Teamwork

The importance of teamwork is stressed throughout MSU. Every business class has teams or groups in order to promote teamwork and creating associations with other students. I just found some fun pictures with fun quotes, celebrity promotions, and true team building inspiration for all of us who are working with our teams.

The use of Star Wars caught my attention, I know it caught yours!! I love Star Wars!

The Simpsons, o so true, so true.

What a great movie! Of course all of my friends and I can recite the movie Boondock Saints from memory, if I had a teamwork inspirational poster with these two actors on it...I may be more inclined to listen.

For all the dog lovers in the world, you may not know what happened to the cookies or brownies that were on the counter, and perhaps you may never solve the mystery.

Marketing Marketing Class

Yes, I know the title says "Marketing Marketing Class." It sounds a bit redundant, however, I really want to try and push this marketing class (or pull, depending on the demand). I was sitting at work today thinking of a post for the blog and all of a sudden an idea popped into my head...write a persuasive arguement to try and market marketing class.

To start off I would like to thank Prof. Austin for all of her hard work at designing this class. I found that I learned more through this internet course than if I had been attending class. Everything about this class is about time management and personal goals. My goal for this class was to never fall behind. Even when I went to the great state of KY for my vacation, I was still blogging, I was still taking exams, and I was still taking quizes. You know why, because this class is worth the effort.

Marketing class means more than advertising. Marketing is a way of figuring out how to reach a goal. If your company is striving to improve public relations, there can be a plan for that. If the company is trying to increase it's market share, there is a systematic approac for that. If the company is looking to branch out and increase customers, there is a plan for that.

Marketing class is a way to learn about your gifts of designing and persuasion. It is about finding out what people want and then figuring out how to give it to them. It is about learning how to develop relations with your customers in order to keep them coming back and creating brand loyalty.

Marketing class is learning all about economics, finance, and design. Every piece of this class can be applied to real life situations, with real companies, and real potential to make a profit.

Internal Reference Price

I have this beautiful piece of artwork hanging in my room that is a scene of trees with various colors, including: red, orange, green, yellow, and brown. I absolutely love this painting because it is so large and it fits with the color scheme of my room. Plus, for some reason, it gives my room a completed feel.

I enjoy this painting so much, however, I want to explain my decision making process, as a consumer, in order to discuss how I came to paying $98.00 for a piece of artwork. As anyone would know, living on a college student budget does not exactly allow for these large expenditures.

When I was reading in the textbook about internal reference price, a lightbulb lit up. I understand exactly how I reasoned myself into making a semi-large purchase on something that I probably should not have purchased.

The short version of my decision making process:
1. This is a very beautiful painting.
2. It is expensive, however, all other pieces that I have seen in this magnitude are far more expensive than $98.00.
3. Will it fit in my truck?

As you could have already understood, I bought this painting after all of those tough (and not so tough) decisions. Overall, I think that internal reference price comparisons really help the consumer understand how prices relate to each other, how items relate to each other, and how we are constantly using this tool to make decisions on our purchases.

(Of course I included a picture of the painting, in order to demonstrate the magnitude of the artwork)

Premium

There are alot of deals offered by companies with comparable merchandise that are similar to a box of cereal. It does not matter to children what kind of cereal it is, as long as there is a prize inside. I find that most transactions that I encounter do have these premium options where there is a little something to sweeten the deal.

Today I decided to plant my garden, so went to a local nursery and bought my plants. By the way, for anyone interested in gardening, the local nurseries are the best place to buy plants. They are grown in Montana, so you know that they will grow in your garden, as long as you water it.

I was interested in buying a large tomato plant, since it is so late in the season, but I did not have a tomato cage to go along with it. I asked the attendant what would be the best way to manufacture my own cage. Instead, he offered me a deal. He said that if I bought one of the plants that they were selling (of course the more expensive plant), he would give me a cage for no extra charge. Thus, my cheap brain lept into the air and of course I took him up on his deal.

