Happy Holiday to Everyone

Here is to wishes coming true all over the world today... Don't forget that's it is not about the presents but the time u spend with your friends and family.

No Keyboards?

The future has been seen and predictions have been made that there will bo no more keyboards. -Step aside, keyboards, laptops, and 9-to-5 jobs. A survey of more than 1,000 Internet activists, journalists, and technologists speculates that by 2012, those quaint relics of 20th century life will fade away. How ridiculous is that? Is it because there are so many touch screen innovations? Well I like typing and exercising my fingers and this is a thumbs down for me...

Where is it?

X-mas day is about a week away, and i've truly not found the christmas spirit. If any one have found it, can you please send it my way?

Marketing

As the semester has ended and I'm no longer to blog as an assignment, I hope many have come to the realization, the impact that marketing has on the economy. Well I have turned my attention to certain elements of marketing and how it affects my everyday decisions. Thanks to "MAR100" I can longer wake up without thinking of the day ahead, and the types of marketing strategies I will come across. Awareness...being aware of our surroundings makes a huge impact on the decisions we make in our lives. So therefore I encourage you to step out, think, and make the right decisions when you are bombarded with the influence of the marketing industry.

Evermore so, marketers should think of the impact they want to achieve in the society of many cultures & sub-cultures. A place where marketing to any one person has become difficult. They need to ensure research made, adequately feeds their long-term plans to bring forth success. They need to think ahead of the game, like Audi.

Audi has bought a 60 second slot to advertise in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIII next year.

This shows that the company is not lingering with time and their forseen success.

“Last year’s Super Bowl ad put old luxury on notice that Audi was setting the new standard in the American luxury market,” said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer, Audi of America, in a statement. “With this spot, we plan to build on the success we’ve enjoyed in 2008 to make 2009 a year of progress and market momentum for the Audi brand.”
The German brand said it has claimed a bigger chunk of the import luxury market in the U.S. this year, boosting its share to 8.6 percent from 6.2 percent a year earlier. Its competitors include Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Audi’s advertising agency, San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners, created the ad.

Expensive ZIP-codes

Marketing has become so specific in targeting its customers, that Forbes have found the most expensive zip codes in America. In those place you will find marketers trying their utmost best to annihilate the competition and bring up their revenues. For those living in places like New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles, ZIP codes are often mindsets. They delineate geographic, class and wealth boundaries. Based on sales over the last year, these are the 100 most expensive ZIP codes in America.

Why Cereal was Invented

More than a century ago, Christian Fundamentalists invented cereal to promote a healthy lifestyle free of sin. Little did they know, their creation would eventually be used to promote everything from radio and cartoons to Mr.T and tooth decay - Ian Lender

During the early 19th century, most Americans subsisted on a diet of pork, whiskey, and coffee. It was hell on the bowels, and to many Christian fundamentalists, hell on the soul, too. They believed that constipation was God’s punishment for eating meat. The diet was also blamed for fueling lust and laziness. To rid America of these vices, religious zealots spearheaded the country’s first vegetarian movement. In 1863, one member of this group, Dr. James Jackson, invented Granula, America’s first ready-to-eat, grain-based breakfast product. Better known as cereal, Jackson’s rock-hard breakfast bricks offered consumers a sin-free meat alternative that aimed to clear both conscience and bowels.While Jackson’s innovation didn’t appeal to the masses, it did catch the attention of Dr. John Kellogg. A renowned surgeon and health guru, Kellogg had famously transformed the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan into one of America’s hottest retreats. Socialites from the Rockefellers to the Roosevelts flocked to “The San” to receive Kellogg’s unorthodox treatments. But shock-therapy sessions and machine-powered enemas weren’t the only items on the agenda. Kellogg also stressed such newfangled ideas as exercise and proper nutrition. It wasn’t long before he started serving bran biscuits similar to those of Dr. Jackson—only now with the Kellogg name on them. To avoid a lawsuit, he changed the name of the cereal by one letter, dubbing it “Granola.”By 1889, The San was selling 2 tons of granola a week, despite the fact that it was barely edible. The success inspired Dr. Kellogg and his brother, W.K., to produce more-palatable fare. After six years of experimentation, a kitchen mishap by W.K. yielded the breakfast staple known as cereal flakes.

This is some interesting information.

Why Mac?

Why Mac for Business?
Tekserve chose the Mac platform because it is not only reliable and easy to manage, but is highly secure as well. When you compare Mac OS X Leopard to Vista Business, you'll see that Apple includes more features that business users need right out of the box. Beyond that, there are tons of business software titles for Mac or you can continue to run Windows on your Mac too.

3 Myths About Macs

-Macs Cost More Than PCs
We all know that "you get what you pay for." Businesses that skimp on initial costs often end up paying for it in lost time, repairs, and required upgrades. Let us show you how a leased Mac infrastructure from Tekserve can save you money without high up-front costs.

-Macs Aren't Compatible With Anything
Macs can now run more operating systems than most PCs. You don't have to give up your investment in PC software just to have the reliability of a Mac. Compatible devices are now available of every type; ask us about the best cameras, printers, scanners, routers, and accessories made for Macs.

-Business Software Isn't Available for Mac
Tekserve carries dozens of business software titles for accounting, sales, inventory, database management, electronic displays, design, and more. Meet our friend Microsoft Office for Mac. Continue using your old documents with ease or start using the same applications that professional designers prefer.

Therefore, Mac has wounded up being part of an emotional branding cult. Many consumers would like to associate themselves with the Mac brand.
Check this store when you get a chance, it is interesting - TEKSERVE. Go to http://www.tekserve.com/ for more info.

Free Shipping

Now that consumers are rounding up or starting their holiday shopping, many marketers are attracting them with free shipping promotion. If we are going to save on shipping we might as well add something extra to the list. At least that's the idea I believe marketers want to implement. So overall, are we really saving? Maybe? Not sure?...
JCPenny: free shipping with $25.00 order
Shoe sale(shoebuy.com): 15% off + free shipping

Innovation changes Santa

YouTube - palm centro advertisement
He no longer wants to be called Santa but Claus. Jolly old Saint Nick has a new image to go with his new Palm Centro, thanks to marketers. Marketers seem to always find a way to reach every consumer out there. Santa's changed so much that he now has his own facebook. Check it out...
http://www.facebook.com/claus

Market Revolution 1793-1860

The Pre-Civil War Era (1825-1850)

Events

1793 Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin
1797 Whitney invents interchangeable parts for firearms
1807 Robert Fulton invents the steamboat
1823 Lowell Mills opens in Massachusetts
1825 Erie Canal is completed
1828 First U.S. railroad appears
1834 Cyrus McCormick invents the mechanical mower-reaper National Trades Union forms
1835 Samuel F. B. Morse invents the telegraph
1837 Cumberland road (National Road) is completed
1838 John Deere invents the steel plow
1842 Massachusetts legalizes labor unions in Commonwealth v. Hunt
1844 New England Female Labor Reform Association forms
1846 Elias Howe invents the sewing machine
1858 First transatlantic telegraph cable unites Europe and the Americas

"The antebellum era was a time not only of profound political change but also of great technological and economic innovation. The Industrial Revolution, which began in Europe in the 1700s, had produced new inventions and methods of production. American inventors transformed the U.S. economy with new innovations of their own. This rapid development of manufacturing and improved farming had such a profound effect on American society that historians often refer to it as the Market Revolution."

