New Metric in Store

Could a new method to measure the audience for in-store marketing change the way you do business? The In-Store Marketing Institute says it has the tool and has verified the model through a consortium of marketers and retailers including Wal-Mart and P&G. Pioneering Research for an In-Store Metric (P.R.I.S.M.) is said to offer a way to calculate "opportunities to see" a specific in-store message. The aim is for a syndicated measurement system. How significant could this be to the future of marketing?

Press 1 for Refund

Procter & Gamble suspended sales of its SK-II skin care line in China last week after quality authorities there reportedly found traces of unwanted chemicals in the product, according to news reports. Public anger erupted over the way the suspension and recall were handled, resulting in damage to P&G offices and physical scuffles with employees. An initial promise of direct refunds was later changed to a hotline to handle the requests, reportedly sparking protests. Should P&G have handled the situation differently? Is your company prepared for a quality recall? What could be the impact of quality questions on premium brands?

Nice Touch

Beiersdorf is relaunching its NIVEA line in the U.S. and introducing Smooth Sensation with a month-long celebration of touch. A launch event was held in New York earlier this month that included an interactive exhibit and massage. The NIVEA Loving Touch Fund, supporting research into the importance of touch and celebrating organizations that encourage all aspects of positive touch, also was announced. It is certainly not a new thing to tie a product to a fundraising activity, but what do you think is the future of the benefit-linked product launch?

Reel to Real

Fujifilm is set to launch a line of functional skincare cosmetics based on technologies achieved in its film business, notably the use of vitamin C as a reducing agent to control free radicals. Free radicals cause the deterioration of film substances and have, of course, been implicated in the signs of skin aging. This and other core technologies will help Fujifilm "enhance the quality of life of people by expanding its business domain from "taking pictures of lives" to "curing lives" and "protecting lives." The functional skincare products will be marketed under the name F Square i Series.

The Shopping Life

Ad Age reported this week that fashion-and-beauty Web site Glam.com has pulled ahead of Style.com, iVillage Beauty & Style, InStyle.com and all the others according to ComScore, with 5.3 million unique visitors worldwide. The site’s beauty pages feature expert advice and product reviews. The year-old site includes a blog network and a social network call GlamSpace. Ad Age said that instead of using its own site, Hearst Magazines' Cosmopolitan offers its advertisers banners on Glam.com to accompany print ads in the magazine.

Hug This

Urging attendees to “Embrace change,” Bath & Body Works CEO Neil Fiske addressed a CEW Newsmakers Forum on September 6. He spoke on the subject of Changing the Course of Beauty. My favorite take-aways were “Specialty retail is about redefining the beauty experience,” and “Services are the hotbed of innovation because they’re closest to 'her', (the customer)." He further suggested the industry “unleash a wave of experimentation.” I was reminded of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment." If we all took these words to heart, the next few years could be an incredible era for the beauty industry.