China’s vanishing factory bosses

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  No one believed more fervently in China’s economic miracle than the residents of this pretty coastal city, which produces shoes, eyeglasses and cigarette lighters sold around the world. The good times of the past decade made many in Wenzhou rich, and residents repeatedly doubled their bets, pouring their earnings and more into stock markets and real estate.

Source:  GlobeandMail.com

Date: 11/05/2011

Link:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/asian-pacific/chinas-vanishing-factory-bosses/article2226218/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the analysis presented in the report.
  • How is this Chinese debt crisis similar to those in Europe and the U.S.?

Spending $310 million … on pet costumes

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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?
  • Are you surprised by the amount of money spent?
  • List the different businesses that currently sell products and services related to Halloween.
  • Suggest some new ideas that would allow these businesses or any others to exploit Halloween?

What Would An Apple Television Look Like?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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 the subscription model described in the report is the way of the future?
  • Why would the current TV networks and stations be unwilling to co-operate with such a model of business?
  • How could Apple go around the networks and TV stations in order to supply on demand TV viewing?

Alaska’s Billion Dollar Mountain

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  The story of one man who used a little persuasion—and a lot of luck—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 view in comparison to the pure financial side?

Amazon falls on forecast; Street stays bullish

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Investors sold off shares of Amazon.com Wednesday, though Wall Street retained a largely positive view of the stock.

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 10/26/2011

Link:   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-falls-on-forecast-street-stays-bullish-2011-10-26?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion:

  • Why did Amazon stock prices fall?
  • Do you think the sellers made the right investment decision?
  • Do you think Amazon is a good investment at this time?

Yahoo Said to Lean Toward Dividend, Buyback

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Yahoo! Inc. is leaning toward selling its Asian assets and redistributing the proceeds to shareholders, rather than selling itself to a group of buyers, according to five people familiar with the situation.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/29/2011

Link:   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-28/yahoo-said-to-lean-toward-dividend-buyback-instead-of-sale.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main points presented in this report.
  • Do you think the decision under consideration would be good for shareholders?
  • Why does selling assets make sense to management at this time?

$25,000 for a child’s playhouse?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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 are the target customers for Murphy beds?
  • Explain why the Murphy bed has made a come-back?
  • How important is the brand “California Closets” in the marketing of this bed?
  • How important is styling?

The Green Bay Packers Have the Best Owners in Football

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

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 view?

Can bank stocks bail out your portfolio?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Year’s tumble lures value seekers, but they could be a trap

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 10/21/2011

Link:   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/can-bank-stocks-bail-out-your-portfolio-2011-10-21

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main points presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with the analysis and conclusions?