A Response to Greg Matthews

To answer your question on why our generation, that being the Y generation, is opposed to or wont fight against music piracy is the fact that we are all so lazy. We all form opinions and ideas but rarely take the required steps to back them up. We all want short cuts and will keep the status quo as long as its in our favor.

The Case of John Smith

In my idea of right I feel that John Smith should sell these names, he does have a research marketing business and that's is the idea of his business. I say, if the $8,000 is enough to cover costs or other expenses he would be foolish not to. However, as the AMA is concerned, the sale of names may be unethical. In terms of fairness the AMA states that they will reject manipulations and sales tactics that harm customer trust. I do not however feel that this is a common dilemma and that business (i.e. online and phone businesses) trade phone and email contacts regularly.

Response to Cody Crawford's "Product Concepts"

Cody's Question was "Which of the three discussed forms of branding would be the most successful in a target market for Generation Y? (Individual, Family, Co-branding).
      I feel that for Generation Y who are now becoming young adults Family branding would be the most advantageous, even though individual branding allows one company to individualize numerous product lines, Gen Y'ers are in the era of trends and they like to flaunt what they have. so having a product with high demand and a known logo or name will draw in Gen Y'ers that have to have the newest hottest item.

Network Marketing

      Network marketing is nothing new to the world of marketing, however in the past 10-12 years there has been a sizable increase in popularity in the radical style of marketing one products. Most commonly seen within companies such as Avon and Mary K, Network Marketing utilizes its customers or "Company Partners" to do the marketing for them rather than to compete head to head on the shelves with competitors. How this system typically works is as follows, when a customer signs up to become a "company partner" they are now eligible to be a paid promoter for said company. This "partner" buys a set amount of product from that company and then (varying on the company) will either sell of their purchased product or pitch the idea to family and friends to obtain referred customers to earn money from that company.
      Now unfortunately, this style of marketing has received a bad reputation over the years and will be often considered as a "Ponzi" or Pyramid" scheme. In a majority this is entirely false! with exceptions to those few. the newest and in prediction, most successful, network marketing plan is used be VEMMA, a nutrition company based in Arizona. Vemma started with primarily a successful liquid vitamin with a goal to bring health the the younger community. With that they formulated an energy drink that contained this liquid vitamin and decided to use that to branch out into a younger demographic. While using this style of marketing, from personal experience  "company partners" can become extremely wealthy and create a sound business for them selves with little to no risk.

A direct channel to consumers is and ongoing asset...

    With the rapid growth in technology and the lighting quick passage of information companies are now looking to a more direct channel of marketing... the consumer. Like never before companies are looking directly to their reliable consumers for ideas, creativity, or even experimental products. This way of marketing which is increasing in popularity is know as "Crowdsourcing" which described in an article as being a way of soliciting a crowd for those creative ideas and product submissions.

    Through 5 steps a company can receive directly reliable information into current and future products. These 5 steps include On-Demand Participation, Deep Targeting, Rewards and Reinforcement, Meaningful Scale, and Measurability. Do you all agree that this is the most advatageous way to market current and new products? If not, what would be a better alternative solution?

For more on the 5 Steps to Crowdsourcing, read this short article...

The Future of Marketing is Crowdsourced

   

Response to Suzanne Koval (DPS)

Suzanne asks "Would you buy a new product from a company you know has satisfied you in the past?" My answer is yes, and I feel I can speak for the majority when I say that. Customer loyalty is one of the strongest assets a company has when introducing new products. Repeat customers are a tool that a company will use to cheaply market a new product via word of mouth. Companies with a large marketing mix will have the easiest time with this form of customer loyalty.

Response to Will Ferguson's "Sexism vs. Marketing"

To answer Will's question, "Do you think gender specific marketing is sexist?" I say no, gender specific marketing is simply a form of market segmentation. I too have been involved in many heated debates on this topic. In the end it all depends on what the company is trying to accomplish, when a company or business introduces a product they most certainly know who their intended buyer is going to be which causes them to tailor their advertisements. In these arguments sexism shouldn't be the only thing in question, for example, a product intended for the black community.

How do ethnic groups fair in market segmentation?

