Author Archives: Lex Jacquet

The Joneses & Personal Selling

Leave a reply

The Joneses was a very deep, introspective movie that included an extreme form of personal selling. Personal selling is using in-person interaction to sell products and services. Though posing to be a normal family, the Jones family is a group of sales representatives who directly interact with their community to promote certain products and services. They exemplify how conversations, (seemingly) organic demonstrations, and field selling of different products can lead to a ripple effect of consumer trends. One specific scene stood out to me the most; KC told Steve that the goal was for their neighbors to want to be them and not just want to buy what they have. This resonated with me because I recognize that is the appeal of companies using social media influencers to help sell their products nowadays. Often, influencers advertise new clothes and services to entice others to buy the products as well. Personally, I do not find the ways in which products were marketed to be ethical. All of the members of the family exploited the mental and emotional vulnerabilities of their neighbors. However, it is questionable how is truly at fault: the sales representatives, the company they worked for, or consumer culture in the U.S. Regardless, Larry’s final scene of him dying with his material possession spoke volumes on how our obsessions ultimately controlled his emotional well-being. Currently, we invest our emotions and identity into material possessions that have no greater worth than temporary importance. I don’t know if I would be friends with someone out of the Jones family. Before knowing, I would assume they had a spending addiction because of their constant wave of new products in their possession. Though afterward, I would feel similarly to how I do now; I would feel sorry for them because they need to exist in a fantasy world to escape the realities of who they are.

Peace Corps Press Release

Leave a reply

Tentative Departure Dates For Current Applicants Announced

December 6, 2021

NEW YORK – Today, we are honored to announce new information about when applicants should expect to depart to their programs. However, all information is subject to possible changes depending on new information surrounding COVID-19 to protect the lives of all stakeholders in the Peace Corps.

Current applicants registering for the first wave of departures should expect to arrive within their host countries between Winter 2022 and Spring 2023. We are actively working with public officials, local communities, and WHO among other public health organizations to ensure the arrival of new members while not jeopardizing the safety of all of the Peace Corps’ stakeholders. All programs are being investigated to assess possible risk factors and urgency to resume activities.

“The Peace Corps community is made up of incredibly dedicated people who share a passion for service above self, “ said Acting Director Carol Spahn. “I am inspired every day by the fierce commitment of our staff and volunteers and it will certainly be a challenge to select the [new members].”

Those who are interested in joining the program should promptly begin their applications as space is very limited. Due to the unique circumstances stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, certain programs may be further postponed beyond the predicted departure timeline. Regardless of placement, all invitations will be sent out at least three months in advance of the set departure date.

About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment, and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Place Assignment

4 Replies

1. In mini-case #1, the firm decided to reverse back to their previous channel mix because of the lack of change in overall profitability when expanding their distribution mix and the perceived decline in brand integrity. The firm originally decided to expand its distribution mix to generate additional sales. The firm was able to successfully generate more sales, but because they expanded into discount stores; this decision did not produce greater profitability. 
2. Yes, I agree with the firm. Though the firm did reap any losses based on this new strategy, the firm was not able to gain any additional revenue from this strategy. In general, I believe it is very risky for well-known brands to expand into the discount store market, as it will have a declining impact on brand integrity. Thus, because this channel mix did not increase profitability, the firm made the right decision. 
3. Yes, I would agree with the Swiss watch manufacturers’ decision to produce a new range of cheap, digital watches under a new name. With this choice of channel, they are able to participate in a growing market while still protecting their brand integrity. Also, by placing them in their traditional distribution channels, the manufacturers are able to undercut other watch brands within jewelry stores. 
4. No, because the jewelry stores will want to protect their brand integrity. I believe it will depend mostly on the types of customers these jewelry stores attract and, more importantly, the physical location of these jewelry stores. 
5. The watch manufacturers should also consider selling to discount stores, e-commerce platforms, and local boutiques. With these channels, they can reach a greater audience that can expand profitability.

