In Response to Ariana Barone

Would you agree that public affairs is the most important form of public relations?

I definitely believe that public affairs is the most important form of public relations. Companies want to make an impact on community around them. Public affairs should be in important part of a companies overall plan.  This is likely to require a much higher degree of interaction with their target audience. Having someone specifically working on publicity would be a good idea. Getting the name and idea of the product out in a creative way will make others remember the product. Building strong ties with the community is another important factor. 

Gender Segmentation

There are some products that are sold that are specifically for a gender. Below is a youtube video of a Miller Lite commercial. Gender segmentation is the process of dividing a total market into groups with relatively similar products needs to design a marketing mix that matches those need. This commercial displays gender segmentation because light beer is not for men. But in the commercial the man is wearing a scarf that he believes in style so the bartender gives him a light beer because he is not manly enough.

In Response to Kevin Provost

So why are they closed when they could be having their biggest day of the week???

This video is an example of what your explaining. Banks should be open after the normal work hours because everyone works during the normal work hours and are not able to go to the bank. Motorcycle stores are probably closed on the weekends because the workers need to have a break from work to. It wouldn't be fair to have motorcycle stores open on the weekend when the employees have worked all week and want to be with their families. 

Social Influences on Consumer Buying Decisions

When you are buying something important such as a car or a house, the opinions of others matter. People look for help through different reference groups. Reference group is a group in society that influences an individual's purchasing behavior. The primary membership group is usually the group of people where the opinions will matter while purchasing a house or selecting insurance for your car. This group consists of people who interact regularly in an informal, face-to-face manner, such as family, friends, and co-workers.

Do you think reference groups reduce the search and evaluation of decisions?

In Response to Lindsey Pinault

How else do you think technology has changed the way products or services can be marketed? Do you find internet advertising more successful or less successful?

Advertising on the Internet is a crucial way of getting their product out there to those you live outside the community of where that product is distributed. I believe internet advertising is more successful during this time period because everyone has a computer and everyone is always on the internet so I think that the most efficient way of getting products and services out there is through the internet. The internet can allow advertisers to reach significantly a lot more people than traditional advertising such as a bill board on the side of the highway would plus it is a lot cheaper. Internet advertising is ideal for businesses with an international target market. But a disadvantage to advertising on the Internet is that every business does it so there are a lot of advertisements being looked at, at the same time so being in competition with a company to get the best logo or best slogan is a downfall. 

Product Life Cycle

The product life cycle is the progression of a product through 4 stages; introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. An example of a product in the introduction stage is the Holographic Projection. It was recently just introduced into the market. It allows any flat surface into a touch screen interface.In the growth stage, an example of a product would be Tablet PCs. This product is growing and multiple competitors are coming into the market developing Tablet PCs. Laptops are in the maturity phase. This product has been around for a while and the majority of the population that obtains a computer has a laptop and there are diverse features that make people want to keep buying them. A good example of a product in the decline stage is the typewriter. Typewriters do not have much functionality. Consumers are demanding more from the electronic department and typewriters are a product no one is purchasing anymore unless it is an antic. These are just a few example of products that progressed through the Product Life Cycle.

Do you think Holographic Projection will eventually be in the decline stage?

In Response to Caitlyn Croasdale

Do you think this could be the start to a new beginning? Less emphasis on buying foreign over local?

I do not think this is start to a new beginning. Walmart has been in business for so long and I do not really think that they are going to change their strategy because they have been profitable. Walmart sells foreign and local foods so they will emphasize both.