Week 9 EOC: Cyber Shopping

In honor of Cyber Monday, I figured I would shop around a little and see what all the fuss was about.  Little did I expect, I ended up spending $110 at modcloth.com on 3 items of clothing.  Everything was 50% off and I was ecstatic!

One of the items I bought is a dress Ms. Drizzle Dress. The description of this item says, "Is your everyday wardrobe leading you into a fog? Make a splash in this cumulus-colored dress as you teach the water cycle to your pupils! Fully lined in a silky material, and with a fitted elasticized waist band, this textured dot-covered frock will never make you 'condense' your style. Between two cascading rows of pleats is a tie collar and raindrops of grey buttons help you storm your classroom with style. Your look won't be 'mist' by anyone when you pair the paneled skirt of this dress with pink wedges, and top it off with a cute umbrella!" 


The regular price of this dress was $77.99.  Modcloth.com is known for buying a very little number of items that they carry.  This makes their items novelties and highly lusted after once they get down in quantity.  I wanted this dress because it is very fashion forward.  It is just my style with the sweet and innocent look of the material yet with an edgy factor in the shorter length with a little bit of volume in the skirt.


I ordered this item 50% making the total price $38.99.  What a steal!  I didn't even have to pay tax or shipping on any of my items.  This was a great deal because of the high demand of modcloth.com's low quantity.  I am very pleased with my purchase and will definitely be checking out this sight for more sales, especially on Cyber Monday next year!

Week 8 EOC: Creative Content

To promote my vodka I plan to have a print ad.

Print ad: A completely white background is the basis of the ad.  A girl is in jeans and a comfortable sweater and has bare feet.  Her makeup is simple and not flashy but her hair is out of control.  The girl is sitting in a simple chair that one might find in a dining room of a comfortable home.  She is holding Pure Perfection Vodka.

The point of this ad is to promote that Pure Perfection Vodka is simple.  Amongst one's crazy and hectic days, our vodka offers solace and calmness.

The girl from the print ad has a back story.  Picture an independent business woman and her day.  What does she do in the morning?  She misses her alarm and wakes up late.  She rushes to get showered and dressed but forgot to pick up her suit from the dry cleaners.  She pulls some clothes out of the hamper hoping they aren't stained or wrinkled.  As she rushes out the door she cannot find her purse.  After finding it she rushes outside to catch a cab.  Minutes go by until she catches a cab and then gets stuck in traffic.  Rushing into her office after picking up herself and her boss a Starbucks coffee, she spills her coffee all over herself.  Her day at work is hectic and she's behind on her assignments.  After a long and grueling day, she slips off her shoes and puts on something comfortable.  The woman pulls out Pure Perfection Vodka and her day slips away.


The bottle will look similar to the one at the right of the previous paragraph.  The sleek curves of this vase promote the sleek and simple nature of the taste of Pure Perfection Vodka.  We want the customer to feel what we are all about before they even taste the drink.  Experience should be pure delight but what's important is the product inside.

Week 7 EOC: The Pitch

A young person that looks relate-able standing in front of a white background is holding a bottle of vodka.  This person is dressed plain but has slightly messed up hair.

Vodka is not about the gimmick, but what’s inside.  We offer up no gimmicks here, just pure goodness.  This vodka is all about the flavor and freeing sense when you drink it.  We distil our vodka once.  The “imperfections” make our taste pure perfection.

Sorghum and potatoes are used to give our nontraditional vodka a subtle flavor all its own.  We like the natural stuff!

Sex sells but simplicity captivates.  As you sit there wondering why you are so intrigued by this simple ad, think.  Isn't your life hectic and demanding?  Don't you have one thousand responsibilities a day with work, family, and friends?  Take a breather and enjoy the simplicity.  We want you to relax with our natural vodka.

Our bottle portrays nothing but the pure delight you will experience.  Nothing is as important than what's inside.

The one time distillation allows flavors that you crave to be present in our vodka. It's our perfect imperfection.

We value our customers and understand their hectic lifestyles.  We offer up an simple paradise; a perfect place in an imperfect world.

Week 6 EOC: Me x3

Products can easily define a person.  You can show the world who you are by the products you choose.  Different smells can trigger how a person reacts to you.  Clothing choices can express your personality.  The electronics you own can show taste, style, and even loyalty.  There are so many ways products can define a person.  Let me tell you about three products that characterize me.

One of the very first make up products I ever used, when I was 12, was Cover Girl.  Seven years later I still use Cover Girl.  One of my very most favorite celebrities is Taylor Swift, so naturally I gravitated toward the Cover Girl product she endorses: Natureluxe Foundation.  This product defines me in that when I wear this foundation, I feel good about myself.  I feel pretty and I know I won't have to reapply my make up during the day.

Another product I feel defines me is Anthropologie clothing.  To be specific, I just bought a lambs wool coat with a horse print on it.  Anthropologie has clothing that is unique and fashionable.  It is not for girls who don't want attention.  Their clothing definitely calls attention to the wearer.

The third product that immediately comes to mind is nail polish.  I have had a wonderful experience with China Glaze nail polish.  The paint never chips and they have a wide variety of colors.  This nail polish defines me as Alyssa Sims because I never go anywhere without my nails painted.  I love being creative with new techniques such as a marbling effect or even making my own design with a tiny paint brush.  (To the left is a picture of my own nails.)

