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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Tiffany Needs Silver-Linings Playbook

     Tiffany & Co. has been in the jewelry business for 175 years.  Tiffany's silver jewelry is a big reason for their success mainly because it is less expensive than their other lines and it carries a higher profit margin.  Also, rivals of the jeweler would discount their jewelry while Tiffany's would not.  However, in recent times this line has decreased in profits mainly because Tiffany's did not update the selection quick enough as well as the poor economy.  This isn't the first time Tiffany's had a problem with their silver line.  About a decade ago it was too popular among the teenage population and Tiffany's was afraid it was effecting their high end image so they raised the prices.  Tiffany & Co. are developing new products and new lines in hopes to turn their sales around.
     I think every woman in the U.S. knows what Tiffany & Co. is, and they know it is a very expensive jeweler that many of us cannot afford.  Their brand image is of upscale and luxury.  I can understand why they are hurting in this economy.  They definitely need to strategize to turn this around.  I think their silver line is a staple and can never go out of style so they should of never raised the prices.  If the teenagers are willing to spend their money on the products Tiffany's should be happy and accept the sale.  Tiffany's would still be known for their high end and diamonds...their image would not be hurt.

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That Fuzzy Truth in Labeling

     The Federal Trade Commission has mandated three retailers to 20-year orders requiring them to abide the Fur Act.  The U.S. Fur Act covers the naming, advertising, and labeling of fur.   This Act has been in existence since 1951 and "requires retailers to tell customers where a fur comes from, the animal from which it derived, and if it is used or new fur.  They also have to disclose if the product is 'composed in whole or in substantial part of paws, tails, bellies, or waste fur."  These three retailers were "misleading consumers by advertising products containing 'faux fur' that actually contained the fur of real, once-living animals.  Neiman Marcus, one of the retailers that got scolded claims their error was in the administrative department and not some sneaky plan to put real fur into the market.
     As much as companies try to label all their products and as much as consumers believe this labels there is always room for error.  It can never be 100% accurate since there is always the chance of human error.  Hopefully, sometime in the future the chances of errors can be eliminated and there will be no more recalls or mis-leading information.  At least when companies are found out to be wrong there are warnings and punishments given to them so at least this pushes them harder to be as close to accurate in their information provided as possible.

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Starbucks Buys Its First Coffee Farm

     Starbucks a dominant force in the coffee world has recently bought a 600-acre farm in Costa Rica.  This is Starbucks first farm and they plan to "develop new coffee varieties and test methods to eradicate a fungal disease known as coffee rust that is vexing the industry."  Starbucks hopes to continue to be innovative in ways they were unable to do before the purchase of the farm.  The coffee rust fungus is quite a concern that is becoming more apparent and it is effecting the forecasts for coffee production.  Starbucks hopes to find the cause of this fungus and put an end to it.
     As I mentioned in an earlier post I love coffee!  Starbucks is definitely a not to miss stop at least twice a week for me.  The whole brand of Starbucks including coffee is a win win for me.  They are the leader in the coffee industry and they clearly will continue to be so with their innovation.  The purchase of the farm is just another step in the right direction for them.  The research that Starbucks will aquire from the farm will create some great new coffees!  Hopefully, they will also solve the problem of the coffee rust.

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A Toy Maker Comes Home to U.S.A.

     K'Nex Brands LP, is family owned  toy company located in a suburb of Philadelphia.  China has long been the source of production for their products but over the past few years they have brought much production back to the U.S.A.  Two ways they are able to do this is because they have redesigned some of the toys and given the children a job to assemble part of the two once its purchased and in their home.  There are many advantages for K'Nex bringing the production into the U.S.A.  First, now the production is closer to the retailers they are able to react faster to the demands.  Second, quality control is now better looked after now in the U.S.A.  Third, since labor costs in Asia are increasing immenseley it is not much cheaper anymore to produce in China verse America.  K'Nex's goal is to eventually move all production into the U.S.A.
     I was very happy after reading this article as "made in the U.S.A." is a huge importance now a days and many consumers are searching for this stamp on products before they purchase.  Especially with the economic downturn and the loss of many jobs people are trying to help out others by looking for this mark.  Besides that, toys specifically have very tough testing processes.  Many people do not feel safe with toys coming from China since there have been many incidents of recalls and failures in the not so distant past.  K'Nex will definitely get a loyal following of those consumers who buy only "made in America" toys.  K'Nex did not give up when problems arose but thought out strategies in how to attack the problems and so far it seems to be working!

