Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/274822573?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Saturday, January 5, 2013
MAINE'S LEADING REAL ESTATE EXPERTS TO ADDRESS ...
Annual conference to once again draw hundreds from Maine?s real estate, construction, finance, architecture, legal, engineering, tourism, and economic development communities
On January 24, 2013, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) will host its Annual Real Estate Forecast Conference and 9th Annual Member Showcase. Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner, George Gervais, will serve as keynote.
Over 500 of the state?s leading real estate experts are expected to attend the day?s events, which is being held at Portland?s Holiday Inn By the Bay. Commissioner Gervais, along with other leading experts from across Maine, will offer forecasts of what lies ahead for the state?s economy, with particular focus on commercial real estate by region and key market sectors, including office, retail, industrial, residential, and multi-family properties.
New this year, MEREDA has partnered with renowned Maine economist Dr. Charles Colgan of USM?s Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service. In addition to delivering his Economic Forecast for the State of Maine, Mr. Colgan will unveil the ?MEREDA Index.? This new metric will illustrate the statistical changes and measure the pulse of the commercial real estate industry in Maine, including sale and lease activity, construction starts and other data ? for the first time ever, aggregated into one figure as an indicator of this important sector of Maine?s economy.
Scheduled to give presentations at the conference are Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner, George Gervais, Charles Colgan, Muskie School of Public Service; Mark Malone, Malone Commercial Brokers; Bev Uhlenhake, Epstein Commercial Real Estate; Chris Paszyc, CBRE | The Boulos Co.; Sean Riley, Maine Course Hospitality Group; Brit Vitalius, Vitalius Real Estate Group; Harper Lee Collins, RE/MAX Heritage; Tony McDonald, CBRE | The Boulos Co.; Drew Sigfridson, CBRE | The Boulos Co.; and Justin Lamontagne, NAI The Dunham Group.
Supplementing the conference is our popular Member Showcase which provides an excellent opportunity for members to network and market their products and services.
For more information or to register for the event, please visit:?www.mereda.org?
The Forecast Conference is graciously sponsored by TD Bank. Additional sponsors include: Pierce Atwood, LLP, Showcase Sponsor; SMRT, Showcase Co-Sponsor; Libby Hill, Luncheon Sponsor; Verrill Dana, LLP, Luncheon Co-Sponsor; Mainebiz, Media Sponsor; Haley & Aldrich, Conference and Exhibitor Brochure Sponsor; The Sheridan Corporation, Cocktail Hour Sponsor, and FirstPark, Technology Sponsor.
Source: http://www.mereda.org/blog/?p=593
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Friday, January 4, 2013
The comeback brands of 2013
4 hrs.
Powerful brands easily stagnate, playing it too safe with a strong product and failing to innovate or keep up with the times. These former icons either fade into relative obscurity or dust themselves off. We?ve seen several flashy comebacks in the last few years: a heritage deodorant line?s revitalized ?Old Spice Guy,? the revival of GM?s Chevrolet, and the renewed celebrity of former President Bill Clinton, star of the 2012 campaign trail.
Which elapsed products, struggling companies or forgotten personalities will revive their brands in 2013? Marketing and branding experts cast their votes for the next big comeback stories.
Myspace
The original social network may be poised for a rebound, after being purchased from News Corp. by performer Justin Timberlake and a group of investors last year. A two-minute teaser video released in September prominently features Timberlake and reveals the new design as photo and entertainment focused. Users are asked to request an invitation to the reimagined site. With Google+?s struggle to get off the ground and Facebook?s flubbed IPO this year, TalkPoint Marketing VP Dan Roche believes Myspace has a real shot at comeback success in 2013. ?They have the advantage of an established name brand, infrastructure and experience,? he says. ?With the influx of new blood, they can make inroads into the Facebook dominance.?
Tiger Woods
?Woods? brand hit the fan in 2009, when we saw his personal life blow up in front of us,? says Kelly O?Keefe, chief creative officer at media agency CRT/tanaka and a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University?s Brandcenter. ?Then, even worse, his [golf] game blew up in 2010 and 2011.? However, this year he started performing better on the green and saw his earnings bounce back to $4.4 million in winnings and $55 million in endorsements, making him the world?s third highest-paid athlete. With the return of his game and his confidence, O?Keefe believes consumers are ready to forgive his personal failings and support his career redemption. Plus, ?in light of drunk-driving manslaughters, murder/suicides, doping and lying by other athletes, Tiger?s marital infidelities are starting to look tame by comparison,? he says.
