i choose campaign

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i choose a campaign plan for Good to Go

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A PR campaign for Good to Go ECOnvenience Store in Appleton Wisconsin. I designed this entire book and the supplemental campaign materials.

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Page 1: i choose campaign

i choosea campaign plan for Good to Go

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published byazure communications

© azure communications/Joseph Donofrio/Kari Dunham/Sarah Gaziano/Chris Goode/Ashley Kanable/Marc Khatchadourian/Katrina Lord 2008. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including informa-tion storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the authors.

The views expressed by the authors do not necessarily refl ect the views of the publishers or of the organizations with which they are associated. This text is to be used in part as an educational fulfi llment for Marquette University’s course ADPR 183.

The content pages of this book are printed on environment Premium Recycled Papers made with 100 percent renewable energy.

All of the pictures in this book were taken by azure communications in Wisconsin.

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a public relations campiagn for Good to Go ECOnvenience Stores produced by:

azure communications:

Joseph DonofrioKari DunhamSarah GazianoChris Goode

Ashley KanableMarc Khatchadourian

Katrina Lord

i choose

Submitted in partial fulfi llment of the requirement for ADPR 183 Fall Semester 2008.azurecommunications

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table of contents

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executive summarysituational analysis and contextenvironmental scanswot analysismedia scanstakeholder analysistarget audiencegoal onegoal twogoal threegoal fourgoal fi vegoal sixwww.ichooseGoodtoGo.comgrand openingtimelinebudgetevaluationpotential issuesconclusionsappendixworks cited

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executive summary

Corporate social responsibility is deeply engrained in the foundations of an organization’s purpose and is not a superfi cial public relations façade.

Good to Go ECOnvenience Centers are built on the con-cept of doing the right thing and as a part of its mission, Good to Go is dedicated to providing its customers with an effi cient, affordable, convenient, and sustainable lo-cation to shop. It is important to defi ne what Good to Go means by “sustainable.” Sustainability is defi ned as, “A system utilizing renewable resources that meets the requirements of the present without compromising the requirements of future generations or disrupting pres-ent or future environmental balance” (Stern and Ander, 2008, p. 40). Good to Go’s function centers around a sustain-able business model and through that model it has devel-oped the “i choose” campaign to help promote business but most importantly, to contribute to the community through education, business partnerships, and giving back. It is with this positioning that the ECOnvenience center will maximize its competitive advantage. The “i choose” campaign focuses on a target mar-ket who will benefi t most from the goods and services Good to Go has to offer. But what is unique about the “i choose” campaign is the various partnerships it will create through the “i choose partnership” and the “i choose ECO education” programs. Each of these pro-recycled glass slab in front of Good to Go.

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Good to Go page 7

grams are based on a mutually benefi cial relationship between Good to Go and other community entities to maximize a positive impact on the community with a social bottom line while returning a profi table mon-etary bottom line. “i choose” has six central goals each with a separate objective and strategy. Within those strate-gies this plan outlines the highly tactical nature of the “i choose” campaign and how those tactics will be carried out. The tactics involve both the afore-mentioned relationships, as well as media relations and business measures. In addition, the grand open-ing event is an exciting compliment to the tangible goals. “i choose” recognizes the potential diffi culties with a sustainable business model and entering the Grand Chute convenience store market and attempts to mitigate those diffi culties. Regardless of the challenges, “i choose” posi-tions Good to Go in a competitive stance capable of presenting a formidable challenge to ordinary conve-nience stores. Good to Go recognizes that consum-ers have a choice when determining where they shop and how sustainable of a life they lead. “i choose” gives them reason to choose Good to Go!

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situation analysis and context

The foundation of Good to Go’s business model is the sustainability aspect of its philanthropy, physical infrastructure, and its goods and ser-

vices. There are countless intricacies and nuances surrounding a sustainable business model in the fi rst decade of the 21st century. The following is a sum-mary of that context. In the 1980s Americans were centrally cog-nizant of the idea of environmentalism, and “going green” became a phenomenon that most consumers wanted to be involved with. Companies raced to de-velop green products and brag about their sustainabil-ity. The problem with most of these green products was they did not work; green cleaners that would not clean, awkward colored energy effi cient light bulbs, and environmentally friendly trash bags that could not hold trash are just a few examples (Grant, 2007, p. 24-25). Many of the corporations responsible for put-ting these products on the market were doing so for the sole purpose of improving their monetary bot-tom line (Grant, 2007, p. 26). The marketers’ lack of consideration for the consumers’ satisfaction creat-ed distrust and a skeptical attitude toward anything green. The situation in the 1980s is foundational to the dynamics evident in today’s marketplace where stone surface on east side of Good to Go.

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Good to Go page 9

green, once again, is a hot topic. At present, sus-tainability is either central or soon to be central in many business models; if it is not, companies are rushing to develop their green strategy. The United States government has recently recognized the ex-istence of climate change and the impact it is having on the world. The U.S. Green Building Council de-veloped its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard (LEED®) which certifi es buildings on varying levels of sustainability. The LEED® certi-fi cation standard is the only universal sustainability standard in the United States.

Corporations like General Motors are seeing re-cord losses because the demand for large, gas guzzling sport utility vehicles has dropped due to the average gas price hitting record highs of over four dollars a gal-lon during the summer of 2008. Because of these fac-tors, as well as many other infl uencers, the new green movement is in full swing. Consumer demand of sustainable businesses has become much more critical. Because of their fi rst en-counter with green in the 1980s, many consumers are skeptical of the quality and genuineness of green prod-ucts and claims (Makower, 2009, p. 16). Consumers are demanding fundamental changes in how business is done to refl ect a more sustainable approach (Makower, 2009, p. 14). Additionally, consumers are looking to companies and government to help them with sugges-tions for their personal lives and sustainable improve-ments in their communities. These connotations have created a diffi cult real-ity for companies. While 79 percent of United States consumers say a corporation’s environmentally con-scious actions impact their view of the organization, seven out of ten Americans say that when companies market green, they believe that it is just a market-ing tactic (Makower, 2009, p. 25-27). In other words, everyday consumers demand environmental corporate social responsibility but are also skeptical of claims re-

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fl ecting environmental virtue. To deal with that prob-lem, companies have learned that they must engage and educate their consumers, because the more they know, the more they will want to take action with environmental issues. (Grant, 2007, p. 33-48). As a part of that education, companies are beginning to recognize that there are some consumers who do not see the environment as a problem, therefore, it is the companies’ responsibility to help consumers not only understand the problem but also care about it (Makower, 2009, p. 45). The second key challenge companies face is the concept that green is not enough. Because of the reputation problems outlined above, and the reality that green products sometimes cost more for con-sumers, they must have primary benefi ts (Makower, 2009, p. 29). There must be some additional advan-tage to buying a green product; it must be a quality product, have a practical purpose, or be reasonably priced (Grant, 2007, p. 78). The sustainable charac-teristics of the product are almost an afterthought. To add to this issue, 66 percent of American consumers cannot identify what companies can do to be more sustainable, and two out of three consumers cannot name a green product (Makower, 2009, p. 49). These unique challenges represent the unwav-ering reality of today’s market. Ultimately, consum-

ers need to understand how their purchases are going to positively impact the environment and how they fi t into the larger picture of sustainability through choos-ing a certain company (Makower, 2009, p. 272). It is the company’s responsibility to educate consumers and instill the self-effi cacy within them to make posi-tive environmental changes, all while making a profi t. Despite Good to Go’s sustainable nature, it must effectively identify the trends of the convenience store industry. The following is a description of the competitive mar-ket that Good to Go will be enter-ing. The con-venience store industry has its share of ups and downs. Many of these fl uctuations are due to the vol-atility of gasoline prices, but there are other forces at work. In the

situation analysis and context continued

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Good to Go page 11

United States, visits to convenience stores have gone from an average of two minutes in duration to almost four minutes, and 75 percent of visiting patrons shop at least once a week (Harris J. and T. Fender, 2003, p. 1). Busier consumers are projected to look towards convenience stores to offer greater quality and a larger variety to improve their shopping effi ciency; they are demanding a one-stop shop (Ledford, 2002, p. 16A-17A). Changing work patterns and different attitudes in food preparation trends are helping cre-ate these shifts in consumer behavior (Harris J. and T. Fender, 2003, p. 1). In addition to the demands for convenience and greater selection is the demand for healthier and better tasting products (Campitelli, 2007, p. 21A). One of the main focuses of better product options is the introduction of gourmet coffee, which provides businesses the opportunity to charge higher premi-ums for fresher goods (Campitelli, 2007, p. 21A). However, coffee is not the only product that sells at a premium. Despite the decreasing long-term sales outlook, tobacco sales increasingly account for a large fraction of in-store sales due to the in-crease in cigarette prices (Campitelli, 2007, p. 20A). Also facing increased costs for businesses are lottery customers who bring higher average profi ts to con-venience stores than non-lottery customers due to

their tendency to spend more time in the store, visit more often, and buy higher-margin products than the average consumer (Taneia, p. 1999, p. 108). Furthermore, the undeniable impact of gasoline sales on convenience store sales holds both positives and negatives for businesses. Convenience stores will benefi t from relatively low gasoline prices, which will encourage consumers to enter stores to purchase high-er margin goods. However, higher gasoline prices will, predicatively, have the opposite impact (Cox, 2001, p. 17A). Overall, while there has been minimal growth over the past fi ve years, convenience store industry sales are projected to grow 4.3 percent through 2007 (Campitelli, 2003, p. 21A). There is a projection for a tighter retail market in the near future with the in-crease in the number of small grocery stores that focus on offering convenience to customers (C-Stores losing gas, 2008, p. 1). Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club are carrying out plans to expand their gasoline programs by offer-ing the greatly desired one-stop shop for consumers at many of their locations (Ledford, 2002, p. 16A). This infl ux of outside business and a general increase in the number of convenience stores since 1993 is creating additional industry competition adding to increasing consumer demands (Cox, 2001, p. 30).

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““““““WWWWWWWWWWWeeeeee ccccccoooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnntttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnuuee ttoo oobbsseessss aabboouutt tthhee ffuuttuurree...””

