Description: Businessweek.com readers voted a San Francisco print shop that hires recovering addicts and ex-offenders their top choice for America’s most promising social enterprise. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/19/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2011/07/americas_most_promising_social_entrepreneurs_2011_winners.html Questions for discussion: Review the companies that were listed in this article by visiting their respective websites. What do they have in common? Can… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Customer-Driven Marketing (p350)
VEVO wants to reinvent the music video
Description: The social network giant has built video chat capabilities via Skype into its instant messaging platform. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/07/15/t_vevo_music_videos.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Describe the evolution of the music video business. Where do you think it will go over the next few years, in terms of production, audiences, revenue… Read more »
Hello America, Spotify Is Here
Description: Bloomberg’s Sheila Dharmarajan talks about Spotify, the European online music service that’s making its U.S. deb Source: Businessweek.com – video report Date: 07/15/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/video/#video=5tOGluMjqsysbBlqRcbDNE333bgX4I4a Questions for discussion: How is Spotify different from Pandora? Do they appeal to the same target audience? Do you think the business model can be successful and allow for… Read more »
The Real Winnie the Pooh Returns to the Hundred Acre Wood
Description:  Hollywood’s formula for freshening up old cartoon characters like Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Smurfs goes something like this: Reformulate them in 3-D, give them a skateboard and sunglasses, add some dance moves and inundate children and their nostalgic parents with advertising. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 07/14/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/business/media/disney-returns-to-the-original-winnie-the-pooh.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Describe the… Read more »
Murdoch’s Mess
Description: News Corp.’s British newspapers have put the future of Rupert Murdoch’s empire in question Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/14/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/murdochs-mess-07142011.html?chan=magazine+channel_top+stories Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. What are the ethical issues here? How should government respond to this situation?
Is Tiger Woods running out of money?
Description: With only a few endorsement deals left, a recent divorce settlement, a hefty house mortgage, and even a pay cut from Nike, Tiger Woods’ lifestyle is looking a lot less glamorous. Source: Fortune.com  Date: 07/015/2011 Link: http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/15/is-tiger-woods-running-out-of-money/ Questions for discussion: How does Tiger Woods generate revenue? Is the title of this article misleading,… Read more »
Facebook teams with Skype
Description: The social network giant has built video chat capabilities via Skype into its instant messaging platform. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/06/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/07/06/t-tt-facebook-video-chat.fortune/ Questions for discussion:  Do you believe this collaboration will shut competitors out of this service? How can these firms monetize this service? How would you respond if you were… Read more »
Turning an American classic on its head
Description: Meet one ‘food truck without wheels’ in East Atlanta, Ga., that is a unique twist on the familiar American hot dog stand: this one only sells chicken sausage. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/08/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/07/08/smb_delias_sausage.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the success of this business. What other start-ups might work… Read more »
Cameron Orders Two Inquiries Into Hacking Scandal as Former Aide Is Arrested
Description: The British police on Friday arrested a former editor of The News of the World who is also a former senior aide to Prime Minister David Cameron, and rearrested the newspaper’s former royal editor. The arrests deepened the crisis swirling around Rupert Murdoch’s media empire in Britain over allegations of phone hacking and corruption…. Read more »
Sniping at Charges for Swiping Debt Cards
Description: Both merchants and banks balk at a Federal Reserve compromise on fees that businesses pay financial institutions Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/07/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/sniping-at-charges-for-swiping-debt-cards-07072011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you agree or disagree with the decision? Who should set price for these services? What are the consequences… Read more »
