Week 10 EOC: What are the benefits vs the features?

   The importance of our benefits is to provide the community with a healthy tasty meal.  It's not something needed but it's definitely something craved.  As well as to let them get the chance to escape and expeirence the tropical atmosphere.  In addition the Cuba Rican Food Truck is going to give back 10% of the profit to the less fortunate orphanage's located throughout Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Benefits:

• Healthy, authentic cuban food to serve to the community
• Giving 10% back to the orphanage's
• Ensure great customer service to everyone
• Local Promotions and locations

Features:

• Welcoming tropical environment
• Special lunch and dinner meals
• Punch cards so every 10th purchase is free

EOC Week 9: Three great mission statements

"As a business on wheels, the Indian Time Food Truck will provide excellent service, food and experience that are expected of any and all customers. For that, any and all customers are the first priority in any employees’ mind and will be serviced with a friendly and safe environment for everyone to enjoy and relax." (http://peshlakai-productions.blogspot.com)

"Surf’s Up Vege Sub Shop is centered around feeding hungry high school to college aged students who only have a short lunch or dinner break a low fat, healthy, and satisfying meal." (http://angelscascada14.blogspot.com)

"The HI Food Truck mission statement is to ensure that all customers and staff are treated with ALOHA and respect, to maintain a clean, comfortable and well-maintained premises and to provide at a fair price well-prepared and fresh meals. To make sure that all customers can experience the feeling of paradise and the environment of Hawaii." (http://alanagcaoili.blogspot.com)

"Mission statement should be market oriented and defined in terms of satisfying basic customer needs. Products and technologies eventually become outdated, but basic market needs may last forever." (Pg. 6 Ch. 2)  I feel these three mission statements were well written and precise.  They would definitely be attainable and could be ensured to every customer.  They don't mention profit or anything else of that nature that isn't in the best of interest to the customer.  "Finally, a company’s mission should not be stated as making more sales or profits—profits are only a reward for creating value for customers. Instead, the mission should focus on customers and the customer experience the company seeks to create." (Pg. 7 Ch. 2)

Marketing Mix: Price

   The Cuba Rican Food Truck will have reasonable prices for any economic situation to enjoy.  Our prices will range depending on the item being purchased.  “Pricing may play an important role in helping to accomplish company objectives at many levels.” (Pg. 18 Ch. 9)   “Consumers will base their judgments of a product’s value on the prices that competitors charge for similar products.” (Pg. 16 Ch. 9)


Prices:

• Lunch Meals - $5.75 (any add ons will be 0.50 - $1.00 extra)
• Dinner Meals - $7.00 (any add ons will be 0.50 - $1.00 extra)
• Specials - $5.00 (change daily)
• Fountain drinks - $1.50 (only one size)
• Iron Beer, Agua De Coco, etc. - $1.99 (specialty drinks)

   Prices will begin to vary with add ons and substitutions of items but overall they are exceptional

prices for the portion of food being received. 

 “If customers perceive that the price is greater than the product’s value, they will not buy the product. Product costs set the floor for prices. If the company prices the product below its costs, company profits will suffer. In setting its price between these two extremes, the company must consider a number of other internal and external factors, including competitors’ strategies andprices, the company’s overall marketing strategy and mix, and the nature of the market and demand." (Pg. 5 Ch 9)

Marketing Mix: Promotion

   The promotion of our food truck will be mainly through social media and word of mouth.  We will pass out flyers and coupons within a 5 mile radius to all of our main locations.  We will also give to each customer a stamp card so after every 10 stamps they will receive a free item off of them menu.  The Cuba Rican Food Truck will also create a name for itself by having a Facebook, twitter, and its own website.  Giving others the chance to see what were about and get a demand for ourselves to travel to different states.

