Internet Starting To Takeover Holiday Season Shopping

In today's world, people use the Internet for practically everything. From shopping to doing business online, people spent 4 to 7 hours a day just browsing through online sites. Now retailers are taking advantage of this trend and offering promotions online, several days before the holidays start. Early online promotions are one way for retailers to better compete with their rivals. Due to economy, stores are unsure of how much people will spend this year, so early promotions are one way of sparking incentive to buy more for less.

My View:
These days, almost everything can be done online. So it's no surprise that people are going to want to use the Internet to buy things. Goods online are easily accessible, in stock, and easy to pay for. Black Friday can have one person waiting in line for hours, when online a shopping spree can take 30 minutes or less. By offering good deals and promotions, retailers are luring in more customers than ever. I think that by adding more promotions to online store websites, companies can make up to twice as much in revenue, especially around the holidays.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/-cyber-monday--gains-rivals.html

Black Friday Starting Early This Year

Right now, people are counting down the hours to when they can get in their cars and begin their shopping adventures. Stores are opening their doors earlier than usual so people can get their hands on the best deals as soon as possible. Stores even decided to open their doors on Thanksgiving Day, claiming that people have responded positively to this move. A site called MainStreet comprised a list of stores, such as Old Navy, Wal-Mart, Toys R'Us, Target, and the hours of when they will be open for Black Friday.

My View:
Stores are making a smart decision by announcing their store hours for Black Friday way before the holidays. This allows people to prepare their list of stores to visit and they can also see which stores are going to offer the best deals. Black Friday is already a hectic day for many American shoppers, so lists like the one made by MainStreet can really help guide people through their holiday shopping.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-black-friday-2011.html

Greyhound Bus Driver Abandons Passengers

When a Greyhound bus was set to drive to Missouri, the passengers on board did not know what kind of ride they were getting themselves into. The bus was 100 miles from its destination when the driver decided to suddenly stop and order a passenger off near Sikeston. The driver then pulled over in Cape Girardeau and refused to get on the bus. Passengers frantically called the police, who arrived shortly after and ordered the driver to take the bus to its destination. The bus pulled over again in Charleston and the bus drivers, once again, got up and this time, left for good. Passengers called the Greyhound Bus company and it sent one of its drivers over to the abandoned bus. When the bus finally arrived at its destination, the passenger's trip was 12 hours delayed. The company apologized and promised to refund the people for the inconvenience.

My View:
Even though it is unclear why the bus driver acted the way she did, but this clearly shows that Greyhound Bus does not do a good job in hiring suitable and responsible people for their job positions. This type of situation could tarnish a company's reputation and people might start to turn to other rival companies that they feel they could trust more. It was a smart move to refund the passengers, who had to endure this experience, so I think for now the company is going to be okay. In the near future, I think Greyhound Bus needs to conduct a better evaluation of its employees or carry out harsher consequences in case this type of situation happens again.

http://news.yahoo.com/greyhound-driver-strands-passengers-missouri-043514746.html

Victoria Secret's Slight Mistake With T-Shirt

Victoria Secret is known for its cute and comfortable clothing, along with catchy phrases on T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, and everything else they make. They are very popular for making clothing that represents college football teams. Recently they came out with a line representing Michigan State's football team, with the team's name on the front and the logo on the back. Except underneath the team's name is a phrase reading "Hail to the Victors". The only problem with that phrase is it is the motto of Michigan's rival team. Sports business reporter, Darrell Rovell, noticed this and announced it within a couple of hours after the T-shirt was launched on the company's site. The T-shirt was removed immediately after this mistake was revealed.

My View:
Everyone is bound to make mistakes and this is just one little mishap for Victoria Secret. The company is known for making millions off its Pink line and Victoria Secret line so one little mistake won't hurt the company nor its reputation. Everyone loves Victoria Secret's vibrant colors, comfortable attire, and catchy phrases on its products. It was smart of the company to immediately remove the T-shirt in order to salvage its reputation and avoid losing more money than it needs to.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Victoria-Secret-shirt-fails-Michigan-State-8217?urn=ncaaf-wp10226

Ban On Obscene Texts In Pakistan

Pakistan's telecommunications have recently decided to eliminate obscene words from texting messages by ordering phone call companies to block messages that contain inappropriate words. They also made a list stating all the words, mostly sexual or swear words, that ought to be blocked. Words such as Jesus Christ and tampon were banned as well, raising questions as to whether or not this tampers with religious freedom. Apparently, freedom of speech can be restricted "in the interest of the glory of Islam." This could be another act that was under the pressure of Islamists, which insisted the Pakistan block pornographic and Anti-Islamic sites.

