Brandeo is an online marketing resource that cuts through the clutter to update you on the need-to-know marketing ideas and insights that help build brands and increase sales.
Lay's Kettle Cooked potato chip brand is using handcrafted wood billboards to reinforce their "all natural ingredients, crafted with care,” and to launch new flavors Crinkle Cut Spice Rubbed BBQ and Harvest Ranch. BrandFreak 6/4/10
The New York Times wants the Wall Street Journal to stop using the slogan “Not Just Wall Street. Every Street” in its advertisements because it owns the line. The Wall Street Journal says they are within their rights to use the adding “We never intended to run the ad for long. We think we’ve made our point. And to get rise out of you is a special bonus.” PaidContent 6/4/10
“Toning shoes” are driving market share gains for Adidas AG’s Reebok unit and Skechers U.S.A. Inc. as Nike’s lead in U.S. women’s athletic footwear shrinks. Nike, the world’s largest athletic shoemaker, says the shoes don’t work, and women thinking of buying toning shoes should buy its Free brand, which simulates barefoot running to strengthen feet and muscles. Bloomberg 6/3/10
The Federal Trade Commission has scolded the Kellogg Company for making “dubious claims” that Rice Krispies cereal provides children with health benefits. The company was recently told to stop making similar claims about Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal. The Consumerist 6/3/10
”McDonald’s is not releasing or testing a new boneless rib product called “McRibble.” The company says that a supposedly leaked ad for the new product is a hoax. The Consumerist 6/3/10
Ford Motor announces that it will discontinue selling Mercury models this fall. Originally conceived by Edsel Ford, Henry Ford’s son, the Mercury brand was launched in the 1930s to fill the gap between basic Fords and luxury Lincolns. New York Times 6/2/10
British Airways says a fictitious boarding pass pictured in an employee publication, and bearing Osama Bin Laden’s name and flight details was a mistake, and has apologized. The Daily Mail reports the gaffe may have been the result of "sabotage" by a "dissatisfied staff member,” and may be related to “a standoff with cabin crew that has led to mass strikes." USA Today 6/3/2010, The Daily Mail 6/1/10
The National Basketball Association has signed licensing deals to enable NBA team logos made of sugar, starch and food cloring to be placed on pizzas after they have been baked. Consumers will also be able to purchase toasters $34.99 toasters that "burn" golden brown team logos onto bread as it toasts. USAToday 5/26/10
Social media helps improve offline relationships says new research conducted by Euro RSCG Adweek 11/20/09
74% of Americans read newspapers either in print or online according to the Integrated Newspaper Audience report from Scarborough Research. Marketing Charts 11/19/09
Spamming is illegal but here’s another reason not to do it: 41% of respondents in a study of email and traditional mail promotions say irrelevant promotions would make them consider ending a brand relationship; an additional 22% say they would definitely defect from the brand. Marketing Charts 11/18/09
When making purchasing decisions, 37% of American adults find television commercials more helpful than other types of advertising, according to a new Harris Poll.
17% say newspaper ads are most useful, and 14% say the same about internet search ads. Radio (3%) and internet banner ads (1%) were mentioned by the fewest people. 28% say no ads help them choose what products and services to buy. Source: The Harris Poll via The Daily Stat from Harvard Business Publishing
Irish air carrier Ryanair has asked the Irish Aviation Authority for approval to build an aircraft that could have passengers ‘standing’ during flights, strapped to stools instead of seats, slashing the carrier’s costs by 20%. Chinese airline Spring is investigating similar plans. Mail Online 7/6/09
True Value coins the word “hardwarian,” for a new campaign, as in copy that reads: “For the right tools, products and advice…from the masters of all things hardwarian, True Value. Start right. Start here.” New York Times 7/6/09
Vibe Magazine, founded by Quincy Jones in 1992, has ceased publication. “Vibe was a magazine about hip-hop, R&B and urban youth culture that brought luxe design values and major-league photography and writing to the music that dominated and shaped American pop culture in the late 1990s.” New York Times 070109
The Dannon Co. has reached a tentative nationwide class-action settlement of complaints filed by consumers questioning the health-benefit claims made on behalf of its Activia and DanActive yogurts, that they are “clinically proven” to regulate the digestive system. AdWeek 4/6/09
Since it was launched early in 2009, 30,000 consumers have taken advantage of the Hyundai Assurance Plus program, which promises to make payments for three months for customers who buy or lease a new Hyundai before the end of April, and subsequently lose their jobs. Sales increased 14% in January 2009 versus a year ago, and were down just 1.5% in February 2009 versus a year ago. Adweek 4/6/09
Nissan (NSANY) plans to rollout the Cube in May, “a cute, smallish car” targeted to younger driviers, that “can be customized and personalized as easily as a cellphone ring tone or Facebook page." New York Times 4/6/09. The Nissan Cube follows on the introduction of the cube-y Kia Soul, and the commercial featuring four cruising hamsters.
