Must be a Cubs game.Mellow day. After getting the Norder's entry locks re-keyed so it only takes one key to open both the doorknob and the deadbolt I headed over to spend some time with Bonnie and her three. Drew is the king of smiles and cheer. The only time he got upset was when I put on my coat and he wanted to put his on too and go away with me. Hard not to like that! The girls are both adorable and well behaved.
Spent the afternoon working on my sermon, the song slides and my Foundations lesson.
I also took a brief nap in the car. If I park in the sun the inside warms up to almost comfy.
Dinner and the first session of the conference at the college. Were students this young when I was here? I swear they're 13 now.
Interesting session. I'll comment when it's all done.
McDonald’s is retiring Ronald. He’ll still make occasional appearances for special occasions but as the mainstay of their advertising he’s been moved to the closet at the back of the warehouse. In his place they’re emphasizing their McCafe’ line designed to appeal to young adults. They’re challenging Starbucks as the primary purveyor of coffee drinks.
(Note: I have a friend who is scared of clowns. She’s near giddy over this news.)
I find the evolution of the McDonald’s brand interesting. They started out as a basic hamburger stand chain. Then, in what has to be a piece of marketing genius, they put together a whole approach designed to appeal to children: cartoon characters (remember McBurgler?), kids meals with a toy inside, play areas, color schemes....
Get the kids (“I wanna go to McDonald’s!”) and you’ve got the parents.
Burger King, their primary competitor, responded with a nod to McDonald’s, installing play areas and serving kids meals, but emphasized something designed for adults that, at least to hear them tell it, McDonald’s didn’t offer - a meal made the way you want it.
“Have it YOUR way.”
“Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us, all we ask is that you let us have it your way.”
Before long the two became indistinguishable in their marketing strategies. Until now. I don’t expect McDonald’s to drop the kids stuff but they’re clearly targeting an older demographic with the coffee drinks and the way they’re pushed. Cf. the hand dancing ads. How will BK respond? A year from now will we see BK following suit, reaching out to an older base with a new product line and new target demographic?
I'm by no means thrashing this Forte but I'm...shall we say...putting it through its paces. And it paces!
Spent the afternoon working on my sermon, the song slides and my Foundations lesson.
I also took a brief nap in the car. If I park in the sun the inside warms up to almost comfy.
Dinner and the first session of the conference at the college. Were students this young when I was here? I swear they're 13 now.
Interesting session. I'll comment when it's all done.
McDonald’s is retiring Ronald. He’ll still make occasional appearances for special occasions but as the mainstay of their advertising he’s been moved to the closet at the back of the warehouse. In his place they’re emphasizing their McCafe’ line designed to appeal to young adults. They’re challenging Starbucks as the primary purveyor of coffee drinks.
(Note: I have a friend who is scared of clowns. She’s near giddy over this news.)
I find the evolution of the McDonald’s brand interesting. They started out as a basic hamburger stand chain. Then, in what has to be a piece of marketing genius, they put together a whole approach designed to appeal to children: cartoon characters (remember McBurgler?), kids meals with a toy inside, play areas, color schemes....
Get the kids (“I wanna go to McDonald’s!”) and you’ve got the parents.
Burger King, their primary competitor, responded with a nod to McDonald’s, installing play areas and serving kids meals, but emphasized something designed for adults that, at least to hear them tell it, McDonald’s didn’t offer - a meal made the way you want it.
“Have it YOUR way.”
“Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us, all we ask is that you let us have it your way.”
Before long the two became indistinguishable in their marketing strategies. Until now. I don’t expect McDonald’s to drop the kids stuff but they’re clearly targeting an older demographic with the coffee drinks and the way they’re pushed. Cf. the hand dancing ads. How will BK respond? A year from now will we see BK following suit, reaching out to an older base with a new product line and new target demographic?
I'm by no means thrashing this Forte but I'm...shall we say...putting it through its paces. And it paces!
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