Insight | Page 5 of 15 | Pierce Mattie

Brand Mascots: An Endangered Species

The growing trend to ditch the brand mascots of yesteryear – costumed characters, furry animals and/or talking cartoon characters whose playful presence lends a spirit of fun and identity to a brand – has been gathering momentum in recent years. Changing an image is one thing. Erasing an entire brand’s populist/institutional memory is another. What gives?

What’s on the PR/Social Media Horizon for 2014?

And how can your company take practical advantage of those forecasted changes? Like now? Here’s PR blogger Jessica Lawlor’s suggestions for action.

Dos and Don’ts of Celebrity Travel Styles

The great artist Noel Coward once observed, “Why do the wrong people travel when the right people stay at home?” If you’re one of those traveling afar this summer, thank your lucky stars. And pay close attention to 10 dos and don’ts that reveal the travel habits and styles, rightly or wrongly, of America’s celebrities.

Corporate Philanthropy: Good for Business, or Just Plain Good?

Where should companies draw the line on corporate philanthropy? Is all charitable giving considered “good giving”? Should getting a bang for your buck be part of every marketing effort, including ones intended to “give back” to the community? Even PBS gives you a DVD when you donate enough cash. Corporations have feelings, too, you know.

Fitness Trends for 2014

Exercising like a caffeinated maniac with breaks in-between – aka, High-Intensity Interval Training – recently took first place among the predicted Fitness Trends for 2014. Unseated from first place for the first time since 2008? Educated, Certified and Experienced Fitness Professionals. Here are the Top 10 Trends for 2014.

The Parallax of Marketing When Viewed Through the Lens of Public Relations

True or false: public relations should mirror all other marketing activities? The answer: a murky ‘it really depends on the situation’.

13 Beauty Trends for 2014

What does it say about the nature of fashion when the strongest motifs are those that come from makeup, hair and nails? When the accent outweighs the melody, it’s certain that sexiness isn’t far behind. With a whip and a few cleverly designed chains. Do such tricks dominate? Or do they seduce?

Putting the Compassion Back Into Social Media

Mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin and Rethink.org show how social media can be the perfect vehicle for altruism and celebrating random acts of kindness.

IT’s Growing Role in What You Buy at the Supermarket

Business Intelligence (BI) systems have been around since at least the late 1950s. Now, with the advent of better tech and faster systems, what took days to find out can take as little as a few seconds. But do buyers of consumer packaged goods really want the Geek Patrol telling everyone what to stock and, presumably, what to buy?

Holiday Spending Highlights U.S. Wealth Gap

With one percent of the U.S. population controlling a little more than half of the country’s assets these days, how do marketers deal with the growing divide between rich and poor in America, aka the Wealth Gap? A look at how those on the lower end of the economic ladder could provide some insight. If you know your Charles Dickens, that is.