It's All Over

The Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition has come to an end. Over a year in planning and many months of training all came down to two very exciting days. Students from across Ontario, representing thirteen different colleges travelled to Toronto in order to demonstrate their marketing skills through a series of competitions.

The intensity and level of energy was immense. Between the chants of “GO GREEN!” and “HAWK YEAH!” all of the colleges did an excellent job in making their voice heard! Throughout the entire competition the energy level remained at a constant high. In addition, in order to help pump students up, there were various events ranging from: a live flash mob, to a casino royale experience and everything in between.

The highlight of the event was definitely the gala dinner and awards ceremony. Everyone was dressed to impress- it was amazing to be surrounded by the top marketing students from across Ontario. From the very beginning of the evening, participants and coaches were holding their breath in anticipation for the results. Once it was all over, it was time to celebrate and relax.

Although the many cheers have already happened we are pleased to release the official results for the 2011 Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition:  

Congratulations to all participants! Your efforts are extremely appreciated. Everyone did an exceptional job representing his or her respective college!

It was a true honor for Humber College to be the host of the 32^nd annual Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition.

Overall OCMC was a great success. On the behalf of Humber College I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of the participants, coaches, volunteers and sponsors. Without a combined effort OCMC simply would not have been possible. We look forward to experiencing what Centennial College has planned for next year!

-Tim 

The wait is over

The Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition is here! All of your hard work, determination, passion and perseverance is about to pay off. With students from across Ontario en route to Humber College in Toronto, the stage is set; Humber is ready for you! The tension for this competition could not be any greater. Many months of training all comes down to one day. Just remember - it’s okay to feel nervous!

I would like to share five very basic but essential ingredients to think about when you are performing. I have heard each of these multiple times throughout the training process.

• Remember to SMILE
• Remember to BREATHE
• Remember to TALK SLOWLY
• Remember to BE BOLD
• Remember to HAVE FUN!

Although all of these are very basic, they are typically the most overlooked. If you can remember to incorporate all of these into your presentation I can almost guarantee that you will feel more comfortable in what you are doing.

Even though the competition is high stress, Humber has lined up some fun and engaging activities to help ease the nerves and to pump everyone up! It is not only about showing what you are capable of, it is also about having fun and meeting new people. OCMC is the perfect opportunity to network and engage with some of the brightest students from across Ontario!

In order to stay up-to-date, I highly recommend downloading our mobile application for your smartphone at  http://www.widgetbox.com/mobile/app/ocmc.. It has direct feeds to all of the OCMC social media accounts. Myself along with a number of students and faculty members will be positing OCMC updates and highlights throughout the entire competition.

I am going to leave you with this ... picture yourself standing outside of the boardroom ... your hands are shaky ... your palms are sweaty.... you can feel your heart rate increasing - faster and faster. You close your eyes and take a deep breath ... and before you know it… it’s show time.

 “If you had one shot, or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted, would you capture it, or will you just let it slip?” -Eminem

On behalf of Humber College, I wish everyone the best of luck! A very special thank you to all participants, faculty members, volunteers and sponsors.

-Tim 

Mobile Connections Booming

Connection and engagement. This is the current shift that the world is facing. With the Earth's population tipping to over 7 billion people this month, there is an increased need for communication and involvement amongst people. Everyone wants to be heard; the challenge is finding a way to make people listen.

There are three main players within the smartphone market that are aiding this issue: Apple, Google, and Research In Motion. Everyone is aware of how huge Apple is; it seems that Apple is growing at an unimaginable rate. However, it may be surprising to see that Google is not that far behind. The Android market has been experiencing a relatively constant growth rate of over 800% throughout 2011. The increased level of consumer demand and competition, forces all players within the market to be highly innovate and creative. 

The increased level of creativity and technology has created an explosion in popularity of mobile devices. It is because of advancements in technology that the manner in which people communicate has changed. For example, Canada's wireless carriers now offer coverage to more than 99 percent of Canadians; nearly every corner of this country is connected. 

The boom of mobile usage is not limited within Canada, it is apparent around the entire world. For example, so far throughout 2011 is it estimated that over 7 TRILLION text messages have been sent and received! Many industry professionals say that this is only the beginning of the smart phone era. I believe that smart phones will continue to dominate the market. With new advancements in technology on a near daily basis and greater consumer demands, it is exciting to see what the future will hold.

I want to end this blog on some ‘jaw dropping’ statistics; below I listed six mobile statistics that I found to be very surprising.

