P&G Exec Says Cold Water Clothes Washing Would Cut US Energy Use: Less Hot Water Means Less Hot Air

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- P&G's director of global sustainability, Peter White, tells Britain's Guardian that switching to cold water washing detergents would save a bundle:  "P&G calculates that if it could convince everyone in the US to wash in cold water it would reduce domestic energy consumption by 3% and allow the country to meet 6% of its Kyoto committment."  Just a 3% reduction would be a huge savings in dollars -- about $36.9 billion.  There is data about US energy consumption available in this Energy Department report. In 2007, the most recent year available, the U.S. spent about $1.233 trillion on coal, natural gas and petroleum fuels. You can read Peter White's interview with the Guardian by clicking here.

Cincinnati Skirts Stink Embroiling Toledo: Procter and Gamble Puts Up $50K For Proper Spot For City Dogs To Poop

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Ohio is a state with split personalities and deep regional differences. Here's proof: Toledo-area residents can't get their act together over how to handle dog crap. Maybe that's why the NW Ohio city is America's 15th most miserable community, according to Forbes Magazine. Toledo produced this memorable line: "Who the hell wants a bunch of dead grass where dogs poop on in their park?". Meanwhile, P&G's pet care division says it is giving a $50,000 grant to Cincinnati's downtown council for a dog park that will cover nearly a half-acre. SW Ohio's urban hounds will get to romp off their leashes. And poop within sight of downtown's skyline. Lisa Renee's Toledo-based blog Glass City Jungle has been red hot in cyber space (I was going to say flush with readers) about that city's dog poop flap. Here's a quote from a local parks official:

“Once this dog park is in use, the area will become brown. The beautiful grass will deteriorate,” Diane Shankland, President of the Ottawa-Jermain Parks Advisory Board said. “It was kind of shoved down our throat as a board, we weren’t advised at all and all of a sudden we find in the paper the fence is going up March.”

In Cincinnati, the dog park is going onto a slice of urban space that is mostly owned by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Some of the P&G grant money will be used for fencing and screens. The Cincinnati Enquirer's Carrie Whitaker did some excellent reporting about the downtown dog park today.

Wow!! Hamilton County's Republican Chairman Can't Spell Procter and Gamble Correctly

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- P&G is a Fortune 100 company. It is Cincinnati's most important corporate citizen, the city's signature multinational that's been around for more than 170 years. The twin towers of the downtown headquarters are a landmark. Yet Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou doesn't seem to know how to correctly spell Procter & Gamble. He gets it wrong three times in three straight sentences on his blog:

"Proctor and Gamble knows that Tide has a strong brand presence and that consumers recognize Tide as a high quality product. (We might say Tide has high name ID!)What if Proctor and Gamble puts out a new product without the "name ID" of Tide? What helps Proctor and Gamble establish its new brand worldwide? Advertising, of course. Advertising is a key element to capitalism and we see it everywhere. Think of Times Square or even the streets of Tokyo with paid advertising on every free inch of every facade."

It's Procter, from William Procter, who co-founded the company in 1837. Triantafilou may want to go back and scrub the erroneous spelling. (He can use Tide, or Mr. Clean.) But that's how it appeared -- "Proctor" -- when The Daily Bellwether checked tonight. By the way, Procter, who is buried in Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery, was a Republican, according to some biographical sources.

Marriage Bell Blues: Wall Streeters Blow Chance To Ask About Procter and Gamble Acquistitions

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Shameless voyeurs that we are, we thought we'd drop in on Procter & Gamble's conference call for investors this week to see if P&G would offer any hints about its rumored acquisition of Newell Rubbermaid or Clorox Corp. Well, you can't say we don't go the extra mile for our readers. Enduring an hour and 41 minutes of talk of product mix, pricing, market share and consumer value, your loyal servant was utterly let down by the Webcast hosts. Most disappointing of all was that the dozen or so Wall Street analysts who had the privilege of grilling CEO Bob McDonald blew the chance and didn't ask a single question about acquisitions, not even hypothetically. Our Web site traffic tells us there is great interest in a possible P&G buyout of Newell Rubbermaid, which has a product line somewhat complementary to P&G's, but employees, regular stockholders and snoops like us don't get to ask questions on these conference calls. So it looks like we're going to be in the dark for a while longer. In his discussion of growing market share in other countries, McDonald did say one thing that could be interpreted as being acquisition-ready: "Getting the portfolio right is strategic, and we're working to do that so we can touch and improve more lives ... That's our focus." Hmm, touching and improving more lives. So while P&G is selling Pampers, Charmin and Downy to those moms in India and China, it might be thinking it could improve their lives even more by selling them Graco baby strollers, baby swings and digital baby monitors from Newell Rubbermaid. To some, it makes total sense.

