Marketing

More than 75 percent of 367 patrons of a restaurant here said they would be willing to dine during off-peak hours in exchange for discounted prices, according to a research paper produced by Cornell Hotel School Professor Alex Susskind and published in a recent issue of the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly.

Two of every three respondents even said that they would be able and willing to change their dining time to earn such an incentive.

“Study results suggest that restaurant managers who do not take reservations may want to consider using incentives to increase business during off-peak hours,” Susskind said. “That strategy could result in both increased revenue and a more satisfied customer base, one that no longer must endure long waits for a table??

Respondents completed questionnaires while queued up for dinner at this popular, casual-dining restaurant, which does not take reservations.

Other key findings: [Read more…] about most restaurant patrons willing to dine during off-peak hours

TWO years ago, the announcement that a well-known winery, or a little-known winery for that matter, was switching to screw caps for its bottles was news. Winemakers were divided on the subject. “Right on,” said the younger vintners. “Waste of time,” said older and presumably wiser types. Or “Money down the drain.” Or, more often, “The consumer will never accept it.”

[Read more…] about Screw Tops Gain Acceptance Worldwide

For the First International Conference on Culinary Tourism, to be held May 15-18, 2004 in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The three-day conference will host delegates from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and elsewhere. [Read more…] about ICTA – International Culinary Tourism Association

Every Move You Make

Calling Margaret Mead: Ad agencies are hiring anthropologists and ethnographers to study and film consumers in their natural environments to see what they really eat, drink, and buy. Hey, check out that grooming and bonding behavior! [Read more…] about Fast Company | Every Move You Make

https://www.reveries.com/reverb/essays/frogbull/

If Coke and Pepsi and M&M’s can do it, why can’t beer? If Mitsubishi Motors can do it, why not a good cold one? If the alcohol-pops brand eating away at the beer markets can do it, why not a premium lager?

The answer is: Tradition. Namely, the beer brands of Europe remain largely segmented in their regional roles and have yet to make the giant leap to the pan-Euro hall-of-fame.

Credit card issuers know that you, as a consumer, are more loyal to brands like Avon, Barnes & Noble and Amazon than you’ll ever be to them. The first offer of a lower interest rate that lands in your mailbox, and you’re likely to be off – which is why card companies are increasingly hitching their stars to other brands. To win your favor, they’re offering to help you buy more of your favorite products. Is there a downside to these deals?

[Read more…] about Plastic That Pays Back — Mar. 15, 2004

MIAMI (March 8) – Burger King broke new TV ads under the familiar “Have It Your Way” tag, the first step in what will be a broad-based marketing campaign to revive the brand and its sales.

The two 30-second spots are the first work for the chain by its new agency, Crispin Porter Bogusky of Miami, and were developed less than a month after the agency had won the estimated $350 million account. [Read more…] about Burger King revives 'Your Way' tag in new TV campaign

Bizarre ad icons become heroes to sandwich chain

The pop culture question of the moment is: What the heck is Quiznos thinking?

The stars of the Denver-based sandwich chain’s new ad campaign have bulging eyes and human teeth, they’re covered with fur and they look like nothing so much as deformed gerbils.

Yet they’re a big hit.

“It has produced by far the largest consumer response we’ve received to any ad campaign we’ve launched before,” says Stacie Lange, vice president of public relations for Quiznos. “We wanted to break through the clutter of advertising and get noticed, and we’ve done that.”

Charlotte Observer
Nobody knows what “spong monkeys” are supposed to be, but for Quiznos sandwich shops, they’re a pop-culture hit.

Quiznos has logged more than 14,000 e-mails, letters and telephone calls about them.

“Some people love them, and others just want to know what they are,” Ms. Lange says. “People ask: ‘Are they hamsters? Are they potatoes?’ ”

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No one really knows, says Kerry Feuerman, vice chairman and group creative director for the Martin Agency, Quiznos’ advertising firm. “It’s part of their mystique,” he says.

Their creator – a 27-year-old British animator named Joel Veitch – calls them “spong monkeys.” Again, no one knows why, and Mr. Veitch couldn’t be reached to explain.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/022504dnickspongmonkeys.19e81.html