Social media is often viewed as only being used for consumer-to-consumer communication. However, in today's society it has also become a necessary tool for businesses. Many businesses don't understand the importance of social media as a marketing strategy, and often disregard it. By neglecting social media, businesses are missing an opportunity to reach new customers and maintain communication with current customers. This thesis discusses the importance and benefits of using social media as a marketing tool for startup businesses specifically. Social media marketing is especially beneficial for startup businesses because they often lack the resources that more established businesses possess. New entrepreneurs are often at the center of these startups and also lack the necessary skills and knowledge essential to running and marketing a business. The research conducted in this thesis is intended to provide data about the most effective ways to engage a startup's audience via social media. This research will be directly applied to a local startup business called FlyCreationsAZ. The founder of this business is considered a new entrepreneur as this is his first ever business endeavor, and as a new entrepreneur faces many challenges. To assist Fly Creations in marketing via social media the POST methodology was applied. The POST methodology, which is an acronym for people, objectives, strategy and technology, was created by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff as a way to assemble a businesses' social media plan. The POST methodology provides Fly Creations with a customer persona, and several strategies and technologies to achieve its main objective.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the current state of the brick-and-mortar bookselling industry, with particular focus on independent bookstores and their strengths and weaknesses, and synthesizing recommendations for these bookstores to reinvent themselves in a rapidly changing market. This examination is highly relevant given recent concerns that, with the rise of e-retailers like Amazon and the closure of bookstore chain Borders, brick-and-mortar bookstores may be superseded by new digital vendors. Independent bookstores are thought to be at a particular disadvantage to these retailers, given their limited size and resources, as well as the lack of capital or consumer base that a larger chain like Barnes and Noble can draw upon to invest in emerging technology. With these more limited financial opportunities, independent bookstores must find different ways to not only keep abreast of the technology that consumers are coming to expect from modern businesses, but attract customers.
To gain insight into the state of the industry and current position of independent bookstores, I will first examine the past fifty years of the brick-and-mortar bookstore, followed by a Porter’s Five Forces analysis of the industry threats and a SWOT analysis to compare the strengths and weaknesses of independent bookstores. Next, the patrons of independent bookstores will be discussed with a focus on the two largest consumer groups of Millennials and Baby Boomers, their characteristics, and the opportunities they provide to bookstores. After this there will be an exploration of the competitors to brick-and-mortar bookstores, focusing on Amazon and then touching on some of the other rivals to bookstores’ consumer base. The next section will be an in-depth analysis of a variety of bookstores across the United States, with attention to their successful practices, goals, concerns, and failures. First, there will be a comparison of industry success and failure through case studies of Borders and Powell’s bookstores. Next, there will be a comparison of five beloved independent bookstores across the country to share their varied competitive advantages that are the secret to their success. Finally, there are primary source interviews with the employees of three major Phoenix bookstores, which provide insight into the goals, current projects, attitudes, and inner strengths of these businesses. Finally, the thesis will conclude with a section offering solutions and suggestions for independent bookstores to pursue based on the primary and secondary research discussed above. These recommendations are focused on five key areas:
• Community
• Consumers
• Store Design
• Technology
• Diversification
Ultimately, the information provided by this research and these interviews indicates that while vital business changes are being pursued by independent and chain bookstores across the United States, the independent bookstore shows no signs of disappearing in favor of online vendors or e-readers.

The millennial generation is quickly solidifying its place as the dominate generation within the workforce. As millennials transition through workplace hierarchy it is essential organizations understand how to properly develop incoming talent. This is especially important within sales as the opportunity cost for hiring and developing new sales professionals is much higher compared to other professions. Downward trends in millennial retention rates is also a strong contributing factor to the importance of understanding the millennial generation. This paper aims to identify key concepts and elements employers should incorporate into their sales training programs in order to better develop millennials entering sales roles. Through an analysis of each generation and sales training a clear framework will be identified to achieve this goal. Analyzing millennials unique strengths and weaknesses will provide the basis for the key areas employers need to focus on when designing their sales development programs. The framework identified is easily adaptable within any organizations as the concepts discussed can be universally applied.

