Week 10 EOC: Benefits vs. Features

Webster dictionary defines benefits as, "an advantage to be gained or profited from" ( Webster pg. 93)I can confidently say that the brand and product is beneficial in many aspects. Our brand is very unique there is nothing that can come close to the quality product we produce. many are out there but they are clearly missing the bar but not using the real natural ingredients. Webster defines features as, "a distinctive attribute or aspect of something." (Webster 279)The features of our product is a natural sunscreen lip balm made from chocolate the benefits of protecting your skin can literally be life saving as skin cancer is on the rise across the globe.  We need proper protection and our product offers that while remaining 100% natural cruelty free and of course delicious! "A market-oriented organization recognizes that different customer groups want different features or benefits. It may therefore need to develop different goods, services, and promotional appeals."(MKTG, page 11) Another benefit of our lip balm is the most obvious, its a moisturizer and an alternative to the chemically filled lipsticks and lip glosses on the market today.

Week 9 EOC: Social Media

"Social media is the ultimate equalizer, it gives a voice to anyone willing to engage." (Social Branding,Martin pg 324) Our whole marketing strategy is heavily evolved around social media and using it to gain a following.  We will first send out our product to select fashion bloggers across the country as they post and share about the product it will begin to gain traction. "The most potentially transformative impact of social media is its ability to encourage brands to marry profit and purpose.  the reason brands participate is that such outreach earns those companies social currency enabling them to start or participate in conversations that connect them to consumers in meaningful ways." (Social Branding, Martin 64) While this is going on we will be building up our social media pages such as instagram, facebook, twitter, and snap chat.  we will share our satisfied customers content as well to show brand trust as people see repeat customers we will in turn gain new customers. We will also be creating how to videos on beauty regimes and how to create fun looks to match your choc lips. Social media overall is a great tool to utilize in the marketing and advertising world however you have to be aware of bought accounts and followers. Its important for brands to let their costumer get to know them, they don't want the usual business ad anymore they want customer business interaction.  Ashton Kutcher had stated in his TED talk on social media that, "one of the things I have grown immune to is the market crap on social platforms." What he is saying here is that people don't want company statistics they want to know WHO the brand is.

Week 8 EOC: Creative Content

For my creative content I created a magazine campaign ad for our pre orders.  I set up a shoot in Corona Del Mar, California with one model, one photographer, one make up artist, and one hair stylist.  I even created the prototype lip balm to use for the shoot . This ad would be used as a campaign and would be sent to various magazines.  we would also use this image for advertising on instagram and facebook. "A person's buying decisions are also influenced by personal characteristics that are unique to each individual, such as gender; age and life cycle stage; and personality, self-concept, and lifestyle. Individual characteristics are generally stable over the course of one's life" (MKTG, page 108) In this shoot i really wanted to capture who are target market was so we picked a young girl in her 20s to represent the brand so that our target market could relate. i also wanted to capture this outside in nature since the lip balms primary function is a sunblock, the beach was the perfect setting as it showed the product in its perfect use.

Implementation Evaluation Control

"Implementation is the process that turns a marketing plan into action assignments and ensures that these assignments are executed in a way that accomplishes the plan's objectives."(MKTG, pg 28)
As stated before in a previous post we have an entire launch plan ready to go as soon as product is produced.  We plan on harnessing social media and get the word out quickly about our new product that is unlike any other. By sticking to our main objectives I am confident the pre orders will roll in quickly and abundantly. "Implementation activities may involve detailed job assignments, activity descriptions, time lines, budgets, and lots of communication.Implementation requires delegating authority and responsibility, determining a time frame for completing tasks, and allocating resources."(MKTG, pg 29) We plan on continuously updating the product as needs are made brought to our attention from our customers. We will also continue to create new and creative marketing strategies partnering with clothing brands for fashion shows and pop up shops.

Marketing Mix: Price

"Successful marketing mixes have been carefully designed to satisfy target markets" (MKTG pg 27) Our target audience is more affluent so our product uses premium organic ingredients cost to make is a little higher than our competitors because we use the REAL ingredients not just flavorings and additives. Our price point is high for the beauty world putting us in the luxury brand category.  One tube of Choc lip balm retails for $18.99 and is the same size as a standard chapstick tube. "The price they set for each product depends mostly on two factors: the demand for the good or service and the cost to the seller for that good or service.

