Be Careful What You Wish For…
Professional fantasy. It takes you away from your current work, your current “office” and draws you to that oh, so special place where you feel you SHOULD be. You begin the day with a smile. You are valued. You are working with people you choose to be around. You decide how best to approach your…
Read MoreHormel’s SPAM upgrades by moving to China. Perhaps so should you…
SPAM! I am not talking about your email inbox, but the iconic canned meat wonder from Hormel. In Bloomberg Businessweek’s “Spam’s Long March in China” on August 4, 2011, we learn that SPAM’s introduction into the Chinese market will be priced 40% higher than other canned meat brands. Essentially, SPAM will be launched as a premium meat brand. …
Read MoreCoca-Cola is going where its customer is, so should you
According to Advertising Age’s article “Coca-Cola’s Futuristic Soda Fountain to Get 2012 Ad Push” on August 8, 2011, Coca Cola Freestyle (the futuristic Coke machine) is gearing up for its first promotion campaign after being 3 years old. The machine can offer up to 125 different types of sodas, flavored drinks, sports drinks and lemonades. (If this…
Read MoreOreo? Mac & Cheese? Which one are you?
Today, Kraft announced that it will be splitting into two separate publicly traded companies. One organization will focus on snacks (Oreo Cookies, Cadbury Chocolate), and the other organization will focus on grocery items (Kraft Mac N Cheese, Oscar Meyer Lunch Meat). Essentially, this split was done so that each organization could focus on its strengths. 2011 has…
Read MoreToothpaste that addresses pain. What are you doing to address your management’s pain?
If you have sensitive teeth, then the article in Drug Store News, “Colgate Expands Oral Care Portfolio with Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief” on August 2, 2011 is for you. 57% of consumers worldwide have tooth sensitivity, which causes them pain. The brand marketers at Colgate recognized this problem and designed a product specifically to address this pain. …
Read MoreIt takes a village to be a rockstar…
This will be the first post where personal experience trumps interesting posts in the news. If you are a rockstar (or an aspiring rockstar) in your organization, this will have meaning for your career advancement. Here is a story about a wonderful pediatrician in a horribly managed office. When my wife and I found out we were expecting,…
Read MoreIt’s all peaches and cream…In South Carolina?
You will really enjoy the NYTimes article titled “Peach Rivalry Becomes War Between the Tastes,” on July 27, 2011. My 7 month old son has begun to eat peaches (puree ones), and it brings a smile to his adorable face every time they go into his mouth. To be honest, I have no idea where these peaches come from. Our…
Read MoreMillerCoors MGD 64 Lemonade – A valid innovation effort
Having worked in new product development, I know how challenging it is to launch either a new brand or a line extension on a current brand. The Chicago Tribune on July 26th, 2011, reported, “Miller Coors drops MGD 64 Lemonade.” With MGD 64, MillerCoors had been doing some great work in getting females interested in its low calorie beer. …
Read MoreI want to make wine in France. Well then, go do it…
This story combines subjects that are near and dear to both my heart and my stomach: 1) France 2) French Red Wines 3) Following your dreams In this NYTimes article on July 25th, 2011, “An American Hears the Call of Burgundy,” talks about the wonderful story about how “… Ray Walker became the first American ever to make…
Read MoreHave some chocolate before that interview…
We have all heard “you are what you eat.” Well, there is now research that actually draws the correlation between your food and your mood. In “Study offers clues to emotional eating” on July 25, 2011, CNN.com and health.com reported that “the study is among the first to show that the effect of food on mood is biologically based.” Participants given…
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