EB and unwanted advertising - vent

[TeTe]

I agree with most of the OP, especially about getting advertising for a product that I decided long ago not to buy. I also have a few questions.

If this is too improve and expand the business, who's calling the shots now,? EB or Cathe & SNM? If it's EB, will this change the quality of the workouts? I mean, I can't tell you how many times I've seen on this and other fitness forums how The Firm went downhill after it got out the hands of the original owners.

With EB backing the Cathe brand, will the workouts be cheaper? (Not that I care. I don't mind paying for good, high-quality workouts, but, then again, see the above issues).

I agree with Carola; if you don't care what your base thinks, many of whom who have been buying Cathe workouts for years, no matter how much they cost, what issues/problems there have been with presales and technical issues, etc., how strong can your brand remain?

 

[kEwL]

Sponsors are needed to make something like the tour happen. I don't have a problem with the EB sponsorship and I actually think their eggs DO taste better than off brand eggs.

 

[SNM Videos]

I agree with most of the OP, especially about getting advertising for a product that I decided long ago not to buy. I also have a few questions.

If this is too improve and expand the business, who's calling the shots now,? EB or Cathe & SNM? If it's EB, will this change the quality of the workouts? I mean, I can't tell you how many times I've seen on this and other fitness forums how The Firm went downhill after it got out the hands of the original owners.

With EB backing the Cathe brand, will the workouts be cheaper? (Not that I care. I don't mind paying for good, high-quality workouts, but, then again, see the above issues).

I agree with Carola; if you don't care what your base thinks, many of whom who have been buying Cathe workouts for years, no matter how much they cost, what issues/problems there have been with presales and technical issues, etc., how strong can your brand remain?

EB has nothing do with the filming of our products. They didn't buy us and we didn't merge with them. We're simply partnering to promote the healthy benefits of eating EB eggs.

 

[eminenz2]

The best eggs are the ones fresh from the chicken! A lady I ride with has chickens and has shared some eggs with me. She told me the chickens lay the eggs around her yard and she has to go looking for them - truly and easter egg hunt! She also said they liked to lay them in the loose hay in her barn - hee! Anyway, these eggs were undoubtedly some of the best eggs I've ever eaten - brightest yellow and the TASTE! My gosh, I didn't know eggs were suppose to taste like that!

 

[icumom]

Thanks for letting us know how we should feel about Cathe's relationship with EB.

I am not aware that Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan are the spokesperson for Eggland's Best, a company WELL-known for animal cruelty. I am not even going into the "superiority" claim of Eggland's Best!
Nevertheless, yes, I am just as annoyed by some other celebrities endorsing questionable products. But then again I haven't gotten a direct email pitching the product they endorse either.

As I stated before, it is Cathe's decision how she runs her company and who she endorses. Personally as a company, I'd be interested in how my customers feel about the marketing decisions I make and who I endorse because that will effect my image and with that the sale of my product, there is plenty of incidents of celebrities and companies getting a backlash on their endorsements, etc.

As someone who has been buying Cathe's products for a long time I don't think Susan (or I or anyone else) need to apologize to voice an opinion. I don't think anything offensive about Cathe was said.

Carola is one of Cathe's most faithful fans and the most honest and articulate woman I've ever come across on the net - even though we've never met!

I entirely agree with her post... EB is not superior and even more of a disgrace for their PR campaigns...

Love Cathe though, and maybe she can facilitate a change with her affiliation.

 

[kEwL]

Carola is one of Cathe's most faithful fans and the most honest and articulate woman I've ever come across on the net - even though we've never met!

I entirely agree with her post... EB is not superior and even more of a disgrace for their PR campaigns...

Love Cathe though, and maybe she can facilitate a change with her affiliation.

Come on people - EB is not superior in your opinion. That does not make your opinion the right one. My opinion is that EB eggs taste better than others. Does not mean my opinion is right. Anyone who claims EB is a disgrace is just your opinion.

 

[nancy324]

Just to add another opinion to the mix:

The thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the email from "Cathe Friedrich" which went on for endless paragraphs about the virtues of someone else's product. Otherwise, I don't have any issues with Cathe acting as spokesperson for the product, assuming the product company does not support those facilities which are cruel to animals, and the whole thing is handled tastefully.