OJ

OJ the juice may be good for you, but the one who carries the name OJ has met his judgement day... A broken O.J. Simpson was sentenced Today to at least 15 years in prison for a hotel armed robbery after a judge rejected his apology and said, "It was much more than stupidity." Shame on you OJ.

Once is not Enough

As we can see from this advertisment, marketers know that consumers are driven by the major sale events. Therefore, Circuit City has decided to have their own "Black Friday" to bring more revenues to their company. I wonder though, do consumers need to be up at 4am and rush in like they did a week ago?

Recession Proof

CNBC's Jim Goldman reports that while consumers are pulling back on spending for many holiday gifts, they are continuing to shell out cash for video games.
The first recession was considered as 'Hollywood's hay day." People flocked to the movie theaters seeking comfort while they watched Shirley Temple. But now due to the high price of movie tickets people are quicker to turn to video games. The video game industry is booming from reported sales for the holiday season, making it a luxury item. It has become a better entertainment state of choice. Number one in the market right now is the Nintendo Wii. Video games are at their all time high showing that it stand as recession proof.

A Failing Product

Sometimes products are hard to sell when a new innovation or technology has taken its place. Music stores are a good example of a market that is sent to the rear of the shelf. Consumers are moving away from CDs to buying and sharing music online. Marketers should notice the shift in consumer taste in the market and react immediately before it is too late.

"You should realize when something is in decline and find a way to sunset that while at the same time, come out with a sunrise."

The Economy

U.S. stocks stumbled today, with the Dow industrials sliding nearly 680 points, as economic reports from around the world compounded anxiety about a global recession.
Economists are saying that the U.S. economy began a recession a year ago. "The economy reached a peak of activity in December 2007 and has been declining since," according to the business cycle dating committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/recession-began-year-ago-economists/story.aspx?guid=%7BFDD60E1C%2DDD65%2D49AB%2D8421%2D507B79C14220%7D
Click above link to read more...

After grasping this information I wonder how many people will still go out there shopping, just living for today. Many of the expenses we make, majority of the time, isn't necessary. We need to analyze our capabilities in things that are necessary. - A home-cooked meal, less buying clothing for the club and more family time, don't be fooled by the black fridays, cyber mondays, etc., for there are sales going on all the time. But before buying ask yourself if it is needed. Yes we hear this all the time, but it's about time people start acting that way. I'm sure homes are filled with stuff that people are already thinking to return before/after the season. Instead of being in such a position be smarter with your monies. Don't allow yourself to be caught in the depth of any kind of recession.

What is a Monopoly?

Monopoly is an economics term. It exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient control over a particular product or service to determine significantly the terms on which other individuals shall have access to it.

Tis the season to market to Children

Many advertisers have been busy aiming their products any which way they can toward children. Why? Because they have come to realize that most purchases made within a home is somehow linked to a child. The influence that children have their on parents purchasing power has become ridiculously embarrassing. I watched grown people fight over an Xbox at a store, on a news station. I'm sure it was just to please a tantrum throwing, wanna fit in, child. Then I'm sure they may have felt embarrassed to view themselves in such hoggish behavior.

Marketers at Mercedes Benz are getting in on the action of marketing to children. Mercedes is offering the Bobby Benz SLK AMG push-cart for children to ride. Also they have slapped their logo on a few clothing items for children to wear.

Unethical Pricing Practices

1. Price fixing - an agreement between business competitors to sell the same product or service at the same price.
2. Price skimming - a pricing strategy in which a marketer sets a relatively high price for a product or service at first, then lowers the price over time. It allows the firm to recover its sunk costs quickly before competition steps in and lowers the market price.
3. Price discrimination - exists when sales of identical goods or services are transacted at different prices from the same provider.
4. Bid rigging - an agreement between two or more competitors. It is a form of collusion, which is illegal in most countries. It is a form of price fixing and market allocation, and it involves an agreement in which one party of a group of bidders will be designated to win the bid. It is often practised where contracts are determined by a call for bids, for example in the case of government construction contracts.
5. Price war - is a term used in business to indicate a state of intense competitive rivalry accompanied by a multi-lateral series of price reductions. One competitor will lower its price, then others will lower their prices to match. If one of the reactors reduces their price below the original price cut, then a new round of reductions is initiated. In the short-term, price wars are good for consumers who are able to take advantage of lower prices. Typically they are not good for the companies involved. The lower prices reduce profit margins and can threaten survival. etc....

Even before Black Friday, Retailers Offer Big Discounts...

Diamond earrings at Macy’s were chopped to $249 from $700. A Marc Jacobs bag at Saks, originally $995, fell to $248.45. And for men, a Ted Baker suit at Lord & Taylor was selling not for the usual $895, but for $399.99....
Laden with excess inventory, hungry for sales and worried because of five fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, the nation’s retailers went into a price-cutting frenzy long before the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. For weeks, they have been trying to outdo one another to capture the attention of consumers who have become numb to run-of-the-mill discounts. As the latest T. J. Maxx slogan goes: “Every day is Black Friday....”
The Toys “R” Us chain is planning the deepest discounts in its history on Friday, with 50 percent more doorbusters than last year. Other retailers are promising that their deals will be even more striking than the sales they have already unveiled — with Wal-Mart, for instance, promising large flat-panel televisions for less than $400....
Consumers have been resisting the stores’ entreaties. In the first two weeks of November, retail categories like apparel, luxury goods and electronics and appliances all had double-digit sales declines, according to SpendingPulse sales reports from MasterCard. Grocers are just about the only stores doing well in this economy, as people hole up and eat at home instead of going to restaurants.... It was about time people started doing this; eating at home.