Incredible Eats

Leave a reply

I decided to focus on Incredible Eats because I love any sustainable products that help climate change. Plastics are in everything and make up the majority of landfill waste around the globe. Incredible Eats provides edible utensils for businesses to help reduce their contributions for damaging the earth, however, Dinesh is thinking too small. If his products are as delish as Lori explained, then he should be trying to tap into the consumer market as well.

Incredible Eats is a company producing edible utensils for restaurants and food providers to decrease the amounts of plastic being used in the industry. Because they aim to focus on B2B transactions, the products also vary in flavors to accommodate this sector by considering flavor. This increases the desirability of the products because more people are likely to use their products if they don’t affect the taste of their food.

Incredible Eats is after a market that values sustainability and alternative solutions to waste. And, there are few companies that are able to fill this gap of sustainable single-use utensils. Alternatives to plastics are being discovered more frequently, yet I have not seen any options that are edible. More and more businesses, restaurants, and individuals are focusing on their impact on climate change, and Incredible Eats offers an easier process to assist.
The need for consumers is created from different angles. Firstly, customers can feel good about disposing of their utensils after a single use through eating them or through them away (because they decompose quickly). Also, customers are supporting a small business combating climate change which further supports social entrepreneurship practices. More importantly, big businesses can reduce their plastic pollution which is needed for the overall well-being of the Earth.

Incredible Eats, though an amazing product and company already, needs some repositioning to appeal to a wider audience. Firstly, the brand should redo packaging to explain more about the product. The simple design is appealing, but consumers will not understand the full uses and benefits of the products with current packaging. Also, the company should open up its target market. Yes, big business will accomplish the highest systemic change in plastic reduction, however, that is more likely to be driven by consumer pressure. This can be accomplished by opening up market strategies to position the product in grocery stores to begin that learning process to increase awareness.

Next Stop Carmine’s

Leave a reply

Until reading the decision-making process defined, I realized how as people we really do move in predictable patterns. I am a major fan of Italian cuisine. So much so, I went out to an Italian restaurant last night. If I was to be moving to Salt Lake City (SLC) and wanted takeout, I would have a few specific criteria I would be looking for. Because I would not be looking for a dining experience, I would want a restaurant that had quality pasta, preferably made in-house, at a casual restaurant where I could pick up my order. Ideally, my price range would be flexible though, I would stay away from expensive, fine-dining prices.
Yelp is the first place I will generally look for new restaurants. This is because the content is dominantly user-generated and has information about all the major cities in the United States. At this point, I am at the second step of the consumer decision-making process – information search. Once getting to the homepage, I type in “Italian Food” in “Salt Lake City, UT.” SLC does not have a lot of options for Italian food. It appears below twenty-five restaurants exist in SLC and its directly surrounding area. Sicilia Mia, Carmine’s, Caffe Molise, and Bartolo’s chase my attention first because they all have outdoor dining and takeout. Outdoor dining becomes an influencing factor because if I like the food, I will consider dining at the restaurant in the future.
Thus, the next step is to evaluate the alternatives that I have selected. To guide my decision, I will be focusing on reviewing the photos and menu on Yelp.com to make my selection. When I order pasta, I prefer a long noodle and no meat in the dish. Many of the restaurants met a few elements of the desired criteria, but Carmine’s easily became my top option. A photo of the inside dining area first appeared on the page and I instantly knew this place has strong potential. The menu had reasonable prices and, based on the photos, they had a comfortable portion side. From glancing at the menu, the “Spaghetti alle vongole,” which is spaghetti with fresh clams, dish sounded intriguing as I do like clams. However, the photos of the food are always what determines my final decision. They did not disappoint. The dish previously mentioned looked amazing and I discovered other dishes, such as Fettuccine allo Scoglio and Linguine Ara’gosta.
If I moved to Salt Lake City and wanted to order Italian food for takeout the first time, I would order from Carmine’s and get the Spaghetti alle vongole for pickup. Though I am unsure that others would pick the same dish as me, I am sure I will not be the only person who choose this restaurant. The photos look good; the menu’s prices are agreeable; the atmosphere looks promising. I am not a little hopeful to go to Salt Lake City now, because I wish I could order this meal.

