Description: Wave of digital workout options flood the market in wake of COVID-19 closures Source: CBC.ca Date: Apr 03, 2020 Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/it-s-critical-shuttered-fitness-studios-move-online-to-stay-afloat-in-era-of-covid-19-1.5521491 Questions for discussion: How have these businesses responded to the challenges they face related to Covid -19 closures? How can they maintain relationships with customers during this period of uncertainty? What would you… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Retail Marketing
Self-Checkout Is Changing the Retail Landscape
Description: The upsurge of self-checkout and unmanned stores like Amazon Go is freeing consumers from one of the things they detest most: long checkout lines. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Mar 16, 2020 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/self-checkout-is-changing-the-retail-landscape?ecid=NL1001 Questions for discussion: What does the report say about how retailers and their customers are adapting to self-checkout? What do you think… Read more »
‘We will not raise a single price,’ Loblaw CEO vows amid coronavirus pandemic
Description: While “it won’t be business as usual,” Loblaw chief executive Galen Weston urged Canadians not to worry about food shortages, price hikes or store closures amid the coronavirus outbreak. Source: YahooFinance.com Date: Mar 16, 2020 Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/we-will-not-raise-a-single-price-loblaw-ceo-vows-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-120932146.html Questions for discussion: How is the firm’s response a good example of socially responsible and ethical behavior?… Read more »
Stitch Fix shares are tanking as Wall Street fears core business could be reaching ‘saturation point’
Description: Stitch Fix shares are cratering as Wall Street questions the longevity of a business that ships customers clothes on a fixed basis, using data science to curate outfits they might like. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Mar 10, 2020 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/10/stitch-fix-shares-are-tanking-biz-could-be-near-saturation-point.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail Questions for discussion: Why is the firm in trouble? Is the business model… Read more »
Why Ecommerce Adoption in Quebec Still Lags
Description: French speakers in Quebec are still slower to adopt aspects of digital like ecommerce and video, something digital marketers must account for when targeting consumers in the province. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Mar 12, 2020 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/why-ecommerce-adoption-in-quebec-still-lags Questions for discussion: What does the report say about the French speaking Queber online behaviour? What are the… Read more »
There’s plenty of toilet paper in the US – so why are people hoarding it?
Description: The other day I went into Costco to buy some toilet paper. It came as a small shock when I couldn’t find a single roll. Source: Yahoo.Finance.com Date: Mar 11, 2020 Link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/theres-plenty-toilet-paper-us-122309255.html Questions for discussion: What does the report say about human behavior and consumer products? How should business people deal with this understanding?
Should Robots Have a Face?
Description: As automation comes to retail industries, companies are giving machines more humanlike features in order to make them liked, not feared. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 26, 2020 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/business/robots-retail-jobs.html Questions for discussion: How is automation changing retail environments and the customer experience? What do you think retailers should do to facilitate the intrusion of… Read more »
BMO tries to break biases towards women and money
Description: This year’s International Women’s Day campaign looks to tackle a major hurdle to financial confidence.. Source: Strategy.com – video report Date: Mar 6, 2020 Link: https://strategyonline.ca/2020/03/06/bmo-tries-to-break-biases-towards-women-and-money/ Questions for discussion: What does the BMO video suggest about women and their attitude toward financial knowledge? Who do you think the target audience is for the video?… Read more »
Oreo cookies owner Mondelez buys $1.2-billion interest in Canadian ‘two-bite’ brownies brand
Description: Mondelez bought a majority interest in Toronto-based Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp. from private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Feb 26, 2020 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/mondelez-bulks-up-with-1-2-billion-give-go-bakery-deal Questions for discussion: Why is this a good deal, from a marketing perspective? How else can marketers take advantage of the deal? What does this… Read more »
Billionaire Les Wexner gives up control of Victoria’s Secret after failing to fix the struggling brand
Description: L Brands is selling a controlling stake in Victoria’s Secret after 82-year-old billionaire CEO, founder, and biggest investor Les Wexner proved unable to repair the once iconic lingerie brand. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Feb 20, 2020 Link: https://fortune.com/2020/02/20/billionaire-les-wexner-gives-up-control-of-victorias-secret-after-failing-to-fix-the-struggling-brand/ Questions for discussion: Why has the brand fallen out of favor? As a marketer,… Read more »
Applied Marketing, 2e
Canadian Edition
