Articles for April, 2009
Why Dr Pepper Is So Popular in Dallas
Of course, Dr Pepper advertises on InsideCorner, and we love them for that. But they seem to have something else going for them. According to a new study in the Journal of Political Economy [sub. req.], brands enjoy a higher market share in cities closest to their place of origin. Economist Tyler Cowan quotes from the study:
Across 49 current leading national CPG brands, dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, we find that the current share in markets close to the city of origin, is, on average, 12 share (i.e., percentage) points higher than the national average of 22 percent.
Cowan goes on to note:
What’s amazing is how long these effects — however they are motivated — last. Miller Beer was introduced to Chicago in 1856 (a very early launch though technically not its first city) and it still has an advantage there, relative to other cities. Heinz Ketchup originated in Pittsburgh in 1876 and it still has an market share advantage there, again relative to other cities.
What is the mechanism? Is it that durable relationships with retailers persist for a very long time? Do area consumers develop the brand habit and pass it down across the generations? Or is the brand from a particular area better suited for people of that area in the first place, perhaps for reasons which are demographic or ethnic in nature and somewhat persistent through time?
Trees Planted at the Wyly
A PR-practicing FrontBurnervian sends along a pic taken today of the trees being planted downtown at the Wyly Theatre. Eventually there will be 45 trees surrounding the Koolhaas-designed building (red oaks and live oaks). Go, flora! Go, Earth Day! 
News Online Readership Way, Way Up
The DMN’s web growth continued in March year-over-year, despite the fact that last March Texas was engaged in a heated Democratic presidential primary. Overall, it was up 30%. Even bigger gains were made by the Raleigh News & Observer (+106%), the Miami Herald (+85%), the NY Daily News (+71%), and the Seattle Times (+70%). [Thanks to the FrontBurnervians who quickly corrected my now-deleted earlier post, which was exactly wrong.]
UPDATE: A People Newspapers-publishing FB’er points out to me that their web numbers are up 65.6% for the same period.
Could A Democrat Pick Up Kay Bailey’s Seat?
John Cornyn is apparently worried. He brought it up on his own in an interview with The Hill yesterday:
Aside from all the developments so far, the one race Cornyn brought up unprompted in a lengthy interview with The Hill was Texas, where Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) is aiming for the governor’s mansion and could vacate her seat at any time, paving the way for an open, no-primary free-for-all in the Lone Star State.
Indications lately have been that she will remain in her seat, which isn’t up until 2012. But her Texas colleague made it clear Monday that he’s not counting his blessings just yet.
“What I am concerned about is that it will be a special election that will be held perhaps as early as May 2010,” Cornyn said. “I don’t want this to turn into a situation where we elect a Democrat in Texas and further erode our possibilities.”
Is The Commercial Real Estate Shoe About To Drop?
Knowledgeable investors in the commercial real estate business have been telling me for the last two months that the recession’s full effects have not yet been felt. Yesterday’s news about Victory’s refinancing — and loss of ownership control — of its developed high-rise properties is, according to them, only an early indicator. Many Dallas properties are being “artificially bucked up” by their owners, including insurance companies and pension funds, so that they do not have to report a loss of value. The time for buying, I’m told, will be in the late fall, when those artificial values are no longer sustainable and there will come a rush to unload.
Leading Off (4/22/09): Now With Even Fewer Comments!
1. A new study finds the graduation rate at Dallas ISD is improving faster than in many other large urban districts across the country. I think Dallas ISD will soon catch Highland Park ISD.
2. Police are looking into whether a shootout in Oak Cliff, in which a Hummer was hit with 35 shots and people inside the car returned fire, was actually an ambush set up by a Mexican hit man. I think our Wild West image is something the CVB should promote. That’ll fill up the convention center hotel!
3. Speaking of, John Scovell and his Enough Is Enough pro-hotel group say that Harlan Crow and his Citizens Against the Taxpayer-Owned Hotel anti-hotel group are winning the PR battle — a battle that Trey Garrison joins with an allusion to Gilligan’s Island and a joke about Hitler’s wife. I think I’m scared to think anything about that.
About FrontBurner Comments
As the person responsible for turning on comments in the first place, I’m a big believer in FrontBurner, and you, dear commenters. I spend a lot of time here at D trying to come up with better ways to do things online. Sadly though, I don’t think this is one of them. Judging from the responses, there are obviously people on both sides of the fence, and rightly so — not everybody plays nice on the intertubes.
What I can tell you is that we’re working on a much improved comment system. And, yes, that includes a transparent moderation policy. As Wick mentioned, we in web have a long list of things to do, but this just made it to the top of mine.
We aren’t going to *change everything* (Tim, I’m looking at you), but I can promise we’ll have a much nicer playground when we get done.
Until then, comments are still flying for foodies, real estate junkies, Texas Rangers fans, and shopaholics.
Fair Park And The Convention Hotel: A Question of Priorities
From a very well-connected civic leader about the Enough Is Enough campaign:
If even half of these folks would have said “Enough is Enough” and decided to bring the Cowboys to Fair Park we would be transforming South and East Dallas today. It would be your cover story. Unfortunately I do not recall any of them engaging to stop, or even slow down, Arlington/Tarrant County. Even had we lost to Arlington after a battle it would have been nice to see the establishment cared for Fair Park…at least as much as they seem to do for a downtown hotel in the city’s Government Sector.
Web Site: DFW Takes A Back Seat Only To … Tulsa
Dallas-Fort Worth has been named the second-best place in the country to live by RelocateAmerica.com, a Web site that provides info about communities to people looking to relocate. The site’s pick for No. 1: Tulsa, Okla.
The End of Comments on FrontBurner, Ctd.
Dave Levinthal, over on the Dallas City Hall blog, is actively campaigning for the participation of those who’ve been put off by our decision to disallow anonymous comments. Well-played, sir.
Devil’s Advocate: The End of Comments on FrontBurner
Just to play devil’s advocate for a moment: while I understand the reasoning behind shutting down the comment function, we’re kind of turning our back on some instances where the comments became the story, advanced it even, such as this spectacular example. No?
The End of Comments on FrontBurner, Ctd.
Bethany Anderson is one of my favorite FB commenters ever. On her blog, she writes intelligently about why she disagrees with our decision to stop allowing folks to comment anonymously. Her thoughts are all the more salient because, for a time, our comments section had grown so sour and personal that Bethany had stopped commenting therein.
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Why It Is Futile To Criticize The Critics
Coincidentally, the great Elaine Liner posted an explanation last night of why her local drama site, TheaterJones.com, does not allow comments.