Archive for February 10th, 2010

From the ‘when will they learn ?’ file … another global warming hearing canceled due to DC snow.

February 10, 2010

You just had to know it would happen again …

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EPW HEARINGS POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER 

EPW UPDATE February 9, 2010:

The following Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearings have been postponed due to inclement weather this week:

– The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife,  “Collaborative Solutions to Wildlife and Habitat Management.”

– The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, “Global Warming Impacts, Including Public Health, in the United States.”

See it for yourself:
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=b3e826ad-802a-23ad-45b8-8fa00c661d62

Posted in Global Warming - Climate Change | Leave a Comment »

Hold the burger … and just give me with a glass of water, please.

February 10, 2010

Excerpted from CNNMoney.com: The burger and beverage recession, February 9, 2010

People are holding back on buying burgers, soda and beer. So much for fast food, soft drinks and booze being recession-proof.

Sure, the worst of this downturn may in fact be over, but don’t tell that to Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Molson Coors.

  • Coke’s fourth-quarter profit that was led by robust sales growth in markets such as India, China and Brazil. But North America revenue fell 4%.
  • McDonald’s said that same-store sales, a key measure of growth at restaurants open at least a year, rose more than 4% in Europe as well as in its Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa division.  But,  U.S. same-store sales were down 0.7%. 
  • Molson Coors reported that demand for its beers in international markets in the fourth quarter was frothy, with volume rising 14% thanks to healthy sales in Europe, China and Latin America. Yet, sales fell in the U.S. during the quarter.

It appears that U.S. consumers are serious about keeping an eye on their budgets … even for relatively inexpensive creature comforts such as a Big Mac or six-packs of Coke Zero or Coors Light.

“People aren’t as panicked, but they are still hanging on to their wallets pretty tight. The big question hanging out there is whether this recession has been long enough and deep enough to change consumer spending for an extended period of time.”

Full article:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/09/markets/thebuzz/index.htm

Posted in Mktg - Consumer Behavior | Leave a Comment »

If the shoe fits, wear it: Zappos’ strategy is for sale

February 10, 2010

Key Takeaway: Behind every great new product, there almost always is an organizational structure in place that acts as a catalyst for success.

Zappos, an online shoe seller, has decided to generate a new source of profitability by selling the secrets of its business model.

While Zappos will surely benefit due to the widespread interest in its unique culture, will each client find success in using this model?

It’s friendly, easy-going atmosphere possibly isn’t transferable to many industries…

 

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Excerpted from BusinessWeek, “Zappos Retails Its Culture” by Christopher Palmeri, December 30, 2009

Zappos already knows how to sell shoes. Now it’s hoping to profit from people’s fascination with its friendly, antics-filled business model. Last summer, the company began holding two-day, $4,000 seminars on how to recreate the essence of its corporate culture.

The goal behind these activities is to build more buzz around the Zappos brand and its extreme customer service. Anthony Hsieh, 36, is an avid consumer of management tomes. He has 1.6 million followers on Twitter—more than either CBS News or the NFL—and he regales these fans with inspirational quotes, riffs on the news, and whatever else is on his mind. In the October seminar, which will be repeated once every quarter, Hsieh, the chief financial officer, and two dozen other staffers shared tips on hiring, compensation, customer care, and creating the right work environment.

There’s certainly much for students of management theory to try on at Zappos. For example, pay for call-center operators starts at a modest $11 an hour, and there are no bonuses or 401(k) matching contributions because Hsieh believes the most productive employees work for the psychic gratification in helping others. Customer service reps are given plenty of freedom. They may chat for hours with customers, write thank-you notes, send flowers, and even direct shoppers to rival Web sites if an item is out of stock. In a tough year for retail, sales are up by double digits.

Edit by JMZ

 

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Full Article
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_02/b4162057120453.htm?chan=innovation_branding_brand+profiles

Posted in Customer Service | Leave a Comment »