Coach Targets China -- and Queens By Vanessa O'Connell, reporter for The Wall Street Journal

Editor's Note: Coach's Chief Executive, Lew Frankfort, does not have the wool, or leather in this case, pulled over his eyes. His goal is to reach a wide market while still being labeled as a luxury brand. He has been opening numerous stores across the country every year and has even expanded to China and Japan where the bags are considered a more cost efficient alternative to the other well known Italian designers. Check out the full article to learn how he plans to accomplish his vision for the brand.

Industry Panel Confirms: Diversified Media Important to Luxury Property Marketing, article contributed by Criterion Global

At this year's Luxury Interactive 2008 in New York the term 'social media' was a hot and relatively new buzzword that only 8 of 250+ attendees claim to be clear on how to most effectively use this new form of media to target their affluent consumers. Dee Solomon, SVP at Conde Net Media explained it best: "combining social media with traditional media platforms like print advertising and event-based added value brings consumers down the pipeline from initial exposure to the valuation/consideration stage."

Sex and the City Movie: Adorned in Product Placement

Editors note: After seeing the Sex and the City movie the other day I left the theater wishing I had enough money in my wallet to run out and buy a pair of Manolo Blahniks. The film itself was a forced continuation of the hit series, but the brands mentioned and seen throughout the film were greater and more numerous than ever before. Top designers are frequently mentioned in the series and a definite allure to the viewer to see what the girls wear next, it appeals greatly to the average woman's penchant for shopping. In the International Herald Tribune article John Melfi, an executive producer of the series, explains that the products were originally written into the script "to establish the reality of the world the characters lived in." Within the series this statement rings true. As a result of this pre-established association with luxury brands, many labels and other names rushed to stake claim in the movie. Vanity Fair lists a whopping 67 of the mainly high end brands, such as Mercedes and Diane Von Furstenberg, mentioned or placed throughout the movie. Check out the three attached articles to find out more about the brand placement in the Sex and the City movie and other popular media channels.

Click here to view the Washington Post article

Porsche Wins Overall Brand Status among the Affluent By Karl Greenburg, Reporter for Marketing Daily

Editors Note: The Luxury Institute conducted a survey this past month to find out how affluent American consumers would rank luxury brand vehicles. Milton Pedraza of The Luxury Institute stated, "The overall luxury brand status ranking is an amalgam of responses on product quality, customer service, and intangibles such as whether a product is unique and exclusive" Porsche came out on top, ranking highest for overall brand quality due to its consistency in style, performance and prestige throughout the decades.

Branding, The Mind And Search by Gord Hotchkiss, reporter for Search Insider

Editor's Note: Hotchkiss breaks it down like this: advertising is difficult because you have to both catch the consumer's attention AND sell something. Search makes advertising easier by removing the first obstacle. When someone is searching for something they are already fully engaged, "There are no cognitive guards on duty, protecting you from unscrupulous persuasion." Maybe there is something to this search advertising thing.

Luxury Travel During China's Olympics in 2008 posted on Iula.org

Since the announcement that the 2008 Olympics would be held in Beijing, China there have been five star hotels popping up everywhere to accommodate the mass influx of tourists to the city during the games. However, visitors beware China's rating system is controlled by the government and based on statistics like number of rooms instead of quality and service. To avoid winding up in a less-than-luxurious hotel check out sites like Five Star Alliance to view ratings and book online.

Gaining Exposure By Giving The People What They Want By Chris Young, Reporter for Online Video Insider

Editors note: Who would have ever thought that the internet might make unwanted advertisements and pop-ups less annoying? Chris Young sheds light on this novel idea, explaining that if companies take the time to use the internet to advertise intelligently it actually creates a more pleasant and profitable experience for everyone involved. If companies view the internet as an efficient tool to target specific audiences then users are exposed to products that are relevant to their needs and lives and companies don't waste time or money running their ads on unrelated sites.

Brought to You by . . . Anyone?: Major Brands Are Slow to Move Their Sponsorship to the Web by Peter Whoriskey, Washington Post Staff Writer

Editor's Note: It's curious to think that The University of Phoenix makes up about 1/64 of all internet advertising, especially considering a well known brand like Proctor & Gamble only dedicates about 2% of their annual advertising funds toward placing ads online. Peter Whoriskey delves into why well-known and established brands are reluctant to invest in advertising on the internet.