http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/24282

https://blogs.ubc.ca/tudorbarcan/2012/11/12/clinging-to-life-how-africa-may-be-the-refuge-rim-needs/

https://blogs.ubc.ca/larrycheong/2012/09/12/a-law-abiding-citizen-losing-their-job-to-a-criminal/#respond

Translation: What is your name?

Many big-name business are taking the Quebec government to court due to a controversy over French signs. Quebec’s language watchdog, The Office Quebecois de la Langue Francaise, is insisting that retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, Old Navy and Costco change their signs to incorporate some French.

Six companies that are taking legal action of the issue and who are represented by two law firms are Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Gap, Old Navy and Guess. These retailers are appealing to the Quebec Superior Court and are arguing that language laws have not formally been changed and that the language office does not have the right to demand that these retailers change their signs to incorporate French. Furthermore, section 63 of Quebec’s French Language Charter states that the name of a business must be in French, however this generally hasn’t been applied to trademarked names.

The vice-president for the Retail Council of Canada’s Quebec branch, Nathalie St-Pierre, says “the province wants to change the rules without having modified the law”. She states the case that many other companies have abided by Quebec’s language requirements for a very long time and now they’re being forced to comply with a new interpretation of an old law. Provincial politicians have supported the watchdog’s move in calling for the larger companies to comply with the law but fail to acknowledge the fact that for companies, changing signage could be a costly venture.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/11/18/quebec-language-rules_n_2153803.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-business

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/businesses+heading+court+against+Quebec+government+over+French/7567073/story.html

http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/Detail.aspx?g=b0658a4c-c80e-434a-bbc4-4a8a1e67616f

Images:

http://couponchristine.com/insider-information-from-a-couponer-secret-money-saving-tips-for-shopping-at-costco/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lydiadishman/2012/05/22/wanted-new-ceo-to-steer-best-buy-through-troubled-water-must-have-turnaround-experience/

Nintendo’s new Wii U console which went on sale this past week is unlike any gaming console that came before it. Nintendo was wildly successful with the Wii – in its first four years, the Nintendo Wii console outsold it’s 2 main competitors (the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3), logging roughly 79 million units by the end of 2010.

The Wii U Console is a gaming product unlike anything else on the market.

The Wii’s commercial success is attributed in part to it’s innovative use of motion technology and reinvention of the casual gaming market which was dominated by big-title Microsoft and Sony consoles. Now, Nintendo has differentiated its product once again by providing the Wii U with an innovative handheld controller interface as well as a console which hooks up to a television. By comparison, research firm IHS iSuppli predicts that the Wii U will sell 56.7 million in its first 4 years.

However, the video game market today is vastly different from the market 6 years ago which was when the last major gaming console was released. Console sales have been falling in recent years because of lack of a new system – but now, Nintendo has high hopes for it’s new Wii U gaming system. The Wii U now faces even stronger competitors in alternative, non-traditional gaming consoles such as the iPad and smartphones so consequently, the market has even higher competition and is a crowded space for consumer electronics . Regardless, Nintendo’s differentiated yet traditional product will hopefully but the company a cut above the rest yet again.

Sources:

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/games/news/nintendos-wii-u-sets-sail-in-a-sea-of-gadgets-294181

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/gaming/nintendos-wii-u-moves-to-head-of-console-class-for-now/article5404215/

Image:

Wii U Review: The Future Is In Good Hands

The iconic puff pastry in all its glory.

Friday, November 16th will forever be known as the day that America’s favourite childhood
treat died. At 82 years old, the company Hostess’s most famous processed cream puff pastry snack lived a long and successful life; however the era of the Twinkie has come to a close.

Born in 1930, the iconic Twinkie quickly became a successful product. The Twinkie survived the Great Depression, 3 major wars and the crumbling of the Berlin Wall; however ultimately the Twinkie is now no longer due to labor problems in a company that had detrimental wages and benefit disputes which both allegedly lead the company into hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

Consumers are heartbroken – especially the ones that grew up with the 4-inch-long sponge cake. Consumers need not worry, however. Hostess has put the Twinkie brand (along with Zingers and Fruit Pies etc) up for grabs so while century old company is going under, there is potential that the brands don’t have to.

Regardless, consumers are stocking up on Twinkies and other fan favourites that Hostess produces just in case they really won’t be available in the future.

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-eulogy-for-the-humble-hostess-twinkie/2012/11/16/1bb1e3c0-300c-11e2-a30e-5ca76eeec857_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/the-best-twinkies-defense-is-a-good-offense/2012/11/16/ee6b8822-2ff1-11e2-9f50-0308e1e75445_blog.html

Images:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Twinkie+ever/7566667/story.html

The Orange & The Twinkie