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H&M's Sales Slump Again

     The once extremely thriving company, Hennes and Mauritz (better known as H&M), has declined in sales for the fifth month in a row. Their main struggle is keeping customers to continue to spend their money at their store in the very intense and very competitive fashion market.  H&M still is profitable, especially with the help of new stores openings in the past year.  However, their five month decline is the longest they have had since the spring of 2009 when the financial crisis hit.  H&M competes with their competitors by having lower prices since their supply chain is slower than others.  However, there are still competitors that have lower prices.  H&M is struggling to find how they want to position themselves.  "Bernstein analyst Jamie Merriman sees two choices for H&M.  Either it should cut prices to blunt the growth of lower-price competitors, putting further pressure on its margins.  Or it can back out of the bottom end of the market and target customers who are prepared to pay more for such products as its recently launched Conscious Collection of clothes made from organic cotton."  In January H&M revealed they are planning to create a new chain called Other Stories which will be aimed to a more affluent shopper.
     I love H&M.  I work close to a mall so I am frequently there on my lunch breaks and H&M is usually one of the shops I always check out since they always have the latest trends.  The article says that H&M is trying to find their position but I think they already have it.  Trendy clothes at a cheap price but not too cheap that the quality suffers.  I do hope H&M turns this around because they are a great store.  They need to continue to bring in the trend right clothes and the customers will buy.  They also will buy I believe if H&M takes one of the two strategies Bernstein suggested.  If H&M lowers their prices but does not sacrifice their quality this is a winning strategy.  Also, having more of a niche store such as Other Stories would be beneficial as it will target specific consumers and they will hopefully be pulled in.

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Help Wanted! Data,data everywhere - and not enough people to decipher it

     Many companies today are trying to gain a competitive edge by examining all their data as well as their competitors.  This is becoming a top priority for companies but easier said than done as companies need employees with the talent to search through the data.  "51% of surveyed IT professionals currently involved in big-data projects cited 'lack of expertise to connect the dots' as a reason projects fail in their organization.  No other factor was more commonly cited."  A few ways companies are trying to find this talent is through recruitment on college campuses, sponsoring computer-coding contests, as well as trolling industry conferences.
     In class we discussed different sources of data.  Secondary sources of data is what this article is about.  Many companies have tons of data piled up but no one to go through it and sort it out for them.  This is definitely a challenge for companies.  I think data mining jobs like this need to be more out in the open so people are aware such jobs exist.  I am sure there are many college students that are unaware of this field and if it was brought to their attention there would be more people in the field instead of there being a lack of talent.

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Wrigley's New Chewing Gum Packs a Dose of Caffeine

     Wrigley's is part of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. company, which is the largest gum company in the world.  The article states that they have a new gum, Alert,  coming out in April 2013.  This gum will be caffeine infused.  Their target audience are 25 years and older.  The concept and thought process behind this creation was to produce a "portable energy product that will let consumers control their caffeine consumption."  Just like the energy drinks that are out in the market Wrigley's too is receiving back lash against the gum for it's safety when used bykids and teenagers.  To combat this criticism Wrigley's has created a new brand and packaging for the Alert product line so it cannot be connected to the brands that the kids and teenagers are familiar with.  Wrigley's has decided to venture into this because the gum industry has been falling in popularity since 2010 and the caffeine infused products are so popular.
     Energy drinks and fancy coffees are all the rage so why not continue on that caffeine high and add caffeine gum into the mix.  I personally dislike energy drinks because I know they are extremely bad for you.  I had a few red bulls years ago and I hated the effect.  I could feel my heart beating so fast and there was nothing I could do.  I know Wrigley's is trying to be innovative and fill a niche but I think they could do this in another way. They could update their packaging or create new flavors.   I am sure Alert will be successful because so many people rely on their caffeine fix and gum is such a portable and easy product to keep with you.  Also, I know Wrigley's is branding Alert different than the other gums but it is still candy in the eyes of kids so I am sure they will receive more backlash once the gum hits shelves from parents and consumer groups.

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Facebook Unveils Changes to Its News Feed

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     Since many new social apps are flooding the market Facebook must continue to be creative and innovative in order to stay at the number one spot.  Their new way of doing this is by changing its news feed.  This change will "...include a more minimal design, larger images and new types of sub-feeds."  Facebook hopes that with this new change they will cause users to stay longer on the site and view more of the advertisements and brands.  Mark Zuckerberg the Chief Executive of Facebook describes the new format as being, "the best personalized newspaper."
     I am a pretty frequent user of Facebook.  Facebook is really the only social media tool I use.  Hearing about this new change is not really surprising since it seems there are changes and updates all the time.  The first version of Facebook was the best version in my opinion.  It seems all the changes they make do not agree with the majority of users and many complaints ensue.  I understand how Facebook wants to stay ahead of their competition but it seems like they throw out these changes without fully thinking them through and how they will effect the users.  I will be interested to see the new layout and if it is a crowd pleaser or not.

