Advertising Coming To A Windows 7 Desktop Near You

In an interesting move, Microsoft has announced the launch of a pilot program that involves selling advertising space on Windows 7 desktops.

A number of high profile brands, including Coca-Cola and Porsche, are participating in the pilot scheme.  Advertising will appear in the Windows 7 interface itself as well as add-ons to the Internet Explorer browser, according to Microsoft.  There will also be downloadable Windows 7 Themes designed by the brands.

Why are Microsoft making such a move, and will it be effective?

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Are Cool Brands Really Cool?

The results are in, and according to CoolBrands this year’s coolest brands are....

These results throw up a number of interesting questions, not least about the use of the word “cool”.

It would be interesting to ask students to name their 20 “coolest” brands and see how many appear on both lists!

Protecting a brand - global giants struggle to fight off the counterfeit fakers

A super video here from the BBC which examines the significant growth of counterfeit goods flooding markets in the European Union.” A huge issue for global luxury brands - but do consumers really care too much if they are able to buy good quality fakes at prices substantially below those of the original brands?

Young, white and super-skinny models out of fashion?

This article in today’s Guardian looks at research being carried out by Cambridge University’s Judge business school into the way in which women react to the models used in advertising. 

A Great Overview of the UK Retail Sector’s Problems

There is an excellent analytical piece in the Observer this morning which looks at the challenges facing the UK retailing market…

End of the road for Pizza Hut

One of the best-recognised high street brands is to disappear from the UK as Pizza Hut changes its name to…

Quick starter puzzles on the high street retailers

Here are a couple of starter puzzles that focus on well-known high street retail brands…

No-sweat deodorant and other failures

Peter Day’s perennially superb In Business programme this week looked at brands and branding. Why did Pepsi AM, no-sweat deodorant and smokeless cigarettes fail where Campbell’s low-sodium soup succeed in spectactular fashion? Innovative may mean different but it does not automatically mean successful as Peter Day finds out in a visit to Arbor Strategy Group and River West Brands . He looks at the attempted revival of so-called Zombie-brands, brands that have become dormant in the marketplace but whose value might be rekindled with some imaginative marketing. Put FairTrade coffee beans and vitamins together and call it Brim!

Insights into the private affairs of Britain’s largest retailers

A great new series in the Telegraph profiles Britain’s largest private companies. The series starts with lots if useful information on the ten largest retailers still in private ownership (i.e. shares not available for sale on the Stock Exchange)…

Australian expansion proves a move too far for Starbucks

Starbucks is a great example to use with students when it comes to illustrating the growth strategies of multinationals.  However, Starbucks has just announced that it is closing the majority of its stores in Australia…