Week 8 EOC: Creative Content

For my creative content, I will release two things. The first will be the logo. This can be crucial to the company because the customers that choose to drink the sodas straight from the cans rather than in a mixed drink, could be driven away by a logo that represents the company badly. I will also be presenting an Adobe Photoshop image of the cans with the logo. A different colored can will represent each flavor.

Week 10 EOC: Under Control

To be entirely ready to turn in all of my work on Thursday I need to work on some things.  The first part is my twitter status. I currently have fifty four tweets. To be ready for Thursday, I need seventy seven total tweets, which means that I have about twenty more tweets to post before the beginning of class on Thursday. Next, I need twenty quotes from the textbook before Thursday. Currently, I have around six quotes. Fourteen more quotes from the textbook are needed. Next thing that needs to be done is my Creative Content. I have finished the logo, but I feel it needs a little bit more work and also I must finish my Photoshop image of the can with the logo. Everything about the layout of my Twitter and Blogger accounts is already done, so that is one less thing that I should fix. Out of the ten steps to the marketing plan, I have four that are ready. I need to work on my SWOT Analysis, Objectives, Marketing Strategy, Distribution, Product, and Implementation portions of the plan.

Week 9 EOC: Social Media

There are three social media mediums that will be essential to this company's success. The first will be Facebook. The company shall have a fan page on Facebook. It will give out information and be used as way to keep a relationship with the fans. The fans shall feel free to post comments, pictures, etc about the product. Twitter will be in use to update followers on changes and promotions, as well as a way to gauge how well the company is doing. It too, will be used to create relationships with customers in real time. The last social media site that will be used is YouTube.  YouTube can be used to spread the word on the product through viral videos that will be meaningful and connect with the customer. An additional idea for the YouTube channel is to show monthly videos on how to use these products to make non-alcoholic versions of out most popular mixed drinks.

Week 7 EOC: Business Mission Statement

We make, distribute, and sell high quality, caffeinated beverages that do not use artificial flavors. Our business is delighting an building relationships with the customers that consume our beverages. Our customer is a person who enjoys the nightlife or stressed out from the pressures of life and wants to go to a bar for a good time. We offer something for everyone. Our consumers value high quality and natural flavors, and that is what is our company will deliver. Each of our three flavors can satisfy in a mixed alcoholic drink, or even by itself. Our business is local, and will work at building real, meaningful relationships with people all over the region. What we deliver is an escape. Dare to escape with Bold.

 "Few leaders actually get the point of forging a mission with real grit and meaning. [Mission statements] have largely devolved into fat-headed jargon. Almost no one can figure out what they mean. [So companies] sort of ignore them or gussy up a vague package deal along the lines of: “our mission is to be the best fill-in-the-blank company in our industry.” [Instead, Welch advises, CEOs should] make a choice about how your company will win. Don’t mince words! Remember Nike’s old mission, “Crush Reebok”? That’s directionally correct. And Google’s mission statement isn’t something namby-pamby like “To be the world’s best search engine.” It’s “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” That’s simultaneously inspirational, achievable, and completely graspable." Armstrong & Kotler (2011). Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Ed. Prentice Hall Publishing.

“A Mission Statement is a statement of the organization’s purpose—what it wants to accomplish in the larger environment.” 
Armstrong & Kotler Pg. 39

Week 7: The Pitch

"During the presentation step of the selling process, the salesperson tells the “value story” to the buyer, showing how the company’s offer solves the customer’s problems. The customer-solution approach fits better with today’s relationship marketing focus than does a hard-sell or glad-handing approach. Buyers today want answers, not smiles; results, not razzle-dazzle. Moreover, they don’t want just products. More than ever in today’s economic climate, buyers want to know how those products will add value to their businesses. They want salespeople who listen to their concerns, understand their needs, and respond with the right products and services." (Armstrong and Kotler. Marketing). Taking all of this into account, I will begin my own presentation without so much of the "razzle-dazzle". The company's product is named Bold Soda. Bold Sodas are fizzy, often carbonated, drinks that can easily be mixed with alcohol in bars for delicious, satisfying drinks that offer an escape from daily life. There are three flavors: Crazy Piña, Lively Ginger, and Brazen Lime. All of the drinks will be made of natural flavors, nothing artificial.



"To reach that consumer, Conill devised a campaign that catered to El Jefe’s penchant for the national Mexican sport of charreadas (Mexican-style rodeos). The pitch: The Tundra is as tough as the guy who gets behind the wheel.Conill’s campaign for Lexus, couldn’t be more different. For Lexus, the agency targeted the luxury market in Miami, reaching out to affluent Hispanics who appreciate refinement, art, and culture with a campaign that centered on art and design. The result was a brightly displayed Lexus print campaign placed in local Hispanic lifestyle magazines that helped move Lexus from the fourth-ranked player in the Miami luxury car market to market leader in only 18 months."

