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The Design Force blog is a forum for discussing research, strategy, target appeal and marketplace trends HBO and Brewery Ommegang Partner to Produce Beer of Kings.May 20, 2013 at 12:35 pm by Ted Mininni With Licensing Expo 2013 quickly approaching, we’ve been evaluating the latest trends and...More Comments: 0Trident Layers Packaging: One Device Imparts Form and Flavor.May 13, 2013 at 8:25 am by Ted Mininni In a highly competitive category – that isn’t setting the world on fire sales-wise these days...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Hot New Iron Man 3 Licensed Product: Designer Heels?May 6, 2013 at 8:56 am by Ted Mininni We all know that the best licensed products are those that are cleverly conceived and not-so...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership Packaging for Kids' Brands Isn't Kid Stuff Anymore.April 29, 2013 at 10:00 am by Ted Mininni Today’s kids are sophisticated, brand-savvy and connected at an early age, thanks to social...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership Ricola’s Music Edition Wrapper: A New Twist on an Old Structure.April 22, 2013 at 7:49 am by Ted Mininni Sometimes great package design can derive from the simplest of ideas. Sometimes it’s merely...More Comments: 1Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Tech Deck: Package Design Architecture Conveys Play Pattern.April 15, 2013 at 9:38 am by Ted Mininni Tech Deck fingerboards – working replicas of skateboards bearing the logos of real...More Comments: 0The Magic Behind the "Secret Handshake" in Licensed Apparel.April 8, 2013 at 8:57 am by Ted Mininni It may not be appropriate for all licensed brands, but there’s no denying the desire that can be...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership Establishing Style Guide Guidelines: How Strict is Too Strict?April 1, 2013 at 9:23 am by Ted Mininni There’s no denying the value of establishing standardization for a well-designed...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment NBA and Grateful Dead Partner on Co-Branded T-shirt Collection.March 25, 2013 at 7:43 am by Ted Mininni For many years, it’s been a trend for Deadheads to show their passion for the band and their...More Comments: 2Licensing, Branding, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment Viral Pepsi MAX Spot: A Great Ad for the Chevy Camaro.March 18, 2013 at 8:34 am by Ted Mininni If you've been reading the Design Force blog over the past few months, it may seem like I'm on a...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership True Innovation Derives From the Individual, Not the Group.March 11, 2013 at 9:43 am by Ted Mininni Over the weekend, I read a refreshing article on FastCompany.com that challenges the...More Comments: 0Package Design, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Action Figure Package Design: For Kids AND Collectors Alike.March 4, 2013 at 9:16 am by Ted Mininni All of us who are fortunate enough to design and market action figures know that the appeal...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership Design Architecture: The Key to Successful Licensed Packaging.February 25, 2013 at 7:14 am by Ted Mininni When you take a look at a particular brand's packaging, what's the first thing you...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership HEXBUG Warriors: Winning the Product Segmentation Battle.February 18, 2013 at 8:24 am by Ted Mininni The product segmentation methodology of every brand's package design system is integral...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership 3 Simple Ways to Add Visual Impact to Your Packaging.February 11, 2013 at 6:47 am by Ted Mininni I don't think it's possible to overemphasize the need to get brand packaging right. After all...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership The Value of a Licensing Program Style Guide.February 4, 2013 at 4:41 pm by Ted Mininni In a conversation I had recently with a prospective client, I was asked what the potential revenue generation would be if they were to invest...More Comments: 2Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership McDonald's Informs Consumers Through New Global Packaging.January 28, 2013 at 9:40 am by Ted Mininni It was announced a couple of weeks ago with considerable buzz that McDonald's is...