Wednesday, August 25, 2010
BOC Week 6: Exercise - Using Johnny Cupcakes as a model
You are the new designer of a product line of fashion goods. Using Johnny Cupcakes as a model, how would you promote this product to your target market? You have a very little advertising budget and have to do most of the work yourself, so how would you spread the word about your product? How long do you think it would take for your product to reach the national or international markets? Why?
Like Johnny Cupcakes, the only way you can be successful in having your own business is by putting all your effort and time into it. You have to actually be your brand, all day every day. You must learn to take advantage of free social media, cheap manufacturing, and word of mouth. Depending on what response I get from the routes I take to communicate the brand to my audience. I will continue to get a hold of editors, radio stations, TV stations, and attending trade shows. One of the most important concepts I think that Johnny implemented into his design theory and his company as a whole is exclusivity. Going into a new decade of design, technology, and culture of the youth I think this is one of the most crucial concepts that a business must implement if they expect profitable, and not just profitable but lasting. If my product or brand didn’t go national in the first 7 to 10 years I wouldn’t be doing my job right.
Like Johnny Cupcakes, the only way you can be successful in having your own business is by putting all your effort and time into it. You have to actually be your brand, all day every day. You must learn to take advantage of free social media, cheap manufacturing, and word of mouth. Depending on what response I get from the routes I take to communicate the brand to my audience. I will continue to get a hold of editors, radio stations, TV stations, and attending trade shows. One of the most important concepts I think that Johnny implemented into his design theory and his company as a whole is exclusivity. Going into a new decade of design, technology, and culture of the youth I think this is one of the most crucial concepts that a business must implement if they expect profitable, and not just profitable but lasting. If my product or brand didn’t go national in the first 7 to 10 years I wouldn’t be doing my job right.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Rayne & Rose
Nothing Else Matters...
Business Mission Statement
Rayne & Rose is going to fill a hole in the fragrance market by creating a scent that captures the energy of the city, by mixing floral fragrances and spices thus, Nothing Else Matters. I’m planning to capture the fashion forward woman that more than likely lives in the city and isn’t afraid to be edgy. I want to be able to deliver the fragrance to the masses but not so much that the consumer will be able to drive to the drug store and pick a bottle up. We will wholesale to high end department stores such as Barney’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales while at the same time selling directly from our Rayne & Rose specialty chain stores. In response to our current environmental climate, promotional tools that I will touch on more in depth later will be used so that the consumer finds value out of the purchase and also so we can keep the consumer attached and coming back. Competitors include specifically Balmain and Diesel, broadly, any other high end fragrances. In order to stay ahead of the competitor we will capitalize on every sale and concentrate on clientele training within our company in order to keep our core loyal customer. We will also strive to hire the most personable and knowledgeable employees in the respective field and operate with the most efficient and technologically advanced systems.
Objectives
•Our objective is to gain at least 5 percent market share within 12 months, at the end of the 12 month period we will take a look at sales and the climate/position of Nothing Else Matters on the market to know if possibly tripling our market share within 12 months later is realistic.
•Our objective is to retain at least 75 percent of our first year’s customer as return clients.
•Our objective is to spend 15 percent of sales revenue this year on advertising efforts in order to broaden the scope of our brand and strengthen our word of mouth.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
•Unique style and design of brand as a whole, even more specific to the fragrance is the scent and the niche it fills.
•Strong clientele training within company in order to obtain return customers.
•Brand feels strong connection with younger demographic whose buying power is building.
•By wholesaling to department stores, Nothing Else Matters… will get that much more exposure.
Weaknesses:
•Marketing strategies are new and barely being implemented and introduced to the market so the amount of acceptance is unknown.
•At the same token, wholesaling to department stores could hurt our brand if they end up profiting more than us or even if they put our product on sale it could damage our brand image.
•Customers are evolving as a whole but on different levels so this presents a challenge, we must find what our customer’s buying habits are and cater to them.
Opportunities:
•In doing research, we have found that the country should be coming out of the recession right around the launch of the product.
•The first impression means everything, especially in fashion. If we grab the customer’s attention and help them to fall in love with the brand it could mean the success or downfall of the company.
Threats:
•Pinpointing a price range that our client can afford while still maintaining our luxury brand image and keeping the business profitable.
•Staying true to our brand. The basis of Rayne & Rose and more specifically Nothing Else Matters… is that buying our product is a step out of the crowd and expressing one’s uniqueness. Staying true to that is very important for the integrity of the brand.
