Dynamic Revenue Coach

Even as the faltering economy continues to drag people down financially and emotionally, cautious optimism has steadily balanced out stress and economic hardship around the world, according to Mintel, which recently reaffirmed several consumer-behavior predictions it made at the end of 2008.

Late last year, Mintel anticipated that worldwide markets would witness five consumer trends in 2009:

• Trust
• Control
• Playfulness
• Simplicity
• Trading “down, up and over”

More than halfway into 2009, the firm sees these themes playing out as still-pessimistic consumers around the world nonetheless attempt to find ways to transform their lifestyles and lighten the moods. Permanent link to Marketing Trends 2009/10

While visiting a client yesterday, I saw a new restaurant open and the name just did not make sense. In fact, it sounded weird.

Manhattan Mediterranean Food. Manhattan is in New York. And New York is about 8,000 miles from the Mediterranean. But I’m sure you already know this.

Did I feel like going there? No. Because I know it will go out of business. Now I do like Mediterranean food, I think. I actually do not even have a clear idea what it is. It just sounds exotic and exciting. It lets my imagination run wild. Will I get Greek food (my first thought), or will it be something strange and spicy from Algeria? Permanent link to Aligning Your Name To Your Product

Toyota Motor Corp is preparing a $1 billion marketing campaign to boost U.S. sales in the fourth quarter, while also expanding its line of hybrid models under the Prius name, the company said on Thursday. The $1 billion will include a media campaign, as well as buyer and dealer incentives, including sweeteners for leasing.

The $1 billion marketing and advertising plan is 30 percent to 40 percent more than Toyota typically spends in the quarter, Miller said. The plan comes as Toyota struggles with its worst downturn since it was founded in 1937 and is expecting to report a loss for the second straight fiscal year. Permanent link to Toyota Gets It Right: Heavily Promote