Comment on Revolts post

“Good pricing begins with a complete understanding of the value that a product or service creates for customers.” After segmenting the marketing and choosing my target market, I’ve realized that my consumers will not mind paying more for a quality product. The problem I do face is whether they will understand that because they will be getting most of their information online, or through email or text, they will not understand the value of it. The biggest value does not come the many recipes we offer but in the service behind it. What my customers will be buying is not just a cookbook, but their own personal nutritionist.

Quote 17/ Chapter 9
Pg 259: Factors to Consider When Setting Prices
(Philip Kotler, Marketing, An Introduction)

(http://revoltphotography.blogspot.com/)

My Comment:
Deciding on what to price your item at may be a challenge as the value of it may not be as high towards differnt people. The creator must be the one to judge what they should price their item at as they know the real value to it. As for a cookbook, I thought about how much my book to offer, then decided on a price after that. Paying $19.99 for a book that offers both recpies and pointers in how to be romantic seems like a good deal to me!

Comment on Chelz Productions post

"Marketing takes a day to learn, unfortunately it takes a lifetime to master."-Philip Kotler
(http://www.bizcommunity.com/Quotes/416/11.html)

Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, and delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customer's, clients, partners, and society at-large. This marketing process can be learned and interpreted quickly but mastering it would definitely take some time. There is so much valuable information that can be used to the advantage of many. Marketing is so broad included is many strategies used to help identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that will only help to evaluate success!
(http://chelzproductions.blogspot.com/)

My Comment:
Marketing is essential in getting your business out there. It is not something that you can learn simply by readding a book. One may read about marketing but it can not be mastered as it takes time to understand it.

Factors that inclde you...the consumer

"When setting prices, the company also must consider a number of other factors in its external environment. Economic conditions can have a strong impact on the firms pricing strategies. Economic factors such as boom or recession. inflation, and interest rates affecting pricing decisions because they affect both consumer perceptions of the products price and value and the costs of producing a product." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch. 9, pg. 270) We have all come to realize that out economy is in the garbage right now. Jobs are being cut, business are going out, and the market continues to crash. We are all trying to figure out different ways to save money. Whether it is cutting down on shopping, or cutting down on taking trips. One way we thought of conserving money is to cook her a dinner at home, which is way cheaper then taking her out to the most expensive restaurant in the city. Let all learn to conserve, and have fun in our own homes, and our cookbook will be sure to help you accomplish that!





(http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://storefronting.com/2007_03_Escada.jpg&imgrefurl=http://racked.com/archives/2007/03/07/hot_racks_escada.php&usg=__R5ja6AF8RTomTDeKIfaYBGNoU6g=&h=617&w=995&sz=91&hl=en&start=4&sig2=bV5GsOmIehWgMbV07L-anw&tbnid=Z9_-e2ySg5h3rM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=149&ei=qBJISenlCY-aNf-VkSQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Descada%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG)

Fashion Savvy

" A fashion is a currently accepted or popular style in a given field. For example, the more formal " business attire" look of corporate dress in the 1980's and 1990's gave way to the "business casual" look of today. Fashions tend to grow slowly, remain popular for a while, and then decline slowly." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch.8, Pg, 247) Although we are very fashion savvy, we will not hit a decline. "A Couture Candle Lit Dinner" is very affordable and will become effective towards every consumer. The latest and greatest in the culinary world!

New to the Market!

"New products are important- to both consumers and the marketers who serve them. "Both consumers and companies love new products," declares a new-product consultant, "consumers because they solve problems and bring variety to their lives, and companies because they are a key source of growth." ( Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch. 8, pg. 233) Being a new product makes is even more irresistible! Who doesn't want to keep their figure right by cooking low-fat meals, or who doesn't want to create a romantic dinner for their loved one? Why not invest in a book that will take you to that level.

