Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

The headline is from T.S. Elliott, an appropriate one to close out the old year. How does web literacy, most of it offered as free information, reshape 21st century knowledge and the media platforms that fuel knowledge? News in the media world has focused on layoffs, newspaper bankruptcies, big box bookstore closings, and on and on. On the last day of 2008, Conde Nast kills more titles (adieu Domino). It's cliche, yet undeniable that the availability of cheap, free information is killing off last century's media model. Last Sunday's NYTimes article about the ability to buy books from online resellers for less than the cost of paper was rattling. How can a publisher and author have a livlihood? Just this week, JWT's trend guru predicts experiential, multi-media platforms as a key trend in 2009 (she references books that suggest music playlists--an idea that has been around for years!) How does one make money--and enough of it-- in the new model of integrated, interactive, participitative media? Perhaps an intellectual property becomes a "free trial" entry to trade-up to a bigger expereience for more dollars (i.e., Radiohead's music experiment, AC/DC's WalMart music/merch deal). Someone has to pay the writers, journalists, photographers, musicians and pundits. Information, news and entertainment always comes with a price tag--but who foots the bill? In the Great Repression of 2008, the pay-to-play media questions become even more intriguing.

What do these guys have in common?

Both of these iconic, gray-haired men were created by the same illustrator. Chicago-based artist, Haddon Sundblom, developed these guys from his office in the Wrigley Building. As the year winds down, I say adieu to the Quaker Man and hello Santa! Hopefully, Santa will be more giving to me than the Q-guy was this year.

Burrata: Oh-so Cheesy Mainstreaming

Last year, Saveur magazine wrote about the "secret" society of fans of this hard-to-find Italian premium cheese. Wrote to some friends in the Italian cheese biz to watch for this to mainstream. This summer, it was menued at Scott Conant's new place in NYC, Scarpetta. My sister just had it at the oh-so-hot Crescent Hts restaurant in San Diego. Now it's on the menu on the new mid-priced Italian mall restaurant that just opened at 900 N. Michigan (Frankie's Scalopini). Expect this cheese to continue to mainstream in 2009. Biggest hurdle will be the capacity of the cheese guys to supply.

Cocooning in Luxury

The renowned luxury Danish jeweler, Georg Jensen, has just restaged its flagship NYC store. The brand experience has been repositioned from "museum quality" to the heritage associated with Danish lifestyle. According to the Financial Times, Jensen’s approach may be a new model for rebranding in a recession, thanks to the company’s twin decisions to alter the store’s aesthetics from those of a “museum” to a “house." This is another great example of the return of "cocooning" as a key trend. Jensen's retailing strategy is considered unique for partnering with other Danish luxury brands who are showcased in the store. It's all about a total Danish style... and lifestyle experience. In the luxury realm, marketers beleive provenance, heritage and storytelling will become increasingly important, particulary as luxury brands begin to stake-out China.

I'll have to check-out the Jensen outpost in the Drake, Chicago to see if they've adopted some of these intriguing retail strategies (and a great excuse to visit an old haunt right next door, The Cape Cod Room, Queen of Restaurant Cocooning).

"Pantry Deloading"

P&G is taking its sales forecasts down, attributing slower growth to a new phenomenom: Pantry Deloading. Folk are depleting their pantry stocks and are not stocking back up. This phrase appears to have been trickling into marketing speak since this past August. However, Gillette may have been the first to coin and use the phrase way back in 2003 during an investors call.

Measuring Corruption (A Page From Marketing)

A favorite marketing newsletter's lead story today originates from Slate: Why is Chicago So Corrupt? The Slate author provides tips on how to measure corruption. Acronyms like ROI, ROE and ROMO come to mind:

1. check the number of convicted local officials (Cgo would rank lower than LA or Miami)

2. check the number of city employees per 1,000 people (bif payrolls = patronage)

3. check to see how long it takes to get a construction permit through (delays = system of bribery)

4. measure constiuent perceptions...if they view corruption as a fact of life, they're more likely to forgive those who trangress

Sources:

SmartBrief on Leadership [leadership@smartbrief.com]

www.slate.com/id/2206364/

Sign of the Times

Clever promotion for those who don't have an office party to go to...'nuff said.