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Livestrong Seeks Life After Lance Armstrong

     The Livestrong Foundation was founded 15 years ago.  It is a charity that is devoted to helping cancer survivors.  It had a strong connection with former pro cyclist, Lance Armstrong.  However, with all the negativity surrounding Lance Armstrong the foundation is trying to move past that and become its own name again.  The charity has done many changes to lose the stigma attached with Armstrong.  They are increasing staff morale, added the word "Foundation" to its name, hired a crisis-communicatios firm, and moved its "call-to-action" day since the original date was the date of Lance Armstrong's diagnosis.  The new date is now the day of when the yellow wristbands were introduced.


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     I have known a few a cancer surivors as well as people who didn't win the fight.  Livestrong definitely was a positive reinforcement in helping one think they can beat the awful disease.  Yes, the story of Lance Armstrong before his fall from grace was a phenomenal story indeed.  However, I am sure there are tons of other stories just like his from other cancer survivors.  Lance Armstrong was the face of Livestrong but Livestrong is a charity that is more than just having a celebrity endorser.  I think the Livestrong Foundation is a great charity and will continue to thrive after the whole Armstrong scandal fades away.  The Livestrong Foundation has to continue on their mission and people will continue to respect them.  I know I will.

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TSA to Allow Small Knives on Planes

     Ever since September 11, 2011 the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been extremely strict on airplane security.  However, it was announced that in the near future there would be a change.  This change is that people will now be able to carry a small knife with them on the plane.  The knives do have to fit a certain criteria..."blades no longer than 2.36 inches and no wider than half a inch."  The purpose of this change is in hopes that it will cut down the security checklane process.
     I think this new change is absurd.  I travel quite a lot for my job so being on a plane is pretty familiar to me.  What else is also familiar is the long security lines beforehand.  Yes, these lines mean getting to the airport earlier than necessary and then standing in these lines for quite sometime but since it is a precaution so I can travel safely then that is fine by me.  It is not necessary for people to have pocket knives with them while on the plane.  If they want to bring them with them on their trip then they can check it with their lugguage.  The world is a scary place and people are crazy so there is no need to give unwanted actions an opportunity to unfold when they could be prevented.


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A Smart Investor Would Skip the M.B.A.

     This article discusses whether spending money on an MBA is really worth it or not.  The author believes that it is defintely not worth it.  He believes that networking and taking training courses on your own is far more important in succeeding than sitting in a classroom.  Networking is an invaluable trait and really can help one go far in their career.  The author asks the question of who you would rather hire..."the candidate who built a profitable business over the course of two years, or the candidate who sat in lectures and reviewed case studies to get a degree?"
     The question the author poses is a good one.  I think the person I would want to hire would be a combination of the two.  A person who has great social skills and someone who is book smart.  I think the person who is an either or option will only go so far in their career until they reach their limit.  Someone who has both traits, example ME, will hopefully have a competitive edge over other applicants and co-workers.  I think being well-rounded is a very positive asset so having the networking skills and M.B.A will be a double threat!

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Not All Sneakers Are Imported...Yet

     Pretty much all sneakers sold in the U.S. are not made in the U.S.  "New Balance Athletic Shoe is the sole athletic-shoe maker that still has factories in the U.S."  Sadly, this may not be for too much longer.  Tariffs on imported running shoes may soon be done away with.  This will put an end to their competitive advantage since their competitors will be able to afford to produce their products in the U.S.  99% of sneakers are imported to the U.S., with the majority of them coming from Asia.  There is a lot of competition between the U.S. and Asia in the production of sneakers.  Material costs, labor intensitivity, and the costs of labors are all main issues that these two countries compete over.
     I am not sure when this tariff decision will be made but I will be sure to keep an eye out for it.  I work in the consumer goods industry so I am well aware  of all the issues of domestic and imported costs.  I also know that the "made in America" logo on products is a big, big incentive for people to purchase even if the price is higher than what they are willing to spend.
     The tariff dilemma is just another external factor that New Balance will have to deal with via creating an effective strategy to combat it.  I think they should really showcase on their packaging and in the media that their products are made in the U.S and they are the original company to be doing so.  I had no idea that they were until I read this article.  I will just have to wait and see how New Balance will address the situation once the decision is made.

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Big Real-Estate Firms Are Going to School

Rendering of a student-housing community by Brandywine Realty and Campus Crest in Philadelphia.

