The only Good thing at Starbucks

I normally can't be bothered to stop at a Starbucks, but halfway between Gainesville and Pensacola with the sun sinking low in the sky, the promise of caffeine was the only thing keeping my eyes open. So I stopped at a Starbucks in Tallahassee because, well, I do kind of like the Doubleshot on Ice. Starbucks has good espresso; everything else there sucks.

While waiting for the barista to dissolve unhealthy amounts of espresso and sugar into far too little milk, I picked up a copy of the Good Sheet, a fold-out newsprint magazine about the size of a CD case. A Starbucks exclusive, I might add. Here it is pictured.

I'd never heard of the Good Sheet before. I'm holding issue No. 11 in my hand. According to a short description on its inside cover, "Good is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. We make a magazine, produce videos, curate a website, and host events around the country." Good's magazine and website operate under a Radiohead-esque pay-what-you-want subscription policy, 100% of which goes to the non-profit of your choice.

According to the VP of Marketing at Starbucks, the Good Sheet started as a way to get people to talk about election-related topics like health care, education and gas prices. Now that the election is over, this issue attempts to spark discussion about our consumer culture (it's titled "Holiday Economy").

But this trendy, cute magazine got me thinking about something else. It caught my attention because it's small, strange and simple. Its design calls out to the Internet generation--my generation. We like colors and short blurbs and pictures. We don't want to analyze; we want the gist, the meat. And this magazine--littered with ASCII art, diagrams and ten-word captions--tries to satify our information-addicted society's hunger for instant understanding.

Also, I can put the little guy in my back pocket and take it with me. Like an iPod.

Nissan tightens its belt

Nissan canceled its plans this evening to participate in the 2009 Detroit and Chicago Auto Shows. The company explained that the shows would not be the best use of the company's "marketing dollars."

Nissan isn't the only automaker tightening or reallocating its marketing budget. Mitsubishi canceled plans to attend the same shows, as did Ferrari, Suzuki, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover. General Motors recently canceled plans to advertise during the Super Bowl and Academy Awards and ended a contract with Tiger Woods. Some fear the Big 3 may end their partnerships with NASCAR. General Motors also pulled out of this year's Los Angeles Auto Show (the same show where Nissan unveiled the third generation Nissan Cube, pictured here, which seems to have evolved to look more like other toaster-shaped successes, the Scion and the Element).

So what counts as a good allocation of "marketing dollars?" Depends what you want those dollars to do. An auto show is a chance for the movers and shakers of the industry to show off new products and cutting-edge prototypes to investors and the press. This might be a good idea for a company that's trying to promote a new concept, but even Nissan admits that they don't have anything new left to unveil in 2009.

Nissan is focused on moving product right now because an automobile is not an "impulse buy" anymore. During the tech boom and growth of the housing bubble, middle and upper-class families had room in their budget for a second, third or fourth car. But things are changing.

Any new car purchase is likely out of necessity. Nissan knows it needs to focus on the customer--the Wall Street Journal mentions that Nissan will put its marketing budget towards local campaigns. Good call, Nissan.

Here we go!

Hey all. I'm Alex Wise, a PR undergrad at the University of Florida. (Chomp)

I know I've started blogging a little late in the game. I'm spitting in the ocean. But I think the best way to learn about the world of social media is to dive in headfirst. And the best way to understand a changing world is to be a part of the change.

So this is my blog. I want to talk to you (and with you!) about public relations, marketing, business, news, and maybe a few stray posts about music. I'm excited that you're reading this. Let me know what you think!