"I lost $5... But the vodka... kept me warm"

Characteristics of a Good Brand Name

Some of the characteristics of a good brand name as we have covered in class are: short and simple brand, easy to spell, easy to recognize and remember,and a product that suggests benefits. When it comes to those aspects Silo Vodka deserves a check mark. It only has fours letters, and it is easy to spell and remember. Some of the benefits of Silo Vodka are: uses ingredients from local farmers in Windsor, VT, it is made of only 40% of alcohol, and the barn distilling the vodka offers tours and has a tasting room that features local musicians.

A Product that Helps to Create Memorable Experiences

Hannah Tinti is a novelist who was invited to taste the vodka and give her honest opinion  about it but instead of doing it on her own decided to get help from her small circle of friends. Hannah decided to bring the vodka to group of friends who are writers and despite being somewhat unknown have had their books turned into movies, topped best-seller lists as well as won national awards. She describes most of her friends as introverts like herself but once in a while they like to get together to play poker and gossip about things. When she offered the Silo Vodka, some of her friends did not want to try it but once they did they loved it because it was different from the cheap and strong vodka they used to drink when they were in college. Her friends opinions about the vodka were: "It's kind of appealing...It's smooth...It's making me feel funny." Hannah concludes the article saying "I lost $5 that night. But the vodka and the company kept me warm."

I chose this article because it is a good representation of what a good product including the brand name should be: easy to spell and remember, and also that helps generate good or positive experiences.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-vodka-that-will-get-introverts-talking-1489001000?tesla=y#livefyre-toggle-SB10863058833601644371104582651991026474510

Priscila Quimboca

Comcast to Let Customers Access YouTube Through Cable Boxes

            Lots of customers have started to disconnect their cable services, due to the high competition of other services like Hulu or Netflix being provided. Sales have dropped for most cable companies; therefore Comcast has decided to join forces with YouTube to provide their subscribers a better TV watching experience.

            The YouTube and Comcast bundle does come with a catch though. Customers have to have the latest X1 set-top boxes, which only 50% of customers have them. The joy of watching YouTube comes from being able to select YouTube straight from the menu rather than having to use other devices to stream YouTube. Comcast is aiming to have a more integrated and less complicated progress when it comes to choosing what to watch. Customers will also be able to use their voice-controlled remote in order to search through YouTube videos.

            The access of YouTube through Comcast is hoped to be a benefit to both companies. Comcast hopes to continue to have hold on to their current customers as well as getting new customers. This would also benefit YouTube because customers will hopefully subscribe to some of the new services they provide like the YouTube Red subscription.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/comcast-to-let-customers-access-youtube-through-cable-boxes-1488204002

Self-Driving-Truck Startups Race to Take On Uber

     Uber Technologies Inc. has had a shortage in the amount of drivers to work governing hours.  This has caused an outrage in the company because there is a lot of money on the line. As a result, robot-trucking division, several startups are showing off their own efforts toward self-driving delivery vehicles that would reinvent the business. They strongly believe that this may be a huge turnaround for the company. The company also says that this will be a safer way to master the highways and maneuver through city streets. There have been experienced and talented drivers that can't work for Uber because of the "squeezing profit."
     As Uber wishes to make this drastic change, they want to replace the drivers in commercial "fleets" as well. However, it was hard with Google's level of competition. Uber is a company that is in need of drivers and because of this new path of creating self-driving- truck startups, Google intervened only a week ago. The founder of the self-driving-car (Anthony Levandowsky) created the Waymo at Alphabet. The only issue that Levandowsky had was that Uber was taking credit for his ideas. Levandowsky was the founder of a self-driving-semi-truck known as the Otto. Levandowsky filed a lawsuit, so that Uber would make sure they are reviewing their technology carefully. Uber was quick to acquire them by offering $680 million.
     This is relevant to marketing because of the notion of competitive situations that affect strategy planning. This is because the search for information to improve in a company can raise ethical issues. Research studies is also an element of a complete marketing information system. The external environment causes trends. This trend in Uber is going to create another platform for the industry.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/self-driving-truck-startups-race-to-take-on-uber-1488466802
Sheridan Hopkins

Samsung Expands: Improves Manufacturing From Mexico

     Samsung Electronics Co. is planning an investment to expand its U.S. production facilities, to generate around 500 jobs. According to people familiar with the matter, there are at least five states in discussions. The initial capital investment is expected to be around $300 million, several of the people said, with Samsung shifting some production of oven ranges to the U.S. from Mexico. Since Donald Trump became the President, he campaigned on the desire to create more manufacturing jobs in the country. This became Samsung's interest and Trump says that there will be consequences to those companies that do not comply.
     Many of the Samsung's home appliances are currently manufactured in Mexico.  For decades, Samsung has spent heavily in the U.S., ranking as one of the country’s largest direct foreign investors. Since Trump's election he there has been a pledge to expand operations or investments. This is relevant to Marketing because this major expansion has caused other companies to expand in jobs. LG Electronics has wanted to build a home appliance manufacturing factory as well which would create around 600 jobs with $250 million invested.
      In the near future, Samsung Electronics Co. could eventually manufacture other things such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, and possibly other home appliances if there will be more invested. Although, the Samsung company has been spent millions in the U.S there is no firm deadline or final decision that has been made. 

