Rising Beef Prices

Due to increases in international demand for beef and the drought that caused farmers to reduce their herds, the price of beef is rising quickly.  Fast food restaurants are faced a challenge.  What should they do?  Raise prices to customers or try to demarket beef and encourage customers to purchase another item instead.  Read the following:  Beef or Chicken? Beef prices hit fast-food chains.

Pizza Hut revamps

Yum Brands, owner of Pizza Hut, has seen declining same store sales for several years.  It was announced today that new menu options will include different toppings and a skinny version low calorie pizza.  Read this article:  Curry Crust? Pizza Hut unveils new menu.  Which of the new ideas are you looking forward to trying?  Do you think it will be successful in turning the company around?

Caffeinated underwear

Caffeine Brief for $24.50

Have you heard that caffeinated underwear will help you lose weight?  Consumers believed the claim and purchased #1.5 Million work of caffeinated underwear before someone said "this doesn't work."

Read the article and be sure to watch the Maidenform ad contained within:
Women sue:  caffeinated underwear 

Another Article:
Caffeine-infused lingerie claims to blast belly fat


The FTC ruled that the underwear didn't work and forced companies to repay customers.

Caffeine-infused weight loss underwear buzzless: FTC

Since that didn't work, there is now Oink-wear, nylon microfibers embedded with bacon grease.  Even endorsed by Dr. Oz. 

Hollifield: Caffeinated underwear? It doesn’t work – so buy this instead

GM used Facebook to reach out to get recalled vehicles fixed

GM began recalling 2 million cars with deadly ignition switches two months ago.  Less than half have had them repaired.  Despite numerous attempts to reach owners through letters, etc.  people were still not bringing in their cars.  They are now sending Facebook messages and making phone calls to owners of Chevrolet Cobalts and Saturn Ions.
Read this article:  GM uses Facebook

Watch this video:  GM Used Facebook

HBO is leaving cable

HBO plans to leave cable and sell their content by streaming individual shows.  Read the following articles:

• HBO to selling streaming without cable ties

• What a cable-free HBO subscription can mean to Apple

What impact do you think this will have on cable companies?  Would you expect the prices we pay to for cable to be afected?

How will it impact Apple?

Do you think this will be successful for HBO?  Why or why not?

How are TV viewers watching habits changing?

Key West, Florida

Over fall break, I took a short vacation to Key West, Florida.  While there I couldn't help but notice the tourist industry.  One thing that stuck out in a big way, were all of the items available for rental. Additionally, there were jet skis, boats, charters, dinner cruises.

Think about the following things:
      How do they find the customer?  How would you market this service?
      What other companies are needed for this industry?

Launch of iPhone6

The concept of early adopters is definitely demonstrated by the launch of the iPhone6.  While you can order on line and get it within a week, some people waited as much as 16 days in a line that went 12 blocks to get their iPhone6 in Manhattan.  Over 4 million were sold in one day. 

View the Today's show videos: 

• Want a new IPhone6; 
•  iPhone Users Enjoying Larger, Thinner Phones.

Would you wait this long for an iPhone 6?  Why or why not?  What would you wait in line for?

Peanut Corporation of Virginia

Stewart Parnell, owner of Peanut Corporation of America, whose offices are in Central VA, was convicted on conspiracy charges relating to an outbreak of salmonella.  Read the attached article an consider the ethics involved.  Even if his actions are legal are they ethical?  Three Guilty in Peanut Corp. of America Salmonella Poisoning Trail.

Counterfeiters

On the ABC Nightly News 8/27/14, I found a segment that was very interesting to me.  It was about products that are made in other countries but have MADE in America labels. Click here to to watch.

Nano touch

A Forest company has developed a new product that fights the spread of germ.  I believe this product will a huge success.  Not only does it fight germs, it also is a marketing tool.  A company can have anything it wants printed on it.  Read this article:  Local firm helps fight germs.

How Will 3D Printers Change Your Life?

Katie Couric did a wonderful show about new products:  3D printers, shower curtains with TV, etc.  The link to the show is:  http://katiecouric.com/2013/12/02/how-3d-printers-are-changing-our-lives-ed-burns/.

View the 30 minute video and post comments about your favorites.

CVS stops selling tobacco products

CVS plans to stop selling cigarettes in October 2014. Read this article for more information:  http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/05/health/cvs-cigarettes/index.html.  What seems to be their rationale for that?  How do you think it might impact their business?  Do you think other pharmacies will follow?  Does it indicate social responsibility?

Super Bowl Commericals 2014

Every year, companies spend more and more for 30 seconds of fame during the Super Bowl.  In 2014 they paid $4 Million for each 30 second spot.  Why are they willing to do that?  Over 100 million people watch it worldwide.  That is a lot of eyeballs seeing your company.  It always amazes me at how bad some of them are.  Why would you spend all of the money and create such a poor advertisement.  The Bleacher Report does a nice job of rating each ad and explaining why.  You may view all of them here: The Bleacher Report.  What were your favorites?  Which ones do you think did the best job of marketing their company or product?  I loved the Cheerio ad.  I liked it because it actually used the product.  Some of them were so off base that you didn't know the product until at the very end of commercial and there didn't seem to be a real connect.