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership How To Avoid Licensed Property Overexposure.January 21, 2013 at 9:42 am by Ted Mininni We’ve all seen this: a successful licensed property ends up on consumer products in every...More Comments: 0Licensing, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership LEGO "Fits" Perfectly with Belkin.January 14, 2013 at 3:10 pm by Ted Mininni I've been blogging much lately about the need for licensors to be more selective when pursuing...More Comments: 0Does Packaging Rule as the #1 Marketing Tool? Or Not?January 7, 2013 at 11:05 am by Ted Mininni Seriously?? Is packaging truly the #1 marketing tool? What about advertising campaigns...More Comments: 0Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Packaging Shoes for SneakerheadsDecember 28, 2012 at 9:22 pm by Ted Mininni This Christmas, Santa brought my 18 year old son a pair of Air Jordan XI Bred basketball shoes, which are a re-release of the Air Jordan XI's...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Beyonce and Pepsi: A Good Fit... or Not?December 17, 2012 at 9:45 am by Ted Mininni According to an article in Forbes last week, Pepsi has agreed to leverage the fame of pop star Beyonce in ads, a Super Bowl halftime show, and...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership Game Changers: 5 Ways to Increase the Value of Packaging.December 10, 2012 at 10:31 am by Ted Mininni We all love products that are considered game changers. But, it's tough for marketers to...More Comments: 0Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Downsized Packaging: The Perils and Possibilities.December 3, 2012 at 10:57 am by Ted Mininni The Incredible Shrinking Package! The dread of every package designer! The bane of every brand...More Comments: 0Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership, Sustainability 5 Segmentation Methodologies for Consumer Product Packaging.November 26, 2012 at 12:02 pm by Ted Mininni One of the most important components of a package design system is its segmentation...More Comments: 0Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Hot for Holiday: Prepare to be Perplexed... and Frustrated!November 19, 2012 at 11:12 am by Ted Mininni Come this Friday, we'll all officially be in holiday shopping mode. After all, 'tis the season...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products Kids Are in the Loop with NBA Hoop TroopNovember 12, 2012 at 10:27 am by Ted Mininni Even the largest entertainment brands know that keeping kids consistently engaged is a...More Comments: 0Licensing, Licensing Program Design, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Booyakasha! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are Back on TV!November 5, 2012 at 12:37 pm by Ted Mininni Classic kids’ entertainment properties are more appealing now than ever. The secret...More Comments: 0Licensing, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Nick's Winx Club: How to Capture and Package FantasyOctober 30, 2012 at 10:22 am by Ted Mininni Nickelodeon has tapped into something whimsical and wonderful with the Winx Club brand...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Hello Kitty Gets KISSed!October 22, 2012 at 10:10 am by Ted Mininni When you think about it: America’s iconic rock band, KISS, has a lot in common with the lifestyle brand Hello Kitty...More Comments: 1Licensing, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership Toys R Us: Toy Store or Entertainment Brand?October 15, 2012 at 11:15 am by Ted Mininni Industry insiders know that the lines have been blurring for a while between the toy and entertainment business. The leading toy...More Comments: 0Branding, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership Will Wii U Be a Winner?October 8, 2012 at 1:53 pm by Ted Mininni The critics are unenthused, but consumers aren’t. Pre-orders on Nintendo’s Wiii U Gaming System are scorching hot. In fact, many retailers’...More Comments: 0Marketing to Baby? How Young is Too Young?October 1, 2012 at 12:22 pm by Ted Mininni Quietly last year, the Disney Company began to market to the one youth demographic left to expose its brand to: newborns. New mothers...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership A Blockbuster Film Doesn't Ensure Blockbuster ProductsSeptember 24, 2012 at 9:45 am by Ted Mininni When Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme park ride became a movie sensation, it...More Comments: 0Licensing, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment Smart "AR" Strategy: Try Me. Buy Me.September 17, 2012 at 10:11 am by Ted Mininni As with any new technology, marketers are grappling with the best way to use AR – augmented reality – to advantage. While it’s cool to point...More Comments: 0Package Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership Was Andy Warhol Really Onto Something? Can Packaging Be Art?September 10, 2012 at 2:28 pm by Ted Mininni Andy Warhol famously elevated Campbell’s soup cans to pop art. At first, The Campbell Soup...More Comments: 2Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Can Sharapova's Lips Seal the Deal with Consumers?September 4, 2012 at 10:55 am by Ted Mininni I’ve always said that a commodity product branded and packaged in a unique and exciting...More Comments: 0Forget One-Off Packaging – You Need a Package Design SystemAugust 27, 2012 at 1:22 pm by Ted Mininni This is a topic that I’ve raised and addressed in the past, but it’s clearly in need of further...