More marketing from The Office!

On last night's episode of The Office, Michael's new paper company has been essentially taking part in predatory pricing. They set their costs of paper so low that they are taking the clients of all the other paper distributors, including Dunder Mifflin. When Micheal went to talk to their financial advisor, he told them they should be using a variable cost pricing model, not a fixed cost pricing model, or they would go out of business.

Viral Marketing

YouTube has become one of the biggest places to find viral marketing. People post their videos and get millions of hits and everyone tells their friends and they tell their friends and soon enough it is on national television.
One of my favorite viral videos lately started out on TV but I can't stop watching it. On Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory on MTV, Carl's Jr. had Rob create two viral videos to promote their restaurant and in turn they would fund his construction of a new skatepark in LA. The video featuring Happy Star is one of the funniest things I have seen in a while. Rob puts on the Happy Star costume (Carls Jr.'s mascot) and skateboards around doing all the crazy things Rob is known for then he falls off of the zipline and hits his head. They zoom in when he is taking off the costume and says "Happy Star saved my life". It is very smart of Carl's Jr. to seek the help of Rob Dyrdek because he is very popular in a different target market than what Carl's Jr. probably has catered to before and Rob can reach out to a large amount of people through his national televison show.

Quality services

Since the opening of Dupus Boomers in the CUB, I have been to the restaurant probably four or five times. While the restaurant would score well in the SERVQUAL scale with tangibles, all the other dimensions are definitely lacking. The service is always questionable with dinner sometimes taking two or more hours. Their ability to accommodate large parties is practically non-existent. It is quite unfortunate because it is a great atmosphere and satisfies Pullman's need for a hip, fun restaurant.

The Office

On the TV show The Office tonight, Michael wants to start a new paper company. He is trying to recruit salespeople, but many of them are skeptical of his company. Oscar asks him if he has a business plan and a number of other things referencing marketing, including a business plan, funding request, market research and financials. He mentions that new business' profit margins are very thin and most new businesses don't make a profit for at least two years.

Twitter

Honestly, I don't really get it. I get the idea of it and everything, but I don't know why people feel it is necessary to update people on your every move.

However, I do think that since the number of users has increased by 900% (according to Mike Blaney's blog - http://themarketingguy.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/marketing-with-twitter/) in the last year the potential for using twitter as a citizen news source or for marketing is huge. In some of my communications classes we have discussed the use of twitter for citizen news reporting and people can give details about breaking news as they are experiencing it. Many online newspapers have their reporters and average citizens giving up to minute details through the use of twitter.

As for marketing, word of mouth marketing and creating buzz about a brand could reach millions of people through the use of twitter. Plus the amount of celebrities now using twitter and being read on twitter creates another way for marketers to ensure that their brand's name gets out there in the public eye. Sean "Diddy" Combs is a perfect example of incessant advertising of his own brands and publicity of the bands on his record label.

Seattle Sounders marketing

When I was home for spring break I got to attend the Sounders FC home opener. Having been a soccer player all my life, and lived in Seattle all my life, I have to say that the kind of support Seattle showed to soccer was long awaited. I read this article about the marketing tactics the Sounders management has used to increase support and ticket sales for the brand new MLS team. My dad and I also discussed their approach to bringing "The World's game to Seattle" and how they have done a great job with making the Sounders name known to the community.



http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2008876913_sounders18.html

Grocery Store Product Placement

Today while grocery shopping at Safeway, I noticed the product placement of specific products next to others. For example, limes and lemons convieniently had a small display next to the beer aisle since they commonly can go with beers like Corona. Another product that was placed to aid in the convienince of the shopper's experience is the tortillas are located at the end of the aisle with the salsa and other spanish types of foods.