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Hot
Topics – 2006
MEDIA ALERT - November 17, 2006
For retail, business and economic
reporters/editors
Contact:
Carrie Taschner, Office: 301-405-5833;
Cell: 301-613-6536
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
RETAIL EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT ON
“BLACK FRIDAY” TRENDS
Experts from the University of Maryland’s
Robert H. Smith School of Business are available
for comment on Black Friday trends, including
how the Internet has affected the traditional
biggest shopping day of the year, and the
impact of spoiler sites showing retailers’
advertisements on the Web.
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What
the experts are saying:
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Though holiday shopping begins
as early as Halloween, Black
Friday is not dead. |
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“Though no longer the start
of the holiday shopping season,
Black Friday is still effective
because of the buzz, the sense
of excitement, being part of
the shopping experience and
nostalgia. Some small portion
of consumers may finish shopping
prior to that, but there are
many segments who still need
to shop.” |
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- Dr. Amna Kirmani is
a professor of marketing at
the Robert H. Smith School of
Business. She is an expert on
branding, retailing and consumer
marketing. Phone: 301-405-2202;
e-mail:
akirmani@rhsmith.umd.edu
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Spoiler Web sites just add
to the buzz. |
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“Spoiler sites listing Black
Friday ads from retailers are
providing information in advance
to the ‘cherry-pickers’ and
‘deal-seekers.’ Such information
generally adds to the buzz and
increases traffic rather than
negatively impacting Black Friday
sales.” |
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- Dr. P.K. Kannan, Safeway
Fellow and Harvey Sanders Associate
Professor of Marketing at the
Robert H. Smith School of Business,
is an expert in marketing, retailing
and branding. Office phone:
301-405-2188, mobile phone:
301-452-1949, e-mail:
pkannan@rhsmith.umd.edu
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“Black Monday” may ultimately
eclipse Black Friday.
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“Many consumers now inspect
and compare products during
the Thanksgiving weekend, but
place purchases online on the
following Monday when they return
to work. Dubbed ‘Black Monday,’
this day generates the highest
single-day Internet sales annually.
As Internet sales continue to
grow at double-digit pace, Black
Monday may take on the same
importance as Black Friday in
the future. And the good thing
is, shoppers will not have to
camp out overnight in the cold
to get special Black Monday
deals on the Internet.” |
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- Dr. Jie Zhang is an
assistant professor of marketing
at the Robert H. Smith School
of Business. She is an expert
on retailing, e-commerce and
promotion strategies. E-mail:
jiejie@rhsmith.umd.edu;
office phone: 301-405-7899;
mobile phone: 301-768-0250 |
To arrange an interview
please contact:
Carrie Taschner, Public Relations
Associate
Robert H. Smith School of Business
Phone: 301-405-5833
MEDIA ALERT - November 15, 2006
For national news, business and airlines
reporters/editors
Contact:
Carrie Taschner, Office: 301-405-5833;
Cell: 301-613-6536
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
EXPERT AVAILABLE TO COMMENT ON US AIR’S
BID FOR DELTA AIRLINES
Professor Michael Ball from the University
of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of
Business is available for comment on the
impact a merger between US Airways and Delta
Airlines could have on the airlines industry.
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What
the experts are saying:
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The industry will be healthier
with fewer airlines. |
 “Given
that all the major airlines
have, or are trying to get,
a nationwide presence, we have
too many for them all to remain
competitive. The industry would
be much healthier with fewer
airlines. There probably will
be a few cases where the reduction
in competition from a US Airway-Delta
merger would lead to higher
prices, but these will be relatively
minor. Because of the reduction
in congestion and improved industry
stability, the overall impact
to the flying public will be
very positive.” |
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Michael Ball, Orkand
Corporation Professor of Management
Science in the department of
Decision and Information Technologies,
is an expert in the airlines,
aerospace and aviation industries.
Ball’s recent research focuses
on the possibilities of using
auctions to allocate national
airspace resources and thereby
control congestion. He is currently
leading a large project funded
by the FAA and the U.S. Department
of Transportation to explore
the use of market mechanisms
for slot allocation.
