week 14. Segmenting and Targeting markets..

According to the text book the term market means different things to different people . Therefore a company promotes a product or advertises a product but not everybody would be interested in that product. Taking it the Market: which is people organizations with needs or wants and the ability and willingness to buy.

 For Example: Bmw night vision-optional feature Not everybody would be interested.
The Bmw 5 Series Security has an optional feature of the night vision, which makes it possible to detect any animals, persons or hindrance at the distance of about 300m from the car using the thermal camera and send it to the central control display, hence the driver can be alerted by this feature. The bmw continue to surprise the millions of car enthusiasts around the world with the launch of it conceptual cars.

BMW is renowned for its sporty, sophisticated & luxury image which has been built up since the 1970's with many motor sport victories ranging from Touring Car to Formula 1. BMW Group's worldwide mission statement is: "To be the most successful premium manufacturer in the industry."To examine BMW we must first look at the marketing mix. A company's marketing mix is made up of four main points these are Price, Product, Promotion and Place. Through these points we can examine the specifics of a company to gain an insight into their segmentation, targeting and positioning. The products produced by BMW are prestigious, high performance, technologically advanced automobiles.

week 13. Developing and Managing Products

According to our Marketing Text Book when it comes to "The Importance of New Products" New products are important to sustain growth, increase revenues and profits, and replace obsolete items."


BMW has announced more production details of the all-new, all electric compact car codenamed the 'Megacity', which will go on sale as early as 2013 under a new sub-brand from the German luxury car maker. Developed by its ‘project i’ skunkworks and aimed, as the name suggests, primarily at urban dwellers in US and European cities with more than 10 million people, BMW's first dedicated electric vehicle will be manufactured at the Leipzig factory in Germany, alongside the 1 Series small-car and upcoming X1 compact SUV. Reports had speculated the Megacity could be sold as either a Mini or an '0 Series' BMW.
BMW is approaching the electrification of the automobile through what it calls Project i. And although its cars  including the battery powered Mini E and the Concept ActiveE, which is an electric version of the BMW 1 Series Coupe the company introduced in Detroit this week  have made a splash, Project i has generally flown under the radar. But, even in stealth mode (there isn’t even a Web site) yet, the research initiative could be influential on BMW’s future products.

     Future Models - BMW 2013 Megacity

week 12; Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

What's your strategy when you're one of the top automobile companies in the world?

When it comes to BMW, it means using CRM to strengthen communication with your dealer and make it as easy as possible for potential customers to get all the buyer information they need.

We all may wonder how does this great car manufacturing company, which calls itself the "ultimate driving machine"  is able to satisfy its loyal customers?

Bmw wants to keep it as simple as it gets!!!!!!

BMW  is trying to keep it simple as it uses customer-relationship management systems to supercharge dealership parts and service sales.

'Bmw wants to move auto parts, not come up with new programs that complicate the world,” says Grant Paullo, the German auto importer's manager-aftersales marketing and communications.

He cites three objectives for leveraging data to increase revenue and build brand loyalty:

• Transition dealership customers from the showroom to the service department.
• Strengthen customer relations. “But what we see as strengthening the relationship, and what the customer sees, sometimes differ,” Paullo says.
• Reconnect with ex-customers. that's where BMW has  had the biggest success in taking back customers,BMW has spent a lot of time on it. Therefore Grant Paullo also says "Sometimes we've lost customers because of a bad experience, sometimes not."

 As a result  BMW is using company information and data from dealers that they are comfortable with, to better target customers and enhance promotions.

Making the deal and satisfying the customer, also informing the customer with the information and benefits of the product he's buying. (CRM)  

week 11. Integrated Marketing communication

As we might o ready know from experience or how seen Few goods or services can survive in the marketplace without effective promotion.

 Therefore, through promotion which is an element of integrated marketing communication, the company or product reminds potential buyers to influence an opinion or elicit a response according to the definition of "promotion" in "MKTG student edition" book that im reading in my Marketing Class.

Bmw the logo says it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bmw's Integrated marketing Communication.

when the “Ultimate Driving Machine” became the ultimate interactive marketing campaign through BMW Films. Traditionally, BMW had always supported the release of a new vehicle with an advertising campaign designed to reinforce the brand promise of delivering the world’s most exciting luxury cars. But in 2000, BMW had a window of opportunity when it could do something purely for the sake of branding sans release of a new vehicle to deliver a unique message in an increasingly crowded luxury performance car market. 



