One of World’s Most Exclusive Brands, Gioella to Be Introduced
To Ultra-Limited Exclusive Distribution Channels in Spring-2011

Florence, KY Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing announced today that his award winning, international consumer product branding, product development, sales and marketing firm has been contracted to manage the launch of the limited distribution skin care product line from Irvine, CA based Gioella LLC.

“Gioella is an unusual atelier consisting of scientists, chemists and biologists that collaborate to develop lifestyle products that blend cutting edge technology with the rarest, most potent herbs, flora and fauna”, said Mr. Ficke. “Searching the world for spectacular elements, these pioneers then bio-stabilize formulary that enables skin care products to harmonize and retain their potency”.

“The launch regimen is spectacular in function and performance,” said Nancy ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “The rarity of the herbs, the complexity of the chemistry and the bio-stabilizing process that involves dozens of intermediate stages of product preparation provide an amazing final result. The line will only be sold in the finest international retailers, those catering to a clientele that demands only the very best”.

Duquesa Marketing has been a leading consumer product design, development and marketing consulting firm for almost 40 years. The Company will provide launch details and pricing for Gioella in early 2011.

Bio-Science Originated Technology Will Be Launched to
Exclusive International Retail Market in Spring-2011

Irvine, CA Laura Warren, Managing Director of Gioella LLC announced today that her research and product development firm has engaged the services of Florence, KY based Duquesa Marketing to manage the packaging, branding, product launch and retail introduction of a line of bio-scientifically engineered skin care and anti-aging products. The line is to be unveiled for exclusive retailers in Spring-2011.

“Our science is cutting edge, the research and trials have been wonderfully confirming, “said Ms. Warren. “We have spent months interviewing and reviewing marketing and sales options in the luxury skin care product space. We needed experience in a number of areas and Duquesa Marketing was the perfect consulting partner for Gioella”.

“We receive dozens of skin care projects to review every year,” said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing. “Very few offer a Unique Selling Proposition that retailers, consumers and suppliers can easily recognize and get excited about. Gioella offers that unique comingling of science, simplicity and powerful immediate performance benefits that is required for success in the category”.

Gioella LLC is a consortium of chemists, herbalists and agro-scientists that team to provide cutting edge solutions utilizing the finest in modern technology and the rarest, most exclusive, important naturally derived ingredients. The Company will announce brand details, pricing and launch details in early 2011.

by: Geoff Ficke

Scott Peltzman, an Economics Professor at the University of Chicago, has gained public notoriety for his “Peltzman Effect”. Professor Peltzman believes the benefits of well-intended safety regulations are negated because people adjust behavior in ways that counteract the intended effect of the regulation. They may drive more recklessly, or speed because they feel more protected by seat belts, guard rails, traffic lights, etc. The result may be that risk is redistributed to innocent bystanders.

We live in an ever more risk intolerant world. Government at all levels regularly passes statutes, ordinances and laws to protect citizens. They are always well-intended but often counter-productive. I believe that the Peltzman Effect is as intuitive in economics as it is in the area of government regulation.

We have just experienced the melt down of the United States automobile industry. The causes of this implosion were many and have percolated for decades. However, two of the main reasons are government meddling and the irrationality of the auto workers unions.

The government has legislated dozens of arbitrary safety, environmental and economy measures that car manufacturers have had to respond to. The result, while sometimes desirable, has not always resulted in the production of products that consumers wanted to purchase. Anyone remember the Cadillac Cimarron, or the Chrysler K-Car. This has distorted economic realities and keystone market principals.

The United Auto Workers union has enjoyed a particularly spectacular period of derision, suspension of economic reality and tone deafness rarely displayed in the Industrial Age. Mind numbing work rules and job classifications, paying workers to sit idle (Jobs Banks), work slowdowns and strikes and hostility to change doomed the auto companies, even while foreign makers were building and selling cars successfully right here in the United States.

This week the venerable motorcycle brand, the iconic American product, Harley Davidson, announced that it will leave its home for over 107 years, Milwaukee, if work rules and costs are not brought down by the unions. The Company’s management requested these adjustments in April. They have fallen on deaf ears.

This is a Peltzman Effect type of occurrence in economics. Workers demand, and often receive terms of employment that enhance their security and compensation in the short term. All the while they are roiling their industry and laying the seeds of their own destruction in the mid or longer term.

