Agency

Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) announced the first top-line results from its IRI Long-Term Drivers Consortium Study that was initially launched in mid-2006. Since its inception, the study has been utilizing brand information from a consortium of national CPG manufacturers to quantify the importance of TV advertising, in-store promotion, distribution and brand variety on the long-term health of brands and the overall CPG industry.

QuePasa.com has named San Antonio-based Creative Civilization as its new agency of record.

The San Antonio-based advertising agency, led by Al Aguilar and Gisela Girard, will partner with QuePasa Corporation Chairman and CEO, Robert B. Stearns, to enhance the website’s overall reach and relevance to Hispanic consumers and business to business audiences.

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, which was observed during the week including Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

Dallas based Value Giant has begun to accept the Mexican peso as a currency in their stores. They are following the footsteps of pizza chain Pizza Patron, who previously started the practice to serve the needs of their Hispanic customers.

I have been sending my grandmother money every month since I landed my first steady, post college job. On a recent visit, instead of sending the monthly stipend via money order, I brought the cash. My grandmother took the money, went into her room, opened a drawer and piled it on top of what looked like a gangster‚s stash: neatly piled twenties, eight rows across. I almost fell over. Here was this helpless octogenarian with thousands of dollars sitting in her bedroom.

While digital video continues to grab headlines with the growing prominence of streaming and downloading video files among online adults, today’s entertainment enthusiasts remain largely steadfast in their love of traditional viewing options, according to recent findings released by Ipsos Insight from MOTION.

The Hispanic imprint on American culture and business is undeniable. As the largest and fastest-growing minority community in the United States, Hispanics represent 14 percent of the population and one out of every eight employees in the labor force. The community’s language, food, music, art, workforce and businesses contribute significantly to the multicultural fabric of our nation and the growth and health of our economy.

The Bureau of Labor & Statistics (BLS) has long produced statistics about the labor market, such as employment, hours of work, and earnings. To provide a more complete picture of the context of employment, BLS also conducts the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). The ATUS collects data on what activities people do during the day and how much time they spend doing them.

GfK Consumer, a division of GfK Custom Research North America, announced the launch of its Unacculturated Hispanic In-Person Research Program, the first of its kind to gather consumer intelligence from the marketplace, representing 40% of the more than 42 million Hispanics in the U.S.

Miller Brewing Company announced that Houston-based Lopez Negrete won its Hispanic agency of record designation for the Miller Lite brand following a competitive pitch.

Community events score with youth influencers.

A few years back, a market researcher wanted to form a focus group consisting of the most influential kids available. The researcher would ask children, “Who’s the coolest kid you know?” Kids who answered “me” were invited to be in the sample.

Sales over the Internet now make up four percent of all sales or about $1.7 billion in the more than $42 billion dollar beauty industry. Even though it’s only about four percent of sales- it’s one of the fastest growing channels for shopping, according to The NPD Group.