Burger King adds Quaker Oatmeal to their Breakfast Menu

Oatmeal and Burgers…not quite the most appealing combination is it?  Well in this ever changing economic society and fast paced world, fast food is becoming the fast answer to feed your hunger.  Now there’s more, consumers want healthy fast food.  Burger King, the world’s second largest hamburger chain has decided to put their hand in the mix.  Burger King has partnered with Quaker Oatmeal to start serving oatmeal in their breakfast line up. The traffic growth for breakfast has increased 60% between 2005-2010, so its not a bad time to step outside the box and see if what has worked for everyone else will also work for you.  Burger King has come into the market pricing itself below the competition.  They also boast in having the lowest calories and grams of fat.  But will low pricing and lower calories be enough?  Well Burger King clearly doesn't think so, they realize to get to the top and see increased profits, there are some other changes they need to make.  The question is will they make the right ones.  The first change they are making is to retire "The King" as their mascot and launch a more food focused campaign.  They also plan to increase their healthy items by adding more salads and apple fries for children.  It looks like they've got their food strategy covered, but what about the other components?  You retire "The King," so what's your image revamp plan?  Will you redesign the restaurants?  Will you glam up your menus and marketing campaigns?  What else are you going to do?  Burger King has ridden the wave of the Whopper for so long, times have changed and now they need to as well.  They have had some good promotions linking up with upcoming movies, but there is nothing vibrant about Burger King, they're just another burger joint.  If they want to compete, they need to bring more than that to the table.  Don't be alarmed, Burger King isn't going anywhere soon, but neither are their profits if they don't find that "it" to get them back in style.  B.M.M.O. Consulting will be awaiting the new changes that Burger King will bring forth. 

Happy Birthday Michael Jackson



On this day, 53 years ago, the King of Pop Michael Jackson was born.  It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since his untimely death.  He was preparing to go on tour and show the world he still  had it!  Unfortunately his final stage call came sooner than even he expected.  Today B.M.M.O. Consulting wishes Michael Jackson Happy Birthday.  You and your craft will truly be missed.  Rest In Peace MJ

Marketing News This Week

HP Bids Farewell to webOS

Early Monday morning, news was revealed that Hewlett-Packard was going to stop selling hardware that uses webOS.  This propriety mobile operating system runs on the Linux kernel.  Last month HP launched the TouchPad, it did not produce the success they expected.  The future of webOs is unknown.  Many were interested to see the future of webOS as an alternative to the Apple and Android platforms, now we may never know.

Kim Kardashian gets Married, for Love and for Money

This past Sunday, well known self-promoter Kim Kardashian got married to Kris Humphries of the New Jersey Nets.  We all know that weddings are expensive, but when you’re Kim Kardashian, getting married is just another day at work.  Sources report that Kim will make $17.9 million off her wedding day, which is more than most people make in a lifetime.  Sponsors also played a big role in the day, the invitations, the ring, the cake, the Champagne and Kim’s dress were all given to her in exchange for some publicity.  Kim has found love and is about her business all at the same time!

Camry – The Toyota Redeemer

Toyota has had a rough couple of years with recalls, earthquakes and tsunamis; they are in need of something to get the brand back going.  They were the world’s largest automaker from 2008 – 2010, they are now on pace to be third for this year.  The Camry has been Toyota’s best-selling car in the United States for nine consecutive years.  The importance of the debut of the 2012 Camry is so vital that the company’s president Akio Toyoda, traveled to Kentucky to drive the first completed car off the assembly line and gave it his approval.  Toyota has several events planned to get this car’s selling opportunities off to a fast start.  Some of these events include having the car show up during Super Bowl Sunday commercials, as well as broadcasting events in several cities with performers on hand. 

Michael Jordan #23 is coming Back to Chicago

No, Michael Jordan isn’t putting back on a jersey to play along side Derrick Rose and bring us a ring, but he has brought us a restaurant.  Michael Jordan opened his restaurant “Michael Jordan’s Steak House” this Tuesday and has some signature items on the menu.  The chopped salad comes with 23 ingredients and for dessert, there is a 23-layer chocolate cake.  Sounds like a good combo of healthiness and sweetness combined!  B.M.M.O. Consulting will be putting this on the list of must try food establishments. 

Jobs Leaves Apple – Did you see that coming?

On Wednesday, another tech shake up took place, this time in the form of Steve Jobs announcing that he was resigning as CEO of Apple, but that he would stay on as Apple’s chairman.  Jobs has had some medical issues that have forced him to take medical leave, he was currently on leave as he made this announcement.  Steve Jobs has a long history with Apple, he helped co-found it in 1976 in his family’s garage.  Nine years later he left Apple, but returned in 1996 and has been a major asset to the company ever since.  While Jobs will no longer be CEO, he will still be very active in the life of Apple, all are sad to see him go.  

