Compostable Packaging Gains Speed as Green Business Trend

Compostable packaging isn’t new, but developing a set of standards for compostable packaging, particularly home-composting, is still fairly new.  A standard and logo has been in place (called the Seedling logo – pictured) that denotes packaging that is suitable for composting in centralized facilities (e.g., on ships), but starting in 2009, a new logo will appear on packages deemed suitable for disposal in home composting-machines.

Retailers are keen to jump on the bandwagon to reduce packaging waste, so don’t be surprised if you start to see the new logo more frequently as 2009 progresses.  It seems “biodegradable” is no longer good enough, and “home-compostable” is the term of the future. [Read more]

Cyber Monday and Beyond – Search Marketing is Where Its At

Cyber Monday is just two days away and it appears that search marketing is the place to be on Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season.  According to a report by SearchIgnite, search marketing spending is up 33% in the first half of the fourth quarter of 2009.

Cyber Monday and the entire holiday season is expected to produce lackluster sales for retailers this year, so promotions and discounts are hot with Shopzilla reporting that 83.7% of retailers plan Cyber Monday promotions, up from 72.2% from the prior year.

Seems like a sound marketing strategy.  Given the faltering economy, consumers are actively looking for deals and discounts.  Look at the horrible incident at a Long Island Walmart on Black Friday when a Walmart employee was trampled and killed as discount-desperate shoppers tried to get into the store to shop. 

The economy has forced changes in more than just marketing tactics.  Suddenly, consumer safety has been added to the mix, and retailers have another factor to consider in their promotion strategies.  That’s one I’m sure no one planned for, but now there is a responsibility to protect consumers as well as make a profit. 

Your thoughts…

Image: Flickr

Barack Obama Trading Cards are Coming

Topps doesn’t just make baseball cards anymore.  Now, Topps is tapping into the popularity of Barack Obama with Barack Obama Inaugural Edition Commemorative Cards. 

According to an article on Adages, this isn’t the first time Topps has harnessed the power of politics for profit.  Topps produced trading cards for John F. Kennedy as well as a series of cards called “Man on the Moon” in the 1960s.

You’ll be able to get your hands on Barack Obama trading cards in January for just $1.99 (that includes a pack of 6 cards and a sticker)!  Each pack will be made from a total of 90 available cards and 20 available stickers following Obama’s life from his childhood in Hawaii through the 2008 Presidential Election.

What do you think?  Will you buy Barack Obama trading cards?
And I can’t help but ask what’s next?  Unofficial commemorative coins available through infomercials at 3:00 a.m.?  Or was that already done?  Wait just a minute….. get your Barack Obama Presidential Commemorative Coins!

Image: Topps.com

Another Reason Not to Bail Out U.S. Automakers

Yet another reason why the government shouldn’t bail out the Big 3 U.S. Automakers – the $38 million Ram Challenge from Chrysler.

What do you do when consumers clearly indicate that big gas-guzzling vehicles are not what they want?  Try to convince them otherwise with a $38 million reality show contest – the Ram Challenge.   At least that’s what Chrysler thinks will save the falling company.  So sad.

Your thoughts?  Will the Ram Challenge save Chrysler? (don’t mind my laughter as you answer that question)

And just for kicks, check out the promo for the Ram Challenge below.  I’m nearly speechless.

 

Image: Flickr

Kohls Resorts to Desperate Black Friday Promotions

Desperate times call for desperate measures on Black Friday. 

In an attempt to boost sales during a weak economy and a holiday retail season that’s expected to be disasterous, Kohls is advertising a promotion that definitely does not have me planning to set my alarm clock early on Black Friday. 

Check out the ad I saw on Yahoo! today, pictured below.

What do you think?  Will you get up at 4:00 a.m. on Black Friday and head to your local Kohls for, “300 early bird specials?”

By the way, you can find tons of Black Friday deals on the Black Friday 2008 website, most of which do not require that you get up before the sun rises.

