Blog 3: 떡볶이(Tteok-bokki) Franchise

One of famous food in Korea is 떡볶이(Tteok-bokki ). It made by rice cake and Korean’s red pepper paste, named 고추장. It is very familiar to Koreans because there were Tteok-bokki  stores in front of every elementary school. Until I graduated the elementary school, the Tteok-bokki  store in front of my school was the only one I know. However, from about 10 years ago, franchises of Tteok-bokki  were founded. No one thought that Tteok-bokki  became one of very popular industries. Though that, there were someone who did challenge. There are very famous 3 Tteok-bokki  stores.

아딸(Addal) is the one of famous Tteok-bokki  stores. Addal is the oldest Tteok-bokki  shop. The name of store means that ‘dad makes fried food, and daughter makes Tteok-bokki ’. The father in law of Addal CEO owned a fried food shop, but in 2002, the Addal CEO opened the first Addal with his family. The mission statement is that ‘Make the world which all families are happy by eating healthy and fresh food’. It focuses on the taste of food and the health of family. For globalization of Tteok-bokki , they created new menus a lot. They tried very hard so they could get success. Creating new menus was not only for globalization but also for their competitive power. They could get distinctive characteristic by making new menus.

죠스떡볶이(Jaws Tteok-bokki ) is also famous one. The name has not special meaning. When it was made at first, the founder vowed to use only fresh ingredients for avoiding a preconception that Tteok-bokki  was dirty because it was sold in streets. They are focusing on the operation system so their mission statement might be that ‘Own by the best’. They made the most optimized management system. The feature which only Jaws Tteok-bokki  has is professional. They have not various menus but they only focus on basic menus, Tteok-bokki , 튀김(Fried foods), 순대(The pork or the beef roll), 어묵(boiled fish paste).

어묵(boiled fish paste)

떡볶이(Tteok-bokki )

순대(The pork roll)

튀김(Fried Foods)

국대떡볶이(Kukde Tteok-bokki ) is the last one. 국대(Kukde) is the abbreviation of 국가대표(the representative of nation). The mission statement of Kukde Tteok-bokki  is that ‘Humility, Appreciation and Distribution’. They focus on an original Tteok-bokki  shop like was in front of an elementary school. Their interior is the distinctive feature. They put antique chairs and tables, and they use old days’ font.

Not only those distinctive features of each stores, but also they have different tastes. Although these differences, they have similar things. They are all doing social contribution activities. Addal does various social contribution activities like regular support to orphanages. Jaws Tteok-bokki  does also support to orphanages, and Kukde Tteok-bokki  aids 2~4 children through ‘World Vision(NGO)’.

Nowadays, there are many Tteok-bokki  franchises in Korea. They have their own distinctiveness, for example some stores sell much spicy or some stores make Tteok-bokki  on customers’ tables just after they get order. Among many similar competitive companies, having their own distinctive features is the only way to get success. In sum, it can be applied to many various industries. Differentiation is the most important thing to marketing. 

Pictures from : http://cafe.daum.net/truepicture/Qt7/981976?q=%B6%B1%BA%BA%C0%CC&re=1
                        http://www.addal.co.kr
                         http://www.jawsfood.co.kr
                        http://www.kukde.co.kr

Blog 2: Paris Baguette in USA

Paris Baguette in Korea

‘Paris Baguette’ is the bakery and café from Korea. In Korea, there are over 3,200 stores and it ranked first in National Brand Competitiveness Index among 206 brands. This brand started in 1986, actually the original Paris Baguette was opened in 1988. Paris Baguette has tried hard so it became the top of baking industry. There are reasons why they can become the top. It focuses on the quality. They started to import most of their ingredients from France. And they hold many events related to seasons in Korea. For example, there was an event that they gave Rudolph shaped hats to customer who bought cakes in the Christmas season. Also they make events or products by catching nowadays trends. They make a new cake by using a famous cartoon character among children. When a macaroon is very famous in Korea, they released a macaroon ice cream and macaroon cakes. Paris Baguette can keep its popularity by trying hard again and again.

