Te’a Cooper is successfully building her brand at the intersection of sports, beauty, tech, and empowerment. The WNBA star is a beacon of inspiration for her prowess on the basketball court and as a fashion and beauty influencer. Recently launching Hollywood Luxury Hair, Cooper captures the essence of empowerment and beauty. Founded in 2022, Cooper and her experienced team have swiftly positioned the brand in a saturated industry by empowering women to embrace their beauty.

Hollywood Luxury Hair sells clip-ins, hair bundles, and wigs, among other hair products. Cooper is a point guard for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Cooper’s journey goes beyond the boundaries of beauty and basketball. Teaming up with Coi Leray, Cooper made a significant splash in the music world through a cameo appearance in the music video for Leray’s single, “Make My Day,” featuring David Guetta. 

BLACK ENTERPRISE sat with Cooper to discuss her collaboration with Meta, Hollywood Luxury Hair, and embracing beauty inside and out. 

The Beauty Business

As consumers increasingly focus on beauty, looks, and esthetics, the hair accessories market is expected to grow to $35.41 billion in 2026. Cooper looks to take advantage of the market opportunity by differentiating Hollywood Luxury Hair and targeting a familiar audience. 

Playing basketball at a high level, Cooper quickly realized that maintaining luxurious hair while competing is an expensive pursuit.

“It’s expensive when you have to play, sweat, and change your hair every week,” Cooper told BE. “Hollywood Luxury hair is high-quality hair that helps keep natural hair healthy at an affordable price.” 

Cooper is a true girly girl with a love for all things beauty which she says inspired her to start her business.

“I’ve always loved being a lady and keeping myself together esthetically. I love getting my nails, hair, and lashes done. All of the girly things is a lane I love to be in. Going to school for marketing also allows me to use my education to propel my business.”

Meta It’s Your World

Cooper and multi-platinum recording artist Coi Leray teamed up for Leray’s “Make My Day” music video featuring David Guetta. The music video, part of Meta’s “It’s Your World” campaign, celebrates women’s basketball and anime with renowned manga artist Acky Bright lending his artistry to the project. 

“Coi and I both allow people in our metaplatforms to get a taste of our worlds,” remarks Cooper. 

Carving out their lanes in competitive professions, Cooper and Leray successfully reinvent and reimagine. 

“We are connected by being ourselves and love for the other’s profession. She loves basketball and I always wanted to be a rapper,” laughs Cooper.  

Through Hollywood Luxury Hair and her partnership with Leray and Meta, Cooper continues to inspire women to embrace their beauty, be confident in their uniqueness, and celebrate the diverse forms of empowerment that come their way.

The intersection of sports, beauty, and tech

The power of sports, beauty, and tech allows Cooper to relate to her audience and expand her reach. Cooper believes you can take control of your life, and Meta’s It’s Your World campaign is a message that young women should embrace. 

“If I can share one piece of advice to young women it would be to begin thinking about what you stand on morally, what you believe in, and having a firm foundation on who you are personally,” says Cooper. “Having a strong foundation will keep you from being swayed by every trend or opportunity that doesn’t align with who you are.” 

RELATED CONTENT: Waitress Uses $2,000 in Tips to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Hair Company in 3 Years

Dallas, Texas, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mangoceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGRX) (“MangoRx” or the “Company”), a company focused on developing, marketing and selling a variety of men’s health and wellness products via a secure telemedicine platform, including its uniquely formulated erectile dysfunction (ED) drug branded “Mango,” is excited to announce the official launch of its affiliate marketing program via its newly designed website at www.MangoRevenue.com.

“Affiliate marketing programs have been shown to drive huge gains in trust and awareness when properly marketed and executed correctly and we believe that this strategy will add additional brand recognition and notoriety for our MangoRx brand,” remarked Jacob Cohen, CEO and Co-Founder of MangoRx. “As affiliate marketers are compensated based on sales and performance, this new and dynamic channel is perfect for growing additional topline revenues while at the same time reducing the upfront cash burden that has traditionally been spent on digital marketing and advertising. We believe that a well-executed and marketed affiliate marketing program can lead to driving more than roughly 20% of the Company’s overall gross revenue.”

