Denny's creates a mini web series

Jason Bateman and Will Arnett have taken a on a new adventure by producing a new mini web series for Denny's Restuarants.  Although the new show "Always Open" may only be a couple of minutes long and only shown on CollegeHumor.com and the Denny's Facebook fan page, it features many celebrities in their attempt to change their target market.

Denny's attempt to appeal their food to customer between 18-25 is doing so in a comedic way.  With Hollywood stars such as Dave Koechner, Maya Roudolph, Conan O'Brian, and Sarah Silverman have been featured in the show that takes place at a Denny's on Sunset Boulevard.  Since the series started in March, they have already reached more than six million views.

The marketing director of Denny's reveals that there is no mention of the restaurant itself until the end of the show.  However, it is made quite obvious to its viewers that the show takes place in the family diner. 

It seems that Denny's has decided to flaunt it's 24 hour a day food supply to college aged students.  Perhaps they have realized that their locations may be relatively close to college campuses and local bars and are trying to appeal to this age group for a great place for a late night snack.

How do you think this new series will affect the business at Denny's?  Will the attempt to appeal to a younger crowd work?

In Response to Jaycelyn...

Do you think Apple is on the right track? If other businesses were to follow suit do you think they would do better in sales? ...Would our expectations change?
http://jkaypfenning.blogspot.com/2012/04/10-things-you-can-learn-from-apple.html


When people think of Apple, no one seems to think of the cookie cutter business man.  Students, Musicians, Intellectuals, Families and even Artists are avid fans and loyal customers to Apple.  Every time you walk by an Apple store, it's flooded with customers of all different interests, race, and gender.  By hiring people of different interests, I think Apple is doing the right thing in order to attract the large array of customers.  


As for the marketing aspect of Apple, their mentality of selling may be the biggest selling point for customers.  When you walk into an Apple store, their employees don't attack you with a million questions.  They allow you to look at their products and approach you after you show a great deal of interest in a product.  Also, each employee knows how to take each individual product and sell it to all different types of customers.  Last year when I went in for a new Ipod, they were realistic in talking about each product and actually sold me on the cheaper Ipod instead of the brand new one.  


Apple knows that their target market ranges from ages 10-95 (roughly) and they know how to sell products to each age group that walks into their store on a daily basis.  If more stores were to adapt the relaxed atmosphere practiced by Apple, I think they may find chaos... Not all companies or stores have such a large range of age, gender, ethnicity, and race in their target market.


For example, it's not very often an eight-five year old man will walk into Hollister looking for a new pair of jeans.  If other stores were to change their ways of selling products, they may find a decrease in business.


How do you think the outcome would be if other companies adapted Apple's way's?

Linsanity spreads to Volvo

Recently, Volvo has announced their new marketing campaign which hopes to bring in a customer base of more than just soccer moms and hand-me-downs.  Jeremy Lin, the Knick's all-star point-guard has agreed to appear in Volvo's advertisements for America, China, and other Chinese speaking countries.

Volvo is trying to widen their customer base by adjusting their target market to both the Chinese population and younger aged population.  By hiring Lin, both Chinese and one of the most recognized athletes, Volvo hopes that these two different types of population will purchase one of their cars.  By appearing in advertisements in China, Volvo also hopes to expand business with their young population as well as the middle-class Chinese population.


At the press release announcing the news, Lin took the podium and discussed why he agreed to take the offer with Volvo.  He admitted that they are affordable, and high quality cars and that it why he is trying to decide which Volvo he himself should purchase (although unsure about having a car in NYC.)


One thing to be cautious about with their new spokesman is the non-athletic, older population of both the USA and China.  By focusing their ad's on Lin, there may be a slip in their marketing to older men and women who may not be familiar with the basketball star.


What other troubles may Volvo face by hiring their new spokesman mainly to gain customers of young and Chinese populations?

In response to Michael Fratea

 If you were the marketing manager of BlackBerry, what would you do to increase revenue?


As the popularity of smart phones continues to rapidly increase, major phone companies have begun to adjust to different demands from their consumers.  Companies such as Apple and Android have taken the feedback given to them and adjusted their smart phone's to fit what their customers want.  The full touch screen allows for more options for game downloads, while the GPS and wireless internet options allows for easy on-the-go research.


What Blackberry has failed to do it adjust to what their consumers want.  Once popular for the business man or woman for the easy use keyboard to sending e-mails, Blackberry is becoming less popular for their lack of memory and speed.  


The problem within Blackberry is that marketing is not listening to the demands of their once faithful customers which is forcing them to switch brands.  Perhaps marketing should conduct a study for smart phone users asking what about Androids and Iphone's are appealing to them, this could open the eyes of Blackberry and the need for change.


More research needs to be done before Blackberry takes the final plunge into failure.  Listening to customers needs is the only way the marketing company will help Blackberry ease back into their old popularity.


How have Android and Iphone adjusted to the constant changing needs of smart phones?

In response to Aislynn...

Are you surprised it has taken so long for DD to open on the west coast? Why do you think it has taken this long?


As exciting as it is for Dunkin Donuts to be spreading more nationally, I can't say that I'm surprised.  Larger cities such as Denver and even L.A., Las Vegas and many others have a much larger market for coffee shops than we in New England do.  As some New Englander's get excited when they find a Starbucks in a new location, Starbucks is a normal coffee shop for people on the west coast.  There may even be more chains like Dunkin Donuts on the west coast that we do not have on the east coast.


I think that Dunkin Donuts was being cautious of spreading to the west coast and monitoring what kind of market they would have, as well as developing competitive advantages and finding a way to market themselves to a new audience.  Just like when any other chain spreads to a new location, there must be a lot of thought and caution that go into making the move.


Do you think Dunkin Donuts will make it on the West Coast? or will more upscale coffee chops remain victorious?

Living Social Expands

The growing special deals company, LivingSocial, has announced that they will soon release their very own credit card.  The company has decided to expand ways for their customers to earn more points to get better deals through the website.Chase has agreed to be the company in charge of the LivingSocial card and it will also be co-branded by Visa and are still working out specific details for the operations behind the card.

LivingSocial believes that releasing this card is going to help the businesses that are already involved in the company, especially the small ones.  By encouraging cardholders to shop at featured stores will not only result in better deals for them, it will help smaller businesses by gaining more loyal customers.  This is especially important for the businesses associated with LivingSocial who can not fund their own loyalty cards or programs.


We have seen through Companies such as Disney and Southwest Airlines that loyalty and credit cards are worth the investment because saving money is something everybody looks for.  How might this credit card have an effect on past, present and future customers?

In Response to Michael Thompson

Could Windows 8 be a huge breakthrough for Microsoft from its innovation? Or, could PC users frown upon the innovation since they appreciated the previous simplicity? 


By reviewing the preview and reading the article for the new Windows 8, it seems that once people take the time to adjust to such a drastic change that it will be a huge hit.  Windows is simply growing with the tech world and must remain one step ahead of the game in order to be successful.  For customers who already own tablets, this new adjustment may not take long to get used too.  However, for simple PC laptop users, it seems that even the creators of the new Windows is predicting a bit of resentment.


Most PC customers have chosen to use windows because it is simpler than navigating their ways around MACS.  This big of a change may cause a bit of an up roar for the simple fact that Windows users like simple.  They enjoy being able to find their ways around a computer and this change is not only an adjustment for the company, but all of it's current and future customers.


Windows may also find a new competition with Apple as they embark on this new technological journey. In what ways do you see Apple changing their program in order to remain competition with Apple?