Companies should examine the issues facing their industry in general and their company in particular, such as the trend to prevent cancer in the smoking industry. Companies should also look at the impacts they have on the community and region [the petrol case]. Doing these two things would keep the company fresh and familiar with trends, as said earlier and changes in the buying environment, which Bennetton could of used in their problem in Germany.
There is also a need to be sensitive to the community’s feelings and needs, meaning that aution is required when designing packages or advertisements for a product so not to trigger a negative public response. Keep the idea that there are religious groups, races, or someone of another sex that might be offended. After a promotion is set up it should be culturally tested and the examined to see the effectiveness on sales after release as well as it’s effect on the consumers and their perception of the promotions/advertisements.
After all perception is everything. Another idea is to also have product tested by a sample group, just e for release, in order to see what response will be obtained from the public. This is to see if the response would be favorable or negative. For example, 2 years ago Nike released a shoe that had a logo on it that angered Moslems in the United States and forced Nike to recall the entire line of shoes for redesign. The shoe had a logo, which looked like a burning tree [such as in the bible].
This testing should be implemented in the different locations of the release of the product since there are different cultural values, beliefs, and perceptions. There should also be a good product recall program, developed a head of schedule as an eventual alternative to the development of a product, as a safety precaution. If after the release of a product defects are detected, there should not be any delay on recalling the product from the market.
Failure to do this could result in either business suicide or face the possibility of lots of legal ramifications in the bitter near future. Image management When being accused of polluting the environment, image management should come into play. This could be done by a number of ways:
1. Keep a list of positive things the company does, which it can use in replies to letters and media inquiries: “we use rechargeable batteries”; “our people drive low-polluting vehicles”; our packaging reduction program has cut waste by __ percent, or __ thousands of tons per year. Sponsor a partner on a “green” event with another business, non- profit organization, or school: beach, road, or lake shore little cleanup. You could also say, ” we recycle”.
2. Give away items to your customers with recycling, energy-saving, water-saving, and other ecological tips on them. Produce public service ads for local papers about your model environmental practices. Stage a weekly contest at your company, mall, or business community for environmental improvements, i. e. least total garbage produced, most packaging reduced, hazardous material substitute discovered, etc. Pay bonuses for or award prizes for greatest savings generated to the company.
3. Sponsor an environmental program on public radio or television, donate office equipment to an environmental group, or donate a portion of property as a public gardening plot. Donate to school environmental rograms, non-profit environmental groups, garden clubs, and other organizations that work in partnership with businesses and citizens to improve environmental health.
Work with a youth organization on a community-based environmental project, such as plastics recycling, or a hazardous waste or litter clean up day. Alert media to your participation. Call the media any time you sponsor an event [good publicity]. One method of curing problem of excess waste: While image management is taking care of public relations, the company can focus attention to the internal problems [accusation] of inefficiencies and polluting. This problem could be lessened by: Encourage employees and staff to report any resource wastes and environmental concerns.
Place efficiency posters, stickers, or balloons where energy, water, and materials around heavily commuted areas at work [post in places like bathrooms, employee lounges, cafeterias, and kitchens]. Use conservation slogans or messages, change locations to keep up interest. Place articles about conservation and efficiency in company newsletters or on bulletin boards. Attach resource and efficiency messages to employee paychecks and invoices. Reward employees for improved efficiency in esource uses.
Provide your employees with discount coupons to local nurseries and hardware, electrical, and building supply stores for drought- tolerant plants, reusable and durable goods that save materials and reduce waste, and equipment that saves energy and water. Conclusion If the product’s advertisement or company is viewed as unethical by it’s consumers it would be in that company’s well being as a profit maximizer, to change it’s ways. After all satisfying the consumer is one of the goals, even though it means severing connections with unscrupulous associates.