Longtime British luxury car dealer Jaguar, and previous subdivision of Ford motor corporation was purchased along with Land rover in 2008 by the Tata Group of Mumbai. Tata Motors is re-branding Jaguar. They have altered their font, logo, and appeal. They are also planning an 18 city tour for their upcoming line of luxury cars. Their ad campaign is also planning a media blitz of their new cars and product line. Along with TV and internet advertising they are releasing digital and outdoor print in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Australia. They hope this re-branding will grow the brand significantly since their 2011 figures seem to be sliding. The centerpiece of their Ad is a TV spot where in a world of old technologies and machines comes on that, “There is one machine, so instinctive, so seductive, it’s as alive as we are. It doesn’t click or buzz, it roars. Jaguar,”.
They are playing on the unique emotional character of the car. They are asking their buyers if they are alive, like the Jaguar XJ. They are aiming at people in their 40's-50's with a high disposable income. There are many skeptics as to how the public will receive the new ad campaign, saying the commercials are not clear or disciplined. However Tata Motors believes this expansion into new markets and increased advertising within those markets will generate and increase in sales and production.
more information can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/business/media/jaguar-ad-campaign-highlights-its-wild-side.html?ref=business
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Changes in J&J
Johnson and Johnson is a major producer of health products and pharmaceuticals. REcently their former CEO William C. Weldon stepped down and announced the promotion of Alex Gorsky. Gorsky has extensive experience within the sales of pharmaceuticals and medical devices within Johnson and Johnson. "As is typical for rising stars at large corporations, Mr. Gorsky held
many jobs after starting with the company in 1988, including running
Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical businesses in Europe, Africa and
the Middle East.". The company has placed a lot of responsibility and confidence in Mr. Gorsky.
However there has been much discussion about the appropriateness of this promotion. Gorsky was the leading executive on the artificial hips that J&J produces and many have not passed inspection. Although there is much concern with this appointment they feel Gorsky is fit for the position. Their primary responsibilities and challenges facing Gorsky are, "fixing the problems at the plants that make over-the-counter products, ensuring that there are lucrative prescription drugs in development and addressing a global dip in consumer use of medical services".
More information can be found at: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=266412629036522626#editor/target=post;postID=5208647846852848374
However there has been much discussion about the appropriateness of this promotion. Gorsky was the leading executive on the artificial hips that J&J produces and many have not passed inspection. Although there is much concern with this appointment they feel Gorsky is fit for the position. Their primary responsibilities and challenges facing Gorsky are, "fixing the problems at the plants that make over-the-counter products, ensuring that there are lucrative prescription drugs in development and addressing a global dip in consumer use of medical services".
More information can be found at: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=266412629036522626#editor/target=post;postID=5208647846852848374
Proctor and Gamble
Proctor and Gamble has released its plans to cut 5,700 jobs by June of 2013. Their goals are to save over $10Billion by June of 2016. This jub cut is primarily due to slow sales in the United states as well as high packaging and fueling costs. It is still spending money on developing initiatives to grow as a company. This amounts to roughly 10% of the company's non-manufacturing work force. They will continue to expand in foreign companies and even continue to hire. Their stock shares have also risen $1.98.
This demonstrates the ever present need to continue developing growth strategies, reallocating money, and developing product/market penetration.
More information can be found at: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=266412629036522626#editor/target=post;postID=8809785250900167779
This demonstrates the ever present need to continue developing growth strategies, reallocating money, and developing product/market penetration.
More information can be found at: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=266412629036522626#editor/target=post;postID=8809785250900167779
Thursday, February 23, 2012
DO NOT TRACK
Within the age of technology and information sharing there has been one taboo word; Privacy. With the growing number of ways information can be tracked, used, and bought it is becoming increasing difficult to be private and respected. Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer and later Apple added a "do not track" button to their web browsers so users felt respected and knew there inquiries were not being tracked. However this was not written in law and many organizations didn't always keep their word. Google and other internet giants are agreeing to sign a bill to embed this "do not track" button to their search engines and would be required to "stop using the data about people's Web
browsing habits to customize ads, and have agreed not to use the data
for employment, credit, health-care or insurance purposes". They will still be allowed to use information for product development and market research. hopefully within the next 9 months this internet legislature will be passed by congress.
We have been talking about market research, product development, and how companies find and use information to develop marketing strategies and grow their company. This act if passed will give consumers back some control over their internet usage and buying habits, something we have been missing as of late. With all of the scandals involving Facebook and other internet giants this is a positive step for both companies and consumers.
More information can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203960804577239774264364692.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews
We have been talking about market research, product development, and how companies find and use information to develop marketing strategies and grow their company. This act if passed will give consumers back some control over their internet usage and buying habits, something we have been missing as of late. With all of the scandals involving Facebook and other internet giants this is a positive step for both companies and consumers.
More information can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203960804577239774264364692.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews
University of Penn Sues Sloan-Kettering
The university of Pennsylvania is Suing Dr. Craig B. Thompson, the head of Sloan-Kettering cancer research for stealing research information and starting his own company from the cancer research wing at UPenn. The statement is: "Dr. Thompson violated the university’s patent policy and the terms of
his employment “by failing to disclose to the university research and
discoveries that he instead provided to a for-profit corporation and
ultimately publicly disclosed in international journal publications,
both to the detriment of the university.”. The research was published in 2009 and 2010 and before they were Thompson's start up company Agios Pharmaceuticals had patented the invention. The damage is recorded at $100 million and could exceed $1 Billion in revenue for the school.
In class we have talked about business ethics and moral responsibility. We have also discussed patents and legal documents regarding inventions and products.
More information can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/business/dr-craig-b-thompson-head-of-sloan-kettering-is-sued.html?ref=todayspaper
In class we have talked about business ethics and moral responsibility. We have also discussed patents and legal documents regarding inventions and products.
More information can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/business/dr-craig-b-thompson-head-of-sloan-kettering-is-sued.html?ref=todayspaper
Google Goggles
Google is planning to release the Google Goggles. These goggles, or thick framed glasses are practically wearable technology. These glasses are comprised of a computer which when worn will stream images and information across the lenses. They will be able to give related information to landmarks, restaurants, as well as virtual reality games, GPS systems, and in time facial recognition software. These glasses will also have audio and video inputs. The one drawback as it seems is streaming advertisements present within the lenses. This is obviously a huge leap in the world of technology and "smart" products, but if any company is to make this giant leap it would be Google. The difficulty in passing this technology is with peoples privacy, both in advertising and facial recognition. It will be difficult for the government to regulate what is being seen behind these glasses.
More information can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/technology/google-glasses-will-be-powered-by-android.html?_r=1&hp
More information can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/technology/google-glasses-will-be-powered-by-android.html?_r=1&hp
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
High End Retailers Report Strong Profit - Stephanie Clifford
Reports were published about the sales and profit margins of Bloomingdale's, Saks fifth Ave, Macy's, Home Depot and Walmart. All retailers showed profit from this quarter but surprisingly the higher end retailers showed much better results. Walmart accomplished there success by drastically lowering prices and increasing its volume, while the high end retailers, who targeted consumers with a larger disposable income, showed great profit margins. Terry J. Lundgren, CEO of Macy's was quoted, "making decisions between filling up their gas tank or buying shoes or a handbag, that consumer certainly is more impacted.” on the subject of why they netted more profit. Walmart's target market encompasses all levels of income, but primarily low income families. These families are effected much more by the weakened economy, while the wealthier classes are not and can continue to buy luxury goods. Macy's net income rose 12% from a year ago, and credited a lot of success to their promotions and free shipping to online purchases. Saks sale of luxury items net income was increased to 48% to $37 million. Home Depot's net income increased 32% to $774 million while sales rose 6% to $16 Billion. All companies showed profit.
This report shows how low income families are being effected by the economic state we are experiencing and how demographics and target markets are capitalized on by high end retailers.
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