Stats & Storylines

Although we are nearing the finish line of summer, there is no reason to sacrifice all remnants of easy summer livin’. 

A survey conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Turning Leaf wine and Hunter PR suggests partnering a take-out meal with a bottle of wine as a reprieve from the work-week grind.

Trying to impress even in a casual setting?  A little white lie (perhaps with a little white wine) never hurt anyone. 

In fact, 34% of people admit to having passed off takeout food as home-cooked at some point.  When it comes to finding the ideal liquid companion, 29% of respondents list merlot as a favorite red and 28% list chardonnay as their top white. 

Whether you have summer days full of leisure or summer days full of reminiscing about summer days full of leisure – there is always a quick way to uncork some late-summer fun.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Survey May Provide More Questions Than Answers

Yesterday, the Pentagon released a survey to troops in an attempt to gauge attitudes on the implications of a repeal of the current 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Regardless of your opinion of the policy, the survey's methodology may raise significant questions about the validity of their data.  It is also instructive for any company or employer hoping to use survey research to inform personnel policies. 

The predictably tight-lipped Pentagon has offered sparse detail on the methodology of this study, acknowledging that there are to be 400,000 respondents. They survey comprises approximately 100 questions, and they claim that there is an anonymous way for gay and lesbian servicemen and women to provide their thoughts on military life.

In that word – anonymity – lies the kicker. Among the major details left unconfirmed by officials is whether the survey was outsourced to a third party or managed internally. For the sake of returning accurate data, let’s hope they've enlisted the expertise of a third party research firm.

When significant, fundamental changes are being considered in a work environment, it is a good idea to first gauge employee reaction. This process seems easy enough, but when an employer wields intimidating power, concerns understandably emerge over the level of candor and honest disclosure by respondents.  For this reason, it's crucial that these types of surveys are managed by an independent third-party. 

In the case at hand, it would appear that the Pentagon is potentially mishandling this survey. In fact, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is currently advising troops against responding to the survey on grounds that there is potential for being inadvertently “outed” and no promised immunity in that event.

A great joke has got to be floating around in the ether right now about fielding a survey on something called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but at this point there is little humor to be found. The Pentagon is asking. Will troops tell? 

Ah June, the peak of “wedding season.” A couple’s wedding day is an occasion they hope to remember for years to come. Unfortunately, a perfect day isn’t always in the cards for the lovebirds.

As it turns out, a recent Wakefield Research poll found that barely half of weddings go over perfectly (51%). Disasters range from a drunken or inappropriate toast (26%) to a fight between guests (23%) to a public argument between the bride and groom (6%).

Worst case scenario, if you attend enough weddings odds are in your favor that you will eventually witness someone getting left at the altar. It happens once in every 25 weddings (4%).

Maybe married couples are unrealistic when it comes to wedding planning.  7 in 10 Americans think that the bride and groom should agree on everything. It’s likely going to be the 22% of men who said that the bride should get the last word on the wedding plans that will live to see their 50th wedding anniversary. 

If you’re attending a wedding as a guest (or always a bridesmaid and never a bride), feel free to skip the registry and just look in your wallet for the gift. Only 14% would say it’s tacky to give cash as a wedding gift. 

When it’s time to get your boogey on, hope that the bride and groom blacklist those unbearable songs you can never seem to escape. 68% have a song they dread at weddings with the worst varying from “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge, “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC, and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA.  

As a side note, the 13% of Americans who chose to blacklist, “Don’t Stop Believin” must be punished.

Remember last year when dad’s face lit up as you bestowed upon him the most prodigious wrench set ever assembled? How well do you know his poker face? At the risk of being the bearer of bad news, nearly half (46%) of dads admit pretending to like a gift at some point. 

A recent Wakefield research study covered by the AP and commissioned by Western Union and MS&L confirms that pleasing the old man this Father’s Day may not be as easy as you had previously thought. 

Still skeptical? Buy him the boxed set of Sex and the City and don’t be surprised when he whips up a Cosmo just for appearances. Fathers are naturals at masking disappointment for the sake of their children’s self-esteem. It’s part of the job description.

Don’t panic if you are reeling in the wake of this revelation. 34% of dads have a gift in mind that is one-size fits all, won’t hook its way into a water hazard, and doesn’t leave an overwhelmingly musky trail in its wake. Nope, not a Snuggie. We’re talking greenbacks.

Sure, you might say, money is safe but too impersonal for a gift to dad. I’m sure he didn’t think it was impersonal when he was cutting off checks for your tuition payments. 

To read more about the survey, check out the AP article here.

According to his 1997 book, The Big Five-Oh, Bill Geist claims that one member of the Baby Boomer generation turns 50 every seven seconds.  In 2010, 4 million Boomers, or one every 8.5 seconds, will reach this milestone, making one thing abundantly clear:  this generation, which represents roughly one-third of the U.S. population and an annual spending power of $2 trillion, is aging…and fast.

While Baby Boomers, on average, live in relative affluence, no one has gone untouched by the recent financial crisis. According to self-reported data, average spending within this bracket has dropped by between 5 and 30%.

