NickelsMcHughMcHugh - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Glossier Changes Packaging after Social Media Outcry

April 23, 2019

From the robin’s egg-blue boxes at Tiffany to Coca-Cola’s classic glass bottles, packaging has long played a role in the success of many well-known brands. In fact, it’s become even more important in today’s social media-driven business environment. Along with catching the eyes of passing shoppers in stores, a product’s packaging must also be bold enough to grab the attention of scrolling Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit users. In the last few years, these platforms have been flooded with “unboxing” videos Continue reading →

Marketing, Ethics, Social Media, Product Development, Branding, Packaging, Sustainability, Product Distribution

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Fisher-Price Shocks Parents with Rock ‘n Play Recall

April 19, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

For more than a decade, the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper has been a staple product for many new parents. This vibrating, cloth-covered cradle allows a baby to lay at an incline while rocking back and forth, helping them sleep as well as soothing symptoms like congestion and acid reflux. So it came as a major shock to many parents last week when Fisher-Price announced that it was recalling more than 5 million Rock n’ Plays.

The American Academy of Continue reading →

Ethics, Product Development, Product Distribution, Crisis management, Reputation, Fisher-Price, Product Recall

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution

Stop & Shop Employees Strike to Keep Benefits and Overtime Pay

April 18, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

The grocery chain Stop & Shop began in 1892 as a small store in Boston’s North End neighborhood. Since then the company has expanded to more than 450 locations throughout the Northeastern United States. Last Thursday, however, operations at many of those stores were thrown off course as more than 31,000 Stop & Shop employees went on strike. After negotiations over a new contract reached a stalemate, members of five local United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) unions walked out Continue reading →

Ethics, Unions, Labor Relations, Retail, Strikes, Food & Drink

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 15: Distribution

Amazon Employees Can Listen to What Customers Tell Alexa

April 16, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Last year consumers around the globe purchased more than 78 million smart speakers like the Amazon Echo. The e-commerce giant’s hit product is powered by Alexa, a voice-activated digital assistant that can respond to spoken commands. For example, ask Alexa what the weather is like and she will respond with the temperature as well as the chance for rain. In its marketing materials, Amazon says that Alexa “lives in the cloud and is always getting smarter.” But while many customers Continue reading →

Global, Ethics, Product Development, Amazon, Internet of Things, Alexa

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Fake Influencers Can Cost Companies Millions of Dollars

April 12, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

By 2020, experts estimate that companies could pay social media influencers as much as $10 billion annually to market products online. These Internet personalities leverage their enormous followings on platforms like Instagram to earn big money through sponsored content. For instance, last year a British fashion influencer named Jess worked with 22 brands, charging $1,000 for every sponsored post that went out to her more than 230,000 Instagram followers.

But while the money that marketers paid Jess was real, the Continue reading →

Marketing, Ethics, Social Media, Branding, Promotions, Instagram, Fraud, Influencers

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

[VIDEO] Why You’re Recycling Wrong

April 11, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Although Americans have become enthusiastic recyclers in recent years, many people still have trouble telling the difference between what’s recyclable and what isn’t. In fact, approximately 25 percent of the material that U.S. citizens toss in their recycling bins can’t actually be recycled. This video takes a look at the possible causes of this trend and provides viewers with some simple waste-sorting advice: “when in doubt, throw it out.”

Questions:

How does single-stream recycling contribute to the high rate of Continue reading →

Operations Management, Ethics, Sustainability, Recycling

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Videos

Microsoft Closes eBook Store and Takes Customers’ Books with It

April 9, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Last week Microsoft announced that its eBook platform would soon close down. This news didn’t really come as a shock to many in the business world since the company struggled from the start to attract a dedicated audience of readers. First of all, Microsoft tied the platform exclusively to its Edge web browser, which accounts for only 4.4 percent of the total browser market. The company’s e-reader app also launched without key features such as highlighting, sticky notes, and titled Continue reading →

Ethics, Product Development, Licensing, Retail, Legal, Product Distribution, eBooks, Microsoft

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

No-Frills Approach Leads to Impressive Results for Planet Fitness

April 5, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Last year, the total revenue earned by the U.S. health-and-fitness industry hit an all-time record of $32.3 billion, representing a 44 percent increase over the past five years. By 2023, analysts estimate that the exercise sector could generate as much as $43 billion. In order to stand out in this ever-growing industry, many fitness clubs have added amenities such as spas, massages, and premium workout classes to entice new members. And as we saw yesterday, some high-end customers are willing Continue reading →

Marketing, Product Development, Pricing, Demographics, Gyms, Health & Fitness, Planet Fitness

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution

Music Publishers Sue Peloton for Copyright Infringement

April 4, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Since launching a few years ago, the New York-based startup Peloton has grown into a $4 billion company by offering its high-end clientele a “private indoor cycling studio in your home.” For $2,000 plus a $39 monthly membership fee, customers receive a Peloton stationary bike equipped with a touchscreen that can stream more than 13,000 live and on-demand cycling classes. These workout sessions are often driven by upbeat songs from well-known artists to keep bikers peddling with enthusiasm.

But while Continue reading →

Ethics, Product Development, Copyright, Legal, Intellectual Property, Reputation, Health & Fitness, Peloton

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Brexit Confusion Does Damage to U.K. Businesses

April 2, 2019

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

In 2016 a majority of U.K. voters chose to leave the European Union, a controversial decision that led to years of confusion and infighting among lawmakers. In fact, British officials were supposed to have all the details of “Brexit” hammered out by March 29, 2019. They missed that deadline, of course, and unfortunately aren’t any closer to brokering a deal to leave the European economic community. Now the nation faces the risk of crashing out of the EU with no Continue reading →

Global, Ethics, Manufacturing, Europe, Currency, Regulation, Product Distribution, Brexit, EU, U.K.

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law