Victoria’s Secret Indian Costume Makes Feathers Fly. 

In response to Rick Rusch’s blog post on November 13, 2012, I am totally agree with Rick and personally think that Victoria’s Secret’s marketing strategy is extremely clever and is hard for other companies to copy.

Victoria’s Secret is very famous for its lingeries, perfumes as well as its annual fashion show. Victoria’s Secret models, also known as VS Angels, are famous and attractive. The company uses these angels to represent the company and the brand image.

Each year Victoria’s Secret spends so  much money on its annual fashion show, packaging, new paper advertisement and TV fashion shows. What I like about its strategy is that the company advertises itself through its annual fashion show and TV fashion show where it receives the highest rating since 2002 with 11.5 million viewers who mostly are women. The show is essentially an hour-long commercial and serves as the cornerstone of an efficient marketing machine. People can watch the company’s commercial without feeling bored.

The company is differentiating itself by selling lingeries with the concept of fantasy, which is the company’s point of difference, which allows the company to has an advantage over its competitors. Victoria’s Secret’s lingeries are more stand out than normal lingeries.

I personally think that Victoria’s Secret strategy is very interesting and realistic. The company becomes so successful as it allocates a huge amount of budget on its marketing which clearly helps the company to become more well known, more profitable and is one of the most successful clothing company in the world.

Source:
http://blog.thought-tech.com/2012/11/13/victorias-secret-indian-costume-makes-feathers-fly/

South Korean Companies Branded by “Gangnam Style”

 In response to Connie Hsu’s blog, I am agree with her. It is undeniable that these days, South Korean entertainments are very powerful and can influence people as well as the country’s economy. South Korean celebrities and shows become very popular and brands in South Korea normally pay them to become their presenters and brand image, with hope that these famous celebrities will be able to their popularity to increase companies’ sales.

It is well known that the government are currently supporting entertainment industry as the industry’s successfulness will enhance the country’s tourism industry, which will benefit both government and the entertainments. Moreover, these famous South Korean celebrities are so popular and successful until they can influence their fans and other people. They are slowly becoming the face of South Korea and the country’s reputation is depending on them.

I am also agree with Connie that the successfulness of South Korea entertainment acts is an opportunity  for South Korean companies to expand locally by expanding their product lines as well as geographically expanding themselves to other countries because the image of South Korea at this stage will definitely attract more consumers and investors from overseas.

South Korean’s entertainments are currently growing very fast and the government has made a right choice by supporting them as this will not only give benefit to the companies, but to the country as a whole as well.

Connie Hsu’s blog post:
https://blogs.ubc.ca/conniehsu/2012/10/08/gangnam-style-branding-south-korea/

Original sources:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/asian-pacific-business/what-gangnam-style-is-doing-to-brand-south-korea/article4596798/

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcStmJDdrlYbvlYYYUcWMr4_WDyV7eZk8ctiuX5S4lFFXKi7o1To

Casino in Downtown Toronto?

In response to Luna Tsoi’s blog, I am totally agree with her that the government should reconsider about building casino in downtown Toronto. It is true that casino will attract more tourists in to the city as well as increase the spending of the people in the city. Moreover, having casino in the city will also create more job positions which will eventually lower unemployment rate.

However, in the long term, casino does not put the city in a good position at all, especially having it in downtown. Casino actually increases crime rate and reduce the safety of the city. When operating it in downtown, this means casino is being put in the heart of town where it is easier for anyone, especially the locals, to access to it.

I am agree with Luna that there are many other alternatives, such as new amusement parks, new tourist spots and etc., that the government could use to attract tourists and enhance its tourism industry. Casino is definitely not the best choice for the government as its negative effects could cause the city to be worsen, unlike other alternatives that definitely will bring more beneficials to the society.

