As our readers know, we’ve been commenting on the iPad and key strategic events at industrial giants like Apple, GM, Tribune and others.

But, this morning we turn our attention to how marketing applies to small businesses right here near the office.

The Crock Spot at the Farmers’ Market.

I happened to try this at a food fair recently and thought the food was delicious.

Why are there no people?

They have a booth at our busiest Farmers Market and are the nicest folks….but I wonder how long they will last as they don’t seem to do the business that other food booths do.

First, I thought it was the brand name – Crock Spot.  I guess the food is cooked in crock pots, but what you see if a conventional set-up with pans sitting over hot water.  No crock pots.  And then, as a marketer, I take issue with a brand name that is about “what we do” vs. “the benefit we deliver”.

However, I am now more convinced that this is a product design problem.  You, the customer, assemble a custom lunch from them.  There are signs that tell you what to do in steps.  (See them pasted to the case.)  So, you have to make lots of choices to get your lunch.  Which grain?  Which meat?  It doesn’t seem like a menu so much as a science project.

I hope they can make it.

I’m not alone in thinking their food is quite yummy.  Our local magazine, 5280, gave them a sweet review, which the folks in the booth told me about but, of course, they had no mention of in the booth.  (See http://www.5280.com/blog/?cat=5)

Marketing in terms of brand identity, product composition and promotion is key in every business, from small to large.

Off to the Saturday Farmers Market!

Is it a benefit or a threat?  That’s the point of The Wall Street Journal’s recent series on Internet privacy.  (See http://wsj.com/WhatTheyKnow.)

I’ve always felt that targeted advertising was the next big opportunity for cable TV.  I’m ready to sign up right now to change the ad mix on The Golf Channel from Viagara, luxury cars and insurance to travel, clothes and cooking!

However, the web is increasingly able to deliver this targeting, which I think is great….but like the Journal’s Nicholas Carr article where he points to danger, I’d like these providers to try to be careful with my information and maybe show me an ad for something that isn’t exactly matching my profile so it’s not all endless trips, fashion and recipes!  I’d like to stay part of the general conversation of American life, not just buried in my micro-segment.

What do you think?

A reminder to all marketers to be alert to how your customers are using new methods to solve personal and business problems.  This sneaks up just when you’re not looking, such as when:

• An operagoer in our arts group sold the tickets she couldn’t use last minute on Craig’s List
• I found a Mexican restaurant via my smartphone during an out of town trip.  A restaurant that diners raved about and that was exceptionally close to my hotel!
• I used the food diary function on that same smartphone, scanning bar codes to put foods I ate in the diary and checking restaurant listings for calorie counts.  (This became essential after the Mexican restaurant!)
• And I looked for a Mickey Mouse gift online for a friend vs. conventional methods, getting something more special and at a better price with less aggravation.
  • Had to make last minute bid changes via the very same smartphone.
  • Was encouraged by my dining companion when she saw the excellent picture on the smartphone!

The list goes on and on.  We often talk about an adoption curve for new solutions, but right now, it feels a bit more like a step function.  Once you’ve shifted, you aren’t going back.

Just heard that Michael Jackson died today via FaceBook.  Not via the conventional news sources.  At least not initially.  So, how do news providers think about getting out ahead on “news alerts” via social media.  Or is the key for them to be on these different delivery vehicles?