Posts by: Tim J. Smith, PhD
The recession has tested even the most resilient business model. Through it, Nordstrom has glowed while Abercrombie & Fitch glowered. What caused the disparity in performance between these two strong firms? Their pricing strategies.
More“Here lies a humanist.” Abdurrahman Wahid, First Democratically Elected President of Indonesia, 1940-2009 Utility defines value. Does your new idea meet this…
MoreSince August 2009, Urban Canine, located in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, has been letting dog owners use washing facilities, shampoo, ear-cleaning liquid, towels, and even blow driers for self-wash dog grooming at a price of the customer’s choosing. How has this Pay What You Want (PWYW) promotion faired for Urban Canine? I caught up with Tony Sauer, owner of Urban Canine, to understand how the program’s performance.
More“The purpose of business is to create and keep a customer.” Peter Drucker, 1909-2005 The relationship management continuum begins before the initial…
MoreSince the introduction of global distribution systems for airline tickets and hotel rooms, the commoditization of coach flights was foretold. The internet has only exasperated the problem, leading to the despairing cry that, in coach pricing, “an airline can only price as smart as their dumbest competitor.” To combat this horrid position, airlines may want to consider creating a new “Coach Plus” booking class.
MoreJ.D. GERSHBEIN, President of OWLISH COMMUNICATIONS, and a contributing editor to the Wiglaf Journal, has emerged as the top LINKEDIN PROFILE WRITER…
MoreWhen the going gets tough, the tough get going. Deep dives into what drives customer choices usually leads to dramatic results ……
MoreIf the Great Recession is over, when will demand return? Is it time to start hiring and re-investing in the business? Should an executive cut further given the low level of demand? Or, even worse, is it time to close shop and look for greener pastures? In this article, we look at the changes in demand driven by the recession, and its implications for corporate strategy during the “new normal” recovery.
MoreIf the company didn’t have any problems, you wouldn’t have a job. Winning a war doesn’t require one to annihilate the enemy;…
MoreIn late October, Wal-Mart kicked off the most devastating book price war in a decade by selling its 10 most anticipated hardbacks for $10 a piece when pre-ordered online. Hours later, Amazon picked up the gauntlet and declared a defensive stance with matching prices. Wal-Mart lunged back on the offensive with a price cut to $9. Within a day, Amazon responded with a Prise de Fer by also moving to $9. The war is on. Read how it must end.
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