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Good to Go page 13

environmental scan

the interstate, will present formidable competition for Good to Go. Good to Go must recognize that there are several options for a gas station-convenience store and car wash within a close proximity to its lo-cation which present many choices for consumers. Furthermore, economic concerns are central to the target market creating an unmistakable need to offer value to the cus-tomer. Primary research indicated that individuals in the Grand Chute and Appleton communities are concerned about the environment and pre-fer socially responsible organizations, however, most times they have no choice but to choose the more economic options for themselves and their families or businesses (Reference Appendix: Primary Research). Good to Go’s business plan in-dicates it wants to offer customers, amongst several things, greater value for their dollar (Business Plan, p. 18). This economic advantage is imperative to com-municate and deliver. Given the strong connotations

There are numerous factors that will impact Good to Go’s success in the Grand Chute and Apple-ton communities. The three most paramount

elements impacting success are the consumers’ eco-nomic concerns and desire for value, the balance of sustainability and a solid competitive advantage, and the convenience store competition. To begin with, there are approximately nine gas station-convenience stores within a close prox-imity of Good to Go’s Grand Chute location. In or-der to better understand the challenges that Good to Go will face in Grand Chute, it is fi rst important to understand the positioning of some of its competi-tors. One primary competitor is Kwik Trip. Kwik Trip has positioned itself quite well in the market. The corporation has invested a signifi cant amount of re-sources aimed at learning what their customers want (Hebets, 2006, p. 8). In addition, they actively work with employees to help stay on top of their competi-tors (Hebets, 2006, p. 8). Kwik Trip understands the need for as much convenience as possible but also recognizes a desire from the consumers to have fresh items like salads and hot food options (Hebets, 2006, p. 9). Finally, Kwik Trip offers a free $25 gas card with the activation of a store card (Hebets, 2006, p. 9). This strong positioning and relationship building, in addition to Kwik Trip’s convenient location next to

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of green products outlined in the previous section, Good to Go must be cognizant of the idea that it can-not simply advertise its goods and services as green or sustainable and expect that characteristic to be a competitive advantage. But it must communicate other advantages of shopping at Good to Go before capitalizing on the sustainable aspect of the business (Esty and Winston, 2006, p. 300-301). Often times, consumers believe they will have to sacrifi ce quality or value in order to purchase a sustainable product (Stern and Ander, 2008, p. 61-62). Good to Go must prove that assumption false. With that stated, Good to Go should recognize that helping consumers understand and reduce envi-ronmental problems may strengthen loyalty amongst the customer base and attract increasing sales (Esty and Winston, 2006, p. 300). The respondents in the primary research also indicated that they believe a local business must be a part of the community in order to succeed (Reference Appendix: Primary Re-search). Finally, long term expectations must be such that at some point, sustainability will become the new minimal standard of operations, and the sustain-ability aspects of a business will not deviate from the status quo because of the diminished infl ection point (Stern and Ander, 2008, p. 5). Ultimately, Good to Go’s ability to recognize

and communicate advantages of its goods and services in addition to its sustainability will determine its suc-cess in the convenience store market.

environmental scan continued

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Good to Go page 15

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““......bbeecccaauussee wwwee ccaann’’tt aaffffoorrdd too ffoorrggeett aabbouutt

hhooww wweee iiimmmppppaaaaccccttt lllliiifffeee oonn EEaarrtthh ttooddaayy.””

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Good to Go page 17

Grand Chute holds great opportunity for Good to Go’s fi rst location. The Grand Chute and Appleton commu-nities are generally open to the idea of a sustainable movement and are curious about how to get involved.Business partnerships are also a strong opportunity because of the positive impressions consumers have of community-based relationships. The target market is also one that likes to “show off” how sustainable they are, which is a great way for Good to Go to get their logo and message out to the mass media. Also, since this target is savvy with technology reaching them through social media will be a tremendous op-portunity.

Most importantly, there are individuals who do not care about the sustainable movement, however, they can still be a target market. Because Good to Go is new, there is no history or credibility associated with it, thus making the consumer weary about shopping with a new business. While Good to Go is an innova-tive business, the sustainable convenience store idea has already been established. There are other sustain-able convenience stores in the country, which could draw business away from Good to Go. Currently, the locations of the other sustainable convenience stores are not in close proximity to Good to Go. The rise in popularity of the electric car, potentially making gas obsolete, could also be a threat to Good to Go.

opportunities threats

swot analysis

Good to Go’s major strength is its creative twist on a new convenience store. It has all the amenities that any other convenience store would carry, but the customer is independent. Staff is alerted to any shortage in products, the automated merchandising system has a high success rate, and the just-in-time stock saves money on unnecessary asset inventory.It requires little maintenance and is primarily un-staffed, as such, labor wages will be incredibly small. Good to Go also offers the added benefi t of providing the customer with a sustainable shopping opportu-nity.

Running an entire business on the automated mer-chandising system may create problems with con-sumer comfort, and there is potential for technical complications. Reliance on a machine for all of the business transactions is a risk. If the machines mal-function, continuity of operations would be lost, ad-versely impacting sales. Good to Go must also recog-nize that there are other convenience stores in the United States under the name “Good To Go”. A Google search outlined two stores, one located in Chesterton, IN and the other in Enterprise, AL. This commonality can cause brand confusion when Good to Go launches additional stores in other states.

strenghs weaknesses

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media scan

A media scan was executed by searching online databases for articles from both local and na-tional newspapers, magazines, Web sites, and

blogs. We also looked at databases such as ProQuest for articles from scholarly journals. Search topics in-cluded, but were not limited to: Good to Go, etha-nol fuel, LEED® building certifi cation, sustainability, vending machines, automated merchandising sys-tems, and convenience stores. Most of the articles pertaining to Good to Go focused on the general facts of the convenience store, automated merchandising system, car wash, alternative fuels, green rooftops, and the LEED® certifi cation. All of these hits had positive mentions of the services offered, both from the consumer’s perspective as well as the positive impact they have on the environment and the community. By reading these articles, a reader will discover that there is a large emphasis from Good to Go to spread the word on their mission of sustainability. All of these articles have shown that there is an interest from the media to cover Good to Go spe-cifi cally, whether it is from the sustainability angle or because of the uniqueness of the automated mer-chandising system. Another issue that receives a large amount of media attention is the impact ethanol fuel has on the pervious concrete in front of Good to Go.

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Good to Go page 19

environment and the economy. There are some ar-ticles that focus on the positives as well as the neg-atives of such use and the consequences of imple-menting a full-on switch to ethanol. While there are several pieces that are adamant about not switching over to such fuel sources, there are very few articles that specifi cally point to the affi rmative characteris-tics of using ethanol based fuel. Reasons for avoiding the switch to ethanol presented include the depen-dence on government funding and the negative ef-fects from the production of such fuels, including an excessive amount of pollution. There is also the con-cern that the need for so much extra corn can cause an increase in food prices. The positive aspects presented for using etha-nol fuel are just as compelling. The articles state the most obvious reason includes the lack of dependence on fossil fuels and the costs that could be saved from using other fuels. Another idea presented in the me-dia is that using fuels that are made from corn grown in the United States could potentially help the do-mestic economy. Finally, the media places a signifi cant emphasis on sustainability, both in terms of helping the con-sumer and also being a vehicle for education. Some examples include the transformation that has oc-curred in the United States in terms of the push for

more sustainability. There is an interest among the consumers to hold corporations more accountable for the impact they have on the environment and the business practices that they can improve on in order to ease their impact. Education of the environment is also a larger topic discussed. Certain programs be-ing implemented in schools include Community Ac-tion For A Renewed Environment. This program aims to bring attention to health issues arising in children due to the weakening natural environment and the ways that young people can be actively involved in the solution.

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stakeholder analysis

current and potential customers:In number, this group of stakeholders is one of the largest. The consumer base has a signifi cant stake in the success of the business depending on whether or not Good to Go is offering them the goods and ser-vices they desire. Customers in the loyalty program will have a larger stake than the average customer given any relationship they may have built with Good to Go. If customers have a negative experience, they will be worked with promptly to resolve the issue. If the issue is not resolved, there is a potential that Good to Go will lose more than individual custom-ers; multiple customers could be lost due to negative word-of-mouth. If the campaign is perceived posi-tively from the consumers’ point-of-view, they will react well to Good to Go becoming a member of the community.

owners and shareholders:Owners and shareholders enter the picture with an already positive attitude regarding the business. These individuals have invested a signifi cant amount of time with Good to Go, and it is understood that they have monetarily invested in the business. These individuals have a direct stake in whether or not the business succeeds due to any profi t sharing or divi-dend arrangement. Because of their role in the or-ganization, regular communication with owners and shareholders is expected. Upon a signifi cant positive or negative event, they must be communicated with punctually and diligently. Detailed communication regarding the scope and parameters of the initiative should be outlined for them prior to any marketing action being taken.

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ganization, egushareholders is expected. Upon a signifi cant positive or negative event, they must be communicated with punctually and diligently. Detailed communication regarding the scope and parameters of the initiative should be outlined for them prior to any marketing action being taken.

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Good to Go page 21

Grand Chute and Appleton communities:The Grand Chute and Appleton communities will only stand to gain from Good to Go as one of its commu-nity members. Through the giving back programs, outlined in the goals and objectives section to follow, Grand Chute and Appleton will see positive outcomes through Good to Go’s mission and will be directly im-pacted by its success.

business partners:Business partners will be an intricate part of this initiative (outlined in the goals and objectives sec-tion). These business partners have a large stake in the success of Good to Go because their business re-lationships are based on mutual benefi t. Good to Go and its business partners only stand to gain from the lucrative alliance, which will be formed through this campaign. As such, the business partners will be co-ordinated with prior to the launch of any campaign.

sustainable conscious consumers:One of Good to Go’s aspirations is to build a positive relationship with those who are advocates of sustain-ability and corporate social responsibility. These in-dividuals also present a potential threat to Good to Go’s sustainable positioning, as many businesses have been sharply criticized for falsely claiming green vir-tue. Good to Go can help mitigate criticisms of its business plan and operations through transparency and honesty. Good to Go’s demonstration of genuine respect for the environment will be invaluable in the communications with these individuals. Support from green conscious consumers will be incalculable.

