• retail Bring On The Botox: Barbie Hits 50 by Sarah Mahoney

    Mattel's Barbie is ready for her AARP discount, and to celebrate the brand's 50th birthday, Mattel is launching a series of celebrations, including a first-ever runway show for the big-bosomed icon. Festivities also include fashion blowouts in Paris and Shanghai, a partnership with Stila cosmetics, and--for Barbie's grown-up fans-- a real-live Malibu dream house. ...Read the whole story

  • pharma Pfizer Troops Back Into Consumer Products by Les Luchter

    With it's purchase of Wyeth, the pharmaceutical giant acquires such brands as Centrum, Advil, Robitussin and Chapstick, moving it back into the consumer products/OTC market it abandoned just three years ago when it sold its health-care product portfolio, including Listerine, Purell, Rogaine and Sudafed to Johnson & Johnson. ...Read the whole story

  • restaurants Church's Chicken Bows Effort For Digital Game by Karl Greenberg

    The game, by Namco Bandai's Surge studio, will include collaboration with Coca-Cola's "Be Heard" mobile promo. The nine-week "Be Heard" promotion lets customers text a code on their mobile devices for coupons and a chance to win $1,000 in cash to be awarded on a weekly basis. It's part of the restaurant chain's effort to reach young, urban consumers. ...Read the whole story

  • retail Home Depot Shutters Expo, Zaps 7,000 Jobs by Sarah Mahoney

    "The choice to exit the Expo market was an obvious one," says an analyst for Rochdale Securities, which has a "buy" rating on the stock. "It has not been performing well, and I don't think it's core to the company's strategy." He sees the decision as more evidence that "the company is resolving the life-cycle crisis it's been going through for the last several years." ...Read the whole story

  • food Kellogg Is Testing Space-Saving Box by Karlene Lukovitz

    "If they're really gaining shelf space at retail, as well as taking up less space in consumers' pantries, that's definitely a big win," says retail fixture designers Display Boys. "In addition, they'll be saving space in their trucks and on their pallets." Reducing the package size could also produce a perception benefit by eliminating that "half empty" look when consumers open the box. ...Read the whole story

  • food Lindsay Launches 'Savor Olive Life' Campaign by Nina Lentini

    "In our focus groups, we heard common themes," says Lindsay Olives' Kate Hart. "People think of olives as transforming social occasions. They think about olives in ways that are different than pickles and carrot sticks; olives are more revered. It goes beyond just the food. There's some nostalgia, some interesting aspects; they're more flavorful." ...Read the whole story

  • automotive Bridgestone Hits Funny Bone Again In Super Bowl by Karl Greenberg

    "We use the Super Bowl as an opportunity to launch new creative, then they stand on their own and become brand spots," says Bridgestone's Michael Fluck. This year, the brand will also have a presence at NFL Experience, an interactive theme park during Super Bowl week and is sponsor of the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii the week after the game. ...Read the whole story

New Year, New Outlook: Time To Rethink The Marketing Playbook by John Gentry

Recessions create an atypical business environment that carries disproportionate risks and rewards. However, by employing some smart marketing strategies and navigating this time period well, ... ...More

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