Stopping J.C. Penney Coupons was a bit like introducing New Coke

The troubles at JC Penney that started with stopping coupons in February sort of reminds one of the New Coke fiasco. In both cases company leaders misjudged what their brand really means to their customer. Here is what happened: JCPenney marketing folks figured that their customers hated all those coupons and keeping track of theContinue reading “Stopping J.C. Penney Coupons was a bit like introducing New Coke”

From Strategy to Execution via Website: the Power of Web Analytics

As Web Analytics evolves (see earlier post) the possibility of organizations to map website—>organizational structure—> strategy —-> to execution via website analytics is an enormous opportunity. And this applies to the mission of the organization, its functions including Marketing, Investor Relations, Supplier Relations to Employee Relations. Here is how: Websites are becoming better with moreContinue reading “From Strategy to Execution via Website: the Power of Web Analytics”

May Jobs Report: What can college students do?

The May jobs report is devastating. It's estimated that over half the graduating class of 2012 will not have jobs. Yes the economy is slow, it's slowing in emerging markets as well besides Europe that seems very bad. However, those US  students who are entering college in the fall need to consider the following things:Continue reading “May Jobs Report: What can college students do?”

Innovation in tracking marketing results: GM dares to withdraw Facebook and Superbowl advertising

GM marketing folks seem to be innovatively tracking marketing results- and doing so  really well. You would recall that on  the eve of the Facebook IPO the marketing folks at GM committed at least a minor transgression by declaring that advertising on Facebook was not working for them and they were going to stop advertisingContinue reading “Innovation in tracking marketing results: GM dares to withdraw Facebook and Superbowl advertising”

Innovation is always in context of customers,stakeholders and society

If  we think of innovation, invariably  we think of radical innovations like the iPhone or Facebook. By doing so, individuals succeed in just beating up themselves and their organizations – and for no reason. Consider that after the iPhone or Facebook started taking off entire industries (eg. smartphone for iPhone) and social media (eg. LinkedInContinue reading “Innovation is always in context of customers,stakeholders and society”

Diamond Foods: Pringles fiasco- a farmer co-operative supply chain implodes as corporation

When Diamond Foods announced its plans to acquire Pringles from P&G it seemed like a great move to this blog. So it comes as quite a shock that the deal is off and Kellogg's is acquiring Pringles , trying to expand its snacking line for salted foods in emerging markets as  P&G , the PringlesContinue reading “Diamond Foods: Pringles fiasco- a farmer co-operative supply chain implodes as corporation”

Integrating web marketing to Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC)

It was in the 1990's that IMC started getting popular in marketing. The Internet was just getting started and social media was in the distant horizon.By the early 2000's  organizations particularly in consumer products started figuring out IMC between their packaging,billboards,TV ads,magazine and newspaper ads and Point of Sale materials. The time has now comeContinue reading “Integrating web marketing to Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC)”

Dow over 12,000: Globalization can work on the governance side as six Central Banks Co-ordinate.

That the Dow closed over 12,000 today is great news.The European debt crisis had cast a pall of gloom across stock markets worldwide  and in the US things looked bleak till the news that six Central Banks of the world had come together to enhance financial liquidity in their respective markets. If  the "Occupy Movement"Continue reading “Dow over 12,000: Globalization can work on the governance side as six Central Banks Co-ordinate.”

Diffusion of discontent: Why Netflix lost only 4% customers but about 20% share value

Diffusion of innovation used to be a slow phenomenon on the positive side (seen from the organization's point of view- hey the market and product awareness is growing) till you had the Internet and social media. On the flip side of diffusion of innovation is the phenomena of diffusion of discontent which probably explains whyContinue reading “Diffusion of discontent: Why Netflix lost only 4% customers but about 20% share value”

Just stopping AT&T and the T-Mobile merger is not enough-US cell phone industry needs to change and become an engine of economic growth

The US cell phone needs to change and become an engine of economic growth. Merely stopping AT&T and the T-Mobile merger is not enough. The industry needs total overhaul and I am saying this from a recent visit to India where the cell phone is changing the economy as the motor car changed the economyContinue reading “Just stopping AT&T and the T-Mobile merger is not enough-US cell phone industry needs to change and become an engine of economic growth”