•  There are over 5 BILLION cell phones in use throughout the world for 7 BILLION people!
•   By 2014 mobile internet usage is expected to surpass desktop usage
•    91% of mobile users access social media sites through their phones
•    The average person spends nearly 3 hours a day on their cell phone, twice the time spent eating!
•   Over 200 MILLION YouTube videos are viewed on mobile devices each day!

And what about those apps? Location sharing, music, communication, banking, gaming, news, photography, utilities, productivity, lifestyle, reference, travel … and the list goes ON and ON.... I guess the point that I’m trying to convey is that:

“There’s an app for that. Over 500,000, actually.”

Have you downloaded the OCMC app yet? It's available at  http://www.widgetbox.com/mobile/app/ocmc.

See you at the competition!

-Tim

The wait is almost over…

Soon it will be your time to shine and to represent your school.  All of your hard work, determination and perseverance will come down to one presentation. One shot to prove yourself and to convince the judges why your idea is the best. With only 15 days left until the Ontario College Marketing Competition the pressure is on!

Before you start thinking that the competition is all hard work and little fun, let me shed some exciting insight into what Humber has in store. Last week I sat down with OCMC co- coordinator Ellen Sparling to discuss the overview of the two day event. Ellen shared a few exciting pieces of information; however she chose her words very carefully as she did not want to reveal too much. I could tell by the look on her face that she has some big surprises in store. In this blog I am going to highlight four aspects of the competition that I find to be the most exciting!

1. The Hotel

This is definitely something to get excited about! The competition will be held at the four star rated Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel Let me be the first to say that through my personal experience this hotel is great! As stated on the website the hotel boasts a “vibrant and modern setting, stylish guestrooms and legendary service” This statement is definitely true. 

Still not convinced? Let me highlight some of the exciting features:

·      9 floors, 412 rooms, 12 suites and 21 meeting rooms

·      Free wireless internet

·      Two full service restaurants

·      Starbucks Coffee Lounge

·      Fully equipped fitness centre

·      Indoor pool and whirlpool

Needless to say, this hotel has absolutely everything that we could need. Not to mention it will be home to students from all across Ontario!

2. Quiz Bowl

This is a time to cheer for your school! However, before Quiz Bowl starts all students will be participating in welcoming events. The evening is sponsored by the Humber Student Federation. HSF will be handing out prizes and giveaways throughout the afternoon! The goal is to kick start the evening by increasing energy levels and promoting team spirit. We want to hear you cheer for your school. Let everyone know why you are here! Quiz Bowl kicks off right after dinner. Ellen says that Quiz Bowl is “by far the most exciting event of the competition”. It is a true test of knowledge; a head to head battle between schools.

3. Boston Pizza

Mmm that’s right. Boston Pizza is delicious; there isn’t any argument about that. I was very excited to hear that there is a B.P  close to the hotel. Ellen touched upon the importance of proper nourishment throughout the competition; she says that “it’s very important that students take the time to eat…not only will eating make you feel better but it will also calm your nerves”. From 11am-3pm during the case presentations, students are encouraged to visit Boston Pizza for a delicious lunch. Oh, did I mention that it is FREE!?

4. Gala Dinner

I tried to squeeze as much information out of Ellen as I could but she was very secretive when it came to talking about the Gala. I must admit that unknown only excites me even more. The evening begins with an elegant dinner, followed by the awards ceremony. In addition there will be “special entertainment” throughout the night. Ellen did say that everyone should DRESS TO IMPRESS! That is all that needs to be said. The competition is over and the focus is on celebrating. Wear your finest clothes and represent your school in style.

OCMC 2011 is going to be an amazing experience. This is extremely exciting for Humber as this will be our first time hosting the event. It would not have been possible to plan OCMC without the help from other colleges, volunteers, sponsors and the dedication of students. A very special thank you to everyone who has assisted us along the way!

See you all soon!

-Tim 

One Small Step for Mankind, One Giant Leap For OCMC

The Humber Business School is proud to announce the launch of an OCMC mobile application for your smartphone device! The application combines our Facebook, Twitter and blog pages; this will allow users to access all of the information pertaining to OCMC 2011 on one platform! The application is very user-friendly; simply switch between pages to view the various feeds. The application also features directions to the Humber College North Campus and the Marriot Hotel where the competition will be held. Below are the complete download instructions- please refer to your specific smartphone device.

