Asian Consumer Intellegence

Nissan will add noise to its new electric car, the Leaf, to make it sound like cars in the cult movie Blade Runner. The sound makes the cars safer, so pedestrians can hear them coming, but will also act as a powerful marketing too, making the vehicles instantly recognizable, even if they are out of sight. i.e “That sounds like a socially responsible, trend-forward driver!”
[pinktext IDEA POTENTIAL:] Nissan has taken what was a dull safety problem and turned it into a fascinating opportunity to brand the leaf as a futuristic vehicle that will garner interest from anyone it passes. A true lesson in sensory marketing.
Nissan Leaf, due for release in Japan/US/Europe in 2010. http://www.nissan-zeroemission.com

The smart pricing policy of Singapore’s Quincy Hotel taps into price-conscious travelers’ demands for transparency.
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Internet search data shows value-hunting Japanese will go to great lengths to find a smart service at the right price.
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Urban Chinese women in their late teens and early 20s look set to become the the most ambitious demographic over the coming decade.
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As Japan’s experience in the 1990s shows, prolonged periods of slow economic growth make consumers rethink their spending priorities. They also force businesses to innovate.
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McDonald’s Japan is experiencing brisk sales of its “Premium Roast Coffee.” The coffee is made from South American beans, and packaged in a sleekly designed cup with a black lid.
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The Japanese film “Lalapipo: A Lot of People,” currently in release, deals with young people struggling in a harsh economy, dreaming of jobs they are unlikely to get.
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In the current economic climate point cards, which are issued everywhere from small restaurants to airlines, could become an important tool not only to increase customer retention and grow spending, but also to win new customers. A look at what’s taking place in Japan might offer some ideas.
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The website Cariru.jp (which means “rent” in Japanese) offers rental service for designer bags and other high-end fashion items.
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