Wednesday, December 15, 2010

GM Blog Assignment # 6 (25 points)

The Best Countries For New Jobs Next Year

Susan Adams, 12.14.10, 04:45 PM EST

India and China lead the list, followed by Taiwan and Brazil.

On CBS' 60 Minutes last Sunday, the Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista told correspondent Steve Kroft that he's hiring Americans to weld his oil platforms. "To weld the platforms?" Kroft responded incredulously. "Yes," replied Batista, explaining that his country's booming economy is at almost full employment, and Brazil needs to import workers. "Already we have created this year 1.5 million jobs," continued the world's eighth richest man according to Forbes' most recent tally. "It's unbelievable."

That unbelievable job growth is reflected in the latest global employment outlook survey by the staffing firm Manpower ( MAN - news - people ). Brazil rates fourth on the tally of the nations with the greatest optimism about hiring in the first quarter of next year. Brazil's net hiring outlook--the number of employers surveyed who expect to increase their employment rolls minus the percentage who expect to decrease them--is 36%. That's driven by a 7% gross domestic product growth rate, three times higher than in the U.S.


In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, summarize the article in 5 main points.  In paragraph # 2, discuss why you think that these 4 countries lead the list of "the best countries for new jobs next year".  Give at least 2 reasons.  Be specific with your thoughts. 

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

SEM Blog Assignment # 6 (25 points)

College bowl games expected to bring $420 million to Valley

College-football fans are expected to pump more money into Valley hotels, restaurants and other businesses during the coming three bowl games than in past years, despite the sluggish economy. The three games will be played in a two-week span that begins Dec. 28.

Glendale hosts Auburn and Oregon in the BCS National Championship and Connecticut and Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium, and Tempe hosts Missouri and Iowa in the Insight Bowl.
A higher-profile matchup in the Insight Bowl, the smallest of the three, is expected to boost out-of-town visitors and economic impact, Fiesta Bowl Chairman Duane Woods said.


Read the rest of the article here: 


In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, examine all the ways that money is spent at a bowl game.  What role do bowl events (beyond the football game) play in the success of the bowl game and the value in the community?  Be specific with your thoughts.  In paragraph # 2, discuss why attendance is so important - regardless of the television ratings and sponsorship money.  Also, what bowl game are you most looking forward to?  Why? Be specific with your thoughts.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Global Marketing Blog Assignment # 5 (25 points)

Why Marketers Should Care About a Mexican Kid Falling Into a Stream

Gamesa Cookie Spot Shows Power of Social Media -- and Online Hispanic Community

From Adage.com

Joe Kutchera, the author of "Latino Link: Building Brands Online With Hispanic Communities and Content," is convinced that targeting Hispanics online is no longer possible without building -- and maintaining -- a continuous relationship with consumers on social networks. Perhaps that is why Kutchera, a former Time Warner executive, loves to tell the story of Gamesa, a PepsiCo-owned company that turned a viral sensation into its own advertising pitch in Mexico.

For the uninitiated, "La caĆ­da de Edgar" ("Edgar's Fall") is a home video featuring a Mexican kid named Edgar and his cousin Fernando hiking on a ranch near their home town of Monterrey. The video, originally uploaded in 2006, became so popular that it continues to attract viewers (over 21 million viewings as of Nov. 30) and gave rise to a local phenomenon that included ringtones, games, parodies, remixes and even a web page where Edgar was proposed for Mexico's presidency.

Read the rest of the article and watch the short videos here:  http://adage.com/bigtent/post?article_id=147391

In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, now that you have watched the videos, provide your thoughts and opinions of the 2nd video.  What did you like and dislike about it?  Why? From an branding perspective, in your opinion, what was the most important part of the video?  Be specific with your thoughts.  The Gamesa video, says Kutchera, speaks volumes of the power of social media and how a good, engaging story can be told regardless of the media.  In paragraph # 2, discuss your feelings about social media (viral videos, blogs, etc.) and the role it can play in brand building.  Be specific with your thoughts.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

SEM Blog Assignment # 5 (25 points)

Sans Oden, Blazers marketers tout 'team'

The latest setback for embattled Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden suggests that the franchise should continue its recent trend of touting the team’s collective talents, as opposed to one or two individual players.

So say sports marketing experts and business branding professionals who believe the Blazers face an uphill battle to engage fans after Oden’s season ended, due to the third serious knee injury he’s suffered since his 2007 Portland arrival.

Read the rest of the article here:  http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2010/11/18/sans-oden-blazers-marketers-tout-team.html

In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, discuss what you feel is the fundamental lesson learned through the Trailblazer's marketing focus.  Also, do you think it is worth the risk of focusing on a specific player versus the entire team or another specific theme?  Why?  Be specific with your thoughts.  In paragraph # 2, do you think the approach could vary from sport to sport or from team to team?  Explain your thoughts and why you feel the way you do.  Be specific.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

DECA EHS Spirit Contest

Special thanks to those that helped out with the event! It was nice event and definately something to build on with future promotional events in January. Congratulations to Brian Jackson for winning the contest and taking home a $25 Chipotle Gift Card!

Here are a few pictures.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

LeBron "LeBroke My Heart" T-shirt

Hey Cleveland fans...check out this shirt!

Global Marketing Blog Assignment # 4 (25 points)

Globalization and Indian Coffee Houses

Saturday, November 27, 2010

India is one of the emerging markets which is being targeted by the multinational coffee chains.  But the likes of Starbucks will face intense competition from state-subsidised coffee houses, as this excellent video below demonstrates. 

From the BBC intro:

The Indian Coffee House in Kolkata has been an institution for more than 50 years. It has been a place where politicians, activists and intellectuals have come to converse over a cup of coffee. But as the number of modern western cafes increases, it is feeling the squeeze of competition.







Watch the video above.  In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph, answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, provide your insight to the video.  What is your general feeling on business competition?  Is it a good or bad thing?  For who?  Why?  Be specific with your thoughts.  In paragraph # 2, discuss what you would do if you were the owner of the Indian Coffee House in Kolkata.  Would you step up your marketing strategies?  If so, give an example of what you would do.  Or, would you stand pat and rely on your brand reputation with the community?  Be specific with your thoughts.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

SEM Blog Assignment # 4 (25 points)


LeBron James Ad Asks for It

From WSJ.com

In an arty, soul-searching 90-second Nike commercial released in October, basketball star LeBron James asks repeatedly, "What should I do?"

Angry fans, in loud and blistering terms, have been telling him.

Myriad remixes and spoofs of the ad have attracted more views on the Web than the original Nike Inc. campaign, according to research from online-video measurement firm Visible Measures Corp.

While the original version and direct copies of the ad-which attempt to deal head-on with Mr. James's controversial decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat-have generated 5.1 million online video views, spoofs and parodies have generated 5.8 million views, Visible Measures says. The figures don't include views of Nike's paid advertising.

Continue to read the rest of the article here: 



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703374304575622521037102594.html


In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, explain what a parody is.  Is it a positive or a negative to have parodies of an ad? (Think Old Spice).  Why do you feel this way?  Be specific with your thoughts.  In paragraph # 2, discuss how these parodies can help Nike but hurt James?  Also, how should James and Nike respond to the parodies?  Be specific with your thoughts.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.