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Brand Autopsy (10 unread)

Three Reads

Posted: November 18th, 2008, 4:35pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

ONE | The New Yorker visits Snow’s BBQ
The best BBQ joint in Texas keeps getting attention. This time, The New Yorker visits. For those needing a refresher on Snow’s BBQ, read this post and watch this video ditty. >> READ MORETWO | A Scarcity of Achievement
Malcolm Galdwell recently spoke at Pop!Tech and shared some interesting tid-bits from his just published book, OUTLIERS. >> WATCH VIDEOTHREE | Malcolm Gladwell is "Unoriginal" and "Unserious"
Jason Zengerle takes a critical look into Malcolm Gladwell and his impact. Agree or disagree, its an interesting article about an interesting man.>> READ MORE
Marketing During this Dismal Economy

Posted: November 17th, 2008, 9:49pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

I couldn't agree more with Neal Stewart's advice, which includes ... "Find ways to engage in conversation with your heavy users and fanatical consumers. More than ever, your brand’s stalkers are going to help you spread the word."

As we marketers know, it is far less expensive to market to current customers than it is to acquire new customers ... especially during this dismal economy.
A Worthy Rant from Paul Williams

Posted: November 14th, 2008, 7:50pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Starbucks Has Nothing To Lose - Freakin’ Go For It!
Attaboy Paul!
Eric Schmidt on Google being Frugal

Posted: November 10th, 2008, 6:03am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Business at Google is healthy. However, in these uncertain times Google is watching its expenses and is getting downright frugal by tightening some of its famed employee perks (free food, free massages, etc.).

The New York Times ran an interesting interview with Eric Schmidt (Google CEO) where he comments on managing the company during this economic avalanche. He was asked if it is enjoyable to manage a company on a spending diet. His answer may surprise you...
SOURCE | Google at 10: Searching Its Own Soul
What if Starbucks Marketed like a Church?

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:40am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

This blog has received lots of links from progressive-minded churches wanting to improve their marketing. It's my turn to reciprocate.

Just as churches can learn something from business marketers, business marketers can learn something from churches. Churches do things to turn off potential Christ-followers. And businesses do things to turn off potential customers.

In this video parable, the Beyond Relevance blog shares how churches subtly construct barriers to making new attendees feel welcome. Enjoy and learn ...

RSS Readers ... click here to watch the video. ** Kudos to Danny Franks for the heads-up.
Ugly Financials at Whole Foods

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:07am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Retailers of all types are struggling. The October financials are in and things aren’t pretty for upscale and downscale retailers. Same store sales at upscale retailers are in a free fall: Neiman Marcus (-26.8%); Nordstrom (-15.7%); Saks (-16.6%). Same goes for comp sales at downscale retailers: Kohl’s (-9.0%); Target (-4.8). Ouch.

One company, near and dear to me, that’s struggling mightily is Whole Foods Market. Before this economic avalanche struck, Whole Foods was churning out strong sales and solid profits. Not now.

Whole Foods released fourth-quarter financials this week and the news is downright ugly. Net income for the quarter fell 96% to $1.5M. Same store sales increased by only 0.4%. (A year ago, same store sales were at 8.2%.) And, year-over-year transactions have fallen 1.5%. Net/net … fewer customers are buying fewer items, resulting in feeble sales at Whole Foods Market.

The feeble sales situation is made all the more complicated by the costs associated with Whole Foods acquisition of Wild Oats. For an excellent breakdown on how the Wild Oats acquisition has wrecked Whole Foods profitability, read Alyce Lomax’s column at The Motley Fool.

In her breakdown, Alyce notes Whole Foods has assumed $925M of debt, much of which is tied to the Wild Oats purchase and assimilation. She also notes the $425M cash infusion from a private equity firm will be used to help pay down this Wild Oats afflicted debt.

But Alyce isn’t souring on Whole Foods Market. She still believes in its mission, its model, and its merchandise. From Alyce’s perspective, Whole Foods is a cheap stock with upside once the indigestion of gobbling up Wild Oats passes and the economic climate rebounds.UPDATE (11/8): BusinessWeek chimes in with their take on the Whole Foods Market private equity cash infusion ... "The private equity money comes at a steep price and also reflects the retailer's serious problems." READ MORE
Great Advice for All of Us

Posted: November 6th, 2008, 9:17am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

SOURCE: The Cocktail Party Rule (Hugh MacLeod)
Three Reads

Posted: November 5th, 2008, 9:53am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

ONE | Eat and Tell
With 4-million reviews written and 15-million visitors a month, Yelp is changing the business of reviews for those doing the reviewing and the businesses doing the listening. Individual Yelpers now meet offline to compare notes on what they’re saying online. Business marketers, such as Liz Johanesen (marketing director at Kimpton Hotels) are paying attention to Yelp. Liz says, “It’s an exciting new channel for us to harvest. We went from disbelief to suspicion to fully embracing it.” >> READ MORETWO | In Era of Blog Sniping, Companies Shoot First
“Today, whatever you say inside of a company will end up on a blog. So you have a choice as a company—you can either be proactive and take the offensive and say, ‘Here’s what’s going on’ or you can let someone else write the story for you.” — Rusty Rueff, former HR executive at Electronic Arts. >> READ MORETHREE | Getting a Foothold in Social Media
Amber Naslund has published as good of a business-minded primer on Social Media as you’ll find. Since you’re reading about this Social Media primer e-book on a blog, YOU already get it. However, others you know don’t get it. So, share this primer with those you know who still don’t get it. Come on, do it. >> READ MORE
SNIPPET | Age of Conversation

Posted: November 3rd, 2008, 12:50pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

The other day I shared some “Money Quotes” from the AGE OF CONVERSATION book. Today, I’m sharing a snippet from my essay in the book … THE MARKETING MATRIX: Ignore or Explore?

(Remember, there are 237 essays in the AGE OF CONVERSATION book. Here’s hoping you choose to explore all of them and not just this snippet.)
A major shout-out goes to Kelsey Ruger for inspiring this essay. In a presentation at a GOT SOCIAL MEDIA event in Houston he referenced the red pill/blue pill idea.
MONEY QUOTES | Age of Conversation

Posted: November 2nd, 2008, 1:21pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

If you run in the same social media circles as I do, then you’re aware of the Age of Conversation collaborative book. For those unaware, the Age of Conversation is collection of essays from social media champions testifying and evangelizing the merits of businesses using social media tools to better connect with customers.

You can learn much more about this collaborative effort by visiting: AgeOfConversation.comTo entice you to order a hardcover copy or PDF copy of the book ... riffle through this short collection of “Money Quotes” from the Age of Conversation essays:

← Experience the Message AdVerbatims →

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Brand Autopsy (10 unread)

Three Reads

Posted: November 18th, 2008, 4:35pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Marketing During this Dismal Economy

Posted: November 17th, 2008, 9:49pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

A Worthy Rant from Paul Williams

Posted: November 14th, 2008, 7:50pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Eric Schmidt on Google being Frugal

Posted: November 10th, 2008, 6:03am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

What if Starbucks Marketed like a Church?

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:40am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Ugly Financials at Whole Foods

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:07am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Great Advice for All of Us

Posted: November 6th, 2008, 9:17am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

Three Reads

Posted: November 5th, 2008, 9:53am CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

SNIPPET | Age of Conversation

Posted: November 3rd, 2008, 12:50pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)

MONEY QUOTES | Age of Conversation

Posted: November 2nd, 2008, 1:21pm CST by johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)