What could be better than chocolate and diamonds?    Well maybe really great sex, but that’s not the focus of today’s email. But don't stop reading because the next best things are chocolate and diamonds.  The trend in marketing these days is that brands want you to “experience” them.   One of the ways they’re doing this is by creating a few select retail stores in major cities that showcase the “brand”.   Two examples are NikeTown and The Sony Store.  But the recent openings that got the attention of The Three Tomatoes  involved two of our favorite things, chocolate and diamonds.   The Hershey Times Square Store on Broadway and 47th, and the recently opened DeBeers boutique on Fifth Avenue at 55th   were on our “must check this out list.”   One recent summer’s afternoon we strolled up Fifth Avenue to 55th Street and, greeted by the doorman, entered the DeBeers diamond boutique.  Now keep in mind, that DeBeers retail stores are a new concept for the world’s largest distributor of diamonds. There’s a London store, three in Japan, and now the NYC store which opened with great fanfare and a celebrity red carpet, so we were anticipating a great “experience”.  Well, the first experience is that you’ve walked into a small museum.  There are several well-lighted glass showcases under which lie beautiful pieces of diamond jewelry including rings, earrings, charms, and necklaces with price ranges for each designer series on display (pieces start as low as $300 and go up to over $60,000.) The second “experience” is that you’re in a “well guarded” museum whose guards happen to be very well dressed men, hovering in corners, watching your every move, yet not acknowledging you.   Not a word.  Not a howdy- do, can I help you, nada, nothing.   Picture that great scene in Pretty Women when Julie Roberts walks into the snooty boutique in Beverly Hills.  Now there is a time and a place for that “hooker” look (usually best reserved for one’s bedroom), but that was not our look of the day.  There we were in our summer peasant skirts, Lilly Pulitzer sandals and Coach bags!  Feeling more than a little uncomfortable after about just a few minutes of looking around, we left, and were bidded adieu by the doorman-- the only person who spoke to us.  Where is Richard Gere when you need him? Let us tell you this DeBeers, there will never be a “Breakfast at DeBeers”story about you.   So take your diamonds, and …well you know.   But thank goodness for chocolate, because by now we were feeling stressed! And we all know chocolate cures everything from PMS to menopause, to getting fired, divorced, and all other matters of calamity. Our next stop, The Hershey store in Times Square was a delightful experience.   You walk in the door and are greeted by the wonderful aroma of chocolate and the giggles of children from ages 2 to 82.    Three foot high Hershey kisses, 10 gallon bottles of Hershey syrup, bins filled with every candy Hersey's makes that you scoop into gags, all presented in a happy place way.   This is a fun place to bring kids, out- of- towners, and  buy fun gifts.   They definitely get a 10 on the “brand” experience level.   Copyright©2005.  The Three Tomatoes.   All rights reserved.

You’re a tomato if…you know that chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so you can eat as many as you want. ****************************** Did you know…the U.S. market for chocolate is $14 billion versus the U.S. market for diamonds which is $11 billion?  Chocolate was considered an aphrodisiac by the Aztec Indians, and as such, was forbidden to women --  must have been a lot of cranky Aztec women! ******************************* Serious ICE  Wer'e not talking diamonds now, but ICE that could save your life. Following the recent events  in London,  East Anglican Ambulance Service in London have launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE) "campaign".  The idea is that you store the word "I C E" in your mobile  phone address book, and  against it enter the number of the person you  would want to be contacted "In  Case of Emergency".  In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them.  It's so simple that everyone can do it. We think it's a great idea to start here. ******************************* Thanks for your feedback We love hearing from you.  Email us tomato@thethreetomatoes.com. ************************** Vote in this Week's The Three Tomatoes Poll Would you rather have chocolate or diamonds? Go to www.thethreetomatoes.com.   ******************************* Last Week's The Three Tomatoes Poll Results Tomatoes love spas.   The majority visit spas 1-3 times year. ************************* Wanted:   New Tomatoes If you like The Three Tomatoes, pass it on and help us grow our list.   Sign up at www.thethreetomatoes.com. *******************************