comments, thoughts, ideas...anything. I'd love to get some feedback.

Also, I'm just playing around with some advertising on the site, but if anyone thinks it's a terrible idea or ruins the site, etc...write a comment to let me know.

Thanks again for dropping by, and I hope you come back to visit again!

-Rebecca

Childhood Obesity

2005-05-05T18:49:00.000-05:00

We've been hearing a lot lately about childhood obesity, and how it's become such a problem. I think that some of the reasons are obvious: diet, less exercise, etc. What is interesting, though, is to take a look at how some people are turning this into business opportunities. And the best part is, it's a win-win situation: thinner kids, and a little bit of profit for their pockets!

And don't think I'm just talking about the US here. The US is the #1 Fattest country in the world, and guess what? Mexico is #2.

So what are people doing about it?

Business Opportunity #1: Fun gyms designed for kids.
Take a look at this article where a UK Mom creates gym for video game-loving kids. They use the Playstation Bikes, which I had never heard of before, so that the kids are exercising while they play! Also using the dance pads and offer classes. And here's another story about a different kids' gym in the UK.

Business Opportunity #2: Healthy Vending Machines at schools.
Basically, some schools are trying to take out the soda and potato chips from the vending machines, and in turn they are offering "Healthy Alternatives" such as smoothies, granola bars, etc. Here is an article about a school that did it on their own and another about a Vending company that made the change.

Sending Money Home

2005-05-05T08:53:00.000-05:00

Reading Neville's comment on my It's a bit obvious, but...blogs post, I decided that today I should focus on a trend more focused on Mexico.

In 2003, Mexico received $13.4 Billion US Dollars in Money Remittances from outside the country. Almost all of this money comes from relatives that have gone to the US to work, with the purpose of sending money home to help pay for food and other household expenses.

70% of this money is received in only 10 of the 33 states in Mexico. The top five states include: Michoacan, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Mexico, and the Distrito Federal (Mexico City). 18% of all adults in Mexico say that they are receiving money from relatives abroad.

The average deposit is $320 USD, and the cost to send is running around $13 USD for that transaction. Almost all of the money is sent electronically now, however 64% of the people receiving the money don't have bank accounts. They pick up the money at convinience stores, stores that specialize in money transfers, etc.

Mexico holds the #1 spot in the world for Amount ($$) received.

The people sending the money will typically have an education level varying from Elementary school to some High School. Their average income is $15K-25K USD, and they have plans to return to their country some day.

The sources for all of the stats that I am providing here can be found on the links on this page from the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior, and some of the documents are in English.

I once heard that the #2 income for Mexico comes from these remittances, only behind petroleum. Although I believe it would be difficult to break into the well-established market of "money sending", there are many opportunities that could be found through this trend...including helping these family members communicate with one another.

Any thoughts?

Handbags

2005-05-04T14:52:00.000-05:00

US: Women are willing to pay in the hundreds and thousands for a designer handbag, according to the Hottest Trend? Handbags are a shoo-in article.

Mexico: Follows a similar trend, although I personally find it hard to distinguish the originals from the knock-offs.

Cereal Mixing

2005-05-04T14:39:00.000-05:00

I heard about a new chain of cereal stores a few months ago - Cereality, and I have to say, I think it's a fantastic idea, and I think the price is right.

The concept: Mix 2 different name brand cereals, add the toppings that you would like ("The toppings bar has everything from malted milk balls to fruits and nuts."), and milk!

I also saw a "cereal mixing" reference on the Gilmore Girls the other day.

Mexico: Cereal isn't as big here, so I don't know if the idea would take off. Although, I think that in any location full of a bunch of hungry people, low on time, could probably be turned into a success.

FedEx'ing Luggage, instead of checking-in

2005-05-04T14:01:00.000-05:00

I heard about this during the Oscars. You know how you see photos of celebrities in the airport, but without luggage? From what I've heard, many are now sending their luggage in advance through FedEx, so as not to have issues with lost bags in baggage claim!

Up-side: I imagine that dealing with photographers, fans, etc...it's probably easier to move around without big suitcases.

Down-side: Packing ahead. Plus, it seems a little wasteful.

LiveStrong bands

2005-05-04T08:44:00.000-05:00

"Wear Yellow", a popular trend stemming from The Lance Armstrong Foundation

Mexico: Almost every other person under the age of 30 is wearing the "original" Live Strong bracelet, or one of the different colored "copycat" versions.

US: I imagine the trend is the same. It's funny how something that started out as awareness & charity turns into fashion.

More than 40 million LIVESTRONG wristbands have been sold.

Tongue Cleaners

2005-05-03T21:41:00.000-05:00

Don't know what a Tongue Cleaner is?

These things have been around forever. I think they must have originated in India, because all of my Indian friends have used these their whole lives.

In the past month I have seen these recommended on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Emergency Makeover as solutions for bad breath and lowering bacteria.

These things are so cheap to make, and with the right marketing can really go far. I'm not convinced that anyone is really doing the right marketing on these things yet. If anyone is interested, I think I have a supplier/connection in India where they make them. I've been thinking of jumping on the opportunity myself.

