Leagues such as the NFL or NBA are recognized world-wide and extremely popular amongst sports fanatics, with the professional players earning a considerate living. But according to this article, ultimate frisbee is beginning to find its way into the world stage. Unfortunately, many still do not recognize “ultimate” as an official sport, though it has numerous platforms, such as Major League Ultimate (MLU), World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) and USA Ultimate (USAU). All these organizations have been working to professionalize the sport, as it is equally as intense, competitive and entertaining as football or basketball. Companies such as Five Ultimate have been benefiting from the growth of the sport. With the goal of developing the sport to a sponsorship level for players to earn livings, there is a lot of work that still needs to go into popularizing ultimate frisbee.

Having previously played the sport personally, I feel that it is definitely one that has been looked over by many. Admittedly, before I joined my school team, I had no idea what the game was. That is why marketing the brand is so crucial to meeting the said goal, such as with brand positioning. What is different and exciting about “ultimate” that would attract fans? I also suggest investing in media advertisements and broadcasting games in order to introduce the sport to the world, for I have never seen commercials on TV advertising it. All in all, I believe that with the right marketing strategy and solid business plan, the sport will be able to be part of the big leagues one day.

MLU: Nighthawks Dogfish Highlights

Article: “Ultimate Recognition.” The Economist. N.p., 05 Oct. 2013. Web. 07 Oct. 2013.

Pictures:

“Major League Ultimate – Professional Ultimate Frisbee.” Major League Ultimate – Professional Ultimate Frisbee. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2013.

“Ultimate Recognition.” The Economist. N.p., 05 Oct. 2013. Web. 07 Oct. 2013.

Though Tim Hortons holds the title for the “best in class” fast-food high-margin coffee provider, the company still feels the pressure from rivals, such as McDonald’s, who has began expanding their coffee business as well. According to the new chief executive officer of the company, Marc Caira says that due to the excess variety of products they offer, slow service is resulting and thus diminishing the coffee and doughnut chain’s competitive chances. Referencing Porter’s Five Forces, the threat of substitutes is pushing Tim Hortons to develop rival strategies in order to keep up with other expanding fast-food restaurants. Mr. Caira pinpoints areas the company can improve on, mainly speeding up service and introducing “stand-out items”, and also proposes introducing more creative twists to their products to attract consumers.

Personally, I am a frequent customer to Tim Hortons, and when comparing them to McDonald’s, key differences such as a better reputation, image and healthier options come to mind. Of course, it’s never easy servicing the never-ending lunch rush and therefore, if the company is able to find a way to speed up service without sacrificing the current “always fresh” quality of their products, they definitely would continue to remain a strong competitor in the fast-food market.

Article: Strauss, Marina. “Tim Hortons Vows Faster Service to Fend off Rivals.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 07 Oct. 2013.

Pictures: Airdrie News, Events, and More. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2013.

In search for additional income streams, Facebook has launched a service that allows users to send physical gifts to friends with a few clicks as a new commerce strategy, venturing into Amazon.com Inc.’s online shopping territory. The social network has various partners supporting this new revenue stream, including Starbucks. Using the catchphrase “Real friends. Real gifts,” Facebook has evolved from virtual cards and presents to real items. Though Facebook still can’t compete with Amazon head on due to a less stable shipping and distribution infrastructure, it’s the first step to pushing the social network brand into broader markets.

Tying this new business plan to the business plan model canvas, Facebook is expanding in multiple aspects, such as customer relationships, key partners and resources, revenue streams and value propositions. Only time will tell whether the gift service option will be a success, but personally, I think it is an ingenious move by Facebook, creating convenience and more choices for its consumers.

Article: Dembosky, April. “Facebook Launches Gift Service, Ventures into Amazon’s Territory.”The Globe and Mail. N.p., 28 Sept. 2012. Web. 07 Oct. 2013.

Picture: “Facebook Unwraps Online Gift Store With Free Shipping Feature.” Www.gizbot.com/. N.p., 28 Sept. 2012. Web. 08 Oct. 2013.