Week 4 EOC: There is an App for That.

Have you ever zoned out in class, stepped out for a bathroom break, or just completely did not get what the teacher was saying? I know I have…

It has been 12 years since I graduated from high school and 8 years since I graduated from college. I find that with the advances in technology, my usual note taking methods don’t seem to cut it in the classroom. When I decided to go back to school, I did not know what to expect. I was, however, shocked when my accounting teacher told me that I would need to create a twitter account and maintain a blog! Essentially, everything is online… right? What if there was an app that could take the notes for me and create an online database.

 Hand written notes have always been my method for retaining information as well as a great reference for studying. However, it is not always efficient. It is impossible to write everything down and sometimes I do miss pertinent information. It would also be unfair to stop the teacher’s momentum and interrupt the class just so I can take notes from the lecture. I have even gone as far as to take pictures of a presentation; however, I then must go back and type up the notes or write them down. Double work…

 I propose "Take-a-Note," an app that allows you to take a picture of a presentation or record a lecture. The app will then transcribe the recording or picture to an online database. The app will also allow you to highlight in color and edit pertinent information before transcription. Say goodbye to regular note-taking methods. Take-a-Note will do it all for you. The app will also incorporate a calendar that will give the date and time, as well as give reminders of upcoming assignments, exams or quizzes. The app is perfect for students or business working professionals.

Week 3 EOC: My Demographic

“Demography is defined as the study of people's vital statistics, such as age, race and ethnicity, and location” (MKGT, 55). People are the most vital component of all markets, making population and understanding the groups within a population so important to the marketing industry. Those groups can be broken down as follows: Tweens, Teens, Millennials (or Generation Y), Generation X, and baby boomers.

I was born on November 16, 1985, therefore, I would be considered a Millennial. A Millennial or Generation Y are people born between 1979 and 1994. I am part of the older Gen Yers, “oldest Gen Yers, born in 1979, turned thirty-five years old in 2014. They have started their careers, and many have become parents for the first time, leading to dramatic lifestyle changes” (MKGT,55).  Although, I am not a parent yet, I am going through some significant lifestyle changes. I started my career at a very young age, straight out of college I took on a management position and continued to do very well in the retail industry. While some Millennials were highly impacted by the Great Recession of 2008-2009, I continued to move forward and onward. Purchasing a home, buying a car, and getting married made me one of the “lucky ones.”

Recently, I made the choice to return to school and basically start over. I moved away from Japan and away from my husband to refocus my goals and establish a career for myself. Working in the fashion industry as a buyer and visual merchandiser has been a long time goal of mine. Understanding “demographics are significant because the basis for any market is people. Demographic characteristics are strongly related to consumer buying behavior in the marketplace.” (MKGT,55). Being able to analyze and make decisions based on that information will play a huge role in my ability to excel in my career goals. 

Week 3 EOC: Making Money for Good

Google was founded on September 4, 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Since then their company has grown into what I like to call a global force for good. Google has an entire website dedicated to their charity work and multiple programs. As stated on their website https://www.google.org/index.html “...each year, we donate $100,000,000 in grants, 200,000 hours and $1 Billion in products” (google.org). They accomplish this through global giving, local giving, special programs and products.

Through their global giving program, Google supports Solar Aid, which “is an international charity that combats poverty and climate change… providing access to solar lights in some of the most remote regions of the world” (solar-aid.org). They also have a GiveDirectly program that sends funds directly to the extremely impoverished regions of Kenya and Uganda.

Google is also committed to serving and supporting its local community, their goal is to create a better Bay Area by focusing on three major components: Youth employment, Poverty Social Entrepreneurship, and Homelessness. Google believes that “…giving begins in the place we call home. We support Bay Area nonprofits in their efforts to create pathways to opportunity for low­-income and underserved communities” (google.org).

Through supporting special programs such as the Fight Against the Zika Virus, Google made a 1-million-dollar grant to UNICEF in response to the crisis. They also made updates to their products in order to make information on Zika more accessible. Further, they sent engineers to help analyze data that could hopefully be used to map and anticipate the virus.  