Office phone:
301-405-2227 |
MEDIA ALERT - October 12, 2006
For retail, business and economic
reporters/editors
Contact:
Carrie Taschner, 301-405-5833
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
BUSINESS SCHOOL EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
ON HOLIDAY SHOPPING, RETAIL OUTLOOK
Experts from the University
of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of
Business are available for comment on the
upcoming holiday shopping season. Topics
for discussion include:
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Impact
of a longer holiday shopping season
that starts with Halloween (P.K. Kannan)
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A blockbuster
outlook for Internet retail (Jie Zhang)
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Consumer
electronics are this season’s hot items
(Jie Zhang)
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Strong
retail outlook for the 2006 holiday
season (Jie Zhang)
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What
the experts are saying:
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Holiday retail season starts
will Halloween, which retailers
have been pushing with advertising
and merchandising. |
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“Halloween is increasingly
seen as the official start of
the holiday season and mood
— and retailers have been trying
to get consumers in the mood,
stretching out the holiday sales
earlier rather than waiting
for the sales to occur between
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We have what is known as a ‘Christmas
Creep.’” |
-
P.K. Kannan, Safeway
Fellow and Harvey Sanders Associate
Professor of Marketing at the
Robert H. Smith School of Business,
and an expert in marketing,
retailing and branding.
Office phone: 301-405-2188;
Mobile phone: 301-452-1949
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Internet retail will see
a big boost this year, a trend
that continues from last season.
“Click-and-mortar” retailers
will see the majority of sales. |
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“It will be another spectacular
season for Internet retailing.
While I think holiday sales
in brick-and-mortar stores will
perform moderately well this
year, the growth of Internet
sales should be in the range
of 20 percent to 30 percent
over last holiday season, which
was already 25 percent higher
than the year before. More people
will shop online and spend more
online for the convenience.
This does not mean bad news
for ‘traditional’ retailers
though. The majority of online
sales is generated by the so-called
click-and-mortar retailers nowadays
— retailers who have both online
and offline operations.” |
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Jie Zhang is an assistant
professor of marketing at the
Robert H. Smith School of Business.
She is an expert on retailing,
e-commerce and promotion strategies.
Office phone:
301-405-7899; Mobile phone:
301-768-0250
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Consumer electronics will
be big items this holiday season,
following a strong season last
year |
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“A few products will sell
especially well: flat panel
TVs, iPod and its companion
products, and Sony’s PlayStation3,
which is scheduled to hit the
market this holiday season.
Prices of flat-panel TVs have
been dropping continuously and
many models are now in the $1,000-$2,000
range, making them affordable
to more households. In the case
of iPod, PlayStation3, etc.,
product innovation is the key
and consumers are excited about
the new products and models
that are coming out for the
holiday season. On the fashion
side, jewelry and ‘look-good
feel-good’ products like fashion
accessories and high-end personal
care products will likely to
sell very well.” |
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Jie Zhang is an assistant
professor of marketing at the
Robert H. Smith School of Business.
She is an expert on retailing,
e-commerce and promotion strategies.
Office phone:
301-405-7899; Mobile phone:
301-768-0250
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To arrange an interview
please contact:
Carrie Taschner, Public Relations
Associate
Robert H. Smith School of Business
Phone: 301-405-5833
MEDIA
ALERT -August 11, 2006
For national news, business and airlines
reporters/editors
Contact:
Carrie Taschner, Public Relations
Associate
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT ON TERRORIST
AIRLINE PLOT
Experts from the University of Maryland’s
Robert H. Smith School of Business are available
for comment on the impact of the thwarted
London terrorist plot to blow up U.S.-bound
airplanes.
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What
the experts are saying:
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| Travelers
at the margin may choose other
modes of transportation. |
| “This event
won’t have as big an impact
on the airline industry as the
2001 impact after September
11 — which was a whole lot of
shock and panic — because the
attack was unsuccessful this
time. The real impact this time
is the inconvenience — the amount
of time it takes people to go
through the airport. People
are understanding about the
increased security, but that
doesn’t mean they’ll continue
to fly. If you have someone
at the margin who could, for
instance, take the train from
Washington to New York rather
than fly, they’ll probably do
that.” |
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Roland Rust, David Bruce
Smith Chair in Marketing at
the Robert H. Smith School of
Business, is a renowned expert
in service, the service economy,
and service businesses.
