Description: Commentary: With incumbent in presidential race, stocks gain Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 11/11/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/2012-could-be-a-good-year-for-the-markets-2011-11-11 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons 2012 could be a good year. Do you agree with these arguments?
Posts Categorized: Part 4: Marketing Management
Apple’s Supply-Chain Secret? Hoard Lasers
Description: The iPhone maker spends lavishly on all stages of the manufacturing process, giving it a huge operations advantage Source: Businessweek.com Date: 11/03/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secret-hoard-lasers-11032011.html Questions for discussion: Why does Apple have a competitive advantage in R&D over other firms? How important is the scale of production to Apple’s success in R&D and production?
The TV business model is doomed
Description: Commentary: How much will you pay to regain personal time? Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 11/04/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-tv-business-model-is-doomed-2011-11-04 Questions for discussion: Do you believe the current business model is doomed? Do you believe there is a sizable segment of the market that would be willing to pay $1 per hour of commercial-free television? Where do you… Read more »
Spending $310 million … on pet costumes
Description: People spend more on Halloween than any other holiday, aside from Christmas. Spending for kid and pet costumes, candy and decorations is expected to hit almost $7 billion this year. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 10/28/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/28/n_spooky_spending.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why do you suppose Halloween has endured as an annual marketing event?… Read more »
What Would An Apple Television Look Like?
Description:   Before he passed away earlier this month, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson that he had finally conceived of a way to build the integrated television set the company has long been rumored to be working on. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 10/25/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/what-would-an-apple-television-look-like/A9CD8D8E-5B33-4549-B721-06FA2D2A6D56 Questions for discussion: Do you think… Read more »
Alaska’s Billion Dollar Mountain
Description: The story of one man who used a little persuasionâ€â€and a lot of luckâ€â€to win the rights to millions of tons of rare earths Source: Businessweek.com Date: 10/27/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/alaskas-billion-dollar-mountain-10272011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points in this report? What did you learn about the industry from an “on the ground†point of… Read more »
$25,000 for a child’s playhouse?
Description: Lilliput Play Homes feature replicas of everything a full-size house does, including the kitchen sink. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 10/21/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/pf/2011/10/21/pf_lilliput_play_homes.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the success of this firm? Who are the target customers? What are some other “concepts“ for production, besides playhouses, that this company might consider producing?
A Comeback for the Much Maligned Murphy Bed
Description:   California Closets and other furniture sellers have seen a spike in demand for Murphy beds, which fold down from the wall. As Elizabeth Holmes explains on Lunch Break, the design of these beds has evolved from awkward and obvious to sleek. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 10/21/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/a-comeback-for-the-much-maligned-murphy-bed/5C8AF728-40E7-4BD7-8CF8-18250F1FB2D0 Questions for discussion: Who… Read more »
The Green Bay Packers Have the Best Owners in Football
Description: The fans are shareholders. The CEO is a union leader and ex-player. The city is a dot on the map. The bizarre anomaly of the franchise that rules the NFL Source: Businessweek.com Date: 10/20/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-green-bay-packers-have-the-best-owners-in-football-10202011.html Questions for discussion: Explain the strategic success of the team from a managerial, marketing, and financial point of… Read more »
Rent a $2,300 outfit for $175
Description: Startup Rent the Runway is a company born out of the recession where you can rent high-end designer fashion for a fraction of retail prices. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 10/14/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/13/n_rent_the_runway.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the success of this firm? Who are the target customers? Do you think this business model… Read more »