My View:
It has always been in my knowledge that people in Pakistan do not have the same rights and freedoms as we do here, in the United States. So it's inevitable that their rules and regulations are going to be very different than those that we follow here. This blocking of obscene words from text messaging could either be accepted or people could resist against it. Texting is the most popular form of communication these days so this could infuriate some people. There's a possibility that people could end their phone contracts and stop using cellphones all together.

http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-bans-obscene-words-cell-phone-texts-122933488.html

PETA is a well-known organization that fights to protect the rights of animals all over the world. They have been known for aggressively fighting against things they see as being demeaning or cruel to animals. A recent controversy they have entered themselves in deals with the Nintendo game, Mario. PETA says the animal costume that Mario, the main character in the game, wears gives off the message that it is okay to wear fur. The raccoon-like suit is used to help Mario glide across the screen and this move has been incorporated into the game since 1988. Still PETA suggests it promotes animal abuse since the raccoon dogs are animals that are constantly beaten and skinned alive for their fur. So PETA has decided to offer their version of the game, in which players try to take back the suit from Mario.

My View:
Personally, I think PETA is taking the issue of animal abuse to an extreme. Mario has always been known as a fun and completely innocent game that is simply for the enjoyment of Nintendo lovers. No where in the game is direct abuse of animals being displayed. And the fact that the character in the game is wearing an animal-looking suit does not imply that anyone who sees this will immediately consider skinning and wearing animal fur. I think PETA takes certain topics too seriously and so far people have been criticizing the organization for being ridiculous and overly exaggerative.

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/peta-slams-mario-over-fur-suit-211025773.html

Talk Of New Stadium Is Getting People Excited

Architects from Gensler and AEG have just released photos of what the new L.A. stadium will supposedly look like. People have been buzzing about the look the stadium, which has a very bright and "whimsical" feel to it. The stadium will hold 72,000 people and has a built in deployable roof, in case there are any bad weather days. The stadium is set to open itself to NFL games in 2016 and there's talk that the stadium will offer to host the 2017 Super Bowl L. Despite the fact that L.A. doesn't have professional football teams, it still might host games for the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. The plan hasn't been approved yet but it sure has been getting a lot of positive feedback, mostly because of its unique design.

My View:
Since L.A. is known for not having professional football teams, I don't understand why so much money and effort is going in to build a stadium that might not attract a large audience to begin with. This isn't a smart marketing move considering there aren't many football fans in L.A. Since the economy isn't in the best state right now, people are going to wonder why is so much money being built into a project like this. They might also wonder where is the money for this stadium coming from. One possible answer is from higher taxes. People might not be too pleased with this move and the plan for the stadium could end up as a failure. Also, traffic  LA is terrible so people might not be willing to stand in traffic for games they don't favor as much in the first place. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Proposed-new-LA-stadium-is-translucent-and-whims?urn=nfl-wp11926

Predictions Of Low, Black Friday Prices Begin

Every year, people get really excited when Black Friday gets closer because they already anticipate the amount of money they will save. People always put certain estimates on how much something will cost and now people are estimating how much discount will be applied to certain products. Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are already advertising their special "weekend" TV deals, where prices of high-end TVs can go from $700 to $300. These retailers are offering free shipping to the nearest store or to your home. If the low prices aren't enough to tempt someone to buy a lot, retailers are opening their stores a day early to get more customers and make as many sales as they can. Now people are foreshadowing how low will TV prices really go?

My View:

Everyone loves a good deal, but what they would love even more is a good deal on a plasma TV. Retailers like Best Buy are offering 32 inch TVs for as low as $200 or 40 inch TVs for $300. This is great news for people who are trying to buy a good quality TV for a low price. Manufacturers are hoping that Black Friday's low prices will spur interest in 3D TVs. People are hesitant to buy 3D TVs because they don't know if they will deliver the quality they promise to deliver. Also the high prices of 3D TVs also keeps people from actually purchasing these TVs so Black Friday is a great time to consider buying these type of products. 

