Waldo

Q1: Does marketing create or satisfy needs?

A: On one hand, it's essential to be able to satisfy the needs of customers. Because a satisfied customer is a profitable one. To be able to satisfy the customer's needs, the firm thus tries to understand it's customer's needs and then attempt try to deliver it. We all need to eat, drink and sleep and reproduce, this is all part of who we are as human beings. Therefore at the basic level companies will strive to satisfy these functions and keep doing so by once in a while showing advertisements that tells the public that they are around and can provide the products they need.  On the other hand, new firms or marketing these days also attempt to “create” needs. By doing so, the customer have a reason to buy the product, and marketers encourage consumers to spend more money than they should on goods and services they really do not need. Marketing not only satisfies the needs of customers but also creates the needs of customers under the context of international marketing

Q2: Consider the broad shifts in marketing. Do any themes emerge in them? Can you relate theshifts to the major societal forces? Which force has contributed to which shift?

The major themes that emerge in these broad shifts are technology, decentralization, and empowerment. As companies face increased global competition, they are beginning to increase their attention to all aspects of marketing and are beginning to encompass marketing as a corporate goal and not just a departmental function.

The major societal forces at work: two-income families, increased technology, fewer firms, increased consumer education, and empowerment are forcing companies and marketers to shift their thinking about marketing and rethink their best businesss practices.

Q4: What brands and products do you feel successfully “speak to you” and effectively target your age group? Why? Which ones do not? What could they do better?

Q5: What is the best type of marketing...