When it comes to luxury brands, the ruder the sales staff, the better the sales. This is according to research from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.
Consumers who get the brush-off at a high-end retailer can become more willing to purchase and wear pricey clothing. “It appears that snobbiness might actually be a qualification worth considering for luxury brands like Louis Vuitton or Gucci,” says Sauder Marketing Professor Darren Dahl. “Our research indicates they can end up having a similar effect to an ‘in-group’ in high school that others aspire to join.”
For the study, participants imagined or had interactions with sales representatives – rude or not. They then rated their feelings about associated brands and their desire to own them.
Participants who expressed an aspiration to be associated with high-end brands also reported an increased desire to own the luxury products after being treated poorly. The effect only held true if the salesperson appeared to be an authentic representative of the brand. If they did not fit the part, the consumer was turned off.
“Our study shows you’ve got to be the right kind of snob in the right kind of store for the effect to work,” says Dahl. ■
Want to Optimise Sales Performance?
Companies can improve sales performance when they give more generous commissions to salespeople. This is more cost-effective than offering consumers discount pricing.
The new research was conducted by and Tat Chan and Raphael Thomadsen, both of Washington University in St. Louis. It focused on automotive sales at the dealership level.
Said Thomadsen, “The selling process is structurally modelled as a joint decision that involves two parties. The consumer makes the final decision. But the sales representative’s decision of how much service effort to invest in each product also influences the consumer’s choice. Sales representatives and their incentivisation through commissions has a powerful impact on sales performance. Our findings shed some light on how companies can strike the right balance to optimise sales.”
So think about better commissions for your salespeople, rather than discounts for your customers, next time you want to shift some products! ■
Get ’em While They’re Hot
Picture this: The sales are happening! Eager shoppers are lunging for the pile of shoes that are disappearing fastest, on the theory that those shoes are the best deal. They may not be the best deal, but the frenzy drives the sales.
This idea has led researchers from Monash University’s Business School to study this concept further. They say retailers should provide real-time cues about the number of items sold and current levels of stock. This kind of sales information is very easy to display in a retail environment or online.
In one study, participants were asked to decide between two unfamiliar but identically priced books. When sales levels were shown, the book displayed as having sold more was chosen 89 percent of the time. And when the stock level was displayed, the book showing fewer copies left was chosen 74 percent of the time. When sales and stock information were both presented, the book with higher sales and also fewer copies remaining was chosen 84 percent of the time.
So if you are a retailer, remember: Displaying sales and stock level information is an effective tool to influence consumers. ■
Café Hoggers are Bad for Business
Café conquerors are using gadgets and personal items like bags to hog café territory for hours. This is proving to be bad for business, as it scares other customers away because there is nowhere for them to sit.
The “plugged-in” customers are grabbing extra seats, counter space and tabletops by using mobile phones, laptops, bags and cups of coffee to keep other customers away from “their space.” This is seriously denting café profits, according to marketing professors Merlyn Griffiths and Mary Gilly, in the Journal of Service Research.
Solution?
The trend is forcing baristas to post signs limiting seating time. Some shops go so far as to limit access to wifi. However, by using hotspots, the café hoggers are free to flout the rules. A $5 cappuccino effectively buys a workstation for the afternoon. A single customer can turn a four-person table into a makeshift office for one.
So how can café owners discourage this behaviour so that other customers aren’t scared away? If you own a café and you are considering a refurb, then think about an interior design that discourages café hoggers.
Or create an out-of-the-way space for remote workers where they don’t hinder sales from other types of customers. Let’s outsmart the hoggers without them knowing! Happy selling, café owners!■
Pool overhaul time. Have you been a little less than happy with the look or function of your pool lately? Starting to wonder if it might be time for a remodel? We are here to help you make that decision.
Like any other feature of your home, there will eventually come a time when your own private artificial lake needs a face-lift or an upgrade. Here are the 5 most common signs that it’s time for repair or renovations!
Pool time! Winter schmzinter… get your face wet!