On-Line shopping vs In-Store shopping

Within the past few years, online users have become more comfortable with using the internet to do their shopping. Internet sales in 2005 increased by whooping 25%, to $23.2 billion, during the holiday season. The percentage of holiday sales made online grew by 20 percent from 2006 to 2007. Experts are predicting continued growth of the online channel spurred on by the cost of gas and online price comparison tools. This could be a big year for e-mail marketers to reach customers seeking to pinch pennies at the pump and at check out with holiday e-mail promotions.

Even with a tight economy, retailers who tune up their marketing efforts have a lot to gain. Consumers spent US$475 billion (National Retail Association) during the 2007 holiday season, and with e-mail marketing ROI at $48 for every dollar spent (Direct Marketing Association, 2007), small businesses have the opportunity to get an early leg up on the competition -- against big box stores and smaller competitors on Main Street.

Why should marketers be aware of Competiton?

All corporations are in some kind of competition with one another. That is why they need to gain knowledge about what is happening in the environment. This really is where their future lies, in the hands of the customers. Consumers are the ones who let the marketers know what's in the NOW, and what's so GONE. Marketers need to always know what their next investment is going to be like. And will their strategies and/ objectives be the right ones. So it is always wise to keep set on the competition that they are facing out there. So improvement could be made when and if it's needed.

Tiger and GM - No More

Due to their financial crisis, and in an attempt to save some cash, General Motors is pulling the plug on their 9yr endorsement deal with golfer, Tiger Woods. It is said that at the end of this year there would no Tiger running along with GM. Also the world's No.1 golfer would like some time off since he is expecting his second child. I guess the end of the deal couldn't have come at a better time for Tiger.

Holiday Advertising - Food "YUM YUM YUM!!!"

Bring on the high seller foods of the season; turkey, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and pumpkin pie amongst others. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, more and more consumers are going online to get recipes needed. Smart advertisers would take advantage of this by putting their ads online, so that consumers could be aware of their brands. Clearly, advertisers should have been doing this four weeks prior to the holiday. If the had not gotten the chance to do so, it's not too late because Christmas is right around the corner. For all advertisers from food companies should know that this is the time when a large percentage is made to boost up their annual profits.

21st Century Innovation Timeline

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless" - Thomas ALva Edison


21st Century Innovation Timeline
YEAR - 2000
INVENTION - JD Batball
INVENTOR - Jacob Dunnack

YEAR - 2001
INVENTION - iPodSegwayHT
INVENTOR - Tony FadellDean Kamen

YEAR - 2002
INVENTION - ROOMBA robotic vacuum
INVENTOR - Helen Greiner

YEAR - 2005
INVENTION - Magic Sponge Blocks
INVENTOR - Taylor Hernandez

YEAR - 2006
INVENTION - Multiplication Madness
INVENTOR - Jennifer Tuttle

"You gotta spend money to make money"

To be a successful person we all know that we have to spend a little to make a lot. So why do companies pretend they don't need to advertise to get customers? Well that is certainly not for the majority. I guess that is more for the home-based companies.
I read about a lady named Margie Christman, who is the owner, designer and creator of a purse company called "Texas Bag Lady." She serves as a great example as to why advertising a little can help your company a lot. When Margie started out, she promoted her business by including a pen displaying her company name with each purchase. Her husband discouraged her from ordering the pens, saying she couldn’t afford to spend money when she was just starting out.Within no time, a customer called, proving the husband wrong. The woman told Margie that people kept asking where she got her purse. Though the customer forgot the phone number, she had it on the pen and shared it with everyone she spoke to. That purse paired with an inexpensive advertising item, helped Margie sell eight more purses.
What could you do with a small increase in your marketing budget? It just might mean the difference between growing slowly or quickly!

Pricing a Product

I have always wondered how one can make the "right" price for a product. I would think it is one of the toughest jobs to do in the industry. Many times I'm sure consumers would question whether a certain product is worth the price it is given. Or, how can you tell what a product is worth when it comes to pricing? But we need to stop watching just the view on the outside of the product and realize the tight spot marketers are in when it comes to the strategy of pricing a product.

Four(4) basic steps followed when setting price:
1. Costs. Focus on your current and future, not historical, costs to determine the cost basis for your pricing strategy .
2. Price Sensitivity. The price sensitivities of buyers shift based on a number of factors and your pricing strategy must shift with them.
3. Competition. Pay attention to them, but don't copy them . . . when it comes to pricing strategy they may have no idea what they're doing.
4. Product Lifecycle. How you price, and what value you provide for that price, will change as you move through the product lifecycle.

Strategic pricing is the effective, proactive use of product pricing to drive sales and profits, and to help establish the parameters for product development. Used wisely it is a clearly powerful tool for successful marketing strategies.

Interbrand | Best Global Brands List | 2008

The top 3 Best Global Brands for 2008, and they were also the top 3 for 2007 are; Coca-Cola, IBM, Microsoft...

Interbrand Best Global Brands List 2008

Importance of Product Safety

China's top dairies battle to regain public's trust.

Executives from Mengniu Dairy Group Co. and Yili Industrial Group Co., led a media tour so they can regain public's trust after their products were found tainted with a chemical that killed four infants and sickened tens of thousands. Both companies promised the public that stepped up testing and new procedures would ensure that similar contamination won't happen again....

... Authorities blame middlemen at milk collecting stations for the food safety scandal that began last month, saying they added melamine to watered-down milk to fool quality control tests and make the product appear rich in protein.
Nitrogen-rich melamine, a chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers, can cause kidney stones as the body tries to eliminate it and, in extreme cases, lead to life-threatening kidney failure. Infants are particularly susceptible.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27226142/

click above link to read more on the matter.

Brand Extensions

It is a marketing strategy in which a firm marketing a product with a well-developed image uses the same brand name in a different product category. This strategy is used to increase and leverage brand equity. Some brand extensions might work well while others just seem outright ridiculous.

Example of a good brand extension - Jello-gelatin creating Jello pudding pops.

