Lessons from the Best: Sell Experiences, Not Products - [read]
The greatest entrepreneurs don't sell products; they sell an experience like fun, happiness, or a comfortable, inviting place to enjoy a cappuccino. What experience does your product offer? If you're an insurance agent, do you sell annuities or "peace of mind"? If you're a financial planner, do you sell mutual funds or "financial freedom"? Think hard about what your brand really stands for—it's not always the product itself. - businessweek.com

Head Case: Salon Client Consultations that Make the Cut - [read]
For those seeking a style change, most salons offer hair consultations with a stylist. While some hairdressers charge for the service, in this limp economy, many are offering free or lower-cost advice. Here’s what happened when we took an unruly mop of long hair to four different consultants, both in-person and online, to evaluate the quality of advice on offer. - wall street journal (wsj.com)

The New Emerging Consumer Culture - [read]
When people ask me how things are changing with consumers because of the recession, I see at least five major cultural changes that are here to stay. I also see enormous potential for corporations to align with those changes and make the world a better place. - hubmagazine.com

The Magic Potion of Leadership: Hard Power and Soft Emotion - [read]
Inspire loyalty by tempering your strong ability to lead with the softness of human emotion. See how President Obama and JFK connect with the public with a combination of immense power tempered by shades of human softness. - forbes.com

Recalibrate to Address Current Economy - [read]
With the economy changing the way customers and staff think and act, companies need to recalibrate themselves and make sure their internal brand is clear. That means updating the company's mission statement and making sure the company has a shared belief of what it intends to be. - tompeters.com

Marketing Strategy: Little Luxuries Console Consumers - [read]
Consumers have traditionally sought solace in life’s little low-cost treats during hard times. Lipstick, lingerie, sunglasses and watches are some of the usual “affordable luxuries” people have turned to in recessions. And each downturn throws up fresh examples. Trend watcher Seth Godin suggests we're seeing a new category emerge, as consumers look for perceived value that exceeds a product's price point. The notion of "affordable premium" may help to explain the growing popularity of organic or locally sourced goods, even if they're more expensive.- ft.com

NAHA Finalists Announced - [read]
Don't miss the 20th Annual NAHA Awards as part of the best industry event of the year - PBA Symposium, July 19, 2009 beginning at 6:30 PM at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. Register online to attend the Awards only or for the entire Symposium, and view the Finalist's portfolios online. - probeauty.org

Quotable
“Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds,
can change the outer aspects of their lives."
- William James, American psychologist and philosopher