1 Your Pool has Cracks or Other Signs of Damage
If unseemly cracks or peeling are keeping you from enjoying your pool fully, you may want to consider a lining repair or re-tiling. An expert can evaluate the damage and tell you if it’s merely an aesthetic problem, or if it possibly has underlying safety or long-term quality reduction issues. Damage such as this sometimes leads people to decide it’s a good time for a total overhaul, while others choose to undergo minor repairs.
2 You’re Unhappy With the Appearance
If your pool was installed or updated over a decade ago, you’ll probably start noticing that it’s out of style. Also, personal tastes change over the years, and you may just find yourself longing for a different size or look. Many times, homeowners purchased their home with the pool already built, so they did not get to have a personal say in the design. A renovation can be a great opportunity to customise the pool to your preferences. Maybe that means new tiles or lining, a different shape, or adding a water feature or a hot tub. Whatever it is you feel is lacking, personal preference is a perfectly good reason to go through a remodel. Also consider that updating the style and adding new features will increase its appeal to potential buyers later on!
3 There’s No Modern Safety Features
Families with young children should be especially aware of the possible safety concerns that can surface as a pool ages. Newer pools include safety features that older ones are often lacking. A remodel would allow you to get up-to-date in this way by extending the shallow end, installing a better safety fence, or adding other needed safety features. This is a priceless type of renovation that will pay off for years to come.
4 Disastrous Energy Efficiency
Swimming pools built over ten years ago are nowhere near as economical and energy efficient as pools today. Though a renovation will cost you some money upfront, it will end up saving you in the long run as modern equipment allows your pool to function more efficiently.
5 Your Pool Needs Frequent Repair
If you find your pool is often out of commission, or you notice that you’ve been having to call for repair service more often than usual, it may mean that your pool is reaching an age at which it’s more cost effective and convenient to undergo a more major renovation, rather than constantly adding up small repairs. You may choose to replace just some of its main mechanisms, or undergo a more thorough remodel.
There is such a thing as too much pool
If you want more pool tips, log onto NW Pools. They have a fantastic blog with a lot of advice and information on how to keep your pool looking good.
Surf addiction? Looking for somewhere different with mind-blowing natural phenomena for some winter sun? Then consider a small Spanish-owned island off the coast of North-West Africa, it’s a surf heaven. Nicole Buckler finds the good stuff.
The capital, Arrecife, is not touristy at all, and you can find some excellent restaurants here.
Surf Lanzarote
Europeans, Scandinavians, and Russians know the island of Lanzarote well. The town of Puerto del Carmen on Lanzarote island is thick with holiday apartments built specifically for the package holiday traveller. Most of these travellers live in countries so sun-starved that tourists are there for one purpose – to get some solar rays on their skin.
Typical accommodation at the resort area of Puerto del Carmen
Perfect Surf Weather
Lanzarote is nicknamed the “Island of Eternal Spring” because of its guaranteed good weather all year round. A subtropical-desert climate can do a lot for the tourist trade. Such tourists don’t tend to leave the resorts much, or venture further than the unadventurous restaurants around their accommodation. All they want to do is uptake vitamin D while lying next to a pool. None of these people surf. So this means that if you are going to Lanzarote to explore the natural phenomena, then you will get an easy ride. You will actually get some sites all to yourself! We Gold Coasters are spoiled for sun, so we can concentrate on other things while there.
Because of its package holiday reputation, this is one of the most underrated places to holiday in the world. Outside of the McResorts is a natural wonderland of world-class beauty. The island is so spectacular, that it was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1993. And UNESCO don’t go around naming biospheres lightly.
A small church on an arid mountain in a tiny town called Femes
Volcano!
Lanzarote, one of the famous Canary Islands, has a volcanic origin. It was born through fiery eruptions. Solidified lava streams as well as extravagant rock formations are quite the sight to behold. And they can go on as far as the eye can see. Some parts of the island are so moon-like, that photos of the area were studied by Apollo astronauts before going to the moon so that they could get an idea of what they might encounter.
