Post Recession Consumer Spending

What will CPG companies do when the economy turns around? Apparently more of the same according to a recent piece in Brandweek http://bit.ly/csAWVz. Last year, most packaged goods companies pushed a value message. As we see a few green shoots appearing in the econmomy, apparently consumers are taking a more cautious and conservative attitude with their wallets. Campbell Soup exec Denise Morrison said “Keeping the value proposition with consumers is very important in this [post-recessionary] economy. There have been changes to the shopping behavior.”

2010 Minor League Baseball Opportunities

Fieldstone Promotions is creating and executing larger than life promotional events with Minor League Baseball. Geared towards family oriented audiences, benefits include direct demos/sampling, in game announcements and branded games, Jumbotron ads, PA announcements, etc. Leverage key accounts and in market opportunities with incentives and media opportunities. Summer long tour will reach over 500,000 consumers one-on-one. Plus millions of brand impressions. Contact: Mike LHomme, mlhomme@fieldstonepromotions.com.

New Event - Association of Coupon Professionals

The Association of Coupon Professionals as part of its commitment to improve business conditions in the coupon industry holding two regional Coupon 101/102 workshops. Attendees can learn the basics of the business or refresh themselves on coupon topics in a one day workshop - 10/7 Rosemont, IL and 10/28 White Plains, NY. For more information, call John Morgan, 610-789-9993, John.Morgan@acp-hq.org or visit www.couponpros.org.

Rosemount Wines To Appear On "Hell's Kitchen"

Cooking shows have never had a greater appeal than they have now. In a time when many can no longer opt to dine out at fancy restaurants, cooking and entertaining from home has become a fast-growing trend.

According to Promo, Rosemount Wines wants to take advantage of the rise in cooking show popularity by partnering with television's most infamous chef Gordon Ramsay. Ramsay rose to fame in America with his cooking competition show Hell's Kitchen. Rosemount Wines will be featured prominently in episodes of Hell's Kitchen and in turn Ramsay will include his recipes in a wine and food pairing guide released by Rosemount Estate. Consumers will also have a chance to win tapings to Ramsay's show at select markets selling the wine.

Rosemount will hope to generate great buzz for its wines as praise for cooking shows are not letting up any time soon.

Scrabble Returns To Subway

Everybody wants to be a winner and Subway restaurants wants to make sure of that.

According to BrandWeek, Subway is starting its Scrabble contest once more in which customers can instantly win big prizes, such as vacations and money, with the game pieces they receive on their cups. Game codes can also be entered on the Subway website for additional prizes.

This year's promotion for the Scrabble contest will feature previous winners. They will also feature famous athletes dining at Subway. This is to drive home the messages that it really is possible for the consumer watching at home to be the next winner and that Subway is where all winners like to eat.

Drama Queens: Cranberry Raisinets Debut

Raisinets has always been a stable favorite at the movie theater, the home theater, and just as a fun snack. So it is not surprise that Nestle has not developed a major national campaign for the product in 12 years. But there's a new berry in town, and Raisinet is being kicked up a notch for it.

According to BrandWeek, Cranberry Raisinets is the latest addition to the Raisinet brand. The company has launched webisodes featuring a sassy female Cranberry Raisinet character. The target audience are "on-the-go women", so the brand has placed several ads featuring female celebrities in women's lifestyle magazines and making an appearance on a female-centric Lifetime show. Raisinets is also offering a 3-night getaway for two in Arizona.

It's integrated approach for Raisinets to target new consumer niche and take advantage of cranberries as a hot food ingredient.

Sony Enlists Justin Timberlake For Ad Salvo

Celebrity sponsorships have always been a great way to promote products. But instead of pairing the celebrity and the product in an arbitrary manner, Sony has decided to include their expertise as part of a new campaign.

BrandWeek has listed Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, and Nigel Barker as some of the many celebrity experts Sony is using to represent their electronics. For example, Barker, a photographer and judge on America's Next Top Model will be endorsing cameras. Manning, a football icon, will be celebrating the advantages of watching sports on a high definition television.

All of these celebrities have a special skill which have made them genius in their field, and Sony wants to transfer that idea to its products.

