Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 72
Description
I Am Not A Millennial is an honors thesis project that combines research with a creative application to determine the best practices for companies and advertising agencies. The thesis consists of three main sections: an overview of what a millennial is, bursting the millennial hype bubble, and discussion of whether new targeting techniques, new ideas for content, or new ways of advertising are necessary to engage the Millennial consumer. The thesis will first look at the Millennial Generation to answer the question of "Who are they?" with the emphasis on removing the negative stereotypes from the Millennial generation. This section will be supported by the following section which will discuss the lack of statistical information that truly separates the Millennial generation from its predecessors. Finally, by presenting information on my experiences leading a student-run advertising non profit, case studies, and working within an account management department of an advertising agency, this thesis will present conclusions that advertising agencies and businesses need to develop targeting and content practices that focus in on consumers' interests and tell the story of "why" in order to connect with Millennials.
ContributorsCondo, Ashley Roelle (Author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Giles, Bret (Committee member) / Department of Management (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
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.
‘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.
ContributorsImam, Ahmed Mohamed (Author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Schlacter, John (Committee member) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
This project investigates how experiences colleges create for admitted students impact students' excitement for, satisfaction with, and likelihood to attend the college, analyzed by different subgroups, and how non-yielded students compare their college selection to W. P. Carey on various metrics. This study found that top admit students were less likely to attend, less satisfied, and less excited with the services offered than their counterparts and recommendations were made to improve the gap.
ContributorsGullo, Kelley (Co-author) / Dwosh, Bennett (Co-author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Olsen, Douglas (Committee member) / Desch, Timothy (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Economics (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / Department of Management (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Project Overview This marketing analysis and plan is developed in conjunction with the InnovationSpace program offered through Arizona State University. My InnovationSpace team has worked the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semesters to develop an innovative product, but little attention has been spent on detailing the marketing of such a product. As such, the following report is supplemental to the InnovationSpace project and intended to provide a more detailed analysis of marketing research conducted for the project and to create a marketing plan for the newly designed product.
ContributorsBeebe, Weston (Author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Lastovicka, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
Combining the research of case studies with a creative application, this thesis consists of four main sections: an overview of data surrounding current application marketing efforts on mobile devices, an analysis of three brands that have successfully used applications marketing to engage their audiences and sell their products, the creation and explanation of a proposed application marketing strategy, and a practical use of the previously found conclusions to a mobile application marketing strategy for Nutella USA. The outcome is to determine how companies use mobile applications to successfully engage consumers and lead to product purchases.
ContributorsBooker, Rebecca Allison (Author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Giles, Bret (Committee member) / Sabbatini, Cristina (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The Taglio Academy Marketing Plan is an honors thesis focusing on the information necessary to understand the current market and marketing strategies of Taglio Academy, a cosmetology school. The thesis is comprised of information representing the Current Marketing Situation; Target Market, Customer Analysis, and Positioning; Objectives and Issues; Marketing Strategy; Marketing Programs; Financial and Operational Plans; and Metrics and Implementation Control. These are all of the necessary components of an in-depth marketing plan to be used to communicate Taglio Academy's competitive advantage and positioning within the market. This information focuses on conveying the importance of bringing the Academy to the attention of target cosmetology students and target student-salon service clients.
ContributorsRough, Nicola Kalyn (Author) / Montoya, Detra (Thesis director) / LePine, Marcie (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
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.
ContributorsCohan, Taylor (Author) / Montoya, Detra (Thesis director) / Schlacter, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2015-12
Description
Entrepreneurs have always existed in some form. Many researchers have attempted to define the core characteristics and personal traits of entrepreneurs. Few authors have presented significant research about the relationships between these entrepreneurs and their mentors. The purpose of this paper is to explore and evaluate the need for mentoring student entrepreneurs. Quantitative data on the subject is scarce, but there are several sources that provide qualitative data that are available for review and interpretation. This study will review the available research and draw from the insights and conclusions to provide a framework to improve the success of entrepreneurship through mentoring.
ContributorsViramontes, Stephen (Author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Boradkar, Prasad (Committee member) / Peck, Sidnee (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Today, the global fashion industry is valued at $450 billion, and considered one of the most important sectors of the global economy (Global Action Through Fashion, 2015). The term fashion means more than just designing apparel or accessories as the industry encompasses jobs from production to inventory management, merchandising, marketing, production, and retail management. The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest markets as it employs over 75 million people and generates $1.7 trillion in revenue annually (Global Action Through Fashion, 2015). It is a dynamic, fast-paced industry that requires constant innovation ideas and strategic planning.