According to a recent affiliate marketing survey, the global affiliate marketing industry is worth over $17 billion and is expected to grow to a market size of $27.78 billion by 2027. Additionally, 81% of brands use affiliate programs to boost brand awareness and drive sales with these affiliate marketing programs accounting for 16% of all internet orders in the U.S. Major brands get 5% to 25% of their overall online sales from affiliate marketing with 20% of brand marketers claiming affiliate marketing is their most successful revenue driving channel.

The Company has partnered with one of the top marketing agencies and software providers in the affiliate marketing industry to ensure all the building blocks are in place to supercharge its topline future growth.

Story continues

MangoRx has selected Impact Radius (www.impact.com), a company trusted by 1,000s of leading global brands such as such as Kohl’s, Best Buy, Uber, Microsoft, Target, Levi’s, Adidas, Yeti, and Gap, among others, as its premier affiliate automation and influencer management platform. Impact Radius has worked with companies providing cutting-edge backend software management for affiliate marketing programs as well as an actively managed recruiting database of more than 7 million influencers interested in helping emerging brands blossom and thrive. Impact Radius will also handle the management of toolkits for affiliate marketing partners.

Furthermore, MangoRx has partnered with Hamster Garage (www.hamstergarage.com), a partnerships and affiliate management agency to assist MangoRx in building and managing its partnership programs. Hamster Garage has taken on over 40,000 affiliate marketing partner relationships to help partner-clients raise over $9.3 billion, with its average program driving 300% efficiency across the project. Hamster Garage will drive affiliate discovery and interest, coordinating and managing affiliate relationships for MangoRx.

Cohen added, “we have complete confidence that affiliate marketing represents a new avenue for driving accelerated sales growth for MangoRx and its stakeholders, which is our number one priority. We believe we have a top-tier, premium product. Now we have top-tier partners and a viable strategy for massively augmenting our visibility and brand value. We look forward to providing additional updates on this program soon.”

To learn more about the perks and benefits of the MangoRx affiliate marketing program, visit us at www.MangoRevenue.com for more information.

About Mango

Created using a special formulation featuring either the same active ingredient as in Cialis^™ (Tadalafil) or Viagra^™ (Sildenafil), each part of the Mango formulation plays a critical role in helping men achieve optimum performance. We believe the key to our success lies in our unique blend of ingredients, which are used in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved drugs. Mango contains a combination of either Sildenafil or Tadalafil along with Oxytocin and L-Arginine that have been traditionally used to treat sexual dysfunction.

Mango is a prescription medication that must be approved by a physician. After an individual has completed an online tele-health visit, our network of medical providers will review and approve a prescription if medically appropriate. Mango is a rapidly dissolved tablet (RDT) that is absorbed orally. For best results, we advise taking Mango at least 15 minutes before engaging in sexual activity. Sildenafil and Tadalafil, one of the main ingredients in Mango, typically have effects that last up to 4 and 36 hours, respectively.

About Mangoceuticals

Mangoceuticals, Inc. is a company focused on developing, marketing, and selling a variety of men’s health and wellness products and services via a secure telemedicine platform. To date, the Company has identified men’s wellness telemedicine services and products as a growing sector and especially related to the area of erectile dysfunction (ED). The Company has developed a new brand of ED product under the brand name “Mango” (think: “Man, Go!”).

