Mattel wants the Bratz banned
Mattel, the makers of the Barbie, recently won a prolonged legal battle with MGA, the manufacturers of Bratz. A federal court ruled that MGA was to be banned from making and selling ”the saucy Barbie alternative.” Why? Apparently, the court found that the creator of Bratz came up with the idea while working for Mattel. Hence, the idea belongs to the house that Barbie built.
So, it appears that there is a copyright issue. Carter Bryant was employed by Mattel at the time the Bratz were designed. I guess because Barbies aren’t as popular as they once were and Bratz are very popular; Mattel wants them gone! I’m sure if Bratz dolls weren’t a success then this would not even be an issue. I spoke with my 6 year old cousin and asked her what did she want Santa to bring her, she told me a Bratz suitcase, a Bratz doll, and she named 3 other Bratz items,oh, and then she said a Barbie. What am I supposed to get her for Christmas if they get pulled from the shelves????
6 comments December 4, 2008
Deadly shopping: Is advertising to blame?
With all the excitment of Black Friday, people lost their lives in the midst of this shopping craze. I heard of a story in New York, where mobs of people broke down doors and trampled a man in the process, thus killing him. In California 2 people were shot and killed during an altercation at Toys R Us. What in the world is going on? Who is to blame here? Is there too much pressure and hype surrounding this holiday shopping? Should marketers not make such a big deal about Black Friday ? Is advertising to blame?
4 comments December 1, 2008
Black Friday
The Friday after Thanksgiving aka Black Friday definitely was not the same this year as in previous years, it seems like the buzz just wasn’t in the air, maybe its all this talk of a recession.
If anything with, gas prices down and the outrageous sales every one had it should have been a very lucrative day for retailers and it was. E-Commerce was up 1 percent from last year but overall spending is down 4 percent form Nov.1 to Nov. 28. which I think is from the scary recession talk. There is a lot of pressure on retailers for black Friday. It’s the first day after Thanksgiving, many people are visiting relatives out of town, most people who don’t work in retail have the day off, one of the few days we have to sleep in, why must we be coearsed in to waking up before the roosters to catch a deal? Will my money no longer be backed by the federal government after noon? I don’t think it would hurt retailers to extend sales a few more hours, we can call it Black Friday afternoon. This is why we have people getting trampled at Wal-Mart when the doors open. People think that when the sun rises the sales with disappear like vampires. I’m not even asking for the sales to be extended to Christmas eve which would be smart, some people get paid every other Friday and Black Friday aint the one, but at least let it be Black Friday, the whole day, not just Black Friday morning.
1 comment November 28, 2008
Getting dressed…online
Who get’s dressed online? Well, that is what The Limited is asking consumers to do. Log on to http://www.thelimited.com/ultimateoutfit?=blog23f_limited and step into a virtual closet, which allows users to and put together the ‘ultimate outfit’ by pairing pants, skirts, dresses, jackets, tops and accessories. Why? all for a chance to win a $2,000 shopping spree. There are currently 16 days left in the promotion. Of course the underlying theme is promotion for The Limited, in hopes of drawing in new customers. Is this a good idea? I don’t know- I guess it is creative and helps create awarness about the brand.
Actually when you shop online aren’t you doing the very same thing, except you aren’t enetering your outfit in a for chance to win? I saw a poster for this online experience while shopping in The Limited over the weekend and it caught my eye. I took a picture of the poster on my cell phone but I can’t seem to send the photo, to post it here.
If anyone has submitted an outfit, I would love to see your style.
3 comments November 25, 2008
Mobile Marketing: Maxx Style
As I was talking with a friend of mine about my new hobby-blogging, we began talking about marketing campaigns. She mentioned to me that TJ Maxx began a mobile marketing camapign , she saw an advertisement for it while she was checking out, one day at the store. www.whatsin.tjmaxx.com, allows users/shoppers to to share findings in the store, bargains, upload fashion finds, explore and share information about anything TJ Maxx. The interactive Web site lets customers share their shopping euphoria online. Apparently people talk about the great deals they find while out shopping ( I do, don’t you?) So, in repsonse to that word-of-mouth bargain passing talk, TJ Maxx decided to capatilize on this in the virtual world. Alerts from eith a mobile phone or computer can be went to other users to to give each other a heads up when they spot too-good-to-miss finds in stores. Preferences on the What’s In site let members choose exactly what kinds of finds they want to hear about are. Another advantage to this campaign are the fashion moments section, in which, pictures that members upload of themselves to show off the looks they’ve created from some of their favorite T.J.Maxx finds are displayed. Post prices to reveal how much you saved, brag about the brand names you’ve been able to snag and even put up a poll to find out if other members think your look is a major style success.
Do I think this is good marketing on behalf of TJ Maxx? Yes, I do- women love to talk about fashion and designer brands. This type of interaction allows users to
2 comments November 24, 2008
Everyone blogs, Can I?
