Few brands are as globally recognizable as Starbucks. Its green siren logo and store designs have become shorthand for a particular style of urban coffee culture. But such ubiquity comes with an inevitable problem: copycats. From Shanghai to New Delhi, smaller chains have tried to borrow Starbucks’ aura by tweaking its name, logo, store design, […]
At some point, China was one of the most promising country markets for the booking platform AirBnb. And China seemed to embrace the concept – initially. However, in 2022, the company decided to shut down its business in the Middle Kingdom, after only five years of trying to establish a foothold. What happened, you might […]
No, Tesla has not announced plans to produce tanks, it’s Tesla sales that are tanking! The recent backlash against Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO’s entanglement in U.S. politics is a stark reminder of how reputational risks can travel at the speed of light. The significant decline in Tesla’s global sales, particularly in Europe, can serve as a […]
Luxury brands thrive on exclusivity, but when does a company’s sales strategy become legally problematic? French fashion house Hermès recently found itself facing a class-action antitrust lawsuit in California over its “pay-to-play” policy for the coveted Birkin bag – one of the most sought-after status symbols in the world. If you’re not familiar with it, […]
On December 15, 2024, Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi—three of Japan’s leading automakers—announced a historic intention to merge, creating a unified front in the rapidly evolving automotive industry. This decision stunned industry experts and raised crucial questions about the motivations and implications of such a bold move. As the industry undergoes a seismic transformation driven by […]
By 2016, it was lights out for bauMax, Austria’s first – and for the longest time one of the most successful – Do-it-yourself (DYI) retail chains. Founded in 1976 by Karlheinz Essl, the son of an Austrian food wholesale merchant, bauMax opened its first self-service supermarket for construction materials, machines, and tools in Austria in […]
In 2018, Apple Inc., a global leader in consumer electronics, faced an unexpected challenge when the U.S. imposed tariffs on a wide range of goods imported from China, including a 15% tariff on consumer electronics. Relying heavily on Chinese suppliers for critical components, the iPhone alone was projected to see an additional cost increase of […]
Lufthansa Airlines, one of Europe’s largest and most respected carriers, has built a global reputation for its premium services and vast network of international routes. In 2024, Lufthansa Group kicked off the year with significant developments in the aviation sector. The European Commission approved the group’s acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways, Italy’s […]
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), an Austria-based leading European financial institution, faces a significant ethical and strategic dilemma due to its operations in Russia. Approximately 15% of the bank’s assets are tied to its Russian operations, making it one of the few Western banks with substantial exposure to the Russian market. Moreover, the Austrian lender generated […]
On May 19th, 2024, Red Lobster, a long-time favorite for American lovers of affordable seafood, filed for bankruptcy. The chain’s announcement came as a surprise to its customers but not to some who follow the company closely. The chain was founded in 1968 by Bill Darden and Charley Woodsby. Until 2023, when Red Lobster had […]
Sales figures are rising, and consumers are just “lovin’ it”. Everything runs smoothly until events occur over which you have no control. First there was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. And then came October 7, 2023, when the radical group Hamas sparked a brutal conflict between Israel and Palestine. Like many global consumer […]
For the longest time, the future seemed bright for Fisker, the US-Danish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer. A series of models of all types and sizes were developed, production started, and big visions for global sales were announced. It appeared that Tesla would finally get a serious competitor. Internal projections showed that one million Fisker vehicles […]