tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53426582345053839972012-01-19T12:16:54.337-08:00Thoughts to captivate you over a cup of coffee. Welcome to your "escape from the daily grind!"Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.comBlogger1341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-64357388099312124562012-01-19T12:16:00.000-08:002012-01-19T12:16:54.346-08:00

 Every agency wrestles with self-positioning. In our case it has revolved around what we do, how we do it, and even for whom (escape brands). Until we got energized about WHY we do what we do. It doesn't start with the almighty dollar! (Or somewhat mightier than the Euro dollar.)  No, it centers on the fact that for 83 years now clients have TRUSTED us to develop ideas for their

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-73785424560774110142012-01-13T06:06:00.000-08:002012-01-13T06:06:41.296-08:00

We had a very nice agency event last night. Our social committee arranged dinner and a private screening of the new film, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Guy Ritchie's modern interpretation of Holmes played by Robert Downey Jr. is rapier smart, fearless, and kicks ass. So why this movie for a companywide event? Well it's "elementary" my dear reader!

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-30423360620800387522012-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:002012-01-04T07:00:06.319-08:00

Sometimes a family meal just looks wrong. I'm not talking about the food. Rather when you look at the table and see everyone holding cellphones and no one talking to each other. Now we have to be magicians to get our smart phones to become "dumb." Enter the phonekerchief. This innovative, service-blocking hanky made with silver fibers effectively blocks incoming calls and texts. "My phone is off

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-17568638392901240552012-01-03T11:16:00.000-08:002012-01-03T12:04:50.825-08:00

Consider this an interactive post all started when, during the long (long) drive from Detroit to Florida, my daughter piped up from the back seat, "hey, got any music from this century?" She was right to ask. Between my iPod filled with 70's classics and The Bridge on Sirius/XM we should have been driving in an Olds Custom Cruiser station wagon. In all fairness I did sprinkle in a few current

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-19844136442669779782011-12-21T14:47:00.000-08:002011-12-21T14:47:48.085-08:00

I'm getting nothing and I'm quite happy about that. I'm extremely lucky in that I really don't need anything. My birthday was last month. I got good books, a blue sweater (it's in the pile with other blue sweaters), and a pair of winter running briefs that keep key parts from freezing. Without those running briefs I could find myself in need of something that's quite hard to buy at the mall.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-37496014383296237732011-12-13T08:43:00.000-08:002011-12-13T08:43:03.890-08:00

As our agency is active in a couple of parallel new business efforts we got around to talking about what makes a great client. We all tossed out some buzzwords and then I recalled an article from the November issue of Harvard Business Review. In the article celebrated architect Frank Gehry provided an excellent response to the question and to balance in the creative process. Here's an excerpt

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-63418474144082421402011-12-01T08:57:00.001-08:002011-12-01T09:03:19.012-08:00

Last evening was a special night for the advertising community in Detroit and for SMZ as well. The fifth annual "D" Show took place down at The Max in Detroit. The D Show is the yearly creative showplace for agencies big and small. This year the show received over 400 entries. After a first round of judging done by the D Show committee, the finalists are then reviewed by a jury of our peers

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-71022480710319572932011-11-21T10:17:00.001-08:002011-11-21T10:32:39.073-08:00

My daughter is a huge Taylor Swift fan. When I heard a local radio station discussing a video by Vh1 Blog Editor Rich Juzwiak this morning I had to check it out. This is a surprise to Brooke showing how Ms. Swift is so often, like at last evening's American Music Awards,  "genuinely" surprised.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-2366449377716496682011-11-11T06:02:00.001-08:002011-11-11T06:13:12.346-08:00

Black Thursday, doesn't that mean you burned the Thanksgiving turkey? Not anymore. After 15 years of working on mall marketing - watching Black Friday go from a retail industry term to a consumer selling message - the calendar has been broken. Last year our client, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, MI pioneered the midnight opening. Still technically on Black Friday. This year an

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-74860606386136930422011-10-27T12:29:00.000-07:002011-10-27T12:29:37.331-07:00

In every pocket of every jacket I have a ChapStick®. When my lips get sensitive I apply some moisturizer. Simple as that. Today a client shared with me how a number of people's sensibilities became "sensitive" about a seemingly innocent ad posted by ChapStick brand. Click the ad image for a link to the full story and let me know if you get "chapped" about the whole thing?

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-14386989733634953302011-10-27T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-27T12:00:22.764-07:00

“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-69609738712508898642011-10-11T06:30:00.000-07:002011-10-11T06:30:11.192-07:00

Our agency is active in three RFPs. That's nothing to complain about. Instead I'd like to applaud the work of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's) on their recently published guidelines for Agency Search. The following is a trade article and link to the White Paper outlining how to conduct an effective search and selection process. (Note

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-89612524109901965652011-09-30T11:01:00.000-07:002011-09-30T11:01:12.518-07:00

For more than 20 years, Smith & Wollensky has been one of my favorite restaurants. As they opened outposts outside of the original on 49th and Third Ave. in New York, I've been there. A decade ago when I stopped eating meat, I simply embraced the seafood portion of the menu. (And the wine list, too.) Speaking of their menu, fans know it's framed in glass. I have a confession to make. My

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-1644504950874760252011-09-09T02:52:00.000-07:002011-09-09T02:52:00.789-07:00