Among many other charitable avenues, they also offer tech products for nonprofit organizations. These products aim to make it easier for these organizations to grow their fundraising base and have a more meaningful impact. Upon researching the company, it has become very clear the type of company Google is. I would be very proud to work for a company such as this one day.

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group- Video Games

Star: Gamers are now shifting to digitally downloadable games. Mobile games are actually giving gaming consoles a run for their money, based on cost, convenience and technological advancements. According to Daniel Rubino from Windows Phone Central High-end smartphones in 2013 have all but pushed out the major mobile gaming devices such as Sony PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS. They are “less expensive, more easily available content, better screens and processors, ubiquitous connectivity, and the simple convenience that comes from convergence.” (Android Central, 2016).

Cash Cow: PS4 Console continues to do well as it maintains a dominant market share.  Sony revealed “it sold 5.7 million PlayStation 4 units through the holiday season, giving the console a great chance to surpass the PS2 as the world's best-selling gaming system” (International Business Times, 2016).

Question Mark (Problem Child): Virtual Reality headsets has the potential to be a Star, however, with the cost to produce these headsets in comparison to digitally downloadable games, its profits are questionable. “Problem children need a great deal of cash. Without cash support, they eventually become dogs” (MKTG, pg.18). I believe the PS4 also falls into this category as it has the potential to be a star, if it continues to make technological advancements.

Dog: Wii, Wii U, PS3, PS2, and Xbox 360 all show low growth potential and a small market share. “Sales of consoles such as Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 and Nintendo Co.'s Wii plummeted 38%” (WSJ,20019). Analysts are expecting Sony to cut the price on its PS3 by about $100 this year. Microsoft is also expected to do price cuts on the Xbox 360 models as well. Although Nintendo has not stated that they will do price cuts they will do so indirectly by bundling games with the console.

Week 1 EOC: Great Customer Service

Customer service is really all about building a relationship, establishing trust and inspiring confidence. Further it “entails processes that focus on delivering value and benefits to customers, not just selling goods, services, and/or ideas.” (MKTG, 9^th Edition, pg.2). I was fortunate to experience good service when purchasing my car.  When I moved to Las Vegas from Japan, one of the first things I needed was a phone and of course a means of transportation. My sister and I made a plan to visit several dealerships that day but only ended up needing to visit two. We first went to Hyundai and unfortunately I was not very impressed by our sales person. He certainly did not inspire confidence and seemed to omit information conveniently. Our second stop was the Findlay Honda Dealership, Delmar (our salesperson) was actually waiting right outside as we walked up. He approached us with a smile, and firm hand shake, and immediately asked us how we were doing. I explained to him my specific needs and where I was comfortable as far as a monthly payment. One thing I really liked about Delmar was his sense of humor, he focused on building a relationship with me first. He was also very knowledgeable about the vehicle and explained all its benefits, this created value for me. The financial process was also made easy and explained thoroughly. As you can imagine I drove the car off the lot that day! The customer service did not end there, a couple days later I received a follow up call from Delmar as well his General manager. They both wanted to make sure I was enjoying my car and asked for feedback on my overall experience. This small gesture only affirmed that I had made the right choice.

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

Fashion is a form of art in which an individual can express themselves without actually touching pen to paper or paint to canvas. I believe it is an expression of one’s true self, their personal style, and bold creativity. What you choose to dress like on that day can make you feel sexy, confident, or just chill. My idea of fashion is not necessarily subscribing to the season’ latest and greatest, but whatever makes you feel good. Sometimes it is you that sets the trend. One of my favorite things to do is people watch, I find that the first thing I look at is what a person is wearing, their shoes, and even how they styled their hair.  As a fashion buyer it is important to follow current fashion designers and understand market trends. However, understanding and being able to relate to the consumer is an even more vital part of the industry. Looking to them for inspiration and guidance is what fuels and drives a store or company to be successful. Upon graduation I hope to take the knowledge I have gained and my overall experience to establish a career with a high end fashion company. It is my desire to not only empower myself, but those around me and ultimately make a personalized impact on the evolving world of fashion.