Response to Meghan Hardy's Post

If you are graduating this year, have you had a hard time landing a job?


Yes I am graduating with a degree in Architecture. Right now the industry is hurting and it is very tough to find a position anywhere. Most companies that are hiring are looking for senior designers who have 5-10 years of experience. Last summer I tried to obtain an internship to get my foot in the door somewhere and most companies said they usually do internships couldn't afford to do them this summer. I'm hoping that the economy starts to climb back and I can find a job with my degree.

Copying the Competitor

I recently encountered two powerhouses in the fast food industry copying each other on every move they make. You can see this going on constantly with competitors but the one I found the other day at Burger King is truly the exact same thing as McDonald's. It happened with the BK double cheese burger went up in price from 1.00 to 1.29. To substitute it they came up with what they are calling the BK Double. This is 1.00 but the difference is that their is only one piece of cheese and not two like on the original double cheeseburger. This is exactly what McDonald's did just a couple months ago. They no longer sell their original double cheese burger for 1.00 but have a McDouble for a dollar with one piece of cheese. I believe burger king is going to start to see everyone will start to shy away from the 1.29 cheeseburger. They had a great niche in the market because their competitors double cheeseburger was more expensive. Do you think this was the right move for BK or should they have kept offering their double cheeseburger for 1.00? Can you think of any other examples where a store/business copies their competitor?

Non-price Competition

Our text defines this as when a seller decides not to focus on price and instead emphasizes distinctive product features,service,product quality,promotion, and packaging. A great example of a company that I believe is a non-price competitor is our case study Sherwin Williams. When you compare it to other brands of paint, mostly always SW is more expensive. Most people just respond to it as "you are paying for what you get". SW paint is supposed to be one of the best quality paints. The other good example that I thought of was clothing stores for teens and young adults. For the most part it comes down to four stores: Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, American Eagle, and Aeropostale. They are in a certain order as well because Abercrombie is the prime example of non-price competitor, while on the other end of the spectrum is Aeropostale where they are price competitive. Aeropostale is the cheapest store as usually they always have deals going on, and on average all the clothing is cheap. You can walk in and get two t shirts for $20. While if you walk down the mall further and try to by two t shirts from Abercrombie you can plan on spending around $60. I believe that non-price competitors are viewed as the "high-end" of what ever products they sell. Have you ever been persuaded to buy from a non-price competitor, just because you wanted the logo?

In Response to Sam's Post

Do you have any personal favorite techniques for selling items on craigslist/ebay? Do you think that big companies use similar or different techniques to sell their products?


I have only actually sold a couple of things online, most of them being textbooks that I couldn't sell back to the bookstore. I would say my techniques are pretty simple. I describe the item honestly and in detail, to make sure there isn't any confusion of the condition of the item. I also try to show a picture of the item, so that the person buying it knows what they are buying and can visually see it. I think companies try to do this, but with big companies, there also comes a lot of small text. They could advertise something as "on sale" but underneath in small print might read must spend over $50. But when you can visually see the item in a magazine or online, I think it increases your chances of a sale dramatically. Have you ever had instances where you think something is a really good deal, but then you find out about the small print?

In Repsonse to Sam Chipkin's Post

Do you think that Ferrari has alternative reasons for going green? Does Ferrari's new outlook change your perspective of them as a company?

I believe they might be loosing ground from the other top of the line car manufactures, because most of them are now producing a so cold "green" line. So if they aren't able to make a "green car" they might as well produce their cars in one the the most earth friendly car manufacturing plant. I know most people are familiar with the damage vehicles do to our environment, but many people are unaware of the waste of energy these huge mega plants are. To be able to have a trigeneration plant for electricity, hot, and cold water, will save Ferrari in the long run millions of dollars. Using the photovoltaic as power will limit also the use of electricity. Overall I don't think this changes my perspective of Ferrari, but I do believe it is a good thing for our environment, I could ultimately help them in sales. Seeing a green Ferrari would be a different feeling for sure.

Cognitive Dissonance

When reading chapter 8, I came across the word "Cognitive Dissonance". By definition it is simply defined as a buyer's doubts shortly after a purchase about whether the decision was the right one. I never knew their was a term for this kind of feeling but I can say I have been a victim of having cognitive dissonance after a purchase. Just over Christmas break I received a $50 visa gift card. A few nights after I got it, I went the only open restaurant we could find and ended up spending $28. On the way home I was definitely second guessing, because I had just spend more the half of the card just because I needed to satisfy my hunger. Now knowing about cognitive dissonance, I started to wonder if companies know if their products or service are susceptible to cognitive dissonance. I believe the higher the price, the more chance of really feeling cognitive dissonance. Have you ever experienced this, and can you think of any companies that might be susceptible to this?

In Response to Kevin MacArthur's Post

Do you think it would be a good idea to check out a companies track record and history before going into business with them?


