I learned a couple things with this assignment, such as things without structure scare students, and even third and fourth year students do not practice self discipline because we still rely on our professors to do things for us. As students we are really bad with time management and we leave everything to the last minute right before the deadline, but since this blog did not have an official deadline each week, it easily was forgotten. 

To make this assignment better I think it would of helped to talk about it in class. Once in awhile we could of held discussion about some of the blogs that were written and express opinions out loud as a group. I think the blog was not mentioned in class because it was our responsibility to keep up. I suspect, using self discipline and self motivation to produce a blog each week was a large part of this assignment. 

Overall, I considered this assignment rewarding. It is actually a nice feeling to realize my voice was being heard and noticed by the general public and anyone who was interested in finding my opinion. One of my posts was about the Breast Cancer Foundation and how many companies have created  pink products to support the foundation, where as others sell pink products but none of the proceeds go towards the foundation. I was actually contacted by a breast cancer action group thanking me for spreading the word and supporting their organization. Knowing that they actually cared enough to write me a comment felt good and made this whole assignment worth it for me.

We all love our morning beverages but they have to be exactly right and from the right place. In America there is even more competition with the famous Dunkin Donuts, but here in Canada the two main rivalries are Tim Hortons and Starbucks. Both companies are successful for different reasons, so what makes one better than the other ? 

Starbucks has more than 6,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. Starbucks is committed to giving their customers the world’s best coffee and the finest coffee experience. In 1995, Starbucks formed an alliance with Chapters, a Canadian bookstore chain, and now has 400 company operated stores and over 100 licensed concept stores just in Canada. A large part of going to Starbucks is the atmosphere and experience you are suppose to take away. They don’t only want to offer great coffee, but also friendly people, great music, and a comfortable upbeat meeting place. The couches and big arm chairs are used as a tool to create a relaxed feeling where people can feel welcome and go to escape for awhile.

Tim Hortons image is the complete opposite to this. They specialize in catering to the consumer who is on the go. Many locations are on highways, hospitals, school campuses, and malls. This provides the chain with visibility and creates the image of always being available, easy, and convenient for all customers. Currently, there are over 2,800 stores in Canada and over 400 locations in America. 

Other than image and experience, the products of both companies also differ in price and taste. The average beverage at  Starbucks costs 5-7 dollars, where as going to Tim’s will cost you 2-3 dollars. Starbucks is known for their strong bold coffee taste, where as Tim’s coffee is a much weaker blend. 

Although, Starbucks is based on experience, they recently have tried to win over the consumer’s interested in convenience, introducing their new instant coffee called VIA. Tim Horton’s is also trying to tap into Starbucks market by expanding their menu to include flavored lattes and other specialty drinks. 

So is it all about taste, price, and whether your looking for convenience or relaxation? Or is it about an image consumer’s are trying to portray? Are you looked at as more sophisticated when you order a drink that takes 5 minutes to say? Are you judged by which brand you prefer and how much you are willing to pay for your morning coffee? Once again we are faced with brand loyalty and the fact that we don’t always make the same decision as we would when nobody is watching. 

Apple products seem to be all the rage because they are new and innovative. The Mac notebook is always being updated to be thinner and faster, or there is the Mac mini claiming to be the world’s most energy efficient desktop. The iPhone was recently updated to 3G S. Features include 2x more speed, built in video camera, compass, and voice command. The iPod has many different models that are basically customized to fit every consumer’s needs. What ever color, shape, style, and size you want. Meeting consumers individual needs is Apple’s biggest strength as a company. Among the Shuffle, Classic, and Touch the  new Nano just came out with a video camera, FM radio, larger screen, and live pause capabilities. 

Apple also has a Mac vs PC ad campaign that has created buzz and awareness. The series of ads feature John Hodgman dressed in a suit and a tie as the PC and Justin Long dressed very casually as the Mac. The ads go back and fourth between the capabilities and attributes of each computer being compared to each other. The ads are humorous and so successful that they are now aired in multiple countries and have been dubbed into many languages. The overall message is that Macs can do more, in less time. They are advanced and easy to use. They do not get viruses like PCs and they do not crash and need to be restarted. 

Personally I have a PC and all though the ads are convincing and I would like to own a highly advanced faster computer that can do more in less time, I find Macs hard to use and there are some programs that are not adaptable. One time I used my sisters Mac and I could barley find my way to Google. I suppose it could become second nature with practice, but for some reason I feel more comfortable with PCs. I know exactly what I’m doing and will always rely on what I’m use to. For now I do not need or want a Mac but I do confess I could not live without my iPod. 

Click here to watch some of the Mac vs PC ads.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I officially went pink a couple years ago, some may think its too much but I think its a great color and I love my pink camera, iPod, phone, bed sheets, clothes, purse, wallet, and shoes. The color pink has become increasing popular for consumers and now I and many others can continue purchasing pink products for a good cause. The whole month of October is breast cancer awareness month and numerous companies have “gone pink” and are dedicated to helping prevent and cure the disease. This is a hugely successful marketing scheme that has sucked in many consumers simply because they love pink. Similar to other popular consumer behaviors and attitudes, this too may grow on you. How could you not want to be part of the phenomenon when its guilt free shopping? Going pink has taken over so many products that the usual colors associated with the start of fall and the month of Halloween and Thanksgiving have vanished. 

The well known pink ribbon symbol is placed on many different fundraising products and events such as the Run for the Cure but now companies such as Campbell, Procter and Gamble, Kroger, Sony, Estee Lauder, and Ralph Lauren are going even further creating a flood of pink. In Ohio they will even publish their daily newspaper pink on October 17th. The List goes on and on, but on the down side, consumer do have to be careful. This powerful promotional tool has been taken advantage of in some situations. An advocacy group Breast Cancer Action is telling consumers to “Think Before You Pink” because some companies are not donating funds and some pink merchandise does not support breast cancer programs. This is considered “pinkwashing.”

Examples of two companies doing the exact opposite are CompUSA and TigerDirect.  Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the season will now be the most charitable as well, turning into Pink Friday. Click here to find out more and watch a quick video.

One of the most popular items among consumers these days is lululemon yoga wear and accessories. Just like many other name brands, I wonder why people get sucked in, myself included. Isn’t it kinda crazy to pay 100 dollars for a pair of pants? A month ago I got a brand new pair and today they are ripped to shreds, yes I wore them a lot, but a month? Paying 100 dollars for a pair of pants should translate into long lasting quality, in my opinion. Lululemon has become so popular that many different outlets have started selling the typical yoga pant to attract consumers and satisfy their wants. The top running competition is OT fitwear. I decided to go into the store since my lululemon’s let me down but I was not satisfied with their product. The clothing just didn’t seem as comfortable and I did not like the material. Interesting point is that when lululemon products were first introduced and made in Canada, they were very high quality. I still have a pair of pants that say “Made in Canada” on the tag and they are at least 5 years old. OT fitwear’s main selling point is “Made in BC” and offering athletic wear at a fair price, which is attracting all the consumers that no longer support lululemon because their clothing is now made in China, with no price difference. So the question is would a consumer rather pay a higher price for a lower quality product or a lower price for a higher quality product. Of course we would all pick the second option, but for some reason I find myself playing brand favorites and a lululemon logo on every piece of clothing I walk past. Sorry OT fitwear but consumers are extremely brand conscience and for the most part followers. We are influenced by our surroundings and go back to what is the safest decision – most popular by majority.