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target audience

The “i choose” campaign is aimed at women, particularly mothers, ages 25 to 44. Together, the 25 to 34 and the 35 to 44 populations com-

prise 31.2 percent of the Grand Chute population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). Out of the total popula-tion, 29.6 percent of households have children under the age of 18. Within the Grand Chute community, children ages one to eight are the largest school pop-ulation with 2,005 which indicates a large amount of “young” families. These numbers create a strong op-portunity to target through the various efforts of the “i choose” campaign. Women within this age group need conve-nience, effi ciency, and economy in their purchases. In general, over 80 percent of women in this age group have attended or graduated college and the majority of these women hold professional, executive/admin-istrative positions, or clerical/sales positions mostly working fulltime (Mediamark Research Inc., 2001, p. 1). The vast majority of the women in this target are married and live in a household with one or two chil-dren under the age of 17 (Mediamark Research Inc., 2001, p. 1). The majority of the individuals in this group read the newspaper daily and watch cable TV, with a greater majority reading the Sunday newspaper (Mediamark Research Inc., 2001, p. 2). Over half of sun shade over Good to Go patio.

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Good to Go page 23

the target audience listen to the radio on weekdays during their morning commute and nearly half listen to radio during the evening commute usually tuning into adult contemporary or talk radio stations (Media-mark Research Inc., 2001, p. 2-3). Television view-ing in this target is most signifi cant on the following networks: A&E, The Discovery Channel, Fox Family Channel, Lifetime, The Weather Channel, and WGN (Mediamark Research Inc., 2001, p. 4). Visits to convenience stores of individuals spending up to $30 are most frequent among mem-bers of the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups respective-ly greater than any other age brackets (Mediamark Research Inc., 2001, p. 1 and Mediamark Research Inc., 2001, p. 11). Generally, full-time workers are increasingly visiting convenience stores to pick up items for their families for dinner (Mediamark Re-search Inc., 2001, p. 86). From a sustainability perspective, mothers specifi cally are more likely to make sustainably moti-vated decisions if they understand how those choic-es will benefi t their families (Dolliver, 2008, p. 31). That motivation to act sustainably is derived from the sense of responsibility towards setting a positive example for their children and doing the right thing (Dolliver, 2008, p. 31).

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goals and strategies

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Good to Go page 25

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goal one

objective: Increase the amount of partnered organizations every year.

strategy: Create partnerships with local businesses and organizations using the “i choose” campaign. The movement will be branded the “i choose partnership.”

tactic one: Implement the “i choose partnership” to identify participating organizations and create information boards in businesses describing to customers how to live more sustainably and offer discounts to the partnering businesses and organizations.

tactic two: Develop and implement a Web site that will be a location where businesses can share best practices and work together towards sustainability.

tactic three: Target local media with a feature piece on the “i choose partnership.”

goal one: Involve local businesses in sustainability efforts and create community partnerships.

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Good to Go page 27

Based on the primary research, one of the key factors in community members’ ability to recognize and support a new business is that

business’ ability to be an active member of the com-munity. That sense of community partnership is in-herent in all of the goals for this campaign, howev-er, goal one specifi cally highlights the need to form a group of organizations and businesses that share a common philanthropy of supporting the community they are a part of. To begin with, Good to Go will implement a branded movement called the “i choose partner-ship” that will launch throughout the Grand Chute and Appleton communities. Involved organizations will have a poster at their place of business, which will outline the program and how it will help the community; it will list the partnering organizations and the sustainable options available at that busi-ness’ location. Lastly, the Good to Go Web site will be listed as a location where consumers can access more information regarding how they can make sustainable choices in their lives. The in-store post-ers will be coupled with window clings with the campaign logo so consumers can recognize that the organization is part of the “i choose partnership” from a distance. In addition, where applicable, the partnering

businesses’ vehicles will have a branded car mag-net or window cling identifying the campaign and its commitment toward supporting the community. Those partnering organizations will receive dis-counted goods inside the store and discounted car washes. As a result of the Web address being posted on the “i choose partnership” materials, traffi c will be pushed to Good to Go’s Web site where the consumer can learn a number of things and redeem Good to Go coupons. Primarily, Good to Go and its partners will teach consumers how they themselves can make sustainable lifestyle changes. The second-ary research indicated that consumers are looking to corporations and government to lead the way and help them make personal improvements. The support of this idea is foundational to Good to Go’s motives as defi ned in the business plan (Good to Go ECOnvenience Centers, p. 1). Moreover, the Web site will provide a discussion board for individuals to talk about those lifestyle changes they have made and ask questions of Good to Go or other consum-ers. The social media aspect of the Web site is key because the social media initiatives are primarily useful in supporting the creation and support of a community. The “i choose partnership” will have access to the customer discussion board so they can

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Good to Go and the “i choose partnership” logos, they will begin to recognize the widespread commu-nity efforts of Good to Go and become interested in examining its social responsibility. To garner media attention, “i choose” will target local media outlets with a feature news re-lease highlighting the unique existence and format of the “i choose partnership.” In that release, we will have business partners comment on what they are doing in the partnership and why they choose to be a part of it. The release will emphasize Good to Go’s creation and support of the program and communicate the idea that Good to Go is not simply interested in a monetary bottom line. The image on this page illustrates the window cling that will be placed on the front window of par-ticipating organizations. The magnets and window clings will be branded consistently along with the consumer magnets and clings that will be discussed in the following pages. On the page to the right is a sample poster that would appear in a participating “i choose part-nership” store or business. The poster outlines sus-tainable options the customers have at that particu-lar store. The function of the poster is to describe to the customers how they themselves can make sustainable changes in their own lives. For those

goal one continued

see customer comments, post their own thoughts, or offer their own promotions. This initiative will increase the traffi c to the Good to Go Web site be-cause customers of businesses in the “i choose part-nership” will be posting on Good to Go’s Web site. There will also be a business portion of the Web site where the current and potential businesses of the “i choose partnership” will be able to view Good to Go’s work, partners, and share best practices. This online community will transfer to the physical

knowledge of Good to Go. Through the social media efforts and

the partnerships with other businesses, Good to Go will build a name for itself as the business capable and willing to help consumers make lifestyle changes and supporting the commu-

nity. That brand recogni-tion and appreciation of

Good to Go’s philanthropy, will help make Good to Go

the convenience store of choice in the Grand Chute and Appleton communities. When customers shopping at other businesses see

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Good to Go page 29

individuals interested in further information regard-ing the “i choose partnership” and sustainability, Good to Go’s Web site, www.ichooseGoodtoGo.com, is listed in conjunction with Good to Go’s logo. Ad-ditionally, the logos of other “i choose partnership” participants are listed on the poster. Corporate discounts for participating orga-nizations will be arranged individually, however, those benefi ts will include discounted car washes and items in the store. This program is based off the idea of mutual benefi t for both Good to Go and part-nering organizations. Other businesses will benefi t from greater publicity as a community partner with their logo associated with the “i choose partner-ship” and discounts on car washes and in store items at Good to Go. Centrally, Good to Go will benefi t from the “i choose partnership” through associa-tion and recognition of the program’s creator; brand exposure on each of the “i choose partnership” posters, window clings and magnets, and increase in business traffi c from the corporations that take advantage of the “i choose partnership” discounts at Good to Go.

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goal two

objective: Teach 25 percent of daily customers how to make lifestyle changes.

strategy: Offer information to consumers about how to make lifestyle changes.

tactic one: Offer sustainable lifestyle information through consumer Web site and “i choose partnership” information boards. tactic two: Enhance community through visual campaign with free “i choose” car magnets and window clings.

tactic three: Use a social media initiative to help answer customer questions and clarify uncertainty about sustainability and Good to Go.

tactic four: Use customers’ positive testimonials to create feature pieces through social media.

goal two: Encourage customers of Good to Go to make environmentally conscious lifestyle choices.

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One of the most important aspects of Good to Go’s philosophy is to make a positive impact on the community (Good to Go ECOnvenience

Centers, p. 1). Good to Go is doing its part, and it is imperative for Good to Go to encourage others to help in that process to truly make a large scale sustainability impact. Goal two focuses on the com-munications with consumers. As discussed in goal one, the underlying theme of Good to Go’s outreach efforts is to become identifi ed as the business that is helping consumers lead the way in sustainability through education and mutual support. By offering sustainability information to consumers it allows them to make personal changes but also associate a positive community impact with Good to Go. There are two aspects to creating a commu-nity cognizant of sustainability and supportive of Good to Go. The fi rst of those components is a visual identity association. Those who shop at Good to Go frequently will get free car magnets and window clings to put on their vehicles. These magnets and clings will look like the logo’s yin and yang. One side will say “i choose…” and the other side will have many options for customers to choose such as: “sus-tainability”, “to recycle”, “to reduce”, “to reuse”. This visual association will be looked at as a positive relationship because of the genuine nature of Good

to Go’s philosophy and ef-forts to support the com-munity. The second as-pect of the community-building concept is the implementation of social media. Outlined in the description of goal one, social media will help create the founda-tion of a supportive customer base. The focus behind the social media tactics in goal two is to clear up much of the confusion behind sustainability. Many of the individuals in our target market, as well as anyone who lived through the 1980s and 1990s, recognize that this is not the fi rst time there has been a green movement. The problem with the fi rst green move-ment, however, was that consumers had to sacrifi ce quality, speed, and dependability (to name a few) in order to use green products. On the whole, these sac-rifi ces are no longer necessary and the connotations and concerns behind utilizing recycled water in the car wash, for example, can be clarifi ed and concerns mitigated through the proposed implementation of the Web site and social media. Through the online

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discussion board, Good to Go representatives can explain how the consumers will not have to sacrifi ce convenience and, in fact, Good to Go is faster and more convenient due to the state-of-the-art car wash technology and automated merchandising system. This discussion board will present the opportunity for Good to Go to connect with its current and potential clientele. The tactics within goal two will help increase store traffi c and interest in Good to Go because of the segment of the target audience that deeply cares about the community responsibility of a business. The community developed through the social media discussion board and the “i choose” campaign will help give Good to Go a competitive advantage over other convenience stores. If members of this market segment had a choice between another convenience store and Good to Go, they will choose Good to Go because of its genuine mission to be a positive com-munity member, therefore increasing store traffi c and improving the return on the investments for the tactics of goal two. To help support the promotion of education to consumers about sustainable lifestyle changes, Good to Go will contact several customers who have suc-cessfully made lifestyle changes as a result of Good to Go’s efforts. Good to Go will then encourage custom-

ers to make posts on the discussion board describ-ing a personal story about sustainability encouraging other individuals to learn more about sustainability and how to make changes in their own lives. These testimonials will be aimed at building trust for the “i choose” campaign and help bring new customers to Good to Go as a result.