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership So, You've Got an Amazing Retro Brand, Huh?August 20, 2012 at 9:25 am by Ted Mininni Reintroducing a “retro” brand to the marketplace is cool – but only if it’s given a modern, relevant twist. Otherwise, forget it...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership, Sustainability Packaging as Part of the Product?August 13, 2012 at 3:38 pm by Ted Mininni Once in a while, I come across something so innovative and clever that it makes me wonder why it’s never been done this way before...More Comments: 0Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership, Sustainability Are Comic Books Becoming Irrelevant?August 6, 2012 at 10:40 am by Ted Mininni No doubt about it. Comic books have been pretty camp since the 1930’s. Reflective of our culture and the times. They’ve been used to...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership Barbie: Still Hot at Age 53July 30, 2012 at 11:46 am by Ted Mininni It seems that toymaker Mattel has found the Eternal Fountain of Youth and imbued it in their #1 brand – Barbie. I love what Mattel is doing and I...More Comments: 0Batman: Still RisingJuly 26, 2012 at 7:20 pm by Ted Mininni The last installment of the three-part Batman trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises”, proved that this superhero’s staying power is real...More Comments: 0Michael Vick: Turning Redemption into Licensing Success?July 23, 2012 at 11:14 am by Ted Mininni Let’s face it. Few athletes are as gifted as Michael Vick. Speed, agility, strength, a great arm...More Comments: 3Lego: Heroes in Package DesignJuly 16, 2012 at 9:35 am by Ted Mininni The Lego brand always seems to have a knack for tapping into pop culture with the right toys and the right story at the right time. It's a cool...More Comments: 1Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing to Kids Why Retro Brands? Why Now?July 9, 2012 at 1:34 pm by Ted Mininni Trendwatching.com for July 2012 focused on the latest consumer trend, what they dub “Newism: why consumers crave the new”. Yet, at the tail...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Nut on a Mission: Superhero Saves Us from Boring Breakfasts!July 2, 2012 at 9:37 am by Ted Mininni Just when TV ads have been offering more banality: out pops a new fictional superhero to...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment A Smart Licensing Deal: Icing on the Cake?June 25, 2012 at 11:22 am by Ted Mininni What’s the ultimate for an accomplished baker? Not only a successful business, but fame and fortune. Discovery Communications TLC’s Buddy...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Licensing Program Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment Annie's Hops into Consumers' Hearts, Minds and Hands.June 18, 2012 at 9:12 am by Ted Mininni Not long ago, Annie’s Homegrown was known for one thing: all-natural mac and cheese...More Comments: 0It's a Bottle First... THEN it's a Penguin.June 11, 2012 at 12:09 am by Ted Mininni Score another one for Method. The unorthodox company has a knack for developing memorable consumer products. And what do these...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing to Kids A First: Disney Leveraging "Where's My Water" via Licensing.June 4, 2012 at 12:25 pm by Ted Mininni Move over Angry Birds and Annoying Orange. Disney is elbowing its way into the licensing arena...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Muppets on Band-Aid: Negative Moments turn Magical.May 28, 2012 at 8:50 pm by Ted Mininni Kids cut and scrape themselves. It’s a part of being a kid. But, putting a bandage on a crying...More Comments: 0Licensing, Package Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids New Kraft ID Gum. A Lifestyle Choice & an Experience for Teens.May 21, 2012 at 3:30 pm by Ted Mininni Kraft Foods is launching a possible game changer this summer: ID gum. There’s a lot of buzz...More Comments: 10Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing to Kids Mattel & Crayola Join Forces. Great Idea?May 14, 2012 at 11:34 am by Ted Mininni Not all co-branding ventures make sense. The result of ill-advised pairings? Lackluster sales (read: failure)? For success, both brands should be...