I agree with Kevin, as no matter what the situation is you should always look into a companies history to see what they are all about. I think this is an excellent idea when applying for a job. If you go into the interview knowing some history of the company and what they are all about, I think it makes a good impression and shows the interviewer that you really want the job. It always the safe bet, to look at the companies track record, because for all you know they could have been problems in the past that they don't share. Overall just make sure you know general information about the company and make sure that their track record is relatively clean.

Dr. Johnson's Scenario Questions

I believe John should sell the names. It would not only benefit the purchaser but as well as him and his entire company. After reading the AMA Statement of Ethics, I was able to find two sections of it, that deals with John's issue. The first is under the Fairness section which reads " Avoid knowing participation in conflicts of interest.
Seek to protect the private information of customers, employees and partners." John is doing exactly the opposite of that, because now he is giving up that private information that his customers gave him, so that he can make some money to save his company. Also under the Respect category it reads " Treat everyone, including our competitors, as we would wish to be treated." This is in mostly every companies statement of ethics, and John isn't following this rule either. I'm sure he wouldn't want his name released to a car dealership just because he filled out a simple survey. Now these people that thought their information was kept private will start to receive phone calls asking about their interest in a new car. So after reading all this, if I was in John's shoes and had no other real options to save the company then I would be forced to sell the names.

Response to Doug Kendalls Post

Multiple companies offer deals for buying in bundle or signing up for contracts with them, can you provide examples of any? Do you think phone companies are taking advantage of their customers? What marketing techniques do you think cell phone companies used to make texts become so popular, and what techniques could they use to possibly make even more money from this service?


The one deals that I see from both Verizon and AT&T, is buy a phone get another free. Seems like a good deal when first looked at because obviously your getting two phones for the price of one. But the catch is that both phones have to sign a something like a 2 year contract, which is tough because something could happen where you want to switch but cant. If you try to end the contract early, you will find out that their is an "early termination" fee which can range from anywhere from 50-100 dollars. I do believe that cell phone companies can take advantage of you, especially if you are new to the cell phone world. I currently have the same plan as Doug with unlimited texting, and I am glad Verizon offered this to their customers. I probably could send and receive 50 texts on a daily basis.

Sherwin Williams Target Market

After reading chapter 7 about target markets, I tried to look at our company SW to see what their target market would be. I believe their main target markets is obviously contractors, but as well middle aged individuals because their product is expensive. I feel our age would be more likely to get paint and either Home D or Walmart. I think its because we have always grown up with these big box stores and having everything we need. As to someone a bit older, who grew up when it was just small local hardware stores, where when you walk in you feel welcomed and everyone knows everyone. Although I can say I have gotten paint from Sherwin Williams for my house, but it was because I was with my dad, who always gets his paints from Sherwin Williams, even though there is a Home Depot much closer to our house. I know SW wants to target the younger market because we saw that in class, with them unveiling two facebook groups to attract the younger crowd. Do you think that this is a good business move for SW? How do you suppose that they go about trying to attract to a younger target market?

In Response to Jason Rury's Post

Will scanning bar codes and taking pictures out of magazines be a new fad/trend practiced by consumers?


I believe that it will become somewhat of a hit with people that have the technology and money to do it. I don't see if becoming a huge trend because there are so many people around the globe with regular cell phones, and not smart phones. If they come up with a different way so that all phones can do it, or start to make cheaper smart phones and not charge an extra $30 a month, then I could see it getting big. But with our rapid advancement in technology, we really never know whats next. If you were or currently are a smart phone owner, could you see yourself actually taking part of this new tech fad and get your coupons and advertisements through your phone?

Questions from Readings

1)What are some of the benefits of direct mail compared to electronic means of marketing?
2)Bar codes seem so promising, but what are some of the possible concerns with their use?
3)Do you think e-marketing techniques will replace traditional forms of marketing?
4)Besides the types of business and examples that are mentioned in the article, what are some other companies who would benefit from direct mail efforts? How would they benefit?


When comparing direct mail to electronic mail, it is easy to see the negatives and positives. I think the most beneficial thing about direct mail is that it gives the consumer a personal connection with your company. Also I believe people delete emails within seconds by just reading the subject line. If they actually get something in the mail that’s tangible, more often than not they will at least look at it. Although direct mail is more time consuming and costly, it could be worth it in the end. When reading the article about bar code advertising, I was very intrigued because I haven’t heard of such a thing. I believe that a huge concern is that not everyone has the phone capabilities to access these advertisements. And I am skeptical that for the ones that do have correct phones, how many will take the time to download the software and actually use it when reading a magazine. It is neat to think that they are trying to combine magazines advertisements with the internets. To think that one day e-marketing will take over the more traditional forms of marketing just shows you how much we have advanced with technology. I believe that one day it could become the only form of marketing because of the technology we have, but I don’t believe that will happen anytime soon. Everyone is so used to the traditional ways, that it would be hard to totally eliminate all of them, as some companies are so called “old school” and won’t ever switch to e-marketing. I believe companies such as fast food chains, supermarkets, and small business would benefit from direct mail. Everyone enjoys coupons along with an advertisement, and these typed of companies have been doing this for years. People are more likely to just clip coupons out while reading the paper or magazine, rather than log onto the internet to print out coupons. It would greatly benefit them because although it might cost a bit more then e-marketing, the proof is in the pudding that traditional ways of marketing really are worth the cost. Do you often get emails for sales or discounts, and actually act on them and use them? Out of all the ways to market a product, which way do you think makes the most sense?

