You can’t buy love, but according to a study from the National Retail Foundation, people have trying harder to disprove that notion this year. Valentine’s Day spending in 2011 is the highest it’s been since before the economy crapped out.
The average person will shell out $116 on red roses, heart shaped cookies, and I Love You thongs. A hundred and sixteen bucks! I guess someone must be buying a few of these to bring that average up.
What’s the explanation? I have no research on this, but I have a firm belief:
Valentine’s Day is a purely emotional holiday. Nothing rational about it; it’s all about human connection. You could argue there’s a rational reason to give a gift on V-Day, that if you play your cards right, your reward might greatly justify the gift. Probably explains all of the I Love You thongs.
This wonderful research proves that when it comes to selling, heartstrings trump purse strings.
And as an aside, I love the fact that folks are spending more on love. It’s a sure sign that we’re on our way back to financial confidence. POTUS should use this in one of his upcoming speeches. What’s a better economic indicator?
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Let’s hear it for unorthodox delivery! (And I don’t mean water births)
I watched Northwestern almost take down the #1 team in the country Saturday night, without their best 3-point shooter, John Shurna. Ever seen John Shurna shoot a 3-pointer? He shoots with his arms parallel to his shoulders (instead of above them). It looks like he’s trying to release homing pigeons. It’s just not natural. But it’s beautiful. Because it works. He’s 3rd in scoring and 4th in 3-pointers made in the Big Ten.
Check it out, about 2:15 into this video.
Makes me think of Rick Barry. Rick Barry was old school when old school was still new school. Ever see him shoot a free throw? He did it underhand. Like when you were 3 years old. Like the smelly guy in the tank top with the chest fur at the gym who doesn’t know what you’re supposed to do with a basketball.
Don’t believe me? Take a look.
He led the league in free throw shooting percent seven times and had a 90% career average. Not too shabby.
How about Jason Belmonte? Mr. Belmonte’s unorthodox approach to bowling would make Earl Anthony roll over in his grave (with some nice English).
He bowls with two hands.
The 2009 PBA Rookie of the Year (Professional Bowling Association), is a handsome, sunglasses, 25-year old rising star, and drawing new folks to the sport. He’s kinda fun to watch.
Finally, Tim Lincecum. The right-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants has a crazy, homemade, ridiculously efficient delivery to the plate. The main difference is in his insanely elongated stride, which helps him propel the ball to the batter. The normal stride for a pitcher is 77-87% of his height; Lincecum’s stride is 129%, some 7 ½ feet. It’s amazing to watch.
Does it work? Hmmm…he won the Cy Young in 2008 and 2009, and last year, pitched 8 innings and won the deciding game of the World Series for the Giants. His unorthodox style—and his goofy hair—makes him a standout in the league.
I could go on. But I think you get the point.
If different is good, unorthodox could be special. Give it a shot sometime.
Check it out, about 2:15 into this video.
Makes me think of Rick Barry. Rick Barry was old school when old school was still new school. Ever see him shoot a free throw? He did it underhand. Like when you were 3 years old. Like the smelly guy in the tank top with the chest fur at the gym who doesn’t know what you’re supposed to do with a basketball.
Don’t believe me? Take a look.
He led the league in free throw shooting percent seven times and had a 90% career average. Not too shabby.
How about Jason Belmonte? Mr. Belmonte’s unorthodox approach to bowling would make Earl Anthony roll over in his grave (with some nice English).
He bowls with two hands.
The 2009 PBA Rookie of the Year (Professional Bowling Association), is a handsome, sunglasses, 25-year old rising star, and drawing new folks to the sport. He’s kinda fun to watch.
Finally, Tim Lincecum. The right-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants has a crazy, homemade, ridiculously efficient delivery to the plate. The main difference is in his insanely elongated stride, which helps him propel the ball to the batter. The normal stride for a pitcher is 77-87% of his height; Lincecum’s stride is 129%, some 7 ½ feet. It’s amazing to watch.
Does it work? Hmmm…he won the Cy Young in 2008 and 2009, and last year, pitched 8 innings and won the deciding game of the World Series for the Giants. His unorthodox style—and his goofy hair—makes him a standout in the league.
I could go on. But I think you get the point.
If different is good, unorthodox could be special. Give it a shot sometime.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Now that’s what I call a pacifier
This month’s winner in the “I thought of that years ago but dang it, someone actually did it!” category is the Adult Beverage Company. Let’s see if I can explain this without getting too complicated:
Chocolate milk + vodka = Yum!
Still with me?
Yup, another wonderfully simple idea hitting the big time, growing in leaps and bounds, getting widespread press for a cute little idea. Let’s hear it for the two mixologist-moms who cooked it up in their kitchens after livening up their kids chocolate milk after the little ones went to bed.
Further proof that the best ideas are sometimes right in front of your face and almost always super simple. Executing them? Now that there’s the hard part.
The first step is the biggest. After that, just keep your feet moving and soon you’ll be running.
