Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Are trade shows a dying breed?

Maybe DM Days was just a slow show, a down economy sparking temporary cut backs in travel and registration expenses. But I'm beginning to wonder if this is more than just a bear market trend.

Everyone remembers when the DMA exhibitions were in their glory days. People would flock to the conferences for networking, sessions, and meetings. But in today's digital world with social networking, webinars, email, and video conferencing - are exhibitions as much of a vital element in relationship building, development, and productivity?

And it goes without saying that search engines have single handedly altered our lives, companies and methodologies. We no longer need to gather buyers and businesses together under one roof to play cat and mouse when a simple Google search can deliver prospect lists in a matter of seconds. (The DMA itself may have even hammered a nail into to their own coffin through their vendor search.)

...Not to belittle face to face interaction. If you know RMI we have always focused on fostering in-person meetings and building relationships. However the 21st century offers so many ways to engage with our colleagues, to be productive, and to further our education that trade shows seem like an extremely expensive alternative.

I posed the question on Twitter and received two polar responses - one from @JoyceMcKee referencing a post arguing the necessity of trade shows and another from @ctstew who shared my point of view.

Some friends and family have also attested that construction and firefighting trade shows are still going strong.

So in my conclusion - it appears that the vitality of exhibitions all boils down to the trade. If you're in an industry that requires live demonstrations so your customers can examine a product in person, then trade shows will live on. Otherwise, maybe today's technological alternatives will prevail. Or one-on-one, in person meetings without the necessity of an entire exhibition will suffice.

What do you think?...

Labels: tradeshow marketing

Thursday, June 25, 2009

RMI's determined gardener

I have been an avid gardener for years with some decent successes in my flower and vegetable gardens. But one goal has eluded me - the Great Pumpkin. I'm not sure when I first decided that a pumpkin is not "Great" unless it hits 100-pounds, but I've been trying to grow one that size for years.

I've been through it all. My first attempts were dismal. Then, I proudly produced a couple of 12 and 14 pounders. In a following year, a fungus hit the patch and killed them all. When I tried last year, the pumpkin vines were like crack to the woodchuck. So far, my crowning glory is 59 pounds.

But I am determined! I dug and composted and fed and mulched my pumpkin bed and planted the seeds on May 27th. The seeds have actually sprouted and once again I am hopeful. I am open to any secret tips anyone cares to share. But, stay tuned - I'll let you know how they turn out.

7/9 UPDATE: The great pumpkin is making progress - check out what it looks like today!

8/5 UPDATE: I was getting very worried that the fungus was back - 2 tiny pumpkins just dropped right off the vine. But - now it looks like there might be some life. I'm feeding it almost daily and keeping my fingers crossed.

8/15 UPDATE: I'm so excited!!! I have one real one that seems to be growing by half every day. And now there are new ones showing some promise. Lots of food, lots of water and we'll see what happens........

9/7 UPDATE: I think it might be getting close to 10 lbs.!

9/26 UPDATE:
Well, at least one pumpkin is really getting there. I'm sure it won't hit the 100 lb. mark, but it is big, round and orange. Just when I thought it was the only one, a few more came to life. Might even be another one that could beat it out. Not sure there is enough time left in the season for the rest of them to grow up, but with what Mother Nature handed out this year, I'm not too disappointed.

10/6 UPDATE:
I finally admitted to myself that my pumpkin would not get any more orange and would not be growing any larger. So, I bit the bullet and picked it on Sunday. It is a perfectly beautiful pumpkin, but unfortunately it only registered a measly 20 pounds. I'm still hoping for the johnny-come-lately pumpkin to keep on growing for another couple weeks. I think it already has beaten the 20 pound mark.

Labels: gardening, pumpkin

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Menu-labeling gains support on Capitol Hill…Thanks CSPI!

If you are watching your health and your waistline, you will be happy to know that menu-labeling should be coming to a chain restaurant near you. The MEAL Act will require restaurants with 20 locations or more to post calorie labeling on menus and menu boards. June 10th, in a breakthrough move, the National Restaurant Association joined with Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and health groups to help forge a compromise bill with Capital Hill to get this important piece of legislation moved forward. Similar legislation is already on the books in New York City & California, where people are happy to know just what is hiding in that restaurant food they are consuming. Soon everyone in the country will be able to sit down in their favorite chain restaurant and make a sensible decision.

