Comm 296 Assignment 1
September 19th, 2011Hello classmates, Sauderites, and lost internet surfers, my name is Bryce Blakely and I’m a second year Commerce student studying at the Sauder School of Business here at UBC. So a little back ground information about myself; I’m originally from Toronto so the decision to come to Vancouver definitely had a lot to do with lifestyle choice, I’m a fairly avid snowboarder. I’ve always been driven towards more individualistic activities or at least activities that have a very defined sense of getting out what you put in. This has motivated me to lean towards the more entrepreneurial aspect of business which I plan on pursuing post-Sauder.
Aside from the obvious reason to be taking Comm 296, I have always thought of marketing as the most interesting aspect of business. To some marketing can seem superfluous, but I have always seen marketing as the single most definitive means of brand differentiation available. I believe a good marketing campaign not only promotes a product or service but should be a embodiment of the core values of a business as well as a reflection of the direction that business intends to pursue in the future.
In my experience with marketing I have always found it to be more effective at a grass roots level. Being a snowboarder from Ontario I have seen many upstart apparel companies or board companies attempting to enter that market with essentially the money in their pockets. To market their brand the owners would literally sit at the bottom of the terrain park and hand out stickers. For one you got a sticker (that’s awesome! Put it on your board) but more importantly you can associate a face with the brand. I’ve always found it easier to support a brand if you can somehow feel connected at the very beginning.