International Business
Marketing mix by product
Introduction
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has a product line consisting of around 300 chocolate candies and other confectionery products (Runyon et al. 2006). Other confectionery products they carry include varieties of clusters, caramels, creams, mints, and truffles. Their product line usually increases by around 100 products for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. The strategy shall reflect basically on the needs of the customer. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory should focus on developing a product that is unique with extensive features and stand the ability to outshine in the competitive market globally (Ferdman & Brody, 1996).
To introduce Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory chocolates to Brazil, we will keep the same factory-made products sold at specialty stores to maintain the RMCF quality. Still, we will change the packaging and quantity offered ( Ralston et al. 2008). We would introduce smaller sized boxes provided exclusively at our distributors. They will be the perfect size for consumers on the go and will offer our award-winning chocolates with added convenience. The line of the chocolates provided in Brazil will feature a new design unique and exclusively offered there. Still, it will follow a similar theme to the original packaging provided at specialty stores (Dany & Torchy, 2017). This will allow consumers to easily identify our chocolates in a secondary retailer but still will associate the unique packing to an exclusive product. After revising our survey, we found people generally prefer a design that features a modern box design with a decorative ribbon, meaning our new packaging design will be based on this layout. The new pre-packaged factory-made truffles exclusively sold at Shoppers’ will be packages of 4 delicious truffles in a present inspired box (Runyon et al. 2006).
Policies and procedures for recruiting managers and training
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory chocolates recognize the importance of staff in achieving their success. The Company, therefore, needs to attract and retain qualified personnel with useful strategic and professional approaches (Dany & Torchy, 2017). The recruitment should provide a sound framework for the selection of the staff based on the principles of the Company. Secondly, it’s essential to ensure that the staff to be recruited from brazil are aware of the Company’s needs and objectives.
There are several vital stages which the Company needs to follow in the recruitment and selection of the managers of the Company in Brazil. The first stage is the preparation point whereby the needs for he managers are addressed by stating the roles of the strategic plan. Secondly the job description forms an essential step (Dany & Torchy, 2017). The job description should be accurately updated for the managerial posts which are required which are later advertised.
The shortlisting candidates are therefore undertaken according to the professional qualifications and assessments (Ferdman & Brody, 1996). The candidates who meet the criteria for the position will be offered a chance for interview. The appointment is thus made for the qualified candidates whereby the duties and responsibilities of the new appointed staff are given out.
Diversity training is also a crucial activity for Company as this helps in enhancing sensitivity and inclusivity among the staff (Ralston et al. 2008). It also identifies how Rocky Company officials understand the act of being proactive in decreasing unfavorable situations in the Company. The training should emphasize more on the top management, whose members would later develop diverse team within the Company. Creating a culture of inclusion where every individual feels welcome also revolves around diversity training (Ferdman & Brody, 1996).
Conclusion
The development of an effective marketing product strategy and selection of staff highly depends on the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory knowledge of influencing customers. The Company should, therefore, ascertain the needs and expectations of the Brazilians. The analysis of the customers will help in identification of the market segments. Well qualified staff should be selected to enhance the achievement of the Company’s goals in Brazil.
International Business Culture in Japan.
Proper navigation of the new expansion territory is important as it helps in embracing the culture and understanding the society involved (Ralston et al. 2008). Japanese culture includes the celebration of the county’s history, which is influenced by the diverse use of protocol and etiquette during a business meeting. Therefore there is need for RMC to change the internal procedures which are to be implemented upon expansion upon to Japan. The culture of high technology is also experienced in japan as most enterprises rely upon online platforms in communicating with customers as well as selling products. Technology has proven efficiency in undertaking discussions and negotiations.
Arguably, the RMCF culture in terms of embracing technology coincides with that of Japan. The Company had invested in the provision of the online platforms where some of the operations are carried out. Advertisement and the commercial activities have are involved in the website. Technology therefore makes it convenient for RMCF to introduce and sell chocolate product in japan. The advertisements can be done on the social media platforms and the feedback of the interested customers is put into considerations(Runyon et al. 2006). Therefore the business will be successful in Japan.
Since RMCF seeks to establish chocolate business in japan market, the management should be ready to ritualise business culture. The Company should adjust to the protocol and the etiquette of meetings. Employees should always dress formally for a business meeting of any type, even if the event seemed informal. The staff should also possess conservative manners. Honoring the traditional culture of japan is required for business prosperity. For example, bowing to a business partner. The second strategy for success is franchising the business by a reputable company in japan to improve on the sales and to neutralize cultural divisions (Ralston et al. 2008).
To conclude, global business involves acceptance of local culture and embracing them. Mixing the local aspects of business and the international aspects guarantee the growth and development of the chocolate business. However, the key policies of the business should remain unchanged irrespective of the place
Reference
Dany, F., & Torchy, V. (2017). Recruitment and selection in Europe Policies, practices and methods 1. In Policy and practice in European human resource management (pp. 68-88). Routledge.
Runyon, G. K., Koepke, M. S., Wengert, E. M., Auchter, R. J., Loring, T. J., & Blackwell, G. (2006). Utilization and marketing as tools for aspen management in the Rocky Mountains: Proceedings of the symposium, Sept. 8-9, 1976, Fort Collins, Colorado. Panel III. Market opportunities and limitations for Rocky Mountain aspen. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, (RM-29), 45.
Ralston, D. A., Holt, D. H., Terpstra, R. H., & Kai-Cheng, Y. (2008). The impact of national culture and economic ideology on managerial work values: A study of the United States, Russia, Japan, and China. Journal of International Business Studies, 39(1), 8-26.
Ferdman, B. M., & Brody, S. E. (1996). Models of diversity training. Handbook of intercultural training, 2, 282-303.