Itunes Free Streaming

Today I noticed that I could listen to the new Vampire Weekend album for free on Itunes and that it was available all day. I quickly became interested, and am listening to it as I write this post. I think that it is a great marketing idea for Itunes and the band because it allows people to listen to the album before purchasing it. However, it is no secret that, today people are not buying as much music as they used to. Even I will most likely not go buy it. It did however, make me think about it.

Would a free streaming day of a band's new album cause you to maybe purchase it? Would you listen?

In response to Allison's Post

Allison asks the question, Do you buy things specifically because you have a coupon for it? Do you go out to eat at a restaurant because you have a coupon for it?"

This post caught my eye because just today I came across the show, Extreme Couponing when people buy tons and tons of things that they arguably do not even need for only a couple dollars. I rarely use coupons because I don't really feel like putting in the effort to look for them and I usually find that most coupons do not apply to me and what I need. I have however had a coupon for a restaurant and used it because I am, after all a college student and can use discounts whenever I can get them. 

Do you think that "extreme couponing" is necessary? Would you ever take part in something like this?

To Sell or Not to Sell

When it comes to John Smith selling the names of the prospective car buyers from his marketing survey I think that money wise he should sell the names. $8,000 dollars could make a big difference in his business while also helping to pay his employees. This decision however, is not from an ethical perspective. The American Marketing Association posts this on their website. Honesty and respect is very important to them and selling the names of people to the car dealership could very well betray their trust in the company and cause legal issues toward John's firm.

ETHICAL NORMSAs Marketers, we must:

1. Do no harm. This means consciously avoiding harmful actions or omissions by embodying high ethical standards and adhering to all applicable laws and regulations in the choices we make.
2. Foster trust in the marketing system. This means striving for good faith and fair dealing so as to contribute toward the efficacy of the exchange process as well as avoiding deception in product design,pricing, communication, and delivery of distribution. 
3. Embrace ethical values. This means building relationships and enhancing consumer confidence in the integrity of marketing by affirming these core values: honesty, responsibility, fairness, respect, transparency and citizenship. 
   
   
   Would you sell the names to the dealership? Do you think it is ethically wrong?

In Response to Drew's Post

Drew asks the question, "What do you think about the Boston Strong Campaign? Would you wear a Boston  Strong T?"

I think the Boston Strong t-shirt campaign to raise money for victims of the attacks this previous week is a great idea. Boston is one of the strongest communities, and being a part of that community it is very refreshing to see everyone come together to support one another. This t shirt campaign just reiterates this idea revolving around Boston and supports those who were affected. It is a win win idea in which victims benefit from donations from the shirts and people get to openly show their support and love for the great city of Boston. I would definitely wear a Boston Strong shirt and would be happy to pay the price to contribute to helping out those in need.

How do you feel about this campaign? Is there anything that you would change about the campaign?

In Response to Drew's Post

Drew asks the question, "What do you think of the commercial? Do you find it humorous or offensive?"

I honestly find the commercial kind of humorous. It is something that I did not expect coming from a K Mart commercial because it is seen as a family oriented discounted store. When I saw it for the first time it did make me laugh and I thought it was a creative humorous idea. However, I can see how some people would be a little against it if they had younger kids watching it. Younger kids tend to be very observant and repeat things that they hear. Other than that issue I think that the commercial should continue to be aired because I think it will make a lot of people laugh while leaving an impression that there is now an option to "ship your pants."

Fenway Park Lowers Beer Prices for Fans

Going to big sports events to support your favorite teams is always a good time. Most people like to relax and watch the game with some beers. However, the price for a beer is a whopping $8.50. This price is extremely high and usually prevents me from getting more than one. Fenway park realizes this issue and has announced that beers and other concessions will now be served for $5.00. This is a fairly large change in price and the park hopes to lure more fans to the 17 - game home schedule. Concessions and beer are a big seller at these big sports events and it is important for the park to market towards everyone making their needs more affordable.

Have the high prices at big events ever kept you from purchasing beer? Would you be more apt to buy them now that the price has gone down?

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass_roundup/2013/03/red-sox-lower-fenway-concession-prices.html

In Response to Drew's post

Drew asked the question, "Have you ever purchased a product just for the status it may have?"

