Record GTA V sales boost Take-Two

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Description: Sales of the latest Grand Theft Auto game reached $800 million on their first day. Take-Two’s stock surged. But EA and Activision are doing well too thanks to their own hit games. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 19, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/09/19/investing-the-buzz-take-two-grand-theft-auto-v.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain the financial success of GTA and other… Read more »

How the miniature Iron Man flies

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Description: A radio controlled flying Iron Man is modeled after a much larger 6′ model, and is expected to be one of the hot toys this holiday season. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 19, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/09/19/t-ts-iron-man-drone-toy.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How important is the “Iron Man” brand to the price set for this… Read more »

Revolution Foods’ Quest to Pack More Nutrition Into Kids’ Lunchboxes

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: Kirsten Tobey, 35, and Kristin Richmond, 38, launched Revolution Foods in 2006 to supply healthy lunches to schools in low-income communities. The Oakland (Calif.) business has grown into a national operation, preparing more than 1 million meals weekly for almost 1,000 schools across the country. Now it’s going head to head with Kraft Foods Group (KRFT),… Read more »

POSTMASTER SAYS USPS MAY NEED EMERGENCY RATE HIKE

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Description: Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said Thursday his agency is in “the midst of a financial disaster” and may need an emergency increase in postage rates to keep operating. Source: AP.com Date: Sep 19, 2013 Link: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/postmaster-says-usps-may-need-emergency-rate-hike Questions for Discussions: What is the problem at the USPS? Why is it important to keep the service going… Read more »

Iron Maiden beer: Now on tap

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Description: Trooper Beer from Iron maiden front man Bruce Dickinson has beaten sales expectations since launching in May, with plans to ship to 180 countries. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 12, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/12/n-cmr-iron-maiden-beer.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Who is the target market for this brand? Do you think cross-branding the band with their… Read more »

A Burger Chain Taps Local Farms to Sell More Franchises

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Description: Franchise restaurant success usually starts with cutting operational costs and purchasing in bulk from national suppliers. The savings that come from volume and standardization are then funneled into mammoth ad campaigns that send Americans flocking to new outlets. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Sep 11, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-11/a-burger-chain-taps-local-farms-to-sell-more-franchises#r=hpt-fs Questions for Discussions: What makes this franchise business… Read more »

Wall Street’s Not Buying This ‘Cheap’ iPhone

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Description: Apple’s new ‘low-cost’ iPhone is still pretty expensive, which is bad news for profits in an economy where wages are stagnant and truly cheap options are plentiful. Daniel Gross on the stock market’s punishing response—and the bleak outlook in Asia and Africa. Source: Thedailybeast.com Date: Sep 11, 2013 Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/11/wall-street-s-not-buying-this-cheap-iphone.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize… Read more »

Madden game key to NFL growth abroad

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Description: The NFL is gaining fans in Europe thanks to EA’s Madden game which helps new fans learn the rules of football. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 05, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/05/n-uk-football-video-game-boulden.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain how the video games have influenced the growth in awareness of these sports in new foreign markets? How… Read more »

Hands on with Samsung’s Galaxy Gear watch

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Description: Samsung’s new smartwatch has limited functionality and a high $299 price tag. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 06, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/09/05/t-ts-samsung-gear-watch-hands-on.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons the reviewer was disappointed with the Samsung smartwatch. Do you think it will sell well despite the shortcomings? What is the primary feature that you… Read more »

Hey Samsung, the Dumbwatch Industry Has You Beat

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Description: Swatch (UHR:VX) has made a self-winding timepiece with just 51 components. As Samsung (005930:KS) and other tech giants race to bring smartwatches to the public, slashing the number of moving parts in a timepiece is what counts as an extraordinary advance in the 500-year-old dumbwatch industry. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Sep 06, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-06/hey-samsung-the-dumbwatch-industry-has-you-beat… Read more »