The otherwordly scenes at Playa de Famara
Beaches
The part-sand, part-volcanic-stone beaches are perfect for the barbequing of human flesh. This, combined with clear waters, makes Lanzarote the tourist attraction that it is. If you want to sneak off to a National Park beach, a must-see is El Papagayo, a collection of small bays with incredible crystal-clear waters and fine white sands — it could be the most gorgeous place on the island. Although, it can be quite a mission to get to it.
Papagayos Beach, inside a national park, is probably the most beautiful beach on the island
As well as needing a car (preferably a 4WD as the roads are not really roads at all), the best coves require visitors to climb down a sandy cliff to reach the alluring beach below. Only mountain goats or reasonably able humans can accomplish this feat. Clothes are optional here, so when in Rome…
Black Sand
Because of the volcanic history, there are several black-sand beaches on Lanzarote. This is an Instagrammer’s dream come true. If you’ve never seen a black sand beach before, you’ll be amazed when your feet sink into one. Check out the black sand beach of Playa Quemada (burned beach).
Another thing to know is that Lanzarote is one of the best surf spots in Europe. Known as the Hawaii of Europe, the best place to surf is Playa de Famara. It is a black sand beach under huge black cliffs that will seem otherworldly. It is not touristy at all in this area, and you can find some crazy little places to stay in Caleta de Famara, a coastal village next to the beach. But be quick, this place is starting to get on the map. In the last few years Famara has become the place to be for numerous surfers from all over the globe. The 6-star ASP event La Santa Pro is a leg of the world surfing championships. It was held in October at the beautiful beach of San Juan, a few hundred meters away from the village.
If you want to surf here, you can hire boards and wetsuits on the island. Remember, this is the Atlantic Ocean, not the Pacific, so the water can get cold at times.
Playa de Famara, said to be the best surfing spot in Europe.
Other Swimming Spots
The lagoon called El Golfo is something else. The neon-green body of water sits between a black beach and red cliffs. It started its life when sea water ran into an old volcanic crater. The green colour is from algae living its best life in the water. Around the edge of the lake, you can pick up pieces of a mineral called olivine – it is very popular with jewellery makers. Like vast tracts of Lanzarote, being there is like being on another world.
The strange colours of the lake at El Golfo
El Golfo is a small fishing village that retains an old-world feel.
The Hot Stuff
Timanfaya National Park is the hands-down highlight of any trip in Lanzarote. Timanfaya, meaning “Mountain of Fire” is one of the greatest geological phenomena you are likely to see. This region was devastated by intermittent volcanic eruptions, the last being in 1824. All life was nuked. The effect that this had on the landscape was, and is, incredible. It is a vast expanse of lifelessness that goes for as far as the eye can see. There are “seabeds” of dried lava which look like giant petrified slugs that go on for miles. It truly is an amazing place.
One of Timanfaya National Park’s spectacular craters.
At this strange-looking place, the ground is still scorching hot, so you aren’t allowed to just walk around like a lunatic. Any visitors must stay on a bus or be contained in guided tours. The ground is still so volatile and deathly dry that a human could die in a few hours of being lost in the park. But be sure to visit Timanfaya, you’ll feel small and unimportant in a good way.
The vast expanse of hardened lava seas.
As a side-note, the heat of the volcano is used for cooking steaks and fish in a restaurant on top of the lava flow, called, of course, El Diablo. More or less, the dead flesh is held over the lava until it is crispy and perfect. Free heat, I like it.
A restaurant in the volcanic area uses geothermal heat from the earth to cook up a Sunday roast
A demonstration of the geothermic activity is performed by throwing water into the ground resulting in a sensational geyser of steam
Wine Production
If humans ever wanted to learn how to grow grapes on the moon, they should come and see it being done in La Geria. This wine region looks like the lunar surface. It is desolate, seemingly dry as hell, and steep. But Lanzarote’s biggest wine-producing region has managed to make a wine industry thrive in the face of punishing adversity.
