I am a bachelor of........

Alhamdulillah praise to Allah S.W.T to be blessed and gifted this life. I am officially graduated from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) in BBA in Marketing with a first class degree (Waived my ptptn hoorayy!). *loooong sigh*

I still remember the days that when I was at Matriculation where my lectures once said, “if you didn’t passed to enrol in Public University, choose UniKL.” I was thinking back then like ugh no I don’t wanna end up in UniKL, I want to go to Public University too. But back then it is unfortunately and now I say fortunately, I got into the Universiti Kuala Lumpur. It is so hard at first to accept the fact that my matriculation result is bad (read: I am dumb) which I think my future is dark. I still remember that I cried a little on the first day of my registration to UniKL and that is because I felt like at least UniKL still accept me to be part of them too and finally I did further my studies for degree.

Along the way at UniKL I can say it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t hard either. There’s one time when your result expectation is lower that the reality you almost think it’s the end of the world (jumping off of a building thoughts) but life must go on! Too many ups and downs but Alhamdulillah many ups compared to downs . 3 years of being a degree student has been so wonderful that I gained a lot of experiences doing so many things that I never done before. Volunteering in international events, becoming solo presenter, involved in committee members of a club, being a loud student but in a funny and cheerful way lol! (Kepochi’s), funny friends that loves to joking around a lot.

And among my friends and according to them too I’m the least (dictionary: smallest in amount, extent, or significance) that has problems during study life not comparing who’s and what’s but I really don’t dwell myself deeper in my problems because you as a human is so much bigger than your problems. My take on this is that life and problems forever there but you gotta chin up, face it and get through it! Go do fun stuff with your loved ones and create beautiful memories along the way because life is too short to be boring haha!

There’s also me on deciding whether to go on convocation or not over and over again. Because one time I think convocation is just a celebration to honor you as a student and presenting awards and certification as a recognition. So I had this biased thought until it’s almost the end of my study life then I started to think okay I really need to celebrate myself because I did struggle a lot especially during the final year but more in a manageable struggles though .

So I am happy that on 13th of October is the day where I sort of in a cloud nine! I did my degree in BBA Marketing in first class degree. Alhamdulillah thank you Allah. Stay motivated to finish what you started, bumps are always there to gives you challenges along the way. Sees it as a good challenges to keep you going. And always know Allah is always there to bless you and whatever happen pray to Allah and He will answers in a beautiful way! Last but not least as I rarely post photos here so enjoy some photos of my convocation days to maybe enlighten and inspire you guys too. 

Something I felt like to pour out

Hi readers,

Hope whatever you are today makes you at ease and comfort to read my entries. I am so new to this, well my previous blog is like a part of my assignments so that is why they are all kinda sounds so factual info.

I am now 24 this year but not officially 24 because my birthday is on December. But something that I felt not too satisfying which I am still not settle and well on securing my career. I know it is normal to feel this way like all the motivational sayings and positive thoughts would be most probably comforting us the millennial to stay calm and it is okay to be not okay. I have this memories back in the day when I was maybe in primary school (age between 7-12) where I will always have this shivering feelings and worrying on what will I be in the future (read: adult). Like the thoughts of your childhood dream job, would I be a doctor?, would I be a scientist?, would I be a pilot?, would I be successful adult?. I know we all have that thought and I know too where maybe none of this reflect to us at all. Haha! Well, I am one of that person too. Well, you are not failing actually. It is okay to not become into your dream and admired job because believe in the fact we're too lazy too stupid to study back then! Hahahaha.

But you know at least be a good human. Restore the faith of humanity in yourself. I always say to myself, no matter how bad you are at your current job now, maybe sometime things doesn't work out well at our workplace always always at least be a good human to others. Be good to others as simple as that. No matter how bad your days are, be good to others. Restore that in yourself. At least maybe you help others to ease up their days, or maybe smile at people that passing by you, maybe in a traffic be tolerable driver even you know you gonna reach home late! You will never lose a dime to be good to others. Maybe randomly smile at a stray cat because he is fluffy and cute at the same time. Haha! My point is never lose yourself with you struggling whatever you are facing now and still try to be a good human. You can make a difference.

