So the big thing right now that all the buzz is a bout is back to school.  Most schools in the metroplex are starting the week of 8/24 so it’s pretty much down to the wire for back to school parents.  You have so many stores advertising like crazy.  The competition is big right now for back to schoolers from school supplies, clothes, to cell phones even.  There’s sales up the wazoo for everything and anything dealing with school.   And there should be since this back to school season is more than likely going to be the lowerst it’s ever been.  Parents are buying what is needed now.  Social media is even going big on back to school…

So who has some of the most effective back to school marketing strategies.  HMMMM let’s see!!!  Off the top of my head and from commercials and direct mail…definetly Kohl’s, Walmart  and Target are on the top of my list fore sure.  Kohls has the cool Avril Lavigne commerical where the girls have the Abby Dawn clothes on and the school bus drives up the Avril Lavigne’s tour bus and the girls see her with her guitar and it’s like WOW!  Kohls also has the mail outs that are gears towards juniors.  Even the 15% or 20% cards that I get in the mail had a teenage boy with a skate board and the girl on my other coupon card was dressed in the Abby Dawn clothing.  As for Walmart well come one it’s Wal-mart.  Their direct mail out is gear again for teenage and college bound kids.  They have flashing through out bright colored items for a dorm or tween room.  They advertise on the cheap school supplies and back to school “roll backs.”  They even sale school uniforms now that the majority of the elementary and middle schools are now uniform.  Not to mention the commercials for the back to school labtops in a variety of colors.  Target pretty much evolves their commercial around the all around experience where you can get all of your back to school items plus items for the home such as snacks, groceries, etc.  Also for all 3, their websites are back to school themed.  It’s pretty neat. 

I would like to say as far as the Office Depots and Staples kind of store, I really haven’t hear much.  I mean yeah you hear about the Staples “First Bell” promo.  But really I didn’t get much advertising or see many commercials from them this year.  Maybe it’s a word of mouth thing or they are depending complety on social media.   But even at that Office Depot is the only one I’ve seen by far that is doing the whole back to school theme as far as office supply stores.  They just didn’t really do it for me this school season

Now in my opinion the reason some of these back to school pitches don’t make are simple they dont’ advertise enough.  I mean come on, you got to get you stuff out there if you want it bought.  Also not having everything you need at one stop.  The thing one hates most is having to go to different stores to get what you need.  For example Walmart, not only do they have the cheap school supplies but they have the labtops, undergarments, shoes, plus the uniforms that start at about $6.  That a one stop shop unless of course they don’t have the size you need. LOL!  Another thing is the pricing.  You have to have a reasonable price.  I’m sorry I’m not going to pay $40 for a white shirt at Aeropostle when I can buy at Walmart for $5.  These competitors have to make it better.  The main thing especiall right now when everyone is struggling is pricing.  I’d make sure that the pricing is at a reasonable price to not only have them during back to school season but all year round.  I’d also promote towards the tween age.  Come on after all they are the top buyers right now, well the parents are but the tweens are the reason for the spending.  And definitely more social media.  Alot of these tween are turning to the web for the coolest trends, etc.  Back to school…gotta love it!!!!

Okay so on the flip side of fear and trade of globalization we can also determine the benefits of globalization.  There is always a flip side to everthing…right???? Many companies move their businesses to countries where labor is cheap but can produce what is needed.   So you could say in turn for these countries it essentially helps the with economic welfare, opportunity and COMPETITION.  Trade as a percentage of gross world product has risen from 15 percent in 1986 to nearly 27 in 2006.  Also in the past two decades, the stock of foreign direct investment assets has nearly quadrupled as a percentage of gross world product. 

Some say there are many advantages that pretty much make the world go round.  Such as goods and people are transported with more easiness and speed, the possibility of war between the developed countries decreases, free trade between countries increases, and global mass media connects all the people in the world just to name a few.  So global mass media is HUGE, I mean big now a days.  I mean you put a website and you are literally worldwide.  Anyone, anywhere can purchase your product.

So another benefit is the improvment of the living condition of these people.  There has been advancements in medicine, new public health policies, and increase in food supplies.  Over the past 20 years, 200 million people have left absolute poverty — defined as living on the equivalent of less than $1 a day.  Child labor has declined and woman are stepping up in their world.  All in all if we are living good why shouldn’t they, right?  We’re all just trying to win somehow, some way.  They get work to survive and we get the reasonable prices, which during the so called stopped recession, it helps.  Win/Win!

