Hollister

Yesterday I went to the Carbondale Mall and I went into Hollister for the first time in a long time. I don't think I've ever bought anything there so I usually just avoid going in there all together. My impression of Hollister before going in is that the stuff is overpriced and the only reason they get away with it is that they play on peoples feelings that they need to wear certain things in order to be cool or fit in. I have had a few friends that worked there in the past and for the most part, Hollister seems to attract good-looking people. Once I walked in they had the modles that were manaquins and of course they have the california beach setting trying to entice people into thinking that its an easy going place and trendy. They had rock music that most high-school or college students would recognize. A salesperson asked if i needed anything and she was fairly attractive and similar age to me. I looked around for a while longer and everything to me is overpriced. Thats just a personal opinion but Im guessing many people besides me feel that way as well. I also don't like how the store is farely dark. I think they want you to feel like the store isn't in a mall, like its a special shopping experience, but its too dark for me. Overall my perceptions didn't change very much. I still don't think I'll be buying anything there anytime soon. I like the style of clothes but I can't imagine spending the amount of money they ask when I can go to aeropostale or american eagle and save twenty bucks. I like that they had good music and attractive workers.

Persuasion

According to the Persuaders video, when buying a product Americans are buying an image or a way of life, not just a product. The product is an expression of ourselves or our lives. When buying a product you buy a piece of yourself and mold it. Most of the people in the video all shared the same frustration when it came to breaking through the clutter and being noticed rather than become just another piece of clutter in the scheme of things. As far as where advertising is headed, thats difficult to say. In the movie it showed a clip from I AM SAM and I think more advertising will be done in the way that Starbucks did in the movie. Advertisements may become more intimate and emotive. Advertising within tv shows or maybe in music even. It's hard to say where it might go. A rapper talking about his rolex or gucci whatever may very well be whats on the horizon for advertising. Athletes and celebrities may do even more than they already do which is somewhat hard to imagine. Advertisments on ipods and flat screen tvs. Maybe something along those lines. Either way it's kind of exciting to see, especially after watching The Persuaders video.

Exam Questions

1. _____ occurse when the firm has previously chosen a vendor and intends to place an order.
a. new test
b. old task
c. modified rebuy
d. straight rebuy

2. The Communication Market Analysis includes all fo the following ecept:
a. opportunities
b. target markets
c. product positioning
d. business history

3. Women over 40 buy more than ____% of cars and computers
a. 20
b 50
c. 75
d 10

4. Music, Sex, and humor are exemples of what?
a. advertising appeals
b. goals
c. leverage points
d. product posistioning

You Tube Video

Our groups RAW Campaign video can be found on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7io-dHcCAo

A survey on the RAW campaign can be found at:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cGdpM3ZvRmRndGdIOTBQZUVmN3gyZHc6MA

The project was fun but I doubt it had much impact on peoples' drinkin habits.

RAW Campaigns

I saw some of the RAW posters up around campus, the ad in the daily egtptian, and the photo of the guy holding up the sign with a story about drinking alcohol. Also we did the mock pass out as well as my groups activity, which was the mock tailgate. I think all of the campaigns may help raise awareness, but only for a limited time. While doing our group campaign, I got lots of bad looks for even offering some people a beer. I would be willing to say at least some of those same people have participated in binge drinking at some point in their life. I think people see some of the campaigns and simply blow it off unless they have been affected by binge drinking very personally, such as someones hospitalization or death or accident. The majority of college kids, on the other hand, probably don't take the campaign serious. It is hard to say what might make the campaigns more effective. Each person is influenced in their own way. Also college kids see drinking as part of the culture and in many ways look forward to that when they get to college. In order to get a person to change their actions, many times they have to have a change of heart and that change is hard to accomplish. People dont interpret these activities on a personal level. But, if the campaign even helps one person than you might be able to consider it a success.

Exam Questions

_________ can be defined as transmitting, receiving, and processing information.

a. marketing
b. encoding
c. communication


________ prevents marketing messages from being efficient and effective

a. barriers
b. obstactles
c. noise

When a logo elicits a consensual meaning among customers, the process is known as_______

a. effective marketing
b. brand recognition
c. stimulus codability

Sony TV

When I bought my tv I looked up on the internet some ones that were cheap enough for me to afford but were still rated high or had good reviews. I settled on a Sony. When I think about Sony, it brings to mind electronics, asian countries, affordable, quality, and cameras. I think since Ive been growing up, my family has mostly bought Sony's. The first cd player we had was a sony. Maybe I don't have enough experience with other brands or I would have chosen something differently. These were probably the things that shaped my perception about sony. According to brandtags.net, some things other people said came to mind when thinking about sony were: electronics, tv, walkman, quality, music, playstation, japanese, japan, expensive, and technology. For the most part both my perception and that of others is quite similar. I dont play video games so playstation didn't come to mind. I don't think sony is terribly expensiove, but for the rest of the items in the list, the perceptions are nearly equal. Obviously Sony's IMC is doing a good job at creating a consistant image. It would be a stretch to say that everyone grew up with sony's but maybe thats the case, but more than likely, Sony has just done a good job at creating an image and therefor many peoples' perceptions are nearly equal.

Youtube Advertisement

I enjoyed this advertisement mostly because it was funny. The humor is what draws my attention with the skinny dipping. I wouldn't say that the ad would make me want to drink Bud Light, mostly because if I were to have a beer, I already have a favorite kind. That being said it does make me like the people at Bud Light so maybe I wouldn't be as hesitant to have a bud light if my kind of beer wasn't available. I guess for me it is not very effective, mostly because I already have a beer of choice. If I have recently turned 21 or had not decided on a beer I enjoy most then maybe this advertisement would be mroe effective.

Goals for the Spring 2009 semester

This is my final semester at SIU, at least as an Undergraduate. I hope to have another successful semester and graduate. My major is Political Science and although many of my classes seem unrelated, I find that as I learn more about each subject that I find many topics that do apply to Political Science. I hope to become a more well-rounded individual by the end of this semester while learning about new topics. After this semester I hope to find a job, although I haven't ruled out Graduate School in the future.