Man me
Please don't call it a shower puff. It's the Axe Detailer Shower Tool. Has a lather and a scrub side, all in one Klingon-meets-Batman package. $6. Said to be selling well, though that's several bucks more than your average, unmanly puff. (source: Supermarket News, 7/13/09)

Nyet
Beer may be in in North Korea, but in Russia, it's decidedly out. The Kremlin has been trying for years to curb alcohol abuse, particularly among young people, but the new rules, according to one Moscow-based marketer, "will kill off any human touch." No people, no off-screen voices, no dancing bottles, nothing with an implied pulse. The crackdown is fueled in part by the country's tanked economy. The government fears hard times will drive even harder drinking. But it can't all be blamed on clever advertising. In Russia, beer isn't classified as an alcoholic beverage, so the legal age (18) doesn't apply. Nostrovia. (source: Wall Street Journal, 7/14)

PL boundary
Private label's good enough for me, but not for my kids or Fluffy. While 59% of adults surveyed said they've moved to PL for some household and food products, only 12% have done so for kid-related and 23% for pet-related stuff. (source: ICOM/Marketing Daily, 7/10/09)

New Wonder
Wonder Bread has changed all of its packaging to appeal more to grown-ups. Did they hit the mark? Old is at far left. (source: Shopper Marketing, July 2009)

Hangin' with my Peeps
If you're in DC, be sure to stop by the National Harbor mall and say hey to the Peeps. The yellow marshmallow critters, and all their squishy friends, are opening their first retail location. Of course, candy won't be the sole attraction. There will be all manner of peepin' tchotchkes. Semi-related: Check out entries to this year's Peeps diorama competition. So much better than eating them. Too late to enter this year, but look for it again March 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/03/21/GA2008032101983.html

We're over it
Nothing much has changed in the economy, but people have gotten used to it and are looking up. 57% of adults said their household economic situation is better or the same as it was this time last year. Only 47% said that in April. People are still trying to cut spending, but only 9% say it's because of the economy. 17% blamed the economy in April. (source: Performics/Marketing Daily, 7/16/09)

Requiem for an American dream
"100 Houses." Portrait sales support Detroit Habitat for Humanity (source: NY Times, 7/12/09)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/garden/09online.html?ref=garden

Save your logo
It's a new charity that asks corporations that have benefitted from an animal, like Charlie the Tuna, to help protect that animal through the Endowment Fund for Biodiversity. On board so far are: Puma, Geico, Taco Bell, Jaguar, Lacoste, and Peugot. http://www.saveyourlogo.org/en (source: Springwise, 7/15/09)

Mint condition
Whether 46-year automotive industry insider Bob Lutz is the right marketer to put GM back on its feet, I have no idea. But whatever his anti-aging strategy is, if he could package that, he would sell enough to buy GM back from the government. People, this man is 77. (source: Ad Age, 7/13/09)

Product disclaimer of the week
"You're just plain crazy if you put these in a microwave oven." Sigg aluminum lunchboxes. (source: mysigg.com)

Got hope?
Text a message in support of LiveStrong to the Chalkbot and have it printed on the streets of the Tour de France. http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/livestrong/en_US/chalk_messages

A most interesting result
"He once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels." With imported beers in steep decline (11% average), the Most Interesting Man in the World, the international man of suavity, is being credited with a 17%-plus sales boost for his brand, Dos Equis, in the first half of this year. Stay thirsty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2SSZA0CjdQ

Twitter faux pas
Habitat, a UK furnishings retailer, had to apologize for an "overenthusiastic intern" who popped hashtags related to the new iPhone and the Iranian election protests, among other hot topics, into advertising messages promoting Habitat. Cringe. (source: Iconoculture)

Grease and go
A new McDonalds in NC will offer free fill-up for your plug-in car. The restaurant building is gold-certified under LEED standards. The food remains the same. (source: Springwise, 7/15/09)

Diabolical
Today's Very Short List recommends the ‘90s PBS series "House of Cards," and I have to 1,000% adamantly concur!! (Yes, that's two exclamation points. And here's another!) Ian Richardson as Westminster's master of political intrigue is one of the scariest freakin' villans I've ever seen. Though you won't see him eat anyone's liver, Hannibal Lecter's got nothing on Francis Urquhart. Go to Netflix. Rent it now.

Chill
I've been waiting for summer to kick in in the Northeast to share these gorgeous photos with you. Since that doesn't seem likely to happen this year, slip on a sweater with your galoshes and enjoy http://www.nickcobbing.co.uk/ice.html

Mud, sweat, and beers
Whether you love mountain biking or just like watching other people do crazy things, come out to Dryer Road Park in Victor this Saturday for the 4th annual GROC Fat Tire Festival. Sign up to race, take lessons, or just eat, play carnival games, and listen to some groovy music. Races start at 9 a.m.

Jon Brown (aka Mr. GROC) and his family will be there, along with Ron Manley, who created this year's graphics and the posters you see around the office. Thanks, Ron! And thanks to Partner + Napier for sponsoring the fest once again. If you'd like more info or want to register to race, go here www.mygroc.com. Or you can just ask Jon.

GROC (Genesee Regional Offroad Cyclists) and its over 600 members created this fest as a way to introduce the public to mountain biking, to advocate for the shared use of public trails for biking and hiking, and to educate riders on safety and responsible trail use and management.