How to Install:

On your Smartphone device, enter the following into your web browser: http://wbxapp.com/ocmc

The interface that you see is the main part of the application. In order to install the application on your device please follow the appropriate steps below: 

There you have it! OCMC is a fantastic competition, yet, not many individuals or businesses outside of the Ontario marketing college community are aware of the event’s existence. This is why we created an OCMC app. Our goal is to promote user engagement and to easily access its social media on the go. We have started the conversation; now it’s your turn to keep it going. Comment and share with other OCMC participants, let’s make our voices heard!

-Tim

Will Google ever stop?

When analyzing cases it is important to provide relevant and up-to-date information along with sound examples to strengthen your stance. I have spoken with past OCMC participants and they suggested that in the days leading up to the competition students should monitor the media to identify up-to-date examples that are relative to their topic in which they could possibly integrate into their presentation.

Not only does this have the potential to strengthen what you are proposing to the judges, but it also shows that you have an interest in what you are talking about.  Although you may not find anything that applies to your topic, at the very least it is worth taking a look at.

Okay, now on to Google. Before I started writing this article, I typed in “Google competes with”, and before I could even finish my sentence this is what the search engine (yes- it was also Google) produced for me:

Earlier this week Google announced an expansion to their long anticipated music download and cloud service. According to Google, the site and mobile applications will be up and running within the next two weeks. Although the services will still be in beta mode, it is anticipated that Google will not disappoint. I am going to highlight some of the key reasons as to why Google is trying to take a bite out of the market and steal some bragging rights from the competition.

What does this mean for Google?

It means that they are one step close to taking over the world. No, not quite- but it does mean that they are challenging the efforts of Apple and Amazon. Although this is a risky move, I am pretty sure that Google can afford it. After all they just reported a 33% increase in revenues over the last quarter- amounting to nearly $10 billion.

What are the plans?

Google is smart. They just wont release any old mp3 playing music software. The key word to Google’s plan is ‘cloud’. For $24.99 per year, users are able upload their existing music libraries into the ‘cloud’ allowing them instant access to their music regardless location. Users will also be able to download songs at a maximum price of .99 cents, which undercuts Itunes ‘popular’ song list by $.25.

So what? Amazon does the same thing!

Yes, that’s correct. Amazon has been offering a very similar service since March of this year. So what separates Google and Amazon apart? Not all that much. In fact many people are arguing that Amazon is the better deal due to the $4 cheaper price tag. Although this may be true, Google isn’t concerned; mainly due to the fact that users will be able to link their existing gmail (and all other Google based accounts) to the service. It is also speculated that Google is going to leverage their social media platform Google+ in order to promote and entice consumers to this new music service.

Google keeps getting BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER!

Will they ever stop!? Not likely. Google has gained massive ground within the last five years. They have acquired over 70 businesses bringing their total acquisitions to 104; their most expensive purchase being Motorola Mobility for over $12 billion. Google has also ventured into the sectors of green transportation, biotechnology, music education and online legal services.

I think that it is really exciting to watch Google grow. As a student with high aspirations of entering into the world of business I look at a company such as Google and think “What can I do that they’re not?” Although competing with Google may seem like a difficult feat it is not impossible.

Just remember: “You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it”

-       -Tim

Sales Management Tips from OCMC Coach

Earlier this week I sat down with professor and OCMC coach Will Mlacak to discuss the key concepts of sales management. With over twenty years in sales management Will has worked within managerial positions in many different industries, some of which include:  food products, food services, consumer packaged goods and industrial products. Will joined the Humber Business School in 2002 with the goal of assisting students through their educational journey by sharing his experiences. This post focuses on three key areas that Will believes to be absolutely essential for successful sales management.  

Tip 1- Cover the Fundamentals - 
"The five fundamentals are the core of sales management"

Every sales decision should be well thought through and carefully structured. Here are five specific areas that will help build a solid sales management foundation:

·      Planning: Before you start, develop an overall game plan. This is where you establish goals, policies and procedures that will help reach a firm’s overall objectives.

·      Staffing: A firm can only be as good as the people it hires. Look for passionate and dedicated employees who openly share their thoughts and opinions.

·      Training: Be sure to train employees both internally and externally. Develop sound methods on how, where and when to train employees.

·      Directing: This deals with organizing and leading employees positively and persuasively. The key focus here is motivation and compensation.

·      Evaluating: Focus on comparing actual performance with objectives and taking appropriate corrective actions.

