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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last night, the Barack Obama campaign took an unprecedented step in the history of the infomercial, by running concurrently on several networks in the prime time half-hour beginning at 8 p.m. to make an appeal to voters in the form of an infomercial.
The John McCain camp, led by spokesperson Tucker Bounds responded, “As anyone who has bought anything from an infomercial knows, the sales-job is always better than the product. Buyer beware.”
Rick Petry, representing the Electronic Retailing Association, a trade association that represents direct marketers that use electronic means including infomercials, had this response: “To use a political agenda to indict an entire genre of advertising by portraying it in such a negative light is patently unfair. It would be like charging an entire industry and everyone associated with it, say politics for example, as being scurrilous. We at ERA will be the first to tell you that there are some who use this method of advertising inappropriately, which is why we have an independent self-regulation program, ERSP, administered by the National Advertising Review Council in partnership with the Council of Better Business Bureau. With this watchdog mechanism in place, claims have to be proven; a standard that politicians are not required to live up to. The fact is infomercials have been used by not only start-ups with unique products, but successful brands such as Kodak and Mercedes Benz, even the U.S. Navy.”
The Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) has named Julie J. Coons as its new president and CEO. Ms. Coons will lead the not-for-profit trade association, which represents the $400 billion direct-to-consumer electronic retailing industry. ERA represents more than 400 companies in more than 40 countries around the world.
“The Electronic Retailing Association plays a pivotal role in the emerging retail landscape,” says Coons. “Emerging technologies present new touch points for retailers to connect directly with consumers. Through its educational offerings, award-winning magazines and other publications and robust government affairs programs, ERA offers a path to profitability in the marketplace of the future for its members, while ensuring that the retailers are operating on an open and level playing field. ERA’s conventions—both in the U.S. and Europe—its government affairs conference, its e-learning offerings and networking events create a community of entrepreneurs on the leading edge of e-commerce with a unique vision of the future of retail.”
Edwin Garrubbo, immediate past chairman of the board of ERA and president and CEO of Creative Commerce, was head of the search committee for the position. “We are very pleased that ERA will be led by an executive who combines an understanding of the potential of our dynamic and fast-growing industry with a proven track record in association management and growth,” says Garrubbo. “Ms. Coons’ government affairs background and convention experience make her the perfect candidate to head ERA. We are confident that her leadership will significantly strengthen ERA’s ability to be a critical force in advocating for its members and expanding ERA’s excellent slate of benefits to further serve its members’ needs.”
Prior to joining ERA, Ms. Coons served as CEO of the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM), Maryland’s largest technology trade association with more than 500 members in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. During her four-year tenure at TCM, Ms. Coons improved the financial health of the association, streamlined governance processes and oversaw the re-branding of the organization. (more…)
Last week I visited Honeyshed, a fresh reinvention of home shopping that elevates products and brands to the level of fetish with an irreverent mix of urban sass and scantily clad, er, lass. We’ll be covering Honeyshed in a feature article in Electronic Retailer to coincide with a major marketing launch in November. In the meantime, check out their sizzle (or is it fo shizzle?) reel and if you’re interested in advertising on Honeyshed, contact Beth LeManach at Lemanach@honeyshed.com or Blaine Pate at Pate@honeyshed.com.
Last week I visited 
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