Sydney Archer's Blog

Google is the world’s most used search engine (with over 90% of searches) and as such is constantly thinking of ways to maintain it’s consumer loyalty.  One such method that could be gaining momentum shortly is the new “Google +1 button”.  This feature allows web browsers to give a public stamp of approval on a page so that friends, contacts, and others can see who has reccomended the page.  The functionality is similar to the “like” button on facebook.

Google Business outlines the functionality of this new feature in a youtube video:

While some bloggers argue that it is simply a ripoff of bing’s facebook integration, it is  apparent that the competition for internet connectivity is getting more and more underway.  Unlike bing, however, google doesn’t have any kind of partnership with a social networking site like facebook to accelerate the integration of this new tool into mainstream.  Only time will tell if the Google +1 will be effective in herding a significant number of users.

This week I went to Save on Foods (Surprizingly for the first time this year, though I live on campus) and was asked if I had a membership card.  Looking at the $3 I could save by becoming a member on the spot, I decided it was worth it and was given a shiny new Save on More Rewards card with keytags as well.

It seemed like a good deal to me — give my contact information and some details about myself in exchange for cheaper groceries.  The question I was thinking in my head was… why would save on foods want to do this?  Now looking at this new card in my wallet, part of the reason why this is valuable for save on foods is because I am now more likely to go to Save On in the future  (Brand Loyalty!).

Also, Save On foods can now associate my buying patterns with my postal code and make gather information about how to best identify me as a target market and offer the goods I am most likely to purchase.  Though it didn’t really cost me anything except for time to fill out the form, actually I was giving Save on Foods a lot of valuable information!

Apple recently annouced it will be releasing the second version of the popular Ipad product later this month.  The new Ipad 2 has everything the old ipad had, with a little bit more:  33% thinner, faster CPU performance, better graphics, and an extra camera.  Apple CEO Steve Jobs describes the new Ipad with an even sleeker and lighter design now in black and white in a press release which can be found on youtube.

[dvice.com]

Though Apple goes to great legnths to describe how different the Ipad 2 is to the first Ipad, I think for those who purchased the origional Ipad, they shouldn’t feel too let down.   Though the new product does look sleek, it doesn’t make anything in the first generation Ipad obsolete (except for people who really want to do video conferencing).  Some early reviewers suggest that the CPU performance really isn’t that much better for normal use.

However, for those consumers who opted not to get the first generation ipad, their tendancy to be a later adopter may pay off as they can receive the same benefits for no extra cost as the new Ipads will sell for the exact same price.

As for me…   I think I will continue holding off.

For those of you who don’t know, Roll up the rim started today at Tim Hortons!   This annual promotion (now in its 25th year) turns every customer who purchases a large enough drink into a participant in a contest where coffee drinkers roll up the rim of their cup to reveal a potential prize. 

[http://www.freesamples-canada.com/miscellaneous/attn-tim-hortons-lovers-roll-up-the-rim-to-win-is-back.html]

This years prizes are:

40 Toyota Matrix
100 Panasonic 3D TV Packages
1,000 Napoleon Barbecues
5,000 Raleigh Mountain Bikes
25,000 100$ Tim Cards
 over 47 million Food Prizes

This promotion builds on the Tim Hortons brand, which already appeals to a more cash-concious consumer.  The chance of winning so many great prizes raises the value of the cup of coffee and gets people excited about going to Tim Hortons.  The roll up the rim website includes many interesting features, such as a map that shows where people are winning what each day.   Now if only they could do something about those lines at ubc…

Looking for a date for Valentines day but a little short on cash?

Blenz has an interesting initiative for the month of February where coffee drinkers can opt to put a red sleeve on their beverage to let other people know they are single.  The red band has four checkboxes which customers can use to specify what they are looking for: ‘friendship’, ‘casual’, ‘dating’, and ‘relationship’.  On the other side of the sleeve, there is a space for name and phone number.  This simple red band is an interesting way for people who are a little short on cash to meet someone new in an unlikely place.

http://blenzredband.com

The Blenz Red Band website not only talks about what Blenz is doing with the red coffee sleeves, but also has information on special events and contests that will be happening this month along the theme of Valentines day.  Blenz also is very connected with social media by connecting with facebook, twitter, youtube, and even starting a blogging community online called the “Blenz Red Band Team” where people can share their experiences!

The red band currently is only in Vancouver (perhaps it is a pilot program for this year) but if you want to check it out, be sure to go to your local Blenz (there’s one in the UBC village) before the end of the month!

I took this picture last year of a hummer bike that I saw and at the time I wasn’t sure if this was actually a hummer product or some kind of joke.  Apparently, Hummer actually makes bikes origionally of a more rugged feel (like mountain bikes) but also has some products like this one (photo taken in Japan).

What caught my attention was how this type of bike seemed to clash with Hummer’s brand of producing more rugged vehicles.   One possible explanation is that because the hummer brand is so well known and often associated with more expensive products, a bike purchaser who wanted the same effect would buy a hummer branded bike (cars are much less common in Japan).

A friend sent me a 30-second youtube clip of a Japanese advertisement which appears to be for a bean company that sells not only beans but other merchandise such as stationary.   Japanese marketing, though in many ways from the west is effective for the people group it reaches within Japan (perhaps the need to stand out is much greater in such a densely populated country with a very different culture).  The marketing campaign uses animations of dog-bean hybrids who give random trivia to unsuspecting consumers which usually results in awkward situations.  

I think the bulk of the appeal for this company lies in the affective component of a consumer’s attitude towards the line of products.  The dog-beans are perceived to be very cute, and then when combined with the randomness of the trivia makes a humorous video which the consumer likes or even loves. 

This is evidenced as now the company has moved on to sell mameshiba key chains and stationary.   This also builds a large amount of customer loyalty as the consumer moves from being someone who simply buys the product to an advocate who sends video links to their unsuspecting friends (like me).

If you want more information about this company or just want to watch the videos, visit the english website!   (I hope I don’t sound too much like an advocate here too)