Monthly Archives: October 2009
Book Battle Royale
Date: 10/30/2009 By: Comments: 2A fascinating war is shaping up in the retail book selling category. The stakes are being raised as the prices fall just as far. The bidding is bold and fast - the price for pre-ordered bestsellers is now $8.98 at Wal-Mart. Amazon matched the original $9.00 price tag, but Wal-Mart, always low-price leader, dropped it to $8.99. T ....
If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em
Date: 10/22/2009 By: Comments: 2October 22nd, a day with lots of fanfare for Microsoft. The release of the new Windows 7 operating system has mercifully arrived. Adios, Vista. Take your time leaving, much like you did when I booted up my computer!!
Despite all the hype for Windows 7, it is another Microsoft milestone that is capturing my attention. Co ....
Back from the Dead
Date: 10/19/2009 By: Comments: 2Two marketing events struck an emotional chord with me this week. Many brands die, day in and day out, but just as many get pulled out of the brand deathbed and are brought back to life. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the beer, wine and spirits category. College students across the country are probably rejoicing at the ne ....
A New Value Equation
Date: 10/9/2009 By: Comments: 3From an overall retail channel perspective, there has been nothing more fascinating than watching the home center and hardware retail category battle it out over the past couple of decades. It's a channel anomaly that the big boxes haven't destroyed the local hardware store entrees and offerings. I'm talking about Home Depot and ....
The Circle of Life
Date: 10/2/2009 By: Comments: 3Is it just me, or does every retail concept have a defined life cycle that gets shorter and shorter? Retailers go from red hot to irrelevant faster than ever before. No retail category is left untarnished. It is eat or be eaten. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the DVD rental category. The pace of change is staggering to wa ....