Never before (or since) had an automotive company taken such a strong stance to drive consumers to the Web, and the results are compelling. More than 10 million films have been viewed from BMWFilms.com. Nearly 2 million people registered on the site, with 60% of those registrants opting to receive more information via e-mail. An astonishing 94% of registrants recommended films to others, seeding the viral campaign, and more than 40,000 people voluntarily responded to a survey. Visiting the site now, one is able to enter a contest to win the M5 used in “The Star,” the short film that was directed by Guy Ritchie starring Madonna.

Who wouldn't love to drive one of theses????

week 10: Product Concepts

BMW presents the concept of a new 4 door coupe. The BMW Concept Gran Coupé is finally here with a unique one of a kind design expertise of the German premium automobile manufacturer.

With an exclusive Design Night on the evening of the first press day at Auto China in Beijing, BMW provides an in-depth insight into its design philosophy and development strategy. The program of the BMW Design Night is modular in structure and presents extensive background information on the premium automobile manufacturer’s innovative design culture. In addition to highlighting the long versions of the BMW 5 Series developed specially for the Chinese market, the main focus is on an elegant 4-door vehicle with striking dynamic proportions: the BMW Concept Gran Coupe.

The concept study on display symbolizes the outstanding design expertise of BMW. The BMW Concept Gran Coupé concentrates the fundamental values of the brand. Its body design authentically captures a sense of superior dynamic performance and high-quality elegance. The shaping style, which follows a coherent pattern down to the last detail, convincingly visualises BMW’s philosophy as an automobile manufacturer. As with the Concept CS 2007, BMW once again sets new benchmarks in the design of 4-door coupes with a distinctive sporty character.

week.9 Sales promotion and personal selling

Sales promotions are obviously created to generate more sales among the regular customers and also attract more and new customers. This is manifested in the form of products in the middle or low prices, or take two and pay one, or simply as in a few concerts where you don't pay much to see more than one artist at a time.

 

 For example, BMW of Tulsa lets out their promotions with a bang, with an offer of limited time offer as you could see above.
Plus BMW of Tulsa also, promotes their service quoting that
"All The Information You Need is Right there at BMW of Tulsa, to Visit their  Friendly, Professional Staff Who Will Exceed Your Expectations for Personal Service. Please Contact Us if You Have Any Special Requests or Would Like Any Extra Help Finding The Automobile You Want. Thank You for Shopping at BMW of Tulsa in Tulsa of Tulsa County, Oklahoma. We Look Forward to Servicing All Your Automotive Needs." Leaving costumers with no chance but to go. 

Who could say no to sales and good service?????

week 8. Advertising and Public Relations

Advertising: From my point of view BMW"s manufactures their cars as an advertisement because, When you see a BMW driving down the road, you don't just go "Meh". No, you stop what you're doing and you watch it pass on by. You watch the sunlight glisten off the blue and white logo, you stare into your reflection on the paint, you try to catch a glimpse of the person driving it and then you try to imagine yourself in the seat. When BMW cars pass by, it's like making eye contact with a very beautiful woman for the briefest of moments. BMW and its competition is one of BMW's ways to market its buyers and to show off the best they have to officer. From BMW"s films to its Billboards and catalogs BMW shows that their cars with their labels "The Ultimate Driving Machine".  

Saving the envirment while advertising in Japan BMW" The Ultimate Driving Machine"

Public relations: BMW AUTOMOBILES CO. Does not just try to sell cars, they win the people over first, which then leads to their cars being sold. But what way is better then satisfying the people and community with cleaner air. Also, by winning the people thats what adversities their cars.  BMW decided in 2007 to expand its use of recycled landfill methane gas to power its paint shop, becoming the first automotive plant in the world with a "green-powered" paint shop. BMW's PR goal was to receive worldwide exposure for this, while their communication objective was to have their environmental stewardship story told and not have it diluted by stories about its vehicles.

week 7.. Retailing

Express

• So i was in need of a new outfit and decided to go shopping at Kings Plaza, mall in Brooklyn. There were many stores to choose from, but one of the stores caught my attention overall. This was Express, located on the first floor of the mall, but catching my attention from the second with its big red signs. As soon as i walked in representatives greeted me, asked if i needed any help, also the representatives spoke to me very friendly and that's when i notices that they had sweeten me up a little to much, because i just stepped in for one outfit which would of cost me about 150 dollars and ended buying about 375 dollars worth of things, but ended up getting some very good sales form the representatives bring my cost to 175 i love express now. I am a loyal Express customer now,I always get what I want at the prices that everyone would want, which is cheap. Customer service is an important factor in Expresses retailing and which you can find it in this clothing store. 
• Express is company who sure knows how to grab men or any customers attention with its beautiful red Express sign plus the 20% off plus the buy one get the other 50% signs and including its beautiful and  sexually attractive sales representatives.
• What man wouldn't buy something from a beautiful attractive young lady? 

