Is Cyber Monday Really Worth All the Hype??

Now that Cyber Monday is over, here is a story that is sure to inform you of what Cyber Monday is really all about.  Is it a gimmick or true sales??  I'll tell you what the statistcs say, you tell me what your shopping said.

While traditional retailers will be monitoring store traffic and sales on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), online retailers have set their sights on something different: Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, which is quickly becoming one of the biggest online shopping days of the year."

Ta-dah! The term "Cyber Monday" was born.

Ellen Davis, vice president of the National Retail Federation, which owns CyberMonday.com (and Shop.org), said the "Cyber Monday" term originated organically as retailers noticed that consumers turned to the internet to shop on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

"The trend was actually developed by shoppers and started in '02, '03," she said, adding that the federation just put a name to the concept.


Cyber Monday is supposed to be the biggest online shopping day for two reasons.  The first because its after Black Friday and its supposed to allow you to get the deals you missed out on, while shopping straight from your computer and also because its supposed to have major deals.  The reality of it all is that it's all very close to a scam.  Only in 2009 was Cyber Monday the highest online retail sales day, and that is believed to be due to the recession.  The highest online retail is actually in December when people get those last minute gifts they were holding out on.  Many of the items found on Cyber Monday are products that didn't sell on Black Friday.  To quote Andrew Lipsman, director of industry analysis "Perhaps the most interesting thing to be learned from Cyber Monday is that Mondays -- after Thanksgiving or not -- are usually big days for e-commerce.  That's because people like to shop at work"

I've told you what the statistics say, now you tell me if you found big deals and you believe Cyber Monday to be the best online shopping day of the year.

Sources: CNN, comScore

Still Shopping????Cyber Monday Can STILL Bring You Deals

Today is Cyber Monday!!!!  SO, maybe you missed out on the sales on Black Friday because you over slept, or ate too much to get up or maybe even you partied too much.  Well have no fear, today is the second biggest shopping sales day.  And guess what????  You don't even have to wait out in the cold in long lines to get these great deals.  Cozy up to your computer and get those last gifts you couldn't fight for on Black Friday.  Check out the blog posting about the top gadgets to get, I'm sure these items need to be on your list for the holidays! (http://www.bmmoconsulting.com/2010/11/5-gadgets-that-should-be-on-your.html)  Due to the current economic state, stores are doing whatever they can to get you in their stores to offer you a bargain.  Beware, not all of the sales are true bargains, shop wisely and in budget to help stimulate the economy and bring someone a little holiday cheer! 
Happy Cyber Monday!!!

Thank You

B.M.M.O. Consulting would like to thank you all for following the blog.  I hope that it has provided you with some good stories and analysis to make you think about things in a different light.  While B.M.M.O. Consulting uses this website to give informative analysis, it is also a business.  Our goal is to provide market analysis to you and increase your brand awareness.  Please reach out to us and we will provide you with great service.  We can be contacted at b.m.m.o.consulting@gmail.com.  You can also follow us on twitter at @bmmo_consulting  We thank you for your support and look forward to providing you with great services in the near future!

Happy Thanksgiving from B.M.M.O. Consulting

B.M.M.O. Consulting would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!  I pray that you take this time to thank God for all the blessings he has provided you with.  Appreciate those people in your life and get some good food with some good family.  After you have done all that good eating and family gathering it will be time to hit the mall and get some good Black Friday Shopping in.  I have provided the link below to help you get your Black Friday plan together.  Happy Eating and Happy Shopping.

www.black-friday.net/

5 Gadgets That Should Be On Your Christmas List

If you are a techie or have a techie in your life, this is the list you need to take a good look at to make sure you purchase the best Christmas gifts this season.  There are some great brands that have done a good job advertising their products to make sure it is what you want for this holiday season!

1. For that book enthusisast in your life, they would surely appreciate an E-Reader from you as a gift.  There are many options out there that provide different features depending on what they want to do on it.  I happen to reccomend the Amazon Kindle, it mimics the display of a real page and you won't get the glare that LCD screen E-Readers will give.  I got one as a special gift, and I will cherish it forever!  Amazon has done a good job advertising, it has some tight competition, but the screen look proves to be an advantage.

2. Tablets!!!!!  After Apple released their iPad, Samsung has been right on their heels to release their own tablet.  It seems like a pretty cool piece of technolgy.  First there were desk tops, then lap tops, then netbooks and now tablets.  It allows you to have a smaller computer that operates similiar to your cell phone, it could be the all-in-one gadget, depending on what you choose.

3. "Connected TV"  Youtube has become a revolution.  You can watch anything, from videos to television programs and more.  So how great would it be, to be able to watch your favorite Youtubes on your big screen tv????  That's why this is the perfect gift.  But I must warn, don't be fooled, you can also do this by connecting your laptop to your TV, but this makes it so much easier.

4. 3-D TV  With all the new animated shows that have come out, this would be a great gift to bring the theater to your home.  When you rush to buy, make sure you pick up your 3-D glasses for everyone.  Samsung is reporting a list of side-effects for watching the tv.  While it seems like a pretty cool item, buy at your own risk!

