Applied Business Unit 3: Investigating Marketing (Intro)

Introduction to Marketing

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Starbucks - 15 Amazing Facts

Click here for 15 facts about Starbucks that may impress you.....

Unit 4: Strategies: Export or Not? Cheesemaker in a Pickle

A year or so old, but still useful nonetheless. Click here to access this neat case study on a cheese producer in Yorkshire!
Shepherds Purse Cheeses is a niche food producer that was set up as a classic diversification strategy by a Yorkshire farm and it has clearly been a success, with the product range of cheese being expanded.

The owners face a challenge though. The business has become quite reliant on sales of cheese to the major supermarket retailers and is tempted to expand into the (potentially) more lucrative US market.

This poses significant logistical issues for a product with a relatively short shelf-life. Should they go ahead? The business owners explain the potential opportunity and difficulties, before getting some interesting advice from the business advisers reading the case. Excellent evaluative comments that will help you guys when looking at decisions Morissons has to make....
I decided to look into this company and founf not only does it have a blog!!!, but also a facebook page....classic example of trying to reach out to new markets and consumers!

http://shepherdspurse.co.uk/blog/

This is why I teach!

Unit 3/4: CSR - Visioning the Future (Great Videos)

I really recommend all students to take a few minutes out to watch this new video series from the BITC which has just launched “Visioning the Future”. Business studies gold dust!


Here is the short 2-minute introductory video;



This longer (12 minute) video showcases some of the CSR activities of firms in the UK. Lots of great examples of CSR in action here (e.g. Greggs) and some easy-to-spot evidence for Unit 3/4 questions:

Unit 4: Business Strategy; Northern Foods & Porters 5 Forces.

Check out this excellent strategy case study from the Economist in Feb 2011. It briefly analyses the strategic position of Northern Foods, a UK-based food manufacturer that has built its business around supplying own-label processed food products (e.g. ready meals) for the supermarkets.

The article is useful for many reasons, including capacity management, reasons for Mergers & Acquisitions, supplier relationships, profit margins.

It is also a great example to use when explaining Porter’s Five Forces Model, using the references to the different bargaining power wielded by the major supermarket groups and by multinational food brands like Nestle and Kraft.

Leadership Resource - Every Little Helps

Click here is a link to a great video and some resource material on Sir Terry Leahy. This makes a great introduction to leadership. The video is from the London Business Forum and Sir Terry is in fine form.


At around 8 minutes, it is perfect for the classroom.

Enjoy…