Posts by: James T. Berger
Ron Johnson’s flawed strategy and his subsequent ouster as CEO of J.C. Penney recalls other major retail failures due to fatal marketing, strategy, and operational mistakes. Consider E.J. Korvette, F.W. Woolworth, or W.T. Grant.
More A few months ago I reported on a visit to J.C. Penney and commented on my disappointment with the look and feel of the store. What I saw was CEO Ron Johnson’s new strategy. The basis of this strategy is a return to the roots of the company through its “Fair and Square Every Day” philosophy. The problem with this strategy is that it is, in the words of Wharton Professor George S. Day, an “inside-out” strategy instead of an “outside-in” approach.
More Energy Drinks have become the new star of the supermarket and drug store checkout counters. They are incredibly profitable throughout the channels of trade. One of the most popular – and profitable – is 5-Hour Energy.
More Two academic giants, Nobel Prize Winner (in economics) Gary Becker of the University of Chicago and Kevin W. Murphy another U. of Chicago economics professor, argue that we have lost the war on drugs. So is it time to legalize and tax this industry?
More When it comes to personal selling, the 21st century sales representative is a different animal from the 20th century version. The 21st century salesman is a professional consultant who should be far more interested in establishing a long-term relationship with the customer based on giving the customer advice on how best to buy. Because the sales rep. is so crucial to the success of the firm, it is mandatory that she or he be properly motivated.
More Every Christmas my son comes home and does his Christmas shopping at the Best Buy store about 5 miles from our house. This year he discovered his favorite Best Buy (BBY) store was closed and out of business.
More The year 2012 is ending with a number of key happenings that are changing the face of strategic marketing. Jim’s take on At&T, H-P, McDonalds, and Hostess
More J.C. Penney’s retail makeover spearheaded by CEO Ron Johnson is remarkably similar to another dramatic — and highly successful — initiative taken in another era. Consider the 1957 challenge and change.
More Theodore Levitt in his monumental “Globalization of Markets” treatise predicted the future of international marketing will be the truly “global product.” He envisioned products that everybody in the world could use and not worry about such products being customized to any nationality or culture. Everybody would understand how to work the product and not even have to worry about language and directions. Well, the future is now!
More Joan Magretta has written a book on Harvard Business School’s Prof. Michael Porter entitled: Understanding Michael Porter: The Essential Guide to Competition and Strategy. What should readers expect?
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