http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/ 2008-11-20T10:36:38Z http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/article/1589/wal-mart-s-green-gift-to-its-suppliers.html <b>Wal-Mart</b> has launched a number of green initiatives in the last 24 months, but all of them have been internally focused. <br><br>A couple of days back, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/sep2007/db20070924_008782.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives">the company went further than it's even done by bringing its suppliers into the mix. </a>It's picked some categories and is asking suppliers in DVDs, toothpaste, soap, milk, beer, vacuum cleaners, and soda to look at their greenhouse gas emissions. It looks more of a carrot, than a stick, allowing suppliers to benefit from its own learning, rather than an accounting system to punish those that don't achieve targets. In fact, there are no targets for individual suppliers, Wal-Mart only has its own goal. <br><br>The net impact of the initiative will be to raise the profile of green measurement across a broad range of categories in consumer products. Obviously, the benefits for those that jump on board will be two-fold.<br><br>1. Cost savings- the accounting system will identify areas where companies can save money- as well as greenhouse gases<br><br>2. PR- There's the potential to publicize your efforts, but tread very carefully here. <br><br>Overall, it looks like its a smart step in the right direction with obvious benefits for Wal-Mart and its supply chain. <br><br>However, it's toothless and without serious targets in the program, one has to question how much impact it's really going to have. <br> <br><br>Posted by Ed Cotton Influx Insights 2007-09-27T11:11:37Z http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/article/1420/influx-factoid--1-6-pieces-of-marketing-material-per-second.html A new pilot <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ddimagazine.com/displayanddesignideas/content_display/industry-news/e3ic5858bcc7be7b653c1b253816560e0de?imw=Y">study</a> from <b>POPAI </b>looks at how UK shoppers engage in retail marketing at <b>Morrisons</b> and <b>ASDA/Wal-Mart </b>stores.<br><br>It reveals just how challenging the battle for consumer attention has become.<i><b><br><br>"534 shoppers enter the store per hour; shoppers are exposed to 1.6 pieces of marketing materials per second as they navigate the stores; shoppers' eyes are drawn to 17.8 percent of the marketing materials..."</b></i><br><br>Over 80% of materials get ignored. <br><br>The battle for attention is real. <br><br><br>Posted by Ed Cotton Influx Insights 2007-06-14T18:50:51Z