Description: Despite Toyota’s recent recalls, customers remain committed to the automaker. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 02/03/2010  Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/02/03/toyota_dealership_customers.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think the damage done to the Toyota brand can be corrected? Explain how or why it can’t. How do you think the communications effort by the dealerships should be… Read more »
Monthly Archives: February 2010
Buyer interest in Prius grows. Say what?
Description: By now, you’ve heard that some 2010 Toyota Priuses have a braking problem blamed for several crashes. That sounds scary, but to some it sounds like a deal. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 02/05/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/05/autos/prius_deals/index.htm Questions for discussion: Explain how the negative publicity could in fact help boost sales at Toyota Prius? Can the publicity… Read more »
Amazon reshelves Macmillan titles but not e-books
Description: Online retailer Amazon.com Inc resumed selling hardcover and paperback books from Macmillan Publishers late on Friday in a sign the two companies are getting closer to resolving a pricing dispute over Macmillan’s electronic books, which remain unavailable on Amazon. Source: Reuters.com Date: 02/07/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61517220100207 Questions for discussion: Why would Amazon wish to sell… Read more »
A Search Engine That Relies on Humans
Description: A report this week laying out a strategy for social search has been getting a good deal of attention in tech circles. The paper, “Anatomy of a Large Scale Social Search Engine,†was written by Damon Horowitz and Sepandar Kamvar of Aardvark, one of several companies working on creating social search engines. As of… Read more »
Many retailers post strong January sales gains
Description: Fueled by gift-card redemptions, clearance sales and almost pitifully easy comparisons, the nation’s retailers seem, on balance, to have posted their fifth straight monthly sales gain in January, according to sales figures released Thursday. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 02/04/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/many-retailers-post-strong-january-sales-gains-2010-02-04?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Summarize the retailing report. Explain how these results suggest the future… Read more »
Toyota recalls spread
Description:  More bad news for the world’s largest automaker as another 2 million vehicles will be recalled in Europe and China. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 01/28/2010  Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/01/28/mkts_toyota_recall_siemens.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think that this problem will hurt Toyota sales in the long term? Some might argue that the response by… Read more »
Stop blaming Big Business
Description: The top-grossing movie in the world, Avatar, is on screens now, and it clearly identifies the most evil force in the universe. It’s business. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 01/29/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/28/news/economy/business_populism.fortune/index.htm Questions for discussion: Do you agree with the argument presented by the reporter? Do believe attitudes toward “big business†have changes because of the… Read more »
Just blowing the froth off?
Description: January has been the worst month for stock investors since February last year just before markets took off on a stellar risk rally. Source: Reuters.com Date: 01/29/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60S42520100129 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for why the stock market might be poised to advance in February or continue on its decline. What… Read more »
The Places They Go When Banks Say No
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… Read more »
