New Economics
If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Chris Anderson’s The Long Tail. The book discusses the transition from mass to niche markets, facilitated largely by the Internet and contributions of "Generation C."
Anderson writes, “In short, though we still obsess over hits, they are not quiet the economic force they once were. Where are those fickle consumers going instead? No single place. They are scattered to the winds as markets fragment into a thousand niches.”
Consumers have more options (thus more control) today than ever before. It is important to understand your target’s preferences and deliver a customized experience that satisfies expectations to keep them coming back. Opportunities abound when you celebrate the individuality that keeps things personal.
I have been an HGTV fan for the past few years now…House Hunters, Divine Design, Design to Sell, and of course, Carter Can. Having recently purchased my first place, my affection for the channel has only magnified as I continuously watch for design ideas I can incorporate into my home and compare others’ buys to my own. The brand has certainly capitalized on (and undoubtedly propelled) the DIY trend and allowed consumers to vicariously shop for houses, even when the market is down. 
What could be more loved than a hot gooey cinnamon roll? Some would say ice cream. Both are sweet and delicious; one is hot, the other is cold. This is the perfect match for a co-branded operation. Since 2002, Carvel has worked closely with Cinnabon to develop several successful co-branded locations. As a result of the initial success, 
Cinnabon has also engaged in a special case of co-branding called ingredient branding. By creating brand equity for Cinnabon through co-branding with other food products, Cinnabon increases their brand awareness and encourages consumer preference for goods containing their product. For example, Cinnabon has teamed up with Betty Crocker for a Cinnabon Cinnamon Streusel Muffin Mix (These are really good, by the way!). Also, Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn and Cinnabon come together in cinnamon popcorn with a pour-over Cinnabon frosting topping. Sounds good huh? Just be prepared…your hands will be sticky after consuming this product. If this isn’t good enough, you can also find Mrs. Smith’s pies and coffee cakes made with Cinnabon cinnamon and frosting. This is sure to be a yummy combination, since Mrs. Smith’s Cinnabon Apple Crumb Pie was a First Place winner at the 
Wells Fargo is one such institution that has viewed the subprime shake up as an opportunity. There have been talks of the bank acquiring a regional bank and taking advantage of the deep discount which such an acquisition would offer. However, Wells Fargo can only take advantage of such an opportunity due to their band equity and positioning in the market. 
Since so many of the senior executives of Enron, WorldCom, Adelphia, Tyco, etc. were exposed and subsequently jailed, you would think that every businessperson in America would have learned the importance of maintaining a high level of integrity in business practices. It is a real shame that some still have not seen the light and grasped the obvious. High standards, honesty, and ethical leadership all pay off in the long run, and the opposite is simply a path to ultimate failure. Wake up business leaders!
Of course in some states, California and Nevada, the percentage of homes affected is far worse than others (e.g., Vermont and West Virginia). The map to the left is based on May 2007 numbers. Therein is a major concern; nationwide homeowners should be mindful of the insidious effects that foreclosures and the rising inventories of homes for sale will have on home prices—and household wealth. 
It's all in good fun, of course, but what makes it funny is that we've all found ourselves scratching our heads at times and wondering the same thing. How come we seem to spend so much more time talking about doing than actually getting something done? At work, at church, at home, even personally. If you're interested in how to change this paradigm and didn't get around to this resource when it first came out, I urge you to take a look at Pfeffer & Sutton's The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge Into Action (Harvard Business School Press, 2000). The book's certainly a great resource to read but also then to keep in a visible place in your office or at home where you won't be sucked back into the land of ideation. For a nice summary of Pfeffer and Sutton's work, visit this link at FastCompany There's also a nice summary of the book available in 
Most of us enjoy reading recipes for success. The topic of failure tends to be far less popular. And yet, in business we say "If you're not occasionally failing at something, you're probably setting your sights for success way too low." I like Soichiro Honda's quote. Here's a business legend who set very high expectations for himself and his automobile company. Yet he viewed failure in the context of it simply being a necessary means to achieving an outstanding end.
more of us recognize the name Lou Brock, a St. Louis Cardinal who for many years was the major league career leader in stolen bases with a total of 938 successes. Almost unnoticed in the recordbooks, though, is the fact that Brock was thrown out a total of 307 times in his career. That's a far less impressive career success rate of 76%. Still pretty good, but less than Carey-like. Yet, Brock's the guy people still talk about, not Carey. 
[Authored by Zac Cooke, MBA Candidate] In a little over 40 years Wal-Mart has grown to become one of the largest corporations in the world, with annual revenues topping $350 billion. They have achieved this position as retail market leader by delivering products at a low price to all consumers. They are able to deliver these lower prices to consumers while maintaining a position as the 67th most profitable company in the U.S. in 2006, and they've done this by selling up to 40% of their offering as private label goods. These privately branded items, many of which are made in foreign countries, offer Wal-Mart an opportunity for higher profit margins.
Seiyu began to alter their product mix and offer higher end goods in 2006, but sales continued to fall short of expectations, and profits are suffering even more due to the slimmer profit margins on many of these higher end goods. Although Wal-Mart is struggling in some foreign markets, they do continue to make headway in China and are quickly becoming one of the strongest retail presences in urban areas of the country.