We Are Q Inc.

3D printing is incredible, mind-blowing even! Does this mean, manufacturing can one day be a DIY endeavour? The answer is Yes. Here the designer prints a number of small and giant wrenches from a CAD design to workable wrench, complete with moving pieces. The wrenches are printed in the toughness and rigidity of commercial grade [...]

Brainstorming as we know it – is the harvesting of ideas (good and bad) through a non-threatening, non-critical dump of ideas by a group. Right? In the early 50′s, Alex Osborn of BBDO popularized Brainstorming in his surprise best selling book Your Creative Power. His ideas have permeated popular culture and even given rise to institutions like [...]

I’m excited to be moderating the Social Commerce panel at nextMEDIA conference in Toronto, December 6th, 2011. Post your questions to @marinamann We have a superb panel line up and what promises to be a heated discussion on social commerce including a few case studies, insights and strong opinions. Social Commerce, The New Normal Influence Economy  [...]

Recently I’ve been speaking and attending presentations on innovation and risks to innovation. Most likely because as the global economy shifts into a slower growth stretch, market incumbents face the fact that branding is not a guarantee and innovation is akin to survival. Of course idea generation is not easy, especially for corporations. Some corporations I’ve worked [...]

Every generation sees a few companies that create the new normal. For us it’s easy to argue Apple has made it’s mark on our generation. Here’s a previously lost video from 1984 where young Steve Jobs intros the Macintosh. I love the drama and the floppy disk! Thanks for all the fish Mr. Jobs!   [...]

Getting small businesses to spend money on advertising is hard work. Since its launch in 2008, Groupon has built a multi-billion dollar business doing it. However, despite the media and business success-stories, many small businesses and customer have surfaced detailed horror stories. Victims of their own group-selling success, some small business owners are no longer interested [...]

Innovation isn’t that complicated when you think about it. You could say, innovation is taking complicated business processes and reducing them to simple concepts. Google search – a blank page with a search box; Groupon – get your friends together to take advantage of a good deal (and take a big bite out of the [...]

Bixi Bicycles are coming to Toronto! Take a mental health break and chair sway to ‘The Bixi Anthem’ by Da Gryptions. I love the Expos jackets, Montreal lyrics and bicycle bells. If you love Montreal, this is guaranteed to make you smile (unless you’re a British subject). Minneapolis, Washington D.C., London, Melbourne and Montreal have [...]