Blockbuster vs Netflix: Blockbuster, then dominant market leader in video rental service in the United States once valued at US$8.4 billion when it was acquired by Viacom in 1994, declared bankruptcy in September 23, 2010. In 2001, its 3-year old rival, Netflix, was offered to Blockbuster for only US$50 million. When the offer was ignored, Netflix decided to raise funds […]
Lynn Baxter rose from the ranks as a medical representative in the UK through local, regional and global positions leading different products and markets in various countries such as China and Belgium. She is currently the President of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the Philippines. GSK is a research-based, patient-focused global pharmaceutical firm. She shares her insights on the sales innovation process […]
6 Barriers to a Launch I started promoting the book launch of “The Rainmakers: Marketing and Strategy Lessons from 25 Top CEOs” 2 weeks before May 26, 2017. I really wanted to launch within May, my 25th anniversary month as an author. I wrote down 3 launch barriers I anticipated, but another 3 emerged as the launch date came nearer […]
Today is the birthday of my better half, Chiqui Escareal-Go who always makes me “want to be a better man”. I am sharing the speech she delivered during the 13th Commencement Exercises of Malayan Colleges Laguna, May 24, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila. What she shared here is really how she lives her life and how she […]
In a soon-to-be launched book I authored entitled ‘The Rainmakers’, I interviewed 25 Top Filipino CEOs such as Lance Gokongwei of Cebu Pacific Air, Victor Paterno of 7-Eleven, Injap Sia of Double Dragon and Joey Concepcion of RFM, among others, who shared their views on how their strategies addressed the opportunities or challenges of their industries at a particular time […]
When I am in major disagreement with another, I would ask a question ‘Under what circumstance would the other party be correct?’ and search for answers under the premise that maybe my ignorance and prejudices have influenced my limited point of view. President Duterte expressed his preference for China and Russia and claimed that the United States benefited more in […]
Samuel L. Po is the founder and President of JS Unitrade Merchandise Inc., a market leading consumer goods company with trusted brands such as EQ Baby Diapers, Charmee Feminine Protection, Caress Incontinence Care, Secure Adult Pull-Up Pants and Nursy Baby Wipes. Entrepreneurally-savvy and exposed to business since childhood in Iloilo City, he struck out on his own after school and […]
Last May 5-6, 2017, Rex Book Store organized a seminar allowing me to help a group of marketing professors from 5 schools improve their mastery on marketing strategy. In our session on assembling value proposition, I used Safeguard, the dominant brand of germicidal soap in the Philippines, as an example and asked users of Safeguard to comment about their usage […]
Euclid Cezar started Famous Belgian Waffles in 2012 and has some 450 stores in less than 5 years. Euclid shares his insights about how to start, market and grow a business. Q1: What made you start Famous Belgian Waffles? A: Back in 2010 to 2012 we saw the increasing popularity of beverage products like milk tea, buko shake, other fruit […]
I started a new section in my blog, ‘Conversation’ series where I interview on-the-street people regarding their work and personal thoughts. There are reflection questions at the end of each article for the readers to chew on for individual learning. For my first interview, I talked to an Uber driver-entrepreneur on my way to the airport in Boston last April […]