Trend$

GM Opens Cutting-Edge Green Dealership Near Detroit

16 JUL 2008 from Advertising Age | Read the full story»

As it plots major spending cuts and bats back bankruptcy rumors, General Motors Corp. today celebrated the opening of a $15 million green dealership, LaFontaine Automotive Group's new Buick-Pontiac-GMC and Cadillac facility in suburban Detroit. (Subscription required)

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The Benefits of Downscaling

Green design calls for small improvements across large volumes and for reducing the resources, materials, and energy used in products.

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To Reach Mothers, Wal-Mart Signs Deal With an NBC Unit

Forget about support groups, posses and circles of friends. The first advertising deal for a new unit of NBC Universal, signed with Wal-Mart Stores, is all about the "momtourage." (Subscription required)

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Green Travel: All Eyes on Amtrak

Soaring gas prices and higher airfares are causing Americans to take a closer look at their rail system.

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Demand Grows For Older Models

There's been a sea change in the fashion industry — the rise of models over age 40. Lara Harris, a "classic" model" who put her second career as a psychotherapist on hold to return to modeling, speaks to host Andrea Seabrook. (Audio)

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Speaking to Women, With Firsthand Experience

The Omnicom Group, the largest advertising holding company, is forming the consultancy to help marketers reach women, the largest consumer group. (Subscription required)

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What Do Women Want? A Developer Asks, and Listens

Listening to female shoppers may seem like a logical thing to do, yet many developers and consultants say such input is often missing in the early stages of shopping center development. (Subscription required)

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Airports Slowly Greening Up

We all know that commercial airliners are essentially polluting machines that fly. What about the airports where they land? Pretty grim, too. But the people in charge say they are trying to green up. To be fair, the task is daunting. And there are some examples of innovation. But overall, the report card is pretty underwhelming.

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Health and wellness shop focuses on seniors

Around the world, the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to almost double in the next 22 or so years, going from just over 500 million now to just under a billion in 2030, according to the US Census Bureau. Little wonder, then, that a brand-new health and wellness store in Lyon, France, has set its focus squarely on seniors. Whereas many existing senior-focused merchants tend to focus on disabilities—ElderDepot.com is one example—HOJO offers a more holistic variety of about 400 lifestyle products dedicated to keeping senior citizens happy, healthy and independent for as long as possible.

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MySpace looks for an older crowd

Just a year ago, social networking site MySpace had nearly three times as many visitors as its rival Facebook. Now the two sites are about even. That probably explains why MySpace is getting ready to unveil a big makeover. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

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Smartphones Now Ringing for Women

In a shift for the phone industry, women have emerged as eager buyers of so-called smartphones. (Subscription required)

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The Pink-Collar Shopper

She spends more than you think she does — and is more loyal too. By Lois Seidl and Jeff Friedlaender.

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Ad men don't get what women want

Advertising is a seduction, but commentator and ad-watcher Andrea Gardner says that for all the purchasing power women have, advertisers don't always give a lot of thought to what they want to hear.

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'Recycling' Energy Seen Saving Companies Money

A Chicago-based entrepreneur says many industrial power users can save money, get more electricity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using the energy they already consume more efficiently. It's called recycling energy — capturing waste heat and turning it into power. (Audio)

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Change We Can Stomach

11 MAY 2008 from the New York Times | Read the full story»

Farming has the potential to go through the greatest upheaval since the Green Revolution, bringing harvests that are more healthful, sustainable and, yes, even more flavorful. The change is being pushed along by market forces that influence how our farmers farm. (Subscription required)

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The Coming Boom in Boomer-Friendly Transport

The baby boomers are aging. To ensure their safety and everyone else's, cars, highways, and public transportation need to adapt fast.

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Survey: More Americans feeling 'green guilt'

More people (primarily women) are feeling guiltier this year than they were last about their not-so-carbon-neutral habits.

