Lessons from Arby’s: to attract customers (and buyers), it pays to differentiate

When you think of fast food restaurants, what is the first idea or image that comes to mind? McDonald’s has its Big Mac, Golden Arches and “billions and billions served.” Burger King has its memorable (if questionably effective) “King mask” TV ads. Subway has its long-time spokesman, Jared, who successfully slimmed down to a healthy…

Who Cares About Wristwatches?

For the past several years, young people have fallen out of the habit of wearing a wristwatch. After all, who needs a wristwatch when you have a cell phone? Most young, tech-savvy people prefer to simply use their smart phones as their time pieces, without strapping an additional item on to their wrist. But according…

New Marketing Strategy Learned from the Cruise Ship “Class System”

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal (“The Return of the Class System”), several cruise lines have been making an effort to hold on to some of their biggest-spending customers and getting them to spend more – by revamping some aspects of a traditional cruise and offering a  more exclusive experience. Cruise lines…

U.S. Manufacturing’s Comeback: A Tale of Innovation, Reliability and Competitive Advantages

The U.S. manufacturing industry has long been a poster child for recession, “offshoring,” job losses, and a changing way of life for the middle class. Manufacturing is one of the industries that has been hardest hit by the recent economic downturn as jobs move to countries like China that have lower labor costs. And yet,…

Lying About Your Brand? Back Up Your Message with Facts & Metrics

What message is your marketing really sending? Is your company’s advertising consistent with your brand, or are you misleading your customers? Companies often send out marketing messages that are less than truthful – at best, they are missing an opportunity to clarify what their brand really stands for. At worst, they are actively deceiving their…