Image: Kohls via Yahoo!

11 Phrases that Destroy Brand and Marketing Innovation

I wrote a post for Corporate Eye today that I want to share with my readers on KeySplash Creative Conversations as well.  It’s called 11 Phrases that Destroy Brand Innovation. 

In the post, I share 11 of those phrases that anyone who has ever sat through a corporate marketing meeting is sure to have heard before – probably too many times to count. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Nobody wants that.
• We’ve already tried that.
• Who’s going to take the blame if it doesn’t work?

Take a look at my post on Corporate Eye and share your additions to the list of phrases that destroy brand or marketing innovation.  Or leave a comment here on KeySplash Creative Conversations with your brand and marketing innovation killers. 

Come on.  You know you have some to share!

Image: Flickr

Shift from Print Magazine Hits PC Magazine – Now Online Only

Just last week, I wrote a post here on KeySplash Creative Conversations about the shift away from print advertising that is driving many established magazines to resort to layoffs in order to remain profitable.  This week, Ziff Davis announced that its 27-year old PC Magazine will no longer be available in print.  Instead, PC Magazine will be available online only.  The new online version has been rebranded as PCMag.com.

This seems like a natural change since PC Magazine generates 80% of its profits from its existing online content.  Also, circulation of PC Magazine has dropped by half over the course of the past decade.  However, what other magazines are likely to follow suit?  The Christian Science Monitor made inroads in October when it announced the publication would be the first national magazine to move from print to digital only.  It will be interesting to see what other companies make the same change for their print magazines.

What do you think?  Is there still value to print magazine advertising or is the clock ticking?

Image: PCMag.com

Time for a PETA Marketing Strategy Shift

I was reading Branding Strategy Insider today, when I saw a post by Mark RItson about the need for PETA to re-invent its brand strategy.  I found the post to be incredibly timely as I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to provide my opinion to PETA about how I thought their marketing strategy has to change for the brand to remain relevant and the organization to make a difference in the future.  Here is what I wrote to PETA:

As a marketing and branding professional, I am not a proponent of shock advertising, which I think PETA has a history of relying on.  I believe there are far more effective methods of communicating messages and shock advertising provides short-lived bursts of awareness but little for long-term ROI.  Additionally, I think the celebrities who endorse PETA aren’t always the best for the PETA brand [e.g., Pamela Anderson].  PETA has a reputation as an all or nothing brand.  In other words, people view PETA as a bit of a cult, “either you agree with us 100% or you’re out.”  I think with a more inclusive approach and message, more people would be supportive of PETA and animal rights would become a less trendy cause (sort of how supporting the environment was in the late 1980s/early 1990s) and more mainstream.  [Read more]

A Lesson in The Need for Believable Ads – Chevy Traverse

If you ever followed me when I wrote for other marketing and branding blogs, then you might remember that I’m always preaching the need for advertising copywriting to be believable.  Pie in the sky claims just don’t hack it. 

Don’t believe me?  Check out the ad I saw on the front page of Yahoo! today for the new Chevy Traverse that’s pictured below. 

Do you believe it?  Is the Chevy Traverse, “everything you’ve ever wished for … and then some?” 

Point made.

Your thoughts?

Image: Chevrolet

Junior Mints Brand Extends to Add Junior Mints Deluxe

Premium chocolates were all the rage for awhile.  Godiva, Ghirardelli, even Dove grabbed some market share in recent years as the more affordable deluxe chocolate.  Now, Tootsie Roll Industries wants to get some of that action and is rolling out Deluxe Junior Mints. 

The pricier, fancy Junior Mints are bigger than the movie theater standby, and they’re covered in dark chocolate – which apparently, is immediately supposed to invoke feelings of quality and an acceptance of a higher pricetag in consumers’ minds.  Just in case the dark chocolate doesn’t do the trick, the new Deluxe Junior Mints will also be etched on top with “JM”, I’d imagine in a highly stylized typeface. [Read more]

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