Pizza.com Sold to Sedo for $2.6 Million

Pizza.com was sold a few days ago for $2.6 million to Sedo, the leader of the sale of domain names.

Its owner, Chris Clark, 43, bought the domain www.pizza.com in 1994 for $20. Those were the very early days of the Web.

Clark hoped to get a big contract with a pizza consulting company, but it never happened. Clark then sold his company in 2000, but not the domain name.

After realizing that the site vodka.com had sold for $3 million in December 2006, Clark thought, “Why not me?” So, he decided to put his site up for sale on Sedo.

The auction began 10 days ago, on March 27, at $100. A week later, the offer was increased to $2.6 million.

We do not know the buyer’s identity, but it’s no doubt that technology firms are constantly monitoring domain names on Sedo.

Internationally, sales of domain names are increasing, at least temporarily when this type of event occurs. Although today it is still possible to make money by selling domain names, I can assure you: all generic names are already taken, and have been for years -)

Barbecue Time

The weather was good this weekend in Montreal. It was like the sun in California, which we haven’t seen here in a long time.

It’s great! The streets were filled with so many people: pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars were everywhere.

OK, it was only 9 degrees Celsius, but apart from that, it was like … spring

I took the opportunity to buy an indispensable accessory that all good Quebecers must have: a Barbecue grill. I was looking for a large electric one, but it was impossible to find.

So I decided to buy this nice Ducane propane (a trademark owned by Weber, it seems). It’s a pretty durable piece of equipment if someone does not steal it to me. Still, I added a string and a cable.

Here I am, ready for the summer season! Summer, I am waiting!

Here are two pretty steaks sprinkled with onion soup mix, a delight!

Interview With RobotShop’s Mario Tremblay

Robotshop.ca is one of the leaders of online robotics. The following is an interview I conducted with its founder, Mario Tremblay. I would like to clarify that this article is not sponsored. I took the time to talk with Mario about Robotshop because I believe that this is an intelligent company at all levels: within its own sector, in Internet marketing, and through the vision of its founder. I discovered Robotshop through a co-worker who left the pharmaceutical industry to work full-time with her husband, who is none other than…Mario Tremblay.

Mario, you are the founder of an Internet site, Robotshop.ca, a leader in robotics. Can you tell us about the company, including its inception (which is part of the adventure), and how many employees you have?

Robotshop, Robotics at Your Service (TM) was founded in 2003. We specialize in robotic technology on both a professional and domestic basis. We offer a wide range of robotic products and services in this sector. Our head office is in Boisbriand, Quebec. Our mission is to provide companies with domestic and professional robot technology that will help increase individuals’ satisfaction, knowledge, freedom and security.

Our team is growing rapidly, and we are very versatile in our expertise; we employ technicians and engineers; robotics experts in Web marketing and logistics; and we also have sales and shipping staff. We are also working with consultant firms for specific tasks that we do not want to take on internally.

Since RobotShop is primarily a specialized online shop, what are your primary products, and who is your target audience: professional, for specialized equipment; or the general public, for domestic robots and toys? Also, whom do you serve? Quebec, the United States, or the International community?

Our clientele is very broad, including students and professors, laborers and blue-collar workers, innovators, “early adopters”, schools and companies, and institutions and governments around the world.

From a surface view, we do feel that RobotShop is primarily a specialty online store. But in reality, RobotShop was developed to distribute the outgrowth of robotic research and development (R&D). It was while we were developing R&D that we noticed shortcomings in the distribution of robotic goods to professionals. So, now we offer specialized robotic parts (microcontrollers, sensors, motors, etc.) Every day, through Robotshop’s Online Support Center, we respond to all sorts of questions about how to build certain applications, what products to use, and so on.

Admittedly, there is one aspect of our robot distribution that improves our everyday lives — the popular robot iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner; so far, more than 3 million units have been sold around the world. This is the first major success in the robotic “servant” field. We were the first to sell them in Canada and the first in the world to repair these domestic robots in our facility. At RobotShop, we bring robots back to life! (TM)

We also just made a breakthrough in the field of professional robots, a more expensive and robust class of robots that can be used in various applications such as surveillance, security, or even to oversee mine clearing. These robots also serve as a development platform.

That being said, our toy robots and the educational kits that are used to build them should not be neglected, because they are not meant to just amuse people while the robots’ batteries are being drained! Rather, they are used increasingly to train young people in our schools and to encourage their desire and knowledge to create. Kids love robots, and if this can give them a feeling of creating and inventing something useful for society, then that’s a very good thing.

