Your Fired!

Hope everyone is enjoying a nice half term! While your taking a small break from the books why not tune in to the new series of Young Apprentice on November 1st at 8pm. The 12 candidates all aged between 16 and 17 will be battling out to win over Lord Sugar and the prize of £25,000 to get their business started.

Meet The Candidates

To Fly. To Serve

You may have seen these British Airways adverts on social media sites such as Facebook recently. Very interesting look at non-price competition for an oligopolistic market. Check out the advert by following the link below and see for yourself.

To Fly. To Serve

Mini iPad Not So Mini Price

After many rumours Apple yesterday announced the release of the iPad mini. However what is not so mini about this latest apple product is the price. The basic UK price will be £269 which is more than £100 more than rival tablets such as Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire HD. Apple defended the price tag by saying 'customers will pay for quality'. Do you agree?

Apple iPad Mini

Just Sponsor It

Reports are that Manchester United are lining up an extension of their kit deal with Nike which could be worth up to £1bn. This news comes in the same week as Nike offered golfer Rory McIlroy £156m over 10 years to have the swoosh on all his golf equipment and clothing. There seems to be no recession in sponsorship at the moment. 

Nike Sponsorship

Dear UCAS...

Struggling writing your personal statement? The Guardian has put together some top tips and advice on writing that personal statement that will catapult you on to your chosen course. Check out the link below.

How To Write A Personal Statement

January Exams 2013

Full details of dates and additional information for exams can now be found in the key dates section of the blog which is just over there on the left. Make sure to double check your own exam timetable for any clashes you may have and then start to think about planning ahead for your revision . Only around 76 days to go!

Key Dates

Enterprise @ St James' Park

A fantastic day out for Year 12 Business Studies students at St James' Park last Friday. All students really got involved in the enterprise based morning and created some excellent ideas. A quick reminder that team pitches will be on Thursday this week so there is still chance to put the finishing touches to your ideas!

Lottery Hits, 3000 Millionaires

The National Lottery has created 3,000 millionaires since it began in 1994 and most of them have kept the majority of their winnings in the UK, a new study says. They have bought 7,958 homes, 17,190 new cars and 300 caravans according to research. What would you spend the winnings on? 

Lottery Millionaires

Pandora to Sponsor Girls Aloud Tour

Pandora, the jewellery brand, has been named the official sponsor of the forthcoming Girls Aloud tour. As part of the brand partnership, each band member has designed their own Pandora charm bracelet, intended to reflect their personality, but you may need deep pockets to afford one. 

Pandora & Girls Aloud

The Price of Football

An absolutely fantastic article written by BBC Sport based on a survey of 166 football clubs in 10 divisions across British Football. The average cost of the cheapest ticket has risen by more than five times the rate of inflation but there have been little signs in falling attendances. Brilliant for AS students looking at elasticity & consumer surplus but also useful for A2 Work & Leisure.

Price of Football Survey

UK Inflation Lowest In Almost 3 Years

UK inflation has fallen to 2.2%, easing the pressure on cash-strapped consumers. Policymakers are hoping that the fall in inflation will encourage people to start spending again to help prop up the economy.

UK Inflation

How Much Tax?!?

Fantastic infographic on how much the biggest US companies in the UK pay in tax.

Tax Infographic

Advertisement Blizzard

Microsoft, Apple and Samsung are set to launch a Christmas advertising blitz. Analysts say digital giants' advertising spend will be on a scale not seen 'outside presidential elections'. Is this a classic example of non-price competition from an Oligopoly syle structure?

Advert Blizzard

 

 

Cost Price Kindles

Jeff Bezos admits Amazon only at best breaks-even on the latest Kindle hardware where as Apple make around 40% profit margin on their tablet devices. Very interesting strategy of making their money from when people use the devices not when they purchase them which has helped Amazon undercut their rivals. Will this lead to a price war?

Cost Price Kindles 

Faisal Islam on Economics

A very interesting selection of articles worth checking out by Channel 4's economics editor. Just follow the link & take a read. You can also follow Faisal on twitter @faisalislam

Faisal Islam On Economics

Crispello - It's Not For Guys

Cadburys are set to launch their first new chocolate bar since the 1990's & they have been doing their market research on this one. The Crispello is aimed squarely at a female demographic, and specifically at weight-conscious women.  A brilliant example of segmentation but have they found a gap in the market?

Cadburys Crispello

Wet Weather To Hit Food Prices

Food prices look set to rise after poor UK harvests due to recent wet weather. Can you explain what is happening with a supply and demand diagram?

Food Prices

Fresh Young Millionaire

Fresh Young Millionaire is a brand new business magazine for young people. It is packed full of interesting articles written by fresh young minds. We hope to soon have some copies available in school but you can also access the magazine online through the link.

Fresh Young Millionaire

UK Economy is Rebalancing

The UK is going through a "slow and difficult healing process" as it rebalances its economy, the prime minister has said.

UK Economy

Bring Back A Brand

The Grocer have recently launched a campaign to bring back a brand. So if you are interested in reviving an old favourite follow the link & vote.

Bring Back A Brand

iPhone 5 Supply Issues

Production of Apple's in-demand iPhone 5 may have been hit after thousands of Chinese factory workers went on strike. AS Economists can you draw the demand & supply story here?

iPhone5 Supply

Facebook Launches Ad Campaign

Facebook has created its first brand campaign to mark the milestone of reaching 1 billion monthly active users. Check it out by following the link below.

Facebook Advert

School's Brightest Business Brain 2012/13

Do you have the brain for business? Well here is your chance to find out. This is an excellent opportunity for any sixth form student studying Business or Economics to test your 'business brain' against students from across the country in this prestigious challenge set by Deloitte. There is a top prize of £1000 up for grabs so what are you waiting for?

School Brightest Brain

Business At The Bay Meets Tutor2u

A big thanks to Geoff Riley and the team at Tutor2u for giving our blog a mention on their excellent site & also through Twitter. 

Tutor2u

Oligopoly

Some extra help for A2 Economists with that tricky Oligopoly diagram

Oligopoly

JJB Sports In Administration

2,200 staff at JJB sports have been made redundant after the sports clothes retailer was placed into administration. The Wigan-based retailer was hurt by the economic downturn and struggled to compete with Sports Direct.

JJB Sports