Example of a brand extension gone bad - Everlast Cologne

Packaging

Yesterday, I went to Century 21 to purchase a present for a friend who turned 21. I went into the perfume section, and it's just overwhelming the great deals you could find. Many great perfumes on sale, some if purchased you get a free item, or you can purchase another item for a lesser value. But what really caught my eyes while shopping around was the packaging of the products. And despite the many deals that were there, I couldn't resist the beautiful gold and white box, with a ribbon tied to it, looking all sparkly. It was a Dior fragrance packaged in such a luxurious way. And no matter what I saw after or before, I just needed to have that one. Still walked out the store without it...lol...lmao. Yes, I resisted the marketer's effort to tempt me to buy it's product. Maybe if it was for me I'd get it. :)

Brand Licensing encourages Consumer Advocate

Brand Marketer - Licensed Product - Primary Consumers - Secondary Audience

Since, by their very nature, many licensed products bear the brand’s trademarks in ways that are visible when they are being used, they turn consumers of licensed products into active advocates for thebrand. Not only will a consumer wearing a branded t-shirt deepen his or her own bond with the brand, but that consumer will become a human “billboard” for the brand. This form of marketing is especially powerful because it carries the implied endorsement of the purchaser of the licensed product bringing a higher degree of relevance to the message as it is viewed by the secondary audience (the purchaser’s peers, family, and community).

Ford Edison Firestone

Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone - The fathers of modernity. Photo: Ft.Myers, Florida, February 11th, 1929

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large teamwork to the process of invention, and therefore is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Co. and father of modern assembly lines used in mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford

Harvey Samuel Firestone (December 20, 1868 – February 7, 1938) was the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, one of the first global makers of automobile tires and an important contributor to North American economic growth in the 20th century.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Firestone

click links to read more...

Appropriate Packaging

"That is when the package should adequately represent the value of the product."

Appropriate Packaging Award
Stylish and compact “new package” for small-footprint personal computer

NEC Personal Products, Ltd.

CHUOH PACK INDUSTRY CO., LTD.

The new cushioning material will feature sufficient protection for precision equipment such as computer. Smooth packaging on an assembly line and end-user's not only easy but also safe opening of the product were taken into consideration. The package was made to be compact to match the product image.

Examples of Trade Dress

Trade dress refers to characteristics of a visual appearance of a product or its packaging that may be registered and protected from being used by competitors in the manner of a trademark. These charateristics can include; graphic design, color, three-dimensinal shape, or even the smell of a product or its packaging.

Shape of a Coca-Cola bottle

Shape of a classic Ferrari sports car

Front grill on the Rolls-Royce automobile

Brand Loyalty

In class tonight the discussion was on brands and its association within the marketing industry. Among the list, brand loyalty was discussed. And I sat there thinking, to myself, that culture plays a part in what brands some people stick with. The brand they are going to insist on buying. For instance, I've had family members and friends visit NY and they always compare and complain about the brands in food products we purchase. They insist that the brand of tuna, macaroni, whatever else, in america, is not better than that of the island we are from. But I guess when in Rome you act like the Romans...

Real or Fake

An issue of the fur that Kate Winslet has around her. Just thought I'd post the pic which led to "Business Miscommunication." Turns out she's an animal lover.

Update: GM backs out

Though we were asked not to blog about GM anymore, I thought of giving a little update on the situation of the merger between Chrysler and GM.

Much as Chrysler needs a saviour, few are disappointed that the Detroit carmaker’s rescuer will not be General Motors.
A takeover by GM “would have meant huge job losses for the workers and dealer closures”, said Andy Palmen, a Chrysler dealer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, expressing relief at GM’s decision to walk away from talks to acquire its smaller rival.
url:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bb482cfc-ae81-11dd-b621-000077b07658.html

Glengarry Glen Ross

"Coffee is for closer's only"

The Importance of Product Lines

Some companies produce products which are related, rather than one individual product to increase their importance in the market. The marketers in those companies could be perceived as creative marketers. To take one product and then share it's qualities is pretty much the thinking of a genius, if I should say so. This type of marketing has the customers on edge, always looking for the next new thing in the product line. And then this is a way to keep the life cycle of the product in the market a bit longer. Examples of those are IPods, Sidekicks and Sneakers.

Specialty (luxury) Cars in the Market

There are some automobliles in the market that no substitutes would replace. Buyers, no matter the cost, would gurantee that they possess the real thing. Specialty cars are also known as luxury cars. Evoking style and sophistication, luxury cars are often the flagship vehicles of an automaker's model line. Priced above $34,000, luxury cars represent an ideal of comfort, security, prestige a nd elegance. Luxury cars are classified in the categories; entry luxury cars, luxury cars and ultra luxury cars. Therefore, the ultra luxury car would be the most special of all. It is usually priced at a high of $100,000 or more. Based on the economic those cars are out of reach for most consumers. An example: The Bentley Flying Spur, the latest luxury sedan from the prestigious marque, employing a powerful 550-horsepower engine and all-wheel drive.

Products

Marketers have to make it their duty to ensure the satisfaction of consumers when it comes to a product in the market. Many times customers purchase a product and the result differentiates from what they were told to expected. When an issue like this is being faced in the marketing business, marketers have to continuosly introduce new features to their product, making it still attractive and wanted by consumers. People have a tendency to retire of a product as soon as the next best thing like it comes out. So marketers have to make it part of their strategy to keep their products upgraded for as long as they want their business to succeed.

A HISTORIC ELECTION

TODAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2008, THE 44TH PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS PRESIDENT CAMPAIGNED FOR A CHANGE, HE MARKETED HIMSELF AS A CHANGE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE CHANGE IS NOW IN PLACE. THE PRESIDENT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WILL BE THE FIRST EVER AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT -- BARACK OBAMA!!! MAY THE CHANGE CONTINUE TO BE IN PROGRESS AND THE RESULT TO BE REWARDING.

Event marketing: Starbucks

Looks like Starbucks is using the event of the elections to market their coffee. Giving out free coffee is something that surely doesn't happen on a regular. But to the millions of people out there, Starbucks is willing to give all those who vote a free cup of coffee. Well, vote well America, and toast to Starbucks for keeping you "awake" in making the right decision. My guess will be that the consumers/voters will be happy especially if they're used to buying coffee every morning. Buying coffee is like the behavior of most americans.

Michele Bachman:"Not all cultures are equal, not all values are equal."

Bachmann is apparently known to make many controversial statements without elaborating on them.
This statement made by Bachmann, came about when she was prompted to answer a question about the riot that's going on in France. Though she applauds the efforts of multi-cultural diversity, Michele still has her view stating that,"not all cultures are equal..."
What is multicultralism? It states that "immigrants and their should be allowed and be encouraged to maintain and celebrate their own culture apart fromt he national culture."
Multiculturalism is based on the lie that all cultures are morally equal. In practice, that soon degenerates to: All cultures are morally equal, except ours, which is worse. But all cultures are not equal in respecting representative government, guaranteed liberties and the rule of law. And those things arose not simultaneously and in all cultures, but in certain specific times and places – mostly in Britain and America, but also in various parts of Europe.
site:http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050814/news_mz1e14barone.html

6 Behaviors shown by consumers who shop at Walmart

The fact that 9/10 of Americans shop at Walmart, at least once a year, the retailer has seen first hand their shopping behavior.