Lanzarote is windy. Legend has it that after several days in Lanzarote, the constant wind creates a biological response in humans of sheer anxiety. As well as allegedly making us all jumpy, the wind blows away the grapevine seeds before they can germinate. So the locals of Lanzarote dig deep holes in the hills of lava, and build rather odd-looking stone circular walls around the seeds so that they don’t blow away. These walls also hold in the scant dew that appears on the plants from time to time.
Crescent shaped, dry stone walls called zocos are built around the northerly edge of each grapevine pit to shield the vine from the prevailing winds.
Each zoco is built carefully to still allow the air to pass through the tiny holes and cracks to keep the plant well ventilated
It is truly extraordinary to see large expanses of these stone circles. But all the effort building these pods is worth it. The wine of lava from Lanzarote has a remarkable peppery taste and you drink a whole lot more of it than you remember, usually. If you ever take any of my crazy recommendations, take this one. It is seriously the best wine I have ever tasted in my life.
Water
Lanzarote is a “desert island” where most of the drinking water is imported in bottles. It is a seriously dry place where only cacti survive well. The rainfall is scant, but in Lanzarote there is fog fairly often, which is a saving grace.
The locals have developed an ingenious way of collecting water — they catch fog. They have erected huge vertical sheets of fine nets which sit on the tops of mountains. When the fog moves through the nets, it precipitates into water and runs down the nets into storage tanks. This technique of collecting “horizontal rain” provides an alternative source of freshwater. Along with the wind power turbines, the landscape is quite an interesting spectre, all in the name of living well in a harsh but achingly beautiful place.
The cactus is the most successful species on Lanzarote.
Cuisine
If you stay in the tourist towns, you can expect to be disappointed with the food. However, once you strike out into the areas where the locals live, you’ll be impressed.
The Spanish port areas sees the menu change to tapas, fresh fish and seafood cooked in the Spanish-Lanzarote way. And, you’ll find the famous Lanzarote potato with Mojo Rojo sauce — tongue orgasm kind of stuff. Anywhere out of the way, after a wild surf, is where the good stuff is.
A great way to see Lanzarote is to book a package holiday out of somewhere like London. That way, you get to see London and then you can get a cheap, direct flight from the English capital. Your accommodation will be thrown in for next to no extra cost. Otherwise, flights go from the Gold Coast via Doha in Qatar, while others are routed via Spain. Happy travels! ■
Museo Atlántico
This insane attraction is an underwater museum featuring more than 300 sculptural works by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor. It opened to the public in 2017. The art pieces sit 14 metres beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in Bahía de Las Coloradas, on the south coast of Lanzarote.
The underground art gallery is permanent and has been created entirely with pH-neutral materials. It is currently being colonised by marine life and makes for a spectacular dive in the Atlantic.
North-west Africa too far? Then how about Thailand?
The Gold Coast is a step closer to delivering a unique floating artificial reef that will attract tourists from all over the world. Last March, contractors handed in their visions for the new underwater wonderland. Everyone waited excitedly to see the ideas from the potential builders. Mayor Tate’s priority was nature. “The material has to attract marine life so that when we go down, we can say hello to all of the critters that live there.”
The Coast Dive Precinct is projected to bring $32.8 million into the region’s economy in the first 10 years of operation.
New Reef Attraction
The new tourist draw card is 3.5 km south-east of the seaway and 2.5 km offshore from Main Beach, at a depth of 30 m. Said Mayor Tate, “With 220 diveable days per year, this will be a unique attraction luring divers from across the world. It will offer something for all certification levels. From those who can descend to 8 m, right down to 30 m. A dive precinct will generate 166,543 new overnight visitors. It will inject an estimated $32.8 million into the region’s economy during the first 10 years of operation. We’re ready. The dive industry is ready. And the tourism and business sectors are waiting.
“The Gold Coast has delivered many world firsts. And this floating reef will take its place as an iconic eco-tourism experience unrivalled on a global scale.The floating reef will establish itself instantly as a must-do or bucket list experience when you are on the Gold Coast. Divers will be able to swim around and through the floating reefs. Over time, it will become covered in marine growth, attracting schools of fish and other species.”
