Facebook Hangers Show What Clothes People Like In Real-Time [PICTURES]

By Dave Smith | May 21 2012 10:26 AM

Photo: Reuters

Donald Trump blasts Obama, raises doubts about his birthplace

Billionaire real estate magnate and television star Donald Trump – who may or may not run for President on the Republican ticket in 2012 – has expressed his doubts about where President Barack Obama was actually born.

In an interview with ABC television, Trump said he found Obama’s background and childhood mysterious and strange.

Everybody that even gives a hint of being a birther … even a little bit of a hint, like… maybe, just maybe this much of a chance, they label them as an idiot. Let me tell you, I'm a really smart guy, Trump said.

I was a really good student at the best school in the country. The reason I have a little doubt [about Obama's birthplace], just a little, is because he grew up and nobody knew him. It's very strange. The whole thing is very strange.

Trump also highlighted how open he is about his own past.

When you interview people, if ever I got the nomination, if I ever decide to run, you may go back and interview people from my kindergarten. They'll remember me,” he said.

The so-called “Birthers,” whom Trump may be seeking to attract votes from, contend that Obama was born in Kenya and as such is ineligible to be President of the U.S. They also believe the birth certificate that shows Obama was born in Hawaii is a fake.

On CNBC, Trump also blasted Obama for not taking more direct steps to help Japan with its nuclear scare and not be on the golf course.

Wouldn't that be brilliant? Go over there and tell them, ‘We're here to help. We're here to do something,' Trump said.

Not be on the golf course…. You can't have the president of the United States working on his nine iron shots when Japan is potentially, I mean, one of the great problems ever. So I think maybe the concept — you're asking what should he do.. the concept of him getting on that plane and flying over for a two-hour visit would be brilliant, in my opinion.

However, Trump also lashed out at some of his fellow Republicans – including taking a swipe at House Speaker John Boehner for his public crying, criticizing Mitt Romney for failing to resonate with voters, and attacking Sarah Palin for quitting as governor of Alaska.

Photo: Courtesy

Facebook Hangers Show What Clothes People "Like" In Real-Time [PICTURES]

How does C&A's "Fashion Like" concept work? Essentially, the company uses special hangers that contain wireless devices that can display, in real-time, the amount of "Likes" each piece of clothing has received on Facebook.

Photo: Courtesy

Facebook Hangers Show What Clothes People "Like" In Real-Time [PICTURES]

How does C&A's "Fashion Like" concept work? Essentially, the company uses special hangers that contain wireless devices that can display, in real-time, the amount of "Likes" each piece of clothing has received on Facebook.

Photo: Courtesy

Facebook Hangers Show What Clothes People "Like" In Real-Time [PICTURES]

How does C&A's "Fashion Like" concept work? Essentially, the company uses special hangers that contain wireless devices that can display, in real-time, the amount of "Likes" each piece of clothing has received on Facebook.

Photo: Courtesy

Facebook Hangers Show What Clothes People "Like" In Real-Time [PICTURES]

How does C&A's "Fashion Like" concept work? Essentially, the company uses special hangers that contain wireless devices that can display, in real-time, the amount of "Likes" each piece of clothing has received on Facebook.

When you walk into a clothing store, there are a few ways to categorize what you're looking at: There are the featured items of the day or season, items that only look good on manikins, and items on the bargain rack. But how can you tell which items are actually popular with previous or would-be customers? Brazilian fashion retailer C&A has the answer: Clothes hangers that leverage the 900 million-plus users on Facebook to show who likes a particular item.

When women go clothes shopping, they always feel insecure and want a second opinion, C&A says in its promotional video. But one second opinion is never enough. So how about finding out what everyone on Facebook is thinking about a particular item of clothing?

C&A calls this new concept Fashion Like, which has debuted at the C&A Shopping Iguatemi in Sao Paulo, Brazil. C&A is likely to roll out this technology at its other worldwide stores in Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Russia, Spain, China, Mexico and the Netherlands, as well as several other countries. Unfortunately, the C&A doesn't have any stores in the U.S., so Americans won't get a chance to partake in this interesting social experiment without traveling abroad.

So how does C&A's Fashion Like concept work? Essentially, the company uses special hangers that contain wireless devices that can display, in real-time, the amount of Likes each piece of clothing has received on Facebook. C&A encourages fans to visit their Facebook page and like the clothes they like, for the sake of helping thousands of women in their difficult mission of choosing the ideal outfit.

C&A Brazil's Facebook page already has more than 300,000 likes, and there are plenty of women currently using the Fashion Like platform to like clothes and make suggestions for how to best wear those items.

While this particular promotion is intended only for women, this idea could certainly spark a social movement in the fashion industry, including both men's and women's fashion. It makes sense to use social networks to help customers make informed opinions about the clothes they buy -- especially since friends are extremely influential in the clothes we want to buy.

Global fashion retailers would be wise to pick up C&A's new Fashion Like technology, for several reasons. By giving fans greater access to what fans like on the Web, companies can boost the sales of individual items by lowering or raising prices for items based on their popularity (vis-a-vis demand), but they can also get a better idea of how to promote certain items across age verticals and receive greater insight into the sales themselves. Shopping has always been a social activity, but this takes it to a whole new level.

Check out C&A's video of the Fashion Like hangers, and let us know your comments and impressions below.