For more information, please visit www.MangoRx.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“forward-looking statements”). These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and can generally be identified using statements that include words such as “estimate,” “expects,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “forecast,” “likely,” “will,” “target” or similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to; our ability to obtain additional funding and generate revenues to support our operations; risks associated with our ED product which have not been, and will not be, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and have not had the benefit of the FDA’s clinical trial protocol which seeks to prevent the possibility of serious patient injury and death; risks that the FDA may determine that the compounding of our planned products does not fall within the exemption from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FFDCA Act”) provided by Section 503A; risks associated with related party relationships and agreements; the effect of data security breaches, malicious code and/or hackers; competition and our ability to create a well-known brand name; changes in consumer tastes and preferences; material changes and/or terminations of our relationships with key parties; significant product returns from customers, product liability, recalls and litigation associated with tainted products or products found to cause health issues; our ability to innovate, expand our offerings and compete against competitors which may have greater resources; our significant reliance on related party transactions; the projected size of the potential market for our technologies and products; risks related to the fact that our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jacob D. Cohen and President, Jonathan Arango, combined have majority voting control over the Company; risks related to the significant number of shares in the public float, our share volume, the effect of sales of a significant number of shares in the marketplace, and the fact that the majority of our shareholders paid less for their shares than the public offering price of our common stock in our recent initial public offering; the fact that we have a significant number of outstanding warrants to purchase shares of common stock at $1.00 per share, the resale of which underlying shares have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; our ability to build and maintain our brand; cybersecurity, information systems and fraud risks and problems with our websites; changes in, and our compliance with, rules and regulations affecting our operations, sales, marketing and/or our products; shipping, production or manufacturing delays; regulations we are required to comply with in connection with our operations, manufacturing, labeling and shipping; our dependency on third-parties to prescribe and compound our ED product; our ability to establish or maintain relations and/or relationships with third-parties; potential safety risks associated with our Mango ED product, including the use of ingredients, combination of such ingredients and the dosages thereof; the effects of high inflation, increasing interest rates and economic downturns, including potential recessions, as well as macroeconomic, geopolitical, health and industry trends, pandemics, acts of war (including the ongoing Ukraine/Russian conflict) and other large-scale crises; our ability to protect intellectual property rights; our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively; our ability to maintain the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market; overhang which may reduce the value of our common stock; volatility in the trading price of our common stock; and general consumer sentiment and economic conditions that may affect levels of discretionary customer purchases of the Company’s products, including potential recessions and global economic slowdowns. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this release are reasonable, we provide no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks and uncertainties.

More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 2023. These filings are available at www.sec.gov and at our website at https://www.mangoceuticals.com/sec-filings. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on the Company’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by the Company. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Follow Mangoceuticals and MangoRx on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/mango.rx
https://twitter.com/Mangoceuticals
https://www.facebook.com/MangoRxOfficial

Or just click here to see why Orange is the new Blue:
https://www.mangorx.com

FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS
Lucky Break Public Relations
Sahra Simpson
Sahra@luckybreakpr.com
(323) 602-0091 ext. 704

FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS
Mangoceuticals Investor Relations
Email: investors@mangorx.com

MEDIA CONTACT
PHOENIX MGMT Marketing & Consulting
info@phoenix-mediamarketing.com

SOURCE: Mangoceuticals Inc.

The Rise of Virtual Influencers: The Impact of AI-Generated Social Media Personalities

If you scroll through Instagram, you might come across some profiles that look too good to be true. They have flawless skin, perfect hair, stunning outfits, and millions of followers. They travel the world, collaborate with famous brands, and share their opinions on various topics. They seem to have it all, except for one thing: they are not real.

These are virtual influencers, or digital avatars that are created and managed by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. They are not based on any existing person, but rather on the imagination and preferences of their creators. They use CGI (computer-generated imagery), motion-capture technology, and AI tools to generate realistic images and videos that can be posted on social media platforms.

Virtual influencers are not a new phenomenon. The first one, Kyoko Date, debuted in 1996 as a Japanese pop star. Since then, technology has advanced significantly, making virtual influencers more lifelike and interactive. Some of the most popular ones today include Lil Miquela, a 19-year-old Brazilian-American model and musician with over three million Instagram followers, Shudu Gram, a South African supermodel dubbed as the world’s first digital supermodel2, and Noonoouri, a Parisian fashionista who has worked with Dior, Versace, and Kim Kardashian.

Why are virtual influencers so popular?

Virtual influencers offer several advantages for both their creators and their audiences. For the creators, they are a cost-effective and flexible way to produce content and promote brands. They don’t age, get sick, or have scandals. They can be customized to fit any aesthetic, style, or message. They can also speak any language and appeal to any market.

For the audiences, they are a source of entertainment, inspiration, and connection. They provide an escape from reality and a glimpse into a fantasy world. They also represent diverse identities and perspectives that may resonate with different groups of people. They can interact with their fans through comments, messages, and even chatbots.

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Brazil – Cosmetics Market size is expected to grow by USD 4.72 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 6.97% during the forecast period. The rise in sales of cosmetics through e-commerce channels is notably driving the cosmetics market. However, factors such as the availability of counterfeit brands may impede market growth. The market is segmented by Product (Skincare products, Haircare products, Color cosmetics, and Fragrances and deodorants), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (South America). Technavio provides a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The free sample report is available in PDF format 

Brazil – Cosmetics Market 2023 – 2027: Company Insights 
The Brazil cosmetics market is fragmented, and the companies are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. The report analyzes the market’s competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies, including:

• Agreste Cosmetica Brasil Ltda.
• Amyris Inc.
• Avon Products Inc.
• Beiersdorf AG
• Beleza na Web
• Chanel Ltd.
• Coty Inc.
• Grupo Boticario
• Henkel AG and Co. KGaA
• Johnson and Johnson
• LOccitane Groupe SA
• LOreal SA
• LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE
• Natura and Co Holding SA
• PUIG S.L.
• Shiseido Co. Ltd.
• The Estee Lauder Companies
• The Procter and Gamble Co.
• Unilever PLC
• Kao Corp.