Last month, Mayor Tom Tate and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon awarded the contract to Australian company Subcon Technologies Pty Ltd to deliver the City’s dive attraction.
What a Concept
The concept design is made up of nine buoyant ‘sculptural reef flutes’. These flutes are individually tethered to the seafloor by reinforced concrete and steel pyramids. They will create living sculptures, standing 16-20 m above the ocean floor.
Furthermore, Ms Scanlon said the artificial dive site would create 18 jobs during construction and 82 jobs once operational. “Today is a huge milestone. To see this project come to life will be a dream come true for many tourism operators on the Coast.” Renowned Queensland artist Daniel Templeman worked on the reef sculptures. He has brought his creative interpretation to the marine engineering capabilities offered by Subcon Technologies. It will undergo further design development in consultation with the dive industry reference group.
A Project by Subcon
Subcon Technologies have delivered more than 20 industrial-scale engineered reefs in Australia and abroad. Primarily for habitat restoration, diving, and recreational fishing. This will be their largest artistic reef. It will combine innovative technology and engineering methods to create a thriving ecosystem in a harsh marine environment. Other artificial reefs delivered by Subcon Technologies include Simpson and Hardy reefs in Hervey Bay and Turner reef off Scarborough. They are also responsible for the multiple installations off New South Wales, Darwin, Perth, Exmouth, and Mauritius.
The Art
Subcon Technologies CEO Matthew Allen said, “We’ve carefully incorporated features we know will rapidly recruit marine life, including fish, flora and reef invertebrates. It will be no time before the reefs are teeming with a diversity of marine life. This will create a living artwork of ecological ocean habitats.” Mr Templeman describes the dive attraction as “sculpture gardens, where simple geometric forms support the generation of marine life. The opportunity to create floating art for a floating audience is an exciting one.”
We just need to wait a little while longer for this project to be completed. Watch this space for more updates about this Gold Coast floating artificial reef! ■
The whiskey conference: This is now a thing. There are whiskey appreciators, whiskey connoisseurs and now, whiskey nerds. If you are all, neither, or one, then this is a “conference” for you, says Nicole Buckler.
The Experience
As you read this story, the Nth Universal Whiskey Experience 2020 is being held in Las Vegas. This is the 10th year of the event’s existence, and it is becoming quite the famous gathering for those who have a penchant for the finer things. But this isn’t just any whiskey—it’s old, rare and some brand-new whiskey that you wouldn’t get anywhere except at the conference.
The annual event is the brainchild of Mahesh Patel, who calls himself a “whiskey enthusiast.” Mahesh’s great passion in life is whiskey. A connoisseur and enthusiast, he frequently attends exclusive whisky events and gatherings globally. He has been a collector of fine and rare whiskeys for more than 20 years. He recently bought a bottle of The Dalmore Trinitas, one of the world’s most expensive whiskies ($230,500-a-bottle kind of expensive). That’s around $50k a glass.
Every year, Patel invites all of the famous whiskey makers to his conference and has asks them to bring their best and most rare whiskeys. Paying punters can taste excruciatingly expensive bottles by the dram (shot glass). This event is not for the faint of heart. If you are the type to take your clothes off and start poledancing on the nearest streetlight after three drinks (not naming anyone…okay me) then this isn’t your gig. But if you can pace yourself and enjoy that swirling feeling of burning old wood on your palate, then you’ll be just fine.
Admission
You can buy different levels of tickets to the conference. For example, the High Roller Ticket costs $4,150. This is only for the most passionate of whiskey aficionados. But, if you just like to dabble, a connoisseur day ticket costs $840. Every ticket gives you the opportunity to be exposed to drams you have never had, nor may ever see again. That rare bottle you’ve been dying to try? It will be there. Mmmm…I can taste it now (and will feel the room spinning later.)
For those who purchase the more expensive tickets, you can go to classes. It is like school but only much, much better. Whiskey nerds are very excited about the schooling. They blog obsessively about unique drams or tastings they are being exposed to by the educators.
