Do you think it is effective marketing to market inside the restaurant while customers and employees are already there? Do you think annoying people is an effective way to market the company?
I can see how this would be more annoying towards the employees rather then the customers. When I go into a restaurant I usually go with friends and or family so usually I'm to busy talking or listening. I tend not to hear things like that but if its loud enough and plays often enough then I would probably pick up on it and be annoyed. I dont go to friendlys so I dont know how it has changed or anything but I can see how it could be annoying especially if you are already in there eating.
If the song is played every hour then that is not as bad. Typically when I go out to eat it's not for that long unless I'm at happy hour (like elm city brewery) which could be for hours. But as for going out to eat the most a customer could hear this song is once or twice so I dont think it is a big deal but maybe they can come up with another way of marketing if customers and employees are that upset about it. It will only lose them business if people don't like it because they will go to another restaurant in town.
While I do think its important to market a company there are also other ways and times to do it. Playing a song isn't a big deal but once customers start leaving then there is a problem. Companies dont want to bug the people who are in there because their marketing has already worked, customers are currently eating in the restaurant.
In stead of asking if its effective and annoying to market inside the company, do you think this is a clever idea?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Direct Marketing
Direct marketing is the use of telecommunications and nonpersonal media to communicate product and organizational information to customers, who then can purchase products via mail, telephone, or the internet. It can occur through catalog marketing, direct response marketing, telemarketing, television home shopping and online retailing.
Catalog marketing is when a customer receives a catalog and is able to purchase a product through mail, telephone or the internet. When I was a kid there was no internet at our house so if we saw something we liked in a catalog we would place all our orders by mail or phone. Direct response marketing is when a retailer advertises a product and makes it available through mail or telephone orders. I've seen retailers advertise their products and offer a way to buy them but I've never actually purchased a product this way before.
Telemarketing is when everything is done by phone. It can help generate sales leads, improve customer service, speed up payments on past-due accounts, gather marketing data and raise funds for nonprofit organizations. Personally I hate telemarketing and unless it is a family memeber or a friend calling me, I wont answer the phone. Television home shopping is when products are presented to television viewers, who can buy them by calling a toll-free number and pay with a credit card. I have never done this personally but I see it on TV all the time. They always try to give you double the product if you call right away or within the next 10 min. This way of marketing drives me crazy, I'd love to watch a program without being bothered to buy something.
Online retailing is retailing that makes products available to buyers through computer connections. I do buy things online a lot because it's easier to go online then it is to drive to the store, especially if the store isn't around where I live. The shipping does take a little longer but for me it is totally worth the wait.
A lot of people are now seeing that companies are selling more products or have them in stock online rather then in the store. Do you agree with this? Have you ever gone into a store to buy something but it wasn't in stock so they told you to go online? What is your opinion on direct marketing?
Catalog marketing is when a customer receives a catalog and is able to purchase a product through mail, telephone or the internet. When I was a kid there was no internet at our house so if we saw something we liked in a catalog we would place all our orders by mail or phone. Direct response marketing is when a retailer advertises a product and makes it available through mail or telephone orders. I've seen retailers advertise their products and offer a way to buy them but I've never actually purchased a product this way before.
Telemarketing is when everything is done by phone. It can help generate sales leads, improve customer service, speed up payments on past-due accounts, gather marketing data and raise funds for nonprofit organizations. Personally I hate telemarketing and unless it is a family memeber or a friend calling me, I wont answer the phone. Television home shopping is when products are presented to television viewers, who can buy them by calling a toll-free number and pay with a credit card. I have never done this personally but I see it on TV all the time. They always try to give you double the product if you call right away or within the next 10 min. This way of marketing drives me crazy, I'd love to watch a program without being bothered to buy something.
Online retailing is retailing that makes products available to buyers through computer connections. I do buy things online a lot because it's easier to go online then it is to drive to the store, especially if the store isn't around where I live. The shipping does take a little longer but for me it is totally worth the wait.
A lot of people are now seeing that companies are selling more products or have them in stock online rather then in the store. Do you agree with this? Have you ever gone into a store to buy something but it wasn't in stock so they told you to go online? What is your opinion on direct marketing?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
In response to Elizabeth V's Question
Do you think that having a coupon for a product will make you want to buy it more even if you weren't planning on buying it in the first place?
I feel like the answer to this question is both yes and no. I think that anway you can save money is worth it especially in our current economy. If I get a coupon that I feel is a good deal and have the extra money to spend, then I will impulse buy. But if the product is something I don't need then the coupon doesn't mean anything to me. Sometimes I get coupons for soap or razor blades and if I need them soon anyways, I will buy them a little early and use the coupon. Who doesn't love coupons?