Trader Joe’s Ethics

Leave a reply

A trip to Trader Joe’s is a part of my weekly routine. I am aware that the organization is a corporation, but its communistic appeal makes it feel that it just harmonizes with my local neighborhood. In this assignment, I will be analyzing Trader Joe’s ethical standards in regard to its corporate social responsibility and pursuance of sustainable business practices. 

Trader Joe’s is a US-based supermarket that is owned by a German retail company, Aldi Nord. On its contact page, the company highlights three areas of focus for the company’s mission to maintain sustainable business practices in regards to corporate social responsibility – Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability & Packaging. It illustrates how they maintain a diverse and inclusive environment within its business practices of the crew, supplier, and community development. There is a particular emphasis on its engagement with the Black stakeholders of the company in providing examples for the company’s evidence on how they maintain this ethical standard. However, this emphasis gives off a performative undertone that can be sensed throughout the entire statement. Also, noting its publication date, it was issued following the George Floyd protests of 2020, and companies have been increasingly prioritizing off marketing their organization’s values as aligning with certain social movements, similar to greenwashing practices. In an effort to remedy this performative tone of voice, the company could incorporate language and practices that acknowledge all members of their community in consideration of their varying ethnic backgrounds. 

Sustainability is properly becoming a major discussion point for businesses with the impending climate crisis, so Trader Joe’s does appear to be proactive in limiting their use of plastic by improving the packing of their products. Thus far, the company has “[increased] the amount of recycled and sustainably sourced materials, and/or removing non-sustainable material… [and] removed over two million pounds of plastic packaging from [their] products” in 2020. This is a great initiative conducted by a national business because they have so many customers who purchase their products. They also continue to include their “five-point sustainability framework to evaluate each product and identify opportunities for packing improvements:

  1. Reducing and removing the packaging
  2. Sourcing renewable and recycled packaging materials
  3. Choosing packaging that can be realistically recycled
  4. Avoiding the use of harmful substances in packaging
  5. Providing information to customers that increases understanding of how best to recycle or dispose of packaging”

Trader Joe’s sustainability statement does not include the whole picture, potentially. Green America, a non-profit that focuses on “[harnessing] economic power… to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society,” has reported Trader Joe’s refrigeration is toxic for the environment. Because of this issue, Trader Joe’s has “received the lowest score on the Environmental Investigation Agency’s Climate-Friendly Supermarket Scorecard.” Trader Joe’s refrigeration has leaking issues that need to be addressed. Refrigerants and refrigerant leaks are major benefactors to the emission of greenhouses gases every year. Since being found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act, which is due to the leaking refrigerants, the company has not made any major efforts towards resolving this issue. Trader Joe’s should find solutions to this issue as it will continue to taint their reputation of doing good for the environment, such as converting to more environmentally friendly equipment. 

In my research, I have continued to find incidents where Trader Joe’s does not uphold the ethical standard the company is portraying. There are reports that Trader Joe’s chocolate is linking to the cocoa trade in West Africa where child labor is popularly used. Furthermore, the company lacks transparency in providing information on the manufacturers of Trader Joe’s own-brand products that largely fill the store. Of the few products that have been revealed some of the largest food suppliers have been named as such manufacturers the Green Stars Project found. I found this to be an ethical issue as customers may be gravitating to their products because of their business appearance to dissociate with large corporations. \

After this research, my perspective of Trader Joe’s has shifted. Though the company is making positive improvements to becoming more aware of its sustainability and diversity practices, Trader Joe’s is not being completely transparent with its consumers. 

Sources:

https://greenstarsproject.org/2021/02/28/how-ethical-is-trader-joes-review-rating/

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/contact-us

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/diversity-inclusion

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/sustainability

https://www.greenamerica.org/dont-discount-our-future-tjs