Beer and circus
North Koreans will be thrilled to know that the Taedonggang brewery is certified ISO 9001. And that "the pride of Pyongyang" also relieves stress and "will become part of your lives." So claims the first beer ad ever to run above the 38th parallel. Long and lousy, yet fascinating, it initially aired during the latest missile tests. Best of all, Taedonggang has received the coveted despot seal of approval. No, really. He likes it. Hence the commercial. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8132199.stm (source: BBC, 7/3/09)

My song
If you want to hear indie artist Sufjan Stevens' latest song, you'll have to ask Alec Duffy. He won exclusive rights to it in a contest. Alec has been hosting private parties around the country where guests listen via headphones, so no secret recordings can be made. He believes that sharing the song with a small group of friends and fans is the best way to bring people together and truly appreciate the music. To hear some other songs http://www.myspace.com/sufjanstevens (source: Iconoculture)

iMommy
62% of moms now participate in social media, a 462% increase from 2006's 11%. (source: BabyCenter/Promo 7/7/09)

Dollars and friends
Ya know how we say that our long-term, intimate client relationships help us be more efficient and effective? Well, finally a group of economists and sociologists proved it. Granted they studied law firms, but you can't say that attorneys aren't creative problem-solvers. The scientists also determined the billable value of your network. Read all about it courtesy of Mr. Strauber. http://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/index.php/Kellogg/article/the_price_of_a_billable_hour/

Le freak. C'est chic
96 babies got funky for this new Euroasian Evian ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcVllWpwGs . Funny, creepy, cute.

Bloody bad drivers
Apparently Kiwis forget how to drive over the summer, too. However, this PSA has managed to reduce road fatalities to zero since installation. Wow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlSyieFqql4 (source: Gizmodo via Gretchen)

July is national cell phone courtesy month
I'm dying to use these note cards, but fear being beaten with a Blackberry. http://mobpeeve.webs.com/MobPeeve%20Index.pdf

A little bit of Harris
36% of Americans are going to their hair stylist less often to save money
47% are bringing their lunch (to work, not to the barber)
19% have stopped buying coffee at DD and the like
Over 1/3 think TV ads are the most helpful in making purchase decisions
More than one quarter think no kind of advertising is helpful
46% ignore banner ads
(source: Harris Poll Weekly, 7/7/09)

Now from Nickelodeon
74% of families are spending more time cooking together
57% are playing together more often
43% are having movie-night-in more
38% are playing more video games
(source: Starcom/Nickelodeon/Adweek, 7/6/09)
This is what they say they're doing...

Now for the reality check
U.S. families are spending less time together, due in part to a rise in internet use and the popularity of social networks. A USC study found 28% said they have been spending less time with members of their households. That's nearly triple the 11% who said that in 2006. (source: AP, 6/15/09)

Epic or lame?
Hollister's opening a giant experiential store in SoHo. This is supposed to be their story as written by a SoCal dude visiting it for the first time. I see a 40-ish copywriter from New Jersey checking talking points off the brief and looking to Bill and Ted for inspiration. Think it'll click with the kids, or score mad eye rolls? Typos copied as they appear on the site.

"I was headed out to SoHo to see what the EPIC Hollister store was all about. Born and bred in Southern California, I was curious to see what's up. As soon as I came in I was like-oh, this is gonna be big. What hit me first is the smell-which is awesome. The place is off the charts-it's huge with a lot to see but it's cool, I didn't feel like I had to rush or anything, real chill vibe and all the clothes are way soft. I picked up some tees I liked before anyone else could get em. I'm wearing one now. Everyone who works there is hot as hell-it looks like how you wish everyone looked on the beach. No grumpy old ladies screamin' at kids. The place is hooked-up, it's got everything. Dude, its pretty spot-on to SoCal-they even have these live feeds of Huntington Beach on these sick flat screens. I got all mesmerized-tryin' to see if I could see my friends out there surfing. I called me friend up and was like, "Hey Man, where you at. I'm watchin' the beach right now. You there?" He was all freaked out because he knew I was in New York. Pretty sweet. Anyway, there's a whole lot of stuff going on there. I'm going back because I wanna make sure I didn't miss anything. Check it out for yourself. Seriously, it's at: Broadway & Houston in SoHo, big old-school lookin' brick building with five stories of tons of cool stuff." http://www.hcoridethewave.com/

We schmeer
Rochester is the 6th biggest market for cream cheese. Philly, no surprise, is number 1. (source: MRI)

Raise a wiener for Mr. Mayer
One effective marketer. Even vegans know their boloney has a first name. And he lived to 95 eating it.

You've got what?!
Have you heard? The gout is the word. Once known only from old novels, the debilitating arthritis disease is now growing apace with our waistlines. So put down those cheese fries, or add horrifically deformed joints, pain, and ulceration to the long list of obesity-related illnesses in your future. (souce: Iconoculture, 7/10/09)

For he's a jolly good bar code
Invented by George J. Laurer at IBM, the UPC is 35 years old. The first swipe checked out a pack of Juicy Fruit gum. Today the beep goes on over 10 billion times a day. The latest codes are so smart they can give you savings on several products at once and tell you if your item has expired. (source: NY Times & GS1.org, 6/25/09)

Soundabout
That was the original US name of the Walkman, 30 years old this week. It was the Stowaway in England. Consumers rejected both western names in favor of the Japanese moniker, and a music star was born. (source: Christian Science Monitor, 6/29/09)

Hit the couch with an ice-cold pouch
Spending waaaay too much time at the brew pub? Enjoy your favorite draft at home with Beer to Go. Available in 6-pack, 16oz, and 1.8L (source: Iconoculture) http://www.beveragepouchgroup.com/

The world will be a quieter place
By now you all know that Billy Mays has passed, but he left a surprising legacy. Out of gratitude to the Atlantic City pitchmen who taught him the tricks of the trade, when he created his production company, he also established a health care and retirement fund for his Boardwalk mentors. (source: Ad Age, 6/28/09)

Isn't it ironic?
My grandma went to Lynchburg and all I got was this stupid T-shirt. You can't buy Jack Daniel's at the iconic distillery's gift shop. It's a dry town in a dry county. (source: msnbc.com)

Backstage pass
Curious what's up at the White House? From the beekeeper to the morning briefing, follow the day-to-day in photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/ (source: Very Short List, 7/2/09)

Very sneaky
Run run, Atlanta! You're #2 in the country for buying athletic shoes, after Jackson, MS. (source: MRI)