Aventure is the newest contemporary luxury men and women’s apparel and accessories boutique in Arizona. The boutique will be located in Downtown Scottsdale, specifically in McKellips Plaza conveniently located near Scottsdale Fashion Square. Aventure is the first of its kind in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, providing Millennial fashion fanatics with a destination that fills the empty void in the city’s growing fashion scene. At Aventure, we bridge the gap between pop culture, streetwear, and high-fashion. Through our mantra ‘Redefining the Luxury Retail Experience,’ we aim is to promote expression of one’s self to the fullest extent through style.

‘Aventure,’ which means “experience” or “adventure” in French, defines this upscale boutique and its essence of inclusion. This store does not aim to be your traditional retailer; instead, Aventure aims to build a community within and around the store for individuals with similar styles and passion for fashion. At the moment, the city of Scottsdale (and the Metro Phoenix area as a whole) does not have its own identity in the fashion world. There is no reason why Metro Phoenix cannot, with time, become more recognized in the global fashion community. With an array of exclusive luxury merchandise and an urban atmosphere, Aventure aims to pioneer the Valley’s establishment on the national high-end fashion scene.

The boutique is a result of the vision of its founder Ahmed Imam. Ahmed is a graduating Honors student at Arizona State Univeristy’s W.P. Carey School of Business, pursuing concurrent degrees in Finance and Business Entrepreneurship. Having been passionate about fashion for as long as he can remember, Ahmed will leverage his connections to the industry and excellent understanding of the Metro Phoenix market to turn Aventure into a hallmark of the community. Through his professional experience and educational background, Ahmed also brings the necessary knowledge and skills to the table to effectively run a startup.

The retail industry is experiencing steady growth, with the luxury goods sector expected to perform very well in the coming years. Using market-based sales forecasting, Aventure is estimated to break even by the third year of operations. Sales are expected to grow 20 percent after Year 1, and grow 5 percent thereafter. Net operating income of $83,643 is estimated in Year 1, growing to $141,351 by the end of Year 3. Overall, total startup expenses are estimated to be $206,574, made up of investments from owners and a term loan from Bank of America. The owner investment will be used to cover capital equipment, location, and administrative expenses. These include furniture, equipment, machinery, rent, utility, legal and accounting fees, prepaid insurance, and other expenses. The majority of the term loan will be used to finance opening inventory and advertising expenses, with the rest going towards cash on the balance sheet to ensure liquidity.

Independent artists are thriving in the modern music industry, creating and branding their own music, and developing rich concentrations of fans. Indie artists are progressively securing positions within mainstream music while also upholding individuality. With technology advancements, to include self-recording technology, wearable devices, and mobile operating systems, independent artists are able to extend their reach to a variety of audiences. Social media platforms' progression has further catalyzed artists' capability of growth, as they have the capacity to personalize marketing content, develop loyal fan-bases, and engage directly with potential consumers. Artists are increasingly fabricating their own unique spaces in an industry that was formerly controlled by conventions. This thesis involves the production of a three-song extended play, and ascertains how to effectively capitalize on the wide array of modern marketing platforms.

Founded in November 2014, by owner Céline Rille, Rille & Co. is a creative studio that develops, implements and markets creative strategies for companies in hospitality, retail, entertainment, restaurant, and consumer product industries. Rille & Co. is coming to the end of its first year of business, and it is crucial that the company examines the previous year and evaluates its strategy to continue success in the future. Organized into three key sections of analysis, the following marketing plan is intended to set the company up to achieve, and surpass, all goals in the coming years of operation.

First, the environment in which the company was operating in during its first quarter of business is examined, along with the strategies that were in place at that time. Included in this first section is also a comprehensive competitive analysis that examines how Rille & Co. fits into the competitive market. Next, the success of the initial strategy for Rille & Co. is analyzed through a SWOT analysis of the company’s standing as of Fall 2015. Finally, the third section of analysis contains key recommendations and alterations to the original strategy in order for the company to experience continual growth and success.

In all, if Rille & Co. implements the strategies outlined in this marketing plan, it should be able to continue business for years to come. The most important aspects of operation for the business are its internal organization, finding clients with the correct fit, and boosting its website’s SEO to better implement inbound marketing techniques. For an agency, it tends to be difficult to focus on these internal problems when clients’ needs come first. In this case, Rille & Co. must prioritize its own operations to better meet the needs of clients.

