Mother's Love Bling

By Kellie J. Lala

Mother’s Day jeweler sales improved over 2010 (according to the National Jeweler).  Even with the price of silver and gold at record highs, $37.00 an ounce and $1500.00 respectively, many retailers were pleased overall.  Some popular items for moms this year included multi-gem birthstone “mother's rings”, basic gold earrings and chains, Pandora bracelets, diamond earrings and cross pendants.  White gold is still the popular choice over other metals.  

What did you buy your mother?  I love shopping so I always go for the multi gift purchase.  My mom got an outfit, plants for spring potting, candle, restaurant gift card and a funky blue kitchen spatula.  My mom does a lot of me, in fact many of my friends say “poor Donna”.  She does enjoy being able to help me out and I am always grateful for it.  My mom is so sweet that she was telling people that “every day is Mother’s Day living next door to my daughter”.   

What a nice thing to say. 

So-the question to ask yourself, what have you done for your mother today?

 

The Lesson of the Alpine Slide

By Glen Gardner/ Z102.9, 1600 ESPN Marketing Consultant
The changing seasons are really one of the best events to market around.
It gives people a reason to shift focus and start thinking about new
products and services that the change helps usher in. It's always a good
idea to think about how your product or service can benefit from the
change in behavior.
Sometimes the benefits and course is obvious. If you own a shop that
sells ski equipment, the summer might not be the best time to sink a lot
of marketing dollars into getting people to buy ski gear, but it doesn't
mean there is no opportunity.
One of the best examples I can remember brought me back to my New
England roots about 30 years ago. There were several ski areas in
western Massachusetts and Vermont that were trying to figure out ways to
use their facilities in the summer months. They had the real estate, a
lot of vertical drop, ski lifts and ticketing facilities. It all sat
idle and rusting all summer long because there's no snow.
Then one of the areas had the bright idea to install something called an
alpine slide. The alpine slide was a removable track that could be
installed over the ski runs down the mountain. People would slide down
those tracks on a sled that had wheels, a brake and looked a lot like a
bobsled.
These things became a huge hit and allowed these ski areas to turn a
huge seasonal negative into a huge positive. People were waiting on line
to slide down the runs on what used to be deserted slopes in the summer.
Soon many ski areas featured alpine slides and a new revenue source was
born!
As the summer approaches are there ways you can reinvent and re-market
your business or service to use what Mother nature is handing us? Think
about it, the right answer could be as fun as a thrill ride!

Smartphones are on the rise.

By Kellie J. Lala

I have been pondering a smartphone purchase.  I know eventually that we will all have these amazing creatures.  Actually, according to an Online Media Daily article from 2/28/11, smartphone shipments exceeded that of computers for the 1^st time in 2010 and their revenues for mobile data service grew 23% to $55 billion (yes that is with a B).

My wise former boss (may you RIP, Eliot) said that someday, land lines will be a thing of the past and everyone will use cellular devices to communicate.  He was right...again!  Laptops are also really taking a hit when you hear companies like GE and Mercedes-Benz are giving their employees iPads instead of laptops or netbooks. 

It is hard to hop on the electronic merry go round because the horses are changing almost on a daily basis.  What’s next?  What are you looking to purchase this year?

Happy shopping! 

Fastest Growing Restaurant Brands

By Kellie Lala

We all eat.  We all like variety and choices.  According to the March 14, 2011 Nation’s Restaurant News article, 500 of the country’s largest chains had sales increases in 2010.  I think that this reflects upon the improvements in our economy and the willingness of people to spend more of their disposable dollars on eating out.  The report says that fast casual and limited-service sandwich chains are the fastest growing.  The top of that list is Five Guys Burgers and Fries (I have never heard of them-have you?) at a whopping 38% in 2010.  Other big winners with increased 2010 sales include Jimmy John’s at 22% and Chipotle Mexican Grill  at 21%.  Other chains rounding out the top 10 include:  BJ’s Restaurants, Yard House, Cheddar’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Firehouse Subs, Noodles and Co. and Panda Express.  We will be able to try the Noodles and Co. in the Corridor soon as they will be opening a new restaurant on the Coralville Strip in the next few months. The world’s two big chains, Subway and McDonald’s also showed healthy sales growth in 2010 (both big radio users I might add).  If this is any indication of our economy’s recovery, it is great news!  Even as the Government runs out of money--consumers still are spending theirs!  Bon appetite!    

