As February approaches, prepare for the onslaught of T4s, T5s, and tax software ads. You don’t need to submit your taxes until April 30th, but makers of tax software will be out in full force. A quick glance at the market reveals that switching costs shape the field. Quicktax recently sent me some direct mail, […]
Forbes has proclaimed ambush marketing a hot trend for 2005. That’s no surprise — companies have resorted to slick tactics for years. A few months ago, I mentioned that Vancouver’s Olympic Committee was working on plans to counter ambush marketing during the Games. However, the Forbes article portrays ambush marketing as unexpected marketing, as opposed […]
Jerry Garcia’s estate is suing an Atlanta burrito chain, claiming Moe’s Southwest Grill never acquired licensing rights for the use of the late Grateful Dead singer’s image. To Dead Heads, the move might seem ironic, given the Grateful Dead’s past stance on intellectual property — the band welcomed bootleg taping of concerts and turned a […]
Molson Canada has redeemed itself. Last summer, I entered a contest and was informed, by email, that I had won — on the condition that I answer a skill-testing question. I immediately responded. Two months passed. I emailed several Molson email addresses, including the head of the ad agency responsible for the campaign. Two more […]
Dijon ketchup. Back in the early 90s, the Barenaked Ladies released a song called “If I Had a Million Dollars”. My brother introduced me to the indie release. At the time, it caught our attention because of a line about how, if the singer had a million dollars, “I’d buy you a K-Car” — the […]
Looking to make some New Year’s resolutions for your marketing programs? ClickZ suggests seven ways for marketers to ring in 2005. It comes down to driving and tracking traffic, testing your marketing campaigns, focusing on customers, trying new programs, ensuring customer privacy, scheduling campaigns, and modeling customer lifetime value. However, no matter what resolutions you […]
Time has run out on marketing guru Seth Godin‘s offer for free copies of his Bootstrapper’s Bible. The ebook serves as a handy guide for anyone wanting to start a business with minimal capital. Although Godin’s offer has expired, I’ve got permission to email the guide to my contacts. If you want a copy, send […]
Fast away the old year passes…hail the New Year’s marketing trends. As we ring in 2005, here are my votes for marketing trends we’ll see this year. Obesity Expanding waist-lines will expand the bottom line for businesses, as firms scramble to leverage and manage the North American obesity epidemic. Watch for growth in market categories, […]