Business

As we focus our attention on 2010, clearly the global marketplace is redefining itself. Not only in economic terms but more importantly in consumer terms. Consumers are more diverse, demanding and connected than ever before.

That whooshing sound heard on Christmas morning was not the sound of Santa’s sleigh launching its return trip to the North Pole. It was the collective sigh of relief by America’s retailers, as they squeaked through an intensely uncertain holiday season with positive growth numbers. Put in perspective, though, a little bit of good news for the holiday season is a modestly upbeat flourish on what is otherwise still a very challenging retail market.

The National Retail Federation released its 2010 economic forecast, projecting retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 2.5 percent from last year.

Since initiating its year-long study of global talent trends and strategies, Deloitte reveals in its latest research report that economic optimism has reached its highest level among surveyed executives since the study’s inception. According to Deloitte’s December 2009 survey, more than one-third of the 335 surveyed executives now believe the worst of the recession is behind us as companies look to move forward to find the right balance between offensive and defensive talent strategies.

A unique analysis of how extensively government, at all levels, subsidizes the news media will be released by the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy. DOWNLOAD HERE.

Retail Forward’s 2010 forecast for retail sales excluding the auto and fuel channels is an increase of 1.5% to 2.0% in the first two quarters of the year and a step up to 3.0% to 4.0% growth in the second half of the year as job and income growth start to re-emerge.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) announced the launch of the “IAB Case Study Road Show: Digital Media Success Stories,” a new event series that responds to the growing surge of interest in the best interactive advertising campaigns. Presented by the marketers, agencies and publishers responsible for crafting these integrated cross-platform messages, the IAB Case Study Road Show is the first of its kind—an event series devoted exclusively to a carefully edited selection of those case studies that define innovation in the digital age.

Univision Communications Inc. plans to hold its Upfront presentation for advertisers in New York City on Thursday, May 20, 2010.

Communicate aspirations, positive thoughts and optimism.

That’s the key advice to marketers and advertising agency executive Luis Miguel Messianu, COO of South Florida-based agency Alma DDB, has to offer.

Speaking January 22 at a Versailles Breakfast Club event in Miami’s Little Havana, Messianu began his presentation by outlining the ‘lacks’ of 2009.

Published by Adam Jacobson . To read El Blog CLICK above.

You seldom hear the word “innovative” used to describe a fast food chain, but there’s really no other way to label some of the things Burger King has attempted in recent years.

BIA/Kelsey, has released its top five trends and industry developments to watch in 2010 in interactive local media, mobile local media, global Yellow Pages, vertical directories and classifieds, and broadcast media. These predictions were drawn from analysis of more than three-dozen anticipated developments the firm provided to clients of its Continuous Advisory Services.

PR Newswire has extended its industry-leading expert network to the Spanish-speaking media and communications industry with the launch today of ProfNet en Espanol, creating a forum for journalists, communications professionals and experts to connect and engage.