Marketing Decoder: Chevrolet Impala Emblem

     General Motors Co. is debuting their new 2014 Chevrolet Impala sedan and with it they are showing off it's new revamped emblem as well.  The emblem is that of a long-horned silver African
antelope.  "The new look accents muscle, agility, and speed...attempts to market the car as a more luxurious vehicle."  This process was not a quick one as it took almost a year for the update to be complete so clearly much thought went into it.  The whole new look is very contemporary and with the times of today.
       I chose this article because in my Marketing Strategy class we recently discussed brand symbols.  Many people know brands or items because of the company's brand symbol and this symbol usually symbolizes what the company stands for.  I think the change of the emblem is great.  It is still the antelope so people will still know it is for the Impala but it definitely has more of a modern look to it so it is fresh and new.  I think it very interesting of all the thought that goes into the brand symbol, it really can help or hurt a company.

Old Emblem

New Emblem

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Can the Tablet Please Take Your Order Now?

     Small business owners are deciding to allow technology to help run their businesses.  Especially since there is a possibilty that minimum wage could possibly increase under a pledge by President Obama.  This pledge is "long overdue for an upgrade and that a higher rate would provide residual benefits, such as a reduction in turnover and increased productivity."  Even though the benefits are great small businesses are hard enough to stay afloat so it may be hard for them to pay the increase. Technology seems like a good replacement to actual employees.  The costs for such technology is much more cheaper than in past years so it is more likely an option for these small businesses.  Even though technology seems like a win-win answer, "simple technologies, such as tablets, bring other costs, including implemmentation, maintenance upgrades and repair."  Many of these owners may not be up to that challenge.
     As you already know by previous posts I have a love-hate relationship with technology.  I think it is great and the world is expanding its knowledge because of it but it is very sad when it is taking the place of actual humans.  I can see both sides of this especially for the small business owners as they have to watch every penny and save where they can.  I think technology can be implemented partially into the equation but you still will need actual people to run a successful business. 

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Hillshire CEO Maneuvers to Keep Meat a 'Hero"

   

      Hillshire Brands Co. is really making a lot of moves.  In the past year they have changed their name (previously called Sara Lee Corp), changed their headquarters, and changed their leader.  The new CEO, Sean Connolly, is planing to create new product lines and update the corporate culture.  Apparently what Mr. Connolly is doing, he is doing things the right way.  "The company has exceeded Wall Street expecatations twice."
     I enjoyed reading this article as I work in consumer goods.  Connolly must have received his MBA because many of his focuses I am learning in my Marketing Strategy class.  He is moving forward with innovation and people are responding positiviely to that.  He knows he has to continue to extend the product lines to reach out to more target markets. Developing the new product lines will also help Hillshire stay in the now. Also, the corporate culture of a company is a main reason for the company to be a success.  I look forward to see what else Hillshire will come out with next.

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Companies Hire 'Ethical Hackers' to Dupe, and Train, Staff

     The company, Digital Defense Inc., has the main objective of being "ethical hackers" to the companies who hire them.  They create cyber attacks to point out employees' human failings.  The company does not want their hacks to get anyone fired or in trouble but wants people to learn the mistakes with them before they are fooled into real hacks..."trying to get workers to act badly before the bad guys do."
     This article was really interesting.  Everyone at work at some point or another clicks on website links and other links that are sent as attachments.  Most of the time they are fine but that chance time when it is an actual virus it really can disrupt the companies technology equipment.  Most companies have secure networks but extreme hackers could find a way to break it and this could cause problems if just one employee clicks on something they shouldn't.  I think companies like Digital Defense are a good idea.  People need to learn and why have them learn the hard way when they can just learn a lesson instead.  I am sure the lessons would be beneficial and people will be more aware on what they are clicking on.

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Graphic New Antismoking Ads Unveiled

     The U.S. government has been hard at work as it recently unveiled a series of graphic new anti-smoking advertisements.  These advertisements are extremely explicit as the government hopes such impactful images will persuade more Americans to quit smoking.  They previously have tried to push new labels on cigarette packs that were also to be very graphic.  These labels got much push back from the tobacco industry.  The FDA said it would come up with new labels.  The smoking rates in the U.S. have been declining over the past decades but tobacco is still linked with more preventable deaths than any other cause.  In March 2012 the first national media efforts with these impactful images had a huge response rate of people wanting to quit.  The CDC is the federal agency that is pushing this campaign and they are planning on spending $48 million on the new advertisements.
     I do not smoke and do not fully understand why people do.  There is enough evidence that it is not good for your health but people are willing to sacrifice that apparently.  I think what the CDC is doing is excellent.  People need to see the full effect of smoking and what better way than images of what could potentially happen to them in the future.  The CDC had success in their past efforts so hopefully these new set of advertisements will have the same results and people will choose to quit than continue on with the awful habit.

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The Arms Race to Grow World's Hottest Pepper Goes Nuclear

     Probably not known to the majority of the world but there is "this global community of chili growers who are competing ruthlessly with each other."  They are competing for the world's hottest pepper!  They actually keep a record of this in the Guinness Book of World Records.  The hottness level is measured by Scoville marks.  "After 800,000 Scoville units, you've got to be careful" says Alex de Wit, a co-owner of the Chilli Factory in Morisset, Australia.  Apparently, there is a pepper that that has over 2 million Scoville marks...this is the same strength as police-grade pepper spray
.  Wow!
     I definitely enjoy hot and spicy foods.  I am the person that always asks for the hot sauce at restaurants.  However, I think this article puts the hotness and spicy-ness on a whole new level.  I can't even image what some of these peppers must taste like.  I found this article extremely interesting as I had no idea this was such a competition among chili makers.  I know there are always tons of hot sauces to choose from but little did I know that the levels of hotness played such a key part in creating them.

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College Grads May Be Stuck in Low-Skill Jobs

     When the recession hit, it hit the job field hard.  Many college educated people were only able to find low-skilled jobs such as those in retail or coffee shops.  A term this can be referred to is "underemployment" - skilled workers doing jobs that don't require their level of education. Even once the recession is over the future for these job seekers is still not that bright.  An economic recovery alone wll not turn this situation around but also new technologies will be needed to revive the demand for advanced skills.  Many jobs that use to need these high skilled employees are now using technological tools such as robots that are capable to get the job done in place of humans.  Even though it is not guaranteed to secure a high-skilled job as a college graduate, it is even harder for those without a degree.  "The unemployment rate for Americans with at least a bachelor's degree was 3.8% in February, compares with 7.9% for those with just a high school diploma." 
     This article discusses the reality of the struggle of job seekers out there.  Many people think if they have a college degree they will be able to find a job no problem after graduation.  That no longer is the case.  So these students most likely have aquired all these school loans without being able to pay them after graduation since they are unable to get a job.  I do hope once the recession turns around job opportunities become more available for the college graduates which in turn will open up the less-skilled jobs open for those without degrees.  I am a fan of technology and all it can accomplish but at the same time I do not like it for it takes away the humanity of what use to be.  An example of this is supermarkets with their check out  yourself lines via the computer screens.  I refuse to use these lines as these have taken away people's jobs.

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