Category
In the News
Sainsburys set for mega merger with Asda
Sainsburys is in advanced talks to acquire Asda which is owned by US retail giant Walmart. There is no doubt that a horizontal merger would attract the attention of the competition authorities...
The difficulties of digital marketing in 2018
Digital marketing is, by its very nature, a dynamic environment. Many businesses have come to base a huge proportion of their marketing communications on digital and social media, and it is...
Barclays boss faces penalty for 'conduct breach'
If you are looking at the impact of external, government regulation on businesses, the news that Barclays boss Jes Staley is facing a fine by UK regulators is a great example to use. This summary...
What happened to the winners of The Apprentice?
If, like me, you sometimes wonder whatever happens to those 'entrepreneurs' who win The Apprentice, look no further - Mail Online (which I confess I would never usually recommend to my students!!)...
Coffee in the news - discrimination, recycling and market trends
Starbucks is hitting the headlines today, with the announcement that they will close more than 8,000 company-owned branches in the US for an afternoon next month to carry out "racial bias"...
Yesterday, Brussels proposed a crackdown on powerful food buyers that force predatory terms on small suppliers. As reported on AgriLand, a news portal for Irish farming industry, the objective is...
The sugar tax and minimum pricing for alcohol: how are businesses affected by government policy?
This important aspect of External Influences comes into sharp focus this week, as the new Sugar Tax comes into force on April 6th, and Scotland introduces a minimum price for alcohol of 50p per...
A Level & GCSE Business Exam Board Market Shares for 2017
Here is our analysis of the DfE data which shows the number of candidates entered for A Level and GCSE Business in England in summer 2017 and the resulting exam board market share.
Sears - The Slow Decline of a Retail Giant
Here is a superb video on the decline of a retail giant. Sears, once the largest retailer in the United States, is struggling to stay afloat.
Trade Wars
After the US imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium, it was inevitable that China would retaliate fast. They have introduced duties of up to 25% on 128 American imports worth $3bn...
Making motorway services pay
While it seems as if the wet Easter weather kept us away from the shops, plenty of people were on the road over the long weekend, and it's quite likely that the poor driving conditions will have...
Thorntons worries over Brexit delays and shortages
A fair sprinkling of business gold in here for Edexcel Paper 3 - the potential impact of tariff and non-tariff barriers on chocolate confectionery imported into the UK (5,000 truck loads each year...
Poorly pup inspires pet food business success story
This is superb - jam-packed (or should that be (blueberry and vegetable-packed) with core business concepts. Sources of finance; dealing with suppliers; niche v mass. It's got the lot - we'd be...
Nestlé's Gold Blend gambit
Consumer demand for premium coffee has grown strongly in recent years. How is Nescafe responding to changing market preferences for soluble coffee granules?
Bira 91 - An Indian brand aiming high in craft beer
Here is a tremendous case study article on the rapid expansion of Bira 91, an Indian craft beer manufacturer with big ambitions! Pick as many business concepts as you can out of this!
The Failure of ToysRUs
Stunning analysis and pure, 900 carat gold, for strategic drift - The BBC reports on the failure of Toys R Us
Ethical business doesn't guarantee success
A good example here of how operating an award-winning ethical business doesn't guarantee business success - particularly if your costs are too high, profit margins too low and consumer demand weakens.
The casual dining crunch
Fantastic article here analysing the reasons for the increasing number of business closures in the UK restaurant market. The importance of rent as a fixed cost which significantly increases the...
A cautionary tale here for multinationals wanting to grow in international markets using external growth strategies. Australian firm Wesfarmers have admitted they made a pretty disastrous decision...
Can Nestle Succeed With a Market Development Strategy in the Indian Pet Food Market?
Multinational pet food giant Nestle has spotted an opportunity in India. Would it be barking mad to ignore the opportunity, or should it paws before making an investment in this market development...