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!

Tags: CBD, Lori Colman

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.

Tags: advertising, ATM, ATM fees, banks, financial services, Free ATM NYC, marketing, Media

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.

Tags: #CASEV #HigherEd, Higher education marketing

Municipal Electricity Aggregation – A Customer Acquisition Silver Bullet?

This has been an exciting year for electricity providers in Illinois. Competition to acquire new customers has been fierce. In fact, many providers, having just introduced themselves to consumers, are claiming success. Early on, these wins came through marketing campaigns that drove brand awareness and enticed residential customers to switch via money-saving offers. As we wrap up the year, a new phase has emerged.

Providers are now heavily courting municipalities. Municipal aggregation efforts have significantly gained in importance. An enormous amount of outreach by providers and broker organizations have helped educate communities on how residents would benefit and how village boards might realize a boost to their bottom line along the way.

And while it may have started with a handful of communities, voters in several Northern Illinois municipalities have passed referenda approving the process for aggregation and many more are poised to follow. The deadline to pass a board ordinance to place  a referendum on the March 20, 2012 ballot is December 31st, and over 100 townships and districts in Northern Illinois alone are on the membership list of the top-ranking broker organizations specializing in aggregation.

The energy providers competing in this space embrace aggregation opportunities enthusiastically. They view it as a cost-effective avenue to acquire customers and as a way around having to spend money to build a brand and consumer trust. But there are significant perils to that approach. First, it’s a winner take all scenario, and to date, only a small number of providers are winning these bids. That means many energy providers competing for aggregation are coming up empty. Secondly, these efforts put the providers who do not win the bid in a situation where marketing becomes even more critical. That’s because they are faced with the challenge of convincing residents in aggregated communities that they can still switch. But those marketing efforts will require more education, surgical and targeted application, and offers that extend value far beyond price. Differentiation through value proposition development is something the entire industry has yet to focus on, and prefers to ignore. It’s the hard work that has to be addressed and thanks to aggregation the time to tackle it is now.

Tags: aggregated communities, customer acquisition, electricity providers, Energy, energy marketing, energy providers, municipal electricity aggregation, Northern Illinois electricity