Commercialism and persuasion

I have just seen this lawsuit which involved a mother taking McDonalds to court saying that the toy in the Happy Meal was persuading kids to eat the "unhealthy food" which leads to obesity.  The judge dismissed the case.
Should parents simply learn to say no? Read article here.

Money or Tradition -a great dilemma

As a golfer in my spare time I have taken an interest in the Masters being played this year. A truly great competition with the best golfers in the world playing for the coveted Green Jacket.

Apart from who will win the competition there is a debate brewing about whether women should be allowed to join the Augusta Golf Club which is all male. I had heard that that the word golf came from the accronyms Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden. Whether this is true or not it seems quite apt for this debate.

The problem is that IBM, one of the sponsors has got a female CEO and in the past all CEO's have been given free membership to this golf club. A pure dilemma. Do you let a lady in and break with tradition or do you spurn a Sponsor and risk losing their support? A tough one. What do you think? Read the article here

Weather

After Hurricane Katrina, Tulsa and the surrounding areas are reeling from the destruction of a tornado. Nature really does have the upper hand! Watch this video and have a think how this tornado could affect your town if it came to you. Personal life, community and commercially!

Product Lifecycle - extension strategy

I just saw this on the Yahoo website and made me think about the Product Lifecycle. There have been one hit wonders and there have been products that have been reinvented and around for a long time. Playstation has the PlayStation, PS2 and PS3. Iphone 1,2,4and the 4S.

Here is an interview with Paris Hilton. She was asked what would she do if she was no longer famous. Watch the interview and make up your own mind. Click here.

USP

Blackeberry have announced that they have sold 11.1 million in the first quarter which is a drop of  21% from the previous quarter. Iphone on the other hand sold 37 million handsets in the same quarter. Blackberry  (RIM) are planning on going back to basics and focusing on the business market.Their USP and target market.

For the articles click here and here.

So how much of this is about shareholder pressure and dividends? They are still making money. 

Bamboo Smartphone

Phones are very much a part of our lives.Like everything, there are those who buy the product for function, fashion or both. When we buy a phone there are many considerations and it is not new to customise our latest purchase.  Ringtones, phone covers and jewellery have all been used. But how about a Smartphone made from wood? A designer called  Kieron-Scott Woodhouse, a final year Product & Design student at the Middlesex University in London has done such a thing. He is someone to watch who clearly knows what he wants to do and how he is going to do it. Wannabe Entrepreneurs need to take note. Will you be a new owner of one of these phones?

Advertising

As someone who has always taken an interest in business and the wider world, I had often wondered where advertising will go next. It has amazed me how the messages have been delivered through the changes in technology, perception and attitude. I found some adverts from the 1960 for shirts and blenders which in todays world would not be acceptable due to the overtones of pure sexism.

I have seen viral adverts and various others: one of my favorites being the T-Mobile advert . I have seen stories about people selling space on their bodies for advertising space and just yesterday I saw on the news that there is a company who will pay your mortgage for a year, if they can paint your house in bright colors and hang banners of prominent companies on it.The contract is for a year and then the house will be reverted back to its original color. This has caused mixed reactions from people embracing the idea that they will have a mortgage free year to it being an eye sore in the community. You decide.Green and Orange