Marketing Mix: Distribution

When the product first launch we plan on giving out a few hundred samples to the top fashion bloggers across the country, we want to create a buzz on social media about the effects and benefits of our product.  We then will start to take pre orders until our first batch is ready.  Upon completion we will ship directly from our warehouse to the consumers home. This not only is more efficient but is also very cost effective, “Also, marketing costs may be lower when there is only one product to promote and a single channel of distribution.” (MKTG pg 27) Because of our target market we feel online sales driven from one location will not only be effective but quicker, we cut out the middle man and handle everything in house. “Place, or distribution, strategies are concerned with making products available when and where customers want them.” –MKTG Page 28.

Marketing Mix: Product

“Customer value is not simply a matter of high quality. A high-quality product that is available only at a high price will not be perceived as a good value, nor will bare-bones service or low-quality goods selling for a low price.” (MKTG Page 7) At Choc our price is not set high for just any reason, we use organic non GMO ingredients.  We pride are selves in the high quality standard each tube of Choc lip balm has. They are also not tested on animals and are vegan friendly.  We try to be as green as possible by doing so we do not cut corners and will pay a little extra to produce a better product. “The key to consumer purchasing lies beyond labels proclaiming sustainability, natural ingredients, or “being green.” Customers want sustainable products that perform better than their unsustainable counterparts.” (MKTG Page 6)  As stated before our product is as green as possible we only source from fair trade countries and manufacturers that are constantly innovating to be more sustainable to produce our product. We have even implemented a recycle that gives our consumers 1 free Choc Lip balm for every 5 containers returned empty. We want to reduce our waste so promoting the turn in program allows us to cut a huge source of waste that would end up in land fills.“Companies have set up online communities with the sole purpose of getting feedback and ideas from teens.” MKTG Page 55
As the product becomes more popular we plan to listen to customer feedback so we can take any of the criticisms and improve the product to better satisfy our customers which is ultimately our goal

Target Market Strategy

"A target market is a group of people or organizations for which an organization designs, implements, and maintains a marketing mix intended to meet the need of that group, resulting in mutually satisfying exchanges." (MKTG p 23) Choc has effectively figured just who our target market is.  We're selling an all natural beauty product that uses the best organic ingredients.  We have a high retail market price that puts us in the luxury beauty product category. “Any market segment that is targeted must be fully described. Demographics, psychographics, and buyer behavior should be assessed.”-  Our clientel are women of all ages, Choc is not tinted but adds shine so it is used by young girls and older women.  These are health conscious women who eat a healthy diet and shop at stores like Whole Food, they do not mind spending extra for a premium product. "Competitive advantage a set of unique features of a company and its products that are perceived by the target market as significant and superior to those of the competition". Choc is a unique product that is the first of its kind meaning we hold a competitive advantage. Products use chocolate flavorings at Choc we use the real thing creating a far superior product. 

SWOT Analysis

“SWOT analysis identifying internal strengths (S) and weaknesses (W) and also examining external opportunities (O) and threats (T)” (MKTG, 9th Edition, 22). A SWOT analysis will help tell you how your product holds up, what it is amazing at and what it is lacking and can improve upon. The strengths of Choc is that its the first of its kind.  There are many different chocolate flavored lip balms and lipstick but none with the actual ingredient in high quantity.  Choc provides something no other brand can, natural authenticity.

"When examining internal strengths and weaknesses, the marketing manager should focus on organizational resources such as production costs, marketing skills, financial resources, company or brand image, employee capabilities, and available technology."(MKTG, 9th Edition, 23). Choc is in the luxury high fashion industry so our marketing and advertising reflects such meaning we tend to have high production costs, this could potentially be our biggest weakness although it depends on the R.O.I of the ad. We are also a new brand which is another big weakness as we do not have brand recognition yet.
 “When examining external opportunities and threats, marketing managers must analyze aspects of the marketing environment.” (MKTG Page 22)  This is also a strength that we have at Choc we know exactly who our target market is and know how to market to them to get them excited over the brand.

