>Can What I Wear Reflect My Company Image?

>The answer is yes. Branding has moved beyond the traditional print, TV, and radio circles. Now what we present in our overall look can set the stage.

See the recent article in Corporate Apparel Magazine http://www.corporateapparelmag.com/profiles.php?id=24. I would welcome your comments.


Bruce

>Dear Mr. Vernon…

>How many of you have seen this back to school JCPenney commercial?

Quick, name that 80’s flick! If you said The Breakfast Club, you are right on.

This commercial is quite clever and instantly brought a smile to my face remembering the movie… complete with a new, trendy version of “Don’t You Forget About Me” (originally performed by Simple Minds).

Then, I had to ask myself something. Why in the world are they basing their commercial off of a 1985 movie?

Oh my… they are targeting MY generation! As a single girl, with no children, I guess I wasn’t appreciative of anything but the overall entertaining theme.

In looking at it from someone my age (or slightly older) with children going back to school, I would consider taking them to JCPenney to go shopping simply because of their unique advertising.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

>Word of the Day

>Today’s word of the day: Mobile Commerce

Definition of Mobile Commerce: Otherwise known as M-Commerce, the complete access to internet from a mobile device, typically a cell phone or a PDA.

This wave of technological advancement has been made even more popular from the iPhone explosion!

>Word of the Day

>Today’s word of the day: Business Plan

Definition of Business Plan: A document articulating a new business idea used to gain interest from potential investors and to serve as a guide for the team in building out the business. This will particularly focus on the overall idea, the executive management team, the marketing mix and the economic foresight.

>Keno hits Ohio

>Today marks the first day for Keno in the state of Ohio in over 700 locations. Pretty much anywhere that you can buy alcohol, sit on a bar stool and watch the Indians win (or lose) is taking part in this online bingo-like gambling game.

What does Ohio get out of it? An estimated $73 million… IN THE FIRST YEAR ALONE.

Where does the rest of the money go? a little over 6% of sales goes to each individual “Keno vendor,” plus their bonuses. This could result in splitting a whopping $18 million the first year. The rest of the money then goes to the winners and the state coffers.

Forget some magical solution to saving the economy – we’ve got Keno now!

This is Ohio’s way of “legalizing” gambling since we have, as a state, rejected it three times since 1990. (Hey, don’t yell at me, I voted for it!)

Hopefully it will help. Anything will at this point.

But, have you have noticed the advertising of Keno? I sure haven’t. Does this strike anyone else as odd?

-k

>Another Way to Promote Your Business

>

In today’s competitive world businesses are always looking for ways to stretch their marketing dollars. One way that is to participate in community events. Like trade show environments you can see more people with less dollars and increase engagement. Engagement is the key to this atmosphere of sales and marketing as involvement with your product or service will increase recognition and keep you ‘top of mind’.

This weekend many summer festivals will take place. In Twinsburg, our business home, we will have the annual Twins Day celebration. Just 10 miles down the road the city of Streetsboro is holding their annual Family Days event. Interestingly they also have a twin connection. Headline performer Bucky Covington, American Idol runner up, will perform with his band that includes his twin brother. Another double take performance will be the Nelsons (twin sons of the late Ricky Nelson). For other details and times see http://www.streetsborofamilydays.org/

I will be available during the weekend event as the Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce President, so stop by our booth for a visit.

Keep in mind that these events also help promote your community and state. So get out and enjoy the great weekend of events, food and fun.

Bruce

>Twins invading Twinsburg, Ohio!

>

Its official… you are seeing DOUBLE. No, you aren’t going crazy. It’s the annual Twins Day Festival! Here in our hometown of Twinsburg, this weekend we’ll be doing double-takes as this city plans to welcome twins from across the world. Last year, 2,034 sets of twins attended the festival…

So what does this have to do with marketing? It’s a perfect opportunity to showcase Twinsburg, local attractions and your restaurant, hotel, etc. And what a great press opportunity, too.

>Highway Beautification Act

>

Ah, the old argument of too many billboards around the city is back in the news again but this time with a new digital twist. Since Clear Channel debuted its digital boards in Cleveland (little known fact… Ohio is often seen as consumer test market) in 2005, the anti-billboard people went nuts.

Did you know for every new digital billboard that pops up, Clear Channel must remove traditional billboards that equal two or more times the space of a digital billboard? Read the latest argument happening in the City of Cleveland in this article. City Council’s President is getting an earful from everyone on this billboard issue. Hey, these billboards still fit within the Highway Beautification Act, right?!?

Lots of controversy this week in our city! Not to mention this is just a few days after the FBI raided the county offices, brush up on those details here.

So would you like to see those billboards gone? Leave your comments here.

~Michelle

>Word of the Day

>The word of the day is: Exploratory Research

Definition of exploratory research – A strategic research design which emphasizes gaining ideas and insights.

-K

>Ah, kids these days

>It is only one hour from the official start of “Rock Like They Do” Bus Tour here in Twinsburg. But, already I can hear the screaming of young girls for Miley Cyrus, start of the hit show, “Hannah Montana.” Oh, but wait! Miley isn’t going to be in attendance of this event, just her tour bus. (For those of you who are unfamiliar with Miley Cyrus and her alter-ego Hannah Montana, click here.)

Does this mean hundreds of pre-teen girls won’t be screaming? Don’t count on it.

Since its release in March 2006, Hannah Montana has quickly soared to one of the most popular television shows for girls of tween ages 8-12. The “Best of Both Worlds” concert tour was the 15th highest grossing for last year. The tickets are selling for as much as ten times the face value.

It was even reported that a woman in Florida was selling her tickets to the show for as much as her house costs. How did she know that? Because if you bought her tickets, she would give you her house. (She obviously was having some trouble with selling her home.) It’s official, there is a Miley Cyrus fever all around.

The part of this that leaves me a little unsettled is that there will be hundreds of girls coming to see the bus today and, no doubt, purchasing various Hannah Montana items.

Does anyone else find it interesting that this kind of event will gather so much attention without the main star?

I mean, sure, sports teams do it all of the time – but there are other people to watch. In this case it is just an empty bus…