Friday, April 24, 2009

Team Default's Newsletter


Here is the newsletter that our team created for the patent-pending product No-Step:

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Final: Positioning Paper-Burger Planet

During the past decade there has been a rise in the consumer awareness and consciousness of diet and the need for healthier lifestyles. Caloric and fat intake has become a deciding factor in food choices, and due to the stigma of healthiness surrounding fast food consumption the potential to negatively affect Burger Planet and its franchises is great.

Since its foundation in 1934, Burger Planet has served upwards of 52 billion customers throughout the world. Over the years, the Quick Service Restaurant Industry has become a staple in American society however, growing consumer awareness and a series of recent legislation threatens its place in society. Within the past three years some of the United States' most prominent cities such as New York and Los Angeles have passed strict laws regarding the issues of health in the Quick Service Restaurant industry with similar legislation in the process in several other states.

It is suggested that an implementation of a healthy alternative to Burger Planet's menu and image evaluation would be beneficial to the company as well as the consumer. The addition of Jayne Peterson and a newly added menu is a great start to the change. Having her as a spokesperson will be beneficial because of her notoriety and good reputation among nutritionists and consumers alike. Additionally, the newly added menu options add to the positive change. The new menu, which includes gourmet salads, fresh fruit and low-fat options, will draw in a new market of health conscious consumers, namely middle-aged women who often make the decisions about what their family eats and who previously did not consume fast food as frequently.
It would also be beneficial to highlight Burger Planet's belief in healthy lifestyles for its customers. As Peterson said in a recent interview, "The Company believes in encouraging customers to live healthier, active lifestyles." Through this movement toward a health-conscious menu our customers will be able to understand our commitment to great food and healthy lifestyles.

A fundamental problem often associated with the Quick Service Restaurant Industry is the caloric value of their meals. Soda, for example, is offered with most value meals. Although soda is not specifically addressed as a problem with Burger Planet, it makes up a large part of the caloric intake in meals at major Quick Service Restaurant.

Caroline Shugart, Utah State University Employee Wellness Coordinator, said, if people were to omit one soda a day from their normal diet, over the course of one year, 91,250 calories and 50 pounds of sugar would no longer be taken into the body.

“Soda has 15 teaspoons of sugar and 250 calories in a 20 ounce bottle,” Shugart said. “That is 26 pounds of fat that could be lost in a year.”

“Many people follow a 2,000 calorie a day diet but the truth is the number of calories you need to maintain your body weight is going to vary depending on your activity level and current weight,” Dietician Sherri Roderick said.

According to FatCalories.com, a Web site providing nutritional facts for major fast food restaurants, large fries from McDonalds contain 570 calories, a medium 380, and small 250. Depending on what hamburger is purchased in a meal deal, the calories range from 250 calories for a small hamburger, to 740 calories for a double quarter pound hamburger with cheese. So, if a person ordered small fries, a hamburger and 20 oz. soda, they would consume more than 750 calories in the smallest meal. Portion sizes are larger than they need to be as well. If a person ordered a quarter pound hamburger with a large soda and fries, the person would consume 1560 calories for one meal. This leaves only 440 calories to consume for the rest of the day. However, if the hamburger was replaced by a chicken sandwich the calories from chicken sandwich would range from 400 calories to 670 calories. If people eat out two times a day and 2,000 calories is all the body needs to function in a healthy manner it is easy to see how many fast food organizations need to change their meals to make them healthier.

However, despite new options, Burger Planet will continue to offer their original menu, which has provided Burger Planet with growing success. As part of our initiative we will also make strides to ensure that customers know Burger Planet is simply improving its menu and not changing it, or alienating our base customers who are crucial to our success.

-END-

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Draft Positioning Paper: Burger Planet

State Issue
During the past decade there has been a rise in the consumer’s awareness and consciousness of diet and the need for healthier lifestyles. Caloric and fat intake has become a deciding factor in food choices, and due to the stigma of healthiness surrounding fast food consumption, the potential to negatively affect Burger Planet and its franchises is great.

Background
Since its foundation in 1934, Burger Planet has served upwards of 52 billion customers throughout the world. Over the years, the Quick Service Restaurant Industry has become a staple in American society however, growing consumer awareness and a series of recent legislation threatens its place in society. Within the past three years some of the United States' most prominent cities such as New York and Los Angeles have passed strict laws regarding the issues of health in the Quick Service Restaurant industry with similar legislation in the process in several other states.

