Media Sales Today

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is rolling out ad money at the state and local level to influence election results. The first round of Chamber advertising, $10 million, started last week and experts believe this is just the beginning of a long and expensive campaign. Reps should be contacting managers at the local U.S. Chamber of Commerce branches to determine the best way to pitch for available advertising funds.

Manufacturers have begun to roll out lighting fixtures optimized for the LED spectrum. The new decorative fixtures are designed for wall or ceiling mount, come equipped with the instant-on feature as well as dimming functionality, and generate warm white light. The 80% energy savings generated by the lights in these fixtures will be appealing to homeowners but good promotional campaigns are needed to educate consumers.

  The popularity of the dog-related ads in this year’s Super Bowl proved that caring for the family pet will prompt consumers to open their wallets. But pet parents aren’t content to shop at one specific store. As a result, pet product suppliers will be rolling out more ad campaigns to increase their  market share. [...]

The average wedding costs about $26,000 and of that, over $1,000 is spent on flowers. This year’s colors and styles of flowers for the bridal market have just been announced. Reps should be talking now with local florists about the 2012 wedding market and pitch their best ideas for ad campaigns.

2012 may be the year of resurgence for electricity retailing. A recent survey finds that many consumers are still not aware that they can purchase electricity from a variety of providers but 88% like the idea. In states where competition exists, reps should contact marketing officials at firms doing business in their region and discuss ad campaigns.

As the new year progresses, consumers are getting the idea that any improvement in their personal financial situation will be gradual. At least one survey shows that the number of consumers who are very concerned about the economy has remained unchanged for nearly 3 years. But, they are growing tired of cutting their dining out budget and cooking at home. As consumers shift their habits, savvy marketers can increase market share.

Despite the recent high-profile cruise ship disaster that took place off the coast of Italy, consumers will still be looking to book passage to their favorite destination. The industry has changed somewhat as a result of the recession and this has implications for marketing. Service providers looking to fill cabins may embark on some new types of promotion in 2012.