Jean Expert

- Utilized direct sales to expedite multiple transactions in a quick-paced sales environment on both a one-to-one and group basis.

- Adapted and sold to people who sometimes spoke different languages like Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, German and French through non-verbal gestures and advanced selling techniques.

- Marketed the brand’s customer loyalty program and generally exceeded daily goals and expectations.

- Currently holds record for most rewards program sales.

- Promoted to Jeans Expert. Specialized in sales promotions and new product launch for the company’s new Flex Denim jeans by using competitive analysis, product knowledge and sales expertise.

True Business Problem

J.C. Penney has plateaued in the sales department. After their decline in profit over the last six years, they began to pick it up again in 2016, but that nonetheless flat lined. They do not intend to make profit through sales, but instead they’re banking on real estate, by closing close to 140 stores by June 2017. J.C. Penney seems to be confused and is gripping at straws, trying anything and everything to figure out why their sales are not remaining constant, but not truly coming up with the real problem. They have lost their way and are seemingly stuck in the past, where they were a big-name brand to compete with.

Competition

J.C. Penney’s main competitions include Macy’s, Kohl’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom. Macy’s is J.C. Penney’s biggest competition, and J.C. Penney is trying to follow in Macy’s footsteps with their latest plan of selling off some of their real estate that they are not profiting from at the moment.

Brand

J.C. Penney’s alienated a large number of their most loyal customers due to their cutting of coupons and sales. They are attempting to reach out to bigger name brands in an attempt to open up their market and bring in more customers, as they were failing with the pre-existing brands that they had.

Target

J.C. Penney’s is looking to incorporate more big-name brands (as seen with the addition of Sephora, Coach, Disney, and Michael Graves). This is seen as an attempt to open up and expand their target market, which seems to be lost at the moment.

Culture

In our day and age, we have more and more online shopping. We have more options within the market and the trends within the market is on a constant change. As customers can order online, the customer experience has to be more and more considered by stores. Big name brands are remaining popular among the newest generation of shoppers.

Solution

Product: Incorporate higher-quality fashion products, such as Sephora’s products

Price: Reinstate couponing and sales, as well as offering better prices

Promotion: Promote online sales more and increase promotion on bigger name brands

Place: Create a big JCP store “for show,” in order to attract customers.

Phone: 631-680-1169

Email: joe.gattuso@outlook.com

True Business Problem

Snap is facing is the lack of understanding to the professional investors. They are afraid of the original selling price of the stock not exceeding a profitable rate. Snapchat is not an app that is appealing to a large demographic; it is a niche app that appeals to a certain kind of market, namely millennials or those with a large social media portfolio/platform.

Competition

Snap’s main competition are Facebook and Instagram, as well as Tencent QQ in China. Instagram Stories Facebook’s up-and-coming Messenger Stories could be a big potential threat to Snap, as it offers face-recognizing filters just like Snapchat. People who already have Facebook accounts but not Snapchat account may prefer to stick with Messenger Stories, as it offers a similar experience to Snapchat without creating another account and adding another app.

Brand

Snapchat is an entertaining social media app that allows for loose daily connection between friends through pictures. Their main goal is to “re-invent the camera” to aid in fun communication between friends. Relating to the business problem, such loose connection and fleeting photos does not appeal to businesses or upper-echelon.

Target

Snap’s primary target market is mainly millennials, with a secondary target of those who are deeply invested in social media and their “image” who are willing to try new types of social media.

Culture

There has been a huge social boom as of late, and altering pictures is on the rise as a trend. There is an increase in creative expression of personality, and social media aids in this. There has been a shift in keeping up with culture: where older generations get their information from newspapers and cable TV, newer generations are turning to social media apps and are zoning in on opinions as well as stated facts.

Solution

Snap needs to continue to expand and keep up with the shifting trends to maintain relevant. They could consider incorporating specialized “culture packs,” where based on culture or location, users are offered different features, filters, and face-recognitions that relate to them. They should focus on becoming more attractive to investors to increase stability in the market. There should create a structure behind Snapchat, a sort of end goal or purpose, rather than just being seen as that funny app with the filters. With a backbone or a purpose that allows users to connect with each other, the app and the company could become more appealing to investors and older generations.

