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Marketing News is South-Western's service to provide summaries of the latest marketing news stories. Review the brief summaries and, for stories of interest, select the full summary. |
| DEVELOPING AND MANAGING PRODUCTS (NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE) | |
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Global demand for lithium-based secondary batteries will reach $12.95 billion in 2010, up from $6.67 billion in 2005. The strong demand comes despite a massive recall on lithium-ion battery packs due to overheating malfunctions discovered in Dell, Apple, and Toshiba computers. (Updated April 2007) |
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The future looks bleak for America's traditional news media: Their audiences are shrinking; they face vigorous new competitors like blogs, cable, and talk radio; and they have endured scandals like fake news and counterfeit sources. Is the death knell ringing for traditional news sources? (Updated April 2006) |
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As part of its aggressive 2006 marketing strategy, The Coca-Cola Company recently unveiled Coca-Cola Blak, a refreshing new cola-coffee drink targeted to coffee-lovers in the 35-and-up demographic. The leading beverage company hopes the new cola drink will provide a jolt to its slumping sales and share price. (Updated February 2006) |
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Designed to relieve consumers of backbreaking jobs, a new line of space-age machines perform a variety of cleaning tasks around the home and office--on their own power. The award-winning appliances are so advanced that they call to mind futuristic scenes from "Star Wars" and "The Jetsons." (Updated January 2006) |
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After years of impressive VCR sales, big-name retailers are finally phasing out their supply of VHS players and cassettes. Best Buy and Circuit City recently liquidated their stock of VHS products, and rumors are circulating that Wal-Mart and Target are next in line to cut VHS inventories in favor of superior DVD products. (Updated July 2005) |
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Whether they are selling cars, toys or fast food, today's companies are tapping consumers as never before to help them create new products. (Updated April 2005) |
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The year 2004 produced numerous examples of desperate marketing as pressured advertisers threw everything but kitchen sink at consumers to get their attention. In an environment where capitalist-driven modernity creates enough clutter to drown out even the most carefully crafted messages, it is tempting to look for any gimmick that can break through. However, according to some analysts, this year's top marketers will be those who reject gimmicks and come up with true brand-building ingenuity. (Updated February 2005) |
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A recent study by research firm Markitecture shows that, contrary to popular thought, consumers by a two-to-one margin enjoy trying new product concepts. While consumers are clamoring to try anything new, however, some marketers are expressing a lack of confidence in their ability to deliver successful new products. (Updated November 2004) |
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America's
preeminent pitchman and two-time heavyweight boxing champ, George Foreman,
has given his endorsement to everything from mufflers and exercise equipment,
to fat-reducing "lean mean grilling machines." What's next for
the heavyweight champion? Foreman's latest licensing agreement has him going
from the electric frying pan into the fiery competition of household cleaning
products. (Updated 7/1/04) |
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Now
that 'The Passion of the Christ' has grossed over $200 million, it has officially
reached blockbuster status by Hollywood's standards, and that can only mean
one thing: it's time to start thinking about a sequel. The astounding success
of director Mel Gibson's controversial film depicting the final hours of
Jesus Christ has everyone wondering if Hollywood is about to get religion. (Updated 4/1/04) |
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While
lagging sales of Porsche's Boxter and 911 series has analysts concerned
about the sports-car icon's near term profitability, an unlikely new Porsche,
the Cayenne sport-utility vehicle, is making a heroic rescue of the auto
maker's bottom line. (Updated 1/15/04) |
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The
luxury watch market never seems to have bad timing. Even in periods of recession
the demand for high-end timepieces maintains a steady tick. And so does
advertising. Ads for luxury-watch brands have been on the rise recently,
and industry observers expect the trend to continue. (Updated 10/01/03) |
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According
to some analysts, the next great consumer-products hit will be DVD recorders.
The only question is when. Their take-off point could come anytime, but
the public shouldn't expect them to fly off the shelves everywhere. According
to the latest research, there are surprisingly national differences in the
way new products perform. (Updated 10/01/03) |
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The
Absolut brand has become a marketer's case study. It is arguably the single
strongest vodka identity in the world, having risen to fame on an Andy Warhol-inspired
ad campaign now in the 25th year of its wildly successful run. Moving forwards,
Absolut needs to build on its iconic stature and reputation to propel growth
across the world. (Updated 10/01/03) |
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