View Free PDF Sample Report to find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by companies and their product offerings.

Brazil – Cosmetics Market 2023 – 2027:  Key Segment Analysis
The skincare products segment is projected to experience substantial growth during the forecast period. Some of the prominent skincare items encompass topical creams, lotions, toners, exfoliating products, and skin serums. Consumers are increasingly embracing skincare products to address concerns related to aging, skin brightening, and sun protection. Furthermore, skincare products are widely used to moisturize, hydrate, and achieve a smooth and flawless complexion. There is a rising trend among consumers who seek products that offer protection, hydration, wrinkle reduction, skin tightening, and rejuvenation, all aimed at preserving radiant and healthy-looking skin.

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, buy the report now

Related Reports:

Mineral Cosmetics Market: The Mineral Cosmetics Market size is projected to increase by USD 775.37 million and the market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.83% between 2022 and 2027.

Luxury Cosmetics Market: The luxury cosmetics market share is expected to increase to USD 28.22 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market’s growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 7.77%.

TOC:

1. Executive Summary
2. Market Landscape
3. Market Sizing
4. Historic Market Sizes
5. Five Forces Analysis
6. Market Segmentation by Product
7. Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel
8. Market Segmentation by Geography
9. Customer Landscape
10. Geographic Landscape
11. Drivers, Challenges, & Trends
12. Company Landscape
13. Company Analysis
14. Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio’s report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio’s comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

BUCHANAN 3, DOWAGIAC 0

At Buchanan

Match Score

Buchanan d. Dowagiac 25-21, 25-22, 25-18

 

Buchanan Individual Statistics

Kills 

Chloe Aalfs 16, Izzy Tibbles 8, Addy Dombrowski 7, Keegan May 4

Aces

Sophia Bachman 3

Digs

Laney Kehoe 19, Sophia Bachman 13, Chloe Aalfs 12, Riley Capron 11,

Assisted Blocks 

Addi Warmbein 2

Assists

Sophia Bachman 39

 

Dowagiac Individual Statistics

Kills

Tessa Deering 11, Abbey Dobberstein 8, Marlie Carpenter 3, Maggie Weller 2, Riley Todd 2, Brenna Mott 1

Aces

Zabrina Shivers 2, Brenna Mott 1

Assists

Brooklyn Smith 23, Tessa Deering 1, Zabrina Shivers 1

Digs

Brooklyn Smith 18, Brenna Mott 15, Abbey Dobberstein 12, Maggie Weller 10, Zabrina Shivers 9, Marlie Carpenter 3, Tessa Deering 2

Blocks

Abbey Dobberstein 4, Maggie Weller 3, Marlie Carpenter 3, Brooklyn Smith 1

Record: Buchanan 21-5, 3-0 Lakeland Conference

 

EDWARDSBURG 3, VICKSBURG 0

At Edwardsburg

Match Score

Edwardsburg d. Vicksburg 25-20, 25-21, 25-13

 

Individual Statistics

Ella Laskowski 9 kills, 3 blocks; Drew Glaser 16 kills, 2 blocks, 11 digs; Amaya Shier 4 kills, 6 digs; Mya Eberlein 2 kills, 1 block; Lexi Schimpa 2 kills, 4 digs, 35 assists, 4 aces; Danni Purlee 12 digs, 2 aces

Record: Edwardsburg 20-10-4, 5-1 Wolverine Conference

 

NILES 3, PLAINWELL 0

At Plainwell

Match Score

Niles d. Plainwell 25-16, 25-22, 25-15

 

Individual Statistics

Kills

Bree Lake 15, Tanaya Brown 12, Nyla Hover 10, Kendall Gerdes 6

Aces

Hover 3, Amelia Florkowski 3, Kaydence Jacobs 2

Assists

Jacobs 23, Rylee Grishaber 10

Digs

Florkowski 15, Lake 13,  Hover 10, Jacobs 11

Blocks

Gerdes 2, Brown 1

Record: Niles 17-15-5, 2-4 Wolverine Conference

 

