Jerry Chung's Blog

The newly released 3D TVs are already in stores now.  Still in its introduction stage for this product, there are only a few companies that produce the 3D TV (Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Sony, etc.)  Are 3D TVs that cool?  Personally as a techy, I would want one but the price of a 3D TV is still really high.  Probably because of its R&D costs that is pushing up this price.  I think I’m a late majority in the diffusion of innovation curve meaning I would buy the 3D TV at a way later time when the prices drop and more companies’ TVs to choose from.

3D TVs are already instores and selling since 2010.  I recently been to bestbuy and future shop to try out the 3D TV but I just really want to criticize the fact that you just have to put on glasses to watch the TV.  For a general consumer like me, I watch TV for relaxation and would want to watch it with several people.  But putting on the glasses is just a not convenient.  I also heard that a 3D TV only comes with two pairs of glasses.  I don’t think that would be sufficient for my whole family.

I know some people just can’t stand watching 3D and would get dizzy after watching it.  BUT due to improvements to the TV, 3D TVs have the option of switching to 2D.  Will the 3D TV be a blast in the market?  Just like the past where DVDs replaced VCDs and when VCDs replaced VHS tapes.  It will depend on the consumers and the early majority to determine if the 3D TV will replace the current HDTV that is dominating the market for TVs.

Although I don’t buy many products from Sephora, I still occassionally do when I have to buy presents for my friends.  As I was walking around Richmond Centre today, I was browsing around and I saw a giant Hello Kitty on the glass window on Sephora.  I thought it was such a creative marketing idea.  This new line extension in Sephora really gives a large positive impact on its consumers.  Even thought a guy such as myself isn’t the primary target for Sephora, but I was interested in it.  I guess this marketing strategy really would attract new customers or innovators into Sephora.

Adding onto my previous post, this is another example of non-celebrity advertising.  This is probably a growing trend with using cartoon characters in its products.  To differentiate Sephora from its competitors such as MAC and other beauty product retailers, the new Hello Kitty product line combines the image of Hello Kitty into its products.  Hello Kitty‘s brand by itself already adds value in its products.  With Sephora carrying the brand name, it adds even more value to the product.  This tells consumers that it is trustworthy, reliable and good quality.

Hello Kitty‘s image probably targets younger consumers.  But thinking about it, it could also target older women too.  There is a simple reason behind it.  Isn’t beauty and cosmetic products about trying to make the individual more young looking than old?  Using this figure in the sense of beauty products is really smart I think.  It tells people to think “Hey! I’m not that old, I can still use these young and cute products for myself!”  Just like their slogan “Hello Kitty Beauty!”

Wanting to comment on Amanda’s blog post here.  In the same situation as Amanda, I always have to commute to school and I see the Beard Papa’s ads on the sides of the skytrain.  I agree with Amanda that there are  advantages in using non-celebrities on advertisements.  And possibly celebrities can cause a dissociative image for the company if the unsuited celebrity was chosen to be presented in the advertisements.  BUT!  it is different when a company use a non-celebrity in their advertisements.  Since they have no news and unknown to the audience, they won’t have a risk of being a dissociative member.  In contrast, they may not be as well as an aspirational member as celebrities.

I want to turn to a different perspective to an example from HK.  High school Tutors on advertisements.

The advertisements are displayed and showed all around in Hong Kong like on giant billboards, sides of busses, posters around the city and many more sources.  The tutors display themselves as if they were celebrities.  I think it is a really creative idea because it attracts the target audience really well.  High School Tutors would want high school students as their consumers and would want to appeal to them.  High school students wouldn’t want the classic teacher image from their tutors.  As a reult, the tutors “branded” themselves as a different type of educator and creates a relaxed feeling for high school students.  I think the Hong Kong’s tutoring industry is doing really well because I heard the high school curriculum is really difficult so there is a demand for these tutors.

To read more about Hong Kong tutors on advertisements, try this blog here.

This new product from McDonald’s, is it good?  Tasty?  In the fastfood burger product life cycle, it is surely in its mature stage already.  But I think entering this stage is not easy as it will require much creativity to create the burger.  To put it in a few words, the new Buttermilk Biscuit burger is for breakfast only similar to the McGriddle.  As a new burger, much marketing will be also be required to make it successful.

Before the launch of the burger, McDonald’s already sent coupons to the homes around Vancouver.  Moreover, the burger was also for FREE on the first day!  wow such a great deal.  I think this marketing technique is fabulous and McDonald’s probably had estimations on future sales to break even the cost of the free promotion.  As a consumer, I would think to myself, I would wake up early in the morning just to purchase it and try it out.  Possibly I am innovator and would want to try it out first.  But probably McDonald’s wanted everyone to become an innovator to try out the burger.  On the long term basis, the people who prefers the burger would most likely return to purchase it again.

From consumer’s perspective, I would want my local fast food restaurants to have new products launching every so often or else I would easily get bored of the restaurant.  So I think the Buttermilk Biscuit also serves as a motivation for past customers to return to try out the new product.  And if they like it, they would become loyal customers or advocates for McDonald’s!

For those who have tried it out, what do you think of it?