In the early years of my consulting work I picked up a client that had been losing money for two consecutive years and was experiencing severe cash flow problems.  They were using cost plus pricing.  What went wrong? (more…)

CEO Ron Johnson rolled out a new plan for JCP that includes:

• Updating its stores
• Focusing on brands that ‘can’t be found elsewhere’
• Reducing it’s prices by 40% or more on all merchandise

These are bold moves, will they succeed? (more…)

A recent Washington Post/Bloomberg Business article stated that Hormel Foods fourth quarter 2011 profit slipped 3%.  Price increases were blamed for lower sales volumes.  Tyson Foods experienced a similar fate with its fourth quarter results.

Does this news fly in the face of my September 19, 2011 post Higher Prices = Lost Customers? in which I cited business owners whose price increases resulted in growth in their customer bases? (more…)

A November 2, 2011 Barron’s article , KRAFT FOODS REPORTS STRONG Q3 RESULTS AND RAISES 2011 GUIDANCE, reports that Kraft Foods’ third quarter net revenues grew 11.5% in part due to a 7% price increase. (more…)

I just received an email from Amazon.  In big, bold letters it said “FREE Super Saver Shipping Deadline Extended.”  Quickly, what thought pops into your mind? (more…)