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

LANSING CC 3, SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN 1

At Lansing

Match Score

Lansing d. Southwestern 25-12, 25-22, 23-25, 25-6

 

Individual Statistics

Leading Scorers

Shayla Shears 9 points, 1 ace; Anna Johnson 6 points, 2 aces; Josie West 5 points; Nikki Nate 4 points, 1 ace; Emma Beckman 2 points

Kills

Nikki Nate 10, Bianca Hobson 8, Shayla Shears 7, Josie West 3, Juliette Schroeder 3, Emma Beckman 3

Blocks

Juliette Schroeder 3, Bianca Hobson 3, Nikki Nate 2, Shayla Shears 2

Digs

Josie West 16, Amanda Jones 13, Nikki Nate 11, Anna Johnson 10, Emma Beckman 6, Bianca Hobson 5,

Elizabeth Stockdale 4, Shayla Shears 4, Juliette Schroeder 2, Sophia Deeds 1, Taylor Miller 1

Assists

Anna Johnson 18, Emma Beckman 12

Records: Lansing 23-2, 8-1 Western Conference; Southwestern Michigan 17-9, 5-4 Western Conference

 

CROSS COUNTRY

Rock-N-Run

At Dowagiac

Boys Results

Team Scores

Buchanan 53, St. Joseph 70, Paw Paw 71, Berrien Springs 101, Niles 115, Our Lady of the Lake 138, Lakeshore 185, White Pigeon 195, Eau Claire 239, Dowagiac DNF, Cassopolis DNF

 

Overall Winner

Shay White, St. Joseph – 16:11

 

Buchanan Finishers

5. Britain Philip 17:26, 6. Liam McBeth 17:30, 12. Jack Sherwood 17:55, 14. Jacob Kuntz 17:56, 21. Coy Weinberg 18:13, 33. John Keser 19:14, 39. Bodie Bryans 19:50, 43. Dean Wegner 19:58, 47. Devon Simpson 20:06, 75: Jacob Stines 22:47

 

Niles Finishers

2. Aiden Krueger 16:16, 16. Beau Kirkdoll 18:03, 17. Jacob Erickson 18:04, 44. Logan Ritchie 19:58, 46. Ceon Kirkdoll 20:01, 48. Adolfo Sanchez-Perez 20:09, 59, Owen Riggenbach 20:45, 72. Nathan Ritter 22:12, 85. Brody Beckman 24:18

 

Dowagiac Finishers

4. Owen Saylor 17:14, 68. Aaron Bonczynski 21:44, 70. Loren Bowen 21:56

 

Cassopolis Finisher

52. Rhys Orth 20:18

 

Girls Results

Team Scores

St. Joseph 32, Lakeshore 65, Paw Paw 85, Buchanan 106, Niles 111, Our Lady of the Lake 145, Berrienn Springs 187, White Pigeon 198

 

Overall Winner

Gail Vaikutis, St. Joseph 18:34

 

Buchanan Finishers

11. Emma Miller 20:48, 24. Alaina Nagel 22:05, 30. Adyson Baker 22:24, 35. Brooke Schlutt 22:54, 39. Makynna Williams 23:08, 55, Ella Mollberg 24:27, 61. Alyvia Baker 24:53, 63. Sydney Greaves 25:06. 75. Caitlyn Morris 26:10, 78. Saleen Brennan 26:34

 

Niles Finishers

7. Charlie Drew 20:27, 18. Aubrey Jackson 21:32, 23, Claire DevlescHoward 22:00, 45. Kylie Conn 23:45, 51. Amity Riggenbach 24:08, 85. Kylie Hinkle 27:36, 99. Abigail DevlescHoward 35:26

 

Dowagiac Finisher

Jocelyn Kiner 24:25

 

TENNIS

Division 4 Regional

At Three Rivers

Team Scores

Berrien Springs 21, Paw Paw 14, Three Rivers 5, Hillsdale 5, Buchanan 4, Brandywine 2, New Buffalo/Bridgman/Our Lady of the Lake 0

 

Championship Flight

1. Phil Seo (BS) d. Drew Crain (PP) 6-3, 4-6 6-4; 2. James Andersen (BS) d. Jalen Cole (PP) 6-4. 6-4; 3. Ethan Tripp (BS) d. Cameron Mccolley (TR) 6-4, 6-2; 4. Edwin Seo (BS) d. Ben Kunkel (H) 6-1, 6-3