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership The Avengers: A Total Retail ExperienceMay 7, 2012 at 11:36 am by Ted Mininni Marvel Entertainment’s long-anticipated The Avengers movie is finally here. No doubt this super hero mega-romp across the big screen...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing Thought Leadership Walgreen's Private Label Packaging: Nice!April 30, 2012 at 10:35 am by Ted Mininni Packaging consumer products in a wide range of categories always presents challenges. Not only now, but in the future when line extensions...More Comments: 4Do Licensed Collectibles Run Counter Culture?April 23, 2012 at 10:07 am by Ted Mininni After all, we keep hearing how consumers are spending far less discretionary cash and...More Comments: 1Hasbro Licenses a Stroke of GeniusApril 16, 2012 at 10:23 am by Ted Mininni What’s a mom supposed to do when her five year old daughter wants to design her own clothes? Find a way to make it happen, of course. It doesn’t...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Happy 100th Birthday, Oreo!!April 9, 2012 at 10:18 am by Ted Mininni Wow. Nabisco’s Oreo brand has been around delighting kids and families for 100 years as of March 2012. Can you believe it? The brand is still...More Comments: 0Mattel to Release “Hunger Games” Heroine Collectible DollApril 2, 2012 at 9:08 am by Ted Mininni We all know the power of pop culture. Hot books have been turned into movie trilogies in the...More Comments: 0Move Over Boxes, Bottles & Cans: Pouches Have It in the BagMarch 26, 2012 at 9:42 am by Ted Mininni It’s taken a while to catch on since StarKist introduced tuna in new packaging over a decade ago...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Visual vs Verbal Communication in PackagingMarch 19, 2012 at 1:07 pm by Ted Mininni People are visual. That’s why I think marketers need to find the balance between allocating resources for their verbal and visual marketing...More Comments: 1Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership The Campbell Soup Company “Grows Up”March 12, 2012 at 12:44 pm by Ted Mininni Don’t worry: the iconic red and white soup can raised to the level of art by Andy Warhol isn’t going anywhere. It’s somehow always reassuring...More Comments: 0New Marvel Licensed Products for... Pets???March 5, 2012 at 10:49 am by Ted Mininni Everybody loves superheroes and we all have our favorites. It’s interesting to note that consumers of every age group and demographic wear...More Comments: 0How to Evolve from a Toy Company to an Entertainment BrandFebruary 27, 2012 at 10:42 am by Ted Mininni It’s no secret to industry insiders that the Hasbro brand has been steadily evolving from a...More Comments: 0Toy Fair ‘12: A Look to the Future and the PastFebruary 18, 2012 at 12:31 pm by Ted Mininni I’ve been attending Toy Fair in New York City for the past 25 years. It’s a great place to do business, draw inspiration, confirm trends, and gain...More Comments: 0HEXBUG Packaging: a Perfect SpecimenFebruary 13, 2012 at 9:16 am by Ted Mininni As designers of toy packaging, we always need to visit the retail environment before taking on our next project. Much like “The Strip” in Las Vegas...More Comments: 0Good vs. Evil Continues in the World of Lego Video GamesFebruary 6, 2012 at 12:47 pm by Ted Mininni Clearly Lego understands the power of superheroes. They’re hotter than ever and loved by...More Comments: 0Interactive Package Design Goes Into OrbitJanuary 30, 2012 at 3:45 pm by Ted Mininni It’s no secret that consumers love to be able to customize or personalize products. Brands that make this the hallmark of their marketing have...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Marketing Study Shocker: Social Media & QR Codes Don't SellJanuary 25, 2012 at 11:24 am by Ted Mininni “As much as people embrace all things digital, they’re much fussier when they turn into actual...More Comments: 0Consumer Products, Market Research, Marketing Thought Leadership How to Use Packaging Cues to Become a Category LeaderJanuary 23, 2012 at 12:54 pm by Ted Mininni How can manufacturers market and package a new brand in a saturated consumer product...More Comments: 5Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership What's New in Toyland? “Amplified Reality”January 16, 2012 at 5:15 pm by Ted Mininni The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January always generates “oohs and aahs” among industry aficionados and the press. This year is no...More Comments: 0Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership Package Imitation: a Sincere Form of Flattery?January 9, 2012 at 7:23 pm by Ted Mininni Successful brands should easily be identified by their packaging on crowded retail shelves. Marketers strive to leverage their unique brand assets...