Spring?

I have a bone to pick with Punxsutawney Phil! You lied that spring was coming in six weeks! It is two days from Easter and I am still layered up wearing winter socks, thermals, and sitting by a fire. It is hard to even find warm clothes since it is so unseasonably cold. According to weather.com, there are supposed to be snow showers in Keene tonight. Gross.

Despite the cold weather, companies cannot help but advertise spring and summer items. There are spring sales at clothing stores such as Forever 21 and TJMaxx, and Easter sales at seasonal stores like Pier 1 Imports and Macy's. My question is, are people even in the mood to shop for spring and summer when they have to still dig our their winter clothes? How can companies be making money on their seasonal items when the atmosphere is not right? Companies are being forced to start the sales and discounts earlier than normal just to maintain a normal business flow as well as keep their financial statements out of the red.

There is marketing evidence that consumers do not purchase as much when other characteristics are off, such as the weather, severe economic change, or a natural disaster. At this moment in time, all three of these are true. What do you think companies should be doing at times like these?

In Response to Laurie Whalen

"Both the constant marketing and uniqueness of the product are extremely important.  Is there anything else that make a product successful?"

Laurie brings up a good point that, is a logo what really makes a company successful? She uses Shell gas station as an example. Gas stations are constantly trying to sponsor non-profit organizations and sports teams. By sponsoring organizations, not only is the logo used, but purchasers also realize that the company is not just looking for a quick dollar, but rather to give back to the community.

Another way that a product is successful is by constantly changing for different times. For example, Coke and Pepsi both just launched a flashback of their product with real sugar in it instead of a reduced sugary mix. This reminds consumers of the nostalgia behind these beverages and jogs their memories of days past.

Is there anything that you as the reader think that Laurie and I missed?

How to: Market on Twitter

I found an article on Social Media Explorer regarding how exactly to market on Twitter. Twitter is such a great social media site because it allows normal people to communicate with other normal people and celebrities alike. I personally find Twitter to be a unique outlet to voice opinions and to catch a quick laugh since in my circle of friends, not many people have accounts.

With that said, I came across this article Four Styles of Marketing on Twitter. The styles are as follows:

• the conversationalist
• day to day conversation
• used by small business consultants
• the conversational marketer
• posting more directly about other websites and personal pages
• the sales person
• zero conversation
• the marketer
• zero conversation, just facts

If you are familiar with Twitter and follow different types of people, every account user can be identified into these four types of marketers. Do you think that there is another type of marketer to be included in this list?

Groupon

It is a brilliant idea to me to think that there is websites now available that advertise deals to each individual city across the United States. Essentially Groupon is a free website that sends personalized emails to your account about local deals. If you like the deal and would like to use it, just print it off and bring it to the vendor. Groupon's vendors offer up to 90% off of the merchandise.

The confusing part to me is how the website makes money. I think that the company has partnered with the companies that advertise on the website and receive a commission for the purchase. It is common that websites do this. Groupon is more or less a main website for the web of sites that are on it.

Another perk that the website offers is referral appreciation. For each friend that you invite to the website, Groupon will give you $10 to your next purchase. It is a great incentive for the individual to share these deals with friends, thus spreading the word about the vendors.

I have only heard good things about this website and how convenient it is to use. However, the one negative piece is all the emails that are sent to your account. Depending on the size of your local city, the amount of companies that have daily deals is outrageous. Each email brings in awareness for Groupon as well as the vendor.

Here is a direct link to Groupon. What challenges do you see this company having in the future?

Pier 1 Imports; No Longer a Rip Off

I do not think it is a big secret that Pier 1 Imports has a reputation for having an outrageously priced, yet pleasing inventory.  How can anyone afford decorative throw pillows starting at $25 each? I have to say that I have had a change of heart since September.  For example, this pillow to the left is currently on sale for $8.68, marked down from $34.95. Even though that still may be pricey for some, it is a grand improvement and somewhat affordable.

After moving into my own place off campus, I went into the local Pier 1 to see what goodies I could pick up to make my space more festive and unique. What I found was a larger variety of inventory as well as much of it with slashed prices. They now offer gift supplies, jewelry, children's toys, and bath items.

The jewelry that they have to offer is awesome. The pieces are really interesting, unique, and quirky, but can help jazz up an outfit and make for great gifts. I recently went into Pier 1 looking for a nice vase or mirror for a friend of mine. Even though I browsed those departments, I walked out with over $45 in accessories and gadgets for her, which she absolutely loved. This ring was so cheap it was laughable. I actually had to ask one of the sales associates if it was marked wrong. It was originally $7 which is great as it is, but marked down to $0.68. Awesome.

