Posts by: Tim J. Smith, PhD
An economist, finance executive, and marketer walk into a PWYW bar. The finance executive says: “With pricing like this, how can this…
MoreNewly released census figures show that the nation’s minority population has reached 102.5 million people, or one in three Americans. This burgeoning population—and the buying power it represents—makes effective multicultural marketing imperative for businesses to succeed. Yet many firms in our businesses community lack both a clear understanding of these diverse consumers and a disciplined approach to investing in and managing multicultural marketing. So, how can companies begin or improve multicultural initiatives?
MoreCome into most executives’ offices and say “I have a great promotional idea: Let’s let customers pay what they want. It will be great!” and your career there is all but over. Yet, experiments recently demonstrated that it was great, and more specifically, it was great for profits. How can this be?
MoreEntrepreneurs are a different breed, but what is this breed? Recently, Reed et al. examined the decision making practices of highly successful entrepreneurs, individuals who have grown a company to $200 million or more in annual revenues. They found that entrepreneurs tend to use a more effectual logic rather than predictive logic. What is effectual logic versus predictive logic and how does it help entrepreneurs? … Read on.
MoreTurtles have shells, but they only progress when they get their head out of their shell. Get your head out and move…
MoreTo inspire the consumer, you must help him believe in something that he once thought was impossible. This is where innovators will thrive and institutions will die. Innovators will think in quantum leap fashion. “Institutions” will think incrementally
MoreApril Showers Rain … Rein … Reign … Recovery Expectations Rain … Rein … Reign … Brand value and stock value are…
MoreWhat is Starbucks? Is it a momentary retreat from the stress of work and life? Is it a fast-service coffee chain? Is it a snack shop? Is it a luxury coffee manufacturer? What is Starbucks reason for existence?
MoreFor many companies, 2008 has been a challenging year. The new realities of our current market and economy have impacted many sectors, and even more expect to feel the effects in 2009. This makes it even more important than ever to plan smarter, more effective ways to market to industrial and technical buyers in the year ahead. Based on research into market trends, here are strategic recommendations to achieve marketing success in 2009. All of these recommendations have something in common: better decision making when it comes to marketing choices.
MoreTempleton would go into the customer’s negotiating room with a metaphorical gun on the table. Customers would force him to place the gun against his head and ask him to drop prices or pull the trigger. Templeton didn’t know if the gun was loaded or not. For four years, Templeton managed this challenge, and the bullet never fired. Templeton’s method of managing this struggle over prices reveals a key to pricing in opaque business markets.
(True story account.)
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