I think there is a difference between using them when you need them and using them when you don't need them. If the product is something you will need soon then coupons are totally worth it but if you are spending your money just because you got a coupon then isn't that called impulse buying in a way. You weren't planning on buying the product and then all the sudden you got a coupon in the mail or at the register and you feel as though you need to use it right away. Coupons personally annoy me and I feel like people never read them carefully enough. They bring them up to the registers and most of the time they have the same brand but don't read the fine print on the coupon itself to see what you have to actually buy to get the deal. There is also big problem with people using a coupon for every single product. I'm all for saving money but come on, that's a little extreme and shouldn't be done all at once. That is how you hold everyone else up, especially if your the type who likes to get in and get out.
Do you feel that people have to many coupons sometimes? Should they break the coupons up (make a couple trips to the store) or do them all at once? Are you a coupon user or have family or friends who are? Do coupons get you to buy the product even if you don't need it anytime soon?
I feel like the answer to this question is both yes and no. I think that anway you can save money is worth it especially in our current economy. If I get a coupon that I feel is a good deal and have the extra money to spend, then I will impulse buy. But if the product is something I don't need then the coupon doesn't mean anything to me. Sometimes I get coupons for soap or razor blades and if I need them soon anyways, I will buy them a little early and use the coupon. Who doesn't love coupons?
I think there is a difference between using them when you need them and using them when you don't need them. If the product is something you will need soon then coupons are totally worth it but if you are spending your money just because you got a coupon then isn't that called impulse buying in a way. You weren't planning on buying the product and then all the sudden you got a coupon in the mail or at the register and you feel as though you need to use it right away. Coupons personally annoy me and I feel like people never read them carefully enough. They bring them up to the registers and most of the time they have the same brand but don't read the fine print on the coupon itself to see what you have to actually buy to get the deal. There is also big problem with people using a coupon for every single product. I'm all for saving money but come on, that's a little extreme and shouldn't be done all at once. That is how you hold everyone else up, especially if your the type who likes to get in and get out.
Do you feel that people have to many coupons sometimes? Should they break the coupons up (make a couple trips to the store) or do them all at once? Are you a coupon user or have family or friends who are? Do coupons get you to buy the product even if you don't need it anytime soon?
Product differentiation
Some of the most important characteristics of products are the elements that distinguish them from one another. Product differentiaton is the process of designing and creating products so that people can perceive them as different from competing products. The differences in products may include: styling, price, image, quality and even features. The one way that you can tell the difference between one product and another is by the brand.
Product quality refers to the overall characteristics of a product that allow it to perform as expected in satisfying customer needs. As expected as far ase the product goes means something different to each person. They could believe the product's durability means quality and the product's ease of use also means quality. For me when I say "I want a product with good quality," typically I mean that I want it to last and or not fall apart or break a few days after I buy it.
The level of quality is the amount of quality a product possesses. The quality level of one product is hard to describe unless you compare it to another product that is similar. I just purchased a cord that allows me to play my Ipod through the radio and heard that the less money you spend on one the worse it comes in, so I bought the expensive one and it works great. I went with the brand thats more known and with better quality in comparison to the others.
Consistency of quality is the degree to which a product has the same level of quality over time. This just means that the customers are getting the quality that they expect every time the buy it. I love ocean spray cranberry juice and I know that no matter what store I buy it from, I will still enjoy it.
When you shop in stores or even online do you look for product quality? Or do you not care
and just go for the cheapest product? Do you have certain brands and products you buy every week because you know what to expect from them or do you switch it up and try something new?
Product quality refers to the overall characteristics of a product that allow it to perform as expected in satisfying customer needs. As expected as far ase the product goes means something different to each person. They could believe the product's durability means quality and the product's ease of use also means quality. For me when I say "I want a product with good quality," typically I mean that I want it to last and or not fall apart or break a few days after I buy it.
The level of quality is the amount of quality a product possesses. The quality level of one product is hard to describe unless you compare it to another product that is similar. I just purchased a cord that allows me to play my Ipod through the radio and heard that the less money you spend on one the worse it comes in, so I bought the expensive one and it works great. I went with the brand thats more known and with better quality in comparison to the others.
Consistency of quality is the degree to which a product has the same level of quality over time. This just means that the customers are getting the quality that they expect every time the buy it. I love ocean spray cranberry juice and I know that no matter what store I buy it from, I will still enjoy it.
When you shop in stores or even online do you look for product quality? Or do you not care
and just go for the cheapest product? Do you have certain brands and products you buy every week because you know what to expect from them or do you switch it up and try something new?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
In Response to Meghan H's question
Do you think holiday sales are becoming too much?