P&G Profits Slide 7% in Latest Quarter: Archrival Colgate-Palmolive Reports 27% Gain

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- From the front lines of the toothpaste war. P&G is a much larger enterprise than competitor Colgate-Palmolive. But Colgate posted superior earnings numbers when the rivals issued their quarterly profit data today. AP's Dan Sewell reports: "The Cincinnati-based company reported Thursday that sales rose 6 percent for its second quarter, a turnaround from sales slumps amid the recession. Its profit slid 7 percent on a lower gain from selling business lines." The SEC filings and quarterly results press release are available here.

Marketwatch has the Colgate numbers: ". . . the New York consumer-products giant reported fourth-quarter net income rose 27% on 11% higher sales." Colgate is projecting double-digit earnings per share growth this year. Procter forecasts its sales are likely to rise more than expected in 2010. Wall Street seemed positive about the data.

Newell Rubbermaid Board Member Works For Unilever: How Does That Play Into Takeover Rumors?

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- As Wall Street ponders published rumors that Procter & Gamble is interested in buying Newell-Rubbermaid, one member of Newell's board of directors is wearing an interesting second hat. He is a top exec with P&G's global archrival. Michael Polk's second hat is that of Unilever PLC. Polk (see photo) is president of the London-based consumer goods conglomerate's $18 billion Americas unit, meaning he has profit-and-loss responsibility for Unilever's business in North and South America. The biggest thorn in his side? Probably Procter & Gamble of Cincinnati. As TheFlyOnTheWall reported in an unsourced piece last week, the P&G and Newell boards are reportedly talking buyout. If that's the case, is Polk sitting in on those talks? Insider-trading laws would prohibit him from tipping off his bosses at Unilever about a P&G purchase of Newell at, say, $21 a share, or a 50 percent premium over Newell's current stock price. Tempting as it might be to curry favor with his superiors, Polk would no doubt keep his lips zipped. Or maybe he's recused himself. Or just leaves the room. Or maybe there aren't any talks. But you can see P&G and Unilever squaring off every day on the shelves of Wal-Mart, Target and Kroger. Among Unilever's many brands are Dove, Suave, Q-Tips, Vaseline, Snuggle, Pond's and CloseUp. There don't appear to be any rumors that Unilever is interested in Newell Rubbermaid, whose board of directors is listed here. If anybody wants to share anything about a P&G marriage with Newell, please get in touch. Give us some insight. This is what Polk's bio looks like (from the Newell website):

Michael B. Polk
Elected 2009
Michael B. Polk is President of Unilever Americas with responsibility for $18 billion in combined North America and Latin America sales. Since joining Unilever in 2005, Mr. Polk has streamlined the company's Americas organization and optimized the diverse mix of food, hygiene and personal care items in Unilever's product portfolio. He is credited with accelerating growth and profitability by improving efficiencies and encouraging the flow of ideas and product innovations across borders. Under Mr. Polk's leadership, Unilever was named Wal-Mart's Supplier of the Year in 2008. Before Unilever, Mr. Polk held positions of increasing global responsibility during 18 years at Altria Group, culminating in the role of Group Vice President and President, Nabisco Biscuit & Snacks with a $5.5 billion portfolio of brands. He was responsible for the integration of Nabisco into Kraft Foods, which required merging Nabisco's in-store merchandising system, leveraging Kraft's branding power and restructuring manufacturing operations. While at Altria he also led Kraft's Asia/Pacific Region and Kraft's U.S. Post Cereal Division.Mr. Polk began his career at Procter & Gamble in industrial engineering and product development. He is a board member of the Retail Industry Leadership Association, and has been named to Business Week magazine's "CEOs of Tomorrow" list and the "Power 50" list in Supermarket News. A graduate of Cornell University, he also holds an MBA from Harvard University

Wooster Ohio's Revenge: P&G May Be Ready To Swallow Company That Gobbled Up Rubbermaid

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Wooster is a small Ohio town that was punched in the gut when Rubbermaid Corp. was bought in 1998 and the prized corporate headquarters went dark. Thousands of blue and white collar jobs were flushed. If there is any truth to the published rumor that (TheFlyOnTheWall) Procter & Gamble is making a bid for Newell Rubbermaid, the merger ceremony would have the flavor of a reunion. Rubbermaid returns to Ohio ownership (though not likely to Wooster), and some former top P&G execs restore their ties to Cincinnati. Newell Rubbermaid's CEO, Mark Ketchum, spent 33 years at P&G before retiring in 2004. Newell Rubbermaid's top marketing exec, Ted Woehrle, put in 24 years as a P&Ger before jumping to Newell in 2007. Both reached the apex of their P&G careers under retired CEO A.G. Lafley. And both rose through the ranks alongside P&G's current CEO, Bob McDonald.

Newell Rubbermaid is based in Atlanta. It still makes Rubbermaid branded items, along with Calphalon, Graco, Goody, Levelor, Sharpie and the tool brands Irwin and Lenox. P&G appears primed for an acquisition -- it's sitting on about $6.3 billion in cash and McDonald -- who moved into the CEO's office last July -- could be ready to pull the trigger on a big deal. Here's what TheFlyOnTheWall said last week: "It is believed that the boards of both companies met earlier, and Newell is looking for at least $21-22 per share."