5. Smartphones!!!!  Who can live without a smart phone these days?  It is the perfect tool to keep you and your life together at all times.  Its a mini computer with all the communication capabilities you need.  You will always be connected!  Each carrier has an option that just perfect your loved one!  Those who you love in  your life, will surely love you for this gift!

Above are some great items I hope you have on your list!!!

NU Purple or ILLINI Orange & Blue.....Was it worth it???

On Saturday, November 20, 2010 The Fighting Illini played the Northwestern Wildcats on their home grounds, except, their home was the history filled Wrigley Field.  Cubs marketing thought that they would give Northwestern an advantage by dressing up the place, to make sure they won at home.  They must have forgotten, it takes a little bit more than dressing the place up to guarantee a win.  But the decorations and marketing extend even further. As if painting Wrigley Field purple and hanging Northwestern players  in the lobby wasn't enough, they even went so far as to name Waveland,  Wildcat Way.  So you would think, if you spent all this money, did all this marketing, all this advertising, the goal would succeed and Northwestern would actually win.  Truth of the matter is Northwestern LOST, 48-27.  Lesson for the day, be careful how you spend your marketing and advertising dollars, and make sure if its a big investment, it actually accomplishes the goal that was set!  Because I am a loyal ILLINI, I would like to thank everyone who had a part in painting the town Purple and giving Northwestern a great celebration.  They needed it to lift their spirits after the ILINNI partied on them at the game. 
I-L-L I-N-I......Go ILLINI!!!!!!!

Sources:
http://wischlist.com/2010/11/purple-paint-job-a-bruise-on-wrigley/
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=170&sid=2125024
http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/112010aaa.html

"The Happy Land of McDonald's May Be Happy No More"

Just because times change, does that mean you should also?

In most situations I would say yes, but given the case of McDonald's I say no! There have been new stories informing the consumers of the idea to take McDonald's from the fun playhouse most 80’s babies grew up on, to a more upscale coffee house. McDonald's has decided, since they now sell $4 burgers and lattes, they no longer want to be seen as just a fast food restaurant; they want to be seen as competition for places such as Starbucks and Potbelly.

McDonald’s was built on the idea of Ronald McDonald, and a place for kids to come with parents to get a fun meal, a toy and to play in the balls. Now they want to take out the play area and make it a place for teenagers and adults, to come have coffee and study. McDonald’s get a grip! How much research have you really done on this? Have you studied the demographics of the areas in which most McDonald's are held? Don’t get me wrong; I do believe that some locations would benefit from a change such as this, but definitely not all of them. The McDonald’s in Oak Brook, IL (the city of the corporate headquarters) would be a great location to have a coffee house-style location, but the many McDonald's on the West Side of Chicago, shouldn’t even qualify for this idea. These locations are places where parents bring their kids for a fun play day alone or with friends. Can you really imagine going to study in one of these locations? I don’t think so!

McDonald's wants to rebrand itself, but is leaving the happy meal land really the rebranding solution that works well for the total organization? Well apparently I’m not the only person who has some doubt. Many McDonald's are franchise locations, and many of them don’t agree this new change will actually result in a positive return on investment-- which means that McDonald's as a corporation will have to provide most of the funding.

Are you ready to see happy meal land be taken over by a coffeehouse? If they make this change, honestly, will you ever see it that way? McDonald's will always be to me, the place where I had a birthday party at as a child, a place to get a happy meal, and a place to go play. It’s a kid place, not an adult place.

McDonald’s, proceed with caution, rebranding is not always the best idea.Sounce: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?id=33246

*Originally posted at The B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Blog *

Once it’s Gone…You’re Gonna Miss It!!!

News vendors, street vendors and door-to-door salesmen

"Although street vendors are more common in big cities, the times of people trying to sell you things on the sidewalk are passing. These days, every sales pitch comes with an ad or marketing campaign. And now that you can market and sell everything online, there is less of a need to sell goods in person. These positions are expected to decline rapidly through 2018."  November 16, 2010 MSN

I was reading on MSN.com today and I came across an article about the 10 jobs we will miss when they are gone and the one that stood out to me the most was the news vendors, the one that caught my attention was the milkman.  The milkman is almost out of business already, Oberweis is the only place that still does milk delivery.  I’m sure that many would think that no one will miss the newspaper because of how technologically addicted people have become.  People can now read the news on their computers, their smart phones and now with all the new tablets coming out, the availability to take the news everywhere with you is having a big surge.  So with all of that said, one would wonder, how on earth I figure people will miss the news vendors.  Think about the big moments in life you read about in the news, Princess Diana’s death, Harold Washington, Michael Jackson’s death, President Obama’s win, the Bulls 3-Peat, the burning of LeBron’s jersey in Cleveland, all of these are moments that people have rushed to newsstands to buy so they have a copy to remember.  The printed version online will never match the feeling that you get when you see it printed in the newspapers.  While we all love the new mobility technology has given us, we will long for the old fashioned paper when it is no more.

