Week 5 Blog Assignment

Ok everyone, because I will be in NYC this week........NO BLOG ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK!!! Aren't you excited? There are two conditions for this gift:

• You are very well behaved for the sub
• You keep this little secret to yourselves....make everyone look it up and figure it out for themselves.

We'll see you next week!!!

Week 4 Blog Due 5/4/07

Fashion Marketing

Examine the following websites
http://www.designcollectivempls.com/
http://beehiveco-op.com/

In your own words tell me the following

• What are these two websites? Give detailed descriptions
• Who are their target market? Why?
• What type of merchandise do they sell?
• In what type of space are they located?
• Based on the websites, how are their stores laid out?
• If you were a local designer, how could you get your merchandise in the store?
• Would you shop there? Why or why not?
• There is a huge trend toward "indie" designs for everything from clothing to home. Why do you think that is......you should be able to write a paragraph on this one.

Sales and Marketing

Please read the following article:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/marketingideas/guerrillamarketingcolumnistallautenslager/article172286.html

This article talks about guerilla marketing which we will be discussing this week in class.

Write a summary for this article and making sure to tell me why guerilla marketing is important. Then, go to google images and find 5 expamples of guerilla marketing (there were 46,000 hits when I looked it up, so you should easily be able to find 5). Copy the picture to your paper and write the following:

• What the guerilla marketing is
• Company
• Do you think it was effective...why or why not

Be descriptive...you know details count!!

Week 3 Blog DUE 4/27/07

Ok, So this got posted a little late..... you'll still have plenty of time to get it finished!!

FASHION MARKETING

Please read the attached article:
http://money.cnn.com/2004/09/28/pf/sixfigs_eight/index.htm

Read about the lucrative, but highly unpredictable world of fashion forcasting. Summarize the article and talk about the risks and stress involved in having this kind of job. Then find a blog or company that deals in forecasting and tell me what you think some of the next great fashion trends will be. I can't pay you six figures, but it will be fun to hear what you come up with!! Make sure you site your sources.

Some suggestions for sites to look at:
www.fashioninformation.com
www.iconoculture.com (based in MN!!)
www.springwise.com
www.trendspotting.com


SALES AND MARKETING

One of the concepts we talk alot about in marketing is the concept of promotion. Getting the word out about your product or service through conventional or unconventional means. Many times during your life you will have the opportunity to promote yourself, so we bring up the topic of self promotion. Sometimes it is referred to as networking. Think about all the times you may have to promote yourself: jobs, scholarship, dates, colleges, interviews, marriage proposal, inlaws, or even impressing your teacher during class!! Think about how you would promote yourself as someone I should give 100 points extra credit to. I'm not going to give those points out, but for this assignment do the following:

• Look up the concept of self promotion and tell me what you find online (what sort of things pop up on your search). Describe 3
• Create a tagline or slogan for yourself which best describes why you would deserve the 100 points
• Make sure to describe your tagline
• Finally, write a paragraph or listing of reasons (realistic) as to why I should pick you.

Week 2 Blog Assignment Due 4/20/07

Remember your blog assignments are due at the beginning of class time........that includes your printing!!

FASHION MARKETING
Read the attached article on Fashion Marketing 101:
http://www.optitex.com/en/News_-and-_Events/Professional_Articles/Fashion_Marketing/Fashion_Marketing_101

Write a brief summary of the article. and answer the questions below
How do fashion marketers help designers?
How do fashion marketers help retailers?
What do you think are some of the most important characteristics of fashion marketers?
Which one do you feel is the most important? Why?


SALES AND MARKETING
Read the attached article on Buzz Marketing.
http://www.graphicdefine.org/issue1/buzzmarketing

This concept has been generating alot of "buzz" in the marketing industry. Summarize the article making sure you define buzz marketing.
Why is it important?
Do you believe buzz marketing can work? How?
Give an example of specifically how you could create "buzz" about the product you are designing for your product development project.

Week 1 BLOG ASSIGNMENT DUE 4/13/07

Welcome to the blog!! Here is where you will find your weekly homework assignment. You may also find extra credit assignments and other random bits of information that I find interesting. The weekly assignment is due at the beginning of the hour on the day it is due. Each assignment is worth roughly 10 point. If it is turned in after the beginning of the hour, the most it will be worth is 7 points. If it is handed in on Monday, it will be worth 5 points. You will see how quickly these points can add up.....or not add up!!

Please turn in your assignment in the following way:

• Your name and hour
• Blog Week
• Blog Title
• Make sure to site your sources if you are researching

Fashion Marketing

Find a blog that discusses topics for your class. This can be accomplished by doing a google search on Fashion Blogs. Read several entries and answer the following questions:

What is the name of the blog? Make sure you provide the name and a link

Who writes the blog: name, profession, etc. Is it one person or a group
Where is the blogger from
How frequently (in general) do they blog
What types of topics do they blog about
Copy and paste one entry to your paper, to give us an idea of topics discussed.
Did you like the blog? why or why not
What could we use the blog for in class
Remember to come prepared to share your results with the class!!

Happy Blogging

SALES AND MARKETING

Find a blog that discusses topics for your class. This can be accomplished by doing a google search on Marketing Blogs. Read several entries and answer the following questions:
What is the name of the blog make sure you provide the name and a link
Who writes the blog: name, profession, etc. Is it one person or a group
Where is the blogger from
How frequently (in general) do they blog
What types of topics do they blog about
Copy and paste one entry to your paper, to give us an idea of topics discussed.
Did you like the blog? why or why not
What could we use the blog for in class
Remember to come prepared to share your results with the class!!

Happy Blogging

Week 9 Blog Assignment Due 3/30/07

OK everyone, this is it.......your last blog assignment. Please remember it is due at the beginning of the hour on Friday....some of you really need the points!!

Have a great week everyone. I've really enjoyed this term and I hope you have too!!

ADVERTISING

http://advertising.about.com/od/planning/a/interactivetv.htm

Please read the above article on the future of advertising. Of course you must write a brief summary and tell me if you think the items mentioned in the article could happen. Then tell me two things you think will happen in the future as relates to adveritising.

SALES AND MARKETING

http://edgeperspectives.typepad.com/edge_perspectives/2006/07/mastering_new_m.html

Please read the above blog entry of a blog I've really enjoyed reading as of late. In this entry, John Hagel talks about marketing in the future. Summarize the article and tell me two ideas he has that you think are the most realistic. Don't forget to tell me why you think so!!

ENTREPRENEUR

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/teenstartups/article159566.html

Please read the above article on teen entrepreneurial ideas. Summarize the article and tell me two ideas you think would work best and why. Also, tell me what you could do to be entrepreneurial as a teen. Maybe some of you are already doing something!!

Week 8 Blog Assignment DUE 3/23/07

Your assignment this week is to find a podcast that discusses a topic that relates to your class. For those of you who don't know, a podcast is an audio discussion, lecture, speech, talk, interview, that is posted on the web for all to listen to. You are to search and find either an audio or video podcast. It should be at least five minutes long. Listen to the podcast and write a summary about it....make sure to tell me what you learned. Also, provide a link to the podcast. For extra credit you can download a podcast to your ipod or MP3 player. Share it with me and if I use it for class, you will get extra bonus points. I look forward to listening to all the great stuff I'm sure you will find!!

Some areas to search are:
podcasts.yahoo.com
getapodcast.com
podscope.com
podzinger.com