Archive for December, 2009

Pepsi Benches Its Drinks

Thursday, December 17th, 2009
PEPSI Advertising Campaign featured Cindy Crawford

PEPSI Advertising Campaign featured Cindy Crawford

Pepsi Decides to Sit Out of Super Bowl

Pepsi decides to sit on the bench for this year’s Super Bowl; instead opting to put their advertising muscle behind new cause-related marketing programs.  The move is a significant shift in strategy for the beverage giant.  Pepsi’s new cause marketing program, “Pepsi Refresh Project”, will let consumers choose community programs to receive grant money from the beverage company.  Pepsi has set aside $20 million of its ad dollars for the program.

Ironically, the word of mouth generated by Pepsi’s decision NOT to advertised in the super bowl will garner more buzz for the brand then the ads might otherwise have themselves.  Pepsi will rely largely on public relations and 60% more spend on online ads in 2010.  Pepsi just gets it – the best way to reach younger audiences (a group of potential consumers who have their whole “consumer” lives ahead of them) is with high engagement platforms.  Long-considered a trendsetter in the marketing industry, Pepsi is once again leading the way for its peers.

Three Trends that May Alter the Loyalty Landscape

Monday, December 14th, 2009
What alters your loyalty?

What alters your loyalty?

Loyalty 2.0

2008 was an active year for the loyalty-marketing industry. Well-known loyalty companies are poised to leverage their loyalty services on a global scale, building new coalition and partner programs, designing proprietary programs for clients around the world, and exporting their expertise in retail data analysis. These loyalty providers are a part of the new generation of “Loyalty 2.0″ companies around the globe that may significantly alter the loyalty landscape—if they can overcome a daunting array of economic and marketplace challenges. Here’s a look at three trends that will influence—and be influenced by—this next generation of loyalty leaders.

Intern Recruitment Complete

Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Let's Get Ready to Rumble - Buffer

Let's Get Ready to Rumble - Buffer

Today marks the end of an exceptional journey around the Midwest.  Over the past few weeks, we’ve traveled thousands of miles visiting career centers at some of the top colleges in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan.  We’ve met more than one school mascot and recruited alongside companies like Geico, Baird and IBM.

To all the career center staff members, applicants, interviewees, parking garage attendants and hotel managers, thank you for taking the time to help Apparel Media Group find the very best students.  And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for:  Interns, let’s get ready to rumblllllle!

Even Bucky Wants to Join the Team

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Jared meets Bucky the Badger in Madison

Jared meets Bucky the Badger in Madison

While there may not be room for a company mascot in this year’s budget, Apparel Media Group is now hiring Marketing Interns and searching for a Chief Technology Officer.  Send resumes and referrals to joinus@apparelmediagroup.com

Experiential Marketing Delivers Big Impact

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Research Claims Experiential Delivers Biggest Marketing Benefit

A significant 89% of marketers said the ability of experiential marketing to build long-term customer relationships was the discipline’s biggest asset, according to a recent survey of 406 marketers across the globe by live marketing agency Jack Morton.  In the same study, 96% of marketers also identified building long-term customer relationships as the most important benefit of marketing currently.

Furthermore, an overwhelming 97% of marketers surveyed by Jack Morton Worldwide in the UK, Europe, the US, China and Australia recognised that, in tough times, engaging key stakeholders is an investment and not an expense. Critically, 96% agreed that this engagement (as opposed to ‘talking at’ or interruption marketing) is vital if brands are to maintain loyalty.