MSC Industrial Direct Buys Rutland Tool & Supply - Where Will the Competion Fall?

MSC Industrial Direct Buys Rutland Tool & Supply

Nov 11, 2010 1:02 PM, By Jim Tierney

Maintenance repair and operations (MRO) supplier MSC Industrial Direct has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Rutland Tool & Supply Co., for $11 million in cash. The deal is expected to close during the fourth quarter of calendar 2010.

Founded in 1955, Rutland Tool & Supply Co. is a subsidiary of MRO supplier Lawson Products. (Airgas, a supplier of medical gases and industrial supplies, sold the assets and operations of Rutland Tool. for $15 million to Lawson Products in November 2005.)

Rutland Tool distributes metalworking tools and machine parts to industrial machine and metalworking shops, as well as maintenance and repair facilities. The company recorded revenue of $33.7 million in 2009.

MSC Industrial Direct president/CEO David Sandler said Whittier, CA-based Rutland will add to MSC’s presence in the region. “We expect that this acquisition will enhance our West Coast build-out strategy and provide the opportunity for accelerated market share gains and further growth in sales and profitability."

MSC has acquired complementary products and new geography, "and there should be some back-end cost synergies," says Lee Helman, managing director at investment firm Financo. "On the surface, it looks like a strategic buy."

Melville, NY-based MSC ranked #20 on this year’s MCM 100, with $1.4 billion in sales for 2009. The company acquired metalworking tools cataloger J&L Industrial in 2006; last year it completed its transitioning of the J&L brand to MSC Industrial Supply—Metalworking's Best Choice.

When I first read this story, working for a fellow industrial supply company, the first thing I thought about is that this was one less competitor I could use to complete my job.  But as I examine this further, there are more business implications that come along with this.  While my organization might lose a source of information, we gain a source of probable true competition.  The west coast is an area we do good business in, adding another big name competitor brings on implications that time will only be able to tell.  It also prompts some questions for me.  Will Rutland still operate under the Rutland name?  Will Rutland be forever gone and the progression of more MSC’s will go on the rise?  Continuing the Rutland name could be profitable and good to keep during the transition, but will MSC feel their name is superior?  By keeping the Rutland name, it makes it easier for customers to continue on without viewable changes and if it has true loyal consumers it will keep them happy as well.  We saw what happened in Chicago, IL when Macys bought out Marshall Fields.  MSC has a good amount of locations in the area, but to take over Rutland could definitely create a boost in revenue.  While this looks very promising to MSC, what does this mean for WWG and McMaster Carr?  Competitor information gets smaller, but the race for profit could become that much wider.  I’ll be watching, and so should you!

Black Girls Rock!

BET's 'Black Girls Rock' takes out Bravo's 'Real Housewives' in big week for cable
(November 10, 2010) In a week in which broadcast TV lost black viewers for its most popular shows, the cable networks saw a big boost in viewership. It's not a certainty that this growth will continue to happen throughout the season, but the first week of November could be the start of a trend.

TBS remained the most watched network of the week, with 8.5 million tuning in six of its Top 25 shows. BET jumped to second place among networks -- thanks to its "Black Girls Rock" special which drew 2.5 million viewers and the No.1 spot on the chart. BET had 5.4 million viewers for four of its top programs. Bravo was hot on BET's heels with the help of a back-to-back block of "Real Housewives of Atlanta." It pulled in 5.3 million viewers for four shows.

Nielsen says that the Top 25 most popular shows with black audiences pulled in 31.7 million viewers. That's increase of 18 percent over the previous week.
Top 25 Cable Shows in Black Households

   Rank | Program | Network | AA Rating | AA Share | Viewers 2+

1	BLACK GIRLS ROCK!	BET	13.1	17.8	2,578
2	NFL REGULAR SEASON	ESPN	11.7	16.8	2,118
3	MEET THE BROWNS	TBS	9.7	14.5	1,989
4	MEET THE BROWNS	TBS	8.8	12.9	1,859
5	REAL HOUSEWIVES ATLANTA	BRAVO	8.2	11.5	1,715
6	REAL HOUSEWIVES ATLANTA	BRAVO	8.0	11.4	1,512

This week BET aired a program called Black Girls Rock, the purpose of this show was to highlight  and empower black women to know that they Rock.  Despite whatever challenges they face, they overcome them and they Rock.  This was a very positive show for BET to have, a show that empowers and not embarrasses an entire race.  Hopefully BET is taking a positive stand on the direction of shows they will broadcast to be a source of encouragement, not a source of tearing down and continuing to build on years of misconceived notions about the black woman.  The more astonishing thing about this is that we chose Black Girls Rock over Real Housewives of Atlanta.  While I too am a viewer of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, I’m glad that we chose to give our time to something that highlighted us for the powerful women we can be and not the vain, drama filled people we are portrayed as.  Women, regardless of race we ALL Rock!!!  We carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and do it all with a smile on our face.  Stand strong in spite of mountains you have to climb, there is a great reward on the other side.

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