Friday, June 24, 2016

Would you jump off a bridge if your friends did?



A new study from Cue Connect has identified five different segments when it comes to Millennial shoppers. They are:

1. The Social Shopper - who can't make a decision without the input of their friends.
2. The Bargain Hunter - more likely to buy if they have a discount code.
3. The Elite Shopper - likes to be pampered.
4. The Impulse Buyer - buys "suggested items."
5. The Frugal Fannie - only shops when she has too. 
(Loechner, 2016)

What do you think?  Does one of these descriptions fit you?  Or someone you know?  How should companies tailor their approach to appeal to people who fit this description?  Or one of the others?


Loechner, J. (2016, June 23)  Millennial Shoppers' Innermost (Shopping) Thoughts.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved June 23, 206, from
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/278462/millennial-shoppers-innermost-shopping-thoughts.html

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Beam me up Enterprise!


Partnering with summer blockbusters is a yearly thing and this year Enterprise Rent-A-Car is taking the lead with EnterpriseBeamsYouUp.com (if only).  Sweepstakes prizes include tickets to private screenings and a trip for two to the premier of Star Trek Beyond.

Airport shuttle buses in NYC and Philly will be wrapped with images of the U.S.S. Enterprise and the phrase: "Until We Can Beam You Up, We'll Pick You Up."  And they created a mockumentary video with new vehicles available for rent. (Gazdik, 2016)

Wow.  What a great fit.  And since I had pretty much forgotten that Enterprise Rent-A-Car existed, probably a business building idea as well. 


Gazdik, T. (2016, June 15)  Enterprise Rent-A-Car Teams With 'Star Trek."  mediapost.com.  Retrieved June 18, 2016, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/278196/enterprise-rent-a-car-teams-with-star-trek.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mostread&utm_campaign=93932

Friday, June 10, 2016

Now streaming...Donald Trump destroying his brand.



I've never been a fan of Donald Trump.  But as a marketer I couldn't help but admire the strength of his brand.  In his prime he could command equity in a project just by letting them use his name.

So why would he throw it all away?  It doesn't make sense.  Who hasn't he alienated at this point - Latinos, Muslims, women, the list goes on and on... 

How bad is it? 

So bad that the Trump name will not appear on its newest venture.  Because the new hotel chain will cater to technologically savvy Millennials - another group that has a strong dislike of little Donny.  (Karmin & Das, 2016)

I guess it's only a matter of time before his name starts coming off existing buildings.  I don't think anyone will be fooled.

Karmin, C. and Das, A. (2016, June 8)  New Trump Hotels Skip the Name.  Wall Street Journal. pC1.

 
Update: On June 27, 2017, the new owners of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Toronto paid $6MM to end their management contract with Trump and drop his name from the building. (Weiss, 2017)


Weiss, L. (2017, June 28)  Toronto hotel buyer pays Trump millions to drop his name. nypost.com.  Retrieved August 22, 2017, from  http://nypost.com/2017/06/28/toronto-hotel-buyer-pays-trump-millions-to-drop-his-name/ 

Friday, June 3, 2016

I love #StarringJohnCho



Full disclosure, I am a John Cho fan -- love both Harold and Sulu.  But mostly I love this campaign. 

In case you haven't heard about it yet, here's the scoop.  After the All White Oscars many minority feathers were ruffled.  That was followed by the announcement that Scarlett Johansson would play the lead character in the manga film Ghost in the Shell -- wearing a black wig of course.  Ewww.

Anger turned to action when William Yu, a digital strategist with mad photoshop skills wondered what it would be like if John Cho replaced the white male leads in a variety of blockbusters.  Then, he backed the idea up with poster do overs.  Here are a few, but you really should check them all out at #StarringJohnCho because they're brilliant.  And, they make you think.


I grew up with All in the Family and Maude and firmly believe that they helped change the way that people felt. 

So I was thrilled when I saw Beyonce's Formation video. 

Like #StarringJohnCho, I think both have the opportunity to open hearts and minds. 

I hope that I am right.  I think that Rinko Kikuchi would have made a terrific Major Motoko Kusanagi -- she was mesmerizing in Pacific Rim, if only she had been given the chance.  Maybe next time she will.


Rogers, K. (2016, May 10)  John Cho, Starring in Every Movie Ever Made?  A Diversity Hashtag Is Born.  nytimes.com.  Retrieved June 3, 2016, from

Hess, A. (2016, May 29)  We Will Not Be Ignored.  The New York Times.  Arts & Leisure p1 and 10.