Ways to Save on Back To School Items

It's that time again!  Yes, summer break has ended and now its time for students of all ages to head back to school.  B.M.M.O. Consulting has got some tips to help keep money in your pocket and still get all the supplies, clothes and extras you need.


1. Check your home for supplies - Look to see what unused supplies you still have so you don't buy more than you need.  If you have supplies with company logos on them, cover them up with cute stickers, no one will know.


2. Look for Bargains & Coupons - As the school year approaches check out all the sale papers and map out which stores have the best deals.  Most importantly, stock up!  Get all that you will need for the year so you will be prepared for the lost pens, pencils and notebooks and still have enough to get through the year.


3. Don't Rush - If it's not a necessary item for the first day of school, wait until September and you will find more price markdowns on backpacks,  lunch boxes and other items.


4. $1 Store Shop - Don't sleep on the items you can find at the dollar store.  They now carry brands that would amaze you.  Many of your school items can be found there and for a bargain of a price.


5. Shop at the Unexpected Places - Go to places such as thrift stores and consignment shops.  You can find major brand names for excessively less than in the retail stores.  Also check out garage sales, you would be surprised at some of the things you can find at a good garage sale. Good buys can be found in some of the most unexpected places.


6. Online Discounters - Surf out Craigslist and eBay to see if you can find some of the designer brands for less money and less time.  No need to go and walk the malls, shop online and have it delivered to your home.


7. Shopping Smart - Buy clothes in sizes that can be grown into and will last longer.  If you find items at a really good price, buy them in larger sizes for the future.  Look for neutral colors that go with many things to provide more options.  


8. Technology on a Budget - Computers have become a necessity in daily life, even more important for students.  Shop for deals, look for student software, its cheaper than the full version.  


9. Calculators Needed - Math has gotten more complicated over the years and calculators have become a necessity.  There are many options out there, so try to find one that will meet your needs for several years to come so that you can save on spending more money in the future.


We hope that we have shared with you some useful tips to aid you in shopping smart and on budget.  Feel free to add any tips you may also have.

This Week's Happenings In the World of Marketing

Google To Buy Motorola

This week Google shook up the telecommunications and technology industry by announcing its plan to buy Motorola for 12.5 billion dollars.  Motorola has had several bad years; their most recent attempt to rebuild was to split the businesses up, by doing so looks like Google saw an opportunity to shake everything up.   Google’s Android software has been quite successful, so what other way to increase the success than to cut out the middleman?  By making their own phones with their own software they become direct competitors of Apple.  My guess is that Apple is somewhere figuring out how to make this purchase unattainable.  Android is one of the biggest smartphone brands, not only in the US, but also in China, which is experiencing growth in their mobile market.  Let’s not get so excited, we do remember the Nexus One from 2010 sold at T-Mobile, it was considered a major flop, are we sure that Google will be able to rebound from that, we think they will and will be watching to see.  Google has made some major moves to not only remain relevant but also a leader.  The downfall of this purchase is that it could cut out competition completely, soon the only options may only be Android or iPhone; Windows and BlackBerry are still around, but they are not nearly as prevalent as Android and IPhone operating systems.  This is very reminiscence of the AT&T buyout of T-Mobile, can’t wait to see how this turns out.

DraftFCB Layoffs Cause Concern for MillerCoors

One brand shuts down an agency.  Well that’s what it looks like S.C. Johnson & Sons Inc. may have done to Chicago based DraftFCB.  When they took their account they took revenues of $25 million in the Chicago office alone and over $1 billion globally.  This decrease of profits has caused DraftFCB to have to layoff some employees.  This isn’t abnormal, it’s what many companies are doing in these tough economic times, but it causes a problem if your now largest account MillerCoors has made it clear they want the team working their account to stay or there might be problems.  Not only has DraftFCB lost S.C. Johnson, but they have also lost Kraft Foods and State Farm Insurance accounts.  As of Monday, they planned on cutting 250 positions, which would slash the 960 Chicago employees by 25%.  At the end of the year MillerCoors’ contract is up with DraftFCB and the competition apparently is already making their bids to become the new agency for their products.  This doesn’t sound good for DraftFCB, but lets hope since MillerCoors is their major account they can devote the attention needed to keep them a satisfied client who renews their contract.