goal two continued

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Good to Go page 33

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goal three

Giving back is one of the most genuine and im-portant activities Good to Go will sponsor. The objective under goal three is to give back a

percentage of total profi ts to the Grand Chute com-munity. Through the giving back program, Good to Go will foster partnerships with two main entities: Jef-ferson Elementary and Community Herbs. Through the partnership with Jefferson Ele-mentary School in Appleton, Good to Go will pay for environmental education opportunities for classes, this initiative will be called “i choose Eco education.” The education program will be in conjunction with the students’ existing science programs. Good to Go will fund course materials for these classes. One such item is a small tree sprig that every student in the class will receive. The students will bring the tree home to their parents where, together they will fi nd a place to plant the tree. The students will be able to watch the tree grow throughout their time growing up. The tree will have an “i choose Eco education” tag that describes how they can do their part. In ad-dition, the tree tag will have a coupon for a car wash and convenience store goods for their parents to see and use. For every fi ve trees the students plant, Good to Go will plan one mature tree in the commu-nity as a part of tactic three: community beatifi ca-tion projects. When Good to Go plants its trees, the

objective: Give fi ve percent of yearly profi ts to the Grand Chute and Appleton communities for sustainable education.

strategy: Create sustainability outreach initiatives and educational opportunities.

tactic one: Partner with Jefferson Elementary School and provide funding to educate youth on sus tainability. tactic two: Partner with Community Herbs and provide funding and support to help the local grown community garden.

tactic three: Contribute to community beau tifi cation projects by planting trees.

tactic four: Use news releases to local media to increase awareness about the giving back program.

goal three: Give to the communities of Grand Chute and Appleton and raise awareness of Good to Go through the “i choose community” program.

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Good to Go page 35

news release theme will read, “you planted a tree, and so did we.” By including a coupon with the tree tags, this will allow parents to recognize the coupon and the tree as a part of Good to Go’s “i choose” program. The coupon will entice parents to shop at Good to Go for two reasons: number one, the benefi t of the coupon and number two, the encouragement from their children to be socially responsible. Our re-

search indicates that, when children come home from school wanting to know

how their family is contributing to sustainability, their parents feel as though the children are scru-tinizing their behavior (Dolliver, 2008, p. 31). That impression of scrutiny will help encourage parents to act in environmentally responsible fashion, which, from

the “i choose” tag, will suggest shopping at Good to Go, there-fore helping to increase inter-est in Good to Go. This tactic is consistent with the mutual

benefi t of all “i choose” initia-tives. The school receives free

supplies for their students and Good to Go benefi ts from the exposure

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of the “i choose program.” Tactic two outlines the partnership with Good to Go and Community Herbs with “i choose local grown.” Community Herbs is a youth organization in Grand Chute and Appleton that plants herbs and plants, grows them, then sells them to the local com-munity. Since local grown products are a large part of sustainability, Good to Go will help Community Herbs plant a garden to expand the opportunities for more students to be involved in the program. Good to Go will have a description of that partnership on the Web site encouraging community members to pur-chase herbs from the group. This tactic, like those aforementioned, will create a mutually benefi cial relationship between the two organizations because customers of Community Herbs will see the sponsor-ship by Good to Go and customers of Good to Go will see the advertising for Community Herbs and be in-fl uenced to buy from that organization. Finally, further exposure of Good to Go and the “i choose Eco education” and “i choose local grown” programs will be achieved through news releases to local media. News releases will go to media outlets before the students receive their supplies. The day the students receive their trees, media will be invit-ed to the school to show the students receiving their trees.

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goal four

objective: Get 75 percent of the customers using the pumps each month (10,000) to become customers of Good to Go (7,500 per month, 250 per day).

strategy: Offer fi nancially advantageous promotions to customers.

tactic one: Create and implement loyalty program associated with the “i choose” magnets and window clings. tactic two: Attach “i choose” clings and magnets, along with “i choose” sustainability and promotional materials to product packaging.

goal four: Get customers of Renew to become customers of Good to Go.

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Good to Go page 37

Specifi c and measurable traffi c objectives are necessary to the nature of Good to Go’s mone-tary bottom line. Part of the overall bottom line

is helping the community and doing the right thing, however, goals four and fi ve focus on monetary bot-tom line objectives. The fi rst tactic within this goal is to offer promotional discounts for the car wash and items inside the store to those who use the gas pumps. Good to Go will offer a dollar off coupon for a car wash or a dollar off a large size coffee in the store with a purchase of fi ve gallons of gas or more. In addition to the “i choose” magnets and win-dow clings, a loyalty program will be established and implemented to reward frequent shoppers of Good to Go. There will be a car wash promotion for those par-ticipating in the loyalty program, specifi cally outlined in goal fi ve. For loyalty program customers, purchas-ing fi ve gallons of gas or more will qualify them for a dollar off coupon for anything in the store. By giving customers store discounts for buying gas, they will be more inclined to enter the store and purchase higher margin goods. On the sixth wash, they will validate their free wash with their “i choose” loyalty program card. Loyal members will automatically receive dis-counts for items in the store. Magnets and window clings will be available 24 hours for customers to take

freely. The service ambassador will also be re-sponsible for handing out the “i choose” clings dur-ing normal business hours. In addition, any featured products will have attached “i choose” magnets and window clings to encourage sales of those items through customer desire to get a cling or magnet. Moreover, further “i choose” educational informa-tion will be attached product packaging. Our research demonstrated that product packaging is grossly unde-rutilized for educating consumers about a business’ social responsibility (Makower, 2009, p. 87). By in-cluding these promotional materials, Good to Go will capitalize on this opportunity, further increasing its ability to educate its consumers and increasing its ex-posure.

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goal fi ve

objective: Get 15 percent of daily Renew customers to use the car wash.

strategy: Offer fi nancially advantageous promotions to customers.

tactic one: Offer discounts to those who buy gas. tactic two: Offer corporate discounts on car washes for partnering organizations.

tactic three: Place a diagram at the pump and a video screen at the car wash explaining the water recycling process.

goal fi ve: Get Renew customers and Good to Go customers to use the car wash.

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Good to Go page 39

Part of Good to Go’s objectives is a specifi c fo-cus on getting consumers to the car wash. As mentioned in the description of goal four, con-

sumers who purchase fi ve gallons of gas or more will receive one dollar off a car wash and every sixth car wash, for those in the loyalty program, will be free. This fi nancial benefi t to being a frequent customer will encourage individuals to be loyal to Good to Go thus helping increase business traffi c. In addition to the everyday discounts given to customers, the partnerships with organizations de-picted in the fi rst two goals will assist with the sec-ond tactic under this goal, as depicted in goal one and the description of the corporate partnerships. Corporate discounts will be offered for partnering businesses and organizations. Those organizations will be encouraged to wash their company and per-sonal vehicles at Good to Go because of the fi nan-cial benefi t not to mention the added environmental benefi ts of the water reclamation system, therefore reducing their own organization’s carbon footprint. This relationship will emphasize the mutual benefi ts of being a part of the “i choose partnership.” Lastly, the third tactic under this goal, educat-ing customers about the car wash water reclamation system, is imperative to the education and informa-tion dispelling negative connotations that may exist

about the recycled water. Education will help cus-tomers understand that the recycled water is just as clean as fresh water. The fi nancial benefi t from the aforementioned promotions, coupled with the envi-ronmentally responsible aspect of the car wash, will make Good to Go’s car wash a desired option for con-sumers. The education offered to the consumers is increased with a TV screen with a looping video illus-trating the reclamation system and the other sustain-able aspects of the Good to Go facility. The increase in comfort resulting from the education and promo-tions will help increase traffi c through the car wash.

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goal six

Good to Go is highly interested in receiving na-tional media attention to help the business grow to become a national organization. As a

paramount precursor to regional and national growth, stories run by the national trade media will be in-credibly advantageous to that horizontal growth. Tactic one describes the pitch to national trade media, outlining the “i choose partnership” and how it is helping the Grand Chute community. This pitch will be focused on trade publications that focus on social responsibility and small business owners. Pub-lications to receive press releases include the fol-lowing: Business Week (circulation of 1,087,000), Industrial Market Trends, and In Business. Online publications will include BusinessMagazineNetwork.com. The releases will demonstrate Good to Go’s sus-tainable business model and how their choices are helping the community. Tactic two involves the pitch to inform about the “i choose Eco education” giving back program and the advantages of the concept. Outside of the local media, press releases will be sent to the fol-lowing trade publications: Business Week (circulation of 1,087,000), Industrial Market Trends, and In Busi-ness. Tactic three entails the pitch to national trade media focused on sustainable business and the focus

objective: Get three national trade magazines to run a story about Good to Go within one year.

strategy: Use unique aspects of the “i choose” campaign to gain the interest of national trade media.

tactic one: Pitch the “i choose partnership” to the national trade media as a successful model for social responsibility that positively impacts the community. tactic two: Pitch the “i choose Eco education” to the national trade media as a positive example of community relationships and education through giving back.

tactic three: Pitch the sustainable aspects of the LEED®™ certifi ed business along with the uniqueness of the convenience store.

goal six: Increase national awareness of Good to Go through national convenience store and sustainable trade media.