The fear of trade and globalization is real and one way or another each American has felt it.  I know myself with job outsourcing that’s the worst.  Thank God there are some companies who will not allow their contracts for customer service business be outsourced.  Any one of our jobs can be outsourced especially in my line of business as a supervisor in a call center and working for the company that I work for.  The company I work for has some lines of business outsourced to India, Mexico and other locations.OMG and I hate it.  Do you know how hard it is that you have to speak to someone in India to get your a password reset when we have IT people in our same building.  GRRRRR!!!   Any how back in 2004 a poll was done and six in 10 Americans (61%) currently say they are concerned that they, a friend, or a relative might lose a job because the employer is moving that job to a foreign country. Forty-one percent say they are “very concerned” about this happening, and another one in five (20%) say they are “somewhat concerned.” That was just in 2004, can you imagine now.   Bottom line for most Americans, outsourcing is not only something to fear, but it is also something that is incredibly difficult to anticipate.  But either way its a 50/50 chance that your job will be eliminated regardless of your degree, skills and pay.

Another fear for me regarding trade and globalization is the greater risk of diseases being transported unintentionally between nations. Each year more than 76 million Americans get sick from eating spoiled, contaminated or adulterated food resulting in about 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths annually.  There was what the dog food that was poisoning the toys that had lead paint, toothpaste, I believe there was even a flip flop issue a few years back and all of this stemmed back to China and other areas.  So why do they keep doing it, cuz it’s good for business.  I mean seriously does the safey and health of our fellow citizens not count anymore.  After all we are the ones dishing out the money.  More testing, more laws are needed in the trade business.  And for the safety of me, my family and my pets I have to say if were in this for the long haul I would pay the extra cost to assure I’m purchasing non-contaminated item.

So many companies today use sampling as a way of getting the consumer to purchase their item.  I for one was a sucker for sampling this weekend at Sam’s club.  The employee was giving samples of Talipia fish that was seasoned with rosemary garlic.  OMG, it was delish.  I am a person who loves sea food and I just so happned to already have a package of Talapia in my buggy.  So what do you know she got me… I bought the rosemary and garlic seasoning.  Sneaky little employee lady. 

So again why do they do this…HELLO who doesn’t love free besides it’s a great way to drive your sales.  Making samples of new products available to the public is one of the most powerful promotional tools that manufacturers have.  As I mentioned earlier Sam’s club is really good about giving samples of their products.  Go on a Saturday and just about every other aisle in the food and candy area has free samples of something.  And as a consumer I would have to say I would like to sample the product first before I make a purchase.  Now don’t get me wrong, free samples are good but be very careful on the web, make sure you check out the site and it’s not just a scam sight to get your information.

On a seperate note regarding samples.  It’s also spilled over into the Pharmaceutical world.  You see the commercials of getting a free sample of certain drugs.  One other great thing I love is that if you have a good doctor they will actually give you free samples of meds.  Which is great Free pharmaceutical samples can give physicians valuable first-hand experience with new treatment options. And free samples can help patients begin treatment sooner, find the right medicine, and offer an option for those who have difficulty affording their medicines.  Who doesn’t want to save a little money especially now a days when meds are just so high even if you have insurance. 

Your going to spend money one way or another but if you get to sample before you buy that’s an even greater advantage for the consumer.

Coupons are a great savings tool to any household.  I mean there are so many websites that offer free coupons not to mention the mail inserts that come in the Sunday paper as well as during the week.  Yes it’s time consuming to sit and clip coupons or sit on the web and search, well at least it is for me but I guess every dollar saved can go a long way now a days. LOL.  But you got to be careful, watch those expiration dates.  The coupon patrol are starting to get a little stricter on the dates, they expire quicker now.

Okay so It is a common misconception that only lower income shoppers use coupons to save money.. In fact, a recent survey by NCH Marketing Services revealed that 75 percent of customers in all income brackets use coupons sometimes and the highest rate of coupon clippers have an income of $25,000 – $50,000.  And this is so true, especially in the economic situation we are in today, every household is trying to see where they can save a dollar her or there and many start with clipping coupons.  When you hear the stories on the news these couples save in the hundreds… now i want to know how they do that.  What websites are they going to..I only end up saving like $5.00 or so.  Anyhow, some reports even say that coupon users are down from years past, which for me is hard to believe.  I mean come on when you see someone use a coupon to buy a coke, you know we’re in hard times and we are trying to save any which way we can.

Okay so something that I get really excited about but am so bad in collecting is rebates.  They often provide more savings than coupons by slashing the price at the time of purchase or providing a partial or full reimbursement after the purchase.  I don’t know how many products I’ve purchased and either forgot or passed the deadline to turn in for the rebate.  You gotta watch out for those expiration dates on rebates as well, they’ll sneak up on you, believe me I know.  I’m more of a in store rebate kind of gal, they are so much easier. LOL!  Well either way you decide to shop, there is always a way that you can save whether through rebates or coupons.  Channel 11 news, I think its channel 11, well anyways they even have on their website in Survive in 09 websites that they’ve checked out and are legit for coupon savinings.  Check it out you may find a good deal!

