Dip, Dunk, Savor and SwirlIt may be February, but it’s never too cold to take a dip. Hosting a fondue party is a warm way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, whether you’re single or coupled.

The history of fondue began in Switzerland, where the popular peasant dish consisted of melted chunks of old cheese and stale bread. The French added wine and cherry brandy to enhance the flavor, and by the 1950s, fondue had become popular in both Europe and the U.S. Fondue pots hit the scene in the 1970s, and fondue dinner parties became all the rage.

To throw your own 70s-style dipping soiree, follow these simple tips.

Serve bite-size food. This might seem like a no-brainer, but all fondue food should be served in one- or two-bite pieces to allow for easy skewering and dipping. Strawberries or medium shrimp are perfect as they are, but bread should be cut into 1-inch cubes. Meats like beef and chicken should be cut into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes.

Use the appropriate fondue pot for each dip. Ceramic fondue pots work well for cheese, chocolate or other dessert fondues,

February 2014

16535 Anna Trail SEP.O. Box 1204Prior Lake, MN 55372952.447.5044 | www.cgpl.com

and metal fondue pots for broth, oil, wine or beer recipes in which the food is cooked in the pot.

Use the right liquids. Choose flavorful liquids like broth, beer or wine—never water. Wines that work well in a cheese fondue include Sauvignon Blanc or California Riesling. The alcohol will prevent the cheese from curdling.

Observe fondue etiquette. Remember, you are dipping and swirling into a communal pot—try not to touch your lips or tongue to a fork that goes back into the pot. And don’t double dip.

One last tip—don’t lose your food in the pot. It’s not necessarily rude, but tradition dictates that the person who loses their food has to buy a round of drinks or the next pot of fondue.

• Long Live the TV Commercial• The Story Behind Hershey’s Kisses• How to Fight the Wintertime Blues• Five Things You Didn’t Know About Kissing• Ramp Up Your Sales Without Lifting a Finger!

It’s What’s Inside

InsightsThere are 22.22 calories and 1.5 grams of fat in one Hershey’s Kiss.

Sentiments“I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.” —Nancie J. Carmody

Kiss and Tell The Story Behind Hershey’s Kisses

Long Live the TV CommercialAt Super Bowl time, talk about the commercials can linger long after the game is over. But the rest of the year, DVRs rule, giving viewers the option to just say no to ads. It’s commonplace for people to record shows and zoom past commercials. Is TV advertising dying a slow death?

Not likely, according to recent studies. Research shows that with the right kind of commercial, fast-forwarding can actually enhance a company’s brand messaging. Researchers used eye-tracker technology to observe viewing behavior as subjects fast-forwarded through TV commercials. Here are some of their findings:

• Viewers who watch commercials at fast-forward speed actually pay more attention than those watching commercials at regular speed.

• Fast-forwarded ads still create brand memory, even with a 95% reduction in frames and complete loss of audio.

• Fast-forwarded commercials can positively affect brand attitude, behavioral intent and even actual choice behavior.

And while it’s true that people do skip commercials, they do so only about half the time. Some viewers

are exhausted from working with technology all day that when it comes to relaxing in front of the tube at night, they’re ready to give the remote a rest and let the ads play.

Plus, history is still in the boob tube’s favor: According to results from a Microsoft advertising survey conducted with Flamingo Research and Ipsos OTX, about 76% of multi-screen consumers are open to seeing ads on TV, compared to just 57% on computers and 51% on tablets. And an earlier study signaled that multi-screen users are actually better able to recall TV advertisers.

Give it a smooch—this year, the Hershey’s Kiss celebrates 107 years of sweet success. The popular candy debuted in 1907 and was allegedly named a “Kiss” because the machine that produced them would make a kissing sound when it formed the chocolate drop on the belt.

Up until 1956, Hershey’s Kisses were hand-wrapped in foil. Thanks to automation, today’s machines can wrap up to 1,300 Kisses a minute, and more than 60 million Hershey’s Kisses chocolates are produced each day. Hershey’s introduces and discontinues new flavors constantly and even offers unique flavors in other countries, like green tea and hazelnut in Asia.