Abercrombie & Fitch has a Situation and are willing to pay for it

Ambercrombie and Fitch decided that they no longer want to see Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino nor his cast mates wearing their clothing line.  They have offered to pay him to stop wearing their brand, as well as other members of the cast to never wear it at all.  They say that Jersey Shore is contrary to the aspirational nature of their brand.  This is an interesting statement from a brand that has been known for racy marketing campaigns and nearly naked models.  They have also settled racial and gender allegation suits in the last decade.  MTV believes this is just a publicity stunt, judging from Ambercrombie’s past, we would have to agree.  Sounds like a “win” for “The Situation,” it will be interesting to see if and how much they pay him to help keep their brand untainted. 

ComEd Might Be Losing Power

This summer has been quite rainy and quite stormy in Chicago.  It caused several power outages and some for extreme lengths of time.  Many residents have lost patience with ComEd and want something to be done.  ComEd’s plan is to get better infrastructure, which would lead to higher service fees.  Some of the well-known municipalities have other plans; they want to take their power service somewhere else.  Oak Park and Oak Brook Illinois have started looking for new service providers, they hope to be able to get all residents to agree so everyone can get the lower priced service.  They’re not the only ones; other smaller cities are exploring their options to take their business elsewhere also.  Will the city of Chicago look for other options also, not likely.  ComEd’s rates are expected to be higher than the competitors through 2013 because of prices they negotiated when the cost was higher.   The lower costs from competitors and outages of the summer look to be prime reasons to get customers to switch.  ComEd has been a trusted name for many years, will these cities really take their business elsewhere?  Or is this just a ploy to let ComEd know they mean business and they want to see change?  Loss of business means loss of revenue, let’s see if ComEd can persuade their customers to stay on board and keep business moving.

Smart Banking on Your Smart Phone

Do you ever want to check your banking account via your cellphone?  Are you afraid that your privacy and security are at risk?  We have become such a technology dependent society and our cellphones carry everything we need.  Well B.M.M.O. Consulting is going to give some tips on how to be smart while banking on your smart phone. 

• Only download banking apps from your recognized bank and from a trusted market such as iPhone or Android.
• Ensure the security of your phone, just as you would your PC by using anti-virus protection applications.
• Always keep your phone in close proximity to you when not at home or when company is present. 
• If your phone has a lock feature, lock your phone when you sit it down.  It will keep people from logging into your phone and misusing your information.
• Never use a public Wi-Fi to check banking information, only use those that are locked and have security keys. 
• Never send text messages or emails containing personal information such as account numbers and passwords. 
• Be weary of emails asking you to confirm personal information by clicking on their site. These are phishing messages that seek to steal your information, don’t be fooled!  The bank will never ask you to verify information via email.

Using your mobile device can be a great convenience, just be smart about where and when you check your information.  Banks such as Bank of America offer a zero liability guarantee that prevents the consumer from being responsible for unauthorized transactions.  Check with your bank to see if they offer similar programs.

More information can be found via MSN Money.

What's Going on in the World of Marketing This Week?

This week B.M.M.O. Consulting is starting a new weekly segment all about marketing.  Every Friday we will give a brief summary of some of the top Marketing stories of the week. Today is only Monday and there has already been a big tech story on the rise.  If you  happen to miss the news, don't fret, we will have the marketing news you need to stay informed.  Keep following, there is more in store!

Eating Out on A Budget

During these declining economic times everyone is trying to figure out how to save a dollar without sacrificing the life of luxury they have grown to love.  No one said that you have to stop eating, you just have to figure out how to eat at a good price.  This is where B.M.M.O. Consulting has come to help.  Below are some tips you can take to help you eat on a budget.  


1. Eat at lunch time - Lunch time is almost always cheaper than dinner.  You can get the same meals just smaller portions, which may end up being healthier too!


2. Use coupons - Begin to plan meals around coupons.  There are several discounting options such as Groupon, LivingSocial and now Amazon is getting involved.  Buy them when you see one you like or use it as a way to try new places at discounted prices. 


3. Dine at BYOB locations - You will find that most times it is the alcohol that increases the bill.  Find places that will allow you to bring in your own.  Many times the cost of one glass of wine on site is equal to the cost of a bottle you could bring in.  


4. Never go to eat on an empty stomach - When you are hungry, you always think you can eat more than your stomach can really handle.  You end up ordering more food than needed and spending unnecessary money.


5. Buffets - While people have different opinions about eating at buffets, they can sometimes be a good inexpensive filling meal.  Inside tip about buffets, go towards the end of one meal so you can benefit from enjoying two meal choices.  We recommend that you try Flat Top Grill, their breakfast is exceptional!


