Feb 11, 2008
posted by Shelley
CNN’s health feature this week is at it again! If you read an earlier rant I made about weight loss and clothing sizes, you’d know how it totally ticks me off when every single time there’s a headline or commercial where someone loses weight, they always end up a size 4. It doesn’t matter the ‘ending weight’ or height, or any other factors — if you lose weight, you’re a size 4. Instead of headlines like, “The Best Way to Lose Weight”, it should instead be titled, “The Way to a Size 4″…
Feb 8, 2008
posted by Shelley
A new survey from Accountemps finds that fifty-seven percent of 150 senior executives with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies polled identified Tuesday as the most productive day of the week for employees.
Interesting stuff — I know that Monday is never productive at this office. Monday morning’s email box holds client’s work requests — they’ve spent the week-end thinking of things they need. I never schedule outside appointments on Monday, but instead spend the day answering the phone and putting out fires. I would agree with Tuesday, and that’s exactly how I would’ve voted.
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This post title makes me think of Popeye, which makes me immediately think of my brother, Scott. You remember! Popeye’s friend, Wimpy, loves to eat hamburgers but is too lazy to pay for them. He is always attempting to get someone to buy him lunch and uses the line, “I’d gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
My brother is always the first to offer to pay for lunch, so that isn’t why the mere mention of anything to do with Popeye cartoons make me think of him. Why then? Because my Mother loves to tell the story of Scott’s distress over naming the new baby (me!). He was torn all to pieces because Mom refused to name me Olive Oil.
Feb 8, 2008
posted by Shelley
I have several packages that must go out today to clients, so I spent some time last night preparing them for shipment. After placing some items in boxes and getting the UPS labels printed and attached, I notice that I have a shipment that’s simply one DVD and a few one-sheets. Easy enough — that should fit just fine in an envelope-sized pack. Of course, bubble envelopes won’t allow the one-sheets to stay flat, so I search through my stash for something else. I find a USPS envelope that I’ve purchased previously and figure once I attach the UPS label to the front, no one will be the wiser. It’s all good.
As I turn over the United States Postal Service envelope that I purchased with good ole’ American money, I see the small print on the back side. It read, “MADE IN MEXICO”!! With the unemployment rate up and a recession looming, (not to mention that illegal immigrants now make up about 4% of US population — yes, 1 in every 25 are here illegally – AND 56% of those illegals come from Mexico) who, within our government, decided it was a good idea to have USPS products printed in Mexico?? Don’t tell me that move is cost-effective when you compare what is spent for welfare, and our government reported a decline of 17,000 jobs in January, the first drop in more than four years! In my best Percy Garris voice…Morons! I’ve got morons on my team!!
Feb 7, 2008
posted by Shelley
My post from yesterday sparked a conversation between Perry and I about how the mere mention of LifeSavers brings back childhood memories. For the record — we both ate the yellow ones last, and fed the white ones to the dog. Here’s the only thing that I don’t get: if you look at the old packaging and compare it to the new logo and packaging, there’s an “O” added between the words ‘life’ and ‘savers’. Life-O-Savers? (Say that in your best Irish accent!) Here’s the comparison:
Ok, so personally I don’t like the placement, but the font change is an improvement.
And as promised from yesterday’s post, I wanted to touch on Landor Associates and Lightspeed Research’s recent release of a national survey examining Americans’ perceptions of high-profile brands expected to make headlines in 2008. The key highlights include the fact that Americans continue their obsession with online brands — Google, Amazon, eBay, YouTube, etc. — and those are expected to continue to be winners. Low cost retailers like Wal-Mart and Target did much better than their counterparts, Macy’s and the Gap. Airlines are expected to suffer and of course the home mortgage crisis has the biggies there predicted as losers (Countrywide and Fannie Mae) within this study.
While the results of this survey are probably come as no surprise, it should tell you a couple basic things if you’re a business owner:
- You’d better have an online presence if you’re in business. Online time for everyone is increasing, and if you don’t at least have a presence, you can expect that your customers/clients will find your competitor that does. (Offering what your prospective client wants online would be a whole different post.)
- With the increased price of oil and the socio-economic factors decreasing travel, if you can provide a valuable service online, you should consider doing so.
Ok, so maybe this post should’ve gone to my business BLOG instead of appearing here. 🙂
Feb 6, 2008
posted by Shelley
differentiate (dĭf’ə-rĕn’shē-āt) – verb
To recognize as being different.
To make noticeable or different.
In my line of work, I do a ton of research on brands — what’s hot, what simply is not — as well as consumer opinions on brands in particular in today’s very muddled market. I’m fascinated that some companies seem to never get it and continue to pump out more of the same as they watch others gaining in popularity. And have you noticed, that what makes companies successful may be applied to the personal aspects of your life and help to make you more successful as well?
Russ Meyer, Chief Strategy Officer of Landor Associates recently stated, “Brands are going to have to figure out what their simple, unique promise is and be able to get consumers to understand why they need to spend money with them.” That fundamental concept goes hand in hand with Scott McKain’s ‘high concept’ message — and again, that too may be applied to your personal life. If you can’t find out what makes you different and what you stand for (your promise) — how can you expect others to understand?
More tomorrow on Landor Associates and Lightspeed Research’s recent release of a national survey examining Americans’ perceptions of high-profile brands expected to make headlines in 2008…but in the meantime, consider this:
Landor is the company that redesigned the LifeSavers logo and packaging. Just the mention of LifeSavers brings back fond memories of when I was kid and fought my brother for the red ones contained in the fruit pack (he usually won and I would get the 2nd place orange one). Any redesign would be a bold move for the established brand — but be sure to check out their new, simple packaging concept.
