Scribbles - Opinion

Tom Hansen, the Managing Director at Rivet, Chicago will be sharing his thoughts with us using a cartoon version of himself. Look for a new episode every two weeks!

An article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday slammed most common approaches to marketing, with a special shout-out to promotions. I take issue with a lot of what the guy (David Corkindale, an Australian Marketing Professor) wrote, because he failed to look at the big picture.

Here’s what he said about promotions: “Promotions bring in extra, worthwhile business. This is often true in only a limited way. There are some good reasons for running promotions, like unloading stock that might otherwise become redundant. But a reason often cited by marketers to justify a promotion is that it will bring in new customers who will become loyal buyers at the regular price.

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I walked into a public bathroom in our building yesterday with the usual single-focus intent you’d expect in there. I’m sure you know the routine: no talking, no side glances, get in, get out.

Only this time, I heard a voice from one of the stalls. It wasn’t a crazy person, either. It was, from the look of his shoes, a well-dressed man TALKING ON HIS BLACKBERRY!! WHILE SITTING ON THE TOILET!!! more

Tom Hansen, the executive creative director at Wunderman will be sharing his thoughts with us using a cartoon version of himself. Look for a new episode every two weeks!

I heard a radio spot this morning that stopped me, not because it was funny or well-written or used a song I like, but because it used a word I had never heard before. Organify. As in “organify your life by buying our wholesome products . . .”

Do you know why I had never heard the word before? BECAUSE IT DOESN’T EXIST!

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Tom Hansen, the executive creative director at Wunderman will be sharing his thoughts with us using a cartoon version of himself. Look for a new episode every two weeks!