Thought some of you might find this interesting...

[Athena Twin PMS]

As some of you know, my major source of income (after I quit my career as a corperate manager) comes from consulting for varies companies now on the general gaming industry and marketing strategies. This is what has helped me have more time to work PMS activities. I help companies (mainstream and game-related) decide how to hit target audiences thorough marketing, endorsment of which teams/players, tournaments to go to/sponsor, etcs. Through this, many opportunites have come to PMS Clan, and some do not (as it is usually general direction and it is conflicting for me to pitch PMS, however, many do ask me about us and that has lead to future and exisiting partners we have today). This is something ANY of you can learn, and it usually helps to have a degree. The indusrty is very short knowelgable people of industry practices, communities, and general gaming. They need people that do not just "wear suits" to plan.

So, I decided to post this story that just went out for my biggest client I work for. Amy also works for them. We are helping build a Wal-Mart campaign so GSD&M can win the client ) hopefully. I just wanted to point this out to show there are many areas in Gaming you can work for...not just building games, playing games, etc. :)

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_41/b4004076.htm?chan=innovation_branding_branding

[Jumper PMS]

oh hey that's sweet... and maybe something I could do with my life =] lol. Since I'm all lost and stuff and want to do something gaming related.
Thank you! :)

[Rip]

Very intreguing, idea generation is a huge potential market that really hasn't been tapped that well, especially when dealing with broad demographics. While at first glance many people might just toss it over as compressed and rudimentary, I think the process is really great, it brings in a lot of variety and allows all kinds of ideas to be thrown up. It is exactly this type of thing that will produce that golden needle, the trick is sorting out the rest of the hay from the stack ;-)
I will admit I'm not a fan of wal-mart, in fact opinions like mine are one of the major reasons wal-mart wants to redefine their image. If I am willing to spend a few cents more or travel a bit farther to get to a target - for the same product - then they're missing something. And its nice to see a concerted effort to fix it (not saying my buying habits will change, but thats a different story). Neat to see a peek in the back end of such a huge hidden part of the global economy. And of course best of luck to GSD&M (That 'Don't Mess with Texas' slogan, frickin awesome)

[xi Apocalypse ix]

I like that, its cool.

[Gypsyfly PMS]

Nice insight on a very important role in all industries. Basically, consultants are our voice when we are sometimes misrepresented...especially in gaming.

Sometimes you wonder why gaming companies and companies in general do some of the odd things that they do when we even know it won't work or have better ideas on how to achieve something.

Thinking about one of the questions posed, I think I'll sure some of my ideas of what they can do: "When it comes to shopping for electronics...what could Wal-Mart do or say to make a [particular set of consumers] happy...to make their lives better?"

Wal-Mart has never been one to showcase their electronics, at least from the handful of Super Wal-Mart's I've been to in Orlando.

I guess I'll use the most common point of comparison: Target

BTW this is all from what I've seen in Orlando, Florida Super Targets and Super Wal-Marts and it's my opinion of what I think a customer might think that I can preseve from my own experience and the experience of my family and friends.:

Target
Location of Electronics Department:
As soon as you walk in you know it's either left or right. Down here I've found it's usually on your left, with a nice glowing green sign so you cannot possibly get lost.

WM
Location of Electronics Department:
Way Way in the back...and if it's your first time in a Super WM or in a different WM then you're used to, you may have to ask where it is.


Target:
Ease of buying games:
Video game sales are a huge chunk of any stores electronics earnings. If you make it easier to find and purchase those games...then people are more likely to buy them from your store. The electronics departments in our Targets are usually very neat and clean and all the games are in visible locations. The demos and consoles available are usually playable and working. And because it's not too far from checkout...you don't have to walk too far with the associate (Since they need to bring the game to the checkout counter themselves to limit theft). Unless you want to buy in the electronics department, then there's not much walking to do at all.