I noticed that RobotShop has a strong presence in the sponsored links (Google Adwords). Do you have a big marketing budget, and have you developed a strategy for it on the Web?

We are investing a lot in marketing since the web is our main market. We have been committed to it in the past, and our consulting firms have recently decided to use our own internal expertise to build our own Web Intelligence Center. This department is expected to really grow and become the heart of the company’s strategic operations. Our goal is to become the world leader on the Internet in the field of robotics and domestic work. We are now preparing to take a dominant position. Our main strategy is simple: know yourself, know your field and know your competitors. With this information at our disposal, we can be proactive and in a position to prepare good action plans.

As I have already pointed out, you do not have an affiliate program, which nevertheless could serve as leverage in your online sales. Is this something you plan to initiate in the near future?

You know, there are different Web strategies. At RobotShop, we believe that good content attracts good links and, thus, good traffic. Tha’s how we’ve built RobotShop in the last 5 years. In recent months, we decided to develop and launch the new Web RobotShop platform, as well as the Forum and the Wiki, which will help build our community on the Web. Our programmers are actively working with the help of our robotics team to provide good content. The most important thing is that consumers find what they are looking for when they need it and at the price they are ready to pay for it. At RobotShop we strive to offer a pleasant shopping experience.

To respond more specifically to your question, we have considered an affiliate program in the short and medium term, but it’s not really a top priority. We don’t believe that this would be as advantageous as other ideas we are implementing right now, steps we are taking right now, but we do believe that this would be an asset at some point.

I see on your site that you are now concentrating on these matters, in particular (Specialists in Robotics, Internet Content, and Internet Marketing Strategy, in charge of Purchasing and Inventory Management), which is a good sign. Do you feel the company can develop this quickly? What about your sales, if that is not too delicate a question?

RobotShop is growing very rapidly, and by its own means. The company has a growth rate of 80 to 100% per year, which it has had every year since its inception. Also, all profits from the company, which has been profitable since its first year, are re-invested. Because we are a privately owned firm, I prefer to keep some things confidential, but I can tell you that the management team is made up of very smart people who complement each other well to make the best strategic decisions. In addition, employees are consulted and actively contribute significantly to the collective intelligence of the company. The continual hiring of skilled creative and visionary personnel is a priority. At RobotShop, we are invested in a mission, and all who are part of this venture firmly believe in that mission.

You should also know that many experts foresee domestic robotics as the next major industrial phase that humanity will experience. Our campaigns have been launched ; we have launched research in the United States, Asia and Europe to create robotic services for everyone. Major funding has been made available by the government to promote research and development, thereby increasing the expertise in technology integration dedicated to domestic robotics. Robotic technology will be everywhere, both to address environmental disasters, for exploration on land or in space, or simply to improve the conditions of the lives of human beings.

What is your long-term goal, and what are your most cherished wishes concerning RobotShop? Are you looking for exponential growth or a takeover by a big company?

Let me personally hope that RobotShop will retain its own soul. You know, there are so many companies that exist only to take advantage of people and are only there for the money. RobotShop is a fine company that has a great mission. I would like to live in such a way that we can all be proud of, and that our children and grandchildren will be proud of. Maybe that’s why it should remain a privately owned firm. You know, at a time when we lose our greatest corporate emblems to the hands of foreigners, and when our governments are trying to save declining industries, it is difficult to predict the future. But I can give you a clue: money has never been my source of energy. It’s the achievement that pushes me forward, and now with the team that we have put in place, I believe we can accomplish a lot of good things. I hope that RobotShop continues its expansion and becomes one of the “success stories” of tomorrow.

Thanks, Mario, for giving me this interview.

Google Expected to Cut 300 Jobs at DoubleClick

Google plans to eliminate approximately 300 jobs at DoubleClick, the company it recently acquired. This represents one-quarter of the 1200 Doubleclick jobs in North America.

DoubleClick employs 1500 employees worldwide. Employees outside the USA may be affected by this downsizing later.

Google also plans to sell DoubleClick’s Performics a search marketing/advertising firm on search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. Keeping Performics would put Google in a conflict of interest because it would be engaged in business on both sides of the table, essentially because of selling advertising space on its own engine.

Google shares are currently trading in the $460 range, after reaching a peak of $750 in November 2007, which is a significant plunge within just 5 months.

In addition, rumors are circulating that Google may also acquire Skype (eBay) and the online travel site Expedia.com.