1. Cash-strapped consumers are buying baby formula at the beginning of the month, when they have more money.

2. A double digit decline in the use of credit cards in the second quarter.

3. 80% of consumers surveyed by walmart say "personal financial security" is their top concern.Formerly it was the price of gasoline.

4. Purchases of generics have doubled.

5. Shoppers are changing how often they visit the store. Some come less often to save gas.

6. Walmart now sees a 2.5% sales increase int the middle of the month, when paychecks are handed out.

Cause marketing matters to consumers

Just a little insight I came across...
If your business or brand doesn't stand for a cause, consumers may turn to your competitors.
You can master this marketing challenge by following these 5 steps:

1. Give from the heart.
2. Choose a related cause.
3. Contribute more than dollars.
4. Formalize your affiliation.
5. Mount a marketing campaign.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27280623/

Teenagers and cars - safety 1st

Purchasing a car for a home? The likelihood that a teenager would make the decision of which car to buy is great. By the time they're sixteen, teenagers already have an idea of the vehicle they'd want their parents to purchase. There is a show called "My Sweet 16," and the gift given to the 16 yr old is always a car. The ads on tv shows the teenager how their popularity will increase driving certain luxury vehicles. A concerned parent would consider the following points when purchasing a car for a teenager:

• Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving (sports car) .


• Don't let your teen drive an unstable vehicle (SUVs).


• Pick a vehicle that offers good crash prtection.


• Don't let your teen drive a small vehicle.


• Avoid older vehicles.

If these simple steps are followed then rate of teenage deaths in motor vehicle crashes would be reduced. Drive safely...

The Chinese Auto Industry

One of the best-kept industry secrets revealed at Auto China 2008 was Honda's announcement of a new brand concept for the Chinese market, called Li Nian. Like Toyota’s Scion brand in North America, Li Nian will cater to young people. Li Nian is a joint venture between Honda and Chinese partner Guangzhou Automobile Group.

If an auto maker would like to unleash a new vehicle, China is the best place to get rocognition. The auto industry is very large and has a great influence on already all the marketers out there. The marketing industry in China is growing so rapidly that it has the potential to affect the whole world. Therefore, the culture in China feeds on new marketing inventions.

How did marketing to subcultures come about?

In the advertising and marketing world, newer, lesser established, smaller agencies continue to win more business and grow, while most large, established agency holding companies struggle to maintain profit margins and accounts. What could possibly be the cause?
Audiences are smaller, more fractionalized, more difficult to define, and easily distracted with choices. Marketing and media professionals, are versed with the shift of consumer culture from a passive audience of unity, to an interactive audience of plurality. A Latin phrase describes today's society;"E Pluribus Unum" to "E Una Pluribu," (from "from many come one" to "from one come many"). America have become a culture of plurality. And so they have all those sub-cultures to market to, which could make market research a bit tedious, and marketing a bit difficult to make it be attractive to the audience.

Saying Goodbye to Janesville - 2

When General Motors came out with the S.U.V., they must have felt like the luckiest auto makers in the world, for having the product that so many consumers swam to. They probably felt like nothing could go wrong since the sales were booming. Now all of a sudden, poof!!! It is all disappearing. And now another plant which help built those S.U.V.'s has to be closed down. Why? Buyers now no longer want gas hogging, environment destroying, money consuming, vehicles. Good-bye Janesville...

Saying Goodbye to Janesville - 1

General Motors celebrated the production of its 100 millionth vehicle in 1967 at its plant in Janesville. The company renovated the plant in 1990 to start building full size S.U.V.'s

Chrysler axes 5000 jobs as merger talks with GM continue

As though it isn't bad enough that GM has had to cut down on their workers, now Chrysler is doing the same. The blame has been put on the major downturn in the auto industry. It turns out that the resolution for most employees in the auto industry would be to keep their job, or find a new one. Now may seem like a much needed time for both Chrysler and GM to patch things so the future could be bright for both auto industries, and their current employees. Merger or Not...

Update: Workers at Moraine GM Plant approve Buyout

The Plant which has been scheduled to close in December has finally come up with a contract for it's former employees. The contract consists of buyouts, early retirement, and transfer rights. Workers who have been at the plant for more than 10yrs will receive $140,000., and those with less than 10yrs will receive $70,000. But when it comes to being transferred, that can only happen if and when another GM plant has an opening. Retirees will benefit from the $1.6Billion trust fund GM will contribute over the next few yrs.

Midtronics to Supply Essential Programming Tool for GM Hybrids

Midtronics has been supplying GM with batteries and electrical diagnostic and support equipment since 1998. They started with the Micro410 Digital Battery Analyzer. Now they are supplying GM with a new essential tool for 2-Mode Hybrid vehicle support. This new tool is called the SPS Programming Support Tool EL-49642. The EL-49642 SPS Programming Support Tool provides precise voltage control and clean power, eliminating potential fluctuations and spiking, or a loss of voltage which could interrupt programming and cause a controller tolock up. The main function of this tool is to act as a clean power supply during programming to avoid module failures. This is the first Hybrid essential tool program in support of the GM 2-Mode Hybrid.

GM-Chrysler: Stuck in neutral

Though there may be reasons why GM and Chrysler shouldn't merge, both companies are in "deep s%*$" and needs to revive themselves in the auto industry. GM now stands with $21billion and Chrysler $11 billion, most of which is borrowed money. Right now both automakers have to ask themselves how long will the money in hand last. Especially since there are other crisis such as declined auto sales in the industry. Therefore great funding is need for both automakers to survive in these times, and to move forward...

Truck of Texas Contest: Winner - 2009 Ford F-150

This award is like the Super Bowl in the truck industry. Today marks the sixth consecutive year that a Ford truck has won the award. Ford must be really excited to have good news to celebrate amidst the drama hitting auto industries. This may have a way of boosting up sales for the pick-up truck.

First GM Hybrid Transit Bus

In 2004, Seattle became the first city to put GM hybrid transit buses into service. On May 27th 2004, at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle, GM officially delivered the first of 235 hybrid buses to Metro Transit of King County, Washington. The hybrid has improved fuel economy, has lower emissions, has lower maintenance cost, and has quiet operation sound level equivalent to passenger cars.

Ford loses 2 Board members

John R. H. Bond and Jorma Ollila resigned from Ford today. They will be going to Europe to play their parts in their own companies, as it is growing. The two have said that they can't devote time to Ford as Ford would probably be needing them in this time. The time spoke of is about Ford responding to the rapid changes in the auto industry. Before leaving, both expressed their confidence in Ford, and believe that the company is taking the right steps to building back a profitable, solid growth plan.

