Growing a business that is larger than the founder is the goal of most entrepreneurs. But how can a business price its product and service so that it is truly profitable. In our work with Entrepreneurs, we have noticed a continuum in the way Entrepreneurs are able to increase their price in order to make sustainable profit margins. One the
Read morePepsiCo Launches bubly, Bringing an Undeniable Pop of Personality to the Sparkling Water Category PepsiCo Inc. is bringing its marketing muscle to the sparkling-water craze with a new drink aimed squarely at LaCroix, the upstart market leader. Called Bubly, the drink will come in eight flavors and hit stores at the end of February. PepsiCo will advertise the product with
Read moreGlobal growth accelerated in 2017, supported by strengthening labor markets and external demand. Although inflation concerns among advanced countries abated, risks remain and are mostly tilted to the downside. Concerns are centered on trade policy changes and entrenched protectionist attitudes, uncertainty about shifting U.S. policy and its global spillovers, and the consequences of tighter global financial conditions and asset volatility.
Read moreCalifornia expansion brings Cracker Barrel’s unique, family friendly restaurant and retail store to new guests On February 5, the Victorville, California location opened its doors for hungry patrons to visit their eatery and retail store. The restaurant had a special guest preview that included Ray and Wilma Yoder, the 80-year-old couple who have visited all of the chain’s 649 locations.
Read moreToday, it’s easier than ever for an entrepreneur, regardless of size, to sell goods and services across the globe. Small and medium-sized companies in the United States are exporting more than ever before. In 2013, more than 300,000 small and medium-sized U.S. companies exported to at least one international market—nearly 28 percent more than in 2005. In 2013, the value of goods and
Read moreThe University of Alabama was awarded a $100,000 grant to support research to understand the factors leading to the successes and failures of businesses that went public in 1996, the largest initial public stock offering class on record. The grant will fund research surrounding the “IPO Class of 1996” over the last 20 years and will be conducted by Dr.
Read moreThales S. Teixeira is Lumry Family Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. In this HBS Case Study, he discusses three of the most successful “platform” startups to understand the chicken-and-egg challenge of how companies can attract their first customers. New businesses often struggle finding their first customers. The challenge is even more difficult with startups in the sharing
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The International Trade Administration (ITA) Top Markets Series is meant to help exporters determine their next export market by comparing opportunities across borders. The reports provide updated country rankings and analysis reflecting the latest industry, trade policy, and global economic developments. This year, the series includes seven new reports for industries including franchising, manufacturing technology, and pharmaceuticals. Each report ranks
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General Motors (GM) announced on (03-11-16) it would buy Cruise Automation, a San Francisco-based startup making sensors that turn regular vehicles into ones that can drive themselves. GM hasn’t disclosed the purchase price, but the deal has been reported to be worth more than $1 billion in cash and stock. Cruise Automation is a self-driving car company that develops an
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Most companies use a brand style guide, or also called a brand standards guide. This is a book or document that sets rules on how the brand is visually presented to the public. These rules will instruct vendors, partners, and employees how to properly use and communicate a brand’s visual identity, from proper logo usage, the brand color scheme, the
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