Furby Toys
?It?s unlikely that the same toy will be popular year after year without a redesign,? says Charles R. Taylor, a marketing professor at Villanova University?s School of Business in Pennsylvania. He points to best-selling Barbie, who?s had 130 careers and a revolving closet, as the model of smart brand reinvention. Now Hasbro, the maker of GI Joe and Mr. Potato Head, is staging a revival of its 14-year-old Furby toy. A new redesigned line was launched in September, equipped with several high-tech add-ons: LED-lit eyes, touch sensors that trigger movement, adaptable personality traits and a companion iPhone app. Taylor says they?ve sold extremely well during the 2012 holiday season, and with an online campaign centered on social media and Furby.com, he expects the toys will be everywhere next year.
The GOP
The GOP?s recent presidential loss will likely catalyze a reinvention, says Karen Post, author of "Brand Turnaround: How Brands Gone Bad Return to Glory"and a self-identified moderate Republican. She believes the party has suffered from a lack of diversity, narrow messaging and too little Web and social media interaction. ?A political party is like any big brand,? she says, using Nike as an analogy. ?While Nike has its one thing people associate it with, they spend millions segmenting consumers. The GOP is not grasping that.? Republicans will spend 2013 trying to reach both younger and minority voters, she says, by ramping up social media efforts and recruiting new, diverse spokespeople.
Ford Motor Company?s Lincoln
While the Lincoln Town Car was once a staple of luxury and comfort, it?s become associated with stodginess. ?Younger buyers don?t want to buy it,? says marketing expert Taylor. Ford hopes to reposition the brand with its new Lincoln MKZ model targeting Gen X consumers. Every successful comeback campaign starts with product innovation, says Taylor, and so far critics are responding positively. Car and Driver gave it a 4.5 rating on a 5-point scale. Ford is also launching an edgy ad campaign, with one commercial showing an old Town Car in flames and the new model rising like a phoenix from the ashes. Also, comedian Jimmy Fallon is creating a 60-second Super Bowl ad for the model, which he?s crowd-sourcing ideas for on Twitter. ?They?re taking big risks,? says Taylor, who predicts they?ll pay off in 2013.
Twinkies
The news of Twinkie-maker Hostess Brands? bankruptcy caused a tidal wave of publicity and nostalgia that may help the sweet treat relaunch in 2013. With companies like Wal-Mart and Kroger reportedly making bids on the business, it?s likely that the Twinkie will have a new owner and a renewed consumer base next year. ?There?s so much tradition and equity in the brand that someone will buy it,? says Taylor. However, for a successful comeback, he believes its new parent will have to break the negative association with junk food by either brand extensions or a smart marketing campaign.
Yahoo
The former darling of the tech world faltered in the last several years, suffering from constant volatility at the top?with five CEOs in just five years. However, Rob Scalea, CEO of brand strategy consultancy The Brand Union, believes it could return to its former glory in the year ahead. ?Yahoo made a big coup by recruiting ex-Googler Marissa Mayer,? he says of its new CEO. ?She has brought a new-found focus and a clear strategy: Yahoo! will be a product company with a huge emphasis on mobile.? He cites the reinvention of Yahoo Mail, rumored discussions with Facebook about creating a common social search engine, and a new Flickr app, which positions it to compete with photo-sharing service Instagram, as strong signs of a company comeback.
More from Forbes
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/comeback-brands-2013-1C7753026
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Luke's First Day of Pre-School! ? Motherhood Support
We had a momentous day in our house yesterday?Luke?s first day at preschool! Because we had sweet little Emma last Fall I decided to wait on starting school with Luke to give us all time as a family to settle into our new routine as a family of four. I finally found the perfect preschool for Luke and my Mom has worked with Luke?s teacher before so I feel like we had a leg up knowing how great she was before we even started! I haven?t felt nervous or very anxious leading up to this day and I think knowing how great his teacher was really made a huge difference to me ? I never worried if he would be in great hands (I only worried how many notes home I would get from him talking too much!)!
We were able to get a few great ideas from Jen?s post she did last September when it was Cody?s first day of preschool! I loved the idea of the FDOSF (first day of school fairy) which Luke simply calls ?the school fairy?. It?s a little cheese-ball, yes, but it was priceless to see the look on Luke?s face when she left him a ?good luck? note for his first day with a yummy after school snack. She also decorated the hallway with streamers which was a fun surprise for him to wake up to! We opted not to buy anything because it was just Christmas last week and then two weeks prior was his birthday and he doesn?t need any more ?stuff?.
I made him a special breakfast with his favorite fruit and Star Wars inspired pancakes this morning! (He?s never seen any of the films or shows yet but he?s known all the characters for a while thanks to a cute Star Wars board book he got years ago. Daddy is counting down the minutes until I agree to let him watch the first movie.) I haven?t done these pancakes for him before so he got a kick out of them!
We previously met with his teacher and love her?she?s amazing and she is the perfect teacher for Luke, which is a true godsend for my nerves. We made a little gift for his teachers today that I got from Pinterest and it was easy peasy.
I used a crystal light container, filled it with Andes mints and used this free printable for the gift tag that I printed on white card-stock and glued it to some fun green card that I cut with funky scissors.
He had a fabulous 1st day today (no crying from Luke?.or Mommy!) and it felt great for me to have some one on one time with Emma that I had when Luke was her age. I am loving how close his school is from our house ? it?s less than 5 minutes away and anyone who?s been to my house knows?nothing is less than 5 minutes away! So I?m not quite sure how all this has fallen into place but it?s a nice break on our wallet for gas money and for LESS time I have to spend in the car! Yippee! It?s perfect that Julian is working from home because twice today I was able to leave her napping while I ran out to drop off/pick up Luke. Even when I will have to take Emma, the school has a wonderful drive thru type drop off and pick up routine where I don?t even have to get out of the car! I hate having to get Emma in and out with that big old car seat so it?s nice that I can pull up and they take care of getting him in and out!
So far, so good! We are loving pre-school and I had fun hearing all about his first day when he got home. I still can?t believe how grown up my 4 year old is?this age is challenging but so much fun at the same time.
Be sure to check out our Pinterest page for more back to school/first day of school ideas!
Arts News Headlines - Yahoo! News
Source: http://rss.news.yahoo.com/rss/arts
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How to Promote Your Music
PLAN FOR MUSIC PROMOTION
Commonly, a good idea to promote music comes in the head at the most inopportune times, such as when reading or in some exotic places. The best piece of advice is to buy a notebook and write down the ideas as they come. Do not rely on your memory. It is common that after a while you forget these thoughts.Many ideas, too little time
Once you have compiled a list of excellent, interesting ideas for the development of your career, think of all possible ways to use them in practice. Most musicians are lost at this point, not knowing where to start, and do not do anything. Or do, but very little, carrying only a small part of what has been coined. Do not overload yourself, try to be consistent. Before you begin to engage in large-scale promotion, remember two main things that need to be performed every day.
1) Write, record, and do good music. It's no secret - the most brilliant and creative promotional ideas and technology advancement cannot force people to listen to and buy mediocre music. Therefore constantly hone your compositional and poetic skill. Make at least one really great song which will already be enough to light the fire of your popularity.
2) The second thing you need to do every day - is to take steps towards finding new listeners and gain their attention and sympathy. Try to improve technical skills and find friends in the music industry, do not be distracted from the main thing which is to find new audiences and communicate with old fans of your music. The meaning of your work is in your listeners. The fastest way to spread your music is by word of mouth, so don?t forget to keep a good relationship with your fan base.
So formulate a plan ...a perfect plan ... and ... Get out and promote yourself!
HOW AND WHERE TO PROMOTE MUSIC
Let me ask you a question ... What should happen to a man, that he becomes a fan of your music? This question has many answers, but above all - this person should listen to your music.And that's where people can hear your music: on the radio or on television, the Internet, in the club, a disco, a shop, a friend at home or in the car or ... at your concert. Focus on the latter, because, despite all the technological advances, live musical performance is still one of the most effective ways to find the audience, to sell the CD, and in the end, express yourself as an artist .I would hope that in your promotional marketing plan keep a lot of live shows and perform them with confidence.