What does opera smell like?
The Guggenheim is presenting Green Aria: A Scent Opera. It's man vs. nature as told through over two dozen different aromas and music, all in the dark. Each seat has a smell microphone built in to bring the right scent at the right time directly to each theater-goer. (source: Iconoculture)

And in honor of the museum's 50th anniversary, check out Frank Lloyd Wright's sketchbook of what might have been http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/06/24/realestate/0628-scapes-slideshow_index.html?scp=3&sq=guggenheim%20slide%20show&st=cse

Ready for retirement?
No way. Although he's turning 65, Smokey the Bear has a new campaign debuting July 4. 97% of adults recognize the old firefighter and 75% can recite his signature line. (source: Ad Age, 7/1/09)

Never run out of TP again
www.Alice.com lets you order all manner of household products at a less-than-retail price. Alice ships free via UPS, sends you reminders that you may be out of something, and finds and applies coupons for you. Pretty stinkin' convenient. (source: Springwise, 7/1/09))

Guys at grocery
Nearly 1/3 of men are now the primary shopper for their household. See what they're buying, where, and how their purchase habits compare with the ladies. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/direct/e3i1a1890f91e4cda9aa0ef4df7de712ee2?pn=1 (source: Brandweek, 7/1/09)

I'll see your restrictions and raise you a signif.
I wonder how many regulatory complaints it takes to net a "signif. restrict. apply" disclaimer. Never seen one of those before. (source: banner ad on 10nbc.com)

Epic ride
No more awkward elevator moments for visitors to the Standard Hotel in NYC. They've installed a video mural by Marco Brambilla titled "Civilization" which combines hundreds of movie clips into heaven and hell montages. Hopefully the trip doesn't take as long as the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQJVr8Lvce0 (source: Very Short List, 6/29/09)

Well hello Auckland
A different approach to airline passenger safety courtesy of the Kiwis. (source: Cori, Kelly, and...Hang on, I think we're going viral) http://www.youtube.com/user/AirNZnothing2hide

Thule rocks renewable
The solar power station at Thule's CT office and manufacturing facility are up and running. Over 1,800 panels now provide about 26% of their electricity. What does that mean? According to Tripp Wyckoff, VP of marketing, sales, and service, "It is the same as saying that every carrier in the bicycle product group is now made with solar power." (source: Thuleracks.com)

Wireless awareness
A clever solution for creating a consumer need http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SogB3HfzgBM

Guppy sex
Scientists tossed two groups of 200 standard aquarium guppies into two different rivers to see if the tiny-brained creatures could adapt. One river had predators, the other didn't. Over the course of 8 years (that's between 13 and 26 generations) the guppies in the safer river had small batches of offspring. Those fish were likely to live to mate again, so they could ration their eggs. The guppies in the dangerous river eventually produced huge litters, a now or never strategy. To confirm that the adopted strategies really did give the fish a survival advantage, the scientists swapped some of the safe-river guppies into the dangerous river and vice versa. Bye bye fishies: guppies that had changed to fit their environment had a nearly 60% better shot at survival than the non-native ones. If they can do it, so can we. Improve your survival outlook. Use the long weekend to change a bad habit. (source: The American Naturalist)

Kitto Katso
That's Japanese for Kit Kat. It means "surely win," which led JWT Japan to their Cannes-media-Grand-Prix-winning idea. They turned the candy bar into an edible postcard available only at post offices, which is designed to be sent as a good-luck wish to students preparing for Japan's brutal higher-ed exams. The greetings became so popular that they're now a permanent part of the Nestle offering and people send them for any good-luck-needing occasion. (source: Ad Age, 6/24/09)

Post-it wonderland
Something to do while you're trying to write a brief John Roberts can love. (source: Julie DeRoller)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpWM0FNPZSs

Lost that lovin' feeling
Divorce rates may be down, but the recession has caused 52% of highly loyal customers to either reduce their loyalty or completely defect from their brands. (source: CMO Council/Catalina Marketing/Financial Times, 6/21/09)

Disemvowel
Get hip with the 2nd annual "Cultural Dictionary" featuring such of-the-moment gems as 201K, pinkwashing, and Goldman Sacked.
http://www.c-k.com/culturaldictionary/CK%20Cultural%20Dictionary%20Updated%20Final.pdf

Orange goes green at Glastonbury
Mobile phone company Orange is helping festival-goers power up their cells by providing foot-powered chargers. 60 seconds of pumping equals 5 minutes of talking. (source: Springwise, 6/25/09)

Gatorade vs. Cheerios
A UTX at Austin study found that athletes who refueled with whole grain cereal and non-fat milk replenished their "muscle fuel" as well, and in some aspects like protein and minerals better than those who drank carb-based sports drinks. Another study says chocolate milk is even better, with the same number of calories. Go milk! (source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition)

Obie winners
http://adage.com/images/random/0609/aao062209/

City chicken chic
The Eglu, designed exclusively for urban fowl, offers security features, insulation, and an easy-access egg port. Two sizes are available to accommodate 6 or 10 layers, depending on how many omelets you can eat. Doorman not included. (source: Daily Candy, 6/22/09)

Multi Me
If we didn't multi-task, the average American would need 38 hours to accomplish everything they do in an average day. Our biggest multi-tasking time is while watching TV. 72% of us are doing something other than viewing. (source: Experian Simmons/Media Daily, 6/22/09)

Accidental spokesmodel
Andy Azula has starred in 48 UPS TV spots, but he's not an actor. A creative director at the Martin Agency, Andy just happened to be the guy who tested best with the focus groups-plus he can talk and draw at the same time, not an easy role to cast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F3qiBGIy5I&NR=1 . (source: The Wall Street Journal, 6/23/09)

