Flex+Watches+Group+5

__ **"FLEX** **watches"** : a case study __ "10 colors -  10 charities  -  10 percent" media type="custom" key="11082076" width="80" height="80"

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=creative video project: =

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Case study wiki video by JMS 375 Group #5 By: Nohely Mendoza, Jorge Hernandez, Rachel Pink, and Kelsey Brungard media type="custom" key="11082072" width="80" height="80"

=introducing: FLEX WATCHES =

Flex Watches is a company that has a catchy, and very colorful idea of gaining awareness for up to ten different charities. With a percentage of their yearly gross sales of 10 colorful, fashionable, and extremely popular "Flex Watches", they combined the use of social media and social change to benefit themselves as well as the world through their contributions. The 10 different colors of the watches are significantly designed to support the corresponding charity as well as gain awareness from simply wearing the watch. As the customer displays their colorful support for a specific cause, it not only creates a sense of common good to those wearing "Flex Watches", but also the idea of bright colors cause a discussion between the owners and the interested, thus spreading the word by simply being fashionable. Of the ten charities, all of which can easily be thought of as in need of serious support, the equal division of the 10% Yearly Gross Sales donation has clearly proven to be effective. By using such a business strategy, Flex Watches and the supporters of the 10 charities (customers or not) are given a common benefit with raising Flex Watches' gross sales. This type of strategy has created a template for corporate expansion as well as provides an avenue for global assistance. Flex Watches currently has a reach that extends beyond the borders of the United States and has played a positive role in global change. Flex Watches "charities" link found at the top of every page on their site gives clear definitions and the reason that these organizations need to be allowed to flourish for the global good of wealth and knowledge of it's inhabitants. Visitors to Flex Watches' site can see the overall picture of what each of the ten charities are working to accomplish and without having to jump to another site, the viewer is given a para-phrased overall, but clear, definition of the program.

= charity information: =

 For example, Nika water, which brings "a voice to the world's poor who suffer without clean water and simple sanitation" is one of the supported 10 charities. It is stated on Flex Watches' website that Nika gives 100% of all profits to support clean water projects in impoverished countries. http://www.nikawater.org/

 Another example would be the "Mariner's Outreach" which is an amazing project that bases it's focus in Rojo Gomez, a small community in Mexico where Mariners Church has partnered with the Lo Mejor Del Trigo church and aims to, "serve the physical and spiritual needs of the poor in Mexico". Mariner's Outreach's paragraph gives some alarming statistics that one would need to hear before understanding the true significance of this charity. They are the following:  Contrasting the previous information with the following outcome of the charity gives supporters a real sense of purpose while intrigues new customers to purchase their product and change the world at the same time. <span style="color: #523838; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; vertical-align: super;">"In October 2010 we were able to build a kitchen and launch the much needed Breakfast Program. This Breakfast Program <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #523838; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; vertical-align: super;">allows us to feed 250-300 children each morning with a warm, nutritious meal before they go to school." __<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4788dc; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; vertical-align: super;">[|READ MORE ON THIS CHARITY] __
 * <span style="color: #523838; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; vertical-align: super;">**40% of the population in Mexico lives below the poverty line**
 * <span style="color: #523838; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; vertical-align: super;">**average income per family: $80 a week**
 * <span style="color: #523838; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; vertical-align: super;">**Approx: 95% of children in the Rojo Gomez community go to school without food, at all**

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<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #808080; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 35px; text-align: justify;"> promotion methods: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #412020; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: super;"> In order to promote their campaign of 10-10-10, Flex Watches has included various methods of promotion. If you visit their website, at www.flexwatches.com, you automatically find all the information about the company and the links to the other social networking sites it uses. Flex watches has its own YouTube channel [] where they have a total of 3 videos posted and 11 subscribers. Looking at YouTube alone, it would appear that Flex Watches is not doing particularly well in marketing their brand. However, after checking out the links for its twitter and facebook pages, the opposite becomes strikingly clear. Flex Watches facebook page is arguably the most developed in terms of its ability to properly explain to an audience who they are and what they do. The facebook page takes it a step further in the sense that they not only update their audience on the latest trends and news regarding the company, but they successfully engage them. Whether a user posts praise and support to the company, or a criticism or complaint, Flex Watches does an excellent job in addressing all consumer comments. For example, one facebook user asked why there was a raise in the price of the watch bands. Rather than ignore any possible negative publicity, Flex Watches quickly responded “ High demand and no supply. We are selling out too fast and we don't want to be on back order for too long.” This is just one example of a well-managed social network promotion campaign. Flex Watches also follows a similar approach on their Twitter, but on a somewhat smaller scale thus far. The company has also been doing a number of promotional discounts as well as freebie giveaways. Aside from social networking, Flex Watches also uses a few other methods in promoting the watches. Recently they teamed up with MTV and had their watches appear in an episode of the Real World. They also have a page on their website where you can find the names and location of company representatives. Overall, Flex Watches is doing a thorough job of promoting their product, staying true to the cause, and listening to the audience/consumers. = <span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #808080; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 30px; text-align: justify;"> example of methods: = media type="youtube" key="1h7gtyvcPfI" height="364" width="635" align="center"

