With retail sales expected to rise modestly this holiday season, many experts are keeping a close eye on gift cards, wondering just how card weary consumers are. Accenture recently predicted that 56% of Americans would buy at least one gift card this season, down from 59% last year. On one hand, this Christmas, experts say consumers want convenience, and cards certainly play to that pragmatism. "They aren't the most creative gifts, but they're easy to buy and people like to get them," Sue Golden, SVP/Client services for MARS Advertising, tells Marketing Daily. "It's just one more indication that …

The ANA (Association of National Advertisers) announced today at its annual meeting a roster of "Rising Marketing Stars."  ANA said members nominated marketers based on: valuable contributions to the overall excellence/effectiveness of their marketing organization; leadership, innovation, creativity and accountability in executing their marketing responsibilities; skill in integrating marketing disciplines and working with other professionals; and knowledge of current issues in advertising and familiarity with the tools marketers are using to reach their audiences.   They Rising Marketing Stars this year are: Hannah Cho, brand communications manager, for Cisco Systems; Karen Hornberger, marketing manager, Allstate; Courtney Kelso, VP, sports and …

With new energy and water efficiency requirements looming, Whirlpool is introducing what it calls the "industry's most resource efficient laundry pair," a front-loading washer and dryer. Called the Duet, the machines exceed the current government requirements by 160%, on average. The washer can use as little as 11.5 gallons of water per load. It includes an "EcoBoost" option, which the water temperature and increases agitation duration, delivering the same results while using less water and energy. Over the appliance's lifetime, the Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company claims it saves $3,300 in lifetime energy costs, and an average of 12,857 gallons …

The Pew Internet and American Life Project today released their latest data on gadget ownership among Americans. Here's the topline findings:

• Cell phones – 85% of Americans now own a cell phone, with young adults leading the way (96% of 18-29 year olds now own a cell phone).
• Desktop and laptop computers – Three quarters of Americans own a computer of some kind; laptop ownership has grown dramatically in recent years, while desktop ownership has declined slightly.
• Mp3 players – Just under half of American adults own an mp3 player, a nearly five-fold increase from early 2005.
• Game consoles …

P&G's Marc Pritchard, showing P&G's "Proud Sponsor of Moms," the company's cross-brand Olympic sponsorship program, said the company's "key disciplines" have been combined, while brand building has moved to what he calls a broader "What it means to touch peoples' lives." He said brands have to change their view of who their customers are. "It's a shift from marketing to customers, a change in the the definition to who we serve, and target them as people."

Cicso's VP of corporate marketing Marylin Mersereau: the company's secret is catching market transitions that affect customers. The next big thing? Video. Go figure. She said the company's second quarter results include 23% increase in earnings to $1.5 billion.

Tripodi said innovation is critical and marketing is where brand love and brand value meet. He said the company needs to be both timeless and relevant, inspirational yet operational. The logo, for example hasn't changed for 125 years. Tripodi reviewed some of the company's growth to demostrate it's steady ascent of the Everest of marketing. The brand, he said, was worth a buck in 1910, and now is valued at about $72 billion and has gone from one to an almost unimaginable 500 brands.

At ANA, Coca-Cola's Joe Tripodi says its new marketing platform, "Liquid & Linked" philosophy, means everything the company makes globally is connected to one main thematic idea. He said marketing for the company, which per Tripodi has some 14 million Facebook fans, isn't about impressions, but "expressions" and the key is more than just loyalty, but advocacy.

The 100th Annual ANA Conference "Masters of Marketing" with a "Growth: Mastering Brands / Driving Results" had record attendance numbers this year, with more than 1,600 registered, breaking the previous record of 1,200 from 2009.    At the three-day event at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, ANA president and CEO Bob Liodice elaborated on his "ten articles of the Marketer's Constitution" announced at last year's conference with companies that exemplify those articles. Here they are:   1.       Marketing must become increasingly targeted, focused and personal. Hero: Zappos founder, Tony Hsieh   2.       Marketing must build real, tangible and enduring …

If the ANA Annual Conference in Orlando, packed to the rafters, is any indication, the mood might be turning positive. A study unveiled at the event by IHS Global Insight says advertising can help. The study, done for The Advertising Coalition says that advertising accounts for $5.8 trillion of the $29.6 trillion in U.S. economic output and supports 19.8 million, or 15%, of the nation's 133.4 million jobs. Yearly ad spend for U.S. businesses is $279 billion. The study also finds that ad impact is consistent across the U.S. region and state populations not withstanding (the firm says ads …