"Sales promotion objectives vary widely. Sellers may use consumer promotions to urge short-term customer buying or to enhance customer brand involvement. Objectives fortrade promotions include getting retailers to carry new items and more inventory, buy ahead, or promote the company’s products and give them more shelf space. For the sales force, objectives include getting more sales force support for current or new products or getting salespeople to sign up new accounts." (Pg. 36 Ch. 13)

“In developing a sales promotion program, a company must first set sales promotion objectives and then select the best tools for accomplishing these objectives.” (Pg. 37 Ch. 13) 

Marketing Mix: Distibution

   The Cuba Rican Food Truck will distribute locally around the city of Las Vegas.  Once the demand gets stronger we will hopefully turn nationally and cater to other states as well, having serval different trucks to serve and give back to the community.  Distributing to the right market and locations will be key here so we will have to get accustom to different areas of town and see what each customer likes best.  The Cuban Rican Food Truck will also get permission from schools to serve the the kids once a week a healthy alternative for lunch.  As well as making sure to be present at all local events taking place to make a name for ourselves.

“Companies often pay too little attention to their distribution channels, sometimes with damaging results. In contrast, many companies have used imaginative distribution systems to gain a competitive advantage.” (Pg. 5 Ch. 10)

“But when they set up distribution channels through contracts with franchisees, independent dealers, or large retailers, they cannot readily replace these channels with company-owned stores or Web sites if conditions change.” (Pg. 5 Ch. 10)   

Marketing Mix: Product

   The product we are offering to our community is going to be fresh, healthy, and authentic.  At different convenient locations located throughout the Las Vegas area.  We will be serving lunch and dinner so our hours will consist of opening at 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.  It will be a tasty treat for the family that will be healthy as well.  We will offer a variety of food with a menu containing our meals, vegetarian meals, desserts, and beverages.  We will cater to all kinds of eating styles so the whole neighborhood can enjoy.

"We define a product as anything that can be offered to a market for attention, acquisition, use, or consumption that might satisfy a want or need." (Pg. 3 Ch. 7)

“Next, the company must decide where to launch the new product—in a single location, a region, the national market, or the international market. Few companies have the confidence, capital, and capacity to launch new products into full national or international distribution right away.” (Pg. 21 Ch. 8)

Target Market Strategy

   The target market strategy for the Cuba Rican Food Truck will consist of a lot of local love.  We will be giving back to our community meaning that our product stands for something.  We are going to target local families within the different communities that we will be serving as well as businesses that will be in the immediate area.  Our food will be authentic and healthy so people of the hispanic ethnicity and people looking to watch what they eat can join us for a tasty meal.

"Beyond deciding which segments of the market it will target, the company must decide on a value proposition—on how it will create differentiated value for targeted segments and what positions it wants to occupy in those segments. A product's position is the way the product is defined by consumers on important attributes—the place the product occupies in consumers’ minds relative to competing products. “Products are created in the factory, but brands are created in the mind,” says a positioning expert." (Pg. 35 Ch. 6)

"After a company has defined market segments, it can enter one or many of these segments. Market targeting involves evaluating each market segment’s attractiveness and selecting one or more segments to enter. A company should target segments in which it can profitably generate the greatest customer value and sustain it over time." (Pg. 24 Ch. 2)

Situation or SWOT Analysis

Strengths

• Providing authentic Cuban and Puerto Rican food.
• Giving back to the Cuban and Puerto Rican orphanages. 
• Providing the community with a Carribbean tropical atmosphere that will be enjoyable.

Weaknesses

• Low profit in the beginning stages.
• Finding hit locations to serve in the beginning stages.
• Providing food in a timely manner

Opportunity

• To grow and turn into a well known food truck across the globe.
• To expand into a restaurant.
• To offer other items that represent Cuba and Puerto Rico. 

Threats

• Our competitor food trucks prices, serving time, and locations.
• Finding a location that follows the laws and agreements.

