Blog Post #6: Evolution of the iPhone

Hello again!

I'm halfway through "spring break", and I feel like the only thing I've done is homework. I'm one of those people who likes to get their homework done ahead of time, but sometimes I can be a procrastinator. One of my biggest distractions is my iPhone. My senior year of high school, I caved and got an iPhone like all of my friends, and it's safe to say I will never turn back. I love my iPhone. It has everything I need all at the tip of my fingers. What amazes me is how far the iPhone has come since it first came out in 2007. Apple has done an incredible job with the development of their iPhones and other technologies over the years. I currently own an iPhone 6 and iPad mini 2 (I did have an iPod nano until I lost it in February). I honestly believe I will be forever loyal to the Apple brand, simply because their technologies are top of the line and reliable.

Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone in September. The marketing team for Apple creates commercials to hype new consumers up about the release of a brand-new, better-than-ever phone. Below is the teaser trailer for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which released last year.

One thing that blows my mind about Apple is that they are constantly coming up with new ideas for their new products. Just when the consumer thinks the iPhone can't get any better, it does. Every generation of iPhones undergoes product modification, with changes to the shape, size, and features. These revolutionary features can transform how the consumer conducts work and every-day life. I generally use my iPhone for social media, taking pictures, and surfing the web. The new camera features make it easier for the consumer to take and share pictures, all with the click of a button. The iOS software, installed on every iPhone, is continuously improving to fix bugs and make the iPhone experience faster and easier.

I would say that Apple is reaching the peak of its growth stage. This means that profits have hit the peak and changes to the product are made. Distribution is broadened at this point, making the iPhone and other products accessible all around the globe. In order to keep the brand growing, Apple must produce new, revolutionary products that consumers will want. An example of this is the development of the iPads. The iPad was first announced in 2010, and it was very successful. The iPad hit a wider target market. Not only can adults use iPads for work and leisure, but children can too, through the use of apps to further their learning and curiosity. One thing Apple had to be careful about was the possibility of the iPad cannibalizing the other products' sales. However, with the popularity of the iPhone and ease of use, I think it's safe to say that iPhones won't go out of style for quite some time.

Apple has created a strong brand of simplistic, stylish, and accessible phones and other devices. Every generation of iPhones and iPads comes with new features and styles that suit the needs of any consumer. I'm always connected to the important people in my life. It's safe to say I will always own an iPhone. Until my contract ends next May, I will only get glimpses of the new iPhones from my friends and on TV. Hopefully I can last that long.

Until next time,

Courtney





Sources

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FSv12NlGoac/maxresdefault.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb1Rm9VyII8

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/10/ipad-mini-1351017524.jpg

Blog Post #5: Never Stop Exploring

Hello Everyone!

Spring break is finally here!! I couldn't be more thrilled to have an entire week off. But it doesn't exactly feel like spring (it's currently 37* at my house). I was in New York City on Saturday to see Les Miserable on Broadway (I highly suggest it). Although NYC is about 4-5 hours south of my house, it was still chilly! But thankfully, I had my North Face jacket to keep me warm. This is one brand that I'm extremely loyal to. I own two winter jackets and a lighter, spring jacket from North Face. Although they're wicked expensive (I'll get to that later), the quality is unbelievable, and that's why I consistently buy their jackets whenever my current one gets worn out.

Here's a little background on North Face. It was started in 1966 by two hiking enthusiasts. The small retail store sold high-performance backpacking and climbing equipment. In the early 1980's, extreme ski equipment was added to the product offering. In the 1990's, the product line increased, adding more apparel, footwear and equipment for all athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

I'm an outdoorsy person, but I don't typically buy my North Face clothing to explore in the outdoors. I buy their winter jackets because they're comfortable and protect me against the cold, Vermont weather. However, I do own one North Face skiing jacket (even though I haven't hit the slopes since last year). The outer lining acts as a shield against harsh winds on the top of the mountain and the insulation on the inside keeps my body warm. There's no other brand I would trust to keep me warm in the winter. 

