Chapter 17: Advertising and Public Relations

Until recently I had never seen an Amway Global commercial, or even seen an ad on a billboard or on the train. However, while watching television on a Sunday night, which is the only time I’m really ever home and able to watch it, I saw my first Amway commercial. It was really capturing; I’m not sure it was the music, or the fact that when it initially came on you would have believed it to be an iPhone commercial. But, Amway was simply telling us that they now have an app for the iPhone, where you can access the site and the whole catalog from the phone. This is especially great because the free download allows us Amway IBOs to access a complete product catalog, show customers videos and other product information, and place orders, with or without an Internet connection. It’s also available for the iPod touch, and even though I am not an IPhone owner, I found this to be pertinent information. I would say this commercial displays product advertising as well as pioneering advertising because it touts the benefits of the service, the service being the convenient accessibility of the website via the phone. And, it displays the pioneering advertising because it is stimulating the customers’ primary demand not for the product in particular, but it may increase their curiosity as to what Amway is and what products they sell; not to mention it may encourage more people to join team Amway. Also, if a customer knows that their independent business owner can show them the products practically any time because it’s portable, that is more incentive for them to want to retain their services. Under that video, I also posted Ronaldinho’s secret weapon NUTRILITE* commercial xD

Chapter 15: Retailing

Amway global is an independent retailer, more specifically an electronic retailer because it’s online retailing. So, I will do my best to explain my visit to the retailer. I wanted to get a couple of things. I was running low on detergent for the house, and so I figured I’d buy some more legacy of clean products, some detergent and maybe cleaning sprays while was at it. So, of course I sit there on my laptop with my card next to me while preparing to make my purchase, and then I was distracted when I saw that they have an online makeover process where you can choose from a wide array of models, and make them up step by step with a flash program they must have recently installed. I was on an hour longer than I expected. And, although I don’t even wear makeup, I bought quite a few makeup products. Then when I did get to putting the detergent I wanted in the cart, I was once again sidetracked and I ended up buying Glister, which is the name of the toothpaste we sell. It’s great for your teeth, and it contains Sylodent*, a polishing agent, which cleans and helps eliminate stains to whiten teeth without bleach. Not only that, but it is only 3.99 at retail price, and 3.39 for me being that I’m an IBO. Also, the 6.75 oz. tube is 6 toothpastes in one tube. You truly cannot beat that. I figure why not buy from my own business if I am saving and making money? I am happy because I bought everything in bulk and won’t have to buy for a couple of months, possibly three. And, best of all I spent $75 so I qualified for free shipping.

Chapter 6: Consumer Decision Making

There was an aspect of Chapter 6 that stood out to me and that was the opinion leader. I’m not exactly sure who an opinion leader is in Amway Global in particular, but I would assume that some of the opinion leaders are the girls featured in the Miss America pageant because Amway has sponsored them.  Another opinion leader that I have recently discovered is Ronaldinho. He has signed with Nutrilite. First of all, for those of you to whom the name doesn’t ring a bell Ronaldinho is a Brazilian professional soccer player who plays for Italian Serie A club A.C. Milan and the Brazilian national team. He is known as one of the most gifted soccer player of his generation.

“Equally important to the marketing and media benefits we secured with AC Milan is the ability to be on the forefront of cutting-edge scientific research and sports training of world-class athletes through the Milanello Training Center,” said Amway Chief Marketing Officer Candace Matthews. “More specifically, by collaborating with Milan Lab, we can showcase how our NUTRILITE products help the team achieve optimal health.” [Ronaldinho.cc]

Earlier this year, Amway signed Ronaldinho to a global endorsement agreement and named him Global Spokesperson for the Amway One by One Campaign for Children. This has had a big impact on the company and has contributed to the sales and has influenced over 5.5. Million children all over the world. NUTRILITE® is a brand of Amway Products. This is the world's leading brand of vitamin, mineral, and dietary supplements.  This is great because a lot o f people look up to him and it will encourage them to use the products if they believe it is helping keep him agile enough to perfect his craft. This goes back to consumer decision making. Most of the people buying the products buy it solely because of the opinion leader, regardless of how they themselves value the particular product.

