As the 30-second spot is dying a slow and painful death, and alternative media is quickly replacing traditional in many instances... So too, we see the rise of what P&G has been forecasting for years, in-store marketing. If you were unable to attend The In-Store Marketing Expo (or didn't even know about it), in Chicago this month, understand that you are catching up.

This touchpoint of a brand combines both creativity and accountability, maximizing effectiveness. And since most purchasing decisions are made in the store, it stands to be recognized that this market is going to become more and more important in the upcoming years. Product design, packaging, and brand experience are coming to the forefront of both business discussions and strategy.

If you care about blogs, or even the direction they are taking this is a quick must read. In essence, it shows the power of the online community, and that people need to take notice of this dramatic shift in the way things are marketed. It's not just about your marcom materials and your PR anymore, your product actually has to be good.

Meanwhile, HBS has an interesting article on defining your primary customer. I can't count how many times a client has said, "Our customer is everyone." Don't be diluted. And another by iMedia is a worthy read on behavioral marketing. It's a quick interview between (Claria CEO) Scott Eagle and Neil Perry.

And on the retail front, HP is going to stop selling iPods, but I can't say that I am unhappy about this.

“They’ve decided that reselling iPods doesn’t fit with their company’s current digital media strategy,” the Journal quoted Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton as saying.

No duh.

Note to marketers: The crossover reuse of products is really freaking people out.


And it's not fooling anyone.