Business Objectives

“Carefully specified objectives serve several functions. First, they communicate marketing management philosophies and provide direction for lower-level marketing managers so that marketing efforts are integrated and pointed in a consistent direction. Objectives also serve as motivators by creating something for employees to strive for.”(MKTG, 9th Edition, 26).  The objectives of any business are a crucial component to have a successful business. Your objectives tell the consumer what your business is trying to accomplish this should be done thoughtfully as the point is to not confuse the consumer but blatantly saying what your business does
“By specifying objectives and defining the actions required to attain them, you can provide in a marketing plan the basis by which actual and expected performance can be compared." (MKTG, 9th Edition, 20) Choc's main objective is to provide a quality natural product that helps to combat skin cancer and promote good health.  We hope to establish ourselves as a brand that is set apart from the rest of the beauty products that try to mimic what we do but fail to do so.
“First, it is a philosophy, an attitude, a perspective, or a management orientation that stresses customer satisfaction. Second, marketing is an organization function and a set of processes used to implement this philosophy.”(MKTG, 9th Edition, 21)
At the end of the day the most crucial and simple of objectives that we stand for is customer satisfaction.  The consumer obviously needs to be satisfied with the product in order for it to sell so the goal is always to keep that customer happy and insure that they keep coming back to us.

Business Mission Statement

A mission statement is a crucial component to any successful business. According to the book, my mission statement "should focus on the market or markets the organization is attempting to serve rather than on the good or service offered."(MKTG, 9th Edition, 21) and establish  "...boundaries for all subsequent decisions, objectives, and strategies."(MKTG, 9th Edition, 21) With that said, our mission statement is as follows; Here at Choc our number one priority is supplying an all natural and effective sun resistant lip balm that not only protects but also tastes as good as it smells. Skin cancer effects thousands of people everyday we have made it our goal to help combat that fight by making a product that block out the rays while retaining moisture in your lips.  

The Pitch

Ladies, you start your day and are doing your daily makeup routine you put on your primer first to protect your skin which probably is SPF15 to help block the suns harmful rays.  You rub it all over your face including your lips and have to endure the god awful chemical filled taste. There has to be a solution to this right? Some sort of natural product perhaps? Good news We have created such a product.  Introducing Choc. the first ever Chocolate lip balm. That is right chocolate, REAL naturally made with wholesome ingredients, chocolate.  And not just used as a flavoring! For the first time we are giving chocolate the sun block duty! Chocolate is actually a natural sun block, rated at SPF 15 naturally with out adding anything else.  We infused chocolate into our vegan friendly natural lip balm.  We only use the best organic ingredients to create an organic beauty product you must try to believe! gone are the days of tasting awful make up as you use all natural chemical free Choc lip balm.

Week 6 EOC: Me x3

Dedicated, reliable, and honest are the 3 things that i would say set me apart the most.  I'm dedicated to my craft, my love for fashion has turned from affair to  a marriage, I am 100% committed to it. I first moved to Las Vegas to attend UNLV where I was studying to get my B.A. in Criminal Justice, I had always dreamed of being a lawyer when I was younger so I thought that was the path for me.  I got into fashion to help put me through school and became addicted with its entire world. I wanted to dive in and do it all; design, style, create, you name it I wanted to do it all. I transferred from UNLV to AI and dedicated my future to it. I dedicated my heart, mind, body, and soul into this industry because I believe in the future of it and plan to be apart of it.  Reliable people in this day are hard to come by.  Especially living in Las Vegas do we see on a daily bases the flakes and empty promise givers.  This is something I have never had an issue with, follow through.  I can be depended on fully as I always give my best in everything I do.  I believe my word is bond so if I say I am going to do something I really mean it.  Lastly I am honest, not only to others but with myself.  I know my limits and I know what I am capable of.  I like to be challenged but I know what I can handle and which occasions I rise to. I think these 3 qualities together are what makes me unique.

Week 5 EOC: This is What has my Interest

The article that interests me the most right now was, " Marc Jacobs: I Have The Word Shameless Tattooed to my Chest" It was an eye opening one on one with Marc Jacobs as he discusses the struggles of maintaining a growing brand that is still relevant.  It highlights his can-do attitude ans shows the dedication it takes into making a successful clothing brand.  It was a relate-able article that takes a fashion legend and shows that everyone struggles to get there even the greats. 