Office phone: 301-405-4300;
Alternate phone: 301-365-1243 |
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| While disruptive
to the airline/travel industry,
the uncovered terrorist plot
will have minimal impact on
the global economy. |
| “The foiled
terrorist attack will have medium-term,
significant effects on travel
and tourism, but minimal effects
on the global economy. The fact
is we can put up with a lot
of inconveniences to accomplish
essential business travel, and
we have technologies to reduce
needed travel and still keep
the global economy going.” |
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Peter Morici, business
professor at the Robert H. Smith
School of Business and
economist, is a recognized expert
on international economic policy,
the World Trade Organization,
and international commercial
agreements.
Cell phone: 703-618-4338 |
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| Airlines
can take steps to provide extra
security and ease travelers’
anxieties and concerns. |
| “When information
is clearly disseminated and
expectations are set up, the
more likely it is that passengers
will be understanding. In case
of unforseen delays, the airlines
should make sure all passengers
are informed and take care of
their critical needs, such as
food and accommodations for
overnight delays.” |
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Joydeep Srivastava,
associate professor of marketing
at the Robert H. Smith School
of Business, is an expert in
managerial and consumer decision
making, bargaining and auctions,
marketing distribution channels,
pricing and behavioral economics.
Office phone: 301-405-9665 |
To arrange an interview
please contact:
Carrie Taschner, Public Relations
Associate
Robert H. Smith School of Business
Phone: 301-405-5833
MEDIA
ALERT - July 25, 2006
For technology reporters/editors
CYBERSECURITY EXPERT AVAILABLE FOR
COMMENT ON CSI/FBI SURVEY
 Dr.
Lawrence A. Gordon, Ernst & Young Alumni
Professor of Managerial Accounting and Information
Assurance at the University of Maryland’s
Robert H. Smith School of Business, and
co-author of the CSI/FBI Computer Crime
and Security Survey is available to speak
to the media about results and key cybersecurity
trends. Gordon can address:
- Economic aspects of cybersecurity
- The real cost of computer security
breaches
- The bottom-line consequences when
companies resist reporting computer
crimes
- Why and how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
is having a substantial impact on information
security
- Why security outsourcing is not
viewed as a viable option for U.S. companies
- Implications of the prevailing view
that cybersecurity is not being adequately
addressed
“Cybersecurity is concerned with the
protection of information that is transmitted
via the Internet, or any other computer
network,” Gordon said. “In today’s world
of interconnected computer networks, effective
cybersecurity is critical to the economic
survival of organizations. The infrastructure
assets of entire countries are dependent
on effective cybersecurity.”
Gordon is a world-renowned expert in
the field of economics and cybersecurity
and the co-author (with Dr. Martin Loeb,
also of the Smith School) of the widely
acclaimed book “Managing Cyber Security
Resources: A Cost-Benefit Analysis,” (published
by McGraw-Hill in 2006). He also served
on the U.S. National Infrastructure Advisory
Council (NIAC)’s Study Group on “Risk Management
Approaches to Protection.” The NIAC was
established by executive order to provide
President Bush with advice on the security
of information systems for critical infrastructure
supporting banking and finance, transportation,
energy, manufacturing and emergency government
services.
►More
information about Gordon’s research on computer
and cybersecurity
►Contact Gordon
at (301) 405-2255 or
lgordon@rhsmith.umd.edu
►Download
the 2006 CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security
Survey
To arrange an interview
please contact:
Carrie Taschner, Public Relations
Associate
Robert H. Smith School of Business
Phone: 301-405-5833
MEDIA ALERT
-- April 12, 2006
For national news, business and economic
reporters/editors
IMMIGRATION: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
BUSINESS SCHOOL EXPERTS AVAILABLE
Experts from the University of Maryland’s
Robert H. Smith School of Business are available
for comment on the impact of illegal and
legal immigration on business management,
the economy and the workplace following
mass immigration demonstrations.
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What
the experts are saying:
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| Immigration
issues are “hot button” sources
of conflict in the workplace
that must be managed effectively.
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| “Any time
you have groups of individuals
who see themselves as different
from (rather than similar to)
one another, you have a greater
potential for conflict. When
the resources valued by the
groups are scarce -- such as
jobs, wages or chances for promotion
-- the potential for conflict
is high. When there is question
regarding a group's ‘right’
to be there, hence to have access
to these scarce resources, the
situation is also ripe for conflict.