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership The NHL’s Winter Classic: A Brand Building Success StoryJanuary 3, 2012 at 6:36 pm by Ted Mininni The NHL’s Winter Classic is a huge event born of a simple idea. An NHL hockey game played...More Comments: 010 Critical Questions to Answer Before Rethinking Your PackagingJanuary 3, 2012 at 12:14 pm by Ted Mininni Marketers of established brands have more to worry about now. The consumer product sector...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Market Research, Marketing Thought Leadership Moms: Marketers Want Your BabiesDecember 29, 2011 at 5:47 pm by Ted Mininni Marketers have long developed strategies and tactics to turn young children into brand-conscious consumers. Kids, exposed to TV and radio...More Comments: 0Branding, Consumer Products, Marketing to Kids, Marketing Thought Leadership Harley-Davidson Hits the RoadDecember 27, 2011 at 2:29 pm by Ted Mininni Of course Harley owners have always hit the road. Their love of freedom and new adventure represented by the open road is legendary...More Comments: 0Is There Any Room for Girls in Lego’s World?December 19, 2011 at 12:33 pm by Ted Mininni Danish toy behemoth, Lego, is revered by generations of fans around the globe. It’s no accident. Using Lego building bricks helps kids...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Market Research, Marketing to Kids Marvel and Monster Jam? 3 Super-Powerful Reasons WhyDecember 13, 2011 at 6:23 pm by Ted Mininni We love working with licensed properties. Especially those related to toy and entertainment...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Market Research, Marketing to Kids Mickey, Minnie & MethodDecember 5, 2011 at 11:20 am by Ted Mininni There are some companies that just have a knack for doing the unexpected. Method is one. We’ve always been admirers of Method’s approach...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Looks Like Barbie’s Going Hi-TechNovember 28, 2011 at 3:44 pm by Ted Mininni Mattel gets it. Yet another generation of young girls is experiencing a special relationship with Barbie. And given the fashionista’s long heritage...More Comments: 0A Brand with No Name? ...Really?November 22, 2011 at 9:49 am by Ted Mininni It’s no secret: many consumers have been suffering from a case of the brand blahs. Not many brands seem to mean what they once did...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Taking Licensed Packaging to the Next LevelNovember 14, 2011 at 10:30 am by Ted Mininni Kudos to Disney for doing it right when it comes to licensing its properties. Few characters are as admired as Winnie the Pooh...More Comments: 1Licensing, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Market Research Are We Too Focused on Cutting Costs in Package Design?November 7, 2011 at 12:35 pm by Ted Mininni It’s inevitable. In a recessionary economy, cost cutting becomes the first consideration. But I’ve...More Comments: 0Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Market Research, Marketing Thought Leadership Future Licensing Opps: Virtual Properties?October 31, 2011 at 1:52 pm by Ted Mininni We’ve seen the future. The future is here. New licensing opportunities are increasingly coming from virtual vs real properties...More Comments: 0Apple Retail Stores: The Ultimate Package?October 24, 2011 at 3:29 pm by Ted Mininni Everybody who’s ever purchased or received an Apple product as a gift understands the anticipation, the pleasure of opening up the packaging...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Has Advertising Gone to the Dogs?October 19, 2011 at 11:00 am by Ted Mininni In their haste to develop striking new advertising, marketers are working overtime to create ground-breaking ads; but might those ads ...More Comments: 0Are You a Dipper or a Squeezer?October 18, 2011 at 11:20 am by Ted Mininni For eons, Heinz had the right idea. The company’s ketchup is a staple in the American diet; a sales superstar and well, why mess with...More Comments: 0A New World at Play: AppMATes Merges the Virtual & PhysicalOctober 10, 2011 at 12:16 pm by Ted Mininni Are we surprised that kids, the fastest of early adaptors, take to new apps like ducks to...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Smart Licensing: Disney & SpiritHoods Launch “Wearable” MuppetsOctober 3, 2011 at 11:20 am by Ted Mininni Sometimes it seems as though kids’ licensed products get into a rut. T-shirts, caps...More Comments: 0Licensing, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Marketing to Kids Coca-Cola Downsizing?September 26, 2011 at 10:44 am by Ted Mininni Americans have been counting calories over the past six years. How do we know? Soda volume has dropped over that time frame...