A few weeks ago, former peace protesters of the old Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant outside Denver gathered for a 30-year reunion of their first demonstration at the now-demolished site. For 10 years following that first protest, anti-nuke activists held vigils, fasts, and other protests outside the facility’s secured, barbed-wire fence. But when the U.S. announced reductions in its nuclear arsenal in 1988, ending Rocky Flats’ mission, the moment was bittersweet. The activists’ goal of halting ... Read More

By now, most people who follow marketing have heard how Yum Brands CEO David C. Novak stepped up to the microphones after the 2008 Kentucky Derby and spoke glowingly of the event and his company’s famous brands – Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, Long John Silver’s and A&W – while a stunned national television audience looked on. The grinning Novak seemed oblivious to the fact that second-place finisher Eight Belles had just been euthanized after breaking ... Read More

There’s little doubt that China once viewed this summer’s Olympiad as the ultimate opportunity to highlight considerable national progress on the world’s grandest stage. Perhaps it still does. But as the torch made its tumultuous journey through Paris, San Francisco, and points beyond, it became readily apparent that many view China’s political and economic progress as not nearly progressive enough. China isn’t helping itself either. The latest picture? News photos of demonstration organizers lined up in front of ... Read More

Following a disastrous 2007, in which dozens of Chinese products ranging from pet food to toothpaste and from toys to tires were recalled in waves by U.S. manufacturers, this year is playing out to be even worse for the Beijing government and its global business partners. In the midst of its publicity woes involving Tibet and the Olympic Games, China is facing severe criticism for contamination of the active ingredient in the blood thinner Heparin, which ... Read More

Shortly after publishing the blog post below, I had an additional thought. One of the most fascinating parts of the whole story is the larger theme of a loss of control by the fragrance companies. Up until a year or so ago, they could virtually guarantee a successful product roll-out by spending a lot of money on advertising. And those advertising dollars, in turn, all but guaranteed positive editorial coverage in the ... Read More

An article in today's New York Times chronicled the fragrance industry's struggle with new media--how online comments and blog posts are presenting a new challenge and how frustrated companies are dealing with the online world. But in a marketplace of ideas where everyone can be a critic, fragrance marketers would be smart to take advantage of the fact that everyone also has the potential to be an advocate. With so many perfumes being purchased by ... Read More