No Code Tools, 7-Eleven's Legacy, and a Surprise Giveaway!

Hey Folks,

Welcome to the June Edition of Tech, Trivia, and History Insights! Be sure to read through to the end; we have an exciting surprise giveaway just for the most diligent of you. May the Force be with You!!!

Is anyone trying text-to-video tools lately? Did you ever encounter a situation where typing "a dragon boat race" might create a video with literal dragons paddling boats, breathing fire, and competing fiercely? Or requesting a video of "raining cats and dogs" might produce a surreal scene of actual cats and dogs falling from the sky, causing confusion rather than depicting a heavy rainstorm, which leads us to...

The Coolest Discovery of the Month: KLING's AI Video Generation

This month, we're thrilled to highlight KLING, which is making waves in the AI world. KLING can generate AI videos from text, similar to OpenAI's Sora. These videos are truly impressive, and you have to join the waitlist to see them and believe it.?

As a creator, I often wonder what tools can make my work more seamless and efficient. Here are the top 10 no-code tools to help you scale your creative projects and streamline your workflow.?

1. Kajabi is a comprehensive platform for creating and selling online courses.
2. ConvertKit: is a user-friendly email marketing tool designed for creators.
3. Skool: is a community platform that combines social learning with course management.
4. Hypefury: is a tool for automating and scheduling social media posts.
5. Figma: is a collaborative design tool perfect for UI/UX projects.
6. Airtable: is a versatile database tool for managing projects and data.
7. Zapier: Connects your apps and automates workflows seamlessly.
8. HubSpot: is a powerful CRM platform for marketing, sales, and customer service.
9. Loom: is a video messaging tool for quick, effective communication.
10. Midjourney: Innovative tool for creative collaboration and project management.

From Humble Beginnings to Global Dominance: The 7-Eleven Story

In 1920, Toshio Yoshikawa opened the "Yokado Clothing Store," laying the foundation for a future retail giant. After enduring setbacks during World War II, Yoshikawa rebuilt the business with his ambitious nephew, Ito. By 1972, their stores had diversified beyond clothing, prompting a rebranding to Ito-Yokado and a listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

?Meanwhile, Joe Thompson opened the Southland Ice Company in the US in 1927, selling ice blocks to keep food cold before refrigerators were common. Southland began selling food items alongside ice, creating the first convenience store.

In 1946, they rebranded to 7-Eleven, reflecting their extended hours from 7 am to 11 pm, eventually operating 24/7.

By 1974, seeking global expansion, 7-Eleven entered Japan through a partnership with Ito-Yokado. It implemented a computerized point-of-sale system for efficient operations, which led to rapid growth, reaching 1,000 stores by 1980 and $9 billion in revenue by 1988.?

Despite the hostile takeover trend of the 1980s, the Thompson family refused to sell and chose to go private, accruing $3 billion in debt and ultimately going bankrupt in 1990.

?Ito-Yokado seized the opportunity, acquiring 70% of the company with a $430 million cash infusion, eventually making it a fully-owned subsidiary by 2006. Today, unlike the US, 7-Eleven in Japan is more than just a convenience store. It's a place you can:

?? Pay bills/taxes?

? Grab cash from an ATM?

? Buy quality food & drinks?

? Buy & print concert tickets?

? Utilize bathrooms & public WiFi

& more

It's become a one-stop shop now!

Today, restructured as Seven & i Holdings, the company is the largest retailer in terms of locations worldwide. Here’s how it stacks up against other major brands:

• KFC: 24,000 locations
• Subway: 37,000 locations
• Starbucks: 35,000 locations
• McDonald's: 40,000 locations
• 7-Eleven: 78,000 locations

No other company even comes close to matching the sheer scale of 7-Eleven’s global footprint.

From an India Market perspective, convenience store chain 7-Eleven touched the 50-store milestone in India in March 2024 and plans to expand aggressively in more cities over the next few years.

The Japanese-owned chain plans to reach the 100-store mark in the next few years and expand to more cities.

This piece would never be complete without some 7-Eleven Trivia

• The iconic Slurpee frozen drink was introduced in 1966 and has since become a symbol of the convenience store chain.??
• They have "Bring Your Own Container - BYOC" Slurpee days, during which customers can fill up any container with this icy beverage for just $1.50. However, there is one catch—“your container”? must fit in the store display's "BYOC" cutout, which is 10 inches in diameter.
• Each year, on July 11th (aka 7/11), customers can expect to receive a Slurpee free of charge. This tradition attracts people far and wide and has been going strong since 2002.
• And finally, to celebrate their 94th birthday, 7-Eleven launched a Slurpee into space using a balloon launcher from a Michigan store.

We're excited to announce a special giveaway for this edition. We're giving away 3 copies of "THE THIRD WAY: India’s Revolutionary Approach to Data Governance" by Rahul Matthan, a partner at Trilegal and one of the country's foremost technology lawyers.

Matthan was the guest on our podcast episode, "Ctrl + Alt + Regulate” where he shared his expertise and walked us through the nuanced world of data governance.

To participate in the giveaway:

1. Subscribe to the newsletter and the 3 Techies Banter podcast- if you still haven’t. Subscribe to the Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3z3xRCi
2. Tag 3 friends who would enjoy reading the newsletter / listening to the podcast.
3. Once done, send me a screenshot or drop a comment below.

All the best to all the participants!