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products Iconic “I ♥ NY” Goes Prime TimeSeptember 20, 2011 at 12:09 pm by Ted Mininni An article published in the NY Daily News on September 15th: “‘I Love New York’ iconic tourism logo raking in millions in licensing...More Comments: 0The NFL Kicks Off This Weekend! Are You Ready for Some... Pepsi?September 9, 2011 at 1:06 pm by Ted Mininni According to The Wall Street Journal, the NFL and PepsiCo have extended their sponsorship...More Comments: 2Are You Packaging Confusion?September 6, 2011 at 4:05 pm by Ted Mininni Not naming any offenders here, but you know who you are. If you’re a brand manager of a consumer product brand...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership YouTube Sensations: Package Structure??August 23, 2011 at 11:10 am by Ted Mininni And we thought brand managers and package designers were the only ones who believed in the power of packaging! Not so...More Comments: 0Marvel’s Cooking Up a Great Licensing DealAugust 16, 2011 at 6:22 pm by Ted Mininni Licensing Biz Magazine recently reported on a licensing deal between Marvel and Williams-Sonoma for a new line of super hero bakeware and...More Comments: 0Is There a Next Incarnation of Harry Potter?August 8, 2011 at 1:52 pm by Ted Mininni Everybody knows that Harry Potter has been one of the hottest properties around the globe since the first book about the boy wizard debut in 1997...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership 6 Package Design Ideas for the “New Reality”August 2, 2011 at 8:27 pm by Ted Mininni It’s no secret: consumers are shopping more selectively; reluctant to part with their hard-earned dollars unless we...More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Why Most Package Design Refreshes FlopJuly 27, 2011 at 5:20 pm by Ted Mininni Contemporizing packaging is routinely executed by consumer product companies, but the end result is not always good. More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership Packaging Designed in the Context of RetailJuly 26, 2011 at 4:52 pm by Ted Mininni Packaging for consumer products can’t be successfully developed without considering its retail context. After all, it doesn’t exist...More Comments: 0Licensing the Gone and the GoldenJuly 19, 2011 at 2:05 pm by Ted Mininni Great stars live on in our hearts and psyches forever. Their unique brands occupy a place no one else can ever hold.More Comments: 0What “Ownable” Creative Can DoJuly 12, 2011 at 11:29 am by Ted Mininni Have you ever gone to a store looking for a specific product, not sure which brand to purchase, and noticed that every brand looked alike?More Comments: 0Branding, Package Design, Consumer Products, Marketing Thought Leadership NFL Lockout vs. NFL Licensed Product SalesJuly 5, 2011 at 3:37 pm by Ted Mininni Here we are: the clock’s ticking and still no resolution to the NFL lockout. And the news is bad all the way around. Bad for teams, owners...More Comments: 0Licensee/Licensor/Retailer Red FlagsJune 21, 2011 at 7:09 pm by Ted Mininni Licensed products always get into trouble if they’re not performing up to snuff. Even more so now, as retailers push more deeply into...More Comments: 0Packaging that Hits it Out of the ParkJune 15, 2011 at 9:25 am by Ted Mininni There are times when a creative promotional packaging idea hits on all cylinders. Pabst Old Style bottled beer just hit one out of the park...More Comments: 2Licensing, Branding, Package Design, Structure Design, Consumer Products Stardoll Inks Stellar Deal with MattelJune 7, 2011 at 1:51 pm by Ted Mininni Back in February, the virtual world of entertainment came together with one of the world’s great toy companies. In a smart move, Stardoll...More Comments: 0Licensing, Branding, Licensing Program Design, Entertainment Does Your Brand Own a Color?June 1, 2011 at 9:05 am by Ted Mininni Stand in an aisle of a store. What is it about packaging that catches your attention? Chances are color attracts you first...More Comments: 0Characters on Packaging = Better Product?May 25, 2011 at 11:26 am by Ted Mininni As parents we all know that kids’ favorite characters make them want to have some products over others. And we all know about the “nag factor”...More Comments: 0Hasbro's Sustainability Goal for 2011May 18, 2011 at 4:03 PM by Ted Mininni Like many consumer product companies, Hasbro has worked hard to be a good corporate citizen, focusing on strong community programs... More Comments: 0 |
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