Week 3 EOC: Making Money For Good

Most companies want to make money. Scratch that, all companies want to make money, assuming the company is not a fraudulent business created as a façade for tax scams. It may not be their absolute number one priority, but it is definitely up there at the top of the list of things to accomplish. It is well known that the best way to make money is to provide a quality service or product that is in high demand, or that will be in high demand in the very near future. Not many companies, however, are created solely to make money to help other people. Blake Mycoskie brought a new meaning to social responsibility when he created an entire brand of shoes for the sole purpose of providing impoverished families in third world countries the shoes they had lived with out for their entire lives.  Children could be seen in the dirt roads kicking around a ball with naked feet, they’re toe’s rough and bleeding from the constant abuse of the harsh terrain. Mycoskie had the brilliant idea that if he could involve the public by providing a quality product, that he could build an entirely self-sufficient “charity” with out having to ask for donations or financial support from other philanthropists. The result of his generous endeavor is TOMS shoes, the mission of which is to give away a pair of shoes for every shoe purchased.  It is inspiring to see one individual create a movement that is independently helping solve such a long term economic crisis in countries that don’t get the needed relief from their own government. Mycoskie is definitely showing the world that money can be made for good, and that people will actively participate in the betterment of others’ lives if others if the means are there.

Week 3 EOC: My Demographic

I am a Millennial. A Millennial is one of the 83 million people born between 1977 and 2000. We are the age of the computer, the age of technology. Cell phones, laptops, the internet, and social networking are not just luxuries, they are a way of life. Generation X is playing their part in the world right now, shaping it for when the Millennials take the reigns. We are the future. Our education is the cornerstone for what will come to pass in the social classes, governments, and economies of the world.

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group - Video Games

Marketing can make or break a company, or even an entire industry, as a whole.  As evident in the declining video game industry, an industry that is nearly self marketing due to the simple fact that it is entertainment.

Good Customer Service

Good customer service is the key to success in any business. A business is made to serve a certain clientele, and if those clients aren’t happy, what is the point of the business? Customer service can be the obvious, such as being respectful to the customer, or it can be subtle, like offering a bottle of water, or wrapping the purchased item. It also means listening to your customer, and having the product knowledge to help meet their needs. Sometimes people only have a general idea about what they want, so by having the knowledge of what you can offer them you are doing them a service. People want to know that the person helping them isn’t a complete idiot, and its not about just being there to take their money from them, its about upholding the standards the business wants to be known for. Customers also want to feel comfortable. Another key aspect of good customer service is the way a customer is treated. “Remember that every time that you, your employees, and your colleagues make contact with a customer – whether its by email, phone, written correspondence, or a face-to-face meeting – the interaction leaves an impression with that customer.” (“Ten Rules for Great Customer Service” AllBusiness.com 1999-2011) Ultimately, if you know your customer, you will know what they need.  Providing good customer service is the responsibility of every single member of any business, company, team, or public serving entity. If the standards aren’t created, then they can’t be enforced, and if they can’t be enforced, they won’t be upheld. Overall, good customer service needs to be a business-wide commitment; otherwise, it just becomes an empty promise. “Sales without Customer Service is like stuffing money into a pocket full of holes.” –David Tooman (CustomerServicePoint.com 2003-2009)

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

There are many aspects of the fashion industry that draw people to it. It calls for creativity, individuality and commitment in order to succeed. I love the constant evolution and revolution that is ultimately based upon one undeniable factor: people. I’m a people watcher. Its fascinating and rewarding to watch how individuals translate style in there own unique way. People always need clothes, and the styles of those clothes are always changing. Making a living around giving people the chance to express themselves in this ever-changing world is what I enjoy most in life.  It’s a fast-paced, balls-to-the-wall, instinct driven career and I love every minute of it. "There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."
-Nelson Mandela