Prescription for Clarity

by Mary Lou Quinlan
Published November 9, 2009 in Media

Last week, I spoke at the inaugural M2W-Healthcare Conference in Washington, DC where leaders in healthcare communications, marketing and policy (from Dr. Nancy Snyderman to Dr. Barry Sears) weighed in on the critical role of women and the mandate for the healthcare industry to start listening to their number one caregivers.

We were just blocks away from the halls of Congress and I have to say that I wish that some of the folks debating our national healthcare reform initiatives had stopped in. I shared some of the Half Truths of health, like “I try to be healthy” (if so, what’s up with 32 mm overweight American women) or “I speak up to my doctor”, (yet women back down when faced with disapproval from a beloved doc.) We have such a long way to go to get women to feel listened to and until then, it’s just easier for them to hide the real story.

The inadequacy of care, insurance coverage, straight talk and simple solutions for women is a huge deal. Though there have been some recent motions to raise healthcare as a women’s issue, it’s a whisper compared to the reality. One of my favorite quotes at the conference came from Peter Pitts who said that the only way to gain trust is through transparency. With all the red tape and mumbo jumbo in this category, we’ve got quite a ways to go to telling the Whole Truth to women in terms they can comprehend.

No wonder there’s so much she’s not telling.

Tags: Dr. Barry Sears, Healthcare, M2W-HC

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Mary Lou Reveals the Whole Truths of Retail on Bloomberg Radio

by Mary Lou Quinlan
Published October 30, 2009 in Media

Mary Lou on “The Hays Advantage“: Part 1

Mary Lou on “The Hays Advantage”: Part 2

Tags: Bloomberg Radio, Kathleen Hays, The Hays Advantage

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Balloon Boy, Meet Balloon Girl

by Mary Lou Quinlan
Published October 19, 2009 in Media

Last week, the nation was transfixed with worry as a boy, supposedly trapped in a balloon, drew more attention than OJ’s white bronco. Today, fingers are pointing and “hoax” is the four letter word on everyone’s lips. But in the spirit of honesty of our first Half Truth blog, falling for the boy in the silver bubble pales to how marketers fall for the silent thought bubbles in women’s heads.

In our new book, we expose the way that women often only admit Half Truths “I love the age I am now!” and conceal the Whole Truth, “But I wish I had this brain in a younger body!” and marketers misfire by buying into half her story.

Balloon Boy cost a lot of people a lot of money and anxiety…but he’s got nothing on female consumers. If you’re not listening, prepare to watch the air fall out of your sales. Stay tuned!

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Just Ask a Woman at M2W Healthcare to Women Conference

by Jen Drexler
Published September 17, 2009 in Media

Mary Lou will be speaking at this awesome conference about marketing healthcare to women taking place in DC on November 5 & 6.  Huge names like Dr. Nancy Snyderman and Dr. Sears (invented The Zone Diet).  If you are interested in registering we’d be happy to extend our insider rate for you.  Just email me jen@justaskawoman.com. 

Tags: m2w

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Will ugly shoes save the economy?

by Jen Drexler
Published August 14, 2009 in Fashion, Media

Mary Lou on the subject on NPR

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Fine. Everyone Go to BlogHer and Leave Me Behind.

by Jen Drexler
Published July 15, 2009 in Media

I am okay now but I know that come next week when all of my favorite bloggers are in Chicago toegether it will feel like I’m staying home on prom night while all my friends are in a stretch limo drinking underage without me.  It’s not like I didn’t know when registration was or didn’t think I could go, I just dropped the ball.  And now I’m sad.

But if I’m really honest with myself,  I would also admit that I was a little too intimidated to go and meet some the blog celebrities that I admire so much.  What would I even say if I met Design Mom in person? (I think I would tell her what she wrote about her sister made me cry)  Would I finally get to meet the Manic Mommies? I’m not sure if Kristin or Erin would consider me a friend-to-be or a crazed stalker because I talk about them like we are old pals from summer camp.  (I felt this way when I missed the Manic Mommies Escape too).  I’m sure the coolest moms from Cool Mom Picks will be there and I would want to tell them how there was one week when I had salmonella that I bought something recommended on their blog every single day.  Bloggers who I know IRL will be there too like the ultra fabulous Tonya Staab from A Day in My Life and I will be glued to my Tweet Deck to hear about everything.

So ladies enjoy everything, don’t get so much swag that you have to pay extra for your luggage on the way home and most of all get home quickly so I have something to read.

Tags: BlogHer

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Truer Now

by Mary Lou Quinlan
Published March 31, 2009 in Media

We’re working on a new book based on our learnings of the past 10 years to separate Half Truths from Whole Truths in the women’s market. But writing during such a strange economic slump, I’m brought back to the ‘rules’ of our first book in 2003.  

What matters in good times, comes into sharp relief in tough ones. Five of the principles laid out in “Just Ask a Woman” are truer today than yesterday: 

1. Women are deliberate decision makers: Scrutiny I used to reserve for big ticket items has shifted to the smallest things. I looked in 15 different stores in search of a clutch bag for my niece’s prom…part of that was pure aunt love; part, justifying the dollars for a shred of gold thread. 

2. Women are vigilante shoppers: Jen spent a recent lunch break walking in the rain to return a pair of rain boots to Old Navy bought for her daughter, because she refused to be ripped off when she found them online from the same brand for four dollars less.  

3. Women demand respect at the counter: Shopping today is more than a transaction. I am intentionally steering my business to retailers, especially smaller ones, who take a personal interest in me. It’s a choice I’ve always had but it matters more now. (So, does their success.) 

4. Women have a tug of war with the mirror: Would I rather buy something to wear that wears out or something for our home that lasts? Funny, how much more comfort counts in uncomfortable times.  

5. Women turn to their board of directors for decision-paring: Seven years ago, I might have counted on a small core of friends for advice. Now, my trusted circle is larger, in person and online, yet, somehow more intimate. We know we are in this together.

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