Chloe Bosmeny and Audree López, senior marketing students at W. P. Carey have created a proposal for W. P. Carey School of Business and Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts to join together to create an interdisciplinary resource for students interested in pursuing a career in fashion. There are three recommendations in the thesis: the implementation of a Fashion Merchandising certificate encompassing both W. P. Carey and Herberger curriculum, ASU joining the Fashion Institute of Technology’s 3+1 program for dual degrees in New York City, and lastly, improving professional development and career recruitment for ASU students interested in fashion.
But why fashion at Arizona State University? Throughout college, Bosmeny and López struggled to gain the background, skills and experience needed to understand the fashion industry. They, like many of their peers, felt that without the credentials of a university-sponsored fashion program, they weren't marketable to employers. These challenges drove Bosmeny and López to advocate for more fashion resources at ASU.
Based on support from student surveys, in-depth interviews with industry professionals, feedback from ASU Alumni and input from ASU’s largest fashion organization, The Business of Fashion Club- there is a strong desire for increased fashion programming at ASU. There are currently 266 student theses surrounding the keyword “fashion” from Barrett, the Honors College, but there has not been a direct push from students to implement a program at ASU. This thesis aims to illustrate the important ways such programming will greatly benefit ASU and its stakeholders.
In our thesis we will investigate current ASU opportunities related to fashion, gather information from fashion business professionals, gauge student interest in pursuing careers in fashion, and look to peer and aspirational schools in an effort to better understand fashion career resources nationwide. Our hope is to build a stronger curriculum and more successful resources for students to give them the skillsets needed for a successful career in fashion.
Chloe Bosmeny and Audree López, senior marketing students at W. P. Carey have created a proposal for W. P. Carey School of Business and Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts to join together to create an interdisciplinary resource for students interested in pursuing a career in fashion. There are three recommendations in the thesis: the implementation of a Fashion Merchandising certificate encompassing both W. P. Carey and Herberger curriculum, ASU joining the Fashion Institute of Technology’s 3+1 program for dual degrees in New York City, and lastly, improving professional development and career recruitment for ASU students interested in fashion.
But why fashion at Arizona State University? Throughout college, Bosmeny and López struggled to gain the background, skills and experience needed to understand the fashion industry. They, like many of their peers, felt that without the credentials of a university-sponsored fashion program, they weren't marketable to employers. These challenges drove Bosmeny and López to advocate for more fashion resources at ASU.
Based on support from student surveys, in-depth interviews with industry professionals, feedback from ASU Alumni and input from ASU’s largest fashion organization, The Business of Fashion Club- there is a strong desire for increased fashion programming at ASU. There are currently 266 student theses surrounding the keyword “fashion” from Barrett, the Honors College, but there has not been a direct push from students to implement a program at ASU. This thesis aims to illustrate the important ways such programming will greatly benefit ASU and its stakeholders.
In our thesis we will investigate current ASU opportunities related to fashion, gather information from fashion business professionals, gauge student interest in pursuing careers in fashion, and look to peer and aspirational schools in an effort to better understand fashion career resources nationwide. Our hope is to build a stronger curriculum and more successful resources for students to give them the skillsets needed for a successful career in fashion.
ContributorsLopez, Audree (Co-author) / Bosmeny, Chloe (Co-author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Setlow, Jennifer (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
College is an exciting time in a young student's life filled with many new experiences and opportunities for self-discovery. It also comes with a variety of challenges and stressors that must be traversed in a way that is healthy and beneficial for the student. During this time a variety of pressures may arise that lead to the onset of eating disorders. The purpose of this study is to discover students' awareness of the eating disorder resources available at Arizona State University (ASU) and design a series of creative documents based on the less-known resources that are available. This study used data from the ASU Wellness department, a primary research study done at ASU, as well as data from the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). Findings indicate that ASU is not effectively promoting its resources to students. However, by implementing the marketing strategies discussed here, it is possible to educate students and in turn introduce them to resources that could drastically improve their health.
ContributorsHilton, Caitlin M (Author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Fehler, Michelle (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2015-05