Been A While

Hi Everyone - it's been a while since I wrote last. I'll get my feet wet by posting a little overview of some of the bigger marketing headlines in the past couple of weeks.

Feel free to comment!

Enterprise Rent-a-Car is going to be updating its logo and "look." Not changing - just updating, in an effort to keep the brand "fresh" and up-to-date.

According to the Radio Advertising Bureau, radio advertising revenue was up 6% in October. Pretty good stuff!

The Best and Worst Brand Extension Awards - From Brandweek - The American Red Cross emergency radio--featuring a hand crank, cell phone charger and a siren--was the clear winner as the "Best Brand Extension" in an online survey of 860 branding professionals co-sponsored by Brandweek and TippingSprung, a New York branding firm. Its nearest competitor was Pantone Eurolux house paints.

As usual, 2006 also produced a bumper crop of nutty extensions. A Diesel Jeans wine, "Chicken Soup for the Soul" pet food and a Lamborghini notebook computer rounded out the top five "Most Inappropriate Brand Extensions." Starburst soap, a Cheetos-flavored lip balm and Salvadore Dali deodorant stick were also ill-advised.

Toyota plans a HUGE launch for new Tundra pickup truck - It is planning the largest product launch by far in its HISTORY. This is their strong effort to grab the pickup and light truck marketshare from the Big 3.

The recent Sprint 2006 Sprint Productivity Survey of wireless phone users shows that 93% of wireless phone subscribers bring work-related mobile phones on vacation, 73% have achieved work-life balance (a meaningful daily achievement and enjoyment in one's home and working lives), and 67% are more productive today than two years ago. 84% of the respondents report technology is vital to their productivity, with 35% saying they could not accomplish what they do without technology.

Barbie Reinvented: Barbie is the top toy for girls this holiday season, according to a survey of parents by the National Retail Federation, and Mattel Inc. says sales are up for the first time in several years.

I'll write more later, promise!

Garret Ohm