Description: Tim Hortons plans to open 500 new restaurants in Canada and 300 in the U.S. in its new five year plan—this will increase its outlets by nearly 18 percent. Source: CBC Date: Feb 25, 2014 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2439551808/?page=5 Questions for Discussion: Appraise Tim Hortons five year expansion plan? Compare Tim Hortons strategy with that… Read more »
Posts By: tonym
Staples to close 255 stores in the U.S. and Canada
Description: Unable to compete against online sales, Staples, the largest U.S. office-supply retailer, will close up to 225 stores in North America. This is an effort to cut costs by $500 million by 2015—Staples hopes that it will make the company more efficient. Source: CBC Date: March 06, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/staples-to-close-225-stores-in-u-s-canada-1.2562302 Questions for Discussion: Discuss… Read more »
Facebook buys WhatsApp for an astounding $19 billion.
Description: In a major deal, Facebook has bought an instant chat service WhatsApp for an astounding $19 billion US. This is a tremendously high price for a recent startup company. Source: CBC Date: Feb 20, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2438554742/ Questions for Discussion: How will you defend Facebook’s purchase of WhatsApp for $19 billion? What are the underlying… Read more »
Shaking up the business of shaving
Description: Shaving is a big business worldwide with two giant players, Gillette and Schick. A new startup Harry’s is planning to shake-up the shaving business by selling razors directly to consumers. Jeff Raider, Harry’s co-founder, explains the company’s innovative strategy. Source: CBC Date: Feb 19, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2438374737/ Questions for Discussion: What sets Harry’s apart… Read more »
Shoppers Drug Mart sees a decline in its profits
Description: Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. posted lower profits in its fourth quarter. This is likely to be Shoppers last quarterly results as a separate public company; it is being acquired by Loblaw Cos. Ltd. Source: BNN Date: Feb 06, 2014 Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2014/2/6/Shoppers-profit-squeezed-by-milder-cold-season-stiffer-competition.aspx Questions for Discussion: What are some of the reasons for Shoppers declining profits?… Read more »
Canadian Tire posts high profits.
Description: Canadian Tire Corp. posted a 17-percent rise in quarterly profit. This was driven by strong sales of outdoor equipment, casual clothing and sports footwear. However, despite the positive numbers, Mark McQueen, CEO Wellington Financial, feels that Canadian Tire needs to invest in its stores and update its look and feel. Source: BNN Date: Feb… Read more »
Twitter stock take a big beating
Description: Twitter stock fell 24% on poor fourth quarter results. Twitter has seen a deceleration on several of its important metrics such as growth in the number of users from quarter 3. Source: CBC Date: Feb 06, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2435335871/ Questions for Discussion: Explain the key metrics that Twitter is evaluated on? What conclusions can you… Read more »
Ten major pharmaceutical companies to collaborate
Description: Ten major pharmaceutical companies have decided to collaborate under the guidance of National Institute of Health to develop new drugs for major diseases. This is a major departure from the way pharmaceutical companies have traditionally worked. Source: CBC Date: Feb 04, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2434950263/ Questions for Discussion: List the benefits of such a collaboration?… Read more »
Top 10 most influential brands in Canada
Description: Ipsos Reid announced the ten most influential brands in Canada. It lists brands such as MasterCard, Walmart, Tim Horton’s and Apple. The number one brand on the list is Google. Source: CBC Date: Jan 28, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2433488781/ Questions for Discussion: What are some of the interesting facts that spring out from this list?… Read more »
Ontario minimum wage increases to $11.
Description: The minimum wage in Ontario is increased to $11 per hour. This means that Ontario along with Nunavut have the highest minimum wages in Canada. Source: CBC Date: Jan 30, 2014 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2433960206/ Questions for Discussion: What are the different views from the workers and the employers? What are the benefits and drawback of… Read more »
