by jim muehlhausen | Feb 12, 2010 | Uncategorized
Winning business models of the future will use membership models such as: home repair clubs, weight loss clubs, computer repair clubs and hundreds of other recurring revenue models to make their sales more predictable and profitable. Of course, to create a...
by jim muehlhausen | Feb 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
Technology has allowed businesses to automate processes to such a large extent that under-educated and under-skilled employees have little value other than hand-tasks that machines cannot do. Fifteen years ago, I highly skilled customer service representative...
by jim muehlhausen | Feb 5, 2010 | Business Model Secrets, Business Model Tips, freakonomics
The other day I saw Steven Levitt, the author of the best-selling book Freakonomics speak at DePauw University. Aside from the fascinating stories, one thing struck me: How does a University of Chicago Economics professor end up studying Chicago drug rings and Sumo...
by jim muehlhausen | Feb 5, 2010 | blockbuster, Failure Stories, Public Companies
Fifteen years ago, Blockbuster controlled nearly 80% of the video rental market and practically printed money. What happened? Wal-Mart did not event discounting, Woolworth’s did in the 1800’s. However, Woolworth’s got out-Woolworthed by Kmart and now Kmart has been...
by jim muehlhausen | Feb 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
A regional alarm company had profitably grown for five years. But now they were hitting a plateau. Sales were growing by less than 5%. Profits had plateaued as well. There was nothing wrong with the business model other than it would not allow the company to...
