economy
Hello New Shoes, Bye Bye Blues
by Vic Drabicky on 06/09/2009 at 5:57 pm in Commentary, Market Research & Data, Observations, Performance Marketing
I like music, I have never hidden that fact. Whether it is Wilco (who I will be lucky enough to see play this weekend) or any of the 10+ musicians that currently work at Range, I love listening to each and every one of them. But one thing I have always tried to stay away from is relating my work life to my music life. It just seems cheesy. Well, ladies and gentlemen (aka the 2 people that read this blog), I have decided to be cheesy this morning and try to work a music reference into my article on retail sales numbers. The victim of my cheesy attempt here is a Scottish singer named Paolo Nutini (he has two great albums – buy them both). That said, here goes nothing…
Full StoryBeware of Miracle Cures for Dark Times
by Vic Drabicky on 05/05/2009 at 9:21 am in Commentary, Opinion Editorial, Within Range
With all the bad news out there, we are entering a time when we all craving good news – a time when we all need a little positive news in our lives. We are entering what I like to call the “Infomercial Times” – a time when we are all willing to buy that ShamWow or Silver Bullet just because we all truly want something that works as well as the pitch man says it does and because we can get it at such a great price. We just need something positive to grab on to, which means it’s a salesman’s dream.
Full StoryOn Bluebonnets & Branding
by Herndon Hasty on 04/24/2009 at 2:35 pm in Online Strategies, SEO
While it’s tougher to get shoppers to buy than before, the bar for being able to reach customers and to put your brand in front of new faces is lower than ever. Finding ways to make the most of your branding opportunities and ways to reach new customers through targeted and low-cost methods online – especially through SEO and paid search programs – will not only help you to find new customers to take the place of those that aren’t buying right now, but will help establish your brand in the minds of consumers at a time when everyone else is pulling back their efforts to do so.
Full StoryThe Retail Sky is Falling
by Vic Drabicky on 04/13/2009 at 4:48 pm in Commentary, Opinion Editorial, Within Range
The list goes on and on – and needless to say, you don’t have to look very far to find bad news. Correction: you don’t have to look very far to find catastrophic, world-ending, save the women and children because we are all going to end up out of our jobs, homeless and living under a bridge type of news. But to be honest with you (“you” meaning my mom since she is likely the only person reading this), I am sick of the bad news. I am sick of everyone screaming the world is ending. I am sick of hearing that consumers will never shop full price again. I am sick of hearing that everyone from the big guys like Saks and GAP to the small mom and pop stores are all doomed. So please, just stop.
Full Story