Brand management 

Workshop exercise #1

Crocs, not the sort that Steve Irwin used to cuddle, the plasticy things lots of people put on their feet are coming in for celebrity and, apparently, a lot of other stick.  So much so that the IPKittens are developing a conspiracy theory (scroll down).

What would you do?

Workshop exercise #2

By now, you've probably caught up on the next round of tech-gadget envy: the iPod touch (which some people describe as the iPhone without the phone, but still wireless).  (Unlike that other object of lust, apparently you will be able to get it here 28 Septemberish.)

Problem A: look at the price, a fair bit cheaper than the version with the phone included (which you can't get here).  Solution: drop the cheap version altogether and drop the US$599 asking price by a massive US$200.

Problem B: in the last 9 weeks lots of American voters have been shelling out for the full whack.  (As we used to say down here,) Not Happy Jan!  For example.

New solution: we acknowledge your pain and, tell you what, we'll give you a US$100 gift voucher to spend in our shop!

Now, the acolytes are much happier.

On the economics.