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Publisher's new imprint is greener, inside and out

UK book publisher Dorling Kindersley has created an imprint that aims to ‘green’ an industry whose dependence on dead trees doesn’t necessarily make it an eco frontrunner. So far, four titles have been released under the company’s Made With Care brand. All deal with eco-aware topics such, including green baby care and organic gardening.

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How Companies Act On Global Trends

One of the biggest issues we hear from companies is that while there seems to be a flood of ‘trends’ information available to them (much of it for free), they have difficulty knowing how to use it to make real change internally.

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The Lorax

Major collaboration to help save trees between Random House Publishers, Dr. Seuss and Conservation International: Dr. Seuss' Lorax's Plea: Stop Cutting Trees! By Daniel Horgan, Special for USA TODAY As the world's rain forests disappear, one of Dr. Seuss' most...

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Greenhouse plan could damage ozone

The rule of unintended consequences threatens to strike again.

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Gender and the Intelligence Factor

"These finding suggest that human evolution has created two different types of brains designed for equally intelligent behavior."

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Blogs, Buzz, and Moms

Our partner BabyCenter has released a study about the power of Mom's online. Not surprisingly, they are one of the most influential groups online.

New research released today by BabyCenter(R), the largest online resource for expectant and new parents around the world, and industry-leading market research company, the Keller Fay Group, reveals that today's pregnant women and new moms engage in one-third more word of mouth conversations per day than the total public or women and almost two-thirds of these conversations include brand recommendations. This group has an average of 109 word of mouth conversations per week about products, services and brands, most of which are positive and considered highly credible by other moms.

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Shortcuts: At a Certain Age, Simplicity Sells in High-Tech Gadgets

Companies have noticed a growing market for simple devices aimed at older customers. (Subscription required)

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Here Comes Another "Women's Site"

[B]efore you spend the money on design and editorial, take a second to stop and ask your targeted market if this is something they want/will visit.

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The Shift Toward Low, Low Prices

Those businesses that succeed in the long run will be the forward-thinkers who walk the tightrope of low prices and excellent customer experience.

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Beyond Recycling: Getting to 'Zero Waste'

Recycling newspaper and plastic can only go so far toward achieving a "zero waste" world, a recycling activist says. The next step, he says, is getting industry and government to work together to make going greener more profitable.

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Products follow tech-savvy women

Women outspend men by more than $14 billion on technology products, a study found. Kevin Pereira from G4's "Attack of the Show" talks with Kai Ryssdal about some of the gadgets being marketed to women and why.

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Best in Class

Best Buy is winning with women... and everyone else. By Dori Molitor.

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IT industry 'needs strong Kyoto'

The global IT sector needs a strong post-2012 climate deal if it is going to clean up its act, a top businessman says. ... IT equipment accounted for about 2% of the world's carbon emissions, he told delegates at a conference in London. But he added that the sector would play a key role in tackling climate change.

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Yahoo's New Appeal to Women

The Internet giant hopes to attract more women with a new content site that will incorporate user home pages and blogs

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Greener cell power presents challenges

When wireless industry technicians speak of "green" cell towers these days, they're not just talking about making them look more ...

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The shape of lights to come? Not everyone's buying it

Their spiral design is a symbol of "going green," the movement to make homes and living more energy-efficient. And sales of compact flourescent lights, or CFLs, are booming ... But now that more people are using CFLs, the bulbs' shortcomings are giving some consumers pause.

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Small Businesses Cater to Gray

FEB 2008 from the Wall Street Journal | Read the full story»

But while targeting boomers makes sense, it's not necessarily easy. This generation is as disparate as they come... Business owners who can maneuver around or cater to these demographic splits stand to gain from this vast generation. Here's a look at a few promising industries within the gray market...

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Citizen Branding: Urban Planning For Women

Businesses aren’t the only ones who are thinking about marketing to women… now, entire cities are jumping on board. An article in USA Today discusses the trend of city planning to make urban areas safer and easier to navigate...

