Filed under: Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Advertising, AT and T (T)

One of the hottest categories in tech is location-based services (LBS). Essentially, this means using your smartphone’s GPS ability to show friends your current location. One of the early leaders in the space is Foursquare, which recently snagged a large amount of venture capital. But other players are diving in. For example, Shopkick recently rolled out a pilot of its LBS platform to allow shoppers at Best Buy (BBY) to get discounts. And of course, Facebook recently launched its Places ability.

In fact, now AT&T (T) is getting into the game. The telecom giant has teamed up with an LBS startup, SCVNGR, which has a rewards system for the iPhone and Android. It will be in 50 AT&T stores throughout the Midwest as a trial program.

Continue reading AT&T Jumps into the Mobile Location Biz

AT&T Jumps into the Mobile Location Biz originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Competitive Strategy, Apple Inc (AAPL), Marketing and Advertising, NIKE, Inc’B’ (NKE)

I remember six years ago when the Beastie Boys released their newest album. It dealt with New York City and what it meant to the group — hence the title, “To the 5 Boroughs.” It seems that athletic shoe and apparel giant Nike (NKE) also will attempt to capitalize on the pride generated in each of the city’s five boroughs, as it will release a limited edition line of shoes celebrating each of the boroughs.

These shoes will only be sold in New York, with select stores in each borough receiving the corresponding shoe. These shoes were produced for the inaugural World Basketball Festival that’ll take place from August 12 through August 15. The selected stores in Brooklyn will receive shoes with a black, plum, and white color scheme; a logo for the borough; and laces that identify the shoes as the Brooklyn edition.

Continue reading JockStocks: The Secret to Nike’s Success

JockStocks: The Secret to Nike’s Success originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Magazines, Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Advertising, Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF), Media World

Ooh la la! Fans of the old-school Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) catalog have something to giggle about. After seven long years, the risque quarterly featuring scantily clad young adults is being reinstated. And although the catalog is ostensibly just marketing itself — advertising the clothes that the models are barely wearing — it will cost you $10 (it is available for pre-order now at the Abercrombie website and will hit shelves July 17).

When the recession hit and allowances dried up, ANF suffered even more than most of its peers as teens and young adults offered for similarly trendy fashion at cheaper prices, turning to the Gap’s (GPS) Old Navy, Aeropostale (ARO), and American Eagle (AEO) as substitutes. After months of resistance (or denial), ANF finally cut the prices on some items, but it is still facing lackluster sales and revenue numbers. The shares, meanwhile, are down 50% over the last two years.

Continue reading Sex(y) Sells: Abercrombie Bringing Back Controversial Catalog

Sex(y) Sells: Abercrombie Bringing Back Controversial Catalog originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: International Markets, Earnings Reports, Forecasts, Products and Services, Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Advertising, NIKE, Inc’B’ (NKE)

After Wednesday’s market close, Nike, Inc. (NKE), the world’s largest athletic shoe and accessory maker, is going to get its chance to impress Wall Street when it reports its fiscal fourth quarter results.

Analysts are expecting to see the company announce earnings of $1.05 per share, verses $0.99 during the same period last year.

Continue reading Nike Hopes To Score With Its Q4 Earnings Report

Nike Hopes To Score With Its Q4 Earnings Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Marketing and Advertising, Domino’s Pizza (DPZ)

In the battle for pizza-chain dominance, it was Papa John’s International (PZZA) that took the cake (or rather the crust). The Consumerist reports that the latest results from the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index — tracking points on customer expectations, perceived quality and value, customer complaints, and customer loyalty — show Papa John’s topped its peers in both the pizza business and the fast-food sector overall.

The chain improved its score by 6.7% from last year, hitting 80/100.

Continue reading Papa John’s Wins Customer Satisfaction Poll - Really?

Papa John’s Wins Customer Satisfaction Poll - Really? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing and Advertising, Entrepreneurs, Small Business

When I was a kid, one of my favorite games was Trivial Pursuit. Although, I certainly had a tough time answering many of the questions. Ironically, that was the main reason I liked the game.

Of course, I wasn’t alone. Since 1981, Trivial Pursuit has sold more than 20 million copies and has generated over $1 billion in revenues (Hasbro currently owns the rights). And yes, this got started during a terrible recession.

Continue reading Entrepreneur’s Journal: Bootstrapping a Business Is No Trivial Pursuit

Entrepreneur’s Journal: Bootstrapping a Business Is No Trivial Pursuit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Rumors, Products and Services, Apple Inc (AAPL), Wal-Mart (WMT), Marketing and Advertising

After rumors swirled that Walmart (WMT) was going to halve the price on the Apple (APPL) 3GS 16GB iPhone, it has happened. Walmart now sells the 16GB iPhone 3GS for $97 with a two-year contract or an eligible upgrade.

This move can be viewed several ways. The first is that the 16GB iPhone will become the entry-level model when Apple introduces the 4G iPhone (rumored to launch in the next month). The second is that Walmart is trying to boost its sales figures by dropping the price on the wildly popular phone.

Continue reading Walmart Cuts Price of 16GB iPhone to $97

Walmart Cuts Price of 16GB iPhone to $97 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT), Marketing and Advertising

In what’s one of the largest corporate gifts in history Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) has pledged a cash-and-food donation of $2 billion to the nation’s food banks. The donation, which includes 1.1 billion pounds of food and $250 million, will be distributed over the next five years. One-third of the food will reportedly be perishable, helping fill a need for produce and meat that tends to be lacking at food banks.

President of the Wal-Mart Foundation told The New York Times that WMT, as “the largest grocer in the country,” should “be at the head of the pack in doing something about [the hunger problem].” A current survey from Feeding America indicated that one in eight Americans uses a food bank to provide or supplement their food budgets.

Continue reading Wal-Mart Pledges $2 Billion Contribution to Nation’s Food Banks

Wal-Mart Pledges $2 Billion Contribution to Nation’s Food Banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Might 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Advertising

I guess there are a lot of guys who will be buying Playboy (PLA) in order to read the articles in the third dimension …

Friday’s June edition of Hugh Hefner’s periodical will come with its own pair of 3-D glasses. In fact, Hugh Hefner asked, “What would people most like to see in 3-D … probably a naked lady.”

Continue reading The Playboy Experience in 3D: Will It Help Revive the Company?

The Playboy Experience in 3D: Will It Help Revive the Company? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 May 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: General Motors (GM), Marketing and Advertising

On Friday, General Motors announced that it will be changing ad agencies. The services of Campbell-Ewald, the company that brought the memorable “Like a Rock” campaign and which has been doing advertising since 1919, will no longer be needed. In its place, GM is hiring French advertising company Publicis Worldwide.

Given high fuel prices, the financial crisis, the economic recession and long-term labor and quality issues selling automobiles, right now it must be a bit tough to be GM. Although the ad bureau has a long history of selling automobiles, I certainly don’t know its recent performance and respect GM’s right to go with a competitor.

Continue reading GM’s New Ad Campaign: Like a Frenchman!

GM’s New Ad Campaign: Like a Frenchman! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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