Description: With apologies to Sega’s classic “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” ad campaign, there are many tablet and touch-screen PCs that do things the upcoming Apple iPad simply can’t. While Apple’s tablet runs a version of the company’s iPhone operating system, most of these tablets run different flavors of Windows, and (at least in theory) are… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Product and Distribution Strategies (p420)
A Search Engine That Relies on Humans
Description: A report this week laying out a strategy for social search has been getting a good deal of attention in tech circles. The paper, “Anatomy of a Large Scale Social Search Engine,†was written by Damon Horowitz and Sepandar Kamvar of Aardvark, one of several companies working on creating social search engines. As of… Read more »
Many retailers post strong January sales gains
Description: Fueled by gift-card redemptions, clearance sales and almost pitifully easy comparisons, the nation’s retailers seem, on balance, to have posted their fifth straight monthly sales gain in January, according to sales figures released Thursday. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 02/04/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/many-retailers-post-strong-january-sales-gains-2010-02-04?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Summarize the retailing report. Explain how these results suggest the future… Read more »
Tablet launch, earnings mean big week for Apple
Description: Few events can steal the thunder from an Apple Inc quarterly earnings day — an Apple product launch is one of them. Source: Reuters.com Date: 01/22/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60L43Y20100122 Questions for discussion: Examine the news this week about Apple and report the reaction by consumers and investors?  How did Apple stock perform in the stock market?
Avatar’ Is Top Film, Nears $1 Billion Sales Mark
Description: “Avatar,†the futuristic 3-D adventure, was the top film in the U.S. and Canada for the third straight weekend with $68.3 million in sales, and will cross the $1 billion mark in domestic and international receipts today. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 01/03/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aiMQc2VTfFE0 Questions for discussion: Why do you think some films become such… Read more »
Chrysler, GM dealers ready to fight for resurrection
Description: The auto giants plan to field appeals from nearly 2,000 dealerships they shuttered. They’re going to get an earful. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 12/11/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/11/smallbusiness/small_business_auto_dealers/index.htm Questions for discussion: What are some pros and cons related to the reduction of the distribution network of franchises? Other than closing, are there any strategic alternatives for these… Read more »
Google wants to sell books to Kindle owners too
Description: Search giant Google, which is making forays into the book world, would happily sell books to readers who own Kindles or other e-readers, said Google Books engineering director Dan Clancy on Friday. Source: Reuters.com Date: 12/11/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BB0DH20091212 Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons why collaboration with Google would make sense for Amazon and… Read more »
Saks faces dilemma as luxury shoppers stay AWOL
Description: Struggling with slumping sales for the past two years, luxury department store operator Saks Inc is beefing up its less expensive offerings at the risk of diluting its brand. Source: Reuters.com Date: 12/06/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B51AA20091206 Questions for discussion: Do you believe these changes will damage the brand and the overall image of the firm?… Read more »
How to sell 300,000 lbs of turkey
Description:  Whole Foods uses the Internet and aggressive in-store displays to sell thousands of turkeys in its Northeast stores.  Embedded video from CNNMoney.com Video Date: 11/24/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/11/24/n_whole_foods_turkeys.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the special distribution strategies followed by the retailer to meet the demand at this time of year. How important do you think this… Read more »
Early shopping tally: Some gems, some coal
Description: Store sales up only slightly from last year, according to tracking firm. But signs of strength seen at some merchants, in West and online. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 11/28/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/28/news/economy/holiday_shopping_saturday/index.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the thinking about expected holiday shopping behaviour this year. Do you think this will be an exceptional shopping season in comparison to… Read more »