WM
Ease of buying games:
Many times I've found them in the wrong order, or scattered in the back so you can't see it. I was looking for the special edition red DS..the racing one..and all the DS were mixed up and piled in what looked like a mix of both PC and other electronics products. Eventually I found someone to help and they did have one in the mess of stuff. Why not just keep the bulk items in the back? However, if they did keep them in the back..it's usually hard to find anyone to help you, especially in the electronics department. So no matter what the customer loses, and it's a complete inconvenience to them to have to go through so much and wait so long for one game they can easily purchase at Target or their local game-shop.

Many times their demos and consoles are busted beyond belief.

Also the checkout counters are usually really small, cluttered, and surrounded with customers...who want to purchase quickly. So you're left with the option of walking all the way down to the regular check outs...therefore having to wait a good while for anyone to become available to escort you or you can wait either way in the growing line of the electronics department.

Target:
Special Release Giveaways:
Target usually has some limited addition item that only comes out in Target for the release of a game. Which usually wins me over Wal Mart.

WM:
Special Release Giveaways:
I don't really know about this one but I've never seen my local MM give anything away with a game. Free headphones or an FM tuner can be given away when a customer buys an MP3 players as well or at least a discount when they purchase the MP3 player and accesories..the same can be done for cameras as well. I haven't really seen this done at our local WalMarts.

Target
Customer Service:

Personally, I believe Target has better customer service overall. I believe it's mainly due to how comfortable the employees feel. The ones I talk to never seem too rushed to help and they actually look at you instead of point in the general direction you need to go(Makes me think of a certain quote in a certain Monty Python movie:p I love you if you know what I"m talking about).

That little customer assistance machine they have at the end caps of aisles is pretty useful when you need help. They literally arrive within seconds. And don't laugh..but I believe their uniforms are also better. Maybe because the red seems more cheery to me, idk.

WM
Customer Service:
Hmm, most of my experience with WM has been with tired employees late at night who barely look up if you ask a question, or rushed employees who get snappy at you because they're having a rush in the day and are overwhelmed with customers. Sometimes they chat or continue a conversation with fellow employees when you try and ask for help. Sometimes I'll find someone really friendly at checkout...and it's been the same woman for a year now. They still haven't really worked the bugs out of self checkout. When it's available, or people aren't loading 2 cart full of groceries on the belt it's iffy if it works at all.

Target
Overall Environments:
I've never seen a dirty or messy Target..never. A clean and polished store is a definite plus when shopping. I've never even seen garbage in the shopping carts for crying out loud. It's nothing but modern and you almost feel "cool" or "chic" shopping there. I've also never seen neater grocery aisles then at a Target.

WM
Overall Environments:
LoL, day or night it's usually a mess. And I know this is mostly due to messy customers and their kids gone wild more than the employees themselves. After all, there's only so much they can do. However, in the end it doesn't matter who's fault it is...it's still a messy store that customers really don't feel like grocery shopping in. And the shopping carts usually have someones left over meal from McDonald's. Somehow their greasy McNasties seem to miss their gaping mouths and land somewhere in the cart...where the associate obviously leaves it and I sort of don't blame them.

Advertising:


Online/Website


TV/Radio/Periodicals


Store Ad Placement


Believe it or not...ads still bring business..well made ads. Target and iPOD are on the cutting edge when it comes to their ads, and the way you know that is when people are copying you and making vids/movies/so on out of your commercials like they do on Youtube.

Target
Advertising:

If you compare the websites of Target (http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html/ref=nav_2_t_logo/602-6053162-9799019?%5Fencoding=UTF8)and that of Wal-Mart (http://www.walmart.com/) you can really see the difference. Target's site is as polished as iTunes and everything is easy to navigate.

They also have simple and appealing color schemes throughout. Just the colors red and white makes them slightly different from every other company that uses some variations of blue in their ads, stores, and uniforms.

Of course their TV ads are probably the most notable aspect of their marketing and they know how to do it well. They appeal to all generations simply with a few well made ads with great music. Plus, they have a much cooler mascot...a cute doggy.

Their ad placement in store and in their Sunday advertisements are usually a lot better.
They usually have fun banners and cute cartoons that appeal to kids and the girly side of all of us. And I know I love their fun guy shirts as well, they're pretty funny. Overall they seem more casual, fun going, and actually have a sense of humor in a sometimes very bland industry.