At this point, Wall Street hasn't put much on the rumor. Newell Rubbermaid closed at $14.47 Friday; hardly a bump. Last month, P&G reportedly was ready to swallow Clorox Corp., a company it divested in 1969. That reunion hasn't happened. Clorox is filled with a lot of ex-P&Gers. Its CEO, Donald Knauss, began his career at P&G and, like McDonald, is an Indiana native. Executive VP Frank Tataseo spent 17 years at P&G, chief marketing officer Thomas Britanek 13 years and senior VP Benno Dorer 14 years.

Peddling Diapers: P&G Snags Beatles' Anthem From The 'Summer of Love'

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Sixties are over now, for sure. And it turns out that money can buy you love.

Today, there is news that Procter & Gamble, the corporate consumer products giant, has locked up rights to use the Beatles song "All You Need Is Love" for a disposable diapers' advertising campaign. The song was released 40 years ago, in 1967, to coincide with the Summer of Love.

Cincinnati's P&G says it is going to use the Beatles tune to market Luvs. It says "the campaign offers a fresh, new approach to keep the brand relevant and top-of-mind with mom as she seeks a diaper that offers premium leakage protection for less cost -- a key differentiator from premium priced diapers."

The Beatles won't be shown in the first 30-second spot, which will have a light rock cover of the tune in the background as a kid frolics with a giant stuffed teddy bear. P&G says it has snared one of the "most familiar songs in music recording history." Sadly, yes it has.

There are celebrations and exhibits at many places this summer about the Summer of Love and the music that was written to promote it. The summer took place during the Vietnam War when the country needed some good vibes.
Now it has come to this. John and George are somewhere in their graves, probably rolling over with Beethoven.

Mark Rolland, a Saatchi & Saatchi advertising exec who worked on the campaign, said:

"The song itself was chosen to help create a stronger connection to the Luvs brand and awareness of its core benefit --- leakage protection for less. The song helps us break through the diaper advertising clutter and simply communicate to moms that Luvs diapers are 'all you need' to keep your baby happy with outstanding leakage protection at a value you can't get with the pricey brands."

100 Million Years And No Sex: Brits Fascinated By Microbes That Live In Ohio's Sinks

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- British newspapers are rife with BIG STORIES and BIG HEADLINES about microscopic invertebrates that have learned to live without sex over the past 100 million years. The critters, bdelloid rotifers, are all females and have long teased scientists because they don't follow standard rules for procreation or evolution -- that it takes two to tango. Rotifers are found all over the place, including ponds and Ohio's kitchen and hospital sinks.

Yet the rotifers didn't swirl down the drain to extinction even though they learned to refrain from natural rhumbas. The Brits say the microbes' asexual breeding and evolution into 400 separate species has created a scientific headache -- a 100 million year headache. All other mating game headaches clearly pale by comparison.

Procter & Gamble researchers in Cincinnati studied rotifers a few years back with a team of British scientists and reported some of the microbes lifestyle habits HERE. But the Ohio scientists didn't seem to have spent much time dwelling on the bugs' bedroom activities. More interested in soap suds and how they hung around drains with other types of bacteria. Not the Brits. According to today's Telegraph:

"Bdelloid rotifers are egg laying microscopic invertebrates -- widely distributed in mosses, streams and ponds -- which have managed to diverge into nearly 400 species without a scintilla of sex. A blank was drawn years ago by a major effort by a team at Harvard University to see if these creatures indulge in what scientists call cryptic sex, where the bdelloids were discreet, coupled infrequently, or sneaked off for a 'quick one.'

"Now a new study, published today in the journal PLoS biology, has confirmed the worst fears of scientists: the rotifers do indeed present a challenge to the assumption that sex is necessary for organisms to diversify into species."

Sweaty, Stinky Women Promised Help By Big Ohio Company

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Procter & Gamble says it will market this month a powerful anti-perspirant and deodorant that is supposed to raise the self-esteem of sweaty women. The giant consumer products company in Ohio says the advanced version of Secret is as strong as prescription products but will be available over-the counter "for women who need it most."

Once upon a time, the deodorant was labeled Ice Blue Secret and its pitch woman was Katy Winters in thousands of televison commercials. Katy hasn't been seen in years, and the speculation is that she expired of frozen armpits from the Ice Blue Secret. Another possibility: Katy ran off with a Right Guard from a football team. Both stories are probably urban myths.

This new version, according to Procter & Gamble, comes with wetness protection, odor-fighting capsules and skin conditioners.

"Nearly 23% of women today perceive themselves as 'heavy sweaters,' and this can often lead to feelings of embarrassment and discomfort among females, especially teenagers. As a result, women may limit their activities and place unnecessary boundaries on themselves to avoid these feelings," Procter & Gamble said in a statement. "Many women who experience heavy sweating seek prescription-strength anti-perspirants, however many of these products can irritate the skin."

Now their armpits are safe. I guess P&G's scientists came up with this by the sweat of their brows. A dermatology professor at St. Louis University was quoted by P&G saying that the product will give women confidence and "make them feel comfortable in their own skin."