Week 3 EOC: Demographics- MINE

Being born in 1986, I obviously fall under the Millennial category. I feel I belong to a mixture of both of the Millennial and the Generation X categories.

I identify with the Millennial because of its connection with mass social media today, with the internet, social networking, and technology, and the ability to establish means of getting the word out, the best example being the successful Obama text campaign. (“Barack Obama was the first presidential candidate to be marketed like a high-end consumer brand…young people want to be in control of their relationship with a brand ”, page 17) The truth is, we are being modeled by our technology and per evolution, we should adapt and use it to our advantage.

I also identify with the Generation X because of their conservative means of saving their money and judging what is of proper value before you go and buy something. For example, when I want to buy a DVD/BluRay, I want to make sure I’m getting the proper value for what I am paying for. (“They tend to research products before they consider a purchase, preferring quality over quantity, and they tend to be less receptive to overt marketing pitches”, page 16)

While I am undoubtedly part of the category that is leading the way in technology and being the first that actually learned how to properly use it, I also feel comforted to know that at least the previous generation has managed to more or less shave off that “slacker” label as they’ve grown older (“Once labeled as ‘the MTV generation’ and viewed as body-piercing slackers who whined about ‘McJobs,’ the Gen Xers have grown up and are now taking over.”, page 15). It’s shown that the youth are very much aware of what we’re up against, and what we have to do to survive.

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group

With the rise of Zynga and nearly-free games accessible through Facebook, it’s taken on the meteoric rise in the gaming industry and seen as the next big star. According to Wall Street Daily, “With 60 million people signing onto Zynga’s games daily, the company is selling 38,000 virtual items… every second (http://www.wallstreetdaily.com/2011/07/18/gaming-industry-zynga-freemium)”.  The same applies for the millions of Andorid application games that can be downloaded for a dollar or even free.

Of course, the old standbys, the Sony Playstations are the Cash Cows. It’s hit its peak with PS3, but the series is still a favorite and versatile, keeping its sales strong. However, a PlayStation 4 has been rumored to be in the works, and to stay relevant, T3.com reports that “Further features touted on the concept Sony PlayStation 4 include a 3D Blu-ray player, HDMI connection ports and USB 3.0 connections. (http://www.t3.com/news/sony-playstation-4-concept-design-hints-at-ps4-form?=58583)”.

The Microsoft Xbox is an interesting case. One has been made that it’s in its demise, but some till see it as potentially profitable. That’s why I put it in the Big Question Mark. According to the Brand Channel, “Even so, Xbox continues to be the #1 console in the US. Microsoft reported selling approximately 507,000 Xbox 360 units in America in the month of June. (http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2011/07/18/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Continues-to-Win.aspx)”.

Whether it’s pretty certain this wouldn’t be a future star a second time around, it could potentially find staying power as a cash cow that reap in at least something of a profit, even if Microsoft still treads close to breaking even on it.

Last, and certainly least, the Windows 7 Phone is the long-past dead dog on here. It never got off on a good foot to begin with. Its interface was regarded as behind on the technology and Microsoft is quickly losing relevance in the smartphone race.

Week 1: Great Customer Service

I had a terrific customer service experience at Terrible’s Oil and Lube a few weeks ago. My car was due for its oil change, and it was the first time I was ever doing one. I had been expecting it to go into the hundreds, with a bunch of add-on charges. However, I had a coupon for $10 off the oil change at Terrible’s, so I elected to go to them. The wait was instantaneous, and their simple oil change was priced at $37.99, not including taxes. With my discount, plus taxes, it came out to $33 total. While waiting, I was given free coupons for Ballpark Hot Dogs inside of the gas station, as well as free reign of the coffee and donuts. The oil change took no more than 15 minutes, and you have full view of what they were doing to my car in the meantime. To put icing on this, they offered a free full service car wash), and with free use of the vacuum cleaners, which I gladly accepted. The men there were courteous, welcoming, very informative of letting me know what was being done to my car, and for $33, I got myself about $50-$60 worth of service.

“Whereas Wal-Mart stands for low prices, Costco is a retail treasure hunt, where one’s shopping cart could contain a $50,000 diamond ring resting on top of a vat of mayonnaise.” (Marketing- An Introduction, p. 343)

The quote rings true because many places claim the low prices mantle, but it’s also a matter of the value you get for the product, and if it’s the best overall savings for you in bulk at Cosco, rather than one at a time at WalMart. In car service, you’ll need every bit of value you can get.

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

As a Digital Film and Video Production professional, I’ve become very much embedded in the process for the past three years now. I’ve been very much into the post-production process for the past several years, enamored with how movies can drastically be differed with a little editing, music score, and determining how we see the image on the screen. With the DVD and BluRay market opening the door to film restoration and the recovery of great movies and lost footage, I’ve made that my career goal in due time. I have one year left in my time here at AILV and I’d like to take the advantage of the post-production process and sharpen my skills so when I get my degree, I can be ready to hit the group running. I’m aware it will be freelance and simple work to begin with, but it’s all part of a building process that will lead me to my primary goal. I’ve already digitally restored a few VHS home movie tapes as practice with considerable success given the condition of them. I feel a great opportunity to be a storyteller and give movies their original meaning once again is upon me and I am excited about the possibilities in the future for me. Too many films that can’t be left lost in time.