In Response to Ethan

Do you think conspicuous consumption will become worse as time goes on? Or have we reached the peak?

There is no doubt that conspicuous consumption will become worse over time. Social status is important to such a great number of people and buying name brand things is just part of life. Being seen with a certain logo or brand name makes people feel better about themselves. Why wear a nameless product when you can wear a popular brand? Price does not seem that important to many of the consumers either. Like the video said, people are not just keeping up with the Jones' anymore; they are trying to one up the Jones’. That often means buying really expensive things. These spending habits are making more and more people sink into deep debt. How will these consumers who are in debt ever be able to get out of it if they keep up these spending habits?

JCPenney's New Martketing Approach

            This past February, the popular shopping store, JCPenney, introduced a new marketing technique. The store is focusing on “Fair and Square” pricing. There will only be three types of pricing, which will be indicated by colored price labels. Red ticketed items will be the store’s everyday “fair” pricing stock. White ticketed items will indicate month-long values, which are typical purchases consumers make that particular month. Third will be what is called “Best Price Fridays.” The “Best Price Fridays” will offer the best priced items on the first and third Friday of each month. These pricing techniques are simple and easy for the costumers to follow. JCPenney prides itself on their customer service and with these simple techniques it will allow them to spend more time with the customers. Along with the new prices, the store is becoming less cluttered with wider aisles and less signage. I believe the new marketing approach is a good one. You can take advantage of the sales without using a coupon like before. How do you think the customers will react to the new approach?

In Respone to Alex Purdy

What do you think about the new smaller iPad 3?

There are so many brands that are coming out with similar tablets to the iPad. I think it is necessary for Apple to create a newer one but when it comes to making it smaller I am not sure if it is a good idea. The size they have right now is perfect. It is nowhere near the size of a laptop screen but not as small as the iPod touch. People are looking for something that is easy to carry around and lightweight. The way ti is right now fits perfectly in a backpack, pocketbook, or briefcase. Making it smaller, I think, will make it look too much like an electronic reading device, like to Nook or Kindle. Apple should keep the new iPad the size the current ones are. What ways do you think these brands of tablets can make themselves stand out against their competitors?

NFL and Nike

This football season all players in the NFL will be sporting new uniforms. The former uniforms were by Reebok and now Nike has taken over. Reebok had had a contract with the NFL for a decade. The new uniforms are more form fitting and have slight variations to the old ones in regards to logo, fabrics, and more vibrant colors. Nike’s “swoosh” logo will be in the same place as the old Reebok logo. Players are really enjoying the new uniforms; they allow for better movement and are lighter in weight. Michael Vick, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback stated, “It's awesome. It's a great opportunity for Nike, and it's a great opportunity for the NFL.” Nike’s name will be all over the television come football season. This is a fantastic marketing opportunity for the brand. Do you think it was a good decision to make uniforms with new designs or does it go against the history of the NFL?

In Response to Molly

How do you think this new series will affect the business at Denny's?  Will the attempt to appeal to a younger crowd work?

Creating these mini web series was a great move by Dennys. If their target market is to 18-25 year olds, reaching them on sites like Facebook and CollegeHumor was wise. Making the point that the diner is open 24 hours will bring in a lot of business from the college-aged viewers. That age group is known to stay out late and a late night snack is just what they want. Do you think these ads are appealing to people who are not in that age group?

Burger King vs. McDonalds

The struggling fast-food giant, Burger King, has recently made changes to their menu to get more business. The ten additions however are extremely similar to some of the menu items at its competitor, McDonalds.

Burger King decided that in order to get more customers they needed to add menu items that were more appealing to a broader range of people. They have added specialty coffee drinks, smoothies, snack wraps, salads, and chicken fingers. McDonalds have had all of these for a while now. The thing that struck me most about the similarities was that Burger King is even calling their new chicken wrap a “snack wrap” just like McDonalds already called theirs. Burger King is not denying that their new menu items are very similar to their competitor’s. Why do you think they made their new menu so similar to McDonalds? Do you think that they will get more business now with the new items offered?

Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts

Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are both very successful coffee shops yet have two completely different target marketing groups as well as marketing techniques. Most Starbucks can be found in cities and are marketed towards a more upper class demographic. Most Starbucks encourage you to come in and sit down and enjoy your coffee in a relaxing setting. Many people even bring their homework and computers to do work with the wifi that is offered. Dunkin Donuts on the other hand is marketed towards the average everyday working person who wants to enjoy a cup of coffee on the go. Like their slogan says “America Runs on Dunkins”. Rarely do you see people sitting in a Dunkin Donuts doing work. They swap their laptops for donuts and eat on the go. Why do you think Starbucks targets a different demographic?