In response to Cameron Drouin post: Mothers Day already!!!

I do not think there are more ads each year but rather since we are getting older and become more of a consumer in the market we notice them more. There has always been ads for mothers day but when we were younger we did not think of them as a buying opportunity but rather a reminder of the holiday to come. Now that I am older I think the ads  definitely help me decide on what I would like to get for my mother. It lets me know about deals I otherwise wouldn't as well as giving me ideas for what to get my mother. These ads are beneficial for both the businesses and the consumers.

Earth Day as a Marketing tool

Since today is Earth day I figured it was appropriate to write about how it can be used by business to achieve marketing strategies. It is plain to see that within the past few years going "green" has been a popular marketing strategy among many firms. Today is a perfect opportunity for those firms to feed their businesses appeal to the buyer looking for a green alternative to other products. A perfect example of this would be the deal Starbucks is doing for the day. They are offering a free cup of coffee to customers who bring in their own travel mug. The goal is to stop the waste of paper cups. This goes with their marketing strategy of having sustainable, organic products that are not only good for the customer but good for the earth as well. Using a holiday, like Earth Day, can help stimulate a businesses marketing strategy to the public.

Have you seen any other businesses use a holiday to support their marketing approach?

In response to Christinas post: Impulsive buying

Impulsive buying is something that I think everyone suffers from. It is hard walking in a store and seeing a "deal" on something that otherwise you wouldn't get. Coupons like buy one get one free can many times lead to a impulsive buy because the idea that you are getting something free. I think that many times stores make it look like you are getting a deal on something just to convince you into buying something you otherwise wouldn't make.

Branding a new business

I have worked at a new small business for the past three summers. I have watched them grow their brand name and brand loyalty each summer. They have been striving for the go green marketing strategy and only use biodegradable containers and all natural recipes. They seem to only be attracting young families as customers because of this strategy.
Do you think they should make their brand more broad to attract more customers?

In response to Colby Pooler's post

 I believe that it is possible to do both. There are many businesses out there that serve the community as well as creating revenue. An example of this would be the YMCA which manages to create a profit as well as educate the community on healthy living. There should be a 50/50 mix between wanting a profit and educating the public.

 

Disneys contradition

When the typical American thinks of Disney many positive feelings come to mind. Disney is considered the "happiest place in the world" by almost everyone, but many people do not see what is behind their operation. The public knows there are sweatshops and many multinational corporations use them to provide the products people demand for, but do they know that one of the "happiest places" which promotes an image of innocence and equality also uses the same means of production. Disney is seen as a beacon of happiness and hope, but the products that they provide are made by completely opposite means. Sweatshop workers labor day and night without overtime, days off, breaks, or decent pay to create the products that keep Disney looking a certain way to the public.

Do you think it is socially responsible to promote yourself in a positive light when in reality many things you do are socially irresponsible?

In response to Jonathan Arena's post: That time of year

I think that yearly the NFL has made more and more room for ads and less room for the game. The super bowl is already much longer than a normal game. The finance their huge business by the ad space they sell and it works. Millions of Americans are watching the game which is marketing gold to other businesses. I think with the allure of huge profits along with companies fighting for spots to market their products makes it almost inevitable that there will be more ad space in the coming years.