     Off-campus houses are getting a HUGE makeover.  Many big name real-estate development companies  are breaking into off-campus college housing.  "The moves are designed to help the companies better weather the next economic recession by diversifying into areas considered less sensitive to downturns."  Also, many colleges and universities do not have adequate funds to create more on-campus housing.  Since there is the problem of not enough on-campus housing for students these new off-campus housing options seem to be the solution to the problem.  These off-campus housing buildings will be much more luxurious than on-campus housing since the developers are planning to include many upscale amenities to draw the students in.  Some amenities include tanning beds, resort-style pools, and ice-skating rinks.
     This article blew my mind!  I mean an ice-skating rink right outside your college apartment?!  I understand why these developers are going into the college housing sector but I think they need to tone it down a little.  Students are at college to learn not to have a 365 day tan.  Also, with these housing options and these amenities of course the places will be expensive.  Many students will not even be able to afford to live there.  Especially in today's economy and the increase in student debt.  Students are becoming more aware of all the loans they will accumulate while in college and I am pretty sure they are not going to want to throw additional charges of an upscale apartment to the list when they can find more functional and economical living arrangements elsewhere.
     It will be interesting to see how these luxury college housing arrangements will make out and whether they are a success or not.

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New Efforts to Shorten the Car-Buying Process

     The car-buying process is exactly what it says it is...a process.  However, many different car dealers are looking at ways to shorten the process.  A few ways this can be achieved is "...from mobile devices that can calculate a car's trade in value in the parking lot to expanded call centers to handle rising traffic from smartphone shoppers."  These are a great step in the direction of shortening the process since it still takes on average two to three hours to negotiate the deal.  This time does not include the additional time that is spent on all the research before the negotiation.
     I was drawn to this article because recently I have been starting to think of maybe, possibly getting a new car.  Reading this information about new ways to reduce the negotiation stress definitely is a plus.  In my marketing class we discussed the whole consumer buying process.  The steps or stages that make up the process are: need recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and postpurchase evaluation.  Bigger purchases such as buying a car need all the steps to be looked at.  These steps especially need attention if somone is relatively new to the purchase.  For example...me in the car buying process as this will only be my second car.
     Car-buying is something that has a negative stigma attached to it because of all the time it takes and the haggling of the price.  The new efforts to ease the process will certainly be interesting to see if it changes the outlook of car-buying to a more positive experience.

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Macy's Strategy Paying Off

 
    This article discusses Macy's strategy and how it is working and helping to guide strong sales growth.  Macy's does admit that J.C. Penny's struggle is a help to their growth.  However, their strategy is the driving force.  Macy's strategy is made up of three parts.  First, Macy's "tailors merchandise to local tastes."  Second, they are pushing their online presence to be more well known.  Third, they have developed more intense staff training.
     Macy's is one of my go - to stores so no way would I pass up to discuss this article.  Macy's three-pronged strategy is definitely a step in the right direction.  The Macy's upper management team must of gotten their MBAs since their strategy matches up to everything I am learning in class.  Their strategy of merchandising to local tastes or localization, definitely is a competitive advantage and would be a strength in Macy's SWOT analysis.  This localization is giving customers product that is specific to their needs and only available at Macy's.  Macy's desire to have a stronger online presence is indicating that Macy's is innovative and keeping up with the changing marketplace.  The improvement of staff training can only enhance the customer epxerience and their loyalty to Macy's.

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"Checking In" with Female Travelers

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  "Today, women make up nearly half of all business travelers - and that number is projected to increase in the decades ahead."  There are many new marketing pushes towards the female traveler; for example, ladies only bathrooms on airlines and lighter-fare menus at hotels.  Even though there are some great initiatives there are still many challenges ahead.  To help with these challenges Hyatt Hotels put forth a project to get some answers.  The main conclusion that the Hyatt project found out was that female travelers main desire is to be accomodated.
     I chose this article for a few reasons.  One, is that I travel often for my job so many of the points the article discussed I could relate to.  I also chose this article because many topics that have been discussed in my marketing class were portrayed.  The article discusses how it is important for travel arrangements to be more personalized.  This ties in with marketing segmentation.  Years ago segementation was not available, it was a one and only kind deal.  However, with all the advances in marketing and technology, segmentation and personalization can be achieved.  Another topic from class discussed in the article is primary data collection.  The project Hyatt launched was achieved through primary data collection, specifically focus groups.
     This article was a great read and really helped connect the textbook I am reading for class and the real business world.