Tip 2- Communication is essential -"Without effective communication nothing can be accomplished”

Will says that one of the most important areas of concentration is communication. “It’s not about knowing how to speak, it’s about knowing how to listen.” Will strongly emphasizes the importance of listening to what employees and customers have to say. Will suggests that every business should, “establish a private platform for people to talk,” which will also help ensure everyone is on the same page.  

Tip 3- Cultivate Relationships - “Know people's background and what motivates them”

Will stressed the significance of knowing a little about each employee’s background and personal situation – as offering a sales incentive for a two night stay at a high-end hotel to a sales person with a spouse and children is quite meaningless. If you get to know each employee on a personal level this helps find ways to directly motivate and inspire them.

Relationships also extend into the customer realm. Make an effort to understand what customers want out of a relationship. Quarterly meetings, company tours and fundraising events are all good ways to determine this on a professional level.

Put it to the test!

Although no two situations are alike, remembering and utilizing these tips in an effective manner will assist you throughout your career and OCMC journey. Make sure you have the fundamentals in place and then build on this with effective communication and strong relationship-building practices. These are the building blocks of sales management.

A very special “thank you” to Will Mlacak for talking the time to share his insights and experiences with us. He wishes all participants the very best at the competition.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free comment and share your thoughts and opinions!

- Tim 

Presentation Tips for Students

Your hands are trebling, your voice is shaky. You’re nervous, but there isn’t any turning back. Every OCMC student has experienced a moment such as this. It may have been during the tryout case analysis and elevator speech, or maybe it was the first in class presentation. Either way, public speaking and delivering effective presentations should be a key focus for all OCMC participants.

In this blog I am going to highlight some of best tips and tricks in regards to not only surviving through your next presentation, but to help you feel comfortable and to actually enjoy it!

I can only relate this blog to my personal experiences. Like most other business students, I have completed countless presentations and speaking engagements. I have also attended a few seminars and networking events regarding personal communications. With every presentation I am learning and improving my own skills. I still get nervous and jittery but it gets easier every time. Just as it will for you.

Tip #1- Know your material

Choosing a topic that you are comfortable and interested in would be ideal. Sadly, it rarely works out that way. There is nothing worse than watching a presentation in which the presenter is bored or simply doesn’t care about the topic. Even if you get stuck talking about Tupperware, find a way to relate it into your personal experiences (talk about that time your mom threw the neighbourhoods biggest plastic party- I’m sure you remember it).

Tip #2- Everyone else has to do it as well- they’re rooting for you

Chances are you’re not alone. If you are an OCMC participant you understand that presentations are the core of the competition. Everyone (to some extent) will be nervous. The process may be gruelling but it is a learning experience. Ask other participants and coaches for feedback, get them to note every time you say “Um”. Remember, we are all a part of a team. Working together is what will bring success.

Tip #4- Don’t apologize

In my opinion one of the worst things to do during a presentation is to stop and apologize for problems or mistakes. Not only does it stop the flow of the presentation but it also makes everyone focus on you even more. The audience anticipants the next fumble, it may make you feel even worse and more nervous. In most cases nobody will even notice if you messed up, you are the only one that cares.

Tip #4- Relax

Many people, including myself get too worked up; we panic and forget why we are even standing up at the front of the class. Take a deep breath, calm yourself down and close your eyes. Nerves are good, but too much can be detrimental. Your main goal is keep cool. Take as long as you need and remember that everything will be okay.

Tip #5- Be aware of speed, tone and body language

Once you know you are comfortable with the material, the next thing to focus on is conducting the actual presentation. Just because you are able to understand yourself doesn’t mean that everyone else is comprehending what you are saying. The key is to talk in a slow, calm and relaxed manner; however, this is difficult as you still need to project your voice in a engaging and exciting manner in order to maintain the audiences attention.

When you are presenting, you’re not the only one talking. Body language accounts for a large portion of the ‘conversation’, be confident and open. Be aware of posture and hand gestures as excessive movements may be distracting for your audience. Lastly, remember to smile; after all its contagious.

Now you are READY!

I hope that many OCMC students will be able to find this blog helpful. Most of the concepts are fairly ‘elementary’ in nature; however they tend to be the most overlooked. Please feel free to comment if you have any further tips and tricks to help overcome presentation nerves.

Remember to…

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

- Tim

Helpful applications for students success

Momentum is steadily building as students from all across Ontario are preparing for the Ontario College Marketing Competition this November. Case studies, presentations and group building activities have become the everyday norm. Participation within the competition is slowly fusing itself into our everyday lives- we eat, sleep and breath OCMC. This blog will outline key mobile and web applications to assist personal productivity and management levels within the participant’s lives.