It is amazing that one simple gesture of offering a free cage would create brand loyalty. I decided at that moment that I was going to buy all of my plants at this nursery, instead of shopping around. It is a message to all of the future marketing students that you never know what can create brand loyalty and how effective premium options are to customers.

(Just as a side note, I included a picture of my garden so that I can show all my readers my amazing tomato cage!)

Barbie: The Correct Message For a Target Audience

As many people would assume little girls play with Barbies and dolls, while little boys play with trucks and tools. Of course, there are exceptions to each stereotype, just as there are perfect examples of each stereotype. As a little girl I remember playing with Barbies and thinking how I want to be pretty just like them when I grow up.

The target audience for Barbies would be little girls who like to play with dolls and fit the standard stereotype previously listed. They have so many different products that are a line extension of the original Barbie dolls. For example:

http://products.howstuffworks.com/educational-electronic-toys-article.htm

A Barbie laptop to promote educational fun.

http://www.sugarscape.com/main-topics/fashion-beauty/423664/beauty-buzz-barbie-make

A Barbie makeup set, specifically targeted to an older target audience called "The Glamorous Gal."

Obviously, there is the standard Barbie doll that all us girls know and love. With all these products used to target younger girls, what does this Barbie doll image do for the girls who play with the dolls. I know many of you readers would say that I am beating a dead horse since this topic has been covered and discussed over and over again. My concern is that the way that Barbie is promoted and reaffirmed through these little girl's eyes can be done in a tasteful way and a not so tasteful way.

http://collider.com/barbie-movie-in-production-because-girls-deserve-brainless-toy-based-features-too/8107/

Instead of focusing the advertisements on clothing, fashion, hair, or makeup...consider activities. For example: skiing Barbie, gymnastics Barbie, "Fun in the Sun" Barbie. I feel if there was more emphasis in the idea of having fun playing with the Barbie instead of the way that you can make Barbie look, it would decrease the potential of having a negative effect on girl's self image.

FYI: Little fact that I found while researching for my blog are the following statistics, all found from MySistahs.com, if Barbie was a real person here would be her attributes:

1. Weight: 110 lbs
2. Bust: 38-40 inches
3. Waist: 18-24 inches
4. Hips: 33-35
5. Height: greater than 7 feet
6. Barbie would have to walk on all fours since her proportions are so unrealistic.

Creating the Right Atomosphere=$$$

Everyone knows that McDonalds has red and yellow colors to help promote the feeling of hunger and a feeling of urgency. There is alot of psychology in the color of a fast food restaraunt and the design of the establishment. For instance, most McDonalds has a playground for kids in order to attract families to their establishment.

http://thestamp.umd.edu/Food/McDonalds


Also, check out some other opinions and articles concerning corporate design.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/28/colors-in-corporate-branding-and-design/

At the local drinking establishment, Plonk on Main St., they have clusters of seating areas promoting socialization. They have dim lights to promote a sense of closeness with the current company. Also, they have an option to sit out on the patio and enjoy the sun. Instead of the crazy, beer drinking, and energetic feeling of most of the bars on Main St., there is a feeling of sophistication. There are many drinks that I have tried, and yes I am old enough to drink, that I would not have tried in any other establishment besides Plonk. As a suggestion, the chocolate martini is wonderful.

http://www.plonkwine.com/



One promotional technique that I never realized before was the technique of introducing certain smells into the building or outside of the building to promote a certain mood. When I was reading chapter 17, it discussed different companies that utilize all different senses in order to create a specific atmosphere, including scent. Unfortunately, when I am walking by the movie theater, all I want to do is grab a bag of popcorn. It is amazing how well your buying habits are attuned to different smells. Popcorn smell=fun movie nights with the girls, the smell of cleaning supplies always makes me think of Saturday mornings cleaning my house. I wonder what type of impression I portray when people walk into my residence? Is it the clean smell of bleach or the calming smell of lavendar that my guests notice?

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2011/06/ask-dmine-diabetes-friendly-popcorn-bg-targets-for-type-1s.html

Personal Selling: Is it worth it?

