Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. 

This statement holds true to many passionate employees, but how is this achieved?

Connie Zhou’s blog helped me investigate the concept of corporate culture among various companies, which then lead me to analyze WestJet. (side note: President & CEO Gregg Saretsky is a Sauder Graduate. That’s right.) Firstly, I found WestJet to embody the ebullient company culture similar to that of Zappos. WestJet staff are not only owners, but they are passionate about what they do whilst maintaining personal accountability.

In an interview linked bellow, it is clear that the state of employees has an inevitable impact on the destiny of the company. Essentially, the rule goes that if employees are happy, customers will be happy too. But why? It’s simple: If the same morals and values of a company are shared between its workers and directors, a positive (sometimes laid-back) atmosphere is created. Workers will want to work, projects will seem less daunting, customers will return, and in the end happiness is recycled within the company.

Overall, I could not explain better how WestJet maintains a positive corporate culture than this statement by employees: “We succeed because I care.”

WestJet and corporate culture

Gazing out my window to the approaching winter season, it seemed fair to reminisce on those warm summer days where SWOT assignments were simply SWOT charts.

Mountain Equipment Co-op, the company I analysed, keeps a community blog for its members and employees to share their experiences. Not only is this a genius way to market their brand, it also serves as a medium to encourage environmental awareness.  (Check out their blog!)

For those who’ve never heard of MEC before, they’re a company founded in Vancouver by four friends who identified the need of quality gear for “self-propelled wilderness-oriented recreation.” Not only are they a part of 1% For the Planet and The Big Wild, they also support endless human rights and environmental projects which are shared on their blog.

In order to buy their equipment, one must hold “a share” of $5. With this comes the power to elect their directors and choose their products. Amazing! This share (or vote) provides exclusive rights, affiliation with their projects, and a network through their close-knit community blog.

I find this blog to be useful because:

1) It promotes the company’s mission / successes and generates an even closer community.

2) Its members get the opportunity to share details about their outdoor adventures and to leave advice to beginners on which trails to explore.

After reading Dorfam Mirgharavi’s blog and Joyce Li’s blog, it occurred to me that despite each individual’s factors for motivation, it all leads to one idea:

We use these factors to get what we want out of life.  Is our goal to live longer, enjoy each moment, or leave a legacy?

In the big picture, whether it’s money or power that motivate us to turn that alarm off and wake up in the morning, it is helping us maximize our utility. Yes, I just said that. This is assuming that everyone wants to be happy; money (for example) can buy happiness for some people, but what this means is that money=products=happy. For others, health, love, and experience may be the reasons why they do what they do.

Here’s my logic.

Money: it allows us to buy products/services that make us happy

Power: 1) feeling significant and needed like a leader towards a common vision 2) feeling healthy and vibrant

Recognition: achieving goals in life and saying “yep I did that”

It doesn’t matter how we are motivated, but what we do with this motivation.

A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. – Jane Austen

I instantaneously picked Oprah Winfrey, the queen of all talk shows, as my entrepreneur example. From her childhood of poverty to a disturbing history of rape, Oprah has persevered and is now titled the richest African American in the 20th century. Even contributing to Obama’s campaign, Oprah is possibly the most influential woman in the world; the power of her opinion and endorsements to influence the public is known as “The Oprah Effect.”

Now, why does she fit into the entrepreneur catagory?

Although she isn’t of “high aptitude,” she certainly pioneers change and “undertakes” new projects. Oprah is currently the Chairwoman and CEO of HARPO productions as well as the Oprah Winfrey Network, making her the first woman in history to own and produce her own talk show.

Therefore I consider her to be an organization which has gained wealth from this new high demand. Within several years, the Oprah Winfrey Show has aired in 140 countries to 46 million US viewers weekly, and established the Oprah’s Angel Network which raised $11M for Hurricane Katrina along with endless philanthropic actions in Africa. Impressed yet? She has also written 5 books and runs her famous O’ Magazine. Furthermore, the creation of the Dr. Phil show and its success is due to the concept of Oprahfication (where public confessions are used as a form of therapy).

In all, I believe she idolizes the characteristics of the ideal entrepreneur. Go Oprah!

Annoyed by constant advertising on youtube? Well I’m going to look at how hip-hop changed marketing in America.

When hip hop originated from the streets, it was a cultural movement which allowed the people of “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue” to express themselves through a pure art form.

Nowadays, it is debatable whether the substance of hip-hop has been “watered-down” by big company endorsements. Forbes music editor Zack Greenberg states that many hip-hop artists make more money through endorsements and advertisements than the music itself. Through constant advertising and pressure to buy a product, CNN’s recent interview supported the claim that hip-hop has changed the marketing field.

