1. Hallmark's Products and Strategy Instructions Visit the Web site of Hallmark, the manufacturer and marketer of greeting cards and related products. Explore Hallmark's history and timeline, then answer the following questions: Go to Hallmark http://www.halmark.com. Document introduction of Hallmark's products and/or product lines (product name/type and date introduced). Classify each product of Hallmark's product line as convenience, shopping, or specialty. Justify your response on the basis of consumers' buying behavior and intentions. Consider how Hallmark's products can be marketed to industrial buyers. Provide examples of products and how they are used directly or indirectly in the operations of business.
2. Can Customers Name Their Price? Instructions Many products are available through online auctions. For example, computer hardware can be purchased in online auctions at the following Web sites: uBid.com http://www.ubid.com Micro Warehouse http://www.webauction.com/
Visit each of these sites to learn more about the products and bidding process. Then answer the following questions: What are the basic benefits and costs to consumers of online auctions? Compare and contrast the models applied by each of the Internet auction companies. How does the introduction of online auctions affect pricing strategy by sellers of computer hardware? What pricing objective is being used by businesses that make their products available through these online auctions? Visit the National Consumers League's Internet Fraud Watch http://www.fraud.org/ifw.htm to learn more about Web auctions.
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education