I know alot of my friends are actively participating in some sort of personal selling gig where they become consultants for some company and they sell products underneath them. Some examples include:

My aunt and cousin sells Avon.



Also another similar type of personal selling/personal marketing is selling jewelry specifically, instead of selling comestics and jewelry-like Avon. It's called Lia Sophia.

http://www.networkmarketingelite.com/lia-sophia-is-it-a-scam/

I know many people that use these type of business ventures to increase their income and support their families. Is it worth it? I, personally, would run out of people to try and come to my jewelry parties, there is only so much Mary Kay or Avon that I can sell to my family. Selling to customers in person requires alot of capital up front, alot of patience with the customers, and alot of creativity trying to figure out how to get your name, as a consultant, in the market place.

We had a Mary Kay consultant come into my place of work and leave her individual business cards in the magazine holder in the waiting room, without our permission, in order to obtain some customers. I personally think it takes a special type of marketer to be able to make any money with these type of ventures. What do you think?

Not for Profit Organization: HAVEN

http://havenmt.org/

A local not for profit organization, Haven, is not widely known by most of the community. However, to those who need and rely on Haven...it is everything.

Haven is an organization that aids in the emergency sheltering of abuse victims and their families, provide legal advice for those victims, provides community education about domestic abuse, and gives the women and children who use their organization hope.

I work in the medical field and I see abuse victims every week. It is nice to know that there is a resource available for all those who need it. I want to spread the word about Haven and all the wonderful things this organization does.

"Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you love and think loves you in return."

— Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator

http://havenmt.org/

I hope by encouraging all of you to take a look at their website, see all of their resources, and promote the organization through your community. There are opportunities to donate and volunteer. Making a difference in someone's life doesn't have to be durastic, it could be just as simple as making them aware of what is available to them.

E-Marketing

My office, the clinic that I work for, has recently established its own website and Facebook page. We have been able to track the number of new patients who came to our office due to seeing our website. It is amazing how our new patient numbers have increased!!!

Our Facebook page provides a way for patients to comment on our services, give suggestions, and follow our doctors in specials they offer or important information that we provide.

Our website provides a way to be able to contact our office manage with any questions, gives directions to our clinic (through the use of Mapquest), gives daily health tips, has an entire library of printable material available concerning health issues, etc.  Here is our monthly wellness spotlight copied from http://bozemancreekfamilyhealth.com/home.html:

Wellness Spotlight:

May Is...

 

 

• National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
• For more information, visit..National Osteoporosis Foundation
•  

• National High Blood Pressure Eduction Month
• For more information, visit...National Heart, Lung, and Blood Pressure Education Month
•  
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
• For more information, visit...President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

                                                              **As of March 1st, 2012

~Refer a friend or family member as a new patient

and receive a $15.00 referral credit on your account!

~Please note.. name of person making referral must be listed on

new patient's admin forms upon check-in to receive the account credit.

Through the implementation of our new website and social networking page, we are able to reach potential patients that we could not before. 

Pringles

So since I am hungry, I thought I might as well type up a blog about food. I was interested in how the companies come up with the designs for their packaging. I found this awesome site to design your own Pringles can. I designed mine, but I couldn't take a picture and post it to my blog. However, here is the link...

http://www.pringlescancreator.com/create.aspx?locale=en_gb

What a neat idea to have your customers design the can and have a competition. It creates a sense of pride in the company and the design of their can. I created a 2D image of my can that I wanted to make in observance of Memorial Day. Here it is...

Granted, I completed this with just the paint option on my computure, but I have to give Pringles props for the good idea (since I am the one who designed it). You should try it, it is fun.

