Your feedback is important to us. Click here to email us your feedback.

POPAI SmartBrief

November 6, 2009

Top Story

Shoppers show discomfort with self-checkout lines
Shoppers are self-conscious about using self-checkout systems if another person is watching, a study found. The results suggest retailers would benefit from educating consumers that the machines are easy to use, said a study author. Supermarket News (11/5)

Industry Focus

7-Eleven markets private-label wines
7-Eleven launched Yosemite Road, a private-label value wine brand that will retail for about $4 and be released in the U.S. and Japan. The company already sells two higher-priced wines, Sonoma Crest and Thousand Oaks, which retail for $10. Google/The Associated Press (11/4)

Starbucks pushing growth through Via, Seattle's Best
Starbucks, which closed more than 900 stores and has taken other measures to cut costs, is hoping to spur growth by promoting products including its Via instant coffee and its Seattle's Best brand. After four consecutive quarters of decline, the company is hoping to post sales growth in its established stores. Bloomberg (11/6)

Lund sponsoring "Courage Cards" for troops
Lund Food Holdings is sponsoring "Courage Cards for the Troops," which sends a box of holiday cards to local servicemen and servicewomen serving in Iraq for every four sold at its stores. The cards, featuring the work of 25 artists, including many with disabilities, are from Courage Center, a nonprofit rehabilitation and resource center based in Minneapolis. Supermarket News (11/6)

Digital Signage

New Times Square sign to be repped by ABC
Advertising on a new, 15,000 square-foot LED sign in Times Square at retailer American Eagle will be handled by ABC Regional Sports and Entertainment Sales. Mediaweek (11/5)

Marketing Spotlight

Marketing execs ready to figure out the "new normal"
With the worst of the downturn seemingly over, marketing executives are beginning to assess what happened and figure out what comes next for their businesses, attendees at the Association of National Advertisers convention said. NYTimes.com (11/5)

Haagen-Dazs launches campaign in Asian markets
A radio, print and out-of-home campaign for Haagen-Dazs in Singapore, Malaysia and other key markets in Asia uses the tagline "Slow melting in progress," and is aimed at professional women. Adweek/Marketing Magazine Asia (11/5)

Across the pond, signs of life
There are new signs of life in the British advertising market, according to this article. Marketer Unilever ramped up ad spending 13% in the third quarter, while broadcaster ITV reported a 4% gain in ad sales for December -- its first year-over-year gain since June 2008. While overall ad spending in the U.K. is expected to be down 15% for 2009, one industry insider said, "Things aren't as pessimistic as they have been." The Times (London) (subscription required) (11/6)

POPAI News

Wanted: Brand Marketers and Retailers
POPAI is seeking brand marketers and retailers to act as judges for the 2010 POPAI OMA Competition. As a judge, you'll get to mingle with industry peers and gain insight into techniques and strategies you can apply to your own in-store programs. If you are a brand marketer or retailer with a minimum of five years of Marketing at Retail industry experience and can be available for an online judging session on Jan. 25, 2010, and one in-person March 9, 2010, at GlobalShop in Las Vegas, contact Alicia Rutherford at arutherford@popai.com for further information.

The Endcap

You wouldn't have won if we'd beaten you."

--Yogi Berra,
National Baseball Hall of Fame member