Multiple Tim Hortons outlets in New York and Maine were closed down as Canada’s most loved coffee and donuts franchise hasn’t been accepted well by Americans. Where sales numbers for multiple Tim Hortons outlets are supposedly not where Restaurant Brands International Inc (Owner of Burger King, Wendy’s and Tim Hortons)  would like them. Tim Hortons mentioned in an email to the Globe and Mail that they are still optimistic about their expansion in the United States and internationally. Problems for Tim Hortons arrises since they have to compete with well-established U.S. brands like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Tim Hortons main point of difference in my opinion is that they are a Canadian company. This is why they do so well in Canada, since Canadians feel more patriotic by purchasing coffee and donuts from Timmies rather than Starbucks. In the United States however this POD is lost and Tim Hortons is entering the market with only points of parity to Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. I feel that Tim Hortons needs another POD if they are to successfully expand into international markets.

Friend, David. “Tim Hortons Closes Several U.S. Outlets.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/tim-hortons-shutters-unspecified-number-of-shops-in-new-york-and-maine/article27394547/>.

Article here

Rogers has been accused by the Canadian ratio-television and telecommunications commission for supposedly sending advertisement emails to customers with a malfunctioning unsubscribe feature. This violation stretched between July 2014 and July 2015. Rogers was also accused of not honouring  requests by customers to unsubscribe within 10-business days.

This is the 4th fine of this nature by the CRTC this year. Other violating firms include PlentiOfFish, Porter Airlines, and Compu-finder, paying fines of $48,000, $150,000 and $1,100,000 respectively.

These fines help companies know the line between fair-marketing and spamming your customers. The fine in my opinion is a bit steep, especially in the case of Compu-finder. However I do not know the details of that case and the fines could have been just. Whats interesting about this case concerning Rogers is that they are one of Canada’s largest communications firms. Rogers, being a firm that provides home broadband, cell phone services, Tv and wireless data, clearly has access to a lot of personal data concerning their customers. I myself am a Rogers’ customer and this article worries me that a firm of it’s caliber would be unlawfully marketing to consumers. It makes you think what other unethical actions large influential firms are currently doing.

Friend, David. “Rogers Agrees to Pay $200,000 Fine under CRTC’s Anti-spam Law.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-agrees-to-pay-200000-fine-under-crtcs-anti-spam-law/article27390770/>.

Article here

An article concerning the television industry in Canada by the Globe and Mail took my interest. The article was about how tv and cable companies might have to start letting customers subscribe to only the channels they want.This is in response to the competition faced by on-demand online alternatives to cable such as Netflix. This new idea will give customers incentive to keep buying cable since they only have to subscribe and pay for the channels that they want, compared to initially buying a certain number of channels through a package. Cable companies are changing the “channels” in their business model canvas(pun intended) in which they are reaching their customer segments, while also changing their cost structure and revenue streams.

Tv providers and broadcasters however stated that “introducing pick-and-pay would harm industry revenues, lead to job losses and channel closures, and might drive up the price of some channels.”(REF) This is an example of the disruptive power online platforms are having on the entertainment industry.

I personally don’t have a strong opinion on this topic, but do find it very interesting how the entertainment industry is having to adapt to new developments in technology. I am also quite intrigued to see what the next “Netflix” is and the disruptive impact it will have.

Bradshaw, James. “‘Pick-and-pay’ TV a Popular Idea, but Many Unaware It’s Coming: Report.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.

Article Here

I left a comment on a friends blog and forgot to reference it on my main one.

This comment is with reference to my classmate Sam Scott’s Blog post on McDonald’s new Kiosk concept.

“Interesting take on the addition of kiosks to one of the worlds largest fast food chains. I agree with the fact that McDonalds will be able to reduce operating costs and increase customer satisfaction through reduced error. However in my opinion, the 30% increase in price seems quite excessive and I feel McDonalds will have to reduce this to maybe 15-20% if they really want to gain from the advantages Mr Mahesh Nagarajan spoke on customisation. In essence these new kiosks would make ordering more convenient, but not necessarily give customers a different/more specialised food order.

The bigger issue I feel revolved around these new kiosks is something you briefly mentioned towards the end of your post. Recently Canadian provinces have begun increasing their minimun wage rates due to debates on liveable incomes. By introducing kiosks, McDonalds is bypassing this increase in their operating costs, which may be beneficial to the financial stakeholders of the firm. However, personally I feel that because of the current state of the Canada’s economy, what McDonalds is trying to do is quite unethical and is a clear case of Profits Vs. Social Responsibility. McDonalds is currently estimated to be employing around 85,000 people in Canada, hence the introduction of new self-service kiosks could have an enormous impact on Canada’s lower middle class.”

Blackwell, Richard, and Tavia Grant. “Minimum Wage Increases Reignite Livable Income Debate.” The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail, 01 Oct. 2015. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/five-provinces-hike-minimum-wage/article26618941/