Mexico: Unheard of. Would love to bring it here.

Podcasts

2005-05-03T21:23:00.000-05:00

US: I'm suddenly reading all over the place about Podcasting. And, you know, since Paris Hilton is doing it, I'm sure we'll be hearing even more about it in the future! I, however, do not have an iPod or any other kind of portable music player...so I can't really comment.

Mexico: I've only seen one person in Mexico with an iPod, but I'm sure there are more! Just saw an ad in a magazine for them recently. I'm sure we won't be too far behind on this one.

China

2005-05-03T21:07:00.000-05:00

China's hot. According to just about everyone, including my former employer, Jeff Immelt. I trust Jeff...a lot of my retirement savings is riding on it!

I'm trying to get into investing...trying to figure out where to put my money, etc. According to Slate: Go Work in China, Immediately. But don't buy any stocks from there. But about a gzillion China Stock blogs would tell you differently!

I'm still trying to figure it out...

Mexico: Tends to be very upset with China, because a lot of the work that was formerly sent to Mexico started to go to China a couple of years ago. End result seems to be that if it is, for example, assembly of something that would be very expensive to ship, or needs a short turn around time, we will still get the business...because China is just to far away.

Oh well, that's economics, folks!

Super Cheap DVDs

2005-05-03T21:04:00.000-05:00

US: What's up with the wide assortment of DVDs available for $5 USD and under? My husband & I, who are bargain hunters, used to have a price limit of $10 for DVDs. But new prices mean new limits, and we have dropped it to $5!

Mexico: Still not seeing anything like this happening here.

VoIP

2005-05-03T20:54:00.000-05:00

(Note: I noticed that my previous posts were too long...I never read that much. I will be trying to switch to a more brief post.)

I'm addicted to Skype. Being in Mexico, I used to be so disconnected from my friends & family, because all of us were way too cheap to pay international long distance. I now use it to make personal & business calls, and I use the SkypeOut paid service for really cheap rates. And I would have bought SkypeIn, but they don't offer the area code I'm interested in yet.

US: All signs point to the idea that this will be the new way we talk. It won't be long.

Mexico: Seems like we might have some trouble really getting on the VoIP bandwagon, according to: Mexico telephone operator under VoIP fire.

It's a bit obvious, but...Blogs

2005-05-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

I've been following blogs for probably about a month an a half now. Apparently I'm way late in the game, since it was 2004: Big Year for Blogs. Now I have to say, I have a personal blog, to help keep my family & friends updated, etc. I am by far the first person of anyone I know to have any sort of blog. Since I use MSN Spaces, most of them think it's just a new kind of online photo album. (Although I have to say that for ease of use, I love Spaces.)

US: Everyone is trying to figure how to use blogs to make money. I mean, that's what it's all about, right? When Business Week published Blogs Will Change Your Business last week, everyone was all over it. But we have yet to see the true impact of blogs. Like many new trends, there will be many blogs that are created and deserted the following day, but there are some that will survive and be amazingly useful.

I have kept my Favorite Blogs section rather short right now, because although I am following more than 20 blogs right now, I really only look forward to a small portion of the posts. Okay, well I haven't said anything new here that hasn't been said a million times in the past.

Mexico: The trend is just starting up here, and probably 99.99% of the population couldn't tell you what a blog is here. It will catch on more quickly here with the kids. Check out the links on the sidebar to Blog Directories, and compare the entries in the US version to the Mexico version. We're just getting started. Interesting read:Slowly coming to grips with international blogs from Business Week.

...Slightly off the topic: I'm currently starting a business here that relies on the internet for all of the purchases, and I am one of the very few in Mexico that will offer this. The culture here is becoming more internet savvy, but internet purchases are still not at all common. (Something you must know about doing business in Mexico is that the mail service is completely unreliable, so if you need to send anything, even a letter, it needs to go through a service such as FedEx. This really increases costs for a lot of businesses, and makes other business models from the US difficult to implement here.) And although Mexico is behind in everything "e", don't be surprised when they catch up soon. Telmex (Telefonos de Mexico) offers broadband service, restaurants around Mexico now offer wireless access, and even if people don't have internet at home, internet cafes are abundant and busy.

Trendy Tendencias

2005-05-03T19:44:00.000-05:00

My name is Rebecca, I am a 27 year old American residing in Mexico. I have lived in Mexico for 3 years with my husband, who is Mexican. I now live in my 3rd city in this country, so I have seen various mini-cultures. And finally, hablo español.

I have various goals in creating this blog:

Create a discussion around trends that I am noticing, both in the US & Mexico.
Find opportunity in the marketplace. I find that many trends that hit the US can be adjusted slightly for cultural aspects and (hopefully) successfully brought to Mexico.
Have readers that are actually living in the US point out trends that they are seeing. I live in Mexico, and am very "e" connected to the US, but I'm sure I still miss out on a lot of "pop culture".
Continue to practice my blogging skills, as BLOGS are one of the biggest trends out there right now.

Please comment on anything and everything. Point out things I have missed. Let me know if you agree or disagree. And of course, I'm always open to meet new people and discuss potential opportunities.