In response to Matt's ipad posting

I believe that their record sales have been earned. Apple has been making the most reliable computers for decades. They have shown that their products are better built, faster, less susceptible to viruses and hacking, and they are much more attractive than their competition. All apple products that I have owned have lasted much longer than I would have expected a competing product to last. While Apple is more expensive than their competition, when you consider the high performance and long life, it really is worth it. I have owned 2 mac's several ipods, and about 4 PC's. The Mac's each lasted about as long as 2 PC's. I believe that Apple's stellar sales are the dividend of many many years of delivering on their promise. In times where money is tight, people look for products that they don't expect will need replacing. I am sure that their sleek modern design is helping as well. Do you think that Steve Jobs's death has had a significant impact on sales?

President Obama Soldiers on Despite Heavy Opposition to Solar Investment.

The President spoke Wednesday from the largest solar power plant in the United States. The Copper Mountain facility is one hours drive from the Las Vegas Strip. With a total of 1 million solar panels it provides energy to 17,000 homes. The President was unabashedly critical of his opposition referring to them as "Charter members of the flat earth society." “Now you’d think, given this extraordinary sight, given the fact that this is creating jobs, generating power, helping to keep our environment clean, making us more competitive globally. You’d think that everybody would be supportive of solar power, and yet, if some politicians have their way, there won’t be any more public investment in solar energy,” he said. Rep. John Fleming,R-La. is highly critical of the Presidents policies claiming that there is no benefit from subsidization of solar energy. Meanwhile some environmentalists are also against such desert installations as well. With gas prices on the rise, and resistance from both sides, our President continues to make the tough calls, and stands up for what he believes is right. Do you believe that investment in solar energy is necessary to strengthen the economy? Do you believe that protecting desert habitat is more important than reducing CO2 emissions? What impact will readily available renewable energy have on national security?

Response to Alex Purdy Philadelphia man uses a Jammer on a bus to stop phone chatter?

I find this story to be hilarious, and I can definitely sympathize with Eric. There have been many times when I have wanted to engage in electronic warfare myself. Especially on the Charismatic Narcissistic types that strut around yelling into their phones. I would love to have one of those devices! Of course I wouldn't want someone to cut off my calls, but I don't scream into my phone in restaurants either. I would not be surprised if there were many more such incidents. While I understand the need for regulation of radio transmission in order to protect aircraft and emergency responders etc. I think that the FCC has too much power there need to be changes in broadcasting laws, that open up the airwaves to public broadcasting.

Limbaugh's Sponsors Take Their Dollars Elsewhere, and He Rushes to Apologize.

There is no doubt that Rush has gone too far. He finally made a formal apology today for inappropriate remarks that he made on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, about Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown University law student who was invited to speak to Congress by House Minority Leader Nanci Pelosi (D). Sandra had previously been denied the opportunity to speak at a committee hearing by Rep. Darrell Issa (R), who had invited all male religious figures to discuss President Obama's current push to require reproductive health needs to be covered by all employers. Rush called Sandra a "slut," a "prostitute," and a "feminazi," and suggested that she should make sex tapes "so we can all watch." It is astonishing to me that such a cold-hearted misogynistic person could have millions of followers. Every man has a mother and perhaps a sister, wife and daughter as well. If any of their family had been so insulted, Rush's followers would demand blood. I only make reference to his male followers as they make up 72% of his audience.

It is shocking to to me that he even has 28% female listeners. If these comments don't diminish that statistic dramatically it will be very sad indeed. What responsibility do sponsors have when choosing programming?

Apple in damage control mode.

Facing reports of worker abuse and suicide at eight of their top suppliers, Apple CEO Tim Cook agreed to let The Fair Labor Association conduct inspections at the suspect facilities. FLA president Auret van Heerden initially reported that the factories were "first class" and conditions were above average. At the time van Heerden cited alienation and boredom as the only significant issues for workers at the Foxconn facility. After spending several days there, van Heerden now says that there are many issues to be addressed. While he would not reveal any specifics, he did state that the FLA would reveal more information in the weeks to come.
The FLA has also been the subject of criticism from groups like SumOfUs.org. "Instead of actually solving the problem, they’re trying to whitewash it; hiring a business-funded group with a long track record of serving as a corporate mouthpiece,” said Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman, Executive Director of SumOfUs.org.
The FLA will be interviewing 35,000 workers in the next three weeks.
The workers will be asked many questions such as:
-how they were hired.
-were they paid a fee.
-were they offered contracts and if so did they understand it.
-the conditions of their dorm rooms and food
-were their complaints acted on.
-their emotional well-being.
Apple is also facing a trademark dispute regarding the "ipad" name. This is clearly not a helpful distraction as Apple faces their public in an attempt to save face.
Do you think that the spotlight on worker conditions in China will affect Apple's brand?

In response to Brooke's Grocery Store Post

I owned a Pepperidge Farm distribution franchise for four years, and I became very aware of the importance of grocery/convenience store real estate. It is remarkable how much difference both the products location, and amount of shelf space can make.
Chain stores make deals with distributors for preferential placement and shelf space. This takes place at a corporate level and is the same at each location. Usually the bakery that makes the store brand also has the front of the aisle. I had some success in increasing my shelf space by 30% in one store and my sales were also increased by 30%. With that increase I believe that I hit the sweet spot. Additional space would not have produced more sales at that point.
In chain stores I was able to set up special displays at alternate locations in support of promotions. Sometimes this worked out, but people are creatures of habit and they are used to looking for products in certain places.
Owning a business in distribution definitely gave me some insights into marketing.

Google Online Marketing Challenge!

Google is currently running a marketing challenge for students. They are offering prizes to students and professors for using Google AdWords and Google+ to create a marketing campaign. Google provides a $250 budget for students in order to build a marketing strategy for a real business or a nonprofit organization that has not used AdWords in the last six months. The winners and their professor get a trip to Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California to meet with the AdWords team. Regional winners and their Professor win a trip to a regional Google office. Here is a link to last years winners: http://www.google.com/onlinechallenge/winners.html.

This Challenge is open to all Majors and teams are to be made up of three to six students. More information can be found at: http://www.google.com/onlinechallenge/about.html

Do you think this marketing challenge is also a marketing strategy? Do you believe that you would benefit from participation in this challenge?