       

Book Review

By Julie Hein 

I’m re-reading a great book, Marketing Outrageously, by Jon Spoelstra.  He has worked in sports management for professional sports franchises, including as general manager of the New Jersey Nets. 

                      

One thing he advocates is asking yourself and staff, “what’s it going to take to….”  Insert some wild and crazy goal.  Then make a list of what it would take, even if it seems impossible or ridiculous.  Even if it means that you need a million dollars, a bunch new hires that you can’t afford and a new office space.  Just follow the thought through.  Then take it piece by piece and figure out how to get it.  You can’t get it all unless you plan for it, accept it as reasonable, dream and plan around the possibility.  It’s not “how do we end the season with 20 wins”; it’s “how do we win the Stanley Cup?”  Won’t be easy, but nothing good is.  Instead of asking, “how do I increase 5% over 2010, think about being the best of the best.”  Aim high!

He also wants everyone in an organization to ask themselves, “what did I do to make money for my company today.”  What would that do to your company? 

It’s a great book.  Especially if you feel like jumping in with both feet. 

Quake aftershocks felt 'round the world.

By Kellie Lala

Japan’s horrific earth quake and tsunami has far reaching effects.  Not just to loved ones around the world but also on many a business.  I found the pictures and images simply amazing and upsetting.  What a horrible thing for those people.  I really didn’t stop to think about the effects that this disaster might have on business until I started to see business articles  surface.  According to Automotive News on March 21, 2011, North American auto makers, suppliers and dealers are preparing for shortages in both parts and vehicles.   What does that mean for us as consumers?  Higher prices on new cars and parts,  higher gasoline prices and limited production on certain brands and models.  Assembly plant shutdowns will mean a loss of nearly 300,000 units by months end.  All the biggies-Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Suzuki motors were shut down for at least a week after the disaster.  Japan also exports 2 million transmissions a year to the USA.  Those plants were severely damaged as well, making auto parts prices bound to rise in the months ahead.   Many analysts are afraid to make predictions on the impact of the disaster.  What we do know is that the earth quake’s ripple effects goes far beyond the human tragedy.  I pray that Japan can recover from this sooner than later.         

A Guide to Social Networking

Like it or not, social media is here to stay.  And the “like it or not” part isn’t that important.  What IS important is that your customers like it. 

Like many I walk a fine line when it comes to social media.  On one hand it has the power to reach people more quickly and impact behavior ways that would have been unimaginable just a decade ago.  Its power and potential seem limitless, and in some cases frightening (see Egypt and their Facebook Revolution). 

On the other hand some of it seems so... invasive.  Does anyone really care about what Ashton Kutcher had for breakfast?  (As of this morning more than 6.4 million people evidently do)  And Earth to Wesley Johnson, you drove me bonkers in high school physics and we haven’t spoken in 18 years.  What makes you think I want to be your Facebook friend now?  (Apologies to Wes if he’s reading this).

All that said what IS important is that our customers like and use social media.  If they are there then we need to be there to.  The question isn’t really should we be, but rather where should we be?  Wikipedia claims there are over 200 well known and reputable social networking/media sites so clearly trying to be everywhere just isn’t feasible.  Here is an article that might help you narrow down that list a bit.

Titled “Nine Social Networks Your Business Should Be Using” it does a nice job of breaking down some of the many opportunities out there.  Do I believe everyone who reads this should be using all nine?  Maybe not (there are business benefits of getting a full night sleep once in a while as well) but I think it’s a good place to start.

Cheers,
Chris