EOC WK 8: My Creative Content / Mission Statement

The creative concept for my food truck is “The Caribe a la Carte”, an island on wheels. The design of the truck will look, when facing the serving side, like an exotic beach with palm trees on each side of the truck. The marketing strategy for this concept will involve social media outlets, and an event calendar informing our customers the locations and the hours of operation on each location. We will also give a 20% discount to our customers who show up on the location wearing island clothing, such as a Hawaiian shirt or a flower dress. Focusing on the customer experience, “We decided if we can put all the money possible into our customer service, word of mouth will work in our favor.” This is a quote from Aaron Magness, the business developer from Zappo’s. Relying on the word of mouth from our customers, who are Internet savvy, and it is our customers who are going to help build this business and make it successful. They are other events that this truck will promote, like the reggae and salsa festivals that are held here in Las Vegas. The goal is to have our customers feel like they are coming to a pre- concert, or post concert reggae, or salsa event. Promoting these events on our website will give our customers the feeling of the lifestyle that The Caribe a la Carte is promoting. The fun loving lifestyle of living on an oasis that everyone loves to experience. The online commercial advertisement will inform the viewer that if they can escape their regular routine and visit an island on wheels, “Caribe a la Carte”, and enjoy a short vacation from the everyday routine. Enjoy the great taste of island foods from the Caribbean; you will smile like you are relaxing on a beach.

EOC WK 7: The Pitch "Caribe a la Carte"

EOC Week 7: The Pitch “Caribe a la Carte”

Caribe a la Carte is a food truck that delivers the exotic flavors of the Caribbean. Select dishes from the region that are island specific, and affordable in price. Examples are: Puerto Rican Meat Patties, Jamaican Curry, Tostones, Cuban Chicken Salad, Aroz con Gondules, Puerto Rican Chicken Burger, The Marley Burger, and other various foods. Some of the foods are tedious to prep, but it takes no time at all to actually cook. The drink menu will include: Banana & Coconut, Banana & Mango smoothies, non alcoholic Pina Coladas, Coquito, Morir Sonando. We will also be serving flavored shaved ice cones as well.

People love food from the Caribbean, there is no food truck in the Las Vegas area that serves food of this kind. Catering to the large Hispanic community that live in the general area, but people who love the island life style will always want to re live their experience in the Caribbean. When the customers arrive to our location, they will be enjoying a melody of music from the region. Reggae, Salsa & Merenge, Cumbia, and Latin Jazz will be on our play list. Dancing will be encouraged, because we would like it if our customers have a good time while they are waiting, and enjoying the food. Who says you can’t eat and dance at the same time?? The goal here is to develop an experience that our customers will remember so that they will desire to come back and they know that they will have a good time in doing so. Caribe a la Carte, who says that you have to be on an island to live like you’re on one?

EOC WK 6: Me x 3, Products I Use

This week’s EOC‘s topic is about the 3 products that I personally use on a day to day basis and the reasons why I use them. Let me begin by telling you a little bit about me first, Gen Xer and what I like. I grew up about the time Hip Hop was born. I grew up listening to RUN DMC and the Beastie Boys, and I specifically remember that no one was wearing NIKE’s shoes or sportswear. NIKE’s were worn by upper-class tennis players, or people that wanted to go cross country running or something. All the break dancers and DJ’s, or every one that was involved in that culture wore ADDIDAS. It sticks with me until this day; I prefer to wear ADDIDAS I believe for this reason is because I grew up with their products and their lifestyle. Another product that I use is Levi’s jeans. I never liked those fancy jeans and shiny stuff on them for guys… it’s to pretty for me and my tastes. I think that designs on jeans for men are absurd; jeans are comfortable and sometimes are worn to work in. Levi’s are nice, comfortable and the designs are not to flashy for my tastes. Last but not least, when it comes to technology I use Apple products for all my technical needs. I have an Apple computer at home and a laptop for all my editing needs. Apple is a dependable product, especially if you use them in the creative process. I use Pro Tools software; combined with Apple it runs seamless without any delays. I guess when it comes down to it, things that are to flashy are hip and I like it when technology actually works for what it’s made for.

EOC WK 5: Social Networks and Job Hunting

This week’s EOC deals with social networking and how it effects potential employees and employers in the field. There is a article written in the WSJ this week “Job Recruiters Turn to Facebook to Find Candidates”, in this article it points out a few reasons why employers are using this new method. Facebook has an estimated 750 million users worldwide, and some recruiters have cut cost by eliminating on line job boards which can charge up to a hundred dollars per posting depending on volume. People also tend to value referrals if they are sent by someone in their network even though Linked In has comprehensive data base. “Candidates have been 50% more likely to apply to positions they found through Facebook than through other means, said Mr. Staney. "[Job boards] just blast it out. This is much more efficient and targeted," he said. Interesting quote, I think this tells me that people who use Facebook are more comfortable using a system that is more relaxed, and they know that the people who share the same interests referred them the job posting. This is the reason why Facebook is slowly becoming a force when it comes to the job placement market, making Linked In feel threatened. Linked In’s revenue is growing rapidly, “In the second quarter, the company's hiring solutions segment—which among other things helps recruiters search through their profile database for candidates—grew 170% to $58.6 million from the same quarter a year earlier.” Linked In has the hire end of the market cornered, people who have a resume with some history and some real world experience. Employers like reviewing candidate’s profiles on Facebook to get a general idea of the candidate’s personality, to make sure that they’ll be a good fit for the company. This information is useful if you are looking for work in today’s market, the web is a great platform to display your professional skills.

