Marketing Home Products

As marketers, we’re faced with a new consumer reality. We’re seeing a more pragmatic approach to spending, an adaptation of a “less is more” sensibility and a return to the belief that happiness (not things) is the ultimate luxury.
When the economic downturn hit the once-immune segment of luxury goods (Unity Marketing, a firm that tracks [...]

Today’s marketplace is flooded with news of companies trying to stay afloat and sustain market share. Then there are the billion-dollar companies like General Motors, Chrysler, CitiBank, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and AIG being rescued by government bailout plans using precious taxpayer dollars.
Customers are now more hesitant than ever to put their faith in [...]

In an earlier blog, I touched briefly on the “new consumerism,” stating that the current recession has led to vast changes in consumption attitudes and increasingly discerning consumers that also impacts marketing home products. Seemingly, our consumption-frenzied nation has now adopted the mantra of it’s “nifty to be thrifty” – continuously seeking cost-effective product and [...]

No doubt the recession has changed most people’s consumption attitudes, creating an alteration of worldwide consumerism as we previously knew it. Today’s consumers have adopted the mantra of it’s “nifty to be thrifty,” looking for cost-effective product and service options and frequently switching to different brands and product categories.
Subsequently, there is a rising uncertainty among [...]

Are You Ready for 2010? How to Assess Your Marketing for the Coming Year
I presented two topics at the 2009 Southern Building Show & Conference – “Marketing in a ‘Low’ Time” and “Eco-Friendly Building Trends.” Like other tradeshows this year including the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the International Builders’ Show, the turnout was [...]

What Building a Campaign Really Takes
It’s no secret that the advent and ever-increasing popularity of social media has changed the way the world communicates and — most importantly for you — has changed the way brands communicate with their customer audiences.
As marketers, it can be frightening sometimes to embrace the changes to the “traditional” model [...]

Recently, our culture has experienced a phenomenon that is unlikely to fade: environmental conscientiousness. With continuous mass media coverage, presidential political campaigns, the introduction of hybrid SUVs and new certifications for “green” buildings and materials, many people are now finding ways to live eco-friendly lifestyles.
Many companies are taking note of this new attitude and adopting [...]

Increase Your Company’s Web Presence Through Social Media Marketing
The Internet is an incredibly valuable tool in our ever-changing marketplace. For business leaders and marketers alike, the Web will continue to play a critical role in how we connect and engage with current and prospective customers.
Seventy-four percent of American adults use the Internet, with 72 percent [...]

Small Steps to Take for a Sustainable Future
The emerging environmental awareness throughout America is quickly becoming mainstream. Finding ways to sustain the quality of life for the future has spurred an interest in the development of green products and services for the home that has expanded beyond the basics to an incredible range of innovations. [...]

Most organizations are facing new realities in today’s economic environment. Consumer behavior has changed dramatically, and virtually the entire population has reconsidered its spending habits.
We’ve seen a return to the basics where people are being judicious about spending. They’re buying only if they perceive a real value with minimal risk. It’s important as marketers to [...]