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

It had to happen. Last week, presidential candidate Barack Obama called for new legislation that would give shareholders a greater "say on pay" for corporate leaders. A boiling issue beforehand, this hot button is starting to glow. Executive pay is now a political football, as increasing economic uncertainty has all three presidential candidates using the issue to buttress their populist appeal. Sen. Obama’s clarion call echoes similar sentiments expressed by both Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary ... Read More

The Sustainable Endowments Institute has issued its 2008 College Sustainability Report Card (PDF file)--and in the spirit of March Madness, we decided to take a look at which of the 65 NCAA Men’s Tournament teams would have gone to San Antonio had energy efficiency, green buildings, and recycling been the deciding factors, rather than athletic prowess. Why? Because Duke University (PDF file), Stanford University (PDF file), the University System of California (PDF file), and the University ... Read More

If you mention the phrase 'Web 2.0' to some communications professionals, don't be surprised if the reaction you get is less than positive. With the spread of misinformation and urban legends, the rise of a blogosphere with potentially vigilante elements and a constant battle over Wikipedia entries, the social media revolution may be at the root of many sleepless nights for some marcom staffers. But it all depends on how you look at it. Smart companies ... Read More