A Special Kind Of Product

"A Couture Candle Lit Dinner" is a different kind of cookbook, a cookbook that combines both love for great food and love for a great woman. "Specialty products are consumer products and services with unique characteristics or brand identification for which a significant group of buyers is willing to make a special purchase effort." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introdction. Ch. 7, pg. 201)

Let's Get Together

Getting to know our consumers is in our best interest. By interacting with consumers, it allows us to improve our cookbook and form it to what everyone is looking for. "Interactive marketing means that service quality depends heavily on the quality of the buyer-seller interaction during the service encounter. In product marketing, product quality often depends little on how the product is obtained." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch. 7, pg. 222)

Your Happiness

"Smart targeting helps companies to be more efficient by focusing on the segments that they can satisfy best and most profitably. Targeting also benefits consumers- companies reach specific groups of consumers with others carefully tailored to their needs." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch.6, pg. 183) By doing research we were able to conclude that it is hard for most men to decide on what to cook for a romantic dinner at home. Our cookbook is not like most cookbooks as it offers low-fat meals and pointers on being that sweet and romantic guy you wish you were. Creating a book that will help you with your needs provides us with the comfort of knowing that we have contributed to your happiness.

Our Target Market

"A target market consists of a set of buyers who share common needs or characteristics that the company decides to serve."(Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, Ch. 6, pg. 177) Those who seek easy and exquisite meals deserve to give themselves something to liven up their cooking lives. Since the book not only provides recipes, but it also includes very helpful tips on being romantic.

Why chose "A Couture Candle Lit Dinner"?

"Generally, the consumer's purchase decision will be to buy the most preferred brand, but two factors can come between the purchase intention and the purchase decision. The first factor is the attitudes of others. If someone important to you thinks that you should buy the lowest-priced car, then the chances of your buying a more expensive car are reduced. The second factor is unexpected situational factors. The consumer may form a purchase intention based on factors such as expected income, expected price, and expected product benefits." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch.5, pg. 147) Our book guarantees that you will become successful in your wishes to create a delicious candle lit dinner for you and your loved one. If you expect tasty, and savory dinners, thats exactly what you will get. If you expect our cookbook to be offered at such an affordable price, it is just $19.99. Make a commitment, a commitment to cook only great meals.

Face the Facts...

Let's face it, most men don't know how to be romantic, nonetheless, what to cook for a woman watching what she eats. "The buying process starts with need recognition- the buyer recognizes a problem or need. The need can be triggered by internal stimuli when one of the persons normal needs- hunger, thirst, sex- rises to a level high enough to become a drive." (Kotler, Marketing: An Introduction. Ch. 5, pg. 146) My books purpose is to provide our confused men out there about what food she will love and how to make it a night she won't forget.

Cultural Differences...

Since the cookbook is available online, we incorporate international foods like taro and lychee. It may be hard to determine what foods other people in different country's favor but researching the most popular foods wasn't. Thanks to the internet, we were able to determine what ingredients were most popular in China, France, Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines. "Cultural differences from country to country cause additional problems for international researchers."(Kotler, Marketing: An Introduction. Ch. 4 pg. 121) Open your taste buds to new and different flavors!

Pointers for our Sweet and Savvy Guy!

Dont be afarid to be romantic! Show a little love and let yourself go.

Here's some pointers on how to sweep her off her feet!

Plan Ahead. Let's face it, we live in the real world and its hard to mkae time for eachother and surprises dont always go as planned. Ask her what her plans are and go from there.

Its Not As Easy As It Seems...

Research, research, research! It must be done in able to figure out what the consumers are interested in. "Customer insight groups collect customer and market information from a wide variety of sources- ranging from traditional marketing research studies to mingling with and observing consumers to monitoring consumer online conversations about the company and its products. Then they use the marketing information to develop important customer insights from which the company can create more value for its customers." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch.4. Pg. 97) All products have potential value but it takes for a customer to really enjoy it, for that product to succeed. Why produce random products when you can do research and see what the consumers really want. "A Couture Candle Lit Dinner" acts as a handguide in creating many romantic nights with your loved one. She will soon admire your attentiveness to detail and drive to let her know she is valued.

DVF SAMPLE SALE!!!!

(Madison Avenue Spy: http://madisonavespy.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html)

Want to really make it a couture candle lit dinner? Before heading home to make her a plate of farfalle with asparagus and cherry tomatoes (which of course is low fat!) take her to Diane Von Furstenbergs sample sale! Who says you cant get both a delicious meal and the strappy heels shes been wanting all season at an affordable price!

Don't Jump On the Bandwagon!

Just because Angelia Jolie and Brat Pitt were spotted at Dolce in Hollywood doesn't mean that you too have to be spotted there. As Americans we sometimes adapt ourselves to what the "celebrities" are doing or wearing, and we soon become little Angelina's and Brad's. "People grow up in a particular society that shapes their basic beliefs and values. They absorb a worldview that defines their relationships with others." (Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch.3. Pg. 85) Lets stop giving in to what everyone else is doing. I guarantee that she is more likely to appreciate her man cooking over a hot stove, putting in his effort to keep his woman happy, than simply calling in for a reservation or even calling for take out. Lets jump off the bandwagon and become romantics!

Heaven in a Mug.

Who needs Starbucks when you can have this:

Serves 2

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

3-4 tablespoons agave nectar (a natural sweetener found at supermarkets and health-food stores)

2 1/2 cups skim milk

1/2 vanilla bean, split

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions: Mix cocoa powder and agave nectar. Heat milk in a medium saucepan over very low heat with vanilla bean, cinnamon and nutmeg. Whisk in cocoa-agave mixture thoroughly, until mixture is warn but not boiling.

Nutrition facts per serving: 215 calories, 12 g protein, 44 g carbohydrate, 1 g fat, 3 g fiber

Source: FitnessMagazine (http://athletcgal.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/healthier-hot-chocolate/)

So grab a movie and cuddle up on the couch while sipping on a delicious low-fat hot cocoa, or as I like to call it Heaven in a Mug.

Let's Face It, The Economy is Draining!

With todays economy becoming worse and worse, people are not spending as much money as they used to. Now is the time to value our consumers, by this we also must engage in value marketing. "Value marketing has become the watchword for many marketers. Rather then offering high quality at a high price, or lesser quality at a lesser price, marketers are looking for ways to offer todays more financially cautious buyers greater value- just the right combination of product quality and good service at a fair price." ( Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Ch 3. Pg. 78) Understanding that couples would still like to enjoy themselves and live lavishly, we're offering our cookbook at a great price of $19.99. Who says you too can't cook like Bobby Flay or Mario Batali, all it takes is a little guidance, and guidance is what you're going to get!

Dow -32% YTD, Chanel Raises Prices 20%

As if Chanel wasn't already expensive...

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Dow -32% YTD, Chanel Raises Prices 20%

(http://madisonavespy.blogspot.com/2008/10/dow-down-30-chanel-raises-prices-20.html)

Proving that the economy has taken a downfall, Chanel decided to raise their prices by 20%. Save your money by cutting down on fine dining and grab a copy of "A Couture Candle Lit Dinner" as it is sure to bring good times.

We're Here to Help.

"A company's employees need to feel that their work is significant and that it contributes to people's lives." ( Kotler. Marketing: An Introdction, Ch. 2 pg. 39) As an employee, one promises to provide their undivided attention to each and every one of their customers. When one experiences great customer service, its hard not to return to the person who had previously helped you. Keeping the customers coming back for more proves that hard work pays off.

Relationships are a must!

In fashion retail, customer service is the number one key to keeping and making new relationships. Making the consumer feel welcomed and promising excellent service will only keep them coming back for more. "Consumers stand in the center. The goal is to create value for customers and build profitable customer relationships." (Kotler, Marketing: An Introduction, Ch. 2 pg. 47)

My Promise...

"A company's value proposition is the set of benefits or values it promises to deliver to consumers to satisfy their needs." (Kotler, Ch. 1 pg. 9) I believe that giving your client what they are looking for is essential is creating relationships. Getting to know your clients allows you to incorporate their needs and wants into your products that eventually profits both parties.

What is Marketing?

Keeping your current clients content with your service can lead to many great things. The client will continue to buy your products as they have become satisfied and aware of what you are capable of doing for them. "Marketing is managing profitable customer realtionships. The twofold goal of marketing is to attract new customers by promising superior value and to keep and grow curent customers by delivering satisfaction." ( Kotler, pg. 5)