Monthly Archives: March 2011

Brand extensions

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Mitch Gooze

I generally agree with Al Ries. His insights into positioning have been remarkable over the years. He is a fanatic about NOT allowing brand or line extensions. His position is they usually (always) result in poorer performance than if you created … Continue reading →

Posted in brand | Tagged Al Ries, Amazon.com, brand extension is a mistake, brand extensions, can brand extensions work, Home Depot, IBM, line extensions, Lowes, Wal-Mart, Xerox, Zappos | Leave a comment

There are advantages to capitalism

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Mitch Gooze

We try to stay away from politics in this blog, but not always. This is one of those times. The U.S. government has debated for many years what companies should do about being more “green.” Just today, President Obama talked … Continue reading →

Posted in global warming | Tagged going greeen, how business can impact the environment, Wal-Mart | Leave a comment

When in doubt, increase your advertising

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Mitch Gooze

Back in February I posted about the auto insurance industry and their focus on price. Apparently the “waste” I discussed in that article has been transferred to the advertising industry. Over $4B/year is spent on advertising by this industry. And this is over … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Marketing, strategy | Tagged Advertising, auto insurance industry, auto insurance pricing, Farmers, Geico, Insurance, Marketing and Advertising, Progressive Insurance, State Farm | Leave a comment

If more of them could just be better

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Mitch Gooze

The December 2010 issue of Harvard Business Review had a short article entitled “Do You Really Know Who Your Best Salespeople Are?” In this article the authors attempt to explain how the behavior of sales people affect their ability to be … Continue reading →

Posted in sales | Tagged sales, secret to selling more, what makes effective sales people, Why are some sales people better | Leave a comment

Is greed going to cost them a generation?

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Mitch Gooze

Just came back from a cruise. Always fun. Since, as my wife points out, I am always working, I needed Internet access on this cruise, as I always do. Since my first cruise about 12 years ago up to and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Internet access on cruise ships, RCL Cruise line, short term thinking, using the Internet on cruise ships | Leave a comment

Stop guessing

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Mitch Gooze

As more marketing moves to the Internet, the skills and tools of the direct marketer become more relevant, even if you are not selling directly. Direct marketers have always relied on testing and measurement to improve. If you didn’t, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Web-based Marketing | Tagged design of experiments, direct marketing, Forbes, Google Optimizer, marketing analytics, Roger Horchow | Leave a comment

Hot Mama

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Mitch Gooze

Competing with the big box super stores is tough for today’s retailers. And their equivalent exist in every category, except truly emerging markets. So competing is tough for everyone, except those who recognize it’s not about competing with the category leader. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in retail, What | Tagged clothes for moms, differentiation, Hot Mama, mothers, retail stores | Leave a comment