Disney, a company synonymous with family-friendliness is currently facing a struggle with the gambling industry due to its indirect presence in casinos and slot machines. Having recently acquired Marvel for US$4 billion in 2009, many of the Marvel superheroes including Spiderman and Iron Man now belong to the Disney character pool. Apart from the characters, Disney has also carried along the various casino and gambling related activities that bear the faces of Marvel characters. Similarly, the acquiring of Lucasfilm for US$4 billion in 2012 has also associated Disney with the gambling industry since Star Wars characters are common faces on slot machines in casinos as well. As much as Disney has shown its disapproval for Vegas-styled integrated resorts in family-oriented Florida, its recent acquisitions of Marvel and Lucasfilm have inevitable embroiled it in a hypocritical battle.

Although being firm and unrelenting towards actions that may threaten a company’s beliefs and vision is a admirable, it becomes a challenge when external companies that were not initially ‘built and raised’ with the same expectations and values are acquired and integrated into the parent company. Companies are therefore straddled in a dilemma of acquiring another company for advancement and facing contradictions in values after acquisition.

Citations:

http://now.wms.com/secure/image/spiderman.jpg

Having the privilege to listen to three notable alumni made me realise that the Sauder community functions like a bicycle, with generations of graduates and undergraduates coming together with shared experience to move in tandem, towards the progress of the faculty and business world.

Nolan Watson, the CEO of Sandstorm Gold, exemplifies the strength and tenacity of a Sauderite. Having faced rejection, struggles and disappointment prior to obtaining funds to start his current company, his experience reminds us that the outside world cannot be viewed with rose-tinted glasses and that beyond intelligence, teamwork and perseverance makes a difference.

Tina Lu of Lush Comestics, shared her valuable insight into the importance of connections and building a strong profile. Leaving lasting impressions and taking the leap of faith may open up opportunities for career advancements. Furthermore, her willingness to connect and engage with undergraduates is testament to the strong sense of community in Sauder, where one graduates but is never detached from the alma mater.

Wade Larson, President and COO of UrtheCast, fuses uniqueness with distinctiveness with his company that captures live footage of the Earth from cameras affixed on the International Space station. Apart from the exhilaration and excitement that comes with the launch, there may be potential problems such as the misuse of information and infringement of privacy. Larson combines confidence, creativity and calmness when it comes to his company and these are traits that are admirable and inspiring.

Tie in with Kevin Ding’s Blog.

Citations:

http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/~/media/Images/About/door-sauder.ashx

Word-of-mouth is one of the most persuasive marketing tools there is. After buying new shoes, visiting that new cafe or reading that NYT’s bestseller, consumers will develop perceptions towards that experience and naturally, share them with the people around them. This recounting of customer experience influences and shapes the way that others may perceive a brand or company, leading to positive promotions or negative avoidance all together.

With this mechanism in mind, Google users will soon become product or brand endorsers. Users who have followed, liked or commented on specific products or services on Google utilities, may have their names, photos and comments used in online ads. Users may opt out of ads on social networking sites and those under 18 will not have their information used in commercial ads.

When family and friends endorse a product, potential consumers are aware of the reliability of those reviews and are more inclined to go with products/services people around them support and have positive experiences with. However, it is crucial for Google to ensure that the privacy of their users is kept as a priority to prevent infringement. Words are mightier than the sword; and that definitely holds true in online marketing.

Sources:

1. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/business-technology/now-google-wants-to-use-your-face-to-sell-ads/article14835102/

2.http://www.millitalk.com/uploads/GoogleZipperlogo.jpg

The advancement of technology has resulted in many conveniences for the 21st century dweller. Many traditional forms of media are being ‘electronised’ to ensure on-the-go convenience and practicality.

Scribd, an online reading platform that features a collection of literary material, will be pioneering a monthly e-book subscription, similar to Netflix’s monthly movie streaming subscription. For US$8.99 a month, readers will be able to have access to titles published by HarperCollins.

However, the e-book market is populated with competitors, including Apple’s iBooks and Amazon’s Kindle. What sets Scribd apart is the fact that it provides unlimited access to titles in a given time; whereas others sell individual titles, as bookstores do with books.

Scribd’s e-book subscription may gain popularity with avid book readers who will fully utilise the subscription. However, most casual readers who read over extended periods of time. They would probaly stick with iBooks or Kindle since the average price of an e-book is comparable to a monthly subscription with Scribd. Scribd may be unable to share Netflix’s success, since reading is requires time & concerted effort, unlike movies that stream for approximately 2 hours. However, the future of e-books is promising and Scribd shall spearhead this exciting literary evolution.

Sources:

• http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/scribd-harpercollins-try-out-netflix-model-for-e-books-1.1874665
• http://d.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/imagecache/1280/poster/2013/09/3018856-poster-p-1-scribd-harpercollins-launch-899-subscription-book-service.jpg