"Managing the marketing function begins with a complete analysis of the company’s situation. The marketer should conduct a SWOT analysis, by which it evaluates the company’s overall strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T). Strengths include internal capabilities, resources, positive situational factors that may help the company to serve its customers and achieve its objectives. Weaknesses include internal limitations and negative situational factors that may interfere with the company’s performance. Opportunities are favorable factors or trends in the external environment that the company may be able to exploit to its advantage. And threats are unfavorable external factors or trends that may present challenges to performance." (Pg. 31 Ch. 2) 

Objectives

   The objectives for the Cuba Rican Food Truck:

• To provide fair priced, healthy food to our customers.  
• Maintain cleanliness within the food truck.  
• To ensure we leave the customer satisfied and happy.   
• To make a profit over the years to be able to give back to the community.

"The first step is to set advertising objectives. These objectives should be based on past decisions about the target market, positioning, and the marketing mix, which define the job that advertising must do in the total marketing program. The overall advertising objective is to help build customer relationships by communicating customer value." (Pg. 19 Ch. 12) 

Business Mission Statement

To ensure that each guest receives professional, friendly, and prompt service.  To maintain a clean and welcoming environment so our customers feel comfortable within the grounds.  To provide healthy well-prepared meals, using quality ingredients.  To guarantee that all guests and staff are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.  To thank each customer for giving us the opportunity to serve them.  By maintaining these objectives we shall be assured of a friendly and enticing environment that will allow us to give back to the community that we serve.

"Each company must find the game plan for long-run survival and growth that makes the most sense given its specific situation, opportunities, objectives, and resources. This is the focus of strategic planning—the process of developing and maintaining a strategic fit between the organization’s goals and capabilities and its changing marketing opportunities." (pg.4 ch.2) 

Week 8 EOC: My Creative Content

     The creative content to back my truck up begins with the name of my food truck.  I decided to title it “Cuba Rican Food Truck.”  The title signifies the fact that it will be a mixture of Cuban and Puerto Rican food.   I have also contacted my uncle who is a graphic designer to help me design a menu, the design on my truck, as well as flyers and coupons.  The design on my truck is going to have a Caribbean theme which stands for what Cuba and Puerto Rico look like.  I plan on having palm trees painted on there and even a map.  I want something fun, bright, and creative that will capture the next customer’s eye.  My menu is going to be very simple.  I will have it organized by “Finger foods”, “Meals on the go”, “Vegetarian”, “Desert”, and “Beverages.”  I would like for my menu to be easy to read and for every kind of customer to understand.  Prices will be the key here, because Las Vegas only has a select handful of Cuban restaurants locally and they all are either a bit pricey or aren’t authentic.  I want to deliver to my customer’s reasonable prices as well as the authentic taste of my food.  I plan to promote my food truck by passing out flyers and coupons within a 5 mile radius to each location I will be at.  The flyer will have on it what my company stands for, what kind of food we serve, our great saving coupons, and the days and locations I will be at with the time.  I will also pass these flyers out to different businesses in the area I will be located at.  Cuba Rican Food Truck will also have a facebook page to give out exclusive offers and to get people who won’t receive a coupon in the mail will still get a chance to save and if they are ever in the area or request for us to come to them they can still get the unique Caribbean experience.  My company will also symbolize the less fortunate in Cuba and Puerto Rico which means  10% of the profit will be given to the orphanages located around the two islands.

Week 7 EOC: Pitch

• Title: Cuba Rican Food Truck
• Type of food: Cuban & Puerto Rican food
• Concept: To deliver the Caribbean experience and healthy authentic food for a low price
• Decoration: Will have light weight wooden table and chairs located around the front of the truck, will have someone outside playing the conga drums.  When arriving to locations and driving around the truck will play salsa music such as Celia Cruz, Elvis Crespo, etc.  The truck will be painted with an islander vibe with palm trees, a beach, a Cuban style town, women shaking maracas, etc.
•  Menu: Will consist of finger foods for people on the go a few fast entree’s for those wanting to sit and eat and a desert menu as well as a Cuban and Puerto Rican style beverage menu.
• Promotion: Will mail out flyers within a 5 mile radius to each location that we will be stopping at.  The flyers will have coupon and they will also be passed out to local businesses in the area.  We will also have a billboard located on the I-15 freeway because that is where most tourist drive since it is located on the strip.  And 10% of the profit will be sent to the orphanage in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

