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  • Lighthouse 18th Anniversary Party

    On Saturday February 27, 2016 Lighthouse Beer and Wine will be hosting their 18th Anniversary Party. Lighthouse is known for having a very diverse selection of seasonal and high quality beer, as well as a broad assortment of wine. They attract a wide variety of customers and have made a name for themselves in Wilmington, NC. They are also known for having their annual beer and wine festival in the fall, but they are planning this party to keep customers engaged all year round. This event is being advertised as the company’s 18th Birthday. Customers are being told to “Come and Celebrate” and Lighthouse is using the slogan “It is our Birthday, so let’s party!” This is a great way to promote an event because it portrays the event as a celebration rather than trying to bring in customers or profit.

    They have been advertising this event for the past month with great success. One of the first strategies Lighthouse used was the creation of a Facebook event page to gauge how many people would be interested in the event. They had over 600 people show interest and 200 say they were going. This is a good way to estimate how many people might be in attendance, which also indicates how effective the campaign was. Facebook events are also a great tool to spread the word around, especially with the audience they are targeting. Their target audience consists of anyone over the age of twenty-one. Most people who have said they are going are between the ages of twenty-one and thirty. Lighthouse has also been using word of mouth marketing to promote this event. This type of marketing works really well in communities like Wilmington because so many people interact with each other on a daily basis be it school, work, the beach, or downtown. Since Wilmington has a wide variety of people, Lighthouse makes sure to offer a huge selection of beer and wine to accommodate any taste. Not only does this increase their clientele, but also shows their diverse pallet and that they are more than just your average craft beer store. Although this is a promotional campaign, the fact that they are celebrating 18 years of business ultimately proves that their unique and distinct niche in the community has set them on the path of long term success, which really should be celebrated!

    So, what are your thoughts on their Anniversary Party campaign? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

    -Austin, Jonathan, & Kaela

     

  • 5 apps to improve yourself

    Do you sometimes have the feeling that you’re stuck and unhappy? Or do you just see a good challenge in self-improvement? You are not alone! Self-development has become very popular among COM students and professionals, and it might be the solution for negative emotions, a stalled career or a lack of inspiration.

    You don’t have to do this all by yourself! On your smartphone there will be thousands of options, and this week we looked for the best applications to reach your goals!

    1. Coach.me

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    Don’t underestimate the influence of powerful questions. Powerful questions increase the sense of possibilities, and ensure that you will consider new options, which removes mental boundaries. Sounds heavy right, but this is exactly what the app Coach.me does. Want to start with better habits? A coach can help with this. Looking for new career opportunities? A coach can help with this. You do not know how to start a new challenge? A coach .. Well, you get the idea!

    2. DayOneApp

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    Did you know that keeping a diary is proven to optimize both of the parts of your brains? Writing stimulates the left-brain and creativity occurs in the right-brain. A diary will help you break through mental walls and yourself, others and the world around you to understand better. What is also great about the DayOneApp, is that you can add photos, local weather and locations, which makes it a lot easier for you keeping track on it.

    3. Unstuck

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    Many of us know, there will be a point in our lives when we are stuck. A situation where we cannot move forward and do not know why. Fortunately, an application for this problem exists! Unstuck helps you solve your problems, finding motivation and overcoming your insecurities. Digital coaches make a diagnosis about your “stuck” and give you tips and tricks.

    4. MyFitnessPal

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    There aren’t many things worse then having to count the calories we consume on a daily basis. Let’s face it – no one has the time for this. Fortunately, the company Under Armour calorie counting made easy with the app MyFitnessPal. This app not only pulls off calories based on your sport performance that day, but also counts the calories from the food you eat in a day by scanning barcodes. Lose weight or simply healthier life has never been easier! And you know what they say… A healthy body is a healthy mind.

    5. Happier

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    Many different things project positivity to boost your happiness, but they are harder to remember than the bad things you experience. The app Happier will help you to collect your good moments throughout the day. More than 11,000 studies have namely shown that gratitude for fine things improves your sleep quality, optimism and creativity. In addition, it increases your productivity and reduces stress. You have to find happiness in the small things in life because if we let all of the bad things take over, it would be much harder to find self-contentment.

