Kickstarter, founded in 2009, has been providing a platform for crowdfunding for entrepreneurs and innovators alike. Crowdfunding works by creating funding for a company through a variety of contributors by utilizing online websites on the Internet such as Kickstarter.

            Roo Wyda, a prospering businesswoman, who made her success in the waterproof bedding and underwear industry, is now expanding a new branch of her business into the Rain Gear poncho business for dogs, children, and adults. However, before expanding into the dog retail industry Wyda conducted market research through Kickstarter. She manipulated Kickstarter beyond just crowdfunding and used the feedback section of the program to see if there was demand for Rain Ponchos, and also what improvements there were to be made. Wyda did not achieve her crowdfunding goal but she did successfully save money in the market research she conducted.

            This technique may not be provide guaranteed information but it does “’provid[e] another opportunity to validate”’ (Paul Cubbon cited by Serebrin, 2014). Cubbon, a professor at Sauder School of Business, states that this approach allows for entrepreneurs to gain quick feedback on their products which than prevents production of an item that has no demand. Wyda had shown through her business that Kickstarter is more than just a crowdfunding program; Kickstarter also provides great market research that can be crucial for entrepreneurs.

To read the full article click here.

-Gurinder Mahal

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In the ever-changing technology world getting information from producers to consumers becomes ever easier, however conveying the product successfully is the inverse. The challenge of getting the consumer to recognize the product and accept it as well is what most marketers face. In India marketers are using a competitive advantage attained from Digital Marketing to combat this challenge. You can learn more about digital marketing by clicking here.

In this article the Adobe Digital Marketing Performance Dashboard reviewed India’s marketing techniques and rated them higher than their APAC counterparts. This article discusses how the growing number of Internet users in India has become the target market for Indian Marketers.

This article intrigued me due to the marketing implications of this new strategy in a place where my parents have grown up, thus hitting me close to home. Digital marketing is the use of the Internet to create a consumer friendly interface to attract customers. In class, we have discussed a variety of marketing techniques and attracting the customer through the new use of digital marketing can be considered product positioning. Product positioning is the use of marketing techniques to develop the customer’s perception of a product. As marketers in India use this technique I believe we can learn from this and apply it in our clubs at school to promote events and meetings.

-Gurinder Mahal

To read the article please click here.

In British Columbia, there have been an increasing number of companies that have decided to build new projects here due to a variety of reasons such as natural resources and accesses to the pacific; however, the issue of land claims by First Nations Tribes limits the number of capitalist opportunities that can occur.

In this article, Pynn discusses the “New Prosperity” mine project. This project is set to be First Nation lands and it is running into problems due to hunting claims in the area where the mine is proposed to be.

In particular, I was drawn to this article because of a variety of reasons, one of which being precedent. Precedent is the concept in law that if the courts allow this project, in the future they will have to allow similar projects to occur in the area. This plays into a number of business fundamentals. The mine would also allow for a $1.1 billion project to create taxable income to British Columbia while also creating new jobs.

One major factor that plays in here is ethics. Creating a mine in a region that will affect the majority of the First Nation Tribes in the surrounding area is a very ethical decision. Is it ethically correct to build a mine? Or should they shut down this project. Personally I believe that this is an economic opportunity that should not be passed on, however there is still a long process to go before any decisions are made. In the upcoming future these questions will be answered and I will be sure to continue updating you on this very controversial topic.

The First Nations claims are also effecting the Business Model for the New Prosperity Mine Company. By examining the S and the E of Porter’s PESTLE model we can view the social threats created as well and the environmental threats. The social threats that are being created can create a hostile atmosphere that may effect the Customer Relations segment of their Business Model Canvas as well.

-Gurinder Mahal

To read the full article click here.

Pynn, Larry. “Tsilhqot’in Set to Declare Site of New Prosperity Mine a Tribal Park.” Www.vancouversun.com. The Vancouver Sun, 11 Sept. 2014. Web. 06 Oct. 2014. <http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Unilateral%2Bpark%2Bdeclared%2BTsilhqot%2Bincludes%2BProsperity%2Bmine/10192766/story.html?__federated=1>.