A Woman Scorned: Very Bad for Business

One of the common misconceptions about marketing to women is that ‘if you’re marketing to women, doesn’t that mean you’re NOT marketing to men?’

This is an obvious concern for brands and organisations that market to men and women but are looking for ways to better optimise the female market.

The great news is that marketing to women doesn’t mean you’re NOT marketing to men.

Condoleezza Rice presents for the Global Leadership Series in August

Over the summer I read Condoleezza Rice’s new book, No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington. It’s an open, honest, inspirational account of her eight years as the US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. The book takes the reader into the secret negotiating rooms of world leaders, offers surprisingly candid appraisals of various Bush Administration colleagues and the hundreds of foreign leaders with whom she dealt.

PurseStrings featured on ‘PurseStrings’

Last week I was interviewed by Maria Reitan, the delightful host of a radio show broadcast out of Minneapolis.

The show is, coincidentally, called ‘PurseStrings’ and looks at the global power of the female consumer.  I chatted at length with Maria about my new book, PurseStrings, and the roadblocks holding marketers and business owners back from effectively reaching and connecting with the female market.

It was a great segment and a real honor to be interviewed by Maria, who is one of the loudest and most passionate voices on marketing to women globally.

Listen to the interview here.

PURSESTRINGS – Available now!

The concept of Marketing to Women is not new. But many brands are still failing to embrace the proven principles of reaching and connecting with female consumers.
Two of the world’s most recognized thought leaders on the subject have joined forces in this explosive look at why brands and organizations are failing to connect with the consumer segment making the majority of purchase decisions – women.

The Little Things are the Big Things … The Story of the $300 Umbrella

Just prior to leaving the USA last month, I went and checked out the Macy’s sale. It’s no secret that retail is really struggling in the US (even more so than here in Australia) so it was no surprise to see everything in Macy’s, one of the biggest US department stores, on sale. 20, 30, even up to 70% off. Eight delicious floors of bargains.

The Diamond Collective – The New Emerging Target for Marketers

Ami Caruso, a 35-year old office manager, is bright, gregarious and loves her life. Oh, and she’s single. Caruso says many of her married friends and family see her lack of a boyfriend or husband as a problem that needs to be fixed. And while Ami would love mister right to come along one day, she’s quite content with things right now – she has a great career, owns her own house and has a circle of friends that she says ‘completes’ her life.

The Four Characters Secretly Living in Advertising Agency Creative Departments

One of the most popular television shows over the past few years has been Mad Men. It portrays the wild antics of a fictitious advertising agency on New York’s infamous creative strip, Madison Avenue. Set in the 1960’s, the show has won critical acclaim with its incredible attention to detail in setting, casting and language.

It really is true to the period in which it’s set.

I Still Call Australia Home

I am writing this post on Qantas Flight 12 from Los Angeles to Sydney. I have been in the US for just over a month and I am excited to be ‘home’ for a week (a confusing thought in itself because ‘home’ is currently Chicago).

In about 90 minutes, as the A380 descends over Sydney, I know that I will look out the window, hopefully with a sparkling early morning view of Sydney harbor and without even realizing it, the song ‘I still call Australia home’ will ring in my head. This will subconsciously reinforce my decision to fly Qantas and, whether I like it or not, my brand loyalty will edge up a little.

Marketing to Women Global Purse-Pective

I was fortunate enough to present again at this year’s Global Marketing to Women Conference (m2w.biz) in Chicago (which also marked my first week living there).

Over two days, there were some mind-blowing presentations. I, along with my colleagues Tom Jordan and Elissa Polston, presented a marketing to women retrospective – The Tale of Two Decades. It’s been ten years since my good friend and mentor Marti Barletta wrote the definitive guide, aptly called “Marketing to Women’. If you haven’t read this yet, do yourself a favour and order a copy on Amazon.

Marketing to Women – It’s the Little things that are the Big Things

As you may know, I recently relocated to Chicago and plan to spend the next few months dividing my time between the US and Australia. In the US I have taken the role as President and Executive Creative Director of the Marketing to Women division of HY Connect, a very well-respected communications agency in Chicago.

Chicago is a truly magical city. It is rich in culture, nightlife, cuisine and of course shopping.