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Good to Go page 41

on environmental friendly companies. Online trade publications to be included are the following: Sustain-ableBusiness.com, GreenBiz.com, and ENN – Environ-mental News Network. The following trade publica-tions will also be included: Renewable Energy World, Industrial Market Trends, Energybiz (circulation of 24,075), sustainable facility (circulation of 30,400), Architectural SSL (circulation of 25,000), Plenty Magazine (circulation of 200,000), Green Magazine, The Green Guide – National Geographic publication (circulation of 100,000), Green@ Work (circulation of 25,000), Living Green Magazine, and Environ-ment Design & Construction (circulation of 25,500). Pitches will also be sent to trade publications that are focused on the convenience store industry. These trade publications will include the following: Wa-ter and Wastes Digest (circulation of 90,046), Busi-ness & Industry Connection (circulation of 75,000), American Recycler (circulation of 32,944), Recycling Today (circulation of 15,800), Altfuels Advisor (cir-culation of 1,000), Vending Times Magazine (circula-tion of 16,355), Automatic Merchandisingr magazine (circulation of 15,904), Vending & OCS (circulation of 28,783), Convenience Store News (circulation of 76,926), Convenience Store Decisions (circulation of 41,424), CSP – Convenience Store/Petroleum (circu-lation of 48,189), and NACS (circulation of 28,783).

The largest benefi t Good to Go will see through national trade media attention is awareness on one level but also a positive depiction of Good to Go’s business operations and community involvement. When looking for future convenience store locations in other communities, Good to Go can point to the ar-ticles that covered the work done in Grand Chute and that work will resonate from third party verifi cation that Good to Go is a business communities would like to have in their area. Through national recognition and third party support (through those publications) Good to Go will have a greater chance at being successful in expand-ing on the national level. The strong community foun-dations built in Grand Chute will bode well for Good to Go on the national market because other commu-nities will see Good to Go’s strong community roots and genuine desire to be a socially responsible busi-ness.

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www.ichooseGoodtoGo.com

A comprehensive Web site provides an effec-tive opportunity for Good to Go to communi-cate key messages, educate consumers, and

measure goals and objectives. It is because of the strength of a Web site that customers can learn more about the “i choose” campaign. Good to Go’s Web site will educate the consumers about sustainability,

provide discount opportunities, allow for communi-cation between stakeholders and consumers via a discussion board, advertise Good to Go’s corporate social responsibility, and measure the effectiveness of the public relations efforts. It is ultimately aimed at increasing traffi c to the store and car wash.

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Good to Go page 43

The Web site will have two main segments: the consumer portion and the business portion. Each portion of the Web site is aimed to specifi cally ad-dress and segment the audiences visiting the site. The consumer portion will focus mainly on educa-tion for individual lifestyle changes and descriptions of the “i choose” program and how they can benefi t from participating in any facet of Good to Go’s pro-motions. One such education tool will be an impact calculator where Web site visitors can calculate the environmental impact of their actions. An important aspect of the site is the element that helps create community around Good to Go and the “i choose” campaign. Therefore, a discussion board will be es-tablished for community members and customers to talk with each other and Good to Go’s business team so those customers can be adequately informed re-garding the business’ purpose and mission. For the business side of the Web site, there will be descriptions of Good to Go’s community partner-ships and how other businesses can become part of the “i choose partnership”. The Web site will provide an opportunity for businesses to learn the benefi ts of the “i choose partnership”. Lastly, one of the most functional aspects of the Web site will be its ability to measure and re-port analytics. By measuring metrics of the Web site,

Good to Go can easily recognize how much exposure community members have to various educational in-formation it is providing. It can also track the number of individuals who have actively looked for informa-tion about the “i choose” program and how the level of interest and traffi c to the Web site correlates with the public relations efforts. The analytics reports will be capable of measuring: the number of visits to the Web site, the number of page views, the average time viewers spend on the site, how many new visi-tors there are to the site, the number of downloads, activity on the discussion board, and the amount of direct traffi c to the site versus traffi c from search engines or other Web sites. Further discussion of the Web site’s role in the evaluation of the “i choose campaign” will be discussed in the evaluation section of this plan.

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“Beeccaauussee tthhee ffuuttuurree ddooeess ssttaarrtt ttooddaayy......””

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azure communications page 45

grand opening

an extended time period. The longer customers stay the more likely they will develop a relationship with Good to Go and its mission. The event will offer free hotdogs and hamburgers provided by a local organic grocery store. An additional focus of the event will be on fa-miliarizing customers with the automated merchan-dising system in order to help them become comfort-able with the machine. There will also be an engineer and/or LEED® certifi ed expert answering questions about the sustainability of the building. Good to Go will also have information about the “i choose” partnership and other places within the community that customers can purchase sustain-able products. Customers will be offered materials with tips on helping them live a more sustainable life. They will be encouraged to visit www.ichoose-GoodtoGo.com for more detailed information, blogs, and other tips. Good to Go will have the Web site on display at the event so that customers can calculate their carbon footprint on the impact calculator. Media coverage for the event will include news releases prior to and after the event to all major ra-dio stations and television stations in the Appleton/Grand Chute community. Ideally these stations will do “shout outs” to the event the week before during the morning and afternoon commutes.

The grand opening is a great opportunity that will gain publicity for Good to Go and help build cus-tomer interest in the business. The Good to Go

grand opening will be one of the many elements incor-porated into the “i choose” promotions. Good to Go will welcome Ryan Hunter-Reay, driv-er of the Ethanol sponsored car, from the Indy Car Se-ries. Reay will be in Wisconsin for the Indy Car Race Weekend at the Milwaukee Mile and will be attending multiple media junkets throughout his time. Raey will be accompanied by the number 17 Ethanol car and will be available for picture opportunities and autographs. He will be giving away free tickets to the Milwaukee Mile’s Indy race that weekend. This event will appeal to the demographics of the area, including the identifi ed target audience, because NASCAR and recreational ve-hicles are the third and fourth top ranked lifestyles for the area (SRDS Media Solutions 8). Further promotions will involve giving away $25 in free gas to the fi rst 100 people to sign up for the loyalty program. Good to Go will be giving away E20 and E85 gasoline for all those who sign up for the “i choose” loyalty program. The money will be automati-cally deposited onto their personal loyalty card. Good to Go will also be offering free car washes during the four hour event. A disc jockey will provide music to keep the crowd interested and encourage them to stay for

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Good to Go page 47

“....wee wwilll coonnttiinnuue tthhinking abbooutt tommorrroww..”

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page 48 i choose

timetable

The “i choose” campaign extends from May of 2009 until April of 2010. Throughout that time azure communications will be under retainer

until October 2009. For the remainder of the cam-paign azure will be used strictly for maintenance of the Web site and evaluation. Most media relations tac-tics will take place before October 2009. The grand

opening event will take place at the end of May, coin-ciding with the Indy Car race at the Milwaukee Mile. Good to Go will be open for nearly a month creating a general knowledge of the store in the community before the grand opening. Good to Go also plans on being a vendor at the farmer’s market in Appleton during the summer months.

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Good to Go page 49

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budgetlikely budget

The likely budget is closest to the goal budget and fulfi lls all requirements for Good to Go. The likely budget is missing the kiosk. The kiosk

is outside of the scope for the project, however the value to complete a common use for a gas station, stopping for directions, will bring value.

Goal Budget: $50,000.00Estimated Actual

Total Expenses $51,326.00 $0.00

Event: Site Estimated Actual Event: Entertainment Estimated ActualSite staff $280.00 DJ $325.00Licenses Free Travel $500.00Other Misc. $1,000.00 Gas Promotion $2,500.00Total $1,280.00 $0.00 Coffee Promotion $100.00

Coffee Promotion Printing $62.00Event: Decorations Estimated Actual Car Wash Promotion $50.00Outdoor Banner $200.00 Total $3,537.00 $0.00Total $200.00 $0.00

Business Partnership & Loyalty Program Estimated ActualEvent: Refreshments Estimated Actual Information Cards $2,460.00Food & Drinks $2,000.00 Paper and Printing Supplies $115.00Grill & Equipment $123.00 Networking Efforts $1,000.00Serving Supplies $120.00 "i choose" Posters $160.00Total $2,243.00 $0.00 "i choose" Car Magnets $10,000.00

"i choose" Loyalty Card $2,000.00Miscellaneous* Estimated Actual KioskTelephone $1 off Car Wash Promotion DependencyMedia/News Releases "i choose" Loyalty Car Wash Promotion DependencyTransportation "i choose partnership" Window Sticker $100.00Stationery supplies Total $15,835.00 $0.00Media Kit PreparationWeb Site Community Responsibility Estimated ActualSalaries "i choose ECO education" Materials Profit-basedBusiness Taxes "i choose community" Beautification Project Profit-basedBuffer (10%) $2,743.00 Information Sheet at Pumps $138.00Main Retainer $18,000.00 Donations to Community Herbs $2,000.00Sub Retainer to cover evaluation months $3,000.00 Outdoor Television $2,200.00Total $23,743.00 $0.00 Vendor at Appleton Market $150.00*covered by the retainers Total $4,488.00 $0.00

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Good to Go page 51

The low budget has the extremities omitted for funding reasons. Three items omitted from the budget are the coffee promotion, coffee pro-

motion printing materials (coupons), and the kiosk. The reasoning for leaving the latter items is due to the lack of core values to the plan. Even though these items are not mandatory to the plan, they do bring

value to the high and likely budgets. The low budget is the streamlined budget and should be used only if mandatory.

low budget

Goal Budget: $50,000.00Estimated Actual

Total Expenses $49,795.00 $0.00

Event: Site Estimated Actual Event: Entertainment Estimated ActualSite staff $280.00 DJ $325.00Licenses Free Travel for Ryan Hunter Reay $500.00Other Misc. $1,000.00 Gas Promotion $2,500.00Total $1,280.00 $0.00 Car Wash Promotion $50.00

Coffee PromotionEvent: Decorations Estimated Actual Coffee Promotion PrintingOutdoor Banner $200.00 Total $3,375.00 $0.00Total $200.00 $0.00

Business Partnership & Loyalty Program Estimated ActualEvent: Refreshments Estimated Actual Information Cards $1,230.00Food & Drinks $2,000.00 Paper and Printing Supplies $115.00Grill & Equipment $123.00 Networking Efforts $1,000.00Serving Supplies $120.00 "i choose" Posters $160.00Total $2,243.00 $0.00 "i choose" Car Magnets $10,000.00

