Posts Categorized: Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business

Diamond-Crusted Vertu Phone Defies Slump

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  When Mohammed Al-Haj, a 27-year-old marketing executive in Abu Dhabi, hinted to his girlfriend that he wanted a new cell phone for his birthday, he wasn’t after the latest Apple Inc. (AAPL) or Android device. He wanted a Nokia. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 09/29/2011 Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-28/nokia-s-6-800-diamond-crusted-vertu-phone-defies-slump-to-win-sales-tech.html Questions for discussion: Explain the customer’s behavior in this… Read more »

The Russian Twins Behind Hit iPhone App Cut the Rope

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Efim and Semyon Voinov are hiring more engineers and expanding their brand into comics and stuffed animals Source: Businessweek.com Date: 09/22/2011 Link:   http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-russian-twins-behind-hit-iphone-app-cut-the-rope-09222011.html Questions for discussion: How are these brothers similar to other entrepreneurs? Are there differences in comparison to other entrepreneurs? Do you think their story is any different than others developers? Describe… Read more »

Blue Bottle: The best coffee you may ever drink

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  You’ll have to wait a little longer for a cup of James Freeman’s caffeine from Olympus, but it’s so worth it. Source: Fortune.com Date: 09/23/2011 Link:  http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/23/blue-bottle-coffee-james-freeman/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Summarize the business described in this report. How is the business different from others in the same trade? Who are the target customers for… Read more »

Stitching a business from scratch

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  Fashion designer Eileen Fisher didn’t even know how to sew when she started her clothing company but had the determination to succeed. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/16/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/09/16/hwgs_eileen_fisher.fortune/ Questions for discussion:  How would you describe the entrepreneurial character of Eileen Fisher? Do you think her success is due more to her… Read more »

Highest Paid Entertainer in Hollywood

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

Description:  Christopher Farley tells us who the highest paid entertainment in Hollywood is. Plus, Ayn Rand gets her own app. Chris Farley has details on Lunch Break’s Speakeasy Roundup. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 09/13/2011 Link:   http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/highest-paid-entertainer-in-hollywood/E8944865-993C-41F1-862A-1BE40B170E81 Questions for discussion: Explain the success of the entrepreneurs mentioned in this report? Are you surprised that… Read more »

Is your Gibson guitar contraband?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  Federal agents raid Gibson Guitar factories looking for rare, protected wood, such as ebony and rosewood from India, costing the guitar manufacturer $1 million in losses. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/02/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/09/02/n_gibson_raid.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the ethical issues in this case? Is Gibson management behaving in a socially responsible… Read more »

Daniel Gross’s Greplin Is One Smart Search Engine

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: The precocious Israeli coder is co-founder of a startup building the one search box to rule them all—and to organize your entire online life Source: Businessweek.com Date: 09/01/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/daniel-grosss-greplin-is-one-smart-search-engine-09012011.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about entrepreneurship? Would you invest in this app? What are the difficulties, from a marketing point… Read more »

How Steve Jobs saved Apple

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  A look back at why Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple and how his return reinvented the computer giant. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 08/25/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/08/24/t_steve_jobs_apple_fall_rise.fortune/ Questions for discussion: How would you describe the business career of Steve Jobs? What do you think Jobs’ legacy will be? Would you consider Jobs an… Read more »

Double-dip fears grip Main St.

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Four family businesses in suburban New York are worried that they are going to suffer again from economic uncertainty. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 08/12/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/08/12/smb_main_street_reaction.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How are small businesses affected by consumer reaction to financial turmoil? How do they deal with the economic slowdown in business?

Secrets of a used car factory

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Paragon Honda of Queens, N.Y. shows us how it builds its used car inventory by buying customers’ cars when they get them serviced. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/06/24/sbiz_used_car_honda.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the business model used by this firm. Why is it so successful? Why is this business doing well… Read more »