 

Doubles

1. Youngjun Jang-Eugene Ha (BS) d. Ian MacDonald-Mason Sikora (PP) 6-3. 4-6, 6-1; 2. Prestyn Miner-Anderson Farquist (PP) d. Tyler Frame-Jaret Seddon (BU) 6-4, 6-1; 3. Giorgio Ruhupatty-Sage Sanchez (BS) d. Eric Fitchpatrick-Jude Webster (PP) 6-1, 0-6, 6-3; 4. Zach Mahan-Tyren Lewis (PP) d. Jamir Flie-Jonathan Orlando (BS) 6-3, 6-4

 

Division 3 Regional

At Vicksburg

Team Scores

St. Joseph 19, Sturgis 14, Lakeshore 13, Vicksburg 8, Niles 1, Edwardsburg 1, Otsego 0, Plainwell 0

 

Championship Flight

No local players reached the finals

 

SOCCER

Division 2 District

EDWARDSBURG 1, LAKESHORE 0

At Stevensville

Halftime Score

Edwardsburg 1, Lakeshore 0

 

First Half

ED – Grayson Herbert

Record: Edwardsburg 11-6, Lakeshore 6-12

 

Division 3 District

BUCHANAN 4, DOWAGIAC 1

At Buchanan

Halftime Score

Buchanan 2, Dowagiac 1

 

First Half

BU – Britain Philip

BU – Easton May

D – Andres Hernandez

 

Second Half

BU – Philip

BU – Philip

 

Shots on Goal

Dowagiac 21

Buchanan 9

 

Saves

Dowagiac 5 (Tyler Hannapel)

Buchanan 20 (Mason Frontczak)

Records: Dowagiac 2-15, Buchanan 8-5-3

 

BRANDYWINE 5, OUR LADY OF THE LAKE 3

At Niles

Halftime Score

Brandywine 3, Our Lady 2

Brandywine Goals

Pedro Segundo 2

Emmauel Mendoza 2

Robby Dillard

 

Brandywine Assists

Segundo

Mendoza

 

Shots on Goal

Our Lady 20

Brandywine 22

 

Saves

Our Lady 14

Brandywine 17

 

 

Like a shabby old songbird losing the odd feather, but with a steady assurance of doing this avian ritual many times before, last week I found myself warbling away like a good’n. Budget meetings are the only time in the year when business leaders in any organisation put their hubris and impressive-sounding job titles away, and with an air of trepidation, self-conscious in the spotlight, sing for their supper.

This year was no different in that respect, though this budget ensemble was strangely out of tune.

Like most organisations, we have business review meetings four times a year. The one at the end of September is when high-level budget plans and strategies for the following year are shared, discussed, and the direction of travel is agreed upon with the group CEO, CFO and a small coterie of disinterested peers from across the business.

Marketing can lower prices, it can raise income. It can remove barriers to entry, and stimulate innovation and job creation. It can reduce losses, it can increase awareness and sales volumes.

Four things have made this year particularly interesting. First, my function is the only one in the business to submit a budget that is in line with the five-year cost plan. Second, our brand plan for 2024 is transformational, in that we are proposing pivoting from a focus on raising awareness to generating action. Third, our biggest brand seems incapable of operating to budget. Fourth, at my instigation, this is the first time we have held a separate brand review meeting with this group, looking at all the marketing plans and budgets of the brands in the group together. Spicy.

Underpinning all of this is an inalienable truth. Often misunderstood, rarely articulated, and never celebrated. This one thing provides my North Star and is what gives me confidence when presenting plans and budgets. It is the purpose of marketing, and why good marketing is vital.

Why marketing works as an investment in most businesses

At its heart marketing is about creating a value exchange between producers and consumers. The more value we give consumers – meeting their needs, satisfying their wants and solving their problems, the more value they give us, paying us more, buying us more often, sticking with us through a value-based inertia.

Because of marketing, we as consumers have more choice: food is abundant, clothes are abundant, cars abundant, business services abundant, phones abundant. You name it, in today’s free market economy, you can pretty much find and buy anything (legal).

Marketing can lower prices, it can raise income. It can remove barriers to entry, and stimulate innovation and job creation. It can reduce losses, it can increase awareness and sales volumes. More pertinently today, it can reduce waste, and increase sustainable behaviour. Because of marketing, there is plenty to choose from to solve our problems and satisfy all of our needs.

