Once a ‘sleepy category,’ the pretzel grabs its fill of the $106B snacking space

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing.

Description: For a category that hasn’t seen much innovation during the last few decades, pretzels may seem like an unlikely place for Hershey to place a billion-dollar bet as it aims to solidify its presence in salty snacks. Source: FoodDive.com Date: Nov 28, 2022 Link: https://www.fooddive.com/news/once-a-sleepy-category-the-pretzel-grabs-its-fill-of-the-106b-snacking/630274/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Questions for discussion: What has driven the development in… Read more »

Meet the Man on a Mission to Expose Sneaky Price Increases

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Metrics/Analytics, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing.

Description: Edgar Dworsky has become the go-to expert on “shrinkflation,” when products or packaging are manipulated so people get less for their money. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 27, 2022 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/climate/fighting-shrinkflation-consumer-products.html?smid=em-share Questions for discussion: Summarize the concerns Edgar Dwarsky has about marketing practices and pricing. Do you think the majority of consumers are upset by… Read more »

SPOS #854 – Jeremy Utley On Ideaflow And Coming Up With Better Ideas

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy.

Description: Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #854. As a dynamic and engaging speaker, Jeremy Utley translates his research into the history of invention and discovery into transformative learning experiences. He co-leads the d.school’s Executive Education programs, and co-teaches two celebrated courses at Stanford, Leading Disruptive Innovation and LaunchPad, which focus on creating real-world impact with the… Read more »

Tourism Kamloops sends viewers through a (literal) loop

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: To compete with bigger destinations, the campaign hammers home a message of affordable adventure. Source: Strategyonline.ca Date: Dec 01, 2022 Link: https://strategyonline.ca/2022/12/01/tourism-kamloops-sends-viewers-through-a-literal-loop/ Questions for discussion: What is the theme of the ad campaign? Do you think it can resonate with the target market? What are some other creative ideas for ads that would be… Read more »

In defensive interview, Sam Bankman-Fried claims he’s broke and committed no fraud

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Relationship Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, in possibly the understatement of 2022, said Wednesday, “I’ve had a bad month.” The former billionaire added that he “didn’t do a good job” at upholding his responsibilities to regulators, customers and investors in a hotly anticipated conversation with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin at the DealBook Summit. Source: CNBC.com… Read more »

Why solar electric vehicles might be the next generation of EVs

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Market Segmentation, Retail Marketing.

Description: The world’s first commercial solar electric vehicles are hitting the U.S. and European markets in the next few years. German company Sono Motors, Southern California-based Aptera Motors, and Dutch company Lightyear are all producing electric vehicles with integrated solar panels, which can harness the sun’s power to provide around 15-45 additional miles on a clear… Read more »

In Winning a Grueling Legal Battle, Figs’s Founders Found Power in Optimism

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Strategy, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: The medical scrubs company won a four-year legal battle with legacy competitor SPI. Why the co-founders wouldn’t settle, despite the high cost of litigation. Source: INC.com Date: Nov 21, 2022 Link: https://www.inc.com/rebecca-deczynski/figs-trina-spear-heather-hasson-lawsuit.html?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IncThisMorning-Nov%2021,%202022&leadId=261346&mkt_tok=NjEwLUxFRS04NzIAAAGIPkvuhstFy9fqhJaoUlo60HSq6fQvSq5xW9IDbIquKz2K69IoNnZjDwvStpUE_n7aWTtTXMvQrnNycBoNVrqso5Fjrs83wp9Qeb7uqA Questions for discussion: What does this report say about the use of legal tactics to undermine competition? Do you think the use… Read more »

Amazon, Google Make Some Healthy Launches

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Innovation, Market Segmentation, Marketing Research, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: Tech giants were busy on the health front last week, with Amazon launching Amazon Clinic for consumers and Google making announcements about a new Fitbit partnership and pilots of its Care Studio for clinicians. Source: MediaPost.com Date: Nov 22, 2022 Link: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/380017/amazon-google-make-some-healthy-launches.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=128358&hashid=7T9TCmQZSDGbnu-424RuBQ Questions for discussion: What are the marketing opportunities for health care tech… Read more »

Iger announces first big moves in new tenure as Disney CEO: Restructuring and departure of Chapek right hand Kareem Daniel

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Global Marketing, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: Bob Iger, less than 24 hours after returning to the helm of Disney, told employees Monday that the company would be undergoing a restructuring in coming weeks. One of the first steps, Iger announced, would be the departure of Kareem Daniel, the company’s head of media and entertainment, and right hand to now-departed CEO Bob… Read more »

Here’s why Home Depot and Lowe’s are booming in a housing market bust

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Strategy, Metrics/Analytics, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: As the U.S. housing market falls hard from its pandemic-driven highs, home improvement retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s don’t seem to be feeling the same pain. In fact, they’re faring better than expected. Source: CNBC.com Date: Nov 18, 2022 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/16/home-depot-lowes-booming-housing-market-bust.html Questions for discussion: What is driving sales at these retailers? How important is pricing, given consumer… Read more »