One thing that may turn people off from North Face attire is the price. As defined in the marketing textbook, price is "the money of other considerations (including other products or services) exchanged for the ownership or use of a product or service". Since North Face products cannot be bartered, money is exchanged for their products. If you browse through their website, you'll find very expensive apparel, footwear, and equipment. But there's a reason for the steep prices. 

One of the pages on The North Face's website talks about the steps they are taking to help the environment and become more sustainable. The video above talks about a trip to Taiwan to visit The North Face factories and examine where improvements can be made. They found that a majority of the product's environmental impact can be found in the material production phase. Becoming more efficient can certainly cut down on costs, but at the same time, The North Face is trying to cut out chemicals that can harm the environment. This can increase costs and ultimately the price of the product. But what the consumer will take into account is that the high price reflects the steps North Face is taking to help the environment. 

 Materials are not the only elements taken into account when determining the price. Labor, distribution, packaging, and marketing are all factors that set the price of the product. I know the jacket I bought back in the fall was around $100- $120. Did I think it was expensive for a jacket? Yes, but I considered all the costs of creating this high-quality jacket. And I know this jacket will last me a couple of years. 

Now that I've been browsing the website, I might as well check out their spring jackets and vests! See you next time!

Courtney

Sources

https://www.thenorthface.com/

https://fgl.scene7.com/is/image/FGLSportsLtd/The_North_Face_Logo_blk_262x208

https://www.thenorthface.com/about-us/our-story.html

https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/243382874_1280x960.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLd6g4RTsj8

Blog Post #4: I'm Wide Awake Again

Hello everyone!

At this moment, I am freaking out in my dorm room because my favorite band released their new album early on Pandora Radio Station. The band, Parachute, is not well-known, but holds a special place in my heart.

I went to my first concert ever freshmen year of college. I saw Parachute and the Plain White Tee's perform at Higher Ground in South Burlington. We got there wicked early and stood so close to the stage I could almost touch it. Both bands put on an incredible show. I had only heard one Parachute song before the concert, but I fell in love with them that night. Since then, I've been to two other concerts and have VIP tickets to a concert April 1st in Boston. I'm stoked.

Here's a little background on the band. It was started by Will Anderson (pictured to the left) and Johnny Stubblefield while they were in high school (both of them are still in the band). Kit French, an amazing saxophone player, joined soon after. Their music is classified as pop rock, and their songs range from upbeat to slow and soft. Their fourth album, Wide Awake, releases next Friday before they start a cross-country tour. Unfortunately the closest location to Burlington is Boston, but it will be well worth the trip.

Although Parachute doesn't have a fan base of someone like Justin Beiber, they have a strong marketing campaign that targets well to their fan base, which consists of younger people (teens to late 20's). They use nearly every social media platform possible to connect with their fans. I follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Every so often, the leader singer, Will, performs live shows from his bedroom in Tennessee that fans can live stream through Facebook. Recently with the release of their new album, Will has been tweeting and Instagraming to get fans excited for the album. In the past few days, he has been sending his fans Snapchat previews of the new songs. I was one of the lucky recipients the other day and I couldn't be more excited for the new album.

I think Parachute connects with their fans on a whole other level than many celebrities nowadays. Just the fact that they Snapchat their fans means they care a lot and want their fans to be excited about the new album. Will doesn't just use Twitter to promote the band; he talks about his personal life, too. The way they interact with fans is genuine, and makes them seem like real people too, not crazy-famous celebrities.

A few weeks ago, Parachute held a contest: the fans with the best music video clip of their new song "Without You" would get a live acoustic performance in their living room! The winner was an ice skating team from Massachusetts, so Parachute flew out and performed in their living room. How insane is that?! I can't name one other celebrity that would do this for their fans. I wish I had the time to produce a music video for this contest, because an experience like that is once in a lifetime.

Exactly 7 days until the release of their album on iTunes and 28 days until the concert in Boston. That's plenty of time to learn all the lyrics of their 12 new songs.  I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll check back soon!

Courtney






Sources

weareparachute.com 

http://www.josepvinaixa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Parachute-Wide-Awake-2016-2480x2480.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_(band)