It's that time of year where every non-locked-out sport collides. Since hockey promises the best collisions I'm heading down to the Joe for Hockeyfest.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-85348108482224093312011-09-06T09:29:00.000-07:002011-09-06T09:29:22.855-07:00

For the past three weeks I've been meaning to get around to planning summer travel, 2012. Why so early? Because the frequent flyer seats get nabbed 360 days out. The following piece has spurred me to get my @%&* together. Maybe it will inspire you, too ... ADVENTURE I’ve been thinking about how big our world is and how small-minded we’ve become; how quick we are to judge and how slow to

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-14349328283473449462011-09-02T13:34:00.000-07:002011-09-02T13:34:16.410-07:00

Anytime I'm in New York, if possible, I like to take in a Broadway show. The challenge is always "what to see?" One answer to that question is to nab a ticket to the show most likely NOT making its way to "Broadway in Detroit." I figured the ambitious, high-flying theatrics of the oft-maligned Spider-Man show meant it has to stay in New York. So last night I found myself in a unique solo seat (

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-72048874375777493542011-08-16T12:27:00.000-07:002011-08-16T12:27:44.384-07:00

Last night I was watching Teen Jeopardy with my daughter. (I was kicking butt vs. 15 year-olds but that's a different story.) They had a category entitled, "what kids are reading today." Most of the questions/answers concerned vampires and wearwolves. I bring this up because I am 2/3rds of the way through The Hunger Games trilogy, a series of books recommended by my other daughter who missed

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-42658875030133286622011-08-04T14:16:00.000-07:002011-08-04T14:16:44.280-07:00

"Derby" at eight weeks Here it is, blog post number five million gushing about a cute, new puppy. I've struggled to find a different perspective than what's out there. Crate training, positive reinforcement, housebreaking, ... all covered to death. In fact more web hits for puppies than for "shrimp recipes." Hard to believe. Until I realized that our exuberant new family member, Derby, a

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-35935553747774401542011-07-06T08:34:00.000-07:002011-07-05T08:34:35.217-07:00

I love taking in the outdoor advertising in Los Angeles. An amazing number of boards are for what we at smz have branded as part of the consumer's Escape Plan. iPad2, Las Vegas resorts, Universal Studios, Virgin Air, McDonald's, ... And of course the movies. Having spent the past few days in LA I witnessed the power of the Harry Potter franchise in the outdoor advertising space. They don't even

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-91143930230198501972011-07-05T07:32:00.000-07:002011-07-05T07:32:36.095-07:00

I want to give my daughter grief for sleeping the summer away, but I can't. She's working this summer. And working on something that makes a difference. For those over 17, get to know Summer in the City - Detroit. This program was started by students, is run by students, and dispels all myths about the lack of initiative of the students in "generation next." For the past two years I've been

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-75136123732529719102011-06-20T09:22:00.000-07:002011-06-20T09:22:38.327-07:00

Our Escape research showed golf and video games as top consumer escapes. No surprise there. Who better than EA Sports to put the two together. From the Adweek story: Nike might want him now, but EA Sports was the brand who bet early on Rory McIlroy, the young golfer from Northern Ireland who won the U.S. Open this weekend—following great runs at the Masters and the British Open. Last summer, EA

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-10211194138267292592011-05-20T09:23:00.000-07:002011-05-20T09:23:28.434-07:00

Last night I was walking into the Palace of Auburn Hills with my wife and two daughters to see Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. My oldest daughter, Rebecca plays the saxophone and was super excited to see the band, especially Alto Reed. My less excited daughter, Brooke who's nearly 16 and counting the days and minutes to becoming a legal driver said, "dad, why again am I going to a concert

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-83656405450365574822011-05-11T07:14:00.000-07:002011-05-11T07:14:29.618-07:00

Awhile back I posted about the crazy number of Apple products my family owns. Most work beautifully, but occasionally I have to visit the Genius Bar for help. A friend forwarded this video, or I should say programme, that wonderfully mocks our tech speak. Enjoy the escape.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-9450744353357596072011-04-26T14:40:00.000-07:002011-04-26T14:40:36.537-07:00

As a kid growing up in an advertising family I got the chance, at age 9, to be the voice of a canary for one of my father's accounts. I had one line. When I got in the studio I choked. Did I mention that I was 9? Using analog editing techniques the engineer made me sound like Alvin the Chipmunk. That passed client muster, the client said ok and I got paid a large fee ... $1. Again, did I mention

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-86680049364969028052011-04-25T15:01:00.000-07:002011-04-25T15:01:27.698-07:00

I grew up a Detroit Tigers fan. For most of my life that meant listening to Tigers games on the radio brought to vivid "theater of the mind" life by the great Ernie Harwell, the voice of baseball. On Saturday evening my wife and I had the pleasure to see a preview of Mitch Albom's new play entitled, "Ernie" about the life and times of broadcaster Ernie Harwell. Not theater of the mind. Just

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-69427030111498741532011-04-13T12:12:00.000-07:002011-04-13T12:12:34.818-07:00

Our client, the Detroit Red Wings step out on the ice tonight marking their 20th consecutive playoff appearance. A phenomenal testament to the team's consistency and standard of excellence. Fans of the Red Wings know that it all starts by heading up the steep stairs outside of Joe Louis Arena. To add excitement to this milestone, the Detroit Red Wings blessed our idea to decorate the stairs.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-36999784977693799702011-03-12T10:39:00.000-08:002011-03-12T10:39:00.266-08:00

