US Marketing Chicago

http://www.usmarketingchicago.blogspot.com

US Marketing is an integrated marketing communications company representing national media, promotions and consulting in important and emerging segment markets. Specialties include: youth, young adult, college, Gen X, Y, and Millennial marketing. Multicultural segments include Hispanic, African-American, and Asian

ComEd Chicago/Exelon Website Doesn't "Do" Complaints

2009-06-23T14:00:00.003-05:00

Well...here we are in the first week of summer in Chicago and the thermometer is topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit. My office just experienced a massive power spike at 1:45pm today that created shutdowns for all the electronics just for a second, but long enough to make them all reset.

Giving the power company the "benefit of the doubt" I went to the ComEd Illinois/Exelon website to file a complaint. I filled out the web form (see below) and made sure all the boxes were completed and that I clicked "submit."

I did this twice just to make sure I did it right and what comes up? Page cannot be found (see below). No link to a webmaster either to complain about the fact that the complaint form doesn't work.

Gee...maybe that's one of ComEd's strategies to keep complaints down!

The page cannot be found

The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

Please try the following:

Make sure that the Web site address displayed in the address bar of your browser is spelled and formatted correctly.
If you reached this page by clicking a link, contact the Web site administrator to alert them that the link is incorrectly formatted.
Click the Back button to try another link.

HTTP Error 404 - File or directory not found.
Internet Information Services (IIS)

Technical Information (for support personnel)

Go to Microsoft Product Support Services and perform a title search for the words HTTP and 404.
Open IIS Help, which is accessible in IIS Manager (inetmgr), and search for topics titled Web Site Setup, Common Administrative Tasks, andAbout Custom Error Messages.


	Contact Us

New Study Shows Almost 80% of Hispanic Consumers Purchase Products after participation in an in-store event and price promotion

2009-06-10T09:44:00.009-05:00

US Marketing telenovela star Karyme Lozano at an in-store appearance in Houston, May 24, 2009.

KEY FINDINGS:

• 78% of consumers purchased a featured product after having participated in both a price promotion and store event
• 1/3 of consumers surveyed say they are participating in more promotions and events
• 72% of Retailers felt that store promotions with entertainment were very effective in reaching their consumer base

US Marketing has the artists and celebrities that will drive your targeted Hispanic consumer in-store for purchase:

Karyme Lozano - internationally known telenovela star and 3 x People en Español most beautiful Latina
Montéz de Durango - 3 x Billboard Album of the Year winners Regional Mexican
Arthur Hanlon - Grammy nominated Latin Pop pianist
Many others...

Contact:

Jim Bilello

US Marketing, Inc./Chicago

Ph. 312-637-9796

JimBilello@USMarketing.bz

US Marketing/Orjuela Entertainment Selected as Exclusive Agency for Atlanta Braves Hispanic Heritage Concert Sept. 20, 2009

2009-06-09T17:17:00.003-05:00

We're proud to announce that we've been signed as the exclusive agency for the Atlanta Braves Hispanic Heritage concert on Sept. 20, 2009!

For more information on how your brand, client or company can participate in this event and reach the Atlanta Hispanic consumer please contact us.

Jim Bilello

President

US Marketing Inc./Chicago

Ph. 312-637-9796

JimBilello@USMarketing.bz

http://www.usmarketing.bz

Karyme Lozano in Houston con migo May 24

2009-06-04T10:11:00.003-05:00

Karyme Lozano was in Houston May 24th with me as her agent for an in-store appearance targeting Hispanic consumers.

The promotion was a great success and my partner Eddie Orjuela and I look forward to many more such appearances for Karyme.

If your brand would like a unique way to reach Hispanic consumers Karyme is one of the most well known telenovela stars throughout both the U.S. and Mexico with a body of work including over 20 telenovelas many of which are still airing as well as being People en Español 50 most beautiful latinas 3 times.

Contact: Jim Bilello

Ph. 847-951-1819

JimBilello@USMarketing.bz

Ad Agencies Ask Clients for Upfront Money, but Won't Guarantee their Own Vendors

2009-05-18T11:10:00.004-05:00

This morning's Ad Week published a story detailing the chilling effect BBDO's potential loss of $58 million by extending Chrysler credit is having on ad agencies, http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/e3i505437152ed71367b5d6d5ae12346e27?pn=1

Those of us that have been working with advertising agencies for many years have seen these "sequential liability" clauses being inserted into the fine print of agency contracts every recession.

There is a potential double standard here that is not being discussed. Namely that while agencies should get upfront money to cover their costs from clients, they should also in-turn allow their key vendors to bill and receive a portion of those upfront payments in order to cover their own costs for the same projects.

Otherwise ad agencies might bill and receive upfront money from their client and then go about getting critical vendors and subcontractors to serve that same client project, but tell these vendors, "sorry you don't get paid unless we are paid by the client" in sequential liability clauses.

Again, those of us that have dealt with agencies for years know the drill. Some agencies will allow key vendors and sub-contractors to bill and receive deposits which is fair, but others who shall remain nameless may squeeze their own vendors for credit even though they themseleves insisted on upfront deposits from their clients for the same project.

Buyers (insert vendors) and all that serve advertising agencies beware!

Jim Bilello

President

US Marketing, Inc.

Chicago

Ph. 312-637-9796

http://www.usmarketingchicago.blogspot.com

JimBilello@USMarketing.bz

Gillette Wants How Much for Blades?

2009-05-11T16:53:00.003-05:00

I found myself in Walgreens drug store this weekend looking for replacement blades for my Gillette Mach 3 Turbo. For 5 blades I was being asked to pay $12.50. Come again? Yes - that's $2.50 per blade. Here's the thing - I'm all for new technology in personal care items that can make my life easier, but I found myself telling the clerk at Walgreens to please put the blades back in their locked cabinet in the shaving section - they are locked because they do cost so much.

Instead I have made the choice to switch brands after years of paying ever higher prices for blade technology that seems bent on cramming ever greater numbers of blades into a cartridge - 3 blades in one cartridge for the Mach 3 and I am here to tell you they don't last any longer than 1 blade razors.

For a total of $2.50 I now have in my bathroom 12 Walgreens' private label disposable single blade razors. Yes - that's right 12 blades for a total of $2.50. I have a heavy beard and I got just a good a shave with them and with only a few more strokes using a good quality shaving gel.

Working in marketing I read complaints from national brands all the time about private label brands taking over their market share - well Gillette... in this economy I would recommend you think about a value option because more and more of your consumers are bound for private label blades given this extreme price differential!

Cardholders stunned by huge rate hikes, slashed credit limits

2009-04-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

Today's Chicago Tribune is carrying this story which mentions yours truly at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri-credit-card-consumers-apr24,0,6514874.story

As a marketer that has worked with banks to reach various population segments I believe we have reached a new era in card marketing as evidence by the line drawn in the sand by President Obama yesterday warning credit card companies that the days of fine print and confusing offers that result in fees, charges and unexpectedly high interest rates are over.

As Time magazine points out on its latest cover there is a New Frugality in America.

My own view is card marketers would be better off with an approach that attacks the past poor practices and acknowledges this is a new era and our abc credit card is going to help you by making you this simple promise a flat guaranteed simple interest rate. No frills, no points, prizes or dancing bears, but straightforward easy to understand terms and a rate of 6% or 8% or whatever is really justified for individual consumers.

Think about the Ford and Hyundai offers to make your payments if you lose your job. Think about back to basics. Think about the old commercials that Smith Barney used to run

"We earn money the old fashioned way...we earn it."

Jim Bilello

President

US Marketing, Inc./Chicago

Ph. 312-637-9796