Time For A Quick Fun Friday Quiz That Will Take Only A Minute!

June 25th, 2010

Most of us have heard acronyms over and over and know what they mean but the real question and it will be a fun one do you know what they stand for??

Today’s quiz will involve 15 common acronyms that you have heard over and over again.

Do you know what they stand for?

You will be on the honor system and all you need to do is say yes or no that you know what it is.

What I am asking is look at the acronym and take 5 or so seconds to say yes or no I know what it stands for.

I promise this will be fun and you will learn something for sure!

Good luck and who knows we may even give out a prize and yes the quiz will be timed so please don’t use Google to help.

Click here to play.

Thanks for playing we will post the correct answers on Friday July 16.

Post to Twitter

One Great Presentation With A Few Takeaways I Thought I Would Share! All You Have To Do Is Ask…

June 23rd, 2010

Have you ever gone to a conference and heard a presenter that was very compelling? Had a solid message? And frankly had some really nice takeaways?

Well a few weeks ago that exact thing happened to me. I was at a WOMMA conference and had the privilege of hearing Jeffrey Hayzlett, CMO Eastman Kodak present. During his very engaging presentation he mentioned a few things that I wanted to share.

He said we have created some really good best practices at Kodak around Social Media and Mobile Marketing. And he said all you need to do is contact a guy named Tom and he would send them to you. Well as I was sitting there I emailed Tom and before 10 minutes went by Tom responded with the reports.

WOW talk about great follow up skills! Especially when someone else promises that you will be doing something.

I have reviewed the reports and really believe there are lots of great takeaways.

I would be happy to share them with you. The reports are entitled:

  1. Social Media Tips
     
  2. Mobile Marketing Tips

All you need to do is post a comment and let me know if you want one or both of the reports.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Post to Twitter

Attention Market Researchers… How About A Big Welcome For David Almy!

June 21st, 2010

Over the past 25 years I have interviewed hundreds of people. During that time I have been involved in filling more jobs than I could count. One of the most gratifying searches to fill a position recently happened. I had the honor and privilege of being on the MRA CEO search committee along with Merrill Shugoll and co-chairs Colleen Moore-Mezler and Steve Schlesinger.

The process was very thorough. We met some terrific and very qualified candidates.

One of the most impressive candidates was David Almy. I personally enjoyed getting to know him and found David to be professional, articulate, had a great thought process and most important has tremendous PASSION!

Recently I had the chance to spend an hour with David one-on-one and came away more impressed than I was during the interviewing process.

He is a very quick learner, asks the right questions and will make well informed decisions.

A few things the press release won’t mention about David:

  • He was born in Japan
     
  • Played baseball as a kid
     
  • Loved the Phillies and Dodgers growing up
     
  • Loves pecan pie
     
  • Collects cars and owns 5 right now
     
  • Has a passion for politics, marketing and aviation
     
  • Favorite vacation spot is East Hampton
     
  • Likes to take pictures

Last week David was announced the new CEO of the MRA and I for one am very excited about his arrival. I hope you get a chance to speak to him and share my excitement!

So how about it – how about a big heartfelt welcome for David!

  • Any questions you have for David?
     
  • Anything you want David to be aware of?
     
  • Any events you want to invite David to be part of?
     
  • Any comments you want to make?

I know David looks forward to hearing from all of you!

Post to Twitter

What Is Your Favorite Saturday Night Live Skit Of All Time?

June 18th, 2010

So there I am walking on the streets of Chicago with a co-worker on our way to the conference hotel. As we were walking I asked R.W. if he had ever eaten at the Billygoat Tavern. He said he hadn’t and I followed up with do you know what it is? After he gave me that perplexed look I explained it was the restaurant that was featured in the Saturday Night Live (SNL) Skit “hamburger, cheeseburger” over 30 years ago. He remembered that and we chuckled at how funny Dan Akroyd, John Belushi, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner were in the skit

Our conversation then morphed into what are the funniest SNL skits of all time? When I think about that a few more come to mind:

The Chippendales dancers featuring Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze was absolutely hysterical. I still crack up thinking about it.

The other one I remember was Christopher Walken and Will Farrell with Blue Oyster Cult in more cowbell – very creative and funny! Watching Farrell dance around pounding the cowbell…is well…ridiculously funny!

  • What are some of your favorite skits of all time?
     
  • What do you think of my choices?
     
  • Who were your favorite characters on SNL?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Post to Twitter

Did You Hear About The New Mall? Only 3 Stores… What Are They????