In August, Hearst Magazines’ Country Living will launch a new line of home goods in Kmart and Sears (SHLD) stores that emphasizes coziness and affordability. The 700-SKU line will include bedding, bath, tabletop and furniture items in four different styles: Modern Countryside, Blue & White, Red & White and Faded Antique and be priced from $3.99 to $349. Mediaweek 4/6/09
J.C. Penney (JCP) plans to launch a line of home goods by supermodel Cindy Crawford. Chain Store Age. 4/3/09.
Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. hopes to entice people to serve more cocktails at home with the May launch of Sauza Margarita-in-a-Box, 15 servings of pre-made margaritas containing Sauza tequila. Brown-Forman (BF-B) is launching ready-to-drink cocktails in bottles this summer, including Southern Comfort Sweet Tea, and Diageo PLC is offering several prepared cocktails, including Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea. Wall Street Journal 4/1/09
With many consumers more focused than ever on saving money, coupons are re-emerging as a popular marketing tactic. And according to the 2008 Printable Coupon Consumer Pulse Survey from Simmons/Experiean Research and Coupons Inc. quoted in Marketing Charts, the number of American consumers searching for coupons online has increased to 36 million in 2008, up by 10 million from 2005; that’s 24% of all American coupon users. And nearly half of “Coupon Clickers” are between the ages of 22 and 44.
And there’s residual benefit from couponing beyond the short-term sales boost: 58% of respondents believe brands that provide online coupons are more likely to provide new products that they will enjoy, and 57% say those brands care about keeping them as a customer.
So make sure you get the most out of your couponing program; here’s some tips to help:
First, get all those coupon marketing myths out of your head. According to Marketing Charts, direct marketer ICOM says a common misconception is that short-term expirations drive immediate sales. Actually---marketers may be cutting their redemption times shorter than is needed for consumers to act.
Another myth is that higher value always equals higher redemption. Not so, says ICOM. Value is important but the highest redemptions come from tying value to optimal expiration.
Also, if you’re trying to entice users from the competition, then focus on attracting their light to moderately loyal users. The lights and moderates are more likely to give you a try and will respond to a lower value offer than the competitor’s most loyal users.
Duplication is a media term that describes the number or percentage of users that two more more mediums have in common.
It's important to understand the level of 'overlap' between two or more mediums to get an accurate count of the number of unique visitors, readers, viewers or listeners that are actually reached.
Here’s a nifty free resource you’ll want to bookmark: The 2008 Newspaper Audience Ratings Report, published by media stalwart Scarborough Research.
The report provides information on newspaper print, website and integrated (print and website) audience ratings for 161 papers in 81 markets.
The report is organized by DMA. Newspapers whose websites have at least 1% penetration in their market, as well as a Sunday print edition, are included in the report.
You can access the report here or by visiting Scarborough.com.
Bulk circulation describes the practice of delivering multiple copies of a magazine or newspaper to a single addressee, who then distributes the individual copies.
With many consumers more focused than ever on saving money, coupons 
Duplication is a media term that describes the number or percentage of users that two more more mediums have in common. 
Here’s a nifty free resource you’ll want to bookmark: The 2008 Newspaper Audience Ratings Report, published by media stalwart Scarborough Research. 
