Week 8 EOC: Creative Content

Slender Vodka is premium vodka created for women who like to enjoy a cocktail but want to be aware of how much they are consuming. Slender Vodka will be displayed in a magazine ad in the bottle form that will be created. The ad will only display the single serving bottle to show the design of the bottle. Since the vodka is marketing towards women the bottle will be clear with a light to dark pink gradient effect on the bottom to emphasize that Slender Vodka is for women. The bottle will be displayed on a white background to show the freshness you will experience from the splash in the lime in the vodka. The white background will also help the pink gradient on the bottle pop and be an eye catcher to those flipping through a magazine quickly. The ad will display the catch phrase for Slender Vodka, “No More Counting Calories” next to a cocktail glass using Slender Vodka. I will using my own images for the ad and use the assistants of a graph artist to help create the look of the bottle in Photoshop. The ad will also display the “Drink Responsibility” information on the bottle of the ad. No prices will be included on the ad because I personally believe it will distract from the bottle. 

Week 7 EOC: The Pitch

Slender Vodka

For the ladies that want to have fun on the weekends but not have to worry about Monday’s weigh in, your answer is here, Slender Vodka. By being continuously distilled to insure flavor and a splash of lime, Slender Vodka is premium vodka for women looking for a way to enjoy a cocktail without the worry of counting calories. Slender Vodka is designed to enjoy in 100 calorie serving bottles to enjoy with your favorite cocktail. No need to deprive yourself of having fun, simply try Slender Vodka.

No one wants to be the girl who sits in the club without a cocktail in hand because you’re watching your weight. You could have done that at home! As women we are always on the lookout for new easy ways to have fun without the worry of gaining weight.  Slender Vodka takes the guess work out for you. With Slender Vodka no need to bring your measuring cups when you go out with your friends. With the combination of amazing taste and simplicity of 100 calorie bottles Slender vodka does the work for you. Adding Slender Vodka to your favorite mixer will have you enjoying the night without the fear of the scale on Monday. With the ease of 100 calorie bottles you can even bring your favorite vodka to enjoy at a party or get together. All your friends will want to know how you are able to go out and still keep that amazing figure. Your friends will be thanking you for sharing the secret and so will we. The name says it all, Slender Vodka. 

Week 6 EOC: Things I buy that "define" me

Spending money is always a trigger of emotions and feelings. If you’re going to grocery store to buy a carton of eggs and bread more than likely you are not too excited about spending more money on food because you’re going to have to come back and spend more money when you run out of food. Your emotion changes when you spend money on things you want. Instead of buying something you need, you feel that high if you buy something you have wanted or something you really love. I will admit I love shopping. What girl doesn’t? I don’t need the excuse of the holidays or a birthday to need to shop. As a child my mother would beg me to start carrying a purse. I would normally stick my money in my pockets and go to the store with crumpled bills and my other pocket would be jingling with the change I would bring as well. Every time my mom told me to get a purse I refused. Why would I want to carry something else when I could stick my money in my pockets? High school is when I finally discovered my love for designer purses. I became obsessed with them. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Coach, Versace, Valentino, Burberry. I could go on forever. The smell of leather in the store was seductive to me. As an adult I realized I became known for always carrying a designer purse. To me it’s like carrying art on your arm and I love adding to my gallery.

As I think about what items in my life that “defines” me I instantly think of my glasses. I’ve worn glasses since the 4^th grade. At that age I would get my favorite color but now as an adult my glasses have changed at least once a year. My latest pair, purple Vera Wang’s with thick bold frames. I choose my glasses first on label, appearance, comfort, and then price. I have been very fortunate to be able to afford glasses that I really love and love wearing. I have considered getting Lasik eye surgery, but then I would lose my reason to buy a new pair of glasses. To me glasses are basically an accessory for my face.

One last thing item that I feel makes me happy and really defines my need for beautiful things is makeup. Sure I could go to the grocery store or drug store and buy my makeup there but I don’t get the same feeling I get when I spend my money on high end makeup from Sephora or a department store. Whether it is the higher quality or the experience I get from going to the store, I look forward to the day I allow myself to purchase new makeup. My collection is big enough so that I wouldn’t need a new eye shadow or lipstick for years but something about finding a new item I know I’ll love makes me in turn feel satisfied.

