I came across this blog because it is very popular. The president is Scott Stratten, which many people, including myself, have seen or heard on Twitter. My favourite aspect of this blog is that he not only does written blog posts, but, he also posts podcasts which people can listen to. Many of the posts are easy to understand, and are relevant to much I have learned in Comm 101. Some podcast topics include: the importance of ethics, the power of a brand and how to use social media effectively with your business. His most recent podcast, How to succeed at failing at public speaking, was very helpful because of our upcoming final presentations. Stratten classifies the 3 types of people who speak: those who can speak and can improve, those who are great and can improve, and those who can’t and shouldn’t. Unfortunately, some people fall under the last category and may benefit from his advice.

Want to listen for yourself? Begin at 11:30

Some tips I found useful from the podcast:

– Practice hard words. Where you falter, alter.

– Choreograph your hands, but don’t be overly conscious about them.

– Over-rehearse the first minute of the presentation so you can begin strong

– If you have more bullet points than you have fingers on your hand, you have too many.

Check out his blog here

There has been much criticism about Lululemon’s activewear clothing. Many say that their fabric is too sheer, making their pants see-through and unflattering on most people. It is hard to justify unloading $100 dollars for see-through yoga pants. Competitors such as Athleta, Victoria’s Secret, and stores such as TJ Maxx, which provide cheaper alternatives, have benefited financially from Lululemon’s downfall.

Its all about brand positioning. While competitors know that Lululemon is ultimately a leader in the industry, there is much to gain from this situation. Competitors have the ability to promote quality and durability in their products and essentially slap Lululemon in the face. Competitors can learn from Lululemon’s mistakes and therefore discover what consumers truly value in activewear clothing.

However, while competitors build off of Lululemon’s weaknesses to further their brand, they still lack the consumer loyalty that the Lululemon company possesses. Consumer loyalty must be built overtime through strong shared value, customer relations, and good value propositions, which, the company has achieved over the years with their success.

Read more about it here

Picture from here

The Blackberry smartphone has a unique messaging system known as BBM (Blackberry Messenger). This messaging system was formerly exclusive to Blackberries, however, they recently released BBM as a downloadable app to Android and iPhone users. The wild demand for this app resulted in a wait list to receive a “pin,” in order to use the app.

My friend Bailey rationalizes that Blackberry has hit an all-time low of a 1.7% marketshare because BBM was not first to the market (Whatsapp beat them), and BBM is no longer a distinguishing factor for using a Blackberry. Read her whole blog post here.

I completely agree with Bailey. The expectations for smartphones are high and consumers are always looking for innovation and value in these products. One way to create value is by establishing Points of Difference (PoD). For Blackerries, BBM was their PoD. The exclusive messaging system was an appealing concept that gave value to Blackberry users. Making it available to virtually everybody devalues the product because it no longer has a strong PoD. Apple iPhones are always designing new iOS updates for their users, expanding their app store, and making their design as attractive and durable as possible. These Points of Difference make Apple iPhones a more desirable product over Blackberries.

Check out Bailey’s Comm 101 Blog!

Read the article here

Picture from here

With the holiday season around the corner, retail stores prepare for the big rush. However, Abercrombie & Fitch may not be seeing as many customers in their perfume scented stores this year. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. reported another double-digit drop in quarterly same-store sales.

Since the retail company was established, it was known for its preppy style and super skinny jeans. However, Chief Executive Mike Jeffries has put the company in a bad light with his recent statement that the company’s tiny clothes were only made for “cool and popular” kids, resulting plummeting sales.

Abercrombie plans to finally carry sizes above large by spring. While it will be hard to recover from the bad reputation it currently has, this is a smart move in the long-run. It is important for Abercrombie to protect its brand by showing that everyone can wear their clothes. The exclusivity that this company was going for is a thing of the past. There are many alternative retail stores that teens can shop at such as American Eagle, H&M, and Forever 21, which, all carry diverse sizes. Expanding their customer segments will increase sales and it is probable that the company will come out on top once again.

News from here

Picture from here