Being Environmentally Friendly is in; Chrysler

Cars in the market that are selling relatively well right now are small, fuel efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles.
The lost of $431 million at the end of July, has made Chrysler a place to avoid, if you want a car that is easy on the environment. The automakers still make SUVs with V8 engines that guzzles gas. And the more fuel a car burns, the less environmentally friendly it tends to be. Thi has made Chrysler one of the dirtiest cars on the street in U.S. ...

Union to Oppose Talk of Merger

According to UWA President, Ron Gettlefinger , if the merger were to happen that would mean more job losses. And that wouldn't be a good shape for the union workers. For some the merger would be a total catastrophe. The top leader for GM Europe, Franz Klaus, was saying that a merger would only increase GM's problems and that Chrysler, whose majority owner is the private equity firm Cerberus, has nothing that GM needs.
“Combining two people with bad feet does not create a marathon runner,” Franz said. “And with Cerberus there would be a third sick person on board.”

More GM plants to be Terminated

General Motors is once again shutting down plants, leaving approximately 1,300 people unemployed. How long will this go on? The plant registered to be shut is a stamping plant near Grand Rapids. Yet again GM talks of buy-outs, early retirements, and re-location to other GM facilities. The fact still remains that there will be some more people left to fend for themselves no matter the deals GM has proposed. Well it seems for as long as the markets for certain vehicles, especially SUVs, will be shrinking, employees at GM plants have to fear the worst from now on.

http://wluctv6.com/news/story.aspx?id=206181

Possible Merger of The Big Three???

General Motors, Chrysler and Ford may be talking a deal for merging the top three auto manufacturers. Will it be a good move for any of the corporations?
Well sales from since the gas price went up and the present economy crisis, hasn't exactly been in the favor of any of the big 3. Both GM and Chrysler suffered losses in September. Ford and GM hasn't been doing great for atleast the past 4yrs. They both need capital.
If GM and Chrysler were to merge global sales would probably go sky high for GM. That would mean they'd be over Japan's Motors sale. If merger takes place I hope that all 3 corp. will still bring forth their best to be recognised individually. If not, from what i read, there may be more pitfalls they have to face. Good Luck Guys! They surely need it now.

General Motors Retirees Lose Company Health Care Coverage, Will Receive $300 Monthly To Purchase Coverage

Last year General Motors spent $3.3 billion on retiree health coverage. As a result of the crisis going on now, GM is looking to reduce its spending habits. Therefore some 100,000 workers will feel its wrath. But kindly, GM will add $300 to their monthly pension checks. Provision has been made for the workers to enroll in medicare one month earlier than the enrollment period.

GM Certified Used Vehicles Marks Sale of 3 Millionth Vehicle with Celebration at Voss Chevrolet

General Motors has hit another milestone. The GM certified used vehicle manufacturer is the only one who has sold 3 million vehicles. The manufacturer opened its doors in 1997. Lucky vehicle which made the 3 millionth sale was a silver 2008 Chevrolet Impala LS Flex-Fuel model purchased at Voss Chevrolet. Other models in the program are Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Pontiac. Even though they are showing signs of much needed help, General Motors is proving to be a corporation with a firm head on its shoulder proven to outshine the other auto manufacturers. This could mean for GM that what goes down must come up, and surely time will tell. There infact may be a turnaround and luck could be on their side...

Quotes from Glenngarry Glenn Ross

Link to view Glenngarry Glenn Ross sales meeting:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WCcKIkMp8Y
Blake: These are the new leads. These are the Glengarry leads. And to you they're gold, and you don't get them. Why? Because to give them to you would be throwing them away. They're for closers.
Blake: We're adding a little something to this month's sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? [Holds up prize] Blake: Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.
Blake: Your name is "you're wanting", and you can't play the man's game, you can't close them, and then tell your wife your troubles. 'Cause only one thing counts in this world: get them to sign on the line which is dotted. You hear me you fuckin' faggots?
Blake: A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Closing. Always be closing, always be closing.
Ricky Roma: They say that it was so hot in the city today, grown men were walking up to cops on street corners begging them to shoot.
Dave Moss: We don't gotta sit here and listen to this. Blake: You CERTAINLY don't pal, 'cause the good news is - you're fired.
Blake: Put. That coffee. Down. [pause] Blake: Coffee's for closers only.
[after learning that the Lingk sale has been filed] Ricky Roma: You filed it, that puts me over the fuckin' top, I want my Cadillac. I don't wanna hear no fuckin' shit and I don't give a shit. Lingk puts me over the top. You filed it, it went downtown, now you owe me the car.
Williamson: The leads are coming! Shelley Levene: Get 'em to me! Williamson: I talked to Mitch and Murray an hour ago. They're coming in, you understand. They're a bit upset about this morning's... Shelley Levene: Did yo tell 'em about my sale? Williamson: How could I tell them about your sale? I don't even have a teleph - I'll tell them about your sale when they bring in the leads, all right? Shelley, all right? You closed a deal. Fine. You made a good sale, fine. Shelley Levene: It's better than a good sale. It's... Williamson: Look, I have a lot on my mind right now. They're coming in, all right? They're very upset, I'm trying to make some sense... Shelley Levene: I'm telling you - the one thing you can tell them is that it's a remarkable sale. Williamson: The only thing 'remarkable' about it is who you made it to. Shelley Levene: What the FUCK does that mean? Williamson: That if the sale sticks, it'll be a miracle. Shelley Levene: What does that mean? Why would it not... Oh, fuck you. You do not know your job. That's what I'm saying. You do not know your job. That's what I'm saying. A man IS his job and you are fucked at yours.
Ricky Roma: WHAT YOU'RE HIRED FOR, is to help us... does that seem clear to you? TO HELP US, not to... FUCK-US-UP... to help those who are going out there to try to earn a living... You fairy. You company man.
Dave Moss: You got the memory of a fucking fly.
Blake: And to answer you question, pal, why am I here? I came here because Mitch and Murray asked me to. They asked me for a favor. I said the real favor, follow my advice and fire your fucking ass because a loser is a loser.
Ricky Roma: You never open your mouth until you know what the shot is.
Blake: You call yourself a salesman, you son of a bitch?
Blake: You want to know what it takes to sell real estate? It takes BRASS BALLS to sell real estate.
Ricky Roma: You stupid fucking cunt. You, Williamson, I'm talking to you, shithead. You just cost me $6,000. Six thousand dollars, and one Cadillac. That's right. What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do about it, asshole? You're fucking shit. Where did you learn your trade, you stupid fucking cunt, you idiot? Who ever told you that you could work with men? Oh, I'm gonna have your job, shithead.
Williamson: You've got a big mouth... now I'm gonna show you an even bigger one.
Shelley Levene: Williamson! Williamson! Put me on the board! Put me on the Cadillac board!
Blake: A-I-D-A. Attention, Interest, Decision, Action. Attention - Do I have you attention? Interest - Are you interested? I know you are, because it's fuck or walk. You close or you hit the bricks. Decision - Have you made your decision for Christ? And Action.
Blake: A-I-D-A. Get out there - you got the prospects coming in. You think they came in to get out of the rain? A guy don't walk on the lot lest he wants to buy. They're sitting out there waiting to give you their money. Are you gonna take it? Are you man enough to take it?
Ricky Roma: I subscribe to the law of contrary public opinion... If everyone thinks one thing, then I say, bet the other way...