And never give up no matter what. As you might feel cliche, but it is true. Don't give up with yourself. As I know everyone of us have our own idols or people to look up to, think about this; what happen to that person if he/she has giving up when he/she is struggling in life. You are what you are today because of what you fight from the past. At least be proud of what you have become today. You have made it this far so keep going! And let's all be healthy and take care of ourselves. Peace out and Ciao!

PROMOTIONAL STRATEGY

Objectives

•To explore the scope of retail promotion

•To study the elements of retail promotion: advertising, public relations, personal selling, and sales promotion

•To discuss the strategic aspects of retail promotion: objectives, budgeting, the mix of forms, implementing the mix, and reviewing and revising the plan

Elements of the Promotional Mix

•Advertising

—- Paid, nonpersonal communication transmitted through out-of-store mass media by an identified sponsor

—- Key aspects

•Paid form

•Non-personal presentation

•Out-of-store mass media

•Identified sponsor

Advantages

üAttracts a large audience

üGains pass along readership (for print)

üLow cost per contact

üMany alternatives available

üControl over message content; message can be standardized

üMessage study possible

üEditorial content surrounds ad

üSelf-service operations possible

Disadvantages

ÒStandardized messages lack flexibility

ÒSome media require large investments

ÒGeographic flexibility limited

ÒSome media require long lead time

ÒSome media have high throwaway rate

ÒSome media limit the ability to provide detailed information

Types of Advertising

•Public Relations

Communication that fosters a favorable image for the retailer

•Nonpersonal or personal

•Paid or nonpaid

•Sponsor-controlled or not

•Publicity – Nonpersonal form of public relations whereby messages are

transmitted by mass media.  The time or space provided by the media is not

paid for, and there is no identified commercial sponsor

Advantages

üImage can be presented or enhanced

üMore credible source

üNo costs for message’s time or space

üMass audience addressed

üCarryover effects possible

üPeople pay more attention than to clearly identified ads

Disadvantages

ÒSome retailers do not believe in spending on image-related communication

ÒLittle control over publicity message

ÒMore suitable for short run

ÒCosts for PR staff, planning activities and events

•Personal Selling

- Oral communication with one or more prospective customers for the purpose of making a

sale

•Persuade customers to buy

•Stimulate sales of impulse items or products related to customers’ basic purchases

•Complete customer transactions

•Feed information back to company decision makers

•Provide proper levels of customer service

•Improve and maintain customer satisfaction

•Create awareness of items also marketed through the Web, mail, and telemarketing

Advantages

üMessage can be adapted

üMany ways to meet customer needs

üHigh attention span

üLess waste

üBetter response

üImmediate feedback

Disadvantages

ÒLimited number of customers at one time

ÒHigh costs

ÒDoesn’t get customer in store

ÒSelf-service discouraged

ÒNegative attitudes toward salespeople

Typical Personal Selling Functions

•Sales Promotion

 Encompasses the paid communication activities other than advertising, public relations, and personal selling that stimulate consumer purchases and dealer effectiveness

Types of Sales Promotions

•Displays

•Contests

•Sweepstakes

•Coupons

•Frequent shopper programs

•Prizes

•Samples

•Demonstrations

•Referral gifts

 Advantages

üEye-catching appeal

üDistinctive themes

üAdded customer value

üDraws customer traffic

üMaintains loyalty

üIncreases impulse purchases

üFun for customers

Disadvantages

ÒDifficult to terminate

ÒPossible damage to retailer’s image

ÒMore stress on frivolous selling points

ÒShort-term effects only

ÒUsed as a supplement

PRICING IN RETAILING

                                                        Objectives

•To describe the role of pricing in a retail strategy and to show that pricing decisions must be made in an integrated and adaptive manner

•To examine the impact that consumers, government, manufacturers, wholesalers and other suppliers, current/potential competitors have on pricing decisions

•To present a framework for developing a retail price strategy: objectives, broad policy, basic strategy, implementation, and adjustments

Pricing Options for Retailers

•Discount orientation

•At-the-market orientation

•Upscale orientation

Factors Affecting Retail Price Strategy

Price Elasticity of Demand

•The sensitivity of customers to price changes in terms of the quantities they will buy:

•Elastic – Small percentage changes in price lead to substantial percentage changes in the number of units bought.

