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."

Promotion

The promotion for this product could result in a revision within the marketing plan. This is normal and is anticipated as well as the polarity of it being a failure. Due to the nature of the product and the low cost, the risk should not be a major issue following the promotion.
"The promotion mix is the marketer’s bag of tools for communicating with customers and other stakeholders." Chapter 12, page 377, Armstrong& Kotler (2011). Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Ed. Prentice Hall Publishing .
"

As stated above, the consumer market can vary after the promotion of the product. I personally believe that this has a niche. "Several factors have contributed to the rapid growth of sales promotion, particularly in consumer markets".Chapter 13, page 432. Many unforeseen factors contribute to the success and revision plan of the this particular product. Part of the plan is to naturally revise the promotional tactics of this product. Merchandising is a major part of this push for the snack. It goes hand and hand.  

Product

This product would be very enjoyable as a snack and also as a product that makes a financial statement. The unique blend of flavors within the snack, make it a one of a kind product that is not normally served in a bar as a standard. At the end of the day it is about the customer as outlined in the cited book.  "Many sellers make the mistake of paying more attention to the specific products they offer than to the benefits and experiences produced by these products." Chapter 1 Page 17



Though this product would not be on an international level for distribution initially, it is always a good idea to plan for future investments. It’s good to think of a product on all levels, and future investments for the company in the future is one of the main sources of income that could keep the company in the black financially. "Beyond evaluating current businesses, designing the business portfolio involves finding businesses and products the company should consider in the future." Chapter 2 Page 34

Armstrong, Gary, Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 01/2010. VitalSource Bookshelf Online

Target Market Strategy

The target market for this product would be tourist and visitors who frequent the bars a lot. This audience would be the males between the ages of 39-65, retired, and of all racial backgrounds. Asians have also been known to fit this category as well, but we are speaking of the marketing from the average customer. "Using a concentrated marketing (or niche marketing) strategy, instead of going after a small share of a large market, the firm goes after a large share of one or a few smaller segments or niches". Page 172 Chapter 2 . The initial market share for this product would be very low which gives financial room to possibly expand into another market.
The value that this product brings would be a value of a community of people coming together to "break the ice" of conversations. There always has to be something within a bar that helps the social scene and I believe this once would be the perfect ice breaker for the chosen target market.
"Beyond deciding which segments of the market it will target, the company must decide on a value proposition—on how it will create differentiated value for targeted segments and what positions it wants to occupy in those segments" Chapter 6 page 432. The target market here is easy to predict.

Armstrong, Gary, Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 01/2010. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.

Situation of SWOT Analysis

As stated in the mission statement, the product needs to be addressed on all level of concerns.
"SWOT analysis An overall evaluation of the company’s strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T)." Chapter 2 page 55 and Index

Some of the strengths of this product is the low cost and maintenance. The ease of production due to the fact that Philippines produces wheat makes this the ideal product for that region
A weakness would be that this is a new product and it has never been tested. Another concern could be the environment that it is being catered to; places a limit on the audience.
The opportunities presented with this product is the possible growth from merchandising and the resale of the brand. The trademark could hold a huge profit for the title holder.
The threat is the fact that it's a snack that can be replicated and mimicked making it appear to be a secondary of another snack ."Finally, marketing analysis provides information and evaluations needed for all of the other marketing activities." Page 57 Other marketing should be always an option for a product that holds a logo of interest.

Armstrong, Gary, Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 01/2010. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.

Objectives

The objective is to retain customers and build a social brand that can be consumed and also branded
"Pricing may play an important role in helping to accomplish company objectives at many levels."
Page 281 Chapter 6. The price range is a major factor within this product. The snack and the merchandising may vary which creates a signature with the consumers. This can be placed as an objective.
The promotion and sales department would have a clear objective within its own company description for the product. "Sales promotion objectives vary widely. Sellers may use consumer promotions to urge short-term customer buying or to enhance customer brand involvement". Page 432
The snack product would be the primary driver for this brand and the objectives would follow based on feedback as the market is being paced due to it's infancy.

Business Mission Statement

                                                            "Mission Statement"
Our business aims to please the customers by creating social channels for our customers. The brands that we offer will keep our customers entertained and connected. We utilize feedback as a priority in order to keep our product on the competing edge of the snacking industry


This would be my mission statement for this particular product. I would be following the standard that is set within the book, but at the same time keeping my original view of the product I chose. "A statement of the organization’s purpose—what it wants to accomplish in the larger environment." Chapter 2 Page 42. The Mission statement would also make the product more transparent.

Understanding the mission statement on all levels for this product is just as important as anything else. There is no one greater than the other. "The company needs to turn its mission into detailed supporting objectives for each level of management." Chapter 2 76. Most companies will adjust their mission statement in order to make the objective clearer to the intended audience. This comes in two forms. The industrial side and the retail side.

Armstrong, Gary, Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 01/2010. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.

