it's all about you

If you haven't already heard of crowd-sourcing, it's time to go back to school and enrol in Marketing 101. Because it's quickly becoming the favourite way for companies to suss out what consumers really want (or really don't want, in the case of Vegemite iSnack 2.0).

US online boutique retailer ModCloth recently launched its Be The Buyer concept, with the aim of "letting you, the customer, be a virtual member of our fashion buying team". So far they've uploaded 72 samples for the public to vote on whether they go into production or not. Once you've hit the 'Pick it!' button for the cute strapless dress that's whispering "office Christmas party" in your ear, you're encouraged to comment on the item and share your opinion via Facebook and Twitter. If an item gets enough votes, it forms an orderly queue on the production line and if you voted on it, an email will plop into your inbox informing you when it's ready for purchase.


The people behind the world's largest art prize (we're talking $250,000 Benjamins here) are also sipping from the crowd-sourcing cup, by awarding the prize to the artist with the most votes. Michigan's ArtPrize is open to anyone who wants to submit a photo, a sculpture, a painting, an installation ... anything that can be classifed as "art". You register to vote, check out all the entries, and decide on your favourites. Voting takes place in two stages over two weeks then the winner is announced. This year saw 37,264 people register and place 334,219 votes for 1,262 artists. The winner? Brooklyn-based professional-motorcycle-racer-turned-artist Ran Ortner, for his work Open Water No.24. Think you could do a better job (and are already mentally spending the prize money)? Entries for the 2010 Art Prize open early next year...

(photo via Flickr)

After all that fashion buying and art voting, you're probably feeling a little thirsty. But you hate being dictated to by snobby sommeliers who always seem to recommend wines you could only afford if your last name was Branson, or who are obsessed with Gewurztraminer when you're a Pinot Grigio addict. Kudos to L'Anima, a London restaurant who opened up its wine list to the public via its Wine Challenge, encouraging people to voice their opinion on which of the shortlisted wines should be added to the list when it was being updated back in August. Power to the people, y'all...



(thanks to Springwise)