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 of the potential product applications?
  • Can some of these become disruptors in an industry?

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 of this research?
  • Which product category sellers need to be particularly concerned?
  • How can marketers improve on this strategy?

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 affect the actualization of these products?
  • Why are the Apple Store pricing changes significant for merchants and Apple?

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 firm to control the use of its brand and trademarks, as it applies to this case?
  • Who do you think will win?

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 marketing issues facing the company and why is the commentator optimistic about future growth?
  • Do you agree with this marketing analysis?

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 it was known for making a positive difference in four specific areas.

Source: Gallup.com

Date: Dec 07, 2022

Link: https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/405794/shoppers-reward-companies-doing-good.aspx

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the research say about consumer decisions and management strategies?
  • How should companies use this information, in your opinion, to advance the firm’s brand?

Tim Cook says Apple will use chips built in the U.S. at Arizona factory

Posted by & filed under Global Marketing, Product Brands and Branding, Supply Chain.

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 decision signal to other industries, in your opinion?

Once a ‘sleepy category,’ the pretzel grabs its fill of the $106B snacking space

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing.

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 this category?
  • What does it mean for the industry?
  • What other products or categories do you think are prime for the same experience as pretzels? Explain.

Meet the Man on a Mission to Expose Sneaky Price Increases

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

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 these marketing decision?
  • What are alternative decisions for marketers facing rising costs?

SPOS #854 – Jeremy Utley On Ideaflow And Coming Up With Better Ideas

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

Description: Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #854. As a dynamic and engaging speaker, Jeremy Utley translates his research into the history of invention and discovery into transformative learning experiences. He co-leads the d.school’s Executive Education programs, and co-teaches two celebrated courses at Stanford, Leading Disruptive Innovation and LaunchPad, which focus on creating real-world impact with the tools of design and innovation. One of the most prodigious collaborators at the d.school, Jeremy has taught alongside the likes of Lecrae, Dan Ariely, Laszlo Bock, and Greg McKeown. He has a new book out called, Idealflow – The Only Business Metric That Matters (along with co-author Perry Klebahn). In Ideaflow, they focus on offering their proven strategy for coming up with great ideas by yourself or with your team, and quickly determining which are worthy. Creativity is everyone’s business… and this book proves it. Enjoy the conversation…

Source: SixPixels.com.com – podcast

Date: Nov 20, 2022

Link: https://www.sixpixels.com/podcast/archives/spos-854-jeremy-utley-on-ideaflow-and-coming-up-with-better-ideas/

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the key ideas about creativity and disruptive thinking that would be useful for marketers to understand and apply?
  • Do you agree with this orientation toward strategic thinking?