Gary Armstrong and Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction for Education Management Corporation, 10th Edition.

"During the presentation step of the selling process, the salesperson tells the “value story” to the buyer, showing how the company’s offer solves the customer’s problems. The customer-solution approach fits better with today’s relationship marketing focus than does a hard-sell or glad-handing approach. Buyers today want answers, not smiles; results, not razzle-dazzle. Moreover, they don’t want just products. More than ever in today’s economic climate, buyers want to know how those products will add value to their businesses. They want salespeople who listen to their concerns, understand their needs, and respond with the right products and services." (Armstrong and Kotler. Marketing)

Week 6 EOC : Me Times Three

There are three things that I possess that I would say helps define me.

http://www.gordonsjewelers.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12453564

The first thing that I would say helps define who I am is my wedding ring. My ring is partly my engagement ring and then the wedding ring that interlocks. It is beautiful, and I feel like the design and the size is perfect for me, but that is not why it helps define me. This ring symbolizes me and my husband's love for each other. It is a culmination of all of the struggles that we went through to get to that point on that evening in February where we could finally make it official. It is curved, and then the bands meet in the middle, which is a great way to describe our relationship, coming united from two different worlds. I don't wear at work because I am afraid that it will get hit by something, but I always feel "naked," for the lack of a better term, without it on my second finger from the left.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Phantom-Opera-George-Perry/dp/0805006575

If somebody asked me what possessions I would first save in case of a fire, I would respond with this book, photos and my wedding ring (although I'd likely already be wearing the ring). The Phantom of the Opera is my favorite musical. I have, using this book, learned the entire play and all of the songs. I can correct a wrong lyric, which can (and often does) drive others crazy.The book was bought by my mother when she first took me to see the show when I was eight years old. The musical is what inspired me to begin singing. Chorus and singing were, until very recently, a huge part of my life.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-LUMIX-DMC-ZS6-DIGITAL-CAMERA/dp/B003NYRMGA

My digital camera is very important to me. It was the first thing I bought when I earned a few paychecks at my first job ever. I already owned a little purple Nikon but I had noticed the quality of the pictures was greatly diminishing. I saw this camera online and fell in love with it. First,  I saved up, did tons of research, and ended up deciding on this great little point-and-shoot. I bought it off the display at Costco and have never regretted it. It documents most of the important moments in my life. I love taking pictures and I love being able to document my family and friends' lives with me. Friends will get annoyed and call me the paparazzi  but later they come to appreciate that someone took the time to record these things.

Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

·         Read Marketing at work 5.1 Brand Ambassadors: Employing Real Customers to Get Out the Word on Chapter 5    2. Understanding Consumer and Business Buyer Behavior.  (page 15 of 59 — printed page 143)

·         Please evaluate the article Job Recruiters Turn to Facebook to Find Candidates - WSJ.pdf found in the dropbox.

·         Develop a 300 word blog post citing both the article  and your book.

“Facebook’s use as a job recruitment tool remains small, but its appeal may be growing. Some recruiters say they have all but eliminated their spending on job boards, which can charge a few hundred dollars per job posting… Others note that while LinkedIn contains a more comprehensive resume database, candidates tend to value referrals from their connections on Facebook more.”
Joe Light, The Wall Street Journal.

Week 4 EOC: Business to Business

Although business to business and consumer marketing is they are both processes that cater to their clientele. Business to Business however, is much more complicated. Where a company may spend a few months wooing potential consumers, ultimately it is normally a decision that is not as thought out. Business to Business marketing may take years and years and years on both parts of the equation. GE (General Electric) is much more than many people think it is. There are washers and dryers and financial sides, but there are also locomotives.

“In the business buying process, business buyers determine which products and services their organizations need to purchase and then find, evaluate, and choose among alternative suppliers and brands. Business-to-business (B-to-B) marketers must do their best to understand business markets and business buyer behavior. Then, like businesses that sell to final buyers, they must build profitable relationships with business customers by creating superior customer value.”

Week 3 EOC: My Demographics

I am a Millennial (also called a Gen Y-er). I am one of the children of baby boomers. I am very savvy with technology. Much like 91 percent of the other Millennials (74), I was raised knowing how to surf the internet, fix the famous blue screens that used to appear on computers, using social networking and instant messaging, and knowing how to burn music onto a compact disk. My generation saw the change from floppy disks to the compact disks I previously mentioned. Now there are even DVDs for data. I can handle Windows and Macintosh, as well as the four different smartphone systems (Android, Blackberry, Windows, and iPhone) without much difficulty. Millenials are born between 1977 and the 2000s.  The millennials get the honor of teaching these skills to the baby boomers and the Gen X-ers.

