‘Safe, lazy, boring’: How Super Bowl LVII ads mostly fumbled

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

Description: Celebrity fatigue was prevalent in a night overly reliant on famous faces doing goofy humor, while a handful of emotionally driven spots hit the mark.

Source: MarketingDive.com – video report

Date: Feb 13, 2023

Link: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/best-worst-super-bowl-marketing-ads-2023/642296/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202023-02-14%20Marketing%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:48056%5D&utm_term=Marketing%20Dive

Questions for discussion:

What does the article say about the SuperBowl ads?

Do you agree with the assessments?

65 Years Ago, LEGO Patented Its Iconic Brick. This Vintage Ad Is a Reminder of Why the Brand is So Beloved

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: LEGO bricks haven’t changed. Neither has the company’s thoughtful purpose.

Source: INC.com

Date: Feb 14, 2023

Link: https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/65-years-ago-lego-patented-its-first-brick-this-vintage-ad-is-a-reminder-of-why-brand-is-so-beloved.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What explains the longevity of this product and brand?
  • Who are the customers?
  • What is the significance of the fit between a brick made today and one made in 1958?

How Behr Paint connects with millennial homeowners on TikTok

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

Description: A competition series on the platform, “To DIY For,” highlighted ways in which do-it-yourself projects can bring new life to old objects, boosting the brand’s followers.

Source: MarketingDive.com – video report

Date: Feb 13, 2023

Link: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/behr-paint-diy-marketing-millennial-homeowners-tiktok/642499/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202023-02-15%20Marketing%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:48091%5D&utm_term=Marketing%20Dive

Questions for discussion:

  • Describe the strategy and how the brand is engaging with customers?
  • How else can the brand engage with customers?

Shopify believers say payoff from early layoffs should start showing up in latest earnings

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 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Shopify Inc. was among the first technology giants to slash its workforce during last year’s market rout. Now, some investors say its stock is poised to outperform peers over the course of 2023 as those job cuts translate into lower costs, narrower losses and better cash flow.

Source: FinancialPost.com/Bloomberg.com

Date: Feb 14, 2023

Link: https://financialpost.com/investing/shopifys-tech-job-cuts-rebound-earnings-stock

Questions for discussion:

  • What is the basis for improved performance?
  • Do you think the firm can return to the growth-status it once enjoyed?
  • Is this an opportunity for investors to get back in or double-down?

Turmoil In Toyland? Mattel Sales Tumble, Hasbro Has Layoffs

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: Toyland is a treacherous place these days, and Mattel is the latest victim. Quarterly sales for the company plummeted 22%, and earnings missed forecasts.

Source: MediaPost.com

Date: Feb 10, 2023

Link: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/382432/turmoil-in-toyland-mattel-sales-tumble-hasbro-ha.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=readnow&utm_campaign=129253&hashid=7T9TCmQZSDGbnu-424RuBQ

Questions for discussion:

  • Is this a marketing, management or financial problem?
  • What are the possible explanations for these financial results?
  • How does Mattel compare to the industry as a whole?
  • What would you advise the company do at this time?

Haunted By Kanye Deal, Adidas Posts Warning

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: Adidas is launching a new line with actress Jenna Ortega Adidas unexpectedly updated its financial guidance for the coming year, warning investors that the aftershocks of its dealing with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, keep on coming. If it does not sell the existing Yeezy stock, it could lower sales by $1.3 billion and reduce operating profit by $535 million.

Source: MediaPost.com

Date: Feb 10, 2023

Link: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/382445/haunted-by-kanye-deal-adidas-posts-warning.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=129253&hashid=7T9TCmQZSDGbnu-424RuBQ

Questions for discussion:

  • How much is this situation due to the cancelled working relationship with Kanye West?
  • What are other possible explanations for these financial results?
  • Do you think moving ahead with Jenna Ortega makes sense?
  • What would you advise the company do at this time?

5 Investing Red Flags from ChatGPT put under the microscope

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: The robots aren’t ready to take over yet

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Feb 09, 2023

Link: https://financialpost.com/investing/5-investing-red-flags-chatgpt

Questions for discussion:

  • What were the red-flags used to evaluate ChatGPT?
  • How did ChatGPT perform, according to the report?
  • Do you think investment advisors should be more concerned now that greater advances in AI seem likely?

Google Bard’s Public Mistake Worries Investors

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: Google’s chatbot Bard, a conversational service for search, on Wednesday shared inaccurate information in a promotional video suggesting that Alphabet, the company’s parent, is losing ground to rival Microsoft.

Source: Mediapost.com

Date: Feb 09, 2023

Link: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/382351/google-bards-public-mistake-worries-investors.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=129234&hashid=TL8dDnMeSliWuSEzOPtYUA

Questions for discussion:

  • What is happening in the AI industry and why will developments dramatically affect Alphabet and Microsoft?
  • Why should users be concerned with the likelihood of output errors generated by AI searches?
  • How should they deal with output?

What will TV look like in three years? These industry insiders share their predictions

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

Description: The media industry is in the middle of change. There’s little doubt legacy cable TV will continue to bleed millions of subscribers each year as streaming takes over as the primary way the world watches television.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Feb 07, 2023

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/07/future-of-tv-predictions.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the predictions presented for the future of TV?
  • Do you agree with these thoughts?
  • What can the industry do in response to the current trends?

Bed Bath & Beyond Canada granted creditor protection, winding down

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: Bed Bath & Beyond Canada Ltd. was granted an initial order for creditor protection by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice Friday under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, according to the company acting as the court-appointed monitor for the case.

Source: BNNBloomberg.ca – video report

Date: Feb 10, 2023

Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/bed-bath-beyond-canada-granted-creditor-protection-winding-down-1.1882396

Questions for discussion:

  • What is going on at the firm and inside its stores?
  • Do you think there is an opportunity to revitalize the firm?
  • What would you suggest to management?