Someday, Store Coupons May Tap You on the Shoulder

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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… Read more »

Surfer’s calendar site gives back

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business.

Description: Custom calendar site CalendarLink.org raises funds and spreads awareness for the California Surf Life Saving Association. 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… Read more »

Getting the message out on Facebook

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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?

Higher U.S. Airfares Loom as Crude Climbs Toward $100 a Barrel

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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… Read more »

A Tough Sell at Sears

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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… Read more »

Tech Sector Adds 47,000 Jobs So Far in 2010

Posted by & filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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… Read more »

Groupon reportedly spurns Google’s billions

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

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… Read more »

He Puts the Soda in Pop Songs

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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?

Zagat Is Right. Southwest Is All We Look For In an Airline Now

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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:… Read more »

The Food Cycle: Recall, Forget, Repeat

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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?… Read more »