Campbell cooks up new site for recession


With an economic rain cloud still hovering this holiday season, Campbell Soup Co. is adjusting to changing client behavior with CampbellsKitchen.com, a site dedicated to recipes and holiday favorites for chefs in the making. The move comes after more consumers are cutting costs by dining out less.

Not to be outdone, General Mills has followed suit with Tablespoon.com, a place where users can explore and create customized recipes to share on Facebook and Twitter. It seems creative application through the Web during these hard times is one way for companies to reach out to their consumers.

Read - "Recession Leads Campbell to Overhaul Cooking Site" at Advertising Age

The future of online clothes shopping?

Just when you were looking for another reason not to leave your house, along comes the augmented reality app Fashionista, found on the website of clothing retailer Tobi. It works something like this: print out a barcode-esque clothing key and position yourself in front of a webcam with it, the clothing item will appear, then move the barcode around to match your body dimensions. It's not perfect, but it probably trumps blindly shopping online.

Read - "Forget Bloomies. Use Augmented Reality to Clothes-Shop from Your Computer" at Fast Company

Holiday shopping updates its status

Research finds savvy shoppers will search for the best deals through social networking sites such as Facebook this holiday season, including coupons and comparison shopping. Another part of the study finds research and shopping on mobile phones will also be a part of the mix. Can you hear that? It's the sound of Sunday circulars letting out a resounding sigh.

Read - "Holiday Web Shoppers Hit Social Networks" at eMarketer

The Web, five years forward

A new article looks into the Web of the future, all the way to the year 2014. Beyond an increase in multimedia options and content, contributors list the possibility of micro-payments for quality content and more horizontal scrolling sites as widescreen monitors become the norm. One thing is for certain: as more dollars shift online, sites will have greater resources but much greater demands. The Web will more than likely be more interactive and user-friendly, but you probably still won't get that flying car you were hoping for.

Read - "The Future Of The Web: Where Will We Be In Five Years?" at Noupe

Newspaper ads still holding on, for now

Newspapers may be reeling, but a new study finds adults 35 and over still consider newspaper ads influential. When it comes to the Web, women appear less likely to make the jump over from traditional media.

Read - "Men More Likely To 'Go Digital,' Study Says" at AdWeek

One of the cooler projectors you'll see today

Creative projection ads are now being featured at London's Waterloo Station, and they sure are nifty. The ads are done by the UK's aptly-named Projection Advertising.

View - More examples of AdTrace technology in action

Google Voice now transcribes text, saves money

Google has announced voicemail management to its currently invite-only Google Voice, a component most mobile carrier's incur a monthly charge for as 'visual voicemail.' The service also transcribes voice messages to text and other functionality you'd usually be seeing on your statement. This announcement comes hot on the heels of Android 2.0, Google's operating system for cell phones which features free turn-by-turn navigation through Google Maps, negating another monthly charge. It seems Google is slowly chipping away at carriers' nickel-and-diming schemes.

Read - "Google Voice can now manage your cellphone's voicemail" at Engadget

Cue that R.E.M. song

The $65m opening weekend doomsday flick 2012 has ads that make you feel like the world is ending. After you see the movie, of course.

[Via Copyranter]

Lions and tiger and logos, oh my

The "Save Your Logo" initiative lets companies give back to their animal inspiration by donating towards biodiversity, education and community engagement across the world. The program is backed by several non-profit organizations, including World Bank.

Read - "Save your logo" at idsgn

Matter Wins for Outstanding New Retailer

Dubuque Main Street has recognized Matter, The Design Store With A Cause, as Outstanding New Retail Establishment at the 24th Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet.

Dubuque Named Winner of Four Tourism Awards

The Dubuque Area has received four awards at the Iowa Tourism Conference.

Mission Creative featured in Print Magazine’s Regional Design Annual

Mission Creative is honored to have work featured in Print Magazine’s 2009 Regional Design Annual, a handpicked showcase of the year’s best in print design. Print claims it as the only comprehensive survey of outstanding design throughout the United States, with Mission Creative as one of only two agencies featured in Iowa.

Online video 101

Online video is one of the most engaging, powerful and influential social media tools available today. It can create realism and build credibility to your brand. Better yet, it is easily shared. Videos that engage users can to become viral almost instantly.  Businesses have the opportunity to not only embrace video, but get creative in how they incorporate it into their business strategies.

Hellenbrand glass wins Best Retailer Website

Mission Creative is proud to announce that the website completed for Hellenbrand Glass of Waunakee, WI, won the Best Retailer Website for 2008 as reported in USGlass Magazine. The judges remarked favorably on the blueprint style of the site as well as the "great use of [Adobe] Flash."

Trent Hellenbrand, co-owner of Hellenbrand Glass LLC, stated, "A lot of our customer's questions are answered just by looking at the portfolio section of our website. Customers call in and refer to the actual product and page it is located on. This save us a lot of foot work in the sales area."

Congratulations to Hellenbrand Glass from the entire Mission Creative staff. Visit the website at: www.hellenbrandglass.com

Growing your business and the value of intranets

In today's struggling economy, many businesses have faced workforce reductions, but are still trying to meet the same goals that were intended for a full staff. The key to getting through these periods is to get the most out of the people who remain. By helping to optimize your business processes, a custom intranet can increase productivity while paying for itself with saved time.