This Sunday evening at 8pm on ABC television, real estate investor Marc Paskin spends a week in Detroit searching for people and organizations deserving of his help. Why? He's featured on a new show called Secret Millionaire. A show that promises to follow some of America's wealthiest people for one week as they leave behind their lavish lifestyles, sprawling mansions and luxury jets, conceal

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-65521068154339986052011-03-11T16:15:00.000-08:002011-03-11T16:15:00.123-08:00

Sometimes the way to ESCAPE the day-to-day challenges of our business is to get immersed in the challenges and opportunities of other businesses. Businesses beyond our agency's clients. I'm so fortunate to be able - once a month - to meet with the heads of a fascinating, diverse set of area businesses. A set of businesses that represent the dynamism and creativity inherent in the "D". To keep

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-58399768049253836832011-02-01T11:59:00.000-08:002011-02-01T11:59:00.060-08:00

I wish I had the protective cab! On the eve of what they're calling Snowmageddon we've got our snow blower gassed up and ready to go. To some, clearing the driveway is a major chore. Not to mention a health hazard. Personally, I really enjoy it. It's an odd escape. Maybe it's the sense of accomplishment once the driveway is clear? Or maybe it's sending the snow all the way across my neighbor's

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-6935254157269701682011-01-12T15:09:00.000-08:002011-01-12T15:09:40.184-08:00

Warren Buffett (L) and Bill Gates. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) I'm not on the Forbes 400 list. I'm quite a few zeros short. On the bright side, my estate planning is much simpler. Last evening on National Public Radio's Marketplace program (one of my frequent escapes) they did a feature that asked, "why would Bloomberg News think now's the time to go

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-77369619833697566782011-01-05T08:14:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:14:00.232-08:00

Click to watch the video interview They say, "learn something new every day." What does the routing of UPS delivery trucks have to do with making brands a part of the consumer's Escape Plan? Simple. If you've taken note of UPS' new campaign you've seen "We ❤ logistics" everywhere. Much of that logistics management and infrastructure supports e-commerce. And if my household is any indication

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-75264768424740078602011-01-04T09:07:00.000-08:002011-01-04T09:07:44.208-08:00

The upstairs bathtub was raining down through the ceiling. The left side of the kitchen sink was leaking and duct-taped "do not use." The original low-flow toilet had gone "no flow."  And my wife had subtly recorded every episode of DIY Network's "I hate my kitchen." The time had come for the major redo. Over the past few months we (I use "we" as if I had much to do with this) have ordered

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-58787672420438756212011-01-03T13:59:00.000-08:002011-01-03T13:59:40.835-08:00

Come on, I know you've already got "Sweet Georgia Brown" and a red, white and blue basketball spinning in your head. Yesterday with friends and family at the Palace of Auburn Hills, we enjoyed the annual visit by the Harlem Globetrotters. I grew up mesmerized by the showmanship of Meadowlark Lemon and the ball-handling of Curly Neal. Whether on ABC's Wide World of Sports or at Cobo, I fell for

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-56283392519389630302011-01-01T06:48:00.000-08:002011-01-01T06:48:00.440-08:00

Happy New Year! A friendly reminder not to miss my new favorite Escape on New Year's Day, the NHL's Winter Classic at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. Our beloved Detroit Red Wings won a thriller over the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field a few years ago. Today the Penguins and Capitals take their rivalry to a perfectly smooth outdoor "pond" at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Sorry BCS alphabet soup of Bowl games,

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-45593819086500935832010-12-31T08:14:00.000-08:002010-12-31T08:14:00.216-08:00

Not Lance. He's always been a somebody. In the November 2010 issue of Fast Company Guy Kawasaki stated, "the nobodies are the new somebodies" referring to emerging social media influencers. I see his point. To be active in social media requires finding the new somebodies all the while conversing with them as a couple of friendly nobodies. Not as easy as it sound. My blog is a whisper. Not even to

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-36790288461701606622010-12-30T07:34:00.000-08:002010-12-30T07:34:00.977-08:00

Ralph Lauren has made a fortune by making his versions of classics (clothing, furniture, jewelry, ...) a need more than a want. I still can't get over the size of the logo on the U.S. Open tennis ballboys and ballgirls. So what does he do with his hard-earned money? According to the latest edition of Vanity Fair Mr. Lauren does NOT collect art. "You can't drive a painting," he told the writer. "I

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-30003397649698053012010-12-29T07:00:00.000-08:002011-01-04T08:27:03.978-08:00

Not me. Some other guy getting fitted. I love to run. I'm fascinated by well-run, highly-differentiated retail businesses. I visited the perfect intersection of these two interests at Road Runner Sports flagship store in San Diego. I'm a proud Road Runner Sports (RRS) VIP customer for over 15 years, from their catalog-only roots, to their transition to online, and now to my first visit to one

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-27094288299666002922010-12-28T10:14:00.000-08:002010-12-28T10:14:34.597-08:00

