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…)

 …that you drive up costs AND reduce revenues?

You’d tell me to take a flying leap off the highest cliff.  And rightfully so.  Yet literally thousands of very successful businesses do this voluntarily every day. (more…)

Over the years I’ve heard a lot of commentary about the roles of marketing and sales within organizations.  Geoffrey James, a popular sales writer, feels that marketing should be subordinate to sales instead of a separate function.  Obviously, the marketing folks disagree.  War is expensive; let’s see if we can put an end to this one. (more…)

This from a woman who’s been clipping coupons most of her life.  What raised this angry cry? (more…)

Target’s third quarter profits are up 3.7% according to Andria Cheng in her MarketWatch article, Target profit rises better-than-expected, in the Wall Street Journal.  She also relayed this caveat:

“But Target isn’t without its own challenges. Analyst David Strasser at Janney Capital Markets said Wal-Mart’s aggressive pricing matching guarantees this holiday season may pose a challenge to Target.”

The implication is that consumers’ buying habits are swayed by price-matching guarantees?  Is that true?  (more…)