Is your Gibson guitar contraband?

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:  Federal agents raid Gibson Guitar factories looking for rare, protected wood, such as ebony and rosewood from India, costing the guitar manufacturer $1 million in losses. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/02/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/09/02/n_gibson_raid.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the ethical issues in this case? Is Gibson management behaving in a socially responsible… Read more »

H-P: We’re Bringing TouchPad Back

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:  The H-P TouchPad is dead; long live the TouchPad. Due to unexpected, almost cult-like demand for cheap TouchPads after H-P decided to kill its iPad rival, the company has decided to revive the tablet for a limited time. Ian Sherr and Ina Fried discuss on digits. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 08/31/2011 Link: … Read more »

Daniel Gross’s Greplin Is One Smart Search Engine

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

Description: The precocious Israeli coder is co-founder of a startup building the one search box to rule them all—and to organize your entire online life Source: Businessweek.com Date: 09/01/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/daniel-grosss-greplin-is-one-smart-search-engine-09012011.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about entrepreneurship? Would you invest in this app? What are the difficulties, from a marketing point… Read more »

How Steve Jobs saved Apple

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:  A look back at why Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple and how his return reinvented the computer giant. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 08/25/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/08/24/t_steve_jobs_apple_fall_rise.fortune/ Questions for discussion: How would you describe the business career of Steve Jobs? What do you think Jobs’ legacy will be? Would you consider Jobs an… Read more »

No housing slump for Toll Bros.

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  A 54% jump in quarterly profits buoyed shares of the luxury home builder despite a beleaguered housing market. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 08/24/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/08/24/mkts_midday_toll.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons why some analysts might suggest that the financial improvements in this firm are “good news” for the economy as a whole…. Read more »

The Great Casual-Dining Upheaval

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

Description: Midpriced chains are getting facelifts and tweaking menus to lure younger diners Source: Businessweek.com Date: 08/25/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-great-casualdining-upheaval-08252011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize how restaurants are changing their existing strategies. How do you think this target market of customers will respond to the effort?

What Google knows about your eating habits

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

Description:  Google says companies are increasingly using local search data to extract more bang for their online marketing buck. Source:  Fortune.com Date: 08/26/2011 Link:  http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/08/26/what-google-knows-about-your-eating-habits/ Questions for discussion: What do you think of this marketing information? Do you think this information provides real advantage to marketers or consumers? What other applications might also prove to… Read more »

Magnolia Bakery is sweet on Dubai

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Description:  CNN’s Felicia Taylor visits a Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan and speaks with owner Steve Abrams about the boom in applications for franchises around the world. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/19/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/08/18/n_magnolia_bakery.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why has Magnolia been a successful global company? Why is franchising a good approach for growing the… Read more »

Luxury (Now) Within Reach

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Description:  While many people are tightening their budgets, shoppers lusting after that “it” bag, a first-class airline seat or a pricey car may now find those luxuries are more affordable than before. Kelli Grant has details on The News Hub. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 08/19/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/luxury-now-within-reach-2011-08-19/E5DE35A1-4CCE-410A-9711-008AE3E5D836#!E5DE35A1-4CCE-410A-9711-008AE3E5D836 Questions for discussion: Do you think… Read more »

Audi Cuts A6 Price as Lure for U.S. BMW-Mercedes Drivers: Cars

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Description: Volkswagen AG’s Audi, the luxury brand trying to double its U.S. sales, has lowered the sticker price of its redesigned A6 midsize sedan to grab more market share. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 08/19/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-08-19/audi-cuts-a6-price-as-lure-for-u-s-bmw-mercedes-drivers-cars.html Questions for discussion: Summarize how Audi is trying to use price to gain market share. Do you think this strategy… Read more »