SHOCKING! Technical Problem at McDonald's (Berjaya Times Square)

This is my first time in my life to see a technical problem at McDonald's causing them to offer only Spicy Chicken, Nuggets, Porridge and Rice. According to the staff and the notice printed on all the point-of-sales machine, they are experiencing a technical problem causing them unable to offer everything except the few stated products.

All the screen went blank - nothing you can order except chicken, nuggets, rice, and porridge

Can you imagine going to McDonald's but not able to buy any burgers and my favourite 'Happy Meal'?

What could have gone wrong that causes such problem for an International franchise business?

So, without technology, does that means we cannot operate our business anymore?

What say you about this?

McDonald's Happy Meal - Paul Frank Go Bananas with Julius

McDonald's is now targeting on more market segments,  The 'Paul Frank Go Bananas with Julius' Happy Meal promotion starts on 14th November 2013 until 11th December 2013, the last series for the year 2013. There are magnets, watch, luggage tag, figure, calendar, notebook, stationary kit and bracelet for the fans to collect.

Julius Magnets

Paul Frank is a California-based lifestyle product company, specialising in fashion apparel and accessories. With such collaboration, it shows that McDonald's is taking a step further in growing its Happy Meal market; extending the product to the lifestyle fashion young adults customers. Meanwhile, it helps to promote Paul Frank as a young and attractive apparel brands to the growing Asian children and young-adults market.

We can SIMPLY SAY that fast food restaurant like McDonald's is no more selling food and beverages, and serving it fast..but also retail merchandising (toys and accessories). Businesses are evolving!!!

McDonald's Happy Meal Versus Minions

Are you a fan of McDonald's Happy Meal or the Minions in the movie, Despicable Me? The recent craze in Malaysia recently saw the increase in demand for the Happy Meal with the free Minion toy series. Is this a coincident or merely another effective marketing strategy?

We can analyse this emerging phenomena by applying the diffusion and adoption process of consumer (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). McDonald's has increases the adoption process of their newly launched toy series for the Happy Meal, embarking on the opportunity from the highly publicised movie, Despicable Me 2. How they did it? Let's look at the possible elements of consumer diffusion process being managed by the world's most popular fast food brand:

1. The Innovation
As usual, the toys that comes with Happy Meal will have playable special features or movements. This would different the toys with other retail version of the toys by major producers.

2. Channel of Communications

At the introductory stage of the new Happy Meal toys series, McDonald's has been shouting about their offerings using integrated channels such as mass advertisement and on social network. This helps to create awareness and building up the momentum of buying even before the commencement of sales; especially triggering the needs to possess, not just satisfying physiological needs, but social needs, self-esteem and self-actualisation (Maslow's hierarchy of needs)

3. Social System

With the current social system, many consumers are influence by the need of possession (materialism personality traits). Hence, a toy in Happy Meal has always been promoted to the parents with children where they not just get to eat and drink, but to play! This become a norm to many as an value added consumption process, especially when the Minions are Free! Well, not just children who likes free toys, but all ages, that's our social system here.

4. Time

The prolong time of releasing the Minions with various models in batches build up the demand from extensive Word-of-Mouth, especially when news and on social media started to cover this craze for Minions.

Of course there are many different views on this marketing phenomena, and the above is just one of my very personal view. Let's wait until the next Tsunami of Happy Meal next time, we shall learn more!

Cheers!