Tag Archives: Sony

It May Be A Great Product, But What Do The Sales Figures Say?

Walkman
muadib.ar / Foter / CC BY-SA

Whether you’re selling candy, clothes, automobiles, tech gadgets, or any other products you can think of, everything you do behind the scenes and in your marketing strategy mean nothing unless the sales figures reflect the day-to-day operations and processes. The product may be great, it may look cool, and you may think it sells, but if there are no buyers and sales figures are down, changes have to be made to create a desire and want for the product you’re trying to sell. When it comes to products, there is so much to selling and marketing than what you, or your friends think, and what may seem popular in one clique, could be completely irrelevant to a broader customer base and bigger target markets.

At the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sony unveiled their new Walkman (I know, we’ve suddenly taken a trip to the past). It will be on sale for a mere $1200 this Spring. While Generation X can have their flashbacks down memory lane, the issue comes down to what we should expect in terms of sales figures. Taking on Apple where they’ve dominated since the beginning of the millennium is a very bold strategy. Most MP3 players have failed against the iPod, why should the Walkman expect to steal market share away from Apple?

At $1200, are consumers really going to buy that over the traditional iPod? As a consumer and student of business, these questions have to be raised. We’ll find out soon enough, but let’s move our attention to automobiles that are selling, and in particular Cadillac.

Over the past 6 months all you’ve heard from Cadillac is how they’re going to take on BMW, Audi, and Mercedes Benz. ‘The reign of the German Big Three is coming to a close because they’re not making cars like Cadillac’, is essentially what the leaders of the American luxury brand has bragged. Well, the annual sales figures have been released, and it’s time to see who has ended up with egg on their face.

According to goodcarbadcar.net here are the statistics.

Audi: Sales up 15.2% in 2014 from the previous year.
BMW: Sales up 9.8% in 2014 from the previous year.
Mercedes Benz: Sales up 6.5% in 2014 from the previous year

And then there’s Cadillac.

Sales figures down 6.5% in 2015 from the previous year.

Cadillac is improving from what they’ve produced over the past few years, the problem however is the very strong perception that Cadillacs are still owned by older folks, and even worse they’re still a branch of GM. Once again, the product can look great and may be a better option, but the sales figures don’t show that.

Another example is coming from a different side of the business spectrum, the branding, marketing, and advertising branch of business. Entrepreneur Magazine shared an article discussing 10 of the worst new logos for big companies in 2014. While a few are clearly bad, others were an improvement and further developed the brand and direction the company is moving in. Whether these logos were bad or not, what do the sales figures have to say?

Personal opinion is what blinds us all from seeing the truth, and in this instance I’m talking about business, and this can be from the owner or the consumer. Sales figures show no bias, they have no favorites, they reflect the changes that really matter, positive or negative. Sony’s Walkman could be a huge bust or a success, but at $1200 let’s see how long that price lasts when consumers can buy an iPod for much less. Cadillac is being aggressive, attacking the German auto brands and trying to compete against the most popular car companies in the world. In 2014 they failed to live up to the hype. Lastly, personal opinion that fails to see what the sales figures really say, loses all credibility.

In business there are two things you must be aware of, listen to, and learn from. Sales figures and the consumer. These two aspects tell the truth. The customer is always right, and sales figures are never wrong.

How Marketing Made Xbox More Favorable Among Teens Than The PS3

One of the debates back in high school was that the Xbox 360 was better than the Playstation 3, and while faithful followers of both sides would argue constantly, there really wasn’t a right answer. Little did any of us know that marketing played a major role in the decisions of 14-18 year olds across the United States. From the commercials, to the colors of the logo and the features each console had, the decisions and beliefs both sides had were solidified when these teens not only bought into the product, but also the marketing behind it.

If you’re a hardcore gamer, you could probably give me a list of the differences between Xbox and Playstation, but you can’t tell me that there is a major difference in graphics. Other than a few games that are exclusive to one console, there is no change in gameplay, despite the fact an Xbox or Playstation gamer would tell you otherwise. Online chatting is the real selling point, as you can talk to a friend or a group of friends who are playing different games on the Xbox, but you can’t do that on the PS3.

Getting to the real decision maker was how the product was marketed. If you’ve seen an Xbox commercial lately, you’re aware of the bright green logo and the bright green backdrop. That’s an eye catcher, and that shade of green exudes innovation. Seeing a color that goes well in the tech industry is going to create consumer confidence, even if it’s subliminal and a subconscious reaction by the viewer. While being associated with the NFL on Sundays, Xbox is reaching potential customers on a weekly basis, and by displaying the Madden football game, there is the outlet for gamers to get online and play the only football game on the market.

Playstation on the other hand rarely has good television ads, and even when they do, their darker colors aren’t appealing to look at and are certainly not an eye catcher. They’ve not made a major attempt to attract customers, and instead are banking on the faithful owners of current playstation consoles to return and buy the newest platform, which most likely they will. The PS4 saw strong sales figures last year, and this could have something to do with their lack of ads, but Xbox continues to do what they do best, and that’s get the attention of viewers.

Just as the golden arches of the McDonald’s logo is one of a kind and has become a global icon, so has Xbox’s green X. Consumers don’t forget a good product or brand, and while there is no major difference between Xbox and Playstation, the consumers will always assume Microsoft’s Xbox will create the most appeal when it comes to graphics and gameplay.

Next time an Xbox commercial pops up on the screen, think about what you’re viewing. The eye catching colors, along with quick shots of gameplay will make the idea of owning the new Xbox 1 more appealing. That’s the effectiveness of marketing. While I’m a hardcore Playstation fan, I can’t help but notice that Xbox’s commercials are offering something much more exciting and enjoyable, even if in reality they’re no different than Sony’s Playstation.