Tag Archives: recession

Private label pricing war in Consumer Packaged Goods.

By Jacob Brown | February 6, 2010

The recession has had a fascinating and unexpected impact on the price battle between private label products and brand name CPG products.
The chart below (from IRI’s January Times and Trends report) shows how the prices of private label products increased MUCH more rapidly than the total  CPG market during 2007 and 2008.  I believe these price increases [...]

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Burger King and McDonald’s take separate paths to Value.

By Jacob Brown | June 3, 2009

Price promotions are an important tool, especially in these difficult economic times.  But, the panic of declining sales often leads marketers to confuse price promotion with brand strategy.  No where is this more evident than in fast food, where we’ve seen many restaurants try to drive traffic by virtually giving away their food.
A recent LA Times article outlined some [...]

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Junk Mail Junked - The one bright spot of recession.

By Jacob Brown | March 15, 2009

I have finally found a bright spot in these financial hard times.  Direct mail is in the tank.  My mailbox is less cluttered, trees feel safer and my mailman is walking a little straighter.
The most recent report by Mintel Comperemedia reports that nearly all the major Direct Mail categories are down.  Some of the categories [...]

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Bad times bring out the worst in advertising.

By Jacob Brown | March 12, 2009

As we all know, advertising revenues are down.  Print, TV, Radio, Online.  All down.  So, media companies are looking everywhere to fill that void.  So if traditional advertisers are down, what’s going up?
Porn
Cable companies may be raising their subscription rates - but apparently they’re starting to lower the cost of On-Demand-Porn channels.  In addition, they’re [...]

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New Retail Survival Strategies

By Jacob Brown | February 28, 2009

Retailers continue to struggle for ways to successfully cope with an accelerating decline in consumer spending.  Major retailers, across all spectrums, are experiencing dramatic declines in same store sales:

Williams Sonoma - 38% (forecast)
Gap - 14%
Target - 6%
Macy’s - 7%
Home Depot -9%

Some of the strategies being seen in the marketplace include:
 Cut costs - not prices.
Some stores, such as [...]

Posted in Baby Boomers and Seniors, Consumer Spending, Marketing Trends | Also tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments