Sustainable Fisheries, brought to you by big business

McKinsey & Company highlights the Marine Stewdship Council's massive sucess to identify and educate the public on the need for managed worldwide fisheries in their article Building a Market for Sustainable Fisheries. A little known fact is that the market, not bureaucracies led the effort to find sustainable fishing solutions.

"Established in 1997 by Unilever, at the time one of the world’s largest purchasers of frozen seafood with brands such as Birds Eye and Iglo, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s largest and most recognized international conservation organization, the MSC was created to use its certification and labeling program to identify and reward existing good practice and to help create the market pull to encourage less well-managed fisheries to improve their performance in order to meet the standard."

Inspired Quotes

Sam Walton, Made in America
Page 307 "Importing is really our only alternative because a lot of American-made goods simply aren't competitive, either in price, or quality, or both... We, like any other retailer, will only buy American if those goods can be produced efficiently enough to offer good value. We're not interested in charity here; we don't believe in subsidizing substandard work or inefficiency."

Page 314 "I think I overcame every single one of my personal shortcomings by the sheer passion I brought to my work...If you love your work, you'll be out there every day trying to do it the best you possibly can, and pretty soon everybody around will catch the passion from you - like a fever."

Page 327 "The next time some overeager, slightly eccentric shopkeeper opens up a business in your neck of the woods, before you write him off too quickly...go check the new store out. See what they've got to offer, see how they treat you, and decide for yourself if you ever want to go back. In this free country of ours, that shopkeeper's success is entirely up to you: the customer."

Market Leader's Responsability to Grow Industry

Suntan City launches an intensive marketing and advertising campaign. The tanning industry has been plagued by declining sales, regulatory pressures, and negative health impacts. With most tanning salons being independent single stores, no one sole proprietor has the incentive to advertise. Suntan City's campaign raises awareness to all local tanning salons, with much of their advertising dollars benefiting competitors. It is the burden of market leaders like Suntan City to bear these costs to grow the industry as a whole.

Stewardship for the Earth

Prayers for the People: A spiritual reflection for our stewardship of the land.

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to converse it.

Connecting with Real Moments

Hertz Rent-a-Car breaks from the pack and connects with real moments. This commerical highlights some of the real ways we connect with brands in our daily lives. This touching story of a couples' engagement reminds us that we rely on brands to preform when we need them most, in the real moments of life.

Private Label Pervasiveness

I recently had my first experience at Trader Joes, coming away both impressed and surprised. A friendly environment, this small grocery site had ample selection and inspiriing flavors. The cashier indicated that over 90% of the products sold instore are Trader Joe store brands. Trader Joes provides innovative products that retain a cool, hip, "in" experience while selling private label goods. Europeans have long devoted over 40% of grocery spending to store brands. Maybe this is harbinger of trends to come in the states.

Comparative Economics

A recent large purchase for services reminded me of the power of competition. I recently had some carwork done and saved over $400 on suspension work. It literally pays to shop around, call ahead, get competitive quotes, compare prices and value. It is our duty as consumers to keep competition in-check, ask providers to match prices, and share your intent to take your business to a competitor.