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When Marketing To Women, Grey Is The New Pink

08 FEB 2008 from andHow to Reach Women | Read the full story»

As marketers, as Americans, as humans, we long for simplicity. When faced with complex concepts, that often include contradictions we immediately reach for our virtual gardening shears (the big ones that require two hands) and start lopping (can you tell I've been pruning my rose bushes back...). This make sense as simple is both communicable and actionable and ultimately, we all want to get stuff done. However, increasingly, it is an approach you pursue at your own peril.

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Does a $2,500 Tata Nano in India Mean Higher Gas Prices, More CO2 Everywhere Else?

Yes, it's dirt-cheap and will mobilize people throughout the developing world. And that is exactly why it poses a threat to the environment and global energy supplies.

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The Misunderstood Generation

05 FEB 2008 from Advertising Age | Read the full story»

They comprise nearly 24% of the population, have a buying power of $3 trillion, and include many of the country's current business and political leaders. But marketers misunderstand -- and inefficiently target -- this country's 78 million baby boomers. (Subscription required)

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Scorecards to Help Eco Shoppers - Wal-Mart's More Sustainable Packaging

Wal-mart, the world's largest retail, is reaffirming their commitment toward sustainable packaging by applying a scorecard when the buyers are making a purchasing decision. Is this goodbye to packing peanuts?

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No Country for Young Men

JAN/FEB 2008 from the Atlantic | Read the full story»

The Baby Boomers’ retirement will change the texture of society in ways we’ve scarcely begun to contemplate. A dispatch from America’s coming silver age.

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Youth Bashing

The idea that the younger generation is self-absorbed is at least as old as Plato, but some researchers are saying it’s as big a myth as Narcissus, reports Stephanie Rosenbloom in The New York Times (1/17/08).

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Six Decades at the Center of Attention, and Counting

06 JAN 2008 from the New York Times | Read the full story»

[W]ith 37 million Americans over the age of 65, and 30 million more expected to cross that thin gray line in the next decade, the boomers and older consumers still represent billions of dollars in potential sales. So once again, companies are scrambling to update their slicing and dicing of the senior marketplace. But what they are finding, advertising executives say, is that some old tactics don’t work anymore. Older consumers don’t want to be treated like teenagers; what’s more, they don’t want to believe they fall into any niche at all. (Subscription required)

Hat tip: reveries

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Steel-toes and tool belts for women

After leaving a corporate job at IBM, Tomboy Trades' founder Marissa McTasney enrolled in a skilled-trades course for women, with the aim of starting her own construction company. She spotted a gap in the market on her first day of school. When she and her classmates went out to buy work boots, she was surprised to find they only came in tan and black: men’s shoes in female sizes.

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Philips says it wants to appeal to women with its new product line

Freud asked, "What do women want?" Philips replied, "USB drives."

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Baby Boomers Pick Mountains over Beaches

While the future of social security may be uncertain, some who are retiring now are forgoing southern beaches in favor of western mountains. Reports in recent days have noted a new trend in baby boomer retirement: they're choosing to settle in the West. (Audio)

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Peace and love for the planet drive baby boomers, survey says

People born before 1964 aspire to shop for eco-friendly and socially responsible products, according to an AARP poll.

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Toyota Wants to Make Sure You're Never Too Old to Drive

Working with a professor who specializes in aging, the Japanese automaker is developing a car capable of helping older drivers avoid the mistakes that older drivers often make.

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Seniors becoming old hands at Wii

Still looking for a Nintendo Wii game console? Good luck. Because you just might have to fight your grandmother to get one. Jennifer Collins reports.

