Yogi Berra once lamented that, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” Today companies have a related complaint: “Brand loyalty ain’t what it used to be.” No longer can brands expect long-term loyalty, even from its most faithful customers. As economic pressures mount, competitive landscapes shift, and life simply happens, it may seem pointless […]
Consensus Advisors just released their 2009-2010 Retailer Health Ratings (RHRs) report. The RHRs measure and compare retailers over a five-year period on: healthy growth asset utilization pricing power balance sheet strength The report and webinar were really interesting and so I thought I’d share some of the insights and my reactions. […]
Companies need to make money – I get it. And as a capitalist at heart, I generally subscribe to the business practice of charging what the market will bear. But as I’ve learned about the recent pricing decisions of two high-profile institutions of American culture – Starbucks and The New York Times – I’ve wondered […]
This week’s BusinessWeek features two stories back-to-back that together make an important point for all businesses trying to navigate today’s recessionary times. First is a piece on Target’s apparent move down market, “Look Who’s Stalking Wal-Mart.” It outlines several moves by Target that seem to be taken from Wal-Mart’s playbook. Then there’s the article, “Why […]
Within a month of each other, two articles appeared in BusinessWeek about luxury brands. The articles, about Coach and Tiffany & Co. respectively, describe how the brands are dealing with the decrease in demand due to the recession. Each has devised a strategy for lowering its prices without tarnishing its brand. […]
The editor of QSR Magazine, the trade journal for quick service restaurant brands (fast feeders like McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, etc.), interviewed me to explain to QSRs “Why You Win If Starbucks Survives.” […]
I was really pleased to read about apparel retailer abercrombie & fitch’s commitment to its brand in a recent LA Times article. […]
Just the other day, I encountered a sign on the counter of my local Panera Bread. It announced price increases on its bagels due to increased costs. I’m sure many businesses faced with increased margin pressures are looking at price increases […]