I think that when I was younger and in high school status was more important than it is now. Before it was all about what clothing brands all the "cool" kids were wearing. During this phase, I would try to purchase the brands that kept up with the latest fashions or fads. Pretty much every type of product has a high end brand. For example, in the watch industry Rolex is at the top. In the computer industry, most people would say that the Mac is at the top. One major clothing competitor is UGG boots. You can walk through pretty much any college campus and see a large amount of girls wearing them mostly because they are comfortable but you have to admit that they do come with a certain status. I remember talking to somebody and having them say, "wearing UGG boot knock offs are not the same as wearing the actual brand." Thus implying that the status is all that matters. Below is a picture of an authentic pair of UGG boots on the left and a knock off brand on the right. They look pretty similar, but the knock offs are significantly cheaper than the original pair. I will admit that, when I was in high school I did was authentic UGG boots and made it a point to save the money up to buy the "real thing." I think status is something that has become very important to a lot of people. This applies especially to younger kids. They want to have the best of the best to fit in, and I can't help but notice that this may be due to the rising importance in status that they are observing around them and in the media.

Do you think status is something that has increasingly become more important to people? Is status a large contributor to you when you make a purchase?

UGG Boot

Knock Off

Pipeline Transportation

Today in class we discussed the various ways to transport goods from point A to point B. One of the ways was pipeline transportation. I was unsure of what exactly it was, so I looked it up. The definition of this is, "the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes using compressed air can also transport solid capsules." Pipeline transportation can be utilized for a number of different goods that include, oil or natural gas, ammonia, biofuels, coal, ore, hydrogen, water and beer. As far as beer is concerned, one major brewery in Germany uses the pipeline to transport beer to large stadiums because of the fact that it uses one central tank. Overall, this method is used mostly for liquids and not solids, however, solid capsules may be utilized in rare occurrences. 

Do you think that transportation through a pipeline is beneficial, had you heard of this method before?

The Marketing of on Demand Movies

When we are searching for movies whether it be on demand, or at red box what makes us choose the movie we choose? I know for me, by the time I actually reach a decision I've spent quite a while debating which ones look good, and which ones will satisfy my search. Some factors that may play an important part are, the cover of the DVD, the overview of the movie, and the previews that are viewed before purchase. Usually people will be drawn to less "cheesy" looking covers because they often times are seen as bad movies. People have a job to make the movie seem appealing so that people will watch the movie. If this job is not done, viewers will be detracted from the movie due to the bad exterior looks and the preview that is shown.

Have you ever noticed what persuades you to purchase a certain movie? Are you more drawn to better, more detailed cover art over messy and unnatractive covers?

In Response to Janell

Janell asks the question, "Have you seen any of these cars or others? Do you think that these companies were on to something by paying consumers to advertise in this way? Would you do this for them?"

Janell is referring to the vehicles that represent companies such as Red bull and Shock top. You can see them driving by or stopped at large parties or events to promote the company by giving out free samples. I think that it is smart to pay people to drive the car around, however those people would then technically be employees, not just consumers if they are getting paid. I think that if I got the opportunity to do this I would. It pays good for just driving a car around to market the product. 

Have you seen any other cars marketing products similar to this? Do you think that it is a successful approach and leads to people having interest in the company?

In Response to Allison's Post

Allison asks, "Do commercials with catchy songs tend to have a greater, longer lasting effect on you? Does it make you picture the product in the commercial every time you hear the song? For me, it leaves a long lasting impression in my head of the product when it is correlated to a song I like, does it do this for you?"

I think that songs that go along with commercials do leave a lasting impression. There have been a couple times when I have seen a commercial and went on to look up the song and download it. When I hear a song with a commercial I am more apt to associate the two together. Some commercials have even gone so far as to advertise a program called "Shazam" on the screen which is an app on your phone that can identify the song that is playing and also gives you the option to purchase the song. It is a good way to advertise the product that is being sold and the song that goes along with it. 

Have you noticed this feature on any commercials, has it led you to look into the song and associate that song with the product as well?

The Strategic Partnership Between Starbucks and Barnes & Nobel

Going to a book store such as Barnes and Noble usually leads me to wanting a coffee from Starbucks. Most Barnes and Nobles now work side by side with the popular coffee company to allow customers a good quality hot coffee and good book. Barnes and Noble began this relationship with Starbucks in 1993 and is still the only bookstore that serves this brand. It is a smart business decision because if someone is visiting the book store and they see the well known cafe, they are pretty likely to make a pit stop to get a delicious coffee and vice versa.


