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.

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.