Monday, October 29, 2007

Marketing rocks


The music industry is clearly reinventing itself. Recently, Radiohead decided to sell his new album only on the Internet (see also below). Even more remarkable was the fact that people could decide themselves how much they paid for the album. The other 3 'historical' P's defined by Philip Kotler -place, product and promotion- also ask for a new approach in the Internet age.

Read all about it in this week's column.

T-shirt in a Bottle


Coke is making t-shirts out of recycled plastics. To make fabric, plastic bottles are shredded, distressed and turned into polyester thread. This fabric is turned into a T-shirt with little branding other than a small, red Coca-Cola tab on the bottom of the right seam.“We envision a world in which our packaging is no longer seen as a waste, but as a resource for future use”, according to Kelli Sogar, Coke’s licensing merchandise manager. With this effort, The Coca-Cola Co. approaches to the trend of invisible branding and Social Responsibilty of Business.

Source: Advertising Age

Monday, October 22, 2007

ALDI informs

An honest relationship is a solid basis for a good relationship. That is what Aldi must have thought when it started communicating about the expected price increases. For a company that is characterized as silent and closed, this is at least a remarkable action. Aldi first communicated in Germany, then in the Netherlands and last Friday, Aldi published an ad in some newspapers in Belgium announcing some price reductions as well as 'price increases if we really have to'. A positive act for the brand or not?

Read all about it in this week's column.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Infantile


Benjamin R. Barber has published a new book called 'Consumed' or translated in Dutch 'de Infantiele Consument'.
In the book, consumer capitalism is under fire. Key thesis is that modern consumer society constantly creates artificial needs and makes consumers 'kidults', who prefer easy, simple and fast things. Is this a correct interpretation or too black and white?

Read all about it in this week's column.

JEP Campaign


Last week, the “Jury for ethical practices” (JEP), launched a campaign to promote its own body. Are these messages relevant for consumers? And do all consumers know JEP?

Building a b(r)and


Last week, rock band Radiohead released their latest album on the internet. Nothing new, except that fans have a lot to say in the purchase process: each decides how much he or she is willing to pay for it. A precedent in the music industry.

The music industry's business model is changing. The drop in revenue coming from records (whether be it from material or unmaterial formats) needs to be compensated by increased revenues from touring, sponsoring, merchandising... Ringtones can help, but also more "creative" ways have been developed to extort money out of the fans: during live performances, a band requested its teenage crowd to call a specific number with their mobiles so they could get a video of themselves at that performace and share it...

Apparently, new ways have emerged to milk cash out of the fans. However, it still remains unclear how the whole business model should be re-conceived. Recent events have demonstrated the artists and labels willingness and attempts to adapt: Sarah Bettens released her album through a newspaper, which required the newspaper to double its circulation. Madonna resiled her contract with Warner for a "360-degree" contract that including concert, merchandise and endorsement deals (and - who knows - video games...). And multinational record companies have dropped selling songs protected by digital-rights-management. Have they lost any hope in capturing value from online sales? This week Economist article provides an answer to that. Clearly, changes are undergoing.

Besides its innovative pricing policy for the download version, Radiohead is also set to release a box containing several LP's, cd's, booklets and artwork. Price tag: 40£. Thus, on the one hand, songs available for download to anybody; on the other hand, value-adding merchandising, in line with what the most loyal fans would expect.
In any way, unconditionally agreeing with the consumer's demanded price once again shows how the consumer is getting has the final word.
Consumer empowerment: not only in the building of a b( r )and, but also in the pricing of its products… and record companies should realize that as well.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Marketers are returning to the great outdoors.

Outdoors Lion Winner 2007

Frustrated by the declining ability of television to deliver mass reach that is cost-effective, advertisers are putting renewed emphasis on reaching people when they’re away from home. Out-of-home advertising offers a wide and still widening range of opportunities for marketers to make contact with consumers, according to Millward Brown. But...

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Sputnik


50 years ago, the first satellite was launched and thus the official beginning of the space program era. Today, the world is more then ever into space ship programs and technology. Tomorrow, visiting the universe can be a dream come true for one of us, whether it is with Virgin Galactic or Q-music.
People are clearly looking for new adventures and discoveries. But not only in space, new paths are walked. Also on television and in the studies youngster's choose, we see a passion for science and discoveries.

Read all about it in this week's column.

Friday, October 05, 2007

New campaign Dove

After the succesfull campaign "Evolution", beauty brand Dove, has released a new campaign "Onslaught". The beauty-industry advertising is under attack again. See the campaign below.


Monday, October 01, 2007

Peeters&Pichal



In the new program on Radio 1, Peeters&Pichal, consumers can pour out their harts to the presenters. Small and large issues of our consumer society pass in review. Recently, a large multimedia and hifi specialist, was under fire when some consumers complained about the selling of used and returned products. Hard day for their spokeswoman or lucky that consumers care and speak up?

Read all about it in this week's column.