Olay’s Debatable Super Bowl Pivot
One of the interesting brands to watch on this year’s sold-out Super Bowl is Olay, the global skin care brand owned by P&G. Olay advertised on the Super Bowl in 2019 but is taking a very different approach in 2020. It is not clear how well it will work. Olay 2019 Last year Olay ran […]
Super Bowl Surprise: Sold Out at Record Prices
The Super Bowl is just over a week away, and one lesson is already very apparent. The Super Bowl remains the most important marketing platform in the United States. Huge Demand The evidence is quite clear. First, the Super Bowl is sold out. You can take that statement with a grain of salt because Super Bowl […]
A Look at the Super Bowl Competitive Battle
Super Bowl LIV is coming up in less than two weeks. Football analysts are now studying the teams – the Chiefs and the 49ers. It should be an intense battle. Marketing analysts are looking at the advertising matchups. There is a lot we don’t know at this point. We don’t know all the advertisers; many […]
2020 Brands to Watch
I just filmed my 2020 list of Brands to Watch. You can watch the video here or you can click below. A lot of intense competitive battles will play out this year – it will be an interesting time for marketers. Here is a review of my 2019 Brands to Watch.
A Look Back at my 2019 Brands to Watch
As the year comes to a close, it seems like a logical time to look back at my 2019 Brands to Watch. You can see my assessment here. I’ll be out with my 2020 Brands to Watch in early January. Happy Holidays!
The Surprising Power of Audio Feedback
This fall I tried a new approach to grading papers: recording audio clips instead of writing comments. I was amazed by the positive results. I think audio is an idea to consider for anyone who gives feedback, whether the feedback is on papers, proposals, or individual performances. The Grading Challenge Grading is one of the […]
A Good Reminder to Get There Early for a Presentation
I recently taught a course in Denmark to a group of business executives, and in the process I was reminded of one of the most basic presenting tips: show up early. The Scene My presentation was scheduled for 8:30, so I arrived at 7:45. I actually got to the neighborhood earlier and enjoyed a cup […]
Why Free Walking Tours Work
Recently I had the opportunity to teach a course over in Copenhagen. It was a fun few days with an engaged, remarkably sharp group. While I was there, I had a bit of free time so I signed up for a free walking tour. It was terrific. The Concept Free walking tours have become very […]
The Power of Customer Delight
A customer is not just a customer. Some customers see the purchase experience as just a transaction. They may buy your product or service, but there is no loyalty, joy or affection. Perhaps you were the cheapest option that day, or the most convenient. Other customers are reluctant, begrudging buyers, who might even wish they […]
Elizabeth Warren’s Savvy Marketing Strategy
To be successful as a brand in a competitive market, you have to find a way to differentiate—and the Democratic field of hopefuls is no exception. This presents a greater challenge than one might think, because it is not easy to find and then communicate a motivating differentiator. Elizabeth Warren seems to have found hers. […]
Learning from Trump’s Weather Map Fiasco
This week President Donald Trump provided an important lesson for anyone gearing up for a business presentation: only present rock solid data. The Mysterious Line During a press briefing on Hurricane Dorian, Trump held up a weather that featured what appeared to be a black line drawn by hand. You can see the chart here: […]
An Opportunity for the NY Times: Super-Premium Subscriptions
One of the keys to building a successful business is capturing value; you want to align your pricing with the value you provide to your customers. If you are giving customers something of great significance, you should price accordingly. Savvy brand managers understand this. Starbucks executives know that some customers love the special, custom drinks and set […]