Category Archives: New Products

Would You Buy IKEA’s New Integrated HD Entertainment Furniture System?

Posted on April 24, 2012 | 1 Comment

It’s a battle of “easy all-in-one” versus “select individual components.”

Global retailer IKEA has just announced that it’s entering (or perhaps creating?) a new category of integrated electronics and furniture.

Beginning June 2012 in Stockholm, Milan, Paris, Gdansk and Berlin, IKEA is launching the new UPPLEVA line consisting of:  HD Wi-Fi-ready LED television, 2.1 sound system, Blu-ray/DVD/CD player, wireless sub-woofer, and 5-year guarantee.  Retail pricing starts at about $955; and more markets will be added later in 2012, with world-wide availability expected by mid 2013, per news reports.

According to IKEA, the concept is ”a completely new range that integrates smart TV and sound system with furniture. UPPLEVA brings beauty and functionality to the living room, solving the problem of cable clutter and miss-match between TV and furniture.” Continue reading →

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Posted in Innovation, New Products, Video

General Mills Pushes Magic Brownies. Plus 5 Tips for Evaluating Bold Marketing Ideas.

Posted on October 4, 2011 | 1 Comment

Photo: Fiber One.

You’re in a conference room being pitched ideas for the marketing rollout of your new product and the recommendation is to use iconic marijuana-smoking characters from a 1970s movie.  What do you do?

Let’s talk about General Mills’ marketing – Magic Brownie Adventure Movie – to promote its new Fiber One Brownies featuring actors Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advertising, Branding, New Products, Positioning, Video

Advertising That Saves Rental Car $$$

Posted on August 9, 2011 | 1 Comment

Budget Rent a Car at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - July 20, 2011. Photo: Wrap Media Group and Associated Press.

We’re all familiar with shrink-wrapped ads on local buses.  And NASCAR race car sponsorships.  Now, get ready for rental car rolling billboards.

An independent Budget Rent a Car licensee in Atlanta is finding out just how far renters will go to save money. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advertising, New Products, Promotions/Tactics

Gillette Pushes Razor Growth by Competing Against Itself

Posted on March 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

Gillette, a Procter & Gamble brand, has an impressive marketing innovation track record with razors.

Photo: P&G.

Besides the technology commitment and investment, the number one strategic highlight for me is that first Gillette and now P&G has not been afraid to compete against itself and to cannibalize, if necessary, existing products for higher priced/higher margin sales.

Since the 1971 launch of the two-bladed Trac II, Gillette/P&G have rolled-out continuous innovation with the Atra, Sensor, Mach3 and Fusion product families.  Each of these brands has also had a follow-up series of sub-branded product upgrades.  Although they work for the same company, P&G’s razor marketers are not afraid of some in-house competition. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advertising, Innovation, New Products, Strategic Marketing, Video