Advertising Is Good For You

"The average American consumes nearly 60 hours of content each week across different screens, including computers, mobile devices and TV sets."

— Mitch Barns  
CEO, Nielsen

Re/Code has posted an interesting article by Mitch Barns titled, Expect a Seismic Shift in Video Consumption.

 

Most popular music artists by state

Fascinating.

Click the map to enlarge it.

 

Via Business Insider

Why some Internet stories go viral

A Fast Company article reveals what makes some Internet stories go viral, including some of the science behind it. In a nutshell:

Recent research suggests that emotions hold the secret to viral web content. Articles, posts, or videos that evoke positive emotions have greater viral potential than something that evokes negative feelings, but both do a better job recruiting clicks than neutral content. 

Read the whole article here.

 

Image: The Guardian

Americans are on a gluten-free feeding frenzy. Expect marketers to follow.

According to a New York Times article, annual consumer spending on gluten-free products is projected to increase by 50% from 2013 to 2016.

The article quotes Harry Balzer, vice president at the market research company NPD Group:

About 30 percent of the public says it would like to cut back on the amount of gluten it's eating, and if you find 30 percent of the public doing anything, you'll find a lot of marketers right there, too.

 

Image from Wikimedia Commons 

 

Nobody panic. Chocolate is still plentiful.

According to CNN, Americans consume about the same amount of chocolate per capita as they did 20 years ago.

Unfortunately for the individuals who make the chocolates, automation has resulted in fewer chocolate-making jobs.

 

Party affiliation affects brand perception. (Independents, what is it with you guys and the Cheerios?)

 

Notice the only brands to make all three lists are Amazon.com, Subway and Ford.

I also find it interesting that Independents have more brands in common with Republicans than Democrats. In Massachusetts, where I live, Independents tend to be Liberal.

Last, does anyone else find it weird that so many people think so highly of V8 vegetable juice? If I had to guess which beverage made at least two of the lists, I would have guessed Budweiser or Coca-Cola.  

Via AdWeek

Top Ten Brands for Dems and Republicans

Brand Index has determined the ten most popular brands for Democrats and Republicans. Here are the results.

Top Ten Most Popular Brands Among Democrats
Google
Amazon.com
Craftsman
Dawn
Clorox
Johnson & Johnson
PBS
Cheerios
Home Depot
Dove 

Top Ten Most Popular Brands Among Republicans
Craftsman
Lowe's
Johnson & Johnson
Dawn
Amazon.com
History Channel
Cheerios
Welch's
Clorox
Home Depot 

Something to think about on Labor Day

Minimum wage rates in seven first world countries:

Australia $16.88

France $12.09

NZ $11.18

UK $9.83

Canada $9.75

Japan $8.17

USA $7.25

 

Figures via Washington Post
Image is the work of Thomas Hart Benton 

2013's Highest-Grossing Celebrities (most overpaid celebrities would be more accurate)

Huffington Post created this graphic from Forbes' annual lists of high earners.

Click graphic to enlarge it and bring it into sharper focus.

So glad I have a legitimate reason to again post this photo of Mike Jeffries

Sales are dropping at three of the clothing retailers most coveted by teens and college students: Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters and Hollister Co.

This is what Amercrombie & Fitch's CEO Mike Jeffries looked like during happier times. Guessing his face looks exactly the same when he's mad. Or sad. Or surprised.

. 

 

Via HuffPo

Man purses are a $1 billion industry

According to BuzzFeed: 

Sales of men’s handbags and totes rose 3% to $957 million in the 12 months through June, while briefcases, duffel, laptop, and messenger bags declined.

 

This Tom Ford men's canvas side-zip tote bag will set you back $2580 at Neiman Marcus.

Notice the zipper has a loop. A feature the luxury retailer felt was important enough to mention.

Loops must be really expensive to produce.

Mad Men viewers make a lot of money. Or, like Don Draper, they're liars.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, AMC claims that, "Nearly half of (Mad Men's) viewers between the ages of 25 and 54 (report) household income of at least $100,000 a year."

Pretty impressive demographics.

 

 

Image via AMC

Interesting beverage trends

Hot tea sales are up 18% at outlets such as Starbucks.

Wholesale ready-to-drink tea sales have grown 58% to $3.8 billion in six years.

Read more about the trends toward tea at Advertising Age.

 

Image: Honest Cooking