Chelsea’s blog was about 7-Eleven’s launch of healthy food line. She said, “7-Elevne may find changing its image so radically could be difficult.” I disagree with Chelsea’s point about the difficultness of changing customer’s preferences and the brand’s identity.

The competitors that 7-Eleven probably have is the grocery stores and gas station stores that aren’t selling healthy foods. Therefore, launching healthy food would be their differentiation of the marketing strategy. However, the trend in modern society is changing to go green and have healthier life if possible. But the point is that 7-Eleven is not destroying the current customers, they are trying to expand their customers by providing health foods. Moreover, the current customers are not coming to 7-Eleven because they sell junk foods; they just want foods that can be bought quickly as well as having good taste. The current customers will still come to 7-Eleven to purchase their wants like Slurpee, snacks or any junk foods and the new targeted customers will come to 7-Eleven to buy healthy foods that can be purchase easily and quickly. This means that launching the new food options will not affect the sales of the other products and won’t lose their identity. It will increase the profit as well as bringing more customers and popularity.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/chelseachoi/2014/10/04/7-elevens-new-healthy-heaven/

http://business.inquirer.net/files/2012/09/7-11.jpg <Picture>

In nowadays, people can easily comment their opinions and can write about what they have experienced. Due to the high tech, the companies take it as an opportunity to gain customers as well as the popularity. But the question is how much can we trust the reviews on the online reputation? Therefore, CBC’s Marketplace has investigated how the companies inflate their online credibility by paying the testimonials and fake reviews. Sometimes, they even ask the website to delete negative reviews for such a small amount of money. Based on CBC’s Marketplace, the company uses four strategies to deceive us. The four ways are the fake reviews, fake YouTube views, fake Twitter followers and fake Facebook likes.

As a consumer, I rely on the reviews to purchase the products or choosing restaurants based on the reviews on the websites like Google, Trip Advisor or even Facebook. One day, I went to the restaurant based on the positive comments on the Trip Advisor and I was very disappointed about the services and the foods. So on that day, I went back to Trip Advisor to re-read the comments and there was only one negative comment that was recently. However, I have not check that negative comments later, but I’m pretty sure that comment was deleted. The companies are fooling the customers and make customers to believe that the company is doing such a great job. But due to this artificially inflate, the customers are not bothering to look the comments since they know it’s fake and therefore, the real good company will not get the benefits from the real good positive reviews from insightful customers. And I’m very surprised about the big companies like YouTube, Twitter and Facebook agrees fooling customers.

http://www.cheaptravelph.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/great-reviews-services.jpg <Picture>

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/fake-online-reviews-4-ways-companies-can-deceive-you-1.2825080

There are many of blogs and news related to “Alex From Target”. I found the blog called “The Comm major” and the blog mentioned about how the social media phenomenon is indeed a marketing poly. Moreover, Target is getting lots of attention from him and questioning about was he the marketing stunt or not. For those of you who have not heard about Alex from Target, here is some brief explanation.

On Sunday, November 09, 2014, young woman named Abbie posted the photo of Alex and named #AlexFromTarget. Alex became a star with just one picture. He started with 144 followers and now more than 600,000. Over last two days, Alex became the subject of news articles and that lead him to go on Ellen show. Nobody has imagined that the normal teenage boy could become one of the great marketing strategy.

#AlexFromTarget showed how strong the media is and how the company can earn benefits from social media marketing. Although, I think this method seems not feasible, but it could be the unique ways of advertising the company. However, if the company uses this method to advertise; the company can’t surely guarantee to succeed. Because it depends how people view the person.

http://digiday.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Alex-from-target.jpg  <Picture>

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/business/media/frozen-princess-dresses-are-hot-sellers-disney-says.html?ref=media&_r=0

http://thecommmajor.tumblr.com/post/101917349561/attention-and-alex-from-target

In nowadays, high technologies have impacted our lifestyle too much that even most people are purchasing the products over smartphones or any other electrical devices. That makes the people harder to track their budgets and ends up spending more than they normally would. Also, the risk of cashless purchasing would be the financial institution and the government can block people’s devices. However, as a consumer, I found it really useful to use the apps, PayPal and online banking. It made my life so much simpler and faster by going to cashless lifestyle. Carrying the wallet became annoying things to do. In reality, most people carry only debit, credit cards or even apps that carry the money and etc. Our generations prefer simple and fast, even though we aware of the problems of the securities behind using high technologies, you use it anyways.

To people who are against using cash, do you have a power to control your clicks and pins or have experienced receiving credit card statement that surprised you? If you think this is you, it will be beneficial to save money by changing to cash lifestyle instead of cashless. However, if you have a power to control and know how to protect your information, why not having simpler and faster life? Take the advantage of high technology and enjoy. Don’t let the technology to control you.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cashless-buying-poses-financial-risk-for-those-without-self-control-1.2811447

http://www.bearsolutions.com.au/content/upload/images/edu_no_cash.jpg <Picture>

We had the great opportunity to hear from Sauder graduates and the story of successful entrepreneurships from Paul Davidescu, Jenny Duffy, and Tom Dobranski. Many people who are currently attending business schools may have dreamed to become an entrepreneur one day.

After hearing their stories, I have learned some lessons. Whether the business won’t succeed, don’t be afraid of failing and if I have a passion, confident and love what I’m doing there will be a fewer chance to have unsuccessful business. Don’t let the fear grab us back from trying what I love and what I want to do. For example, Tom Dobrzansik and Jenny Duffy, they opened their own business relating to what they are talented about and what they are loving the most. Although, the creativity and skill are needed to compete to other competitors and finding the characteristics of own is definitely will shine in the market.