It’s amazing how the internet has impacted us so much since it’s breaking debut many, many moons ago.  Now it seems that if we do not have the internet we can’t function at all.  I know a couple weeks ago I thought I was going to lose my mind.  My usb or key thing or whatever you call it broke and anyways it was under warranty so I had to have AT&T send me another one because they couldn’t replace in one of the corporate stores.  Why is beyond me but anyway needless to say I was upset.  So it took them about a week to send me another one because I was being cheap and didn’t want to pay the $12 for next day.  OMG! I thought a part of my life for a week was yanked out by AT&T.  You don’t know how much you need the internet until you don’t have it.  Do you know the number of Americans actively using the Internet from their homes in a given week in April, 2006 was 113,644,910 out a total of 205,133,028 with Internet access, according to Nielsen.  These users spent an average of 8 3/4 hours on the Internet per week.  The total number active on the Internet from their homes in the whole month was 143,596,769 with an average of over 30 hours spent per month.  Shut-up… and this was in 2006.  So you can basically quadriple that number and that would still be maybe the minimum number of users. 

It’s as if we are addicted.  We use the internet for what seems to be everything.  What phone books, look on the internet.  Who uses 411 anymore, just click on the internet and find what you need plus the reviews.  You want to save time from going to the store, go on the internet…order you an outfit, groceries..anything you want.  You need to get a message out there, hey guess what..go to the internet.  Who needs a tv set, you have the internet.  OMG! speaking of TV, when the presidential election was going on the impact that the internet on this election was mind blowing.  The presidential candidates’ Internet performances ended with Barack Obama (65.62%) and John McCain (34.38%). “The SIPP Index results this week provide a glimpse into the grass root support base for each of the candidates heading into the final days of the 2008 Presidential Election. From the early days of the campaigns back in August 2007 Barack Obama clearly stood out as someone who was leveraging the Internet and connecting with voters on unprecedented levels,” said Ryan Vartoogian President of Spartan Internet Consulting. 

The internet has so many functions that we seem to not be able to tear away from the screen or go even a day without it.  You can even keep in touch with family members near and far.  Communication between the continents from all over the world has become easier. Instead of phoning overseas now one can talk with his relatives abroad through the use of the internet and its software, such as messengers. Not only can one talk but see the other person become a possibiilty.  Too bad it can’t help me lose weight.. oh wait yeah it can if I follow what it says!! LOL!  You get my point!

Competition, competition, competition!!!! There is so much competition out there it’s ridiculous crazy.  It was hypothesized that people who are motivated by competition are motivated for at least three reasons: competition allows them to satisfy the need to win, competition provides the opportunity or reason for improving their performance, and competition motivates them to put forth greater effort that can result in high levels of performance.  Now if you ask me this relates not only to every business but to each individual.  It seems as though we live in a world that thrives off of competition and why not, we love it.  You even turn on the television and you see the reality shows, the dance off show, heck even the new competes for the top story.  Plus we can’t forget about our lovely economic situation which doesn’t make it any better.  I seriously believe that is why competition now is off the charts.  Everybody wants to win or at least get some piece of the pie.

You know there is even a website to Web Marketing Association’s Webward where you can vote for the best web sites in 96 industries.  There is different award levels in which you can win or be nominated for.  For example American Airlines in 2008 won the Airline Standard of Excellence award, Disney channel for Broadcasting Standard of Excellence and America First Credit Union for Credit Union Standard Excellence award.  These are just to name a few winner of 2008.  When you have a minute, take a quick look.  Half of these companies I’ve never even heard of.  LOL! That goes to show you how tuned in I am about the technology world!

So now that the competition is out of control I have one thing to say.  You snooze you lose!!! The competition is just waiting for you to take your eyes off the prize so they can jump right in.  I know I would! : )  This is the best time to strike.  When they take the wrong approach on things and leave their customers unattended…BAM step right in!  Now don’t even get me started on how competition starts the price wars.  Back in 2008, CVS announced it would sell 90-day supplies of more than 400 medications for $9.99 and offer discounts for cash-paying patients at its in-store medical clinics.  Of course this is all came about by Wal-mart..  Gotta love Wal-mart their always stirring up the pot.  Granted the cheaper prices are sweet but sometimes it’s not that great.  Don’t get me wrong I love paying for cheap meds but it always seems as though that money I save I end up spending on something else I think I need..and that’s exactly how they get you!  Either way as long as in the US of A competition will never die.  We love it, we need it and can’t live with out it!!!