I find it very clever of Pier 1 to have children's toys since it is primarily a place a parent may bring their young child. Instead of having a tantrum, just hand the child a sparkly yo-yo or a book to help pass the time. The toys also will not break the bank if one so chooses to purchase it.

Pier 1 has now turned into a one stop deal. Do you know of any other stores that have recently changed their inventory to make it more suitable for a larger client base?

Here is a direct link to Pier 1 Imports

Buy One, Get One

This day in age, it is hard to find a company that willingly want to give to others.  It is common however to find companies that are mandated to pay fines due environmental issues or harm to a culture.  Another hard thing to find today is items that are reasonably priced.  Many families have to cut back on luxury items such as clothes and charity.    

My friend, Melissa, is also always hunting for deals. She admires fashion, beauty, art, and the unique. (Check out her blog www.melissaboccanfuso.blogspot.com) A staple in her wardrobe is TOMS Shoes.  Not only are TOMS really comfortable, affordable, and practical shoes, but the company also has a great motto; One for One.  Essentially for every pair of TOMS purchased, another pair goes to a child in need in a developing country.  Blake Mykoskie, founder of the company, chose developing countries because many children grow up barefoot causing for cuts and infections.  At the end of 2006, within one year of launching the company, 10,000 pairs were given to children in Argentina.  This business idea could have been a complete bust.

 TOMS has found that selling the shoes at roughly $50 each, all costs can be covered including donation, production, and overhead but yet still make a profit.  The newest addition that they have added to the brand is Wedding.  Not only can men, women, and children enjoy day to day shoes, but now there are ones designed for special occasions such as weddings and proms.

Another feature that is on the website is "Design."  Customers who purchase the shoes will then create and individualize theirs to make it more unique.  Anyone can upload their images and be placed on their website.

I find TOMS Shoes to be an admirable and fascinating business.  They make being an honest and successful company a possible feat in these current economic times.  Do you know of any other companies that have a similar mission statement?

In Response to Kayle Crowley

"If we start sticking puppies and lions on Kashi and bran,

will our younger generation catch on to a healthier lifestyle?"

With the increase in health awareness lately, it is no wonder that children choose the right snack and actually enjoy them. There are alternatives to almost every snack that have less sugar, less fat, less calories, but more fiber, more vitamins, and more protein. 

One vitamin that I take daily is fish oil. The taste of it repulses me, but I know it will keep me healthy and there are many benefits. I take the children's type of fish oil that come in a chewy form. They taste better, and I no longer dread it. Yesterday while I was at work at a local doctor's office, there was literally a boy that threw a tantrum because his mom would not let him have another chewy fish oil because he already had his at breakfast. It could be because the package has brightly colored fish on them or it could also be because they taste so darn good.

If cartoon characters encourage kids to want to eat their healthy food, why would a parent refuse it? It makes their job easier.

$tarbucks

Recently while flipping through the channels in the wee hours of the morning, CNBC stopped me in my tracks. Not only am I a sucker for a good documentary, but I found this one particularly interesting. It was on the Starbucks empire. The following link will give you an idea of what the show was about.  Money in a cup My mouth literally was hanging open while the pure genius of the Starbucks Company has made a single cup of coffee into a status symbol.

One point that I found interesting is that Starbucks does not market in the media. You will never see a commercial on television because they do not see it as fit. Instead the company relies on customers walking around with their cup. Why in the world would Starbucks not market on tv? Starbucks customers love the coffee shops and the delicious coffee. They feel as though they are in a cafe in New York City or Boston or Paris, not in their own backyard. The customers also feel like Starbucks is their best kept secret, when really there are billions of people who have tried the coffee worldwide, and practically a Starbucks on every block in NYC. If commercials started showing up on tv, the secret would be out!

Another way Starbucks has built a great reputation in marketing is through their wide variety of products. If someone is not a coffee drinker, they could still enjoy the great Cd's that the company compiles. The music is soothing, jazzy, and on the cutting edge. What other coffee company ever won Best Album of the Year at the Grammy's? Starbucks also has a extensive inventory of ceramic and plastic mugs, coffee makers, espresso machines, books, aprons, and seasonal decorations.

A great way the company has encouraged customers to stay at the shop is through free WiFi and of course their music. The cafe is a great place to get out of the house and remain productive, all the while ordering more coffee and possibly getting a snack. Even though there are Starbucks haters, I personally enjoy the coffee, the atmosphere, the authentic feel, all for the low price of $4 a cup. Who could deny that?

What are other inventory items that you would like to see Starbucks have? Are there any diet regulations that you may have that Starbucks has not met?

Public Awareness Annoucements

Do this get your attention? The idea of living above the influence means that you are leading a healthy lifestyle without drugs and alcohol. The above the influence advertisement campaign is directly marketed at teenagers, but also gets the attention of adults. Even though parents have been through the difficulty of teen years as well, times do change and pressure seems different. I just need to ask, do the ads really help?