Harley Davidson has options. States and locales are falling all over themselves trying to lure the Company with tax abatements. How many options does a line worker for Harley really have? Also, consider the suppliers in Greater Milwaukee that feed the production chain at Harley. Their workers are at risk because of the great motorcycle maker relocates. The tax base will shrink. The risk to innocent bystanders is redistributed because of the reckless actions of others.

The Peltzman Effect and its application in business and industry can be seen in case after case. The following once thriving industries and job categories have been largely decapitated in the United States: production of shoes and garments, glaziers, ship building, stevedores, small electrics, sporting goods, toys, steel and autos have been decimated by well-intentioned governments and union contracts.

Capital deploys where it can be most productive. It is fungible. There are no longer barriers to the swift, sure movement of money to any place on earth.
It is time that government and labor realize the realities of this new world and respond with contemporary, creative new proposals to remain competitive in the face of global competition. As Professor Peltzman demonstrates in his theorem, no matter how well intended the regulation or contract, there can be a significant chance of unintended consequences that harm innocent bystanders.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Geoff Ficke
859-567-1609
gficke@msn.com

Tops It All™ Multi-Featured Bib/Smock “Long Sleeve Bibs for Active Kids” Will Be Presented for Retail and Institutional Sales

Florence, KY Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing announced today that his marketing and consumer product development firm will launch the line of Tops It All infant, toddler and juveniles bibs and smocks at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, October 2010. ABC Kids Expo is the premiere trade show for the juvenile product industry.

“Our clients, Kris and Mike Gabrielson brought us the clever concept that has evolved into the multi-featured Tops It All line”, said Mr. Ficke. The products have been embellished with a useful “oops pocket”, are made from recycled materials, are hand re-washable, with long sleeves and very sweet, whimsical art touches. The little ones love wearing them and parents appreciate the functionality”.

“Every parent with little ones knows that messes happen, whether while eating, drinking or playing with crafts”, said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “The Tops It All minimizes the messiness, keeping children and their clothes spic and span in all settings. Test markets have confirmed that Tops It All is an important addition for infants, toddlers and juveniles”.

Duquesa Marketing has developed, marketed and launched products in over 40 consumer product categories. The Company has over 40 years of experience in the United States and International markets, and has worked in all sales channels. Duquesa Marketing offers clients a one-stop, turn key product development service.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Geoff Ficke
859-567-1609
gficke@msn.com

The Multi-Purpose “Long Sleeve Bib for Active Kids”
Available in Retail and Institutional Sales Programs

Clive, IA Kris Gabrielson, Vice President of Tops It All, LLC today announced that her Company would introduce the range of Tops It All bibs and smocks at the upcoming ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas. ABC Kids Expo is the premiere trade show for products targeting infants, toddlers and juvenile children.

“We have spent over a year designing, testing and perfecting the manufacturing process of Tops It All Bibs”, said Mrs. Gabrielson. “The product offers unique features and benefits that exceed any mess protection products on the market and the response from parents, caregivers and pre-school managers has more than confirmed our expectations for the products”.

“When Kris and Mike Gabrielson approached us with the Tops It All concept we were impressed at the utility, features and strong performance benefits of the product”, said Geoff Ficke, President of Florence, KY based Duquesa Marketing, managing consultants for the product development and retail launch. “The clever “oops pocket”, long sleeves, re-usability, green recyclable construction and fun, colorful design present retailers and pre-schools with a great new product”.

Tops It All will offer the products in two package assortments. The first package will be for individual sales for retail stores and the second package will be in bulk quantities for institutional sales to schools and day care facilities. Pricing and sales promotion will be announced at the ABC Kids Expo.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
August 5, 2010
Contact: Geoff Ficke
859-567-1609
gficke@msn.com

Multi-Use K-9 Koozie® Dog Comfort Product to Be Based on
Revolutionary HydroCoolix Polymer Technology

Florence, KY Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing, announced today that its consumer product development and marketing consulting firm will introduce the K-9 Koozie dog comfort and cooling system at October’s H.H. Backer Pet Expo in Rosemont, IL. The H.H. Backer Pet Expo is the largest pet industry trade show in the United States.

“We have been involved in the evolution of this multi-use, multi-featured product since its inception and are anxious to show the pet industry and retailers K-9 Koozie’s amazing style and functionality”, said Mr. Ficke. “The K-9 Koozie has proven to perform sensationally in field tests, dogs of all sizes love it and their owners are enamored with the comfort features this product finally offers”.