*This article is unavailable on WSJ.com*

Oscars Win Viewers, Appeal to Younger Set

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     This article discussed how the Oscars had their largest audience in three years.  The Oscars is a monumental television show each year.  "The Oscars rank as the second biggest draw in U.S. television after the Super Bowl...the show commands a global audience of some 1 billion."  Also, a fact about the Oscars that I was not aware of is that unlike other award shows the Oscars must deliver a certain number of awards on air.
     I am a huge fan of celebrities so I am sure to never miss an awards show! I personally think the Oscars this year was great!  Seth McFarlane did an excellent job as the host.  The feel of the show definitely was light-hearted and not as stuffy as previous years.  It seems the producers of the Oscars chose their target audience to be that of a younger age.  That focus paid off because it brought in the highest viewership of the show that it had in the past three years.  I think the producers should keep this focus for the upcoming years as they will continue to grab the attention of the younger viewers which can lead to loyalty to watch through the years.  Also, I think targeting the younger viewers is important since there are so many up and coming young actors and actresses.

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Companies Seek to Avoid China New Year Hangover

     This article explains that every year millions of China's migrant factory workers travel home to their families.  The problem is that many of the workers do not return to the factories once the holiday is over.  A major cause of this is that many workers have higher expectations for pay and they look elsewhere for jobs.  These labor issues are causing problems in production times and error rates.  This problem in China is forcing companies to look at other countries for possible factory sites.
     I picked this article because in my position at work the impact of China's New Year holiday is huge!  We know we need to allot extra time for orders and developments.  If we do not then orders and projects can be delayed and backed up and this makes the company I work for look bad.  The accounts we deal with do not really have their eyes open to the labor issues we deal with so when orders get delayed is it 100% fully our fault.  This is why it is extremely important to incorporate the China New Year holiday into our planning for the year.

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Malls' New Spin on Leisure

Rendering of IntoOutdoors

     This article discusses the project IntoOutdoors.  It is to open next year in the English countryside and will sit on 125 acres.  It will combine traditional stores with outdoor attractions as well.  "It uses entertainment to lure customers to shopping centers, then keep them there all day and keep them spending, rather than losing business to online-shopping sites."  The director of IntoOutdoors, Simon Tothill, explains "We're trying to make a living experience, rather than just a retail one." 
     I love to shop so of course I would choose this article to write about.  This idea sounds great and I am sure it will be a success.  Yes, internet shopping is becoming much more popular but the internet cannot provide the real experience of shopping and actual hands on activities.  The IntoOutdoors center will allow shoppers to consider both.  The center will allow all types of people to find something they are interested in, whether it be the shops themselves, restaurants, or physical activities such as fishing.  This seems like it will be an awesome place and I hope to one day check it out in person.

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Amazon Acts on German Controversy

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     This article discusses how Amazon has ended their ties with a German security firm.  This is because there were claims of the guards who oversaw the temporary immigrant workers at the Amazon center in Germany of intimidating and harassing the workers.  These claims were brought to light after ARD, a German public-television broadcaster aired a documentary on the working conditions of thousands of temporary workers from different European countries.  These temporary workers were hired by Amazon to work in its German distribution centers during the Christmas rush.
     An interesting fact mentioned in the article was that the security guards wore clothing from Thor Steinar, a brand that is known to be popular with in Germany's neo-Nazi community.  This brand is actually banned from Germany's Parliament and other government buildings.  Amazon stopped selling the brand a few years back.
     I am glad that the documentary took place and this issue was brought to the public's attention.  If the documentary did not take place then these working conditions could still be taking place.  It is unfortunate though that it took this film to happen for the issue to be recognized and put a stop to it.  There are a few people at fault.  Amazon would be the number one at fault.  Amazon needs to have a better grasp on who they hire and what is taking place in their facilities.  I do hope that Amazon really had no idea of what was taking place and they did not put a blind eye to the problem.  If it comes out that they were aware of the conditions then their business will suffer.  The public has no tolerance for that.  I also blame the security guard company.  They need to have a better code of conduct in place so all employees know what is expected and that there be consequences for actions not aligned with the company's policy.
     I hope this article and documentary have opened other company's eyes to their own workforce conditions and they can put and end to any actions that are negative.

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A Degree Drawn in Red Ink

     This article discusses how graduates of Arts-Focused Schools are shown to rack up the most student debt.  Schools that specialize in art, music, and design have an average debt of $21,576 when they graduate.  A problem on top of that is that the majority of graduates have a salary of less than $40,000.  

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     The government created a new way to guage the financial return on a college education by the "College Scorecard."  The Scorecard enables families to see how much debt graduates will owe on loans, information on graduation rates, and other valuable information that was previously unknown to potential undergraduates.  While these are all very informative to a potential student the Scorecard does not say how debt can add up and what it will take to repay it.  The government does plan to add some additional features such as a comparison tool and salary information.