What to do...
Too many choices? Let http://www.hunch.com/ help you decide. It gets smarter as it gets to know you. Serious stuff, like what to have for lunch, or fun stuff, like what Muppet am I. Me? Looks like Chinese today. And Fozzie Bear. (source: Iconoculture)

Reality check
Twitter has 18 million users and is the 3rd largest social networking site, but it has yet to earn any money. It operates by the grace of venture capital, $57million so far. Co-founder Biz Stone thinks they might try to do something to bring in some revenue this year. Dell estimates they've earned $3 million via Twitter. (source: Bloomberg, 6/23/09)

If you like pina coladas
You may live in Rochester. We're #5 in the nation for drinking rum. We're also big on lottery tickets at #2. Coincidence? I don't think so. (source: MRI)

Whence WOM

I'll have a side of salmonella with that
Fewer than 20% of American adult shoppers trust food companies to develop and sell food products that are safe and healthy. (source: IBM/Marketing Daily, 6/24/09)

Get a home, give a home
ING is rebuilding its image, one house at a time. In the Netherlands, people who take a mortgage through ING have the option of donating 300€, which the bank will double to help someone in India or Bangladesh build their own home. Loans are only available to people who've already shown through business microloans that they can be counted on to pay the money back, making it available for the next home. The whole thing is coordinated through a microloan foundation. (source: Springwise, 6/25/09)

Downsizing
Even though the average American woman is 5'4", 164 lbs, size 14, many retailers like Ann Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Old Navy are cutting plus sizes from their inventories or moving them online. The logic is that bigger sizes cost more to make and the cost generally gets spread among all customers. But if plus is the majority, aren't they being penny wise and pound foolish? (source: The St. Louis American, 6/19/09)

If you can draw this, you may be a Renaissance master
If scholars are correct, Michelangelo's first painting may have been this amped-up copy of a popular-at-the-time German engraving called "St. Anthony tormented by demons." MC Angelo would have been 12 or so at the time. Rumor has it he was heavily influenced by Insane Clown Posse. (source: NY Times, 6/18/09)

Talk nasty to me
A Spanish bar called "Casa Pocho" is encouraging clients to insult its staff and is offering free drinks for original or hilarious abuse. Polish-born bar owner Bernard Mariusz said he thought people needed somewhere to release their frustrations at a time of economic crisis. "That way they won't let it out on their family," he said. (source: Rochester Business Journal, 61/9/09)

Influence by the numbers
Research has found that to have significant impact on decision-making, women, or any other underrepresented group, need to attain a critical mass of 33.3 percent. (source: The Christian Science Monitor, 6/24/09)

Courage
When Walmart approached Deep River Snacks about carrying their products, Deep River's owner said, no thanks. He turned down Stop & Shop, too. The mega-retailers simply aren't the right fit for the all-natural, gluten-free, kosher, gourmet munchies. For now, they're sticking with the independent health-food stores that have served them so well so far. (source: Hartford Courant, 6/16/09)

Love hate
Whether spam or perfectly targeted, relevant-to-me email marketing pieces, Forrester says we'll all be getting at least twice as many-on average 9,000 a year-by 2014. It's a $2billion market this year, but survey says at least $144million will be wasted due to poor list hygiene and overzealous filters. BTW, those things at left are acai berries. They grow like grapes on a particular palm tree. After a few thousand emails, it was time to look them up. (source: Ad Age, 6/16/09)

iBetter
Hey all you iPhoners, here's some ego candy for ya. Forrester says you're younger, richer, better educated, and more productive at work than people who use other smart phones. You also spend a lot more time online via your phone. (source: Apple Insider, 6/12/09)

Brand at retail bits
Though the recession has 2/3 of shoppers making lists of what kinds of food to buy, 60% of the time they don't know what brands of food they'll buy until it's staring at them from the shelves. What kinds of in-store materials persuade them?
- 70% say they're engaged by end-aisle signs
- 62% merchandising displays
- 58% department signs
- 55% shelf strips
- 50% shelf blades
And the messaging?
- Nearly 50% want product-comparison info, esp. Gen-X and Gen-Y
- Product quality info is more important to men than women overall as well as to middle-income earners
- 70% are influenced by price reductions
- 47% are influenced by everyday-low-price messages (this one's been weakening)
(sorce: Miller Zell/Brandweek, 6/18/09)

A little bit recession-proof
That's what a new Brookings Institute study has to say about the Rochester metro area, which it ranks among the top 20 healthiest economies in the country. Albuquerque is numero uno. (source: 10nbc.com, 6/17/09)

XBOX360, the movie
An impressive animated short to introduce their new game. I've watched it 9 times so far. I want to see it at IMAX. http://attitude.adforum.com/top5/2009/06/16/the-beatles-rock-band-the-beatles-passion-picutres/ (source: AdForum, 6/16/09)

Queen of the SMS
Who's got the fastest-and most accurate-thumbs in the US? Kate Moore, 15, of Des Moines, IA, won $50K and a spiffy trophy at the 3rd Annual LG US Texting Championship. Kate, who sends around 14K texts a month, defeated 250K entrants and 22 finalists in events like texting while blindfolded and running on a treadmill. (source: The Christian Science Monitor, 6/17/09)

Summer in the city
Men prefer plain ice cream like vanilla or chocolate while women look for varieties that mix it up with chocolate or candy bits. Both like the other's favorites even if they don't seek them out. Nobody likes fruit flavors much. (source: Mintel/Progressive Grocer, 6/10/09)

Random acts of Hyatt
Did somebody just pay your bar tab? Either you're really cute, or you're a Gold Passport member. Hyatt has empowered their employees to surprise members with benefits they won't find in the brochure, to "make a difference in their lives and make them feel more than welcome." (source: Springwise, 6/17/09)

WeRANT
According to the 4th annual AutoVantage "In the Driver's Seat" survey, Atlanta is #4 in the nation for road rage. NYC bumped Miami from the #1 spot this year. The least ragey city is Portland, OR. (source: Atlanta Business Chronicle, 6/16/09)