As a result, all of the items that I consider “defining” of myself seem quite shallow. None are for medical reasons or to survive but all because I want them. I don’t have to carry a designer purse or buy makeup from a department store. I want these items. There is no real reason why I do. I can afford them and I know the feeling I’ll have once I do so I continue to purchase them. If society only bought things they needed we would be very different people. The experience created by these companies is proof that with great marketing you can sell anything even in times when people should be saving.

Week 5 EOC: Midterm

In today’s society we literally interact with everyone through social networking and the internet. If we want to see what someone did this weekend, instead of asking them we look on their Facebook page. If we want to know what’s in style we look it up online. Such simple things that we used to do before checking the internet is now second nature to hop online to your favorite website and do a little research. It comes as no surprise that we have become a world where now you can find a job or career just by your interaction with the internet. In the article “Job Recruiters Turn to Facebook to Find Candidates” many recruiters have used Facebook as a way to save money on posting available jobs on Facebook. Though the percentage of hiring is only 1%, it does become show that even Facebook can help someone find a job they might otherwise not have seen. Also since Facebook is so widely used it gives the confidences in its users that job listings are more legitimate. “Candidates have been 50% more likely to apply to positions they found through Facebook than through othermeans, said Mr. Staney. "[Job boards] just blast it out. This is much more efficient and targeted," he said.” (Light, 2)

More companies like Facebook are using their customers love for their product in order to develop product ambassadors. Who better to endorse a product that a real life person who loves it? Sony and JetBlue are among the companies using real customers as ambassadors of their products. It believe it is a great way to give back to their clients, even though these clients would use their product anyway, and also a great tool to see what the company can do to better improve their products. “Brand ambassador programs leverage the power of peer-to-peer communication. Consumers hear about products and brand experiences from others just like themselves—people they trust—rather than from commercial marketing sources. “It’s the value of having someone there who wants to talk to you about the product and the features,” says one brand ambassador. “It’s not really about sales; it is about sharing of information. If you go about it in a way that is positive and relatable, it’s a positive experience for [both parties].” (Armstrong & Kotler, 15)

Week 4 EOC: iPhone App idea

With the creation of Spotify in today’s music scene it would seem more mobile apps would be available to work with it. Spotify is a database collection of music so that you never need to download music to your mobile device. (http://www.spotify.com)  All music is played live virtually giving you access to millions of tracks of music. With the popularity of Spotify in the last few months you would think it would have more mobile apps that work with it. As of right now Spotify is popular amoung “Innovators”. Not many people know about it so less people are jumping on the bandwagon to join. “People differ greatly in their readiness to try new products.” (Armstrong and Kotler, 156) Since it is such a new product not many people are ready to leave a product they are comfortable with, iTunes, to make the switch to Spotify. Spotify recently verged with Facebook so that your friends could see what you were listening to. But what about using it for something useful? An app I would create would give you the ability to remix the music you already own from past purchases, be able to remix them on your phone, and sync the music to Spotify so that any of your friends could be able to listen to the music you created right on your phone. This would be a great tool for music lovers but especially up and coming disc jockeys.

Music is what connects many of us today. Some might like to think Facebook, but really can you think of one person who absolutely does not listen to music? They do exist, but it is very rare. By having an app on your phone that can use the technology of Spotify would further encourage their customers to use their product and also encourage them to tell others to use Spotify. “Customer satisfaction is a key to building profitable relationships with consumers—to keeping and growing consumers and reaping their customer lifetime value. Satisfied customers buy a product again, talk favorably to others about the product, pay less attention to competing brands and advertising, and buy other products from the company.” (Armstrong and Kotler, 154) A similar product available on iTunes at the moment is Romplr. Romplr remixes music directly on your phone, but you may only use music that is available on the app. What if you don’t like any of the choices? By using a service you already pay for monthly, like Spotify, and incorporating more ways to use the product, Spotify could make a more lasting relationship with their customers. Many users of Spotify are satisfied with having access to all the music they love but what would happen if they were given a test trial of a remixing software app that incorporated Spotify? Once the trial was over their want to remix music would become a need. “A need becomes a motive when it is aroused to a sufficient level of intensity. A motive (or drive) is a need that is sufficiently pressing to direct the person to seek satisfaction.” (Armstrong and Kotler, 148)

Giving more freedom with an already amazing product would give Spotify the advantage and possibly increase the number of customers in the future. 