Target Market Strategy
The target market for Nothing Else Matters… is young adult fashion forward women in their late teens to late twenties, she will live in the city or the suburbs just outside of the city. She will make $20k and up, probably won’t have children and won’t be married. She will most likely be very diet conscious and be a green consumer, eating healthy organic food and recycling as much as possible. She will read magazines such as Vogue, W, Nylon, and V Magazine, she shops at Whole Foods or Fresh and Easy. The target customer will be a successful woman that either already has a stable career or is going to school to pursue her career.
Marketing Mix
Product
The product focus for this Marketing Mix is the fragrance Nothing Else Matters… Along with the scent itself the product comes with packaging which is a glass bottle in the shape of a rain drop with small strips of red leather and mini chain link wrapped around the glass bottle reinforcing the brand image of rough, raw, and rugged translated in a fashionable way. Rayne & Rose retail division will focus enormously on clientele training with its managers and associates so there will be much after purchase reinforcement to reduce buyer’s remorse.
Place
In terms of physical place, we will wholesale to high end department stores such as Barney’s New York, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s. Also, we will sell the fragrance directly through our own retail specialty chain stores Rayne & Rose which will be located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas. In terms of place on the market, Rayne & Rose as a brand is a luxury brand with affordable prices right around retail stores like Zara, Diesel, Mango, and 7 For All Mankind. This is also going to be the same placing plan for the fragrance, we will price the scent at the exact spot to where it reaches the masses but is not extremely low in price which will place it on the market directly where we plan.
Promotion
A promotion we plan to use is to send a complimentary smaller sample size of the fragrance to the customer after 6 months. We will also send thank you notes and continue to follow up with the client in order to maintain a healthy relationship.
Price
The price will be the most important part to the product in order to establish the fragrance as part of the Rayne & Rose family and also to maintain the brand image of Rayne & Rose. The price will establish the fragrance as affordable enough for most but not so much that it’s sold at your everyday drug store.
Implementation Evaluation Control
In order to implement the marketing plan and have an effective outcome all corporate employees will be aware of all parts of the marketing plan and retail divisions will be informed of the information that pertains to them, this way all employees will be on the same note and there will be one clear message sent to the consumer. Evaluation will be done every 30 days after the plan is implemented in order to make sure we are responding to our consumer’s needs in boundaries of the brand image and also in order to make sure we are trending to make our objectives. Finally, control will be used to work out all the “nooks and crannies” in the marketing plan. We will use the control as an audit to see what we need and to see what we could use that will improve the creation and implementation of our marketing plans.
Nothing Else Matters...
Business Mission Statement
Rayne & Rose is going to fill a hole in the fragrance market by creating a scent that captures the energy of the city, by mixing floral fragrances and spices thus, Nothing Else Matters. I’m planning to capture the fashion forward woman that more than likely lives in the city and isn’t afraid to be edgy. I want to be able to deliver the fragrance to the masses but not so much that the consumer will be able to drive to the drug store and pick a bottle up. We will wholesale to high end department stores such as Barney’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales while at the same time selling directly from our Rayne & Rose specialty chain stores. In response to our current environmental climate, promotional tools that I will touch on more in depth later will be used so that the consumer finds value out of the purchase and also so we can keep the consumer attached and coming back. Competitors include specifically Balmain and Diesel, broadly, any other high end fragrances. In order to stay ahead of the competitor we will capitalize on every sale and concentrate on clientele training within our company in order to keep our core loyal customer. We will also strive to hire the most personable and knowledgeable employees in the respective field and operate with the most efficient and technologically advanced systems.
Objectives
•Our objective is to gain at least 5 percent market share within 12 months, at the end of the 12 month period we will take a look at sales and the climate/position of Nothing Else Matters on the market to know if possibly tripling our market share within 12 months later is realistic.
•Our objective is to retain at least 75 percent of our first year’s customer as return clients.
•Our objective is to spend 15 percent of sales revenue this year on advertising efforts in order to broaden the scope of our brand and strengthen our word of mouth.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
•Unique style and design of brand as a whole, even more specific to the fragrance is the scent and the niche it fills.
•Strong clientele training within company in order to obtain return customers.
•Brand feels strong connection with younger demographic whose buying power is building.
•By wholesaling to department stores, Nothing Else Matters… will get that much more exposure.