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/738/black-friday-tv-prices-how-low-will-they-go/

Price Of Thanksgiving Is Starting To Get More And More Expensive

Every year, people spend hundred or even thousands of dollars on Thanksgiving in order to make the most delicious and most memorable dinner. The American Farm Bureau Foundation is predicting that people will spend around $50 on a turkey this year, which is more than any average turkey has cost before. Turkey has become more expensive as well as side dishes. But wholesalers are giving out promotions and coupons in order to make the burden of spending a lot of money on one dinner a little lighter. Instead of going to buy all the ingredients you need for Thanksgiving at once, analysts say that by trying to find the best deals and buying what you need gradually, you will save a lot more money.

My Views:
When the economy is in a rut, everyone and everything is affected by it. Prices rise and everything gets more costly. With Thanksgiving a few days away, people are starting to feel the increase in price of Thanksgiving goodies. A 16lb turkey would normally cost around $20, today a medium size turkey can go for $50. People are definitely not going to spend even more money than they have, being that the holidays are expensive enough. So wholesalers should take the opportunity to come up with money-saving deals that will allow people to buy more for less.

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/most-expensive-thanksgiving-dinner-ever-super-savers-guide-180200325.html

Early Shopping Angers Black Friday Customers

That time of the year is right around the corner, when people rush into stores in the early hours of the day just to get their hands on the best deals. This year, stores like Walmart, are deciding to begin their Black Friday sale at 10 p.m., on the day of Thanksgiving. People are angered by the fact that they'll have to get up in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner in order to get in line for the store opening. Last year, Toys"R"Us did just this and decided to open its store on Thanksgiving night. People are frustrated by this move because they don't think it's fair to require employees to leave their families and come in to work on one of the most important holidays of the year. Some retailers claim that they've received positive response about this move and people have liked this change. Still people think it's unfair to tempt people to turn their backs on the holidays just to get the best of great deals.

My View: 
Everyone knows the holidays are tough to handle, and this news is definitely going to discourage a lot of shoppers. People already get up really early to go to retailers and buy as much as they can for extremely low prices and to make them leave their families behind to start shopping is unfair. It is also unfair to make employees leave their dinner tables to go into work on a holiday. I don't see retailers prospering if they decide to open early Thanksgiving. People look foward to the holidays all year and I really doubt they will leave their families to go shopping. Retailers are better off sticking to the Black Friday tradition.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/thanksgiving-day-shop-meets-rejection-123025036.html

AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo! All Trying To Get A Bit Of Facebook To Increase Sales

AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo! are all one another's competitors and they are constantly trying to out-do each other in areas such as sales or advertising. Recently, all three companies have been seeing a decline in revenue due to poor or lack of advertising. Google's has become even more powerful ever since it bought DoubleClick's ad service. Amongst its competitors, Facebook has been the most successful due to its high level of popularity that has been generated all throughout the world. The reason why Facebook is one of the leading sites in the world, along with 16% share of the online ad market, is because of is display of advertising. Millions of people visit the site daily so advertising here wouldn't be a bad idea and it was definitely spread the word about anything your trying to promote. Microsoft has already bought a share of Facebook, which is worth three times more than when it was bought. To increase profit, AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo! are trying to team up and use each other's technologies in order to increase advertising while saving money. Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL believe that space for advertising will be in higher demand if there's a market that allows advertisers to connect with the Web audiences that are the best match for their marketing campaigns.


My View:
Since Facebook is the world leader in social networking right now, it would also become one of the world's leaders in online advertising. Since so many people visit the site each day, advertisers pay Facebook to display their ads because they know there's a greater chance more people will see their ad here rather than on Yahoo! or AOL. Perhaps Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL should take notes on what Facebook is doing to attract more people and try to incorporate what they've learned into their own websites. They could also pay Facebook to advertise their company on it's website so more people are being directed towards their site as well.