Ink
As we city dwellers know all too well, a Sharpie marker isn't just a back-to-school tool. It's also a great, and very permanent, way to express yourself anywhere. Taking its cue from taggers, Sharpie's new campaign shows people personalizing their sneakers, jeans, just about anything. Do something cool-and legal--with your Sharpies? Share here http://www.sharpieuncapped.com/default.aspx (source: Marketing Daily, 6/12/09)

Something delicious from the Highlands
Ann McAllister shared this yummy blog with me. The keeper is a Scottish art-teacher-recipe-writer-amateur-photographer with a lot of talent. Even her dog is perfect. http://aweebitofcooking.co.uk/

How not to be stupid
The American Advertising Federation held a competition asking college students to create a campaign to solve the problem of college-age drinking. The winning solution, from SI Newhouse at SU, puts it bluntly: Laws and abstinence messages are pointless. What students need is help learning to be responsible drinkers. Their think-different campaign, "The Stupid Drink," is worth reading more about http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=108198

Striving for five
Rochester is the #10 metro for using salad dressing. Way to eat your veggies! (source: MRI)

CEOs that don't suck
Giovanni LiDestri just gave all 700 of his employees an extra week's pay to celebrate his induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame. LiDestri started as a teenager with a part-time job at Ragu Foods, then worked his way up through Cantisano Foods, finally buying the company, which makes salsa, dip, and sauce for brands like Wegmans and Newman's Own. When the bonus checks went out, he told his people: "No, we did not have a computer glitch. ... You do all the hard work." Janie Sanchez (pictured at left), a worker at the company's California facility, smiled and cried when she received her surprise. It seems generosity is in LiDestri's nature. The Sicilian immigrant celebrates July 4th with bonuses, too--$4 for every month an employee's worked at the company. (source: Democrat and Chronicle and The Fresno Bee, 6/19/09)

Obsession
What am I going to make for dinner? Is it too early for lunch? Should I eat that donut? In all, women spend about two years of their life, or around 44 minutes a day, thinking about food. I'm thinking about the low-fat fudgcicles in the 6th floor freezer right now. (source: The Daily Mail)

The opposite of greenwashing
Prompted by Stonyfield Farm, 15 of the VT dairy farms that provide milk to the yogurt brand are changing their cow feed from soy and corn to things like alfalfa and flaxseed that more closely mimic the grasses cows evolved to eat. Why? To see if better feed makes for less gassy cows and less climate impact. So far the ladies are producing 18% less methane and as much milk as ever. This is the kind of authentic, results-based contribution that consumers want to see in corporate green programs. (source: NY Times, 6/4/09)

Greenwashing, but not really
The FTC has charged K-Mart for saying its private-label paper plates are biodegradable. The odd thing is, they really are, at least in your basic backyard compost pile. However, the FTC says that doesn't matter because most people don't compost, and the plates won't degrade under landfill conditions. Since consumers could misunderstand this, they're calling it a false claim. Tricky. (source: Marketing Daily, 6/10/09)

Killa chinchilla
Creating a holiday out of thin air worked for Corona and Hallmark, why not Vegas?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf89N1_uz_A

Dibs on Daphne's couch
A UC San Diego study shows that people who nap at work significantly improve their productivity. Employees who were allowed to nap improved their scores on word games by 40% over those who stayed awake all day. (source: WHEC.com, 6/9/09)

iRemote
Your iPhone will now unlock the door and beep the horn (to help you find it) of the Zipcar you reserved. Two great ideas that taste great together. (source: Springwise, 6/10/09)

Secret stayers
Langenfeld, Austria, has invited 200 tourists to visit for 3 days sometime during July. At the end of their stay, they'll fill out an extensive survey. But the big test is the cost of their holiday. There's no bill, they'll pay what they think it was worth. (source: Springwise, 6/10/09)

WeREAD
Rochester, NY, is the top US city for newspaper readership. 87% of our adults have read a printed paper, a paper online, or both during the past week. We're closely followed by Cleveland and Buffalo. (source: Scarborough Research/Quirks, June 2009)

Choose Mad Ave and die
Boone Oakley, an agency in NC, doesn't have a website, just an interactive video on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elo7WeIydh8 (source: Marketing Daily, 6/8/09)

Procurement's gonna love this
Pay them "what it's worth." http://www.agencynil.com/ (source: Springwise, 6/1/09)

Sexiest commercial ever
A team of ad vets thinks Cindy Crawford's 1991 Pepsi TV spot takes the cake. It's steamy yet subtle and relates to the products benefits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcroQsUN60s (source: Forbes, 6.8.09)

One per customer, really
Once a mobile coupon barcode from Samplesaint Inc. has been scanned from a consumer's cell phone screen at a store, it automatically disappears from that phone so it can't be forwarded or used again. Problem solved. (source: NY Times, 6/6/09)

Are cheese and beef healthy?
Australia's Health Minister is expected to recommend a ban on advertising unhealthy foods and beverages, including alcohol. If this passes, it will be an interesting test case not only for determining what qualifies as healthy, but on the side-effects. Can anybody afford to produce a pro sports match that's not sponsored by beer? Will there be riots in Sydney? (source: The Australian, 6/8/09)

Boing boom tschak
Light Bright with audio. http://lab.andre-michelle.com/tonematrix (source: Ad Age, 6/9/09)

Green shoots?
Zappos is hiring. On a related note, a quarter of all Americans believe they will have more money to spend "the way they want" in the next 6 months. (source: violator on zappos.com & Harris Poll Weekly, 6/9/09)

Swim faster?
No joke. G-Defy ad seen in the July issue of Discover.

