The average young American now spends practically every waking minute — except for the time in school — using a smart phone, computer, television or other electronic device, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Those ages 8 to 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a day with such devices, compared with less than six and a half hours five years ago, when the study was last conducted. And that does not count the hour and a half that youths spend texting, or the half-hour they talk on their cellphones. And because so many of them are multitasking — say, surfing the Internet while listening to music — they pack on average nearly 11 hours of media content into that seven and a half hours. Of course there is still the option of just saying no. (more…)
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January 21st, 2010
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Kraft’s purchase of Cadbury might be a sweet deal for the big food manufacturer but it leaves a sense of uneasiness among Brits that I share. I do hope the quality and heritage that are hallmarks of Cadbury remain despite Kraft’s past track record. I really don’t want anyone messing with my Fruit and Nut Bar. (more…)
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January 19th, 2010
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Brazilians feel the most pressure to be thin, the Finns are acutely aware of the dangers of obesity and Americans have the toughest struggle to lose weight, according to a global survey. About 1.6 billion people around the world are overweight or obese. The Reader Digest poll also revealed that Russians smoke the most to try to drop excess weight, and along with Germans and Indians they are most likely to blame genetics for their penchant for piling on the pounds. ”Our poll makes it clear that people around the world are struggling with their weight,” said Peggy Northrop, the vice president and global editor-in-chief of the magazine. (more…)
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January 15th, 2010
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Yup. Bon Appetit has declared meatballs the top dish of 2010. I guess it is a natural extension from hamburgers and on trend for comfort food. The foodie mag listed many recipes with an ethnic twist on this favorite food but at the end of the day I just don’t see it. If I had to call it strictly from a restaurant trend viewpoint, I would go with fried chicken. I guess we’ll see who is right.
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January 10th, 2010
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It is a nibble weird that a guy who describes his relationship to Christmas as “hostile” runs around greater Los Angeles in a floppy red Santa hat and answers his iPhone, “Merry Christmas, this is Scotty Claus!” But bummed as false merriment and gift obligations render him, Scott Martin — landscape architect and tree hugger in a literal sense — was unnerved by the sight of post-Christmas trees lying about like so much discarded sausage casing. What people really ought to do, he reasoned, was rent a Christmas tree, and return it, alive, to the nursery after the season. Mr. Martin’s idea, enabled by a rotten economy that made his free time greater and his potential labor pool deeper, is now manifest in his new business delivering live, potted Christmas trees that are taken away once the toys have been unwrapped. You can try anything here, and no one will tell you it’s a bad idea,” said Mr. Martin, who is 30 and grew up in the South Bay here, where as a teenager he delivered trees for a nursery. “California is more attached to the green movement, so they are more willing to try this service here.” (more…)
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December 18th, 2009
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Seasonal sales bumps are associated with products like sleds and air conditioners, but there is, oddly enough, an example in the cereal aisle too. About half of the total yearly sales of Chex occur in the final three months of the year. Looking to spice up sales and increase relevancy, General Mills is reinventing the classic party staple. While tossing together a few ingredients to bake for an hour may have seemed convenient during the Truman administration, it seems less so in the era of microwaveable popcorn. Besides, ready-to-eat Chex Mix, which was introduced in the snack aisle in 1987 and now includes more than a dozen varieties, is simplicity itself. So Chex has embarked on an effort to publicize new microwaveable recipes and, through a recipe contest, is adding spice, literally, to the snack. (more…)
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December 13th, 2009
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It might not just be the economy that’s holding back sales this holiday season — it’s also the lack of breakout products. Industry analysts and even retailers are hard-pressed to identify any must-have items beyond an $8 toy hamster. ”There’s no killer item this year. There is no XBox or item that’s out of stock that everyone has to have, and typically we benefit when that happens,” John Donahoe, eBay’s CEO, said at an investors’ conference this week. “There just simply … isn’t one this year. (more…)
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December 9th, 2009
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Marketers are facing the litmus test of whether their brands truly are indispensable as retailers show a growing willingness to boot even major, well-advertised brands to improve leverage, margins and lower prices. Costco’s recent decision to strip Coca-Cola products from its shelves in a pricing dispute is the highest-profile sign yet that the age-old battle between marketer and retailer is escalating, due to the growing power of private label, looming package-goods deflation in the face of falling commodity prices, rising pressure on retailer margins, and softening volumes. Facing those factors and armed with data from loyalty cards, retailers are getting savvier about which brands to keep and which to lose. However, faced with shrinking choices after decades of unlimited options, the shopping public may just revolt. (more…)
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December 1st, 2009
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Even in tough times, you can’t keep the American entrepreneur down. Take the example of Sean O’Connor who has already tasted success from pancake batter in a can and is now cooking up a retro TV ad campaign to expand his reach, and profits. I’m going to have to track down these ready to cook all organic pancakes and try them. After all, who isn’t a sucker for alphabet or animal shaped pancakes during the holidays? (more…) UPDATE: On our second can of Batter Blaster. Can’t decide how I feel about this product but I will say it was a huge hit Saturday morning after a rowdy tween girl sleepover.
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November 30th, 2009
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Cash was king for consumers who shopped over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to survey results released on Sunday, and that factor could have cost retailers additional sales. Only 26 percent of people who shopped over the weekend said they used credit cards for their purchases, according to a poll conducted for Reuters by America’s Research Group. ”That’s an amazing shift in consumers’ habits,” said Britt Beemer, founder of America’s Research Group. (more…)
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November 29th, 2009
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