Workers unite!

Off with our heads
According to the public, we agencies carry heavy blame for the country's economic misfortunes. Across all age groups, more than any of the media or their own friends and family, we tempted them into buying things they couldn't afford. Hot damn we're good! (source: eMarketer, 4/27/09)

They may hate the messenger, but...
Not the message. According to the annual BrandZ study, the $2 trillion value of the top 100 brands has held steady. Although the total value stayed stable, there was a lot of movement on, off, and around the list. No shock, the ones that fell off were primarily cars and financial institutions. Value losers were mainly luxuries like Ralph Lauren and Starbucks. Pampers made it on for the first time. And Coke and Diet Coke gained substantially. (source Millward Brown/Ad Age, 4/27/09)

Recession euphemism of the week
"Synergy-related headcount adjustment goals" (aka layoffs). From a press release from Nokia Siemens. (source: Harper's, May 2009)

Generic is ok by us
97% of Americans now routinely use store brand products. 24% of all food and beverages served in our homes is private label. The survey says the biggest change is in people's attitudes about PL-they're no longer embarrassed to use them. Although people with higher incomes are somewhat more likely to use them, so there may still be a stigma for lower-income shoppers. (source: NPD/Marketing Daily, 4/27/09)

Over 1 billion served
Opened just nine months ago, the Apple App Store had its one billionth download. The lucky teen got a $10,000 iTunes gift card and a bunch of shiny new Apple toys with his app. (source: NYTimes, 4/20/09)

Now you're talking to me
Not to who you think I am. Google will be letting users create their own profile for online ads based on their lifestyle interests. Look for "Ads by Google" displayed on various websites to change your preferences. (source: Iconoculture)

Can we talk?
General Mills has a new sampling/blogging program with 900 women, 80% moms. The catch: if you can't say something nice, they want you to contact them first to discuss. GM says they're not telling the ladies they can't say negative things about their products. They just want feedback. But how awkward and stifling. Social networking's all about the moment. Somebody's not gettin' it. (source: Adweek, 4/28/09)

Explosive sheep
Even though they're sooooo common they should be out, Ugg boot sales were up 67% in Q1. Warm, cozy, practical. A blankie you can take everywhere without getting laughed at. Perfect product for the times. (source: Marketing Daily, 4/27/09)

This time without Michael Phelps
Kellogg is donating an entire day's cereal production, about 55 million servings, to Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest), valued at about $10 million. (source: Ad Age, 4/27/09)

Tweetermania
Since we're all so Twitter focused this week, a chart. (source: eMarketer, 4/28/09)

So what's the big whoop?
According to Nielsen, over 60% of people who create a Twitter account abandon it. The service has a 40% retention rate-people who use it one month and then come back the next. It was 30% before Oprah. (source: Ad Age, 4/28/09)

Taking on the Dollar Store
With banners exclaiming "One aisle. One great way to stock up.," Walmart has unveiled dollar-or-less aisles in their superstores. Includes everything from string cheese to laundry detergent. (source: Instore Marketer, 4/28/09)

Barney has his day
Even though nobody got hurt, the Supreme Court decided (7 to 2) that a bank robber who didn't mean to shoot, but whose gun went off by accident still needs to serve the mandatory minimum 10 years in prison. So, for anybody contemplating robbery, just don't load it. It's still a gun, nobody will be any less scared and compliant. (source: The Christian Science Monitor, 4/30/09)

Greener with age
Adult Millennials are more willing than their teen counterparts to purchase green product/products that give back to the environment even if they're more expensive than similar non-green products. Some words Millennials attach to the green movement: responsible (76%), smart (62%), cool (50%), reality (43%), refreshing (40%), happy (31%), trendy (30%), new (29%). (source: Generate Insight)

Greener basket
54% of Americans now consider sustainability before tossing a product into their shopping cart. Although only 22% leave the store with a green product during any given shopping trip. 95% will consider green products. 67% look for them. 47% manage to find them in the store. Only 2% are so committed to green that price doesn't matter. (source: Deloitte/Grocery Manufacturers Assn)

I'll skip the energy hog, thanks
A survey by Sharp Electronics found that consumers are willing to pay more upfront for a product that will save them money on energy bills in the long term. They are three times as likely to buy the more efficient product than the less expensive one. (source: Wall Street Journal, 4/16/09)

We sizzle!
According to records at the Western Maryland Regional Library, Colonel Rochester bought the land that would become Rochester for 1lb of bacon per acre in 1810. The Colonel was banker, sheriff, postmaster, assemblyman, tax collector, and a number of other things in Hagerstown, MD/Washington County before exploring other opportunities up North. (source: Rochester Business Journal, 5/1/09)

May Day
Whether union marches, ancient fertility rituals, or an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, there's something for everyone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

Soul searching
Half of Americans have changed religions at least once in their lives. Catholics tend to opt out due to doctrinal disagreements. Protestants' moves coincide with life changes like relocation or marriage. 16% now consider themselves unaffiliated, but many of those simply haven't found a belief system that suits them yet. Most people raised without religious affiliation create one eventually. (source: Pew, The Christian Science Monitor, 4/28/09)

Apocalypse 1976
Just for kicks. The 2nd one feels more like a horror-film trailer than a PSA. http://www.veryshortlist.com/vsl/daily.cfm/review/1191/Web_video/swine-flu-public-service-announcements-1976/?vp (source: The Very Short List, 5/1/09)