Week 6 EOC: Me x 3

The 3 products that define me:

Gucci Cologne

Cocoa Butter

Irish Spring Body Wash



I like Gucci Guilty cologne because it has a clothing line as well. Also I like the color of red, green, and brown. When I wear the clothing, cologne, and maybe even the shoes; I feel better that I have on all one brand. Gucci is also considered a luxury item.











I like Palmer's Cocoa Butter because it carries a smell that mixes well with cologne. I also like the fact that it is smooth on my skin. The vitamins in it are also is good for healthy skin. My mother used to use it on me when I was young so it carries a sentimental value as well. Palmer's is the only brand I chose.









I like Irish Spring Body Wash because it carries a scent that says "you're a common man". It also mixes well with my lotions and cologne. It carries a fresh scent, even if you buy the 3-4 different fragrances. If I decide not to wear cologne or lotion Irish Spring still maintains a desirable scent.

Music Clip APP

Music Clip APP

Music Clip App- This application idea for iphone and Samsung phones allows musicians to make 4/4 bar clips of their music and load it up to a overall file. Users can incorporate theses music clips into their own compositions as long as the creator is acknowledged.

Example would be a section for pianist who would like to load a clip or riff into the application. The creator would have their own page and samples that they would not mind sharing. The clip app can only be loaded with certain existing music programs for external use. 

This material would be copyright free. The users could simply plug in their headphones to load the music they have selected and if they have a music program they can submit their clips by Mp3 or record directly into the device. 

There would also be a exclusive section for people who would like to network with other musicians. 

Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

The ambassador idea is a good marketing strategy that saves companies a lot of money by having the consumer reach out to their family and friends and speaking on a new product. This has been proven to work and it is explained in the following quote: “Sony used brand ambassadors to jump-start the launch of its new GPS camera, a high-tech device that draws on satellite tracking technology to let you record the exact location of every picture you take and later map them out online using Google Maps. Sony selected customer ambassadors who like to travel, take pictures, and blog. “This is a product with emerging technology and we really need to let consumers see people using it,” says Sony’s director of digital imaging.”  (Page 143; Marketing: An Introduction, 10^th Edition; www.pearsonhighered.com)

As far as job recruiting goes, there have been many sites that offer employers a spot on their site for free job searches. Obviously, Facebook is leading in customer and online presence. This makes an attractive tool and also a competitive edge that companies must adapt to. “Matt Mund, Monster.com's vice president of product management, acknowledged that Facebook as a recruiting platform is growing rapidly. The company, which hosts a job board and other recruiter services, launched its own Facebook app, dubbed Be Known, in June, and the application now has nearly 800,000 monthly users, according to AppData.com, a market research group.” (The Wall Street Journal, August 8, 2011 page 2 by Joe Light)

To conclude, I believe that the consumer can take the company either way. It all depends on the marketing team that is in place to take advantage of whatever the market seems to need. Companies cannot accept the fact that another company has an advantage.  They must be willing to adapt and understand how the consumer’s behavior can be beneficial.

Week 3 EOC: My Demographics

I was born in ’76 and I think that I still fall into the Millennials era only because I do love technology. “One thing that all of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology.” (page 74). I actually have more gadgets than my kids and I show them how to use it at times. I think it’s because of the type of career that I am in that makes me have to be conscious to social media. I’m an Audio Engineer and student and it involves marketing, even on an industry level. Marketing my music forces me to be involved in social media. “Both the baby boomers and Gen Xers will one day be passing the reins to the Millennials (also called Generation Y or the echo boomers). Born between 1977 and 2000, these children of the baby boomers number 83 million, dwarfing the Gen Xers and larger even than the baby boomer segment. (page 73). “ This observation confirmed my justification because I’m a part of the Millennials. Even if I had a career that did not involve much social media, I believe I would still have a particular interest in technology. Within Generational Marketing (page 74) it is questioned: “Do marketers need to create separate products and marketing programs for each generation? Some experts warn that marketers need to be careful about turning off one generation each time they craft a product or message that appeals effectively to another.” I agree with this statement because it’s hard to predict what people will want and what age they will want it at. The demographics, cultural background, and race do play an unpredicted part in this decision. Good market feedback is vital; depending on the product. Smart phones are an example, because it is a common product but the applications that are downloaded can be separated into different categories, due to accessibility.

Citations: Marketing: An Introduction, 10^th Edition; Armstrong & Kotler (2011). Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Ed. Prentice Hall Publishing                                                      

Week 3 EOC: Making Money for Good

During my research, I found that Wal-Mart gave away $311, 607, 280 in 2012.  They also donate to over 50,000 different charities according to FORBES magazine. www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/07/16/americas-most-generous-companies/.

Walmart’s corporate website says: “It’s our mission to create opportunities so people can live better. Wal-Mart is a household name that is popular with all cultures in almost every major city in the United States.

Walmart also highlighted some of their achievements in the “Walmart Highlights Progress in 2015 Responsibility Report”. http://corporate.walmart.com/_news_/news-archive/2015/04/22/walmart-highlights-progress-in-2015-global-responsibility-report. According to some of their quotes they stated on their page - “Every day, Walmart brings affordable products and services to 260 million customers in 27 countries around the world.”

