Description: Airbus SAS’s A380 superjumbo, designed to carry 500 people per flight between the world’s biggest airport interchanges, is carving out an unexpected new market with direct travel to non-hub cities. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 10/08/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-07/airbus-a380-jumbo-jet-bypasses-hubs-as-smaller-cities-clamor-for-flights.html Questions for discussion: What does this report have to say about the current and future direction of… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 4: Marketing Management
What J&J’s CEO didn’t say
Description: CEO William Weldon admitted to lawmakers that his company made mistakes involving numerous recalls, but never explained how they happened. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 10/01/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/09/30/n_tylenol_recall_hearing.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the plan at Starbucks to expand into other businesses by using the web? Do you think this plan will be successful?… Read more »
Samuel Gordon Jewelers: A Small Business That Gets Social Media
Description: Daniel Gordon loves to chat. As President of Oklahoma City-based Samuel Gordon Jewelers  and the 4th generation of his family to run the 106-year-old company  you might figure that being social comes with the territory, since he is the face of his company. Source: BNET.com  Date: 09/28/2010 Link: http://www.bnet.com/blog/smb/samuel-gordon-jewelers-a-small-business-that-gets-social-media/2274?promo=713&tag=nl.e713 Questions for… Read more »
Bugatti, Ferrari Sell Out of Supercars as Luxury Roars Back
Description: Bugatti, Volkswagen AG’s supercar brand, and Fiat SpA’s Ferrari have sold out of their most expensive models as demand for luxury vehicles roars back. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 10/01/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-30/bugatti-sells-out-of-2-7-million-world-record-model-as-luxury-roars-back.html Questions for discussion: Why are these cars selling so well during a time when general economic conditions are so poor? What do these… Read more »
Starbucks Stirs Up New In-Store Web Hub
Description: At the Think Mobile conference in San Francisco, Starbucks VP Adam Brotman outlines the company’s vision for a new Web-based network available in its coffee shops. In partnership with Yahoo, the new site will offer movies, music, and premium content from The Wall Street Journal and Zagat for free. Source: BNET.com – video report… Read more »
Home video biz has become ‘quite baffling to consumers’
Description: Apple CEO Steve Jobs sang a familiar tune this month when he described a big selling point for his newly revamped Apple TV. The device, which connects TV sets to the Internet, will make it “really simple” for people to rent movies on demand, he said. Source: USAToday.com  Date: 09/23/2010 Link: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2010-09-23-homevideo23_CV_N.htm Questions… Read more »
Blockbuster Chief Says He Will Evaluate `Every Single Store’
Description: Blockbuster Inc. Chief Executive Officer James Keyes said he will evaluate “every single store†in the video-rental chain as it reorganizes to compete with competitors that provide movies online and by mail. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 09/24/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-24/blockbuster-chief-says-he-ll-evaluate-every-single-store-in-video-chain.html Questions for discussion: Why did Blockbuster fail? Why is closing down Blockbuster stores a quick… Read more »
Burger joint’s social media recipe
Description: 4Food uses social networks like Twitter and Foursquare in lieu of traditional marketing to let customers share their own burger creations. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/16/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/09/15/t_4food_burger_donut_twitter.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What do you think of the use of social marketing, as demonstrated by this small business? Do you think social media… Read more »
iPad clones hit shelves in China
Description: As Apple launches the iPad in China, locally-made wannabes are released at a fraction of the price. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/17/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/09/17/t_iclone_china.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think consumers will look at these devices as equivalents to Apple iPads? How is Apple able to sell iPads at five times the… Read more »
Crowdsourcer Threadless’ Life Beyond T-shirts
Description: With designs vetted by devotees, Threadless has helped Dell sell computers and Havaianas sell flip-flops. Next up: Expanding into brick and mortar retail chains Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 09/16/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_39/b4196024715129.htm Questions for discussion: Why does this marketing strategy work so well? What other businesses do you think could succeed by using the same… Read more »