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Plug-in hybrids need more juice

Environmentalists have been pushing car companies to put plug-in hybrids on the market because they would use even less gasoline than current hybrids. Well, they're here. Sort of. Sarah Gardner reports. ... The issue is really getting to the psychology of American buyers to say, you don't need all this car all the time. Americans have trouble with that because we think of automobiles as Conestoga wagons that we get in with all our possessions and go to the hinterland. (Audio)

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Aussies fill up with gasoline alternative

With U.S. gasoline prices well over $3 a gallon, Americans may wish to consider an Australian option. In the Land Down Under, they can fill up at half the price with liquid propane gas. Stuart Cohen reports. (Audio)

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Lured by Clean Energy, Industry Heads for Iceland

Iceland wants to use its carbon-free energy from volcanoes to help clean up one of the world's dirtiest industries: aluminum smelting. The move would help reduce pollution globally. But environmentalists say other countries should develop their own geothermal resources instead of exploiting Iceland's wilderness. (Audio)

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Tech giants target older buyers and their cash

"Today's older generation is primed to buy and consume new technologies like no previous group of seniors," says David Kelly, ...

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'Men Buy, Women Shop': The Sexes Have Different Priorities When Walking Down the Aisles

When it comes to shopping, women are from Nordstrom's and men are from Sears. Women are happy to meander through sprawling clothing and accessory collections or detour through the shoe department. For men, shopping is a mission. They are out to buy a targeted item and flee the store as quickly as possible, according to a new study by researchers at Wharton's Jay H. Baker Retail Initiative. The study's findings have implications for retailers that are looking for ways to tailor their goods and services to specific segments of the shopping population. Hint: Splurge on good sales associates (for some shoppers) -- and easy parking (for others).

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How Much Do You Really Care?

If this is a major marketing campaign for CVS, they run the risk of alienating many of their female customers, who may "bristle" at the thought of being pegged as a "caretaker." While it’s true that most women do fill this role at times, it’s usually done in a private manner and to have it acknowledged could make these women feel condescended to... the act of caretaking is an unselfish one that is confined to a "one-on-one" basis. Many women don’t necessarily like calling attention to themselves in this role.

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Promotions, In-Store Displays Key to Swaying Electronics Shoppers

25 NOV 2007 from Advertising Age | Read the full story»

This just in: Men and women shop differently. Shopping for a big-screen TV is an exciting process for men, who definitely find it easier than shopping for groceries or shoes. For women, it's stress-inducing and requires careful consideration and research. (Subscription required)

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Jolly and Green, With an Agenda

25 NOV 2007 from the New York Times | Read the full story»

Frivolity versus severity. Materialism versus sacrifice. Welcome to the "green" holidays. The holidays have always been an emotionally combustible time for families, bringing together a sometimes volatile mix of siblings, crotchety grandparents and ill-behaved children. But in recent years, a new figure has joined the celebration, to complicate the proceedings even further: the green evangelist of the family — the impassioned activist bent on eradicating the wasteful materialism of the holidays. Otherwise known, at least to skeptical traditionalists, as the new Grinch. (Subscription required)

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Ads Made for Women, by Women

21 NOV 2007 from the Wall Street Journal | Read the full story»

Female creative executives have long been scarce on Madison Avenue. A new company, Womenkind, is hoping to address that shortcoming by harnessing the power of female ad and marketing executives, including stay-at-home moms. (Subscription required)

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Making Social Connections and Selling Cookies

Pepperidge Farm is creating a Web site devoted to social networking and targeted at women who are looking to improve their social lives. (Subscription required)

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The RenGen Manifesto

Patricia Martin brings her energy and enthusiasm to this inspiring manifesto which celebrates a new cultural trend: a renaissance generation that values creative and intellectual activity which will bring a rebirth to our current beige state of living.

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More Photowalking

The Photowalking trend keeps catching our eye because of how the activity bounces from online to offline to online again: bloggers and facebook friends meet up (often for the first time face to face) to walk a city or location, taking photos that will be uploaded back to Flickr or Facebook and then discussed on their blogs and social networks.

