The Christmas shopping season is already upon us! That being said, it's not too late to put some effective marketing efforts out there in time to get the attention of holiday shoppers. Companies, like consumers, can sometimes get a late start to the holidays. We've compiled a list of last-minute marketing tips so you don't miss out on opportunities that the holiday shopping season has to offer. 1. Use email to suggest great gift ideas. Send emails to your customers promoting

The commotion caused by the release of Starbucks’ holiday cups last month provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on brand management. Here are some important elements that jumped out at us. React swiftly and carefully. Public reaction can be unpredictable. While it is always smart for a company to anticipate public reaction to branding efforts, you cannot prepare for every possibility. In the case of the 2015 holiday cups, it’s unlikely that Starbucks could have predict