What are some other relationships among businesses similar to the one between Starbucks and Barnes and Noble? Does this type of marketing relationship lead you to experience what each business offers?

Bundling

Many companies use bundling as a marketing technique to get customers to spend money by looking for "a great deal." Fast food restaurants for example use bundling in their meals. Mcdonalds serves a Happy meal with fries, a burger, a drink and a toy for one consistent price. Other stores have a BOGO bargain where you get two for the price of one. Usually when I see a deal like this I take full advantage of it. Who wouldn't want to purchase one item and get the second for free?

Do you think you are more inclined to purchase something if there is a bundled deal involved? What are some instances where you have taken part in this method?

In Response to Allison's Post

Allison asks the question, "Have you ever gone to buy something online, and once you see the shipping price decide not to buy it anymore? Are you more likely to search for a product offered on a website with free shipping site wide, rather than a website not offering free shipping site wide?" 
When I am shopping online, I have pretty much committed to the fact that I will most likely be purchasing the product that I am looking for. At this point a shipping price is standard and expected. The shipping price does, however often times surprise me because of how steep it is making me more inclined to look for online coupons or deals related to the company. Although I may not go out of my way to look for free shipping deals, an advertisement for free shipping usually causes me to check out the website to see if they have what I am looking for. 

Do you think that if a company offered more free shipping it would incline people to shop there more often? 

Customer Loyalty

Many people have certain brands that they stay loyal to. It may be because they have heard good things, or they have always liked the product, or they simply grew up knowing the product and it is what they are used to. Personally I have grown up with many products and continue to use them today. Since they have always satisfied my family why wouldn't I continue to purchase them? Whether it be eating at certain restaurants, purchasing services such as going to the dentist, getting your hair cut or going to the doctor's office opinions are constantly being formed. If you are not happy with a product you will most likely not go back but if you do like it, why continue the search?

Do you have certain products that you have stayed loyal to? What led you to keep going back?

In Response to Drew's Post

Drew asks, "Do you think Nike does a good job at branding themselves? Is their product easy to identify and distinguish itself from competitors?"

I think that Nike does a very good job at branding themselves. Anybody whether in the United States or other places in the world will recognize the Nike swoosh. They have done very well with showing off their brand on clothing items, shoes and sportswear. This makes it easy for anybody to tell that somebody is wearing the Nike brand, thus most of the time persuading others to purchase the products. It is very easy to distinguish from other sports brands such as Adidas or New Balance which also have their own distinctive logos. Because Nike is such a well known brand, it is significant that major sports teams also utilize their brand which gets the symbol and the name out there that much more.

What other brands are easy to recognize in today's society? How do you think they have grown to gain a successful brand logo?

Consumer Decision Making Process

The consumer decision making process is made of of five steps: 1. recognition 2. information search 3. evaluation of alternatives 4. purchase and 5. post purchase behavior. This process usually takes place within a customer whether we recognize it or not. It can be applied to pretty much any product or service. Recognition is the process of determining whether you have a want or a need for a product. Information search is done by recalling past information in the memory. Evaluation of alternatives is the process of comparing the product to other brands such as a cheaper generic brand or a more expensive but more reliable brand. The purchase then takes place followed by the post purchase in which you decide if the purchase was smart or not along with if you are happy with the product.

Do you think you follow the consumer decision making process? What differences, if any take place when you make a purchase?

In Response to Ariana's Post

Ariana asks the question, "Do you think that expanding globally is always a positive business move, if not what are some of the disadvantages?"

Ariana's post about "The globe runs of Dunkin" makes a very good point. Their slogan does not prove true to just America. Dunkin Donuts is satisfying people all over the world. I think that going global can be a positive business move if a company goes about it the right way. There is a large possibility that going global can turn out to be a disaster. One would have to make sure that their company is something that will appeal to people wherever it goes. As far as Dunkin Donuts goes, who doesn't like coffee and donuts? As long as the company molds their business for the market (curry flavored donuts) then going global will be a huge success. 

What other companies do you think have successfully gone global? Are there any they have not been successful globally? 