Week 2 EOC: Videos Games

With the growth of technology you can expect the longevity of videos games to decrease. Though game creators have made changes to their gaming systems it has still been lackluster with the advancement in today’s technology. In the gaming market today the most accessible way to play games is literally in the palm of your hand: your cell phone. With the creation of apps for iPhone and Android gaming is so easy that you can have a quick game of “Words with Friends”.  “Many console and PC game sales are also being cannibalized by digitally downloaded games and alternative entertainment sources like Apple Inc.'s iPhone, which offers thousands of games that can cost only 99 cents or even nothing at all.” (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124865158612682399.html#printMode) Mobile devices have become to star of the gaming world. Though Nintendo Wii was a hit with its debut in stores till 2006, it is become the cash cow of Nintendo’s gaming systems. Stores couldn’t keep up with the demand for the Wii in the first two years it was being sold. Though popular for its wireless controller and ability to watch streaming movies, Nintendo has decided to lower its price from $250 to $149.99. Just in time for the holidays. “The Wii along with many of their games became an overnight success when the console was originally introduced. Over the last few years the system has sold a record number of units but due to competition from other gaming console manufacturers, their Wii sales have declined.” (http://thestockmarketwatch.com/stock-market-news/recent-events/nintendo-lowers-cost-of-wii/8258) It seems that the gaming world has their work cut out for them to be innovative for consumers. Even the popular gaming system for younger children, Nintendo 3DS, has seen a decrease in sales. “The company has had a pretty torrid 30 days or so, culminating in the embarrassing news that the PSP is already outselling the 3DS in Japan, not to mention other cases of potential embarrassment such as players complaining of headaches and the 3DS’s price tag coming under scrutiny.” (http://gamerant.com/nintendo-3ds-sales-terry-78821/)  It’s easy to say that Nintendo 3DS is the dog of the gaming system. With all the different gaming systems out there one that doesn’t make news as much is computerized games. Though games like Sims and World of Warcraft survive the market, how are they able to do this with such little marketing? Both games have a loyal customer base and though they don’t make major changes in the game, new versions and updates are constantly being released. It also helps that to be able to play World of Warcraft you have to pay a monthly subscription. “Blizzard Entertainment, of course, is the Irvine (Calif.)-based maker of the world's most popular and profitable online game, World of Warcraft (WoW), which boasts nearly 11 million monthly subscribers around the globe. The company is also at the heart of the recent $18.9 billion merger with Activision, primarily a maker of console titles such as Guitar Hero and Call of Duty. Born in early July, the newly combined entity, Activision Blizzard (ATVI), is now the industry's biggest player, with projected annual revenues of nearly $4.5 billion.” (http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2008/id20080820_123140.htm) It seems that even a company not making headlines can still make plenty revenue to make a profit and become success. There’s a reason it is considered the “question mark” of the gaming world.  

Week 1 EOC: Great Customer Service

One company always stand out when I think about their customer service. No matter what they always surpass my expectations and I cannot wait till my next interaction with them. That company is Disney. Compared to other companies geared for children and families, Disney is truly the epitome of excellent marketing and customer service. Even through a recession millions of people flock to Disneyland and Disneyworld to experience the “magic”. “Customer relationships and value are especially important in today’s tough economic times, when more frugal consumers are cutting back and spending more carefully.” (Marketing An Introduction, 4) No matter what the tickets prices are to go to Disney, they still manage to never have a slow day. It is there unbelievable loyalty they receive from their customers. The customer knows that they will always have a great time and so year after year they continue to visit and then bring their children and their children bring their children and the cycle continues. The customer service is not only received in their parks. Want to stay on Disney property? Flying in from another state? Disney has is covered. Disney will pick you up from the airport for free and take care of all your baggage. Only thing you have to worry about is planning what to do first once you get there. “The key to building lasting customer relationships is to create superior customer value and satisfaction. Satisfied customers are more likely to be loyal customers and to give the company a larger share of their business.” (Marketing An Introduction, 14) Some like to stay Disney should lower their prices because of the recession. But why should they? They are supplying an amazing product and continue to keep their clients happy. They live by their slogan and keep their promise of “Where Dreams Come True”. 

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

My name is Christine McCall. I am originally from Hollywood, Florida. After deciding to become a photographer I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and began my degree at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. I love all aspect of photography, the work that goes into it all the way to the finished product. When I discovered my love for photography I was attending Florida State University pursuing a degree in social work. I wanted to work with people and help them. After studying aboard in Florence, Italy photography became my haven. I was able to create and express myself without words. Through photography I am able to see things that I do not normally do without my camera, the embrace of two people, or a smile from someone reading a book. My topic of interest is portraits and location photography. I am able to interact with my world as well as the people living in it.