No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, Atonement, Hitman, We Own the Night

Here are five films that I saw recently, and as usual I set my scores between 6 and 9.5/10. Below I will not mention them, or, if not…then that means I didn’t see them. It happens ; -)

And as usual, this is my personal opinion only. You may agree or disagree. Express yourself in the comments section.

My Panasonic wireless sound home theater system is quite nice, but I am not very sure about my 32-inch LCD TV. Too small. In fact, I preferred my big 48-inch projection TV I had 2 years ago. I would willingly sacrifice image quality to size now that I have a good sound system. OK, that’s enough. I will wait, that’s all.

No Country for Old Men 8/10

Frankly, regarding the style of the film itself, I like it at 100%. I love it. One recognizes the Coen brothers’ style, in that it is similar to “Fargo“. It takes place in America in the vast, deep desert (Texas) and shows the inevitable imbalances that can arise between money and social differences. Javier Bardem plays a really fascinating character, with a haircut no one can compete with.

In my opinion, this film deserves its 4 Oscars: Best Film, Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay. I think the end is rather abrupt…but it doesn’t matter. Here we do not have a story with a beginning and an end, but a piece of living, regional history.

Note: that this film is No Movie for younger audiences, due to its violence.

American Gangster 7.5/10

This is a very good movie, inspired by the true story of Frank Lucas. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s excellent. Denzel Washington plays the character very well, as usual.

Atonement 7/10

The trailer was so good that it raised the expectations of the film, leaving one to expect excellence. But it was deceiving ; I never saw excellence. What a disappointment. I expected a masterpiece, and I just saw a movie. British films are usually better than this, to me. It was quite the same style of movie as the 1993 “Remains of the Day” which borders on excellence. About Atonement, my rating fluctuates between 4/10 and 8/10, depending on certain sequences in the film.

Hitman 7/10

I was pleasantly surprised. I expected an unpretentious action movie, not so credible. But the final result was really fun. Inspired by the video game “Hitman: Contracts“, it’s a little like a Jason Bourne movie. Yet in contrast, the actor who plays Hitman is not as good as Matt Damon. It is just a different style. Bold as Bruce Willis but not as much virility as Bruce himself.

We Own the Night 6.5/10

What can I say? I like the script and the story, but the actors’ interpretation did very little for me. The parts played by Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg were not very convincing. Likewise for the police parts in the film.

Craigslist in French

The famous American Classifieds website Craigslist is now available in France.

It is also available in several other countries, such as Canada(Quebec), Belgium, Switzerland, etc.

Craigslist has not a nice design. It’s not that it isn’t very good ; in fact, it’s pretty effective and goes over very well — at least in the USA. But I’m not sure about France. Its success in France remains to be seen, largely because there are already tons of big players in the classifieds ad sector.

Also with this web design coming directly from 90’s, will it succeed in French language?

TechCzar Made Me An Offer

TechCzar made me an offer for my french blog vincentabry.com, but I am not very excited about it. VincentAbry.com currently received 350,000 unique visitors for March 2008.

(note: this blog Abry.biz is now adapted in english from vincentabry.com by Catherine)

TechCzar, a company I had never heard of, approached me two weeks ago to offer me a partnership with their firm and to become part of their network of blogs.

The offer would have resulted in a monthly cash income plus a free translation blog, available in nine languages.

The idea did seem attractive because there is a big name behind three blogs that are currently part of the network there: Jeremy Zawodny, the MySQL Guru at Yahoo. Its Blog is a top blog ranked among the top100 Cnet tech blogs.

Becoming part of TechCzar would also broaden the audience here, but I hesitated due to several things: first, each site does not take responsibility for its own translation — instead, they appear on TechCzar (Jeremy’s example is in French).

In addition, the header isn’t really impressive…and also, I wondered, what’s about SEO with a header ?

Finally, I considered the impact that such a partnership would have on the readership of this blog. Not sure.

Well even if the team at TechCzar appears to be truly serious and professional, for the moment I do not want to take the risk. I would prefer a partnership with a less intrusive and more fluid logo/header.

What do you think?

Note: Despite the Russian inscription on the logo, the company is based in California.

Yahoo Returns To A Neutral, Centered Logo

Yahoo is repeating history: The portal has decided to return to the logo it used in the good old days.

Personally, I do not like this very much. There is a lot of unnecessary, wasted space on each side of the logo. Too neutral.

Those who prefer a simplified Yahoo, like Google, can always find solace on http://search.yahoo.com/.

Blogoscoped has illustrated the evolution of Yahoo’s home page from 1990 to 2008: