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This article talks about the tendency for consumers to buy name brand drugs. It references the similarities between generic and name brand products, and about how people "believe" in the name brand products and do not trust the generic branded drugs despite the fact that they have exactly the same ingredients in them. In terms of product this article stresses the importance of a brand name and brand image in the consumer's eye. It highlights the fact that consumers are more likely to purchase products that they trust simply because of a logo or a name, even if the product costs substantially more. The article draws the point of how consumers first believe and then are conditioned to only buy name brand products. It brings to light that consumers need to consider the price quality perception and recognize that they are paying much more for exactly the same product.

Having dealt with migraines most of my life I was always used to grabbing Excedrin when I was at home because that is what my Dad kept around for his migraines. After coming to college and really being budgeted I found myself trying the off brand migraine relief medicines. I was hesitant but when it came down to it I found comparable relief with each and now get to enjoy the extra few dollars in my pocket. I think a lot of it was that I just grew up with a certain brand in the house so I think it matters what your parents buy because when it comes to you buying on your own it is often what you remember using. If my Dad had used off brand medications then I am sure I would have just continued that trend right off the bat and not hesitated on getting them.

This trend shows through with not only brand name drugs vs. generic drugs, but also with just about every kind of consumer product. It shows through with different kinds of food and drinks as well. It is very hard to tell the difference between Diet Sam's Club soda and Diet Coke, however we all tend to go with the brand name Coke product instead. This shows how consumers stick with what they trust even though the other option might be the same.

Despite the recent scandals regarding Apple's business practices, it has succeeded at cultivating a brand to which we feel positive emotional attachment. How does apple make a difference?

I am not an Apple follower and to be honest don't see the point of the prestige they place on their products. One thing that stood out to me in this article were some of the ways they marketed their products. One was touched on Apple products can make you better, later it adjusted this by saying it gives you the tools to be the best you, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. the other way was with the Ghandi ad made reference to "daring to be different". In today's terms buying Apple products is hardly being different but even when the ad came out in 97 Apple products did not offer customization, which what I associate with being different. It offered Personal Computers with a different OS. I may be biased against them but it just seemed like odd ways to promote their products and didn't sell me on any of their products.

WOW, what an amazing article! I think this is a great example of a great product that does great things for its consumers. I especially appreciate the time line of Apple's ads and their competition throughout. I think it is interesting to mention how their product differentiation is slight for specific products, but that is what keeps the customers who are loyal even more loyal.

Green Mountain Coffee is opening a Keurig Store to hopefully get to know more about their customers and offer on site demos, special promotions, new product offerings, and unique accessories for the Keurig to customers

This is an interesting strategy for Keurig. Like Lindsey mentioned, it'll be interesting to see how this effects the companies over all sales. Although the venture will provide fantastic PR, the question is whether he gains will outweigh the costs. I agree with Lindsey again though, it is likely that a majority if the visitors will be non-existing customers, of whom will leave with a positive experience and thus opt to buy a Keurig machine of their own. It will also be interesting to see the "accessories" that will be available for sale. These products would appeal to the existing customers, but would also highlight their need to "update" their Keurig models and thus consume more of the brands products. It would be great to see Keurig develop their "eco-friendly" line a bit further. It consists of k-cups that are recycle friendly. Ufortunately these products are quite a bit more expensive, a problem Keurig is already facing; making products more available to a larger demographic.

This article was fascinating to me! This is another example of how companies who used to be primarily product only or even online only want customer feedback and input. I think the idea is great - to let people use the machine to see how it works and how it can work in their everyday lives. But the location 14 miles outside Boston is a little far away I feel. I hope it is successful - already the outside looks sleek, classy, and expensive and I think the design alone with get people into the door to explore the concept. Since their goal isn't to sell, sell, sell but rather to experience and learn from consumers, I think it will work. But I do agree in this still tight economy, going to your local Walmart or Bed, Bath, and Beyond to buy the same coffee pods is realistic.

Finish Line is has jumped on the trend that I think will ultimately be a benefit them, mobile check out. It takes the hassle of lines out of shopping, and like I commented on a different post, the less time you spend in line the more time you spend looking around the store. More time shopping will equal more products purchased.

I agree with Brock. Nike has their own customization, I think now its time for the store to start doing that. I think this would improve sales because when I got my shoes I went to Nike's site so I could customize the shoes to how I wanted since it was only like $10 more to have them exactly how I wanted them.

This is really cool what they are doing! I'm curious as to if they had a issue with lines in their stores or if they are working on simply improving customer service.

