Monthly Archives: October 2014

KIDS AT WORK

One way of a management to keep their best employees is having their social welfare at heart. Palo Alto Software; One of Oregon’s leading software that offers several software products and extensive library of free expert content to small business to grow and succeed. The management for introducing a creative strategy for its employees: flexible working hours and the privilege to carry their kids to work.

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What does the business stand to gain anyways? In case you didn’t know, parents’ hearts are always on their children especially for the mothers. Allowing parents to bring their kids to work it would enable employees to channel their strengths toward the growth of the firm by working hard as result of having peace of mind when they are assured of their kids’ security. Secondly, the flexible conditions at work reduce the pressure on families to work rigidity and as we know work that adapt to family needs highly motivates employees.

Finally, employees can stay longer in such companies, which establishes trust and reliability of the company’s activities. Also the loyalty of workers makes a business to stand a better chance than its competitors. This generally creates a more family friendly clientele and kids are part of this success. This could also boost profits from the child care within its company, which is totally a desirable opportunity to venture into. Charity begins at home, a cliche that’s worn with age but true, these kids might turn out to be the most brilliant business minds in future.

Harvard Business Review Jul/Aug 2014, Vol. 92 Issue 7/8, p20-20. 2/3p. 1 by Schrock and Kelly

MARKETING NEEDS MORE INTROVERTS?

Well, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained when around other people but is not necessarily shy. According to Eddie Yoon, marketing needs more introverts since more power shifts to consumer and marketers will need to spend more time listening, reflecting and building fewer deeper relationships.

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In the digital age, few organizations that are doing well in marketing use new tools to engage customers surface every day. The idea that most marketers should be better listeners is true since any successful communication requires receiving and transmitting messages. I however think that marketers should be both better listeners and better talkers. Listening is the key; it’s not whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. Besides, marketers aim at convincing consumers that their products are the best and they should buying it: if the energy of an introvert is drained when around other people, how will this goal be achieved? It is possible but not reliable.

Suppose I was to apply for a marketing position in any organization and indicate that am an introvert, I bet my probability of getting the job will be minimal compared to another applicant who indicated that s/he is an extrovert and outgoing. From my point of view, Marketing needs introverts but more extroverts.

 

Harvard Business Review. Oct 2014, vol. 92 issue 10, p18-19. 2p by Balla John, Morgan Cynthia and Kaur Sheila. HBR article by Marc de Swaan Frank and Keith.

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A NAME THAT SELLS

How hard can it be to form a good impression in a person’s mind? How about everyone in a city? These questions gave me an insight on how Positioning can be really challenging. As AL Ries and Jack Tout call it and I agree, it is without a doubt that Positioning is a battle for your mind. I decided to analyze the Position strategy of Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). MEC has in the past done well at the sectioning its store with its selection of outdoor categories (Climbing, biking, hiking and cycling), located on the busy King Street in Toronto.

The latest MEC rebranding effort, which includes their new logo, campaign and brand platform called “Outsiders” leaves me second guessing, is the new name better for positioning the products? As David Labistour, the Chief Executive Officer at MEC says that they believe the greatest contribution they can make is to get people active. I expect that the new logo to be memorable and very descriptive of MEC’s products. I feel like most consumers are left confused by the name. For instance; the first impression I get from word Outsider is a popular magazine in my high school where I was one of the auditors or someone who’s an outlier.

The new logo “Outsider” is general and wide to be used by MEC. From my analysis, MEC can benefit from a well-developed name that focuses on a niche that is unoccupied in mind of consumers. Name logos for any product should aim at selling it.

 

Position Strategy, Concrete Designer Outsider by Carlos Garavito<http://strategyonline.ca/2013/09/19/mec-uses-consumer-motivations-to-inspire-a-rebrand/>

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