In honor of Earth Day, Target stores are giving out free reusable Target bags to all customers that purchase anything from the store. These bags are full of small goods like dish soap, Annie's graham crackers, laundry detergent, Burts Bees moisturizer, and coupon books. Last year these stores did the same thing on Earth Day. They gave out millions of reusable bags that come with a 5 cent discount every time they're used. Target claims that over the past year, 80 million red reusable bags have been used in substitution for plastic bags, and they are estimating that these numbers will continue to grow throughout the next year.
Target took social responsibility by handing out these reusable bags for free. Along with being socially responsible, they've created a self image by implying to its customers and the rest of society that they care about being environmentally friendly.
Are there any other businesses or companies that you know if that are taking an extra step to be environmentally friendly on Earth Day? If so, which ones?
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
In Response to Matt DaCosta
Do you think it is smart for Corporations to use Twitter or Facebook? What about small local businesses? In what way could a small business, such as Fritz, utilize a Twitter account to maximize business and market its product?
I think that it's extremely smart for corporations to use Twitter and Facebook. Basically any positive way to advertise a business or company will be beneficial, whether it's online or in the public eye. Small, local businesses can benefit from Twitter and Facebook as well, although I think Facebook would be a bit more helpful in certain situations. For example, if someone "likes" Fritz's on Facebook, that information will show up on other friend's newsfeeds. Also, the person who "likes" Fritz on Facebook can be the first to know about any promotions, deals, or events coming up before anyone else does. It's a win-win situation for both the business and the customer.
Twitter, on the other hand is different. I will randomly see "promoted" tweets that come up on my newsfeed from businesses/companies that I don't follow. Companies can go to Twitter and pay them to put their tweet onto every Twitter user's feed. I don't necessarily think that small, local businesses will go to that extent, although twitter can benefit them in smaller ways.
Does anyone who uses Twitter or Facebook follow a local business in Keene? Do you think the business having either account has benefitted them?
I think that it's extremely smart for corporations to use Twitter and Facebook. Basically any positive way to advertise a business or company will be beneficial, whether it's online or in the public eye. Small, local businesses can benefit from Twitter and Facebook as well, although I think Facebook would be a bit more helpful in certain situations. For example, if someone "likes" Fritz's on Facebook, that information will show up on other friend's newsfeeds. Also, the person who "likes" Fritz on Facebook can be the first to know about any promotions, deals, or events coming up before anyone else does. It's a win-win situation for both the business and the customer.
Twitter, on the other hand is different. I will randomly see "promoted" tweets that come up on my newsfeed from businesses/companies that I don't follow. Companies can go to Twitter and pay them to put their tweet onto every Twitter user's feed. I don't necessarily think that small, local businesses will go to that extent, although twitter can benefit them in smaller ways.
Does anyone who uses Twitter or Facebook follow a local business in Keene? Do you think the business having either account has benefitted them?
Cell Phone Plans & Elasticity of Demand
Today in class, we were discussing the elasticity of demand, and talking about certain products and if they were inelastic or elastic products. It made me think of cell phones and cell phone plans, and how more and more people today have a smart phone. Cell phone carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless have been known to raise their prices for plans, especially data plans. Our society has become extremely dependent on our cell phones and technology in general. Pretty soon it seems like people won't be able to do their day to day activities without their cell phones and expensive data plans.
Although some people are against the new smart phone era, I definitely think that cell phone plans are in elastic demand. Our generation has already witnessed multiple price raises in data plans, no matter what carrier we use.
Does anyone disagree with me about cell phone plans? Do you think that the more data plan prices rise, the fewer people will purchase them?
Although some people are against the new smart phone era, I definitely think that cell phone plans are in elastic demand. Our generation has already witnessed multiple price raises in data plans, no matter what carrier we use.
Does anyone disagree with me about cell phone plans? Do you think that the more data plan prices rise, the fewer people will purchase them?
Thursday, April 4, 2013
In Response to Jade Brulotte
Do you agree, or think that the company will stay successful because they are so strictly online-based?
Personally, I think that online-based companies aren't in any real danger just because they don't have a physical store. The internet is more popular today than it ever has been, and online shopping is convenient and easy for consumers all over the world. If anything, I think that having a physical store on top of an online store could only help the business. Looking at the direction that society is turning, online-based stores/companies will stay successful.