     This topic was very informative to me as I am still paying off my undergraduate loans and will continue to be doing so for a few more years.  School loans are the worst but I think very much worth it.  Education is very important in today's age and without it one will have a very difficult time aquiring a job.  School loans are pretty much a double edged sword.  If one has school loans then most likely they will have a job.  No school loans than no job.  I am only talking about students who don't have school loans because they do not attend college.  The "College Scorecard" is a great tool though.  The price of a college's tuition plays an important deciding factor on where to attend so being able to see possible future loans would really help in the deciding factor.

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'I Don't Smoke, Doc,' and Other Patient Lies

     This article discusses how patients are more likely to lie to their doctors and health care providers than not.  People lie out of fear of a diagnosis, embarassment, and worry about their information being communicated to their employers.  Also, some people lie to their doctors because they are lying to themselves.  "They want to project to their doctor the image they want for themselves."  One doctor in the article believes patients lie because they don't want to be judged.  Doctors will try to pick up on lies but since visits are quite short in time many lies can go unnoticed.

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     After reading this article I really couldn't believe what I read.  Maybe I am one of a kind but I have never lied to a doctor.  The thought never even crossed my mind.  Doctors are there to help you and how can they help you when you are providing inaccurate information.  Health is extremely important so I don't understand why so many people would jeopardize that because they are embarassed by telling the truth.  Your health will suffer if the truth doesn't come out.  Diagnoses can go unnoticed and a mis-diagnosis' will be more likely.  This is something for sure I would not want to experience and hopefully more people will start to feel that way as well.

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Using Smell to Make A Sale

     This article discusses how real-estate agents use certain smells while conducting open houses.  There was also a study done in Switzerland on how different aromas affected what one purchased while shoppping at the store.

     I found this article to be very interesting and have personally had some hands on experience with this.  While in college I worked part time at a real estate office and would help out at open houses once in a while.  One realtor would always light a candle in the living room and an upstairs bathroom.  I always thought it was just so the house smelled nice.  I did not know there was an  underlying meaning.
     Another job I had in college was working at a department store, specifically the swimsuit department.  In summer there would be these machines on the floor and around the department that sprayed out a sun tan lotion spray smell.  So while you shopped you had a feeling you were on the beach.  Many customers would comment on the smell and how they enjoyed it.  I think overall this tactic worked in making the sale.

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Tiffany Sues Costco on Alleged Fakes

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    Costco is a company who primarily carries large packages of food and household items that it sells at a discount.  Tiffany and Co. is a high end jewelry store.  Costco apparently has been selling fake Tiffany jewelry and is being sued by Tiffany and Co.
     I do not shop at Costco.  I actually have never even been inside a Costco.  I have heard of it and when I think of the name I picture a giant warehouse where you buy in bulk.  I could  not imagine a jewelry section in the store but apparently there is one.  Even though I cannot imagine it, it does in fact exist.  I think any person who has heard of the name Tiffany and Co. would know the company would not sell its items in such a setting.  Tiffany and Co. has a very well know brand image as well as a strong following of customers that they do not need to sell their items at Costco as a discount price.  Clearly, the person who notified Tiffany and Co. would agree with my thought process.
     I do think Tiffany and Co. needs to be more aware of their products and if they are being mis-sold at other retailers.  Costco needs to be aware too of the brands they carry and to be sure they are not selling any type of knock offs or fakes.  They should have a stronger policy when dealing with suppliers.

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CEOs Fly Coach? Business Travel Turns Frugal

     The sub-title of this article sums the article up perfectly..."Employees Asked to Forgo Perks, Trade Down to Lesser Hotels; They Should 'Treat Company Funds Like Their Own Money.'"  The travel policies of many companies today are emphasizing utility over luxury.

    I travel quite a lot in my job so this article struck home for me.  My thought process is that if I am spending time away from home on a business trip the traveling aspect should be top notch but not exessive.  Traveling coach across the United States is perfectly ok and the money saved is well worth it.  However, traveling overseas for example, Asia, which is about a 15 hour flight coach would not be acceptable.  On a trip like that you are gone for at least a week so as many comforts as possible should be available to you.  The hotels do not need to be 5 stars but should as least have the comforts of home.  I mean you are working so being comfortable will only enhance your frame of mind and complete your work to the best of your ability.  If your travel conditions are poor then no doubt your work would suffer.  Travel conditions and work tasks have a direct correlation.

