retail
Be careful how your structure that incentive
I’m not generally someone who games the system, but a recent promotion was one that I did game.
I’m a regular at LL Bean. Every year, I earn a few coupons, which are mostly based on sheer volume, but sometimes tied to specific promotions.
A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail, offering a $10 gift [...]
Why I like Borders
I’m an East Coast literary snob, so I’m supposed to bemoan the fact that the small independent book stores have mostly died out. And I do. I truly miss Wordsworth in Harvard Square, and one of the big pluses that come to mind when I think about how much I’d enjoy living in Cambridge is [...]
Bless you, Logitech
The other day, I bought a new headset so that I could start using Skype. (I do have one with a mic somewhere, but I have no idea where that somewhere is.)
As always when I buy an item even vaguely electronics related - and, thus, encased in impenetrable plastic packaging - I have to prepare [...]
Be nice to me today: I gave blood to get this rebate
As I do pretty regularly, I gave blood last week. Twice, actually.
The first time was with the American Red Cross, for which I received thanks, a bottle of water, a bottle of juice, a small bag of raisins, and a packet of Oreos.
The second time was pulling together the documentation required to get a [...]
Think locally: you have nothing to lose but your chains
We have a favorite neighborhood restaurant, 75 Chestnut, which happens to be owned by Tom Kershaw, the guy who owns Cheers. (Cheers is also in the ‘hood. In fact, when I tell people where I live, I often say ‘opposite end of the Cheers’ block.’) Unless I’m with someone from out of town, or unless [...]
Choice Crickets
B2B technology marketers spend their time in a fairly rarified world: complex products, sophisticated buyers, intertwined programs.
We’re schooled in thinking strategically, acting tactically - and making sure that when we’re acting tactically, we’re thinking strategically.
We work hard at getting the message, the mix, the metrics right. We debate whether the “4 P’s” are changing - [...]
For the beach bum who has everything…
The other day, my sister Kathleen forwarded an e-mail she’d gotten from Zappo’s and suggested I take a look.
I combed through it, and what to my wondering eye did appear but a blurb for some high-end flip-flops with a built in church key.
First off, I want to say how gratifying it is to know that [...]
Marketing genius from Long Island City, NY
I love this sign. Read the whole thing.
In praise of customer service at Dunkin’ Donuts
I don’t "do" Starbucks.
Yes, I like and admire the fact that they give people a coffee-house-ish place to hang out.
I like that they offer Wi-Fi.
I like that they have a certain canned hip to them, and that they offer their workers benefits.
But I don’t "do" Starbucks.
I do Dunkin’ Donuts.
This is partially in support of [...]
If the Online Shoe Shopping Fits…
Because I have a somewhat odd shoe size - 10 AAA (recently widened from AAAA, but fortunately not lengthened) I order most of my shoes on line. This is a bit chancy, of course, but mostly I know what’s going to work and what’s not. And you can always send them back.
Last weekend, I spent [...]
