Apple takes the cake… again.

Although clichéd, when I think of entrepreneurial, the first company that comes to mind is definitely Apple Inc. With their vast array of innovative products that have consumers lining up over night during a product launch, it’s clear that Apple has been very successful.

Initially selling only Macintosh computers, Apple has grown into a company that houses iPods, iPod Touches, iPhones, and iPads. With the launch of each new product, Apple has proven that innovation is the key to their company’s continued success. Furthermore, their continued innovation has resulted in the creation of new markets as well as patented production methods.

Compared to a small business-owner, Apple strongly displays the criteria of an entrepreneur given by QuickMBA:

  1. Amount of wealth creation
  2. Speed of wealth creation
  3. Risk
  4. Innovation

There’s no doubt that Apple excels in the innovation category, but the company also began with a high level of risk involved. As one can’t predict how consumer’s tastes change, new products always run the risk of not being demanded. However, despite the expenses incurred through the first generations of each of Apple’s products, the company has exceedingly become successful in generating millions of dollars in profit in short amounts of time.

Food Recalls: Should the Public be educated in more innovative ways?

Picture: Courtesy of the CFIA

Even with all of our advancements in the field of health sciences, it looks like “the number of [the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s] most serious recalls increased from.. 129 in 2010 to 147… this year.” Interestingly enough, this relates to our class discussion regarding the utilizing of data to work towards innovation.

With all of the data collected by the CFIA, they are working on better “educating itself on how to better monitor risks.”However, if they were more focused on educating the public, I think that there would be even more recalls instead of food poisoning victims. Although Canada uses a “voluntary-based recall system”, a better educated population would reduce the chance of consumers falling prey to foods tainted with salmonella for example. Furthermore, the Agency could better market its data to the public, so that more Canadians would be aware of the risks they face at the supermarket.

Whatever marketing strategy they choose, however, it’s certain that their choice must be new and exciting to convey public interest. After all, even though a recall might be important, a more entertaining headline (like the release of the newest iPod/iPhone) could easily garner more public attention.

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