    Are you ready to become a better version of yourself? Don’t wait another minute and try these apps out now. We are already sure to make your life a bit easier with one (or more) of the applications we mentioned above, and we would love to hear about your experiences comment below after you give them a shot!

    – Pauline, Addison & Sloane

  • 5 Helpful Internship Tips

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    Do you want to be the best intern possible? Check out the list below for some helpful tips!

    Be the best dressed intern: As stressful as interviews may be, the first impression is crucial to how the rest of the interview may go. If you present yourself in an appropriate, clean, and classy way, the interviewer will view you as a respectable advocate for the position you are applying for. After researching the atmosphere of the company, choose whether business professional or business casual is the right choice when dressing for your interview. 

    If the answer is business professional consider this:

    Ladies: Black or navy suit (either skirt or pant suit), closed-toed black or navy heels/flats (depending on color of suit), solid color dress shirt underneath, hair styled, and clean nails.

    Men- black or navy suit, tie, dark dress shoes, white dress shirt, and clean shaven.

    If the answer is business casual consider this:

    Ladies- black/navy dress pants or skirt, dress (appropriate length), flowy top (avoid too much skin showing), and heels or flats.

    Men- Black or khaki pants, dress shirt, sports coat, and dark shoes.

    Have a good attitude: Even if the work you’re doing is not exactly what you want to do, you want your employers to think that you’re loving every second of this opportunity. Also, displaying a happy attitude makes people more likely to want to work with you! Always have a smile and be willing to take on any task given to you.

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    Network whenever possible: The goal when you intern with a company is to start networking. Internships open the door to countless events, employees, or companies that are in the area. It is a smart idea to network in order to get your name out there. The more people see you and recognize your name, the more you will be considered for a position you might want. I know from personal experience, speaking to employees I met and making good impressions helped me network later. Of course, do not socialize with fellow professionals how you would with your friends. Make sure you think about what you are saying. Network whenever you can because you never know who it may be.  

    Be Flexible: Every organization works differently. One of the best ways to make the most out of your internship is to be flexible. The idea of flexibility is to be able to do projects differently than you normally do. This specifically applies to students that have not had an internship before. If you are use to classes and schooling, starting an internship can be a new transition. It is important to be open minded and adapt to how the organization works.

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    Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up: As an intern it can be scary to speak up if you have ideas or questions. However, an internship is supposed to be a learning experience. It is important to ask questions regarding the project you’re working on. If you have a creative idea or input, speak up! The company liked you enough to hire you as an intern, you should feel comfortable to speak and give good insight. You never know, they may like the idea and how great would that feel? Don’t be afraid and let your voice be heard.

    Do you have an internship this semester? Are you going to complete an internship before graduating? Let us know below!

    -Erin Fouhy, Sarah Garner, Caitlin Rodermund, and Megan Suggs.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Make the Most of Your Next Networking Event

    With this being UNCW’s Career Success Week it is important to be prepared for networking events. Right now jobs are more competitive than ever and the “real world” is coming closer to reality. Use these tips to make the most of your next networking opportunity.

    •  Dress the part. Show up dressed for the job you deserve. Wear something that is professional and modest. Looking well-dressed shows that you are confident and will all you to stand out from the rest.
    • Have a resume or business card on hand. If there is a company that you know you are interested it is important to have an up to date resume ready. This shows that you proactive and serious about working with them. At the very least have a few business cards on hand in case you meet someone and want to make sure they remember you.
    • Have an “elevator pitch.” Make sure you have a solid introduction prepared for meeting people. Be sure you are able to appropriately talk about your strengths and interests. Being able to start off a conversation strong will make you memorable to potential employers.
    • Don’t forget to follow-up. Don’t sit around waiting for the company to contact you. It is a good idea to connect with them on LinkedIn and send a short email thanking them for their time.

