The best thing about Google is the vast amounts of information it gathers and categorizes. If it’s out there, Google brings it back in its results.

The worst thing about Google is the vast amounts of information it gathers and categorizes. If it’s out there, Google brings it back in its results.

Therein lies the paradox.

Autobytel recently fielded a study that found that 7 out of 10 Americans suffer from what they’ve categorized as Search Engine Fatigue—a condition/malady/sickness/state of mind that comes from not finding what you’re looking for on the web.

Luckily, there is a remedy.

Search engine fatigue is the genesis of our site 3LUXE. We didn’t know the term, but we certainly suffered from it.

We (my wife, two kids and I) moved into a new house (new to us, really old in fact and needing lots of updating) in the summer of ‘06, which immediately put us in the market for a number of big-ticket items. Having to buy so many things all at once really brought into sharp focus that there was no one source that easily identified the best items for purchase.

To be clear, recommendations and reviews weren’t impossible to find.

Just frustrating.

And time consuming.

The search engines gave us millions of results, and the information existed within those, but it took a ton of time to winnow through the results to find those that were really relevant. And the shopping comparison engines were only of real use when we already knew what we wanted to purchase.

That’s why we created 3LUXE—we research thousands of products in hundreds of categories and only post reviews on the three we’ve found to be best in each category. We find these products through online and offline research, including personal use where possible. Essentially doing the research people would do if they had more time. With a goal of being the first place you go, before you go shopping.

Barry Schwartz of Swarthmore College wrote a book about how more is often less. It’s called The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less. It’s a great read and I highly recommend it no matter what business you’re in.

The main theme of the book is that when there are too many choices, or too much information, your brain can’t reasonably process all of the trade-offs that are possible. There are too many options to be considered. Too many variables to weigh. It’s nearly impossible for you to feel confident that you’re making the right decision. In the end, most of us make no decision (i.e. purchase) at all. The Autobytel/Kelton Research study showed the same result, 75% of those who suffer from Search Engine Fatigue get up and walk away from their computers.

That’s phenomenal.

That’s the paradox of choice brought to life.

That’s the reason why we started 3LUXE.

All the best,

Doug

Halloween is a last minute holiday for me (along with Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc). What I mean by last minute, if it were up to me, all preparations would be done on the 30th or 31st of October. Lucky for me, I have an incredibly organized wife who has had the kid’s costumes done for weeks, picked up pumpkins at the Farmer’s Market, and decorated the house. She even bought the candy a month ago – that one leaves me a little bewildered, we’ve had to restock once, and we’ll be picking up more Wednesday. What does that leave for me? Make sure we have batteries for the flashlights and if I’m really on top of things, buying a new flashlight.

As a kid, I remember the excitement of taking my dad’s flashlight Trick or Treating, rivaled the joy of stocking up on Snickers and Tootsie Pops. After all what is better for a kid than getting dressed up and having the green light to roam the streets after dark. It’s a once a year pass, and a trusty flashlight was always part of that ritual for me.

Flashlight technology has come along way from the Eveready flashlight I carried on Halloween years ago, but it wasn’t until 3LUXE completed our research for “Best Of” flashlights that I realized just how far technology has advanced. Check out the following flashlights, if you’re like me, you’ll save these for yourself and let the kid’s take out the old one:

L4 LumaMax Flashlight – This flashlight fits in the palm of your hand, allowing you to take it wherever you go. Even with its compact size, you don’t sacrifice performance. It produces a clean bright beam of light that outperforms a standard two D-cell flashlight seven times.

AE Power Light Flashlight – Oxo International prefers to call this flashlight a “personal searchlight” and with a beam that shines 3,000 feet, I understand why. With this flashlight I don’t even have to leave my yard to keep an eye on the boys (this tends to annoy my neighbors and all of the costumed beggars caught in the cross beam).

Lumaray FL 12-RX Flashlight – This LED Flashlight has 2 features I really like. The first – you can stand it on end and it’s bright enough to illuminate the entire room – perfect for power failures. The other feature I like is its slow drain battery feature, that not only saves battery life, but gives you a consistent beam over the life of the batteries.

Whatever flashlight you decide to take – enjoy the evening and have a happy Halloween.

All the best,
Bill

As a dad with 2 boys I’m always on the lookout for new and innovative toys that will be fun and stimulate our kid’s imagination, I discovered one today. I received an email this morning from Daily Candy Kids featuring kids crooked house. This is an outdoor play house that is straight out of Saturday morning cartoons. There is not a square angle on the house and they’re available in fun colors like “tigger” orange.