It is important that the campaign does not advertise any sort of fun that can be associated with drugs and alcohol, but instead market how destructive the behaviors can be. Abusing a substance can lead to failing yourself, school, losing trust from your parents and friends, and eventually losing hope. What needs to be remembered is that there can always be a way out, and for this reason, I like the ad campaign.

I am hoping that the campaign will start advertising the destructive behavior of suicide. There is a lot of literature on drinking and driving and how addiction can ruin a life, but what about when someone feels as though all hope is gone? It would be really great to see this addition to the team.

Another way that the campaign can be increased is spreading awareness throughout college campuses as well. Maybe the campaign could have speakers that talk nationwide to various high schools and colleges so that there can be a personal effect on what the campaign is trying to accomplish.

Would you go to a campaign like this?

In respone to Laurie Whalen

"What are the different ways you do or have heard to save money?"

 Laurie talks about different ways that people save money, particularly with groceries. I have to say that I am a bargain shopper. Why buy something at full price when it is bound to go on the sale rack (i.e. electronics, clothes, etc.)? I became a more frugal shopper once I realized the value of a dollar and how far that can go, especially when you are a college student.

Some people believe that one has to just buy a few good pieces of clothes for example instead of having a closet full of items that one rarely likes. When it comes to items such as electronics, one must buy something that is affordable, practical, and has a good value. Hopefully you aren't going to buy a BMW when your kitchen appliances are on their last leg... but who knows. Some people think differently than I do.

Since I am always on the hunt for a good bargain, here are some websites that I have come across of that have saved me a few bucks:

•  glasses: zennioptical.com
• shoes: shoedazzle.com, justfab.com
• magazines: type into google, "Free magazine subscriptions" (I got a free 1 year subscription for W and Cosmopolitan magazines
• city coupons: groupon.com
• housewares: ikea.com

These are just a few of the websites that come to mind. It is exciting to receive a deal on something when you were planning on spending more. As Laurie mentioned in her blog, cutting coupons is a great way to save. Take the fifteen minutes to browse the Sunday newspaper and you could save some dough!

Marketing for Free?

As we are studying through our marketing analysis of Campus Mom Laundry, a marketing budget can be used quickly and may not be the most efficient way of connecting to a direct group. With the introduction of Facebook, a marketing budget can now be stretched since an account is free.

Some ways that Facebook can be used for a business:

-update customers with new information (directed at the business)

-enlighten the viewer about news articles

-create a unique interactive experience

-make connections to other sites (business website or blog)

-hold basic information (address, phone number, hours of operation)

This list is not completely exhausted, but it is a start. Facebook can also help businesses make immediate updates and communication with customers and clients. This will show that the business is technologically saavy as well as interested in having the company flourish.

Would you use a business that did not have a facebook?

Response to Diana Schaller

I guess my big question is what would you do if you were being pressured to remove your commercial from the air during a show? Is it worthwhile to submit to the pressure of parental groups? Why is it so necessary to respond to them and do they really have enough power to hurt your business?

Watch this first 

 Now that you have watched the Skins trailer, I think it is reasonable to see why so many parents are upset. Even though that trailer was shown in Canada, the show is identical. I have to say that I attempted to watch the show when it came out because MTV put so many advertisements throughout their other programs that I figured, why not? Within the first fifteen minutes of the show, I was not only confused by how the teens were behaving. The show opened with a teen fighting with his parents, then proceeded to setting someone up to lose his virginity, and by the end of the show, there was a girl that had attempted suicide via prescription pills.  Is that how teens are talking these days? I sound old when I only graduated from high school in 2008 and for crying out loud, I am still in college.... how many things can actually stop me in my tracks and be upset? After living in dorms with communal bathrooms and a forced triple, I would say not many.

The phrase goes, "No press is bad press," but what if the show gets pulled? Then I think that is some bad press. As for the companies that are advertising throughout the show, I would be on the fence. Guaranteed there is a demographic that will be watching the show and the commercials, but will that be promoting what the show is? I would submit a press release stating that the company does not have any affiliation with the individual show, but rather the network as a whole. I would also state my concerns to the network. No matter what though, the company will stay in business. Especially a huge franchise business like Subway. They will not be going out of business just because of this one show, but it could potentially hurt their bottom line. I believe that every person is a potential client, therefore a company needs to behave accordingly. Marketing is where a company is supposed to establish the type of demographic that they want their product or service to be selling to. With that said, if teenagers is the demographic, I say go for it and continue advertising.

Customer Service!!! Come out, come out wherever you are!

