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Consumer sales share dipped in April before bankruptcy was filed, but has rebounded since. Clearly, media coverage of a potential bankruptcy or liquidation does impact sales, but the stigma of being in bankruptcy seems to have been vastly overstated, with Chrysler consumer sales share back up to January levels for the month of May."

Source: http://digital50.com/news/126915

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This home-agent model, which businesses such as American Airlines, Dell, JetBlue, and Sears have already implemented, employs work-from-home staffers to assist customers. These agents can serve as stand-alone units or supplement existing teams. They require just a phone and an Internet connection and can easily be integrated into an existing infrastructure.

A home-agent setup appeals to job candidates seeking a better work-life balance. Agents can determine their own hours, which frees them to meet family and community obligations. They face fewer distractions at home and avoid long and costly commutes.

The benefits to the potential employee are obvious…"

Source: http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/home_rep/index.html

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Despite the promotional orientation, co-registration can be a powerful and profitable channel for building your e-mail marketing lists. Hundreds of top advertisers are proving just how productive it can be by shifting even more of their acquisition dollars this way.

The key, as with any acquisition channel, is to know and manage the keys to success…

Follow-up. Converting a lead is up to you.

Real-time technologies. Lead conversion is highly tied to your ability to effectively market the consumer directly.

Lead quantity. There is no better channel for receiving thousands of leads per day than co-reg.

When it comes to volume, there is no stronger channel than co-registration. Many marketers have shown how productive it can be, but others have failed to make it work. By focusing on these keys to success, you'll significantly increase your odds of success."

Source: http://multichannelmerchant.com/lists/co-registration_02122007/index.html

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College freshmen will spend an average of $1,200 on school supplies as they head off to campus this fall.

More than half ($760) is earmarked for electronics, according to the National Retail Federation's Back-to-College Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

College juniors—many moving off-campus for the first time—will spend an average $812, with $278 of that pegged for furnishings. College sophomores will spend and average $445; seniors, only $425, NRF said.

In all, parents and college students will spend $25.7 billion on supplies: $7.5 billion on electronics, $8.8 billion on textbooks, $3.2 billion on clothing and accessories, $2.6 billion on dorm or apartment furnishings, $2.1 billion on school supplies and $1.5 billion on shoes."

Source: http://promomagazine.com/news/student_spending_up/index.html

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Major goals of the database marketing initiative include brand reinforcement, cross-selling, and, most importantly, retaining the current customer base. While Sallie Mae doesn't typically market to other companies' loan clients for products like loan consolidation, other firms do actively solicit their client base, according to Hertz. Several internal clients use the database, including loan products, home loans, servicing, government relations, strategic planning and corporate communications. Considering that all these departments deliver a total of 8 million to 10 million e-mails per month, the risk of fatigue is high, said Hertz, speaking last month at the National Center for Database Marketing conference

Keeping creative fresh, Hertz added, is key to helping stem fatigue. Most of Sallie Mae's e-mails are in a simple and straightforward letter format. To keep track of creative, the company has a subject-line database. The test cycle of a winning subject line vs. a 'challenger' is typically as short as a week, he said."

Source: http://directmag.com/mag/marketing_sallie_mae_uses/index.html

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Green appeal carries over to the workplace, where 74 percent of U.S. employees believe organizations should take action to lead eco-friendly initiatives. The majority of these green-minded workers (64 percent) would be willing to support their organization's green initiatives at the cost of a smaller paycheck.

'The study's findings seem to debunk a common perception that people will go green as long as it doesn't cost them,' said Aaron Franklin, project director at ORC Guideline which is part of the global firm Opinion Research Corp., in a statement. 'In fact, in both he workplace and in the store, people seem to be willing to put their money where their values are.'

Source: http://www.technologymarketing.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/green-marketing/e3if90a53b1b75730c95b743ae5f40a985e

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What some retailers fail to realize is that time is not on their side, at least when it comes to moving product. "It's so important to understand the whole concept of time and the impact that has on your turn. A lot of retailers think in terms of quantity and that's fine, but successful retailers who have growth in sales, high profitability and good cash flow think in terms of time.” The faster a retailer turns his merchandise, the more time works in his favor. "Their number one goal for a smart retailer is to turn inventory. Margin and revenue growth are below that. How fast you sell ensures product freshness and a good cash flow. Turnover doesn't appear on a profit and loss statement, but it's the most important thing for retailers to think about.

Everyone makes mistakes, of course. The difference between those 20 percent who survive and the 80 percent who don't is simple. "When you make a mistake in retail, it's courageous to admit it. Let's say you thought something was going to be the hot style, and three months after delivery you've only sold 5 pairs out of 100. What do you do? You learn the lesson. The customer has spoken, and you need to pay your tuition by taking the markdown, then really learning why that shoe didn't sell. It could be as simple as the price. Maybe it's a shoe your customer would buy at $199, but not at $300. Admit your mistake and take action immediately. The key is to keep inventory turning. It's a proven fact that overstock produces markdowns, increases the cost of goods sold and causes traffic to fall. Your customers will learn to wait for a sale."

Source: http://www.wsatoday.com//expert-opinion/expert-opinion/for-every-season-turn-turn-turn.html

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What explains the jump in game usage? Accessibility: there are many new outlets for games. 10 percent of U.S. consumers have played video games on a social network, and five percent have paid to download a game from the web, for instance.