“The HydroCoolix Polymer Technology is a wonderful conveyor of the cooling comfort that pets need and appreciate when at the beach, poolside, on picnics or just lounging on a hot summer’s day”, said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “Our client, Brian McClish, has been wonderful to work with as this advanced system has been developed”.

Duquesa Marketing has over 40 years experience in sales, marketing, branding and consumer product development. The Company has worked extensively in the United States and Internationally, as well as with every channel of sales and product distribution.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
August 5, 2010
Contact: Geoff Ficke
859-567-1609
gficke@msn.com

Multi-Use K-9 Koozie™ to Unveil Proprietary HydroCoolix™
Polymer Technology to Pet Industry for First Time

Tampa, FL Brian McClish, President of B. Anthony Core Group, announced today that his firm will unveil the K-9 Koozie at the October H.H. Backer Pet Expo in Rosemont, IL. K-9 Koozie is a revolutionary comfort system specifically designed for dogs of all sizes. The unit employs a novel proprietary HydroCoolix Polymer technology.

“We have spent a great deal of our time and investment in perfecting a one of a kind comfort product that will satisfy dogs and thrill owners”, said Mr. McClish. “The unit features a completely new, refreshing technology and a number of convenience features that as a whole provide fantastic form and function for use at home, at the pool, the beach or in the park”.

“Dogs love every aspect of the K-9 Koozie”, said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing, managing consultants for the project. “Brian McClish is a passionate dog owner and a committed entrepreneur possessing a real vision to provide pets and owners with a truly unique, fresh experience and HydroCoolix Polymer Technology will prove a fantastic hit with the pet trade”.

B. Anthony Core Group is a design and product development atelier that specializes in highly stylized pet product development. The Company will announce pricing and retail distribution plans for K-9 Koozie at the H.H. Backer Pet Expo.

Wall Street Journal Opinion Page July 20, 2010 “Real Wages Don’t Tell the Whole Compensation Story”

by: Geoff Ficke
Greg Tarpanian’s response to the article by Lee E. Ohanian (The Right Way to Raise Wages) is incorrect on a number of counts.

GDP growth in the 1960’s as compared to the last 2 decades was indeed higher than in the last two decades but in percentage terms only, owing to the much smaller size of the economy five decades ago.

Mr. Tarpanian’s lament that if real wages had risen at the rate of growth of GDP over the last 40 years the current annual real wage for non-supervisory workers would be around $60,000 per year, instead of the $30,000 it is today. His key descriptive, non-supervisory” is telling. The U.S. economy has evolved to a knowledge based economy that values and produces technology and is fueled by education and skills. We don’t, and won’t, make low or no-value added products here when they can be produced so much more inexpensively in second and third world countries. The non-supervisory, blue collar rote factory jobs so prevalent in the 1960’s have been devalued and replaced by the realities of our constantly evolving scientific, knowledge based economy.

Finally, Mr. Tarpanian, like so many union acolytes, ignores reality. Unions kill industries. Autos, glaziers, steelworkers, stevedores, airlines, ship building, shoes, garment and so many more once thriving trades and industries (look what the SEIU and AFSCME have done to hamstring government) have either left for greener pastures, been bankrupted or been replaced by mechanization that indeed increases productivity.

Unskilled, undereducated workers in highly industrialized countries will never be able to appreciably increase their wages as long as the world continues to desire and reward producers for providing technology advances that improve lives at reasonable costs. Unless, and until unions recognize this reality they remain obviated and there will remain a permanent divide in real wages.

by: Geoff Ficke

Several years ago I wrote an article entitled “How Do You Choose the Best Marketing Consultant”. The article was posted on my website – www.DuquesaMarketing.com – and on numerous print and internet links. The content was written to advise layman of the many options and obstacles that should be addressed in their search for experienced and competent consulting help. Common sense, some inside-baseball tips and guidance on avoiding shyster’s constituted the bulk of the articles copy points.

Since being printed, the article has elicited much positive response. I appreciate the nice comments and reviews. I also, fully recognize the wild, wild, west nature of the internet and the reality that anyone’s work may be misrepresented and even plagiarized by some unsavory elements that play in the “mucky” side of the medium. So I write the following as a real life cautionary advisory.

