Winning Moves Blog

The potential weaknesses of survey research methodology were blatantly highlighted when the polls did not correctly identify the winner of the presidential election. And, my last newsletter discusses what businesses can learn from the failure of the polls. My newsletter pointed out that the key lesson for business is not to Continue reading “Recent Indication that Polls Still Have Value” »

Disruption and innovation have been in the limelight. But, other routes can lead to business success as well, even for start-up entrepreneurs.

This was well said in “The Dangerous Stories We Tell About Entrepreneurs”, a November 21, 2016 Wall Street Journal article by Morra Aarons-Mele about how the myths of entrepreneurship can have a harmful Continue reading “Going Beyond Disruption and Innovation” »

As a regular reader of the Wall Street Journal’s business news, I couldn’t help but notice when the highlighted point “Too much information and too little thought” appeared in an article on the op-ed page. The article was about politics. But, that highlighted statement also applies widely to business. And, it ties in well with what this blog covers.

The article is Continue reading “Businesses Need More Thinking” »

As I said in my previous blog post, Estee Lauder’s efforts to nourish its relationships with its department store middlemen builds upon its strengths. But, Estee Lauder also pursues new retail opportunities beyond its traditional distribution in department stores. And, these new opportunities, for example offering the Estee Lauder brands in non-department store outlets such as the Ulta Beauty Products chain, seem to Continue reading “Estee Lauder Builds on Strengths and Pursues New Opportunities” »

With many retailers struggling, some of their suppliers signaled an intent to sell directly to consumers, like internet marketers do. This cuts out retailer middlemen.

For example, Procter and Gamble is trying direct-to-consumer selling, according to a July Wall Street Journal article which I commented on in my most recent newsletter about P&G’s interest in cutting middlemen. As I discussed in that newsletter, companies like Procter and Gamble have valuable strengths in their relationships with retailers. And, building on strengths—not throwing them away—is generally what succeeds.

That’s why it’s encouraging Continue reading “Treating Middlemen as a Valuable Resource” »