The Big Fat Marketing Blog

The Height of Creative Thinking

Brian Quinton — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:58:27 +0000

Call this a lesson in learning what customers want by watching their behavior—even if ithat conduct goes against millennia of human instincts for self-preservation.

Chicago’s landmark Sears Tower has found a way to enhance its must-see tourist status: a pair of glass-enclosed, glass-bottomed platforms hanging off the 103rd floor of the building’s west façade and offering a 360-degree view (well, minus whatever portion is attached to the building) of a large portion of the city from 1350 feet up. (more…)

Macy’s in Hot Seat for Fireworks Spending

Melissa Dowling — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:24:28 +0000

CBS radio had a segment this morning about whether it was a good idea for Macy’s to be spending a boatload of money on its annual Fourth of July fireworks display this year. After all, Macys’ stock is not doing so hot, to put it kindly. (more…)

Postal Mail Volume Decline = Opportunity

Grant Johnson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:56:35 +0000

Okay, I’ll admit it, I love direct mail marketing. I look forward to going home at the end of the day, seeing my family and then looking at and opening my daily mail. I also love emerging media, but mail makes us, subliminally, feel important. Someone is trying to contact you and wants your attention. They are trying to convince you and educate you that their insurance, olive oil, magazine, steaks, wine or clothing is better and they’ll give you a deal to prove it to you.

Thus, when I continue to read that mail volume continues to decline I don’t panic. Why? (more…)

H.R. 22 Passes Subcommittee

Jim Tierney — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:12:18 +0000

H.R. 22 moves forward with a timeline amendment. (more…)

At Last, Glidden Does “Free” without Tears

Brian Quinton — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:15:08 +0000

Just when you thought that national promotions built around “free” were beginning to look like invitations to disaster, someone’s pulled one off—and even managed to control the blowback when the supplies of free product ran out. (more…)

Farrah Was The Poster Girl

Tim Parry — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:34:12 +0000

Raise your hand if you grew up in the 70s and didn’t have the iconic Farrah Fawcett poster. I don’t see many hands raised.

It’s a poster that hung in many bedrooms in the 70s. And I’m sure it caused many mothers to realize their sons were growing up. I think mine was mortified when I proudly won mine at a carnival.

With Farrah Fawcett’s death last week from anal cancer at the age of 62, many stories about the poster have resurfaced. No doubt though that this one poster was the marketing tool that made her career. (more…)

Top-10 Infomercials Featuring Billy Mays

Tim Parry — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:12:17 +0000

DRTV lost Billy Mays yesterday, and I didn’t even know who he was. I knew - and trusted - the face, and I bought the products because I saw them on TV.

But when a bunch of different people came up to me at a party yesterday and asked if I heard about Billy Mays, I thought they were talking about the Say Hey Kid. Or Willie Mays Hayes (American Express - don’t steal home without it!).

Anyway - here’s a link for you to kick off your Monday. It’s one man’s opinion on the Top 10 Billy Mays infomercials of all time. Check them out and tell me what you think.

Famous Pitchman Billy Mays Dead

Grant Johnson — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:18:40 +0000

The man who made OxyClean and Orange Glo famous was found dead this morning. He was 50. Here’s the details:

Quelle Crisis

Melissa Dowling — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:45:39 +0000

I guess it’s nice to know that U.S. catalogers aren’t the only ones struggling. German mail order giant Quelle is waiting for a bailout after its financing was cut off. The general merchandise mailer is now looking for alternative funding to print its fall/winter catalogs.

What happened? Quelle’s parent company, Arcandor, which also owns the Karstadt department store chain, declared the German version of Chapter 11 on June 9 after failed attempts to secure state aid and guarantee debt. (more…)

A Nation of Web Potatoes?

Brian Quinton — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:42:41 +0000

U.S. users are spending almost 50% more time watching online video now than they did a year ago, according to the latest monthly metrics from the Nielsen Online Video Census.

The ongoing study, which measures total video consumption over the Web (except video advertising), found that users who watched Internet video in May spent an average 188.7 minutes doing so. That’s 48.9% more time than they spent in May 2008. (more…)