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-11-08/microsoft-yahoo-aol-ad-sales/51126422/1

Brits Say Dakota Fanning Was Too Risque In Marc Jacob Ad

With her angelic features and humble personality, provocative is the last word that comes to mind when describing Dakota Fanning. But apparently citizens of the U.K. think otherwise. The ad, that features Fanning holding the latest Marc Jacobs flower perfume, is being banned from British shores. The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority said the photo is provocative and vulnerable to "serious offense" is due to the fact that Dakota Fanning is a minor, and her poses and facial expressions could be deemed inappropriate for a minor.  Even though there are much more provocative ads out there, the ASA still thinks the Marc Jacobs ad should be censored. Since Fanning is made to look a lot younger than she really is, the ad is may be received as presenting children in a sexual way. The title of the perfume is called "Oh Lola!", which resembles the title of the movie, Lolita.

My View:
After taking a good look at the ad, I can see why people could take the ad as sexy and inappropriate. Dakota Fanning is made to look younger than she really is and her pose is a little suggesting, but it doesn't mean that it should be banned. Clearly the perfume takes on after the movie Lolita, which is about a young girl who is seduced by an older man. Marc Jacobs was trying to convey the meaning behind "Oh Lola!" through its ads, otherwise how will it get people's attention? It's inevitable that sex sells because it gets people's attention and sparks interest in people, and Jacobs definitely got people's attention this time. I don't think people should look too much into this ad, but if it is unacceptable by British standards, then I suggest Jacobs remove the ad there in order to avoid any more controversy and incoming problems from overseas. At the end of the day, it is important for a company to do everything to protect its brand's image.

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/thefamous/british-censors-ban-dakota-fanning-provocative-ad-194052605.html

Kardashian's Bag Line Copying Designs Of Prominent Designers

The Kardashian sisters have always been known for their erratic family and keen fashion choices, so it's no surprise they would want to share their passion for fashion with their fans by coming out with an affordable, chic line of bags. After examining the bag line, some people have questioned whether or not the designs have been copied off big brand-name designers like Chloe and Balenciaga. There are around eleven bags that closely resemble big brand-name bags. Yet, Khloe and Kim Kardashian have claimed that they were "extensively involved in the whole process" and that they designed everything.

My View:
After examining the Kardashian bag line, it is safe to say that these bags do look a lot like those of Chanel, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent. This are highly respected designers who put years into coming up with these designs and to have some just copy their work is an infringement of their trademarks and brands. The line could be sued for creating knockoffs off of brands, which could potentially destroy its path to sucess. But the Kardashians may have made a smart business move considering how bad the economy is right now, people can't afford to spend thousands of dollars on a bag so this line can offer people more affordable options.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/latest-kardashian-scandal-kardashian-kollection-bags-look-a-lot-like-knockoffs-2611637/#photoViewer=7

The limited time sandwich, McRib, from McDonalds is surrounded by quite of bit of controversy t
these days. The Humane Society of the United States has filed a complaint against Smithfield Farms, which apparently supplies McDonalds with the pork to make the McRib sandwich. The Humane Society has recently discovered the story behind the mistreatment of the pigs at the Smithfield farms. It was reported that the pigs were kept in unsanitary, inhumane conditions and there were claims that some pigs were walking around covered in blood, leading to speculations of animal abuse. The HSUS even got footage of how the animals were being treated at this farms. Besides the mistreatment of animals, another allegation towards the McRib deals with the ingredients that are put into this sandwich. Studies have shown that it is not quality pork that's being incorporated into the sandwich, but mashed up tripe, heart, and stomach. What makes it the sandwich even worse is the amount of chemical additives that are being added to it.

My View:
When McDonald came out with the McRib sandwich, people went nuts for it because it was only going to be available for a limited time. It hasn't been officially added to the menu so people were excited to take advantage of this offering. With these lawsuits and complaints against the chain, people are definitely going to think twice before buying this sandwich. These days, people are all about getting healthy and choosing the healthiest options when eating out, so I can safely say that after reading these allegations, people are going to go for other options. These allegations is definitely going to take a toll on the McRib's sales and it could foreshadow a potential "dumping" of the product.t

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/mcrib-lawsuit-humane-society-smithfield-farms_n_1075992.html?1320416650&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk1%7C109903

On Friday, October 31, the company that started group discounts, Groupon, went public. The moment the company announced that it was going public, its stock price increased dramatically, showing just how much in demand this company is. According to analysts, this high increase in stock prices is common for companies who have gone public. Just to provide a little background information on the company, Groupon is a company who sends out emails to its subscribers about discounts, anything from spa treatments to vacation getaways. The company makes revenue by taking a portion of what people pay and handing the rest over to the merchant. Even though there have been other companies who have tried to do the same thing Groupon is doing, the company still manages to differentiate itself and outrun its competitors. 


