Holiday Promotions

Slower than usual sales are expected this holiday season, forcing many retailers to offer additional discounts and promotions in their stores to help increase sales in the final days of the holiday shopping season. Companies like Gap however, are electing not to markdown items, and instead relying on its product and giveaways to boost sales. Thanks to companies like PayPal and Google Checkout, customers can save money on shipping through partnerships with online merchants. Today we will look at the latest promotions that companies are using to increase their holiday sales figures.

This week’s Brand Rant discusses how Ice Breakers newest product, Pacs, resembles packaging for heroin and cocaine. And in the Brand Spotlight, we look into how Home Depot is getting into social media by giving away a chance for customers to win $25,000 by submitting videos on why they want a home makeover.

Advertising to Children

The holiday season is in full swing, so the Brand Show takes a look at how marketers try to position themselves in front of children. Also, we look into what will be the hot toy this holiday season. Marketers have come under fire in recent years for their aggressive marketing towards children. Some claim that marketers targeting children for fast food restaurants have led to the growing obesity crisis in the United States. Countries in Europe have attempted to halt advertising to children through strict regulations in hopes of calming the obesity crisis among children. On this episode, we will look at different tactics advertisers are taking to reach children and the delicate line they often walk.

This week’s Brand Rant looks into how Facebook’s latest application has its users upset. And in the Brand Spotlight, we look into how Apple is receiving competition from an interesting place for digital music, Pepsi. Andre Lawless, Director of Marketing for Hidden City Games, joins us to discuss the launch of a trading card game, marketed to girl’s aged 6 – 12.

Facebook is feeling the heat from its users after launching an application that its users feel is intrusive.


Pepsi is looking to challenge Apple for digital music via a song giveaway.


Bella Sara is the latest trading card game, except this game is not being marketed to teenage boys, instead it is being marketed to girls aged 6 -12.


McDonald’s is getting into the homes of children by marketing on report cards.


Wal-Mart offered discounts on toys in October in hopes of starting the holiday shopping season early.


A new study has found that food is the top product seen advertised to children.


The Army’s latest campaign has it marketing itself to parents of potential soldiers.


RJ Reynolds is under fire for an advertisement in Rolling Stone that uses cartoons, worrying people that the ad was targeted towards children.