And I have heard that chocolate milk is a good recovery source when you sweat…
Chocolate milk + vodka = Yum!
Still with me?
Yup, another wonderfully simple idea hitting the big time, growing in leaps and bounds, getting widespread press for a cute little idea. Let’s hear it for the two mixologist-moms who cooked it up in their kitchens after livening up their kids chocolate milk after the little ones went to bed.
Further proof that the best ideas are sometimes right in front of your face and almost always super simple. Executing them? Now that there’s the hard part.
The first step is the biggest. After that, just keep your feet moving and soon you’ll be running.
And I have heard that chocolate milk is a good recovery source when you sweat…
Friday, January 7, 2011
Keep your friends close and your data closer
Being a marketer means having a love-hate relationship with data.
I love the way data helps us better understand what the hell our brands really are and how they stack up against competitors. I love the way data can tell us what’s going on in the heads of our consumers.
Data helps us formulate the right strategies to create the right target-facing articulations of those strategies, without which we’d be making art or art’s sake instead of intelligent, focused art, and for that reason alone I would bow down at the data throne.
But as someone responsible for creating the communications that will best engage with and convince consumers, I’ve spent a lifetime ruing the potentially damaging effect data can have on a powerful (and usually therefore polarizing) piece of communication. As well as the hold it can have on tentative clients; smart people who can get freaked out by what’s at stake, and use data as a crutch to take the road most travelled and fall back on safer (and usually less engaging and convincing) executions.
I’ve always tried to treat data as the two-faced friend in high school who I never allowed out of the corner of my eye. Helpful with schoolwork, great to have in a nonsensical conversation, full of the kind of gossip and information that would make me think, “I never would have thought of that myself.”
But also talking about me behind my back. Telling people things about me that they may have interpreted incorrectly or stretched into truths that didn’t really exist. Being wary. Very wary…
If only we employed data just for fun/goofy purposes, using wonderful facts and figures for daily conversation fodder, like the recent stats on Facebook relationships (sad to see seven million more people becoming single vs getting married).
But as long as there are products to brand and sell, there will be data.
So go ahead, crunch the numbers, hug them, smother them with affection. But just in case, remember to keep your friends close, and your data closer.
I love the way data helps us better understand what the hell our brands really are and how they stack up against competitors. I love the way data can tell us what’s going on in the heads of our consumers.
Data helps us formulate the right strategies to create the right target-facing articulations of those strategies, without which we’d be making art or art’s sake instead of intelligent, focused art, and for that reason alone I would bow down at the data throne.
But as someone responsible for creating the communications that will best engage with and convince consumers, I’ve spent a lifetime ruing the potentially damaging effect data can have on a powerful (and usually therefore polarizing) piece of communication. As well as the hold it can have on tentative clients; smart people who can get freaked out by what’s at stake, and use data as a crutch to take the road most travelled and fall back on safer (and usually less engaging and convincing) executions.
I’ve always tried to treat data as the two-faced friend in high school who I never allowed out of the corner of my eye. Helpful with schoolwork, great to have in a nonsensical conversation, full of the kind of gossip and information that would make me think, “I never would have thought of that myself.”
But also talking about me behind my back. Telling people things about me that they may have interpreted incorrectly or stretched into truths that didn’t really exist. Being wary. Very wary…
If only we employed data just for fun/goofy purposes, using wonderful facts and figures for daily conversation fodder, like the recent stats on Facebook relationships (sad to see seven million more people becoming single vs getting married).
But as long as there are products to brand and sell, there will be data.
So go ahead, crunch the numbers, hug them, smother them with affection. But just in case, remember to keep your friends close, and your data closer.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A great idea in need of resuscitation
I’ve spent a lot of time in Los Angeles over the past 20 years, and I’d argue that LA is the least normal city in the world. In a wonderful, check-out-my-latest-face-lift, don’t-my-fake-boobs-look-natural kind of way.
The home of plastic surgery and plastic people, LA is also home to Skeletons in the Closet. A perfect name for any kind of store in a city where dirt is gold, but when it’s a shop run by the LA County Coroner, it’s even more perfect.
Lunch coolers and travel mugs with the Coroner’s logo, welcome mats and beach towels with chalk outlines of a body…lots of fun stuff. They even have a web site.
It’s an ingenius way of thinking outside the body bag to make a few extra bucks.
Problem is, they’ve been losing money, mainly because they’ve been selling the same merchandise for a while (most likely to the same people).
Won’t you help?
Please buy some dead guy stuff. Or better yet, send them some ideas for new stuff they could sell.
Embalming fluid as a hangover cure to bring you back to life after a rough night? Specials for couples like body bags for two? Or maybe rentals for a half hour on the slab?
One side note: This New York Times article mentions how Skeletons was created, but I’m betting whoever came up with the idea was watching Night Shift at the time. Bill Blazejowski, where are you when we need you?
The home of plastic surgery and plastic people, LA is also home to Skeletons in the Closet. A perfect name for any kind of store in a city where dirt is gold, but when it’s a shop run by the LA County Coroner, it’s even more perfect.
