Carbon Tax - Good or Bad?

I think we all want to improve the way we treat the environment. How far will we go to ensure that we are doing all we can? On July 1st, BC will be adding an extra 2.4 cents per litre of gas at the pumps as part of introducing its new carbon tax. The carbon tax will also apply to virtually all fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, coal, propane, and home heating fuel. This is an attempt to create a “greener budget for 2008” which would see consumers paying for their carbon use. Laura Jones, vice-president at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business stated that, "We know from our surveys that over 80 per cent of business owners are already taking action to get cleaner." By putting a price on carbon, people will theoretically use less, thus helping reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change. Is taxing people as a way to enforce more environmental choices an incentive to move us in the right direction or should we be left to making green choices on our own? I mean really, aren’t we taxed enough?

Women and their cars

Gone are the days when women stood by and let their husband or father make decisions about their cars. Now women take their purchasing power into their own hands and in Canada they are buying 65% of new cars and influence 80% of all car purchases (source: 2007 Canadian New Marketing Report). So, where does the empowered woman go to find out more about what she wants in a car? Some start at Carsforgirls.com, which is a site that aims to educate women on all aspects of cars. It is essentially a blog with clever and interesting information encouraging women to ask burning questions they might not otherwise feel comfortable doing in a dealership. This site provides supplementary information about cars, road trips and general auto maintenance while having an informal, fun feel appeal.

It seems that some women want to keep the car a fun place to be. Girlslovewheels.com takes the exciting aspects of personalizing your vehicle to a whole new level. In addition to its interesting tips, see 75 unique and helpful tip to enjoy road trips, a substantial portion of the site features items for sale ranging from Hello Kitty decals to decorative car seats. This site also has an entire section devoted to teen girl drivers and their accessories.

For the more car savvy woman or those who like to be a bit more edgy when it comes to their car purchases, go to Askpatty.com. It is an advice based site from the US has the latest car reviews, compares brands of cars and has information on loans and insurance. I especially liked the blog section because it highlights the variety of vehicles women enjoy – not just the minivan! Car loving women have a variety of styles and preferences when it comes to vehicles, from professional Nascar drivers to stay at home moms, women are voicing their opinions on what cars they like and why. For us Canadians, AskAngela.ca is a great source of automotive information and has a handy advice section. So don’t be shy any longer! Price compare and arm yourself with great information before walking into the dealership. Be proud fellow car lovers, be proud. Together we can kill the stereotype once and for all.

Women and their offices. Designed to inspire.

One of my favourite new sites to check in on is www.wowowow.com -- a new site for women on the web launched by celebrities like Candice Bergen and Lily Tomlin. They are currently featuring their offices and what inspires them. This led me to think about women and their office environments in general and what we bring into our spaces that makes us feel great and gives us energy. I found this one -- the desk of Jane Wagner, particularly striking. Do the design aspects of female-friendly environments also appeal to men?

Greenwashing 101

As marketers, all we have is our reputation at the end of the day. Intentionally misleading consumers is a no-no, yet integrity in marketing is sometimes hard to come by. Case in point - the Green category that is currently exploding with new product entrants that are capitalizing on consumer demand.Now, while many of these companies are authentically “Green”, others are not, and it is important to equip yourself with the facts so that you know what to look for when buying Green products.

Terra Choice is a company that governs authenticity in Green claims by certifying Green products with the Eco-logo. Be sure to look for this logo when purchasing products.

The six sins of Greenwashing:
1. Sin of no proof
2. Sin of the hidden tradeoff
3. Sin of vagueness
4. Sin of irrelevance
5. Sin of the lesser of two evils
6. Sin of fibbing

Thanks to TerraChoice for keeping the industry honest!

Social sharing and online learning not just a trend for women

As female consumers and entrepreneurs network and build their profiles, their online tools are only getting better. Here are some resources and statistics that have recently popped up.

The Goldman Sachs Group has launched 10,000 Women, a site dedicated to helping women in emerging economies launch and build their businesses. Partnering with universities in Europe and the United States including Harvard and Columbia Business School, 10,000 Women places women in flexible programs and traditional educational environments, supporting their path towards earning an MBA or BA.

In a social networking capacity, women have a slightly greater presence on popular social networking sites over men. According to a study by RapLeaf, a sample of over 30 million users found that women are more likely to spend their time online establishing and nurturing relationships on sites such as Flickr and Facebook.

With new blogs and sites popping up regularly on topics ranging from pop culture to the environment, women are proving to love debate and dialogue online. A great new site, wowOwow: The Women on the Web, was created by fifteen women in different fields including entertainment, journalism, and publishing. Contributors include Whoopi Goldberg, Candice Bergen, Lesley Stahl, and Lily Tomlin, all providing their unique views on topics ranging from current events, politics and pop culture.