Survey: Jewelry

So in my spare time, which is not very often, I love to make and design jewelry. I have seriously thought about selling my jewelry at the farmer's market. Associating my future business possibilities to the current chapter I am reading in our marketing classes, I have thought about designing a survey in order to figure out what type of jewelry I should sell.

http://firstfashionnews.info/gallery/country-girl-jewelry-necklace

 

 

 

 

 

I make two different kinds of necklaces and I need to create a way to survey the people who attend the farmer's market on what kind they want to buy. The first picture listed is of the "country style," the type that you would find at a rodeo.  Or I can do a regular beaded necklace. It is important to figure out what your target market is, also what product you can sell and at what price. The main issue I have come to find is that I don't know how I am going to survey those who go to the farmer's market? Any suggestions from my readers? (FYI: these are not necklaces that I have made, just images that look like something that I have made).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.fashionjewelryonline.net/product_glass_beads_necklaces_70.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethics in a Clinic Setting

I work in a health clinic, which for the time being I will just call it by the name Family Health, and there are several ethical issues I have noticed could come up. As a background, our office has several different marketing techniques including ads in the following areas:

• newspapers

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/

• Local Magazines



http://www.distinctlymontana.com/article/easy-eat-locally





• Radio stations
• We now have a website too!

The issue with developing ads, as I have found out from my assistant office manager, is not promising too much. For example, one of our slogans is similar to:

We see the entire family!

In all honesty, we should actually say:

We see the entire family, except those who are: on Medicare, Medicaid, and Workman's Comp.

It is not that we do not want to see these patients who have these insurance companies or positions, but we actually end up basically paying out more for our expenses then we are getting from the insurance companies.

Ethical Issue #1: One doctor believes that it is acceptable to accept an occassional patient who has one of the outlawed insurances because the patient is her friend. Is this ethical or fair?

Ethical Issue #2: A patient comes in to the office with some sort of serious injury. Can we refuse as a patient if he is bleeding all over the carpet due to the type of insurance he has?

Ethical Issue #3: One patient is allowed to have an outstanding balance of over $4000 and is still allowed to be seen in the office, since it is a friend of a doctor, but another patient with an outstanding balance of $30 is sent to collections. Is this ethical or fair?

As with every environment there are ethical dilemas in many different forms or situations. I know I run into several situations every day where I use my best judgement and advice from my managers in order to find an answer that makes everyone happy. However, not everyone has that ethical fallback.  Being an ethical company means making sure everyone from the bottom up understands what the company is expecting. When everyone works as a team and is one the same page, ethical decisions that are not in the best interest of the company can be avoided. We have been told by our patients that they trust our office, a trust customer is a happy customer!

http://terminalpodcast.org/2012/04/19/trust-consistent/

Sodium Reduction

I am currently taking a nutrition course this summer, which I am very excited about. I think it is really important for everyone to know about nutrition, even if you don't want to follow everything that is recommended. I am, of course, talking about myself...I sure do love a good cheeseburger smothered in grease.

http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2011/09/national-cheeseburger-day.html



However, my most favorite food that has been on this planet is a chip. I love potato chips of all different varieties and all different flavors.

blogs.palmbeachpost.com

So you probably cannot see the sodium content on this little picture for a small bag. It says it is 330mg of sodium which is about 14% of your suggested daily intake. What is worse, if you are more likely to have issues with hypertension, you have a significantly lower suggested daily intake than the rest of the population. As is expected, there have been many recent studies on sodium and the harmful qualities it has on the body. Many companies are responding to this increased awareness by making vows or promises to decrease their sodium content. One company in particular is Walmart. Along side Michelle Obama, Walmart made a vow to:

1. Change the formulas of packaged foods: i.e. change sodium and sugar content
2. Make prices on healthier foods cheaper
3. Aid in an easily identifiable seal for health foods
4. Help cities which do not have easy access to health foods
5. Give aid to nutrition programs

http://www.walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/10514.aspx

http://blogs.babble.com/family-style/2011/04/07/walmart-coupons-5-must-have-printable-coupons/

You make think that Walmart doesn't have to change their products since there are so many different items which they sell. However, when you think about it...they were pretty smart. They responded to the changing market environment for foods. They took a proactive approach to the issue by not letting the negative reputation of sodium get in their way. They are changing the way that people buy food, they are changing the composition of foods, and they are attracking a wider variety of customers. Not only do they attrack their usual customers, but they also attrack the customers who really focus on healthy foods. With the idea that Americans should focus more on eating healthy, the market condition changed to a more wholesome look at nutrition. Many factors, including where they shop for their food, may come into mind and really could have been devastating for Walmart. They, however, seem to be making headways in the natural foods department, they are focusing on the new needs of the customers, and perhaps are going to gain considerable amounts of new customers or increase in the frequency of current customers.