In today’s environment students are busier than ever- On average a Canadian student spends approximately twenty-hours a week within a classroom setting; not to mention that many of us hold part time jobs in order to supplement the rising education costs. Add in homework, studying and leisure time and when all combined, it becomes more than an average fulltime job.

Although it was challenging, my first year in college was fairly ‘calm’. Throughout the summer, I was crossing my fingers hoping that my second year classes would be much the same; however, I knew that the odds were not in my favor. I decided to consult my trustworthy friend Google, and after a quick search I found a variety of web and mobile applications to assist with productivity and personal management.

Although the work is challenging it is fun, engaging and rewarding. I hope that some of the other OCMC participants will be able to find the following applications as useful as I have.

Please feel free to comment- we want to hear your thoughts!

1. Evernote (FREE)  www.evernote.com

Evernote’s slogan is “Remember Everything”, and this application certainly lives up to that bold statement. Evernote allows users to take notes (voice and text), record audio, take pictures, save websites, collaborate on projects, share documents and presentations and much more. The best part is that everything is automatically synced with your smartphone, computer, and an online database (extra fee for online capabilities); no matter where you are all of your information is readily available.

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2. iStudiez Pro ($2.99) www.istudentpro.com

Don’t let the grammatically incorrect name fool you, this application is an organizational mecca. It keeps track of your entire class schedule, assignments, homework and grades. The interactive calendar provides you with a detailed outline showing all of the events for that day. Students are able to attach assignments to each course which automatically sets due date reminders. Everything is color coded, so it is nice and easy to read. This is an essential application for every busy student.

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3. Dropbox (FREE) www.dropbox.com

Dropbox is amazing. That’s it. I guarantee that once you try it, you will be hooked. All of your documents, pictures, files, music and videos are easily accessible anywhere you are. Dropbox automatically syncs and updates all of your files (through multiple devices) instantly. What if you lose your computer or smartphone? No problem. You can access all of your files from the Dropbox website. This application will definitely save you.

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4. Google Docs  (FREE) www.docs.google.com

Google docs should become your best friend, especially when it comes to group work and collaboration. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating with real-time with users. All of your documents are always available and can be accessed by multiple users at the same time. Google Docs even keeps track of the individual users work with a unique color-coding technique. Become familiar with this application, you will be glad you did.

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5.  BigWords (FREE)   www.bigwords.com

BigWords is a search engine for the cheapest textbook prices anywhere on the internet. It compares prices to ensure that you get the best deal. No more standing in line, no more ripped pages, and no more misplacing your books right before mid-terms. Everything is online and easily available.  In short, you will save money using with application!

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-Over time, technology has been intergraded into nearly every aspect of our lives. A few key companies have defined technology as we know it today. On October 5, 2011 the world lost the technological icon Steve Jobs. With the introduction of the first Apple computer in 1976 Steve revolutionized personal computing. Other companies were able put computers onto desks; Steve put a computer into everyone’s pocket. Although he is gone, he will never be forgotten. On behalf of Humber College our thoughts go out to his friends and family. 

May he rest in peace.

-Tim Hendry

Facebook makes changes!

So, it continues… Compiling all of your thoughts, feelings and opinions into a well-structured 250- 500 word blog is not as easy as it seems. I have been sitting here for the past ten minutes watching the cursor ‘blink’ while trying to decide what to write. Filling a page is easy; creating user interaction is the difficult part.

Before I get started, I should introduce myself. My name is Tim Hendry. I am currently enrolled in my third semester within the Business Marketing Diploma program at Humber College.  This year I am also a participant within the OCMC (Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition) as a Sales Account Management Analyst. Social media is my life; I am connected to nearly every platform available. Over the summer I started both Facebook and Twitter accounts for the company I was working at. I quickly realized the true impact that Social Media can have on a business. In addition, I also create weekly Youtube videos discussing my opinions and views on business news throughout North America. I am extremely pleased to be given such an opportunity. I hope that you will enjoy all of the content that I will post.

Although this is only my first post, I hope to gain and build connections with the readers. I highly encourage everyone to comment and discuss the matters at hand. Feel free to express your thoughts, interests, and concerns. Challenge me wherever you see fit. After all the purpose of a blog is not for me to sit here and write; it is a medium in which we are all able to interact. 

Interaction has seemed to be a key theme over the past week. Recently the Social Media giant Facebook announced that they were yet again changing the profile layout two a split column design which will essentially works as a scrapbook (telling your life story as posted).