June 16th, 2010

Yes you heard that right. A mall (your mall) is a little different than any other. The mall (your mall) will only have 3 stores in it and guess what – you get to pick the stores.

You literally have thousands of stores you can choose from and don’t worry about what the rent will be your stores will pay whatever you want them to pay.

The question is with so MANY choices what are the stores in your mall?

For me this was a little bit of a challenge. Initially I paused and my first choice was Nordstrom Rack. I have been shopping there for over a year and I like the style, store layout and prices.

My second choice would be Nike Town. Like the one in Chicago… Huge! I would love it to be interactive for the kids, huge, lots of levels and have tons of great merchandise.

My third choice is a little bit of a combo. So it would be a Barnes & Noble with a Starbucks café. Love to read, love the store and love Starbucks (even though I don’t drink coffee) as long as they always have rice krispy treats.

Ok your turn.

  • One mall (your mall)
     
  • Three stores!
     
  • What are your stores?
     
  • What do you think of my choices?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Post to Twitter

I Think I Have A Really Good Idea – What Do You Think?

June 14th, 2010

A few weeks ago I had just landed in Chicago and was in a cab on my way to downtown. A few things were for sure, it was hot in the cab and sweat was pouring down my face, I was thirsty and my Blackberry had less than 25% life left on its battery… Translation I needed a charge!

I stopped and thought – isn’t that a great business idea?! You are like “what, having a dead battery?!!” No, how many times is your IPOD, IPHONE, Blackberry or computer low on juice? Your electronic device that you rely on so much (at least I do, am I alone?) needs a recharge!

Why don’t cabs capitalize on these? Why don’t cabs have some type of system that you can plug in your electronics and get charged up while you are sitting in the cab on your way to your destination.

  • What do you think?
     
  • Would you use this service?
     
  • How much would you pay?
     
  • Is it $3.00 for 15 minutes?

I am really excited about this idea!

  • What do you think?

I look forward to hearing your comments.

Post to Twitter

Attention Sports Fans Ok I Don’t Get It — Everyone Seems To Love Soccer But Me!

June 11th, 2010

Last week I was catching up on my reading and saw the Sports Illustrated issue that had the caption on the cover “THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, What soccer means to the world.” The picture was a number of kids playing soccer on some types of make shift field. I actually liked the picture and the smiles on the kids’ faces.

Here is my question. Or actually questions!

But first a statement…

I don’t get it!

  • What am I missing?
     
  • I don’t like to watch soccer on TV!
     
  • I don’t like to go to a soccer game!
     
  • I don’t even like playing soccer!
     
  • Again what am I missing?

I have been to the World Cup game with 80,000 fans and I may have been the only one that didn’t enjoy the game.

Since most soccer games are low scoring games maybe that has something to do with it. The games are about positioning and defense and frankly I would rather go to a baseball game that was 12-10 or a football game 38-35 as opposed to a shutout.

Can you please help me!

  • Do you like soccer?
     
  • Did you play as a kid?
     
  • Do you play as an adult?
     
  • Have you been to a World Cup game?
     
  • What is beautiful about the game?

I look forward to reading your comments and helping me understand what I am missing.

Post to Twitter

Attention Sports Fans Who Is The MOST MEMORABLE Athlete Of All Time?

June 9th, 2010

A little different spin today. I would love to discuss not the best athlete of all time but the most memorable. The word memorable could mean a lot of different things.

  • It could mean they changed their sport like Jackie Robinson, Bill Russell or Joe Montana
     
  • It could mean he did different things on the field or court like Mark Fidrych
     
  • It could mean they were very flamboyant like Hector Camacho
     
  • It could mean they were very confident or over confident like Larry Bird
     
  • It could mean they had an ugly temper like John McEnroe
     
  • It could mean they were soft spoken and just were great like Walter Payton
     
  • It could mean they had amazing celebrations on the field like Chad Ochocinco

Not sure what it means to you so I will let you pick whatever definition you would like.

For me here are a few of my most memorable:

  • Arthur Ashe
     
  • Dennis Rodman
     
  • Jimmy Connors

Now your turn:

  • Who is the most memorable athlete of all time?
     
  • What do you think of my choices?
     
  • What is your definition?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Post to Twitter

Sorry Walgreens This Sales Promotion Doesn’t Work For Me!