"Because of their importance in the world economy, we give special attention to services. Services are a form of product that consists of activities, benefits, or satisfactions offered for sale that are essentially intangible and do not result in the ownership of anything." (Marketing: An Introduction Pg.3 Ch.7)

"Product is a key element in the overall market offering. Marketing-mix planning begins with building an offering that brings value to target customers. This offering becomes the basis upon which the company builds profitable customer relationships." (Marketing: An Introduction Pg. 4 Ch.7)

"Companies that market experiences realize that customers are really buying much more than just products and services. They are buying what those offers will do for them. “A brand, product, or service is more than just a physical thing. Humans that connect with the brand add meaning and value to it,” says one marketing executive. “Successfully managing the customer experience is the ultimate goal,” adds another." (Marketing: An Introduction Pg.5 Ch.7)

Week 6 EOC: Me x 3 products I Use



   Three products that I stay loyal too comes from a wide variety.  There's not to much today as far as brands that I can honestly say I am a loyal customer to, I just go were the better deals are at.  But one thing for sure that I can say I am a 100% satisfied loyal customer to is Nike.  I have had Nike shoes since I was a little girl, particularly the Jordan editions.  And still to this day I have them and collect them.  I guess the reason for this is I  grew up around them playing in them, pretty much all my relatives wore them, and Micheal Jordan was a big impact in my life as a child.  I can truthfully tell you I don't own a pair of Adidas, or Reeboks. 

   The next product on the list would be Sony.  I am a big fan of Sony since I was little I have always had Sony products.  I had the first play station, then got the second one, and now have the third one, along with the PSP.  My very first camera was a Sony camera and it lasted me forever now when ever it comes time to buy any new electronics products I look for Sony.  I think a big part of this for me is just the fact I have been around it since I was little so i trust the brand and feel comfortable with my choice when I do make a Sony purchase.

    Last but not least the final product I would say I am faithful to is my facial cleanser Cetaphil, and my facial lotion.  I have been using cetaphil since middle school and it has never done me any wrong.  My reason for picking this brand has was because of a doctor who had told me because of my sensitive skin this would be the best choice for me.  And ever since I have been hooked, it has never steered me wrong.  The lotion is not to thick on your face and the cleanser doesn't sting your face it was the perfect solution for me and for that I will never try any of the other brands.

Week 5 EOC: Social Networking and Job Hunting

   Today a lot of employers are using social network sites to find employees to offer job opportunities or either to find some dirt on them.  I agree with this to a certain extint.  I feel if one wants to act professional and apply for a profession then the employer has the right to search their name on the internet and see if anything insulting or ignorant appears.  Nobody wants to hire someone who won't be able to represent there company in a professional way to the best of their abilities.  You shouldn't be mad about an employer going through your facebook if you have nothing immature on there.  Don't post anything on the internet unless you want everyone in the world to know.  On the other hand as far as using the site to offer job opportunities I feel isn't the best way to go about it.  I understand everything is about technology now but since when are jobs handed to someone from a social network most people use to communicate with there friends.  Nothing is ever worth it if you don't have to work for it.  Call me old fashion but I feel people should still go out and apply for jobs and go through an interview process the normal way.  Now other sites such as the new one called "Google Plus" or "LinkedIn" maybe these would be better sites to offer people jobs on without have to judge them for unprofessional behavior.   “Others note that while LinkedIn contains a more comprehensive résumé database, candidates tend to value referrals from their connections on Facebook more.”  I can understand why employers would still want to use facebook over a professional site.  That is where everyone posts all their dirty work and like I said no one wants to hire someone that can't be the face of the company with confidence.  So please keep your drunken photos, and vulgar comments off of facebook people it may ruin your chances at ever having a serious profession.

