How health insurance may have made health care more expensive

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Pricing, Services Marketing.

Description: Widespread medical debt is a uniquely American problem. Roughly 40% of U.S. adults have at least $250 in medical debt, according to a survey conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 08, 2023 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/08/how-health-insurance-may-have-made-health-care-more-expensive.html Questions for discussion: What is the explanation presented in this report for higher health care… Read more »

Bed Bath & Beyond shares plummet after company warns of potential bankruptcy

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: Bed Bath & Beyond warned Thursday it’s running out of cash and is considering bankruptcy. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 05, 2023 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/05/bed-bath-beyond-shares-plummet-as-company-warns-of-deeper-financial-troubles.html?qsearchterm=bed%20 Questions for discussion: What is the current situation facing management? Is there a marketing solution to restarting this brand? What would you advise the company do in the short… Read more »

Mercedes-Benz reimagines iconic nodding dog ornament as virtual character

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Strategy, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing.

Description: Mercedes-Benz at CES unveiled a partnership with Superplastic, a Web3-adjacent entertainment brand that creates virtual characters for social media and associated collectibles like toys and apparel, per details shared with Marketing Dive. Source: MarketingDive.com – video report Date: Jan 06, 2023 Link: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/mercedes-benz-CES-Web3-marketing-Superplastic/639832/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202023-01-06%20Marketing%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:47117%5D&utm_term=Marketing%20Dive Questions for discussion: What is the conceptual thinking behind this campaign?… Read more »

Don’t Overlook Your Most Lucrative Consumer Segment

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Market Segmentation, Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy.

Description: Marketers believe boomers are unlikely to switch up brand choices, with only 5% of U.S. advertising targeting them, according to Havas Group. And yet, boomers have the greatest wealth, drive the most actual spending, and aren’t as hidebound as marketers think. Source: MediaPost.com Date: Jan 03, 2023 Link: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/381160/dont-overlook-your-most-lucrative-consumer-segmen.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=128830&hashid=sEI_WGOFRPC9S2yOZBKY8g Questions for discussion: Summarize the… Read more »

A New Area of A.I. Booms, Even Amid the Tech Gloom

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Services Marketing.

Description: An investment frenzy over “generative artificial intelligence” has gripped Silicon Valley, as tools that generate text, images and sounds in response to short prompts seize the imagination. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 07, 2023 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/technology/generative-ai-chatgpt-investments.html? Questions for discussion: Why is there so much excitement about this latest development in AI technology? What are some… Read more »

Shoppers Expecting More From Online Product Imagery, Study Shows

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing.

Description: A new report by e-merchandising platform Nfinite shows expectations may be rising for product imagery. The report, which surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers, highlights the growing impact that augmented reality and customized product imagery have on consumer engagement, trust, and e-commerce success. Source: MediaPost.com Date: Dec 06, 2022 Link: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/380437/shoppers-expecting-more-from-online-product-imager.html Questions for discussion: What is the significance… Read more »

Apple postpones development of self-driving EV to 2026

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Strategy, Metrics/Analytics, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing.

Description: Yahoo Finance tech editor Dan Howley explains why Apple is pushing back its self-driving EV until 2026, along with the company loosening its App Store pricing rules. Source: Yahoo.Finance.com – video report Date: Dec 06, 2022 Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/video/apple-postpones-development-self-driving-203909709.html?contentType=VIDEO Questions for discussion: How do you think the product development issues facing Apple’s self-driving vehicles will… Read more »

May ‘Bad Spaniels’ Mock Jack Daniel’s? The Supreme Court Will Decide.

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Strategy, Product Brands and Branding.

Description: The justices have agreed to hear a trademark dispute with First Amendment overtones involving a dog toy’s bathroom humor and a distinctive whiskey bottle. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Dec 05, 2022 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/05/us/politics/bad-spaniels-jack-daniels-dog-toy.html?smid=em-share Questions for discussion: What are the branding issues in this dispute? What is your opinion on the limits and rights of the… Read more »

Lululemon drops most since 2020 on inventory, profit woes

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: Lululemon Athletica Inc. shares fell the most since the start of the pandemic after lower-than-expected profitability raised concerns about a pileup of inventory and the yogawear maker’s full-year sales forecast disappointed Wall Street. Source: BNNBloomberg.ca – video report Date: Dec 09, 2022 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/lululemon-drops-most-since-2020-on-inventory-profit-woes-1.1856893 Questions for discussion: According to the report, what are the… Read more »

Will U.S. Holiday Shoppers Reward Companies for Doing Good?

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing.

Description: The recent Bentley-Gallup Force for Good study found that most Americans are willing to pay a premium for products from companies that have a reputation for doing good. Specifically, majorities of at least 60% said they would be willing to pay extra for a simple consumer good — a T-shirt — if the company that made… Read more »