SHC
Stands for Sears Holding Corp., but until recently it also meant "see, hear & collect." Sears just settled with the FTC for not making it clear enough to people who joined My SHC Community that by providing their email address and downloading software they were giving Sears the keys to their computer. Sears was tracking and storing members' data, from banking transactions to friends' email addresses and prescription info. Creepy. (source: Promo, 6/11/09)

Hog heaven
Milk chocolate piggy stuffed with applewood-smoked bacon. (source: Fast Company, May 2009) http://tinyurl.com/6ob4bj

You are what you drink
Most people don't realize how much impact their beverages have on their weight. Tell the Alcohol Experiment what you drank last night and it will convert brews to equivalent food items for clarity. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alcohol/2008/calories.shtml

Makin' it
M&C Saatchi's "Reacting to Recession" study has identified 6 consumer coping mechanisms:
Crash dieters (26%): Cutting all non-essentials. Pay cash.
Scrimpers (13%): Trading down to maintain lifestyle while saving.
Abstainers (15%): Putting off big purchases to maintain lifestyle. Interested in free credit, but not coupons.
Balancers (9%): Tweaking the budget here and there to make it all work without too much sacrifice.
Treaters (12%): Crash dieters who can't stick to the plan. Reward themselves for frugal behavior.
Justifiers (12%): Still happy to spend, but need a good reason, like a new model or a limited-time offer.
Ostriches (9%): What recession? Credit card debt is ok by us.
Vultures (4%): Looking for bargains to take advantage of others' misfortunes.
(source: Center for Media Research, 6/3/09)

Foods that make you go hmmm
Healthy? Not healthy? Just plain scary? Your kids may still get hopped up, but they won't be stopped up. Apple Jacks now has 3 grams of fiber per serving. According to Kellogg's, fiber is the top-ranked things parents are asking them to add to their cereal. And, the number of consumers who check fiber content on nutrition panels grew to 52% last year vs. 42% in 2006. (source: USA Today, 6/4/09)

Who's following whom?
A Harvard study shows that unlike the rest of the woman-centric social networking world, on Twitter men follow men, women follow men, and men follow the men who are following them. Are there just more men? No, they're only 45% of users. The researchers say men are more driven to collect followers while women have more stringent criteria for follower reciprocation. (source: Christian Science Monitor, 6/5/09)

TCHO delicious
SF chocolatier TCHO's confections aren't ready until the public says they're ready. They beta test everything, altering the mix as often as every 36 hours. TCHO 1.0 went through 1,026 iterations before it was deemed ready for retail. http://www.tcho.com/ (source: Trendwatching, 6/1/09)

Gaining the recession 15
81% of US adults are trying to cut their grocery bills. 40% are eating less nutritious foods to do it. Here's what they're eating more of:
pasta/macaroni (44%)
sandwiches (39%)
soup (36%)
eggs (36%)
cold cereal (36%)
bread (29%)
peanut butter (28%)
tuna (27%)
beans (26%)
hot dogs (22%)
Weight Watchers down 35% over last year; McDonald's up nearly 3% in February alone.
NYTimes columnist Frank Rich refers to the recession's big winners-Big Macs, Spam, Hershey's chocolate, and Campbell's soup as "the four food groups of the apocalypse." (source: Iconoculture)

You will be on top in bedroom again
In May, 90.4% of the world's email was spam. (source: eMarketer)

Miami loves ballet flats
Zappos' new map feature shows you who's buying what where.

I am special
94% of Americans think their lives serve "an important purpose." (source: Harper's, March 2009)

Counting pennies with the Mouse
If Disney knows one thing, it's making money. So it's not all that weird that they've partnered with T. Rowe Price to create "The Great Piggy Bank Adventure," an exhibit that teaches kids and parents the basics of financial management and planning. If your piggy's not fat enough to get you to EPCOT, you can play the game here http://piggybank.disney.go.com/media/ap/piggybank /index.html (source: Iconoculture)

Now with 50% less copy
Mountain Dew has been rebranded Mtn Dew.

Sustainable kosher
Look for this new symbol on packaging. It represents adherence to standards in wages and benefits; health, safety and training; environmental impact; product transparency; and corporate transparency viewed through the lens of kashrut. Mintel says that because of concerns about food quality, healthfulness, and safety, sales of kosher foods have grown astronomically and that only 14% of people buying them cite religion as the reason. (source: Iconoculture)

Old card, new life
http://www.cardsofchange.com/ (source: Christian Science Monitor, 6/4/09)

Transformer
Cold Stone Creamery is introducing an ice cream that when left at room temperature doesn't melt, but turns into pudding. A nifty food chemistry collaboration with JELL-O. (source: QSR Magazine, 6/3/09)

Joe Cheese
I love the way this copy repositions "boring old Cheddar." The ad is on the IFC of the summer '09 issue of Culture, a high-end cheese magazine, and is brought to you by the Wisconsin Cheese Marketing Board.

Out of sight, out of business
According to a new Adology Research study, more than 48% of US adults believe that a lack of advertising by a retail store, bank, or auto dealership during a recession indicates the business must be struggling. Conversely, a vast majority perceives businesses that continue to advertise as being competitive or committed to doing business. (source: Center for Media Research, 5/25/09)

Robo-composter
$900, 30lb Samu pet poop processor. Load the load and a proprietary bag of something (the bacteria?), then push the button. Up to a pound of garden-ready good stuff per day. Sorry cats: it looks like a dog because it's only for dog. (source: Iconoculture)

Too late for Mother's Day
But still a nifty idea. Go to prioritymail.com, hold the object you want to ship in front of your webcam, and the Post Office's 3D imaging software will help you figure out what standard box is the right size for your object. Papa John's and GE are using this same technology in their marketing to create interactive experiences for consumers. (source: Wall Street Journal, 5/26/09)

MOS
Don't know what your kids are saying to each other? Or just want to get hip to the script? LG's new detexter can translate to and from standard English. www.LGDTXTR.com (source: Marketing Daily, 5/28/09)

Miller time, UK style
http://attitude.adforum.com/top5/2009/05/27/strongbow-bowtime-st-lukes-london/