As Rille & Co’s first year of business is coming to a close, it is extremely important to note how far the company has come, despite any obstacles that made for an exciting first year. The agency is well on its way to achieving the standards of success it set for itself, but the agency’s success is also measured in its resilience and adaptability – necessary traits for any agency (or company, for that matter). With huge changes on the horizon, now is the time for Rille & Co. to demonstrate its resilience and adaptability again – coping with the loss of an integral employee and adapting to the needs of clients who may not be financially sound. The team should be proud of the work accomplished, and although it is the “end of an era,” Rille & Co. should prepare itself for the adventures that have yet to unfold.

In the modern digital age, new methods of raising capital for entrepreneurs are being explored and developed at a rapid rate. This is in part due to new legislation aimed at democratizing the funding process for startup-sized businesses, and also due to the growing mistrust in the big banks following the recent financial crisis of 2008. Today, many entrepreneurs are turning to the Internet and crowdsourcing in order to raise the funds they need to get their business ideas off the ground. This trend is more commonly known as crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is not as narrow of an industry as some may think. It goes much deeper than just the commonly known platforms such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo. There are four different crowdfunding methods that exist today, as well as hundreds of websites known as crowdfunding platforms created in order to facilitate these methods as a third party intermediary. My thesis aims to research, break down, study, and compare the various methods of crowdfunding. In addition, I explore the modern uses of the more traditional methods of raising capital for entrepreneurs such as angel investors, venture capital, bank/Small Business Association loans, and bootstrapping. This research includes both primary and secondary research. For my primary research, I interviewed three subject matter experts on the capital markets, and conducted two case studies regarding crowdfunding campaigns. In my secondary research, I used credible published studies, blogs and articles with expert testimonials, and other trustworthy resources such as encyclopedias and professional reports. In the end, I compare and contrast the various methods of raising capital explored throughout the paper, and provide my recommendations regarding each method for entrepreneurs interested in raising funds for their next venture. We live in an exciting time, and there are a lot of interesting new developments emerging as the capital markets continue to integrate with the modern digital age. I hope this thesis will help entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone else who may have interest in the modern capital markets or fundraising develop a better understanding of new trends in raising capital today.

Arizona State University students are currently out of the loop when it comes to hearing about events being held in their community. This is because there is no established service that provides an inclusive list of both on and near campus events. What's worse is that the current methods for event marketing rely heavily on who one knows. Currently, ASU students hear about events through word of mouth, email chains, Facebook pages, and posters around campus. Thankfully, there is now an event marketing method that is available to everyone. UniEvents is a newly developed event service that live-tracks events around ASU's Tempe campus. UniEvents consists of a webpage that accommodates all screen sizes and is accessible by all devices including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. The website offers a user-friendly interface and useful features. Students are able to scan through event listings on a calendar or they can use an interactive map to find events nearest to them. Furthermore, UniEvents also offers the option for users to submit events to be advertised through the service. This way, students and organizations can easily spread the word about events on campus. Through UniEvents, ASU students will finally be able to see a conclusive list of upcoming events in one convenient site. Students will be able to save time and hassle by not having to rely on numerous sources to learn about events. UniEvents is committed to help students learn about events and get involved in campus activities!

This thesis provides an analysis on the crowdfunding environment in comparison to traditional fundraising methods in an effort to understand the relationship between the two types of fundraising and why crowdfunding has gained traction. Additionally, this thesis provides a study on good vs. bad crowdfunding to formulate a strategy for crowdfunding success. Methods of analysis include the execution of a situational analysis for both fundraising environments, and the collection of primary and secondary data of case studies of both crowdfunding failures and successes. Results showed that although crowdfunding provides lower search cost, greater efficiency, and eliminates geographical limitations leading to successful fundraising, the industry itself is too new and unexplored to be solely relied upon. Fundraising campaigns are most effective when crowdfunding is used complimentary to traditional fundraising methods. This thesis finds that crowdfunding offers unparalleled connectivity between creators and funders, but the transparency of the crowdfunding process is not ready to be trusted entirely. Until more data is collected on the crowdfunding environment, crowdfunding is best utilized in conjunction with traditional fundraising methods.