Let Estee Lauder Give You A (Virtual) Makeover

Make-up is one of those products that requires testing before buying. But that means going into the make-up department and repeatedly putting on and removing make-up, an act that can be tiresome. Estee Lauder is simplifying this process by giving its consumers a virtual makeover.

According to BrandFreak, the beauty giant has created an internet application that allows anyone to upload their own photos which then can be virtually made up with a great variety of make-up available on the Estee Lauder website. The application can be added to a number of social networking websites.

This is not only an innovative way to get customers to try their products but will allow Estee Lauder extended consumer exposure.

LEAD Marketing Conference

Loyalty, Engagement, Analytics and Digital Marketing. That's what The LEAD Marketing Conference is all about. It's scheduled October 5-7, 2009 at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, IL, near O'Hare. The collaborative event for manufacturers and retailers in all trade channels will be on hand to learn how to enhance their business with social media, virtual shopping platforms, video analysis of shopper pathways and assorted shopper media. The LEAD Marketing Conference is the first collaborative conference to focus on understanding and leveraging these effective and emerging technologies which are crucial to attracting and maintaining shoppers. Detailed information about the agenda and exhibit/sponsorship opportunities is at www.leadmarketingconference.com.

Bud Light Lime Brings Tunes To Canadian Fans

Many companies have garnered the power of social networks such as Facebook to help promote their brands. After receiving high returns and free publicity, one company is giving back.

According to Promo, Bud Light Lime was introduced to Canadian consumers earlier in the year through a slew of grassroot Facebook campaigns. Anheuser-Busch made Facebook pages and asked fans of the beer to create party pages in which the best consumer-made promotion was rewarded with a Bud Light Lime party. The campaigns did so well that Bud Light Lime now wants to reward its Facebook fans by asking them to vote for their top three favorite tunes and will release a playlist of the ten most popular songs that will be free to download at Puretracks.

Anheuser-Busch's partnership with Puretracks will once again generate great publicity for its brand and also create a sense of brand loyalty by consistently developing a relationship with its consumers through constant feedback.

Nestle Will Send One Healthy, Pure Family To Hawaii

Living healthy has its rewards: fit body, better skin and hair, and a longer life span. But what about a trip for four to Hawaii?

According to Promo, Nestle Pure Life has decided to offer a vacation in Hawaii and a private session with Bob Greene (Oprah's fitness coach) to the family that can most rise up to its healthy lifestyle challenge. Nestle wants to show its consumers that by making small short term adjustments, such as replacing soda with water and exercising daily, they can continue onto a life of long term health. The challenge will ask families to register on the Pure Life/Best Life website and report their daily progress. By registering, families can also win small health rewards along the way and they can also participate in games on the Nestle Pure Life Facebook page.

Nestle is not only promoting a wonderful lifestyle trend for consumers to follow in but it is incorporating its brand as a part of that lifestyle.

Music Alone Isn't Enough, So Warner Bros. Tries The Visual Album

To compete in the heavily digital-based music industry, record companies often run on-pack promotions on CD's and DVD's. But one company is embracing new technology.

According to BrandFreak, Warner Brothers is launching a 40 minute long video to accompany the release of One Eskimo's new album The Adventures of One Eskimo. The video offers a new way to distribute music for Warner Brothers plans to sell it not only as a DVD at retail but also through iTunes, pay-per-view, and Video On Demand.

There is also a viral campaign to create excitement, prompting consumers to participate in an online puzzle.

In-Store Sampling Inspires Repeat Purchases

Marketers spend a ton of money on ad campaigns to support their brands. But at the end of the day, the goal is to get the consumer try the product. A new study shows that product sampling can have more of an effect than any television commercial.

Progressive Grocer features a report that shows a significant sale increase for brands that participate in the in-store sampling program. This study also has a hand in brand loyalty; the report also shows that consumers are more likely to buy another product from the same brand that they have already sampled from.

It does not matter if it is a well-established brand, a new brand, or a brand extending its line, sampling proves to be beneficial.

Pop Art For Pop-Tarts

With its Warhol-inspired bold designs and fun flavor combinations, Pop-Tarts has made a place for itself not only at the breakfast table but also in American culture. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Pop-Tarts is cementing its place as a pop icon with another: Burton Morris.