The other thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the post by SNM in this thread telling us how we "should" feel (with the mispelled words and misplaced punctuation).

Just my two cents.

 

[syzygy314]

Personally, I think that no matter who Cathe partnered with there would be some people who are in opposition to that specific product - you can't please all of the people, all of the time. I'm happy for her that she will be able to do some of the more expensive things that she otherwise wouldn't be able to accomplish, like the tour!

EB could never take any kind of "control" of Cathe's business. Do you see Gillette telling Tiger Woods and Roger Federer how to play their sports? I don't see posters or placards or patches on their clothes when they're out playing. They are just trying to help sell a product they like or believe in and I'm sure not all of their fans use the products they promote. IMHO.

I will always buy Cathe's workouts because of their quality and their ability to give me the results I want! The only thing that would make me stop using her products would be if the quality were to drastically decrease and I don't see that happening any time soon!

Tricia

 

[SNM Videos]

I don't feel personally connected to Cathe at all. She can do whatever she wants, but I guess I just don't understand eggs. Of all the brands of fitness related equipment and shoes and clothing, etc., why eggs? It seems so strange, like, "Well, we couldn't get Nike (or even Wheaties), but we could get eggs!"

Plus, I don't want to be inundated with EB advertising on DVDs, either in the workouts themselves or on the packaging.

Just keep putting out those workouts and that's enough for me! I don't need world tours and roadtrips and Altus training equipment, etc.

I guess I'm just trying to work out my 'WTH?...-ness" about the whole thing, if that makes sense.

If you just want to buy our DVDs then that is what you should do. We've never been a company that has forced people to buy all or any of our products, though we certainly appreciate the people who do. Hopefully, things we invent, sell and promote like the High Step, STS Tower, and FBC products will make make many people happy, but you simply can make the decision to purchase or not.

At the NYC event Cathe addressed the connection of why she is promoting EB eggs. EB wanted to reach a segment of the market that they felt they were missing and that is fitness. People associate egg protein shakes with fitness, but not the natural egg and that is the problem. Since an egg in the natural state is one of the most perfect foods and contains 10% of your daily protein requirement they wanted to educate people to think about the healthy benefits of eating EB eggs along with their active lifestyle. This why they selected Cathe.

 

[eminenz2]

I think Tiger Woods and his ilk simply take the money and run. ANd if they're willing to be upfront about it, hey, go for it.

But I'm with you Nancy - the original email bothered me for the same reason as you. I thought, "WTH? A commercial? Really? For eggs? Really? How strange. Michael Phelps gets a Wheaties box and Cathe gets...eggs." Hee!

 

[SNM Videos]

The best eggs are the ones fresh from the chicken! A lady I ride with has chickens and has shared some eggs with me. She told me the chickens lay the eggs around her yard and she has to go looking for them - truly and easter egg hunt! She also said they liked to lay them in the loose hay in her barn - hee! Anyway, these eggs were undoubtedly some of the best eggs I've ever eaten - brightest yellow and the TASTE! My gosh, I didn't know eggs were suppose to taste like that!

Freshness is one of the important factors that determines an eggs taste. This is where EB excels by getting eggs to the grocery store many times quicker than other companies (usually 24 to 48 hours). The other factor that determines taste is what the hens are fed. EB hens are only fed an all natural proprietary vegetarian feed.

 

[Afreet]

Carola is one of Cathe's most faithful fans and the most honest and articulate woman I've ever come across on the net - even though we've never met!

I entirely agree with her post... EB is not superior and even more of a disgrace for their PR campaigns...

Love Cathe though, and maybe she can facilitate a change with her affiliation.

I'm also a Carola fan (I'm a fan of many of my fellow Catheites!)

One thing worth noting is that this EB partnership has aroused a lot of very strong feelings, and not just from vegans - lots of people are dubious about EB.

The one thing we all have in common is a love for Cathe's workouts. I have been shilling for Cathe via word-of-mouth for years! I know I've created plenty of new Cathe fans. I absolutely trust her to create a high-quality workout DVD. When she said it was worth buying a resistance band just to do firewalkers, I bought a resistance band! I love my step. I've never regretted a single DVD purchase from her company.

