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This is the fourth of five articles from McKinsey’s iConsumer survey which tracks consumer behavior for different digital experiences. McKinsey & Company 10/2011
Microsoft's Bing has apologized for its #SupportJapan tweet promising to donate $1 for every retweet of its pledge to donate up to $100,000 to Japan earthquake relief efforts. Critics say the fundraiser was exploitive, while defenders derided critics for doing nothing to help relief efforts. Clickz 3/12/11
Nissan, Honda and Toyota say despite the impact of the earthquake they will be back online by next week. Toyota closed three factories and Honda Motor company suspended production which could affect exports of the Toyota's Yaris sedan and Scion cars and the Honda Fit car. MediaPost 3/12/11
After a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, Google launched its person finder application, which helps victims of natural disasters share and access information about loved ones. Inc. 3/11/11
In what was deemedTwittersteria, multiple Twitterers retweeted false reports that a CNN anchor giggled and made Godzilla jokes as the Japan earthquake and tusnami was being reported. Advertising Age 3/11/11
Walmart is testing a small-store rollout, testing three different formats -- rebranding its Neighborhood Market to Walmart Market, an even smaller format called Walmart Express, and Walmart on Campus, which is smaller still. The concepts are being tested in “urban and rural markets, with and without pharmacy, with and without fresh foods.” MediaPost.com 3/10/11
Anheuser-Busch, the makers of Budweiser says the MLB is demanding higher fees for a multi-year extension of its exclusive sponsorship but the MLB disagrees. Anheuser-Busch has asked a federal judge to make the April agreement binding and to block the MLB from negotiating with any other brewer.NESN.com 11/12/10
J.C. Penney Co. earnings rose 63% in its fiscal third quarter as the department store chain due to strong reception to new exclusive brands such as Liz Claiborne and MNG by Mango. Los Angeles Times 11/12/10
Wendy Thomas, the Wendy’s brand namesake and daughter of founder Dave Thomas is being featured in a promotion for a test cheeseburger called Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburger, named after Mr. Thomas. Advertising Age 11/12/10
As part of a comeback, Crocs is rolling out higher-priced shoes that include flip-flops and high heels. To emphasize the comfort of its brand, its traditional clog is an advertising character that gives foot massages. Forbes 11/11/10
Its new styles are what the company wants to emphasize as it navigates a turnaround. The company just reported solid third quarter revenue that was up 30% from the year-ago period to $216 million with strong gains across multiple retail channels. This year, in fact, may be its first profitable one since 2007McKee Foods’ Little Debbie brand has launched an eight month 20-city tour by Airstream to increase sales and also double the ranks of Facebook followers to more than one million. New York Times 11/10/10
Mr. Goodwrench, the mechanic who served as the symbol of GM's dealer service brand for 37 years will be dropped Feb. 1, replaced by "certified service" brands for each of GM's remaining four remaining nameplates that will link buying a car with service. Associated Press 11/9/10
Amazon has beat out Walmart to acquire Quidsi Inc., the parent company of Diapers.com for $540 million. Bloomberg.com 11/7/10
Bolstered by the success of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Canada has been named by FutureBrand as the most respected country brand in the world. VancouverSun.com 11/6/10
Facebook is working on a mobile phone to counter the increasing power of the iPhone and Android platforms and the long term competitive threat to its apps. The company wants to integrate deeply into the contacts list and other core functions of the phone. Techcrunch 9/19/10
A Florida entrepreneur is relaunching the Commodore computer brand. Products include an update of Commodore's once popular C64 model, the former high-end Amiga brand and its AIO (All-in-One) computers in a keyboard.Commodore declared bankruptcy in 1994. BrandFreak 9/17/10
SYMS Corp, owner of Filene's Basement, has unveiled three new stores in Manhattan, Westchester County and Long Island with the mashup name fbSY (pronounced fib-see.) The company says the name makes sense in the age of Twittering and text messaging. Name Wire 9/17/10
As part of a new, externally focused, customer-centric mission to actively promote the local marketing platforms and solutions that local stations have to offer, the 57-year-old Television Bureau of Advertising is replacing its “Serving America’s Television Stations” tagline with “Local Media Marketing Solutions” and rebranding itself as TVB. TVB.org 9/16/10 via NYTimes.com
Ford is running a combined print and mobile campaign for its 2011 Edge crossover in The New York Times that includes 2D barcodes in print ads providing mobile users with access a selection of Times articles on technology and style intended to appeal to tech-savvy prospective Edge buyers. MediaPost 9/16/10
The Corn Refiners Association (CRA), the makers of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), has asked the FDA to rename their product "corn sugar.” The CRA says HFCS is no worse for consumers than other sugars, but has been linked to obesity. Name Wire 9/15/10
Oprah Winfrey topped her 2004 Pontiac car giveaway by giving the 300 members of her 9/13 studio audience on an eight-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Sydney, Australia, in December. Oprah is promoting her premiere week, her 25th and “farewell season.” NYTimes.com 9/13/10
Walmart (WMT) has launched Walmart Family Mobile powered by T-Mobile, a new brand of post-paid cell phone service that offers monthly post-paid plans without a contract or multi-year commitment. It will be sold in nearly 2,500 Walmart stores. Marketwatch 9/13/10
Durable goods are products that last over many uses, over a period of years, and include shoes, apparel, appliances, tools, cars, furniture, etc. They typically have higher margins and often require more personal selling and service.
CPGs (Consumer Packaged Goods) are products that are purchased frequently and consumed, or used up, over a period of days, weeks or months. Examples of consumer packaged goods include food and beverages, alcohol, soft drinks, household cleaning products, tobacco, health & beauty aids, etc. CPGs typically have low margins and high volumes/turnover, and are advertised heavily.
Examples of CPG companies include: The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Kraft, Kellogg, Miller Brewing Company, and Conagra.
"Target, Toys R Us, Sears and Kmart are just a few of the big retailers that have launched mega-sales in recent weeks to tempt increasingly cost-conscious shoppers to their stores. This phenomenon -- known as the seasonal sales shift, or "Christmas creep" -- is not new. But in today's uncertain economic climate, it has bigger implications than ever -- both for the retail sector's growth strategies and for consumer spending habits, say Wharton and other business experts." Knowledge@Wharton 8/18/10
