SAINT MKT301 MODULE 3 AND MODULE 4 DISCUSSIONS

Module 3 Discussion

“I love that brand”

If you’ve had a really bad day (one of those “I wish I had stayed in bed days”), is there a product that always makes you feel better? How about at the holidays; does your family have favorite foods that you associate with all the good things the holidays mean to you? The firms that make those products certainly hope so, because it means they have been successful in creating a brand image that you associate with positive feelings or values. We don’t even have to eat that favorite food; just the logo or jingle can cause us to make those associations. Explore the brands you love and how the firms that sell them to you have created a brand image.

For this discussion, first read Real Marketing 8.2 in the textbook. Then, select one of your favorite brands and describe how you see its brand image. What do you think the firm did to create that image? If you were the brand manager for the product, what would you do to continue building that brand? Be specific and get creative. After all, if Harley Davidson can build a brand that makes 55 year old orthodontists feel like wild weekend bikers – the road’s wide open.

Module 4 Discussion

You actually bought THAT?

You and a group of your co-workers take a long lunch on Friday and visit the local mall for a quick snack and some speed shopping. Being polite and valuing your co-worker’s friendship, you don’t burst out in laughter when you see what is unmistakably the most hideous blouse in the history of Macy’s, not to mention how much she paid for it! Clearly, you have MUCH better taste. Sorry, it’s not that simple. Consumer behavior, or why we buy what we buy, is complex and influenced by our culture, family values, self-image, and attitudes (just to name a few factors).

After reading Chapter 5 in the text, paying special attention to the characteristics of buying behavior starting on page 137, consider the product you are using for your marketing plan. Which of the factors influencing consumer buying behavior best fits your product, and how do the factors drive the consumer’s likelihood to purchase? (For insights into this, be sure to read Real Marketing 5.1 and 5.2). Is culture important to your buyer behavior? How about self-concept or lifestyle? Are there psychological motivations? Be specific and give examples supporting your decisions.