As I observed before that Walmart has a good presence within the inner cities in America, but they also reach out to other nations. I think they feel the responsibility would be of a great benefit to the human race through the products that they sale.

According to another source (http://www.moultrienews.com/article/20150519/MN01/150519733/1088) they reported that Walmart donates $1.47 billion in FY15 to advance commitments to economic opportunity sustainability. So it seems that the company tries to diversify it’s donations to improve not only social responsibility but also to the economic growth. They are keeping track of all of their donations from different sources.

My fourth source of information about Walmart donations comes from The Chronicle of Philanthropy in 2011. It records that Walmart was number one on the list of giving the most cash to through charities and donations. I only reported this source to show the history of Walmart’s giving and the leadership they present to other companies who would like to give in the future.  https://philanthropy.com/article/10-Companies-That-Gave-the/156355 Their reports indicate that they gave over $342, 350, 428 in cash and $616, 591, 031 in 20111. Their pretax profits were at 4.1%. They were also expected to donate another $20 million within the following quarter. They accomplished this as well.

Marketing Fundamentals Peers

http://heyheydaddio.blogspot.com/

Boston Consulting Group-Video Games

I have researched and reviewed the following video game consoles and according to the BCG outlay,

this is what I have researched and agreed with.

Sony PS4- I gave this console a "Star" because of the poplarity of their previous consoles.
This console has WIFI access, numerous games that are playable on the newsest PS4 versions, and the

ablility to watch movies and get online. This is a common trend amongst consoles, so this seems to

be  still leading the way in it's market share. "Andrew House, chief of Sony’s videogame unit, told

The Wall Street Journal last month that the Sony console was outperforming their rival even without

a price reduction, but offering customers the best possible product value was its long-held

commitment."

Quotes are sited from: http://www.wsj.com/articles/sony-cuts-playstation-4-prices-1444291359

Nintendo Wii- I gave this console a "Dog" because of the limited access it has in comparison to the

other video games consoles. The top video games contain war like simulations and cosumers are able

to play with each other online. Wii does not seem to come in mind when consumers play these types

of games. "Tatsumi Kimishima, the new chief executive of gaming publisher Nintendo, predicted the

Wii U would fail, according to a report from the Japanese news outlet Nikkei (via analyst Serkan

Toto). He noted that it is too similar to its predecessor the Wii, which is a criticism that gamers

also hurled at Nintendo. But the company went ahead with the Wii U, and that is one of the main

reasons its market share has fallen well behind that of its rivals Sony and Microsoft."

Quotes are sited from: http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/14/nintendos-new-president-predicted-the-

wii-u-would-fail/


Microsoft XBox1- I placed this console with a "question mark" because their sales seem to be

consistent and their link to Microsoft seems to leave opportunites open for consumers in the

future. This console also is placed at #2 under the PS4, so it makes one wonder "when" will this

opportunity present itself. "Separating out Xbox One sales from the Xbox 360 in the reported "Xbox"

numbers is still an inexact science, but we gave Microsoft's older system an estimated range of

350,000 to 560,000 sales for the three-month period. That's down from the 500,000 to 800,000 range

we estimated for the 360 last year at this time, and it parallels a roughly 30 percent drop in

second-quarter PS3 sales from 2013 to 2014."

Quotes are sited from: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/07/analysis-sony-pushes-past-50-percent-

of-the-worldwide-console-market/

Xbox one the original I placed as a Cash Cow because of the number of games it has and also it's

association with Microsoft company. Consumers still purchase accessories for the console and it's

exclusive rights to Halo is also a continued anticipation from it's fans. The games that it has

exclusively will always keep the console in the collectors possesion at a minimuim.

Great Customer Experience

               I had a very good customer experience recently at a music store when I purchased a musical instrument. The instrument was used so, I asked for the sales person to open the box for me even though it was sealed for quality. He opened the box for me and to our surprise there were some things missing from the boxed item. The USB and the power cord were both missing.

         The sales person was really impressive because he went to the back to get the missing items from another brand new box. I informed that he didn't have to take a piece from another item and that I could buy the piece elsewhere if he could grant me a discount. He insisted that I take the piece and he still gave me the discount.

         I wondered why he was being so generous and it was because he knew how to take care and build repeat customers because of the type of industry we work in. Also, the fact that there are only a few music stores in the city, he knew that building a relationship with me that went over and beyond would make me feel comfortable at that music store.

         Also, many of the items there are expensive and limited. The internet is a good source to find some of these items, even at a lower price. But most musicians and producers who have an idea want the music equipment right then and there. This creates a demand for store employees to serve their customers a little different from the average customer service that you may find at a convenient store (as an example).

           Being in a niche market, it is hard to find a good service and that also has good expertise in their field of work. I was really impressed with how they offered their service. I knew I needed the item no matter what, but I felt better when I had the instant customer support from the staff.

           Normally in the music industry, the people have a certain mentality because of the desired status; so for me to see someone who put the customer first was a big plus and made me want to become a repeat customer. I also would tell my other music friends about the experience at that particular place.