"i choose" Loyalty Card $2,000.00Miscellaneous* Estimated Actual KioskTelephone $1 off Car Wash Promotion DependencyMedia/News Releases "i choose" Loyalty Car Wash Promotion DependencyTransportation "i choose partnership" Window Sticker $100.00Stationery supplies Total $14,605.00 $0.00Media Kit PreparationWeb Site Community Responsibility Estimated ActualSalaries "i choose ECO education" Materials Profit-basedBusiness Taxes "i choose community" Beautification Project Profit-basedBuffer (10%) $2,604.00 Information Sheet at Pumps $138.00Main Retainer $18,000.00 Donations to Community Herbs $2,000.00Sub Retainer to cover evaluation months $3,000.00 Outdoor Television $2,200.00Total $23,604.00 $0.00 Vendor at Appleton Market $150.00*covered by the retainers Total $4,488.00 $0.00

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high budget

The high budget differentiates from the low and likely budgets by one key factor, the kiosk. The purpose of the kiosk is to replace the human

contact commonly used for directions. The kiosk would be set up to MapQuest.com so that the custom-er may use the Web site for directions. As the kiosk is not a determinant in the plan, the kiosk is the easiest

line in the budget to remove if monetary provisions are a concern. The high budget brings a little extra to not only the cost but to the end result.

budget continued

Goal Budget: $50,000.00Estimated Actual

Total Expenses $55,620.80 $0.00

Event: Site Estimated Actual Event: Entertainment Estimated ActualSite staff $280.00 DJ $325.00Licenses Free Travel $500.00Other Misc. $1,000.00 Gas Promotion $2,500.00Total $1,280.00 $0.00 Car Wash Promotion $50.00

Coffee Promotion $100.00Event: Decorations Estimated Actual Coffee Promotion Printing $62.00"i choose" Outdoor Banner $200.00 Total $3,537.00 $0.00Total $200.00 $0.00

Business Partnership & Loyalty Program Estimated ActualEvent: Refreshments Estimated Actual Information Cards $2,460.00Food & Drinks $2,000.00 Paper and Printing Supplies $115.00Grill & Equipment $123.00 Networking Efforts $1,000.00Serving Supplies $120.00 "i choose" Posters $160.00Total $2,243.00 $0.00 "i choose" Car Magnets $10,000.00

"i choose" Loyalty Card $2,000.00Miscellaneous* Estimated Actual Kiosk $1,995.00Telephone $1 off Car Wash Promotion DependencyMedia/News Releases "i choose" Loyalty Car Wash Promotion DependencyTransportation "i choose partnership" Window Sticker $100.00Stationery supplies Total $17,830.00 $0.00NetworkingMedia Kit Preparation Community Responsibility Estimated ActualWeb Site "i choose ECO education" Materials Profit-basedSalaries "i choose community" Beautification Project Profit-basedBusiness Taxes Information Sheet at Pumps $138.00Buffer (10%) $5,042.80 Donations to Community Herbs $2,000.00Main Retainer $18,000.00 Outdoor Television $2,200.00Sub Retainer to cover evaluation months $3,000.00 Vendor at Appleton Market $150.00Total $26,042.80 $0.00 Total $4,488.00 $0.00*covered by the retainers

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Good to Go page 53

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evaluation

For each tactic measurement, three levels of achievement will be established: “exceeded expectation”, “met expectation”, or “did not

meet expectation”

goal one: Involve local businesses in sustainability efforts and create community partnerships.

tactic one: Track Web site analytics for downloads and page views of “i choose partnership” informa-tion on the Good to Go Web site. Track increases of sustainable product purchases at partnered organi-zations. Track the number of customer or organiza-tion inquiries about sustainability.

exceeded expectation: >20 percent of customers produce a page view or download on the “i choose partnership” page(s).

met expectation: >5 percent <20 percent of monthly customers produce a page view or download on the “i choose partnership”page(s).

did not meet expectation: <5 percent of monthly customers produce a page view or download on the “i choose partnership” page(s).pervious concrete east of Good to Go.

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Good to Go page 55

tactic two: Track analytics on social media. The number of participants in the social media should correlate with the number of participating organiza-tions and businesses. Track frequency and volume of social media use respective of the number of par-ticipating organizations.

exceeded expectation: >3 customers per par-ticipating business in the “i choose partnership” post discussion board comments once or more per month. met expectation: >2 customers or <3 customers per participating business in the “i choose part-nership” post discussion board comments once or more per month. did not meet expectation: >2 customers per par-ticipating business in the “i choose partnership” post discussion board comments once or more per month.

tactic three: Measure number of stories or refer-ences published in local media about Good to Go’s “i choose partnership”.

exceeded expectation: >3 stories or references in local media per six month period.

met expectation: >2 stories or references and <3 stories or references in local media per six month period.

did not meet expectation: >2 stories or refer-ences in local media per six month period.

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evaluation continued

met expectation: Any increase in sales of fea-tured store items with “i choose” clings and magnets attached.

did not meet expectation: No increase in sales of featured store items with “i choose” clings and magnets attached.

tactic three: Track the number of questions so-cial media users ask regarding sustainable lifestyle changes.

exceeded expectation: >10 percent of Web site visitors make a discussion board post or inquiry.

met expectation: >5 percent or <10 percent of Web site visitors make a discussion board post or inquiry.

did not meet expectation: <5 percent of Web site visitors make a discussion board post or inquiry.

tactic four: Track media publication of feature sto-ries about lifestyle changes of customers.Exceeded expectation: >3 stories or references in local media per six month period.

met expectation: >2 stories or references and

goal two: Encourage customers of Good to Go to make environmentally conscious lifestyle choices.

tactic one: Track the number of hits and page views on sustainable lifestyle pages on Web site, mainly inquiries through social media discussion board and downloads of sustainability information. Track sales of environmentally friendly products at Good to Go.

exceeded expectation: >20 percent of custom-ers produce a page view or download on the Web site. met expectation: >20 percent of customers pro-duce a page view or download on the Web site. did not meet expectation: <5 percent of monthly customers produce a page view or download on the Web site.

tactic two: Track the number of “i choose” car mag-nets and window clings given out and requested.

exceeded expectation: Any increase in sales of featured store items with “i choose” clings and magnets attached and noticeable requests for clings and magnets at store.

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<3 stories or references in local media per six month period. did not meet expectation: >2 stories or refer-ences in local media per six month period.

goal three: Give to the Grand Chute and Appleton communities and raise awareness of Good to Go.

tactic one: Record number of schools/classes re-questing program materials. The number of classes that will receive materials correlates directly with Good to Go sales.

exceeded expectation: Any requests for pro-gram funding and >10 percent of coupons given through “i choose ECO education” program used at store.

met expectation: Any requests for program fund-ing and >5 percent of coupons given through “i choose ECO education” program used at store or <10 percent of coupons used.

did not meet expectation: No requests for pro-gram funding and <5 percent of coupons given through “i choose ECO education” program used at store.

tactic two: Track number of coupons used from Community Herbs partnership. Track increases in sales of Community Herbs.

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exceeded expectation: >10 percent of Commu-nity Herbs customers take advantage of coupon discounts at Good to Go. Any increase in business for Community Herbs.

met expectation: >5 percent of Community Herbs customers take advantage of coupon dis-counts at Good to Go or <10 percent of Commu-nity Herbs customers. Any increase in business for Community Herbs.

did not meet expectation: <5 percent of Commu-nity Herbs customers take advantage of coupon discounts at Good to Go. No increase in business for Community Herbs.

tactic three: Amount of materials given to commu-nity beautifi cation projects correlates directly with Good to Go profi ts.

(Dependent on Good to Go profi ts).

tactic four: Track media publication of stories and references about program.

exceeded expectation: >3 stories or references in local media per six month period.

met expectation: >2 stories or references and <3 stories or references in local media per six month period.

did not meet expectation: >2 stories or refer-ences in local media per six month period.

evaluation continued

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goal four: Get customers of Renew to become cus-tomers of Good to Go.

tactic one: Track increase of sales to Good to Go during promotions periods and participation in loy-alty program.

exceeded expectation: >7,500 customers per month from Renew become customers of Good to Go.

met expectation: >7,000 customers per month and <7,500 customers per month from Renew become customers of Good to Go.

did not meet expectation: <7,000 customers per month from Renew become customers of Good to Go.

tactic two: Measure the amount of individuals par-ticipating in the “i choose” loyalty program.

exceeded expectation: >2000 customers partici-pating in the loyalty program by the end of the six-month retainer period.

met expectation: >1500 customers and <2000

customers participating in the loyalty program by the end of the six month retainer period.

did not meet expectation: <1500 customers participating in the loyalty program by the end of the six month retainer period.

tactic three: Track changes in number of featured products sold during featured times relative to non-featured times.

exceeded expectation: Any increase in sales of featured products sold during featured times relative to non-featured times.

met expectation: Any increase in sales of fea-tured products sold during featured times rela-tive to non-featured times.

did not meet expectation: No increase in sales of featured products sold during featured times relative to non-featured times.

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goal fi ve: Get Renew customers and Good to Go cus-tomers to go to the car wash. tactic one: Track the number of individuals who take advantage of the car wash discount promotion through loyalty program usage.

exceeded expectation: >15 percent of daily Re-new customers to go to the car wash.

met expectation: >12 percent of daily Renew customer or <15 percent of daily Renew custom-ers to go to the car wash. did not meet expectation: <12 percent of daily Renew customers to go to the car wash.

tactic two: Track the number of individuals/organi-zations that take advantage of the corporate dis-count on car washes.

exceeded expectation: >75 percent of partnered organizations take monthly advantage of corpo-rate discounts.

met expectation: <50 percent or <75 percent of partnered organizations take monthly advantage

of corporate discounts.

Did not meet expectation: >50 percent of part-nered organizations take monthly advantage of corporate discounts.

tactic three: Measure perceptions of water reclama-tion process on social media aspects of the Web site.

exceeded expectation: Positive discussion posts and encouragement on the part of customers to go to Good to Go (Qualitative).

met expectation: Positive discussion posts (Quali-tative).

did not meet expectation: Negative discussion and customer satisfaction (Qualitative).

evaluation continued

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goal six: Increase national awareness of Good to Go through national convenience store and sustainable trade media. tactic one: Track number of reports, stories, and references relating to the “i choose partnership” and Good to Go.

exceeded expectation: >3 stories or references in national trade media per six month period. met expectation: >2 stories or references and <3 stories or references in national trade media per six month period.

did not meet expectation: >2 stories or referenc-es in national trade media per six month period.

tactic two: Track number of national trade media reports, stories, and references related to “i choose Eco education”.

exceeded expectation: >3 stories or references in national trade media per six month period. met expectation: >2 stories or references and <3 stories or references in national trade media per

six month period.

did not meet expectation: >2 stories or referenc-es in national trade media per six month period.

