Response to Kaley's post on Channels of Distribution

'Do you feel one channel of distribution could be more beneficial to a company or will it always vary depending on the product, service, or company?'

I believe that it can always vary based on the product, service, or company; but also I believe their will always be those companies where one channel of distribution works the best for them. Companies with that one channel have found enough success using it, would not have to worry about adding another channel to improve the business.  Also they may not have the means to create another channel another either. Telemarketing, mail-order and catalog shopping, shop-at-home television networks, and online shopping are examples of direct channel distribution. These are usually successful companies employing just one channel and managing to stay relevant. It proves that utilizing just one marking channel can be successful.

Can you think of a company that successfully utilizes all four marketing channels? (direct, retailer, wholesaler, and agent/broker)

Marketing Channel Discrepancies

Marketing channels aid in overcoming discrepancies which concern quantity, assortment, time, and space created by economies of scale in production. A discrepancy of quantity is the difference between the amount of product produced and the amount an end user wants to purchase. This is countered by storing and distributing the product in the appropriate amounts that the consumers desire. A discrepancy of assortment occurs when a consumer does not have all the items required to receive full satisfaction from a product. To overcome this, marketing channels must assemble many of the products necessary to complete a consumer's needed assortment in one place. Temporal discrepancies occur when a product is produced but a consumer is not ready to buy it. Inventories must be maintained in anticipitation of demand in order to prevent this. A spatial discrepancy is the difference between the location of a producer and the location of widely scattered markets. Marketing channels overcome this by making products available in locations convenient to customers.
To me it seems like the discrepancy of quantity would be the hardest one to manage and would be the one to occur most often. I feel like companies tend to overstock their inventories, especially when they may be first starting up. When a company first opens a new store or introduces a new product it could have a difficult time in determine how well to stock products. This would easily result in the company having more product than is desired by the consumers.

What do you think is the most difficult marketing channel discrepancy to overcome?

Response to Tammy's post on multi-segment targeting strategy

Tammy poses this question at the end of her post: Do you think multi-segment targeting strategy can have disadvantages? What do you think they are? 

I believe any strategy that is employed will always have the potential for disadvantages, and multi-segment targeting is no exception. Tammy mentions the the main disadvantage being cannibalization, thus creating competition between the company's own products. This competition can be good or bad for the company, as she also says. I do not see it being that much of a disadvantage though. Competition between their own products can be more manageable than with other companies. They would have more control over what was happening, and they would still be making money. Worse case scenario, focusing on what product, could potentially end up wiping out another product that was very successful in the past. 

Can you think of a company where cannibalization has come into play with their products?

Southwest Airlines Ad

This is a new spring ad for Southwest Airlines, in which they are trying to sell the idea that they work really hard to be the greatest airline. Illustrating how different individuals follow different paths as they move through life.  The message that they are wanting to get across is basically that the people who work at Southwest chart their own path, never stop moving forward, and never give up. Not only are the employees like this according to the ad, but it's what the airline is all about.
In my opinion, I think Southwest presents this message very well. I liked how they incorporated the chorus of "Some Nights" into the ad. It gave the commercial some life and change the tone of it. It kept me interested in it, I am sure it has had the effect on several others.

What do you think of this ad? Does it change the way you view Southwest Airlines?

Response to Will's post on the marketing of spring break

Do you think the idea of spring break is marketed to students?

I would say yes, it sure can seem that way. When you think of spring break, you can see how it is directly associated with the idea of going somewhere warm and partying for a college student. Students are always wanting to get away from their studies and enjoy warm weather. I think how it is referred to as "spring" break has a great deal with that. Students hear spring, and think of the snow melting and the weather warming up. It puts the idea in their head that winter is over, and makes them want to spend time outside in the sun. However, spring break at school does not always bring with it warm weather. This is where the traveling comes in. People realize that if they really want to get the spring break experience they want, they must go somewhere such as Florida. 

If Spring break was labeled under a different name, that didn't bring up the idea of warm weather, would it have a different effect on college students? 

To buy or not to buy?

Our text suggests that their are four factors that influence consumers on whether or not to buy a product. These include social factors, individual factors, cultural factors, and psychological factors. The factors that I believe influence me to purchase a product or service the most would be psychological. My beliefs, attitudes, and perception of the potential purchase will usually determine my motivation to buy the product or service. The other factors do add some influence as well but ultimately it comes down to whether or not I perceive it as the right option. I am not saying, however, that I  have never made a purchase based on individual factors (gender, age and family life cycle stage, or personality) or social factors (reference groups or opinion leaders). Different product or services call for different consumer decision-making process factors. 

What was your last purchase, and what were some influencing factors that helped you make the decision?

Response to Arthur's post on logos

Companies dialing back on logos or branding would be a smart approach in marketing. Many companies go way over the top with one or the other and end up losing interest of potential customers. Too many companies spend too much time working on the perfect  logo or brand and not enough time maintaining the product. All that is needed is a simple design, such as the Nike swoosh, which has been more than effective. A brand or logo may get a customer's attention, but what will get their loyalty is the quality of the product.

Have you ever have bought a product without any knowledge of it; only buying it because you were drawn in by the logo?