 I have tried the products myself. They have a concentrated fruits and vegetables tablet. It. Provides more than the five to nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables health authorities say are needed to reduce risk for a variety of cancers, and it delivers antioxidants to help fight free radicals generated by smoke, pollution, and exercise. I don’t know about you, but I know people that are grown and still don’t eat vegetables, perhaps because they don’t like to or they just don’t have the time. This tablet has me feeling healthy when I take it.

They also have the NUTRILITE carb blocker 2, which is great. It is a gentle way to help control calorie absorption from table sugar and starches such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, peas, dried beans, and other carbohydrate-rich foods. But, the great thing is unlike those other calorie burners it still gives your body the benefit of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber found in carbohydrate-containing foods. And it helps keep you fuller longer. If girls still want to keep that size 2, it’s not a problem. And, you can still eat as unhealthily as you’d like, but not that I’d recommend it. But it absorbs the oils and trans fats from your food before you’ve even digested it. Great invention because you won’t be crapping up a storm all night. I’m sure it affects people differently, but so far the reviews have been stupendous.

We know that gender plays a role on the decision of a consumer to buy. Amway has Artistry skincare and makeup for women, and they have NUTRILITE products which is a neutral brand of products because you don’t need to be a specific gender to appreciate products that help improve your health.

Why Red Bull is bad for you...

Red Bull Ingredients

TAURINE
Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid which is naturally occurring in the human body. “Conditionally essential” means that in some situations or under certain conditions, as for example, in situations of high stress or physical exertion, increased amounts of taurine are eliminated from the body and cannot be replaced by the body in sufficient amounts.
Taurine is involved in vital functions of the human body. Taurine acts as an antioxidant and has been shown to promote detoxification by binding together with harmful substances and thereby accelerating their excretion from the body.
Taurine is also contained in different foodstuffs like e.g. scallops, fish or poultry and is added to most baby food.
GLUCURONOLACTONE
Glucuronolactone is a carbohydrate.
It is naturally occurring in the human body where it is involved in detoxification processes, supporting the body in eliminating waste substances from the body.

Glucuronolactone is also present in different foodstuffs such as grain or red wine.
CAFFEINE
Caffeine is known for its beneficial effects on mental and physical functions. It has been shown to improve e.g. reaction speed, alertness and concentration. Caffeine also stimulates fat-burning during endurance activities and thereby helps to use fat stores in the body which results in a more efficient supply of energy.
Caffeine is contained in many foodstuffs such as coffee tea or chocolate. One can of Red Bull Energy Drink contains approximately the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.
B-GROUP VITAMINS
B-group vitamins play an important role in energy metabolism, such as the build-up and break-down of carbohydrates, fat and protein. B vitamins are also shown to support mental and physical performance.
SUCROSE
GLUCOSE

We know glucose is one of the main causes of diabetes. Taurine is horrible for you, and red bull is said to have ox piss in it. On the other hand, XS energy drinks taste great and they have no sugars or carbs. We also have drinks without caffeine, which isn't for everybody.

Chapter 5: Developing a Global Vision

So, I read in Chapter 5 of The World of Marketing, that Global Marketing has an immense impact on the U.S. It does because the exports account for 25 percent of U.S. economic growth.

Multinational corporations move resources, goods, and services and skills across national boundaries. Amway Global does this. They distribute their products to 8 different countries. These countries include Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras Canada Mexico Chile Panama Colombia Puerto Rico Costa Rica United States Dominican Republic Uruguay El Salvador Venezuela. These countries are primarily what bring us so much revenue. If we operated solely in the U.S., we would not be doing 8.4 billion a year. However, a lot of our products were indeed established and manufactured in the U.S.

I think that Americans are cheap and they choose not to buy from their own manufacturing companies. Foreign is appealing to them. We rather buy something important from China, Indonesia or Japan, which is why America does the trading.  It’s a blessing and curse to our economy.

XS energy drinks and a lot of the other Amway products are actually manufactured in America. The Manufacturer is XS Energy LLC, and they are a California-Based Company. I would say that they are doing pretty well. One of our biggest competitors is Red Bull. The company was founded by Thai national Chaleo Yoovidhya and Austrian national Dietrich Mateschitz. It is an Austria based company. However, in America it is during very well and still is considered to be one of the most popular energy drinks in the world. I feel that is because it is not an American made product. We tend to support foreigners rather than build up our own country. This is one of the negatives of global trade. Although XS energy drinks are an American manufactured product, they are becoming more universal to other countries, and they are becoming more popular.