June 7th, 2010

I was buying a Sunday Dallas Morning News newspaper last week in a Walgreens and I noticed a promotion they had that was displayed at the cash register. The item was a book that was selling for $21.99 or you could buy two for $43.98. Even though it was very early, I could still do the math and quickly figured out that there was NO discount for buying additional copies of the book. Quickly I thought — Are you kidding me! That’s the promotion you went with! That’s the impulse item you put next to the register. Even though I am not a retail guru I would think that the planners or store managers would use that sacred space for items that really move and frankly can make them a lot of money.

Instead they go with a promotion that to me isn’t even a promotion.

  • With the economy being the way it is doesn’t everyone want and almost need to get a deal?
     
  • Isn’t everyone looking to buy something on sale?

There are a number of promotions and deals that really can work. Lots of retail stores are doing:

  • buy one get one free
     
  • Pay full price for the first item and the second is a penny
     
  • Buy two suits and get a sport jacket for free

Retail stores are really getting creative these days.

  • What promotions do you like?
     
  • What promotions in your opinion don’t work or a total waste of time?
     
  • What retail store does the best job?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Post to Twitter

Have You Checked Out The List Of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants?

June 4th, 2010

Yes I love to eat! Yes I like to try new restaurants. I was reading an article the other day which was about S. Pellegrino’s annual “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list which was released at a celebrity-chef-studded event in London, England, marking the ninth edition of the much buzzed-about (and hotly debated) catalogue of the international culinary landscape.

The illustrious list is compiled by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy — an 806-member panel of the globe’s most venerated chefs, food critics, restaurateurs and gourmands.

A few things about the list:

  • No. 1 spot on annual list goes to Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark
     
  • After four years at No. 1, Spanish restaurant El Bulli takes No. 2 spot
     
  • Eight of the restaurants crowned this year are in the United States

After four consecutive years ranked as the World’s Best Restaurant, Spanish restaurant El Bulli takes a seat at No. 2. However, that won’t make it any easier to snag a table. Only 8,000 reservations are accepted every year, out of a reported million requests.

Eight of the restaurants crowned this year — Alinea in Chicago, Illinois; Daniel, Per Se, Le Bernardin, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, wd~50 and Eleven Madison Park in New York; and The French Laundry in Yountville, California — are in the United States, the most by any country

Of the remaining 42 top finishers, six are in France; Spain and Italy each have five. Here is the list:

1. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) 26. Momofuku Ssäm Bar (New York)
2. El Bulli (Roses, Spain) 27. Quay Restaurant (Sydney, Australia)
3. The Fat Duck (Bray, England) 28. Iggy’s (Singapore)
4. El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain) 29. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Paris, France)
5. Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain) 30. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
6. Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy) 31. Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek, South Africa)
7. Alinea (Chicago, Illinois) 32. The French Laundry (Yountville, California)
8. Daniel (New York) 33. Martin Berasategui (Lasarte-oria, Spain)
9. Arzak (San Sebastián, Spain) 34. Aqua (Bath, England)
10. Per Se (New York) 35. Combal Zero (Rivoli, Italy)
11. Le Chateaubriand (Paris, France) 36. Dal Pescatore (Mantova, Italy)
12. La Colombe (Cape Town, South Africa) 37. De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
13. Pierre Gagnaire (Paris, France) 38. Tetsuya’s (Sydney, Australia)
14. L’Hotel de Ville — Philippe Rochat (Crissier, Switzerland) 39. Jaan Par Andre (Singapore)
15. Le Bernardin (New York) 40. Il Canto (Siena, Italy)
16. L’Astrance (Paris, France) 41. Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
17. Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium) 42. Oaxen Krog (Oaxen, Sweden)
18. D.O.M. (São Paolo, Brazil) 43. St. John (London, England)
19. Oud Sluis (Sluis, Netherlands) 44. La Maison Troisgros (Roanne, France)
20. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy) 45. wd~50 (New York)
21. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria) 46. Biko (Mexico City, Mexico)
22. Vendôme (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany) 47. Die Schwarzwaldstube (Baiersbronn, Germany)
23. Chef Dominique (Helsinki, Finland) 48. Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)
24. Les Créations de Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan) 49. Hibiscus (London, England)
25. Mathias Dahlgren (Stockholm, Sweden) 50. Eleven Madison Park (New York)

Ok I will admit it – I haven’t been to ANY of these restaurants and only heard of a handful. When I think of the best restaurants I have ever been to my list would include:

  • Abe & Louise in Boston
     
  • Postrio in SF
     
  • Quality Meats in NY

What about you?

  • Have you been to any of these restaurants?
     
  • If so how was the experience?
     
  • What is the BEST restaurant you have ever been to?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Post to Twitter