• automotive Jeep To Take Over N.Y.'s Times Square Billboards by Karl Greenberg

    Jeep is focusing on its target consumers in the second phase of its new "I Live. I Ride. I am. Jeep" campaign launching on Thanksgiving Day. The company will take over the billboards on both the NASDAQ and Reuters buildings at 43rd Street and Broadway. ...Read the whole story

  • retail Stores Man Their Battle Stations For Black Friday by Sarah Mahoney

    "With retailers fully aware that shoppers are looking for incredible deals, Americans can expect huge sales on popular items like toys, electronics and apparel," the NRF says in its forecast. America's favorite deal-finding methods this year are coupons (which will be used by 40.6% of respondents), newspaper circulars (38.2%), TV ads (27.8%) and word of mouth (26.5%). ...Read the whole story

  • restaurants Hardee's 'Grandpa' Spot Intros Mushroom Thickburger by Karlene Lukovitz

    The spot -- which begins its television run next week but is already on YouTube -- shows a grandfather scoffing at his beloved, traditional patty melt being "fancied up" with Portobello mushrooms and Black Angus beef, but clearly unwilling to give it up to the "young, hungry guy" next to him. ...Read the whole story

  • hospitality Marriott Revamps Web, Offers Contest by Tanya Irwin

    To encourage customers to check out the new design, Marriott is giving consumers chances to win travel and gift card prizes in an online sweepstakes running through Dec. 8. Marriott.com is the company's largest point of consumer interaction, with more than 12 million visits each month. More than 75% of guests use the site when planning or booking their hotel stays. ...Read the whole story

  • automotive Edmunds Predicts A Lackluster November For Sales by Karl Greenberg

    The firm says the combined monthly U.S. market share for domestics Chrysler, Ford and General Motors will be around 46.4% this month, down from 48.6% last year and but up from 45.1% last month. Edmunds also says 2010-model inventory is sitting on lots because of big deals on 2009 models. ...Read the whole story

  • restaurants Quiznos Settles Franchisee Class Action Suits by Karlene Lukovitz

    Quiznos founder Rick Schaden, who returned as CEO last February, and Greg MacDonald, who became president in July, have made the improvement of business relationships with franchisees a prime objective. For instance, early this year, a program was implemented that helped many franchisees renegotiate their leases to reduce lease payments by 15% to 20%. ...Read the whole story

  • food Slow-Pouring, Faster Spending: Heinz Ups Budget by David Goetzl

    As it emphasizes expansion overseas and suffers some bumps domestically, ketchup marketer Heinz will invest in marketing heavily between now and the spring. Budgets are expected at $400 million+ -- a 15% rise. ...Read the whole story

  • packaged goods Purina Points Potential Owners To Doggies by Aaron Baar

    Just in time for the brand's sponsorship of the National Dog Show, which will be airing Thanksgiving Day on NBC (just after the Macy's Parade), has added "Friend Fetcher" to its "lightly branded" Web site, petcentric.com, allowing consumers to find a dog based on amount of money they'd like to spend, exercise they're willing to give, family member allergies and other criteria. ...Read the whole story

  • Who Checks Sports Scores Online? by

    Top 10 DMAs in which reside adults who checked sports scores/updates online in the past month: 1 Pittsburgh 2 San Antonio, Texas 3 Philadelphia 4 ... ...More

Who Eats Fast Food? by []

Top 10 DMAs in which reside adults who ate at a QSR five times or more in the past month: 1 Birmingham, Ala. 2 Lexington, ... ...More

my turn Hope For The Holidays by Eric Holmen

This holiday season will be a catalyst for rethinking traditional marketing tactics, and a reinforcement of the importance of developing solid consumer relationships. ...More

point-of-view See Me, Feel Me by Len Stein

Major news sites offer proof that it's high time public relations pros counsel clients to dive into the online video age. ...More

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