6. Eat the Specials - Restaurants always have specials.  Sometimes they have full course meal options at discounted prices, most of the time there are no substitutes, but it's a bargain!


We hope that we have shared with you some good options to still enjoy the eating out lifestyle while maintaining your budget.  Let this nation's economic situation be an indication of how going off the budget can have negative consequences.  Now go use these tips and enjoy eating good on a budget.  Please comment and share any additional  tips you have for eating on a budget.

Thanks for being my Friend!

Today is International Friends Day.  B.M.M.O. Consulting wants to say thank you to all of  our Facebook, Twitter and Blog followers.  A special thanks to all of our personal friends who have pushed us to this place.  Life is nothing without someone in it to help you enjoy it and encourage you every step of the way.  Every view you make, comment and like on Facebook, pushes us to be even greater than the day before.  Thank you for being my friend.


"A man's growth is seen in the successive choirs in his friends." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Disease Awareness - What you need to know about strokes

Do you know the signs of a stroke?  Do you know what to do to help someone if they have one?  Well B.M.M.O. Consulting doesn’t either.  We encountered this last week and fell short on knowing what to do.  So that we can be a resource for you and your loved ones, we want to give you some key information about strokes.

Lets start with the basics.  A stroke is a "brain attack" that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain.  When either of these things happens, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.  Some of the risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, family history, obesity and past strokes.  Twice as many women die from stroke than they do breast cancer every year.  Unfortunately, women don’t always experience classic symptoms.

Some clear warning signs that someone might be having a stroke:

1.Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

2. Sudden confusion, or trouble talking or understanding speech
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balannce or    coordination
5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause  

If you notice someone having these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Strokes are the 3^rd leading cause of death in America, over 160,000 Americans die each year from it, but the good news is, 80% of strokes are preventable.

There are several things that can be done to help with your healthiness and decrease your chance of stroke. 

• Exercise – It helps maintain the heart’s strength and keeps the blood pressure down.  It can also lower your chances at diabetes and help control your cholesterol. 
• Drink Moderately – Alcohol raises the blood pressure and increases stroke risks, monitor the amount you drink to cut your risk.
• Control Weight – As you become older and gain more weight, you increase your risk.  Find a healthy weight and maintain it.
• Eat Healthy – Blood cholesterol levels can be increased by eating diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol.  High cholesterol can cause blood clots and excess sodium can increase the blood pressure.
• Stop Smoking – The nicotine and carbon monoxide that is found in cigarettes damage your cardiovascular system.  Just after two years of quitting, your stroke risk decreases significantly. 

We hope that after reading this article you feel more informed about the risks and symptoms of a stroke.  Please pass this along to all the people you know, it may one day help save a life.  It took an unfortunate incident for us to learn about this, but take the time and learn about disease prevention of all kinds early so you will know how to assess and handle the situation.

More information about the facts above can be found at the websites below.

National Stroke Association

Health.com

Stroke Awareness Foundation

Businesses You Need to Know!

Over the past several weeks B.M.M.O. Consulting has taken the time to highlight several people and organizations that are doing great things.  We have now completed the highlighting portion and want to give a brief recap of the great resources you should seek for help in their specific areas of expertise.

B.A.F.F.L.E.D. stands for Business Advice, Fashion Facts, Law & Entertainment Domain.  This site is a portal and conduit to news, networking, empowerment, advice and philanthropy. 

Diedre M. Banks, C.P.A. is a certified public accountant licensed in Illinois and Texas.  Diedre’s work portfolio includes tax planning for foreign entities, process improvement implementation for tax basis balance sheets, Section 863(b) income sourcing, and foreign and domestic tax return review.  She provides accounting services to individuals as well as organizations.

May Vora Jewelry - Are you looking for fashionable, one of a kind jewelry?  You need to check out May Vora Jewelry.  At May Vora Jewelry, their motto is "There is Only One," LaReana Nichole designs and creates one of a kind custom handcrafted jewelry that you will never find anyone else wearing! 

Gametime Pros - Are you looking to make the tape that will change your student athlete’s future?  GameTime Pros is who you need to call.  Game Time Pros is an athletic recruiting firm specializing in advanced highlight videos for high school athletes.

Oak Park Chiropractic, established in 2008, is a family owned and operated clinic located in downtown Oak Park.  They provide a variety of services, from acupuncture, massages and several other options.

It has been our pleasure to share with you several businesses that we fully support.  We hope that you will check them out.  Now that we have completed our highlights blog postings, stay tuned; B.M.M.O. Consulting has a new weekly posting segment that is coming soon.  It’s sure to keep you informed and up to date on all things marketing.