Disney Wanted to Make a Splash in China With ‘Mulan.’ It Stumbled Instead.

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

Description: A political controversy over a filming location was a rare blunder for one of the world’s savviest companies in dealing with China.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Sep 12, 2020

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/business/media/disney-mulan-china.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Why is there a problem?
  • What could have been done to avoid the problem?
  • How should marketers at Disney deal with this now?

There’s now even more evidence that restaurant dining sharply increases COVID spread

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Marketing Strategy, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: Growing evidence indicates that proximity to other people is among the easiest ways for coronavirus to spread, especially indoors. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) adds to the thesis and points to a very specific culprit: Restaurant dining.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Sep 11, 2020

Link: https://fortune.com/2020/09/11/covid-restaurant-dining-cdc-report/

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this research mean for the industry?
  • How should marketers deal with this concern?

How a husband-and-wife startup are trying to save mom-and-pop restaurants from pandemic oblivion

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

Description: Sociavore is a one-stop, custom website building tool that helps restaurants create a consumer-friendly online presence

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Sep 11, 2020

Link: https://financialpost.com/entrepreneur/small-business/how-a-husband-and-wife-startup-are-trying-to-save-mom-and-pop-restaurants-from-pandemic-oblivion/wcm/1ce8a29f-cb05-488a-9459-4f7316968e23/

Questions for discussion:

  • Why has this service been so successful?
  • How can the model be transferred to other businesses facing the same issues?
  • How would you market these services to those businesses?

How Etsy built a nearly $14 billion handmade empire

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

Description: If it’s handmade or over 20 years old, there’s a good chance you can find it on Etsy, the go-to online marketplace for handcrafted and vintage goods.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Sep 05, 2020

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/05/how-etsy-built-a-handmade-empire.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail

Questions for discussion:

    • How would you describe Etsy’s business model?
    • Summarize the evolution of the firm’s management.
    • Why do you think the firm experienced so many growing pains?
    • Explain the firm’s success.
    • Who are Etsy’s competitors?

Telemedicine

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

Description: When the coronavirus hit, medical practitioners started ramping up their virtual offerings – notably appointments via videoconferencing apps such as FaceTime and Zoom – as a way to continue caring for patients and keep their businesses alive.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Sep 12, 2020

Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/telemedicine?srnd=businessweek-v2

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about telemedicine as a means to improve services and reduce costs?
  • What do you think of the concept?
  • How can practitioners increase participation amongst clients?

Why Americans hate shopping for cars at dealerships.

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

Description: Why Americans hate shopping for cars at dealerships.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Sep 02, 2020

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/09/03/why-americans-hate-car-shopping-at-dealerships-.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about the attitude consumers have towards buying cars?
  • Why do you suppose this is the case?
  • How can dealers mitigate the negative attitudes held by consumers?
  • Are current strategies working?
  • What else would you recommend?

How to Deliver on Your Brand Promise, Even During Disruption

Posted by & filed under Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Metrics/Analytics, Product Brands and Branding.

Description: Of the almost 18 million customers Gallup has surveyed, only about half strongly believe that the companies they do business with always deliver on the promises they make. That massive study makes it clear: Delivering consistently on a brand promise is not easy. The disruption seen in the first two quarters of 2020 made it even more difficult.

Source: Gallup.com

Date: Aug 18, 2020

Link: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/317084/deliver-brand-promise-even-during-disruption.aspx

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about the importance of delivering on the promises made and brand equity?
  • What recommendations were made to marketers?

Why canned wine sales are crushing it this year

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

Description: While some wine drinkers are still stuck on the screw top versus cork debate, others have moved on and are unapologetically drinking Cabernet and Riesling out of cans. Turns out, convenience and size are both selling points for oenophiles, and as crazy as it sounds, canned wine actually tastes pretty good these days too.

Source: Yahoo.Finance.com – video report

Date: Sep 05, 2020

Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/why-canned-why-sales-are-crushing-it-this-year-132504873.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Are you surprised to learn that canned wine sales are growing in popularity?
  • What does the report suggest is the reason for this change in behavior?

Grocers fight back against calls for a government enforced business code of conduct

Posted by & filed under Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Retail Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: Retail Council of Canada says intervention could lead to higher food costs for consumers

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Aug 28, 2020

Link: https://financialpost.com/entrepreneur/small-business/grocers-fight-back-against-calls-for-a-government-enforced-business-code-of-conduct/wcm/e7229ffc-b08e-4b9d-aa54-ec7718f91850/

Questions for discussion:

  • What is the source of the problem between suppliers and retailers?
  • Is government regulation a good idea and if so, what would your regulation look like?
  • What are the consequences of doing nothing?

These restaurant chains are unveiling new designs inspired by the pandemic

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

Description: The coronavirus pandemic is spurring on a growing number of restaurant chains to build restaurants with new bells and whistles focused on convenience and safety.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Sep 04, 2020

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/05/restaurant-chains-are-unveiling-new-designs-inspired-by-the-pandemic.html

Questions for discussion:

  • How have these restaurant chains responded to the coronavirus pandemic?
  • Do you think these are good decisions?
  • What else would you advise the managers of these chains?
  • Should these measures be retained after the pandemic subsides?