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potential issues and conclusions

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potential issues

tainable business. By presenting to the target market the image that Good to Go is “green” and sustain-able, individuals in that target market are going to be increasingly aware of “greenwashing.” Green-washing can be defi ned as taking normal business operations or characteristics, making them seem green or sustainable, and then marketing them as such (Grant, 2007, p. 62). As more companies market green and sustainability to gain a monetary bottom line advantage, consumers are becoming more skep-tical of green claims. As mentioned in the situation analysis and context section, seven in ten Americans responded that when companies claim a product is better for the environment, it is only a marketing tactic (Makower, 2009, p. 27). It is because of this skepticism that Good to Go must maintain transpar-ency in its operations at all times. Additionally, Good to Go’s entire business from supply chain to physical infrastructure is not entirely sustainable to the high-est standards possible. Good to Go must be careful not to point to the LEED® accredited structure, etha-nol based gasoline, and fair trade coffee as evidence of overall virtue (Grant, 2007, p. 83). Consumers will likely fi nd environmentally unfriendly products Good to Go is participating in as byproducts of doing business. According to Good to Go’s business plan, its owners have associations with other businesses and

There are several major problems Good to Go may face throughout the entirety of its cam-paign and certainly as long as it is open for

business in Grand Chute. Primary issues deal with competitive differentiation, positioning in the local convenience store market, issues related to owner-ship, the negative perceptions from the perspective of the consumers that result from sustainable mar-keting and green products, and problems with the perception of ethanol. The central problem Good to Go may face will be how well consumers understand the advantages of shopping at Good to Go versus its competitors. With strong competitors like Kwik Trip and Exxon, some consumers may be hard pressed to fi nd noticeable differences and advantages through shopping at Good to Go. Since a large fraction of Good to Go’s advantage is the sustainability aspect of its business, consumers will have to learn how the sustainability of Good to Go is an advantage for them. Potential customers will ask, “what is in it for me?” when deciding whether or not to frequent Good to Go. If the campaign does not adequately answer this primary question in the minds of the potential customers, Good to Go may struggle. Furthermore, there are countless potential problems inherent in presenting and marketing a sus-

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franchises (Business Plan, p. 9). It is imperative Good to Go’s owners make the nature of these associations known to all stakeholders. If businesses within those associations are not sustainable, consumers may see a problem with Good to Go’s sustainable claims. If transparency is held paramount and these associa-tions are disclosed out of Good to Go’s volition, it will control the message. If these details are not disclosed and others voice a problem with them, Good to Go will not control the message and will be responding to accusation. Moreover, Good to Go’s business plan states that it will achieve signifi cant cost savings through its sustainable building design (Business Plan, p. 23). Consumers will likely realize the savings Good to Go is achieving through being eco-friendly, and they will want those savings to translate to the prices they pay in the store. If Good to Go is unable to transfer its own cost savings to its customers, it must be able and willing to explain why those savings are not trans-ferred. Also, as highlighted in the fi rst two sections of this plan book, we discussed the negative per-ceptions of consumers have of green or sustainable products. Based on previous experience, consumers believe they have to sacrifi ce quality, price, or econ-omy to have and use green products. This negative

association may carry over to Good to Go’s business given that certain individuals may carry these nega-tive perceptions until taught otherwise. Finally, Good to Go’s business partnership with Renew is an advantageous one, however, research has shown there are certain negative connotations of ethanol-based fuel. Critics of ethanol claim that the demand for ethanol has signifi cantly raised corn prices and that it has not proven cost effective (US News and World Report, 2008, p. 1). Regardless of the economic forces at work, ethanol continues to take a public relations beating and Good to Go must be cognizant of the negative associations some have regarding ethanol (US News and World Report, 2008, p. 1).

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conclusions

loyalty program and capitalizing on a strong business relationship with Renew. The loyalty program will also help attract customers who are not concerned with sustainability as they will enjoy the monetary benefi ts from the program. Finally, local and national media relations will bring publicity to Good to Go and the “i choose” campaign increasing awareness of the ECOnvenience store. Good to Go’s measure of success is more global than fi nancial gain, but the general improvement of the community is considered a contribution to the success of the business. The strategic position of-fered by the “i choose” campaign will provide Good to Go with the essential elements of an exemplary corporate social responsibility stance helping make Good to Go a competitive force in the Grand Chute convenience store market.

Throughout the course of the “i choose” cam-paign Good to Go will develop a competitive stance in the convenience store market. The

implementation of the “i choose” campaign focuses on corporate social responsibility which will help con-sumers differentiate between Good to Go and other ordinary stores and car washes. Good to Go will fortify its position in the market through its emphasis on the “i choose partnership”. The partnerships are based on a genuine desire to be a responsible community member and leader, but also have the by-product of a mutual benefi t for Good to Go and its partnering organizations. Good to Go will see both a direct impact to its monetary bottom line and also positive image promotion and manage-ment through these partnerships. The “i choose ECO education” program will help communicate Good to Go’s genuine desire to do its part to educate the community about sustainabil-ity. Coupled with education the “i choose” campaign will allow Good to Go to give back to the community. Like the “i choose partnership”, the education and giving back programs are mutually benefi cial to all involved. Good to Go will improve its monetary bottom line by making a push for a large number of return-ing customers through participation in the “i choose”

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“Feel free to join us; welcoomme to GGoooodd ttoo GGoo..””

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Good to Go ECOnvience Store

appendix

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media scan list

Contract MagazineSeptember 18, 2008: “U.S. Green Building Council Announces Recipients of $2 Million Green Building Research Grants” by Green Building Focus

Creative MagazineJune/July 2008: “ECOnvenience Center Opens First Outlet” by CREATIVE Marketing Trends

CS NewsNovember 12, 2008: “The Green Spot: Good-for-your-convenience” by Barbara Grondin Francella

CSPnet.comApril 4, 2008: “Good to Go Is Good to Go” by CSP In-formation Group, Inc.

The Dallas Morning NewsAugust 15, 2008: “Businesses Doing More” by Angela Shah

Domestic FuelMarch 20, 2008: “Delaware Company Opening ‘Go Green’ Convenience Stores” by John Davis

AdWeekMay 12, 2008: “Defl ating a Myth” by Mark Dolliver

BloombergJuly 27, 2008: “ADM Bests Exxon as Farmers Gain In-fl uence Over Energy Policy” by Alan Bjerga

BusinessweekMarch 19, 2007: “Ethanol’s Growing List of Enemies” by Moira HerbstFebruary 1, 2007: “Ethanol: Too Much Hype—and Corn” by Moira HerbstApril 27, 2006: “Ethanol: A Tragedy in Three Acts” by Ed WallaceFebruary 1st, 2007: “The Ethanol Debate”

The Christian Science MonitorNovember 04, 2002: “Vending Machines that Match the Minimart” by Neal Learner

CIOOctober 15, 2005: “Six Simple Rules for Successful Self-Service” by Alice Dragoon

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Emerald 2008: “Shopper Age and the use of self-service tech-nologies” by Dwane Dean

Finance-Commerce.comSeptember 17, 2008: “After construction, LEED® plaques pay off” by Sophia Ginis (blog)

Foodservice DirectorAugust 15th, 2008: “Concordia Opens Three New Re-tail Concepts”

Green NewsAugust 20,2008: “Green Convenience Stores” by Ma-rina Haves

HypebeatApril 15, 2008: “Onitsuka Tiger Vending Machine” by Onitsuka

Journal of Environmental HealthJuly/August 1, 2008: “Engaging Young People in Children’s Environmental Health Protection through CARE” by Ted Coopwood

Kindred Spirits OrganicsKindred Spirits by Connie Glasheen (blog)

M2 PresswireAugust 19, 2008: “Research and Markets: A Critical Report Questioning the Eco-Friendly Attitudes and Behavior in the US”

Maclean’sJuly 16, 2008: “Why the Real Corner Gas is in Trou-ble” by Aleksandar Zivojinovic

Madison.comAugust 19, 2008: “Middleton-based Sustainable times thrives while other newspapers falter”

Madison MagazineSeptember 2008: “Green Revolution: Hometown eco-preneurs are out to change their industries - one idea at a time” by Mary Ellen Gabriel

Marquette TribuneMay 5, 2008: “Robo-store to open near Appleton” by Robby Douthitt

Milwaukee MagazineSeptember 22, 2008: “The Green Gang” by Leah Dobkin

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businesses)

Pantone“Color Psychology” Webpage by the company

PR NewswireApril 3, 2008: “Good To Go ECOnvenience Center Launches First Outlet” by Paul Walker

TimeJuly 3, 2008: “China and Japan: The Green Connec-tion” by Michael SchumanJuly 14th, 2008: “The Green Link Uniting Old Foes”

Tribune Business NewsJanuary 13th, 2008: “Clean Ride”

WCAX NewsSeptember 3, 2008: “College Nixes Vending Machine to Save Energy” by Paul Smiths College

ZoomSystemsJuly 28, 2008: “ZoomSystems Pioneers Automated Retail, Redefi nes Consumer Shopping Experience” by PR for ZoomSystems

MintelMarch 31, 2008: “Americans Go Three Shades Green-er in 16 Months” Press Release by Mintel (Also ap-peared in Global Warming Focus)

National Petroleum NewsJune 2006: “Creating Loyalty”

NewsfactorAugust 11, 2008: “Best Buy Kiosks Land at Airports” by Steve Bosak

NewtownNovember 2006: “Standing Out in the Crowd”

New York State ConservationistJune 2008: “sus*tain’a*bil’i*ty: LEAVING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE” Beth Meer and Shannon Brescher Shae

The New York TimesJuly 4, 2007: “Say ‘Hybrid’ and Many will Hear ‘Pri-us’” by Micheline Maynard

