EOC: Week 10: What are the benefits vs the features?

                                    Benefits not the features of Cheap Charlie snacks

Some of the benefits of having this snack while at a bar is the story line that it portrays. This ultimately says something about your personality. It could mean two things. Either you save money or that you don’t have money. This product falls along the lines of a secret menu.

Another benefit of having this snack is that it relates to the tradition of the Philippine people. Normally single men who travel end up in the Philippines. Particularly Navy Sailors who want to start a conversation.

The benefit of an American who consumes this snack is the fact that they are saying, indirectly, that they travel; and or is willing to travel abroad.  A person who takes on this snack would be thought of as open minded regardless of where they are.

            This snack would also benefit the “drinker” because it would be a great food consumption, in the case the person did not eat before consuming the alcohol. This would be beneficial to the person not getting too drunk.

However, the ultimate reasoning would to be to meet at the bar and begin a conversation. This would be a great ice-breaker for a man when he would see a woman eating snack and vice versa.  Everyone looks for a ice breaker at the bar and this would be labeled as one of those.

The last but not least benefit would be that the snacks are not fat consuming. Snacks such as Frito Lays, would have a high content in fat ingredients. Most of the Asian culture is relatively lighter in weight compared to other cultures because of their diet. This product is not intended to imply anything negative about being in a bar. It would be the same as having a hotel towel at your home. All it implies is that you are a fun and open -inded person.

Week 9 EOC Food Adventure

The story of how Phileas Fogg made Charlie "Cheap":

Charlie Walters (a.k.a. Cheap Charlie) joined the Navy in 1970. He never before left his home town of Elyria, Ohio, so he was inexperienced with the outside world. His first paycheck, after graduating high school, was only $600.00 from the military. He tucked it away and only allotted himself $10.00 per week to buy snacks in order to save money. Phileas Fogg was a traveler who enjoyed the idea of picking up and moving every year. Who would ever think that their paths would cross to create such a demanding snack.  Well, as time went on, Charlie began to "burn-out" on the same old daily snacks. He had the perfect budget for a young single sailor so, spending even a dollar more would make him feel guilty. Charlie really loved his money. So, he came up with an idea for his daily snacks. He decided to season the snacks in a non-traditional way by mixing different flavors all together. This meant, he mixed different shapes, different flavors;  just to break his monotony. Phileas Fogg was an adventurer but at the same time he found himself at the bar by the end of the night. That seemed to be the highlight of his travel. However, he could not find an ice breaker to begin conversations with the local women at the bar.  Along came Charlie, who was deployed in the Asian Pacific for 8 months. While he was deployed, his ship pulled into Subic Bay, Philippines. When he explored the town, he was amazed at how inexpensive things were in the Philippines. Since he was sticking with his special made snack, he was able to spend money as he pleased. However,  he began to spend his money very carelessly. Charlie soon met the girl of his dreams while in the Philippines. She was very beautiful and treated him to her country as if he were an actual native. In return, Charlie felt that he could give her anything her heart desired. Anytime she asked for anything, he implied that money was not a big issue in their country. However, after 3 months Charlie had no money and no honey. He spoiled his girlfriend so much that she found it strange when he had to say no to her daily shopping request that he initially suggested. They soon broke up because the thrill was gone and Charlie had to return to his country. He found himself back at square one; eating his self made snacks and saving money again as before. 2 years later Charlie's ship returned to Subic Bay, PI. Charlie headed to the nearest bar that night, only to find his ex lover sitting next to Phileas Fogg. Charlie took the only available seat next to Phileas; on the left side, opposite of his ex lover who was on the right side. As the two began to conversate, Charlie offered Phileas his self made snacks. However, Phileas eventually began to talk with Charlie's ex and they began to share the snack; which was the ice breaker for Phileas.  Charlie pretended to be down-and-out to avoid the pressure of spending excessive money with pretty girls as he did before. While at the bar, now alone conversation wise; the waitress offered him a drink. He only (cheaply) asked for a small single rum & coke and a small bowl to put his snacks in. The young lady fetched his request and joined him to socialize because he was alone and encountered his ex-girlfriend, now talking with Phileas Fogg. He reached into his small travel bag and pulled out another bag of his "special snack" and asked her opinion on the taste. She was amazed at how the taste complimented the drinks. He became drunk and confessed that it was his own mix and gave her the ingredients. However, when they finished, his tab was only $15. As he opened his wallet, the waitress noticed he had wads of cash but, he did not bother to leave a tip or buy anything more. The lady asked him his name before he left and he stated, "Charlie"... and she replied, "Yes!... Cheap Charlie!" Phileas Fogg over heard their conversation but Charlie was never to be seen again. Phileas Fogg then coined the name "Cheap Charlie" along with the other women in the bar that night. 

