As I have mentioned in previous posts, for my survey research class this semester we were assigned a client for our group to conduct a survey for. My group was the Colonial University Village, Auburn’s mall.
As a group we met with our client, Terri Knight the marketing and specialty retail director for the Colonial University Village, to discuss her expectations and what she wanted to accomplish with this survey. Knight’s primary focus of the survey was to find out the stores people would most like to see come to the mall. She also wanted to know where the people were from who were shopping at mall and what stores that were currently at the mall attracting them to shop there.
We conducted our 12 question survey that was a combination of multiple choice and open-ended questions at the mall and on Auburn University’s campus. Knight wanted a respondent poll of shoppers at the Colonial University Village and students. We surveyed at the mall and on campus several times during the weeks of April 2-8 and April 9- 15. We offered a Chick-fil-A coupon for a free chicken sandwich as an incentive for participating in our survey.
We surveyed a total of 542 people with 417 of them being students. Of those students, 382 were college age and only a few of those were surveyed on Auburn’s campus. The largest percentage of our respondents came from within the Auburn/Opelika area, 80.6 percent, which increased our groups speculation that the majority oh shoppers were indeed Auburn students.
Another key finding of our survey was what stores shoppers were requesting to come to the mall. A list of 178 stores were requested by 436 respondents to which stores they would like to see come to the Colonial University Village. The stores that generated the highest volume of requests by shoppers were Express with 93 respondents. Banana Republic was second with 63 requests from respondents and Parisians right behind it with 62 requests.
From our survey we also found out that Tiger Town is the Colonial University Village’s biggest competitor. Out of the 542 respondents who completed our survey, 413 of them reported they shop at Tiger Town besides Colonial University Village. We offered our client recommendations as to what stores they should bring to the mall and what stores they should keep.
In my survey research class we were spilt up into three groups to conduct surveys for three clients. My group received the Colonial University Village, Auburn’s mall, as our client. The second group received the Society for New Communication Research for a national media survey. The third group received WEGL 91.1FM, Auburn University’s campus radio station. The purpose of all of these groups was to conduct a survey for the client based on their needs and wants. The WEGL group wanted to find out if students on Auburn’s campus knew there was a radio station and the advantages and disadvantages of it. I found this survey that relates to the WEGL group and the importance of radio in Americans.
A national survey that was commissioned by American Media Services found out that Americans rate the importance and relevance of local commercial radio very highly. The survey was conducted by the national polling firm of GfK NOP of Princeton, N.J. They contacted 1,004 American adults via telephone to find out their take and preference about radio.
The results of the American Media Services survey were that 57 percent of men and 49 percent of women said they listen to radio at least daily. The survey also found out that 78 percent of people said that radio is important in their everyday live’s. Ninety-eight respondents said they listen to radio for one or many of different features that include the availability of music, news and reports on weather and traffic. Those three are the most often cited reasons for why people listen to the radio. Another key finding was that 78 percent of people usually tune to a local radio station when they get in their car.
American Media Services is a full-service radio brokerage, engineering and developmental engineering firm. It was founded in 1997 and has increased the value of 21 stations across the country by $205.1 million and more than $200 million in proposed rulemakings are currently pending.
One of the questions on the survey was about the difference qualities that make a good radio personality and there were four that ranked as most important. Eighty-nine percent of people said they liked to listen to someone who makes them think, 82 percent of people said they liked to listen to someone who makes them laugh, 79 percent wanted a personality they could trust and 76 percent said a good radio personality has strong ties to the local community. Overall, 41 percent of the respondents said they liked to listen to stations that have a good balance of music, news, traffic and weather. Twenty-six percent said they liked to listen to stations because they play their kind of music and 3 percent said they liked to listen to stations that make them laugh.
One of the interesting finding that I thought to be relevant was that 61 percent of those likely to change stations during commercial breaks do so in a minute or less. I believe that represents the population as a whole because I know a lot of people who do that, including myself. Overall I think this was an effective survey and proved that radio is still in play in today’s society.