I broke down. Downloaded my first iPad PAID app, Scrabble. What a well spent $1.99. Truly a great, simple Escape. I've loved Scrabble forever. I can still recall epic seven-letter words. Sometimes while reading I'll see a word and think, "that would be a great Scrabble double word score." My Mom instilled my love of Scrabble. She did it by beating me regularly. She still has many of the score

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-52879630710322416202010-12-21T08:54:00.000-08:002010-12-21T08:54:13.468-08:00

The most visited destinations on TravelandLeisure.com/trips in the past year. As reported on page 26 of the October 2010 issue of Travel and Leisure. 1. Cote d'Azur 2. Hong Kong 3. Maine 4. Chicago 5. Italy 6. Istanbul 7. France 8. Ann Arbor, MI 9. The Caribbean 10. Thailand How do you like that, Ann Arbor cracks the Top Ten. How proud should everyone in Michigan be? I've been to 6 of the 10 on

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-40133986043837290672010-12-16T07:51:00.000-08:002010-12-16T07:51:53.685-08:00

Where has this blogger been? Working. Grinding. Sleeping, but not necessarily through the night. In short not having as much fun as usual. Which makes the idea of Escape personally relevant. While doing some research on large brands with multiple sub-brands I found myself on the Carnival Cruise website. Not a bad move when the wind-chill outside is NEGATIVE. Stumbled across this Carnival brand

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-15149770409502396932010-11-30T07:49:00.000-08:002010-11-30T07:49:38.208-08:00

One premise of consumer escapes is that time is precious. Therefore shipping services, including overnighting plays an important role in business and in sending holiday gifts around the country. Leave it to Popular Mechanics to test the carriers: "A few years ago, Popular Mechanics shipped a custom-built gaming PC—a rather heavy and cumbersome beast—to a New Hampshire woman who'd won it in a

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-3778400813018758402010-11-27T07:33:00.000-08:002010-11-27T07:33:29.767-08:00

Oftentimes others describe the concept of consumer escapes far better than I. For example this paragraph concluded an analysis of retailer GameStop in last week's Barron's: "Videogames may not be thriving like iPhones, but they're doing just fine, much to the consternation of girlfriends and wives across the planet. As long as men, who once mainly killed wild game, instead are preoccupied with

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-70237980171712189242010-11-09T06:36:00.000-08:002010-11-09T06:36:01.773-08:00

I have never had an energy drink. Maybe it's because my doctor's instructions were to avoid caffeine. Maybe it's because I'm just not that tired. Or maybe it's because I've never heard of some of the ingredients. Why do I bring this up? Red Bull is running an online ad contest and I'd like to enter. Yet how can I capture the way Red Bull vitalizes body and mind if I've never put the product into

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-34468544822820021802010-10-31T08:35:00.000-07:002010-10-31T08:36:36.286-07:00

"Letting Go" at Cabo Outdoor Adventures For a couple of years now I've been blogging in and around the topic of consumer escapes. In our smz research early this year the escape identified as "most desired" given availability of time and money was to take a cruise. That made sense as the cruise industry markets itself as the ideal escape. Yet I'd never taken a cruise, only marveled at the size

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-69369507010037568242010-10-27T12:37:00.000-07:002010-10-27T12:37:55.030-07:00

Eric Savitz who writes about technology for Barron's said, "as any tech blogger will tell you, nothing drives the page views like posting about Apple. Most-read magazine story last week on Barrons.com? My little 600-word curtain-raiser in this space on Apple's September-quarter results and Mac product launch. Two most-read items on my Tech Trader Daily blog last week? A report on Apple's

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-26078696929122609182010-10-26T09:55:00.000-07:002010-10-26T09:55:41.384-07:00

Walk into any Costco store and you're immediately in the TV zone. Amazingly 60" screens look small in their cavernous stores. Yesterday I walked into a Bose store at the outlet mall. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just being curious. Immediately the salesperson ushered me into a vault-like home theatre room in the back of the store for a product demonstration. I sat in a chair

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-16565602252878147952010-10-09T07:29:00.000-07:002010-10-09T07:29:00.177-07:00

I vividly remember watching Secretariat's romp home in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. I was seven years-old and little did I know that I was watching a race that would influence me for life. As the movie Secretariat opens today I can proudly call myself one of a small set of fans who know Secretariat's race record, his breeding, his successful progeny and a devoted fan of the sport he "Kinged" for the

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-72589554525763239662010-10-08T11:28:00.000-07:002010-10-08T11:28:59.037-07:00

Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Company This morning the The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit honored Ford CEO, Alan Mulally with the Edward McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award at Tribute Breakfast XXI at Cobo Hall. Congratulations to Mr. Mullaly, the Goodfellows', and all the volunteers of this 95-year-old charity whose sole mission is to ensure that there is “No Kiddie without a

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-41878426944355007822010-10-06T08:59:00.000-07:002010-10-06T08:59:00.192-07:00

I'm halfway "home"on Ken Burns' latest. I'll let the PBS write-up tell the story: The Tenth Inning is a two-part, four-hour documentary film directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. A new chapter in Burns's landmark 1994 series, BASEBALL, The Tenth Inning tells the tumultuous story of the national pastime from the 1990s to the present day. Introducing an unforgettable array of players, teams

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-45875910618617969582010-10-05T07:44:00.000-07:002010-10-08T11:12:09.934-07:00

I had the pleasure of running the ADT Security advertising account in the U.S. for many years. One of our effective tactical tools for the brand (and for the pizza guys) was the simple door hanger piece. I recall the instructions on these programs was explicit about NOT sliding the piece under doors. We took the blue 1's and zero's that form the ADT force-field of protection very seriously. ADT

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-52371644353723083822010-10-04T07:05:00.000-07:002010-10-04T14:00:04.950-07:00

Earlier this year we conducted a survey on Consumer Escapes. When asked "which of the following do you consider yourself passionate about," religion ranked 14th behind things like food, health, books, movies, and career. No wonder Americans didn't fare so well on this Pew Forum national survey. (To paraphrase R.E.M., that's us in the spotlight losing our religion.) In our smaller-scale smz

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-81821269301211129242010-09-27T10:06:00.000-07:002010-09-27T10:06:36.602-07:00

It's a challenge on this blog to write about new and different consumer escapes. Last week we were editing a new television commercial for the Detroit Red Wings. In the edit there's a shot of a vicious body check by Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall. I commented that it reminded me of a demolition derby. One of the young creative team members gave me that "what you talking about old guy" look. I

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-88299834261974855822010-09-21T12:51:00.000-07:002010-09-21T12:51:36.370-07:00

When I go skiing with my family we don't go down the black diamond trails. Why? Because we barely ski once a year and don't qualify as "experts." So why is that so many people in my industry portray themselves as an expert in something they've barely begun to do. I'm talking about the writers who have had an iPad for one month versus the Detroit Symphony Orchestra musician with 10,000+ hours of

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-30934358139516679372010-09-20T15:39:00.000-07:002010-09-20T15:39:45.996-07:00

Yesterday my wife and I ventured to Kohl's, the king of Dockers, to buy some clothes.  Had I seen this spot first we may have both considered shopping elsewhere.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-77825891400291163742010-09-19T15:46:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:46:56.727-07:00

Thanks to the Adcraft Club for including me in a discussion of the organization and the state of advertising in Detroit at a session held with Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh this past Monday. Here's a link to the article from Saturday's Free Press. Enjoyed it, even if the big agency guys hogged all the quotes. More "good news" to come.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-69362007123289094562010-09-17T07:15:00.000-07:002010-09-17T07:15:00.194-07:00

"Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising."  - Mark Twain Mr. Twain must have seen the Internet coming, specifically as it applies to trying to buy jewelry online.  By my own account I'm a pretty good husband and father, but a lousy jewelry buyer. I wish I could say it's because gold is at an all-time high. That has nothing to do with it. Then I realized that

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-52970254380564536882010-09-07T11:07:00.000-07:002010-09-07T11:07:20.894-07:00

My hand-written To Do list says "blog post" every day. Most days I get to it. On many others it gets shoved to the next day. That's my own list. Lately in perusing the web and print publications I've noticed an explosion of lists: Top 5 ways to get the best airplane seat, Top 100 Beatles songs, Top 100 Wines, etc... In a blatant ploy for more readers my Labor Day aha was to create a list of the

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-84634023255098339512010-09-05T07:30:00.000-07:002010-09-05T07:30:17.222-07:00

I love to run, I love good music, and I love new things that make you go, "wow." Point your Google Chrome browser to The Wilderness Downtown and enjoy all of those coming together from the comfort of your favorite chair. Or couch. I won't pretend to understand the technology behind this experiment. But I'll bet we'll be seeing more things like it soon. Enjoy.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-90752092491716247402010-09-03T10:04:00.000-07:002010-09-03T10:04:48.908-07:00

Until now my blog posts have been about things I've done, places I've gone, gadgets I've purchased and experiences I've enjoyed. Now I'm hoping to get some feedback on a product/service I'm considering, Netflix. Seemingly every five minutes Netflix emails, pops-under or shows up in print fashion with a free trial offer. I'm intrigued, yet question how I'll find the time to enjoy the movies let

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-90697832738724953552010-08-25T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-04T14:00:50.897-07:00

My iPhone photo of Kid Rock & The Twisted Brown Trucker Band 8/15/10 Billboard Magazine's August 7 cover shows a deflated beach ball and the headline, "Cruel Summer. Ticket Sales Down. Tour Dates Canceled." Last week in struggling Detroit, Kid Rock packed 'em in for three nights running at DTE Energy Theatre. (Or Pine Knob as Kid Rock referred to it throughout the show.) I was fortunate to

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-29115579851334157232010-08-24T08:53:00.000-07:002010-08-24T08:53:00.325-07:00

If you're like me, you eat and use the computer/phone at the same time. As a result food and dirt get in the keyboard. I've tried using the compressed air cans to clean my telephone and computer keyboard. I can't quite manage like the experts on CSI and simply end up freezing the dirty keyboard. In the Air Mall magazine I saw a blurb on Cyber Clean and thought, "I've got to try this stuff." I

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-73398377144543431582010-08-23T08:53:00.000-07:002010-08-23T08:53:11.144-07:00

I love planning a vacation. Even before the actual escape, it's a great escape and it's certainly something I don't get to do often enough. Last September my daughter and I were watching a PBS show on the lodges of the National Parks. The cabins at the Lodge at Bryce Canyon caught our eye. On a whim I said, "see if there's an availability next summer?" (My daughter always has her MacBook in her

