Streaming platforms saw huge success in the past year. It’s unfortunate that the global COVID-19 pandemic was the cause. It has been a challenging time for many marketers, particularly retail. But as we think back on the difficulties of the past year, we can see successes, and learn from them. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, […]
So…your metrics aren’t what you expected to see. It could be a sales slump (hmmm…) or perhaps an unexplained uptick – a thrilling problem to have, but you’d still like to know exactly WHAT is happening so you can keep the momentum going. Any given business model has a nearly endless number of variables that […]
What’s not to like about Amazon, right? The reasons are obvious; Amazon is easy, fast and well-priced. I’m a customer. I’m not a recreational shopper, so finding and purchasing an item quickly is often what I’m looking for. Clearly positioning anything as fast and easy is a winning strategy. We’ve all fallen for microwave popcorn […]
While visiting an orphanage in Tanzania a few years ago, I realized how small my world really was. Or, at least my perspective on the world. As part of a group helping bring solar powered wells to orphanages, we filled our suitcases with toys and crafts we thought the children might enjoy. One of those […]
It’s no secret that B2C email as a channel is largely driven by promotions. Subscribers often sign up for the welcome offer and then stay in for the deals. BUT, that doesn’t mean it isn’t also a great opportunity for brand building, relationship reinforcement, and telling brand and product stories. Let’s explore some ways that […]
Last week Toys R Us closed their remaining stores, bringing a sad end to a 70-year old brand. In the final days of the store closings, for a brief time the top link on Reddit was a strangely poignant image of Geoffrey the Giraffe standing next to empty store shelves, waving goodbye. In the comments […]
Two J.Schmid clients recently made dramatic — and successful—changes to their catalog programs. Take a look at these case studies! Case Study #1 Challenge: A B2B marketer offering innovative merchandising solutions had a mature catalog program. Management’s goal was to transition marketing dollars to ecommerce and grow catalog sales. Solution: J.Schmid recommended a two-pronged approach. […]
Dollar Shave Club was the first one I remember. In 2012, just a year after they launched the brand, they uploaded a video titled “Our Blades Are F***ing Great.” And while they pulled their punch with bleeps and asterisks, it still had some shock value. And it worked! The brazen video got shared millions of […]
In the quiet, quaint, dry-until-a-year-ago town of Ephraim, Wisconsin, there is a soup bar called Czarnuszka Soup. A recent ad mentions that the restaurant seats 11, but having been there, I think 11 is a stretch. Weekly, the owner (Paul Wanish) publishes ads that would never be approved by anyone in advertising, ever. But as […]
