How Exclusive Marketing Partnerships Can Rev Up Your Business

Achieving top of mind awareness is getting tougher these days – even if you have something powerful to say.
The heart of the problem: It’s a noisy world. Five thousand advertisements ambush you and I daily (Yankelovich 2008). And many of these ads are saturated with ad-speak and hype, leaving consumers more than a bit overwhelmed.
So, [...]

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The Mechanism Behind Apple’s Marketing Machine

I continue to be amazed by the marketing prowess of Apple. The company has a storied history of successful product launches and marketing campaigns. And perhaps with today’s announcement of the iPad touchscreen tablet, Apple’s fame has reached new heights.
But for the moment, forget about the frenzy surrounding the edge-of-your-seat announcement of the iPad. Instead, [...]

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Simplifying the Flapjack All The Way To The Bank

Pancakes on Sunday morning is a Wanek family tradition. Nothing fancy, just your standard-issue pancake mix, some butter and a splash of maple syrup.
Okay, okay, I admit it. Sometimes my wife, Lydia, throws in a small bag of chocolate chips for an added glucose kick. (Hey, it’s only one day a week.)
But one thing is [...]

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Saks Fifth Avenue: Regaining Exclusivity

With Black Friday quickly rolling in, retailers are putting the final touches on sales strategies designed to save them from a brutal 2009.
But don’t count Saks Fifth Avenue among retailers offering deep discounts. In an effort to wean customers from sales, the department store is stocking fewer items and selling them at full price.
Why exactly [...]

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The Butterfly Effect: Producing Big Results From Small Changes

For more than a month, I’ve been waiting for Anytime Fitness to open its doors to the public. The gym is a two-minute drive from my house, and it promises to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
But everything else about the business remains a mystery. I have no idea when the [...]

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