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Five major consumer trends you won't find anywhere else

Time flies when you're having fun! This issue marks our *fifth* anniversary. And since giving is the new taking, this month's briefing highlights no less than five trends that you definitely won't find anywhere else. GENERATION Z, ECO-FATIGUE, BLANDTASTIC, PETS PASSE and TURQUOISE TRIUMPH

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Why womenomics is the force of the future

18 OCT 2007 from the Daily Mail | Read the full story»

For the Living Britain report, researchers were keen to establish whether the womenomics phenomenon was equally alive in Britain as in the US. And Mr Raymond said it was a phenomenon driving Britain today. He said instead of focusing on women and gender, focus was instead switching to women and economic factors.

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Football widows no more

At the beginning of the 2007 season, the Ravens launched a woman-only fan club called Purple. Free to join, Purple already has 3,500 members who get inside information about the team, special offers for a new line of women's team apparel and jewelry, a monthly newsletter, and invitations to special annual events.

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Little Green Lies

15 OCT 2007 from BusinessWeek | Read the full story»

The sweet notion that making a company environmentally friendly can be not just cost-effective but profitable is going up in smoke. Meet the man wielding the torch.

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Going green is only good business

Lots of companies are going green. And they can't wait to tell you about it in their ads and press releases. But commentator Robert Reich says, Big whoop!

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Car dealership catches female fever

It all makes for rather classy car-shopping, and considering how much this market spends on Manolo Blahniks and other designer fare, turning the auto dealership model on its head to appeal to female shoppers could reap some nice rewards. It won't be surprising if car dealers in other regions take steps to court them as well.

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Deloitte Tries a Different Sales Pitch for Women

08 OCT 2007 from the Wall Street Journal | Read the full story»

The strategy is based on a simple, yet radical, idea: Just as women consumers shop differently than men, Deloitte believes businesswomen shop for professional services differently than men. (Subscription required)

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Boomers Don't Want Your Pity, but They Do Demand Your Respect

08 OCT 2007 from Advertising Age | Read the full story»

"It's a huge target, and they're not going away. They're still going to be influential as they get older, and they've got the money to spend." (Subscription required)

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Tailoring Messages to a New Audience: Wrinkled Baby Boomers

After decades of ardor for young consumers, marketers are looking for ways to reach older audiences as the baby boomers reach the upper age brackets. (Subscription required)

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Dockers to Woo Women at Trunk Shows

01 OCT 2007 from the Wall Street Journal | Read the full story»

Dockers is launching a new marketing campaign aimed at boosting its profile among women. A central prong of the effort is a sales technique rooted in high fashion: trunk shows. (Subscription required)

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Ka-Boom Ka-Ching

Someone turns 50 every eight seconds. Are you following the money trail? By Dori Molitor.

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It's not easy selling green

As environmental businesses begin to flood the market, they're turning to corporate branders to set their wares apart from the pack. Claire Schoen listened in on brainstorming sessions between some San Francisco entrepreneurs and the branding company, Lexicon.

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Wal-Mart looks for more green

Wal Mart says it will begin asking its suppliers to voluntarily measure and report their climate-warming carbon emissions. How much impact will it have? Sam Eaton reports.

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Walter Cronkite Comes Back

The former CBS anchor is about to sign with an aptly named network, Retirement Living TV, a start-up channel aimed at people over the age of 55. (Subscription required)

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Pittsburgh Steelers Boast Women Fans

A sports marketing firm says the Pittsburgh Steelers has the largest female fan base in professional football. A third of Pittsburgh-area women consider themselves Steelers fans. You can buy an official team jersey that's pink; and the team sponsors classes for women to learn more about football. (Audio)

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Girly Tech No Woman Wants

A study of 750 British women between the ages of 24 and 45 showed that just 9 percent of women wanted products that "looked" feminine. The other 91 percent were looking for something aptly described as "more boardroom than teenage bedroom."

