Videos - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

[VIDEO] Why Sweetgreen Struggles to Earn a Profit

September 20, 2023

The fast-casual dining chain Sweetgreen has developed a nationwide following of fans by selling fresh salads that start at $15 apiece. Although the company certainly charges a hefty amount for one of its signature bowls, Sweetgreen still struggles to make a profit due to high labor costs and expensive ingredients. This video examines the chain’s money troubles while also looking at its plans for profitability, including automation and expanding outside of major cities.

Questions:

What are some reasons why Sweetgreen Continue reading →

[VIDEO] How One Farm Makes Most of MLB’s Dirt

September 8, 2023

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When Major League Baseball groundskeepers prepare an infield before a game, not just any dirt will do. 26 out of 30 teams in the league depend on professional grade stuff made by Duraedge Products in Pennsylvania, which mines and processes Pittsburgh red bed claystone to create “infield mix.” This video follows the entire process from mining to mixing, showing how every year Duraedge transforms 30,000 tons of clay into a vital product for baseball teams around the country.

Questions:

Why Continue reading →

Entrepreneurship, Facility Location, Management, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Product Development, Product Distribution, Transportation

Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Videos

[VIDEO] Why Car Companies Still Use Expensive Clay Models

August 25, 2023

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For nearly a century, car companies all over the world have built life-size clay models of vehicles in order to make all sorts of design decisions. But don’t let the humble materials fool you: luxury brands like Bentley often spend more than $650,000 to make just one model. This video looks at the benefits of building these pricey prototypes during the development process and why virtual reality tools won’t entirely replace clay anytime soon.

Questions:

What are the advantages Continue reading →

Automation, Cars, Global, Manufacturing, Marketing, Product Development, Transportation, Virtual reality

Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Videos

[VIDEO] Inside American Trucking’s Largest Bankruptcy

August 18, 2023

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The trucking company Yellow filed for bankruptcy in July after struggling for years with mounting debts and slim profit margins. The video below looks at how this low-cost carrier butted heads with unions while also failing to integrate acquisitions into its existing business, leading to the collapse of this century-old company.

Questions:

What are some factors that led Yellow to declare bankruptcy last month?
Why is it difficult for low-cost carriers like Yellow to operate in the competitive trucking industry?

Bankruptcy, Labor Relations, Operations Management, Product Development, Product Distribution, Transportation, Unions

Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Videos

[VIDEO] How McDonald’s Crafts Its Country-Exclusive Menus

August 11, 2023

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More than 60 percent of McDonald’s sales come from outside the U.S., making foreign markets just as important to Mickey D’s bottom line as its domestic operations. This video looks at how the fast food giant develops items for its global customers, who often enjoy flavors that can’t be found under the Golden Arches anywhere else in the world.

Questions:

Why does McDonald’s develop menu items for specific global markets?
How does “transplanting flavors” from one market to another Continue reading →

Fast food, Food & Drink, Global, Marketing, McDonald’s, Product Development, Product Distribution, Promotions

Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Videos

[VIDEO] Why Primark Is Thriving As Other Retailers Struggle

August 2, 2023

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Experts estimate that as many as 80,000 American retail stores will close over the next five years as companies like Forever 21, JCPenney, and Neiman Marcus struggle to stay afloat. That’s not the case for the British retailer Primark, however, which has 18 locations in the U.S. with plans for a lot more to come. This video looks at how the company became a multibillion dollar brand in Europe by sticking to brick-and-mortar stores stocked with high quality items at Continue reading →

[VIDEO] How Economists Use Working Hours as a Recession Indicator

July 21, 2023

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American companies have been hiring lots of new employees this year, making economists hopeful that the country will not experience a recession anytime soon. Still, other experts claim that increased hiring is not as reliable of an economic indicator as some think. The video below explains how total working hours can provide a more detailed picture of the country’s economic health and why fears of an incoming recession could be justified.

Questions:

How do economists use “hours worked” as Continue reading →

Compensation, Economics, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Operations Management, Recession

Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Videos

[VIDEO] How Tabasco Fills Up To 700,000 Bottles A Day

July 14, 2023

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Since 1868, Tabasco has produced hot sauce by aging a spicy mash of peppers, vinegar, and salt in oak barrels for five years. The video below shows how the company makes this iconic condiment through a combination of time-tested methods and modern assembly line efficiency.

Questions:

Why does Tabasco still depend on using old bourbon barrels to create its hot sauce?
Do you think Tabasco should relocate its Avery Island facilities in favor of a place that is more Continue reading →

Agriculture, Food & Drink, Global, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Product Development, Product Distribution, Tabasco

Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Videos

[VIDEO] The Business Model Behind Buy Now, Pay Later Apps

July 6, 2023

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Retailers have long relied on credit cards and companies like Paypal to provide payment options for customers, but recently these services have faced some new competition. Firms like Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay offer “buy now, pay later” models that can be an appealing alternative to credit cards. As the video below shows, though, these services could potentially be dangerous to consumers while also failing to maintain steady profits for investors.

Questions:

What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of using Continue reading →

Credit, Currency, Ecommerce, Ethics, Money, Payment services, Paypal, Retail

Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Chapter 17: Accounting, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Videos

[VIDEO] The High Stakes of Spotting Fakes in the Luxury Watch Market

June 23, 2023

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From 2011 to 2021, the value of Rolex watches outperformed real estate and stock markets as well as commodities like gold. This video looks at the risks and rewards of the $20 billion used watch industry, from soaring demand and big price tags to small margins and extensive counterfeiting.

Questions:

Why are counterfeit products harmful to luxury brands like Rolex?
How does high demand for Rolex encourage counterfeiters to produce knockoffs?