Recently while policing my web-site and personal web links I discovered a link to my article “How Do You Choose the Best Marketing Consultant” that had been posted by the marketing consulting firm True North Services. I know nothing of this firm, its associates, experience or abilities. I was, however, shocked that my article was re-printed in the link and on their web-site in its exact entirety, and only in the finest small print at the bottom of the article re-print am I credited. The professional, honorable way to credit authorship is with a bi-line and source mentioned at the top of an article, beneath the title.

When you visit the True North Services web-site there is a tab on the Home Page noting their “Articles”. My article is included as if authored by this firm.

This may seem a small point, a slight indiscretion in a world full of violence, duplicity and corruption. Maybe! Nevertheless, if a service provider in any field feels compelled to use a competitor’s work product to enhance their curriculum vitae what does this say about their ability, originality of thought, creativity (or lack thereof) and honor as a potential working partner.

In a laissez-faire medium such as the internet, and in a world where unscrupulous firms will sell shoddy products and services through gross misrepresentation, it is crucial that buyers and clients exercise due diligence before making decisions. The purpose of my article “How Do You Choose the Best Marketing Consultant” is to assist in that process. The fact that good perspective, guidance and intentions have been abused by misrepresenting this writing should make seekers of professional services even more careful and wary.

by: Geoff Ficke

The American poet John Greenleaf Whittier once famously reflected; “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: “It might have been”. These words are of particular relevance today as modern life is buffeted by fear, insecurity and constant social and commercial change. The capacity for humans in developed countries to look to others for sustenance is a contemporary phenomenon fertilized in the 20th century and wildly expanded in the early 21st.

For most of human history individuals and small family groups were solely responsible for hunting, gathering and protecting their persons from the elements. No one retired. There were no work rules except you had better work and produce yours, and your family’s sustenance. Vacations were unknown. Laziness would result in being cast out of the family unit and likely starvation.

Indeed, in most of the world to this day, people still eke out their living as subsistence herders, farmers or fisherman. They begin work as soon as they can walk and labor on until they die. Anthropologists have studied these populations and noted that on the whole, they seem to be more fulfilled, happier and content with the simplest pleasures of life than citizens of more wealthy, developed regions.

What makes modern man, resident of industrialized countries so melancholy? The relative abundance of necessities, and the opportunity to have these elements subsidized, or provided gratis have created entitlement societies. This entitlement mindset has meant that many of us, not all for certain but many, have lost the edge to live life to the fullest, face risk bravely, occasionally fall down, but always rise to fight on another day. It is easier for these folk to blame others and as they sight abundance all around them, feel and stake a claim on this bounty even though they have not contributed to its creation.

I find this waste of talent, energy and personal fulfillment to be abhorrent. As Mr. Whittier so aptly stated; ”It might have been”. That it MIGHT have been means that it wasn’t. Opportunity has been lost for these souls. Life passes by and regrets; remorse and bitterness at the unfairness and vagaries of life is almost always blamed on others.

Recently I attended the funeral of a very old friend. Life had not gone well for this lifelong acquaintance. As usually happens at the burial and the wake, friends and family discussed my departed friend and told stories about his life, loves and experiences. Sadly, as I made my way from many of his oldest friends to his family he was remembered with love, but also with a deep sadness. The melancholy was evident as many spoke of the departed’s disappointment that his blue collar job and unfulfilled dreams that had turned him into a sad, semi-bitter old man.

This man had raised a family, worked, lived in a small tidy home, attended church, drove his own car, and possessed all of the modern conveniences of life: air conditioning, telephone, color television, washer, dryer, etc. In short, he was one of the richest people in the history of the world. But he had, and regularly expressed deep regrets at the path his life had taken. He was an unsatisfied inventor. At the time of his death his home workshop was full of models, prototypes and renderings of products he had conceived and wanted to bring to market. “It might have been”, if only my old friend had been able to take the plunge and commit himself to fulfilling his dreams.

In my marketing and product development consulting business we meet all kinds of people seeking to commercialize their ideas and inventions. Many of the ideas are poorly conceived or have other problems. However, many offer real commercial appeal and opportunity. But very few, only a handful will ever be given a chance to see the consumer product marketplace. The dreamers who choose to find reasons not to fully commit themselves to seek success are cheating themselves.

I could not imagine facing the end of life and having regrets that I had let life pass me by, not played the game of life as fully as possible. W. C. Fields tombstone famously read, “I’d rather be here than in Philadelphia”. Too many people should have gravestones that state: “It might have been”.