The Places They Go When Banks Say No
February 1, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: IN the glory days of the digital photo frame business, when his products were still a novelty and shoppers were flush with cash, getting a bank loan to manufacture them was a cinch, Michael Levy says.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 01/30/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/business/smallbusiness/31order.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the problems facing small businesses since the financial crisis hit?
- What alternatives are small business owners employing as a result of the credit freeze?
- What are the possible consequences of these changes?
- Do you believe they are permanent or will borrowing practices return to what they were before eventually?
Now at Starbucks: A Rebound
January 25, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Young people wearing hoodies and chunky glasses are sipping microbrew beers and espressos, nibbling on cheese and baguettes made at a local bakery and listening to a guitarist strum and sing.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 01/20/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/business/21sbux.html
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think the new “entrepreneurial” approach at Starbucks will be successful?
- What are the risks and benefits of moving away from one model for all store outlets?
- What would you suggest be done at your local Starbucks to increase sales and profits?
MD by day, iPhone developer at night
December 14, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Brian Gillett needed some extra money to put his son through private school, so he developed an iPhone app that helps users find a nearby mailbox.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 12/09/2009
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2009/12/09/sbiz_iphone_app_developer_mail.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think developers of iPhone apps come from such varied backgrounds, as illustrated by Brian Gillett. Explain your answer.
- How does the growth in successful apps help the growth of iPhone sales?
- Create an idea for an app that you would be willing to buy for under $5.
Gordon Ramsay Flees Kitchen as TV Fame Saves Restaurant Empire
December 14, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: On a gray morning in October, Gordon Ramsay bursts into the kitchen of his south London house, pop music blaring from the radio. At the heart of the room stands a 67,000-pound ($109,000) French cooking range that weighs 2.5 tons and had to be lowered by crane into the celebrity chef’s home.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 12/11/2009
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aRE.WJ51Hq2s
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think Ramsay is a typical entrepreneur? Explain your answer.
- How is he different? Explain your answer.
- Summarize the reasons for the risk of bankruptcy.
- How did Ramsay fix the problem?
From fashion passion to profit
Description: An enthusiasm for vintage threads led entrepreneurs to create the successful online clothing retailer, ModCloth.com.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 11/10/2009
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2009/11/10/sbiz_makeover_modcloth.smb/
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think this small business has succeeded?
- What problems are these entrepreneurs facing, now that they are beginning to grow their business?
- How would you promote this brand and drive sales?
Reviving historical sites
September 7, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Global Heritage Fund restores ancient architectural monuments and brings tourism to the poorest countries of the world.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 9/03/2009
Keys: International business, marketing, small business
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/09/03/n_cc_global_heritage_fund.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think of this concept? Will it be successful? Explain your thinking?
- How would you market this idea to potential travellers?
- Who would be your target market? Explain your answer?
- What are some of the benefits that can accrue to businesses in these countries as well as those in the home countries of the potential travellers?
Zipcar’s $1 billion ambitions
August 31, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
CEO Scott Griffith says the car rental company plans to grow its customer base and become a billion-dollar company.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 8/26/2009
Keys: Marketing, buyer behavior, small business
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/08/26/f_tt_zipcar_ceo_griffith.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- Who is the target customer for Zipcar?
- What are the firm’s competitive advantages over alternative customer choices?
- Besides local governments, who else could be a potential new large-scale target market?
- Would you be a potential customer of Zipcar? Explain why or why not.
- Could someone who owns a car also possibly be a Zipcar customer? Explain your answer.
- How would you go about building the customer base?
The birth of Costco
August 24, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management
Costco CEO Jim Sinegal on how the wholesale retailer went from concept to $1 billion in just three years.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 8/17/2009
Keys: Management, marketing, small business
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2009/08/17/sbiz.hwgs.costco.sinegal.smb/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the small business developmental history of Costco into the firm that exists today?
- What were some of the key problems faced by management in the early years?
- What would you say is the key competitive advantage offered to customers that has resulted in Costco’s success?
- In which ways do you think Costco will be different in say, five years from today? For example, will its customer base or product offering change?
