Melissa Chau's Blog

After returning from a trip in Argentina, Blake Mycoskie, decided to launch his own company that sold traditional Argentine slip-on shoes, TOMS. Stricken by the country’s health problems and poverty, he was shocked to learn that many didn’t have shoes. The idea is that for every pair of TOMS sold, one pair would be given to a child in need.

In Mike Holman’s blog, “Money Smarts”, he describes his experience with door-to-door salespersons and tells us of the time of how he almost got scammed. In his article, he explains that the Ontario energy market was de-regulated in order to introduce competition into the market, as a result, many individual re-sellers use the door-to-door strategy to lure people into signing contracts.

Door-to-door salespersons can be seen as dangerous and crook-like because they usually prey on people who are vulnerable enough to make hasty decisions. Mothers with young children, old and sickly people are usually targeted. The Door-to-door sales technique is even seen as criminalizing and was almost banned in the US. There have even been some cases of burglary, sexual battery and rape while selling magazines door to door for a magazine company, Paragon Dynasty.

In this day and age, people are more conscious of scams and are more reluctant to open the door. Whenever I have sales people come to my door, i usually ignore them or open the blinds to shoo them away. In my opinion, door-to-door sales is un-effective, people are now aware that the majority of these salespeople are professionals and are good at getting what they want.

Lululemon Athletica possesses the many characteristics and entrepreneurial qualities a successful company should have. Originally starting off as a small business in Vancouver specializing in yoga wear, it has now further developed and expanded their line of products. They now have a number of stores across Canada and even in the United States.

Lululemon is innovative and was the first company to come up with and incorporate different but yet sustainable fabrics, such as luon, into their clothing. Even though they are a company that mainly targets women who practice yoga, they are constantly coming up with new products that appeal to different consumers. They are constantly putting out new fabrics and styles to keep customers returning and asking for more- they will never get tired of their products. As the market leader in product technology; they are able to set the prices and because of this, they don’t have many major competitors. Lululemon has built a strong reputable brand that prides themselves in being sustainable and consumer focused. And because of this, this makes the company a great success.

Breaking into the highly competitive touchpad market isn’t a very easy task to do especially when Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tablet already pretty much dominate. With BlackBerry’s Playbook, not doing so well, RIM is practically begging businesses to buy them. Even after lowering their high price of $499 to $299, sales are still low and to the point that they are offering buy 2 get 1 free offers. On top of that, RIM has announced that they will be delaying their software update (Blackberry OS 2.0) until late February of next year. Delaying the update will probably shoot down any of their remaining chances of making sales this holiday season. Playbooks have been doing so poorly that they have only sold around 700,000 units since April, about as many iPads Apple sells in a week. 

Around a month ago, BlackBerry users experienced a service outage lasting for 3 days. Known for their security and use in BlackBerry devices around the world,RIM has gone from bad to worse. Millions of users were left with no access to the internet, wireless services and BBM. To make up for this, RIM has offered customers with $100 dollars worth of free app downloads. In the UK, BBM can cost an extra 5 euros, enraged, customers have filed for law-suits against RIM for not offering compensation.

Speaking of from going bad to worse, this BBM outage couldn’t have had happened at a worse time, within a couple days Apple launched iMessage for the iphone and Samsung had launched ChatON that lets you send messages, doodles, and pictures to ANY PHONE. Personally, i disagree with Adrian Fung’s view on the outage and how it will be forgotten and forgiven. After this outage, Blackberry devices have left a bad impression on me. During the outage, i couldn’t help but notice the overwhelming negative responses from other users- some have even switched to iphones and androids because of this. Having originally bought the BlackBerry for BBM, i can now say that i’m ready for an Android phone.

While big brands such as Kimberly Clark, P&G, and Kraft continue to pour their money into advertising through T.V. commercials and pop-ups online, smaller scale companies such as Durex Condoms are sponsoring small house parties all across the US to create buzz around their products; a great marketing strategy that make ordinary hosts feel like they have won a free party in their house when in actuality they are hosting a big advertisement.

In February of 2011, Durex Condoms sponsored over 5,000 house bashes organized by House Party, a marketing firm specialized in throwing these events.  Their event was called “Durex Girl Talk House Party: Valentine’s Day Edition.” It included an array of coupons, samples and “free corporate swag“.

Now that these brand bashes are popular, and proven to be more cost efficient than traditional advertising strategies, Kraft and P&G are slowly following in Durex’s footsteps by sponsoring parties as well. Just in March, Pull-Ups diaper brand sponsored the “Potty Dance Day” house party. Included was dance mats and a DVD, coupons, and coloring sheets.

Now that more consumers are growing immune to the traditional ways of advertising, companies need to develop new marketing strategies that connect their products and consumers together.

Barbie shocked the world with what was called the “breakup of the Millenium”. So when she left Ken, her boyfriend and favourite accessory, behind 24 hours before valentine’s day in 2004, it sparked lots of talk and rumours a all around the world. Barbara Millicent Roberts has been one of the most popular toys on the market since 1959 , but ever since MGA launched their Bratz series of plastic dolls, Mattel finally had tough competition.

Statistics have shown that sales of Barbie dolls had fallen by as much as 30% in the USA and 18% worldwide mostly due to MGA’s Bratz dolls outselling them. The breakup was used in 2004 as Mattel’s marketing ploy. A smart move on their part for sparking lots of talk. Shirts, books, billboards and ads were made; finally putting Barbie back into the spotlight. 7 years later, after “re-vamping” Ken’s image, giving him a more “beiber-ish” appearance, Barbie has fallen for Ken, again…..sparking more interest in the dolls.

Ken was never just Barbie’s boy toy or favourite accessory, but instead he was Mattel’s secret weapon to getting back into the market despite new competition. The breakup and reconciliation of the iconic couple was on of the best and smartest brand-marketing strategies ever.

With over 800 million active users, Facebook has become one of the most popular social networking sites; so when ASOS, Britain’s no.2 top online clothing retailer, decided to launch their “e-tailing” tactic in Facebook, it was a brilliant move on their part. This allows customers to online-shop without having to click to a different window and potentially missing their notifications and updates. Not only is this good for their Facebook addicted customers, but for the company as well. Customers’ purchases can be posted and commented on each other’s walls and “activity” feeds- acting as sneaky additional ways of advertising for the clothing company.

Ever since Apple released their iPad in 2010, companies such as Hp, Blackberry, and Acer have released many similar touch pads in hopes to get into the market and act as an alternative to consumers. Competing directly at Apple’s iPad 2 model, The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is Apple’s biggest rival. Complete with speakers, it provides the ultimate android experience in a new slimmer and sleeker design than their older models in their series.

Because of  “similar” size and shape, Samsung was hit with patent and infringement lawsuits from Apple. Because of this, Samsung was prevented from launching their product in Australia. On August 10th 2011, the German court prohibited the sales of the tablet in European nations. Recently, a Dutch publication accused Apple of providing false evidence against Samsung by making the dimensions of the Galaxy tablet appear much closer to the iPad. Apparently, the tablet is more oblong and longer than shown in the pictures brought as evidence. It did not accurately reflect the product’s shape.

As of September 9th 2011, the ban has been lifted. All sales are being made throughout Europe with the exception of Germany. It is ridiculous that Apple has to fake evidence in order to stop their competition.

Known for their sexy sleek time-less pieces and with clients ranging from Madonna to David Beckham, Dolce & Gabbana is one of Italy’s finest and most luxurious fashion houses. D&G practices sandblasting, a dangerous technique that is used to produce their line of ripped denim. However, while producing their “killer” jeans, they are essentially murdering their workers at the same time.

During the process, large amounts of silica dust is produced and poses as a dangerous health threat to operators. Exposure can cause Silicosis. Although proven hazardous and petitioned to be banned by the Clean Clothes Campaign, D&G has yet to change their ways. Ignoring safety and health- D&G continues  to exploit workers from poorer countries. They were even quoted saying they did not intend to stop and the information on the dangers and potential risks presented to them posed no interest. Their insensitivity towards the wellbeing of their workers and families and the unwillingness to stop their immoral practices, is what makes it an ethical issue. By following their competitors and banning sandblasting, they could get rid of their bad rep and save lives. After all, killing workers for a pair of jeans isn’t sexy.

Deathly Jeans- A Film on Sandblasting