Weaknesses:
•Marketing strategies are new and barely being implemented and introduced to the market so the amount of acceptance is unknown.
•At the same token, wholesaling to department stores could hurt our brand if they end up profiting more than us or even if they put our product on sale it could damage our brand image.
•Customers are evolving as a whole but on different levels so this presents a challenge, we must find what our customer’s buying habits are and cater to them.
Opportunities:
•In doing research, we have found that the country should be coming out of the recession right around the launch of the product.
•The first impression means everything, especially in fashion. If we grab the customer’s attention and help them to fall in love with the brand it could mean the success or downfall of the company.
Threats:
•Pinpointing a price range that our client can afford while still maintaining our luxury brand image and keeping the business profitable.
•Staying true to our brand. The basis of Rayne & Rose and more specifically Nothing Else Matters… is that buying our product is a step out of the crowd and expressing one’s uniqueness. Staying true to that is very important for the integrity of the brand.
Target Market Strategy
The target market for Nothing Else Matters… is young adult fashion forward women in their late teens to late twenties, she will live in the city or the suburbs just outside of the city. She will make $20k and up, probably won’t have children and won’t be married. She will most likely be very diet conscious and be a green consumer, eating healthy organic food and recycling as much as possible. She will read magazines such as Vogue, W, Nylon, and V Magazine, she shops at Whole Foods or Fresh and Easy. The target customer will be a successful woman that either already has a stable career or is going to school to pursue her career.
Marketing Mix
Product
The product focus for this Marketing Mix is the fragrance Nothing Else Matters… Along with the scent itself the product comes with packaging which is a glass bottle in the shape of a rain drop with small strips of red leather and mini chain link wrapped around the glass bottle reinforcing the brand image of rough, raw, and rugged translated in a fashionable way. Rayne & Rose retail division will focus enormously on clientele training with its managers and associates so there will be much after purchase reinforcement to reduce buyer’s remorse.
Place
In terms of physical place, we will wholesale to high end department stores such as Barney’s New York, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s. Also, we will sell the fragrance directly through our own retail specialty chain stores Rayne & Rose which will be located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas. In terms of place on the market, Rayne & Rose as a brand is a luxury brand with affordable prices right around retail stores like Zara, Diesel, Mango, and 7 For All Mankind. This is also going to be the same placing plan for the fragrance, we will price the scent at the exact spot to where it reaches the masses but is not extremely low in price which will place it on the market directly where we plan.
Promotion
A promotion we plan to use is to send a complimentary smaller sample size of the fragrance to the customer after 6 months. We will also send thank you notes and continue to follow up with the client in order to maintain a healthy relationship.
Price
The price will be the most important part to the product in order to establish the fragrance as part of the Rayne & Rose family and also to maintain the brand image of Rayne & Rose. The price will establish the fragrance as affordable enough for most but not so much that it’s sold at your everyday drug store.
Implementation Evaluation Control
In order to implement the marketing plan and have an effective outcome all corporate employees will be aware of all parts of the marketing plan and retail divisions will be informed of the information that pertains to them, this way all employees will be on the same note and there will be one clear message sent to the consumer. Evaluation will be done every 30 days after the plan is implemented in order to make sure we are responding to our consumer’s needs in boundaries of the brand image and also in order to make sure we are trending to make our objectives. Finally, control will be used to work out all the “nooks and crannies” in the marketing plan. We will use the control as an audit to see what we need and to see what we could use that will improve the creation and implementation of our marketing plans.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Volkswagen Facts
-The idea for the Beetle came from Adolph Hitler, who while in prison in 1924 following the unsuccessful putsch on the Federal German capital. Hitler conceived of an idea to solve Germany's unemployment problem, the Government would build special roads (autobahns) for motor vehicles. He would also mass-produce a car ( the peoples car, the Volkswagen ) which the average man in the street would be able to buy. Nine years later ( February 1933 ) the Nazi party swept to power, and at the very first cabinet meeting Hitler raised the issue of the special roads. Work began on these roads in September 1933. The Design's for the Volkswagen were not finalized until 1933 and the Volkswagen finally saw the light of day in 1939, unfortunately the Second World War ceased production of the Volkswagen
- the Volkswagen Group is the third-largest automaker in the world.
- The Group is made up of eight brands from six European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
-Beetle manufacture ceased at Wolfsburg in July 1974 and the Golf commenced. Beetle manufacture continued at Emden until noon on January 19th 1978. Karmann continued manufacturing the convertible until January 10th 1980 when German production of the world's most popular car ceased.