Louisiana: GM workers eligible for grant funds

Looks like things are actually looking on the upside for employees who were laid off , when General Motors plant eliminated the second shift. The $1million grant will help the unemployed in seeking new ways to find other job placements. This is a good plan for the former GM employees in Louisiana.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081008/NEWS05/81008022

Detroit Headquarters needs Refinancing

GM moved into the Renaissance Center, which has seven interconnected towers with many restaurants and a hotel, in 1996 and had been leasing it until May, when it purchased the building for $625 million.

The month of September has surely been a downturn for GM. Sales for that month went down a whooping 17.6 percent which is more than the 12.8 percent drop the industry faced on a whole. The financial status of GM doesn't look good at this moment. They have been closing plants and releasing employees. What will GM do, now that it has hit home? -- The Renaissance Center.

The headquarters in Detroit needs financing. GM is willing to do anything possible to help save "home." Even if that means selling and releasing the building. Hope GM pulls through this tough time and that help needed is given. There is "No Place Like Home." Save GM's headquarters!!!

Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4968A620081007

GM Lordstown schedules overtime for remainder of 2008 & GM to shut Ohio SUV plant 2 years ahead of plan

While employees at the Lordstown complex are getting ready to add onto their hours for the General Motors Chevrolet Cobalt's sales, other employees from Ohio,Moraine plant, are getting ready to say good-bye sooner than the anticipated.

The new year has consumers shifting to more fuel efficient vehicles, which is why the demand for the Chevrolet Cobalt on the market is high. Therefore, the bigger vehicles are being kicked to the curb.

To the employees of the Moraine plant, I hope that whatever incentives or buyout that General Motors is planning to give them will definitely put a band-aid on the 2yrs advance unemployment butts they are going to have to deal with starting in December.

So long Trailblazers, GMC Envoy, etc...

Chevrolets are rarely seen on the streets

Chevrolets are rarely seen on the streets of Paris. But General Motors (GM) has chosen the Paris Motor Show, which opens to the public on Oct. 4, to launch one of the most important new Chevy models in years.
The Cruze, a compact sedan set to go on sale in Europe next March and in the U.S. in 2010, will be Chevrolet’s first global small car. With its sleek, arched roofline and high-tech interior, “it’s one of the global Chevrolet products that are the future of where this brand is going to be,” says Wayne Brannon, Chevy’s European chief.
GM has been trying for several years to establish Chevrolet as its main global brand. Unlike rivals Toyota (TM) and Honda (HMC), GM has a balkanized brand portfolio—with Chevy dominant in the U.S., Opel in Europe, and Buick in China. After taking over South Korea’s Daewoo in 2002, GM rebranded some of its models and now sells them under the Chevrolet name in Asia and Europe.(...)
http://www.igeneralcar.info/2008/10/04/chevrolets-are-rarely-seen-on-the-streets/

Advertising and Persuasion

"Advertising is a vicious circle of clutter." A clutter that many AD agencies out there are trying to break through. And how do they intend to do that? By persuading consumers to a product, an idea, etc. But a battle has began since consumers are surely not making it easy for the ad managers. Consumers are like "roaches," becoming immune to the ads. One of the ways many advertisers are approaching the situation is through a channel called "emotional branding," in which they intend for the consumers to have an emotional, or even spiritual bond with a brand. This method of marketing approach began in the early 1990sIt was for the consumers to see beyond what the product did, to what it meant. To see more of how AD agencies are losing consumers and the efforts they're making to persuade consumers, watch the link below.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/

GM doesn't rule out more restructuring

General Motors Corp. said it can't rule out the need for more restructuring if the economic crisis worsens and said it was vital that U.S. lawmakers pass a financial bailout to shore up confidence in the economy.
"We'll take the actions that are necessary," Fritz Henderson, the automaker's chief operating officer, told The Associated Press in an interview at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday.
"If the situation deteriorates further, we'll have to look at further actions, but we don't have anything planned today," he said.

GM, once the largest U.S. employer, marked its 100th anniversary last month facing an unprecedented crisis in its storied history as the slumping U.S. auto market has forced GM to close factories and shed workers.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/02/ap5502177.html

GM Canada September 2008 Sales Results

OSHAWA, ONTARIO, Oct 01, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- For September 2008, General Motors of Canada dealers delivered 31,053 units as the company moved to increase its inventories of smaller cars which remain in high demand.
"Consumers continued the trend of purchasing more fuel efficient small cars and crossovers in September," said Marc Comeau, GM of Canada's vice-president of sales, service, and marketing. "GM sells more cars than any other automaker in Canada and our inventory levels have improved this month as a result of our move to add a shift of production to meet the surge in demand for popular cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5."

September Sales Highlights
- GMs small car line-up is performing well with combined sales for the Chevrolet Aveo and Pontiac Wave up a combined 5.5% calendar year to date and Chevrolet Cobalt/ and Pontiac G5 up a combined 7.3% for the same period.
- Pontiac Vibe continues the momentum from its launch, up 127.6% for the month
- Chevrolet Malibu sales remain strong, up 39.3% in September.
- Cadillac CTS, Motor Trend Car of the Year, posted gains of 11.5% for the month.
- GM's crossover utilities remain strong with the Buick Enclave up 36.1% for the month.
- Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra extended cab pick ups, with Active Fuel Management fuel saving technology, are up a combined 17.2%.

Toyota develops rear window air bag

Toyota Motor Corp. has developed a rear window air bag to upgrade protection for back-seat passengers.
In the event of a rear-end collision, the air bag is ejected from the roof lining above the rear window and spreads like a curtain to protect the heads of the rear passengers.
Toyota said Tuesday the rear window curtain-shield air bag is the world's first.

