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

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!   

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!!