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-3472360825842248672010-08-10T15:37:00.000-07:002010-08-10T15:37:46.975-07:00

Image credit: Chubby Brain.com The business section cover story from the Sunday, August 8, 2010 New York Times was entitled "Consumers Find New Ways to Spend Less and Find Happiness." A key paragraph summed it up: On the bright side, the practices that consumers have adopted in response to the economic crisis ultimately could — as a raft of new research suggests — make them happier. New

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-80852823445669836202010-08-04T09:48:00.000-07:002010-08-04T09:48:00.149-07:00

At the end of vacation last week in Merrimack, New Hampshire my wife discovered the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour. We took the 10:35 am tour which winds its way from the hot of the fermenting process, to the cold of the lagering and filtering (beechwood!) process to the hyper-speed of the packaging process. Of course the highlight of the complimentary tour is the Hospitality Room. Here adult

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-26876980762590050372010-08-03T12:37:00.000-07:002010-08-03T18:39:54.934-07:00

This blog has been dark for awhile. Why? The key escape, vacation. But as we've all come to learn you have to jam in a bunch of work before vacation. Try to escape when on vacation. And then pay the price in emails/mail/voice mails when you return. Unfortunately my blog got shoved aside in the process. So what was this vacation? I billed it as an epic college tour. A chance to expose our two

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-88726353610855162472010-07-22T06:57:00.000-07:002010-07-22T06:57:52.274-07:00

In Detroit it's Woodward Dream Cruise Season. A '67 GTO needs quality fuel and so do the drivers and spectators. The fine folks at California Pizza Kitchen have provided a "tasty" offer. Just bring in the special flyer on August 17, 18, 19, 22 and/or 23; present it to your server when ordering; and 20% of the total will go to support the Woodward Dream Cruise, a 501(c)(3) organization. This

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-46108833564012555742010-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:002010-07-14T13:42:00.343-07:00

My contact information in QR code I remember when we were kids riding our bikes and someone would yell out, "I know a shortcut." When the shortcut worked out it was great. Sometimes we ended up on a dead-end street and had to double back. Today's technology is much the same. Many digital shortcuts are true time-savers. For instance knowing the commands to cut, copy, paste, close and my

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-29633367945361529062010-07-13T10:11:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:11:42.050-07:00

Last week I was hopped up on DQ Blizzards. Now I'm excited about an online promotion from Klondike Bars. The Klondike Everyman Challenge states that since the dawn of time, mankind has worked unflaggingly to expend as little energy as possible. Innovations such as the lazy susan and the moving sidewalk — the inventors of which are now both, of course, household names — are proof that an

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-5272029174472165552010-07-09T08:16:00.000-07:002010-07-13T13:58:36.185-07:00

In our SMZ Consumer E-scape research study fewer than 13% of respondents said they considered their diet to be very healthy. I work hard to make my diet be healthy. With my family away the past few weeks I've eaten ridiculously healthy. (Little choice when there's no one else around to help do the shopping.) Last night I hit a great escape, the new DQ on Orchard Lake Road for a Blizzard®. I had

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-48430789508804169032010-07-08T08:50:00.000-07:002010-07-08T08:50:00.472-07:00

Yesterday I helped my sister activate her new Blackberry. Bye-bye to her pink Razr phone. Just after taking some responsibility for placing her in the "always on" mode I happened to read in the Wall Street Journal David Harsanyi's review of Hamlet's Blackberry by William Powers. I'll let his review and the one from Publisher's Weekly be screen reading for you. Me, I have to escape from the

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-75985244242571744242010-07-07T09:30:00.000-07:002010-07-07T09:30:00.997-07:00

It's hot, it's humid and I'm showering twice a day. That's why we all need the Old Spice Guy. Thankfully he's back with another "great smelling" TV spot, asking all sorts of questions that women and men can both answer. Now take a swan dive ...

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-32711323671533672902010-07-06T12:39:00.000-07:002010-07-06T12:39:41.368-07:00

The Financial Times weekend edition had an article entitled "Summer loving - Leading cultural and business figures reveal their ideal getaways." Read the whole article if you get a chance. As we're in summer vacation season play along as well. Answer the questions that interviewer Victoria Maw asked of folks like Alan Greenspan: Where are you going on holiday this year? What do you think about

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-32664093544337148992010-06-27T13:15:00.000-07:002010-06-27T13:15:46.024-07:00

The current running craze is all about barefoot running. Somehow the amazing technology in running shoes has gotten to the point where they're supposedly hampering training. All of the shoe manufacturers now have these minimalist shoes (at maximalist prices) that attempt to mimic running barefoot. I just got a pair of Nike Free shoes. I hit the trail this morning and have to say that they're

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-31567450143067068792010-06-22T09:30:00.000-07:002010-06-22T09:30:00.709-07:00

I'm an every-other-day shaver. And even at that schedule I hate it. I've tried electrics, disposable razors, shaving in the shower, three blades, four blades, five blades, ... Nothing made the experience smooth. At Costco last week I purchased (with a coupon) Gillette's latest entry in the shaving arms race, the Fusion ProGlide Power.  The promise is that “shaving becomes gliding.” After a few

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-65252004202277891302010-06-18T10:36:00.000-07:002010-06-18T10:36:06.506-07:00

