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

Benefits are something that I take into consideration alot more than features. Features are just a selling point to me and I can be a selfish person at times so I want to know about the thing that will benefit me.

"Consider the sale of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). These large vehicles meet the immediate needs of many drivers in terms of capacity, power, and utility. However, SUV sales involve larger questions of consumer safety and environmental responsibility. For example, in accidents, SUVs are more likely to kill both their own occupants and the occupants of other vehicles. Research shows that SUV occupants are three times more likely to die from their vehicle rolling than are occupants of sedans. Moreover, gas-guzzling SUVs use more than their fair share of the world’s energy and other resources and contribute disproportionately to pollution and congestion problems, creating costs that must be borne by both current and future generations.^"

^{The example from the book gave would be what I consider to be a benefit. It would benefit me more to have an SUV over a car if I had a big family or as the book described needed a more powerful vehicle.}

Implementation Evaluation Control

We want to insure that we have the best product out there and we will take whatever steps that our necessary to make sure that we do. We will have different polls on our website to ask our costumers about how they like our brand and if there's anything they would change if they could. Our first goal is to make sure that the customers are happy with the moves that we our making.

“Through implementation, the company turns the plans into actions. Control consists of measuring and evaluating the results of marketing activities and taking corrective action where needed. Finally, marketing analysis provides information and evaluations needed for all of the other marketing activities.” ”Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

We ultimately work for the people.

Price

"For most purchases, consumers don’t have all the skill or information they need to figure out whether they are paying a good price. They don’t have the time, ability, or inclination to research different brands or stores, compare prices, and get the best deals. Instead, they may rely on certain cues that signal whether a price is high or low. Interestingly, such pricing cues are often provided by sellers, in the form of sales signs, price-matching guarantees, loss-leader pricing, and other helpful hints."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Pricing is a situation that is one to have most concern for. Pricing ultimately is what is going to make or break your product in my opinion. We want our price to be competitive with all of the other premium vodka’s on the market. We want to be in competition with brands like Grey Goose, Ciroc, Patron, and some of the other big brands. We want to price our brand at 39.99 for a liter bottle and 29.99 for a 750mL bottle. Our vodka will be 80 proof.
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” -Warren Buffett

"Even small differences in price can signal product differences. Consider a stereo receiver priced at $300 compared to one priced at $299.99. The actual price difference is only 1 cent, but the psychological difference can be much greater. For example, some consumers will see the $299.99 as a price in the $200 range rather than the $300 range. The $299.99 will more likely be seen as a bargain price, whereas the $300 price suggests more quality. Some psychologists argue that each digit has symbolic and visual qualities that should be considered in pricing. Thus, 8 is round and even and creates a soothing effect, whereas 7 is angular and creates a jarring effect."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Distribution

"Between intensive and exclusive distribution lies selective distribution—the use of more than one, but fewer than all, of the intermediaries who are willing to carry a company’s products. Most television, furniture, and home appliance brands are distributed in this manner. For example, Whirlpool and General Electric sell their major appliances through dealer networks and selected large retailers. By using selective distribution, they can develop good working relationships with selected channel members and expect a better-than-average selling effort. Selective distribution gives producers good market coverage with more control and less cost than does intensive distribution."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Distribution is very important because this how we will get the product to the customer. We want to have our products made by us only. The only thing that will not come from us is the water that we receive from Iceland. We want to be a company that distributes all of our products.

“Companies often pay too little attention to their distribution channels, sometimes with damaging results. In contrast, many companies have used imaginative distribution systems to gain a competitive advantage.” Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip."

The Islands wants its product in Liquor stores, and grocery stores that sell premium vodka. We want to have our brand in location where it can reach our potential buyers but also at a convenience to them as well.

