The Economic Downturn Hits J.C. Penney’s Hard

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About 600 employees were laid off at the corporate headquarters of J.C. Penney this week. Under the leadership of the new CEO, Ron Johnson, one of its three call centers in Pittsburgh, PA, will also be closed later this year, which eliminates 300 more jobs. Questions: 1. What type of business is J.C. Penney? Research… Read more »

Budget Cut Alternatives?

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For generations, community colleges have been seen as a low cost education for many. However, starting this summer, Santa Monica College is going to offer courses that are typically hard to enroll in (due to greater demand and the lack of student seats) at a premium price structure. This two-tiered price structure is raising concerns… Read more »

I Know Where You Live and I Know What you Donated Last Summer!

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No, it’s not a new horror flick, but it is scary. As private schools, like Upper East Side preschool hit the upper limits of what they can charge for tuition (or $21,000 per year), fund raising has become more intense and aggressive. In fact, the “development offices” for these schools are mining online data for… Read more »

Here comes Scoot!

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Singapore Airlines’ wholly-owned budget carrier Scoot will begin flights into China, with flights between Singapore and Tianjin during August. Two more Chinese destinations are also being considered, but the capital of Beijing is not one of them. Questions: 1. How much is S$88 in U.S. dollars? How does this compare to the fares offered by… Read more »

Big News at Amazon: Fulfillment Robots

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Amazon.com Inc said on Monday it agreed to buy Kiva Systems Inc for $775 million in cash, a deal that will bring more robotic technology to the e-commerce company’s giant network of warehouses. Questions: 1. What other companies use this kind of robot technology? 2. Discuss the trend of Amazon’s fulfillment costs and what they… Read more »

Costs versus Benefits of a Marketing Campaign

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Is it April Fool’s Day, yet? No, this really happened! The international marketing agency of BBH Labs recently outfitted 13 volunteer homeless shelter individuals as “human wireless transmitters” at the South by Southwest technology conference in Austin, Texas. The company provided the individuals with the devices, business cards and T-shirts listing their names followed by… Read more »

Super Bowl Sunday!

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Well it’s almost time for the Super Bowl again.  So get the snacks ready in front of the big screen TV.  But what comes with the game and half-time?  Of course, the commercials.  However, the hoopla behind Super Bowl ads has spawned a team of skeptics. Growing research shows the $3.5 million that advertisers pay… Read more »

M’Hudi Winery

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A clinical psychologist, her ‘armchair farmer’ husband and their family launched an internationally successful wine label — without capital, farming experience or wine-making knowledge. The company is the first South African winery wholly owned and managed by a Black South African family. Question: 1. How did the Rangaka’s decide on their particular farm? Discuss the… Read more »

Pressure Packages

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Pressure from financial  institutions and Treasury officials undermined an effort to  limit executive pay at seven companies rescued with taxpayer  money, a new government audit showed on Tuesday.  The official overseeing executive pay for bailout firms  limited cash compensation and made some reductions in pay, but  still approved compensation packages in the millions, the TARP … Read more »

Verizon Posts New Numbers

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Verizon Communications on Tuesday reported a net loss of $212 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, despite rising iPhone sales and revenue growth in its wireless business, compared with net income of $4.65 billion in the same quarter a year ago, the company said Tuesday. The loss was primarily because of the impact of… Read more »