As the public grows more aware of the environmental impacts of purchasing decisions, it's becoming controversial to buy bottled water -- not to mention unnecessary if you choose the purified type as opposed to glacial or spring; anyone can make it with a filtration system. Coca-Cola's SmartWater is just that, but with added electrolytes. While celebrity...
If you were anxiously anticipating the "Do Not Call" list's 2008 expiration, you're in for some disappointment. Although the list -- initiated in 2003 -- was supposed to have a five-year shelf life, the FTC announced that consumers will not have to re-register next year since future legislation may make the...
Wal-Mart's struggling to grow market share and increase stock value, and according to Business Week and retail consultant Patricia Pao, poor customer service is to blame. The obvious explanation is that employees just don't care because they're not compensated enough to do so (which creates a vicious cycle; weakened employee morale...
Countrywide Financial Corp. tapped its entire $11.5 billion credit line to offset a surge in loan defaults and to address the company's liquidity crunch. CFC plans to originate mostly conforming loans, which are backed by government-sponsored entities like Fannie Mae, from this point forward, nearly eliminating its riskier...
What happens when a company straddles two industries, profiting in one arena and struggling in the other? That was Hewlett-Packard's story a couple years back -- its printing business paid the bills while Dell took the lead in PC sales. Then-CEO Carly Fiorina (responsible for the ill-fated Compaq purchase) responded...
Sara Lee Corp. saw a 7.1 percent increase in sales for 2007 in all six of its divisions. Much of the company's success can be attributed to its new customer-centric sales strategy, which focuses on the vendor as customer. Rather than relying on brokers, the company sells...
With heavy competition from global manufacturers in the automotive industry, companies are scrambling to increase sales by offering incentives. According to Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for sales tracker Edmunds.com, this strategy only works if you don't give away the store. "Giving cars away will...
Gregory Reyes became the first CEO convicted of criminal charges related to stock option backdating. The former CEO of Brocade Communications Systems was found guilty on all10 charges and faces up to 20 years in jail. Reyes's case sets a precedent not only for backdating-related convictions, but also...
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