Tag Archives: target markets

IKEA’s new TV – streamlining homes and entertainment

The latest design from global furniture company IKEA is a new product that includes TV, sound, and furniture – all in a single unit. This is IKEA’s first foray into the home electronics market, and they have done it with their typical Swedish style. The new unit integrates RCA’s HDTV into a fully customizable piece of furniture that can be tailored and expanded to fit multiple décor and sizes. The unit is classic IKEA; designed to fit into small spaces and hide the ugly cables so prominent in today’s home entertainment systems. The company commissioned a five-country market research product to help it develop the product.

The TV unit – named Uppleva – comes with a five-year warranty and integrates Blu-ray technology, video, Web inputs, wireless speakers, music, and a single remote into a comprehensive entertainment system. The unit will be available first in European markets this summer, followed by a broader launch later in the year. The base price of the unit is expected to be $955 (U.S.). The unit carries IKEA’s clean design and easy assembly features, maintaining the company’s brand value of delivering quality furniture at affordable prices.

 

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Ask students to describe their current TV and entertainment system: type, remotes, furniture, cables, and different devices for TV, radio, music, movies.
  2. What are the problems with their current systems? What could be better?
  3. Show the IKEA Uppleva video: http://youtu.be/0Nm7-EuctOs
  4. How does this TV change IKEA’s business model?
  5. How does this complete with other HDTV products?
  6. What is the target market for this product?
  7. Is this market the same in the U.S. as well as Europe?
  8. Have students view the IKEA’s Web site: www.ikea.com.
  9. How does this product reflect IKEA’s brand? Is the company brand consistent throughout the 400 countries in which it operates?
  10. And because everyone likes to make fun of (not so easy) assembly systems, end class with this video from  Conan O’Brien’s  show: http://youtu.be/89taazMC6FE

 

 

Source: Brandchannel.com, 4/23/12

 

 

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IKEA’s new TV – streamlining homes and entertainment

 

The latest design from global furniture company IKEA is a new product that includes TV, sound, and furniture – all in a single unit. This is IKEA’s first foray into the home electronics market, and they have done it with their typical Swedish style. The new unit integrates RCA’s HDTV into a fully customizable piece of furniture that can be tailored and expanded to fit multiple décor and sizes. The unit is classic IKEA; designed to fit into small spaces and hide the ugly cables so prominent in today’s home entertainment systems. The company commissioned a five-country market research product to help it develop the product.

The TV unit – named Uppleva – comes with a five-year warranty and integrates Blu-ray technology, video, Web inputs, wireless speakers, music, and a single remote into a comprehensive entertainment system. The unit will be available first in European markets this summer, followed by a broader launch later in the year. The base price of the unit is expected to be $955 (U.S.). The unit carries IKEA’s clean design and easy assembly features, maintaining the company’s brand value of delivering quality furniture at affordable prices.

Group Activities and Discussion Questions: 

  1. Ask students to describe their current TV and entertainment system: type, remotes, furniture, cables, and different devices for TV, radio, music, movies.
  2. What are the problems with their current systems? What could be better?
  3. Show the IKEA Uppleva video: http://youtu.be/0Nm7-EuctOs
  4. How does this TV change IKEA’s business model?
  5. How does this complete with other HDTV products?
  6. What is the target market for this product?
  7. Is this market the same in the U.S. as well as Europe?
  8. Have students view the IKEA’s Web site: www.ikea.com.
  9. How does this product reflect IKEA’s brand? Is the company brand consistent throughout the 400 countries in which it operates?
  10. And because everyone likes to make fun of (not so easy) assembly systems, end class with this video from  Conan O’Brien’s  show: http://youtu.be/89taazMC6FE

Source: Brandchannel.com, 4/23/12

 

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The New Vending Machine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The humble vending machine might not need to be as humble any more. Although the traditional vending machine has had declining locations and sales over the past decade, it is far from dead. New businesses using the vending machine – such as Red Box – have been popping up all over. Machines are betting set up with new, touch-screen and high tech features, and loaded with products ranging from soft drinks, electronics, movies, and live bait.

There are even vending machines that dispense prescription medicine. InstyMeds Corp., based in Minnesota, places machines in health clinics and links them to a doctors’ computer system. To dispense the prescription, the system validates the patient’s identity and prescription using unique codes.

Live bait, soft drinks, medicine – new technologies are giving a new life to an old distribution method.

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. View the video link for WSJ:
    1. http://online.wsj.com/video/the-vending-machine-evolves/107B03C4-E83F-450D-B8CB-378D7006F84F.html
    2. What are key points from the video about new products and start-ups?
    3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of vending machines for distribution and marketing?
    4. Poll students:
      1. What vending machines have you observed lately?
      2. What have you bought from a vending machine? Where? Why?
      3. Have students do a Google search for different types and uses of vending machines.
        1. Markets
        2. Products
        3. Locations
        4. Prices
        5. What products could be effectively marketed in a vending machine?
          1. Product groups?
          2. Target markets?
          3. Locations?
          4. Have students view Red Box’s Web site.
            1. http://www.redbox.com/
            2. Discuss how the site is used and its effectiveness level.
            3. How can other companies use this strategy?
            4. Have students view InstyMeds Web site.
              1. http://www.instymeds.com/
              2. What need is this solving?
              3. Video: http://www.instymeds.com/index.php?page=videos

 

Source:  Wall Street Journal, 3/22/12

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