"By contrast, some producers purposely limit the number of intermediaries handling their products. The extreme form of this practice is exclusive distribution, in which the producer gives only a limited number of dealers the exclusive right to distribute its products in their territories. Exclusive distribution is often found in the distribution of luxury brands and brands. For example, exclusive Rolex watches are typically sold by only a handful of authorized dealers in any given market area. By granting exclusive distribution, Rolex gains stronger dealer selling support and more control over dealer prices, promotion, and services. Exclusive distribution also enhances the brand’s image and allows for higher markups."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Promotion

"Sales promotion tools are used by most organizations, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and not-for-profit institutions. They are targeted toward final buyers (consumer promotions), retailers and wholesalers (trade promotions), business customers (business promotions), and members of the sales force (sales force promotions). Today, in the average consumer packaged-goods company, sales promotion accounts for 74 percent of all marketing expenditures."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:
For promotion we have something really special in mind. We want our brand everywhere that our target market is. So that includes bars, nightclubs, social media, tv, ads on app, just everywhere. We want to let our target market know that there is finally a beverage out that was made just for them. In our Commercials we will have various scenes setup such as girls night out, night on the town with the lady, birthday beverage for her, and many more. We really want to have fun with the commercials and drive our target market right in. We feel that we are the only brand that really targets the market that we target.

"The growing use of sales promotion has resulted in promotion clutter, similar to advertising clutter. A given promotion runs the risk of being lost in a sea of other promotions, weakening its ability to trigger immediate purchase. Manufacturers are now searching for ways to rise above the clutter, such as offering larger coupon values, creating more dramatic point-of-purchase displays, or delivering promotions through new interactive media, such as the Internet or cell phones."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Product

"Once management has decided on its product concept and marketing strategy, it can evaluate the business attractiveness of the proposal. Business analysis involves a review of the sales, costs, and profit projections for a new product to find out whether they satisfy the company’s objectives. If they do, the product can move to the product development stage."- Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Our product is The Islands vodka. But we want to have a open mentality towards our brand. We want to be able to come out with various holiday packaging and scented caps that can really give us a boost in slaes when we need it. And we also want to come out with various bottles shapes and sizes that do diffierent things. We just want our brand to have the experience that everyone is always looking for, and the experience that we feel our competition lacks.

"So far, for many new-product concepts, the product may have existed only as a word description, a drawing, or perhaps a crude mock-up. If the product concept passes the business test, it moves into product development. Here, R&D or engineering develops the product concept into a physical product. The product development step, however, now calls for a large jump in investment. It will show whether the product idea can be turned into a workable product."- Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Target Market Strategy

"A marketing strategy consists of specific strategies for target markets, positioning, the marketing mix, and marketing expenditure levels. It outlines how the company intends to create value for target customers in order to capture value in return."- Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Target market strategy is all about precise planning and knowing the strenghts and weaknessess of your company. The Islands whats to target young people between the ages of 21-28. The reason for this is because you get the real value of our brand when your out on the town with friends or with a lady. As mentioned in our slogan we want this beverage to be he one that first comes to thought for a lady. With our packaging, scented caps, and speciality bottles we think we can really hit our target market. We also want our brand to be where our target market buyers are normally at, making it a convience to get it.

"Planning good strategies is only a start toward successful marketing. A brilliant marketing strategy counts for little if the company fails to implement it properly. Marketing implementation is the process that turns marketing plans into marketing actions in order to accomplish strategic marketing objectives. Whereas marketing planning addresses the what and why of marketing activities, implementation addresses the who, where, when, and how."- Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Objectives

"Goals. There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There's no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There's no telling what will happen when you act upon them.'
Jim Rohn

Objectives are things I feel are necessary to being successful in life. With my brand of vodka I have 3 main objectives that I have that I really think we need to have success. First I really want our potential customers to feel as if they are at an island drinking fabulous vodka. Also I want to have premiere packaging to have our brand stand out from the rest and give our buyers a reason to buy.

Our second objective is to have competitive pricing. We want our brand to be considered premium vodka and we want the pricing to show this. With the premium brands being upward of 40 dollars we want to center our price on these other premium brands.