In Response to Matt: Social Media

Matt asks, "Do you think it is smart for Corporations to use Twitter or Facebook? What about small local businesses? In what way could a small business, such as Fritz, utilize a Twitter account to maximize business and market its product?"

I do think it is smart for corporations to use Twitter and Facebook. By doing this, they are targeting a younger crowd who may not usually pay as much attention to the company or what is does. The same goes for small businesses. One example I can think of is Joe Peanuts house of wings. Before my friend started working there I did not know about it. However, after eating there I found that it was very good and targeted towards a lot of different age groups. Twitter and Facebook is something that I think would be beneficial to their business and would bring in a lot more customers. 

Do you think that social media could help businesses and bring in more customers?

Online Marketing

Have you ever been online and realized that all of the ads on the side of the page were targeted toward you and the previous websites you visited? Recently I was looking at clothing online and later noticed a couple items that I was looking began popping up on the screen. This type of marketing and advertising is something that I have noticed taking place within the past couple of years. Companies are realizing that they can target people with what they know they like by tracking their online shopping history. I think this marketing tactic is beneficial to companies because it makes people think twice about their purchasing decision with the possibility of buying the product on the second time around.

Have you ever found yourself being persuaded to purchase a product after noticing the ads while surfing the internet?

In Response to Drew's Post

Drew ends his post with the question, "Do you think that using forms of social media such as Facebook and Twitter is a wise way to market yourself as a business? What are the benefits and are there any drawbacks?"

I think that in some cases marketing through social media is beneficial and in others it is a drawback. As Drew said, many companies are trying to get you to view their facebook page for promotions or follow them on twitter. This may be beneficial to people that are involved in social media such as young adults, college students, and now more and more people in the older generations. However, being involved in social media myself, I have never really taken advantage of these marketing tactics and checked out a business's facebook page. A downfall of this idea would be that although there are many people involved in social media, there is also a large amount of people not involved thus excluding them from possible promotions that are taking place. I suppose it is just a way of improving with the fast moving times. 

Being a facebook user, would you say marketing through social media is beneficial? Suppose you are not involved with facebook or twitter, do you think you would still feel the same way?

Ethics related to outsourcing

The act of outsourcing can be beneficial to a company because it is allowing them to produce products at a lower cost than they would be able to in the United States. Usually outsourcing takes place in developing countries (China, Indonesia, India, Singapore etc.) Technically to an extent outsourcing is benefiting the workers in the other countries as well by employing them. However, bigger companies are taking advantage of the oversees employees. In my other class, Organizational communication we are discussing outsourcing and ethics. Recently we have viewed a documentary called, The Corporation. In the trailer shown below, the cost of production is compared to the employee wages. For example, a Liz Claiborne jacket goes for $178 and the employees making it are paid 74 cents. Nike is also a big contributor to the unethical type of outsourcing giving a time frame for production bringing wages to 3/10 of the retail price. To me this is very unethical. I understand that money is everything to these companies but paying employees that little seems very unethical. I always knew that companies were outsourcing, but just recently did I go through a lot of my clothes only to find that the majority of them are made in China.
Is it unethical for us to be supporting these companies knowing the prices they are paying to hard working employees?

In response to Kendra's Post

Kendra asks the question, "Do you think this is a cut and dry subject or can it be possible that the many options confuse the customers but shows the successful implementation of the marketing concept?"

Thinking about this question, I do think that there are times when there is too many options which makes the decision that I am trying to come to a lot more difficult. I agree with Kendra's view about quality over quantity and think that sometimes to make a product more profitable and have more value then more time should be spent on perfecting a fewer number of products. I have also been in the situation where I have had a hard time deciding what product to purchase and a sale associate tries very hard to get me to buy the most expensive product out of the bunch. Maybe if there were fewer options it would make it a lot easier for people to make the right decison. 

Customer Satisfaction & Customer Value

While customer satisfaction measures how satisfied the customer is with the product that they have chosen, customer value measures the value that the customer gets from the product and how much they are willing to pay for it. These two concepts are mutually exclusive meaning that when one of these situations occurs the other situation is not created or effected. There can be a high customer satisfaction occurring with a product or service however, that satisfaction does not effect the customer value. Even with a low customer value, satisfaction can still be taking place because one aspect does not rely on the other thus, allowing them to occur simultaneously.