Description: When Ed Sbragia started Sbragia Family Vineyards, it was an accomplishment that was nearly a century in the making. His grandfather moved from Italy to California in 1904 to work in the wineries just north of San Francisco. In the 1940s, Mr. Sbragia’s father bought property in the Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg and… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 4: Marketing Management
Internet Sales Tax Coming Too Late for Some Stores
Description: Anita Demetropoulos, a Maine shopkeeper, figured she would never see the day when her most relentless competitor, Amazon, would be forced to collect sales tax. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Apr 26, 2013 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/technology/internet-sales-tax-coming-too-late-for-some-stores.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=business&adxnnlx=1367075722-WWYd/ji/2PZqa8QTItbNpA Questions for Discussions: Do you think the tax legislation was delayed to help companies like Amazon get started? Do you think… Read more »
How a U.S. shoemaker stays competitive
Description: Okabashi Brands was founded in the 1980s when U.S. manufacturing was shrinking. But thanks to automation, a U.S. workforce, and recycling methods, Okabashi is a success story. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 1, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2013/04/17/small-business-smt-okabashi-shoes-made-is-usa.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the highlights in this report. How has the firm managed to operate… Read more »
Why Tesco failed in the U.S.
Description: British grocery retailer Tesco pulls out of the U.S. market after failing to make a profit. Some analysts blame the company’s poor judgment of U.S. consumer tastes. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 18, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/04/18/n-cmr-tesco-us-market.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why did the retailer fail in the US? What does this report say… Read more »
Amazon’s ‘Betas’ Sends Up Life in a Pseudo Silicon Valley
Description: If you can peel away from the drumbeat of news coverage from Boston, you may have noticed that Amazon (AMZN) has posted 14 television pilots to its website today and is asking its users to fill in for the role of network executive. The e-commerce giant will evaluate customer reviews and data about viewing… Read more »
Native advertising is also showing significant growth
Description: Three major trends are driving some of the biggest changes in social ad spend and helping kick up growth: the mobile channel, local outreach and native ad formats. Estimates from BIA/Kelsey released in its “Annual US Local Media Forecast: Social Local Media 2012-2017” report showed that the firm expected social media ad spending in… Read more »
Cooking up a healthy fast-food chain
Description: Can fast-food be healthy? Canadian startup Freshii is testing the waters by building a chain of healthy fast-food restaurants in the U.S. and around the world. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 12, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2013/04/12/f-t-freshii-healthy-fast-food-chain.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: How can this business fit into the mix of fast-food competition? Who is the… Read more »
The Game Theory Behind Starbucks’ Big Coffee Price Cut
Description: Good news for the caffeinated masses: Starbucks (SBUX) is cutting prices, starting May 10, on its bags of coffee sold in grocery stores. The $1-per-bag discount represents a 10 percent discount on its eponymous beans, a 12.5 percent drop on its cheaper Seattle’s Best brand. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Apr 12, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-12/the-game-theory-behind-starbucks-big-coffee-price-cut#r=hpt-lst Questions… Read more »
Sometimes, We Want Prices to Fool Us
Description: WHEN the board of J. C. Penney ousted its chief executive, Ron Johnson — news that broke last Monday — you might say it was, in some small way, because he didn’t understand Tracie Fobes. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Apr 13, 2013 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/business/for-penney-a-tough-lesson-in-shopper-psychology.html?ref=business&_r=0 Questions for Discussions: Summarize the importance of pricing strategies, the use… Read more »
TV streaming startup vs. the networks
Description: Aereo allows users to stream broadcast networks over the internet and the major media companies are not happy about it. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 03, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/04/03/t-aereo-networks-tv.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What does this technology suggest to you about the future of television distribution? What would you advise networks and cable… Read more »