Rudolph shaped hat

            

      We can find Paris Baguette in USA. There are about 35 stores in USA. They are located from New York to California. On the cross of Lexington avenue and New York 52th street, there is a ‘Paris Baguette’ in front of ‘Au bon pain’. That store represents the power of Paris Baguette in USA. Before December, 2014 (when Paris Baguette established there), many people used to go ‘Au bon pain’. During rush hour, over 80 peoples visited ‘Au bon pain’ per 30 minutes. But after Paris Baguette was opened, most of customers changed their familiar bakery. The number of Au bon pain’s customers declined to 50. They started to buy breads, sandwiches, cakes and soups in Paris Baguette more than Au bon pain. The price of Paris Baguette is more expensive than the other one but customers gave up buying breads at the cheaper place. The reason is the high quality of products. They make coffee and bake bread themselves in the shop while other bakeries receive coffee and bread from factories. So customers can eat fresh and delicious bread in Paris Baguette. And also they sell different products by time. For instance, they sell pastry and espresso in the morning, sandwich and soup during lunch time and bread and cake after lunch time.

Paris Baguette in USA

             Their mission statement is “World class company, World class partnership”. They also said that they want to make customers satisfied by trying to create revolution. Paris Baguette is the company which never gives up challenges. They already have shops in Korea, USA, China, Singapore and Vietnam. They keep trying so they became famous in USA, China, Singapore and Vietnam. They opened a shop in Paris on July. In that store, they chose a premier artisan boulangerie concept so baking masters make Paris Baguette’s products. The CEO of Paris Bagutte said that Paris Baguette was the brand which introduced bakery culture of France in Korea, from now, it would be the brand which extends to the world. They tried hard until now so they got succeed but they are still trying hard. It is the point that other companies have to learn. 

Paris Baguette in Paris

Blog 1: The first semester in Vermont

My first semester in America was just started! I’m from Korea, of course South Korea and I’m an exchange student. In Korea, also a new semester began. It’s a little bit awkward that I’m not in my university. I’m taking of 4 courses instead of 6 or 7 courses. If I was in Korea, I would take 6 or 7 courses. And also I talk in English and read English books instead of talking in Korean and reading Korean books. It’s really awkward and weird. Anyway my semester in St.Michael’s college started. It’s totally different from that a semester in Korea is begun.

First of all, I wanted to be an exchange student for my dream. I want to work in International Organization, for example UN, WTO, or IMF and so on. So I need to make my view wider and have a lot of experience. Making my view wider is the most important thing and having a lot of experience can be my strength too. In conclusion, the first goal this semester is making my view wider. And having a lot of experience is also.

  Second, my personal goal is to improve my English skills. Not only the part of speaking but also grammar and writing. I could come here because I had the good IELTS grade but actually I don’t have confidence to using English. Koreans learn English since they enroll an elementary school and even before elementary school. But Koreans are afraid of English. The reason why there is a saying that we have to study English until we die. I have studied English since I was in the kindergarten. However I am afraid of using English also. My English grammar, speaking and writing are not perfect. There may be a limit to study English only in Korea, I guess. So the second goal this semester is improving my English skills included grammar, writing and speaking.

 

Lastly, making a lot of good friends is my last goal. And it would be my goal in next semester too. I used to be active. So I liked to be friend with everyone. However I’m getting older, I became shy to be a friend. I’m getting to have many worries and making friend became one of bothersome task. But it’s not good. Then I want to change that. It’s very good chance to live here. There are 3 reasons, all my friends are in Korea, I’m alone here and most of people in here are very kind. That’s my last goal this semester.

 

I am in America and I want to become much better person in here. I wish it becomes a very good chance for me to become better person. In sum, making my view wider, having a lot of experience, improving my English skills and making a lot of good friends are my goals. I really wish that I can achieve these goals in this semester. I will try hard to achieve these goals. Good luck to me! Good luck to all!