The Spin Within

Groupon is launching another weird marketing campaign.

It’s called ‘Clicky.’ Clicky is a Clickable Value-Wheel that lets you spin a wheel in hopes of getting some cool discounts, with a max of $100 (kind of like Shoe Carnival, no?) Your spins are limited per day, so you can’t just spin until you win (darn).

It’s a good idea, but Groupon can’t seem to touch anything without making it weird. I mean, look how ugly the thing is. And why is it frowning? One user on Twitter … Continue Reading

Louis Freeh, the former FBI director, once said that if you ask the American public if they want an FBI wiretap they’ll say no. But if you ask if they want a feature on their phone that helps the FBI find their missing child they’ll say yes.

Privacy is a complex and controversial issue. All the more so for online privacy. For that reason, it’s unlikely Congress will enact any major legislation in the 2012 election year governing the tracking of consumers’ web surfing habits for targeted marketing purposes, according to a Jan. 9 story in the Washington insiders’ publication BNA … Continue Reading

Here we go again with controversy over celebrity weight loss—is she losing too much or not enough? Is Weight Watchers alone responsible or was surgery involved? Has losing weight conflicted with her philosophy that talent is what counts, not size?

The media is soaking up Jennifer Hudson, the 30-year old Grammy winner (not to mention Oscar winner). They’re dutifully following her to book signings for the recently released I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down and applauding her strength in the face of … Continue Reading

Well folks, the world is getting smaller.  At least, according to Facebook – and if Facebook says it’s true…

Back in the early 90′s, the trivia game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon popularized the concept that all people were connected by an average of six or less steps.

According to Facebook, we’ve all gotten a little closer and are actually linked by an average of just under four degrees of separation.  3.74 degrees, if you want to be picky.  Using a super smart algorithm, researchers at the Universita degli Studi di Milano analyzed … Continue Reading

We’ve all read about the extravagant perks top executives get from their publicly traded employers, and the golden parachutes they are handed when leaving a company. Now TJX Cos. Inc. is putting the word “sweeten” in outgoing executive Paul Sweetenham’s retirement package.

Sweetenham, an 18-year company veteran who headed TJX Europe since 2007, has decided to leave the company, effective Jan. 28. He will be succeeded by Michael MacMillan, senior executive vice president of the company’s MarMaxx Group, operator of TJMaxx and Marshall’s.

Sweetenham will work with MacMillan to ensure a smooth transition. … Continue Reading

Nom nom nom

One does not have to live in Cincinnati to be familiar with one of its greatest brands, Graeter’s Ice Cream. The rich, chocolate-chunky treat has earned a national following, including major media coverage, due entirely to its quality and taste. (That said, endorsements from Oprah Winfrey certainly don’t hurt.)

But a recent story in the Cincinnati Enquirer proves that the hardworking members of the fourth generation of Graeters also have a good deal of savvy to go with their delicious flavors. According to the piece, the … Continue Reading

No doubt about it, 2011 was a banner year for numbers in the strategic communications business.

Numbers were exceptionally successful in 2011 in communicating messages and generating awareness, and in some cases support, on the national stage, in the key issues of the day.

Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan is under-appreciated in its time. But public relations historians, I suspect, will treat very favorably this catchy, appealingly simple means of communicating a major tax policy change. (Usual disclaimer: This is public relations commentary, not political commentary).

Cain proposed eliminating the existing tax code and replacing it with a 9 percent tax on personal income, … Continue Reading