FAO is A-OK!

David Niggli of FAO Schwarz retails the greatest toy story ever told.

Hub, November 3, 2008 — When last we left FAO Schwarz, we left it for dead. Every single one of its stores was closed, and it was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. That was five years ago. Today, as David Niggli, FAO’s president and chief merchandising officer will tell you, it’s a whole new story. His explanation for its remarkable comeback story is remarkably simple. He says that all FAO Schwarz has done is what every great brand does when it loses its way: It re-ignited what made the brand great to begin with.

The Future of Major Ad Spending

KenRadio, October 29, 2008 — World ad spending is expected to grow 4.3% in 2008 and 4.0% in 2009, these numbers are significantly lower than June forecasts, which were 6.6% and 6.0%, respectively, and are the result of the recent and widespread shocks in world financial markets, according to Zenith Optimedia.

What B-to-C Marketers Can Learn From the B-to-B World†

Five Strategies Behind Smart, Complex Brand Models

Advertising Age, October 13, 2008 — In today's consumer economy, price is becoming a bigger driver of purchase decisions, elbowing its way past all the lifestyle attributes we've worked so hard to associate with our brands.

Maybe it's time to look at those who've lived — and learned to thrive — in such dire circumstances. B-to-C, meet B-to-B.

B-to-B marketers are instead building smart, complex brand models that are based on the very business behaviors that are changing their companies.