The second article that interests me most right now,"What 3D Printing Means for Fashion" captures my interest because as we move into the new age of technology, we are also able to progress our understanding of what fashion can be and look like. For example, as the article demonstrates the use of 3d printing is bring use in the fashion industry to develop forms and garments we could only ever dream of. It allows us to expand our understanding of how garment can look, flow, even feel. 

Finally the third article that grabbed my attention most was, "India’s fashion industry finally gets real about how Indians look." Captivating article that discusses the rising fashion industry of India and how they are innovating their business model to better match the needs of their  consumers.  They have not let media control the size of models that they use on the runway, plus size models will walk in shows that are not "Pus Size" but in shows that will be casted with REAL women's bodies in mind.  Definitely a fresh perspective that the fashion world needs to open up to more.  India is seeing booming results as now more women feel like they are embodying the brand that they are wearing. 

Week 4 EOC: My New App

Receipts.

Some people keep them in their wallets
Some people keep them in shoeboxes
Most people are frustrated with keeping them organized.It gets worse when you are looking for this one particular receipt as you go through piles of paper receipts. My idea for a new app would eliminate this problem.These paper receipts are messy, they are a hassle to deal with and they make it difficult to keep track of your expenses. Well Pocketreceipt solves your problems. From now on, you can opt to have the store send your receipt to your Pocketreceipts app, which keeps all your electronic receipts organized. You can search by date, by store, by amount or any other information for easy retrieval whenever you need a particular receipt. It is easy and amazingly convenient. I think it would be a total winner if it also gave you a summary of your expenses which makes it so much easier to monitor your total spending, regardless of whether you pay in cash or which debit/credit card you use.

Some people like me throw them in our bag to be lost forever. 

Week 3 EOC: Making Money For Good

Think about those brands that you purchase from over and over, even when there are cheaper options out there. Do you usually fly on a particular airline? Do you buy your coffee from the same place every morning? Do you recommend a specific restaurant whenever out-of-towners ask for suggestions? Often, the reason we stay loyal to brands is because of their set of values. The best brands strive to combine physical, emotional, and logical elements into one exceptional.  Barnabas Clothing is inspired by the work the Living Room International organization continues to do in Kenya.  According to their website, “The Living Room International is a non-profit organization based in Western Kenya that provides comprehensive care to those men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS or other life threatening illnesses. Their vision is to be a community that honors life and offers hope and they do so by becoming family to those that are dying.” (Barnabas) The organization has a 26 bed inpatient hospice facility that allows them to provide compassionate medical, emotional and spiritual support for the patient in their final days of life. “The environment and atmosphere is that of a home - everyone is welcome, everyone is loved, and everyone belongs.” (Barnabas)  No one is left to face their pain or fears alone. Outside of the facility, the staff also makes home visits, bringing critical care and compassion to house-bound patients. In addition to hospice care, the Living Room is a training institute on HIV/AIDS prevention and in collaboration with other organizations provides education and resources to the surrounding community. Barnabas Clothing donates a portion of ALL sales to Living Room International. I have to note that it is quiet incredible and inspiring researching and finding multiple clothing brands whose sole purpose of existence is to give back. 

Week 3 EOC: My Demograpchic

Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe believe that, "Each generation has common characteristics that give it a specific character, with four basic generational archetype. According to their theory, they predicted Millennials will become more like the "civic-minded" G.I. Generation with a strong sense of community both local and global."(Strauss 237) I hate to say it but I guess I am a millennial through and through.  For some reason saying that comes with a negative connotation in older generations.  I like to chalk it up as we have yet to prove ourselves but expect the world in return. In their 2007 book, authors Junco and Mastrodicasa expanded on the work of William Strauss and Neil Howe to include research-based information about the personality profiles of Millennials, especially as it relates to higher education. They conducted a large-sample (7,705) research study of college students. They found that Next Generation college students, born between 1983–1992, were frequently in touch with their parents and they used technology at higher rates than people from other generations. (Strauss 239) I really agree with this statement, I feel like my generation is known for having our heads buried in some device whether it be a phone, tablet or laptop.  Millennials were the first to grow up with computers in their homes. In a 1999 speech at the New York Institute of Technology, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates encouraged America's teachers to use technology to serve the needs of the first generation of kids to grow up with the Internet. There is always some new technology coming out to add to the list of things my generation will flock to buy (example: Apple Watch or Kindle).   We would be lost without facebook to tell what happened in our day or Instagram to post that pic of our epic brunch to.  We rely on social media and technology day in and day out. 