These are the teachers you prayed for in school. They are master distillers and blenders, sharing a lifetime of experience and knowledge with guests…along with “super pours” (whiskeys valued at around €300 a dram). And you don’t just hang around some Las Vegas conference hall. Last year, whiskey conference attendees were taken to the Grand Canyon to sample a 50-year-old Glenfiddich. People stood around the giant natural phenomenon, while they drank “liquid gold.” Most of us call it liquid lunch, and sometimes, Burleigh Heads is just as good as the Grand Canyon. Cheers! But if you want to do it with like-minded whiskey nerds, then this is your gig.
Food Pairings
The organisers also feed you, which is probably an act of self-preservation. It’s gourmet, designed to match the whiskeys that are being enjoyed. It really is an all-round pleasure fest, and the Instagram opportunities are endless.
This month’s event will showcase the world’s five most expensive bottles of scotch: Dalmore Trinitas, Johnnie Walker Diamond Jubilee, Royal Salute Tribute to Honor, Macallan Lalique and the Glendfiddich Janet Sheed. The total value is over $2.62 million. If you love whiskey, then get on your private plane and get over to Las Vegas. Or you could fly economy and pretend you flew in your private jet. The whiskey will still be just as good. Happy tastings, Gold Coasters! ■
The Most Expensive Whiskey In The World
The Macallan 1926 60-year-old
This whiskey recently sold for a whopping $2.3million, breaking previous records of the most expensive whisky in the world. Christie’s of London moved this item at the Finest & Rarest Wines & Spirits auction. This bottle was part of a twenty-four bottle limited edition series. The ultrarare beverage was distilled in the year 1926. It sat aging in ex-sherry casks in Scotland for 60 years, until 1986, when it was bottled. The bottle was hand-painted by renowned Irish artist Michael Dillon. There is only one hand-painted Dillon bottle in the world, which explains its price.
The Macallan Valerio Adami1926
This whiskey fetched a whopping $1.7 million when it came under the hammer at Bonham’s whiskey sale in Edinburg, Scotland in October 2018. The bottle was designed and crafted by artist Valerio Adami. It was a limited-edition series – only twenty-four bottles were ever released by the brand. Of those, only 12 had Valerio Adami’s name against them. The whiskey was distilled in the year 1926 and is one of the rarest drinks on the planet. It was bottled after sixty years in the year 1986. It holds the reputation as being a unique blend of vintage and rarity.
Macallan “M”whisky
This whiskey recently sold for $964,200. The sum was paid by a buyer in Hong Kong in January. The hand-blown decanter created as much value as the whiskey did. It took 17 craftsmen over 50 hours to complete the final bottle. It is one of only four “Constantine” bottles in existence. The whiskey was aged in casks for 25 to 75 years.
Yamazaki Single Malt Whiskey Aged 50 Years NV
This is a rare Japanese whisky. It fetched $465,000 at Sotheby’s Finest and Rarest sale in Hong Kong recently. The Yamazaki distillery was founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii. It was Japan’s first commercial whisky distillery. This whiskey was matured in casks made from mizunara (Japanese Oak). Only three editions of 50-year-old Yamazaki were produced. It is one of the scarcest Japanese whiskies – the first edition consisted of just 50 vessels and was bottled in 2005.
The Dalmore Trinitas
This is one of the world’s most expensive whiskeys at $250,000 a bottle. It is part of a limited-edition series; in fact, the company had released only three bottles. Of those three, only one was available for sale. The whiskey was created from batches that have been preserved from 1868, 1926, 1878 and 1939.
Johnnie Walker Diamond Jubilee Whiskey
This is a snip at $240,500 per bottle. Assuming that there are 28 drams in a bottle, that’s around $8,590 grand a dram. It is held in a diamond-shaped crystal decanter made by Baccarat, with a silver collar set with a half-carat diamond. Only 60 bottles were ever made, making this limited-edition whiskey very valuable. The whiskey itself is a blend of grain and malt whiskies, all distilled in 1952. It was left to age in a cask of English oak from the Queen’s Sandringham Estate.
Other Swimming Spots 
