Everywhere you look around you will see diversity. All people are different, and these unique qualities that separate us as individuals also help to make us our own people. There are many things that can cause diversity. One example of this is the culture we are raised in. All people are raised in different cultures. Our cultures are a mix of our traditions and the beliefs and values of the people around us. Our parents pass down their traditions and values and we take them as our own. Another important point of diversity is how it affects what products we buy. An example of diversity could be ethnic diversity, and this would cause us to purchase products that relate to our ethnicity. For example, if I was of Mexican heritage, I may buy products such as tortillas, salsa, and other foods relating to my culture. Furthermore, my ethnicity could also affect what clothes I wear and what music I listen to. It is important for us to realize these differences in diversity when marketing to a wide group of potential customers. They all may be looking for something different in a product, and we must cater our product to all of their needs. There are a wide variety of people on this planet, and if we are going to market a product to these different groups, we must change our strategy as needed. After all, there are a lot of people out there, and we know they want to buy our product. They just don’t know it yet.

The industry that my group has chosen for our business is the video messaging industry. Two companies that really stand out in this industry are Skype and Oovoo. Skype is a very well known service. A free account can be set up and within moments you can search through a vast array of contacts. If you know a person’s name, email, or account name on Skype you can search and request them as a friend to call. Skype’s side bar allows you to view which of your contacts are online. And, with a simple double click, you can video call them within seconds. At the beginning of a video conversation the video and audio may be a little choppy. But as the conversation progresses the quality improves and an almost flawless conversation can be had. I had also mentioned Oovoo as another company in this industry. It is very similar in design to Skype; however conference calls within a video-conversation can be made. What this means is that up to six different parties can be involved in a single video-conversation. With this technology video reunions of friends or family can take place as well as a wide variety of other uses.  However, this hallmark of Oovoo comes at a price. While the conference video messaging can be done for a thirty day trial period, after that a fee is required to continue that service. I believe that the  market for video messaging is on its way up, and I cannot wait to see where it is headed.

Brand Name:

I.V.M. : Instant Video Messaging  Services Inc.

Explanation: We chose this as our brand name because it clearly outlines our services and the speed at which we deliver them.

Slogan Idea:

See it now. Believe it now.

This slogan is short and to the point. It shows that we offer instant video communication that a person would have to see in order to believe.

Apple Store, North Michigan Avenue

Address:

679 North Michigan Ave.

Chicago, Il 60611

(312)981-4104

A variety of workshops, tours, and even business consultation are offered by appointment to the Apple Retail Store on the famous Chicago Magnificent Mile.

Macy’s Department Store, State Street

Address:

111 N State Street

Chicago, Il 60602

Macy’s Department store is a hallmark in the world of marketing and branding. Group tours are offered and a convenient Group Reservation Request form is available at the store’s website: http://www.visitmacyschicago.com/index.cfm

     Every time a person turns on a television, starts up a computer, or even walks outside, he or she is bombarded with an unimaginable amount of brands and advertisements for those brands.  I myself have a few favorite brands, simply because of the way they market themselves and the way the brands make me feel. A&W restaurants have always been a favorite of mine because of the fact that they market themselves as “All American Food.” Each time I eat at one of these restaurants I feel nostalgic. The set-up is that of a fifties diner, and there is a friendly atmosphere. Another favorite brand of mine is Sun-Drop soda. In my hometown of Shawano, Wisconsin, we have a Sun-Drop bottling facility and it is a hallmark of our area. Sun-Drop in my town is still offered in glass bottles that can be purchased with a security deposit, and this lends to the small-town feel of the soda. Like A&W restaurants this nostalgic feel is what draws me to the Sun-Drop brand. Overall I think the brands that I enjoy the most are the ones that give off that nostalgic feel. Brands like Coca-Cola, Campbell’s Soup, and others work towards modernizing their images while still holding on to a time in the past. I believe that when a brand holds on to its ties to the past, it offers a great loyalty towards itself and its customers. And that is why they are my favorite brands.