    All the time the phrase, “It isn’t about what you know, but who you know” is constantly heard. Now more than ever it is important to have great communication skills so that you can successfully get where you want in your career. These tips will certainly get you started off on the right path. Keep these points in mind and check out these events coming up this week brought to you by UNCW’s Career Center.

    CAREER SUCCESS WEEK:

    Network & Etiquette Night
    Monday, February 15
    Networking / Etiquette Workshop: Wrightsville Beach Room, 5:30pm
    Networking Reception with Employers: Clock Tower Lounge, 6:45pmSpring 2016 Career Fair

    Spring 2016 Career Fair
    Tuesday, February 16 • Noon – 3pm • Burney Center

    On-Campus Interview Day
    Wednesday, February 17 • All Day • Career Center, FUU 2035

    Financial Planning for Students and New Graduates
    Wednesday, February 17 • 6pm • Azalea Coast Room, FUU 2001

    For more information visit the Career Center event page here.
    Have a great week,
    Madeline, Tiersa, Sydney S., Sydney W.

  • Deadpool, a Perfect Valentine’s Day Treat

    Deadpool romantic comedy

    Coming to theaters this Valentine’s Day, a former special forces operative, Wade Wilson, is faced with a new kind of battle when he is diagnosed with cancer. He and his heartbroken girlfriend, Vanessa, grapple with what could be his last few months on this world. In desperation, he finds a brief glimpse of shimmering hope in a dangerous experimental cure. With this new found chance to reclaim his future with Vanessa, the brave young fighter goes forth into the fight of his life. This all sounds like a nice heartwarming romantic movie for a Valentine’s Day date, right? Well, it may very well be a great date idea, however, this summary describes the beginning to the movie DeadPool, a movie that can’t be much further from a stereotypical Valentine’s Day movie.

    Featuring none other than Marvel’s now iconic “merc with a mouth”, Ryan Reynolds will star as Deadpool in his very own R rated antihero adventure full of ultra-violence, crude humor, course language, and saucy remarks. While some recent advertisements might suggest differently, by simply viewing the Deadpool trailer in the link above, any potential moviegoer would pick up on the offbeat sarcastic tone of the film. Deadpool is a character loved by fans for his ability to break the fourth wall and to satire the more stereotypical super hero movies.

    It is only fitting, therefor, that the movie’s advertisements are equally self aware. By jokingly advertising itself as a romance and by opening on Valentine’s Day, Deadpool is humorously showing the audience the style of comedy they are in for. The character, Deadpool, is notorious for breaking the fourth wall, thus he can directly address the movie going audience in his trailers, allowing for such commercials as this. Aired during The Bachelor, Deadpool appears holding a rose while talking seductively to the audience about how his story was actually, “a love story”. This satiric take on The Bachelor’s iconic rose is contrasted by the action scenes and comedic remarks that immediately follow, showing that while, yes, romance does play its role in the movie, romance definitely does not define the movie’s genre.

    deadpool bachelor     While it is certainly not a typical Valentine’s Day romance, but instead an action packed comedy of sorts, many couples will likely be including this interesting piece of cinema into their Valentine’s Day schedule. These ironic advertisements seem to be hitting their mark as Deadpool’s interesting “charm” appears to be making quite the impression.

    -Lane, Austin, and Allen

  • The History of Valentine’s Day: From Ancient Rome to Spend City

    Valentine’s Day is a globally celebrated holiday. In America, we associate this day with the colors pink and red, chocolates, dates, jewelry, and most importantly, love. Celebrating Valentine’s Day didn’t start out as a bed of roses though (pun intended). In fact, Valentine’s Day began hundreds of years ago under melancholy circumstances. So, how did it evolve into the consumer-based holiday we know today? Let’s find out.