I spend my days (and many nights) talking about how we help clients sell tickets. Tickets to sporting events, tickets to play Powerball, tickets to see a show. Lots and lots of tickets. When I have the opportunity to step up and purchase a ticket to some form of consumer escape I get the dual benefit of enjoyment and business research. The other evening while in New York I bought a last-minute

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-46711571473563938332010-06-17T07:10:00.000-07:002010-06-17T07:10:20.604-07:00

Financial freedom. Read any personal finance book or investing website and they'll talk about how saving and investing early is the key to financial freedom. More important than the concepts of diversification, asset allocation, rates of return or any other investment term in the glossary. In the U.S. we're not just behind in education. As a recent Global Echo Awards judge for the Direct

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-39534614016391722792010-06-11T11:43:00.000-07:002010-06-11T11:43:47.592-07:00

In our smz E-scape research one of the global findings about consumer escapes is that there's a clear "before and after." For example: I was stressed, went on vacation, and came home decompressed. Or, I was time-starved, took a day without responsibilities, and felt reenergized. I found an interesting escape this morning.  I ventured out to local car wash chain, Jax Kar Wash. Jax is an

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-31152680108996098222010-06-04T09:38:00.000-07:002010-06-10T10:58:56.518-07:00

I was playing a USTA league tennis match on Wednesday evening. After the match, which we lost 10-8 in the third set tiebreaker, we were commiserating about costly line calls. As we usually do after a match. While driving home at 11:30 p.m. sports talk radio (in fact every radio station) was overrun with discussion of Armando Galarraga's "purr-fect game." I don't need to add to the maelstrom but I

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-4175516396968854122010-06-01T07:42:00.000-07:002010-06-21T15:20:54.964-07:00

A few weeks ago while running the Mississauga Marathon I came across an energetic, borderline crazed group at roughly mile 19. They were dressed alike in black clothing under a tent with a lululemon banner. I knew from reading about lululemon that they are a Canadian-based company with a unique culture. I witnessed that culture first-hand and their support stuck with me. (It didn't hurt that they

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-56638304217243353272010-05-28T13:06:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:01:01.010-07:00

I love to barbecue. The whole process from igniting the grill, to cooking, to eating, to the simplicity of clean-up. I find that time spent - beer in hand - waiting to flip whatever is cooking is a primal escape. And the grill is mine. Jeff Foxworthy did a wonderful job capturing the lighter side of "why real men grill." Here are a few of his observations: It brings men together. Then there’s

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-3120048498752866992010-05-27T07:30:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:01:17.582-07:00

I'm a lousy do-it-yourselfer when it comes to home repairs and improvements. The joke in my family is that a handyman is needed to fix my fixes. Whatever the markets, I've been an effective do-it-yourselfer when it comes to investing. Interestingly when it comes to fixing "stuff" I'm a "breaker." But when it comes to financial stuff, amazingly we've never had a broker. So admittedly I'm better

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-1308914496314279402010-05-25T06:34:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:01:44.831-07:00

Yesterday I posted an article about men's joy and escape in driving on the open road. Today we take a look at what men are doing while driving, specifically what they're listening to. I've pulled out pieces of a story in The New York Times that ran last November. American men have a naughty little secret. Sometimes, they like to relax with a little Céline Dion. Professed classical music fans

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-36773721108625382432010-05-24T13:00:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:02:27.304-07:00

The following is excerpted from an article in Men's Health, April 2010, by Dan Neil. I noted it as a MUST post. On this beautiful spring day it also makes me want to go for a ride. Enjoy ... ========== It's a trope of pop psychology that a man needs time to sulk and suck his paw -- that men are different from their it-takes-a-village counterparts. And yet it's the truth. This bit of wiring in a

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-7589895013160666022010-05-22T10:36:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:03:05.264-07:00

We've been talking about renovating our kitchen for years. One element in our plan is to install a double oven. I find the planning itself to be an escape. The actual remodeling is painful. It takes longer than expected and costs more than planned. Inspiration often comes from flipping through remodeling magazines. Although everything starts to look the same. Maybe if the appliance advertising

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-53206767299694493302010-05-21T09:08:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:05:22.774-07:00

This morning I had the pleasure to listen to a talk at The Roeper School by Don Ambrose, Ph.D. Acting Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts, Education, & Sciences and Professor of Graduate Education at Rider College in New Jersey. Don was speaking about the foundations for gifted education and creative intelligence. One topic area he covered gave me permission to keep doing something I've been

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-9750758068849439542010-05-21T08:52:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:06:04.461-07:00

A colleague turned me on to a great site to spend a few minutes with called “Found in Mom’s Basement.” It's a well-organized collection of vintage advertising. In many cases the Mad Men were mad. Dust 'em off and take a look. Link to Found in Mom's Basement

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-82916325986202464312010-05-13T14:15:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:06:37.655-07:00

This Sunday I will be running the Mississauga Marathon. The race takes place on what looks to be a beautiful, scenic course in suburban Toronto. If I successfully finish this race I will only have to run New York and Montreal to complete the "Original Six" series of marathons. Devoted hockey fans will know that refers to the original six teams in the NHL. Those teams were and are the Detroit Red

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-45367496556448745492010-05-10T11:37:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:06:57.179-07:00