In Response to Liz's Post

Do you think that by Nike continuing to sponsor Tiger Woods they are making a statement that they approve of what he did?


I don't believe just because Nike is continuing its sponsorship with Tiger that they approve his actions. I believe that they are in it for the business aspect and are willing to give Tiger a second chance, to return to the role model he once was. It will take a lot of time for some people to get over what he did, but in reality its none of anyone's business besides Tiger and his wife Elin. Nike knows what he is capable of when he returns, and they don't want to look him. They are paying him 18 million a year to endorse their products, and it is by far worth every penny. Even though he isn't even playing golf right now, Nike is still making money off his clothing, although sales could currently be down. What do you think Tiger should do in the upcoming months? During his live apology Friday morning, he never gave a straight answer to when he would return to golf. Do you believe it is in Tiger's best interest to come back to golf asap? Perhaps for the Masters?

E-Marketing: Pricing Online

When reviewing several web sites for our HW, I came across several product catalogs that were available to view right there on their site. But when I came to the Sherwin Williams product browser all it had was the products name. It didn't really give a good description of the item, nor did it have a price. I was surprised, but then got to thinking that maybe they did this as a way to get customers to come into the store. Because most likely if you can't find it online, you will be able to take the trip to the store to find out, which Sherwin Williams believes will increase sales. I tend to think that if they added pricing and even an option to order on their site, then go to the store to pick it up, would also be a valuable option. What do you think of ordering products over the internet? Do you expect to see prices online when looking through a product catalog?

Best Superbowl Commercial

This past Sunday was a big day for some companies that could afford it. Superbowl commercial ads are the most expensive television ads, but it is because it will be viewed by so many people. Year after year their are always ads that stick out, and that you will remember for a long time. I believe that this is because of the great marketing team that that company has. Most of the commercials that make the cut, are only 30 to 60 seconds long, but if put together well, millions of people will remember your product. This past year had a good turn out, although the country is still in a recession. The Superbowl this year brought in an average of 106.5 million viewers. This is the quickest and most expensive way to get your product out there. I thought this year the two company's that stood out were Doritos and Bud Light. Although it might be because they had more than just one commercial, but the ads themselves were quite funny and were attention grabbers. If you were the CEO of a company that had the money to get an ad spot for the Superbowl, would you do it? And also, what was your favorite commercial this year.

Is Environmentalism a Threat or Opportunity?

I believe that it is a huge opportunity for most all businesses. You can see many companies nowadays trying to be more "green" with mostly everything they do. From their actual products, their buildings, and even their company vehicles. If your company is seen as a being environment friendly, I believe their is a great opportunity because your company will get more "buzz" in the media. I had the chance to visit a company in Vermont that was the prime example of going "green" and they have gotten so much publicity, that they even do tours of their building. The company is called NRG Systems and is located in Hinesburg, VT. They are manufactures of wind turbines and their entire facility is environmentally friendly, and they get tons of publicity.It is a great site to see if you ever are in the area, but they are the prime example of a business seeing environmentalism as an opportunity. You can visit their site at .

What things do you think a company could do to seize the opportunity of environmentalism?

In Response to Elizabeth VanWyck's Post

Do you think if you do not promote yourself well that an employer would hire you based on qualifications alone?


I believe that you have to look the part for the job you are applying for. I believe you should dress appropriately, to show the person who is interviewing that you are serious and really interested in working there. You have to impress them, so that you can stick out when they are reviewing all the candidates. But in turn I believe some jobs are so specialized that in some cases as long as you have the qualifications,you most likely have a job no matter how bad you promoted yourself. Whats the best way to promote yourself, so that you will stand out to employers?

The 4 P's of Marketing

People can apply marketing principles to getting a job. If the person looking for a job is the “product,” describe the other three P’s and their related elements. (This is relatively easier to respond to than the previous question; however, it might be a real practical concern for some of you -- and very soon -- as you enter the job market.)


If I was the product, trying to interview for a job then according to the marketing mix there are 3 other elements. First, Place is where I would be working, potential employers that are looking to hire, and also any other places where I would be working, but outside of the main facility. Next is Promotion, I believe that the next example of this in this situation would be my resume, or letters of recommendation. Because both of these are trying to promote me (the product) and are showing the potential employer my strengths and qualities. Then finally there is Price. This would be the cost to the company to hire me for my skills. This should include hourly or salary pay plus any benefits that the company offers. Could this be useful for us, as many of us are approaching the job market?