Lunch coolers and travel mugs with the Coroner’s logo, welcome mats and beach towels with chalk outlines of a body…lots of fun stuff. They even have a web site.
It’s an ingenius way of thinking outside the body bag to make a few extra bucks.
Problem is, they’ve been losing money, mainly because they’ve been selling the same merchandise for a while (most likely to the same people).
Won’t you help?
Please buy some dead guy stuff. Or better yet, send them some ideas for new stuff they could sell.
Embalming fluid as a hangover cure to bring you back to life after a rough night? Specials for couples like body bags for two? Or maybe rentals for a half hour on the slab?
One side note: This New York Times article mentions how Skeletons was created, but I’m betting whoever came up with the idea was watching Night Shift at the time. Bill Blazejowski, where are you when we need you?
Friday, December 17, 2010
Today’s great ideas are tomorrow’s wrinkles
When I read about an intriguing new idea it makes the corners of my mouth turn up and my eyes scrunch just a bit in a happy little salute. This happened the other day when I read a New York Times article on some of the New Year’s Eve tie-ins on Times Square.
Lip soother and kiss enhancer Nivea is a natural sponsor, giving out thousands of samples in preparation of thousands of midnight kisses.
Document company Cintas’ clever Good Riddance Day on December 28 gives people the opportunity to shred documents they want to forget about from the previous year. A woman from Tennessee won a trip to New York to be the first to shred: she’ll say Good Riddance to her medical bills from a life threatening operation in 209 that she paid off in 2010.
Smart, compelling, fun, relevant.
The only thing better than hearing about great ideas is watching them come to life in the very best possible way. Which makes me think of Waterford Crystal’s sponsorship of the ball that drops every year. No logo on it, people; they’ve just done a great job of popularizing the connection over the years. Now it fees like no other crystal is worthy of the Time Square ball.
A brilliant tie-in that’s incredibly well known with minimal promotional efforts. We should all be so lucky.
Lip soother and kiss enhancer Nivea is a natural sponsor, giving out thousands of samples in preparation of thousands of midnight kisses.
Document company Cintas’ clever Good Riddance Day on December 28 gives people the opportunity to shred documents they want to forget about from the previous year. A woman from Tennessee won a trip to New York to be the first to shred: she’ll say Good Riddance to her medical bills from a life threatening operation in 209 that she paid off in 2010.
Smart, compelling, fun, relevant.
The only thing better than hearing about great ideas is watching them come to life in the very best possible way. Which makes me think of Waterford Crystal’s sponsorship of the ball that drops every year. No logo on it, people; they’ve just done a great job of popularizing the connection over the years. Now it fees like no other crystal is worthy of the Time Square ball.
A brilliant tie-in that’s incredibly well known with minimal promotional efforts. We should all be so lucky.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Riddle Me This
What’s a five letter word for “incites?”
I don’t know, because I’m not a crossword puzzler, but give me a little time. Trying to figure it out could help me land on a great answer to my next big conundrum.
Courtesy of Northwestern University (Go Cats) via The New York Times comes compelling findings concerning the power of puzzles to help people solve other challenges. Good news for those of us in the business of convincing people to trust their creative instincts and use them to solve problems in unconventional ways.
For all of you out there thinking about how to solve your current vexing challenge—I’m talking to you, marketers, cosmetologists, cosmonauts, animal husbandry professors, pizza twirlers and highway surveyors—yes, all of you, anyone in the business of coming up with ideas: take heed. This is a shot across your bow if you don’t believe in the power of using creative solutions to get to new creative solutions. Getting your brain into the ready state to show it’s stuff. Drawing order from chaos.
The next time you march into conceptual war, arm yourself with some unconventional yet highly effective tools of the trade: A good knock-knock joke, or a tough Sudoku. Get your synapses into a positive mood. According to these wily Wildcats, it’ll lead to better problem solving.
I don’t know, because I’m not a crossword puzzler, but give me a little time. Trying to figure it out could help me land on a great answer to my next big conundrum.
Courtesy of Northwestern University (Go Cats) via The New York Times comes compelling findings concerning the power of puzzles to help people solve other challenges. Good news for those of us in the business of convincing people to trust their creative instincts and use them to solve problems in unconventional ways.
For all of you out there thinking about how to solve your current vexing challenge—I’m talking to you, marketers, cosmetologists, cosmonauts, animal husbandry professors, pizza twirlers and highway surveyors—yes, all of you, anyone in the business of coming up with ideas: take heed. This is a shot across your bow if you don’t believe in the power of using creative solutions to get to new creative solutions. Getting your brain into the ready state to show it’s stuff. Drawing order from chaos.
The next time you march into conceptual war, arm yourself with some unconventional yet highly effective tools of the trade: A good knock-knock joke, or a tough Sudoku. Get your synapses into a positive mood. According to these wily Wildcats, it’ll lead to better problem solving.
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