Fourth-generation movie theater operator says chain is months from bankruptcy

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

Description: B&B Theatres, the sixth-largest cinema chain in the U.S., has been operating for nearly 100 years. Its owners now say it is months away from filing for bankruptcy protection.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Oct 09, 2020

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/09/movie-theater-operator-bb-theatres-says-its-months-from-bankruptcy.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Are there any solutions to this situation?
  • What can management do to prolong operations until consumer behavior returns to something like it once was?
  • Do you think consumers will ever return to large crowded theatres or is this social behavior now a relic of the past?

Amid the Pandemic, Influencers Are Getting Real

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

Description: While it’s too soon to bid adieu to the aspirational influencer, it’s clear that the pandemic has humbled many of even the most polished creators.

Source: eMarketer.com – video report

Date: Sep 20, 2020

Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/amid-pandemic-influencers-getting-real

Questions for discussion:

  • How has the online “influencer” performance changed since the covid virus entered our normal world?
  • What do you think about the L’Oreal performance?
  • Why does it work well or not?
  • What else would you advise influencers to do?

Manhattan apartment sales tumble 46%, leaving 10,000 unsold units

Posted by & filed under Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Pricing.

Description: Apartment sales in Manhattan plunged by 46% in the third quarter, as homebuyers continued to flow to the suburbs and Florida, according to new real estate reports.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Oct 01, 2020

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/02/manhattan-apartment-sales-tumble-46percent-leaving-10000-unsold-apartments.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Why are sales weak?
  • From a marketing perspective, what can be done to improve sales?

Tesla sets sales record, yet it’s stuck with factory overcapacity

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

Description: Tesla said it delivered a record 139,300 cars in the third quarter. For Tesla investors, that’s the good news. The bad news is that the company finds itself saddled with factory overcapacity.

Source: Yahoo.Finance.com

Date: Oct 01, 2020

Link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-sets-sales-record-yet-153611999.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about Tesla sales performance and current production capacity?
  • What can marketers do to boost sales?

Kingswood Capital to acquire MEC through CCAA proceeding

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

Description: Mountain Equipment Co-op’s board unanimously approved a deal for L.A.-based Kingswood Capital to acquire MEC’s assets, including the majority of its stores. BNN Bloomberg’s Anita Sharma has more.

Source: BNNBloomberg.com – video report

Date: Sep 18, 2020

Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/video/kingswood-capital-to-acquire-mec-through-ccaa-proceeding~2035739?jwsource=cl

Questions for discussion:

  • Based on the interview, why do you think MEC failed?
  • Should their brand be repositioned, in your opinion?
  • Did the membership concept fail to support loyalty?
  • What would you advise the new owners to do now?

Tesla will have zero sales in China by 2030: analyst

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

Description: Tesla (TSLA) may not have much of a future in the world’s largest electric vehicle market, if one analyst’s predictions pan out. Morgan Stanley’s (MS) Adam Jonas says that CEO Elon Musk’s high-tech automotive company will likely see sales in China plummet to zero by 2030.

Source: Finance.Yahoo.com

Date: Oct 02, 2020

Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-will-have-zero-sales-in-china-by-2030-analyst-203938920.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What is the reason the report suggests that Tesla will be shut out of China by 2030?
  • Where do you think the future markets for Tesla are located?
  • How should Tesla prepare for the global marketplace?

The Road to Greener Concrete Is Paved With Clay

Posted by & filed under Ethics, Innovation, Supply Chain.

Description: Among the myriad steps needed to clean up construction, a cement made with heated clay stands out.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Oct 01, 2020

Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-10-01/lc3-clay-cuts-cement-industry-co2-emissions

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about the cement production process and its contribution to CO2 pollution?
  • How can producers reduce their pollution from production and what is the incentive to do so?
  • How can governments encourage more effort to switch production methods?

Coca-Cola will enter U.S. hard seltzer market in first half of 2021, CEO says

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Retail Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: Coca-Cola aims to release its first hard seltzer in the U.S. in the first half of 2021, CEO James Quincey told CNBC on Monday.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Sep 21, 2020

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/21/coca-cola-will-enter-us-hard-seltzer-market-in-first-half-of-2021-ceo.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think Coca-Cola is making the right decision?
  • Are there any synergies between the existing brands and this new line?
  • How would you suggest the brand be positioned?

Free Shipping, Drones, and Click and Collect, Oh My!

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Pricing, Supply Chain.

Description: eMarketer principal analyst Andrew Lipsman and senior forecasting analyst at Insider Intelligence Cindy Liu speak about innovations in ecommerce and how technology is creating a frictionless experience for online shoppers. They discuss the jump from fast to free shipping, what drone deliveries could potentially look like, and dive into the many facets of click and collect. They also explain the downsides of frictionless commerce and how businesses can overcome those hurdles.

Source: eMarketer.com – podcast

Date: Sep 24, 2020

Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-free-shipping-drones-and-click-and-collect-oh-my?ecid=NL1001

Questions for discussion:

  • What did you learn about the importance of free shipping and other advancements in ecommerce?
  • What is the most important item for marketers to take away from this discussion, in your opinion?

Ecommerce: The Essential Components Your Site Needs to Turn Visitors Into Buying Customers

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Global Marketing, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing.

Description: Making sure your brand’s website is living up to its fullest potential should be at the top of any ecommerce leader’s to-do list.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Date: Sep 24, 2020

Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/355482?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say to marketers trying to persuade consumers to use their website?
  • What do you think is the most critical mistake and why do you think it is made?