Women are getting smart about what’s in their cosmetics

Aimee Racine, Account Manager
SWING

As women, we are constantly bombarded with different health care and makeup products that can "cover up this" and "anti-age that" but are they really safe? If it's approved by Health Canada or the FDA in the States then we assume that the product is ok. But after the revelation about the harmful hormone, Bisphenol A, surfaced with plastics (especially those that were in baby bottles) as consumers we have to be proactive and keep on top about what could be harmful to our health.

A site that is looking out for the consumer called, Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database, run by a non-profit company, Environmental Working Group, who evaluate over 25,000 cosmetic and personal care products against 50 different toxicity and regulatory databases. They rate each product, which span from make-up to baby and pet products, out of 10; 10 being the highest toxicity.

As I read the information on the site, I was intrigued to find out so many common products that we all assume to be ok were in fact quite harmful to our health and/or the environment. So last night I went to the drug store and bought shampoo, Pantene Pro-V Texturize, and I was able to find that product evaluated on the site. Just so you know gals, this research tool is not just for ladies. In fact, Skin Deep was recommended to me by my boyfriend who was comparing sunscreens. Check it out to see how the products in your drawers shape up.

"Letta Mama feed you"

Aimee Racine, Account Manager
SWING

Commercials. Most of them are boring and don’t really catch my attention. However, this week I saw an exception. Michelina’s. Their current campaign has two commercials airing, with the character of Mama Michelina as the star. She appears in two out of place locations --a climbing wall and an indoor football field. Mama Michelina comes to the rescue with a microwave Michelina’s dinner and saves the day. Here is the one with the girl wall climbing. I know it is a simple concept that has been used to sell products for decades but the “Mama knows best” angle made me laugh out loud and appealed to me as a woman.

I often feel pressure to look a certain way, but when I watched this commercial that seemed to melt away. For a brief moment, Mama Michelina was my grandmother, taking care of me and all of my problems including making sure I eat enough. I was able to take a nostalgic look back to my childhood eating habits, a time when I never once thought of my waistline and the fact that I have to exercise like a maniac in order to stay healthy. For that 30 seconds, I watched someone reaching out and caring about another’s well-being. In the end, I guess sometimes we want our grandmother to swoop in on a carabineer line and spoon feed us, even though it is a microwave pasta dinner, and take us away from our diets and exercise and love us, no matter what we look like.

Creative campaigns find new ways to “go green”

Over the past few months, green initiatives have given birth to some very interesting campaigns and programs. The latest from Al Gore’s “non-profit, non-partisan effort,” Alliance for Climate Protection, brings political rivals Reverend Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson together for an unconventional public service message. The video, available at wecansolveit.org, features the unlikely pair urging viewers to work together in helping our planet.

The Green is Universal website from NBC Universal features programs and tips, as well as an extensive “Green Glossary” of related terms. The site provides a portal to its other company websites, including NBC. The network’s television prime time schedule has also adapted to the growing movement. Shows such as The Bionic Woman and Scrubs have tailored their storylines to promote green living.

Another notable program closer to home is Green Enterprise Toronto, a site dedicated to helping businesses and consumers “become greener” and “think locally.” Its site offers a directory of Toronto-based, environmentally-friendly businesses - featuring everything from health spas, landscapers, restaurants, and specialty stores geared to women.

Aside from local activism and consumer awareness, the green movement has motivated people to look at almost every aspect of their life and health from a different perspective. An article on CanadianLiving.com offers tips on “how to have a green baby”, including preparing organic diets, how to avoid everyday toxins, and making your own baby food.

Are women loyal to loyalty?

All this talk about loyalty programs and it begs the question; are women loyal to loyalty programs? Where are marketers missing the mark? And, where is loyalty when you need it?

Take a particular Canadian telco that will remain nameless. For now. In the last year, I have switched over both of my business phone accounts, set up a new business Internet account, switched over my home phone account and upgraded my wireless data account. In all, between my businesses and my personal and household telecommunications and data use, we hold 6 accounts with this telco.

Now, what would make good sense is that I would be rewarded and recognized for the total sum of business that I have with this company and will bring to this company over time (lifetime customer value). Yet, when I call, I wait on hold for more than 30 minutes (on my cell phone!), they often cannot find my account at all, and the technician doesn’t show up for scheduled appointments making me waste countless, valuable business hours waiting to give them business. I have complained many times with no acknowledgement.

Now here is my prescription for an ideal rewards and recognition program that would work :

· Discounts on monthly fees based on total business value (across all accounts)
· Consolidation of accounts- single view across call centers
· Front of the line service and recognition flagged for call centers (key codes reducing waiting time)
· Prompt resolution when problems arise

Are women loyal to loyalty programs? Essentially we need to separate the brand from the program. There are programs that we have an emotional connection to where a loyalty program may be icing on the cake but won’t ultimately affect the brand love. Then, there are brands that we tolerate and sometimes like where a great loyalty program can make all the difference. In short, loyalty programs need to:

1. Be highly usable (not creating extra work at uptake or for ongoing use)
2. Show immediate reward ($ off, front of the line recognition, other redemption opps)
3. Bring the consumer closer to the brand (increase switching costs, increase frequency of purchase and increase brand favour)