The issue of immigration touches
on all of these areas and creates
opportunities for employee polarization
and dissent.” |
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-Debra
L. Shapiro, Clarice
Smith Professor of Management
and Organization at the Robert
H. Smith School of Business,
and an expert on managing change,
conflict and resistance, and
team issues in the workplace.
Mobile phone: 240-498-5553.
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| A lack of
immigrant workers will negatively
impact the service sector and
economy |
| “Service
by immigrant workers is the
reverse of outsourcing in the
sense that, for low-value-added
service jobs that cannot be
outsourced, immigrant workers
are brought into the United
States for cost containment.
Not having this service can
lead to spiraling costs in almost
all industries and have a negative
impact on the economy.” |
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P.K. Kannan, Safeway
Fellow and Harvey Sanders Associate
Professor of Marketing at the
Robert H. Smith School of Business,
and an expert in marketing,
retailing and branding.
Office phone: 301-405-2188;
Mobile phone: 301-452-1949.
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| As the fastest
growing segment of the population,
immigrants have profound impact
on the U.S. economy and society |
| “Immigration
is profoundly affecting U.S.
society and our economy, in
ways unparalleled since the
massive European migration before
World War I. Many say we can't
live with it and many others
say we can't live without it.
With more than 10 million illegal
immigrants in the country, both
sides appear correct. Now how
do we find our way out of political
gridlock into a manageable immigration
policy?” |
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Peter Morici, business
professor at the Robert H. Smith
School of Business and economist
and a recognized expert on international
economic policy, the World Trade
Organization, and international
commercial agreements.
Mobile phone: 703-618-4338;
Home phone: 703-549-4338. |
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Dr. Morici is available to address
topics related to:
• The costs and benefits
of illegal immigration to the
United States
• The impact of immigration
on wages and jobs
• How immigration reform
might impact the economy
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To arrange an interview
please contact:
Carrie Taschner, Public Relations
Associate
Robert H. Smith School of Business
Phone: 301-405-5833
Marketers Take Note of Baby Boomers
 Are
marketers taking Baby Boomers seriously?
There's growing evidence that they are.
For example, the first ever "Baby Boomers
Show" highlighting the products and services
important to this generation will be held
in New York City next spring. Financial
services are expanding, ski slopes toned
down for older knees, and there's a growing
realization by advertisers that this is
a group well worth paying attention to.
"The reality of the marketing opportunity
presented by the aging of the Baby Boomers
is beginning to be recognized by the advertising
industry, at least. I'm beginning to see
more ads targeted at Baby Boomers," says
Associate Professor of Business Janet
Wagner at Maryland's Robert H. Smith
School of Business. Wagner's research focuses
on services marketing, with a special emphasis
on how market loyalty is built and developed.
Recently, Newsdesk had a chance to ask her
about the Baby Boom Generation, and how
it will impact the U.S. economy.
►
A Conversation With . . . .Associate Professor
Janet Wagner
MEDIA ALERT -
February 23, 2006
PORTS DEAL: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXPERTS
AVAILABLE
Experts from the University
of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of
Business are available for comment on the
implications of the purchase that allows
Dubai Ports World in the United Arab Emirates
to take over operations at six major American
ports. Topics for discussion include:
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Insight
into how the purchase impacts terminal
operations and nuts and bolts of port
logistics/operations (Hugh Turner)
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The
political and economic policy issues
associated with foreign ownership (Peter
Morici)
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What
the experts are saying:
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"I think
one misconception is that the
UAE firm will 'control the port.’
The firm will manage one terminal
within the port. There are many
terminals."
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-Hugh Turner,
Tyser Teacher Fellow. Dr. Turner
is an expert in seaport policy
and economics
with emphasis on cost structures, port productivity, and infrastructure investment.
Email:
hturner@umd.edu
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"Denying
this purchase flies in the face
of the free trade and open investment
policies championed by every
president since Roosevelt. However,
national security considerations
and the shifting balance of
economic power in the global
economy require a radical rethinking
of how broadly these policies
are applied and when exceptions
are wiser than compliance."
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-Peter Morici,
business professor and a recognized
expert on international economic
policy,
the World Trade Organization, and international commercial agreements.
Mobile phone: 703-618-4338.
Email:
pmorici@rhsmith.umd.edu
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To arrange an interview
please contact:
Angela Toda, PR Manager
Robert H. Smith School of Business
Phone: 301-405-8062, Email:
atoda@rhsmith.umd.edu
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