Luna Tsoi’s blog post:
https://blogs.ubc.ca/lunatsoi/2012/10/17/casino-in-downtown-toronto/

Original source:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1270290—3-billion-casino-plan-unveiled-for-downtown-toronto
http://nocasinotoronto.com/

McDonald’s to open vegetarian restaurant in India

The article talks about McDonald plan to open 2 new outlets that will fully offer vegetarian meals to cater Indians. McDonald is currently having 271 locations in India but none of them are fully offering vegetarian meals. This year, the chain decided to open 2 brand new branches that will serve nothing but salad and vegetarian products to cater local Indians who mostly are identified to be vegetarians. McDonald is trying to create a point of different to differentiate itself from other normal fast foods that are operating in India as well as trying to expand its market share in India so that it does not lose its customers to competitors like local restaurants and food stalls who serve vegetarian for the locals. By differentiating itself from other fast food and expanding its market, these strategies will allow McDonald to become more profitable.

It is definitely a good strategy for McDonald to serve vegetarian in India as this will have a huge impact on McDonald and attract more customers, which will eventually increase the market share of McDonald. McDonald will become more profitable from this strategy.

Article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/09/04/mcdonalds-india-vegetarian.html

Tim Hortons offers free wireless Internet.

Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian coffee shop known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada’s largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide.

The article talks about Tim Hortons plans to offer free wireless Internet to its customers. The spokesman, Mr. Walton, said that Tim Hortons would offer free wireless Internet to 90 percent of its stores to convince and making life easier for the customers. By offering free wireless Internet, Tim Hortons is trying to advertise itself, as free wireless Internet will encourage more customers to come in and out. The company is trying to reposition itself to become a concept of coffee shop for new generations because these days, technology already became a part of our lives. This strategy has allowed the company to make its locations more efficient and maximize its profit in a short period of time they are there. Offering free wireless Internet will also expand the customer base and the market, as it will also attract younger customers as well.

In fact, Tim Hortons have no choice but to offer free wireless Internet as its rivals, such as Starbucks and Blenz Coffee, already offered this privilege to their customers. Hence, for Tim Hortons to be able to compete with its competitors, it has to offer free wireless Internet in order to maintain its market share.

Article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/07/05/tim-hortons-wifi.html

Doi Chaang plans roaster in Bucharest.

Doi Chaang Coffee Company is Thailand’s premium coffee producer and retailer. The company’s base is in Thailand while it also has branches in Vancouver and Venice. In the article, it talks about the company plans to spend 255 million baht ($1 CAD = 30.8 baht) to expand its business and production to Eastern Europe as well as improving its local production to satisfy an increasing in demand for high quality of roasted coffee. It is mentioned that the company will build a new coffee-roasting factory in Bucharest, Romania, to support the new market, which the company is trying to achieve. The new factory will be an advantage of the company as it allows the company to distribute its products around Europe, which is an opportunity for the company to expand its consumer base. The company’s strategy includes opening its own café and stores around Thailand and other countries in order to be able to sell its own products and becomes more profitable.

As the demand for roasted coffee is increasing everyday whereas the supply is limited, the president of the Doi Chaang, Mr. Wicha Promyong, is already planning to increase its production and becoming even more efficient in order to cater all the demand that increases. When the supply increases, the cost of producing coffee is increasing too. The strategy that the company is using to keep its cost low is to export unroasted coffee to its branches around the world, as it is cheaper than roasting from Thailand. This strategy gives advantage to the company to compete against other local and oversea coffee producers.

Doi Channg’s coffee beans are grown by the local farmers in Northern Thailand, which are under Doi Chaang’s contract. The company is being social responsible by offering jobs to the locals so that they are self-sufficient. The company also gives back to the society by spending 30% of its annual profits to the Doi Chaang Foundation that sets up schools in rural areas.

I really like how the company uses coffee beans that are grown by the locals instead of using technology as well as set up its foundation to help local children. It really gives a huge positive impact to the society.

Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/319182/doi-chaang-plans-roaster-in-bucharest