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General Motors is expected to announce a new laptop next week that’s styled after its popular Hummer multi-terrain vehicles.

The carmaker has signed an exclusive three-year licensing agreement to make a portable computer designed for people who work outdoors: policemen, firemen, claims adjusters and construction workers, for example, as well as people who own a Hummer and are fascinated by anything related to the oversize vehicles.

The licensee, which makes laptops and tablet PCs for the U.S. military, said it wanted to style a new category of “semi-ruggedized” laptop. Priced at $2,988, the laptops come with enough padding to survive six separate drops from a height of 30 inches onto two 3/4-inch sheets of
plywood placed on top of concrete.

Industrial-strength laptops, which are water-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures, are finding their way onto the battlefield and the oil field. Models like the Panasonic Toughbook, and Twinhead, with its Durabook line, also come with external body armor and internal shock absorbers.

Mehr als jeder dritte Verbraucher weltweit meidet bestimmte Marken absichtlich.

Das ergab eine Online-Umfrage des amerikanischen Meinungsforschungsunternehmens GMI unter 15.500 Konsumenten aus 17 Ländern.

Am Boykott-freudigsten sind die Chinesen. Mehr als die Hälfte greift bei bestimmten Produkten nicht zu. In Dänemark zählen sich 49 % zu den Verweigerern, in Frankreich 46 % und in Deutschland 42 %. Weltweit sind es 36 Prozent, darunter mehr Männer als Frauen.

Am stärksten geächtet werden die Marken Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola und Nestlé. Bei deutschen Käufer stehen Müller-Milch und McDonald’s an erster Stelle der boykottierten Anbieter.

Als Begründung nannten die Befragten vor allem unfaire Arbeitsbedingungen und umweltfeindliche Praktiken.
Nebensächlich waren dagegen die regionale Herkunft und negative Medienberichte.

Liz Claiborne Inc. today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle for a license to design and manufacture stationery and select gift items for the Liz Claiborne Home collection.

The line will include social stationery, note cards, journals, memo boards, scrapbooks, picture frames, photo albums, paper tableware, kitchen recipe boxes and binders, gift cards and bags.

The collection will be launched to the trade in January 2006 at the Atlanta Spring Gift and Home Accessories Market and will be available at select specialty, stationery and gift retailers in Spring 2006.

The Liz Claiborne Home Collection was launched in 2002 with the introduction of flooring under the Liz Claiborne brand name. The line currently includes furniture, flooring, decorative fabric,
home storage, table linens, bed and bath products and window treatments.

Der Reifenhersteller Michelin und ein Tennis- und Bekleidungshersteller bringen einen neuen Tennisschuh auf den Markt, genannt All Court.

Michelin wird nur auf der Sohle erscheinen.

Der Schuh ist Teil eines Lizenzprogramms, das im Jahre 2000 mit dem Ziel gestartet wurde,
Michelin in weitere Produktbereiche zu bringen.

Für uns ist das eher Co-Branding. Oder eine Schuhsohlen-Lizenz.

Die Abstrahlung auf die Marke Michelin erscheint uns fraglich.

Brandweek reports, that tire maker Michelin and tennis equipment and apparel maker Babolat are set to launch the latter brand’s first tennis shoe, called All Court.

The shoe will be co-branded, though Michelin’s name and branding will be on the sole only.

The move is part of a licensing program Michelin launched in 2000, Michelin Lifestyle Limited, to extend the brand into automotive and cycling, high performance work, sports and leisure products, and heritage-themed apparel and personal accessories.

The managing director of Michelin Lifestyle Limited said the company launched the program as a brand builder. “The strategy has three goals,” he said. “It’s first and foremost for brand impact, and second, we want to have the right products in the right places to support our efforts to build that impact for the Michelin brand. Lastly, it’s to progressively contribute financial support through product sales,” he said.

We consider this plain co-branding. Or maybe a license for rubber soles?
The “brand impact” seems questionable.