Justin Timberlake’s famous slogan “i’m lovin’ it” campaign has angered many die-hard hip-hop followers. Steve Stoute, responsible for this match claims “hip-hop is a culture that is meant to be shared…if using corporations helps spread that message, then that’s what it takes.”

On the other spectrum is writter Nelson George who believes that partnerships with big business for urban oriented marketing campaigns is harming the art form. He follows with, “[radio hip-hop] is not very content driven. Rather, it is an inducement to dance then an inducement to buy,” a product or brand of alcohol. I think marketing is being embeded too vigorously into the hip-hop culture, and that it is in fact diluting the culture of music. I’m not lovin this.

 For all the COMM101 students who argued that Tim Hortons should expand into the United Arab Emirates, we might’ve been right!

In response to https://blogs.ubc.ca/comm101lightbulb/2011/10/05/tim-hortons-global-aspirations/ by Conichen:

According to the Globe and Mail  (Thursday, October 6, 2011) Tim Hortons is “eyeing” to expand 120 new stores across the Persian Gulf. The Canadian coffee and doughnut chain has confirmed (via its partner Apparel Group) that it plans to expand into the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman in the next 5 years. Although Tim Hortons maintains kiosks and self-serve locations outside North America, Dubai is said to be the “first true export” which will be followed my many.

However, Tim Hortons is is no rush to expand internationally. “We’re promising very little at this point,” states CEO Paul House.

‘Lightblub!’ As we have already considered the risks and benefits possible in the decision to enter Dubai in class, I’d like to ask: why the Persian Gulf? I think it’s the convenient, cheap, and refreshingly new products of the Canadian franchise that strongly appeals to the tea-drinking, fast paced, and ever-changing environment of the Persian Gulf. Don’t forget, Tim Hortons competitiors (such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, and K.K.Doughnuts) still exist and will continue to fight for the coffee/doughnut market shares.

In recent news, the world’s largest sperm bank Cryos Sperm Bank International began to reject redhead donors due to a higher demand for brown-eyed brunets. In fact, the company has announced a “sale” for blondes and redheads, which has outraged the lighter-haired population in Denmark. The global upset has led to an apology by the Cryos director, clarifying that the sperm bank does not support racial discrimination and that they still welcome everyone.

On the contrary, Cryos New York is declaring a shortage of redhead donors. As it turns out, nobody seems to want a ginger baby in Denmark. However, just like any other business, Cryos is simply replying to the needs of its customers and to the frequent turnover rate required for each donation. Talk about appealing to a niche. Overall, Cryos Denmark and Cryos New York have developed a mutual relationship where the demands of both regions are met by working hand-in-hand, to continue their successful business. From what we’ve learnt in class, I believe it is important for businesses to communicate their needs effectively in order to avoid unnecessary mishaps; we saw this occur in class with the marketer-and-supplier Zara example.

Today, the news of Reebok’s false advertisement was revealed to many dissatisfied customers after many promising sales pitches. Reebok, a subsidiary of Adidas, is known for its athletic apparel and shoes, but not for its dishonest advertising. Reebok’s Easy-Tone line of runners were stated to be built with “pockets of moving air which create ‘micro-instability’ that tones muscles” for up to “28% firmer buttocks and 11% strengthened calf (as well as) hamstring muscles.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, these so-called scientifically tested facts were entirely false. Until 2010, the Reetone’s produced $1 billion in sales before its demand fell rapidly. Reebok has agreed to pay a $25 million fine for its false claims “to resolve government allegations.”

In accordance with what we learnt in class 6, Reebok’s brand name is significantly damaged due to its devious marketing strategies. Can Reebok recover from such a distinct blow to its name? In the minds of consumers, not only does Reebok have a black stripe, it has placed itself in a vulnerable position where the competition has a firm point of difference. Reebok will need to boost itself up by introducing a new and honest innovation.

For articles, click here! And here!

In today’s society, at what stage did the desire to “push up” commercial advertising result in the decline of our children’s innocence and protection? Abercrombie and Fitch, an American retailer which appeals to teenage consumers, has always been known for pushing the boundaries of fashion.

Recently, as in March of this year, the American company released a controversial “padded/ push-up” bikini for seven-year-old girls. Naturally, parents across the country were outraged and shocked by such apparel. With reference to CNN’s article, “Abercrombie criticized for selling push-up tops to little girls,” it is evident that the public’s reaction caused the company to re-name its bikini from “push-up” to “striped triangle.” Consumers mentioned the impracticality of the pad as it was worn, as well as the increase in sexual appeal towards young girls.

Within our culture, the image Abercrombie created portrays a new level of exploiting a child’s innocence. I believe the eye for fashion has leaned toward controversial advertisements to gain public interest. From my analysis, companies who are pushing for more exposure attain higher marketing results.