SWOT: Pinterest

I have to start off with admitting that I just love Pinterest. It is an addicting site. I am on there when I have spare time, well lets face it I am on at work when I have no patients in the office. They have everything you could ever want to search for. Today my interest was on gardening. 'Tis the season! I was looking for some ideas to help in creating my container garden. I live in a duplex, so I really don't have any room for a full garden. Here are some examples:



This one here is suitable for my patio.

This one here would be great for the side of the house.

Essentially the key factor that keeps me returning to Pinterest (Strength) is that it is constantly changing. The people who actually post the pictures of different container gardens or different recipes are Pinterest users. The individuals who created this website were extremely intelligent...hmmm let's think of a website that will be really popular and we don't have to do anything...*Lightbulb* here comes Pinterest. The one factor that keeps frustrating me (Weakness) is that it is extremely difficult to become a Pinterest member. I have tried many, many, many times and with many different emails, and I still cannot create my own account. Initially I just thought that my computer illiteracy was getting the best of me, however, my computer genius roommates even tried to invite me and actually tried to create an account for me...still no luck. The fact that you do have to create an account is obviously a safety measure. However, If I had not already been addicted to Pinterest, I probably would be furious with their incapabilities to figure out how to deal with their member requests. Of course, just looking at the company as a whole it has amazing opportunities. Pinterest is very much so like Facebook, except, with Pinterest you are sharing ideas and finding a common ground. With Facebook, it seems like the goal nowadays is to compare drunk photos and see how many friends you can get...even if you don't know them. With Pinterest, it creates a community with similar bonds and similar interests. I feel like our society is needing a way to connect to people and there is so many people who are stay at home moms or college students or part of the working class who just need people to connnect to. With 7 billion people in the world, how do you actually find the people who have the same interests as you? The one weakness I could even think of with Pinterest is that it could be a fad. It could sizzle out just as fast as it started. Who knows what is going to happen in the future...All I know is that the SWOT analysis, as part of the components of any marketing plan, is easy as pie...as long as you know the company you are talking about.

Ulta: New and Good and What They Do

In Bozeman there is a new and exciting store available to all the women out there who love name-brand cosmetics, hair products, etc. Ulta had its grand opening last weekend; and of course, I attended this opening. When you walk into the store, you are overwelmed with the size and the selection of products. They had over 15 floor attendants waiting on you hand and foot. I am not one who really spends alot of money on "beauty products," but I have to admit I spent alot of money this past Saturday. I was entranced by the new store, the great customer service, their sales, and the glitz. And yet the main question is how does this relate to my marketing class? How can I prevent myself from getting pulled into the glitz, or at least recognize why was I pulled into the glitz? The answer...The 4 Ps: product, promotion, price, and distribution. The products they offer include not only hard to find beauty products, but also services. I was sucked into the sale price they offered in the salon and paid for a haircut and style. The promotion of their store was everywhere. In the newspapers, on the front of the store, and mostly word of mouth. The prices, actually not very cheap, were on sale. Every girl loves a good sale! The best part about Ulta is their distribution processes. They were able to provide everyone in the store with any type of beauty product they wanted in exactly what quantity they wanted them in. No longer do I have to go to a salon and search endlessly for my favorite eye cream or conditioner. I just have to go to one store, and I have everything that I could ever want. For example, my roommate has been searching endlessly for the past 2 years trying to find a certain brand of hair product known as "Big and Sexy." You may ask the question, "Well did she find what she was looking for?" Of course she found what she was looking for, she went to Ulta!!!! I found that many, many shoppers have gone crazy in Ulta (just go to youtube and type Ulta store) and I have included a video that I have found! Thank you Youtube!