Rate hikes unlikely to tame soaring home prices: Royal LePage

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Description: Canadian real estate brokerage Royal LePage says any increases in interest rates this year will not do much to tame soaring home prices. Source: BNNBloomberg.ca – video report Date: Jan 14, 2022 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/rate-hikes-unlikely-to-tame-soaring-home-prices-royal-lepage-1.1707562 ​Questions for discussion: What are the key reasons for market prices, according to the report? How might rising interest rates… Read more »

Chip shortage, supply chain issues give used car prices rare boost

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Description: Joe Tarin of Corsa Auto Repair and Sales surveys his downtown Toronto lot with a stoic smile. Source: BNNBloomberg.ca – video report Date: Dec 06, 2021 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/chip-shortage-supply-chain-issues-give-used-car-prices-rare-boost-1.1691701 Questions for discussion: Summarize what is happening in the used car market and the reasons reported. How are consumers and distributors reacting to the situation?

Economics and Politics of Inflation

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Description: Inflation in the U.S. is creating financial hardships for nearly half of Americans. What is driving up the cost of goods and services right now — and how much is it related to supply and demand? Dr. Jonathan Rothwell, Gallup’s principal economist, joins the podcast to untangle these questions and more. Source: Gallup.org – podcast Date:… Read more »

Flair Airlines expands again with new service to Mexico

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Market Segmentation, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Services Marketing.

Description: Edmonton-based discount carrier Flair Airlines is expanding yet again, this time launching service to Mexico Source: BNNBloomberg.ca – video report Date: Nov 16, 2021 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/flair-airlines-expands-again-with-new-service-to-mexico-1.1682530 ​Questions for discussion: Describe the airline using SWOT analysis. What niche is the airline filling? How would you direct marketing activities to optimize resources?

A&W Targets Math-Challenged Americans

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Description: In the 1980s, A&W Restaurants tried to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder by offering a bigger 1/3 pound burger at the same price. Unfortunately, Americans aren’t so great at math. Confused consumers wrongly assumed that 1/4 was bigger than 1/3 (because 4 is bigger than 3) and the whole experiment went down in history as… Read more »

Lululemon CEO says there’s enough inventory coming to meet forecast

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

Description: As many retailers fret about supply chain disruptions ahead of the holiday shopping season, Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s chief executive said he’s not worried about meeting sales targets. Source: BNNBloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 28, 2021 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/lululemon-ceo-says-there-s-enough-inventory-coming-to-meet-forecast-1.1672371 Questions for discussion: Summarize the marketing situation the company is in today using SWOT analysis. What… Read more »

A return to cities: Condo sales roar back to life

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Description: Lauren Haw, CEO of Zoocasa, talks with Financial Post’s Larysa Harapyn about rebounding condo sales, as people return to the cities. Source: FinancialPost.com – video report Date: Sep 07, 2021 Link: https://youtu.be/8P15UO7Kkp8 Questions for discussion: How does the report explain the condo market? Which forces are helping to boost sales and prices?

Here’s how inflation is hitting the online prices of everything from apparel to furniture

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Description: Prices of goods online have now risen for an unprecedented 15 consecutive months, following what was a historical period of declines, according to a new report from Adobe Digital Insights. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Sep 15, 2021 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/15/how-inflation-is-hitting-online-prices-of-apparel-to-furniture.html Questions for discussion: How would you explain the distribution of price changes by… Read more »

Broadway is back — are high ticket prices, too?

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Description: Even after an 18-month pause, the show must go on. Several Broadway productions are reopening this month, a crucial step in New York City’s road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the Great White Way welcomed back such fixtures as “Hamilton,” “The Lion King,” “Wicked” and “Chicago.” Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Sep 15,… Read more »

Job Training That’s Free Until You’re Hired Is a Blueprint for Biden

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

Description: Social Finance, a nonprofit, is spreading a model in which training programs get paid if students get hired, not just if they enroll. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Apr 07, 2021 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/business/job-training-thats-free-until-youre-hired-is-a-blueprint-for-biden.html Questions for discussion: What do you think of this nonprofit business model and Social Finance, in particular? Is this a replacement for traditional… Read more »