I know a lot of people get upset when they see christmas items out in september or october but for the most part this doesn't really happen in most companies. I have never walked into a store in september and have seen christmas decorations being set. I work at Target currently so I have seen when each season or holiday has been set for the store. We typically try to get the holiday items out a little more then a month before the actual holiday. This gives people the time to poke around and find things to decorate their homes instead of rushing a few weeks before the holiday. Now if some companies are setting up for christmas early in the fall then that is just ridiculous and unnecessary.
When we set for halloween we usually start in mid september and the say after halloween is when the thanksgiving decorations and items come out. Then the day after thanksgiving (so end of November) is when all the christmas items and decorations come out. We just finished setting our outdoor furniture about a month ago when it was still cold but people like to look through it anyways. It makes people happy to walk by it and think "yes! the outdoor furniture is out which means summer is even closer." Thats what I think whenever I walk by it and with the weather lately, we are selling a ton of it. I love when the halloween section is set in mid-september. It makes people excited for the season even though it is a month away, it is something to look forward to.
Even some of our summer clothing and bathing suits come out in January where as our winter coats come out in October and are gone by beginning of February. Retail works in an odd way but for the most part it makes sense, at least to me. Everyone asks why the bathing suits are out during that time and dont realize people are going on vacation to warm places at these times, especially in March. There is an explanation for everything and even if it doesn't seem to make sense, there is a reason why companies set it up the way they do.
Do you find stores such as Wal-Mart and Target to be very seasonal? If you go into either of these places to shop, do you enjoy the fact that they bring out the specific holiday items a little early helpful or more annoying?
I know a lot of people get upset when they see christmas items out in september or october but for the most part this doesn't really happen in most companies. I have never walked into a store in september and have seen christmas decorations being set. I work at Target currently so I have seen when each season or holiday has been set for the store. We typically try to get the holiday items out a little more then a month before the actual holiday. This gives people the time to poke around and find things to decorate their homes instead of rushing a few weeks before the holiday. Now if some companies are setting up for christmas early in the fall then that is just ridiculous and unnecessary.
When we set for halloween we usually start in mid september and the say after halloween is when the thanksgiving decorations and items come out. Then the day after thanksgiving (so end of November) is when all the christmas items and decorations come out. We just finished setting our outdoor furniture about a month ago when it was still cold but people like to look through it anyways. It makes people happy to walk by it and think "yes! the outdoor furniture is out which means summer is even closer." Thats what I think whenever I walk by it and with the weather lately, we are selling a ton of it. I love when the halloween section is set in mid-september. It makes people excited for the season even though it is a month away, it is something to look forward to.
Even some of our summer clothing and bathing suits come out in January where as our winter coats come out in October and are gone by beginning of February. Retail works in an odd way but for the most part it makes sense, at least to me. Everyone asks why the bathing suits are out during that time and dont realize people are going on vacation to warm places at these times, especially in March. There is an explanation for everything and even if it doesn't seem to make sense, there is a reason why companies set it up the way they do.
Do you find stores such as Wal-Mart and Target to be very seasonal? If you go into either of these places to shop, do you enjoy the fact that they bring out the specific holiday items a little early helpful or more annoying?
The Role of Price
What is price? Price is the value exchanged for products in a marketing transaction. Trading of products, or what is called barter, is the oldest form of exchange. Goods and services were exchanged among one another for other goods and or services. Barter still happens to this day and there are many people who service others for something in return, could be fresh fruit and vegetables rather then money. I actually worked on a vegetable farm one summer and the owner got certain tools and or equipment and in return the other person got fresh vegetable whenever they wanted.
Price competition is when a marketer emphasizes price as an issue and matches or beats the prices of competitors. This happens with most business because they are all trying to make sales and beat out the other companies. I work for Target and one of our major competitors is Wal-mart. They sell pretty much the same things as Target does but for a cheaper price. They send people into our store to check out our prices and in return we do the same. If all firms producing the same product charge the same price, the firm with the lowest costs is the most profitable. If all companies charged the same amount and had the same sales then it wouldn't matter what store you shopped at. A seller competing on price may change prices frequently or at least must be willing to do so and both Target and Wal-mart and other companies are willing to do so if they want to survive.
Nonprice competition occurs when a seller decides not to focus on price and instead emphasizes distinctive product features, service, product quality, promotion, packaging, or other factors to distinguish its product from competing brands. Thus this allows a company to increase brand's unit sales besides changing the price of the brand. Nonprice competition is effective under certain conditions. A company must be able to distinguish its brand through different product features, higher product quality, promotion, packaging or even great customer service. At Target we try to help every customer we can and focus a lot on customer service. The last place I want to shop is at a store where no one offers to help you. It's important for companies to focus on both nonprice competition and price competition.
Do you think most companies keep an eye on price competition and nonprice competition? We know Target and Wal-Mart watch eachothers product prices and compete for customers but what about other businesses? Especially with our current economic condition, do you think more companies are becoming or are price conscious?