“One thing that all of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology.”  

Kotler. Marketing, page 74.

Week 3 EOC: Making Money for Good

Warby Parker is a company similar to TOMS shoes, with its Buy One Give One plan. The company, like many others, sells eyeglasses. The difference is where this company sells the consumer the eyeglasses, a different pair goes to somebody else in need. Over two hundred and fifty thousand pairs have been given out.The company partners with non-profit organizations. In addition, they help train other companies like the non-profit companies to begin their own eye wear business, helping entrepreneurs as well as those in more serious need. Anybody can go here for more information.

"Like Better World Books and Tom’s Shoes, Warby Parker uses the "one for one" model--for every pair of glasses sold, the company gives a pair to someone in need via its nonprofit partners. Founded in 2010, Warby Parker now has 50 employees and has given away over 100,000 pairs of glasses." http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679534/6-companies-that-are-growing-rapidly-while-doing-good

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group - Video Games

The Boston Consulting Group Growth Share Matrix is a diagram that illustrates the different ways that a different product or business can go. It is divided into four sections: the "Stars", the "Cash Cows", the "Dogs", and the "Question Marks".

The "Stars" are the products that have shown a high market share as well as a high growth share. They are the products that have a great chance of becoming "Cash Cow"s later on. The smartphones, tablets, and other mobile based video gaming consoles would be considered in that category. Many gamers in the country are no longer hardcore gamers that want to spend ten hours on a single game. Instead, casual gamers are heavily joining the scene. From the active games and programs on Microsoft's Kinect, to a simple game of Angry Birds or Sudoku on an Android device, these are the devices that will likely have a very bright future.


"While spending on physical retail game sales has been on the decline, digital game sales have risen dramatically. Digital sales — including mobile games for phones and tablets, full games for consoles and handhelds, extra levels and other in-game content — rose 22% in the third quarter of 2012, accounting for $1.4 billion, according to NPD."
USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2013/01/26/video-games-2013-nintendo-sony-microsoft/1843903/

The "Cash Cows," is the category that most products should aspire to be. These are the products that do not have to make big changes or investments to keep a large and steady customer base and popularity, and to make great profit. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems would both be considered "Cash Cows."

"In some ways 2012 was forgettable for makers of video games played on console systems, either connected to the television or dedicated handhelds. Total retail video game sales plunged 22%, the largest drop amid four straight years of decline, according to market tracking firm NPD Group" 
USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2013/01/26/video-games-2013-nintendo-sony-microsoft/1843903/

Week 1 EOC: Great Customer Service

One instance where I received great customer service was back in September of the year previous to this one. My husband and I both woke up that morning just knowing that we needed a new mattress. After much searching, my husband decided what he wanted the most was a Sleep Number mattress like the one that his parents owned. I was very much against the idea, believing that the price was outrageous for what we would be getting. I promised to at least give it a try, so the day after, we drove over to the store. When we entered we were told to hold on, and that somebody would be right with us. … The day after all of this, we went back. This time my husband had made sure that the person that had helped his parents was working. Mark was his name. He told us how he did not have to be working at the store; he had more than enough money to live comfortably. He told us of his back problems and how the mattresses had so greatly improved his life that he had made the decision to dedicate his time to helping others find the same happiness. He took me over to the mattress that analyzes what your body needs and ultimately, what your number is. He discussed the different stories from previous customers and their different experiences with each type of mattress…When we came in, I was complaining of neck problems. He instantly helped me search through pillows until I found one that was comfortable. He even customized it a little. Then, Mark called the company and informed them that we needed to extend the 30-day trial and that I was also exchanging my pillow.

"“A brand, product, or service is more than just a physical thing. Humans that connect with the brand add meaning and value to it,” says one marketing executive. “Successfully managing the customer experience is the ultimate goal,”"
Kotler. Marketing. Page 210.

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

A design should inspire. A beautiful, well thought-out design should inspire both the client and the customer. I am here to help make that a reality. What I hope to do for clients is to create a great experience for both the client and their potential customers. I will take them both on a journey that will not only delight the eye, but also demonstrate all of the function that is wanted or needed. I will illustrate better, simple layouts to the customer  that have just enough pizzazz but much less, or no frustration. I understand how it feels when a person goes to a website and ends up leaving within a few minutes because of just how much there is going on that is not helpful to them. Buttons can be attractive, but they also need to be clickable. Navigation should be easy to read. I will also facilitate the process of transporting the site to a mobile experience.  That way, you will have the complete experience not only on the computer, but on tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Interactive media will also take a large part. If you are making the switch from the brick-and-mortar world to the digital world, I would be more than happy to assist you in the process. This is the future, and it is here. I will deliver the best possible complete and visually appealing web experience.