-Over the years larger engines were fitted to Beetles and slightly interior and exterior specifications were available. Front headlights changed from sloping to upright. The basic 1200 Beetle with minimum headlining and single bladed bumpers going through the front valance which later changed to European bumpers going through the wings. The 1300 with increased headlining and European bumpers. The 1500 with front disc brakes.
- the Volkswagen Group is the third-largest automaker in the world.
- The Group is made up of eight brands from six European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
-Beetle manufacture ceased at Wolfsburg in July 1974 and the Golf commenced. Beetle manufacture continued at Emden until noon on January 19th 1978. Karmann continued manufacturing the convertible until January 10th 1980 when German production of the world's most popular car ceased.
-Over the years larger engines were fitted to Beetles and slightly interior and exterior specifications were available. Front headlights changed from sloping to upright. The basic 1200 Beetle with minimum headlining and single bladed bumpers going through the front valance which later changed to European bumpers going through the wings. The 1300 with increased headlining and European bumpers. The 1500 with front disc brakes.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Pitch
Picture yourself walking down the streets and alleys of New York City, what do you see? Dingy, old, rusty buildings towering above you, the raw, cracked pavement beneath your feet. What do you hear? Loud bustling cars and diversity of voices that is the energy of New York. What do you feel? A raw, vibrant, sexy energy that is almost un-describable, a sense of wild freedom and undying passion. Finally, the energy of the city has been captured in a fragrance. Unleash the wild, raw, sexy inner you with one spray you’ll be remembered by everyone. With this fruity scent touched with a hint of spice people will know you’re not afraid to stand out and be confident, and at the end of the day, Nothing Else Matters.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Week 5 - Super bowl 2010 Ad
The only commercial that I can actually remember from the ones I got to see was the Denny’s commercial. It was different to me because I’ve never seen or heard about Denny’s having a commercial spot during the super bowl. But, why they did it made sense to me. When you think of the demographic that the super bowl attracts, you think of men and a lot of the time married men come to mind. Sometimes it’s made a family event to get everyone together to watch the super bowl, even though it’s only the men that usually watch the game. Another favorite commercial of mine was the KGB ad; they stayed on topic with their focus of commercials being on humor. The company’s commercials are very remember-able because they are hilarious while still being informative and getting the point across. The HomeAway.com commercial was ingenious; they took the common negative perception of booking hotels online and mixed it with humor. By using Chevy Chase as his infamous character Clark Griswold they related the commercial back to the issues he had with staying at hotels while on vacation with his family. This is a classic American movie that most people have seen so it seems like they are using an undifferentiated targeting segmentation method in order to make the commercial and company more personable to every person that watches it.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Mad Men Week 4
Madmen was actually very helpful, it covered almost every aspect of marketing that we’ve talked about in class so far. In reference to market research, the main character did his own type of research and also had hired help that researched the psychological aspects of the American society which the owners of the company seemed not to care too much for. There was one thing about the movie that didn’t coincide with what we are learning and that’s the emphasis for sales and not caring so much about the consumer. Because at the end of the day that’s all the main character was concerned about was pushing the cigarettes to the consumer and making them want to buy the product.
Week 4 Superbowl Ad
One of the best Super bowl ads I’ve ever seen has to be the Doritos commercial of 2001. In my opinion, a big aspect of the commercials is to get the customer laughing while still getting the whole point of your product across. Whoever gets the most laughs out of the viewer and whoever makes the viewer the happiest will get the biggest response. The Doritos commercial is one of the most creative commercials I’ve seen coming from a company that makes chips. They used the concept of tennis and sex appeal to their advantage. When you think of the game of tennis and the way the players hit the tennis ball a feeling of passion is felt. So, in the ad the actress is so passionate about the chips that she dumps the whole bag into the machine and pushes the tennis player out of the way, opens her mouth so she can catch them all. Instead, the chip ends up smashing into her forehead and knocking her to the ground. The Doritos ad has successfully used sex appeal and comedy while still bringing a sense of passion to their brand.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
EOC Week 3
Great Customer Service Experience
Personally, there has never been a time where I have walked out of a store, hotel, or restaurant and said “wow that was great customer service!” But I can honestly say that when I worked at Louis Vuitton I saw some of the best customer service given that I’ve ever seen. That’s actually what our store was designed for is customer service, there were VIP rooms on every floor and we stocked champagne and water for our clients.