These products define the person I am.  I am able to show the world, without words, how I feel about myself and express my personality because of these products.

Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

Facebook is starting a relatively new thing that is similar to a job board but many say it may rival other job boards.  "Facebook's use as a job-recruitment tool remains small, but its appeal may be growing." The Wall Street Journal, Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like by Joe Light.  In focus groups, many people felt the new service was invasive.  "Indeed, Jeff Vijungco, vice president of world-wide talent acquisition for Adobe Systems Inc., said that in focus groups, prospective job candidates were sharply averse to being contacted through Facebook for jobs.  'The antibodies kicked in pretty quickly. They thought it was very invasive,' he said."  The Wall Street Journal, Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like by Joe Light.

On a similar note, brand ambassadors are being chosen for Sony.  "For the ambassadors, it’s often a labor of love more than a paying job. Rewards include product samples, gifts, discounts, and token cash payments."  Marketing: An Introduction for Education Management Corporation, 10th Edition, Chapter 5 (15).  Brand ambassadors may be used to jump-start launches for new products.  "Out of 2,000 or more online applicants, Sony picked only 25 brand ambassadors." Marketing: An Introduction for Education Management Corporation, 10th Edition, Chapter 5 (15).  Being online has it's advantages, although few won't embrace it.  The advantages are astronomical in that many opportunities are presented on websites, social networks, etc.  "The brand ambassador approach has its critics. For example, some view the practice as underhanded or deceptive. However, to avoid charges of deception, most firms advise their ambassadors to openly reveal that they are representatives. Others worry that brand ambassadors will be perceived as hucksters who promote products because they get free stuff—or, worse, as annoying evangelists best avoided."  Marketing: An Introduction for Education Management Corporation, 10th Edition, Chapter 5 (15).

Skeptics may have their views but creative people get the advantage in receiving jobs, brand ambassador opportunities, and many other great life experiences!

Week 4 EOC: There's An App for That

In a perfect world where I know everything there is to know about creating an app, I would create an app called "Compare This."

Now, whether or not an app like I'm about to explain exists, I do not know, but here is what I'm thinking...

Picture this.  You're out and about clothes shopping when you walk into this darling little boutique.  You browse through the selection of unique clothing and find a pair of jeans that are to die for.  Then you notice the price; $70.00.  That's out of your comfort zone to spend more than $30.00 on a pair of jeans.  You remember an app you just downloaded called "Compare This".  Here's how it works.  Take a picture of these major jeans and upload it to Compare This.  Now press the compare button and wait.  In less than one minute your search results pop up.  Now you can check all of the local stores within a customized mile radius of your current location.  It's easy to see what stores carry these jeans or jean similar with the price listed.  You notice you can find these jeans for a much more reasonable price of $29.99 and the store is just 4 miles away!

Today's economy is undoubtedly affecting most people in their shopping habits in order to stay afloat.  However, shopping is inevitable unless you are a self sufficient human who grows all of their own food, grows cotton to spin into thread to make their own clothing, and bathes in natural bodies of water.  "It’s a tougher economy, money is tighter, and you’re looking for ways to save cash. Plus, if you own an iPhone, you’re probably paying a hefty monthly fee for service. But while the iPhone may have some big costs, it can more than make up for it in financial savings." http://mashable.com/2009/05/06/iphone-shopping-savings/

Upon research, I have notices that there are hundreds, if not thousands of apps just like my idea.  Of course this app idea could be expanded upon to not just retail, but groceries, electronics, etc.  To make my app stand out, I would advertise it to my expected market.  Women shop for clothes!  I would advertise that they can find the most fashionable pieces for cheap.  Men love electronics!  I would advertise on TV that they can find the best electronic deals.  The possibilities for advertising to different markets are endless.  My app could be very successful if advertised right!

Week 3 EOC: My Demographics

The millennial demographic is where I factually fall.  I was born between 1977 and 2000 (1992 to be exact) and I am a daughter of 2 baby boomers.

"With total purchasing power of more than $733 billion, the Millennials make up a huge and attractive market." Marketing: An Introduction for Education Management Corporation, 10th edition (16) Although I do come a wealthy family, I do come from a family with a comfortable income.  I have grown up knowing the value of a dollar and to not spend frivolously.  I have taken this knowledge with me as I've grown into an adult.  I realize that I have the access to much more money than I actually spend.  I feel I am responsible with money and am proud of my spending habits.

"One thing that all of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology. They don’t just embrace technology, it’s a way of life. The Millennials were the first generation to grow up in a world filled with computers, cellphones, satellite TV, iPods, and online social networks." Marketing: An Introduction for Education Management Corporation, 10th edition (17) This is extremely true.  I remember being in 2nd grade, going to the computer lab, and loading files onto floppy disks.  I have worked with computers my whole life.  Technology advances so quickly and I feel I keep up with it relatively well.

I have never been interested in politics however, my interest is increasing the closer the next presidential election gets.  Obama is smart in reaching social media.  It is easy to follow campaigns and know the issues... instantly! "Reaching Millennials: The Barack Obama presidential campaign’s mastery of cutting-edge social media, such as the my.barackobama.com Web site, was optimized for Millennial appeal. Post election, it still is. You can connect with “Obama everywhere." Marketing: An Introduction for Education Management Corporation, 10th edition (18)

I am a millennial girl.  Technology savvy and attractive to markets!