Price competition is when a marketer emphasizes price as an issue and matches or beats the prices of competitors. This happens with most business because they are all trying to make sales and beat out the other companies. I work for Target and one of our major competitors is Wal-mart. They sell pretty much the same things as Target does but for a cheaper price. They send people into our store to check out our prices and in return we do the same. If all firms producing the same product charge the same price, the firm with the lowest costs is the most profitable. If all companies charged the same amount and had the same sales then it wouldn't matter what store you shopped at. A seller competing on price may change prices frequently or at least must be willing to do so and both Target and Wal-mart and other companies are willing to do so if they want to survive.
Nonprice competition occurs when a seller decides not to focus on price and instead emphasizes distinctive product features, service, product quality, promotion, packaging, or other factors to distinguish its product from competing brands. Thus this allows a company to increase brand's unit sales besides changing the price of the brand. Nonprice competition is effective under certain conditions. A company must be able to distinguish its brand through different product features, higher product quality, promotion, packaging or even great customer service. At Target we try to help every customer we can and focus a lot on customer service. The last place I want to shop is at a store where no one offers to help you. It's important for companies to focus on both nonprice competition and price competition.
Do you think most companies keep an eye on price competition and nonprice competition? We know Target and Wal-Mart watch eachothers product prices and compete for customers but what about other businesses? Especially with our current economic condition, do you think more companies are becoming or are price conscious?
Thursday, April 1, 2010
In response to Deanna's question
Do you think toyota can ever make it back on top again, where their standings once were? Would you ever buy a toyota since the recall problem?
I'am very dissapointed that toyota tried to cut corners and in the end dug themselves into a hole. It seemed like every week the news would release something else that went wrong with toyota and every week brought out a new issue with the vehicles. If toyota had been more honest in the from start then they may be more trusted but as of now I definitely wouldn't buy from them. I know it is mostly the newer models that are having all the issues. The older ones seem to last forever and are still in great shape.
I remember looking for cars and finding the 1998 toyota corolla in the news paper. I wanted it so bad and heard tons of great things about them including how long they last. That is still true to this day but the newer models have cost people their lives. Toyota has lost their cedibility to me but that isn't true for everyone. I know a ton a people who own toyotas including my friends and family. My father and grandmother own one but haven't had any problems because theirs are 2000-2003 models. Toyota should have just should have dealt with thier big problem from the start rather then try to cover it up because in the end the truth comes out and in this case made it even worse for them.
Will the company ever make it back to the top again? Sure they could make it to the top again but it will take a ton of work. They have to flip their customers and future customers attitude towards them right around if they have hope in saving the company. They need to be honest and try to rebuild their customer trust. I'm not saying this will happen any time soon or at all, but if it does it will take toyota years and years and years to rebuild their name. Now whenever I hear toyota I associate it will a company thats in trouble and the company whose cars aren't safe.
Do you feel as though people are going to buy a toyota car even after hearing about them in the news? Or will people start buying from other car companies such as nissan or ford? How about nissan and fords car sales compared to toyota, do you believe they have gone up since all of toyotas issues were released? Or are people still buying the older versions of toyota and staying away from the newer ones?
I'am very dissapointed that toyota tried to cut corners and in the end dug themselves into a hole. It seemed like every week the news would release something else that went wrong with toyota and every week brought out a new issue with the vehicles. If toyota had been more honest in the from start then they may be more trusted but as of now I definitely wouldn't buy from them. I know it is mostly the newer models that are having all the issues. The older ones seem to last forever and are still in great shape.
I remember looking for cars and finding the 1998 toyota corolla in the news paper. I wanted it so bad and heard tons of great things about them including how long they last. That is still true to this day but the newer models have cost people their lives. Toyota has lost their cedibility to me but that isn't true for everyone. I know a ton a people who own toyotas including my friends and family. My father and grandmother own one but haven't had any problems because theirs are 2000-2003 models. Toyota should have just should have dealt with thier big problem from the start rather then try to cover it up because in the end the truth comes out and in this case made it even worse for them.
Will the company ever make it back to the top again? Sure they could make it to the top again but it will take a ton of work. They have to flip their customers and future customers attitude towards them right around if they have hope in saving the company. They need to be honest and try to rebuild their customer trust. I'm not saying this will happen any time soon or at all, but if it does it will take toyota years and years and years to rebuild their name. Now whenever I hear toyota I associate it will a company thats in trouble and the company whose cars aren't safe.
Do you feel as though people are going to buy a toyota car even after hearing about them in the news? Or will people start buying from other car companies such as nissan or ford? How about nissan and fords car sales compared to toyota, do you believe they have gone up since all of toyotas issues were released? Or are people still buying the older versions of toyota and staying away from the newer ones?
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