GEICO presents “Real Teen Driving” DVD and teen safe driving program to local teenagers and parents who want to get a closer look at how teens really drive. On Friday, May 5 at Marana High School in Tuscan, Ariz., the DVD will be previewed to a driver education class. A safety panel will be on hand to discuss and answer any questions about proper, safe driving.
GEICO videotaped four Washington D.C. area high school students, with parental permission, using in-car camera for several months to see how well, or poorly, they really drive. The DVD features some of the common mistakes that are made by young drivers and shows the actual teens that appear in the DVD reactions to their own driving. The DVD was produced by GEICO without any scripted material and all of the conversations and driving sequences appear just as they took place by the teens.
The purpose of the “Real Teen Driving” project is to alert teens to their driving behaviors because young drivers are in the highest risk driving category in the nation. The number one killer of young drivers, age 16-20, is auto accidents. The project is hoped to have a much greater impact on young drivers than any lecture or statistics can provide. The DVD shows teens learning what a tremendous responsibility driving is and why it’s not one that should ever be taken lightly.
The GEICO “Real Teen Driving” safety panel will also discuss several issues that are related to new drivers and include special tips about how to avoid accidents and what to do in the event of an accident. The safety panel will include GEICO associates Shari Goddard and Capin Garden. They hope to get their message across through a different channel that they think will be more effective than an adult just telling them about the hazards of driving.
GEICO is the fourth largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage to more than seven million drivers and insures more than 11 million vehicles.
The record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season had a dramatic impact on people everywhere. On the coastline from Texas to Florida, residents are still in recovery mode. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center will join the aircrew from NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center on a hurricane hunter aircraft tour from May 1-5. The five-city, five-day hurricane preparedness campaign will help increase hurricane awareness and encourage preparedness in vulnerable coastal and inland communities along the Gulf Coast and Florida.
The team of hurricane experts with help by local National Weather Service officials will ride a WP-3 Orion four-engine turboprop hurricane hunter around to meet with emergency managers, media and the public. The hurricane hunter nicknamed “Miss Piggy” will make stops in Brownsville, Texas; Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas; Mobile, Ala.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Tampa, Fla.
Working in partnership with federal, state and local emergency managers and the media, NOAA’s National Weather Service can help educate the public about hurricanes. They are also stressing the importance of the public taking responsibility for preparing themselves to recognize and respond appropriately to severe weather threats. By educating the public, hopefully situations that happened last year can be prevented.
People who experienced Hurricane Katrina and its effects last year will have to take individual responsibility to have a hurricane plan ready, make preparations in advance and act when told to do so by local officials. Max Mayfield, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center believes that educating the public is their continuing mission.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center will continue its hurricane hazard education campaign during national Hurricane Preparedness Week that will occur May 21-27. To participate in the week long preparedness campaign, visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml for more information and times.
This past weekend Randy McCloy Jr., the West Virginia miner, and seven of his family members were honorary guests of Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership President Ken Butler as part of Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Butler had invited McCloy and his family after he learned they were huge NASCAR fans. Aaron’s Rents, Inc. is the entitlement sponsor of the weekend races.
McCloy and his family were able to attend the race but also were entitled to special perks that no one else had access to. They will get to attend Victory Lane Celebration today; the Nextel Cup race got delayed because of rain to Monday morning. McCloy and his family will also get to attend the Driver Meeting before the race and the Driver Introductions that take place right before the race.
McCloy’s doctors have encouraged him to spend as much time as possible with his family doing the things he loves. As part of his ongoing recover process, his doctors also request that he gets as much rest and relaxation as he can to help improve his condition. McCloy was the only survivor in the West Virginia mining accident and is still in the recovery phase.
Aaron Rents, Inc. is a leader in the sale and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronic and home appliances. They have more than 1,200 company-operated and franchised stores in 46 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Aaron’s also manufactures an exclusive line of furniture, bedding and accessories at 12 facilities in four states.
Aaron’s Dream Weekend includes the running of Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race. The winner of that race was Martin Truex Jr. in the Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Tracker car. The Dream Weekend will conclude with the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race today at noon eastern time because yesterday’s race was postponed due to rain and bad weather in the forecast.