    Valentine’s Day originated from the pagan fertility festival, Lupercalia, which was held every year in mid-February. Claudias, the Roman Emperor at the time persecuted the Christian church in many aspects but most significantly, he forbade the marriage of young couples. Society at the time held paganist views, more readily accepting polygamy than an exclusive relationship. Furthermore, Claudias believed that love clouded the minds of his soldiers and prevented them from fighting to the best of their abilities in fear of risking their lives and not returning to their wives.st-valentine1

    It was during this time that the Roman Priest, Father Valentine, rebelled against Caudias’ law in favor of his own Christian beliefs and married young couples in secret. Eventually, he was caught and sentenced to death. During his time in jail, it is said that the young couples he married brought him gifts and flowers. It is also rumored that he fell in love with his jailer’s daughter and on the day of his execution, which was February 14th, he sent her a letter signing it “From your Valentine”. Sound familiar? This dying man’s final words inspired the rhetoric used in the cards and other products produced for modern day Valentine’s Day.

    The Valentine’s Day card has further origins in the church, initially found in the form of small devotionals. These devotionals would be decorated in heart shapes and flower patterns and given as gifts. This is believed to be the precursor to the Valentine’s Day cards we know today. Great Britain began to traditionalize the exchanging of cards and gifts on this day during the 1700’s and it quickly spread to America. The 1800’s saw the first mass produced Valentine’s Day card and the holiday consumerism exploded from there.

    Today, VaTyrannylentine’s Day has become completely overrun by consumerism. Businesses carry out advertising campaigns to promote their product specifically during this holiday to capitalize off the platitudes of the Valentine. On average, Americans purchase around 35 million heart shaped boxes of chocolates, 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards, and 220 million roses. Of course, there is the jewelry. Approximately 6 million couples are likely to get engaged on Valentine’s Day. That’s 6 million engagement rings. If you’re in the business of weddings, business is booming! Valentine’s Day has seen a steady growth over the years and sales keep soaring higher and higher. This once holiday of love, gift giving, and selflessness has become clouded by consumerism.

    Valentine’s Day, inspired by St. Valentine and forbidden love, is not unlike that of Romeo and Juliet. We enter into this consumer-crazed holiday despite the impact it has on our wallets. Some of us are fully aware of what we participate in, knowing we are victims of a successful centuries old campaign exploiting our hearts. In this manner, similar to Romeo and Juliet and not unlike St. Valentine, perhaps we have been doomed from the start.

    http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

    -Austin, Jonathan, & Kaela

  • Make your Valentine’s Day stand out

    It’s that time of the year again when stores start bringing out their chocolate hearts and roses. For some, this holiday can seem overwhelming when it comes to finding the right “date idea” or even something for you and your friends to enjoy. If you still haven’t found that perfect date idea check out some of these awesome options for you and your love (or bestfriend).

    If you want to spice things up and really wow your valentine, take them downtown to Cape Fear Riverboats! This Valentine’s day they are offering a two and a half our dinner buffet and dance Valentine Cruise at 6 p.m.

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    (photo courtesy of cfrboats.com)

    If being on the water doesn’t sound too appealing to you try checking out something different. TheatreNow hosts a Valentine’s Day special show for dinner. The meal includes three courses, while enjoying a live show through every bite.

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    (photo courtesy of ashtonharris.name)

    Don’t worry, for those of you who want to ditch the crazy crowds and do something simpler, a nice meal is the way to anyone’s heart. Wilmington’s very own Sweet n Savory is hosting a “Formal Valentine’s Weekend Dining.” This restaurant is even dressing up for the holiday and transforming its dining room to a more romantic, candlelit dinner, so make sure you dress to impress! Don’t worry about it being too full just yet because they are hosting a dinner Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Be sure to call and make your reservation before its too late!

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    (photo courtesy of www.wilmingtonbiz.com)

    Wanting to try something new with you and your loved one? If you haven’t tried fondue yet, you’re in luck. The Melting Pot will know the way to both of your hearts. From February 12-14 they will be running specials for the holiday. Each lady will receive a complimentary rose and if that doesn’t pull you in enough, head to their website to check out their desirable Valentine’s Day menu. Find all of these romantic destinations online to get more information!

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    (photo courtesy of www.prestigeservicesonline.com)

    Let us know if you end up choosing one of these options and how your romantic evening went! Also, share any other ideas that you or your friends have had on ways to spend this holiday.

    -Addison, Sloane & Pauline