Someday, Store Coupons May Tap You on the Shoulder

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  CLIPPING coupons is a hassle. Intentionally. If shoppers were to redeem any more than just a sliver of them, manufacturers would have a self-created financial catastrophe on their hands.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 12/25/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/business/26digi.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the development of coupon use by consumers?
  • How will technology affect this pricing strategy in the future?
  • What do you think is a good strategy for companies to follow so as to optimize the effectiveness of coupons?

Madoff victims could soon get billions

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

Description: Madoff victims might finally get their hands on their stolen billions. The court-appointed trustee trying to recover Madoff’s loot has brought dozens of lawsuits but so far hasn’t been able to compensate victims. That might soon change. A court hearing is set for Jan. 13 that could unlock more than one-third of the $20 billion in stolen money.

Source:  CNNMoney.com

Date: 12/23/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/23/news/companies/madoff_trustee_sipc/index.htm

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think this news report will change the way people think about investing?
  • Do you think the financial recovery of these funds will change what the general public thinks about the people who were connected in some way with the fraud?

Surfer’s calendar site gives back

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business.

Description: Custom calendar site CalendarLink.org raises funds and spreads awareness for the California Surf Life Saving Association.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/22/2010

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/22/n_cc_tides_of_giving.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • How is this business socially responsible?
  • Who are the target customers?
  • What makes this business service unique?
  • Describe the product strategy and how the Internet allows for customization to match local customer needs.

Getting the message out on Facebook

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Small businesses are leveraging their profiles on Facebook to boost their business by keeping in close contact with customers.

Source:  Reuters.com – video report

Date: 12/21/2010

Link: http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=170540599&videoChannel=6

Questions for discussion:

  • How does Facebook  allow small businesses to better serve their target customers?
  • How does Facebook differentiate itself on the Internet?

Bulgari Gold Succumbs to Ceramics With Jewelry Hostage to Bubble

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment.

Description:  In June, Bill Doddridge flew his single-engine Cessna 400 to Twentynine Palms Airport near California’s Mojave Desert and headed for an abandoned mine, a .45-caliber pistol on his belt. He was looking for gold. The firearm was to ward off rattlesnakes. The precious metal would be a sideline to his jewelry business. He sifted through dirt, climbed into shafts, and later bought the property, shuttered since World War II.

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 12/21/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-22/bulgari-gold-succumbs-to-ceramics-with-jewelry-hostage-to-bubble.html

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the highlights of this report.
  • How have businesses and customers of gold changed their behavior since the rapid surge in prices began?
  • Do you think price increases have reached a top yet?
  • What would make the trend change directions?

Higher U.S. Airfares Loom as Crude Climbs Toward $100 a Barrel

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

Description: Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines and other large U.S. carriers may be poised to boost fares with fuel surcharges as crude oil moves closer to $100 a barrel.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 12/22/2010

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-22/higher-u-s-airfares-loom-as-crude-climbs-toward-100-a-barrel.html

Questions for discussion:

  • How else can airlines deal with rising fuel costs?
  • How are customers likely to respond to price increases?

A Tough Sell at Sears

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  This holiday season, Sears and Kmart, which merged in 2005, are pushing a single message: Buy with layaway, buy with coupons, buy now and pay later, buy with loyalty rewards points — but please, just buy.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 12/21/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/business/22sears.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why is Sears having so much trouble at this time?
  • What could have been done to improve operations and increase sales revenues?

Long road from Wall St. to jeweler

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business.

Description: A laid off banker now designs jewelry after having a difficult time getting a job retraining grant.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/16/2010

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/15/n_job_retraining_jewelry.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • What are the arguments for and against training for another career after losing one’s job?
  • Do you think the person profiled in this report made the “right” decision?

Inside one of Amazon’s busiest days

Posted by & filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives.

Description: 1,500 extra workers help Amazon.com handle the extra holiday orders at its Fernley, Nevada fulfillment center.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/16/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/16/n_amazon_fulfillment_center.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • How does Amazon design its order fulfillment operations to be more efficient?
  • Were you surprised by any of the sights or comments presented in the report? 
  • Why is rapid fulfillment of orders so important to Amazon?

U.S. Stocks Rally a Third Week on Earnings, Economic Data

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  U.S. stocks rose for a third week, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to a two-year high, as stronger-than-estimated data on retail sales, manufacturing and housing boosted confidence in the economic recovery.

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 12/18/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-18/u-s-stocks-rally-a-third-week-on-earnings-economic-data.html

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the highlights of this report.
  • Why has the stock market performed well recently?
  • Do you think the stock markets will continue their recent trends into 2011?