EOC: Final Exam

I really and truly enjoyed this class. The book was an easy but informative read and for me that is a bug step because I am not big on reading. I loved learning how different companies branded themselves and how they managed to keep the attention of their consumers with all the competition out there.

I learned how branding a product or yourself is a major step in defining your career and self. How much work and effort goes into a brand and how to market that brand to your target market. I think I did exceptional in this class. I took into consideration what I was learning and brought that information forward into all my blog entries as well as my final product. I thought that the information provided to us by you Pinto was well thought out and took us deep into all the sides of brand marketing. I am always fascinated by the amount of new and peculiar things I discover in your classes. They truly help my understanding and allow me to grow further within this major.

I deserve an A, and know I will be getting an A.

EOC: Wk 10 Exercise

You have been hired by a fashion consultant to help solve an argument between a social morality group and the Ginch Gonch marketing department. The morality group feels Ginch Gonch should not be allowed to have a billboard of their new advertisement next to a major freeway and 100 yards from a high school. However, the marketing team at Ginch Gonch feels they are within their rights to market their products anywhere they want. Your job is to discuss the pros and cons of each side and make a decision on what should happen.

The morality group has a valid reason why not to have these billboards on freeways and around high schools as well as Ginch Gonch marketing group having the right of free speech in a way to market anywhere.

I think if these ads were on the freeway it may cause more accidents of people driving and these explicit ads grabbing their attention, but what says that a billboard for example showcasing one of the burlesque shows in Vegas wouldn’t cause the same type of accident. Not that it says anything but a showgirl’s bottom is displayed and that may grab driver’s attention and therefore cause an accident.

Displaying around high schools may cause a problem because it may show that Ginch Gocnh says wear this underwear and you can get laid in w way. But now a day’s most high schoolers are watching way more risqué TV and are probably fooling around anyway so who is to say what is appropriate or not. In any household we are raised differently and some families are more open to new ideas than others.

My approach on this matter would be this, look at each campaign and together both groups decide on an ad that is still keeping to the Ginch Gonch brand but also not condoning accidents on highways or in cars. This way both groups can decide what ads will work for the highways and schools and they each get out of the debate equally happy. Ginch Goch can represent their brand anywhere and the morality group can maintain safety on the highways and maintain guidance to the students.

EOC: Wk 10 Discussion Questions

1.What key characteristics of Ginch Gonch’s advertising makes them unique? Why do you think consumers buy Ginch Gonch products?

They use very explicit themes that hinder on the lines of sex but not necessarily come straight out and say it. They use clever wording /slogans on each campaign that grab your attention. They buy the product because they are made with good quality materials and the ads suggest how they may look on you and from the pictures they look amazing.

2.Do you think it is ethical to use sex to sell products? Can you think of other retailers who do this? How does it make their products more desirable?

Sex sells and if you look at the simplest ads not realizing it but they are using a hindrance of sex in it. Dolce & Gabbana are one of the many retailers using sex in their ads. It makes the products alive and that’s why people buy them. In life sex is usually involved and when you see ads depicting it you can relate to these ads therefore relate to the clothing or products.

3.Why do you think Jason Sutherland decided to market to the gay community? Do you think there are a lot of gay consumers? Why?

Most men do not buy underwear females do and gay men love to look good, love to shop or dress using the finest quality goods. I do believe there are a lot of gay consumers. I think since gay men have more money than straight men they can easily buy the finer things and therefore splurge on luxury underwear.

4.If you were in charge of Ginch Gonch’s next fashion assortment what would you call it? Why?
“Go Long” with football themes. I think it can say manly item but can tell your partner “I have a big member” if you catch my lingo. Its subtle but still you can read between the lines.

