Response to Aubrey 2

I think that Mike Vatone is walking a fine line between ethical and unethical. Personally, I don't care if he emails me because you can just send it to your spam or not read it. However, I think that this is becoming an increasingly large problem in the marketing world. Email addresses are private and should be considered much like a mailing address... the same rules should apply. I don't know if I would go so far as to call it unethical, but he is most assuredly bending the rules to get the necessary information that he needs. 

Do you care if you get email advertisements in your inbox? What is your opinion on the matter?

Subway Celebrates

Yesterday, Subway offered a buy one get one free deal in the name of customer appreciation. The offer was promoted on the Subway Facebook page, but each individual store was able to choose whether to participate. The Rindge Subway did participate in this deal and was packed all day long. The deal was buy one six inch sub get one free with a purchase of a medium soda. 

There was literally people going in and out of the Subway all day long. This promotion was extremely successful in my town and in many other locations across the country as well. Why do you think that this promotion worked for Subway? Have you seen other offers such as this one? 

Response to Dan

I think that this concept is effective but I am wondering if other people think this way as well, or if placement on shelf levels don't matter to them when they are shopping?


As far as children go I would definitely say that this concept is effective. For the most part children can't be drawn to a product unless they see the product and recognize it. By putting products (such as sugary cereal) that perhaps the parents wouldn't necessarily want to buy at a child's level the grocery store is using target marketing. Their target market is the children even though the parents will pay for it. 


Personally, I go into a grocery store with a list. I don't care where the product is on the shelf I am still going to need it. I think this concept may be effective for those adults who aren't as committed to a list or are just going in to buy "stuff". 


What sort of grocery store marketing techniques really convince you to buy items that you may not need? 

2011 Marketing Trends

I came across an article discussing the top ten marketing trends that companies need to be aware of this year. This article was written in January of 2011. There are two main trends that I feel really encompass the whole article.

1. Quality is better than quantity. Where as in 2010 it was all about how many Facebook friends or LinkedIn connections you had 2011 is more about quality. Don't just accept connections so you have more of them, accept and build connections that mean something to you and your company. Not only in the media do you need to be concerned with quantity, but in regards to your product as well. Every part of your company needs to be focused on quality.

2. Stay on top of new "technology". Your company needs to be aware of what is happening with social media as well as mobile marketing-media. It seems that everyone has a Facebook account and a smart phone. Companies need to try and connect with customers utilizing these two options. You carry your cell phone everywhere you go and with smart phones you can now be connected no matter where you are. Companies need to plug into these two options in order to reach their market effectively.

These two trends were what companies needed to do back in January. Do you think they still apply today? Only three months have gone by, but have those three months changed the trends at all?

Response to Kristen

Do you see this road campaign as being successful for Silk?  Are there any disadvantages for organizing such a campaign?


I do see this road campaign as being successful because they are not only gathering information on their customers, but they are educating them as well. Once customers who enjoy Silk products already are educated about it's other uses they will use it more and thus have to buy it more. Also by having such a campaign you are also going to be bringing new customers in simply out of curiosity. 


One obvious disadvantage to this is the price. Road campaigns are often expensive and don't necessarily bring in any additional profit at least right away. Do you think that the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages in this campaign? 

Focus Rally America

Once again this weekend I was catching up on my TV shows on Hulu.com and a commercial caught my eye. This commercial was for the new show Focus Rally America. Ford has teamed up with Emmy winning producers to create  a show like no other. Six teams of two will compete against each other in a cross country race... and what will they be driving? Brand new Ford Focuses of course! The prize is $100,000 and a Ford Focus.

Through this show Ford is trying to expand their target market. Not only are the people in the show exposed to the brand new cars, but everyone watching the show is as well. This show is also viewer interactive. Viewers can register online and join one of the teams on the show and at any point may be "called" in to help the team. Whether it is showing up at a specific location or just helping the team over the phone decipher their next clue. The important thing is that the viewer is no longer just a viewer, but a participant.

Ford has a really great and unique idea here by not just simply supporting a show, but making it their own. Do you think this marketing approach will work? Will people even be inclined to watch the show let alone be inclined to buy a Ford?

Response to Aubrey

Is marketing to blame for this increase in consumer spending and increase in personal debt? Or should we hold people accountable for their own decisions whether that is to spend their money or not?


Both are to blame. People who are acquiring debt in order to purchase items they don't need have to be held responsible. However, marketing needs to take responsibility for their part in it as well. Turn on your TV for five seconds and you will see large priced items being pushed at you... but for a "sale" price of course. Marketers are using sales to try and convince people that if they don't buy this item NOW then they won't be able to get it for the price they want. But regardless of whether the item is on sale or not certain consumers can't afford it. It is a vicious cycle that needs end. I agree with Aubrey that marketers are targeting consumers who don't have the income knowing that they may buy it regardless of whether they can afford it. This is both the marketers fault and the consumers fault for allowing themselves to spend money they don't have. 


Can you think of a solution for this issue? Perhaps government regulation?