Cutting out the combustion engine could mean a whole new world for car design. Embedded video from CNNMoney.com VideoSource: CNNMoney Reports – video report Date: 5/15/2009 Keys: Marketing, new product development Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/05/15/news.energyfix.051509.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think that the cars described in this report will be well received by American buyers? Explain your… Read more »
Monthly Archives: May 2009
Oil hovers above $60
Price of crude fluctuates as the dollar weakens and a report shows China’s demand for energy recovering. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 5/22/2009 Keys: Economics, stock markets, GDP Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/22/markets/oil/index.htm?postversion=2009052210 Questions for discussion: Why does the price of oil affect the economy as much as it does? If oil prices are rising, why can that be interpreted… Read more »
Napster’s latest: Best music-subscription deal ever?
If you routinely buy at least five songs per month, here’s good news from Napster: A new subscription plan nets you five DRM-free MP3 downloads and unlimited streaming for just $5 monthly. In other words, it’s like buying the songs you were buying anyway and getting unlimited streaming for free. Source: CNET.com Date: 5/19/2009 Keys:… Read more »
HOW TO CREATE MARKET-FOCUSED PRODUCT WINNERS
The dustbin of business failures is full of once sharply focused companies that lost their way because they diversified across too many markets. Market focus wasn’t all that was lost. So were positive cash flow and a customer who, instead of seeing clear choices and remaining loyal, became confused and bought a competitor’s product. This… Read more »
GM slashes dealerships by 40%
The automaker plans to cut its dealer network to 3,600 by next year. Embedded video from <a href=”http://money.cnn.com/video” mce_href=”http://money.cnn.com/video”>CNNMoney.com Video</a> Source: CNNMoney Reports – video report Date: 5/15/2009 Keys: Marketing, distribution, brands Link: http://money.cnn.com/ Questions for discussion: Do you agree that the existing dealership networks at GM and Chrysler had grown too large? How do… Read more »
FTC declares war on car warranty ‘robocalls’
Federal regulators file lawsuits to shut down a telemarketing scam targeting millions of consumers with phony auto warranties. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 5/15/2009 Keys: Marketing, government regulation Link: http://money.cnn.com Questions for discussion: What would you do if you were able to change the current laws regarding telemarketing in general and telemarketing that is found to be… Read more »
Google Relaxes Trademark Restrictions in Ads
Google will begin allowing advertisers in the United States to use trademarked terms in their advertisements — including ones they don’t own — a move designed to revive its sagging ad revenue but likely to irk brands that are already chafing at Google’s fast-and-loose policy toward trademark protection. Source: Clickz.com Date: 5/15/2009 Keys: Marketing, advertising,… Read more »
Blowing Up Pepsi
PepsiCo Americas CEO Massimo d’Amore has been rebranding Pepsi’s core products top to bottom. Creative destructionâ€â€or just destruction? Source: Business Week.com Date: 4/23/2009 Keys: Marketing, product development, strategic alliances Link: http://www.businessweek.com Questions for discussion: Which strategies do you think are good ones and which would you disagree with? Explain your thinking. Where do you see… Read more »
Buffett’s investment advice
The legendary investor says the last thing you should do is buy and sell stocks for quick profit. Embedded video from CNNMoney.com Video Source: CNNMoney Reports – video report Date: 5/07/2009 Keys: Finance, investing, stock markets Link: http://money.cnn.com Questions for discussion: According to Buffett, ignoring the “ups and downs†and only looking at the long… Read more »
Transparent plastic solar cells fitted into windows
Solar company Konarka has developed a transparent solar cell that it hopes will be built onto electricity-generating windows. Source: CNET.com Date: 5/08/2009 Keys: Marketing, product development, strategic alliances Link: http://news.cnet.com Questions for discussion: Is there a market for this innovative product? Is the company making a mistake by trying to compete with conventional solar electricity-generating… Read more »