EOC: Valentino vs. Ginch Gonch (Jason Sutherland)

Ginch Gonch is a company that branded itself as a new market that had not been reached before. Jason Sutherland started this company but he does not consider himself or have the title of President or CEO his tilte is director of stitches and inches. This company embodies the free thinking lifestyle and there slogan or modo “Live Like a Kid” which signifies what Sutherland wants this brand to be all about. This market is underwear, specifically branded toward gay men. The advertising campaigns that Ginch Gonch uses advertise mainly to women and gay men. This target market is focused on looking good and doing so in style. The pop-culture designs from Ginch Gonch make it appealing to a younger market. Though the underwear the company makes is somewhat pricey (for underwear) it is purchased by its target market on a regular basis and those customers, generally, remain loyal.

Valentino is a man that branded himself as a designer name and label, mainly for women, and targets itself at a small, high-class audience. Valentino worked very hard to create a name based on classic beauty and embodies the lifestyle to which he portrays in all his designs. Valentino is the classic- old designs as to Jason Sutherland who is embracing everything new and taking it one step each day towards the future.

Step 5: Name and Logo

Since I Am originally from Boston I thought it only befitting to pay homage to my home spot, hence the name Bean Town Brod. “..Is a leading contemporary women’s wear company that creates stylish and comfortable women’s clothing.” (Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg. 174)

Step 4: Creating the Look of My Product

Creating my product was basically easy. I took your basic tank top/ cap sleeve t-shirt and screen printed sayings or slogans that I came up with. I took Johnny Cupcakes saying of “My name is Johnny, and I make clothes with cupcakes on ‘em. Have you had your cupcake today?”(John Earle, http://shop.johnnycupcakes.com/story/) and I have applied that to my way of creating my brand. Like Johnny my name is Rebecca and I make stupid t-shirts. How do you wear stupid? “..Branding strategies have included the use of a blog where he shares his personal experiences and relates them to his brand.” (Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg.109) I been blogging my experience and start-up of my brand and I can now keep it and allow it grow daily to help ensure I keep my consumers up to date and allow them to see my process and actually feel a part of my brand.

“My target market is primarily young and urban.” (Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg.148) In developing my sayings/slogans I had to take into consideration my target market and who they were. I want my consumers to feel a sense of uniqueness and a step out of normalcy and a dive into STUPIDITY!

“The company has generated such a media stir that fashion gurus everywhere are buzzing ecstatically over the garments.” (Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg. 157) This is how I want my company to develop into; a brand that causes a stir in the media. That’s why the creation process is a giant step. It has to be a great development in order to succeed to a media buzz phenomenon. “There are few people you meet during your lifetime who make a permanent impression.” (Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg. 125) This is how I want my brand to implement to my consumers. I want to make a permanent impression. I feel with a great project and a creativity approach you can achieve this status. “…became one of the most unique and hippest premium lifestyle brands competing in the fashion underwear market.” (Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg. 159)

EOC: Wk 9 Exercise

Ben Sander branded himself as Brini Maxwell. How would you create your own personal brand? What would your logo be? How would you design business cards? What would your theme song be? What would you sell? And who would your target audience be? Finally, where would you show your brand? On television, in a store, or on the Internet? Write and design a project that reflects the ideas of developing your own personal brand. Use the previous questions as an outline.

If I had a brand I would start my own line accessories. I’m passionate about what I produce on myself therefore my product would be a reflection of me and I would want the best, most unique accessories out there. I love observing what people are wearing and see how they developed their own sense of style. My brand would be called Bean Town Brod. I am from Boston and I am a “brod” or lady so I wanted something that would attract my target market and even those not in my range. I want to supply all types of people and allow them to express themselves how they want to be viewed and if that means wearing my accessories than great! For songs that would represent my brand would change daily or even weekly. I love all genres of music I could not just pin point one song. I would start out with the song “Then He Kissed Me” by The Crystals. Bring a little old school back into the mix. Not to mention I love this song and it reminds me of Elizabeth Shue in Adventures in Babysitting. My target audience is young 18 to 25 year old adults that love living out-of-the box and have a sense of uniqueness. Income level would be around $22,000 and up. I would market my brand everywhere that my target audience would look, magazines, wholesale, internet.