I don’t know about you but I hate telemarketers.  They are bothersome and a waste of time.  It never fails that they either call you in the middle of dinner or early Saturday or Sunday morning when your catching some z’s.  They are so annoying.  Come on I know you feel me on this.  Now don’t get me wrong, I know it pays the bills for some and hey my props to you especially with the economic crisis currently going on… but seriously do you have to call that late or that early and then when I tell you NO twice you keep badgering me.

Now there are a couple of things that you can do to prevent telemarkerters from dialing you up.  The most effective and easiest way to prevent telemarketing calls is to register your home and personal phone number(s) with the National Do Not Call Registry operated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  You can sign up either by phone or online.  The downside to this is that while you may sign up there are still exceptions to the rule.  There are always exceptions to the rules so why would this be any different.  Charities, researchers, political campaigns, business in which you have given written consent and business that you have a relationship with such as Citibank for me.  Those sneaky little suckers.  During the whole presidential campaigning Obama called my parents house. LOL!  Yeah right, it was a political campaign recording.

Is telemarketing even effective?  Well for some Telemarketing is necessary to many businesses.  Some may try to use to promote their company which is all fine and dandy but if your gonna do it, please do it professionally and with pride.  Don’t use people that sound like robots or are chewing a peice of gum on the other end.  You have to treat telemarketing in a sense like customer service.  You have to try to make a connection with that person on the other end of the line.  Again I personally will not answer a call that starts with 877, 800 or 888 and if it happens to be another number and I hear the robot like person on the other end, I’ll either hang up or immediately say NOT INTERESTED and then hang up. : )

Electronic distribution is Genious.  Who says I have to go to the store to purchase what I need.  With all this new age technology I don’t even have to get up from my sofa to put in a movie, order my groceries or even an outfit.  Okay well maybe I have to get up..but just to sign my receipt from the UPS guy, but you know what I mean.  I have the power!!!!!  Plus I don’t have to deal with other people in the stores.  Anyhow we have evolved so much it’s ridiculous crazy. 

A wicked example of electronic distribution is the software distribution.  All i have to do is go online and choose the software I want to purchase, simply click to buy and download.  I don’t have to deal with a sales person trying to sell me all kinds of programs I don’t need.  Back in 2006, electronic distribution accounts for only 1 percent of all software sold, according to Asknet, which was spun out of the Karlsruhe University in 1995. But the company said it sees substantial growth potential.  Can you believe that, now that was in 2006, we are now in 2009 and I know that percent has been blown out the window.  I’m one who is a little iffy about buying certain things online, but I took a chance when I purchased Microsoft Office from the Microsoft website.  Granted they sent me a cd in that mail but I was also able to download the program from the site.  I thought I was supercool.

Another form of electronic distribution is the film industry.  Now a days you can even download movies from Blockbuster instead of going into the store.  Back in 2006 (LONDON), Warner Bros Entertainment UK and Arts Alliance Media, Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services, have signed an electronic sell-through digital distribution agreement to allow consumers to download Warner Bros movies and TV series to own for the first time.  At that time Superman Returns was the first available DVD.  There are thousands of sights that allow you to use electronic distribution to watch old and new films.  All in all regardless of the type of electronic distribution used the technology is there at the touch of your fingers, you just now a days need to know how to use it.  In the near future that may be our only form of receiving goods and services.

Just as the arguments continues about generic versus branded products so does the debate for store brand versus national brand.  It’a almost all the same.  Once again I would have to say with trying to save where I can, I would definetly say I purchase more store brand that I do the national brand.  In 2005, A double-blind nationwide taste test released by Meyers Research found that participants overall preferred the taste of private-label products over better-known national brands by 51 percent to 49 percent.  I’m sure the statistics have changed dramatically since then considering our economic situation.  Everyone is trying to pinch pennies and save money somehow, especially those with a bigger size family.  Not to mention there is almost not that much difference in the two as there were about 5 or 10 years ago.

You know before when I did’t have a care in the world and times were good I was a national brand loyalist through and through.  I thought the private brand or store brand was cheap and beneath me.  Ask me my thoughts today!  The private label has come along way.  Today that gap has narrowed; private-label quality levels are much higher than ever before, and they are more consistent, especially in categories historically characterized by little product innovation.  Now that I’m grown or think I am, I’m so much with the national brand.  I’m more with where can I get more for my buck.  So for those who are embarrassed or feel your going to be looked at differently if you buy store brand instead of national brand.  Think again. : )