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The Graying of the Web

Technology investors and entrepreneurs are starting a host of new social networking sites aimed at baby boomers and graying computer users. (Subscription required)

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What Do Women Want? Less Pink, More Tech, "Lady Geek" Survey Says

According to a recent U.K. study, women own only slightly fewer tech gadgets than men -- and they're not interested in pink gadgets and Hello Kitty keyboards, either.

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Media Players Go After Free-Spending Boomers

03 SEP 2007 from Advertising Age | Read the full story»

Media companies have targeted boomers all their lives, but interest in the demo seemed to wane a bit as the majority of them approached their golden years. Traditionally, marketers have considered those in retirement mode to be unworthy of courting, mostly because of the long-held marketing belief that once a person is nearing the end of his life, he is set in his ways and unlikely to try new brands or products. But boomers, as they have most of their adult lives, have cash -- more cash now than ever. And they've always been willing to spend it. (Subscription required)

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Oh Grow Up! Brands Need to Mature With Their Customers.

Do you really know the women who are buying your brand? Or, have you made up some imaginary profile from which you determine your next steps?

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Online banking boom for over 55s

The recent boom in internet banking has been greatest for people aged over 55, a report says.

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Over-50 Web Users Hit Big Numbers

People over 50 account for 30 percent of internet usage, a British market study reveals. That's more than previously believed, and it points to a niche for social-networking sites serving an older demographic.

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Apple store update

Apple has succeeded in doing something that no one else in tech or even cars has done. They've crossed the gender barrier and made people of both genders passionate about what they sell.

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FOREVER TRENDS

When it comes to 'easy' inspiration for dreaming up new products and services, some big trends keep on giving. Case in point: the continuing rise in purchasing power enjoyed by baby boomers, the gay community and women. In this briefing, expect plenty of examples from brands having fun with these forever trendy demographics.

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Sony Women's Walkman - The Walkwoman?

Sony has decided that women are now an important target for the Walkman. Targeting women is as simple as adding glitzy colors like pink, violet, black, blue or gold topped with Swarovski glass crystal bedecked caps!

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Ann Taylor Said to Plan Boomer Unit

Ann Taylor, known for its prim clothing for career women in their 30s and 40s, is developing a new casual apparel chain for the older, baby-boomer generation. (Subscription required)

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Ten Years After

It’s been ten years since Tom Peters declared women’s economic clout, but most marketers are still in the dark. By Dori Molitor.

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When Whippersnappers and Geezers Collide

For the first time, four generations — those who lived through World War II, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y — are together in the workplace.

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Harley Woos Female Bikers

Women are buying more motorcycles than ever, and Harley-Davidson is going after that market with a vengeance. (Subscription required)

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Hot offices in NYC find a green solution

25 JUL 2007 from the Boston Globe | Read the full story»

Massive blocks of ice cool floors, cut energy use
By Colleen Long, Associated Press

NEW YORK -- As the summer swelters on, skyscrapers and apartments around the city will crank up air conditioners and push the city's power grid to the limit. But some have found a cool alternative.

Several office towers and buildings are substantially reducing their AC use with an energy-saving system that relies on blocks of ice.

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Japanese Companies Woo Women Back to Workplace

A growing labor shortage is encouraging Japanese employers to pursue female professionals with new vigor.

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Marketing to Women Requires a Holistic Approach

The building industry has a lot in common with the other more typically male-dominated industries out there: They've got a lot of potential to better serve women, but they get stuck on stereotypes and assumptions AND neglect all the opportunities for using stories...

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Selling Technology to Baby Boomers & Seniors

While cell phones are getting smaller and smaller, and packed with more and more features at the same time, Harris knew that for her demographic: "We need to think this whole thing through, and sort of erase everything that we’ve done so far. Let’s redefine what we should be doing, based on research and based on good old common sense."

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Women Aren't Delegating Wealth Management Decisions: They Are Making Them

It has now been officially documented (at least for Canadian women): "Women with a partner are less likely to delegate long-term-wealth-management decisions than before."