So… and here it comes… marketing helps society. (Boom!)

That’s right, marketing creates value by improving people’s lives and wealth for society.

Distinct role

So, with this in mind, marketing as an activity needs to have a distinct role in the business strategy.

The discordant sounds in this year’s budget review meetings, a cacophony from the bevy of rather careworn, besuited executives, is due to poor strategy implementation and some wayward thinking from my marketing colleagues in the business units. This despite the direction they have been given, the budget envelopes in their own plans, and the process they were asked to follow… oh the joys of decentralisation and empowering leaders to lead.

As is so often the way in long-running transformation activities, we have lost our way. Or, at least we are fast losing our strategic focus and grip. The key indicators are the skyrocketing costs for proposition development and brand communications from certain teams, combined with rather wishful and unspecified commercial outcomes.

They haven’t realised that excess share of voice is relative to market share, not just competitor spend. Muppets.

Like many enterprises, our strategy relies on fostering points of leverage to deliver unique value to our customers. In implementing the strategy one team in particular, brand A, have glazed over these levers, and appear to be regressing to category norms and expectations.

The upshot is that while we may be better than our peers in some areas, we are having to compete hard for cut-through, with increasing pressure on sales conversion as we are becoming increasingly indistinguishable from our peers in this segment. At heart, this is because the value we’re creating isn’t unique. The result is that to win the predominant logic, from this team, has become to shout more loudly than everyone else through increased (unaffordable and deeply inefficient) communications investment. The pitch being that we need greater share of voice to win.

In an ironic twist, I find brand A quoting Binet and Field back at me, but to their eternal shame (having not actually read Advertising in the Age of Accountability) they haven’t realised that excess share of voice is relative to market share, not just competitor spend. Muppets.

Re-finding equilibrium with the strategy

So, with a deep, deep breath, I suggest the answer lies in going back to the basics of our group brand strategy and working out the best ways to bring our unique value for customers to life. And critically getting brand A, who are bidding for much more marketing spend, to really focus on the outcomes they need to deliver within the strategy: a) better propositions that deliver unique value, b) bottom-up marketing plans that leverage the lower cost customer acquisition channels, while implementing CRM to ensure we maximise the value acquired. They should do this before focusing on building the brand to access direct routes to market. If we succeed in the B2B2C markets, we may ultimately go direct in time, when we need to grow greater market share. But that is some time away.

So, to ensure budgets are given the rubber stamp, the task for the next month is clear. Get the brand teams to pivot from top-down benchmarking with vague macro outcomes, and go through the rigorous approach we have taken centrally to develop a bottom-up, audience-led, and outcome-focused plan, for their budget.

So, next time around, we will, yet again, get together to warble like a chorus of songbirds, but this time hopefully to sing the same tune.

A degree in Management can open up a world of high-paying career opportunities. With the right skills and experience, you can pursue a wide range of roles in a variety of industries. Whether you’re interested in leading a team, managing a project, or overseeing the operations of an entire organisation, a Management degree can give you the foundation you need to succeed.
Here are five of the highest-paying job roles in India that a Management degree holder can pursue:

Sales Manager
Sales Managers play a vital role in a company, overseeing and guiding the sales team, setting and achieving sales targets, and expanding brand reach. They not only design sales strategies and campaigns but also work dedicatedly to cultivate relationships with clients and business partners.

Skills required: To excel in this role, Sales Managers require a specific skill set, including strong analytical capabilities, strategic planning expertise, effective leadership, delegation proficiency, negotiation acumen, team-building prowess, and exceptional organisational skills. They must also possess in-depth knowledge of marketing, business management, business administration, and customer relationship management. Effective communication, team collaboration, and a genuine drive to propel the company forward are essential qualities for success.

Average salary: In terms of remuneration, the average annual salary for a sales manager in India is Rs. 6.6 LPA. However, the salary range can vary widely depending on factors such as experience, industry, company size, and location. For example, sales managers with more than 5 years of experience tend to earn more than those with less experience.

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Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are pivotal in shaping a brand’s identity and connecting with the target audience. Their roles encompass a diverse range of responsibilities. They are responsible for crafting and effectively communicating the brand’s story to raise product awareness. This includes strategizing to identify and engage with specific target segments to make products or services more appealing to them. Marketing Managers also play a key role in planning and designing marketing and sales campaigns, determining seasonal promotions, and overseeing internal teams.