After the lecture, I felt I got one step closer to my dream and began to crystallize into my dream. Although, it will be a difficult time to find what I love and have strength about; it’s not late to start visualizing the dream. Later, I want to stand where Paul, Jenny and Tom were and give advice to future Sauder students.

http://ob_courses.sauder.ubc.ca/Sauder_school_spotU4.gif     <Picture>

BC Hydro wants to construct a dam on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia, where significant amount of First Nations are living currently. However, due to the BC Hydro’s project, First Nations are affected the most by losing the opportunities of fishing, hunting, performing ceremonies and etc. I see that the rights for First Nations are slowly decreasing and Canada seems like slowly losing the ground for First Nations.

Since Premier Christy Clark declared; British Columbia is Indian land, BC Hydro’s hydroelectric megaproject will face the opposed by First Nations. According to First Nation Chief Rolan Willson said, “If Ottawa approves the project; local Aboriginal groups will immediately challenge that decision in the Federal Court of Canada.”

In this situation, I will take First Nations’ side. Because I understand that both BC Hydro and First Nations has reasonable causes for the environment, but taking away of First Nations’ rights aren’t the appropriate things to do. First Nations might agree with the project as long as they do not impair their rights to fish, hunt and use the area for ceremonies and etc. To make this reliable, BC Hydro should respect First Nations as well as their belongings.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+Nation+chiefs+stage+Site+showdown/10215965/story.html (article)

https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/photographs/places/facilities/peace-canyon-visitor-centre-full-width-place.jpg (image)

https://blogs.ubc.ca/yanfeiyang/2014/09/24/passport-blackberrys-turning-point/
This is a response to Yanfei Yang about Blackberry’s new phone, Passport.

Blackberry have recently released new phone called Passport. As Yanfei mentioned on her blog, it is a very important step for Blackberry to hold their current customers as well as bringing more customers.

Many people view it as a turning point of Blackberry but is it actually? From the past phones, Blackberry got punched by the rival, Apple and Samsung. Yanfei said she would rather buy an iPhone than a Blackberry. This became too obvious in nowadays. Blackberry usually had strong connections and had lots of fans who used Blackberry back then but as time went by, the customers have shipped to other company such as Apple and Samsung.

Blackberry came back with creative model which is much different with the old Blackberry models. We can see that Blackberry worked hard to compete with other companies. Yanfei asked, “Will Passport lead Blackberry to a rival or to an end?” In my personal opinion, it will be hard to overcome the situation. Because since, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus broke the sales amount of iPhone 5 also, Samsung is releasing the new model soon. Survive between two big trust-holding companies won’t be that easy.

Apple’s largest phone, iPhone 6 Plus claimed by the customers for the curvature of the phone. Since the iPhone 6 Plus released last week, plenty of videos and pictures were posted on social media which was about iPhone 6 Plus bending issues. Also, other companies posted parodies which were to make fun of Apple. However, most of the people who were planning to buy iPhone 6 Plus changed their mind or backed off to iPhone 6. Moreover, Apple’s attitudes made the customer angrier. Apple did not even give a word of apology about what happened or the recall has not shown. To fix ongoing problems, Apple updated iOS 8 and produced thick cover cases for iPhone 6 Plus. According to Apple, “iPhone 6 Plus meet or exceed all of our high quality standards to endure every day, real-life use.”

It just seems like Apple trusts the brand name and image too much that they don’t worry about losing customers. However, Apple probably already has been working on solutions so the future phones don’t have the same problem. It is called quality control and all actually all mass produced products made by anyone go through the same procedures; once you have problems they are solved.Apple never thinks they are wrong; always it’s the customers that they are blaming to. These strategies may work for couple years but it will never increase the customers. Company should always try to provide better goods and services to hold their customers and bringing the other competitor’s customers. From now on, if they don’t face the issues, one day, they will go down.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/iphone-6-plus-meets-all-quality-standards-apple-says-1.2777745 (article)

http://www9.pcmag.com/media/images/442342-iphone-6-plus-bend.jpg?thumb=y&width=740&height=426 (image)

WestJet is now charging $25 for economy fare customers for their first check-baggage. According to WestJet spokesman, Robert Palmer said, “The new fee is part of an ‘unbundling of services,’ which is essentially moving to more of an a la carte system.” Additionally, people who don’t want or need to check a bag, this is option available. However, this just seems like another money grabber. Prices go up and they add another fee. Who goes on a vacation without a piece of luggage? Some people might think that $25 is not much but to those of us who are just making little more than minimum wage or nothing, it will make a big difference.

Due to the new policy, people now try to fully use the weight-limit of the luggage so that the overhead bins in the airplane will be full before half the passengers get one the plane. Therefore, people who don’t have a space for their luggage should place underneath their seats and passengers will be inconvenienced about the company’s services.

Majority of domestic travelers now won’t consider taking WestJet. Since the new policy is set it up like that, WestJet is just giving other competitors a chance to earn profits. WestJet is offending the passenger’s feelings.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-charges-25-for-checked-bags-in-economy-in-canada-u-s-1.2766440 (article)

https://blogs.ubc.ca/colechristiansen/files/2013/11/6a00d8341bf8f353ef016301137093970d1.jpg (image)

CVS Caremark, the largest drugstore chains have announced that they will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products. It was a sign of transformation into becoming health care provider instead of largest retail store. Therefore, they may have lost huge portion of customers who buys cigarettes and other tobacco products but gained equivalent portion of antismoking groups and health care professionals who will probably use CVS.

CVS had an idea of reducing the amount of smokers. However, the decision to stop selling cigarettes was really the company for future growth. Since retail clinics are poised to grow at a certain rate. It showed possibility of development to replace the profits among the cigarettes and tobacco products lost.

As Milton Friedman said, in order to have a successful business, a company must be ethical to their stakeholders to guarantee that they are satisfying with their social responsibility and make as much money as possible.