“Facebook + Twitter + Google Communities = Narvii”

There is no better way to describe what Narvii is than the simple equation displayed by Forbes as its title for its article. Narvii is a new social platform that allows people around the globe to form micro-communities online. Those micro-communities are referred to as aminos as the developers of Narvii came up with amino apps that allow people with similar interests to communicate with each other.

What makes this social platform unique from other existing platforms is that Narvii allows its users to engage in a more interactive relationship with each other, forming a peer group which allow people to pursue their interests to a further extent.

I find it interesting how technology has a such a great impact on the business industry as it not only allows room for innovation, but it also allows businesses to grow and expand upon it. Narvii is an idea that is innovated from the branches of Facebook and other existing social media platforms, which could later launch sales platforms that could lead to a greater platform for communities and organizations.

Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2013/11/14/facebooktwitter-google-communitiesnarvii/

With recent launches of Apple’s newest products such as iPhone 5s and iPad Air, the public begins to wonder whether Apple would start a new journey in a brand new product category that the company has never touched upon. There have been rumours lately regarding Apple’s expansion into categories such as watches and televisions.

Facing these types of inquiries, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook responded ambiguously by stating Apple’s capability of making these designs into a reality. I believe this is a bold, yet possibly another profit-earning step for Apple if rumours regarding the developmental project of iWatch were to come true. Smartphone industry has already comprised of several companies competing amongst each other, allowing little space of development and innovation. However, the industry for smart watches is yet to be discovered. If Apple were to be the first company to make the bold move and to dominate this untouched industry, this would definitely become the next big step for the company. Product differentiation can enhance the company instead of distracting its focus since Apple is not only about making smartphones, but it highlights its value proposition of forward thinking.

Link: http://mashable.com/2013/10/28/apple-new-product-categories/

In a blog titled “Subway Vs. McDonalds”, written by a fellow classmate, it is mentioned that Subway markets itself as a healthy alternative to consumers within the fast food industry. However, despite this marketing tactic regarding health and lifestyle, it is shown that a combination of toppings added to a subway sandwich would make no difference in calories compared to McDonalds.

Instead of comparing calories between the two fast food brands, I find it interesting to focus on the companies’ marketing strategy. Subway on one hand appeals to the public as a healthy fast food branch as it clearly understands McDonald’s disadvantage on this topic. McDonalds on the other hand performs its marketing tactics by psychologically enticing children to buy the company’s fast food with appealing TV advertisements. According to the diagram shown above, the amount of advertisements McDonalds has invested in has surpassed the rest of the competitors in the industry, more than doubling Subway’s amount of fast food ads. This may seem as a successful marketing tactic among the young audience as children base their decisions more on the toys that “Happy Meals” offer than the value proposition that Subway is trying to illustrate.

Link: http://mashable.com/2013/11/14/fast-food-ads-kids/

Yes, what you have just seen from the picture happened in real life with the amazing stunt performance performed by Jean-Claude Van Damme. According to Volvo’s public relations manager, Anders Vilhelmsson, “the stunt is real and is performed in just one take”. Volvo filmed a one minute and sixteen seconds video, which went viral on Youtube within one week, to portray the stability and precision of the company’s trucks by allowing the action star to perform splits on the two trucks.

However, is this advertisement a successful marketing strategy? The audience may be more awed and distracted by Jean-Claude Van Damme’s breath-taking performance than to actually focus on Volvo’s intent of displaying its trucks stability performances, until the line “this test was set up to demonstrate the stability and precision of Volvo Dynamic Steering” popped up.

Personally, I believe this indeed is a successful strategy as this video not only captured millions pairs of eyes around the globe but it also allowed Volvo to differentiate itself from its competitors. Audiences may be distracted by the stunt performance at first, but later they would realize the crucial role of Volvo’s stable steering.

See full ad: The Epic Split feat. Van Damme

Recently a fellow classmate has blogged an article about how Google is recognized as having the best working environment in the world. Bianca mentioned in the article, Google provides several benefits to its employees in order to encourage innovation within the company, such as rewarding workers’ mistakes and increasing job satisfaction to nurture creativity. This portrays the importance of human resources management as Google chooses to build its cohesive organizational culture based upon employees’ level of satisfaction and comfortability within the working environment. The company thus links its employee management to its business strategies by developing creativity and innovation, which is extremely important for the company to expand and grow in the long run. This strategy used by Google was proven to be effective as creations such as Google Plus was innovated from employee’s risk-taking yet creative ideas.

Just like the shoe company, Zappos, Google believes in the concept of creating a cohesive environment for workers which in return would develop innovate ideas that would increase unimaginable profits for the company. Therefore, this crucial part of managing the company’s employees is portrayed through HR management.