Personally I think this is a great idea and a very smart move. The entire point of Facebook is to connect with family and friends. Facebook’s goal is to focus on making content more accessible for every user, as well as allowing for a greater individualized ‘feel’.

Apparently, many people do not share the same thought as me. Users were angry! Some people even threatened to delete their accounts if the changes were not stopped. Although the internet allows for everyone to have an equal voice, sometimes it’s just not worth yelling. With over 800 million users, it is nearly impossible for Facebook to keep everyone happy.

This morning I came across an article written by Christina Warren posted via- Mashable. I can’t say this any better than she can, so I’m going to let Christina do the talking.

“Sure, Facebook has faced user revolts in the past – practically every major overhaul to the platform has been met with user backlash- but this time apparently, it’s just too much.”

Facebook is changing, and there is nothing that any of us can do about it. Love it or hate it, we will all continue to use it (how else you see know that the high school ‘sweethearts’ just broke up?) . Although not all of the changes are improvements, I strongly feel that Facebook knows what they are doing. After all they built the foundations of Social Media. Some people argue that Facebook will loose its ‘zing’ and that it will be replaced by a new platform. However, the facts don’t lie. Facebook has nearly 500 million more users than any other outlet. I don’t think that they plan on stopping anytime soon.

Tim

My Tips To Be Successful at OCMC

In preparation to write this post I’ve been reflecting on my times as an OCMC team member and what a great experience it was. There was a lot of hard work involved but overall an enriching experience. Having had to participate in two events – Sales presentation and Case Study – my preparation process was slightly different for each.

At The Beginning
- Take the time to meet all the people on the team. You’d be surprised how much you can learn from others.

- Try not to miss out on any guest speakers – they were always interesting and had great advice

My Preparation Tips
- Practice, practice, practice. If I could have practiced my presentation 100 more times I would have.

- Try to have the final draft of your presentation weeks before the competition to allow sufficient time to practice (sales presentation)

- Being comfortable with your teammate is very important as having a natural rapport and flow adds value to the presentation.

- It was also beneficial to have had practice with as many cases as possible as during competition were we able to draw some ideas from previous cases that we did.


Don’t Forget Team Love & Spirit
Try to enjoy the experience of being part of the team. Sometimes it’s hard to forget about the competition and the incessant desire to practice but try to step out a couple times and just have fun. Only once it was over I looked back and thought wow, that was a crazy great time and I can’t believe it’s over. It was weird not having to prepare for it anymore and I missed it.

Good luck to everyone, you're going to do great!!

Humber Officially Launches Microsite for OCMC 2011

It’s 30 degrees and sunny all day and while many sit back and bask in the beautiful weather, others are busy working behind the scenes, gearing up for the exciting Fall to come!

Humber College is getting in on the excitement officially launching their OCMC 2011 website that contains all the news and info related to the event coming this November.  As always, the host College takes the responsibility for designing and creating the portal that helps communicate all the needed information to those involved.  This is always an exciting time for OCMC followers as this is when the event-host releases all the juicy details about what they’ve been planning over the past few months.

Here's a quick look at what OCMC 2011 is all about!

This year’s event-theme is be innovative. To play along with the theme, local advertising company Black Cat Advertising, generously created the site to show their support for the OCMC event. The innovative design catches your eye with bright colours and an artistic layout that uses interactivity to reveal information.  A special shout-out goes to Black Cat for their inspiring design, clever layout, creativity, dedication and generosity - THANK YOU!

But that’s not all! The OCMC website is loaded with great content and information about the OCMC event and its celebrated history.  Find out about our event partners and sponsors - you may even find a few things to help you study for your case event.  Some of you may even dive into the archives to see who has won this illustrious event in recent years and who to watch out for this November.  

The OCMC site connects you to everything OCMC, including our new social media pages that help you connect and network with your fellow OCMC colleagues.  So get in on the buzz and find out what you need to know about OCMC 2011 by visiting http://business.humber.ca/ocmc/.

See you in November!   

App Success Makes Apple World's #1 Brand

With technology lying at the center of all the new trends in marketing and advertising, we see devices like the Apple iPad changing the way we reach customers.  A year ago there were few that would have thought that the iPad would eventually launch Apple into the world’s most valuable brand position- myself included!  When the iPad first launched many consumers were skeptical of how the bulky and expensive device would handle- mostly a result of it being sold as a practical item.  Nevertheless, just over a year later the iPad and the success of its user-friendly applications has enhanced Apple’s international brand image by 246% placing them as an uncontested number one.  To see a detailed list of 2011’s top 50 international brands, you can check them out here @ http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2011/5018/apple-tops-google-as-worlds-most-valuable-brand.

