[Automotive] Nissan's "Master the Shift" presence at races will reach "tens of thousands of people--race participants--who have a lot of personal connection to it," says Rodale's Angus Macaulay. "We developed a full-scale footprint with vehicles, brand ambassadors, and promotional activities to get people in and around the vehicle. It's an engaged experience at these events, more than just traditional sponsorship. There's lots of consumer engagement." ...Read the whole story

[Strategy] Brands complete for paid sequences in reality shows where products are written into the plot. The product plays a part in the narrative of the show. In a third example, says the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, "Gossip Girl" ran almost an entire show around Victoria's Secret underwear. ...Read the whole story

[Beverages] The goodwill generated can't be expressed in dollars. "We can always count on the support of Nestle Waters to help us provide essential aid to communities affected by disasters," said Red Cross VP, development operations, stressing that clean water and food are the number one needs during a natural disaster. ...Read the whole story

[Retail] Domestic sales were especially weak, falling 8.8% to $2.17 billion, with comparable-stores sales dropping 12.2% for the quarter. Web sales managed a 3% gain. Video sales experienced a double-digit loss, as did TVs overall, while flat panel TVs gained. Comparable store sales of digital imaging products and accessories and camcorders fell by double digits, and sales of computers, both desktop and notebooks, also declined. GPS sales gained a bit. ...Read the whole story

[Automotive] The league suffers from low awareness, which NHRA plans to remedy with a marketing campaign including advertising and events this year. "We are spending a lot more advertising the events now, and have just secured rights to the entire film and video history of NHRA," says the organization's Tom Compton. "So, we will relaunch NHRA Home Entertainment, a new licensing program, and we are going to overhaul the web site." ...Read the whole story

Change begets innovation, spurs new markets, and drives new products. Marketers must understand the dynamics of these forces to keep them looking ahead rather than ... ...More