When you walk into the store you are greeted by the first Sales Associate that you encounter, instead of immediately jumping on your back the associates let you roam the store and see if anything catches your eye. Not too long after you are again approached by a Sales Associate and asked if there’s anything you need help with or are trying to find. The one problem that the majority of people have with luxury retailers is that they are constantly being hounded and are treated as if they are trying to steal something, at Louis Vuitton they recognize that and try to make it completely opposite. The Sales Associates are trained to approach in a friendly and kind way in order to let the customer know they are only there for help, not to force and not to scare away. As the associate engages in conversation with the client they are constantly trying to make the customer feel more and more at home while at the same time getting a feel for what the customer’s needs and wants are. The VIP rooms are obviously a favorite of the associates to get the client very comfortable and relaxed and to take the chance to teach the customer more about the brand and show them bags that aren’t on the floor and hopefully even establish a long-term relationship with the client.
Personally, there has never been a time where I have walked out of a store, hotel, or restaurant and said “wow that was great customer service!” But I can honestly say that when I worked at Louis Vuitton I saw some of the best customer service given that I’ve ever seen. That’s actually what our store was designed for is customer service, there were VIP rooms on every floor and we stocked champagne and water for our clients.
When you walk into the store you are greeted by the first Sales Associate that you encounter, instead of immediately jumping on your back the associates let you roam the store and see if anything catches your eye. Not too long after you are again approached by a Sales Associate and asked if there’s anything you need help with or are trying to find. The one problem that the majority of people have with luxury retailers is that they are constantly being hounded and are treated as if they are trying to steal something, at Louis Vuitton they recognize that and try to make it completely opposite. The Sales Associates are trained to approach in a friendly and kind way in order to let the customer know they are only there for help, not to force and not to scare away. As the associate engages in conversation with the client they are constantly trying to make the customer feel more and more at home while at the same time getting a feel for what the customer’s needs and wants are. The VIP rooms are obviously a favorite of the associates to get the client very comfortable and relaxed and to take the chance to teach the customer more about the brand and show them bags that aren’t on the floor and hopefully even establish a long-term relationship with the client.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
EOC Week 2 - My Demograph
The book describes my generation as impatient, opinionated, “street smart”, time managers, and inquisitive among other things. Personally, I agree with this completely if you look back at how people my age grew up oppose to the “X’ers” and Baby Boomers you can split a line down the middle. Personally, I’m not afraid to speak my mind and give my opinion because I believe it matters. As a child, I watched my mother transform into a very independent and strong woman with no fears, which she instilled in my brother, sisters, and I. She also taught us to learn from books and my teachers while at the same time listening to the streets and always staying insightful. I was always told to be at least 15 minutes early before any appointment which meant that I needed at least an hour to get there and at least an hour to get ready. As I grew up, I realized that if I never stop asking questions then there’s a limitless amount of information that I can learn. Also, as more immigrants continue to come into the states and more children are being born the competition for a good career continues to get heated. Which means more and more people will be forced to live in poverty and in the ghetto, forcing them to learn the streets.
EOC Week 2 - Favorite Fast Food
My favorite fast food restaurant was Mcdonald’s when I was a kid, I loved the chicken mcnuggets! As an adult, I realize that they do an excellent job at making a “trip to Micky Dee’s” a true experience and not just a run to pick up some dinner. No matter which location it was as a kid just knowing that I was going there was so exciting, what child wouldn’t want to go to a place where there are slides, a jumper, and a jungle along with delicious food and a toy? http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/kids/newchoices.html
Thursday, January 14, 2010
My Voice
As a Fashion Merchandiser & Stylist I pride myself on being unique among many others in the industry. With a strong knowledge and knack for business teamed with a keen sense of enduring style I believe I can make myself an asset to any company I work with. I am continuing to further and hone my skills in fashion by pursuing a degree in Fashion Merchandising & Management in Las Vegas, I plan on traveling and establishes myself in major fashion cities in the country such as Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. I have worked with companies such as Louis Vuitton, Pixi by Petra Beauty, and French Connection as a merchandiser in order to boost sales. I have been working with a model styling her on basic amateur fashion shoots in order to show my skill in styling and to build a portfolio. My ultimate goal is to establish and grow my own styling & merchandising company, working from editorial spreads to celebrities and luxury retailers to trendy boutiques.
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