Week 4 EOC: Consumer Vs Business Marketing

   Business marketing is a way in which manufacturers present their products to other businesses so they can be bought and then resold to retail customers (also known as consumers).  The business market is very large in fact it is way larger then the consumer buying market by the demand and amount of dollars.  The average American consumer market consist of more then $300 million people who consume about $14 trillion worth of goods and services each year.  That's just a round about way of showing you the business side of marketing is even bigger.  It is quite the cycle on how it works, both markets are similar in ways and are quite different in other ways.  "In some ways, business markets are similar to consumer markets. Both involve people who assume buying roles and make purchase decisions to satisfy needs. However, business markets differ in many ways from consumer markets. The main differences are in market structure and demand, the nature of the buying unit, and the types of decisions and the decision process involved. (Ch.5 pg.38 Marketing: An Introduction)"  Consumers are all around the world and they vary in age, income, household size, etc.  They often themselves don't even know what influences their buying decisions, it could be a number of things.  One of the main influential factors is culture and how one was brought up.  "Culture is the most basic cause of a person’s wants and behavior. Human behavior is largely learned. Growing up in a society, a child learns basic values, perceptions, wants, and behaviors from the family and other important institutions. A child in the United States normally learns or is exposed to the following values: achievement and success, activity and involvement, efficiency and practicality, progress, hard work, material comfort, individualism, freedom, humanitarianism, youthfulness, and fitness and health. Every group or society has a culture, and cultural influences on buying behavior may vary greatly from country to country. Failure to adjust to these differences can result in ineffective marketing or embarrassing mistakes. (Ch.5 pg.7 Marketing: An Introduction)"  This plays a key role in buying decisions which play a key role in business marketing which play a key tole in out market, so you see it is all one big cycle. 

Week 3 EOC: Demographics- MINE

    Being that I was born in 1992 I fall under the category of Millennial (also known as Generation Y).  I would have to say I concur with this aspect of life.  Yes, I grew up with technology all around me; I had my first email in grade school, I got my first cell phone in the fifth grade, and I got my first iPod in the seventh grade.  Ever since I feel there’s nothing out in technology that I don’t know how to use or feel comfortable using, it’s like a second language to this generation.  “All of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology. They don’t just embrace technology, it’s a way of life. The Millennials were the first generation to grow up in a world filled with computers, cellphones, satellite TV, iPods, and online social networks. A recent study found that 91 percent of Millennials are on the Web, making up 32 percent of all U.S. Internet users. According to another study, 77 percent of Millennials frequent social networking sites and 71 percent use instant messaging. “All generations are comfortable with technology, but this is the generation that’s been formed by technology,” says a Yahoo! executive. For them, “it’s not something separate. It’s just something they do.” (Marketing: An Introduction Chapter 3 pg. 17)  

According to stated statistics the millennial generation is definitely the biggest yet to exist.  With baby boomers reaching at 78 million people born during the time between 1946 to 1964, and Generation X resting at about 45 million being born between 1965 and 1976.  The Millennial generation reaches a high of 83 million being born between 1977 and 2000.  We have the world in our hands because our demographic label is made up of such a variety of ages ranging from pre-teens, teens, and young adults.  A lot of what’s made today is directed towards the younger generation from political views to automakers even television shows.  “With total purchasing power of more than $733 billion, the Millennials make up a huge and attractive market.” (Marketing: An Introduction Chapter 3 pg.16)  We have the older generations relying on us and our careers to determine how much social security and taxes that will be received to help them with their retirement.  So yes, I see eye to eye with my demographic label.

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group - Video Games

Since the cell phone games have come into play the video game industry is finally hitting a decline.  The android base smart phones and iphones all have applications where you can either pay to download a game or download one for free.  This has taken over the gaming industry because not only are they free but they're convenient.  People carry their cell phones with them everywhere so when waiting somewhere why not play a quick fun game on your phone. 

