Blog authors: Derrick Daye and Brad VanAuken

The title of this external blog that I read is Building A Brand Advantage In Uncertain Times. By posing the question in the first sentence, it engages the reader. Then, the authors state the issue before the analysis and the recommendation, which is the format of solving a case.

Firms screw up on forecasting and there’re a few reasons. First, firms don’t know what their competitors are doing; second, they usually overestimate the projected figures; third, they don’t know the consumer demand and preference. There’s always variability in the market; therefore, no one can give the correct information. However, projection is required for the direction of a company.

After reading this blog, I learn how important it is for a brand to consider consumers’ minds. By considering, it doesn’t mean that the firms will know what exactly their customers think, but they do need to concern about their consumers. The authors also recommend that in order to be a successful brand, it’s necessary to be tangible. Yet, this blog can improve by giving actual examples of successful brands such as Apple, Nike or Lululemon. Additionally, recommendation can be developed more because to be “tangible” is too blurred.

Original blog

Brand Positioning

What all successful brands know

Finishing discussing Stephen’s blog, I found an interesting piece of news, the best workplace, that Theodore blogs about. First, his topic drags the reader’s attention because the reader would want to find out what the job is. Theodore delivers the news wonderfully. He not only provides the correct information in the news but also gives the numerical information of the chance to successfully apply for this job. Moreover, the picture and the video are helpful to understand, visualize and be more familiar with the work place.

Nevertheless, Theodore can improve his blog by relating this news to the class materials. For example, Google has a good human resource management because it knows how to make its employees happy and satisfied. Theodore should also provide the link to the news to share with the reader.

Overall, Theodore’s post is interesting and it delivers the news well. However, it will even engage more readers if there is more links for extra information.

Theodore’s blog

Human resource definition

Human Resource Policy at Google

Stephen delivers the news, Greek debt crisis, well. He also makes a few useful points on how terrible the Greek debt crisis is and how the people around the world portray this event. “There’s no possible ways to please everybody.”  Instead of just stating this, he can try to make recommendations such as what might be helpful for Greek economy and what will likely be Greece’s act. More advices can be included to make a stronger argument.Similarly, at the end of the paragraph, Stephen can be more specific or provide more thoughts on what might happen if Greece defaults. His ideas are correct, but it will be even better with just a few more suggestions. For example, When Greece defaults, domino effect will appear. Other countries, even the ones that are not in Europe, will be affected as well because there are lots of people investing Greek stocks.

Finally, a hyper link in the paragraph is great because it indicates where the source is and it provides more information. However, there can be photos to make his blog better. Perhaps extra links and videos are helpful too.

Stephen’s blog

Original article used in Stephen’s blog

About Greece

Apple is an entrepreneurial company that produces technologies. It’s an entrepreneurial company because of its innovation, speed and amount of wealth creation and risk.

There are various new inventions or products made by Apple. For example, Ipods, Itunes, Ipads and Iphones are all invented by Steve Jobs from Apple. People never had technologies like these products; therefore, the whole world was spread with interest. These innovations are released within just a few years, which is really fast. Apple’s innovations attract consumers who follow the trend. This is how it sells its products rapidly well. Well-sold inventions results in great profit, wealth. Apple uses innovation to increase its wealth creation.

As a large company, Apple’s amount of wealth creation must be huge to maintain its profit. Every business has risk, but it’s the matter of greater or less risk. Apple has a certain amount of risk in its business even though it just seems easy and successful. The reason for firms to take more risks is sometimes because that they don’t want their ideas of the businesses to be pursued. Higher risk reduces the people who steal ideas.

Definition of entrepreneurship

Know more about entrepreneurs

What’s an entrepreneur

Solar panel, roof that can absorb sun energy, has been invented these few years. It is an environmental friendly and green product that can save, protect the world. The cost to produce it is high, which is the reason for its expensive sales. Because of the high price, an issue has been created: not many consumers are willing to purchase it.

However, the issue of solar industry seems to slowly disappear.  Consumers start to realize that solar panels can save their money in long term. “In all, he pays $60 to $100 a month for power; he used to pay $90 to $120,” according to customer Johnson. Consumers’ behaviors can be affected socially and globally, which means that more people will buy solar panels.

The spending of solar panels will slowly be recovered by how much money that is saved in the future and this is the strategy of the solar industry. It considers the long term effect to the customers.

Long term investment

Article

10 benefits of Solar Energy (5th point is what’s included in my paragraphs)

What affects solar panel costs

Steve Jobs is the co-founder and former chief executive of Apple Inc., the technology company. He died at an age of 56 on October 5, 2011.

Steve Jobs has fought for cancer for the past few years. He wants to leave Apple Inc. because of his illness; however, the economy of the company doesn’t do well after he takes a break. “The world is immeasurably better because of Steve,” the company said. Therefore, he steps down from a CEO to a chief executive to indicate his passion towards Apple Inc. Writing programs is one of the reasons that cause his illness. Excess of working finally leads to Steve Jobs’ death.

Steve Jobs is someone who should be remembered. His brilliant creations and business thinking change the world. BTM, business technology management, is something he does well. For example, he writes various programs on Iphone to interest consumers. Steve Jobs is improving the business innovation. He not only writes programs but also knows how to keep and attract more consumers for his products. Hence, Steve Jobs should be proud of what he has done.

    3 apples change the world.

Article

Steve Jobs time line

Steve Job’s speech

RIM’s PlayBook tablet becomes less popular. RIM’s staff reduces and it sells a lot less products, less than half of what was expected. Large electronic retailers Future Shop and Best Buy both lower 150 dollars for RIM’s PlayBook sales.

RIM, Research In Motion, is the company that makes BlackBerry. One of the major competitors for RIM’s PlayBook is Apple’s iphone. Iphone has many applications and programs, which are some of its advantages in the market.

People start to suspect RIM’s discontinuance for PlayBook tablet, but it denies this point. No matter it’s true that RIM will stop the tablet or not, RIM might be looking at a new way of selling its products because of the danger of price war. Different prices can affect the market differently. Close prices make products substitutes, which customers consider the practicability. Same product of prices that are not as close can make consumers enter the cheaper market. For example, Lieber loses some customers when Vancouver Lights lowers its price. Therefore, it might be helpful for RIM’s market if it creates a new product rather than keep on selling the PlayBooks.

Article

Know more about Price War

RIM Defends PlayBook Tablet Against Critics

Tim Hortons is the biggest Canadian restaurant chain and is the fourth largest in North America. It is famous with its coffee and doughnut. Recently, Tim Hortons plans to open 120 stores in Arab Gulf States to expand its marketplace around the world. “We have got some smaller self-serve operation in Ireland but this is what I believe is our first true export of the brand.” CEO Paul House said at the time. Tim Hortons has already expanded into other countries, but it claims that it will be the first time it really tries to expand the brand.Tim Hortons is trying to use low cost to enter the market in Arab Gulf States. The reason for it to plan on running that many stores might be to minimize its cost by purchasing a large amount of products. It pays less when buying more. By doing so, profit will increase. Another way to compete with other brands can be using Points of Difference to reveal its relevance, distinctiveness or believability to the consumers. Competitors like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks are also in Arab Gulf States. Therefore, Points of Difference is what Tim Hortons should consider.

Article

PoD

Tim Hortons in Dubai