A Fresh Perspective from Southeast Asia

Only last week I returned from across the globe, having traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. My worldly travels were through participation in a study abroad course offered through my MBA program.  The course, titled Consumer Behavior, required approximately 15 pre-departure class hours where we covered general history, culture, and consumer behavior in each country.  But we of course knew that the real learning would partake during our immersion experience.

I was amazed by the beauty, development, and unique nature of each country.  I had the opportunity to chat with the natives, taste diverse cuisines, and even met with business professionals.  In an effort to share my experiences, I will be composing a few subsequent blogs.

Food ingredients come in the freshest of form in Southeast Asia.  In cities like Hoi An, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia, you shop at the local market – supermarkets do not exist.  Families typically plan out a few meals and head to the market to do some bargaining.  The market is not only where you shop for food, but also for clothing, furniture, and living necessities.  Each market is organized by category, each with a unique purpose – i.e. produce, jewelry, meat, clothing, etc. Continue reading

My refrigerator won’t let me buy it

The Consumer Electronics Show just wrapped and a highlight – to me, at least – is the newest in Big Brother (I mean, “smart”) appliances.  LG brings us the ThinQ refrigerator that “transforms the appliance into a food management system”.  Here’s the deal … ThinQ is equipped with a scanner, inside camera and voice recognition software.  Go to the store, bring home your food, scan as you put it away and voila! You’re on your way.  The ThinQ lets you know what foods lurking in there are about to expire, alerts you to veggies reaching their final days, comments that you’re running out of eggs, etc.

Even cooler is ThinQ’s ability to impact your personal food plan.  Whether you want to lose weight, eat more protein, or even cut certain ingredients out of your diet, each person in the household can input their goals, plus details like weight, BMI, etc.  ThinQ then lets you know whether the foods you’re about to eat fit your preferences, suggests recipes, even turns on your stove.  The sensors in ThinQ link directly to your smartphone, sending you texts to keep on track, to let you know what you’re running out of and/or to give you shopping suggestions while you’re in a grocery store.

The technology in the ThinQ refrigerator is advanced in other ways, too.  Like its ability to chill wine or beer in minutes!  The refrigerator is just part of a new line of smart appliances … washers, dryers, stoves, etc. that keeps humans informed about energy use and myriad other things – hopefully, making our lives easier and more streamlined.

According to LG, appliances like ThinQ – that monitor, suggest and send you a text – are the wave of the future.  This particular refrigerator will be available to our friends in the UK later this year; coming soon thereafter to the states.

Economic Outlook: Extreme Outbursts Predict Market Jumps as GDP Slumps

While last week’s Economic Outlook luncheon hosted by the Executives’ Club painted a rather dull picture for the U.S. economy in 2012, the event was anything but boring. The panelists exhibited emotional extremes, laid explosive blame and presented outrageous solutions and predictions as each delivered a relatively similar forecast of anemic 2% growth in the GDP along with an optimistic upswing in the stock market.

Diane Swonk, Chief Economist at Mesirow Financial began her comments by blaming today’s global ills on men and the lack of women leaders. She also believes we should insist on Santorini as collateral should the Euro zone melt down. One of her biggest concerns is that Europe could derail us.

“Decoupling is a myth,” said Swonk. “When one major economy falters, the whole world falters.”

However, she believes the euro will survive, because the cost of it failing would be greater than the cost of continuing the Euro zone.

She forecasts the U.S. economy will grow at 2.25% and the Dow Jones industrial average will end up at 13,500 this year. Her prediction for last year, that the Dow would end up between 12,500 and 12,700 was pretty close. Continue reading

What’s your approach to holiday feasting?

We’re all typically a pretty healthy, foodie bunch here at CBD, but the annual indulgence onslaught has arrived … replete with home- made eggnog and hot chocolate.  Which got us talking about holiday feasting and wondering how our friends and associates plan to handle that delicate balance between moderation – and excess.

So, we did a quick survey and sent it to a few hundred folks.  It revealed some interesting points of view:

-  89% of those responding plan to cook from scratch for major holiday meals, rather than resort to take-out, packaged or ready- to- eat items.

-  When asked whether there will be any attempt to alter favorite recipes to be “healthier” (lower fat, lower salt, less sugar, etc.) a full 50% were a resounding “no”; 22% a “maybe.”  What were the rest of us going to do?  Use real sweet potatoes and green beans instead of canned; substitute stock for cream; home-made instead of canned apple and cranberry sauce; less butter; organic milk; sea salt instead of regular and make more vegetarian options.

- “Green living” isn’t much of a concern during the holidays, whether recycling gift wrap, not using gift wrap, cutting back on lights, using low energy decorations, mulching a tree or buying one that is sustainably farmed.

-Desserts and cookies were the most noted “guilty” indulgences; followed closely by candy, dinner rolls and stuffing.  Eggnog also made the list, as did someone’s annual holiday tequila bash.

Turns out our friends are a resolution-making bunch regarding eating and drinking in the New Year.  People vowed to:  cook more rather than eat out; buy organic for the “important” foods (especially meats); eat more natural raw foods and stay away from processed; no more soda; no more rice; more fiber, take vitamins; consume less sugar; eat more whole foods; shop at places I can trust, like farmer’s markets and butchers.

What’s your approach to holiday feasting?  Do you think much about wining and dining, or do you throw caution to the wind? And – any New Year’s resolutions?

By the way, I’m totally happy to share this eggnog recipe, with a credit and big thanks to Martha Stewart!

ATM = Advertising to Many

Consumers all over the country may soon be able to avoid ATM fees, thanks to Free ATM NYC. In exchange for watching advertising content, ATM users can avoid the $2-$3 transaction fee. The user also receives an advertiser coupon with their receipt. Best of all, it’s a completely traceable and highly measurable channel for the advertiser.

The market is ripe for other independent ATM operators to also embrace more consumer-friendly value propositions, and emerge with a comparable offering…and perhaps even innovations of their own. Perhaps this is several years in the future, but Free ATM NYC’s model just begs for some sort of frequency loyalty component. It won’t be long before advertisers recognize the opportunity to pursue a one-to-one messaging strategy through this channel.

It will be very interesting to see what banks do in response. Will fee-free competition push banks to create a much more interactive, engaging, personalized and rewarding ATM experience? Tell us what you think.

Making the CASE for Higher Ed Marketing

Brand development, student enrollment, alumni engagement, student retention; all were key issues on the minds of attendees at this year’s annual CASE V higher education conference in Chicago. While many marketers have indicated they lack an accountable marketing and communications plan, it’s not from lack of internal resources. In fact, many are lucky to have creative directors and writers on staff to assist with web sites, social media, and ad hoc materials. The pain point seems to be more focused on the internal obstacles these marketers face from multiple internal “clients” and constituencies with little appreciation for marketing initiatives. There is also an overriding sense of ownership from uncooperative departments that exercise violations of brand guidelines, such as unauthorized variations of logos or departmental web pages that deviate from the approved color palette, layout or tonality.

There is a clear shift from printed matter to digital production in the higher ed sector. Interestingly, even the most prized of show pieces, the view book, was featured in a seminar and roundtable as now going print on-demand, and an iPad app. Student portals, mini-sites, social media are now the distribution points for news and information. And as if making a big statement, the crescendo rose as the concluding session focused on mobile web sites and apps as the next frontier for student, alumni and friends communication. (Did you know that 85% of parents prefer to view a web site over a printed piece? And 79% prefer a mobile web site over a mobile app).

We’re excited that higher education marketers are participating in the shift to digital communications. To students, parents and alumni, it’s how valued communication is delivered that matters.