Grocery Store Employees: Average Joes or Marketing Pros

As I sat there in the Produce back-room at Geisslers Supermarket I couldn't help but think to myself, am I just stocking fruit or am I advertising it for all customers to see? It was at that time I realized that in fact I am doing both. After wondering around the store for several minutes (on the clock mind you) I came to the conclusion that all employees of the grocery business are marketers of some sort. They are innovators, advertisers, personal sellers and most of them don't even know it.

These employees are on the forefront of the business. Each containing vast amounts of knowledge of their respected department. An employee working produce can tell you the difference between and English Cuke and a Regular Cuke. Someone in Bakery can tell you whether using large white eggs are better (or worse) than using large brown eggs to bake a cake. Meat department employees will make that backyard BBQ even more enjoyable. They do this by offering advice on certain cuts of meat and cooking techniques. Even the cashiers at the check-out line will tell you those $2.99 paper towels you are about to buy are no different than the $0.99 ones on sale.

Knowledge, however, isn't the only tools these people poses. Creativity is also in their "bag of tricks." It is the employees who erect those massive displays (some may consider to be works of art) in the middle of the store. These displays that grab your attention, make you gasp in awe, and inform you that these displayed canned goods are in fact on sale! Creativity can be seen especially in the produce section. The arrangement of fruits and vegetables allows for colors to grasp your attention and pull you in for a closer look.

All in all these folks are the quintessential grinding gears that "turnover" a profit for the company. They not only think like consumers but at the same time act in the best interest of them. Like all marketing people know, a happy customer means a profitable business.

You Got Iced...

Bros Icing Bros

Frat game or witty marketing ploy?

I was "Iced" for the first time this weekend. I haven't had a Smirnoff Ice since high school when we drank 40's of them (yes unfortunately they exist). Clearly we had no idea what we were doing yet. This time I could barely keep it down. I forgot how disgusting this shit is. Between the pungent syrupy flavor and the bubbly acid on my throat, chugging it was awful.

The prank supposedly originated on college campuses down south and Smirnoff has denied taking credit for creating this drinking game phenomenon. It's just hard to just believe this at face value. This has a creative marketing signature written all over it.

To play, one must surprise a friend with a Smirnoff Ice by concealing it and tricking him/her who must then take a knee and chug the refreshing bottled beverage (usually given warm). The phenomenon has spread throughout the country through various social groups and a complete range of socioeconomic classes. I've seen a ridiculous amount of Facebook pics of someone getting "Iced" in the last month. People have been iced at their offices! What?

This is definitely going to help the brand and build sales in the short term. Smirnoff has basically received a free celebrity endorsement by showing up in a YouTube video of Coolio getting Iced and a website called iceashton.com tries to get a pic icing Ashton Kutcher. But will the game kill the brand after the fad dies?

Does Smirnoff Ice hold the same fate as Bartles and James?

The Greatest Salesman in the WORLD!!!

Some of the best personal sellers aren't selling pharmaceuticals, tech, or life insurance. They're not selling fancy cars or making billions of dollars. The best personal sellers are just trying to get rid of the random crap laying around in the cellar. Who wants a 15 year old mangy teddy bear missing one eye that may have possibly been a dog toy? You might say "No one!" but these yard salespeople seem to be able to get rid of everything. Through price negotiations and great story-telling, these seemingly worthless items fly off the fold up tables on the front lawn like hot cakes.