Accordinging to Progressive Grocer, the famous pop artist Burton Morris is collaborating with pop tarts to create a series of "edible art" by redesigning the boxes in pop art fashion. This is a way for Pop-Tarts to pay homage to the movement that first inspired the breakfast pastry in the 60s. It is also a great way of re-marketing the brand in a different way.

The Pop-Tarts Pop Art campaign also challenges consumers to create their own pop-art designs in t-shirt form in which the winner will receive a private art session with Morris himself.

Why Christmas Is Coming Early This Year

For many, the beginning of Christmas shopping is marked by the appearance of Santa Claus at the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. But some retailing giants are thinking otherwise.

According to BrandWeek, both Sears and Toys "R" Us kicked off a Christmas in July promotion where both stores offered deals on popular Christmas gifts. This promotion may seem counter-intuitive first for the summer is normally reserved for Back-to-School sales. But marketing experts think that this a way for retailers to encourage consumers to spend by highlighting the savings, important in this economy. The experts do not think these promotions will be advantageous for small items, but will be for large items such as flat-screen televisions and computers.

Although retailers are still unsure whether the promotion will work, they are sure they never want to relive last year's vexing Christmas push.

Stars Of "(500) Days Of Summer" Also Stars Of Ikea Ad

Product placement in motion pictures is not just another way to advertise. It's a way of integrating a brand with another medium, giving the brand the halo of associating with popular culture.

In a BrandFreak article, a major Ikea placement is noted in the popular summer film "(500) Days of Summer." The two main characters race around the store pantomiming domestic bliss such as cooking in an Ikea kitchen or trying out an Ikea bed.

An Ikea store had to close for a day for shooting but it will now certainly benefit from the many young couples who want to reenact what they had just seen on film.

The Monetization Of Mimi: Mariah Carey CD To Have Ads

With digital music still on the rise, record companies are striving to find ways to maintain consumers' interest in CDs.

BrandWeek reports that Island Def Jam Music Group, will release a 34 page booklet (in co-production with ELLE magazine) featuring advertisement in Mariah Carey's upcoming CD "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel." The ads will reflect Mariah Carey's tastes in clothing, jewelry and lifestyle.

Not only is Island Def Jam is generating additional revenue by selling ad space but including a high quality added value on-pack offer something digital music simply does not have.

HBO Turns W Hotels' Bungalow Into "Entourage" Experience

Ever want to live the glamorous lifestyle of the boys of "Entourage"? Now you can, as HBO serves up the ultimate "branded experience."

According to Promo Magazine, HBO is offering the public a chance to step in the shoes of rising Hollywood star with a new hotel package at W Hotels in Miami, Florida. The $5000 a night package includes a three-level bungalow filled with video game consoles and a ping pong table plus a chauffeur, personal poolside cabana, and jet-skis among many other goodies.

There is also a side promotion on Facebook where fans can create their own billboards with the winners receiving stays at the W Hotel.

This fabulous joint promotion allows W Hotel to showcase its luxury services and HBO to promote the Entourage brand.

Eight O'Clock Apps Tap Into 'Mad Men's Social Power

The popular AMC program 'Mad Men' reflects the ever-changing 1960s American culture through the lens of advertising. Now Eight O'Clock Coffee would like to do the same with 'Mad Men' itself.

According to MediaPost, Eight O'Clock Coffee has sponsored three new computer applications (custom 60's style avatars, 'Mad Men' character quiz, and 'Mad Men' e-cards) that will not only coincide with the upcoming new season of the television show but also reach out to its fans in a fun way. The applications can be used on all sorts of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. By joining forces with an already widely popular product, this is a smart of Eight O'Clock Coffee to tap into the same demographic with more ease.

Gorillas And Women Tag-Teaming On Spa's Hair-Removal Campaign

A guerrilla campaign is nothing new to the world of marketing. This time, a brand uses gorilla suits in their guerrilla campaign!

According to BrandFreak, Bliss spa has donned a wilder persona for its new hair-removal campaign. In addition to sending out the typical bikini-clad women onto the streets of New York City, people in Gorilla suits (also wearing bikinis) will also be tagging along handing out free samples and coupons to Bliss.

The gorilla suits not only make a humorously exaggerated jab at people who neglect hair-removal but will stand out in a crowded marketplace.