Skills required: To excel in this role, Marketing Managers need a multifaceted skill set. Analytical skills are essential to understand market data and trends. Effective communication skills are crucial to convey the brand’s message and negotiate deals and collaborations.

Additionally, they should possess technical knowledge related to marketing tools and technologies. Understanding the sales process is also important, as it enhances marketing efforts and helps in reaching and engaging the target audience more effectively.

Average salary: The average annual salary for a marketing manager in India is Rs. 11,40,000 LPA. However, the salary range can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including experience, education, industry, and location. Marketing managers who work in large cities or in high-demand industries, such as technology or healthcare, tend to earn higher salaries.


Financial Manager
Financial Managers are responsible for overseeing and managing all financial aspects of a company. Their roles are multifaceted, encompassing the development of both short-term and long-term financial goals and the formulation of data-driven strategies to achieve them. They collaborate with Project Managers and departmental heads to make crucial financial decisions, including budget planning, resource allocation, and investment strategies.
Additionally, they play a key role in creating comprehensive financial reports, implementing budgeting and forecasting strategies, exploring fund procurement options, conducting risk assessments, and closely monitoring essential financial metrics to assess the organisation’s financial performance.

Skills required: To excel in this role, Financial Managers need a diverse skill set, including business acumen, in-depth finance knowledge, numeracy skills, strong analytical capabilities, problem-solving proficiency, and effective negotiation skills. A strong educational background in relevant fields such as Mathematics, Economics, Accountancy, Finance, or Business Studies is essential. Furthermore, they must possess excellent problem-solving, analytical, and technical skills.

Average salary: The role of Financial Manager is considered one of the highest paying careers in the financial sector, with opportunities in various finance management positions. The average annual salary for a financial manager in India in 2023 is Rs. 16,00,000. However, the salary range for financial managers in India is quite wide, ranging from Rs. 3,50,000 to Rs. 30,300,000 per year. This is because there are a number of factors that can affect a financial manager’s salary, including.


Public Relations Manager
Public Relations Managers are responsible for creating and maintaining a positive public image for their clients or employers. They are adept at identifying the compelling stories within their client’s portfolio and crafting messages that resonate with the public.
Their roles encompass writing press releases, managing media inquiries, composing speeches for product launches and media events, preparing articles for corporate newsletters, creating media kits, and organising conferences.
PR Managers are also tasked with mitigating negative publicity and managing PR-related crises. They play a crucial role in shaping and growing a brand’s image while ensuring that they operate within the allocated budget.

Skills required: To excel in this role, Public Relations Managers should hold a degree in Journalism, Communications, or Public Relations. They must possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written and have a solid understanding of marketing and analytics. Effective budgeting and media comprehension are also essential skills for this position.

Average salary: Public Relations Management is renowned for its potential as a high-paying career path. On average, the annual salary for a Public Relations Manager in India is Rs. 8,72,000 per year. However, salaries can vary widely depending on experience, skills, industry, and location. For example, a PR Manager in a major city like Mumbai or Delhi is likely to earn more than a PR Manager in a smaller city.


Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Managers, often referred to as HR Managers, play a crucial role in the management of the company’s human resources. They serve as the bridge between the top management executives and the workforce, collaborating with senior leaders to strategize and execute essential HR functions such as recruitment, interviews, and employee retention.
HR Managers are multifaceted in their responsibilities. Beyond the administrative tasks, they contribute to enhancing employee morale and productivity in the workplace.

Skills required: To excel in the role of an HR Manager, several key skills including strong verbal and written communication skills, are essential for effective HR practices. Conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities are also necessary to address workplace issues and disputes. HR Managers need to possess strong analytical skills to make informed decisions regarding recruitment, employee performance, and policy development. Interpersonal skills play a pivotal role in their daily interactions with employees of all levels.
Negotiation skills are essential for structuring employment contracts and resolving conflicts. Active listening is another valuable skill that enables HR Managers to understand and address employee concerns effectively.

Average salary: The average annual salary for a Human Resources Manager in India is Rs. 9,00,000 per year. However, salaries can vary widely depending on experience, skills, industry, and location. Like, an HR Manager in a major city like Mumbai or Delhi is likely to earn more than an HR Manager in a smaller city.