Among other things (National Pizza Month, anyone?), October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Washington Post recently published an interesting article about the connection between retail apparel marketing and breast cancer awareness efforts. The combination of the two – “pink marketing” – is as ubiquitous during the month of October as Halloween candy and pumpkin-spiced lattes.

Over time, cancer charities have sought to increase donor awareness of their mission and boost fundraising by partnering with for-profit corporations. This cause-related marketing can be mutually beneficial: the charity is helped by the company’s marketing budget and public relations heft, while the company enhances its goodwill with customers (indeed, some research supports the notion of a “halo effect” for retailers that consumers believe are socially conscious). Thus, we see successful partnerships like the one featured in the Washington Post article between the National Football League and the American Cancer Society, or relationships between World Wrestling Entertainment and Susan G. Komen. In October, hulking athletes incorporate pink into their uniforms and leap from pink wrestling ropes. Celebrities wear pink ribbons and retailers offer pink-colored versions of their products. Even the White House goes pink.Continue Reading Don’t Let “Pink” Marketing Lead to Others Seeing Red