As Apple continues to develop a reputation in the retail industry we see their stock and brand continue to rise in value.  There are very few companies that have successfully completed a vertical integration like Apple who has virtually total control over their supply chain.  Recently, with talks of the new iPad 3 in development, Apple has looked to Taiwanese LED manufacturer Coretronic to join their short list of suppliers in attempt to solve previous display concerns.  As the population continues to shift towards the use of smart phones such as iPhones, Blackberry’s and Android models, the use of applications also continues to grow more rapidly.  Now with the introduction of the Blackberry Playbook, HP TouchPad and Samsung Galaxypad, we see the market becoming more competitive as marketers and advertisers focus on new ways to reach the consumer through these applications.    

This ultimately begs the question... How do you know if your business needs an app?  According to the experts at Mashable, it depends on who you’re targeting and what you have to offer.  Creating an app can be costly but depending on where your market lies and the overall mobile business climate around that segment, it can be extremely rewarding and in most cases profitable.  To get more information on whether designing apps is worthwhile for your business; check out this infographic @ http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/mobile-app-business-lg.jpg.  For info on how to design apps for small and mid-sized businesses, check out this post @ http://mashable.com/2010/10/27/build-an-app-for-your-smb/.     

Can You Keep Up With Digital Marketing?

The digital era is well under way, and it’s now up to you to keep up with it! Every day we are introduced to new marketing statistics and data that show us just how significant social networking has become.  Many of our students are Millennial’s- products of the baby boom also known as “Gen Y’s” and this puts them at the center of this new trend in technology.  The internet has become the center of most media consumption for the Millennial age group and this presents significant opportunities for us as marketers.

A snip from a demographic profile released by the eMarketer in March suggests that over 90% of this age group is online and almost as many of them are using social networking sites.  If you haven’t seen the info you can check it out here @ http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008382.

So what does this mean for the digital era, and how significant really is this information?  The increases in social media consumption are clear to me as I sit in the middle of this age group.  But while many are actively part of this social networking trend, there are still plenty that have accounts that remain dormant and unused.  While older generations remain skeptical to the security and privacy of social media- younger millennial’s tend to embrace the concept, using the networks to share tastes and preferences and furthermore as a platform for opportunities.  

Businesses are still learning how to use social media in a way that can create opportunities and boost credibility- many have done well, some have failed miserably, and others are just not there yet. This is where we see the shift in digital marketing beginning, as certain businesses solidify their presence in online and digital marketing others find themselves becoming left behind.  An interesting question arises, what will happen when one the most powerful cities in the world goes digital and according to a new TechCrunch article- New York City is looking to be that city sooner than later.  Check out the post here @ http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/16/ny-digital-city-road-map-2011/.

Interestingly enough, there is one social networking site that has however had an impact on older generations.  LinkedIn has produced several studies that show that older generations (like boomer’s) have found benefit in the LinkedIn network as a place to both find opportunities and showcase their achievements.  A recently published infographic suggests that the demographic on LinkedIn is dominated by the age groups of 25-34 and 35-54; a likely result of the professional image of the network.  The data also suggests that the major industries on LinkedIn are in Tech, finance and manufacturing- check it out below or @ http://www.vincos.it/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/state-of-linkedin-0311.png

       

To gain a better insight on the growth of LinkedIn in Canada I looked to a QuantCast traffic report to see what kind of increases had occurred.  The numbers were impressive showing users had almost doubled since January, and have not stopped growing at that rate since! So if you haven’t made the step into social media, a great place to start may be LinkedIn- and while you’re there don’t forget to become a member of our Humber OCMC 2011 Group @ http://linkd.in/ffJCkG .  To see the full Quantcast report, check it out here@ http://www.quantcast.com/linkedin.com?country=CA#traffic .

Psst...I Have a Confession to Make!

Psst….I have a confession to make… I am addicted to OCMC. It’s apart of my DNA.

Hi, I am Cheryl Dowell, Professor at Algonquin College and the faculty lead for our OCMC team.

For 5 years I have been working side by side with fantastic faculty coaches, close to 100 OCMC students and numerous industry professionals. And in the OCMC world…I am considered a “newbie”. Just imagine what knowledge and experience the seasoned OCMC coaches have (Be sure to tap into it!)