College is the place to experiment. These first few years of adulthood we spend our time discovering how to have fun. Unfortunately, a lot of the time college students turn towards drugs and alcohol in order to entertain themselves. We have all seen the commercials and heard the horror stories associated with unsafe consumption of these substances.

First of all there is the purely legal consequence of this activity. It isn’t legal for anybody to consume alcohol until we reach the ripe old age of twenty-one. Of course this limit isn’t much of a barrier for a college student with a thirst. Also, controlled substances are always illegal. This also poses an issue because many young people don’t consider marijuana a drug. However, this may not be the same viewpoint of a police officer or a judge.

Secondly, one of the most prevalent consequences of drug and alcohol use is the unsafe decisions a person makes when under the influence. Driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol or drugs can be disastrous. Not only to the person driving the car, but also to anybody around at the time. It’s a common occurrence and it’s very scary indeed.

Last of all, the most direct consequence of drug and alcohol use is the consequences to the body. Internal organs like the liver and lungs can be devastated by continued use of these substances. And more immediate consequences can be drug induced comas or even death.

All in all, drug and alcohol use among college students is probably here to stay. However, we must all be aware of the above mentioned consequences of their use. Hopefully someday people will understand the seriousness of this issue.

IVM: Instant Video Messaging Services Inc.

Videophone Production and Design

• Develop phone hardware
• Work with third-party companies to develop new applications for devices
• Improve issues with video-phones and work to develop updated firmware and components

Connection Service

• Gain contracts with other communication retailers in  order to expand our market
• Still maintain our own network of connection

Customer/Retailer Support

• Troubleshoot any issues reported by consumers or the contracted retailers
• Fix equipment and software issues with devices

Sales/Marketing Team

• Promote new devices and work towards expanding our markets

Target Groups:

Professionals- Corporate consumers looking to streamline communications with both customers and others in their company.

Teenagers- New tech will appeal to the younger generation’s sense of wanting what’s new and “hip.”

Families (Elderly Care)- Allows almost instant communication among family members all over the globe.

Benefits- This product and services will allow a wide variety of consumers to have quick and reliable video communication at their fingertips. Easy to use and affordable equipment will make it easier than ever for people to take advantage of these advances in communication.

Hey. It’s Brent again. College is still going good. Classes are in full swing and I really like this whole college thing. I have got to admit that I realize that classes aren’t going to get any easier. Endless piles of reading assignments and study assignments that never seem to go away. But I guess that I am in college for an education. So I better get used to it. One other thing that I have gotten used about life on campus is how great it is to have a good weight room on campus. It’s easy to get in a workout and I’m going to fight the freshman fifteen off with everything I got.

Another thing about college that I think is important to mention is that it is a lot more freedom than in high school. A lot more. I know that this may sound cliché but with this independence come a great responsibility. College courses definitely encourage attendance, but much of the time it’s not recorded. So it comes down to you making the effort and going to class. This may sound like an easy decision: go to school, but much of the time classes are skipped. I think that if anyone wants to succeed in college, they have to go to class.

Well, that’s all I have got for tonight. I hope you enjoyed my two cents and I hope you stop by again and check out my future blog entries.

Hey this is Brent here with my first larger blog entry. I guess I’d like to use this chance to just say a few things about how I’ve adjusted to college life so far:

First of all, dorms are great! It’s not as bad living in a matchbox as everybody makes it out to seem. As long as you get along with your roommate and the people on your floor are friendly, a good time isn’t very far away. I have met a lot of great people since I’ve been here and I am looking forward to making even more new friends. My classes are interesting, if not always the easiest. And it’s nice to have a little variety in your day versus the monotony I was so used to the last four years in high school. All of my subjects are something that I am interested in, and none of the professors seem like terrible people. So I really don’t have a lot to complain about. My classes have required me to set aside study time almost every day to keep up with my classes, but I am here for an education after all.

As for missing home, it has not been that hard of a transition for me. I love my family and I enjoy heading home, but UWW has become a second home for me, and my classmates are my extended family.

All in all, college is a great experience so far. Tuition could be a couple bucks cheaper, but what are you going to do?