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U.S. automakers are now seeing an upsurge in demand for their vehicles.  But the big three cut production and now dealer inventory is running low.  This video describes the current situation and might work as a short video (1:30) to show when talking about channels, logistics, or even implementation and control (topics covered in chapter 19 in our Basic Marketing book).

The video could also fuel a little discussion of cross-functional business relationships.  I like to use the first few classes to show non-marketing majors why marketing is important to them.  I will probably show this in the first couple of weeks of class and ask:  1) Supply chain and operations majors — how does this show why marketing is important to you guys? (the links here are pretty straightforward) and  2) How about finance majors?  What can you learn?  (They might bring out that cutting production saved costs — but what is the cost of lost sales?).

Here is another in the Good Morning America series “Secrets of America’s Favorite Stores.”  This one features the Container Store — a company frequently lauded for its customer service and as a great place to work.  “Inside the Container Store: Secrets of America’s Favorite Stores” (5:11, Good Morning America, March 30, 2010).  The series offers some of the stores “secrets” which are mostly marketing strategy decisions.  Like the others in this series, there is a text version of the story and the video below. This one clearly fits into the retailing segment of class.  You could also use it with the Basic Marketing chapter on cross-functional issues to emphasize the importance of human resources in marketing strategy planning.

In Basic Marketing chapter 20 looks at cross-functional issues in marketing — “Marketing’s Link with Other Functional Areas.”  Note:  the cross-functional chapter is not in Essentials of Marketing.  This video looks at Mama’s Kitchen, a non-profit that functions as a business incubator in Los Angeles.  This might supplement a chapter 20 lecture with an interesting example of production.  If you like to talk about small businesses in your class, you might find the video useful, too.  Link to the video:  “Build a Business in ‘Mama’s’ Kitchen” (CNN Money, January 11, 2010).

Do you sometimes have trouble keeping those non-marketing majors awake in the intro class?  One of the challenges of the introductory marketing class is motivating non-marketing majors (typically 75% or more of the class).  While this class is even more important for them — it will likely be their only marketing class — they are usually not intrinsically motivated by marketing.  My friend Tom Boyd (Cal State Fullerton) told me that early in the semester he brings in non-marketing businesspeople as guest speakers.  I tried that this semester, and taught the cross-functional chapter in Basic Marketing (chapter 20) in the second week of class.  It worked and my non-marketing majors were more motivated all semester.  A blog post from Vivek Wadhwa on the TechCrunch blog describes why IT managers need selling skills – “It’s All About Selling for Survival.” While this post targets IT people, it really fits with anyone who will eventually be in management in any functional area.  I am going to assign this reading next time I teach the class.