shannonboudjema.com

Seth Godin says small is the new big… I wonder if flat is the new order of business? I do believe we are in the midst of a recession unlike any seen before… including the Great One probably in part to globalization, ever evolving technology and a society that has never been more fiscally abusive than as of late.

If you take a few steps back and observe what’s going on from the 50,000ft view… we are most definitely seeing a shift from the world of Macro evverything to individual micro worlds connected to another person’s micro world connected to …

Where is this leading us? What impact will this sort of mass sharing have on us? On our business? Our job search? Our purchase decisions? I believe Seth is right… small is very much the new big. Is the tall and robust capitalistic world we live in  getting flatter? If our consumers are online more often than note talking to their connections within their micro world about what’s great and what isnt… then how does one influence that individual so that the referral of a brand given to their peer is not only positive, but one that insinuates stupidity if not used in place of the others? Before – Company – Ad Agency – Mass Media – Living Rooms – Consumer… Hmmm! This doesn’t work anymore.

We are networking within our micro worlds to get work, drive business, increase sales, get referrals, get reviews on products, trips and more. We are starting to dabble more with strategic alliances; I form a mutually beneficial relationship with you to further both of our needs.  

I do believe every cloud has a silver lining… I wonder what this recession’s silver lining will be… and will it’s silver lining only be silver to a few … while being a knife to others? But that’s where evolution comes in… and smart marketers follow and evolve with their consumers – right?

Mar 14th by Shannon

Continue Reading

So… it’s been a little longer than I’d like since my last blog, but all for good reason. Let’s just say that life can be sometimes bendy, 3 cars, 2 floods, 1 hospital visit and a partride stuck in a pear tree! HAH! Apologies all round!

Anyway, I have been super interested in watching the economic state we all find ourselves in and for the purpose of this post, I will point out that I have been diligently seeking out the good! So what have I found? Well a few things come to mind: McDonalds up 7%, Dollar Store sales are up considerably – want to say 12% but the exact number escapes me so we’ll have to just go with – up!

… Apple has launched it’s perfectly timed negative ad campaign to protect and grow their market share. Their ads were targeted at Microsoft users. Their message? Apple is easier than PC.  Dangerous ground when you consider research tells us consumers despise b2b fighting in the marketplace… but this isn’t fighting as much as it is poking fun – non?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgzbhEc6VVo&feature=related

It’s worth noticing that Apple will enter 2009 in a strong position. The company’s revenues for Q4, which ended September 30, were $7.895 billion, up from $6.22 billion for the previous year. Apple’s net profit jumped from $904 million to $1.14 billion. Compared with 2007, Apple’s desktop sales were up 39 percent, laptop sales were up 38 percent, software and services revenues rose 46 percent, and peripherals revenues were up 32 percent in the 2008 fiscal year — all product categories that benefitted from the “Get a Mac” campaign. Plus, according to research group NPD, Apple now owns more than a 60 percent share of the retail market for desktop and laptop computers selling for over $1,000.

Home Depot has recently come to market with “Back to Basics”. Interesting. Did you also know that Home Depot’s former head of the family was recently replaced. Did you know that HD had literally the worst customer service records ever! So… enter new HD captain/CEO Frank Blake.

I blog cap in hand… Mr. Blake walked into a ridiculous mess. He has since rolled up his sleeves and literally got back to basics. So… for a time when do-it-yourself makes most <$$> sense… HD has rounded up 3000 plus experts to provide relevant expertise on home projects. Even though numbers have still headed South… HD has been doing better than expected and there is hope that it will do a full 180 in no time. Nicely done Mr. Blake.

Dec 16th by Shannon

Continue Reading