Why am I apart of OCMC? Why do I come back every year? Well, really, it is pure selfishness. Yes, I said selfish…….it just makes me feel SO good! Why not!

To see the bright eyed, eager, yet nervous students at the first OCMC meeting, then moving on to the one-on-one ‘motivational’ talks to get through the midterms, assignments, extra coaching sessions, work, and remain sane. To the pre-prep room walk in the hotel just before the competition. Ahhhh, who would NOT want to be apart of this!!!!

OCMC is not easy. It is WORK. Hard work. Ask any of the alumni and faculty coaches. At my first team meeting, I particularly stress that if you honestly believe that you have everything it takes to be apart of this competition then leave now (ouch!) OCMC is a learning curve. It is an opportunity to gain extensive knowledge outside of the classroom from experienced coaches. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Take full advantage of it.

I have another confession to make. Come closer now. Ready?

Last October – about 6 weeks before OCMC 2010, which by the way was truly AMAZING! The live band, the dancing – the celebrations - WOW - it was very memorable! Congratulations Sheridan College – you sure know how to throw a Gala.

Now, where was I? Oh, yes, my confession #2. Last October…. about 6 weeks before OCMC 2010, I found myself rethinking my role. Bluntly, I said to myself: ‘If I don’t see any major results this year (higher rankings), then this will be my last year. I just can’t handle the work load and the added pressures.’

Pretty selfish eh?!

Why am I telling you this? To show you that we are ALL human. When the going gets tough….some run, some hide, and some stay for the fight. I was ready to walk away, but then my team supported me (both students and coaches),they gave me the strength to keep moving. Within the week, I was back up fighting for our tomorrows! This is what OCMC is all about. Sure the medals and rankings are great; but, in the end it is the family, friends, support that makes us who we are.

Words of advice: mid October (AKA the breaking point). Everything seems to be due. Students are feeling it with group projects, midterms, presentations…oh, and then there is OCMC on top of it with coaching sessions, team meetings, fundraising, researching, and shopping for “that” amazing outfit!

Faculty are feeling the same breaking point pressures. Group issues, marking, midterm prep, marking, OCMC logistics, coaching sessions, course prep work, marking, committee meetings. I think we get the picture here.

So, what sets us apart? Nothing? What brings up closer together? Determination. Purpose. To better ourselves and the people around us. OCMC!

To the OCMC 2011 competitors: “no pain no gain”. Be ready for it, have your support systems in place. Bond with your team. Walk the talk. Be ready for the fight. And best of all, ENJOY this once in a lifetime experience. I keep coming back. I am fortunate to have this option. Its apart of my DNA. I know that by November 2011, you will also have OCMC in your DNA. As you become OCMC Alumni, you will also want to come back and give back.

To the OCMC 2011 coaches: THANK YOU! Keep up the worthwhile fight. You are making a valuable difference. It is not easy but truly rewarding.

See you all at Humber in November.

Cheryl Dowell
dowellc@algonquincollege.com
Tweet: @profdowell

Behind The Scenes- OCMC 2011

As the end of the spring semester approaches and most Colleges are winding down; there are still many that are actually ramping up... for OCMC 2011.  Seeing as many of us will be taking off for the summer, it felt like a good opportunity to update everyone on what’s going on with OCMC 2011- behind the scenes.  To do so I went to Marketing Coordinator Ellen Sparling for some quick fun facts about what’s in the works for Humber OCMC 2011.     

This year there will be 15 schools participating in the OCMC event, which means there will be over 300 students, 100 volunteer faculty/ coaches and roughly 60 judges hosted at the Marriott near Toronto Pearson Airport.  In order to organize this large group it will be up to Humber to acquire over 200 support staffers to volunteer their efforts across the two-day spectacle. 

Behind the scenes at Humber College a special team of faculty are busy working and meeting with the Marriott discussing lodging arrangements for the event on the 24^th& 25^th of November.  Coordinator Ellen Sparling has turned to her most dedicated staff to help with the intensive planning needed to pull off this year’s event.  Humber is currently contacting and investigating the potential companies that will be involved with this year’s cases.   Further, as the event is funded by sponsorship and participation (fees), Humber is actively looking for sponsors that want to make OCMC 2011 something special for students. 

In the upcoming months Humber will be launching its microsite for the 2011 event that will include all the information specific to OCMC 2011. So stay connected, and stay current with our social media as Humber OCMC 2011 will continue to provide you with all the latest regarding this year’s competition!!