Who's networking at the office

No break from shopping
College wasn't even out yet, but in early May, Bed Bath & Beyond already had its "Equip Your Space" back-to-college POS up in their stores. Perhaps they just want this year to be over as quickly as possible. (source: Instoremarketer)

The psychology of credit cards
- The minimum payment actually causes consumers to pay an average of 43% less than they would if the amount were totally up to them.
- Young and inexperienced consumers subconsciously believe that a high credit limit is predictive of future earnings power. In other words, they believe it is OK to max out the credit line because future earnings would cover the bill.
- "Creditworthiness" is a quality that can be detected subconsciously by a lender looking at pictures of a potential borrower. There is a direct correlation between faces deemed "creditworthy" and actual loan performance, so P2P loans aren't as iffy as you might think.
- Experts say that a powerful sense of guilt and obligation drives a higher rate of repayment when it's money between friends or family members.
- Consumers will spend more if they're using a credit card versus paying cash. When McDonald's allowed people to use credit cards instead of cash, the average sale went up from $4.75 to $7.
(source: many studies via Iconoculture)

Integration should include legal
To save $31million in UK taxes, Pringles' legal group tried to make it a fact of law that their product isn't potato chips. Of course the details of their lawsuit slipped out, and for their effort the company got a lot of negative publicity, spent a lot of money on both the legal proceeding and trying to mop up the resulting PR mess. And now everybody knows, whether they want to or not, what Pringles really are-42% potato with wheat flour, corn flour, fat, emulsifiers, and flavoring making up the other 58%. Oh, and they lost their suit. Majority ingredients to the contrary, they are legally potato chips. But will anybody want to eat them now? (source: Ad Age, 5/25/09)

Wii want to pong
Wii drinking games. (source: Iconoculture)
http://www.wiiaredrunk.com/

Quote of the week
"Advertising is the price you pay for having an unremarkable product or service." -- Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos at the online retail giant's annual shareholders meeting. Remember this when he needs help selling Kindle vs. the competitors, and just say "no." (source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 5/29/09)

The day Apple took over
The New York Times homepage. In case you missed this edition.
http://adage.com/brightcove/lineup.php?lineup=24208108001&title=24262944001

Think there's life down there?
Scientist are using this photo of Earth taken by Voyager 1 from over 4 billion miles away to help them discover the markers for large surface features, like oceans and continents, on very distant planets. Earth is the teeny white speck inside the circle. (source: Christian Science Monitor, 5/27/09)

What will Benedict sell?
Established in 1931, Vatican Radio, the voice of the Pope worldwide, has never aired ads--until now. Beginning July 6, spots from ENEL, an electricity multinational, will be the first advertiser. It costs the Church $30 million a year to run the broadcasts. They're currently looking for more advertisers who can pass stringent moral scrutiny. The Meat Wagon need not apply. (source: BBC, 5/26/09)

Probably not bunnies
Playboy Enterprises is looking for a buyer. If you've got $300 million to spare, you too can live the vida Hefner. Triplet girlfriends not included. (source: MediaDailyNews, 5/27/09)

But maybe these
American Greetings has a new line of faith-based, all-purpose cards featuring inspirational missives from best-selling author and speaker Pastor Joel Osteen. They can be found at Walmart. Proceeds go to Mercy Ministries of America, a Christian counseling program for young women. (source: Drugstore News, 4/9/09)

This one's for Jeff Gabel
Idea Paint lets you turn any surface into a white board. (source: Met Home, June, 2009)

At last, Twitter ROI
Naked Pizza tracked an offer made exclusively to its followers: it was 15% of that particular day's sales. They're now working with Twitter testing beta applications for small businesses. (source: Ad Age, 5/18/09)

Denial, anger, acceptance
The Food Marketing Institute has found a pattern developing in the way people are cutting back on food costs.
Stage 1: Changing OOH patterns. Eating out less or moving from fine dining to fast food or fast food to supermarket MREs
Stage 2: Changing supermarket behavior. Swapping brand names for private label and using coupons and shopping lists more
Stage 3: Changing where you grocery shop. Although people still consider themselves loyal to a primary, full-service store, they use other channels more for fill-in trips. And bargain-hunters shop more often looking for deals
(source: Marketing Daily, 5/19/09)

Hatha beats
Get your groove and your yogi on in Squaw Valley. (source: Iconoculture)
http://www.wanderlustfestival.com/index.html

Making art personal for MoMA
The featured sculpture is Symphony Number 1 by Vladimir Baranoff-Rossiné (source: Ad Age, 5/19/09) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO3umu9gu24

See different
Think big. Entrepreneurs are twice as likely to be dyslexic as the general population. Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, and Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA guy) are just a few. And in case you've ever wondered, products at IKEA have names because Mr. Kamprad couldn't read stock numbers. (source: Harper's, June 2009 and Wikipedia)

What we're reading
Of the 118 magazine titles that MNI tracks, ad pages are mostly down, way down, except for these: Fitness, Flex, Saveur, People's Style Watch, Successful Farming, Family Circle, Hunting and SI Kids. Provided media folk are correct in their assessment of what people want to read now, we're becoming more fit, family-oriented, and self-sufficient, yet we still need our dose of escapist trash. (source: Media Daily, 5/19/09)

Go meat!
A winning team in a Spam cook-off created a bloody mary using pureed Spam, bloody mary mix, vodka, dill pickle juice, Worcestershire, Tabasco and ground horseradish. Preparation instructions contained the recommendation, "Consume immediately, before Spam congeals." (source: StarTribune.com)

Also hot
Hershey's profits are up 20% for Q1. Double-digit growth as well for Kraft Mac & Cheese. Laxative sales up 12%. Remedies for upset stomach up 8%. Condom sales up 5% and Match.com had its strongest performance in 7 years. Gold coins, tan-in-a-bottle, anything from Hormel, and running shoes reaping the rewards of recession as well. (source: MSNBC.com, 5/16/09)