Brand Ambassador

- Created a fun and energetic sales environment during the food sampling conducive to providing the customer with a comfortable and engaging sales experience, in order to easily build customer relationships and assess their needs and wants through open-ended questions.

- Generally exceeded sales quotas and received commission.

True Business Problem

Whole Foods have lost their exclusive status and have lost loyalty from their clientele. There is a lack of monetary support from investors. In addition, they have an increase in competition with big-box brands in buying from local farmers due to their ability to purchase on a larger scale and sell at a lower price.

Competition

Competition is increasing in the organic food market due to the higher demand of organic foods. Organic foods are becoming increasingly popular due to the increase in knowledge of millennials

Costco made $4 billion in organic produce sales in 2015 because they have more stores nationwide and have the buying power to purchase organic produce in bulk and sell it at a cheaper price than Whole Foods. They have remained consistent in their selling, as opposed to Whole Foods, who started at a peak and has recently been continually dropping for six quarters.

Brand

Whole Foods was the first grocery store of its kind to sell exclusively high-quality organic produce, and exclusively purchasing their foods from local farmers. They have incredibly high standards as a food retailer, and are looking to be the pinnacle of food market standards. Over the course of the past few years, they’ve been cutting their prices at a quarterly rate to attempt to increase their revenue. Investors took notice of this, and statistical analysis has shown that prices are not the primary issue, and have decreased backing.

Target

Millennials are the primary target because they are driving forces of organic culture, due to their increase in knowledge and interest in organic lifestyles. Secondarily, Whole Foods targets those who are interested in healthy eating to prolong life expectancy.

Culture

Healthy living is becoming less of a trend and more of a lifestyle. Not everyone can afford the prices that Whole Foods charges, which is why wholesale markets are becoming increasingly popular in the organic industry. Because of this, Whole Foods began decreasing prices, which raised skepticism in their customers.

Solution

Whole Foods needs to refocus on their mission statement regarding the quality of their produce. They should give off the impression of being like a local farmers market, rather than trying to become a wholesale brand. They should emphasize the sale of their produce rather than their ready-to-eat meals. By cutting out their lunch and dinner “menu options,” and stressing the importance of their produce, they can potentially increase their sales and raise their status to where it used to be.

Our goal is to create an organization that focuses on educating, professionally developing and giving members a better understanding of the field of Marketing; with an emphasis on collaborating and aiding with other organizations at St John's.

True Business Problem

While NASA is still the world’s leader in space exploration, it has become less transparent in making advances in technology development. The tech industry has become segmented due to outside brand influences. While NASA is still advancing in their own way through technology, other brands (Apple, Samsung, etc.) are pioneering in daily technology, which is more of a daily concern to consumers.

Competition

The competition in the country may exist (Apple, for instance, or Virgin with SpaceX) but there is mostly the Russian Federal Space Agency or programs in China made by the China National Space Administration.

Brand

NASA’s goal is to be the pioneer in space exploration, scientific discovery, aeronautics, and technology development. In addition to this, they attempt to put their attention towards humankind with space centers and museums (a case in point is the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., also city of their headquarters) that they can access to view their previous work and success.

Target

NASA’s target is humankind, building and establishing international awareness. They also target those actively involved in science, space, and its exploration, as well as the few with long-term vision for investment purposes.

Culture

Society has become more focused on materialism and tangibility. The majority of society, 99%, have the mindset of “if it doesn’t affect me now, it doesn’t pertain to me.” While society is focused on the short-term, NASA is focused on the long-term, and there is a disconnect as well as a lack of understanding as to what they are trying to achieve.

Solution

If NASA could utilize innovative technology from other countries (China, etc.), to create “products” that would influence humankind positively, their brand awareness would increase as well as their reputation in the eyes of the consumer. They need to find a way to increase their transparency and relevancy in the eyes of the consumer, and if they can do that, their reputation as the lead pioneer of exploration and science in the world will be solidified and expanded.

True Business Problem

While the Grand Bahama Island of Freeport/Lucayan was recovering from multiple hurricanes for 10+ years, the other islands, like Nassau was gaining all of the tourism that Freeport had and potential tourism during that time as well. During those ten years, the island gained little to no profit and lost a lot of money and profit to repairs. Furthermore, by the time they recovered, they were forgotten by most and the other island not only gained popularity, but also won over Freeport’s tourists in the process. The Grand Bahama Island is finally open for business again, but have no tourists that remember or know about their Island’s original popularity.

Competition

The Competition refers to other islands. A case in point is Nassau, which is the “king of tourism” and closer to the Bahamas and the Bahama Island itself. During the Freeport/Lucayan 10-year recovery, Nassau gained a lot of popularity and won over many tourists by default of being one of the few islands open and ready for those years of recovery for the other islands.

Brand

As far as a cancellation is supposed to happen, the brand is concerned. If the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is cancelled, they would lose loyalty from their “customers”. Without this event, the island will also have a harder time gaining much needed recognition and it will be near impossible to build back up their brand again.

Target

The target of that music festival, the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival (BJC), includes people from 15 years old to 35 years old. They are mostly tourists but also young residents who like the music proposed by the festival.

Culture

Government vs. local movement. Due to the current economic situation for the island, they are lacking much needed government support and funding for any event that they do. Nevertheless, nowadays it is easier to interact and comment on important issues surrounding the festival thanks to social media. People can create groups of interests for the festival and be more powerful together. By using social media, their voices were heard and the government was convinced to put back on the festival.

Solution

We can advise them to increase the scale of their music festival. If the BJC gains such a worldwide renown popularity, they will create a more profitable business. That is why they should focus most of their funding on promotion so that they could reach people not only online, but also have a presence during events in the United States as well. If they could get a renowned singer to participate in the festival, they could gain popularity and more ticket sales as well. By pulling off a successful BJC music festival, the people of the Grand Bahama Island will be able to show their government and the surrounding world that Freeport/Lucayan is a vibrant island and could generate a boost in the economy if given the support and a chance. Furthermore, the island should use some of the money it makes from music festival and reinvest it back into the island. By building or improving more tourist attractions, the tourists will have a reason to come back to the island even after the festival is over. They could invest the money in a new hotel, or rebuild the casino as well.

True Business Problem

“The business model for the Olympic Games is running out of puff”. The Olympic games are too costly and do not turn enough profit for it to be worth it for the cities to host the games. Less than 30% of television revenues is given to the host city and the average overrun costs is 156%. In fact, some cities wind up owing money after the games and eventually have to pay it back. Furthermore, after the Olympic games are finished, any infrastructure built for the Olympic games that is left behind becomes vacant and actually costs the host city money in the long run. In short, the Olympic games costs are too high, they do not bring in enough revenue for the host city and do not benefit the host cities in the long run.

Competition

As the Olympics is a worldwide event -organized by a worldwide committee- the Competition is limited. But we must bear in mind that the Olympics has competitors in specific sports; and just think about the World Cup, the Super Bowl, or the X Games. A case in point is the FIFA World Cup which has such a visibility and a fame that it is the most prestigious association football tournament and the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world, exceeding the Olympic Games.

Brand

The Olympic Games as a Brand. One of the most important objective that sponsor wanted by taking Olympic Games is rising international influence for country and city. Like what China did. However, it getting over costed as a sport competition brand, less and less country will take the offer for sponsor because a lot of country is already developed country. In this situation, if the sponsor who takes the Olympic games doesn’t have enough resource, that can results country’s economic problems or Brand of Olympic Games quality reduction.

Target

The People who live in the city need to know that the infrastructure is going to have application after the Olympics. The Mayors, Governors and people in charge need to be convinced that the facilities aren’t going to go to waste.

Culture

Our culture is now technology driven where everyone is on social platforms and different media services. This could impact the Olympics positively, because since it is a worldwide event it can be seen in all realms of media. Every four year it occurs in a different country and people tune into how that country will bring on the Olympics. Now that many cities are removing themselves from Olympic events this can cause a problem to attracting the general audience.

Solution

The Olympics should build infrastructures, like public transports, that would benefit the cities for decades to come after the Olympic Games. That is why they should focus more on that point to be profitable. Stadiums, Tracks, Swimming pools, fields and courts can have application for the community after the games are done. By giving the host cities infrastructures that would serve the community post the games, it would make the game's more worthwhile and therefore, more countries will be inclined to host. Adding culture of host country into the games would also be an interesting solution.