Archive for April, 2009

K/BIS: Pre-Show Preview

April 29th, 2009 Debi
Image: ApplianceAdvisor.com

The housing market seemed to start this economic slump, so maybe it will be one of the first to turn around.  If this cartoon is any indication, we’re in for a long ride…

In preparation for the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference in Atlanta, May 1 – 3, I ran across this statistic on ApplianceAdvisor.com: In 2008 there were more than 1000 exhibitors at K/BIS and in 2009, the list is currently at 599. 
Well, the bright side is, with fewer weeds, the flowers will seem to bloom ever brighter! A great opportunity for our clients and those companies who are brave enough to weather the storm. 
We’re excited about the show as it gives us the opportunity to experience firsthand the latest designs, trends and technological advances in the kitchen and bath industry – all information we’ll be eagerly sharing with the media.  Check back often because we’ll be ‘tweeting’ and blogging live from the show. 

Posted in Home Products, K/BIS, Press/Media Info, Trade Shows | No Comments »

“Pepsi Sucks!” According to Yankees Fans. Pepsi Promotion Backfires.

April 19th, 2009 Debi

Yankee fans not too happy with Pepsi-sponsored ticket giveaway.

Pepsi over-promised and under-delivered on its New York Yankees promotional tie-in. Fans showed up early and waited for hours only to be left out in the cold after Pepsi distributed fewer tickets than promised. Shouting “Pepsi sucks” and dumping cans of Pepsi into the street, the promotion turned ugly and all was caught on video. View the full story at Daily News

The lesson: Under-promise and over-deliver…

Posted in PR/Promotions | No Comments »

Message goes over better with less noise

April 6th, 2009 Debi
Friday, April 3, 2009
Recession has quieted advertising space, leaving opportunities open.

Sacramento Business Journal – by Debi Hammond Contributing Writer

No one’s going to say that this economy isn’t a challenge. It is.

But within every challenge lies opportunity. As a small-business owner, here’s yours: Given the current state of the economy, many businesses’ sales are down. In some cases, way down. When sales are down, the first thing most companies do is cut their marketing budgets. Yet many studies show this to be counterintuitive. In fact, here are just a few of studies that show “making noise” during a recession can really payoff:

• McGraw-Hill Research analyzed 600 companies from 1980-1985. The results showed that business-to-business firms that maintained or increased their advertising expenditures during the 1981-1982 recession averaged significantly higher sales growth — both during the recession and for the following three years — than those that eliminated or decreased advertising.

By 1985, sales by companies that were aggressive recession advertisers had risen 256 percent over those that didn’t keep up their advertising. For the rest of the article visit Sacramento Business Journal.

Posted in Advertising, Published Articles | No Comments »