Mercedes's Bold Move for 2013

First seen during the 2012 Super Bowl the Mercedes Benz CLA is breaking the Mercedes tradition. Historically Mercedes Benz has numerous lines of luxury sedans, SUVs, and coupe style vehicles that carry the hefty luxury price tag, targeted toward an aging generation and adults with well paying careers. However this 2013 CLA is putting a dent in the Mercedes legacy, or is it?

With the majority of Americas purchasing power coming from you adults in the beginning stages of their professional lives, I feel that Mercedes is on the right track, People buying cars today do not fit the Mercedes tradition. To introduce a four door sedan that has the beautiful Mercedes look and luxury and target it towards young people who have just started their careers and still have a ton of school loans and start it at $29,995 is an effective strategy. But will this tarnish the Mercedes name? or does it promote a strong future? and is their intended target market for the CLA the right population to go to?

Check out the commercial that spiked my interest!
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/video/mercedes-super-bowl-ad-features-willem-dafoe-usher-18396869

A Greater Economic Advantage Due to Location of Sports Stadiums

 Do you think that the location of a professional sports stadium can a have a greater economic advantage depending on its location? If you answered no, then I hope to help you think otherwise. Lets compare Gillette Stadium with Fenway. Both venues are extremely popular in the New England fan base but there is something about Fenway that is just more advantageous, and that is location. Gillette is located just on the outside of the metropolitan area and is surrounded by a sea of parking lots, and that is it.While Fenway is in the center of and at the end of the popular shopping street, Newbury, in Boston, on of our nations favorite cities. Now, why is this more of and economic advantage? Because of the surrounding businesses, when someone visits Fenway, chances are they will vist a business in the immediate area. this way that area of Boston will see major economic succes.

Positive or Negative Advertisement?

Recently I was watching Saturday Night Live or SNL. This program is by far one of the oldest running and well known and respected comedy program. During their hour long time slot on television they perform numerous skits and shows, some in the form of phony commercial advertisements. Now on one of these phony commercials they jokingly played into a stereotype for New Balance sneakers in the form of what type of people typically purchase them. Although this was meant to be comedy, it played on the fact that obese people tend to wear New Balance sneakers, thus making a commercial gearing it towards the obese population.
Even though this is not a direct advertisement from New Balance it still carries their name and logo. Do you think this is insensitive? Do you think they should have granted SNL the rights to portray their brand this way?

Response to Jade Brulotte

In response to Jades article on the addition to Wisk detergents product line with the detergent that is said to remove unseen dirt and body oils left behind in our clothing. I have actually seen commercials littered all over television for this very product and could only think to myself how over the top it was. I feel that it is just and added chemical that will just be increasingly harsh on our clothing. So, to answer Jade's questions, I feel that this is just an unnecessary addition to their product line and something that only curious consumers or germaphobes would purchase.

Revenue to the Rightful Owner

This is not a most recent topic, however, I feel that it is one that justifies discussion. In the NFL or teams that play in the NFL have marketing and income conflictions. When a team wants to create revenue for itself it is unfortunately not allowed to make and sell apparel with its team name and players names. Why? Because the NFL requires that any affiliates brand their teams apparel with the NFL logo, thus turning all revenune generated from sales on these products in now dircetly the NFL's as whole.

Do you feel that this is justified? Do you feel that teams of the NFL deserve the rights to the revenues derived from the sales form their teams products, regardless of the NFL branding?

Response to "Generation Y"

Julianne Braverman- "Do you think that you would be able to give up your cell phone for a day? A week? and be able to get through the few days not being connected at all times?"

I absolutely could give up my iphone for a week. I agree 100% of what you have to say about our generation and or reliance on technology. It has changed us as people and as a community, more often then not when passing by a stranger on the sidewalk do we acknowledge one another with a simple "hello" or "good day". As a generation we communicate more than any past but one would never know by seeing us in those situations. A week without cell phones would be monumental in close quarter productivity, I feel that face to face communication is the most effective form of exchanging ideas.

