Recently, Samsung has been sued for cloning the designs, graphical user interfaces and touchscreen of an Apple’s IPhone. Apple feels Samsung has taken the credit of being the advanced smartphone with a large touchscreen and other features.  Samsung has been fined one billion dollars for the imitation.

This relates to the class discussion when we talked about Points of Parity VS. Points of Difference. The IPhone used to have POD by being a touchscreen smartphone that is also slim and unique in design. This was the reason why the IPhone was so popular among young and old cell phone users. However, a new competitor, Samsung Galaxy, revealed the same concept as the IPhone making POP. Now neither of the phones is unique and people are more lenient on which phone to buy.

I realized the significance of points of difference and how good it can attract consumers. Products need POD in order to succeed in the market business and without it, it can’t position itself as #1 in consumers’ minds. After the IPhone 5 came out, I can analyze that both companies are now racing to see who can become #1 in consumers’ minds by inventing a slimmer phone with a bigger touchscreen. By next year, we will being carrying around brittle phones with a 10-inch screen.

Weblink:  http://newyork.newsday.com/business/technology/apple-v-samsung-both-sides-unhappy-in-patent-battle-judgment-1.4028805

There had been a warehouse sale opening for Aritzia for just several days and about    40,000 customers were expected to come which the customers were all girls. On the first      day, there was a huge line up full of teens eager to get inside the warehouse to find the clothes they want to buy.

Aritzia is known for its fashionable, trendy clothes targeted towards young females. Unlike other clothing stores, Aritzia carries clothes that attract growing teenagers and has become a popular brand. Despite its high price, some teenagers like to wear its clothing just to carry around its brand.

Aritzia’s target towards females has been proven successful. Its popularity has easily influenced a lot of young girls to buy its clothing and has even attracted older women to make themselves feel younger and “in” with trend.

Weblink:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Thousands+Vancouver+shoppers+swamp+Aritzia+warehouse+sale/7168650/story.html

Since the early 2000’s, Gatorade has gained dominance over all other sports drink in the market. Gatorade emphasizes the point that this specific sports drink is a valuable drink to hard working athletes. Its commercials are of athletes sweating the vibrant coloured gatorades conveying how gatorade is part of athlete’s everyday life. Also, Gatorade has been made famous by many atheletes including Michael Jordan and New York Giants when they are seen drinking it in commercials and in real games.

Gatorade has prevailed its name by using unique commercials and getting famous athletes to drink it which helped position itself as the “number one sports drink.” Also, Gatorade is one of the first sports drink to come out to the market which helped grow its popularity. Since it is an original product, many athletes choose to buy it.

Gatorade reveals how important it is to be positioned in consumers’ minds. Because of its commercials and representatives, it is able to gain a positive perspective from many athletes and normal consumers! Whenever people think of a sports drink, most of them will think of Gatorade.

Weblink: http://www.brandchannel.com/features_profile.asp?pr_id=68