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Toys and Apps Are Yet to Play Nice Together

     This article is about how the toy industry is taking best seller games and creating tablet versions of the games.  This development was not a success.  Toy companies are not giving up on this concept and are continuing to try to merge the two together.  Traditional toys have lost market share; whereas,  tablets and educational videogames are becoming the top sellers.  This change could be happening because toy companies are not coming up with innovative toys.
     Kids need to be kids for as long as they can.  The world today is making kids grow up too fast!  Toys are meant for kids and the toy companies need to remember this and start upping their development.  I understand tablets and technology are all the craze now but kids need REAL toys.  Toys that are used while sitting on the living room floor and their imagination is running at full force.  I agree with educational electronical games but I don't think they can be put into the same group as traditional toys.  They are in two different categories and serve two different purposes.

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Now on YouTube: Return of Copyright Woes

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     This article discusses how copyrighted movies are ending up on YouTube.  YouTube has a special program called Content ID which helps identify copyrighted material so content owners can block the content from appearing on the site altogether, or in certain geographical markets.
     I think YouTube is a great program.  It allows you to watch clips of shows, whole shows, music videos, upload your own videos to share, watch tutorials, the options are endless.  I think the big concern companies face are with the uploading of their movies illegally.  When this happens the companies are not benefiting in any; no profit.  If companies wanted to combat this they could make the movies available themselves with either a fee or place advertisments in the movies for a profit.
     If the companies do not have the movies available and people want to watch them they will whether it is legal or illegal so companies should be prepared.

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LinkedIn Profit Soars as Site Caters To Corporate Recruiters, Adds Members 2/8

     The title of this article basically sums up what the article is about.  After hearing many of my friends discuss LinkedIn I decided to join.  Right away, I liked it!  I think it is a great networking tool.  I connected with friends from different industries as well as coworkers from my employer.  I joined groups I was interested in and followed companies I admire.  I am able to stay connected with all the people I come across in my job.  It is a great way to continue face time even if you are miles away.  I can see how LinkedIn would be a great asset for people looking for jobs as well as for recruiters.  Ever since joining I have been contacted by a few recruiters so I can only imagine how much luck job seekers would have with LinkedIn.
     I did explore LinkedIn a little more after reading the article and it seems the paid subscription really does not have any real valuable additional features than those members who choose the free subscription, like myself.
     I hope LinkedIn continues to be innovative and finds ways to continue to better themselves with the changing workplace environment, etc.

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Coffee Demand Shifts Down-Market

     As a daily coffee drinker this article stopped me in my tracks as I flipped through the Wall Street Journal.  This article discusses the decline of demand for the more costly Arabica beans and the lower cost of the Robusta beans.
     Manufacturers are the main reason behind this switch in demand I feel.  The robusta has a lower cost so manufacturers are taking advantage of that by pushing the robusta onto the consumers.  Some consumers like myself where any coffee will do as long as it's coffee will not be opposed to this involuntary push towards robusta beans. However, I know there are many coffee aficionados out there who will only drink the best which is Arabica.
     I agree with the article where the demand for the two will become closer together especially with the way the economy is.  It will be interesting to see the outcome in the long run.

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Library That Holds No Books

     This article breaks my heart.  I refuse to turn my back on hard copies of books.  I hope to one day have a library in my house.  This article is about a library in Texas that is being developed to be all digital.  All digital = NO hardcopies.  I love technology and how it continues to improve our lives but I do not love technology when the plan is take away my books!  I was happy to read the quote by Ramiro Salazar, San Antonio Public Library's director, who said "Our experience shows that demand for printed books continues to exist and it is in fact growing." 

Rendering of library setup. Picture taken from article website.

     I can deal with a few digital only libraries as long as there are real book libraries as well for the people who like me wish to hold a real book in their hands.  Yes, the hard copy is more expensive but it is worth the money to hold and feel the actual book.



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FDA Warns of More Fake Cancer Drug

     This is completely awful!  The FDA has had to warn doctors about counterfeit cancer drugs, specifically Avastin.  Thank goodness this was brought to light before any patients received the counterfeit drug.  People are trusting these doctors and in hand trusting the manufacturer of their prescribed drugs.  There must be a higher standard of QC and QA.  This mistake is unacceptable especially when it deals with the health of people. 

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     Yes, it is horrible that this is actually taking place but what is even more awful is that doctors are buying unapproved drugs to beat the system with Medicare.  Dr. Joel Bernstein has pleaded guilty to doing this.  What a poor ethical choice on his part!  He deserves to lose his liscense if he hasn't already.  If he doesn't there there is no doubt he will lose all his patients with his ethical choice.  As I have learned in class it only takes ONE wrong decision or choice to completely turn off the public and it is very hard to come back to your high status after falling from grace.