Outpost Exchange2008/2009 Edition: Natural choice Directory by Out-post Natural Foods Cooperative (directory of green

media scan list continued

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media relations examples and details

“i choose partnership” fact sheet

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Good to Go fact sheet

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media relations examples and details continued

grand opening news release

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ECO education news release

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media relations examples and details continued

“i choose” loyalty program news release

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Print media relations are an important aspect of any awareness campaign. Since an important goal of Good to Go and azure communications

is to increase awareness of the ECOnvenience store, the presence of the media is a critical element to the “i choose” campaign. The fi rst step in this cam-paign is to create awareness specifi cally in the Grand Chute and Appleton communities since this will be the market bringing in profi t to Good to Go. This step will be completed through two press releases: one focusing on the grand opening event and the second outlining the loyalty program. These releases will be published in the Appleton Post Crescent, Press Star, Applesource Newsletter, and numerous minor local print media which will reach the target audience through a reliable and essential news source. The press release focusing on the grand opening will be published one week before the event, and the loyalty program release will be sent out immediately upon the store’s opening which will be a month prior to the grand opening. Another portion of the awareness campaign is to reach a national trade audience. The main idea is to create viral marketing among people in the conve-nience store industry. This marketing plan will cause awareness among consumers and industry leaders outside of the Grand Chute and Appleton communi-

ties so when Good to Go expands beyond this area, customers will be familiar with the company and more importantly the brand complete with its mission. A few of the publications include Business Week, Indus-trial Market Trends, and In Business. Online publica-tions will include BusinessMagazineNetwork.com and others. Along with a pitch, a fact sheet will be sent to a contact at each publication who is interested or has previously written on topics such as convenience stores, sustainability, or the target audience. Press releases in these outlets are sure to create the word-of-mouth awareness Good to Go and azure communi-cations hope to achieve. In addition to the print media, media kits will be distributed among local radio and news broadcast-ing stations. Grand Chute area has 12 strong AM radio stations and 20 strong FM radio stations in the area. The stations vary in music genre thus reaching vari-ous audiences. Grand Chute has 11 TV broadcast sta-tions in a local news coverage vicinity. High disper-sion numbers of media releases will be sent out in order to reach maximum media hits.

media relations details

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primary research discussion

The research suggests that most individuals are cognizant of green products and corporate so-cial responsibility as it relates to sustainability

in businesses. All of the individuals we spoke with indicated that they did some level of green activity in their daily lives and that the idea of sustainability to help the environment was an important aspect of either their personal lives or their small business op-eration. Additionally, many those who are small busi-ness owners said that their products were green be-cause the natural aspects and elements of their prod-ucts made those products better. Some individuals indicated they began their businesses with a organic and natural/sustainable business agenda. Others in-dicated they were organic when they could be but didn’t advertise the fact they were sustainable. Moreover, it seems many of the small business owners realize the benefi ts of organic, natural and sustainable operations, thus passing those benefi ts to their customers. Of the individuals who we spoke with, there were several individuals who actively look for sus-tainable and socially responsible businesses to shop from. Most said, if it was convenient for them, they would shop at a sustainable business and buy green products because it is the right thing to do. One el-

ement consistent in all of the respondents was the economical element. Individuals indicated they are willing to buy green products or shop at a sustainable business, however, there must be additional benefi ts other than the fact the products or the business is green. The overwhelmingly pivotal indicator was cost of the products that the business sells. Most people indicated that if they had a choice to pay more and be green or pay less and not be, they would be forced to pay less and not be green. In addition, some respondents indicated that the local owned aspect of a business is looked highly upon. Not only from a sustainability stand point and the environmental advantages of buying locally, but from the community aspect of locally owned busi-nesses.

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helps and people like that recycled jars are good. Price and economic factors are the primary concern.

small restaurant owner: Middle aged manHe likes to partner with socially responsible compa-nies and people. People are more cognizant of what is going into food. There is a noticeable difference between now and the beginning of summer, people are that much more aware. He is hearing more peo-ple who want natural products.

entrepreneur: Middle aged woman, single motherShe goes out of her way to a certain degree to gain sustainability, but money is the big factor.

“I do a little, consider it [sustainability], but there isn’t as much available to a small business owner.”

Personally, she does as much as she can.

farmer: Senior, maleHe doesn’t advertise that fact that he is mostly or-ganic because farms that are organic go out of busi-ness. If people ask him about it, he talks about it.

He only uses pesticides when he has to.Natural solutions are his fi rst choice but sometimes

primary research: Appleton Farmers Market, Satur-day October 11th 2008

Live Oak Market employees: Three college-aged fe-malesPeople are willing to pay more for better products, specifi cally organic, but fi nancial considerations come fi rst. People realize the benefi ts of buying green or organic. People are willing to go out of their way to buy from socially responsible stores, but fi nancial considerations are, once again, big considerations be-ing college students and having debt. People notice a difference between natural and not natural products. The audience has broadened and more people are looking for organic.

If the product is marketed well as a green product, younger people would be more apt buy organic or natural products.

small business owner: Middle aged woman, single motherOwns business making natural spreads in recycled glass jars.Price is huge. If there was an organization that is green if the price was low and the product was green, that would help tremendously. Being a local business

primary research discussion continued

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he has to use pesticides.

small business owner: Middle aged womanShe wants clean products especially for her daugh-ter’s health reasons. Customers like her products and her business for being green.

The reason she started with sustainability was be-cause of natural products and health reasons. They try to be socially responsible as a business and she seeks out clean products. “I want clean products.”

community members: Two middle aged females, one female in mid-twenties expecting childThey look for green and sustainable products.

Corporations have to be involved in the community, if they are not a part of the community they will not be successful. If they know about the socially respon-sible aspects of the business, they will shop there.

It does depend on what the product is to warrant pay-ing more. Money is a huge issue. Environmental re-sponsibility makes them look at a product but some corporations use it to market themselves.

Financial issues are still a huge consideration. Being

green alone would not be enough. Factors are quality and price differential. You have to be able to back a product outside of being green.

local citizens: Mid to older aged couplePrice makes a difference with products. They try to go local and choose socially responsible products.

Social responsibility matters.

They would really like to see more recycling. There is more regulation needed.

But bottom line is important too, despite that, they look for corporate responsible businesses.

young entrepreneur: FemaleShe tries to be a socially responsible business when she can be but she is a business owner and will shop at Wal-Mart from time to time because of cost. Seventy percent of her customers seek her out be-cause she is natural, but 30 percent have no idea about her natural products and don’t care.

Candles are 97 percent natural.

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promotional graphics

front back

sustainable tips brochure

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car magnets/window clings

Good to Go

gs

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loyalty program

loyalty card front loyalty card back

keychain front keychain back

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tree coupon

front inside front

inside back back

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works cited

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Dolliver, M. (2008). Defl ating a Myth: Consumers Aren’t as Devoted to the Planet as You Wish They Were. Brandweek. Retrieved 2008, September 14, from ProQuest.

Dragoon, A. (2005, October 15). Six Simple Rules for Successful Self-Service. CIO.com. Retrieved 2008, September 25, from http://www.tabpi.org/2006/htag.pdf

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Grant, J. (2007). The Green Marketing Manifesto. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Harris J., & Fender T. (2003). Shopping Visits Growing Shorter. The Grocer Insight. Retrieved 2008, November 14, from ProQuest.

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Herbst, M. (2007, March 19). Ethanol’s Growing List of Enemies. BusinessWeek. Retrieved 2008, November 16, from http://www.businessweek.com

Ledford, R. (2002). Convenience Stores: A Changing Landscape. Chain Store Age. Retrieved 2008, November 16, from ProQuest.

Makower, J. (2009). Strategies for the Green Economy: Opportunities and Challenges in the New World of Business. Chicago: McGraw Hill.

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Mediamark Research Inc. Shopping - Spring 2001. Retrieved from http://www.mriplus.com Stern, N.Z., & Ander, W.N. (2008). greentailing and Other Revolutions in Retail: Hot Ideas that are Grabbing Customers’ Attention and Raising Profi ts. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Taneja, S. (1999). C-Stores Go On Line: EDI Transaction Sets Move Lotteries Forward. Chain Store Age. Retrieved 2008, November 16, from ProQuest.

Top Ten Ways to Be Green. Retrieved 2008 November 24 from Green.yahoo.com

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U.S. News and World Report. Critics Bash Ethanol As Fuel Source. August 26, 2008.

Background Research:Cisco. (2007). 2007 Cisco Corporate Citizenship Report: Social Responsibility and the Human Network. San Jose.

Douthitt, R. (2008). Robo-store to Open Near Appleton: Futuristic Mini Mart Offers Environment Friendly Convenience. Marquette Tribune.

Ecolab Launches New Green Program. Professional Carwashing & Detailing. (2008, March 27). Retrieved September 14, 2008 from ebscoind.com

General Electric. (2007). GE ecomagination Report 2007: Investing and Delivering on ecomagination. Atlanta. Good to Go (2008). Request for Proposal. Grand Chute, WI: Nikolas, A.

Good to Go ECOnvenience Center Launches First Outlet. PR Newswire. (2008).

Good to Go is Good to Go: Company Plans to Open at Least 150 Eco-friendly Facilities by 2010. Convenience Store Petroleum. (2008). Retrieved September 14, 2008 from CSP.com

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Hayen, Rita. (2008). Green Tier Advantage: Business Advantage: Environment. Retrieved October 24, 2008. www.dnr.wi.gov

Mahoney, S. (2008). Study: Boomers, Not Gen Y, Biggest Green Shoppers. Mediapost.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Metro Milwaukee Market Consumer Analysis 2003. 2003 Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program. (2007). Progress Report. Wisconsin.

Pfi zer. (2007). 2007 Corporate Responsibility Report: Strong Actions Partnering for Positive Change. New York City.

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Budget Sources:Ace Hardware, AceHardware.com. November 9, 2008.

Complete Music, cmusic.com. November 9, 2008.

Displays To Go, DisplaysToGo.com. November 9, 2008.

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Kinkos, FedEx.com. November 9, 2008.

Touch Concept, TouchConcept.com. November 9, 2008.

-end of document-

works cited continued