Category — Marketing

Marketing is a must in today’s fast-paced world. Whether you’re running a corporation, a one-person office, a retail store, even a non-profit organization, a constant focus on marketing is crucial to your operation.

Good marketing makes your enterprise grow. That’s why major corporations have entire departments devoted to marketing.

Yet your marketing strategies have to be continually honed and updated. Marketing does not have to go beyond your town, your county, or your state. But it can go national or even worldwide. Marketing can be limited or limitless in this age of the World Wide Web.

And even if you can’t afford a marketing department or to have one person in your organization handle marketing full time, you can still get your company’s name–plus your products and services–out there.

Here are some marketing techniques you can try. You don’t have to do them all. You might want to do just a few to start. But remember: Marketing is essential to your success. In marketing, no news is bad news. You want the buzz. [Read more →]

Less could be more in this business climate, and business schools are helping their students understand how to spot the smaller, but hot, niche markets.

Niche markets enable small companies to compete with the giants. Niche businesses can provide their customers with a variety of choices in a specific product or service area. Companies seeking to appeal to a targeted sector of customers are now focusing on a narrow line of products, like lotions and soaps, plus sizes, skin care, chocolate, sneakers, condiments, vitamins, organic food, surfboarding products, natural cosmetics, mature women’s clothing, and natural pet food. Combine the targeted products with quality service and you have a winning formula.

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Holidays are big business and Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest. Just ask the retail industry. It’s not like we wouldn’t be compelled to show our love through token gifts without them, but holidays give consumers that crucial sense of urgency, a deadline to show your love. And by show, we mean go out and buy something because it’s really not the thought that counts.

Now that Americans have some extra stimulus package cash coming, retailers are hoping you’ll feel flush. Consumers this year are expected to demonstrate their love in a bigger way than ever before. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2008 Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, average consumers expect to spend $122.98 on Valentine’s Day, up from $119.67 last year. This adds up to over $17 billion spent on Valentine’s Day. And this is just one of the many holidays American’s traditionally celebrate.

Success In The Cards
The old standbys - candy, flowers and jewelry – are making way for fresher options like gift cards an nights out. But cards are still the top choice, accounting for 60% of Valentine’s Day spending. At just a few dollars a card, that’s a lot of paper. In a 2006 study by the International Mass Retail Association estimated the number of valentines exchanged in the U.S at over a billion.

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As the world’s largest corporation, Wal-Mart is famous for the influence they have over their vendors. And if you’re going to work for a Wal-Mart supplier, you need skills. Solid understanding of the retail business and cutting edge data analysis skills are required. And who better to school you? Smiley himself.

High Tech Retail Requires Special Skills

Wal-Mart suppliers use sophisticated software programs to access to sales data online in real time. Suppliers need account reps who can make constant decisions about the information they receive. Under-performing sellers must be replaced with new items based on the numbers.

Basic category management skills for Wal-Mart suppliers include the ability to work with software programs like RetailLink and ProSpace as well as the analytical skills to use the date received. Students use technology to optimize allocation of products, identify inventory problems, design displays, and instantly see the effects of changes.

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For business students, there was a lot more to see at the Super Bowl than football.The Super Bowl is a marketing bonanza, and billions of dollars are made as a result of this annual major sporting event.

More than 140 million Americans watched the big game, and that figure is about the same every year no matter who the combatants are on the field. That translates into 40 percent of all households. Add to that more than 750 news outlets, giving the championship game tons of free publicity. So if you tie a business or product into Super Sunday, you can get quite a ride.

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