US Attorney General Blogs--Who Knew?

Today--big news in Illinois, and nationally--the arrest of the Gov of Illinois for allegedly "selling" the senate seat vacated by the Pres Elect Obama. Patrick Fitzgerald led the investigation. From all accounts, a good guy. Googling around--he has a blog on blogspot. Guess this means he has a book forthcoming in his future, after his career winds down--after becoming something bigger, like a Supreme Court Justice or US President in 2020. Yes, I'm making that prediction.

Thought it was interesting to take a peak at his profile:

Patrick J. Fitzgerald
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Astrological Sign: Capricorn
Zodiac Year: Rat
Industry: Law Enforcement or Security
Occupation: Very Special Counsel
Location: U.S. Attorney On Assignment - WDC : Illinois : United States

Interests
Prosecuting evil doers
rugby
origami
120 hour work weeks. Shouting "Faux Faux Faux
Merry Fitzmas!" as I pass out indictments.

Favorite Music
Jimi Hendrix
Neil Young
Bruce Springsteen
Doors
Frank Zappa
Led Zeppelin
B-52's
Evanescence
Ramones
Grateful Dead
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Nile Rodgers and CHIC
Al Jolson
Clay Aiken and anything else with a flugelhorn in it.

Group Genius

A new book by Keith Sawyer called "Group Genius" writes that great ideas don't come from lone geniuses--rather they are the outcome of collective creativity. Einstein's famous E=mc squared formula was an idea before Albert started to prove it--and was only proven after another mathemetician fine-tuned the thinking. Teams mimic the complexity of the brain--neurons and synapses all firing creatively together. Now it makes sense why McCartney and Lennon never surpassed the genius of their Fab Four days (Yoko and Linda were no substitutes for the original group dynamic).

www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/07/business/innovate.php

"Looking more and more like 1933"

Today's headline is a quote from Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor, interviewed on Countdown. In reaction to today's latest unemployment numbers, Keith Olberman asked if we're heading into Depression. Reich said there is no clear definition for that scary word, but that perahps "mini Depression" might be a better description. Reich also correlated our lame duck White House to the Hoover admin.

If Reich and Olberman had only read my earlier musings, they might have used the word I coined for these times .."Repression."

This cartoon was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in the Depression era.

http://images.google.com/imgresimgurl=http://www.fdic.gov/bank/analytical/firstfifty/idid.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fdic.gov/bank/analytical/firstfifty/chapter3.html&usg

Finally, an Old Idea Brought to Life

Way back at the turn of this century, a team and I came up with the idea of being able to trace the "provenance" of the packaged food account we were working on. We built a very successful ad campaign around that idea, which as far as I can track--we were the first CPG to advertise this idea. But we wanted to go even further and allow the consumer to input the code online to learn about the specific farmer and his family that grew the food. Back then, the client was technically unable--or unwilling--to take that leap. Eight years later, Gold'n Plump chicken has built their communications around this very same idea. By entering the three-digit code on justbarechicken.com, consumers can learn the location of the farm where their chicken was raised. Interestingly, "bare" positioning has been seen in baby food, chilled fruit, beverages, granola...and now chicken.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/12/01/daily9.html

Return to the Donut

I think Jack Donaghy of 30 Rock is onto something. The character recently opined, "We off cupcakes and onto donuts." In our Repression-era, donuts just seem to be a better fit of the times: substantial vs. ephemeral. I just noticed small munchkin-like frozen lovables at Trader Joe's last week. And of course, the Donut Plant in NYC continues to defy donut conventions, with the recent intro of a Creme Brule donut. Brother, can you spare a dime?