They can also be customized into almost any theme, my favorite is the castle, but I’m really wondering if they can make a Star Wars version, it would be EPIC… and the boys would be excited too.

The business is growing and I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a great product. Kids crooked house, recently beat out more than 9,000 small businesses to win Yahoo’s Ultimate Connection Contest, which will give them approximately $100,000 in marketing services – expect to see a kids crooked house popping up in your neighborhood soon.

Playhouses are not a featured on 3LUXE yet. Let me know if you think we should add them as a subcategory under Outdoor Fun, after all this site is for you!

All the best,
Bill

Who knew the internet was new new?

All joking aside, 3LUXE will be participating in The New New Internet (TNNI 07) Conference on November 1, just outside of Washington DC, in Reston, VA. In addition to being one of the largest technology shows on the east coast, what makes the show really interesting to 3LUXE is the Web 2.0 Application Showcase and Competition. The showcase gives new startups like us a large audience to show off our site, technology and ideas for growth.

TNNI 07 brings together new companies (3LUXE), technology veterans (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco), established companies looking to utilize Web 2.0 and the media. With the holiday shopping season upon us, the timing of TNNI 07 couldn’t be better. We hope to meet potential partners and introduce 3LUXE to as many people as possible, helping to ease their frustrations with holiday shopping.

• Most interesting technology
• Most likely to be purchased
• Best marketing message
• Best business model

We hope to be a crowd favorite! If you’re attending, be sure to give us a vote. If you haven’t registered yet, you can register here and save $100.

If you’re at the show, be sure to stop by our table. In addition to meeting Doug and I, you’ll have the chance to win one “Best Of” selection which we’ll be giving away. Check your tote bag at registration for more information – and don’t worry, we’ll ship it back to your home or office.

I hope to see you next week.

All the best,
Bill

Daily Candy today listed seven perfect places to get married. And as we always do, we made the tougher edit and culled it down to the best 3 places to host a wedding. And these three places are so captivating, you may want to renew your vows and say “I do” all over again.

We’ve shared how Daily Candy sees the pros and cons for each.

First on the list is: Santorini, Greece

“Pros: Have a big, fat Greek wedding at Katikies, a little gem in the cliffs near a volcanic crater, with unlimited amounts of ouzo and hummus, magical views, and impeccable service.”

Our take: Katikies is a stunningly beautiful hotel that has has garnered a lot of recognition in recent years. Including being a regular on the Conde Nast Gold list and T&L 500.

“Cons: You may want to go Greek permanently.” Not really a con at all is it?

Second on the list is: Santa Catalina, Argentina

“Pros: With gorgeous gauchos, polo matches, and delicious meats roasted whole on a stick, El Colibrí. guarantees a truly authentic experience (oh, and the dollar goes far there).

Cons: Your vegetarian friends could possibly starve.”

Our take: We agree. This is another amazing hotel from the Fenestraz family, with the others all being located in France—at least one of which is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. We’ve rated El Colibri as one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world.

Last, and certainly not last on the list is: Bali, Indonesia

“Pros: Meditation, yoga, volcano hiking, and rooms for $185 make Uma Ubud a relaxing place from which to start a drama-free life together.

Cons: Even frequent fliers might freak. (Just remind them of the miles.)”

Our take: Another oft recognized hotel from Como Hotels & Resorts that is well worth taking a look at.

No matter which of these three “Best Ofs” you choose to tie the knot at, or tie the knot again as the case may be, you can’t go wrong.

All the best,

Doug

I was talking to my six year old son tonight. One of those conversations you sometimes have as you’re laying with them just before they fall asleep. Somehow it came up, not sure why, but he told me I was the best dad in the whole world.

It was unsolicited feedback (this time), but he knows it makes me happy when he says it so he was probably just playing me a bit.

Given that, I decided to ask him why I’m the best dad in the whole world, and specifically to give me three reasons. Here was his answer:

1. You’re nice

2. You’re kind

3. (long pause) You’re nice to animals

There you have it. I’m nice, kind, and nice again.

When pressed to come up with something other than twice as nice, or nice twice, he thought a bit more and said because “you’re always happy.”

I can live with that.

If any of you doubt I’m the best dad out there, you can check with Bill’s 4 year old son for verification.

I’ve got his vote as well.

All the best,

Doug