So the month of August we were living vicariously like Europeans ‘on holiday’…. We want to apologize that we’ve been under the radar for a minute. We’ve been regrouping, restructuring and making new alliances just on the heels of America’s biggest financial crisis (in our lifetime). You know how women do, preparing for the worst, preparing to be prepared. Organizing, nesting, recovering, nurturing and more. All the things our economy needs to do.   

So much has happened since we last chatted, we learned that the Olympics set world wide viewership records, we learned Hillary Clinton was not the lady to run for a Vice-Presidency in this election. We learned that gas can run out in a major city (Atlanta) and we learned that money doesn’t grow on trees as Bush and Wall Street thought.

It’s time to change the way we do big business and small business. More importantly we must co-op our services, think out of the box, utilize skill sets and services and be open to new ideas. So you see, during our ‘holiday’ we had the chance to do a little market research, strategy and business development. We hope to use it all in keeping this blog updated with the most important cultural changes in all areas of marketing, spending and trending.

Trending and spending that’s what we’re following. As always, we ask where do women fall in? Will Sarah Palin help or hurt our trending and spending? Will we be able to afford our favorite new shoe and a month’s worth of gas? Will ad agencies and brands start to really think about becoming more digital as we sit at home instead of behind the wheel? Will our buying power continue to increase in the is pre-recession or post slow-down?

We’ve found a handful of companies who are changing their tune about agency business. We want to be partners with those who want to more digital, more viral, more in touch with the online user. We want to make a difference in the lives of the everyday consumer who’s counting pennies and maximizing every great opportunity to get more out of life thanks to Wallstreet and the high price of the war.

This fall, we’re following the cool companies and campaigns that are shouting out loud, claiming they know how to go after the perfect consumer to increase their market share. Will it work? Only time will tell… To outlive this recession or financial crisis, business will have to operate differently…. Will CMO’s and Media Buyers think smarter instead of larger? Again, only time will tell.. stay tuned to www.femaleadvertising.com as well attempt to weed through how trends will change and needs become more important than ever. Our question of the month is how far can a dollar really stretch?

We had to take a quick minute today to discuss the new Presidential campaign ads which hit the air this week.

Is it just us, or are both campaigns now only focused on blasting how to handle Iraq and pulling the troops out?

What happened to the than the internal issues of the U.S.? What happened to understanding more about universal health care, unemployment and the future of our babies? Of course, femaleadvertising.com stays up at night trying to figure out what these messages mean! Are they swayed at men? Are they for us too? Are we living in a gender segregated society with this election now that Hilary’s out? Will she come in and turn it back around for the women at the Democratic convention? So many questions!

The fear comes in not staying focused. It seems that because Barack Obama went to Iraq, McCain found it necessary to try and scare us about Barack’s 1) inexperience in Iraq and 2) his visit this week to Iraq 3) Barack causing the price of oil to accelerate to above $4.00 per gallon. (say what??)  Why not focus on the female vote while Barack is out of town? If not now then when?

It would have been nice if McCain had his own bandwagon to jump on.. Perhaps a new angle to present. I guess we just need to vent. After all, their future decisions affect everything INCLUDING our buying power as women. Since the cost of the war AND the cost of gas is part of our future -we have to think smarter in all areas.  What will Nancy Pelosi, Hilary Clinton and Condoleeza Rice have a part in? I hope more women vote than ever, we need to influence Congress to remember the future and not just the current state of financial distress.

Why? This week, ABC news reported that last year 2007, more babies were born than ever before! While we’re all baby crazy, it’s easy to worry about their future Social Security, environmental hazards such as global warming, the price of a college education and so much more.

It would be nice to see a multi-commercial campaign structured to speak to more than those who want to argue about pulling the troops out. Mothers of the troops worry today, us new mothers worry about 20 years from now. Not one man can fix it in one ad.

The influence of the ad campaigns can cause panic if your not focused on your own ‘to do’s’. Try to support companies who support you, cut cost, budget, use coupons, find deals and negotiate so your spending power increases and not decreases.

It’s just a start, from a women’s point of view.

P.S. We also find it interesting how we’re on a first name basis with (Barack) yet saying John (aka: McCain) just isn’t the same.

Welcome to Femaleadvertising.com’s new blog “She Shops” where we hope to inspire you with female dialogue on what’s hot, what’s not and what are the next female trends. From cars to lotions, cosmetics to electronics we’re in talking about it all!

Who are we? We are the women who:

30-somethings who live in N.Y.C. and Atlanta and saw “Sex and The City” but looove “Lipstick Jungle”

Love every page of InStyle Magazine, Vogue, Adweek and Advertising Age.

We vacation at All-Inclusives but save up our frequent flyer miles.

We live Diversity in and out of the house.

We are new Mommies with the cutest babies!

Must haves are: Freedom to be, cool buggies, designer shades, handbags, shoes and our great Husbands.

We own, we don’t rent.

We love to talk about cool ads, quick fads and the latest must haves!

Are you an Advertiser, consumer or online wiz who just has something to share? This is the place!

Tell us what you think about how “She Shops” and we’ll give our two sense on what inspires us as women who are tuned into our personal style and buying power!

Talk to you soon!

Suzanne and Lauren