Thanks to the persistence and fine work of our friends at CSPI, we will be able to pass on that 2800 calorie appetizer, if we so choose!

Labels: legislation, nonprofit

Friday, June 19, 2009

Cherish it

photo by dprint4u, available on http://www.sxc.hu.com/

Father's Day is the toughest day of the year for me. My dad passed when I was five. I always play ball on Father's Day. For years, I would make some dumb mistake that day like forgetting how many outs there were, and I would never have a good hitting day. One Sunday a few years ago, I went like 6 for 7 including a home run and that was that. I broke the spell.

My dad rests in Ardsley NY, right next to my grandparents. I visit every year on Fathers Day. The cemetery closes at 4pm and many a year I had to hop the gate to get in. I used to get real sad on Father's Day. I still do. But Father's Days are happier now. I see my younger brother, happily married with three beautiful kids. Who would have guessed that the brat I grew up with would turn out to be such an exceptional father? Amanda 10, Ryan 7, and Caroline 4 - they are happy, smart and they are so funny! They always make me smile.

When someone's dad passes, I've said more than a few times, "Appreciate the time you had with him. Because some people don't get that." I don't say it to garner to sympathy. Just to remind that time is precious, remember the good times, and know that we're lucky to have the time we have with our loved ones, no matter how long that is.

Happy Father's Day, everyone.

Labels: Fathers Day

Thursday, June 18, 2009

If there’s a fork in the road, take it!

On Monday I attended the DMA Fast Forward event where we had the pleasure of listening to three very engaging speakers. John Greco, President and CEO of the DMA, gave us insight and updates on the DMA organization, how they have reacted to the downturn of the economy, and the ways that they are moving forward with a changed landscape. Kelly Browning, EVP & CEO of the American Institute for Cancer Research and Chair of the DMA Board of Directors, gave mailers a perspective on the challenges that he sees in the future of direct mail.

We were then treated to the speaker and author Edie Weiner, President of Weiner, Edrich, Brown, Inc. - a futurist consulting group. I was inspired and rejuvenated by Edie who promoted that in a time of change we should not only think clearly but think differently. As I read FutureThink I plan to challenge our staff to stop following the same path, simply because that is how it has always been done, but to question and challenge the path never taken - to challenge the comfortable, and work through the bumps in an ever changing industry. And, in a down turned economy, the future thinkers will come out ahead and possibly stronger.

I believe FastForward lived up to its claim to jump-start the creative thought process. It was an inspirational day.

Labels: DMA Fast Forward, Futurethink

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Golf anyone?

image from www.knowcancer.com

This weekend all eyes of the golfing world will be focused on Bethpage, Long Island for the 2009 US Open Golf Championship. On Thursday, Phil Mickelson will tee off with Tiger Woods. These two long time rivals will be vying for the same title and the prestige that goes along with winning the US Open.

Although they have been pitted against one another for years and seem to have many differences on the golf course, off the course, they share a very similar experience, one that is much bigger then the game itself.

This year Phil’s wife, Amy, was diagnosed with cancer. He took some time off the tour to spend with his family and to be at her side. He has since returned to competitive golf and has played in one tournament leading up to this major championship, ironically enough the St. Jude’s Classic.

Tiger Woods lost his father 3 years ago to prostate cancer. It was well publicized how close Tiger and his father Earl were. Tiger has always been known to keep his emotions off the course in check, but after he came back and won his first tournament after Earl’s death the emotions came pouring out. He became a human being to many a golf fan.

This post is not about golf, or two of the most recognizable people in the game. It is about cancer and how it can strike anyone, famous or not. It is moving to see how a community can rally around one of its members and offer support and understanding. It is wonderful to see how Tiger Woods, a man deemed a bit of a robot off the course and a surgeon on it, is actually human, and understands that family and your health are much more important than majors and green jackets.

My hope is that everyone who reads this can agree with me in that health & family are the true riches in life and without them we are poor.