Julianne's Blog

Adding a New Product Line to an Existing Product Mix

After our lecture Thursday February 21st, involving the definition of a product, the differences between product items, lines, and mixes and the benefits of product lines I started to think of different scenarios. For example, lets say there is a company in good standing with a product mix rich with history and popularity with the consumer market. However, even with a loyal customer base they struggle to bring in new customers, do they add an additional product item?  line?

Is this too much of a gamble? With a steady and loyal customer base the company has the funds to do so, but are they willing to spend all that money to introduce something new that could possibly flop? or damage the name the company has made for itself in its rich history?

Should the company hit? or stay?

Response To Christopher Naples Regulation Question

 "If government regulation looked out for our best interests then why would a product such as cigarettes and tobacco in general be allowed to be marketed, sold and profited on when it is well known to cause cancer?" -Naples

This is a sore subject for many people in regards to the obvious health risks. I feel that the reason why these products are marketed is because they are still legal to buy and sell, thus the exchange is contributing to the economy. Now as for the health risks, you need to consider that any advertisement is not suggesting to smoke a pack a day or chew a whole tin, it is up to the consumers digression to use these products in moderation. I do understand that cancer can still be prevalent  in someone who uses in moderation, but the chances are further and few between.

Out With the Old and In With the New?

In the last year the world of golf saw some drastic and popularly discussed changes have been made, from the belly/long putter to Rory's turn to Nike. As one of golf's top athletes, Rory Mcilory had numerous endorsements ranging from Titleist to Oakley. In the end of last year Mcilroy went public with his plan to drop all endorsements and have a solo standing with Nike, a complete sponsor 180.

 Recently Nike aired a new commercial promoting Miclroy as the new team member along with, "all time great" Tiger Woods. The idea of this commercial is where, for me, things get confusing... It may seem that Nike is simply promoting a new team member, but for someone who follows golf may see something different. Many people are aware of Tigers swift fall from the top after the turmoil withing his private life, they are also aware that he truly never came back to the player he once was. Now after watching this commercial, you may see what I see, which is Nike showing us that Tiger is on his way out and Mcilroy will be taking the reigns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3z_DWZqW8I

Do you feel that there is an underlying story here?

Response to Arthur Brockelman's: "Superbowl Advertising: Entertainment vs. Product Information"

Arthur, I understand exactly what you are saying here, and wonder myself if viewers think that some commercials are stretching it too far and are deviating from the targeted product. here are my thoughts...

When it comes to Super Bowl ads there is a certain level of expectations that we all have, right? So, in this particular situation, I feel that it is almost necessary that these commercials are more heavily entertainment based. In the big picture, if a commercial is entertaining enough and at least contains the company or product name in an obvious frame, than a viewer will be compelled to see more and visit said companies web page. For example, during the Super Bowl this year, I saw an ad for Mercedes-Benz that depicted a scenario of a man signing his sole away to the devil in order to have a (typically high priced) Mercedes, the glory of the car flashed before his eyes, and when he was finished, before signing, he read a billboard advertising the new 2013 Mercedes starting at 29,995. And that was the only information given. The next day, I remembered that commercial and had to visit Mercedes web page to look more into that car and see why it was only $30K!. So to answer your question, finding the right balance is key for the everyday commercial, however the Super Bowl is a special occasion.

Customer Satisfaction Vs. Customer Value

The Question is, "Are customer satisfaction and customer value interdependent, or mutually exclusive?" This question is not so black and white and is heavily determined by the way in which an individual views and defines both customer satisfaction and value. In my experience and new found knowledge I feel that customer satisfaction and value are both independent and exclusive, in a sense, they seem to fall into a grey area of present and future. Let me tell you what I mean...


In my reference of "present and Future" I was alluding to the fact that customer satisfaction is in direct correlation with the current needs and expectations that a customer may have, while customer value refers to the benefit and sacrifices that are necessary to obtain said benefits. So are they dependent? in a sense, yes, in a way that a product or service can meet both a customers expectations and needs, as well as, be of proper quality and price. However, this does not mean that they are not exclusive. When in different forms of market, customer value and satisfaction may be enemies in terms of growth.

Can you think of how customer value and satisfaction can be used in producers business plan rather than the consumers idea of price, quality, and need?