Marketing Principles

Following the class discussion about market segmentation, you are today's hottest marketing segment. Were you aware of this? It is your generation, the connected generation, who is driving business today - and changing everything. Hence it is only logical someone would come up with the 10 Cravings of your generation in a two part article.

Read both parts, they are pretty short, and tell us what do you think? Is this really you? Are these really your expectations?

Posted by Adriana M. Bóveda-Lambie at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments

So, what do you think of Zune - Microsoft's answer to Apple's iPod?

It looks cool, has a big enough screen and you can apparently view it either horizontal or vertically - but what can it do?

Read the product launch here and here and compare to iPod. What's the verdict - success or failure? What do you like or dislike? Would you buy it? What do you think it represents?

Posted by Adriana M. Bóveda-Lambie at 9:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

Starbucks is currently in the middle of an unexpected lawsuit due to an internal promotion gone wrong.

The company sent an e-coupon to their employees for a free Grande coffee drink. The employees were allowed to send the coupon to friends and family and be valid until September 30th. But when a local Starbucks failed to accept the coupon, the disgruntled customer turn around and sued for fraud.

Read the article in the link above and evaluate the following: What are negative implications for Starbucks? What could the company have done differently? Is this a bad strategy or a bad implementation? Did Starbucks have a contingency plan for this "positive" deviation from the plan? How would you react as a customer if this had happened to you? Do you think it is a frivolous suit?

Posted by Adriana M. Bóveda-Lambie at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Most of you said you own and iPod. If you do, you buy or load your music through iTunes. If you've been following some music news, you might be aware that Apple has been getting sued over "forcing" its customers to use iTunes software. In addition, new MP3 players pop up every day.

MySpace has now decided to compete with iTunes, and offer a music download service with no copy protection in an MP3 format compatible with iPods.

To launch its music store, MySpace is partnering with Snocap, a tech firm founded by Napster creator Shawn Fanning, reports the New York Times. The music, in MP3 format, will not be copy-protected and will be playable on the iPod.

"The goal is to be one of the biggest digital music stores out there," MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe told Reuters. "Everyone we've spoken to definitely wants an alternative to iTunes and the iPod. MySpace could be that alternative."

What are some of the benefits and challenges MySpace can face in this effort? As an iPod customer, and iTunes user, would you try MySpace out? If you don't own an iPod but own an MP3 player, would you give MySpace store a chance? Read the articles from Reuters and The New York Times by clicking on both links above and then post your comments.

Posted by Adriana M. Bóveda-Lambie at 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments

I will post on the Blog after each class session and also comment on current events.  I think it will be interesting reading.  I will also place links meant to help you with the class material and with your final project on the sidebar, so be on the lookout for the info.

I expect you to visit the Blog; you can comment on it as often as you wish.  However, plesae do not post anonymously and please remember this is a public space so both decency and civility are in order. You can register for a Blogger account here.

Again welcome and good luck this semester!

Posted by Adriana M. Bóveda-Lambie at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Adriana M. Bóveda-Lambie at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments