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 »
Posts Tagged: Promotion and Pricing Strategies (p458)
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 »
Thanksgiving Day a boon for online shopping
Description: Consumers found time this U.S. Thanksgiving Day to squeeze in a lot more holiday shopping online, in between spending time with family, watching football and feasting on turkey. Source: Reuters.com Date: 11/27/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN2743536720091127 Questions for discussion: Why can online retailing be of particular advantage to both consumers and retailers at this time of… Read more »
Dirty secrets of Black Friday ‘doorbusters’
Description: Here are a few things bargain-hungry consumers need to know before they hit stores before dawn the day after Thanksgiving. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 11/20/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/20/news/economy/black_friday_doorbuster_secrets/index.htm Questions for discussion: Do you think these complaints about the kick-off to holiday shopping are fair? Explain your answer. How is the strategy expected to ignite shopping? How… Read more »
Boarding call: PAWsengers only!
Description: The first pets-only airline transports cats and dogs in safe and caring conditions. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 10/30/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/10/30/f_lat_pet_airways.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Explain why this airline is doing well when most others are flying through rough skies. Is this niche market likely to grow? Explain the customer behavior in choosing… Read more »
Big week ahead on Wall Street
Description: One year after Lehman Brothers, the stock market is right back where it was. Beyond the anniversary, reports on the consumer loom. Source: CNN News Date: 9/12/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, new product development, technologies Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/12/markets/sunday_lookahead/index.htm?postversion=2009091206 Questions for discussion: Explain why the stock market fell and returned to the current valuation during the past… Read more »
YouTube may stream movie rentals
Description: Online video site YouTube is in talks with several major movie studios about renting movies to users by streaming the movies over the Internet according to a person familiar with the talks on Wednesday. Source: Reuters News Date: 9/03/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, new product development, technologies Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE5816W120090903 Questions for discussion: Do you think… Read more »
UPDATE 2-Time Warner Cable, Verizon to test TV on the Web
Two more U.S. pay-TV providers, Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC.N) and Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N), plan to test systems to offer shows on the Web to paying customers in a bid to protect their subscription revenue. Source: Reuters News Date: 8/27/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, new product development, technologies Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSN2732267220090827 Questions for discussion: Do you… Read more »
Gap’s denim revamp
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 »
