I'm willing to bet you've participated in "trading down" already. You may just not have been consciously aware of it. The term I've coined as trading down happens during recessionary times when people make cost saving choices in some categories outside their normal purchasing behaviour. If you normally shop at a specialty shoe store, you might check out the warehouse or rack … [Read more...]
The not so warm & fuzzy shopping experience
While many retailers will face the reality of downsizing in the New Year, this was not the Christmas to be serving up bad customer service. Here's a personal story, some marketing lessons learned, and how it might signal a direction to the future. My daughter's choir was singing at Park Royal mall prior to Christmas. I had met up with my 84 year old mother in her scooter to … [Read more...]
Consumer green shift no marketing flash in the pan
The game has changed. There is a huge market-shift taking place. I just heard a radio commercial offering $15,000 off the price of an SUV. A discount of $15,000? It wasn’t long ago you could actually buy a vehicle for that. Stay tuned; I’m waiting for the one where they OFFER YOU $15,000 to take it away. In June GM announced it would halt production at its pickup truck plant … [Read more...]
Nintendo Wii Fit targets the CHO
From a marketing perspective, what do teen boys in basements with computer game consoles in pursuit of fast paced action heroes and unattainable women have in common with 35+ year-old Mom’s? Conventional wisdom would say, not much. But a departure from conventional tactics is exactly what Nintendo has done with the incredibly successful Wii, and the recent May 21 launch of Wii … [Read more...]
Good parties and good marketing share common traits
The festive season of parties and commitments is upon up. As I look at my calendar of double and triple social bookings piling up, it got me thinking about what attracts us to these gatherings, how we conduct ourselves there, and how this is similar to the characteristics of good marketing. First up a confession: it's not that I'm THAT popular, but the gatherings that have been … [Read more...]
