Week 10 - EOC

Kembel likens brand-online communities to gardens—you don’t just launch them, you grow them. That, he says, is what Right Now was able to do on behalf of client Environmental Data Resources (see “A Community in Crisis,” Real ROI). “The fundamentals of [a brand-online community],” Kembel says, “[are] to be able to be shaped and architect-ed for support, loyalty, marketplace, insight, and innovation.”

I like this quote because I agree with Kembel. I think it's important, especially for a new company like mine, to really care for and nurture your new company. My company will not become a giant redwood towering over all the world overnight. It takes time, patience, and many many days nurturing you brand so that it can grow a solid foundation upon which to grow.

To work on my foundation I will use online media(namely Twitter + Facebook) to help plant my brands name into the hearts and minds of my readers and followers. Since we are a company who's main export is Vokda, we will provide information on when our newest drinks hit the market, and what is coming soon. We will provide fun stories sent in by our followers about how they best enjoyed their nights out with Public House.

Part of nuturing and building a brand is protecting it. We plan on providing different ways to keep our customers safe so that they can enjoy our product while making sure they get home safe at the same time. We will use websites like Twitter to remind all those drinking to do so responsibly and safely. We will also provide a service on our websites home page to all those who plan on drinking tonight to please enter your phone number, zip code, and the time you plan on coming home and we will text your mobile phone will numbers for cab companies in you area so ensure that you always come home safe.

Week 9 - EOC

Something I bought at a high price that I just had to have was the Deluxe Edition of Radiohead's Kid A album that was released in October 2000 for $45. This album came out ten years ago and I still paid over 3 times the normal c.d. price because I guess you could say that I am a fan? Maybe subconsciously I wanted to look like I really know my Radiohead and thus must have the album. To me, this c.d. means a lot of things both musically and personally. I've listened to my old copy of Kid A probably a hundred times on and off through many different times in my life and have thoroughly worn it out. It's special to me and almost sacred in nature. I get personally offended if people don't like it and feel that if they do like it, then we will probably be kindred spirits. The c.d. isn't just music either, it has a few videos from a few of Radiohead's live shows and also features interviews the band has given throughout the years. This album may only be 9.99 on iTunes, but to hold a copy on my hands and to know that I'm willing to invest in bands that I like is important to me, so that's why I paid so much for it.

Week 8 - EOC

Qonverse Select Vodkas

Qonverse Vodka is fun. We are about the experience. We take boring old flavors of vodka and judo chop them into new and intoxicating flavors like Lemon Spark. It's our fabulous new mixture of lemon juice and cayenne pepper that starts out slow, letting that familiar flavor of lemonade tickle your taste buds for a few nostalgic seconds that remind you of your childhood days. But before you know whats happening it follows up with a blast of tangy pepper gold that reminds you why life is always better as an adult. 

Qonverse wants to be at the center of every night, every party, every wedding and every wake. Something has to get the mood going again.


Qonverse Vodka - Join the party

Week 6 - EOC

This EOC requires us to come up with fantastically bad products. My hypothetical new product that follows along those guidelines is a set of feet warmers for driving. Hear me out, these feet warmers will be strapped to the floor, ideal for those long drives when the cruise control is on and having your shoes on is just too uncomfortable. The feet warmers will be attached to the floor with Velcro so if there is a need to quickly get your foot up to the brake pedal you can bust out with minimal effort.

Week 5 - EOC

The 1971 Chevelle SS.

This car is bursting with testosterone, grease, and beer. I'm not saying women won't like it because all women want guys in muscle cars, I'm just saying it won't like women. It wasn't made for women. This man-made beast of a machine was built for one purpose, burning rubber. Check out the racing tires, look at the hood(and picture what's underneath), and just imagine yourself churning down the road as other cars remain flecks in your rear view. Picture yourself rolling down the road in this horsepower strapped piece of retro-badassery and then ask yourself, do I really want that Toyota anymore? Is it really that important that I get that hybrid for the environment, I'm just one man what can I possibly do to help save the o-zone? The answer is nothing, decide to place the o-zone into the hands of much lesser men than yourself and sit down on the cigarette burnt leather seats, grab your 8-track collection(you know you still have one), and prepare to propel your life into the well-used future.

Week 4 - EOC

Marketing & Advertising, what's the big difference?

Marketing:
The systematic planning, implementation and control of a mix of business activities intended to bring together buyers and sellers for the mutually advantageous exchange or transfer of products. 

Advertising:
A single component of the marketing process. It's the part that involves getting the word out concerning your business, product, or the services you are offering.

Sounds kind of similar right? Well let me say it like this. Marketing is the big picture, advertising is one small piece of the big marketing scheme. Marketing encompasses advertising and everything else like public relations and market research. Advertising is one piece to the puzzle(albeit a big piece) that makes a successful campaign.

Week 3 - EOC

Something interesting I never knew about until today is that we don't want the dollar to have too much power, and we also don't want the dollar to have enough power.

Definition of Inflation:
"Inflation is defined as a sustained increase in the general level of prices for goods and services. It is measured as an annual percentage increase. As Inflation rises, every dollar you own buys a smaller percentage of a good or service."

What happens when Inflation rates go up, is that the purchasing power if the dollar goes down. Something you would be able to buy for $1.00 this year, could cost $1.05 next year if the annual Inflation Rate went up 5%.

The opposite of Inflation is Deflation which is the decrease in the power of the dollar. When you see the worth of the dollar fall, you will also see rising rates in unemployment which if lasting long enough can cause an economic depression.

Sources:
http://www.investopedia.com/university/inflation/inflation1.asp
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/deflation.asp

Week 2 - EOC

Bad Customer Experience

My worst customer experience was probably at the DMV, duh. First, I had to be there on my birthday which already had me in a bad mood, but there is nothing worse than being in a bad mood when the person serving you is in one as well. I stood in line for 3 hours, then was told that I was in the wrong line and that I needed to be in another. I told the lady that not only was I told to be in this line by an employee at the DMV but all I was standing in line for was to pick up some paperwork that she totally could have gotten for me. But she was in a bad mood, and said she couldn't help me and that it's my fault for believing what I was told. Nooooot cool.

Good Customer Experience

One of my favorite experiences as a customer was when I bought a suit for my wedding reception. I was with my future wife and the time, and we were stressed because not only did I(and still don't) know or care anything about suits, but I had other things on my mind, like getting married. So we went to Macy's at the Galleria Mall and headed up the the mens suit department. When we got there, we were greeted by an older lady who promptly measured me and then gave me a handful of suits to try on and then put me in a dressing room. Now she was probably just doing her job, but her knowledge of how to handle a groom like me and her skills in customer service, she was able to give me a very stress free shopping experience in a very stressful moment in my life.

Week 1 - EOC

Hello my name is Bryan Blake. I’m a Web and Graphic Designer focusing on creating brilliant websites and interactive materials that enhance user interactivity and encourage communication.

What I find most exciting about Web Design is the fact that the web is always changing and evolving, forcing the user to try and experience new things. I like the web, enjoy change and am very excited about the direction the web has taken in recent years. I am interested in making the web a more beautiful place and always appreciate a website that has a clear message, good copy, clean typography and a fast loading time, because nobody likes to wait.

I hope to one day work in the advertising world creating dynamic websites and online materials for new brands, old brands, musicians, movies and everything in between using programming languages like PHP, JavaScript, HTML and CSS.

Aside from Web Design I also enjoy Graphic Design. I love creating printed materials and graphics like logos and brand Identities, Magazine Layouts and Publication Designs, CD Covers and much more.