Product Distribution - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Foreign Retailers Cease Operations in Russia

March 4, 2022

The appalling invasion of Ukraine has convinced many companies to halt their operations in Russia during this catastrophic event. Last week, for instance, the clothing company H&M announced that it would close its 170 Russian stores while Nike shuttered its 116 retailers in the country. Other big brands like Apple, T.J. Maxx, and Ikea followed with announcements that laid out similar plans to close stores during this frightening time.

“The devastating war in Ukraine is a human tragedy, and our Continue reading →

Retail, Russia, Supply chains, Product Distribution, Global, Ukraine, Ethics

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 15: Distribution

[VIDEO] How Peloton Spun Out

March 2, 2022

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For years the home workout company Peloton promised customers that it provided more than just a stationary bicycle–it was a way of life. But while Peloton thrived during the height of the pandemic as people stayed indoors, the video below shows how this once promising brand collapsed due to falling demand and mismanagement.

Questions:

What sort of customers did Peloton initially market its product to? How did this change over time?
How did the pandemic benefit Peloton, and why Continue reading →

Product Development, Marketing, Branding, Ethics, Promotions, Entrepreneurship, Product Distribution, Peloton

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Videos

Supply Chain Delays and Inflation Continues to Hurt Small Businesses

February 23, 2022

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Last year, we looked at how rising inflation and supply chain delays caused by the pandemic were taking a big toll on small businesses, a situation that has not improved in 2022. In fact, small-scale entrepreneurs have struggled for years at this point while their corporate counterparts have thrived thanks to the advantages brought on by huge reserves of capital. “Larger firms have been able to weather rising costs and labor shortages better than smaller firms, which is likely Continue reading →

Forms of Business. Operations Management, Global, Transportation, Ethics, Product Distribution, Entrepreneurship, Crisis management, Pandemic, Supply Chain

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 5: Forms of Business Ownership, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 15: Distribution

[VIDEO] What Insects Can Learn From Lobsters About Rebranding

February 18, 2022

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Chowing down on a big bowl of crickets probably doesn’t sound very appetizing, does it? According to a range of experts interviewed in the video below, though, our disgust at the thought of eating insects might just be a matter of perception. This extensive report from the New York Times shows how lobsters went from disgusting to delicious in the eyes of American eaters, a branding journey that bugs might also take in the near future.

Questions:

What are some Continue reading →

Avocado Prices Soar in Lead-up to Super Bowl

February 8, 2022

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With Super Bowl LVI less than a week away, football fans around the country are stocking up on snacks and drinks for Sunday’s big game. In fact, each year Americans eat more than 112 million pounds of snacks during the Super Bowl, with the most popular items being potato chips, pretzels, and tortilla chips. Although these items will be available and affordable as ever this year, economists at Wells Fargo estimate that the cost of fresh items like salsa and Continue reading →

Entertainment, Pricing, Global, Product Distribution, Super Bowl, Food & Drink, Supply & Demand, Sports

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

Meta (Formerly Facebook) Lost $230 Billion in Market Value Yesterday

February 4, 2022

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The company formerly known as Facebook is going through something of an identity crisis. Rebranded as Meta last year, the tech giant changed its name in order to signal its transition from social networks to the virtual world of the “metaverse.” Although the company has staked its future on this unproven concept, this week Meta had to contend with the consequences of a miserable earnings report that painted a gloomy picture of its present situation.

In the most Continue reading →

Meta, Metaverse, Product Development, Marketing, Advertising, Social Media, Facebook, Silicon Valley, Product Distribution, Mobile, Stock Market, Stock valuation

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Chapter 19: Securities Markets, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

[VIDEO] The Rise and Fall of BlackBerry

January 25, 2022

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While iPhones and various Android smartphones dominate the current mobile market, in the early days of these devices no brand was bigger than BlackBerry. This video looks at the history of this once ubiquitous gadget that captured early market share but failed to keep pace with its high tech competitors.

Questions:

What features made BlackBerry so appealing to businesspeople when it first hit the market?
How did BlackBerry’s resistance to change lead to the downfall of its mobile business?

Marketing, Product Distribution, Global, Mobile, Blackberry, iPhone, Product Development, Smartphones

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

Omicron Variant Brings New Problems to Backlogged Supply Chain

January 20, 2022

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Although heavy traffic in U.S. ports did not end up canceling Christmas last year, the supply chain crisis still led to some empty shelves and expensive items as companies struggled to obtain needed inventory. Now that the holiday shopping season is long over, however, some officials are optimistic that the worst has passed as ports in Southern California work through their backlogs and shipping costs drop from their September 2021 highs. But like so many other aspects of American Continue reading →

China, Global, Supply chains, Manufacturing, Transportation, Labor Relations, Product Distribution, Shipping, Supply & Demand, Collective bargaining

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 15: Distribution

[VIDEO] How the Pandemic Changed the Movie Business

January 11, 2022

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For decades, Hollywood studios and movie exhibitors abided by the law of the “theatrical window,” the period of time where a film could only be seen in theaters. This window steadily shrank over the years as home video and streaming gained dominance until it was almost obliterated in 2020 as theaters shut down for the pandemic. The fascinating video below looks at the ways that coronavirus changed domestic movie distribution and how theaters could still have a profitable future ahead Continue reading →

[VIDEO] How America’s Oldest Drum Factory Stayed In Business For Over 160 Years

December 7, 2021

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This video takes an extensive look at Noble & Cooley, an American drum company founded in 1854 that has been going strong for more than 160 years. What began as a toy drum seller evolved over the years into an artisanal manufacturer of high-quality instruments that are sought after by professional musicians around the world. Business Insider examines this progression as well as Noble & Cooley’s commitment to quality that has set it apart from the competition for decades. Continue reading →

Music, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, Product Distribution, Manufacturing, Product Development, Entertainment

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