Why Chobani’s CEO Gave Away $500 Million
On Tuesday, Hamdi Ulukaya–founder and CEO of Chobani, the Greek yogurt giant–gave his employees 10% of the company. Each worker received a packet with a share grant commensurate with their tenure with the company. The gift came directly from the CEO. This is quite a gift. A private equity firm recently valued Chobani between $3 […]
Communicating a Price Change
Two weeks ago I wrote on this blog about a new fee from Homeaway, a vacation home rental giant. I noted that the pricing move made good sense for a number of reasons. The post generated quite a response. I’ve received a series of comments, many of them thoughtful, from Homeaway and VRBO customers. The […]
Student Loans and Buyer’s Regret
One of the big issues in the U.S. today is student loans. People are astonished at the debt young people are dealing with, and presidential candidates are proposing various solutions that range from lower interest rates to debt forgiveness. This all makes sense. Student loan debt is increasing at a dramatic pace because colleges are […]
Why Homeaway’s New Fee Makes Sense
Home rental giant Homeaway recently began charging a new fee to travelers. This has caused an uproar in the rental world. Despite the initial adverse reaction, the fee is a smart idea. Homeaway is the largest home rental website in the world. It owns a range of sites including VRBO.com, homeaway.com, and vacationrentals.com. Collectively, there […]
Always Help a Friend’s Cause
This week my daughter Claire and I have been asking local businesses to donate items for an upcoming silent auction event. In June, Claire will head to Panama on a service project with Amigos de Las Americas, a non-profit group that brings volunteer opportunities to high school and college students. To support the trip, the […]
Playboy Wisely Covers Up
Last October Playboy announced a dramatic and surprising change – the brand would no longer publish pictures of nude women. It was a shocking announcement. Playboy, after all, was a pioneer among adult magazines. When Hugh Hefner launched the magazine in 1953, its defining characteristic was racy photography. Many people wondered where Playboy was heading with […]
Super Bowl Advertising: 2016 Results
Super Bowl 50 was a remarkable event for advertisers. Brands were reported to be paying $5 million or more to run spots during the game. Overall, it was an impressive collection of advertising. Many of the spots had strong branding and communicated a benefit. Compared to last year, there was a notable competitive tone. We […]
Super Bowl 50 Advertising: Pre-Game Outlook
This will be a big year for Super Bowl advertising. There are more than forty companies trying to break through the clutter. Each one is paying about $5 million for a thirty-second spot. Here are things to consider as you watch this year’s Super Bowl: 1.Will the ad drive the business and build the brand? […]
Persil’s Super Bowl Statement
There will be several new advertisers on the Super Bowl this year. One unfamiliar name is Persil ProClean, a brand that will be making a statement with its spot. Persil is an enormous global business. The washing detergent dates back to 1907 and now has global sales of more than one billion euros. The brand is […]
Super Bowl Ads: The Coming Storm
People in Washington, Philadelphia and New York are waiting for what might be a historic storm. A few flakes are falling at the moment but not much. This will soon change. It is the same story for Super Bowl advertising. Just over two weeks to go and all is calm. Things are rather quiet on […]
Super Bowl Advice for Squarespace
Last year, Squarespace ran the worst spot on the Super Bowl, according to the Kellogg Super Bowl Advertising Review. Take a look: Squarespace will be back on the Super Bowl again this year, spending at least $5 million for the opportunity, so I thought I would provide some advice. Dear Squarespace Team— It is […]
Chobani’s Dangerous Game
Chobani is out this week with some bold new advertising. My assessment: this is a risky strategy. The new campaign from Chobani takes aim at yogurt giants Yoplait and Dannon, attacking their ingredients. Here are some highlights from the full-page newspaper ads Chobani ran yesterday: Look, there’s potassium sorbate as a preservative in Yoplait Greek 100. Potassium sorbate? Really? That stuff is […]