Contemporary Advertising is a Drag

Ten days ago I wrote: "It's important to follow the Budweiser story. Every major U.S. brand is run by silly people who will make similar mistakes. Their training and education taught them to "change the world," and that comes first, before their stakeholder's welfare."

Every week a new corporate blunder becomes apparent. Last week it was Target. This week, Northface apparel company, next you'll hear a lot about the Los Angeles Dodgers. I'm not too sure who it was, but I heard a smart commentator on the radio say,

"These people aren't there to serve the customers. They are there to convert them".

The latest commercial from Northface

There's Something Funny About OPNAD

Advertising Age magazine has completed a study of how much Black-owned media the big brands are buying. Of course, they cover McDonald's. There's nothing new in the reporting, but a passage mentioning Tariq Hassan gave me a chuckle.

"One of the McDonald's challenges, similar to General Motors, is the divide between the national budget (controlled by Hassan) and the local budget driven by the franchisees."

"Controlled by Hassan"? I'm sure Tariq thinks so.

Reporters can only put down what the corporate pukes tell them, even when a corporate guy gives himself a promotion.

June Eighth is Fast Approaching

IFA urges members to tell their stories in FTC's request for information

Someone Desperately Needs Attention

McDonald's CEO appears to be looking for a job

Burger Underground

Drill, Baby, Drill at Wendy's

I can think of a number of storefront Chipoltes or Smashburgers where tunneling might work but in a store that already has a drive-thru? Wendy's can dream about fully utilizing their buildings but at their volumes that's going to be a while. 

At the same time, restaurant companies are discussing smaller locations and cheaper facilities with greater demand upon existing parking spaces. In addition, governments, Federal and local, will continue to push for EV charging stalls.

And then we'll wonder why dining room sales went to absolutely nothing.

Tips For McDonald's Crew?

Colorado bill would allow employees like Walmart and MCD to accept tips

Don't Miss These Comments

It might pay to review comments on service fees since this April posting

Are Service Fees to be Reduced?

The Bud Goes On

"It took me 20 years to build this brand...

and they dismantled it in a week" says man behind Bud's iconic ads.

It's important to follow the Budweiser story. Every major U.S. brand is run by silly people who will make similar mistakes. Their training and education taught them to "change the world", and that comes first, before their stakeholder's welfare.

Are Chains Being Honest About Prices and Traffic?

Wendy's sees no major resistance to prices - Yahoo  

Most QSR chains are telling investors that the price increases they've taken haven't hurt traffic. That contradicts common sense and the word on the street says if it hasn't hurt yet, it soon will.

From friends, neighbors, reporters, analysts, to extended family, it seems to me that everyone outside the offices of QSR corporate headquarters is complaining about prices at quick-service restaurants. Part of the problem? Most chains are run by new generations of executives who have no background in the business of value.

When customer contraction begins to hurt sales the only answer will be an increase in deep discounting or the good old "burger wars".

McBlast From the Past

Jim Skinner from out of nowhere: MCD a resilient brand - Fox Business

Andy Puzder - Long Form

Most visitors to this website seem to enjoy to the wisdom of the former Carl's Jr. CEO. This is a transcript of a speech he recently gave at Hillsdale College. It's longer than most of our postings but worthwhile. The speech is a few months old so some statistics may be dated.

The Biden Economy and How It Can Be Fixed

Byron Allen Sues McDonald's - Again

This time it's only for $100 million, in addition to the previous $10 billion federal lawsuit

How the biggest private sector union...

... wants to transform the restaurant workforce

Food Website Recaps Joint Employer

Why aren't McDonald's franchisees entertained? - Mashed.com