Is blogging hard? I get fooled all the time into reading blogsites. When I logon to sites to get my daily dose of celebrity gossip, it turns out that I am more than likely reading a blog. This new emerging media thing is taking everyone by storm, from corporate companies to classrooms, to celebrity gossipers, to dedicated fans. There are blogs about everything in the world, whether you love it or hate. Blogs dedicated to fixing things, breaking things, and all things in-between. If this new way of marketing ideas and connecting users from across the globe is so easy…why am I having such a hard time becoming submersed with this new art form of expression, creation, and technique?
Fooled again
It appears everyone is blogging, about anything and everything. Can I?
1 comment November 18, 2008
Bratz: An Ethical Marketing Dilemma
Have you ever seen a young child acting way too grown for her own age? Well, with images portrayed with those such as the Bratz doll, how can you blame a young girl for being confused??? I have never purchased one of these sassy dolls for any of my younger cousins. I personally feel, these “grown-up” dolls present the wrong image to developing, young girls.
Confusing our youth
These dolls display woman like figures, while wearing makeup and diva-like clothes. Dressed in furs, diamond-studded jeans and heels these “dolls” should be named something else.
The internet has become a haven for both the young and the old and many websites market to young children. Educational websites, websites for fun and games, and interactive websites to name a few have come under speculation for its role in ethical responsibility. What constitutes ethical marketing? When marketing to children is deemed unethical? Children do not make purchasing decisions for households, but are very impressionable. Toys are marketed to children, and chances are the child will want every toy that he or she sees. With that said, there are certain toys that I feel should not be marketed to children. Ultimately the parent has to take responsibility for their children the toys that they purchase for their children. However, parents cannot shield their children from all of the advertisements that are geared towards marketing to the young. Advertisers market things such as toy guns and dolls with unreal and unproportional body measurements just to name a few. Where are the ethics in marketing a toy gun to young a child? What kind of message does this send to our youth? What about the marketing of popular dolls such as Barbi and Bratz dolls? Are these dolls creating body image issues in the minds of young girls? Where the regulators in regards to what ‘s allowed and what should be allowed when it comes to what should be exposed to the impressionable youth.
These Bratz dolls have just as much style as the very adult, stylistas on Sex and the City
2 comments November 16, 2008
Yes, Kids are a TARGET
They have no jobs, don’t bring in the bulk of the income for the family yet they spend approximately $23 billion annually and marketers spend about $ 15 billion annually to target darling little kids.
Kids have a desire to be entertained and this entertainment value brings in major cash for major companies. Should my 11-year old little brother be marketed to? Marketers have children right where they want them, they provide children with colorful advertisements showcasing the best qualities of their products and children love it. Advertisers leave it up to the children to have the battle with parents to purchase these toys and entertainment trinkets. The advertisements feature kids with products for kids…kids are a target! Bullseye!
1 comment November 13, 2008
Official and Unoffical Company Blogs
Blogging has become a popular way for companies to reach consumers in a more personable way. Blogs allow users to interact and connect with corporate leaders. This type of communication allows users to feel more connected as companies issue statements and solicit feedback about their company and products. Large corporations have also jumped on the blog bandwagon with good reason. Bloggers are somewhat like constantly circulating guests at a very large cocktail party: They don’t all talk directly with one another, but each of them talks to many others, thus forming a richly interlinked network. This ability to engage with others is what gives blogs their power. According to David Sifry, founder and CEO of blog-focused search engine Technorati, “Blogs are all about conversations.” A corporate blog allows a company both to keep an ear to the ground to hear what’s being said about it and, if necessary, speak up with a correction.
There are sixty-plus blogs produced by large corporations—and many more if, for example, you count the approximately 2,000 individual blogs written by Sun Microsystems employees that are then aggregated into one group blog at www.blogs.sun.com. Besides General Motors and Sun Microsystems, companies that encourage blogging activity include The Boeing Company, Google, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Red Hat, Edelman, Stonyfield Farm, and Yahoo. These blogs are part of a constantly expanding blogosphere that, as of the end of 2004, had some 32 million readers, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
What Lutz and other executives recognize is that a blog is an incredibly effective yet low-cost way to:
- Influence the public “conversation” about your company: Make it easy for journalists to find the latest, most accurate information about new products or ventures. In the case of a crisis, a blog allows you to shape the conversation about it.
- Enhance brand visibility and credibility: Appear higher in search engine rankings, establish expertise in industry or subject area, and personalize one’s company by giving it a human voice.
- Achieve customer intimacy: Speak directly to consumers and have them come right back with suggestions or complaints—or kudos.
Google along with many other companies such as GM, introduce new offerings and ideas via company blogs.
This You-tube video is shown on the google blog demonstrating the new google custom search engine. What are some of your favorite company blogs- official or unofficial?
“The Blogosphere Beckons: Should Your Company Jump In?” Harvard Management Communication Letter, Vol. 2, No. 4, November 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/5111.html
Add comment November 12, 2008