This company has a conscience, it loves to make people look good on the outside and feel good in the side even though there taking your money by using sexual attraction. Lol I don't know if its just me but that's how they got me buying and shopping there all the time. i dont even look toward no other stores  any more its just straight to Express.

week 6. Consumer Decision Making

Social Influences on Consumer Buying Decisions:



Bmw Films
In 2000, sans the release of a new vehicle, BMW did some pure branding by developing BMW Films  online only shorts supported by other media. The efforts saw stellar results. Automotive companies constantly do battle to capture an audience of eager players at the right moment in the purchasing funnel who are interested in driving off a lot with a new vehicle.


Such was the case in 2001, when the “Ultimate Driving Machine” became the ultimate interactive marketing campaign through BMW Films. Traditionally, BMW had always supported the release of a new vehicle with an advertising campaign designed to reinforce the brand promise of delivering the world’s most exciting luxury cars.
BMW always try to deliver a unique message in an increasingly crowded luxury performance car market. BMW knew that the average work-hard, play-hard customer was 46 years old, with a median income of about $150,000. Two-thirds were male, married, and had no children. As BMW sliced and diced its market further, an interesting statistic surfaced: Roughly 85% of BMW purchasers used the Internet before purchasing a BMW.

week 5. Developing a Global Vision

Economic and Technological Development


First, let’s take a look at BMW in context of the global automobile industry. In recent decades, the industry has undergone significant consolidation among manufacturing enterprises. From multiple acquisitions by Ford to the Daimler-Chrysler merger, many automakers now enjoy economies of scale and global distribution networks that afford significant advantages in procurement, R&D, manufacturing, and distribution.
The chart plots relative automobile unit share and growth rates of the major manufacturers.
BMW succeeded in differentiating its product line to address the growing needs of its target audience, introducing the Z3 roadster and the X5 sport utility in the late 1990s. By the end of 2003, fully ten percent of all BMW sales were in the “light truck” category. The new MINI, launched in 2001 as a separate master brand yet arguably benefiting from the halo effect of its parent brand, was a phenomenal success, reaching estimated sales of over 120,000 units in 2003, or ten percent of the BMW Group’s unit sales. Nonetheless, isolating pure BMW unit sales reveals respectable five-year unit growth of 30 percent, a virtual tie with the growth of Mercedes-Benz.

But just over the last few years, some major tweaks have been churning out of BMW’s design and marketing departments. Perhaps threatened by the marketing savvy and performance-minded products from Audi, Mercedes, Infiniti and others, BMW has decided to shake things up a bit in its quest to keep the core brand distinct from the pack. And while significant shifts in design philosophy, driving qualities, or brand identity could alienate loyal consumers and damage brand equity, BMW has ironically put these very attributes into play in what appear to be some risky moves to achieve greater brand relevance.

It’s always interesting to see a tried and true brand change course. At the end of the day, while the designers and marketers tweak the Machine, hopefully they’ll continue to steer the Ultimate Driving brand down a road that’s true to its heritage.

Corporate Irresponsibility

 HP SPY vs SPY
 
According to CNET news some one at Hewlett- Packards (HP) boardroom was covertly speaking to the media about confidential business. Therefore, HP CEO's took matters into there own hands and started interviewing all of the board members, but the leakier wasn't identified. So HP decided to go out side the law and hired spies to spy on its own board members to locate the source of a press leak. That was monumentally bad judgment. Therefore,The HP probe is now under investigation by the state attorney general. The Securities and Exchange Commission also is investigating whether the company violated any regulations by not disclosing Perkins' objections to the probe when the company reported his resignation earlier this year. 
   
 HP admitted to hiring private detectives to illegally obtain the personal phone records of board members suspected of leaking company secrets to the media. Five people have since been charged, including former chairwoman Patricia Dunn.

week 4.The Marketing Environment

  How does Bmw market itself to the Hispanic Community?
     Bmw and its wonderful programs for Latino's.  The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education is a program that BMW has participated in order to create a path of academic success and career stepping stones to help Latino students excel in the classroom and in the boardroom.  
    Second Program BMW of North America, LLC has teamed up with The U.S. Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce Foundation to reach out to Latinos in the Miami area
interested in pursuing a career in automotive technical service. Modeled after
BMW's successful Service Technician Education Program (STEP), MetroSTEP aims to
encourage more Latinos to pursue careers in automotive services and addresses
the industry shortage of skilled auto technicians.