The last objective for us is to keep our customers happy. We want to love our customers an really show them that we care. If enough customers want something we want to do it for them, if it’s a bottle change, a holiday special, whatever it is we want to be able to provide it.

"The company needs to turn its mission into detailed supporting objectives for each level of management. Each manager should have objectives and be responsible for reaching them."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

Business Mission Statement

"Our struggle to put first things first can be characterized by the contrast between two powerful tools that direct us: the clock and the compass.  The clock represents our commitments, appointments, schedules, goals, activities -- what we do with, and how we manage our time.  The compass represents our vision, values, principles, mission, conscience, direction."Stephen Covey (1932 -) The Islands Vodka strives on are values and principles as a brand. We want the image of The Islands Vodka to stand out over the rest and be superior. We want to be the be the brand that everyone comes to love and eventually be the leaders in premium vodka sales. We feel that we have a top notch product in The Islands and we will take it as far as it can go. "We believe that there is no greater power in the world than the force of a great idea. We believe that people are the lifeblood of every organization. We believe that the best companies are true meritocracies, where people rise and fall through their own contributions, not through game playing or politics. We believe that work isn't simply a paycheck; it is the ultimate expression of a fully realized self. We believe that a company's obligations extend far beyond its bottom line and its shareholders -- to a wider constituency that includes employees, customers, suppliers, and the community.John A. Byrne  "Some companies define their missions myopically in product or technology terms (“We make and sell furniture” or “We are a chemical-processing firm”). But mission statements should be market oriented and defined in terms of satisfying basic customer needs."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing;

Week 9 BOC: Cyber Shopping

Cyber Monday 2011 was filled with alot of great deals and specials but one that defiently caught my was this




The xbox 360 has been priced at about 299.99 for a good while but i knew that they would have a nice sale for black friday and also cyber monday.This was their ad that they put out. Looking to buy an XBOX 360? Microsoft has a good deal on a 4GB Xbox 360 and the Kinect sensor for $199, down from $299. You can also save 25 percent on accessories (computer speakers, computer mice, keyboards and more). This was a great move by mircosoft to cut off a 100 dollars and also recieve the Kinect as well.

Week 8 EOC: Creative Content

"Anxiety is part of creativity, the need to get something out, the need to be rid of something or to get in touch with something within."
David Duchovny

The Islands

 The name of brand, The Islands came from me loving tropical things. Im a big fan of all various sorts of islands and vacation spots. The beach is one of my favorite places to be and it just makes me feel at peace.

 "Every goal, every action, every thought, every feeling one experiences, whether it be consciously or unconsciously known, is an attempt to increase one's level of peace of mind."Sydney Madwed

Being peacful is said to have and all around affect on the body and cause less tension. Islands definitely gives me this effect which is the reason why I gave this name to my brand. It is my wish that I can bring just a taste of that feeling to buyers of the brand. 

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." Vincent T. Lombardi 

I think that The Islands as the name of the brand will bring success because it strives on the experience which at the end of the day, is all people care about

Our Slogan is

Forgettable Nights with Unforgettable Moments

Situation or SWOT Analysis

"The company should analyze its markets and marketing environment to find attractive opportunities and identify environmental threats. It should analyze company strengths and weaknesses as well as current and possible marketing actions to determine which opportunities it can best pursue. The goal is to match the company’s strengths to attractive opportunities in the environment, while eliminating or overcoming the weaknesses and minimizing the threats."-“Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing: Strenghts- The strenghts of The Islands is that we are big on the image of are brand. Are packaging is one of a kind and unique and really drives home the Islands experience. Are changing effects bottle is also one of kind and really gives a reason to support are brand. Lastly, with are water from the Icelands this makes are brand stand out from the rest with the taste

Weaknesses- A weakness that are brand has is that it might be considered as more of a tropical drink from the appearance. This will sray buyers away from our product and give it the assumption that its not a premium vodka

Oppurtunity- Great things are in place for the brand. With are unique style in packaging comes oppurtunity for seasonal packaging or special packaging. Although are brand is NOT flavored, this could bring the oppurtunity for flavored vodka in the future

Threats- As I stated early potential buyers might see as are brand as a flavored vodka therefore putting us in competition with other flavored vodkas. Are brand is a premium vodka so that puts us in competition with all the other high quality brands such as Grey Goose, Ciroc, Patron, and others

"Through strategic planning, the company decides what it wants to do with each business unit. Marketing planning involves deciding on marketing strategies that will help the company attain its overall strategic objectives."-Kotler, Gary Armstrong and Philip. Marketing:

EOC Week 7: The Pitch

I Introduce the Islands

This brand of Vodka is of great taste and has a real sweet spot for the ladies. Guys have you ever had a night on the town with your lady and can't find the rite drink for her. The Islands promises an unforgettable experience because of its fresh water from Iceland which will guarantees a more rich tasting Vodka. Are Vodka is also distilled giving it more of that true taste that young adults strive for.

Are Vodka also strives on the experience of “The Islands” which is why are bottle is specially designed to do so. The cap of are vodka is orange and has scents of citrus which gives people a warmth that only The Islands can give. The design of are bottle is really what people will remember the most. At chilled temperatures the bottle will be frost clear representing a readied beverage, while at room temperature the bottle will be a sunset color to resemble The Islands. The Islands is sure to set the tone for the night and assures you a ”forgettable night with unforgettable moments

Week 6 EOC: Me X3

One thing that definitely describes me in the electronics world is my PlayStation 3. I am a big video game player and I want a system that is me and that I can customize. When the Xbox 360 first came at I had to get it only because it was the only next gen system available. When I was 11 I got my first PlayStation and it was one of the most memorable experiences ever I loved it so much and still have it to this day. Then for my 14th birthday I got the PlayStation 2 and Grand Theft Auto Vice City on their release dates. I then became a big fan of Sony and the PlayStation consoles. The Xbox 360 was out for about a year before the PlayStation 3 came out. But as soon as it did I traded in my Xbox for a PlayStation 3. In my opinion it is so much better than Xbox in so many ways. It just really drives home that "Home Theatre" experience that I just don't get on Xbox.






As you have probably noticed, I am a big electronic freak and I love my gadgets. When it comes to my cell phone I have to have one of the best phones out. I am in love with Android and everything they are doing in the cell phone arena. In my opinion they are way better than IPhones just because they bring such a more open platform and it’s fully customizable, something that IPhones lack. I currently have the HTC Evo 4G which is a phenomenal phone. It was one of the first phones to be called the "IPhone Killer" in various tech blogs and sites.






One of the last items I cannot live without is my laptop. I have a HP G71 series which is an ok model but definitely not the top of the line. HP is a great company and I love all of the desktop models and laptops models. My laptop is very essential in my life because that is where all of my school work gets done. The Sony Vaio model is going to be the next laptop I purchase because it has a lot of features that I think will be good for me and my school work.

Week 5 EOC: Social Networking and Job Hunting

In today's society a lot of employers are using social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linkdin to find employees to offer jobs to. I think this a great way to search. apply, and hire in the job market. Potential employees are already using these sites t stay socially connected with the friends and family so it just makes it that much easier to integrate job hunting into these sites.

A big issues with this new growing trend is privacy concerns. Employers have been known to go hunting trying to find dirty secrets about you on these social networks.  I feel if one wants to act professional and apply for a profession then the employer has the right to search their name on the internet and see if anything insulting or ignorant appears.  Nobody wants to hire someone who won't be able to represent there company in a professional way to the best of their abilities.I also feel you shouldn't be mad about an employer going through your facebook if you have nothing immature on there.  Don't post anything on the internet unless you want everyone in the world to know. But i do still feel it is a great way to offer job opportunities, you just need to be carefull on how you approach the situation. Most dont agree with this method saying since when are jobs handed to someone from a social network most people use to communicate with there friends. But if you really look at it, its just the employers way of trying to keep up with the times and the modern technology which i feel is great. I think some of the best sites for these opportunities are Google Plus and LinkedIn, as they already have these things intergrated in their sites   “Others note that while LinkedIn contains a more comprehensive résumé database, candidates tend to value referrals from their connections on Facebook more.”  I can understand why employers would want to use Facebook more than other sites. That is where everyone posts all their dirty work and like I said no one wants to hire someone that can't be the face of the company with confidence. So if your looking to use this method for applying just make sure your social network accounts are clean and wouldnt hurt you

Week 4 EOC: There's an App for That

In today's society with smartphones virtually taking over the world there's a particular thing that is becoming a hot commodity so to speak in the tech world, and that is Apps. Ever since the Iphone came out there were various apps that could do various things to make your life that much easier. I think application are a great success and they really do make your life a lot easier.

If I could come up with the ideal app it would have to be a app that washes my clothes. This would be my ideal app because think about it how cool would it be to only have to throw your clothes in the machine and then go back to whatever your doing and control the washer and dryer from your phone.
Wireless Washer

At the begining of the year LG had announced that they would be coming out with a wireless washing machine that would make this possible. I think LG would really put their mark on the industry if they are the first to come up with this concept.LG stated at the Korean show in Las Vegas " the time has come, given the ubiquity of Internet access within the home via wireless technologies and more thoughtful design. LG is launching a series of ThinQ-branded home appliances, including smart refrigerators, dishwashers, laundry machines, and ovens.

The Washer Goes Wireless

Microsoft is excited about a new technology they are trying called the " Landry Time" system. It is a system that they are excited to start testing with HP and other companies involved in the Internet Home Appliance project. Microsoft's vision is to have notifications pop up on your tv, computer, tablet, or smartphone telling you your current wash load is complete. I have reason to beleive that the proper steps are being taken to unsure that my app will one day be coming to a app store near you very soon.

Android Market

EOC: My Demographics

I had the great opportunity to be born a Millennial. Millennials are the tech savy generation/rebellious youth who play video games, check our facebook's on a daily basis, (sometimes even hourly), drink energy drinks and play Angry Birds on our smartphones and tablets. But does this really categorize all of us? There may be some truth in some of this, but not certainly all of it.


All About Millennials

From what I've seen, most older generations believe that we can’t live without our cell phones, laptops, tv's, and video games because we were born into a world filled with the such. In most cases they are right. I cannot go 5 minutes without my phone and if I leave it at home I am losing my mind all day. Social networks are a different story for me. I am not big on broadcasting my life to the world so I go long periods of time without posting on facebook or twitter. But I do favor twitter over facebook because I feel facebook is becoming "dried up" in my opinion. Then there’s are video games that millennials love so much. Games like Halo, Madden, Gears of War, and Little Big Planet. Me personally I am a big video game player and I can easily lose 4 to 6 hours of a day playing them.

The Millennial Generation

People seem to think that millennials view marriage differently from the rest of the world. I for one do not because I feel that marriage is somethin that should only be done once.All in all, I believe that some can live without all of these current “gadgets and trends.” But I am a Millenial, and I cannot live without my gadgets

Millennials Hooked on Social Networking

EOC: Making Money for Good

Making money for good is a concept that companies seem to forget about when they become successful. It's been proven that the companies that give back in some way or form are the companies that survive in the long run. 

But then there are other businesses like Wells Fargo who “continues to be one of America’s largest financial contributors to nonprofits. In 2009, we invested $202 million in 18,000 nonprofits nationwide” (https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/csr/charitable/where)  One of the ways that they accomplish this is that they have neighborhoods managers that talk to the people. “Communities need money to grow and Wells Fargo’s Community Development Corporation manages the company’s investments in projects that promote long-term growth for low- and moderate-income communities.” (https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/csr/charitable/where) 

Another one of these businesses is Home Depot. They have a special program called Team Depot. “Through Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer program, associates work side-by-side to create life-long, meaningful relationships between the Company, our neighbors and our associates.”( http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/teamdepot/index.html)

I think we need more businesses to help out the less fortunate and people in need throughout the United States, and also throughout the world. If every company gave a little back the world would be a better place.  There are so many people who need a helping hand.