Evolution and consumerism
A new book by a U of NM evolutionary psychologist says that humans' purchase-to-impress instinct is a holdover from prehistory. Back then people hardly ever encountered strangers, "so we instinctively treat all strangers as if they're potential mates, friends, or enemies" trying to get their attention and showing them who they're dealing with at a glance. Unfortunately, this trait doesn't do us much good these days because our well-being no longer depends on our relationship with strangers. Says Dr. Miller, "Evolution is good at getting us to avoid death, desperation, and celibacy, but it's not that good at getting us to feel happy." (source: NY Times, 5/18/09)

Hello Bordeaux
Does the fear of purple teeth keep you ordering Chardonnay when you'd prefer Pinot Noir? Then Wine Wipes compact (with its own mirror) will soon be your favorite drinking buddy. (source: Springwise, 5/20/09)

Probiotic passing
Daniel Carasso, for whom Groupe Danone is named, died this week at 103. After immigrating to Spain, Carasso's Greek father started the company because he believed that common-in-Greece-but-rare-elsewhere yogurt could reduce the incidence of digestive-related illness in European children. When it was first introduced, Danone yogurt was sold in pharmacies by prescription. (source: NY Times, 5/20/09)

Natural enemy
Brilliance from Benadryl. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF-7YR5s6Y8

Twansplant
In Texas, the mother of a 3-year-old was kept up to speed during her son's kidney transplant by tweeting surgical staff. (source: WHEC.com)

No comment
Doctors found that women's brain cells, when threatened with starvation, act conservatively and survive, whereas men's brain cells eat themselves and die. (source: Harper's, June 2009)

Like ants
Knock-out aerial photography to get you in the long-weekend groove. (source: Very Short List, 5/21/09) http://www.stephanzirwes.com/#

Vicarious goal fulfillment
That's what researchers at Duke U call it when people who are given a choice between salad or fries with that choose fries. Even people with good self-control usually do it. You feel so virtuous having considered the healthy option that you reward yourself with the unhealthy one. (source: The Globe and Mail, 5/9/09)

When C-SPAN just isn't enough
Arlen Specter: every vote you take, every tweet you make, I'll be watching you. Updated every 20 seconds. http://legistalker.org/ (source: Springwise, 5/14)

Recession-proof ink
Tattoo parlors are reporting steady to increased business. Why? According to a psychologist at Golden State U, "Tattoos resonate with how consumers are shopping now. They look for something that reflects their values, a sense of belonging, and permanence." The same professor says after decades of superficial, handbag-of-the-month consumerism, people are interested in commitment. About 40% of Americans 18 to 40 have tattoos. (source: The Christian Science Monitor, 5/12/09)

Rock, paper, no scissors
Paper made of limestone waste. No water, no trees, no toxins. Can be substituted for regular paper. Check it out http://www.naturalsourceprinting.com/fiberstone.html (source: POP Design, 5/11/09)

New Intel "rock star" ad now available
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqLPHrCQr2I
(source: ad seen on PBS's News Hour)

Hands off my bow tie
Quick, what pattern's embossed in your paper towels? Who knows? Who cares? Well, turns out the brands care, deeply. And apparently think you do, too. P&G is suing GP (Georgia Pacific) for infringing on the "goodwill and reputation" of their product by stealing their bow-tie pattern. GP sued Kimberly-Clark this spring for allegedly copying their premium TP diamond pattern. (source: Ad Age, 5/13/09)

Sip your B12
Consumer problem: giant multivitamin pills are hard to swallow
Consumer problem solved: One A Day Women's 2O
Fruity crystals + water = supplements you won't choke on
(source: ad seen on Hallmark Channel during "MASH" rerun)

You'll never look at "stuff" the same
This doc-cartoon-umentary is 20 minutes long, so you may want to watch at home or our system will come to a grinding halt. Worth the time tho. http://storyofstuff.com/ (source: Kurt Jaeckel)

What's your rep?
Bad news for brands trying to attract Millennials. If you "haven't been good for a long time," the majority of them don't want to do business with you. They want quality, but it's very important that a brand has a positive history they can trust. (source: MTV Networks International/Center for Media Research, 5/13/09)

Where the moms are
Even though we're all madly marketing at them, 60% of moms think marketers ignore their needs and 73% think we don't understand what it's like being a mom. Must do better. Here's some info to help. (source: Center for Media Research, 5/1109).

Getcher CLIOS here
http://www.clioawards.com/winners/

BAS
I'm not sure if this ad is trying to say that texting while driving is bad or it's ok to text while driving so long as you own a Mercedes-Benz with Brake Assist (BAS), but I like the way it's made. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSXNgI1VfEM (source: Very Short List, 5/13/09)

Pinkapalooza
6 stories, 40,000 sq ft, the Barbie worldwide flagship store now open in Shanghai. Spa, design center, fashion show. I know where Smithers is spending his summer vacation. (source: Shopper Marketing, May 2009) http://www.barbieshanghai.com/en/lobby.html

I feel pretty
The average American woman spends about $100 a month on cosmetics and other beauty products (source: Ideal Bite, 5/12/09)

No Pluto
I can't help but think the product is why they're all so round and listless, but the ad's sweet all the same. (source: ad seen on TV somewhere) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvHj0vovQHI

Twitter topic of the week
#aporkalypsenow

Express dress
A laundry service in Germany has signed DHL to pick up and deliver customers' clothes. Sturdy plastic boxes come in 3 sizes. You buy credits in advance. And turnaround, including folding and ironing, is 2 to 5 days. Currently available in Europe only. Sigh. (source: Springwise, 5/14/09)

Safety, the ultimate luxury
Sexy, high-performance, impress your neighbors - all out the window. Even ultra-high-income-targeted ads are looking at value these days. This one was printed in the May/June '09 issue of Departures.