Tootsie

He was a struggling actor that couldn't find the right job because he argued with everyone he worked with. Becoming a women was the best thing that he could've done. He blew up on the director when he wasn't the ideal women for the acting position. He argued his defense and got a chance to read the script. Landing the job we got lost in the women's body and forgot that he was trying to help his friend get this role. "A repositioning is when a brand shifts its positioning in its market without making any overt changes to its physical identity. Although in appearances a repositioning may seem softer than a rebrand, it can have just as much impact. A repositioning can be a difficult tactic for a brand – while it may open the brand up to a new audience, it may also alienate its existing one", (page 62, How Brand Are Made). He branded himself as a great actor, but the constantly arguing wouldn't allow him to be hired ever. Landing a dream job is very hard, he was risking it all just to become an actor again. He has the ambition to act but he built a reputation that know one will ever hire him again. Also he is very good at networking, he had a party at his apartment that was attended by many upcoming actors, he got their numbers and promised to contact them. One thing that he did wrong was constantly arguing with directors that he was trying to pursue. "Brands often struggle with trying to be all things to all people. One simple story will help focus the aims of the brand or the brand project and create a single goal. Stories help create simplicity out of complexity by defining a single route through a maze of possibilities, and it is the designer who must translate the story into the visual element and execution" (page 75, How Brands Are Made). 

How has Fashion Desgin & Creativity Changed your Life

Growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii there isn't a enormous interest in anything fashion. As a child growing up on a farm I didn't have a lot of desire that i would develop an eye for fashion. But there was one thing that my parents picked up that i never noticed; my grandmother would always tie my shoes when i didn't know how to, and i always had many pairs of sneakers and slippers. My parents think that's where i started to figure out what was going on. Moving to Las Vegas i got interested in clothing more and through out middle and high school i was always best dressed; the next step was taking it further into a career. "Opportunities- Fashion is not only dressing up and making clothes, you can build many careers from a fashion degree. The fashion industry opens numerous of doors for people whether you are interested in being in front of the camera, behind the camera or styling and making the garment. The possibilities are truly endless"(http://fashionalldayerrday.blogspot.com/2012/05/10-positive-effects-of-fashion-industry.html). So as a brand new student at this school I have developed a whole new outlook on fashion. Besides the love for apparel, there is another side to it that I never would've looked into. Attending this institution help me bring out my creativity side, I can finally express myself not only through clothing but by art, and other media. "Freedom of expression- Fashion is one of the ultimate way to express yourself. One of the first impression people have of you is from your appearance. But one of the great aspects of fashion is that you are free to be whoever you want to be with your choice of fashion. With fashion you have that ability to mix and match wardrobes according to your mood, attitude and feeling."(http://fashionalldayerrday.blogspot.com/2012/05/10-positive-effects-of-fashion-industry.html). Being boxed in by high school lessons and lectures it made it hard to find my true passion something I wanted to do in life. Then I found fashion, I am very interested in anything that has to do with it. Mainly fashion design, and styling; I am knowledgeable in both of those so i wanted to learn about an aspect that I would benefit from. So I got into fashion and retail management. "Inspiration- Fashion inspires others to be creative and to want to build a career from it. Fashion motivates others to further their knowledge by attending fashion schools and turning dreams into a reality. There is an inspiration in fashion to influence you to be different"(http://fashionalldayerrday.blogspot.com/2012/05/10-positive-effects-of-fashion-industry.html).

How to Make it in America Analysis

Through out this series both Ben and Cam has done many good things for their brand, as well as bad things. One of the main things that they did great was networking; they used this strategy to connect with local designers that linked them with top-level companies. Networking allowed them to have another aspect of “Crisp” denim, now making t-shirts for a japan designer. “The expression of the brand through graphic design is one of its most powerful forms of communication. Graphic design makes the brand tangible and this makes the graphic designer’s role a fundamentally important part of branding. It is the graphic designer who ensures that what is presented to the brand’s audience is a genuine expression and communication of the brand. And the visual expression of the brand is a powerful means of communication.”(More Than a Name, Page 228). They also had ambition; they took any opportunity to make money for themselves and the company. Some of the errors they had was not having a financial plan, loan shark, and not a lot of product to display; they really struggled because of these things. Having a loan shark was on of the biggest downfall. They had to constantly make money to pay back the loan and still profit. The future for this brand looks like it will be successful if they keep their drive, and take the opportunities that come up. Ben’s old vintage shirt design had a huge effect on what their brand has become. “Branding is unavoidable. It is now no longer limited to products and commodities but to people and ideas. What was once viewed as an intangible, nebulous concept is now a real science. The extensive literature on every aspect of branding proves that it is a lucrative business, is fundamental to companies and fundamental to global and national economies.”(More Than a Name, Page 227). The shirt being added to their brand allows a more versatile look towards them as a company. “Yet despite a complex branding environment there are some strong trends and characteristics that are likely to affect the future of branding. A major influence is that of the individual and his or her demand of brands: that brands be more authentic and truthful in their engagement with us, and that life be simpler than it currently is.”(More Than a Name, Page 220).

