Apple in damage control mode.

Facing reports of worker abuse and suicide at eight of their top suppliers, Apple CEO Tim Cook agreed to let The Fair Labor Association conduct inspections at the suspect facilities. FLA president Auret van Heerden initially reported that the factories were "first class" and conditions were above average. At the time van Heerden cited alienation and boredom as the only significant issues for workers at the Foxconn facility. After spending several days there, van Heerden now says that there are many issues to be addressed. While he would not reveal any specifics, he did state that the FLA would reveal more information in the weeks to come.
The FLA has also been the subject of criticism from groups like SumOfUs.org. "Instead of actually solving the problem, they’re trying to whitewash it; hiring a business-funded group with a long track record of serving as a corporate mouthpiece,” said Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman, Executive Director of SumOfUs.org.
The FLA will be interviewing 35,000 workers in the next three weeks.
The workers will be asked many questions such as:
-how they were hired.
-were they paid a fee.
-were they offered contracts and if so did they understand it.
-the conditions of their dorm rooms and food
-were their complaints acted on.
-their emotional well-being.
Apple is also facing a trademark dispute regarding the "ipad" name. This is clearly not a helpful distraction as Apple faces their public in an attempt to save face.
Do you think that the spotlight on worker conditions in China will affect Apple's brand?

In response to Brooke's Grocery Store Post

I owned a Pepperidge Farm distribution franchise for four years, and I became very aware of the importance of grocery/convenience store real estate. It is remarkable how much difference both the products location, and amount of shelf space can make.
Chain stores make deals with distributors for preferential placement and shelf space. This takes place at a corporate level and is the same at each location. Usually the bakery that makes the store brand also has the front of the aisle. I had some success in increasing my shelf space by 30% in one store and my sales were also increased by 30%. With that increase I believe that I hit the sweet spot. Additional space would not have produced more sales at that point.
In chain stores I was able to set up special displays at alternate locations in support of promotions. Sometimes this worked out, but people are creatures of habit and they are used to looking for products in certain places.
Owning a business in distribution definitely gave me some insights into marketing.

Google Online Marketing Challenge!

Google is currently running a marketing challenge for students. They are offering prizes to students and professors for using Google AdWords and Google+ to create a marketing campaign. Google provides a $250 budget for students in order to build a marketing strategy for a real business or a nonprofit organization that has not used AdWords in the last six months. The winners and their professor get a trip to Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California to meet with the AdWords team. Regional winners and their Professor win a trip to a regional Google office. Here is a link to last years winners: http://www.google.com/onlinechallenge/winners.html.

This Challenge is open to all Majors and teams are to be made up of three to six students. More information can be found at: http://www.google.com/onlinechallenge/about.html

Do you think this marketing challenge is also a marketing strategy? Do you believe that you would benefit from participation in this challenge?

Response to Alex Purdy

I am of the opinion that using corn based ethanol as a fuel is not a good idea. The only reason that ethanol is financially viable is that tax payers are funding these operations in the way of 6 billion in subsidies each year. This is no longer necessary as oil prices are high enough now to make ethanol competitive. There are many alternatives to gasoline/ethanol, but none share the vast infrastructure that has also been largely subsidized by taxpayers since the early 1900s. This of course results in a false picture as to the affordability of oil. Beyond the direct subsidization of oil there are tremendous external costs that we do not include in the price of a gallon of gas. Mostly these costs are related to pollution. The adverse effects of air pollution cost us over 50 billion each year in health costs by some estimates. Other costs relate to damage caused to the environment. These costs are massive and could lead to a change in life as we know it through global warming. It is time to measure the true cost of our system, and invest accordingly into renewable, clean energy.

Do you agree?

Marketing Me

I am a designer, as such I hope to find work at a design firm. I have many designs and ideas in a broad range of categories. I have a natural ability for spatial and engineering challenges. Design problems are of great interest to me. The process of solving a design problem is thoroughly engaging; the balancing of social, ecological, aesthetic, functional, and ergonomic considerations of a design’s lifecycle makes for a puzzle that is more satisfying than any other.

To date I have generated solutions for design problems ranging from simple human interfaces to complex solar systems. Renewable energy and it’s adaptation to current and future needs is my greatest interest. Through design many of our biggest problems can be solved.

In order to support my family and pay off my student loans I will need to make 50k+. I will earn that Salary by bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective to your firm. I will satisfy your customers needs with thoughtful, attractive solutions to their needs.

Marketing, Advertising, and Propaganda, Oh My!

Marketing is the process of finding your audience, advertising is reaching that audience, and propaganda is the tool by which you manipulate that audience.