Maybe it is not the economy...

After 10 years, Pepsi-Cola Co. is splitting with soccer star David Beckham in what was described as a mutual parting. But the decision to walk away from Mr. Beckham, coming on the heels of a disappointing, injury-riddled stateside debut season with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, raises questions over whether the soccer celeb's marketability is fading along with his footwork. Since he inked a deal with Major League Soccer in 2007 that could be worth as much as $250 million over five years, Mr. Beckham has also parted with Gillette. He has global deals with Adidas and Motorola; the latter pact expires in June. See full story at http://AdAge.com

Are Beckham's 15 minutes of fame over? What major sports and entertainment marketing figure is next?

The gift that keeps on giving...A Suggie?

When I first saw this ad I thought what a cute and sort of clever idea...the second half of this ad I began to wonder if this a SNL commercial. So if you need to make this a December to remember then buy that special person a Snuggie.

Click here to see what I mean

I would love to see this companies profit and loss statement after this holiday season.

Has another bubble burst?*

The NFL is having problems...


And so is my beloved marketing geniuses Nascar...




And to top it off...

Can you drive really fast around tight corners? Do you lose your temper and burst into tears when other drivers cut in front of you? If you answered yes to both questions, NASCAR might want to hear from you.


The motor racing sport could do with more exciting, emotive personalities, NASCAR Chief Executive Brian France told reporters at the Reuters Media Summit in New York. Read More



I really hope they do not take the direction France wants them to go, besides they became a big business because of the ability to relate to the fans, having emotional drivers will make sports center but they are already on it for being good people. The last thing we need is hot headed morons driving 200 miles per hour. And with sponsors pulling out now, can you imagine how fast they will be pulling out if they do go this direction.


Which leads me to my next point, do you think the golden age of sports marketing is coming to an end? How viable of a vehicle is sports marketing especially when more and more companies are starting to spend less and less in sponsorship? Is it because of a lack of return on investment?

Sure we are talking about it...*

Will this make you want to switch from McD's, Wendy's or where ever to the Whopper? What kind of return on investment could BK expect from this? Is it worth the implicit and explicit costs of running the ad?

Selling The Sizzle Not The Steak

The roller-coaster stock market and plunging housing prices have left many consumers afraid. In response, marketers are adopting a softer approach to peddling their products, playing up comforting images in their ads and focusing on family and the warmth and safety of home.
Some marketers are even reviving old advertising to remind consumers of happier times.

Click here to read the article

I like how the article points out how brands are trying to become more soothing. I find it funny that in "hard times" brands and businesses go away from the greedy sales approach while moving to more of a marketing oriented approach in their message. Shouldn't it have been this way all along? It has been for Nordstrom's, Sun Country, etc... What are some examples, other than what was mentioned in the article. you can think of where companies are changing their message trying to create a "softer approach" to their customers wallet?

Would you rather...*

iPhone in Walmart???

That is correct, after this holiday season AT&T iPhones will begin being sold at Walmart. Click here to read the entire story. This move by iPhone makes me wonder...Will the iPhone brand lose its impressive status now that it is sold at Walmarts or will become stronger? Which is better sell your phone at Walmart or sell your phone through all other wireless communications providers such as Verizon and Sprint? Finally by going to a more intensive distribution model is the writing on the "wal" for the iPhone, haven't we seen this before?

Super Bowl Sneak Peak

Want to see who is going to be in the Super Bowl click here

Do you believe Brian Williams?

If you are into technology then you have to watch this!!

Who Could Ever Think This Is A Good Idea???

Click here to see what I mean...I do not even know where to start on this one.

A "Purple Cow" Sighting

Have you heard the one about the woman in California who is unemployed and frustrated with her job search so she purchases iron on decals and puts her cover letter and resume on her shirt?

Kelly Kinney did just this when she saw a guy in line with a T-shirt and thought, ‘People pay attention to things they read on T-shirts,'" Kinnney said. She turned her resume and cover letter into two iron-ons that she put on a white T-shirt. "I'm in marketing. I have to do anything I can to get noticed," she said.

I have a hard time seeing her getting a dream job using this approach, but I have to give her credit getting the attention of others. Do you think others will follow her lead? What is too far? Will possible future employers even take her seriously when they stand behind her at the grocery store or any other line that she is?

Read the full article and share your thoughts.

http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/6526/

A more competitive product or a slimmed down product mix?

GM is considering cutting Pontiac, Saturn and Saab in order to save money? Begs the question – when companies merge what benefit is there in having more than one vehicle that are similar within the same company?

Example:

Chevrolet Traverse / Satrun Outlook / GMC Acadia / Buick Enclave – all four are crossovers and have virtually the same features are built on the same chassis – so why make four versions of the same thing? Why not just one model with all the different levels of features?