EOC: Boston Consulting Group- Video Games

The video game industry is a large money maker, and in my humble opinion the cash cow would go to Nintendo. The reason being is that they have always be on the forefront of the industry, producing new innovations in the overall system as well as the level of games that are sold to the public.
(http://www.thegameconsole.com/videogames96.htm) in today’s market there is an average of 174 million players in the US along, with Nintendo leading the sales (http://us.wii.com/), this is followed close by Playstation 3 and the Sony corp. of who targets the 20+ market the last on the list of those in the industry that has yet to make a good mark in the homes of the American public is the Xbox360 for Microsoft, there is and has been many problem in the system, however their main target in the market is in the online users. With that said it is evident that they are the loosing in it competitive base, and much more needs to be done on their part, the one that most are over looking, if not doing so quietly, is in the app games for the I-pad and I phone and all the new Droid phones, in a article  it was said ("Look at a 33-year-old dad buying a system for both himself and his 6-year-old son.  In 2002, this dad would have been born in 1969 which would have made him 18 when the NES took-off around 1987. Back then, 18-year-olds did not play video games in large numbers. Instead, this dad would most likely have cut his teeth on something like the Atari 2600. The Nintendo name would not have meant much to him. Go forward to 2007 and this 33-year old would have been 13 in 1987 and would probably have been very familiar with Nintendo and its characters like Mario and Zelda. A 33-year-old dad in 2007 becomes one of the first generation of parents personally familiar with Nintendo products and thus possibly inclined to buy a Nintendo system for his children. Consumers in their teens and twenties tend to distance themselves from the products of their childhood, but such concerns over 'being cool' can start to disappear with age, replaced by nostalgia. This trend alone, which Nintendo is well aware of, could really benefit Nintendo going forward. Thus, they are putting a big emphasis on the nostalgia card and focusing on their historical software library, as well as games that have cross-generational appeal."(http://www.industrygamers.com/news/game-industry-growth-to-come-from-anytime-anyplace-anywhere-devices-says-dfc/) ) If I could Summarize this i would say that we are lloking at a entirely new era in gaming and that with smart phones and apps, people won't be just glued to the television at home playing games, they'll be in line at the grocery store playing them

EOC: Great Customer Service

Customer service is something that I really care about when I shop at various stores.  I’ve had bad experiences before with customer service but there is one good story that I have that is a must tell. Target is one of my favorite stores and I mostly go out of my way to buy things from there. One day I went to target to return back a DVD that would not play properly. When I went to the customer service desk they were very cooperative from the moment I walked up. The employee asked me what the problem was and I told her about the DVD that was not working. She then told me how I was not the first person to bring the movie back with complications and it seemed to be a manufacture problem. She then asked for the movie and took it to the back to verify the problem. She came back and said it definitely had a problem. She then gave me a total refund and gave me a 10 dollar gift card for the troubles. I think that target has a great customer service team, they were really helpful and I left in a better mood then when I originally came.

EOC: My Voice

Hi my name is LaJuan Hughes and I am an Audio professional in the audio industry. Since the age of 10 I’ve always been fascinated with live sounds at concerts, with audio mixers, and digital audio. I am also a fan of all music genres and respect music because it is so diverse and can change people’s lives in some cases. John Lennon once said that “Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it.” I started messing with mixers at my church at the age of 15. I was really intrigued how you could control so many microphones and instruments with various different sliders. The church sound technician really took notice as to how I really had a passion for learning and experiencing sound, mixers, and setup techniques so he decided to start teaching me what he knew and I became his student. From the age of 16 to 17, I watched and learned from him for over a year and became very comfortable handling mixers. In the beginning of 2010 are sound technician left for another job and my name was called to be the new technician. This was a great opportunity for me and I was very excited because not only did I know I could handle the job, but it was a fulfilled dream.