•Inelastic – Large percentage changes in price lead to small percentage changes in the number of units bought.

Market Segments by Price Sensitivity

•Economic consumers

•Status-oriented consumers

•Assortment-oriented consumers

•Convenience-oriented consumers

Competition and Retail Pricing

•Market pricing – Retailers often price similarly to each other and have less control over price because consumers can easily shop around.

•Administered pricing – Firms seek to attract consumers on the basis of distinctive retailing mixes.

Pros and Cons of Everyday Low Pricing

Pros:

•Reduced advertising expense

•More predictable sales levels

•Fewer peaks and ebbs of sales distribution

Cons:

•Decreased excitement

•Potentially less store traffic due to specials

•Less “cherry-picking” by consumers who only purchase specials

STORE LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Boredom & the Store Environment 

•Time Poverty

As consumers’ lives become increasingly time starved, customers are often entering retail stores with a negative feeling/emotion because they would rather be doing something else than shopping.

•Dissatisfaction with Shopping

Whether due to larger amounts of category management, cookie-cutter retailers, more time spent working, or changes in demographics.

Elements of the Store Environment

Store Planning

•“The better it is, the less you notice it as a customer”

Fundamentally concerned with the allocation of space and how it is used.

•Floor Plan

A schematic that shows where merchandise and customer service departments are located, how customers circulate through the store, and how much space is dedicated to each department.

Types of Space

•Back room

- Receiving areas for shipments & stockroom

•Office & other functional areas

- Break & training rooms, offices, and bathrooms

•Aisles, service areas, and other non-selling space

- Dressing rooms, service desks, etc.

•Walls

•Sales floor

Space Allocation Planning

•Requires the retailer to first analyze the profitability and productivity of various merchandise lines.

•On average 20% of a retailer’s merchandise is either obsolete or unwanted by the retailer’s customer base.

•Any productivity metric chosen must relate some performance variable (e.g., sales, GM, etc.) to the amount of space used in the store.

CUSTOMER SERVICES AND RETAIL SELLING

Learning Objectives

ØExplain why customer service is so important in retailing.

ØDescribe the various customer services that a retailer can offer.

ØExplain how a retailer should determine which services to offer.

Customer Service

ØHigh-quality service - A service that meets or exceeds customers’ expectations.

ØA way in which retailers provide the high-quality service expected and reduce customer defections is through relationship retailing programs.

ØRelationship retailing programs - The activities designed to attract, retain, and enhance long-term relationships with customers.

ØRetailers can develop long-term relationships with their customers by offering:

- financial benefits

- social benefits

Three Basic Tasks of Retailing

ØIt consists of all those activities performed by the retailer that influence:

- the ease with which a potential customer can shop or learnabout the store’s offering.

- the ease with which a transaction can be completed once the customer attempts to make a purchase.

- the customer’s satisfaction with the transaction.

ØTransient customer - An individual who is dissatisfied with the level of customer service offered at a store or stores and is seeking an alternative store with the level of customer service that he or she thinks is appropriate.

- Gives another store the opportunity to convert them

- What are some of the stores you know which actively work to avoid losing customers – and how do they do it?

ØPretransaction services - Provided to the customer prior to entering the store.

- Convenient hours – Examples of those which don’t?

- Information aids – such as?

ØTransaction services - Provided to customers when they are in the store shopping and transacting business.

- Credit

- Layaway

- Gift wrapping and packaging

- Check cashing

- Gift cards

Factors to Consider When Determining Customer Services to Offer

Retail Sales Management

ØTypes of retail selling

-Retailers that concentrate on the sale of shopping goods want their salespeople to both get and take orders.

- In lines of retail trade where predominantly convenience goods are sold, the role of the salesperson is that of an order taker.

- It is generally true that retailers with high margins and high levels of customer service place more emphasis on order getting; those with low margins and a low customer service policy tend to emphasize order taking.

ØSalesperson selection

= Hiring criteria

= Predictors

- Demographics

- Personality

- Knowledge and intelligence

- Experience

ØSalesperson training

ØRetailer’s policies

ØMerchandise

ØCustomer types

ØCustomer choice criteria

ØNo active product choice criteria

ØInadequate or vague choice criteria

ØChoice criteria in conflict

ØExplicit choice criteria

Evaluation of salespeople