Marketing With Darian

Apple Inc. Company Selected For my final project for my marketing research course, I have decided to use the company Apple Inc., founded in 1976 (Skemp, 2020). Apple is one of the top digital companies, right next to their biggest competitor Android. Apple started out as a computer company but has turned into so much more. They now make laptops, phones, iPods, watches, and more. This is a company that I myself use and know the most about, so I thought it a great fit for this project. It is a company that I trust and love to watch grow. Something that amazes me about the company is that it was created by high school dropouts in one of the creators, Steve Jobs, basements (Johnson et al., 2012). It is amazing to see how a company started so small but became one of the largest companies in the world. Proposed New Product Apple is a high-tech company; naturally, any new products they make would follow that train. An aspect of technology that they have not dabbled into yet is smart home secu

 Digital Advertising Predictions Marketing technologies, strategies, and trends are ever-changing – especially within digital advertising. To stay ahead of the game, you need to predict change. You need to be ready for change, ready to flip your entire digital advertising when necessary. Today I will be telling you about three of my predictions of technologies, strategies, or trends that will have the most significant impact on digital advertising over the next 5 years. Prediction #1      The first prediction is for technologies and is artificial intelligence, which is already upgrading our lives in every area possible. Artificial intelligence is “the design, implementation, and use of programs, machines, and systems that exhibit human intelligence, with its most important activities being knowledge representation, reasoning, and learning” (Whitson, 2020). Artificial intelligence is already breaking its way into digital marketing. For instance, “Amazon uses AI to show only relevant pro

Let's Talk a Socially/Ethically Responsible Compay: When thinking about a socially/ethically responsible company, the first one that comes to mind is my favorite ice cream company - Ben & Jerry's. This is a company that has been outspoken on social issues for decades. They did not simply hop onto the rising trend of the past couple of years of companies becoming 'woke' to attack consumers and increase sales. They are socially responsible in a number of ways. The company states, directly from their values webpage, that "guided by our Core Values, we seek in all we do, at every level of our business, to advance human rights and dignity, support social and economic justice for historically marginalized communities, and protect and restore the Earth's natural systems" (https://www.benjerry.com/values). All of their products are non-GMO, use cage free eggs, fair trade, responsibly resourced packaging and through the milk with dignity program. The company w

McDonald's Versus Burger King There is no doubt that Burger King and McDonald's are the BIGGEST brands in the fast-food game. Both have been around since the early 1950s; during this time, both have gained quite a following and a large rivalry against one another. Over the decades, each would up the antics to get on top of the other in fast food sales - such as trying to create a bigger and better burger than their competitors. Even though they are constantly competing, McDonald's has always come out as the top dog. Today I will be discussing both brands' strategies as well as recommendations for the underdog - Burger King - to improve and surpass the top dog - McDonald's. Let's begin! Top Dog (McDonald's) Brand Strategy McDonald's has actually flipped their brand strategy over the last decade. Originally, their brand strategy was to be family-friendly. It was THE place to be as a kid! They had characters that they use - such as their mascot Ronald McDon

 Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale When it comes to special events and promotions, Bath & Body Works tops all other retailers. Their big semi-annual sales have people lining up the night before - especially when it comes to their candle day sale. This is the perfect company to discuss for this week's blog on visual displays related to special events! Let's get started. Buy 3 Get 3 FREE Their biggest event and promotion is their yearly buy three get three free of EVERYTHING - yes everything - in the store! This sale occurs every year just before Christmas; hence, they can utilize holiday themes for the displays in the store. It is considered their BEST Christmas sale. You can mix and match what items are included in the buy three get three free. The first image below is the big floor display that you would see right when you walk through the doors of the store. It utilizes two main colors - white and red, staple colors for Christmas. Even the actual product chosen fo

Let's Talk Mannequins! (image found at  https://www.goodfon.com/wallpaper/manekeny-fon-ten.html ) Mannequins are a staple in visual merchandising. Rather than simply displaying a single item on a hanger or other kinds of display structures - which we went over last week, the mannequin allows you to show the consumer an entire outfit - with accessories! Some consumers need a visual of how they would wear a certain top. What shorts, pants, or skirts would they pair it with? What color bottom would look best with it? What type of necklace would make it pop? These are all answers you can give the consumer by displaying the outfit. Along with this, it is a marketing tacking that can work to persuade the consumer into purchasing the entire outfit once they see how well it all looks together. This week we are going to talk about recommendations for what mannequin types are better for a specialty boutique-style store, a mass merchant store, and a department store - as well as why these man