WM
Advertising:
Their website is fine, it's just very plain...and makes me feel like I"m shopping in the store instead of my home. And that same blah blue. How about trying to get rid of the smiley as well and thinking up something a little more modern?

Their commercials are not that memorable. In fact I can't really remember one, except for a psychotic smiley knocking signs over trying "to roll back the prices". Maybe they can try tapping into a very lucrative yet still untouched market: YouTube and Myspace. Maybe they can make a contest for something funny or weird or maybe they can simply make their own WalMart commercial and it has to have the name and the store somewhere in the ad. Although they can use puppets, toys, animation, life action, clay models..so on.

Also in-store advertising leaves something lacking at a WM. Why have just a sign advertising TMX Elmo when you enter? Make it fun, especially for kids...put ELMO's footprints on the floor starting at the entrance leading all the way to the toy aisle where you have the actual product or a little interactive message talking about it, or even stickers your kids can take home as a consistent reminder to you that that's what they want for the holidays. Although, I think I've seen them do that before, they don't do it nearly enough. They can do the same with games, but use banners leading to the electronics sections instead, since footprints or floor ads may seem too kiddie for that generation. But I've never seen anything like that for games. In fact I haven't really seen any effort toward attracting gamers. Occasionally they'll have a game sale I can sometimes get the same cheaper used.



What they need to do to improve



Make the electronics department easier to locate



Make it easier and faster to purchase games and other electronics products



Create more giveaways and sales for games and other electronics items



Improve overall customer service and checkout time



Create an overall comfortable shopping enviroment...make them want to stay not because it's taking them ages to find something or purchase their items because of long lines. You want them to stay because they're enjoying themselves!



Better advertising/marketing is pretty self explanatory


Now, they don't do everything wrong, they're sales overall are usually better and they do pretty much have everything. And when there's nothing to do, especially in Orlando it's an easy way to kill an hour...or two. But they have a long way to go before they start attracting more customers, especially the ones their losing to other stores with much better electronics departments. But it's definetly a step up that they're looking towards you and GSD&M:p

[RandomHero]

Does consulting pay well?

[Rip]

Does consulting pay well?

Its impossible to provide a blanket answer to such a huge field, consulting covers a very huge variety of areas. If you are in the right field with the right skills, consulting can be extremely lucrative, at other times it may not get you rich but it might be thrilling or entertaining - or just interesting.

I agree with you on nearly all those points gyps, although my personal experiences differ of course. The atmosphere of Target has in my opinion greatly improved in the past 5-10 years, and its the reason they've survived, and even improved their reach where companies like kmart have been floundering. Wal-Mart's pricing schemes are very difficult to beat if you're looking at sale / advertised prices. In fact, the average price for goods at wal-mart isn't really any lower than a kmart, but they manage to consistantly bring in customers with a few cheap items with hopes that you'll purchase other items while you're at the store. Wal-Mart makes its earnings literally on pennies a transaction, and they're very efficient at it, but they also don't focus on the experience of the store when they need to. I have yet to go into the wal-mart in my home town and feel that it was 'clean'. Gum stains on the floor, really disorganized shelves....the works. The only clean WM i've been to was one that had opened a few weeks before I was in it. Improve the experience, take away the edge target has on quality and customer service, and you'll get new markets. Now just to make sure you don't loose your current ones....

[Spaztic]

Hey thanks for posting this. I am someone who is aiming to work for something in or relating to the gaming industry when I am older, and I am always looking into different fields and types of jobs out there. You're actually one of my role-models for the kind of person I want to be lol, so it's cool getting to see articles like this. Thanks :)

[WearyGamer]

pretty cool. thnx for posting it

[KilloWertz]

That's a lot of typing there, Gypsy. :) It has some very good points in it though. All of the Wal-Marts I've been to around here are dirty and unorganized. I have been in the Target my brother works at a few times and it is good. There's not always someone in the electronics department, but you just press a button and they're there within a minute or two.