I understand the reasons Cathe/SNM have given for their partnership with EB.

What's interesting to me is that even those of us who are super-dedicated to Cathe's workouts and trust her absolutely as a businessperson find this partnership to be questionable on many levels. Personally I don't like the idea of Cathe lending her considerable credibility as a fitness expert to a product like EB eggs. And for me, it doesn't make the eggs seem more appealing - it makes Cathe's products LESS appealing. Because I KNOW that EB isn't a company anyone can trust (especially chickens).

It's very disappointing!

 

[ImFiddY]

The email came in my spam folder and when I read it I just scanned it and deleted it. No big deal. A partnership with EB is a give-n-take deal. EB wants to market to the CATHE masses and Cathe wants to venture out and do bigger events.

I just deleted it and moved on. My opinion of Cathe is the same. She puts out quality work and is a quality person and I will still continue to buy her dvd's.

 

[TeTe]

I think Tiger Woods and his ilk simply take the money and run. ANd if they're willing to be upfront about it, hey, go for it

Really? DH and I laugh at how Tiger had to drive around in a Buick while hawking for them a few years ago!!! I could be wrong, but I doubt that was his car of choice! And Tiger and many others are required to wear Nike (or whatever brand they are sponsoring) stuff while they're playing in championships.

Maybe we should let this thread die; all we seem to be getting is even more EB ad copy. It's not like we can't, and haven't, looked them up on the internet to see about their reputation for animal cruelty. (Oh, and, btw, my eggs are much fresher than EB; they come from a small farm just a few miles from me!)

 

[sparrow13]

Freshness is one of the important factors that determines an eggs taste. This is where EB excels by getting eggs to the grocery store many times quicker than other companies (usually 24 to 48 hours). The other factor that determines taste is what the hens are fed. EB hens are only fed an all natural proprietary vegetarian feed.

Chickens are not supposed to be vegetarians. Left to free-range and eat their intended diet chickens are omnivores and will munch on all manner of worms and insects, seeds, veggies, heck they will even eat table scraps if you have them. They're natural diet produces the most tasty eggs.

 

[Afreet]

Freshness is one of the important factors that determines an eggs taste. This is where EB excels by getting eggs to the grocery store many times quicker than other companies (usually 24 to 48 hours). The other factor that determines taste is what the hens are fed. EB hens are only fed an all natural proprietary vegetarian feed.

Yuck - to the eggs and to the repeated sales pitch. Shilly McShill Shill.

 

[eminenz2]

Freshness is one of the important factors that determines an eggs taste. This is where EB excels by getting eggs to the grocery store many times quicker than other companies (usually 24 to 48 hours). The other factor that determines taste is what the hens are fed. EB hens are only fed an all natural proprietary vegetarian feed.

Please, SNM, haven't we heard enough about how great these eggs are?

I may be just sad that 'our' little Cathe is growing up into a big girl and we're just not enough for her anymore. Not enough fame, not enough money, not enough business, not enough publicity, not enough whatever.

Wait, didn't I just say upthread that I feel no personal attachment to Cathe? I may have to shift that.

Same-day eggs from chickens that run around a yard like the crazysexy beasts they are taste the best to me.

BTW, don't hens naturally eat bugs too?
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_do_hens_eat



OMG, Afreet, you are too funny!

 

[TeTe]

Shilly McShill Shill.

 

[kEwL]

Please, SNM, haven't we heard enough about how great these eggs are?

I may be just sad that 'our' little Cathe is growing up into a big girl and we're just not enough for her anymore. Not enough fame, not enough money, not enough business, not enough publicity, not enough whatever.

This attitude makes me shake my head - it's like a kid who gets a new baby in the family and is jealous.

 

[lkl]

I may be just sad that 'our' little Cathe is growing up into a big girl and we're just not enough for her anymore. Not enough fame, not enough money, not enough business, not enough publicity, not enough whatever.

so unkind. i don't believe this is how cathe feels. i don't think this thread benefits at all those who are trying to convert people to organic and cage free....just the opposite, coming off as very shrill. i also support the humane treatment of chickens and all animals, but this kind of behavior does no justice to the cause.