 Sheridan Hopkins 
Dr. Z
Principles of Marketing

https://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-plans-u-s-expansion-would-shift-manufacturing-from-mexico-1488985610?mod=trending_now_4
    

Snapchat's success - Naadir Mehta

Snapchat's parents company Snap Inc. begins life as a publicly traded company at a moment where business is not the best for small technology startups. Social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. They are currently dominant in the stock market in their respective categories. Around 10-15 years ago, Union Square was one of the technology stock industries biggest backers. Union square is starting to back off investments in that sector due to the fact that startups can back out as soon as they come in. Even large companies such as Facebook have proven vulnerable in this sense.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/snapchat-investors-found-their-golden-goose-in-a-field-of-turkeys-1488537002

Lyft Wants to Overthrow Uber by Pitching for New Investors

Lyft, Uber Technologies Inc.’s  ride-hailing rival, has been given a new opportunity to overthrow its competitor due to Uber’s latest string of unfortunate events. Uber is losing momentum after series of scandals that include allegations of sexual harassment, lawsuits, and videos of executives mistreating drivers. The situation has given Lyft a chance to seize the moment and pitch for new investors. Consequently, a new funding will be created in order to increase the company’s net working capital to at least $500 million. In addition, people familiar with the matter indicate that the San Francisco company will have a valuation of between $6 billion and $7 billion. Lyft, who only operates inside the United States, is now second to Uber by market share, but the company is growing up and plans to depose its rival sooner than later.

Relevance to Marketing:

Lyft pitching for new investors on a new funding is a good example of the marketing concept. The company is putting all of its efforts on knocking Uber out of first place in market share. In fact, Lyft has marketed itself to drivers and riders as a kind of anti-Uber. In addition, Lyft is using Uber’s recent unwelcome events to cultivate a more driver-friendly reputation. Furthermore, competition exists in this article as two of the largest online transportation companies are fighting against each other to deliver the best customer experience. They also wish to be pioneers on providing flexible and independent jobs to drivers.  

Application to Other Businesses:

The article serves as an example to others of how important is to maintain a business profitability and reputation. Without investors and profitability, a business will not survive in the long run. In addition, the reputation of a business is essential to its survival as the consumers’ confidence has a direct effect on a company’s durability.

Name: Javier León

Class: MKTG 3343

Article: Lyft Seeking At Least $500 Million in New Funding

Link to WSJ Website: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lyft-seeking-at-least-500-million-in-new-funding-1488418612

Facebook on a Search for TV-Like Video Programming

             

               Soon, there may be a reason to check those annoying live video notifications on Facebook. The social media company is looking to start providing video programming as an effort to make users stick around longer. Facebook has begun to look for original programming pitches much like traditional TV. This may include weekly 30-minute episode series. Much like YouTube Live, Facebook has said it may offer original scripted video content in exchange for a monthly rate.
               Ricky Van Veen, founder of CollegeHumor, proposed and is leading this whole idea. Some would argue he’s already doing innovative things, since he barely joined Facebook last year. According to his team, creators of the original video programs will earn revenue from ads and will be featured on the “live” video tab on Facebook. Through this feature, Van Veen aims to change the way Facebook is seen. Users usually get on Facebook only when they have free time, and so their daily visits on Facebook don’t last very long. The aim is to make Facebook a more attention-grabbing, time consuming social media app which people will want to use for a longer period of time.
               According to the people in charge, people now “view the News Feed as a home for shorter, news-focused content, and as a tool to drive viewers to the video tab to access longer content”. So, by introducing video programming to Facebook, the longer content will be separated from the short content. If this feature is successful, Facebook may have the competitive advantage and differentiation of all of its other social media competitors. Not only will Facebook be earning money for themselves, but also for other companies through ad revenue. Because social media reaches all demographics and ages, I think that this marketing plan considered all the behavioral dimensions to make a combined target market approach.
Original Article:  Facebook Intensifies Hunt for TV-Like Video Programming