The study also indicates the average gamer spent just over $38 per month on game-related content and products, based on spending patterns reported three months before March 2009. Other relevant data included mentions that thirty-one percent of gamers bought an individual game over the past 12 months - a seven percent increase from last year."

Source: The NPD Group http://gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=9366

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That compares to 556 million in Travel-Hospitality, which includes Airline, Hotel, Gaming, Car Rental and Cruise programs, representing 31% of the market, and Financial Services credit card programs at 422 million for 23% of the market. The 2009 COLLOQUY Loyalty Census measured the scope of U.S. loyalty marketing in 2007 and 2008.

A loyalty marketing program recognizes and rewards the best customers of a business. The Census tabulates program memberships, not unique individuals. COLLOQUY'S 2009 measurement shows that total membership in U.S. loyalty reward programs is 1.8 billion.

Based on the 2009 COLLOQUY Loyalty Census, Retail sector reward program membership roles are as follows:

Specialty Retail 191.3 million;
Grocery 153.3 million;
Mass Merchants 124.8 million;
Department Stores 92.8 million;
Drug Stores 73.9 million;
Fuel-Convenience 51.2 million;
Restaurant 13.7 million.

Source: http://www.groceryretailonline.com/article.mvc/Retailers-Now-Claim-Largest-Share-Of-US-0001

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Indeed, Forrester Research predicts that adoption of…technology by small businesses will grow by 20% to 33% this year alone.

Research released last month by Deloitte found that 47% of members within business-sponsored online communities are using them for business-to-business purposes…

"Anyone striving to narrowcast to a high-caliber group of decision makers in the business community can effectively reach their target audiences by way of this very captive space," said MacPherson. "Brands are able to garner more bang for their bucks through online ads and marketing, especially as print media continues on the decline."

Added RaiseCapital's Singer: "These communities provide marketers and advertisers with direct access to a specific definable and desirable demographic."


Source: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=87405

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Earlier this year, we reported that 63 percent of companies planned to increase their spending on social media in 2009. Thus, it’s not too surprising that a recent study from the Association of National Advertisers reveal that 66 percent of marketers have now used social media in some capacity in 2009.

Also not surprising, the top platforms being utilized: Facebook (74%), YouTube (65%), Twitter (63%), LinkedIn (60%). Combined, this usage represents significant growth from 2007, when the same survey indicated that just 20 percent of marketers were using social media.

Although social media marketing is clearly on the rise, it remains a relatively small part of most marketing budgets. ANA reports that the bulk of spending will still go to maintaining a company website, search marketing, and online display ads.

Source: http://mashable.com/2009/08/14/social-media-marketers/

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Major goals of the database marketing initiative include brand reinforcement, cross-selling, and, most importantly, retaining the current customer base. While Sallie Mae doesn't typically market to other companies' loan clients for products like loan consolidation, other firms do actively solicit their client base, according to Hertz. Several internal clients use the database, including loan products, home loans, servicing, government relations, strategic planning and corporate communications. Considering that all these departments deliver a total of 8 million to 10 million e-mails per month, the risk of fatigue is high, said Hertz, speaking last month at the National Center for Database Marketing conference

Keeping creative fresh, Hertz added, is key to helping stem fatigue. Most of Sallie Mae's e-mails are in a simple and straightforward letter format. To keep track of creative, the company has a subject-line database. The test cycle of a winning subject line vs. a 'challenger' is typically as short as a week, he said."

Source: http://directmag.com/mag/marketing_sallie_mae_uses/index.html
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Major goals of the database marketing initiative include brand reinforcement, cross-selling, and, most importantly, retaining the current customer base. While Sallie Mae doesn't typically market to other companies' loan clients for products like loan consolidation, other firms do actively solicit their client base, according to Hertz. Several internal clients use the database, including loan products, home loans, servicing, government relations, strategic planning and corporate communications. Considering that all these departments deliver a total of 8 million to 10 million e-mails per month, the risk of fatigue is high, said Hertz, speaking last month at the National Center for Database Marketing conference

Keeping creative fresh, Hertz added, is key to helping stem fatigue. Most of Sallie Mae's e-mails are in a simple and straightforward letter format. To keep track of creative, the company has a subject-line database. The test cycle of a winning subject line vs. a 'challenger' is typically as short as a week, he said."

Source: http://directmag.com/mag/marketing_sallie_mae_uses/index.html

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Its revenue margin – the percentage it took for itself of every booking – rose from 11.7% of its total bookings a year ago to 12.2% during the quarter just ended.

Furthermore, its operating income rose from $90 million to $92.9 million during the same period, although its adjusted net income fell 11% from a year ago, to $62.8 million. Net income dropped from $49.8 million, or 7.2% of gross revenue, to $39.8 million, or 6.3% of net income for the quarter just ended."

Source: http://directmag.com/online/news/expedia-growth-financial-0504/index.html

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Indeed, Forrester Research predicts that adoption of…technology by small businesses will grow by 20% to 33% this year alone.

Research released last month by Deloitte found that 47% of members within business-sponsored online communities are using them for business-to-business purposes…

"Anyone striving to narrowcast to a high-caliber group of decision makers in the business community can effectively reach their target audiences by way of this very captive space," said MacPherson. "Brands are able to garner more bang for their bucks through online ads and marketing, especially as print media continues on the decline."

Added RaiseCapital's Singer: "These communities provide marketers and advertisers with direct access to a specific definable and desirable demographic."

Source: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=87405

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