What happened: Chicago has been steadily losing business for a decade because of ridiculously high costs for services like vacuuming, eating, exhibiting and yes, carpentering. That last one is a big deal. 800 to 1,000 carpenters can be assembled at McCormick, but at an outstandingly enormous expense. But change is on the horizon. Through efforts [...]
Being small isn’t a problem. Having too many small things to do can be. We've been taught that taking care of the small stuff is a good thing. How many times have you heard the expression, “If you take care of the pennies the dollars will take care of you?” What makes this seem true? [...]
SWOT Analysis and the Unique Selling Proposition are processes that are commonly used when building a marketing program. Supposedly b2b marketers rarely have time for detailed and costly market research. And yet a very real determiner to increase a marketing program’s success is to get to know the true customer’s interests and motivations to more [...]
Do you want to “build your business” or “secure 5 new contracts in your geo-zip area for $5,000 or more for their first orders?” Depending on which one of these represents the type of goal you set will determine the kind of results you achieve. So often people set themselves up for dismal results because [...]
What happened: Original Impressions has updated its Web site to include a stronger push of its commitment using its “DOWN TO EARTH Working & Printing Green For You” campaign. On their home page they state, ‘We are your Eco-Partner” and list some of its certifications such as FSC Certification, EPA Green Power Partner, PEFC management [...]
What happened: OKI Printing Solutions has rebranded its General Business section of its Web site. The manufacturer, that has been offering print technology products for years, now offers a wide variety of solutions that are designed to increase its customers’ productivity and reduce their costs. The redesigned section of the Web site - click here [...]
Using a combination of products, Kraft, LU, Cracker Barrel and Publix teamed up to create a selling opportunity for themselves and a delicious appetizer for its customers. The promotion was titled, “CHEESE loves COMPANY,” but from a brand strategy perspective it could be called, “MORE BRANDS equals MORE RETAIL SALES.” Let’s consider the not so [...]
McIlhenny Company which makes Tabasco sauce turned 142 years old this year. An amazing feat by anyone’s standards. Consider a few more about the company. Its first product remains its flagship. Its first packaging design is pretty much the same as it was those 142 years ago. Its products account for 20 to 25% of [...]
Companies are using software to monitor their employees more and more. With many years of employing all levels of employees and working for companies and watching how they dealt with their employees I have formed an ambivalent posture regarding a ‘big brother’ mentality. Admittedly, I really don’t have one view because I can see the [...]
...make products that are used in board rooms. Take NewPage, for instance. The company plays an important role in the quality of printed communications by providing coated paper consistency and quality on all of its papers. These papers are used throughout marketing campaigns, annual reports and newsletters throughout the country and regularly makes it into [...]