Angela Ahrendts, once known as one of the top-paid CEO in UK now turns toward Apple’s newest job position as a senior vice president of retail and online stores. One of the most interesting and innovating marketing strategy implemented by Ahrendts was her idea of incorporating technology into marketing. In 2012, a 27,000 square foot retail empire is introduced in London which integrated advanced technology that allow customers to have the online experience physically. Techonological features such as “Full-length screens transitioning between audio-visual content displays, live-streaming hubs and mirrors. Radio-frequency identification chips attached to certain clothes and accessories so that information about a bag’s stitching and craftsmanship, or a video showing how a skirt was worn on the catwalk — will appear.” Marketing strategies involve reflexive adaptation to change in the society, in this case, it is people’s shift of interest in social media and technology. Ahrendts fully displayed swift adaption to this change as an efficient marketing strategy. I agree with the original blog poster on Mashable as I question Ahrendt’s future impact on Apple as Apple needs product innovation, not store innovation.

Click the link: Burberry’s Social Story

http://mashable.com/2013/10/15/angela-ahrendts-apple-burberry-analysis/

In Canada, the major mobile network operators include Rogers, Bell, Telus, are often seen competing among each other within the market. Recently, Rogers has introduced a promotion that it believes would intrigue more consumers: enticing customers to shop at a nearby store by sending promotions through texts. By agreeing to subscribe to this new marketing service, consumers can now be able to receive promotions of a store through text messages whenever they are physically near the promoted store. Without losing its point of parity, Rogers is likely to attract more consumers with its new promotional ads by specifically targeting those who’d be interested in shopping with promotional discounts. Rogers has also customized those ads to each subscribed customer which would identify their interest without spamming them with useless ads. This bold and unique market strategy may deem as profitable as it has already attracted several advertisers in participating in the program; however, the consumers’ response to this new “Rogers Alert” is yet to be determined. It can either backfire where consumers prefer not to be spammed by Rogers and instead just focus on providing network services, or it can attract more consumers as profitable promotions attract more people.

Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2013/10/2/Rogers-to-offer-promotional-ads-by-text.aspx

Canada begins to expand its target on the Asian market by introducing more airlines that would allow more immigrants and tourists to travel conveniently across the Pacific Ocean. As this decision is expected to bring more profit to the airline industry, it is interesting to observe the strategies Air Canada has taken in order to save itself from a continuous flow of deficit. It is mentioned in the article that Air Canada will be cooperating with Air China in order to boost consumers’ interest within China’s market by promoting flights to Beijing and six other major cities in China. Although this plan may seem profitable with an increasing number of immigrants and tourists arriving Canada, it involves a risk of increasing deficit with the huge cost of expanding international flights and increasing production of planes in a short amount of time. Air Canada targets mostly the immigrants coming from Asia with the hopes of being able to compete with other international airlines that began to emerge under different brand names. Air Canada, once the only airline that offers international flights across the Pacific Ocean, now will struggle to compete in the market and manage to cut the deficit.

http://www.vancouversun.com/Business/asia-pacific/agreements+with+Japan+China+will+boost+Canadian/9003683/story.html

Recently, Blackberry’s major supplier has announced that they will no longer continue its partnership agreement with Blackberry. This news headline no doubt had captured the public’s attention with everyone wondering what will the future look like for Blackberry, a company which was once one of the leading companies in the smartphone industry. Due to lack of consumer interest in the new products launched by Blackberry in early 2013, the cost of inventory and storage came to light while U.S. carrier T-mobile has announced that it will no longer stock products of Blackberry in its retail stores. While Canadian carrier’s response remains to be unknown, it is obvious to everyone that the company is no longer capable of competing along with Apple and Android within the industry with its major financial loss. The importance of stakeholders is thus portrayed in this situation as the company begins to lose its grasp on customers and is forced to cut the employment rate. Although the company will not go into bankruptcy, the loss of consumer interest, cut on human resources, and rising costs of inventory will mark the collapse of the company within the industry.

Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/technology/Blackberry+supplier+planned+exit+puts+smartphone/8962988/story.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blackberry-handset-maker-begins-talks-to-wind-down-partnership/article14545696/

Currently the Northern Gateway Pipeline project has aroused great controversies within the province and the rest of the country. According to the website that introduces the project in great length, the project is said to be beneficial to the Canadian economy by boosting the country’s GDP and government revenue. Further beneficial factors for the province and the aboriginals were listed on the website, as if to justify the project’s plan to endanger the environment. This is an issue that not only worries the environmentalists but also the First Nations.

Although nowadays, a majority of people are being educated on how important it is for us to cherish the natural environment, there are still businesses out there that would stress the importance of economy over the value of the environment. Is it truly justifiable for companies like the Northern Gateway Pipeline to place a time bomb in the forests that we British Columbians were always proud of? Is it also ethical to watch them place these pipelines near the Aboriginals’ homes?

Based on my biased point of view, the cost of constructing the pipeline is much greater than the profit the project will earn in the unforeseen future.

Link: http://www.northerngateway.ca