Compounding the issue is the reality of their Generation X and Y children becoming increasingly dependent on financial support in the pursuit of degrees and launching a career and autonomous life.  The daunting job market has even driven many of these young adults back into their parents’ homes – a trend metaphorically referred to as “boomerang kids.”

Consequently, it is unrealistic to envision the stereotypical exodus to Florida and Arizona and an old age wiling away with shuffleboard.  An action-oriented generation associated with breaking cultural norms and expectations, the Boomers will change the landscape of retirement by working later in life and, even in retirement, are more likely to seek opportunities to stay actively engaged with society. 

They represent the first internet-savvy age group to enter the golden years, and will utilize this know-how to maintain a meaningful connection with the goings-on of the world.

So, you ask, how does this all translate into expectations for spending philosophy?  With longer life expectancy projections and access to consumer information, they will be cognizant of not outliving their savings and will be more apt to dish out dough with an eye on value and longevity rather than focusing on luxury or entry level pricing alone. 
 
Ultimately, old age is still old age and the Boomers will be interested in many of the same expenditures (traveling self-reliantly) and be faced with the same unique concerns (health care and fitness) that all elderly people come to know.

Since the concept of a 3D television was first shared with the world, consumers have been wondering when content will catch up to the technology.  In other words, when will we start seeing 3D movies, games, and our favorite programs broadcast in 3D?  While several movies have been released in 3D thus far and ESPN has announced its all-3D network (launching next month), we still appear to be far away from seeing Dr. Greg House perform surgery in the third dimension.  Despite this lag in 3D TV and movie technology, however, the gaming industry is ahead of the curve.

E3 2010 is less than a month away and already the gaming community is buzzing with rumors of the latest 3D gaming technology that could be unveiled.  Sony, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft are all rumored to be unveiling some form of new 3D gaming technology at this year’s expo.

It is clear that there will be a lot for gamers to play on a 3D television – however this may not be enough to convince the average consumer to make the investment in the young technology.  HDTV had a very similar experience when it first burst onto the scene.  It was several years before programming was available on all the major networks in HD and it wasn’t until that happened that TV sales picked up.  Expect the same to be true for 3D TV.

Until the next American Idol, or another popular-sitcom favorite, jumps out of your TV, don’t expect sales for these TVs to blow us all away.

When E3 2010 opens its doors to the public next month, software and game developers will, no doubt, once again stretch the definition of the term “game” with a new idea or concept that will revolutionize the industry…at least until next year. 

This begs the question: what exactly constitutes a “game” these days?

A popular addendum to the social media craze, location-based programs, such as Foursquare and Gowalla, are commonly referred to as games.  However, these apps, which launched the craze of “checking in” at locations such as restaurants or stores in exchange for points, are fairly simple examples - as far as games typically go. 

The concept for games like these is unique in that it combines real-world experiences and local flair with mobile technology.  For example, iSpyApp enables a player to take a picture of something in a city, such as a statue, and upload it to the game.  From that point, other players take on the task of finding that statue based on an approximate location of a few city blocks.  When they find it, a picture is taken of the item and uploaded to the site, thus “solving” the game.

From a financial perspective, it stands to reason that this model of location-based game is poised to be more successful than others.  Local businesses can benefit from their town, or even the funny statue in the foyer, being featured in someone’s puzzle.  However, is there enough profit to go around?  Can other games compete? 

Unfortunately, mobile apps cannot advertise the way internet sites can, for obvious reasons.  It’s safe to say that a banner ad or pop-up video on a smart phone would likely only infuriate the mobile user.  The challenge, then, is figuring out a way to generate enough revenue to keep games like these up and running without commercializing them to the point that they become undesirable. 

In 2006, Al Gore issued a call to environmentally-friendly action in his movie An Inconvenient Truth.  Warning of a coming climate crisis, he called on consumers and businesses alike to embrace more environmentally-friendly practices to reduce their carbon footprint.  For the most part, his call has been well received.

In terms of the environment, the country has seen a significant increase in the feeling of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) over the past few years.  Most offices have a recycling program in place and some even have training workshops to educate their employees on environmentally-friendly practices.  Much of this is the result of consumers putting pressure on corporations to change their way and make a difference.

Whether or not you agree with Al Gore’s diagnosis of our planet’s ailments, it is easy to see the marketing implications of “green” practices for almost any business.  No consumer wants to support a company with a horrible environmental track record, so businesses are being forced to adjust accordingly.

Coca-Cola knows all too well the need for businesses to demonstrate sustainability when they advertise their products.  In 2009, they launched an advertising campaign centered on consumers recycling their Coke bottle after they’re finished with it.  Designed to make people feel good about drinking Coke again, it was a great way to attract consumers concerned about the sustainability of plastic bottles.

This is just one of many excellent examples of the marriage between CSR and marketing.  Too often, businesses neglect their responsibility in an effort to cut corners and squeeze out greater profit margins.  However, by remembering your CSR when building your company’s marketing-strategy, you can now look to increase sales and be environmentally friendly all at the same time.  In the end, there will be plenty of green in your pockets and on our planet.