My View:
Groupon has been growing ever since its launch in 2008. The company has been getting more customers and its demand grows significantly ever year. I am not surprised many people have decided to invest in this company because it is a worthwhile company to invest in. If people see that a company has a steady record of continuous success, they are going to take that opportunity and invest their money in it. Groupon offers many good deals and it is fully sustainable. Advesrtising can cost a company thounsands or millions of dollars, but Groupon allows businesses to advertise through it by offering them extreme discounts. People see the benefits of this company and clearly Groupon must be doing something right if people keep flocking to its company and not to its rivals.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Groupon-shares-soars-in-apf-2236203133.html?x=0

Seaweed To Take Over Store Shelves?

Recently, there's been buzz about the superfood, acai berry, and its health benefits. Companies were coming out with products that contained this health food and people were shelling out money to get their hands on this. But perhaps we have a new competitor in the market. People are been talking about seaweed and all the essential benefits it provides, like weight loss and aiding in cardiovascular health. Since there are been so many controversies about obesity in America, people have been changing their lifestyles and leaving their junk food days behind and turning to heath foods. There are many products that contain seaweed such as seaweed salads or seaweed chips. People are leaving snacks, such as Doritos and M&M, in the dust and taking interest in healthier, more nutritious options.

My View:
Obesity is a disease that affects many people in the U.S. and people are fed up with it taking over their lives. That is why many people are taking interest in health foods that aid in proper cardiovascular and digestive health, all while helping weight loss. When marketing researchers find out that seaweed is the new superfood, they are going to take the opportunity to position themselves in the market. Marketers could try to create products that differentiate themselves from other products, such as snacks or candies that contain seaweed. Since seaweed is so in demand now, people will definitely stock up on these goodies, knowing that they will be receiving many health benefits from their choice.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/is-seaweed-the-next-big-superfood-2598756

Macy's Expansion Of Its Shoe Department

Macy is one of the largest and most popular retailers in the world. Now they have set a new objective for themselves, which is to create the largest shoe department in the world. This plan is set to cost the retailer $400 million, which will cover redesigning the department, updating other departments, and adding new, luxury brands to their collections. Also, Macy will have a coffee, wine, and chocolate bar restaurant on the 6th floor, as well as dining eateries on the lower levels. The store also plans to take advantage of advancing technology by incorporating a shoe locater into their systems so people can find what their looking for quickly and efficiently. Sidewalks near the entrances will also have welcome mats paved into the ground. The plan also includes 300 new fitting rooms and restrooms and expansion of men's merchandise. 


My View:
Macy's motive for creating and carrying out this plan it to attract more customers into its store. Perhaps there is another popular retailers it needs to compete with and by taking advantage of technological advances, Macys can differentiate itself amongst it rivals. Macys is adding new products to an already existing product line in order to create more interest in potential consumers. Also, all these production costs will definitely cause an increase in prices in order to cover costs and make profit. For a while, Macys will probably try to cover its costs and then make revenue but its main concern is spurring more interest in people to shop at its store. 


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/dnainfo/macy-plans-world-largest-shoe-store-145817438.html?bouchon=501,ny

Decisions Over A One-Child Policy

World's population is growing every second and researchers have said that the number could reach up to 10 billion in the next 10 years. Even though it is in our nature to mate and reproduce, more people means there will be more demand for food, energy, space, and resources. The problem is that there might sufficient amount of these things to provide for everyone. The controversy lies in the question "How can we curb this growth?" One of the few answers to this question is to adopt a one-child per family policy, which has already been implemented in China. Another idea is to get the government to support policies that aim to reduce fertility rate through contraceptives.

My View: 
Like the article stated, it is in our nature to reproduce and mate with  one another, so why should anyone tell us to do otherwise? We have the freedom to decided certain things for ourselves, and whether or not we want to have a child is one of them. Women should have the sole right to decide what they want to do to their bodies and how they want to live their lives. The last thing we need is the government telling us when and if we can bear children.

http://news.yahoo.com/countdown-7-billion-world-adopt-one-child-policy-125405754.html