Categories
COMM 101 2010

Innovation in E-Commerce, the new era of the business world

Today, I finally found my definition of E-commerce from Groupon, it is “a combination of the new trends of business world – entrepreneurship and management information system.”

When we evaluate a successful entrepreneurship, we always talk about innovation. What exactly is innovation in the most competitive e-commerce world? In my opinion, Groupon demonstrates innovation in various ways.

To begin with, Groupon provides a platform for itself and small business to engage in marketing innovation. On this platform, customers can easily access special deals and promotions according to their geographic locations and interests via social network. Firms no longer need to use trial and error and waste precious time and money to determine their customers’ wants; instead, the customers display their preferences and interests and firms can cater directly to their target market’s tastes. As customer base grows, Groupon and firms that are involved can certainly take advantage of this and further expand their business.

In addition, Groupon’s system as a whole can be deemed as an innovative supply chain. The firms find out what consumers want, and can promote their business to a large and deep market at the same time. Thus, firms from different industries and areas will continuously come to Groupon for help with raising brand awareness for their business. Groupon’s selling point is its strong MIS, this has attracted firms from all different industries and these firms subsequently stimulate Groupon’s contious growth and advancement.

These reasons are exactly why even Google is willing to purchase the website for $6 billion!

Categories
COMM 101 2010

Entrepreneurship – the key to growth

If I was to rank the most entrepreneurial company in the world, I would have to say that it is the Japanese entertainment monopoly Nintendo Co.  From Nintendo 64 to the NDS, from the NDS to the Wii, this endless eruption of new products and innovation in the world market is astounding.   Nintendo Co. has grown rapidly and has become Japan’s third most valuable listed company, with a market value of over US$ 85 billion.

Nintendo: 2009’s ‘World’s Best Company’

Their entrepreneurial spirit is also shown in their mission statement: they wish to expand by “putting smiles on many people’s faces by offering brand new entertainment that anyone can enjoy, regardless of age, gender or gaming experience” – or in other words, they wish that every type of consumer can maximize total utility.  Thus, this allowed them to have a fast speed of wealth creation.  In 2009, the company made “$2.66 billion USD in revenue”, and its sales “have risen 36% annually over the past five years, while its value growth averaged 38%.”

Nintendo Bets Big on Social DS System

In 2010, unlike other competitors in this global economic downturn, Nintendo was willing to take a risk in a new market. With its new product the 3DS, Nintendo strives to construct its own worldwide social media and network community.  Nintendo’s consistent pursue of innovation is their key to success, and it is what other companies should try to emulate in order to be entrepreneurial.

Nintendo 3DS

YouTube Preview Image
Categories
COMM 101 2010

Accounting meets Marketing? Japan Pizza Chain offers $31,000/hr part-time job

I was shocked when I read the title of this article today. A part-time job that pays $31,000 for one hour? That must be the highest paying job on earth! I guess everyone would be shocked initially. But then I scrolled down to discover which company made such a seemingly irrational decision, and I found that it was Japan’s Domino Pizza.

While absorbing the article, I realized that this is exactly how Japan’s Domino wants people to remember their name. This is one of the newborn marketing strategies called the Law of Big Numbers.  “When people come into networks, they have this obsession with quality and quantity.” Compared to putting ads on TV, newspapers, or start a discount promotion campaign, this $31,000 one-time cost to generate massive media attention is more worthwhile, or in accounting perspective, more cost-effective.

Now you give a try, can you tell what’s accounting and marketing behind this promotion?

Categories
COMM 101 2010

Social Media is no longer a fad… it’s where producers find consumers…

http://online.wsj.com/article/APd8b4eb86eb2f4da49ce026d2d65cb39d.html?KEYWORDS=Gap

Today as usual I went online and check out some news. I accidentally click into this post about Gap’s new logo. What’s so special about this news? It again shows the power of social media.

New Gap logo…

If you still think company’s logo is by its owner’s preference or tastes, you are not living in the 21st century.  As most of the people who have seen Gap’s Logo, I am shocked. This new logo no longer reminds me about Gap’s image of a clothing producer, but instead, an IT company.  Well, Gap may not care about what I think; however, I am sure they care about the “flap” in social media.

What’s happening on Facebook and Twitter?

Apparently, Gap’s fans on Facebook and Twitter are all furious about the new logo. They all prefer the old one better. Although Gap is “asking for opinions”, personally I think Gap is only trying to comfort their fans because they said they are still going to publish it soon.

I think Gap should take this “flap” seriously because the power of social media is not imaginable.

YouTube Preview Image

Spam prevention powered by Akismet