The "new normal" for American marketing executives appears to be a resolutely sober state in which they're seeking cost cuts whether the economy is good or bad.

That's why 82 percent of marketers surveyed by the Association of National Advertisers are still pushing for cost savings and still streamlining marketing budgets despite more signs of U.S. economic recovery including a buoyant stock market and an apparent uptick in first-quarter growth. Two thirds of the 82 percent planned to reduce their marketing budgets by up to 10 percent this year, about the same level who had such plans in 2012.

"Even in better times," ANA group executive vice president Bill Duggan told brandchannel, "a large, large percentage of marketers will still check that box to say that they're looking for cost reductions in their marketing efforts."Continue reading...

After the head of the Federal Communications Commissioned moved to block AT&T buying T-Mobile's USA operations, AT&T announced on Thanksgiving Day that it was withdrawing (for now) its application with the FCC for its planned $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA — and would take a $4 billion charge against earnings, the amount owed to T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom in the event of a failed deal. Its next move? According to the New York Times, an asset sell-off is likely looming.

"Focusing on the antitrust trial, scheduled for February, the companies ... vowed to continue to pursue their bold plan to combine the second- and fourth-largest cellphone carriers in the United States," the Times reports of the buzz on Wall Street. "But the companies’ ambitions must be scaled back if they want any chance at a deal, analysts say. To address the objections of the Justice Department and F.C.C. that a merger would be anticompetitive, AT&T could agree to sell off 40 percent or so T-Mobile’s assets to wireless rivals, they say."

Possible scenarios include selling assets to rivals who opposed the merger: Sprint and MetroPCS, the third- and fifth-largest U.S. carriers. Good thing AT&T has hired a "high-powered Internet attorney" to plead its case: "High-powered internet attorney Kent Wesley," played by Will Arnett, who will say or do "whatever it takes to get you the AT&T 4G smartphone you deserve." See more of AT&T's "You've Got a Case" holiday campaign with Arnett below.Continue reading...

Just how low can a beer go? In calories, that is. The battle for the healthy-minded beer drinker has just escalated as MGD 64 takes on 95-calorie Michelob Ultra.

Ultra has held the oxymoronic status as the king of "active lifestyle" beer, personified by an endorsement deal with celebrity cycler Lance Armstrong. Next they created an app that identifies bike and running paths and launched it on Facebook.

Not to be outdone, or outrun, MGD 64 has just launched its Facebook app with a branded pedometer. Group challenges like “Walk Up Mount Everest 64 times,” measure a user’s steps and then the app uploads the total.Continue reading...

Last month, we reported on 2009 being a dismal year for Swiss watch brands, posting the biggest drop in sales since the Great Depression. Luxury watch-makers including Rolex, which depends on the U.S. for about one-third of its sales, were particularly battered. But there is a glimmer of hope for the world's most prominent watchmakers, as this year is already off to a more positive start.

Exports in January rose almost 3 percent compared with a year ago. February was even stronger, clocking a more than 14 percent increase in exports versus last year, as noted in the Financial Times. It was enough of a boost for watchmakers like Swatch Group, owner of such brands as Hamilton, Longines, Omega, and Tissot, to breathe a sigh of relief.

Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek is bullish on the year ahead, predicting that "2010 would bring record sales and earnings" for the company. Richemont, a company with luxury brands like Cartier, Piaget, IWC, and Montblanc in its portfolio, is being more cautiously optimistic.Continue reading...

In a headline grabbing move, Conan O’Brien is jumping the network ship and moving to TBS.

Beginning in November, his new show will air Monday through Thursday at 11pm, bumping George Lopez to a midnight start, and locking up a solid two hours of comedy for the network whose tagline is “Very Funny."

When Conan left The Tonight Show, it looked like he was heading straight to Fox. But not so, “In three months I’ve gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I’m headed to basic cable. My plan is working perfectly,” said Conan in a recent press release.Continue reading...

Let's face it, a brand catering to women's feet may seem, well, a little pedestrian. But the 104-year old Dr. Scholl's brand has figured out a way to put some pizzazz in a campaign for "Dr. Scholl's for Her Open Shoe" insoles: Put a real insole right into women's hands.

Three million right shoe insoles made of a thin gel material will be inserted into issues of magazines targeting women in an effort to convince them that walking with an insole (right foot) is more comfortable than walking without one (left foot).

Last year, Dr. Scholl's tested the idea by inserting insoles into the June 2009 issue of Glamour magazine. Research conducted by the magazine indicated that 58 percent of subscribers said they would consider buying a pair and 11 percent made a purchase. About 37 percent tested the insole in a shoe. Marketing VP T. J. Higgins told The New York Times, "For us that response rate was outstanding. One of our goals is to build awareness of this brand and this segment and to get women to think about Dr. Scholl's and feel the fit, comfort and shock attenuation."Continue reading...

Despite the enormous popularity of video games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero, the music video game category has also experienced its fair share of ridicule from humorists and musicians regarding its obsessive, yet faux music sensibilities. However, Seven45 Studios, an offshoot of musical-instrument maker First Act, is trying to bridge the gap between sofa simulations and real-life, gritty jam sessions.

Its “Power Gig: Rise of the SixString” video game will not only produce similar musically interactive game play as its predecessors, but more importantly, it will feature a real six-string guitar as its controller. Considering gamers have been wielding plastic, toy-like replica instruments, the transition to real instruments should go a long way in appeasing the “haters.”Continue reading...

WTF? Exactly.

A new brand of jeans named WTFJeans aims to change conventional denim styling and cater to the specific needs of the modern gadget-carrying fashionista. The jeans boast specially located and sized pockets to fit various devices, from USB memory sticks to iPhones. Utilitarian for sure, but does the brand have a (fashionable) future or is it stuck in a gimmick? Continue reading...