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group- Video Games

The Video Game world has only been around for 60 so odd years, but considering how far technology has come since then however seems like quantum leaps from where we started.  Video games have had a very interesting history and its uses are and can be applied to almost any profession by means of a tutorial training or just simulated scenarios. The opportunities of use are endless, which has led to some winners in the video game world and some serious duds. A great example of a new found winner is PokemonGo the genius creators at Niantic got the idea to create the mobile app game off an April fools joke google had played where people could go online and search the virtual world for Pokemon.  This sparked input Pokemon Go we now have this very same game on our mobile phones and it has taken the world by storm! What has been interesting to me the most about this game is what it is doing to the marketing and advertising world.  Particularly how it is changing it, for once the public is not only being accepting of the marketing they are literally flocking to places that hold Poke themed events and that offer patrons special offers for being a high leveled player.  Consumers are actually showing up to places face to face, they aren’t just simply searching them on the web and clicking, no they are going in spending time in the establishments and spending money into the economy. Brian Smith for Search Engine Magazine stated, " At this moment, it’s hard to imagine a world in which augmented reality takes off beyond the realm of video games. But once augmented reality becomes truly ubiquitous, brands will figure out how to start making virtual billboards. And then all bets are off."  Not once has any video game ever  been as successful as this game has been at getting other business involved into the game.  It is setting a new precedent and I think this is just the first of many games creating similar mobile app. What is ironic and also kind of impressive is the lack of marketing and advertising the comapny did for the game pre-launch, "Niantic, has done very little to promote the game since it launched. Beyond a handful of release notifications from the official Pokémon Go Twitter account, no TV commercials have been commissioned and in-app advertising is minimal."

Week 1 EOC: Great Customer Service

Good customer service is vital to any business but GREAT customer service is truly what makes a company wildly successful.  It’s the back bone to any company really, without satisfied customers the business will eventually fail.  It is what creates a repeat customer and leads to potential new sales. The actual term itself implies the customer should be ‘satisfied’, but what happens if the customer is not, satisfied? The textbook stated, “Failure to meet needs and expectations results in dissatisfaction with the good or service. ‘ (Lamb 8)  I could not agree more with this statement I think we see this day in and day out in our own experiences and from the experiences our friends and family go through as well.  Once someone is not happy with the service or defected product received, they are unlikely to do business with that company again.  This could also not be more true in this digital age.  With yelp, twitter, Instagram, and facebook a small group of people can single handedly sink the reputation of a company or product based off mere reviews.  Doug Walker once said in Forbes Magazine, “In the world of Internet Customer Service, it’s important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away.”  I myself work on an online/print-on-demand Publication, I could not agree more.  This digital age is cut throat we are inundated with options and choice.  Capturing and retaining customers is harder than ever. Companies constantly have to be on top of customer service and constantly innovate to stay on top of problems. Customer service should also be treated as constructive criticism, Bill Gates once said, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” You can learn so much from the angriest of customers.  You can learn if the product/service needs adjusting.  You basically learn where the company is falling short and although tough to hear it defiantly can only help you build a stronger more customer oriented business. 

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

My name is Jessica Johnson I am a 22 years old.  I did not always want to be in fashion but my love for it found me there. I originally moved to La Vegas two years ago to study law at UNLV but after starting my own Rave Apparel line here I got sucked into the fashion world and have loved every second of it! I quickly switched schools and became a fashion design major at the art institute in 2014.  Starting my own costume line is where my love for fashion started to really bloom.  I love creating unique pieces by hand I have truly fell in love with the world of fashion and I try to surround myself with it as much as possible my hobbies all seem to be work related and aren’t seen as work to me.  I recently started a high fashion and lifestyle magazine called, Avant Garde Magazine. I hope to help grew the Las Vegas fashion industry and highlight the talent we have here in our community. Fashion is obviously where my heart is and where my journey is headed.