Labels: family, golf

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A little perspective!

Just one man’s thoughts about the first day of the DM Days at the Javits Center in NYC. Sure the numbers seemed down, but I think that there are true innovators still in the direct marketing industry that are going to help us steer through these difficult times. We just need to have faith in the entity known as direct marketing.

Truth is that I don’t think there is anyone bailing out on direct marketing as a viable communication format. It is just like William Shatner. After Star Trek everyone said he would never be able to get another acting job, he was just too associated with his James Kirk character, but he re-invented himself, and had great success with Priceline and Boston Legal.

That is what the direct marketing industry must try to do: re-invent itself in the face of this ever changing economy and world.

Labels: DMDays

Monday, June 15, 2009

2010 Seal art contest

Are you a gifted artist? Enjoy drawing flowers? Consider entering the Easter Seals 2010 Seal Art Contest taking place right now. The objective is to secure beautiful original lily art work from which Easter Seals can select six pieces that will become the 2010 Easter Seals seal stamps.

Easter Seals provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities.

Labels: easter seals

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Martin's Moonlighters

On Friday, June 5th I participated in the Annual Moonlight 5k Road Race. I have been competing for years in these types of events. But this race had a little extra meaning because I was part of a team called Martin’s Moonlighters (fitting name), for our Martin Stein. One of Martin’s friends formed the team to bring awareness and to raise some money for cancer research. In doing so she also gathered some of his closest friends to engage in a healthy activity. It sure did rain that night but it didn't stop us from having fun.

Labels: employees, fundraising

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Step away from your computer today and get on your feet!

Lace up your sneakers and be a part of the first ever National Running Day today, June 3rd. The United States running industry has announced this unprecedented effort to promote running as a healthy, easy and accessible form of exercise for Americans of all ages and fitness levels according to Active.com.

To participate all you need to do is grab your friends, your kids or your dog and go for a walk or run today. "Everyone can run. That's the message of this day," said New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. It is a simple, economical way to exercise that can be done almost anywhere.

After your run make sure to log on to RunningDay.org to download an "I'm a Runner / I Ran Today" Facebook button and interact with other runners. You will also find information on local community events, retailers, training tips and other running-related information.

You could also run for a fundraising cause that's dear to our hearts, this Friday, June 5th.

Labels: fundraising, health

Infants in CT will now be tested for Cystic Fibrosis

This morning reading my local paper left me surprised to find out that CT was one of two states that had not participated in infant testing for Cystic Fibrosis. However, after a six year grassroots effort by a Bethel couple, Governor Jodi Rell signed into law that infants will now be tested at birth for CF.

I always appreciate the efforts individuals make to improve legislation for the general population.

Labels: legislation

Monday, June 1, 2009

Campaign that was right on Target!

I saw an article in the NY Times written about a recent campaign that Target conducted on Facebook. It was called Bullseye Gives. Bullseye Gives, which kicked-off on May 10th and concluded on May 25th, invited Facebook users to help Target decide how to divvy up $3 million among ten national charities.

The big winners were St. Jude Children’s Hospital & the American Red Cross. Of the over 290,000 total votes cast these two charities garnered some 52% of them. That translates into somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.6 million dollars between the two of them. Some other winners were the Salvation Army, Operation Gratitude, and Feeding America. The charities, which are all worthy, will certainly put these dollars to good use.

The contest was also a big winner for Target. They had over 97,000 new people join their Facebook page, and daily views of their page increased by over 4,800 percent during the contest. I would think that through the use of proper marketing techniques that Target will see that contribution and more come back to them.

Win/ Win for all involved!

Labels: contest, Facebook, nonprofit

Twitter Challenge

Last week Doug Ulman, CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, was given a challenge by an anonymous donor; reach 25,000 Twitter followers by May 29th and receive $25,000. Mr. Ulman tweeted the challenge to his 10,000 followers. LAF then “retweeted” the message to their 20,000 followers. The news spread like wildlife and within three days 15,000 new followers were added and the goal was met. The Twittersphere came through for the organization.

It’s really amazing to witness both the power of Twitter and the act of people pulling together for a good cause.

Labels: nonprofit, Twitter