For example, Etsy is a business that started online, and then decided to expand and start a store in NYC. Etsy is an extremely successful online-based company that started up without a location store.
Are there any other companies/businesses that are online-based that anyone knows of? Are they successful, or do you see them failing in the near future?
Personally, I think that online-based companies aren't in any real danger just because they don't have a physical store. The internet is more popular today than it ever has been, and online shopping is convenient and easy for consumers all over the world. If anything, I think that having a physical store on top of an online store could only help the business. Looking at the direction that society is turning, online-based stores/companies will stay successful.
For example, Etsy is a business that started online, and then decided to expand and start a store in NYC. Etsy is an extremely successful online-based company that started up without a location store.
Are there any other companies/businesses that are online-based that anyone knows of? Are they successful, or do you see them failing in the near future?
In Response to Parker Hayne's Post
Do you think it's wrong that house hold cleaning supplies always feature a women in the advertisements?
Personally, I don't think it's wrong that many cleaning supply commercials feature women in them. Although some people may look at it as sexist, a lot of the time the women in the house are the ones cleaning and making sure that the house stays nice. Cleaning supply commercials are taking a more old fashioned approach, implying that women are the ones who clean. Society is constantly changing, and old fashion approaches to many different things are starting to go out the window. Within the next ten years, I definitely think we will see more men in cleaning supply commercials. When a company starts to market their product, the first thing they need to do is think of their target group. In this case, women are the smartest target to advertise cleaning products to.
Has anyone seen any commercials that are just targeted towards men, when they could/ should be targeted at both men and women?
Personally, I don't think it's wrong that many cleaning supply commercials feature women in them. Although some people may look at it as sexist, a lot of the time the women in the house are the ones cleaning and making sure that the house stays nice. Cleaning supply commercials are taking a more old fashioned approach, implying that women are the ones who clean. Society is constantly changing, and old fashion approaches to many different things are starting to go out the window. Within the next ten years, I definitely think we will see more men in cleaning supply commercials. When a company starts to market their product, the first thing they need to do is think of their target group. In this case, women are the smartest target to advertise cleaning products to.
Has anyone seen any commercials that are just targeted towards men, when they could/ should be targeted at both men and women?
AEO Skinny Jeans Commercial
Within the past few weeks, Amercian Eagle Outfitters has launched an ad campaign for their new line of "skinny jeans" showing young adults wearing the jeans, doing every day things. The commercial was a huge hit, receiving millions of YouTube views. This got people talking about the company, until many people started to question if the jeans were actually real or not. American Eagle eventually admitted to the public that the jeans that were being advertised were actually just painted onto the people, and they weren't actually selling them.
This technique was a great way to get people talking about American Eagle. Whether the jeans were real or not, they do sell skinny jeans in general. Thinking back on the past few weeks, I remember seeing this video all over different sources of social media. The ridiculously "skinny jeans" in the commercials caught consumers attention, bringing this company's name back into the public eye again.
Did anyone see this commercial online when it came out? Do you think that AEO made a smart decision by marketing their brand this way?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfNF57jHbFc
This technique was a great way to get people talking about American Eagle. Whether the jeans were real or not, they do sell skinny jeans in general. Thinking back on the past few weeks, I remember seeing this video all over different sources of social media. The ridiculously "skinny jeans" in the commercials caught consumers attention, bringing this company's name back into the public eye again.
Did anyone see this commercial online when it came out? Do you think that AEO made a smart decision by marketing their brand this way?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfNF57jHbFc
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Advertisements on YouTube Videos
Recently, I've been noticing more and more YouTube videos that require you to watch at least 5 seconds of an advertisement before you can watch the video you wanted. There has been a lot of discussion about how annoying these required commercials are, and how more and more videos on YouTube are starting to have them. Although they are an annoyance to many impatient viewers, like myself, I think it's a very smart way to market your company/organization. Whether it's positive or negative attention, that business is getting a potential consumer to watch their commercial for 5 seconds or longer. There are some occasions when I find myself getting hooked on some of the commercials, like upcoming movie trailers.
Has anyone else been noticing the rapid increase of commercials on most YouTube videos? Have any of them caught your attention for longer than the required 5 seconds?
Has anyone else been noticing the rapid increase of commercials on most YouTube videos? Have any of them caught your attention for longer than the required 5 seconds?
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