The chain’s new line of jeans is designed to compete with $200-a-pair designer models but costs a lot less. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 8/13/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, product development, consumer behavior, strategic planning Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/13/news/companies/gap_denim_jeans.fortune/index.htm Questions for discussion: Do you think that the new jeans will revive sales at The Gap? Explain your thinking. How can… Read more »
Posts Tagged: consumer behavior
Half of mortgage borrowers will be ‘underwater’
An estimated 25 million borrowers will owe more than their house is worth by 2011. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 8/06/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, consumer behavior, economy, government Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/06/real_estate/underwaterworld/index.htm?postversion=2009080615 Questions for discussion: Research suggests that the current and expected value of a home influences the homeowner’s attitude towards spending. Explain why this would be true. How… Read more »
Should Starbucks ban laptops?
In my local Starbucks, there’s a bald man who wears the same pristine white Prince tennis shoes every day. He is always perched on a stool, his PC open in front of him, typing away with the middle finger of each hand. He has one of those Bluetooth thingies in his ear and he’s often… Read more »
House OKs $2 billion more for Clunker program
House passes bill to add $2 billion for Cash for Clunkers program. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 7/31/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, consumer behavior, economy, government Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/31/autos/cash_for_clunkers_update/index.htm?postversion=2009073114 Questions for discussion: Explain why you think this program has been overwhelmingly successful in stimulating demand for new car purchases? What does price sensitivity suggest to you about why auto… Read more »
Google pushes for new law on orphan books
If those organizations attacking Google’s book search settlement with publishers spent as much time lobbying Congress for better laws concerning those issues, perhaps the controversy would go away, Google’s chief Book Search engineer suggested Thursday night. Source: CNET News Date: 7/31/2009 Keys: Law, marketing, consumer behavior, technologies Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10300887-93.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0 Questions for discussion: Do you think… Read more »
The biz of social networking
Fortune’s Jon Fortt and Michael Copeland chat with LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman about the Web’s future. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 7/24/2009 Keys: Marketing, management, segmentation, positioning, consumer behavior, new product development Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/07/24/tm_reed_hoffman_linkedin.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Describe the segment of the market that LinkedIn is directed towards? Are you currently a part of… Read more »
Helping cities prepare for electric cars
When President Obama said that he wanted to put 1 million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015, it sounded good to many people worried about the effects of fossil fuels. But when you consider that there are currently about 230 million vehicles on the road in the United States alone, you realize that… Read more »
Google, Microsoft turf war
Microsoft announces a foray into online office apps, while Google unveils plans for a netbook OS. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 7/17/2009 Keys: Marketing, market share, brand, consumer behavior, new product development Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/07/17/f_tm_microsoft_vs_google.fortune/  Questions for discussion: Summarize the key arguments favoring Google and those favorng Microsoft winning this battle for market… Read more »
Privileged teens and their digital toys
Why the Kids of NYC Prep brandish BlackBlackberrys.  Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 7/17/2009 Keys: Marketing, target market, branding, re-positioning, consumer behavior, new product development Link: http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/07/17/privileged-teens-and-their-digital-toys/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for Blackberry’s success among teens. Which reason provides the greatest explanation for the popularity among this “target marketâ€Â? Explain your thinking. Given… Read more »
Sci Fi becomes Syfy
Science Fiction Cable TV network undergoes an overhaul, changing its brand image and name. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 7/06/2009 Keys: Marketing, target market, branding, re-positioning, consumer behavior, new product development Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/07/06/f_scifi_rebrand_syfy.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Who do you think is the target market for this firm today? Do you think the target… Read more »