Really interesting article about how our favorite fast food restaurant really responds well to the socio-cultural environment and adapts there products and presentation to win over the population- including famous chefs in this case.

What stood out in my head was the woman who was offended by the breading. Rather than taking this new food item as an insult, I think that the she should realize the efforts McDonald's makes to accommodate peoples' needs. Yes, it is not the same as homemade or some bakeries, but it is up to the French people to know the difference. McDonald's is only trying to create a low priced food that appeals to people considering the hard times that they have had.

Fantastic article. One important thing to remember for their new campaign however, is to remember the relevance of those commenting on their products. It's awesome that they were able to have the acceptance of a world-famous baker, but it would be even more influential if they could analyze cultural trends within France to see who really has an impact on the people. Is it this world known baker? Or, the friendly baker down the street. If they could grab a combination of positive expressions about their baguettes and other products, McDonald's could produce a positive message that would be received throughout various demographics of their target markets.

This article has great content about how marketers can master the consumer decision process. The article was written about a year ago, but the information is still very relevant and provides helpful tips on how to be most effective in this area as a marketer.

I would have to agree with Megan on this point. There is a statistic somewhere that identifies the average amount of time a person spends actually observing an ad, and in that tiny time frame, there is no way you could pull away all the information many ads are trying to convey. This is why there is a great push these days towards image messaging as opposed to textual advertisements

Although this article is titled, "Forget Engagement, Customers want Simplicity" I think this article provides an excellent response: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/2012/07/03/ikea-effect/ Although it was written a little over a year ago, I think it makes a pressing point. Simplicity is good, but too much of it and you will push the consumer away. There is a fine line between obligating the customer to be overly involved in the decision making process, but we need to remember to leverage their spending power. Consumers feel confident about their purchased because THEY chose to purchase it, not because it was pushed into their faces. Marketers need to remember the value the customer receives from the invested interest in the product. Although simplicity is an efficient and beneficial advantage, it limits personal investment into a product which intern negatively affects the value it holds in the consumers mind.

I think this article is a great example of how important it is for companies to be continually evolving and strengthening their brands. I currently work for Kairos Zero, which is an online marketing consulting company, and their main objective in helping their clients is specifically defining the target market. Once the target market is clearly defined for any company, they can use analytics to better analyze their main customers, how they behave, and what they are looking to experience with your product or service. In the case of this article, JC Penny was unable to evolve and develop new strategies for existing or new customers because their target market was not clearly defined, and JC Jenny's overall focus was not based on what the customer truly wanted. This directly affected their bottom line over the course of two years. Unfortunate for JC Penny, but demonstrates how important it is to cater to the customer and provide that "experience" that they are looking for.

As everyone has stated, JC Penney is in hot water because they have lost sight of what the main focus should be: the customer. Without focusing on the customer, how do they expect to keep them coming back? The main aspect of customer loyalty is keeping customers satisfied in order to make them want to be a continuous customer. Because JC Penney is making decisions based on what they think customers want without doing any market research to back up these decisions, it is apparent that their customer loyalty, which in turn, affects their sales is dwindling rapidly. One aspect of the article that I could relate to was when the author talked about using test brands to see customer's responses to the brand. While working at my part time job at Express clothing, we would always be sent one or two items that we didn't have and would use them as "test items" to see if customers would be interested in buying the item. If the items were purchased, we let the manufacturer know and they would determine whether they would send us the item to sell. If not, we would not sell the items in our store. I think using a test brand is a great idea for JC Penney to try. By using a select few items from different brands, they can see what is successful and what is not and plan accordingly.

When I saw the changes JCPenney made in person, I thought it made their company look a little bit cheaper. While it was nice to see low prices, I still liked the more "department store" feeling with cash registers in every department rather than just in the front of the store. I agree with Kara about how Apple is its own "breed" because Apple is constantly innovating their products to be more user friendly to their customers and they are constantly listening to their customers, not to mention their top of the line customer service. It is also a lot easier to listen to your consumers when you have one specialized product such as Apple with electronics. JCP sells a wider variety of things from clothing, to luggage, to home goods, to shoes. With that being said, I believe it is a lot more important for them to listen to your customers because they have a wider variety of target customers.

Be sure you check out the two videos as well -

Technology never ceases to amaze me - how convenient for people who hate waiting in line. I agree that there is a HUGE security concern for retailers and consumers. I think there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed on all ends. It will be very interesting to see if this idea catches on or if retailers and consumers will continue shopping as they always have.

PayPal was a huge success online and I believe it will be a success in the stores too. I hate to wait in lines and if this shortens lines then I am all in. I agree with Sarah the security issue does worry me and needs to be tested and addressed before actual use. Once the security problems are fixed I firmly believe this with great enhance the customer experience and drive revenues in the retail industry.

I like it! I want to be recognized, greeted, and assisted if I need to be. I can see where some people may feel uncomfortable but employees should be trained when to know when a person wants more help or to be left alone.

I find this kind of stuff extremely interesting. I honestly like that stores can track me like this because this means that they are more likely to send coupons and deals my way for the things I want to buy. I also think this is a great way for stores to get the perfect layout of their store by seeing where certain demographics walk around.

This is significant because it has implications beyond just marketing to consumers. The question is, how far should we trespass into citizens (aka customers) rights in order to improve the customers experience? This isnt JUST another marketing ploy, it's an experiment in eroding consumer privacy... and it's working. Marketers realize how little consumers are informed of their own behavior and by association they realize lengths to which they can go. But as privacy erodes, what do we really gain? Sure, it's great they can send us coupons and build our customer profile, but did companies consult the consumer and get consent to do this? Is this data collection all passively done because companies know the taboo behind privacy issues? What does this type of intrusion open up in the future? I think this is seen as simply "the way things are" because we are all desensitized to businesses (and governments) violating the privacy of information. I would like to point out that historically when masses of people in power simply accept things the way they are that's when really really bad things happen (slavery, child labor, exploitation, etc). Passive accumulation of this information seems to me complicit with those who actively accumulate this information- they're both invasions. We must critically think about how allowing such invasions actually works to shape the physical and mental landscapes of our lives, are we actually prepared to deal with the consequences? So, while it may seem like this is just another marketing ploy, we instead should see this as actually another breach of private information which will continue to shape consumer behavior.

This article details Nordstrom's attempt to promote its products in store by using the ideas and thoughts of their customer's from their Pinterest site.

I think this is a GENIUS idea! So often on Pinterest, people label their clothing boards as "My Dream Closet!" By highlighting what items are pinned the most, women specifically feel like their dreams can become a reality! And so often with online shopping, we can't touch/feel/try-on the items. Now we can "pre-shop" online and actually buy the item after looking at it in a physical retail location! A normal item that once sat on the shelf can be highlighted as a "special" or "elite" item just with a simple circle logo! I love this idea - this article has actually motivated me to go to Nordstrum just so I can see the Pinterest logos on items! (And I'm also going to follow their boards online too!) A win-win for both the company and customer!

This is similar to what Jcrew has donein only launching their catalg on Pinterest- they are then saving lots of printing costs and providing a direct link to purchase for their customers online

Tesco released a questionable apology ad because they used horse meat in their products which led to some legal and ethical issues.

After reading this article it made me think -- gee more and more companies that sell food need to focus on where their products come from! It is safe to say articles like these are sure to influence customers to be more conscious about where their food comes from.

I remember hearing about the horse meat scandal when I was in Spain, and I would have to agree with their point of how it affected everyones view of packaged meat. I am not even sure if Europe had problems with this, but the uproar from family and friends in the US made me think this was a world wide event. To piggy back off of Chipotle, I think the meat industry needs to look to better ways of improving meat quality and especially make an effort to voice these changes in product quality to consumers so there is trust again.

The newest Chipotle ad. A phenomenal example of Chipotles ability to highlight the unethical practices occurring within factory farming. It challenges the viewer to question the foods they eat and the corporations they support.

This commercial really makes you think as the consumer about the products you consume that are "farm fresh" without even giving it a second thought. It also brings up the idea that by eating at restaurants that use products that are from "factory farms" or by purchasing such products, then you are supporting their efforts in a way. This commercial makes you think twice, and it will have a lot of people thinking of Chipotle the next time they want Mexican on the go!

This offers a good coverage on the ideas behind Location strategy.

I liked that the article pointed out the need for adapting their products to the areas that they expand into. Keeping a product standardized may not always be the best option when expanding into another country/location. Adapting products to fit with the culture and lifestyles of those around is key.

This article completely parallels what you have been stressing in class about making omnichannel shopping as cohesive as possible. Not only does the store have an expected image to fulfill, but if the store is utilizing a virtual app in addition to an online website, the channels need to work in harmony to achieve the same desired outcome. It is evident that different consumers have different buying preferences and habits, so it is important that no matter where the consumer is deciding to buy that the channel has a cohesive image that represents the overall brand as whole.