It is suggested that an implementation of a healthy alternative to Burger Planet's menu and image evaluation would be beneficial to the company as well as the consumer. The addition of Jayne Peterson and a newly added menu is a great start to the change. Her notoriety in the mass media is a benefit, and having her as a spokeswoman will put Burger Planet in a better light with consumer's who place health in high regard. Additionally, the newly added menu options add to the positive change. The new menu, which includes gourmet salads, fresh fruit and low-fat options, will draw in a new market of health conscious consumers, namely middle-aged women who previously did not consume fast food as highly.
It would also be beneficial to highlight Burger Planet's belief in healthy lifestyles for its customers. As Peterson said in a recent interview, "The company believes in encouraging customers to live healthier, active lifestyles."
Although the new menu is to be advertised please do not disregard the original menu that has aided Burger Planet in its growing success. Ensure that customers know that Burger Planet is simply improving its menu and not changing it, and not alienating our base customers who were crucial to success.

The fast food industry has had a problem with caloric intake. Soda for example is offered with most value meals. Although soda is not specifically addressed as a problem with Burger Planet, soda makes up a large part of the caloric intake from meals at restaurants.
Caroline Shugart USU Employee Wellness Coordinator said, “Soda has 15 teaspoons of sugar and 250 calories in a 20 ounce bottle.”

“Why have so much crap in drinks and why market it to kids, I think it’s unethical.”

If people stop drinking one soda a day that they would normally drink, Shugart said over the course of one year 91,250 calories and 50 pounds of sugar would no longer be taken into the body,

“That is 26 pounds of fat that could be lost in a year.” Shugart said.

According to an article from http://www.ehow.com/how_2146946_calculate-calories-needed-per-day.html, “Many people live by the 2,000 calorie a day diet, the truth is the number of calories you need to maintain your body weight will vary greatly depending on your activity level and current weight.” Although this is true, we can use 2,000 calories as a baseline when looking at caloric intake. According to http://www.fatcalories.com/, large fries from McDonalds contain 570 calories, a medium 380, and small 250. Depending on what hamburger is purchased in a meal deal, the calories range from 250 calories for a small hamburger, to 740 calories for a double quarter pound hamburger with cheese. So if a person ordered small fries, a hamburger and drank 20 oz. of soda, that person would consume more than 750 calories in from the smallest meal. Portion sizes are larger than they need to be as well. If a person ordered a quarter pound hamburger, with a large drink of soda and a large fry, the person would consume 1560 calories for one meal and that is without a refill on the soda. That only leaves 440 calories to consume for the rest of the day. If the meal was replaced by a chicken sandwich instead, the calories from chicken sandwiches range from 400 calories to 670 calories. If people eat out two times a day and 2,000 calories is all the body needs to function in a healthy manner then it is easy to see how many fast food organizations need to change their meals to make them healthier.



-END-

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Final Press Release 5

For Immediate Release
Feb. 22, 2009
Contact info:
Thanksgiving Point
3003 N. Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, Utah 84043
Erica Brown
Director of Communications
801.768.7455
ebrown@thanksgivingpoint.com

