I feel the need to start off this blog post by giving the disclaimer that I am a loyal Coke fan. Thanks to my college roommate, I refuse to drink Pepsi and scoff at wait staff who try and slip me one when I order Coke.

The Detroit Free Press announced earlier this month that the government released a sobering jobs report indicating that the number of unemployed nationally rose by 632,000 people in the month of December to more than 11 million.That's a lot of people, many of whom are experiencing serious repercussions.According to a recent report in the Washington Business Journal, "Two recessions over the last decade have elevated the number of people living in poverty, with nearly half of the increase occurring in the suburbs of the nation’s biggest metropolitan areas, according to a report released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution."People aren't just losing their jobs, they are losing their cars and their houses, even their families.

Recently our company was instrumental in the building and construction of a new sustainable retailer.  This new building received a lot of local and trade media coverage; however, our involvement is getting overlooked.  Is it too late for us to get a piece of the pie?  If not, how should we approach the media?

How can I effectively measure the results of a consumer product email marketing campaign? ___________________________________________________ By Jennifer Manocchio Prior to starting your email marketing campaign, set specific and measurable objectives. For most consumer packaged goods companies, email marketing objectives often include: increasing company/product awareness, increasing web site traffic, and increasing product trial and sales among current and prospective customers.

I sometimes brainstorm about the next greatest advancements in technology. Internet in the car was something I considered a real possibility, but I just didn’t realize the advancement would come so soon. This week at the Consumer Electronics Show a number of car manufacturers are showing off their dashboards equipped with the Internet.

2009 was all about transparency – open communications and honest relationships. No more secrets in a world of social media; give us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. After all, the truth will set us free.Maybe not so much.I read this morning in the Wall Street Journal that the new president of Procter & Gamble plans to introduce 30% more new products this year than last.

I received a call from the company that produces The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television. They wanted to feature our products on their show, but there was a pretty significant cost associated with it. Should I consider this opportunity? ____________________________________________________ By Jennifer Manocchio It is not uncommon for Sweeney to receive calls from production companies that want to feature our clients’ products on their television show.

Retailers and manufacturers would likely consider me their ideal holiday customer. I spent 8 hours with my mom and sister shopping for deals on Black Friday, and the day after Christmas I was at it again. To my surprise, I didn’t find much at all the day after Christmas and was rather disappointed.