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Big Retail Stores Prime Solar Energy Generators

A few solar energy companies have discovered an opportunity on the roofs of big retail stores. They're offering to install solar panels for free. They then sell the electricity back to the store, often at lower rates than the local utility charges. Retailers like it because it lets them boast about being "green." (Audio)

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Delivery trucks to run on McDiesel

McDonald's plans to recycle its used cooking oil to run its delivery trucks in the U.K. by year's end. The move may not save the company money, but it says it'll reduce its carbon emissions by 78 percent and it could boost sales along with its green image.

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Women to the front of the line?

Outta the way techies! One report says that women may surpass gadget geeks as the largest consumer segment likely to adopt the new $600 iPhone. And if it happens, that would defy history, reports Janet Babin.

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Green is Black for Corporate America

Businesses are trying to remake their image to look more environmentally friendly. It's a transformation that began more than a decade ago. Don Carli, a research fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Communication, discusses the new corporate trend with Renee Montagne. (Audio)

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Google and Utility to Test Hybrids That Sell Back Power

Google and Pacific Gas & Electric have unveiled their vision of a future in which cars and trucks are partly powered by the country’s electric grids, and vice versa. (Subscription required)

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Marketing to High Net Worth Women: Educate and Allow for a Longer Decision-making Process

Make them comfortable taking their time to make decisions - and educate them along the way.

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McDonald's Recruits Mom to Be Ultimate Influencer

08 JUN 2007 from AdAge | Read the full story»

The Golden Arches has been quietly amassing an army of moms -- often its toughest critics -- as "quality correspondents" to act as citizen consumer reporters. The idea is to spread the message -- which it hopes to craft into a positive one -- about McDonaldland and its products. (Subscription required)

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Immigrants and Baby Boomers Futures' Converge

22 MAY 2007 from HispanicBusiness.com | Read the full story»

With a major part of the nation's population entering its retirement years and birth rates falling domestically, the shortfall in the work force will be filled by immigrants and their offspring, experts say. How that group fares economically in the years ahead could have a big impact on everything from the kind of medical services baby boomers receive to the prices they can get for their homes.

Hat tip: The Creativity Exchange

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To Appeal to Women, Too, Gadgets Go Beyond ‘Cute’ and ‘Pink’

Women are embracing consumer electronics just as the technologies are reaching out to embrace them. (Subscription required)

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The Last Green Mile

The race is on to build a one-stop national brand for all your clean power needs.

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Blue-Collar Women Can Now Be Pretty in Pink on the Job

In blue-collar building trades these days, women can't get enough pink.

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Hedge funds 101

Now that anyone with a couple thousand bucks can get in on the hedge fund game, Chris Farrell explains some of the finer points — like how it's heavily stacked in favor of the hedge fund managers with little regard for investor risk.

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Patagonia Values

"When that authenticity is compromised, the brand enters decline."

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Does the Fed Matter?

The influence of interest rates on growth and spending has essentially vanished. That's not a bad thing. (Subscription required)

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Creeping Features: A Love/Hate Relationship

I think I've mentioned this before, but does anyone else have a keen interest in those cell phones with big numbers, few features and a $10/month plan? 

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We're Not What You Think: Today's Single Population

Quick.  If you had to come up with the way quote unquote singles were depicted in ad campaigns, would you say: singles are in their early 20s, city livers, hip dressers, thin, concerned with their hair style/color and wearing the latest clothing styles, all the while working serious careers - but also hanging out at bars nightly and in the gym early mornings?  As the saying goes: think again.

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Is Price Really the Most Important Factor in Consumer Loyalty?

It is true that for some people price is the most important factor, but not ALL people. This is simply a matter of segmentation.

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green is more than the color of currency

Since "Who Killed the Electric Car" and "The Inconvenient Truth" green has been top of mind; so it's not surprising to see a recent trend of corporations following the money and jumping onto the green band wagon.

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Shopping Means Buying for Women Online

Does anyone say 'I'm just looking' on the In