"Alexander Graham Bell wanted to sell his patents and technology for the telephone to Western Union, which was the leading telegraph company at the time. Bell’s price: $100,000. Western Union thought it was laughable. Venture capitalist Ben Horowitz has a big post on why people should be optimistic about technology companies. In it, he talks […]
Category Archives: Product and Pricing Strategies
How Apple Creates Such Amazing Products
Eric Barker (photo, left) writes, "Apple calls it concurrent or parallel production. All the groups— design, manufacturing, engineering, sales— meet continuously through the product-development cycle, brainstorming, trading ideas and solutions, strategizing over the most pressing issues, and generally keeping the conversation open to a diverse group of perspectives… it avoids this chronic problem of good […]
How Companies Got People to Become Obsessed with Their Brands
Advertising veteran and marketing expert Susan Fournier (photo, left) reflects on her seminal study on brand relationship theory and asserts that it's not just a metaphor. Read full article.
How Do Colors Affect Purchases?
. . . To learn more about color psychology and how it influences purchases, see this infographic. Read full article.
What Consumer Culture Will Look Like in 2020 (and How Brands Can Adapt)
The brands that succeed will be the ones that are the most adaptable to whatever nature throws our way. The Consumer Futures 2020 report, developed by the U.K.'s Forum For The Future, takes a stab at imagining what consumer culture will look like nearly a decade down the line. There are four potential paths we […]
How Burger King Went from McDonald’s Greatest Rival to Total Train Wreck
After Justice Holdings acquired Burger King this month, it announced a major rebranding and image change, updating its menus and adding to its management ranks. The chain has struggled with a decline in sales since 2008. It lost its No. 2 spot to Wendy's in March. Read more . . .
Six Pricing Tricks Businesses Use to Outfox Customers
The first of April is the time of year when, for a brief moment, everyone pays attention to the fools among us. But as it turns out, some businesses do that year-round, because your foolish purchasing behavior translates directly into their profit. I’m referring to the way products are priced. Usually, the price on the […]
How Whole Foods Became the Luxury Brand for Millennials
Years ago, no one would have predicted a grocery chain would be the modern symbol of luxury. But that's precisely what Whole Foods has become for millennials, as it's slowly replaced the designer labels and brand name stores favored by boomers, writes Michael Pavone, food and beverage marketing firm CEO, on Fast Co.Exist. . . […]
Amazon Blows Walmart Out of the Water on Value: Survey
Low-income Internet shoppers vastly prefer the world's largest online retailer to the world's largest bricks-and-mortar chain, finds new research by BrandIndex. Perceived as offering a better bang for their buck, adults 18+ earning $50,000 or less per year said they prefer Amazon's online convenience to Walmart's in-store experience, with its potential for free shipping and […]
Choice Makes People Spend More on High-End Products
. . . Consumers who are offered a richer array of relevant choices in a given product category grow engaged and interested in quality and are prepared to stretch their budget accordingly . . . Via www.businessinsider.com