Description: The three-year-old online marketplace is selling more java from independent roasters by appealing to opinionated drinkers Source: Businessweek.com Date: 08/04/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/roastecom-a-website-for-coffee-cognoscenti-08042011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. What other marketing ideas would you recommend to these businesses?
Posts Categorized: Part 4: Marketing Management
Drop in earnings no problem for Amazon
Description: Amazon may sacrifice some profits as it invests, but investors focus more on the big sales increase and a solid outlook. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/27/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/07/27/mkts_am_amazon_0727.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Summarize the reasons for the jump in share value even though earnings fell? What does this report suggest about the connection… Read more »
Automakers profitable! Who would have thought?
Description: AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson explains how the car industry is on the road to recovery despite an overall decline in new car sales. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/27/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/07/27/n_ceo_autonation_cars.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the current state of the automobile business. Why are sales improving? Why is the industry so important for… Read more »
The Edison of Silicon Valley
Description: Steve Perlman, Silicon Valley’s self-styled Thomas Edison, has found a way to increase wireless capacity by a factor of 1,000 Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/27/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-edison-of-silicon-valley-07272011.html Questions for discussion: Describe the technological development and why it would be a major breakthrough for the industry. Who would benefit and who would be harmed, if… Read more »
Book’s closed on Borders. Who’s next?
Description: Brick and mortar retail stores will have trouble keeping up with the likes of Apple, Amazon and Netflix. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/21/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/07/21/n_bz_borders_retail.cnnmoney/  Questions for discussion:  Summarize the reasons for the demise of Borders. Do you agree that other businesses with similar business models facing changing customer behaviors are equally… Read more »
Pandora CEO Sees `Significant’ Growth in Ad Sales
Description: Joe Kennedy, chief executive officer of Pandora Media Inc., talks about outlook for the company’s growth and advertising sales. Kennedy also discusses Pandora’s social-media strategy, initial public offering and competition in the digital music industry. He speaks with Emily Chang on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” (Source: Bloomberg)  Source: Businessweek.com – video report Date: 07/21/2011… Read more »
Spotify CEO: Music access, not ownership, is the future
Description: Daniel Ek, the CEO of the online music service Spotify, has ambitious plans for penetrating the U.S. market. Profitability, for now, isn’t a concern. Source: Fortune.com  Date: 07/21/2011 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/21/spotify-daniel-ek-brainstorm/ Questions for discussion: Describe the key differences between the Spotify and Pandora business model. Which company do you think the market will subscribe… Read more »
America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs: 2011 Winners
Description: Businessweek.com readers voted a San Francisco print shop that hires recovering addicts and ex-offenders their top choice for America’s most promising social enterprise. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/19/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2011/07/americas_most_promising_social_entrepreneurs_2011_winners.html Questions for discussion: Review the companies that were listed in this article by visiting their respective websites. What do they have in common? Can… Read more »
VEVO wants to reinvent the music video
Description: The social network giant has built video chat capabilities via Skype into its instant messaging platform. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/07/15/t_vevo_music_videos.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Describe the evolution of the music video business. Where do you think it will go over the next few years, in terms of production, audiences, revenue… Read more »
Hello America, Spotify Is Here
Description: Bloomberg’s Sheila Dharmarajan talks about Spotify, the European online music service that’s making its U.S. deb Source: Businessweek.com – video report Date: 07/15/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/video/#video=5tOGluMjqsysbBlqRcbDNE333bgX4I4a Questions for discussion: How is Spotify different from Pandora? Do they appeal to the same target audience? Do you think the business model can be successful and allow for… Read more »
