week 8 eoc: graphs

this week we learned to put together graphs in excel. I spent all class trying to figure out how to build the graph and then get it into my blog. after I got home I was able to work in excel a little more and learn how to make graphs. so without further ado here are my graphs.

week 7 Eoc

For my final project I decided to survey the influence of music on shoppers at All Saints inside the forum shops at Caesars Palace. All Saints is a British based company that has a rocker grudge type esthetic to the stores clothing and decor.  All saints works with and plays music from plenty artist across a wide range of genres, but the problem I found is that a lot of the songs that they have on their playlist are often sad and depressing. We are located right across from H&M, which is a young hip store that has dj’s that play top 100 hits. By doing so it gives the store a party type atmosphere which the customers seem to enjoy. For my project I want to test to see if playing more upbeat music will result in customer’s attitudes towards purchasing more products.

I feel that the same way smells attract people to bakeries or restaurant is the same way music attracts people to retail stores. According to retail radio “Study after study has shown that your choice of music can heavily influence customer buying choices and the length of time they spend consuming”. Music influences shoppers more than you may think wither its obvious or subtle. The decor inside All Saints very dark and dreary and I know a lot of stores play music that match their stores decor. However music sets the tone for the store. With the effect the music has on people I think the stylist may also be affected by the up-tempo music and may be more enthusiastic to sell. I am eager to start surveying people to test my hypothesis.

week 6 Eoc BIG analysis

In one of Tom Hank’s greatest roles, he plays Josh adolescent boy in a man’s body in the movie Big. Josh makes a wish at a carnival to be big only to wake up the next morning a grown man. Josh has to learn to cope in the real world wither it be finding a job and being romantic with women. On his adventure he earns a job at a toy company which is perfect for him. Hs deep insight on what kids want out of towns ultimately gets him an executive position. Movie reviewers said that however “The real beauty of the movie lies in the realization that an adult that manages to maintain the exuberance of youth is one to be greatly envied, and while the means by which this message is conveyed is highly unconventional, the message is delivered with insight and clarity”

From a marketing standpoint the story showed that really understanding your consumer is key. This is evident in several scenes in the movie. In one scene Paul who is a market researcher is wowing the owner of the company with numbers on a new problem. While he is going on about how kids will love this product, josh comes up with a fresh concept that ignites debate amongst colleagues. Through the movie Tom Hank’s character uses forms of primary research. This type of research finds answers to specific questions.  Primary research finds out what the customers’ needs are and may take the form or questionnaires, interviews or direct contact with the consumer. However Josh simply just played with the toys and in turn finding out what customers wanted.

Week 6 eoc what did I learn

While completing my first project I learned a lot. I learned how to put together survey questions carefully and then take that data and analyze it. Before I was able to even put together survey questions I had to put together a marketing plan for the fragrance. My idea was to make a fragrance for a man’s lifestyle other than just making something that smelled good. I wanted to add a hint of vanilla in the top note without making the fragrance too feminine. My marketing included selling them in department stores and small boutiques at a price between 70-90 dollars.

I set out to find what my consumer was willing to pay, where they purchased their fragrances, how many fragrances they owned, and ultimately did they see fragrances as a part of their social lives. Looking back at my project I think that I could if organized my questions a little better. I surveyed women and men of all different ages and all different settings. I found that my data was a little sporadic however I was able to retrieve some good data from that. While I looked at everyone else projects I saw that some student brought up some interesting things and even added visual aids. At the end of the day I was happy with what I did but overall I think that I could have did an even better job.

week 5 eoc

The wall street journal conducted a study to see how website read what we do on the internet and then sell that information to other parties. On a new computer WSJ visited the top 50 sites and found out that 3,180 tracking files were placed on the computer. These tracking files often lay dormant gathering information that can be used to learn your daily activities and interest. These files assign you a number and soon you’re bombarded with ads and spam emails to your computer ultimately leaving you annoyed. This isn’t a new technology however in the last couple of years it has morphed into something bigger and some of these sites that have these files on it doesn’t even know. These things we call cookies are tracking our every move as soon as we turn the power on to our computers. From a marketing standpoint for business’s I feel that this is not a productive way of gaining information on your customers. To bombard them with spam to get them to buy your products? They should think of a program that lets you opt in to using it. Maybe some type of rewards program and emailing list that lets you learn your consumer so that you can better service their needs.

