In Response to Julianne Braverman's Post

Do you think a partnership with Product (RED) can improve Gap’s image? Is it a sign that they are making a commitment to corporate social responsibility or do you agree with critics who say their involvement is an attempt to spit-shine the company’s image while continuing to do business as usual?

I think that companies, such as Gap are actually making a commitment to corporate social responsibility. I believe these companies are working with things such as Product(RED) to better the community. Corporations such as Gap are taking advantage of their position in society to try and better their communities. However, this being said, taking part in these relationships is beneficial to Gap's corporation as a whole. Not only do they create business by being involoved with Product (RED) but they also boost their reputation amongst consumers which could potentially pay off down the road. Although i do think that Gap is participating in this socially responsible relationship, i do believe that they can benefit from this themselves.

Social Media Marketing

Today, in our society, social media is more prominent and important than ever. People use social media to keep in touch with old friends, get the latest news from around the world, and to market their business. Huge corporations use Twitter and Facebook as a way of reaching out to their customer base and market their products. Companies do so by interacting with users of these websites and by sponsoring Tweets that all Twitter users will see. However, these websites can also be advantageous to small, local businesses as well. A small business can take advantage of a website, such as Twitter, to reach out to its select market and offer rewards, advertise special deals, or simply spread the word about their business, service or product. My employer at Fritz Fries in downtown Keene has recently given me the chance to start a Twitter account for the restaurant. I explained to her that it will be a good way to stay in touch with her customers as well as marketing specials of the week and when the live music shows will be happening. I also explained to her that its great to be on social media, such as Twitter because you can start, create and maintain an account at no cost. However, because twitter is very non-formal she is worried that their is a chance that it will jeopardize the reputation of the restaurant.

Do you think it is smart for Corporations to use Twitter or Facebook? What about small local businesses? In what way could a small business, such as Fritz, utilize a Twitter account to maximize business and market its product?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/business/smallbusiness/23twitter.html?_r=0

In response to Heather Young's Post

I do not believe that paying the 25% of the fund warrants bad social practices. I think that these companies should be trying to improve for society instead of just paying a quarter of there money in order to get away with whatever they want. Just because these companies are giving money back to the community doesn't mean that they should be able to continue with bad social practices. Major companies should keep and maintain a code of ethics to help improve our society as well as giving back money.

Cause Related Marketing

The Sports world is bigger now more than ever thanks to growing media coverage and social networking. Professional athletes are becoming more and more famous almost by the minute with things such as Twitter where everyday people can interact with some of the worlds best athletes. This has led to great cause related marketing between professional athletes and non profit organization. Certain organizations have been set up either through personal charities such as NBA player Ray Allen's Ray of Hope charity, or through the teaming up of specific athletes with already established organizations such as the Make-A-Wish foundations. These charities are based and founded on the status of the athletes that are involved with them. There are also cases of large corporations such as Toyota getting invloved in charities such as the Make-A-Wish foundation to improve certain communities (see link) These relationships are a great example of cause- related marketing that is great for both parties involved and most importantly the community.

In what ways are cause-related marketing relationships good for the community? Are there any instances where they are not?

In Response to Caitlyn Croasdale's Entry

As someone who has also been involved in the food service industry it is easy for me to relate to your entry. I think that the question that someone  either goes to a restaurant for the food or the atmosphere is situational to the person. For example, someone might go to a sports bar like a Hooters for the atmosphere of the restaurant and what goes on around their while sacrificing their chance for better food at a different restaurant. On the other hand someone that goes to a fast food restaurant like a McDonald's they are going for the food and not the atmosphere because most fast food joints don't have a great atmosphere. For me personally I feel as though I go to a restaurant for the atmosphere and the service more so than the food. I think its the whole experience of going out sitting down and eating a a restaurant that makes a restaurant standout compared to others. So for me, personally, I go out to eat to a restaurant for the atmosphere and experience.

Satisfaction vs. Value

I believe that customer satisfaction and customer value are somewhat interdependent and somewhat exclusive. Customer satisfaction is the customers' evaluation of a good or service in terms or whether or not it has met their needs or expectations. Customer value is the relationship between benefits and the sacrifice necessary to obtain those benefits. Take for instance purchasing tickets to a sporting event or musical concert. A person could buy a ticket to a sports game at a very high-price deemed to be a high value but go to the game and see an unentertaining match. On the contrary, a person could buy a low priced, low value ticket but see and incredibly entertaining match. However, a person could buy a high priced, high value ticket and be very satisfied with the match. It is very situational thing.



With the  Super Bowl coming up tickets are at an all time high with the cheapest tickets priced at thousands of dollars. Would you pay that high price knowing that the game could be unentertaining an uneventful?