This week, April 23-29, is the fifth annual National Tire Safety Week. The Rubber Manufacturers Association is encouraging drivers to make safe choices when it comes to their vehicle. Regular tire care can improve gas mileage and maximize vehicle safety according to The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). The purpose of National Tire Safety Week is to “communicate to the public that proper tire maintenance can reduce highway crashes, save gasoline and keep tires rolling longer.”
National Tire Week is part of RMA’s “Be Tire Smart — Play Your PART” program to help promote tire care. PART stands for the four basic elements of tire care, Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, tire-related incidents result in more than 600 fatalities and an additional 33,000 injuries per year.
RMA is partnering up with Texas Tire Dealers Association to create awareness among drivers in Texas of the tire care maintenance resources available to them at tire retail and automotive service stations. RMA conducted a survey in February and found out that only 19 percent of drivers properly check their tire inflation pressure. Less than half of the drivers know where to find the correct tire pressure on their car. The survey also found out that three out of four drivers wash their car each month while only about one in five correctly checks their tire pressure.
Some of the objectives of “Be Tire Smart Texas” are to educate drivers on the benefits of regular tire care and help improve gas mileage and the lifespan of their tires. A Web Site was launched to help inform and educate people about the proper tire care maintenance. At the Web Site, students will be able to submit essays that pertain to driving for a chance to earn college scholarship money, laptops, gas cards or Bridgestone tires.
RMA is the national trade association for the rubber products industry. It has more than 100 companies as members who manufacture various rubber products such as tires, belts and hoses.
On Wednesday, American Airlines participated in the largest ever airline ticket giveaway at a single event. At the Dallas Mavericks game in Texas, the airline company gave away more than 20,000 free, round-trip airline ticket vouchers. The giveaway was part of the Dallas Mavericks Fan Appreciation Night at American Airlines Arena. The vouchers may be redeemed for a airline ticket on any American flight that flies to or from Dallas Love Field Airport.
For the fans who could not attend the game, American Airlines gave away an additional 1,000 round-trip tickets to random viewers who participated in a text-message promotion. American Airlines wanted to reward people for their loyalty and have the opportunity to experience American Airline’s new service from Love Field. At Love Field, travelers will be able to take advantage of American’s service that includes the largest frequent flyer program in the country, pre-reserved seating and global connections. American Airlines serves 250 cities in more than 40 countries with more than 3,900 daily flights.
American Airlines also donated 100 round-trip airline tickets to Gilda’s Club Charity, an organization supported by Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry. Gilda’s Club Charity offers social and emotional support to people with cancer through 17 clubhouses located throughout the United States and Canada. Seventy five of the 100 tickets were airline vouchers good for travel anywhere American Airlines flies to or from Dallas Love Field Airport. The other 25 ticket vouchers were good for domestic coach-class round-trip tickets to any American Airline destination in the United States.
The airline vouchers, of course, come with restrictions. The tickets must be booked by April 30, 2006 and the travel must be completed on or before Nov 12, 2006. As always with any free stuff, the tickets are not redeemable for cash and the offer does not apply to previous reservations placed on hold or to previously purchased tickets. They always have to throw that extra thing in there that will get you every time. There is usually a catch will all free stuff. I like it how American Airlines also had to define what round-trip travel is in their press release.
“Round-trip travel is defined as travel from your city TO the destination, and FROM the same destination to the city where you originated travel with no deviations.”
I think this was a cool giveaway and helped promote American Airlines new service out of the Dallas Love Field Airport. I just wish I could have been at that game and got a free airline ticket, but I would have to fly out of the Dallas Love Field Airport and that would be a problem.
Teens and Money, an annual survey by the Charles Schwab Foundation, was released yesterday with findings that state teens are becoming more active as financial consumers. This is the third year that the survey has been done and was conducted by StrategyOne, an applied research consulting firm. The online survey polled 1,013 American teen between the ages of 13 to 18 to understand their behavior, knowledge and views about spending, saving, borrowing and earning money. Among the teens polled were 352 Boys and Girls Club members from all over the country.
Some of the results of the survey were that teens ages 13 to 18 know how to spend their money, but they seem far less unaware of the consequences of their actions. The majority of teens, 61 percent, say they know how to write a check and 54 percent say they know how to use a debit card. But fewer than half the teens polled, 41 percent, know how to balance a checkbook.