Now a lot of people may not know that they are being targeted but striping away my marketing researcher title as an American I do not like it. Eric Snowden said it best, simply “I don’t want to live in a country that does these things”. To me it’s a waste of time to spy on my every move when there are bigger problems foreign and domestic. Either or we can’t do anything about it if you want to use the internet. Only other option is to disconnect yourself from technology completely.

week2 EOC

The market research that I decided to analyze was the U.S. market for coffee. America is the biggest coffee consumers in the world. Coffee is readily available everywhere from gas stations, airports, hospitals, trains terminals, and high schools. As a result of that the coffee market is extremely competitive. This survey mainly focuses on packaged coffee in supermarkets, convenience stores, club stores, coffee houses, and mail orders this survey used primary and secondary research. Primary research involved on site examinations including interviews, public relations and industry analysts with coffee marketers and consultants. The secondary research entailed data gathering from business and government sources. In the report it give the current market (2008) the marketers, competitive profiles, distribution strategies, the consumer, the products, and trends and opportunities.

The book essentials of marketing research defines descriptive research as descriptions of characteristics of object, people, groups, organizations, or environments. Since this surveys main object is to describe I believe that this is descriptive research. It is simply painting a picture of the market. Who buys coffee, what kind of coffee is brought, when do they buy it, where do they like to buy it and ultimately why. I also believe that this is a cross sectional study. Cross sectional studies seem to give you a snapshot of the market.  In this form of study they observe without disrupting the subjects and then gather the characteristics of them through data. However unlike longitudinal study cross sectional does not give you cause and effect relationships.

 

 

 

 

Week 3 EOC 9 to 5

The movie 9 to 5 was filmed on the bases that women secretaries wanted to kill their bosses. They came to this conclusion after asking what fantasies these secretaries have about their bosses. The movie directors took a research approach in casting the screen for the movie which proved vital in the movies success. The movie was released at the end of 1980 and turned the controversial issue of women workplace equality into a comedic movie. The movie was so successful because they researched the market and found what people thought about and then acted those fantasies out on the big screen.

Down to the three women’s characters were even researched. Judy Bernly represents the divorced women who has little to no work skills. Violet Newstead is a widow mom who has great work ethic but keeps getting passed on promotions. Finally the sexy personal secretary Doralee Rhodes who is constantly sexually harassed by her boss and looked down upon by the other women because they think she is a mistress. 9 to 5 is a classic movie simply because of research.

I believe that the type of research that was done in this movie was casual research. It’s a cause and effect relationship to show that one event actually makes another happen. These women are constantly over looked, talked down upon, and sexually harassed they want to kill their boss. Researchers usually have a good sense of understanding the issue therefore they are able to make educated predictions on this cause and effect.

EOC: What to expect from the class

As I embark on my last year of school I have been submerging myself in my work and learning a lot about who I am as a person. Regularly we are asked this question the first week of our online classes and I always answer the question the same. I always approach my classes with an open mind so that I don't lean one way or the other. I know that by doing this I will have maximized everything the class had to offer. I loved my recent marketing class so it will be interesting to dig a little deeper and research the market and see how consumers react to products. As far as marketing goes I think it is important as a fashion retail management major to at least try and understand the mind of your consumer. I’m not a marketing wizard or else I wouldn’t be here but I agree with the late Steve Jobs theory in regards to marketing. As a company you should not look at marketing as something you have to sell rather offer your consumer with information and educate them on the product. I am a stylist but I also would like to explore public relations so I believe that this class will tie into that somehow. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” H. Jackson Brown Jr. With that being said let’s explore and sail into endless opportunities.