Months after the infamous “poop cruise,” in which Carnival Triumph passengers were stranded at sea for five days without working toilets, Carnival Cruise Lines is still struggling to convince travelers to come back aboard its ships. Perhaps rock-bottom pricing and a new cruise passenger bill of rights will help the cause. But the fire …
Marketing
After PBR: Will the Next Great Hipster Beer Please Stand Up?
Now that Pabst Blue Ribbon is mainstream, the beer has lost some of its authentic, cheap no-frills appeal. The assumption is that another beer will take its place, but there are reasons why the “next PBR” might never come
‘Big Gas Savings’: Kmart’s Funny Followup to the Viral ‘Ship My Pants’ Ad
The all-purpose discount retailer appears to have struck viral goofy gold yet again, with an online ad promoting “big gas savings.”
The Consumer Psychology Behind Warby Parker’s $95 Pricing for Eyeglasses
One obvious selling point for Warby Parker customers is price: The vast majority of eyeglasses sell for a reasonable (and curiously uniform) rate of $95. Perhaps what’s most remarkable of all is that the price of Warby Parker glasses was almost set at $50 cheaper.
How ‘Extreme Couponing’ Is Ruining Coupons
It always seemed mind-bogglingly difficult to achieve the kinds of savings portrayed on the TLC show “Extreme Couponing.” Thanks to tougher supermarket policies and the proliferation of less valuable coupons, extreme savings …
For JC Penney, the Right Direction May Be … Reverse
JC Penney has its old CEO, Mike Ullman, in charge of the company again. Abundant sales and coupons have returned, as have brands that disappeared for a spell. In many ways, the JC Penney of old is back. Whether this is a good thing for the company remains to be seen.
My Beer Can Is Better Than Yours: Aluminum Can-ovations for Better Beer Drinking
You might think that one beer can is the same as any other. Big beer companies and craft brewers alike say different, and they’re rolling out new cans with wider mouths and funky designs that they claim make for vastly superior …
The Charles Ramsey-McDonald’s Episode: How a Viral Marketing Opportunity Can Backfire
The Charles Ramsey-McDonald’s episode is shaping up as an argument that brands should respond to viral marketing opportunities slowly, cautiously—and perhaps not at all.
Um, You’ve Actually Been Able to Order 100% Legit Viagra Online for Years
Two key facts are being glossed over with this week’s big announcement from Pfizer: 1) It’s been possible to buy guaranteed authentic Viagra online for years; and 2) Pfizer isn’t really selling drugs directly to customers.
Hot Pizza: So Popular Restaurants Will Try Almost Anything
Pizza is popping up in more (and sometimes unusual) places, and it’s being prepared and marketed in new (and sometimes unusual) ways. Why is pizza so hot all of a sudden?
Too Cold for a Cold One? Big Beer Companies Blame Mother Nature for Slumping Sales
Does bad weather correlate with less drinking? Well, perhaps it does with certain kinds of drinking. Unseasonably cold weather in Brazil, Europe and the U.S. is being blamed as one of the reasons sales are down in early 2013 for …
Forget the Dollar Menu: 25¢ Burgers at White Castle Throughout May
Got a dollar? That’ll buy four sliders at White Castle in May. Even though the special deal is available throughout the month, you’ll have to time it carefully to take advantage.