Chief of Universal Finds Success at the Back of the Pack

Though profitable for the last nine years, Universal has been noticeably short on blockbusters to call its own. And that is largely by design

New York Times, July 16, 2007 — The hilltop theme park outside the 14th floor office of Ron Meyer, president of the Universal Studios Group, anchored by past glories like its “Jurassic Park” and “Backdraft” rides, could stand a makeover.

New Borders Wants to Load Your iPod†

George Jones Also Plans to Reopen Branded Web Site And Redesign Bookstores to Stress Digital Offerings

Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2007 — George Jones, chief executive of Borders Group Inc., is remaking the nation's second-largest book retailer as fast as he can. Since taking over a year ago, he has vowed to close nearly half the company's Waldenbooks outlets, sell or franchise nearly all of the stores Borders owns overseas, reopen Borders' branded e-commerce Web site and revamp the chain's computer system.

Mr. Jones, 56 years old, says even more changes are ahead as Borders tries to keep pace with Barnes & Noble Inc., Amazon.com and the big-box discounters

Justifying $5 Smoothies: It’s the Juice

New York Times, July 14, 2007 — It is summertime, and the lines are usually long at Jamba Juice, a retailer of blended-to-order fruit smoothies. The company’s California-based parent, Jamba Inc., is growing quickly, especially after it fortified its capital structure through its merger with the Services Acquisition Corporation late last year.

Changing the Course of JetBlue†

New CEO Dave Barger Reviews Discount Carrier's Strategy, Seeks Calmer Approach to Growth

Wall Street Journal, June 21, 2007 — For nine years at JetBlue Airways Corp., Dave Barger played the quiet No. 2 executive to David Neeleman, the discount carrier's passionate, high-profile founder and chief executive. Now, the reserved Mr. Barger is manning the controls when the airline most needs a steady hand.

Apple Seeks a Deal to Make Movies Available for Rent Via iTunes Service†

Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2007 — Apple Inc. is in talks with the Hollywood studios to make new movies available for rental for its iTunes service, according to two studio executives familiar with the matter.

The new Facebook is on a roll

The social network's new strategy has already led to surprising innovation - and another million or so users

FORTUNE, June 1, 2007 — It's been an eventful week since Facebook launched a new strategy to turn itself into a platform for applications created by outsiders. The social network has gained another million users and is now up to 25 million. And now that the company has created a new green field for developers, innovation is exploding.

Does Coke Need a Refill?

Coke Struggles to Keep Up With Nimble Rivals

New York Times, May 27, 2007 — As its rivals have diversified and taken risks, the Coca-Cola Company has struggled to reinvent itself.

Wal-Mart's Midlife Crisis

Declining growth, increasing competition, and not an easy fix in sight

BusinessWeek, April 30, 2007 — John E. Fleming, Wal-Mart's newly appointed chief merchandising officer, is staring hard at a display of $14 women's T-shirts in a Supercenter a few miles from the retailer's Bentonville (Ark.) headquarters. The bright-hued stretch T's carry Wal-Mart's own George label and are of a quality and stylishness not commonly associated with America's über-discounter. What vexes Fleming is that numerous sizes are out of stock in about half of the 12 colors, including frozen kiwi and black soot.

Wal-Mart's Midlife Crisis

Declining growth, increasing competition, and not an easy fix in sight

BusinessWeek, April 30, 2007 — John E. Fleming, Wal-Mart's newly appointed chief merchandising officer, is staring hard at a display of $14 women's T-shirts in a Supercenter a few miles from the retailer's Bentonville (Ark.) headquarters. The bright-hued stretch T's carry Wal-Mart's own George label and are of a quality and stylishness not commonly associated with America's über-discounter. What vexes Fleming is that numerous sizes are out of stock in about half of the 12 colors, including frozen kiwi and black soot.

The New Alchemy At Sears

It has quietly created $1.8 billion in securities based on Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard

BusinessWeek, April 16, 2007 — Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD ) Chairman Edward S. Lampert talks lovingly of his plans to reinvent Sears and Kmart Corp. (SHLD ) He makes great theater out of his surprise visits to stores to check out the displays of power tools and the length of the checkout lines. The stock analysts who cover the Hoffman Estates (Ill.) giant follow his lead in counting foot traffic and poring over profit margin data.