Ansoff: Inside Amazon's Store of the Future
Here is a solid example of Ansoff's Matrix. Amazon has opened a supermarket in Seattle with no checkouts although that hasn't prevented the obligatory queues! For the record, the new Amazon Go...
The Biz Quiz - 18 January 2018
The second Biz Quiz of 2018 features 10 stories in a really busy week for business news!
Lessons from the collapse of Carillion
What can we read into the collapse of Carillion? It is clearly a story with many, many different aspects; here are a few thoughts about where it touches the syllabus for our Business...
Innovation: Alexa and her Smart-Fridge
Oh come on! Who has a fridge as organised as this?
Adding Value by Building A Product that Lasts a Lifetime
How different this manufacturer is from a mass-market producer! Sven Cycles in Dorset designs and manufactures hand-crafted, premium-priced bicycles. This evocative video from Bloomberg meets the...
Where Next for the Smart Speaker and Assistant Market?
Alexa, will sales of smart speakers continue to grow fast or are these products about to enter a maturity phase of their product life cycle?
I love this video about US entrepreneur Ryan Grant who abandoned his career as an accountant when he discovered he could buy clearance aisle items from the likes of Walmart and ToysRus and sell...
The Biz Quiz - 10 January 2018
Welcome to the first Biz Quiz of 2018! 10 questions on the business news so far this year!
Bag tax extends to small shops
We all know that, when we're shopping, we have to pay 5p if we need a carrier bag. But have you spotted that you don't pay that charge if you are in a small business with less than 250 employees?
Join Fellow Business Teachers in Our Virtual Staffrooms
if you're not already a member of the various Business Teacher Groups on Facebook now is a great time to take a look and join in!
How Stakeholders are Affected by Bank Closures
One stakeholder group that has been significantly affected by the large number of bank branch closures is the focus of this fascinating short video.
Hair Removal Entrepreneurs
I’ve always though waxing was a bit of a rip-off. But, apparently I’m in the minority. Waxing is big business!
The dangers of short-term strategy
There is a brilliant article in the FT about the long-term disadvantages that can accrue from setting strategy for short-term benefit. (If you don't have access to articles from the FT, you can get...
Falling car sales
The fall in sales of new cars, following six years of sales growth, is widely reported today. This BBC article which offers six charts illustrating possible reasons for the decline is useful for...
Digital disrupters using AI
If you have access to FT for Schools, this collection of articles about the impact of Artificial Intelligence in real workplaces is worth a look.
Pret doubles the discount for using reusable cups
Working on the waste hierarchy principle that reducing trumps recycling, Pret has boosted their CSR credibility by doubling the discount given to customers who bring reusable cups into their...
New approach to advertising: 'Please don't buy our product'
You would think that a tobacco manufacturer would find the UK government's Tobacco Control Plan, aimed at cutting smoking rates from 15.5% to 12% of the population by 2022, and at paving the way to...
Location, location, location in Birmingham
Why is Birmingham so pleased to be chosen as host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games? Because of the massive boost it can bring for local businesses, and over a long term way beyond the games...
Market in Focus - UK Bicycle Market
The UK bicycle market is one we have featured many times on our student revision workshops and here on the Business Blog. Here is an update on some interesting developments in the market. We've...
CSR: How changing coffee tastes are helping farmers
CSR gold! BBC News explores the rise of ethical coffee brewing as more consumers become concerned about the provenance of their morning drink.