EOC WK 4: Consumers vs. Business Marketing

“Consumers are always right,” I don’t know how many times I have heard that, but it is true. Consumers and business marketers have a yin and yang thing happening, a cycle that constantly revolves around one another. Business marketers will constantly survey the way consumers spend their money, and attempt to figure out the sole reason they make their purchases. “The idea that the mind is a computer with storage compartments where brands or logos or recognizable packages are stored in clearly marked folders that can be accessed by cleverly written ads or commercials simply doesn’t exist. Instead, the mind is a whirling, swirling, jumbled mass of neurons bouncing around, colliding and continuously creating new concepts and thoughts and relationships inside every single person’s brain all over the world.” Marketers want to understand this mystery and they are many factors to this equation, like culture, religion, family structure, age, etc. With this information, marketers have a general idea about consumer behavior, and why the consumer is choosing the products they are buying. “The buying process starts with need recognition—the buyer recognizes a problem or need. The need can be triggered by internal stimuli when one of the person’s normal needs—hunger, thirst, sex—rises to a level high enough to become a drive.” Understanding buyer behavior the business marketer can begin on strategizing ways to attract the consumer. Advertising campaigns can cost millions of dollars, but it is more than just money. It’s about keeping the consumer for a long period of time to gain back the initial investment and maximize profits. Listening to what the consumer is saying will help business marketer reach their goals, customer satisfaction is key.

EOC WK 3: Demographics - MINE

I was born in 1971, which makes me out to be a Generation X-er , and I believe that I do fit the typical description described by most marketing analysis. I grew up when computers and video games were being developed, and I can remember learning how to operate computers in my Jr. High classes. The technology was quite interesting from what I remember, and what intrigued me more the capabilities that were being done in using this technology in making music. By the time I graduated high school and moved out, my parents had divorced. I guess that’s why I can truly relate to this quote “The Generation Xers are defined as much by their shared experiences as by their age. Increasing parental divorce rates and higher employment for their mothers made them the first generation of latchkey kids. Although they seek success, they are less materialistic; they prize experience, not acquisition.” My mother had a job when I reached the 6th grade, so I had my own set of keys when I was in the seventh grade. In keeping touch with my friends in high school, about half of the kids I knew had the same experience with their parents divorcing. Some families sold their houses in the neighborhood for this reason, and my family had sold the house as well. The text book also describes Gen X-ers as “Most Gen Xers are woefully behind in saving for retirement—and they worry about it. Still, nearly half of Gen Xers say they are so saddled with debt or live on such tight budgets that they can’t even think about saving.” I’m also inquiring about financial freedom, and debt management is something that I’m learning about. Having a big bill to pay after I graduate with a mortgage payment will definitely cramp my lifestyle.

EOC WK 2: Video Games Can't Dodge the Recession

The video game industry can’t dodge the recession, well who can? The recession has taken a toll on the U.S financial structure as a whole, but the video game industry is now feeling the pinch. Some of the reasons can be quoted in the recent article “Video Game Makers Cant’s Dodge The Recession,” in the Wall Street Journal written by Yukari Iwatani Kane and it states “Many console and PC game sales are also being cannibalized by digitally downloaded games and alternative entertainment sources like Apple Inc.'s iPhone, which offers thousands of games that can cost only 99 cents or even nothing at all.” Video game companies have invested millions of dollars in creating their game consoles; with this type of competition they are not seeing the return of their investment. EPA studios has downsized their studios, and most major players has seen sales decrease in the past few years, but does this really mean that it is game over for the video game industry? Not according to an article posted on www.redorbit.com, stating “The video game industry in the U.S. has been thriving despite economic woes. Industry data showed on Thursday that sales of video game hardware and software rose 57 percent in March from just a year ago.” This leads into another quote in the same article, “Microsoft’s Xbox 360 regained its lead over Sony's PlayStation 3 after two months of sluggish sales the company blamed on supply constraints. Consumers bought 262,000 Xbox 360s and 257,000 PlayStation 3s.” What I think what is happening here is that some people panicked over a slight slump in sales, overlooking the market sales projection in terms of the future. In an article written by a video game analyzer Pachter in www.1up.com, he quotes “Pachter offers this prediction: "I don't think that the market meltdown will impact game delivery for a couple of years, if ever." I guess this is a topic to be observed in the near future.