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 »
Posts Categorized: Product Brands and Branding
Lululemon drops most since 2020 on inventory, profit woes
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?
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 »
Tim Cook says Apple will use chips built in the U.S. at Arizona factory
Description: CEO Tim Cook confirmed that Apple will buy U.S.-made microchips at an event in Arizona on Tuesday, where President Joe Biden also spoke. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Dec 06, 2022 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/06/tim-cook-says-apple-will-use-chips-built-in-the-us-at-arizona-factory.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail Questions for discussion: Why is Apple doing this? What are the implications for future global supply channels? What does this… Read more »
Once a ‘sleepy category,’ the pretzel grabs its fill of the $106B snacking space
Description: For a category that hasn’t seen much innovation during the last few decades, pretzels may seem like an unlikely place for Hershey to place a billion-dollar bet as it aims to solidify its presence in salty snacks. Source: FoodDive.com Date: Nov 28, 2022 Link: https://www.fooddive.com/news/once-a-sleepy-category-the-pretzel-grabs-its-fill-of-the-106b-snacking/630274/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Questions for discussion: What has driven the development in… Read more »
Meet the Man on a Mission to Expose Sneaky Price Increases
Description: Edgar Dworsky has become the go-to expert on “shrinkflation,” when products or packaging are manipulated so people get less for their money. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 27, 2022 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/climate/fighting-shrinkflation-consumer-products.html?smid=em-share Questions for discussion: Summarize the concerns Edgar Dwarsky has about marketing practices and pricing. Do you think the majority of consumers are upset by… Read more »
Tourism Kamloops sends viewers through a (literal) loop
Description: To compete with bigger destinations, the campaign hammers home a message of affordable adventure. Source: Strategyonline.ca Date: Dec 01, 2022 Link: https://strategyonline.ca/2022/12/01/tourism-kamloops-sends-viewers-through-a-literal-loop/ Questions for discussion: What is the theme of the ad campaign? Do you think it can resonate with the target market? What are some other creative ideas for ads that would be… Read more »
In Winning a Grueling Legal Battle, Figs’s Founders Found Power in Optimism
Description: The medical scrubs company won a four-year legal battle with legacy competitor SPI. Why the co-founders wouldn’t settle, despite the high cost of litigation. Source: INC.com Date: Nov 21, 2022 Link: https://www.inc.com/rebecca-deczynski/figs-trina-spear-heather-hasson-lawsuit.html?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IncThisMorning-Nov%2021,%202022&leadId=261346&mkt_tok=NjEwLUxFRS04NzIAAAGIPkvuhstFy9fqhJaoUlo60HSq6fQvSq5xW9IDbIquKz2K69IoNnZjDwvStpUE_n7aWTtTXMvQrnNycBoNVrqso5Fjrs83wp9Qeb7uqA Questions for discussion: What does this report say about the use of legal tactics to undermine competition? Do you think the use… Read more »
Amazon, Google Make Some Healthy Launches
Description: Tech giants were busy on the health front last week, with Amazon launching Amazon Clinic for consumers and Google making announcements about a new Fitbit partnership and pilots of its Care Studio for clinicians. Source: MediaPost.com Date: Nov 22, 2022 Link: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/380017/amazon-google-make-some-healthy-launches.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=128358&hashid=7T9TCmQZSDGbnu-424RuBQ Questions for discussion: What are the marketing opportunities for health care tech… Read more »
Elon Musk’s backers cheer him on, even if they aren’t sure what he’s doing to Twitter
Description: Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter has not exactly taken off like a rocket. After trying desperately to get out of the $44 billion purchase, he faced a court battle for reneging. So he went through with it, while complaining that he was “obviously overpaying.” Mass layoffs and mass resignations have left Twitter a shadow… Read more »
Applied Marketing, 2e
Canadian Edition