How to Fight the Wintertime Blues

1. Kissing for one minute burns 26 calories.

2. According to Indiana law, it is illegal for men with a mustache to “habitually kiss human beings.”

3. Kissing generally uses one muscle, called the orbicularis oris.

4. Lips are 100 times more sensitive than fingertips.

5. Approximately two-thirds of people tip their head to the right when they kiss.

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Kissing

Kiss and Tell The Story Behind Hershey’s Kisses

An interesting study published in the journal Psychological Science used Hershey’s Kisses to reveal that the last bite of chocolate you eat will probably taste the best.

The recent study done at the University of Michigan recruited 52 students for a supposed taste test of new Hershey’s Kisses. They were given five chocolates: milk, dark, creme, caramel and almond. Before they received the fifth chocolate, some participants were told, “Here is your next chocolate.” The others were told, “Here is your last chocolate.” Participants in the “last” condition rated the fifth chocolate as more delicious and enjoyable. Lesson learned: Enjoy each bite as if you were kissing it goodbye.

If you live in the northern latitudes, you may be ready to fly south by now. Cold temps and shortened daylight hours can take their toll on people, and it’s common for some to experience a set of symptoms known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. These symptoms include irritability, decreased energy and changes in appetite. Others may experience a depressed mood, anxiety, fatigue and weight gain or loss.

The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown, but it’s likely that a few specific factors come into play:

• Your biological clock. The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may disrupt your body’s internal clock, which lets you know when you should sleep or be awake.

• Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

• Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood, may play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin, which can lead to depression.

If you’ve felt a little blue lately, try these:

1. Catch some rays. Getting exposure to sunlight can be a powerful pick-me-up. If you can go out for a walk when the sun is out, bundle up and get outside.

2. Move it. Increasing your exercise in the winter can stimulate endorphins, which will lift both your mood and your energy.

3. Eat for energy. Be sure to combine lean protein and complex carbohydrates in your meals. Limit your consumption of alcohol, sugar and high-fat foods.

4. Get help. If you are experiencing signif icant seasonal depression or have a recurrent pattern of seasonal depression, you may benefit from consulting with someone who treats mood disorders.

Get Your Own Marketing Mentor from Creative Graphics

How Marketing Mentor Works:

Marketing Mentor allows you to focus on your business while we focus on your marketing in order to:

Understand your sales-marketing goals

Create your marketing plan

Recommend and implement an integrated suite of marketing initiatives

Keep you on track and on budget

Measure your results

Marketing Mentor is inclusive.The Plan. Implementation. Reporting.

You’ll get the marketing direction you need to increase market share, boost sales and retain customers.

It’s affordable… a fraction of the cost of hiring an advertising agency.

It’s strategic… a plan created and implemented with your specific sales-marketing goals in mind.

It’s professional… planning and execution by experts in small-business marketing.

It’s creative… branding, unique messaging and creative approaches that get results.

16535 Anna Trail SEP.O. Box 1204Prior Lake, MN 55372952.447.5044www.cgpl.com

Ramp Up Your Sales Without Lifting a Finger!

Get started TODAYby calling (952) 447-5044

Marketing Mentor is surprisinglyaffordable—just right for you!

SUPPORTMarket ResearchLead Generation ProgramsCustomer Relationship ProgramsCREATIVECopywritingDirect Mail

Brand Identity and Graphic DesignWebsite Update or All-New DesignWebsite Content Management, Maintenance and HostingELECTRONICE-NewslettersEmail Marketing

Social MediaPay-Per-Click AdvertisingSearch Engine OptimizationPLUS MUCH MOREPromotional Items and Apparel

MORE AT WWW.CGPL.COM

Your Own Marketing Department thanks to Creative Graphics!

HURRY!

Not having a plan can cost you customers and revenue —call us today!