Published on: October 27, 2010
Responding to Michael Sansolo’s piece yesterday about Jimmy Buffett’s unique brand proposition, MNB user Jim Nolan wrote:
Michael, you hit the nail on the head. We have talked about Jimmy Buffett as a marketer numerous times. His whole idea of summer party hit me about 12 years ago when he played Boston in mid-February. Watching folks walk down Causeway Street, stepping over the snow banks, in shorts, sandals and flowered shirts was quite a site. Dinner in the North End prior to the show was our version of a tailgate. The restaurant was full of folks in summer attire much to the delight of the staff. Everyone got it quickly and it became one big pre-concert summer theme party. While Jimmy did not change our actual Latitude, he did change our Attitude that cold Saturday on Boston.
Welcome to the party Michael!MNB user Jeff Folloder wrote:
Buffett has been a "foundational element" for me for quite awhile because his approach has always been about relaxed honesty. Whether he laments the irony of discovering meaning long after the resources to enjoy it have faded (A Pirate Looks at 40) or the silliness of leading a crowd full of "Fins" leaning to the left and right or just the joys of the ubiquitous cheeseburger... It's low overhead honesty. That said, the whole Margaritaville restaurant thing turned me off. I was just never able to reconcile the exploitation thing with the Buffett thing.Funny. The other night, while in Vegas, I had a “perfect margarita,” flavored with just a hint of guava.
I didn’t feel exploited. Not a bit.
MNB reported yesterday that the Wedge Co-op in Minneapolis announced that it will distribute $1 million in cash to its 14,500 members in what is called “likely the largest-ever patronage refund provided by a single-store grocery co-op.”
I commented:
This only works out to about $68 per member (if my math is right) ... but that’s $68 more than I’ve ever gotten from any food retailer that I’ve patronized over the years.Apparently, I didn’t completely get it. Elizabeth Archerd of Wedge Co-op explained:
Our average refund doesn't tell the real story - the percentage does.
Members are getting 3.58% of their purchases from last year. That comes to almost two weeks worth of average grocery shopping bills. So, you shopped for 52 weeks, but paid for just a lick over 50. Our members who shopped for a family here all year should find a check in the mailbox today or tomorrow for several hundred dollars.I’ve said it before...if I had a co-op near me, I’d certainly be inclined to be a member.
In my Eye-Opener yesterday, I reported on the branding travails of Gifford’s Ice Cream in the DC area, which led one MNB user to write:
Right on point…but…the story you related has and is happening all around the country as small regional ice cream companies are purchased by conglomerates or investors to reap and rape the brand cache. And, it’s not just the ice cream industry in which this happens. It leaves the loyalists to the brand wondering what happened, and the previous owners of the brand with a pocket full of the loyalists’ money. It’s sad really.
Lessons learned: Two ; 1) sometimes it can pay great dividends for a brand to stay local and be a big fish in a small pond, because not all brands can scale…and 2) don’t ever expect someone else to manage your brand the way you would…Agreed.
Another MNB user wrote:
May I add to the ice cream story? Just take a look at “In-N-Out Burger” chain and you will see a similar evidence of quality erosion. What was the California icon of premium burger chains has become another Mc-D’s in high-heels.Michael Sansolo will be disappointed to hear that you think so ... he’s convinced that In-N-Out Burger is one of the best burger joints in the country.
And finally, on something really important, MNB user Steve Jensen wrote:
Really Kevin???
The National League is superior??? Do you REALLY want to go there??
Who’s won the most World Series titles???
Good thing you’re not running for office...I’ll stick by my opinion that National League baseball is pure baseball, and therefore superior, because there is no designated hitter.
We’re all entitled to our opinions. Right? Especially about the most important thing that doesn’t matter...