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Consumption, values, and “do-gooding”Today

The Economist’s recent(ish) World in 2009 issue included a story about “no-nonsense brands” doing well in 2009, while those “priced for status are likely to suffer.”

This sounds in-line with much of the trend-pontification about the new-and-improved “values” of the 2009 consumer.

But the piece also said this:

Any brand built around do-gooding notions of organic, social responsibility or caring for the environment may need to rethinking, according to Interbrand, a marketing consultancy, as value for money rises up the consumers’ agenda.

Now, I don’t know what exactly Interbrand said. (Couldn’t find anything on their site about it.)

But if this assertion turns out to be correct, I wonder how it squares with the idea of “values.”

My thoughts on the “new thrift” are in this earlier Consumed. My thoughts on the limits of do-gooding sales pitches can be found in the final section of Buying In.

Survey says…Today

So: Thanks to all who answered the survey the other day. The giveaway winner (chosen by counting how many people gave me an address and having E pick a number without knowing why) is C.C., in Butler, PA. You know who you are! I hope. Actually, even if you don’t know who you are, I’m sending the DVD to the address you provided, so watch your mailbox.

All in all it was a pretty interesting exercise, with some surprises. Not surprising of course — in fact it’s inevitable — is contradiction. Notably, several people mentioned liking the Flickr Interludes — and several named them as their least favorite part of the site (or as one respondent put it: “Flickr interlude. WTF?”)

I’m mulling the feedback, and there are a few comments I received that I’ll revisit in the days ahead.

I must say the most salient comment, from my point of view, was: “I wonder how you do this site without $$$ compensation.” This gets directly at the reason for the survey in the first place: I enjoy the site, but I simply can’t justify spending as much time on it as I do.

Also there were several suggestions about adding outside contributors in various ways that I found extremely helpful, and that I’ll revisit in the days ahead after I’ve thought them through.

Meanwhile, if you’re interested, some highlights after the jump. And obviously if you’d like to offer feedback about this feedback, feel free.One of the questions on the

Links for 2009-01-06 [del.icio.us]Today

• Design Loves a Depression
  "If President-elect Barack Obama delivers anything like a W.P.A, we could be 'standing on the brink of one of the most productive periods of design ever,' said Reed Kroloff, director of Cranbrook Academy of Art." Interesting, though I haven't encountered any suggestion of a WPA-like program. Have to look into that...
• iPhone Apps of 2008: The Good, the Bad and the Odd
  PSFK notes one called "Hold On": "How long can you press a button? Hold On! lets you find out: there’s nothing else to do except hold down a big button. Why would anybody want to do such a thing? Perhaps the weirdest thing about it is that Apple has it listed in the 'Productivity' category."
• The New Cachet of Being Formerly Rich
  "Losing $20 million or $1 billion, now that is an achievement. Plus, being a financial victim like everyone else gives the anxious wealthy instant everyman credibility."
• Next-Door Neighbor Webcomix, edited by Dean Haspiel
  "For better, and more often for worse, we all live next to someone. And we all have a Next-Door Neighbor story. With this in mind, I asked some of my favorite storyte
  

PR Corner: Pitching a coinageYesterday

Peddling a coinage that supposedly summarizes a trend is a stalwart promotional tactic. Today, for instance, I got a pitch that was built around this coinage: “deepre(ce)ssion.”

“There is a thin line between the play on words ‘deepre(ce)ssion’ and ‘deep recession,’” the pitch continued, going on to say that whoever these people are, they are a great resource for expertise for a story “on any subject relating to the oncoming deep recession.” Noted.

But I must say, “deepre(ce)ssion” is the worst portmanteau I have encountered in some time. I’m not sure how it qualifies as a play on words, nor do I understand what idea it is trying to communicate. It’s also not fun to say.

It is portmanteau that has failed.

It is a coinage manqué.

It is — yes! — a portmanqué.

Flickr InterludeYesterday

0697_DXO, originally uploaded by jobbyz.

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