Another result that stood out to me was that teens are already starting to accumulate debt. A third of those surveyed, 31 percent, owe money to either a person or a company. On average, older teens age 16 to 18, owe $351. That is significantly a more amount that what younger teens age 13 to 15 owe, which is $84. Fourteen percent of teens 13 to 18 say they already are more than $1,000 in debt.Â
Now a days more and more teens are starting to use plastic instead of paper to pay for things. Thirty four percent of teens surveyed say they get money from a debit or credit card, either in their parents name or theirs. Two in ten teens say that if given a choice between using a credit card or cash, they would choose a credit card. I agree with this because I have both, debit and credit cards and I prefer to use them instead of cash.
Another interesting finding from the survey was that 74 percent, nearly three-quarters, of the teens polled want to learn more about how to manage their money and think it should be a required course taught in school. Teens believe it is important to know how to manage money and stay out of debt. Also teen girls are more likely to be in debt when compared to boys, 40 percent to 23 percent.
The stars of Disney/Pixar’s “CARS” is embarking on a two month, 41 city tour to promote the upcoming movie and have visitors participate in an interactive experience. The tour was designed and will be managed by the Becker Group, which is an experiential marketing company that has over fifty years of experience creating entertaining attractions and experiences for a wide variety of audiences.
At the “CARS Road Trip 06″, presented by State Farm, life-sizes model of two of the characters from the new computer-animated movie “CARS” will be featured at every stop along the tour for people to see. The Lightning McQueen and Sally Carrera, a 2002 Porsche 911, were created by famed movie car creator and customizer Eddie Paul. He is known for famous Hollywood car creations and is responsible for the creation of the hot rod that John Travolta drove in the movie “Grease.” Customs By Eddie Paul has been building famous film and TV cars for more than 30 years. They are also responsible for cars seen in “Triple X,” “The Fast and the Furious” and the popular General Lee Dodge Charger from the original “Dukes of Hazzard.”
The tour will also make an appearance at the world premiere for the movie “CARS” on May 26, 2006 in Charlotte, NC at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The cars will travel all across the country in a special truck that is inspired by the truck character in the movie, Mack. The truck is provided by Mack Trucks, which is the largest producers of heavy-duty trucks. MACK vehicles are sold and serviced in more than 45 countries worldwide. Mack is also a sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations’ public information campaign aimed at improving the safety of roadways.
The computer-animated movie features the voices of Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, “Larry the Cable Guy”, Michael Keaton, Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty and many others. The tour kicks off in Akron, OH on April 17 and ends up in Chicago, IL on July 8-11, 2006. The movie is set to hit theaters on June 9.
Currently I am in the middle of writing a feature story for my journalism class on the lack of workforce preparation programs in rural Alabama schools. I have been researching this topic extensively and earlier this week I came across this campaign about high school students being prepared for future success.
Communities In Schools, the nation’s largest stay-in-school organization, is participating in this national campaign, Choose Success, to address the problem of unprepared students coming out of high school. They are working to improve schools in 27 states so that all students are prepared for success in either college or the workforce.
Communities In Schools was founded in 1977 to provide direct services to nearly one million young people every year in 3,200 schools throughout the country. Choose Success is in its second year of the public awareness campaign to educate Americans about the seriousness of the country’s dropout problem. The principal of Choose Success is that an individual can be led down two different paths, and there is a better chance of being on the path to success if someone in their lives takes initiative and shows interest in them.
STAND UP is a community-based coalition of more than 50 organizations, school districts and schools around the country that is designed to bring parents, teachers, community leaders, citizens, philanthropists, principals and business leaders everywhere to help out in this campaign. STAND UP provides relevant information about the state of the nation’s high schools and various tools to help the problem including a parent toolkit. Inside it provides information and tips about how to make a difference in a teenager’s education.
Communities In Schools has established Performance Learning Centers, a group of small, non-traditional high schools that are focused towards students who are not succeeding in the traditional school setting. These schools are based on a business-like environment and emphasize personal support with an academic program. This is a wonderful program that will hopefully benefit many students in the years to come.