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Soccer Match-Fixing Probe Goes Global

     After reading this article I was quite disappointed.  This was the first that I have heard about this situation.  Over 680 soccer matches from all levels and from all around the world are of accused of being fixed by criminal networks.  Singapore allegedly plays the largest part in this crime situation.  Who would of thought?

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     Sports nowadays almost always have some type of negative stigma to them ex. Lance Armstrong and the whole steroid ordeal.  Stigmas as well as poor ethical choices are extremely hard to forget by the fans, consumers, etc.
     The sports world is letting their fans down and without the fans there is no point for the leagues to exist.  Hopefully, this will never come to fruition but it is possible if there is no other way to stop the criminal activity.  I hope this criminal network is put to a stop and the game can be played and enjoyed as it is suppose to be.

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Crime That No Longer Pays

     This article discusses the decrease in crimes that happen in a physical setting, for example, bank hold ups, and the increase in virtual settings, for example, online theft.  This change is allowing for less violence but higher money figures.
     I found this article interesting since technology plays a big part in this story.  Technology is allowing for the criminal to access larger amounts of money and a larger amount of victims.  Yes, online robberies cause less violence but banks nowadays have amble security protections.  The article stated that when these protections were put in place the robberies fell more than 70%.  This clearly deters the criminals.  However, there is no such deterance for online robberies.  The only backlash against the criminal would be extremely long and strong punishments.
     As an avid online bank user myself I would not want the online banking system to end but there needs to be more online security somehow.  Hopefully soon technology will become the solution to the problem they created.

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Harvard Punishes Dozens of Students for Cheating

     WOW!  This article was a bit of a shocker.  Harvard students, about 125 of them, were caught cheating and many were forced to temporarily withdraw.

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     Harvard is one of the top schools in the country so obviously these students are extremely smart that I don't see why they would need to cheat.  So then I think do those students even deserve to be at Harvard?  Probably not since it seems they are cheating their way through their education.
     Also, how Harvard decided to take disciplinary action does not seem very consistent.  Some students were forced to temporarily withdraw; whereas, other students were only put on probabtion.  All students should of received the same punishment.
     For all those students who applied to Harvard and didn't get in, this can help ease the pain because why would you want to go to school with a bunch of cheaters??

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Coke and the Calorie Wars

     This article points the finger at soda for being the blame in obsesity.   I think this is a very easy cop out.  The truth is I think is that people are lazy and they want to blame something other than themselves so they are not at fault.  Yes, soda is not good for you but no one is forcing you to drink it.  You, yourself is choosing to drink it.

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     The opening sentences of the article sums up the real reasons for obsesity.  "Food prices have fallen in relation to incomes.  Jobs have become less strenous.  Instead of being paid to exercise, now people must pay to exercise."  Everyone should know no that no matter how "diet"or "natural" a soda is, it is STILL soda.  If people were more aware of what is in the foods and drinks they consume they would be able to make better decisions and not blame the wrong things.

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Monsanto:Battered,Bruised, and Still Growing

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     This article grabbed my attention because after of not ever hearing about the company, I have heard about it twice in one week.  This article discusses all the setbacks Monsanto has overcome and how they are still growing and expanding their business.
     The name Monsanto has much negativity surrounding their name but clearly the company must be doing something right since they are still around and still being an innovator in their industry.
     The key point in the article I would like to point out since it was a main focus in class on Monday is that Monsanto "...got back to the basics of reconnecting with our customers."  This ties in perfectly with the concept of relationship marketing.  Relationship marketing's goal is to develop and maintain long-term mutually satisfying arrangements where both buyer and seller focus on the value obtained from the relationship.  This shows that Monsanto is putting the customer's needs first and that is needed for a business to succeed.
     I also would like to point out that Monsanto is a very innovative company and being an innovator means you are the first to do something and being that of course will lead to criticism by others.  Monsanto needs to continue to do what they are doing because it is clearly working.

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Psst...This Is What Your Co-Worker is Paid

     This article discussed whether it would be positive or negative to have employees have knowledge on other employee's salaries, the company's financials, etc.  It discussed outcomes of different companies who took this approach.  Some were a success and others a failure.



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     I personally do not like the idea of employees knowing other employees salaries.  I don't think any real good can come out of it.  Yes, I agree it can create a competitve environment which can result in harder workers which would lead to bigger success for the company but the likeliness of that is slim.  I think it would cause much tension between everyone.  I also think employees will spend more time debating other employee's salaries than being productive in their own job.



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     I do agree with employees knowing the company's financials.  I think this is a good push for motivation.  Everyone can see the impact of their work in the big picture.

Interesting Video from the article

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