[|Flex Watches original commercial hosted by youtube] media type="custom" key="11082148" width="60" height="60"

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #808080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 35px;">results/outcomes : = <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #421a1a; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; vertical-align: super;"> The result of Flex Watches campaign has been tremendously successful so far. It is a fairly new company, but this has proven to be of little importance in their rapid growth and achievement. The most serious problem the company seems to be having is that they cannot keep the supply above the demand, if this can even be classified as a problem that is. In fact, as this case study is being performed Flex watches announced that they reached the mark of 10,000 on October 26, 2011. Specific figure on how much money has been raised for charities and the total profits of the company are not available, but it is somewhat safe to say they are headed in the right direction. In fact, they are introducing a new color, light blue, as a limited edition watch because the demand is continuing to grow.

= = =<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #808080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 35px;">overall effort: =

<span style="color: #4b2525; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left; vertical-align: sub;"> Flex Watches' effort in raising awareness and money for ten charities is creating a positive brand for the organizations. They encourage a vibrant and active life while inspiriting change ("Flex watches," 2011). Knowing that Flex Watches works with ten charities, soon to be 11, shows their passion and drive to spread consciousness for numerous causes. Their mission is to donate 10 percent of their annual net profits to the organizations as well as have their customers spread the word about what charity their specific watch represents and supports ("Flex watches," 2011). <span style="color: #4b2525; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left; vertical-align: sub;">There is a possibility that this effort might backfire. Flex Watches does a great job at marketing their brand as well as the organizations they have teamed up with by using social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Since Flex Watches donates 10 percent of their annual net profits, it is possible for the company to not sustain any profits due to expenses exceeding revenue. Therefore, in order for the organizations to receive any donations at all, Flex Watches has to make a net profit. Either way, the company raises global awareness for these organizations. <span style="color: #4b2525; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left; vertical-align: sub;">It appears that Flex Watches really cares about the charities they represent. They go beyond the monetary donation by sacrificing their time to actually go out and get involved. The Co-Founders, Trevor Jones and Travis Lubinsky, went to Rojo Gomez, Mexico to serve meals for Mariners OutreachÕs Breakfast Program ("About," 2011). <span style="color: #7c1313; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: sub;">References: <span style="color: #7c1313; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: sub;">Flex watches. (2011, October 27). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/flexwatches <span style="color: #7c1313; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: sub;">About. (2011, October 27). Retrieved from https://flexwatches.com/about =<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #808080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 35px;">conclusion: = ====  A Company on the rise; Flex Watches, is making a statement with their charity-driven colored watches. Beginning in Pacific Beach, San Diego by co-founders, Trevor Jones and Travis Lubinsky the company participates in local events as well as nationwide campaigns to spread awareness, create communication and represent the 10 charities they support displayed by the specific color of the watch. The company encourages individuals to talk about the charities in an overall effort to ‘spread the word’. With a strong presence in social media and their current debut on MTV’s // The Real World // (which inspired their upcoming charity for suicide awareness), the company’s slogan “What’s your color? What’s your cause?” is being heard more and more and leading people to find out what it’s all about. The company operates under their 10-10-10 standard of 10 colors, 10 charities, 10 percent because with their overall goal of creating awareness for the 10 charities they are partnered with, their plan is to donate ten percent of their net profits to be distributed evenly to each participating charity. The charities associated with Flex Watches include The St. Bernard Project, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), the Be Perfect Foundation, Nika Water, Breast Cancer Awareness, First Descents, Imerman Angels, Life Rolls On, Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), Mariners Outreach and soon to be added to the bunch, The Living Memoir. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Seemingly, the company looks as if it’s headed for success, but there is a possibility that the company will not retain any profits if the costs exceed revenue. ==== <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 23px; line-height: 34px;">Case study wiki page by JMS 375 Group #5 <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #31a5a5; display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 23px; text-align: center;">By: Melissa Roldan, Dan Drew, Laurela Balangue and Ryan Arellano