It will be interesting to see how stores respond to the changes in consumer needs. We talked in class about how our generation is very focused on the store experience. I think that we really enjoy stores that differentiate themselves from others in terms of service- that is why Apple and Nordstrom so frequently in class because they stand out in our minds and have made a prominent impression on us. However, I do think its important to recognize that not all in store cell phone usage is bad. Brands can really benefit from consumers being on their phones by encouraging them to check in, tweet at their friends, or engage online with the brand- for the potential in store benefit.

This was so interesting! I completely agree with the online-to-store relationships and why customers want to touch and feel the product. I experienced this when completing my e-commerce audit when shopping for my product (a CD). There were perks associated with purchasing online (an exclusive product not available in the store) but there were additional savings options when purchasing in the store. Mobile presence is huge and I foresee this aspect continuing to dominate the market for both brick-and-mortar and online retailers.

This article focuses on how retailers use pop-up shops to gain customers attention that allows retailers to tell the story of a brand to drive customer awareness and brand perception.

I agree with Krista. As a customer, I want to see the product so this is a great idea for brands that don't have that physical store to interact with. I won't buy something if I can't see it. I have to know it is really worth it. That is why I don't ever do online shopping except for school books.

I like the idea of pop-up stores because it helps a store be more versatile and makes the store be more mobile, while still having a brick and mortar store. I even read an article recently on employee relations and there was a company that had a pop-up Tiffany's store at one of their events where the entire employee base had a chance to browse through the pop-up store and got free giveaways complimentary of the company. Doing events like this get people into the store and browsing even if it is only for a company event.

This article explains ways retailers such as Toys-R-Us and K-Mart are using layaway, return policies, and reward programs to get consumers into their stores to ultimately make transactions. Can you think of other retailers who are implementing these types of incentives? Have any of you ever put something on layaway? Do you think these incentives/programs are beneficial for retailers?

I actually really like this idea of offering deals to get people in the store early, it reduces the revenues lost with huge black friday price cuts by offering a more relaxed approach. It also would help the company make sure they don't run out of stock of a certain item. Having more customers in the store before the heavy Christmas shopping starts gives them a view on what will be popular and will help them forecast better and make sure they don't have missed sales opportunities.

I think extending the return policy is good because it allows for someone to use the products as gift for Christmas. I don't know what I think about having sales earlier. If they keep doing this, soon sales for Christmas are going to be six months out of the year then it's going to be all year; I mean how long is too long?

This is another fantastic article discussing the different types of store layouts and examples of how they are used. Try and think of an example of a store that uses each different type of layout - you might need it for our discussion!

This article was really interesting. I have never really considered how stores are set up to make sure I am viewing the post product. Stores use the layout and really consider product placement and register placement in order to make sure that customers are having the optimal experience when in store. It would be interesting to see how smaller retailers consider their stores.

This is an article that gives advice on tactics that businesses should implement in order to create a positive follow up experience with customers after a purchase has been made. After reading the article can you think of any retailers that you have noticed that use any of these tactics particularly well or poorly?

These different ways to follow-up with a customer are fantastic. After delivering the goods, giving ongoing customer support is crucial to keeping the customer in your fanbase and to keep purchasing products from your company. The different ways to utilize an ancient tool (email) just goes to show that no matter how old a marketing tool is, it can still be effective.

I think a follow up is good and keeping a presence but it should have boundaries. I get the Xbox newsletter which gives new content and games added and also contests. It keeps its name running in my head and that makes me feel more involved. If I had an e reader though, I don't think I would like follow up e-mails about support, AN e-mail would be fine just to make sure the customer is used to the product and to outline the support they offer so I have something to refer to, anything past that, besides some news on new devices they are offering, would just seem annoying to me. If it is something available for them to seek out then my mind changes though. Using social media to "build the tribe" seems like a good idea as long as it is there to be sought out not pushed upon their customers in on-going e-mails.

This article discusses why consumers typically jump on impulse buys. Being knowledgeable of these triggers will make the buyer more aware in the future.

I think this article perfectly describes a lot of purchases made on black Friday. I have made a lot of purchasing decisions on this list. This is exactly how stores draw people into their stores by offering a huge sale but only for a limited time. Or for online shopping stores sometimes offer free shipping for a limited time in order to create impulse purchases.

I totally agree with Emily. After working the last three Black Fridays at Express, it's amazing to see how impulsive customers are when buying items. I am definitely one of those people as well, especially in a huge sale environment. You ask yourself "will it ever be this price again?" And if the answer is no, I will probably buy it.