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Brand News: Air New Zealand, Four Seasons, LinkedIn, Acer, Target, Yahoo

anne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:26 +0000

Air New Zealand says their fares have nothing to hide, and to prove it they’re screening a new in-flight safety video featuring staff members and company chief executive, Rob Fyfe, clad only in body paint. Seatbelts, luggage and life vests provide "appropriate” concealment where needed. NYTimes 6/29/09

A “vicious industry wide slump” in the luxury hotel business has generated friction between the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts management company and Four Seasons hotel owners with distressed profit margins. While some owners want to cut expenses, the Four Seasons resists the potential negative impact to the brand. BTW, did you know that Bill Gates owns nearly half of the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts management company? NYTimes 6/28/09

LinkedIn says their survey asking translators if they would volunteer to translate the LinkedIn site was intended to develop a crowd sourcing model similar to Wikipedia’s legions of volunteers and provide increased exposure for the translators. The survey generated mixed results among translators, with some feeling it was an opportunity for increased work and exposure, while others felt LinkedIn was simply trying to get professional services for free. NYTimes 6/28/09

Acer is the world’s third largest seller of personal computers, and “appears poised to overtake Dell as the world’s second-largest seller of personal computers” this year. The company positions its four brands to cater to various consumer segments, such as eMachines for affordability. Other brands include Gateway and Packard Bell. NYTimes 6/27/09

Target (TGT) has rebranded its core commodities line — a product category that includes everyday items such as baby wipes, sunscreen, dryer sheets and plastic containers — under the name “up & up. The trend is consistent with an overall increase in store brands that are more profitable for the retailer and attractive to consumers who are “increasingly buying in-house brands to save money.” Atlanta Business Chronicle 6/25/09.

Yahoo (YHOO) is working to change its branding, with the new branding to be unveiled when it releases is new main home page design in the fall. Atlanta Business Chronicle 6/25/09

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Trends: Alcohol Consumption, Teen Media, Consumer Confidence in Banks

anne — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:10 +0000

Despite some anecdotal reports of a surge in drinking accompanying the economic recession, the percentage of U.S. adults who consume alcohol is fairly steady at 64%, and there has been little change in self-reported drinking volume. Gallup 6/29/09

A Nielsen report on the “myths and realities of teen media trends debunks the notion that American teens are “too busy texting, Twittering or LOL-ing to be engaged with traditional media." One example: Teens are watching “more TV than ever, up 6% over the past five years in the U.S.” Free download of research available: How Teens Use Media June 2009.

“Twenty-two percent of Americans have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in banks, down from 32% who said the same at this time last year.” Gallup 6/24/09. This may provide an opportunity for small banks say some marketing experts.

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Brand News: L’Oréal, Pizza Hut, Dunkin’ Donuts

anne — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:47:23 +0000

France’s highest court has found French cosmetics giant L’Oréal guilty of discriminating against black, Asian and Arab women by directing job recruiters to hire only white sales staff to sell their Garnier Fructis Style haircare products in France. Times Online 6/25/09

Pizza Hut is using the name ‘The Hut’ in some marketing efforts. One analyst notes that large chains have been losing share of the pizza market for years and are shifting strategies to focus on their delivery infrastructures that can deliver a variety of menu items in 30 minutes or less. Advertising Age 6/24/09

Dunkin' Donuts has introduced Dunkin’ Run, an interactive website and iPhone application, so that friends and colleagues can take turns picking up orders for each other when they’re heading to Dunkin’ Donuts. Brandweek 6/24/09

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Brand News: Kayak.com, KFC, Nestle Toll House

anne — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:34:29 +0000

Brandweek reports that Kayak.com “is among a handful of online brands, including Zappos.com and Amazon.com(AMZN), that are now seeking traditional agencies (and offline tactics) to create mass awareness and define more broadly what they do.” Brandweek 6/22/09

El Pollo Loco says competitor KFC uses beef powder and rendered beef fat in the marinade for its grilled chicken; KFC says the beef flavoring accounts for just .2% of the total seasoning. AdFreak 6/19/09

Nestle USA's baking division is recalling Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after 66 consumers have reported getting sick after consuming raw dough. Brandweek 6/19/09

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Brands: Comedian Living On AirTran Flights Conducts Airplane Toilet Paper Experiment

anne — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:50:49 +0000

AirTran Airways has been promoting its new wi-fi service by having Mark Malkoff, a New York comedian and film maker live in its planes for an entire month. Malkoff uses baby wipes to clean up in the planes’ restrooms (TMI!) and even if the plane is empty, sleeps on board.

So how does Malkoff occupy his time? Well I now know what happens when you put one end of a roll of toilet paper in an airliner toilet and unroll the rest of the toilet paper down the aisle. If you want to know, you have to watch the video below.

Malkoff’s flights started June 1^st and will run through June 30^th. To keep up with his adventures visit http://www.markonairtran.com or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MMalkoff. FoxNews.com 6/15/09

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