Making wheels for wheelchairs
February 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
A 30 year GM veteran is applying his auto industry knowledge to a company that makes vehicles for the disabled.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 02/19/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/02/19/n_vpg_hogan.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think the big automakers have not produced this sort of specialized vehicle?
- Does this sort of product require a different marketing strategy? Explain your answer.
- What other niche markets could provide business opportunities in auto and truck transportation?
The New Business Of Tiger Woods
February 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: As golfer Tiger Woods prepares to return to public view marketing experts say his appeal as a pitchmanhas changed.
Source: Marketwatch.com– video report
Date: 02/19/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Who is the target market that Tiger Woods appeals to?
- Do you agree with the suggestion that Tiger Woods will never be able to redeem his old image with this market?
- How can he improve his image and marketing value?
GM’s chief gets $9 million
February 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: General Motors chairman and chief executive, Ed Whitacre, Jr. will receive a compensation package worth $9 million, the automaker said Friday.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 02/19/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/19/news/companies/GM_salary/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Do you believe this compensation is appropriate in light of GM’s history and connection to TARP?
- Do you believe there can be negative reaction from employees or customers because of the compensation?
Banks Focus on People Who Can Pay More for Credit Cards
February 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Rewards cardholders take note: the price of perks is about to go up. After years of profiting from debt-ridden credit cardholders, lenders are turning their attention to a potentially lucrative new source of fee income, the moneyed users of rewards programs who spend big and pay their bills on time.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 02/19/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/business/20rewards.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- How do you think consumers will react to these changes? Explain your thinking.
- Is there anything unethical about this strategic thinking?
Pay for Hulu on the iPad? It may be your only choice
February 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Will Hulu come to the iPad? Probably. One day. But you had better get ready to pay for it. Hulu and its owners, three of the big broadcast TV networks, want to bring some version of the Web video service to Apple’s device.
Source: CNET.com
Date: 02/19/2010
Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10456822-93.html?tag=mncol
Questions for discussion:
- How do you think this strategy will work out?
- Will the marketplace perceive the device suitable for television viewing as it is for books?
- How would you price this service?
Vancouver Olympics goes green
February 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: The Olympic committee’s $1.8 billion budget includes medals made from recycled circuit boards and a sustainable skating ring.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 02/12/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/02/12/n_ef_vancouver_olympics_green.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Do you believe these efforts to promote “green-thinking” at the Vancouver Olympic Games will be successful in creating greater consumer awareness and interest? Explain your thinking.
- Besides encouraging the greater use of eco-friendly consumer products, what other benefits do these companies gain by publicizing them at the Olympics?
At $3,250, Olympic hockey tix trump the Super Bowl
February 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Fancy a last-minute ticket to the opening ceremonies? Get ready to fork over about a thousand bucks. How about a glimpse at Shaun White at Wednesday’s halfpipe finals? It’ll set you back another $1,400. And as for rink-side seats at the men’s ice hockey final game… those will cost you more than this year’s Super Bowl tix — a whopping $3,250 or more.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 02/12/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/12/news/economy/olympics_tickets/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Explain, from the buyer’s point of view, the willingness to pay these high prices for Olympic events?
- If some buyers are willing to pay these prices, why wouldn’t the organizing committees set them at higher prices in the first place? Explain your thinking.
Toyota woes lead to bargains from rivals
February 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Prices on Toyota’s vehicles, not surprisingly, have slipped in light of the recalls, but rivals have also slashed their prices to capitalize on a rare period of weakness for the world’s biggest carmaker.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 02/10/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/toyota-woes-lead-to-bargains-from-rivals-2010-02-10?siteid=nwtwk
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the explanation for these changes to pricing strategies.
- Do you believe that Toyota will be able to return to a premium price position in the marketplace? Explain your thinking.
Credit Card Limits for Youth Can Be Opportunity for Parents
February 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: This month, large parts of the credit card bill that President Obama signed into law in 2009 go into effect. Among them are rules governing credit card use by anyone under 21 years old. Starting Feb. 22, they can’t get a credit card unless they have an independent source of funds to pay the bills. Failing that, they’ll need a parent to co-sign the application (and submit written permission before the credit limit can rise).
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 02/12/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/your-money/credit-and-debit-cards/13money.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think of this legislation in terms of fairness to all parties involved and in terms of the role of government? Explain your thinking.
- Do you think this legislation will affect behavior patterns?
These tablets do what the ‘iPad don’t’
February 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: With apologies to Sega’s classic “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” ad campaign, there are many tablet and touch-screen PCs that do things the upcoming Apple iPad simply can’t. While Apple’s tablet runs a version of the company’s iPhone operating system, most of these tablets run different flavors of Windows, and (at least in theory) are capable of performing any task a standard laptop can.
Source: CNET.com
Date: 02/12/2010
Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10452930-1.html
Questions for discussion:
- Given the product comparisons presented in the article, how well do you think the iPad will be received by customers looking for this sort of device?
- How important do you think it is for the iPad to perform like a true computer and run traditional software? Explain your thinking.
