Contactless payment at NS retail stores
14-4-2014
Starting this week, it is possible for the consumer to pay contactless with a Maestro debit card at the NS retail stores in the Netherlands. Tomorrow, NS retail introduces the contactless payments in collaboration with MasterCard in the NS retail stores like ‘Broodzaak’, Smullers, Kiosk and Julia’s. The consumer can pay by holding the mobile phone or the debit card against the payment terminal. For an amount below € 25,= there is no PIN required. This method of payment saves time, particularly at the stations, where consumers are often in a hurry.
The espresso boys
14-4-2014
Tough guys and fresh espresso. The ‘espresso jongens’ (espresso boys) can be hired for any type of event, party, wedding or exhibition. The espresso served is made of sustainable coffee beans and they use a hand-operated pump to generate the pressure to serve the espresso. With the belt with cups, stirrers and sugar they have everything needed. The espresso boys can be combined with the ‘meisjes met smaak’ (girls with taste) to make a combination of coffee with something sweet and delicious. The ‘meisjes met smaak’ are known of the oyster girls, but can also be hired as macaron girl, pata girl, sushi girl, ice cream girl, brullee girl etc.
General Store and Co
11-4-2014
The quirky bar concept ‘General Store & Co’ in Melbourne sells goods, groceries and grog. The concept is inspired by the old American Trading Posts where grocers sold food, clothing and household items. Later this evolved into General Stores that sold everything including alcohol, groceries and all sorts of retail products. The General Store & Co in Melbourne has a full service bar and café, in-house barber, shoe and clothing store, a bookstore, a private courtyard garden and a grocery with a wide range of organic products. A meeting place for people, that starts in the morning with a cup of coffee and ends in the evening with a drink in the bar.
Vive le Vin wine bus
10-4-2014
Folkert-Jan Duynstee decided after his world tour in 2012 to do something with his passion for wines. In the France Burgundy region he found a Citroen HY Currus bus from 1964, the start of ‘Vive le Vin’. Vive le Vin is available for events throughout the Netherlands, such as festivals, receptions and weddings. The wine poured by Vive le Vin comes from countries around the world and is organic. Beside the wide range of wines, Vive le Vin also pours organic juices, beers, coffee and serves snacks and sweets. The bus has a heated tent and bar stools.
Rrroling Leiden
9-4-2014
Leiden is the Dutch food truck capital on 23, 24 and 25 May. The Pieterskerkplein in the city center will be full with delicious trucks including Choripan, Het Crepe Chalet, Fritez, Garbanzo, I scream for Icecream, Vive le Vin, Los Hapje Pasta Joe, YOOS, Mac & Cheeze, Grill ‘nd Smoke, Allegaartje op wielen, Dartel, Lizz Bizz, All Class, World Wide Wraps and WattSap. To subscibe with a food truck, owners can get more information on the Facebook page of ‘Rrrollend Leiden’.
Opening Crane hotel in Amsterdam
4-4-2014
Today opens the Faralda NDSM Crane Hotel in Amsterdam and is it possible to stay a night in one of the three hotel suites located in a historic ship’s crane (known as Crane 13). The suites are located at 35 to 50 meters high in the ship’s crane and offer a stunning view over the city and the IJ. A Jacuzzi is located on the roof in the open air. On 13 meters height Faralda Broadcasting Studio & Faralda Production Company is located. This studio will be used for productions of external parties, like TV programs and corporate events. In the past year the Frisian Franeker has restored and transformed the crane into the luxurious hotel with three high-end design suites.
Take-away star cuisine
4-4-2014
The Chabran Drive of chef Michel Chabran* is a take-away concept of his star cuisine. Customers can order by phone or internet and can pick up the dish within an hour at the counter. Customers can choose between entrees, main courses and desserts, like the croque monsieur, scallops and tarte sablée. Michel Chabran is not the only French star chef who makes his food more accessible to customers, earlier we spotted chef Michel Bras*** with his deli ‘Capucin Signé Bras‘.
Caffeine Attendant in public toilet
2-4-2014
After a two years of planning and renovation, the former Victorian men’s room in the heart of Fitzrovia (London) was converted into coffee shop ‘Cafeine Attendant’ with quirky features. The original porcelain urinals from 1890 have been cleaned and now serve as a seat and the old payment counter is transferred into a small kitchens. The coffee is made with hand roasted beans from the Caravan Roastery.
Bread cone filled with local produce
1-4-2014
In September, chef Michel Bras*** opened the deli ‘Capucin Signé Bras’ at the parking lot at the Millau Viaduct. The deli serves a variety of ‘Capucins’, that cost around € 7,=. A ‘Capucin’ is a crepe-like cone made of buckwheat and wheat, filled with local produce such as truffles, black pudding, foie gras, Roquefort etc.. A special variant of a simple sandwich. Michel Bras opened a second location along with his two sons and a local hotelier in Toulouse last January.
Spacified: the marketplace for pop-up stores
1-4-2014
Online platform Spacified.com makes a match between temporary vacant spaces and designers, retailers and startups in Belgium and the Netherlands. The vacancy rate in retail spaces and offices increase and this brought founder Patrice Fleurquin the idea to develop a matchmaking service to bring both parties in contact. Spacified.com doesn’t only support starters, but also stimulates the creativity to set up an office, retail or event location. Recently Spacified.com and Voka ‘Chamber of Commerce Antwerp- Waasland, launched the POP-UP Guide. This guide gives visitors an overview of the newest, hottest pop-up stores in Belgium and the Netherlands. Currently, the guide only focuses on consumers, but can also provide cities and local authorities with information about the pop-up stores on longer-term. Spacified.com started a crowd funding project to extend the POP-UP Guide for five cities outside Belgium and the Netherlands.
