Marketing and all things related

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but we learned from The New York Times (free registration required,) that not all products are pink. In an ill-timed announcement, a new line of products from a consortium of companies including Gap, Armani, Motorola, Converse, and American Express will feature the common brand name Red in an effort to raise money for combating AIDS in Africa. Participating companies have committed to donate a portion of their profits from the sale of these products over the next five years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The Red campaign was created by cause-driven rock musician Bono, and Bobby Shriver, a California politician. Both already support other Global Fund initiatives. The fund seeks to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from private and government sources to distribution medications to African people in need. While the public is probably still suffering from charity fatigue, we applaud this effort. Sample products are shown in the image from The New York Times. Photo Credit: The New York Times