Christmas Season

Yet again, it is Christmas season! All I currently hear from my children is their NEED for the newest toy marketed through whatever cartoon/show they have recently seen on t.v.  As much as I hate to admit it, marketing things to children really pays off. Some of these items, I would never decide to purchase these items for my kids on my own. My 4 year old has recently realized she can not live another day without a Chocolate Pen. This is an item that lets you write in chocolate like a cake decorator. Shes 4. There is no way I will be purchasing it. If she saw it in the store, she would pass right by it, but since it has been marketed as the most amazing item ever, she wants and needs it. If I broke down and purchased it, she would love it for the first 5 minutes, the it would go in the bottom of the toy box along with the Elsa doll, and Barbie camera set from last year. 
Christmas is the season where all toy companies heavily market to children because it is universally known that parents will send $300. on a Barbie car and not blink an eye.

Entrepreneur.com

I have recently fallen in love with the website entrepreneur.com. It has a wealth of information from product placement to marketing strategies. If you haven't checked it out, I strongly suggest you do! I love going through the different articles and blogs that are published daily. It gives a lot of insight not only for entrepreneurs but anyone looking for marketing ideas or wacky business ideas. 

online shopping during the holiday season.

I recently came across an interesting news video on Wal-mart.  According to NBC News and the Today show, Walmart is predicted to be in a price war with Amazon.com, the current largest retailer. In a world where everything you want is at your finger tips, Walmart is struggling to keep up with major online retailers like Amazon.com. The hassle of fighting the crowd during Christmas Season has been virtually replaced with the ability to buy items from home. Walmart is partially blaming a plunge in stock (10% in a single day) a raise in their start rate to $9 this year and $10 next year. Along with the struggle to compete with online retailers for price and convince, Walmart is having to deal with workers group protesting for higher pay for the next 15 days.

I has become increasingly difficult to do business without change.





the link to the article and video can be found here: Wal-mart Workers Group Protest

Word-of-Mouth

With so much focus on social media marketing and web marketing, I believe word-of-mouth has been overlooked. I know as a consumer, when a friend tells me about amazing  or even horrible service received, I tend to listen to their opinion. A person reference to a business can draw in a larger customer base just as easily as a web based marketing strategy.  I recently came across an article on entrepreneur.com entitled 5 Ways to Maximize Word-of-Mouth Marketing     The article has some really good points when dealing with marketing and was informative and interesting. One of the points that has really struck home was to connect to the human emotion. Sometimes, I personally feel that although the internet has brought on a wealth of knowledge and innovative technologies at our finger tips, it has hindered personal contact. 

market trends

I was recently informed that half of all sales made in the US last year were made through mobile apps, and that some start up companies are using social media networks such as Facebook to bombard businesses with their product. It seems to be very successful in some instances.
 I can remember a time when the only internet service available was AOL and if you were lucky enough to have a cell phone, it was a nokia brick. AOL and AIM were the basis of social media at that time. I find the growth and movement of technology within the last 15 years to be very exciting. I can't wait to see whats to come within the next 5-10. As a culture, we are making all marketing strategies that are not web based obsolete. 

My Dream Business

After some long evening, I have come to the conclusion that what I really want to do is start a business that I can pour my heart and soul into. A few years ago, I had the absolute pleasure of working for a crazy little lady named Jackie Beavers. Her nickname was Taz, because she was a mini tornado. Just watching her could make you exhausted. With the backing of some good friends, she started a liquor store named "Dandy's".  Her mission was to provide the coldest beer and the largest selection of liquor and wine in Florence, Alabama. Her mission statement was "The Friendliest Place in Town" and it was just that. Dandy's was the island of misfit toys but it worked and quickly became her "baby". Through hard work, determination, and ingenuity Jackie made millions. Since my experience with her, I have desired to have that kind of passion for a business.  

Don't get discouraged

I've recently found myself becoming very discouraged with my business and marketing ideas. This has been a difficult month not only fulfilling my educations and business goals but also dealing with personal loss.  Some days, I want to throw in the towel and give up. Then, I remind myself that there are a hundred people who didn't let discouragement get to them. With enough hard work and know how, I can succeed in anything I want to do.

Online Children's Boutique

I have given a lot of though to opening an online children's boutique.  Being a mother myself, I am well aware of the fact that in America, we spend more money on our children than anything else.  I would love to be able to open an online children's boutique.  The start-up cost with an online business is lower and because it is online, I could set my own hours rather than being consumed by a start-up within a building. I have found it to be extremely difficult to find boys clothes along with girls clothes. Another advantage to opening online would be to reach a larger demographic and not be confined to my general area. ( I love that online marketing makes it easier to reach a larger group of people. )

Lessons in Marketing

Lately, I've had friends ask for market and business advice. I am by no means an expert on the subject but there are a few things I have learned so far. I have to remind myself that just because I love the idea, does not mean that everyone is going to buy into it. There is a lot more to starting a business than just having a great idea or making a great product. This is a hard lesson to learn. I've had to explain to my neighbor that although she might love the hotdogs she makes, sadly, others may not love them enough to pay the amount she will need to charge  at the frequency she will need to sell them. 

In the past two years, the idea of opening a bar in Florence by UNA has crossed my mind several times. I have experience with ABC regulations for on and off site alcohol vending and it would be a great business venture. The down side is that the city of Florence Alabama has a few "bars" in the down town area. These bars are considered restaurants that serve alcohol and have to maintain a higher percentage of foods sales verses alcohol sales for remain open.  Another idea that my significant other brought up is opening a paint ball/ air soft field. He has gone so far as to create a detailed business plan. It would be a great idea if the economy was doing better. As it stands, it would be extremely difficult to maintain an area, create a customer base, afford to maintain the proper insurance, and make a profit.

Online Marketing

Over the last few months I've tried to follow some marketing trends.  I've concluded that the easiest way to market anything is online. Everyone is so busy it makes more sense to purchase needed items online.  Another thing I've noticed is that as a nation, we are obsessed with our children and our pets. I've seen more people buy things simply because their children want it, or because its something for their pet. I
 know that as a parent, i will spend money on my children that I won't spend on myself.

Keeping up with blog ideas.

First let me say I am wonderful at having business and marketing ideas, but I'm horrible at remembering them. I have just recently started keeping up with them on my phone. It always seem that if I don't put these ideas somewhere, I forget them and they are lost forever. This does gives me the idea of creating an app to organize ideas easily.

Pinterest and an Online Boutique

Pinterest is a social media site where you "pin" things of interest and each item that comes up has the ability to be clicked and takes you straight to the website it can be found on.  I have been a member of Pinterest for 4 years.  I have to admit it's an amazing site that caters to everyone.  I recently came across and fell in love with a online boutique that not only is available on their website but branched out to Facebook and Pinterest.  The exciting thing about this is that their page can be followed for new product and their items can be "pinned" to boards as a reference to a later purchase.  As a busy mother and student I find things i want but forget where i found them. I love having the ability to "Pin" this item to go back and purchase later. 

Online Wedding Business Idea

My cousin is getting married in September 2015.  She has decided on a "Shabby Chic/Country" wedding. Since I am such a wonderful and crafty cousin, I have been recruited to come up with things made from burlap.  After a lot of hot glue burns, I have come to the realization that there is a lot of money to be made in the wedding business.  The average U.S. wedding cost $24,000.  From decorations to favors, there are so many things to purchase or make.  Personally, I can see this as a huge opportunity to market items online because after spending all day making 150 napkin and silverware holders, I would much rather purchase them than save a little money doing them myself.