Boone & Kurtz Contemporary Business Weekly Updates » Customer-Driven Marketing (p388) http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com Discussion Topics for Today's Classroom Mon, 14 May 2012 10:05:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Someday, Store Coupons May Tap You on the Shoulder http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2011/01/03/someday-store-coupons-may-tap-you-on-the-shoulder/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2011/01/03/someday-store-coupons-may-tap-you-on-the-shoulder/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:02:11 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1422 Description:  CLIPPING coupons is a hassle. Intentionally. If shoppers were to redeem any more than just a sliver of them, manufacturers would have a self-created financial catastrophe on their hands.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 12/25/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/business/26digi.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the development of coupon use by consumers?
  • How will technology affect this pricing strategy in the future?
  • What do you think is a good strategy for companies to follow so as to optimize the effectiveness of coupons?
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Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/22/2010

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/22/n_cc_tides_of_giving.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • How is this business socially responsible?
  • Who are the target customers?
  • What makes this business service unique?
  • Describe the product strategy and how the Internet allows for customization to match local customer needs.
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/surfers-calendar-site-gives-back/feed/ 0 Getting the message out on Facebook http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/getting-the-message-out-on-facebook/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/getting-the-message-out-on-facebook/#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:04:24 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1413 Description: Small businesses are leveraging their profiles on Facebook to boost their business by keeping in close contact with customers.

Source:  Reuters.com – video report

Date: 12/21/2010

Link: http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=170540599&videoChannel=6

Questions for discussion:

  • How does Facebook  allow small businesses to better serve their target customers?
  • How does Facebook differentiate itself on the Internet?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/getting-the-message-out-on-facebook/feed/ 0 Higher U.S. Airfares Loom as Crude Climbs Toward $100 a Barrel http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/higher-u-s-airfares-loom-as-crude-climbs-toward-100-a-barrel/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/higher-u-s-airfares-loom-as-crude-climbs-toward-100-a-barrel/#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:02:44 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1406 Description: Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines and other large U.S. carriers may be poised to boost fares with fuel surcharges as crude oil moves closer to $100 a barrel.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 12/22/2010

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-22/higher-u-s-airfares-loom-as-crude-climbs-toward-100-a-barrel.html

Questions for discussion:

  • How else can airlines deal with rising fuel costs?
  • How are customers likely to respond to price increases?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/higher-u-s-airfares-loom-as-crude-climbs-toward-100-a-barrel/feed/ 0 A Tough Sell at Sears http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/a-tough-sell-at-sears/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/a-tough-sell-at-sears/#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:01:29 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1403 Description:  This holiday season, Sears and Kmart, which merged in 2005, are pushing a single message: Buy with layaway, buy with coupons, buy now and pay later, buy with loyalty rewards points — but please, just buy.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 12/21/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/business/22sears.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why is Sears having so much trouble at this time?
  • What could have been done to improve operations and increase sales revenues?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/a-tough-sell-at-sears/feed/ 0 Tech Sector Adds 47,000 Jobs So Far in 2010 http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/13/tech-sector-adds-47000-jobs-so-far-in-2010/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/13/tech-sector-adds-47000-jobs-so-far-in-2010/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:03:10 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1374 Tech Sector Adds 47,000 Jobs So Far in 2010
Description:  Tech jobs are making a comeback in the U.S. as global demand increases. The metro area with the biggest gain? Oklahoma City.
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 12/07/2010
Cat ñTags:  3, 4: Production and Operations Management (p354, Customer-Driven Marketing (p388), Product and Distribution Strategies (p420), Promotion and Pricing Strategies (p458)
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2010/tc2010127_438177.htm
Questions for discussion:  Why is this sector of the economy gaining so many jobs at this time?  What does this trend suggest about global consumer behavior ?
Description: Tech jobs are making a comeback in the U.S. as global demand increases. The metro area with the biggest gain? Oklahoma City.
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 12/07/2010
Questions for discussion:
  • Why is this sector of the economy gaining so many jobs at this time?
  • What does this trend suggest about global consumer behavior ?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/13/tech-sector-adds-47000-jobs-so-far-in-2010/feed/ 0 Groupon reportedly spurns Google’s billions http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/groupon-reportedly-spurns-google%e2%80%99s-billions/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/groupon-reportedly-spurns-google%e2%80%99s-billions/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:04:09 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1361 Description: Groupon Inc. has walked away from a Google Inc. acquisition offer worth as much as $6 billion, according to reports late Friday, appearing to set the stage for a Groupon IPO as soon as next year.

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 12/04/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/groupon-reportedly-spurns-google-merger-2010-12-04

Questions for discussion: 

  • Do you think Groupon is overvalued in this proposed deal?
  • How would you evaluate Groupon’s fair value from an acquisitions point of view?
  • Why would the acquisition affect  the value of Google shares?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/groupon-reportedly-spurns-google%e2%80%99s-billions/feed/ 0 He Puts the Soda in Pop Songs http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/he-puts-the-soda-in-pop-songs/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/he-puts-the-soda-in-pop-songs/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:03:36 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1358 Description:  In the past two years, Adam Kluger has built a boutique product-placement agency that’s become a cash conduit for the revenue-needy music business.

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 12/02/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_50/b4207086663830.htm

Questions for discussion: 

  • What is Adam Kluger’s strategy for success?
  • How would you explain his strategic thinking with respect to the music industry?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/he-puts-the-soda-in-pop-songs/feed/ 0 Zagat Is Right. Southwest Is All We Look For In an Airline Now http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/zagat-is-right-southwest-is-all-we-look-for-in-an-airline-now/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/zagat-is-right-southwest-is-all-we-look-for-in-an-airline-now/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:02:36 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1355 Description: OK, boys and girls, it’s time for oxymoron 101: Airline food, Customer service,
Ontime performance. You get the drill. And yet, as bad as air travel can seem sometimes (and it IS bad sometimes) there are some airlines that continue to win our loyalty, our trust, and our goodwill.

Source:  BNET.com

Date: 12/03/2010

Link: http://www.bnet.com/blog/travel-detective/zagat-is-right-southwest-is-all-we-look-for-in-an-airline-now/186?tag=mantle_skin;content

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the basic arguments presented by this reporter?
  • Do you agree with his assessment and analysis of the research findings?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/zagat-is-right-southwest-is-all-we-look-for-in-an-airline-now/feed/ 0 The Food Cycle: Recall, Forget, Repeat http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/the-food-cycle-recall-forget-repeat/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/the-food-cycle-recall-forget-repeat/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:01:35 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1352 Description:  Memories can be short when it comes to food recalls. Surveys show that Americans are concerned about food contamination, but experts say that recalls have only a short-term effect on consumers.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 12/04/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/business/05metricstext.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the report findings about consumer behavior and the reasons suggested for them?
  • Are you surprised by any of the report findings?
  • What are the implications for the food producer and the distributors?
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