White in the Spring Time?
Brides Hit Thanksgiving Point from All Sides

LEHI, Utah — For Thanksgiving Point spring means a renewed onslaught of brides frantically searching for the things that will realize their dream of the perfect wedding. In an effort to ease the stresses of planning a wedding, Thanksgiving Point is organizing an event for local brides (and grooms too) to come explore the different options that are available to them. Beginning March 27 through the twenty-eighth wedding vendors throughout the state of Utah will be gathering at Thanksgiving Point where they will showcase their products and services and offer their professional advice to brides to be.
Twice a year Thanksgiving Point hosts this Bridal Expo to help make the process of planning a wedding go as smoothly as possible. From 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday and 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday this resource will be available for future brides to come to Thanksgiving Point and view an array of wedding décor, flowers, pastries, and photography and gives them the opportunity to get advice from wedding professionals.
This expo gives Thanksgiving Point a chance to demonstrate their own comprehensive wedding services with tours throughout Thanksgiving Point’s ten venues as well as displays of their in-house cake, flower, and linen services. Bryndee Slade attended the expo last year before she got married and she said "It was such a big help! You couldn't imagine all of the things I needed help with, linens, flowers, how to do my hair! Thanksgiving Point's expo helped me figure everything out!"
At Thanksgiving Point, our mission is to inspire the minds and renew the spirits of young and old by providing unique learning experiences, family-friendly entertainment, and opportunities for discovery in a safe and beautiful environment.
Thanksgiving Point Institute is a quality-of-life, education-based charity.
Created in 1996 by Alan and Karen Ashton, Thanksgiving Point is the gathering place for the rapidly growing communities along the Wasatch Front and throughout the state. The Ashton's untold generosity is unparalleled, and the result is this wonderful community resource.
In a world that is frenetic, over-programmed, and increasingly disconnected, Thanksgiving Point offers a respite from the demands and stress of daily living. With quality at the core of what we do, we contribute to the lives of individuals, families and communities by offering experiences that change lives through The Promise of Discovery.
Thanksgiving Point Gardens, the Children’s Discovery Garden, Farm Country, the Museum of Ancient Life, and the Emporium and restaurants offer stimulating and engaging experiences in a safe, family-friendly setting. They foster learning, bring families closer together and provide beautiful gathering places for groups of all kinds, giving them opportunities to share their cultural heritage and common bonds.


Madison Roderick
PR Director
Thanksgiving Point
3003 N. Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, Utah 84043
823-324-6766
-END-

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Media Pitch Final

Feb. 23, 2009

Subject: Cache Valley Residents know how to make money when there is no work to be had.

Dear John Stevens,

Cache Valley Area Investors Association is committed to teaching Cache Valley residents how to effectively invest their money. According to Preston Parker, CVAIA’s founder their initiative operates under the idea that “education mitigates risk” in investing. Preston founded the non-profit organization with the idea that if more people knew the keys of researching and making conservative investments they would be able to take advantage of the opportunities investing offers.

The system is focused on creating what is called “passive income” for individuals. Passive income is income that is generated with little to no effort put forth by the investor by investing in real estate.

In their meetings the CVAIA focuses on the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. Much of the inspiration for their meetings come from books such as the Millionaire Next Door, The Wealthy Barber, Atlas Shrugged, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, the Automatic Millionaire, and The Secret.

If people learn the right mentality and approaches to investing, they can be successful in what they desire. People should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides an income. Passive Income largely makes this possible. Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA) has taken the initiative to teach people how to put their money to work. CVAIA embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. They practice the methods found in the ideologies of books including Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Wealthy Barber, The Millionaire Next Door, Atlas Shrugged, The Automatic Millionaire, and The Secret. CVAIA began in August 2007 and now has members from many geographical locations and from all walks of life. The members come together with the same belief: that education mitigates the risks of investing.

If you need additional information about the meetings, the speakers list, or anything else please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,



Madison Roderick
Public Relations Director
Cache Valley Area Investors
Association

Monday, February 23, 2009

Press Release 5: Draft

Feb. 22, 2009
Contact info:
Thanksgiving Point
3003 N. Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, Utah 84043
Erica Brown
Director of Communications
801.768.7455
ebrown@thanksgivingpoint.com

Brides Hit Thanksgiving Point from All Sides

At Thanksgiving Point, our mission is to inspire the minds and renew the spirits of young and old by providing unique learning experiences, family-friendly entertainment, and opportunities for discovery in a safe and beautiful environment.
Thanksgiving Point Institute is a quality-of-life, education-based charity.
Created in 1996 by Alan and Karen Ashton, Thanksgiving Point is the gathering place for the rapidly growing communities along the Wasatch Front and throughout the state. The Ashton's untold generosity is unparalleled, and the result is this wonderful community resource.
In a world that is frenetic, over-programmed, and increasingly disconnected, Thanksgiving Point offers a respite from the demands and stress of daily living. With quality at the core of what we do, we contribute to the lives of individuals, families and communities by offering experiences that change lives through The Promise of Discovery.
Thanksgiving Point Gardens, the Children’s Discovery Garden, Farm Country, the Museum of Ancient Life, and the Emporium and restaurants offer stimulating and engaging experiences in a safe, family-friendly setting. They foster learning, bring families closer together and provide beautiful gathering places for groups of all kinds, giving them opportunities to share their cultural heritage and common bonds.


Madison Roderick
PR Manager
Thanksgiving Point
3003 N. Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, Utah 84043
823-324-6766