   According to the BCG growth-share matrix they have categories which consists of cash cows, stars, question marks, and dogs. Cash cows are low-growth, high-share business or products, the play station console would fall into this category.  It's a safe product that has been around since the 1990s, and it always comes out with something new and updated.  "It has everything. You got it. The PS3™ system has built-in Wi-Fi and huge amounts of storage for games, add-ons, music, videos and photos. Its built-in Blu-ray player shows HD movies at 1080p so you get pristine picture quality. We’ve got Netflix for streaming movies and our own PlayStation^®Store where you can download hundreds of games, free demos, and stream thousands of TV shows and movies." (http://us.playstation.com/ps3/)  Question marks are low-share business units in high-growth markets, this would represent the Nintendo.  They have been around for ages and always have a new console to promote.  The most popular one right now would be the Wii; it's an active game for the whole family to be involved in.  This category requires a lot of cash to hole their share, let alone increase it. Dogs are low-growth, low-share business and products.  They may generate enough cash to maintain themselves but don't promise to be large sources of cash.  Under this would fall the Xbox, it’s probably one of the newest consoles to have been around but definitely not the most profitable.  You have to pay to have your internet on the system, let alone all the accessories, plus the play station graphics are still known to be better.  "After E3 this year I think it's obvious that the big companies, particularly Microsoft and Nintendo don't relate or understand their customer base. I was left scratching my head at a lot of the announcements and demonstrations. The gaming industry is going downhill. I used to love Xbox and now it's becoming more and more about TV and casual games. How many people are honestly going to buy an Xbox to watch movies and TV? People, even casual gamers, buy these consoles for games. They don't buy them to watch TV or movies. The only hope seems to rely in 3rd part game." (http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/713574/feedback-at-e3-2011-sony-microsoft-nintendo-everything-else-from-the-show/)  But it doesn't matter how long the systems been around there is no competition to the handy dandy cell phone games people carry with them all the time, and these would fall under the category of the star.

Week 1 EOC: Great Customer Service

   You don't really get to experience great customer service everywhere you go these day, your lucky if you recieve any at all.  Because of this economy and jobs being over staffed, under staffed, and the low pay it really reflects how employers these days treat their customers.  One place I know of for sure that no matter what, you will always recieve excellent customer service skills is Bonzai Bobs Teriyaki Grill.  Everytime you walk in there you are greated with a warm welcome, and everytime you leave you are thanked for your business.  They go the extra mile to please all customers under any circumstance.  Everytime I have gone in there it has been an enjoyable experience, something to remember.
   Although I'm sure everyone can recall a time where they recieved bad customer service skills atleast once in their life, can you not?  And it's not because the product is bad but simply because the employees just don't have good customer service.  That is one of the reasons why we have thousands of business's closing down everyday.

"Marketing, more than any other business function, deals with customers. Although we will soon explore more-detailed definitions of marketing, perhaps the simplest definition is this one: Marketing is managing profitable customer relationships." ( Chapter 1 Marketing An Introduction Pg.3 By Gary Armstrong & Philip Kotler)

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

I am an artist with an imagination ready to conquer all.   Apparel manufacturing has been a lifelong dream that I have been chasing, and I feel as if I’m right on its tail.   As a fashion professional I would like to one day create my own clothing line along with a boutique.  Fashion to me is more than just clothes you place upon your back; it says something about your character.  Fashion is the art in which you chose to present yourself to the world so why not make it charming.  Ever since I was a child I’ve always had this passion to succeed one day in fashion.  It’s not really about the materials you have but how you place them all together.  I am now working on my bachelor’s degree in fashion design/retail management, as well as being a part time sales associate in a well known worldwide clothing brand.   Not only am I gaining experience, but I am also absorbing great customer service skills and product knowledge.  With this in mind I aspire to inspire and plan on not only conquering the fashion industry but also to lead by example and keep my artistic imagination in my clothes and allow it to shine on to everyone else.