As a result,  the snack is now sold for only $5 per bag at any bar. This snack is for customers who seem to be reserved with spending money at the bar. The snack can mean either 2 things..it makes the person feel "guilty"  for being cheap or it says "I'm saving money in class". It's also used as a joke as well.
The product will be packaged as a collectors item. It will be served in a can that changes every year. The cans will always include a story of a military person who is abroad and the wold stories they may have overseas.

Week 9 EOC: Three Business Mission Statements

Azalea's business mission statement explained her companies plans for "ChicPeas". This seems to be a very good idea for the bar outings. The nutritional facts are explained in detail within the mission statement. Another idea defined, is the idea to improve relationships with others while enjoying this snack. 

The next one I read was the "jerky" by D. Lott. The fact that it is made from another source makes me want to try it out. Beef jerky is a snack that everyone is familiar with. So, to throw in a twist by changing the main ingredient is worth a try. The question is; how would it interact with adult beverages.

The last one I did was on Tiffany Quezada's tortilla chips that would give you a different experience by making the tortillas taste like fajitas from and imports from Spain. This seems like a good idea because the Hispanic population is increasing and so would the demand for new ideas to assist with the traditional drinks.

Pitch

"CHEAP CHARLIE SNACK MIX!",        Is a coined phrase used in the tourist areas of the Philippine Islands. It basically implies that a person (usually a male) has money to spend on vacation but refuses to financially binge in the relatively inexpensive night life. This snack contains 4 (wheat) snack sizes with 4 different flavors to blend into a mix to imply a cheap but addicting sensation. This product can be served in bowls or small bags as comical type snack; of course embedding the logo. It can be served in establishments that serve adult beverages. The 4 snack flavors will be chili, sweet onion, cheese, and sour cream, along with plain popcorn. The 4 shapes will be a stick, square, circular, and a triangle. Each shape will not have the same flavor.

Implemintation Evalution Control

The implementation of this marketing plan, for the named snack brand, would be to connect with the tourist and visitors, ages 21 and up that frequent small bars and to get them familiar with the brand and assure them that it is "Ok" to have this brand as a snack. Most of these customers would be male Sailors.  For one it implies that you have money and secondly it allows you to save money under the pressure of the normal every night routine in that style of bar. As quoted from the book , "They also connect with outside people, such as advertising agencies to plan ad campaigns and the news media to obtain publicity support." The connection would be specifically military personnel who frequent those places and based on the story line it could make a connection to many familiar stories. "Whereas marketing planning addresses the what and why of marketing activities, implementation addresses the who, where, when, and how." Page 56 of the Book Chapter 5, Armstrong & Kotler (2011). Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Ed. Prentice Hall Publishing     The outside sources would be limited due to advertisement sense in that area of the Philippines. The implementation would come from "word of mouth" as well as merchandising.                                                

Price

The price that we selected for this product was $5 only. This is the average amount that someone would pay for a snack at a bar. The merchandising would vary, but typically between $20 to $50. The shirt would have a unique expense to it as it relates to money ideas and is a separate brand than just a simple t-shirt that you can buy at a bar. It actually would be making a statement.  
As explained in Ch. 9 Pricing is "The amount of money charged for a product or service, or the sum of the values that customers exchange for the benefits of having or using the product or service."
Ch. 9 , Page 272. The price for the merchandising and the snacks would vary due to the name and what it ultimately implies.  "Price is considered along with the other marketing mix variables before the marketing program is set." page 172 , Armstrong & Kotler (2011). Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Ed. Prentice Hall Publishing . The other marketing ideas would compliment the price as well. The overall goal would be to let the brand establish the price and how people would react to it. Of course this would require research but this is part of the marketing process as well.

Distribution

The outlets that the snacks would be available at would be bars that have a certain atmosphere of a small club but not too small. The target would be the older male tourist. The snack could be sold at any retail outlet due to it's humor. However, it would be more competitive, product-wise, to places that have limited resources. Meaning, in this particular situation, Philippines. Armstrong& Kotler (2011). Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Ed. Prentice Hall Publishing . Chapter 7 Table 7.1 Selective distribution in fewer outlets. This table shows that in the distribution process there are many ways to go about distribution.
The fact that this product is going to be marketed to tourist, makes it an international product. However, international does not mean more expensive. It's the same as a target domestic market.
"Physical distribution firms help the company to stock and move goods from their points of origin to their destinations." Page 64, Chapter 3. "Distribution would be the standard channels of products of any other snack or merchandise. The fact that it's a non-perishable makes it appealing as well."