Tectonic Shift in Luxury Brands' Approach To Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy - Part I

You don't have to be marketing the cruise industry to admire what's going on in the river cruise category. It's red hot and while still only a small slice (roughly 5%) of the cruise market, it's the industry's fastest-growing segment - enjoying double-digit growth and attracting over one million passengers a year. CLIA reports that their members alone will add 18 new river cruise ships this year.

The home furnishings market was hit, and hit hard, by the recession. Not until 2014 did the home furnishings market claw its way back to pre-recession levels.

If you're in the marketing industry, you may feel that marketers today are better equipped than ever, with more tools at their disposal than ever imagined. But marketers are only as good as the tools they use. Those who assemble their stable of marketing partners by simply working their way down a capabilities checklist may feel that they've got all the tools required for successful cross-channel campaigns, but the truth is that modern marketing requires careful study and regular review of all the components.

The year 2016 is now a month old, and many people have been asking us what happened in the luxury marketplace during 2015. Upscale marketers often promote their luxury and premium products and services to affluent consumers only and, as many readers know, we focus not only on the American luxury marketplace but also on mainstream America, as luxury is not only for the affluent.