Start a small biz with $500
November 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Tweezerman founder Dal LaMagna says his company grew by being frugal with money and keeping stakeholders interests at heart.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 11/11/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Explain the global success of this game?
- What does its success suggest about consumer behavior?
- What need does this product satisfy for consumers?
- How do you explain the appeal of Monopoly in this age of electronic gadgetry?
Small business is still hiring
October 11, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: ‘Help Wanted’ signs are popping up all over, but small business owners say they still feel the impact of the financial downturn.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 10/08/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/10/08/n_help_wanted.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the current state of affairs at the small businesses that were profiled in the report.
- What does this information suggest to you about the economy in general?
- Why is the employment situation at small business so worthwhile knowing?
Burger joint’s social media recipe
September 20, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: 4Food uses social networks like Twitter and Foursquare in lieu of traditional marketing to let customers share their own burger creations.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 09/16/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/09/15/t_4food_burger_donut_twitter.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think of the use of social marketing, as demonstrated by this small business?
- Do you think social media works better for small businesses than it can for big?
- Would you use social media to promote this business as expected by the owners?
- Why do you suppose so many people have responded to this promotional strategy?
- How can this small business encourage more compliance by customers and response by receivers of social media messaging?
Small business: Stop ignoring us!
September 13, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Business owners from across the U.S. say the government should clarify its stance on taxes and do more to help them.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 09/08/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/09/08/n_small_business_owners.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the comments made by the small business owners in this report.
- Do you agree with their positions?
- Why are manufacturing jobs so important for overall economic performance?
- What do you believe is the difference between “fair” and “free” trade?
- How could trade be made fairer?
- What role should government play to help small businesses?
Busted iPhone? Call the ‘doctor’
July 12, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: A New Yorker runs a lucrative business fixing broken iPhones for about half of what Apple charges.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 07/08/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/07/07/n_broken_iphone_fixer.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think these iPhone customers risk using the services of the ‘doctor’ rather than traditional Apple repair services?
- What does this story tell you about the way to entrepreneurial success?
- How successful would this enterprise be if the cost of repair or replacement was lower?
A Wide-Open Market for Tesla
July 5, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Fresh off its successful IPO, electric car maker Tesla is finding a receptive market in Europe for its green technology. MarketWatch’s Shawn Langlois gets behind the wheel of the Tesla Roadster to see if it lives up to the hype.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 07/02/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Who is the target market for this vehicle?
- Do you think incentives from governments are needed to help sell this car to its target customer?
- Why do you think the company has introduced such an expensive model?
- What is the main feature that motivates buyers of this car?
Why Coca-Cola succeeds in Africa
June 28, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Former CEO Neville Isdell explains that the franchise system makes business owners in Africa feel more invested in the company.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 06/26/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/06/26/f_gf_coke_africa.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- What are the reasons presented that explain Coca-Cola’s success in Africa?
- Do you agree with the explanation?
- Are there other reasons that might explain its success?
- Would you change any strategies the company is currently following?
- Does the firm present ethical business behavior?
- How does this strategy compare to the one in the U.S.?
A Treatment for Declining Sales
May 24, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Epidavros Day Spa, in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., bears the name of the ancient Greek coastal town known as a healing sanctuary. But by the end of 2009, owner Sandra Rovira says the spa’s atmosphere was anything but restorative.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 05/20/2010
Link: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/a-treatment-for-declining-sales/
Questions for discussion:
- What did you learn from this article about small business thinking?
- What other solutions can you offer?
Why a $14/hour employee costs $20
March 29, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: You probably cost your boss a lot more than you think you do.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 03/26/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/26/smallbusiness/employee_costs/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- In general, do you think these taxes (costs) are fair to employers and employees?
- Why would any exemptions for employment taxes be considered an unfair competitive subsidy by other businesses who must continue to pay?
- Is there a better way to pay for entitlement programs delivered by governments and still help stimulate hiring?
Vivendi May Decide to Sell NBC Stake as Sale Window Opens Today
November 16, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Vivendi SA, owner of the world’s biggest music company, can decide as soon as today to sell its 20 percent stake in NBC Universal, paving the way for General Electric Co. and Comcast Corp. to combine their media assets.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 11/15/2009
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a4UvueFpO4oE
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the strategic thinking behind a possible sale by Vivendi SA and the merger of General Electric Co. and Comcast Corp. media assets?
- Do you think the merger makes sense? Explain your thinkning.