The new safety gear will debut in the "iQ" compact four-seat vehicle, to be introduced later this year. As part of an effort to attract buyers, Toyota has tried to make side air bags and shield air bags standard features.

I believe this a good idea to protect passengers in the backseat. Especially since this is where the children are seated. Rear end collisions have been popular on the road. There are people who might be driving too close to the rear of a vehicle, and if they're distracted and doesn't notice the vehicle in front has stopped abruptly, BUMP! So this is a very good plan of keeping safety in a very unfortunate situation as a car collision. Truly there is a need for more careful drivers, but any form of safety should be welcomed. So I hope the rear window airbag does a good job, and would inspire other automakers.

Breaking News:Stocks tumble as bailout fails

Washington said no dice. Wall Street panicked and said no way. And the failure to pass a $700-billion bailout took more than 500 points off the Dow early this afternoon.The vote was expected to be close, but somehow nobody really expected the U.S. House to slap Wall Street so fast and so hard – especially when supposedly this is the plan that is needed to save the U.S. economy from the threat of a serious recession. No one expected the deal to fall apart, unless they focused on the fact that this is a big election year and lots of voters don’t like Wall Street at all.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080929/NEWS07/80929055/1007/NEWS05

Detroit City Council approves tax break for Volt plant

A $136 million tax abatement to help persuade General Motors Corp. to build the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car at the Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly Plant won approval today from the Detroit City Council.

The council approved the measure on a 7-1 vote. Only Councilwoman JoAnn Watson voted no.

Watson said she voted no because the Detroit Three automakers are on the verge of receiving $25 billion in federal loans to aid them, and giving GM a tax break now doesn’t sit well with her.

Even with the tax break, the company would still generate an additional $4.6 million a year in tax revenue for the city and Detroit Public Schools, said Irvin Corley Jr., the council’s fiscal analyst.

If this tax approval means that there will be more jobs, then I am happy for GM's investment. Apparently, the timing couldn't have been better for the people of Detroit. Seems they are going through some tough times. Power to More Jobs!!!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080929/NEWS01/80929059

General Motor Wall Clock

GMC 1957 GREEN STEPSIDE PICKUP TRUCK

DMC

DeLorean Motor Company
Founder:John Delorean (he was a capable engineer,business innovator,the youngest person to become a GM executive)
Year:October 24,1975
Vehicle: DMC-12
Downturn: Lack of demand, cost overruns, and unfavorable exchange rates(late 1981)

John Delorean passed away on March 19th 2005, of stroke complications at age 80.
Today: A very large number of the original cars are still on the road after over 25 years; most estimates put it at 6,500 cars surviving out of just over 9,000 built.
Current Owner: Stephen Wynne
DMC Texas made it through Hurricane Ike with no damage to the facility, client vehicles, or parts inventory.

Second shift ends; final date for GM Moraine in air

Some of the 400-500 workers at the Moraine plant came to reality that Friday 26th, was their last day. The rest of the workers has until the end of the month to know their final date. The plant has been scheduled to go down in December, when in June it said the date of the plant to close was in 2010. Is it happening sooner? What does that mean for the workers and how are they handling the news?

Here is what 2 second shift workers had to say:

1. Matt Grice: "Maybe this is a blessing in disguise."
2. Brenda Collins: "I really believe that there will definitely be life after GM." She plans to return to college to pursue a business degree.

So I believe that it all doesn't end here, and it's good to hear some positive thinking.

AD: Looking for Adventure? Look no Further!

GARMIN ZUMO 550 for Motorcycles:

When navigating the twist and turns of everyday life, you need a map you can depend on. This product is built to survive even the harshest driving conditions.The touchscreen and body will stand up to exposure from the sun and fuel spills.The zumo 550 can last up to 30mins in water.
Key Features:

• preloaded maps of the U.S.,Canada, and Puerto Rico
• 6,000,000 points of interest
• 3.5 color anti-glare screen
• bluetooth
• mp3 playback
• touchscreen
• 4hrs battery life
• satellite radio
• text to speech
• live traffic service
• SD card
• motorcycle adapter

So when you're breezing through on your motorcycle, turn on your zumo 550 and let it be the magician of directions.

Made just for you!!!

Limited Time: Employee Pricing Is Back!

General Motors is offering Employee Pricing for a limited time... Find out your No-Obligation Price on a New GMC Car or Truck before you enter the dealership!

What does that Mean to You?
You Pay What Their Employees Pay! On Average, you can get a new Chevy, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, HUMMER, Saab or Cadillac at 10% BELOW INVOICE... PLUS, add in all available incentive and rebates and you are walking away with an unbeatable deal.- They have too much supply and will offer discount GMC pricing to you to sell you a GMC car, sometimes lower than you even expected!

Apple's 1984: The Introduction of the Macintosh

In the third quarter of the 1984 Super Bowl, a strange and disorienting advertisement appeared on the TV screens of the millions of viewers tuned in to the yearly ritual. The ad opens on a gray network of futuristic tubes connecting blank, ominous buildings. Inside the tubes, we see cowed subjects marching towards a cavernous auditorium, where they bow before a Big Brother figure pontificating from a giant TV screen. But one lone woman remains unbroken. Chased by storm troopers, she runs up to the screen, hurls a hammer with a heroic grunt, and shatters the TV image. As the screen explodes, bathing the stunned audience in the light of freedom, a voice-over announces, "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce the Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like "1984."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HemH8XlzCrk

Click on the above link to view that commercial

GM to double production of fuel-efficient engines

The $25 Billion dollars that will be given to automakers will help fund some very good plans that GM has to embark on. It will help GM in the production of more fuel-efficient engines, which will be possible with their new plant which will be in Flint, Michigan. Production will begin in the new plant in 2011. Also GM will employ about 300 workers, which is really good since some workers lot their jobs because of GM's troubles.

Strategic plan of GM:

To accelerate the $15 billion cost-cutting and fund-raising plan announced in July, General Motors Corp. intends to distribute marketing materials to potential buyers of its Hummer brand and a French manufacturing plant in October.

Update: GM to sell Truck business to Isuzu

Because of the difficulty to meet their full-year net profit target, amongst other reasons, Isuzu is saying no to a deal with GM to buy mid-size truck operations.
"It will be difficult to achieve the net profit target but we will do everything possible to achieve it," Hosoi said in an interview on Wednesday at the IAA truck fair in Germany. He cited an expected downturn in all major truck markets.