Tim Hortons and Burger King

Tim Hortons started in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario. They focused on top quality, always-fresh product, value, and great service. It soon grew into the largest quick service restaurant chain in Canada; specializing in fresh coffee, baked goods, and home made style lunches. The first restaurant only served two items on the menu; coffee and donuts. The selection of donuts were their Apple Fritter and the Dutchie, both were original creations. These donuts became popular in the 60s and still are till this day. The biggest change is when they introduced their bit size donut, the Timbit. Though out the years they brought out many varieties including, muffins, cakes, pies, croissants, cookies, and soups & chili. In 2003, they introduced Turkey Bacon Club sandwich and Maple Pecan Danish were added. Two years later Tim Hortons introduced, Yogurt & Berries, Cinnamon Roll and Hot Smoothee to the menu. But in 1995 they merged with Wendy’s, a US company. They used this merging for expansion to the United States, not you can find Tim Hortons across the United States such as, Michigan, Maine, Connecticut, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York. There are more than 3,000 restaurants in Canada, and over 600 locations across the US. Now Tim Hortons is trying to merge with one of the top American companies, Burger King. One of the problems is that Burger King like “all quick-service companies, still faced a challenge. People in the U.S. weren’t visiting these restaurants any more than in the past”. “Americans are rightly angry that Burger King plans to use its merger with the Canadian doughnut and coffee chain Tim Hortons to claim Canadian citizenship, probably as a way to avoid paying U.S. taxes -- which the burger chain denies. But Burger King is the latest company to undergo an inversion, which happens when an American company uses a merger to reincorporate as a foreign one”(http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/27/opinion/mcintyre-burger-king-merger).

Ferguson and Marketing

The issue in Ferguson, Missouri is difficult to follow, and to figure out who is to blame. The public is obviously stating their opinion to the nation in who they think is in the wrong. In most situations the police are using riot gear to “protect” the community. “Police officers in riot gear over reacted by trying to shut the media down. They tear-gassed a TV crew working on a stand-up two blocks from the action. That is standard operating procedure in Syria, not the United States”(http://www.wdrb.com/story/26319335/pov-ferguson-missouri-how-not-to-handle-a-crisis-81914). An affective picture I saw today was about a dozen police wearing riot gear aiming their weapons to a unarmed person; isn’t that what took place in the incident that caused this?  Another issue is how the local police are treating the video evidence; the use of the video is considered “irrelevant”. But the video is relevant; it basically shows the teen is a troublemaker.  Also the federal government gave the local police all the military type weapons they are using. "He shot again and once my friend felt that shot he turned around and put his hands in the air and started to get down, and the officer still approached with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots."( http://www.cbsnews.com/news/thousands-march-at-vigil-for-teen-killed-in-police-shooting). Another reporter stated that the military isn’t allowed to point their weapons at unarmed suspects. “The White House-led review will consider whether the government should continue providing such equipment and, if so, whether local authorities have sufficient training to use it appropriately, said senior administration and law enforcement officials. The government will also consider whether it is keeping a close enough watch on equipment inventories, and how the weapons and other gear are used”( http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/08/23/obama-orders-review-arming-police-with-military-grade-tools/2fdn3Vf4LpQg8NVHi7zZjM/story.html). But the police are using the military weapons, so they are not properly trained to be using those weapons. Which also says that the police are not there to protect the people of the community, but basically defending themselves from them.

Networking In America

In this episode they were finally getting their sample for the denim line. Ben tried contacting his friend, but the calls were never successful. They managed to meet Ben’s high school friend that has established himself as a successful man in the denim industry. All of them sat for a cup of coffee and they pitched their denim line to them, his friend seemed interested and hooked them up to pitch their line again to a Japanese designer. “Share your passion. Win people over with your enthusiasm for your product or service. Leave a lasting impression by telling a story about why you were inspired to create your company. Talking about what you enjoy is often contagious, too. When you get other people to share their passion, it creates a memorable two-way conversation” (http://www.entrepreneur.com).  Both Ben and Cam went to pick up their denim from the manufacture, and what they received isn’t what they had in mind. Ben refused to go meet the Japanese designer but Cam didn’t get discouraged and went. Ben met up with him at the designer’s office, but a couple of things they did wrong was have business cards ready, and having more jeans to show. They finally met with the designer and he didn’t like their jeans. But while they were leaving he noticed Ben’s shirt, and he asked to make 300 more. Cam accepted immediately, and they had their first deal. “Remember, networking is all about relationship building. Keep your exchange fun, light and informal – you don't need to do the hard sell within minutes of meeting a person. The idea is to get the conversation started. People are more apt to do business with – or partner with – people whose company they enjoy.”(http://www.entrepreneur.com).  Cam is great at that; he is enthusiastic about getting their line out there to as many people as he can.” Remember to follow up. It's often said that networking is where the conversation begins, not ends. If you've had a great exchange, ask your conversation partner the best way to stay in touch.”(http://www.entrepreneur.com).  

Hot Coffee Case

The infamous “Hot Coffee” case where a 79-year-old woman, Stella Liebeck, spilled McDonald’s on her lap. The actual facts state that after purchasing the coffee she got into the car, which her grandson was driving, and she put the coffee in her lap attempting to take the lid off of it. While removing the lip the 180-190 degree coffee spilled all over her lap causing third-degree burns on her thighs and groin areas. After being hospitalized she settle a claim for $20,000 but McDonald’s refused. McDonald’s had many previous cases about their hot coffee, but none of them were taken seriously except this one.  Later she sent a letter asking to pay for her medical expenses, McDonald’s gave her $800 after they received her letter. She then went to court few more times; she said that she was not in it for the money. Liebeck just wanted the coffee to be lowered to a comfortable temperature.  McDonald’s sell to mostly sell the coffee to customers that are on their way to work, so they think that they will drink it when they get there not in the car.  They also said the customers want the coffee hot, so that’s how they always made it. The company also said that there is not a warning side but a “reminder” that the coffee is hot. The jury said that Liebeck was 20 percent at fault for what happened, so the compensation damages were cut to $160,000, but rewarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages. The money she received oddly equaled two days of coffee sales at McDonald’s. After the trial a local McDonald’s said that they lowered the coffee temperature to a comfortable 158 degrees. In my opinion both McDonald’s and Liebeck were at fault. Yes the coffee was hot, but it was her choice to open the coffee in the car.