Lately all I seem to notice is how poor customer service is. What happened to lollipops at the bank window, or a free piece of cheese at the deli counter? Am I being irrational or has customer service taken a nose dive? I cannot seem to understand why businesses are allowing their employees to treat customers poorly. Recently I ordered a jacket from a Forever 21 which is also online. I purchased the jacket over the internet (on sale!), but when I received it, it just did not fit correctly. I loved the jacket, so I placed the jacket in the bag, instructed the store to send me a different size, put all the given paper securely taped to the bag, but then noticed that postage was not paid for. Strike 1. After three weeks I had not received or heard from the store. Strike 2. I call them. The customer service representative explains that the return policy for their franchise is that there are no exchanges, just refunds. This meant that I had to reorder the jacket (without any sort of discount) and wait for this one to arrive. Strike 3. You can only imagine how frustrated I have been with this company. I believe that this was poor customer service. How can there not be more customers complaining to this multi-million dollar corporation? There was clearly no sort of customer relationship being built, but instead rethought on my end. This is also a classic example of production orientation. Even though it was not necessarily the production manager's fault, but rather the company policy.

In my opinion, customer service will never go out of style. Building strong customer relationships will then build repeat customers. And repeat customers means referrals. If a business markets incredible customer service, like L.L. Bean does, the customer remembers this and wants to purchase many of their products from there regardless of price. It seems like common knowledge to the marketer in me.

In response to Laurie Whalen's post

"Companies use different means of propaganda in order to attract their customers to their product.  Propaganda uses facts of the product selectively in order to make their product more appealing.  Some people think this is false advertising however it is just a way for companies to make their product look better in order to make sales."

Companies use drastically different means to attract customers to their product. Even though they are selectively chosen, it is still the consumers job to see through propaganda in order to make the most intelligent decision on the product or service. When I put "propaganda" into YouTube, majority of the links are on Hitler. Even though it is used during war time, that is not the only setting. The following link explains what propaganda is as well as some art to illustrate how marketing companies use propaganda. The Art of Propaganda

The 4 P's of Marketing Yourself

When going in for an interview it is important that you think of yourself as a product. You are selling yourself to a company in hopes that they will "purchase" you as a good investment for their company. You want to market yourself with your best characteristics being the most distinct. As part of the interview process, it is important that the place factor is thought about. Where exactly do you want yourself to be? Not only on the hierarchy of the company but also the global location. It just does not make sense to work some place where it would be more of a hassle to work in the ideal location when your commute is over an hour away. Distribution is important. You can use resume sights like monster.com to put your statistics out there on the internet. Another factor that is important is price. You do not want to sell yourself short in order to get a job. You have worked hard for your education, therefore you deserve the best. The right job will show up, even if that means that you have to work at a mediocre job until that day comes. Last, it is important to promote yourself. You want to look at yourself in a positive light by highlighting your best personality traits, but by also humanizing yourself. An interviewer understands that no one is perfect and that you have a life, but you want to show them is that regardless of your personal life, you will put your best foot forward in making the company better. In preparation of the interview, you should ask yourself why this company is a good fit for you. You should promote yourself in dressing appropriately as well as speaking grammatically correct. No company is going to hire you if you show up sloppy or speak with a weak vocabulary. After analyzing the four p's, what other word could fit into this chart?

Marketing, advertising, and propaganda

Marketing, advertising, and propaganda are all words that are lumped in the same category.  Even though they words are close, there are still major differences.
According to the textbook marketing is, "The process of creating, distributing, promoting, and pricing goods, services, and ideas to facilitate satisfying exchange relationships with customers and to develop and maintain favorable relationships with stakeholders in a dynamic environment." In simpler words, a business will market a product or service in the hopes of making customers continuously satisfied in various economic situations. The textbook also uses the example of Wendy's and Burger King. These fast food restaurants rely on repeat customers whereas the customers rely on a consistent, tasty, inexpensive meal. When talking about marketing, it is important to mention demographics. Specific demographics are what businesses market to. For example, Life Alert is marketed towards senior citizens. The product is a safety device which alerts the police department when it is pushed. The Life Alert company has marketed their product so that senior citizens feel safe; period.
Advertising is, "Paid nonpersonal communication about an organization and its products transmitted to a target audience through mass media." More specifically, advertising is selling a product or service to a group of people via various forms of media. For example, billboards on the highway advertise mainly local restaurants or key businesses in the area. The difference to marketing is that advertisements are placed in general areas to hit as many demographics as possible. For large attractions like a famous museum, the museum may have a billboard to let tourists know that it is in the area.
The third area is propaganda. Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing an attitude towards a product or service. This differs from marketing and advertising because propaganda tells specific information that is chosen. For example, an infomercial is an example of propaganda. Infomercials use descriptive and select information to persuade the audience to purchase the item.
The three words are very specific to each other but have slightly different definitions. What is another example of propaganda that is used in today's society?