But how and what shows are you planning? The problem is that many musicians are stuck in a rut and no one can see other possibilities for their performances, except those that already exist. For example, most rock bands flock like lemmings in restaurants and night clubs. Most musicians playing acoustic instruments are concentrated in the coffee houses and crowded places. This is fine, but that's where the creativity ends. And then all these musicians have complained that they have few options, and they say that they have nowhere to play.Decision. Reconsider your priorities about performing. And ask yourself the right questions. If you are asking yourself "How do I organize more concerts in clubs", then you are unlikely to see any new opportunities. Put it another way, for example, "How do I bring my music to the maximum number of ideal fans through live performances??. Keep a list of your ideas about finding new fans and exposing your music. Where can you perform your music in front of more potential fans? If the "night club" is your only answer, think further. How about public festivals, concerts for residents of certain areas of your city, during great discoveries, meetings, car shows, craft fairs, public beaches on sunny days... Keep your music business cards and flyers at hand. You never know when you will meet someone who is interested to your music ... or bulletin board on which you can stick a leaflet. Business card allows the other party to remember about you after a while after the conversation, that you should look at your page, or visit the show.
Of course, not every option is right for you, by reason of your music, and opportunities to organize the necessary sound, stage sets and so on. But anything whatever comes to mind on the idea of where to give a concert, you should consider it carefully the ideal features may not be apparent at first glance. It is useful to follow this advice because few musicians perform in such unusual places, so you will have very little competition in terms of performances, compared to the same clubs that have many musicians lining up at their doorstep for a chance to perform. But always remember to play at every chance you get. This is the easiest way to get your music exposed. Who knows? Maybe a representative of a record label will hear your music at the most unexpected time. So ... expand the capabilities of your live performances, ask yourself questions and you will see many new ways to find millions of fans through concerts.
If you want to learn more on how to promote your music and get your music heard, go to www.band-zone.com
Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/how-to-promote-your-music-310276
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AP Source: Reid, Chiefs nearing deal to be coach
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, right, shakes hands with New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 42-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, right, shakes hands with New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 42-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
FILE - Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 in East Rutherford, N.J. Reid has been fired after 14 seasons coaching the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles made the announcement Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid walks on the field before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? Andy Reid was in deep negotiations with the Kansas City Chiefs to become their next coach, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The two sides were working out the details and Reid had canceled plans to interview for other openings, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations.
The Philadelphia Eagles fired Reid on Monday, the same day the Chiefs parted ways with coach Romeo Crennel.
The Chiefs have a connection with Reid through team president Mark Donovan, who spent six years as the Eagles' senior vice president of business operations before joining Kansas City. Several members of the Chiefs met with Reid, who has also been linked to openings in Arizona and San Diego, for close to nine hours on Wednesday.
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt began his search for Crennel's replacement in Atlanta, where he interviewed offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on Tuesday. One day later, Falcons coach Mike Smith said that Koetter had signed a new contract and would not be pursuing a head coaching job.
Hunt told the AP this week that he would lead the search for the Chiefs' next coach, not embattled general manager Scott Pioli. Hunt said he had "the appropriate resources available to help me in the process," but would not say who is assisting him. It's unclear whether Pioli would be retained if Reid becomes the Chiefs' coach.
Hunt's decision to spearhead the coaching search coincides with his decision to take greater control of football operations. Pioli had been responsible for all personnel moves since he was hired in 2009, including the hiring and firing of the head coach.
The opening in Kansas City is attractive on several levels: The Chiefs had five Pro Bowl players despite their 2-14 record, they have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for the first time in franchise history, and it appears that Hunt is willing to give his next coach more authority to make personnel decisions than in years past.
The Eagles were just 12-20 the past two seasons, but Reid's overall record of 130-93-1 represents the most wins in franchise history. He also has experience turning around a program ? the Eagles were just 3-13 the year before he arrived, and two years later they finished 11-5 and second in the NFC East.
That was the first of five straight years in which the Eagles won at least 11 games, and included a trip to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season.
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AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.
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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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