Five months ago I posted some trend predictions for 2012 (OTHER than RIM’s share price plunge!). Here are some quick checkups on Strategy Steve’s list of the Top 17 Trends to Watch in 2012. Ease of use / instant convenience: Still Hot! Instant rentals, instant payment, pre-measured laundry detergent doses (Tide ‘pods’), one step cleaners [...]

Many European trends that make their way here are positive: nimble energy efficient vehicles, fashion watches & apparel, bicycle-friendly cities, respect for a city’s architectural history, building policies that encourage walk-to neighbourhood shopping & discourage drive-to monster-malls. Many of these initiatives create healthier cities & populations. But fitness & thin-ness are not the same. And [...]

If you’re a Boomer, chances are you have had a ‘short list’ of beverage brands a long time. You may have opted to ‘Go Wild’ and varied the brand from time to time, but Beverage choices are typically made early in life, and changed reluctantly. The Beverage Industry is about to shake up your choices. [...]

Twenty seven years is a long time in the fashion world; Fashion Television (FTV) has broadcast its final episode. An amazing host, Jeanne Beker, is lost to viewers momentarily; but every time we hear “Obsession” by Animotion, we’ll think of her  and this fine show. You might see Jeanne again; I certainly hope we see [...]

North America’s ‘drive everywhere’ culture has an undeniable impact on one’s physical & emotional well-being. On visits to Europe I was struck by how sociable a daily walk from work might be. You buy a baguette at a bakery, a pack of aspirin (that dissolve in water!!!) at a Pharmacy, a bottle of wine at [...]

The times are a’changin- literally. When I bought my first home clock 30 years ago, a home decor or furniture store would arrange the arms at the ‘ten’ and the ‘two’. The short ‘hour’ arm would point to the two ie 1:50pm or “ten to two” to frame a brand name, a method duplicated by [...]

My Seneca Entrepreneurship students have given some feedback on the Auto Show, Cottage Show, and various Food & Wine shows they have attended as consumers. A long list of lessons learned. First, the Bad News: too many trade show exhibitors erred in these ways: Show reps who are pushy and in-your-face, or who don’t take [...]

I finished my Marketing Channel lectures this week; lots of big changes & challenges in the ‘Place’ part of Marketing’s 5 P’s. A good time to sum up; first -the Classics. I urge clients & students alike to take into account 3 Classic Considerations: Structure! What is the ideal structure of the channel(s) for my [...]

I’ve posted previously on the power of the ‘5th P‘ of Marketing, Public Input. I’m genuinely surprised at the rate at which that power is growing. Recently, Rush Limbaugh advertisers dropped faster than RIM share’s price, after his Sandra Fluke ‘slut’ insult generated immediate, furious consumer reaction. Backlash over ‘Pink Slime’ caused Safeway & Fred [...]

Whaddya know- Scandinavia is hot. Real hot. Maybe it started with the darkly fine detective ‘Wallander’ (2005 with Krister Hendriksson; subsequently with Kenneth Branagh). Maybe it was Kimi Raikkonen winning the 2007 Formula One championship, or Stieg Larsson’s ‘Girl with The Dragon Tattoo’ trilogy. More recently, Scandinavia came to mind with the unforgettable character The [...]