A few years ago I was roundly chastised for buying my wife a Mother's Day present that plugged in. It was an appliance of some sort that I thought was cool, and it was received quite "coolly." OK so it wasn't jewelry. Since then I've worked hard to avoid gifts that have a plug. Until this year when I decided to get my wife a Kindle. I figured it only plugs in every few weeks, the rest of the time

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-62454781647860162612010-05-04T09:03:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:07:11.086-07:00

The other day my daughter was dressed in some form of yoga-like garb. I affectionately called her a "poser." Then this morning in digging through a file I came across a 1999 New York Times Magazine article by Rob Walker entitled "Marketing Pose - Saluting the Sun in a Downward-Dog Economy." I love it when my worlds collide. In this article Walker introduced me to the concept of "conceptual

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-8293138752747434312010-04-16T08:18:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:07:50.486-07:00

As a traveler out of Detroit (DTW for the frequent traveler) all the buzz is that Spirit Airlines will charge for carry-on baggage. While Spirit and their bag fees plus $3 water will nickel and dime you, our main hub carrier Delta is quietly hosing local passengers. I have a few upcoming meetings in the New York City area. Both allow for advance planning. In every case an advance purchase

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-51834767107244657882010-04-15T12:04:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:08:45.410-07:00

We just completed a proprietary research study, E-scape, conducted with consumers around the subject of escape. One finding was that 61% of respondents to our survey said that they’re likely to watch TV when they have an hour or two free. (63% of female respondents turn to TV as an escape from daily pressures of work and family; 43% of male respondents will tune into a sporting event when they

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-50834526799605862892010-04-08T09:29:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:09:07.600-07:00

A self-serving post. Last night we launched a new website for the agency at www.smz.com. It's not a site about showing off in flash. It represents more detail on a statement in my bio. "We are SMZ. We help make brands part of the consumer's Escape Plan™." Then, work organized by type. Now, work organized in mini cases. Then, no links to social media tools. Now, links to each of the tools we use

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-36698932814438076102010-04-06T09:07:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:09:32.163-07:00

I like a $5 Subway tuna footlong as much as the next guy. And just by writing that the song will be stuck in my head until this afternoon. What I'm questioning is why there's so much buzz for the fact that Subway will be offering up breakfast? Let's see: they have fresh bread, cheese and bacon. Hmmm, let's put those things together in a series of sandwiches for breakfast. That's not exactly a

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-32096999700217467422010-04-01T08:43:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:09:47.968-07:00

Yesterday I read an online review of Apple's new iPad. Half way into the review the reviewer revealed he hasn't actually seen or touched the product yet. Amazing. What a window that opens. Online reviews of movies you haven't seen, online reviews of restaurants that you haven't eaten at, and the online review for a new book that isn't even written. Fortunately David Pogue of the New York Times

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-4635324988415251462010-03-21T12:15:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:10:07.575-07:00

In so many areas I'm a confirmed do-it-yourselfer. (Travel planning, investing, taxes, snowblowing, ...) Except at the supermarket. A recent visit to the market reminded me how much I dislike the self-serve checkout system. I actually enjoy talking to a human cashier, rather than having a computerized voice say, "place the item in the bag." (So actually I'm the cashier and the bagger in the

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-25441663029448574502010-03-17T09:21:00.000-07:002010-06-10T11:10:33.551-07:00

While I'm productively "working" by writing in a blog, every other working American it seems has his/her nose to the grindstone - the NCAA Men's Basketball grindstone that is. Why has this become such a gigantic mass escape? We don't fill out draw sheets for the NFL playoffs. It's certainly not the money. (I won a pool in 1989, lost every other year and am down hundreds of dollars.) I believe

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-72101986006867826352010-03-16T12:17:00.000-07:002010-03-16T12:18:15.744-07:00

For a year now I've been pontificating (occasionally ranting) about personal things and situations that have a broader connection to consumer escapes. At SMZ, we talk about helping make brands a part of the consumer's Escape Plan™. Most of the time the commentary has been light in tone, attempted to be whimsical, and hoped for the reader to make linkage to the pursuits of a serious advertising

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-84981795086046143622010-03-10T11:11:00.000-08:002010-06-10T11:11:08.249-07:00

When I lived in New York I didn't see the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty until my family came to visit. When we lived in Baltimore the same was true of the National Aquarium. For all the years we've lived in Detroit we rarely get to the Detroit Zoo or the Henry Ford, both area gems. Why is that? Regular readers of this blog know I usually answer my rhetorical questions. I believe

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-78099098566347821612010-03-07T17:10:00.000-08:002010-03-07T17:10:29.060-08:00

“Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.” - Moliere I love that quote, it certainly describes the path of my career. (Although this blog right now is for love and only has a few friends who read it.) I've been visiting colleges with my daughters recently. In that process there's much discussion about the application process -

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342658234505383997.post-315605141200710292010-02-23T06:48:00.000-08:002010-02-23T06:48:00.142-08:00

Kudos to Danita Harth-Bates, Director of Rooms and Chief Experience Officer at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers! She went above and beyond in response to my recent post-stay gripefest. Our correspondence follows: My email on Monday morning:I am generally a quiet hotel guest. Both in demeanor and contact with the hotel management. But I had a stay last week that demands comment.

Jamie Michelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132893804356418176noreply@blogger.com0