World War I” Please respond to the following: (Note: Please respond to one [1] of the following two [2] bulleted items in a primary posting of at least 200 words. In aIDition, please make a substantive comment of at least 100 words to at least one [1] of your classmates.)

• Examine three (3) of the major events that led to the outbreak of World War I. Explain the manner in which each of the events you have chosen contributed to starting the War. Provide a rationale for your response.
• Explain the fundamental reasons behind the United States entering World War I in Europe. Discuss whether or not you believe these reasons warranted going to war. Provide a rationale for your response.
• MARKETING
• E- ACTIVITY
• Go to Dunkin’ Donuts’ Website, located at http://dunkinbrands.com/aboutus/history.html, and review its “Brand History”. Then, watch the video titled “A Krispy Kreme Dream Machine” (2 min 39 s). Be prepared to discuss. Video Source: smithsonianchannel. (2012, November 18). A Krispy Kreme Dream Machine [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HH1bj6-KL8. This video can be reviewed from within your online course shell.
• Go to Vans’ Website, located at: http://www.vans.com/. View Vans’ products for skateboards, and take note of who you believe comprise its target market. Reflect on retailer marketing actions to identify consumers and attract them to purchase their products. Be prepared to discuss.
• Go to NBC News’ Website and read “The cult of personality – for cars”, located at  http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31766031/ns/business-autos/t/cult-personality-cars/, and reflect on consumer behavior and buying attitudes. Be prepared to discuss.
• QUESTION 1 MKT
  • From the first e-Activity, examine the overall consumer behaviors and determine the manner in which these behaviors relate to consumer demographics and lifestyles when customers choose a car color.
  • From the second, e-Activity, ascertain Vans’ target market. Provide your opinion as to whether or not Vans is sufficiently aIDressing the overall consumer behaviors of the users of skateboard products in order to attract that target market to its particular products. Support your response with examples of Vans’ success or lack thereof. Please respond to the following:Consumer Behavior Impacts Retail Management”
  • QUESTION 2 MKT
    • From the third e-Activity, compare the brand history and evolution of Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme. Determine the substantive ways in which the retail information has helped both businesses to evolve.
    • Imagine that you are a marketing research consultant for the American Red Cross chapter in your hometown. Your boss has asked you to collect information that you can use to help increase the donations of blood and platelets used to treat cancer patients at the Children’s Hospital. Outline the marketing research process that you would use. Provide a rationale for your selection. Please respond to the following:Information Flow and Marketing Research”
    • ASSIGNMENT 1 MKT
    • Assignment 1: Retailer Relationships, Consumers, and Innovation

      Imagine that you are a new marketing strategist for a retail business and wish to examine the practices of existing retailers for a frame of reference. Go to About.com’s Website read “2013 Top 100 US Based Retail Companies on World’s Largest List – Biggest & Best”, located at  http://retailindustry.about.com/od/topusretailcompanies/a/us_2013_worlds-largest_retail_companies_chains_retailers_biggest_American_globalpower_2.htm. Next, go to Chain Store Age’s Website and read “Chain Store Age: News and Analysis for Retail Executives, August/September 2012”, located at http://www.chainstoreage.com/sites/chainstoreage.com/files/Interbrand2012_Top100_LR.pdf.

      Select a retailer in which you are interested from either of these lists.

      Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

      1. Propose three (3) actions that you would take in order to build and sustain relationships for the selected retailer.
      2. Determine which of the retailers from either or both the Websites is currently the most successful at strategic planning and building relationships. Support your position with one (1) example of such success.
      3. Examine the fundamental aspects of innovation (e.g., technology) that either support or do not support the overall retailer-consumer relationship.
      4. Determine whether you agree or disagree with the selected retailer concerning its use of nontraditional forms of retailing. Suggest two (2) actions that the retailer can take in order to take advantage of the consumer trends in the evolution of retailing.
      5. Apply the process of strategic planning in retailing and the characteristics of ownership to the selected retailer, and justify your logic.
      6. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

      Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

      • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any aIDitional instructions.
      • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

      The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

      • Describe the special characteristics of retailing and the importance of building and sustaining relationships.
      • Explain the process of strategic planning in retailing and the characteristics of ownership.
      • Examine nonstore retailing, electronic retailing, and nontraditional retailing approaches.
      • Use technology and information resources to research issues in retail management.
      • Write clearly and concisely about retail management using proper writing mechanics.