Holidays - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Consumers Increasingly Opt for Artificial Christmas Trees

December 10, 2019

According to the Census of Agriculture, from 2002 to 2017 Christmas tree production fell by 30 percent as artificial trees grew in popularity. American growers now harvest fewer than 15 million trees annually, down from 21 million in the early 2000s. Meanwhile, sales of artificial trees have steadily risen thanks to their affordability and convenience. Not only are plastic Christmas trees clean and reusable, but they’re also considerably safer than real trees that can quickly catch fire with a single Continue reading →

Marketing, Product Development, Product Distribution, Agriculture, Christmas, Holidays

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

Thanksgiving Travelers Hit the Road in Record Numbers

November 26, 2019

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If you have plans to travel this week for Thanksgiving, then you should already know that you won’t be the only one. According to experts, a record number of travelers will either fly or drive at least 50 miles to celebrate the holiday. As a result, the nation’s airports and highways will be jammed with travelers, inevitably leading to widespread traffic and plane delays.

The trade organization Airlines for America estimates that a record 31.6 million people will fly Continue reading →

Transportation, Travel, Vacation, Thanksgiving, Holidays, Airports

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management

[VIDEO] How To Grow The Perfect Christmas Tree

December 19, 2018

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With December 25th less than a week away, twinkling Christmas trees are currently illuminating homes across the country. And while these festive firs will only stand for a couple of weeks, their journey from farms to family rooms takes more than a decade. This video about the production process on Christmas tree farms looks at why they must follow strict logistical schedules or else face disastrous consequences in the long term.

Questions:

Why are logistics so important for Christmas tree Continue reading →

Holidays, Operations Management, Global, Product Development, Product Distribution, Production, Christmas

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

The Cost of the Average Thanksgiving Dinner Drops Slightly

November 20, 2018

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With Thanksgiving only a couple of days away, America’s grocery stores will soon be flooded with consumers looking to pick up a few last minute ingredients. And while these time-crunched cooks will likely spend a long time waiting in the checkout line, they at least won’t be greeted with a steep bill once they reach the register. That’s because the American Farm Bureau Federation said that this year’s average price for a Thanksgiving dinner has dropped slightly in comparison to Continue reading →

Economics, Thanksgiving, Holidays, Food & Drink, Pricing

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 14: Product and Price

Halloween Provides Retailers with a Seasonal Sales Boost

October 30, 2018

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Tomorrow night, children across the country will put on costumes and head out in search of as much candy as they can carry. And while many adults will accompany these kids on their sugary quests, plenty of others will be getting into the Halloween spirit without doing any trick-or-treating. After all, in recent years adults have become just as excited about All Hallow’s Eve as the most candy-crazed kids.

In fact, last year half of all Americans purchased a costume Continue reading →

Halloween, Seasonal, Holidays, Promotions, Retail, Marketing

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion

[VIDEO] Fourth of July by the Numbers

July 3, 2017

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During this year’s Fourth of July holiday, Americans will spend an average of $71 per household on food for barbeques and cookouts. While 63 percent of people will attend a professional fireworks display sometime over the weekend, 26 percent of the populace will launch their own pyrotechnics (hopefully in a safe manner). This short video features a few more Fourth of July facts to add some statistical context to the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.

Questions:

Why are 98 percent of Continue reading →

Marketing, Promotions, Product Distribution, Seasonal, Holidays

Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion

[VIDEO] How Much Do Your Favorite Holiday Songs and Movies Make?

December 29, 2016

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As 2016 comes to a close, many people across the country have likely spent the last few weeks immersed in Christmas music and movies. This brief video takes a look at how much money some of these old entertainment properties earn during the festive season, from Frank Capra’s classic It’s a Wonderful Life to Mariah Carey’s perennial hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Questions:

How did the public domain copyright of It’s a Wonderful Life transform the film Continue reading →

Holidays, Christmas, Movies, Music, Entertainment, Copyright

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Videos