So how is this a part of Marketing?
Theres no other way to seal the Hispanic/Latino communities hearts. By giving Hispanic opportunities in becoming auto technician, the Bmw is marketing itself to Hispanic  by showing their interest in the  people not only to advertise there product or corporation but to see Hispanic progress.

Quote:' Dont bite the hand, that feeds you"
 Therefore, when it comes to feeding BMW is feeding the Hispanic Community by educating them, so the Hispanic Community wouldn't go around and buying another car from another Car Manufacture knowing that they know Bmw cars like the back of there hands plus BMW is what thought them what they know. 
 







      

Country of Origin

New era Hat: Made in U.S.A
Backpack: Made india
Express Sweater: Made in China
Express Jeans: Made in China
Jordan Sneakers: Made in China
Hanes whit T: Made in El Salvador
Guess belt: Made in China
Fruit of the loom underwear: Made in El Salvador
Socks: Doesn't say?
Hanes White beater: Made in El Salvador

week 3. Ethic and Social Responsibilty

  BMW is aiming  to develop solutions, which would lead to drastic reductions in CO2 emissions, through the use of non-fossil fuels and replacing them with renewable energy sources. The only way the conflict of interest between increasing individual mobility and climate and environmental protection can be resolved. Tomorrow’s mobility will take a different form from today .Since the 1970s the BMW Group has been working on the development of sustainable mobility solutions. In the early 1980s, the company embarked on a programme which has seen a steady stream of vehicles with hydrogen drive systems used for research. Therefore, BMW isn't new at trying to prevent  Global warming.

Safety comes First!!!

Why Buy a BMW 5 Series?
I'll tell you why!! They always say that safety comes first in what ever your looking to buy, from homes to kid toys safety is the number 1 priority. Therefore, when it comes to buying a BMW 5series think of it as both a home and a kids toy, with its comfort of a home and its safety ability to take it out into the road for a joy ride. The BMW 5 Series is the first BMW to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award since the organization added a rollover test to its scoring criteria. The Top Safety Pick award recognizes vehicles for earning the highest score of Good on the front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection. To earn this distinction, vehicles must also have electronic stability control, which is standard on the 5 Series.


BMW isn't just interested on its sales, but its also interested in the safety of the environment and of its costumers.

week-2.. Strategic planning

BMW CS

BMW X1

BMW plans for future.           

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed the automaker's plans for the future, all the way up to 2020. According to Norbert Reithofer "There's lots of stuff in works, but they'll try to hit each point". First off, the company's got a short term five year plan of achieving annual sales of 1.8 million vehicles by 2012. After that, it will have another eight years to reach annual sales of 2 million by 2020. Those are big jumps from today, but BMW plans to reach them by increasing production at its Spartanburg plant in the U.S., as well as the MINI plant in Oxford. Of course, the growing Chinese market will also demand more BMW's. Increasing production of what's currently offered in BMW dealerships won't get the automaker all that far, so a slew of new vehicles were also announced by Reithofer. These include expanding BMW's range of SUVs with a small X1 model, as well as producing a four-door Gran Turismo car based off of the CS Concept that debuted in Shanghai this year. 

Week 1- History and mission Statement..

From old school to new school. As may see how the years change the style and model of what use has become the BMW 5 series sedan.   
The BMW E12 BMW 5-Series was made between 1972 and 1981. The E12 was the first series to bear the 5 Series name: the '5' denoting BMW's fifth 'New Class' platform. Designed as a replacement for the popular BMW new class mid-size sedan, the E12 5-Series models were smaller than the large BMW E3 sedan but larger than the two-door 2002 models. The E12 was replaced by the BMW E28 5 Series in 1981. This BMW was designed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz W114 sedans.The 5 Series began the BMW tradition of being named with a three-digit number. The first digit (5 in this case) represents the model, and the following two digits (usually) represent the size of the engine in deciliters, which is the main distinguishing difference. Additional letters or words may be added to the end of the three-digit number to define the fuel type (petrol or diesel), engine or transmission details, and the body style. The 'i' originally stood for (fuel) 'injection'. 

BMW's mission statement for now and up to 2020 is clearly defined: that the BMW Group is the world's leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility."