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Thanks for the fascinating post! I had no idea that theme parks were rolling out this type of technology, and I could see how it would make the customer experience so much more seamless. I can only imagine the time saved in line, and the convenience of never having to dig in your pocket to get your hotel key or pay for a ride. Intuitively, it makes sense that this could help grow revenues, as people would be more likely to pay for things simply due to convenience as well as the fact that paying from a wristband doesn’t feel as mentally taxing as pulling cash out of your wallet. And, because of better flow of logistics, they can help people reach more rides in less time.

Thanks for the interesting read! As someone who loves to try different types of wine, I think the system Bright Cellars uses is fun and engaging. In addition, it is educational – I would at least come away with some knowledge of how to describe my wine. This helps to facilitate my understanding of what it means to taste certain notes, until I can “graduate” into making my own selections. What competitive edge do you think Bright Cellars has over other entrants in the space? Tasting Room and other companies do something similar – I wonder how Bright Cellars will stay ahead?

This was a fascinating article. It’s interesting to hear your perspective on the two areas in which FitBit might reinvigorate its languishing business model, especially as its stock price has tanked since its IPO and short interest is at 42% (as of October 2016). Do you think the wearable tech sector is going to grow for good, or was a passing fad? A lot of people seem to wear the tracker for a few months and then quit, increasing customer churn. I really like your idea of using fitbit for an interconnected home, and would love to hear more details about what progress they’re making on this front, if any.

Thanks for the interesting article! I agree with John Smith that it is odd these RFID tags still gather data after a customer has left the store. I imagine most people (myself included) are not aware of this and it therefore does not affect their interaction with the store/brand. I do see how this is very useful for tracking inventory movement and prevents items from getting lost or stolen. I think the idea that Levi could “push” notifications about coupons or in-stock sizes to nearby consumers, but I also wonder if this is at odds with the discomfort cited above that consumers may feel when they are being constantly tracked. Is there a way to reconcile the benefit with the drawback?

Great article, Ross! The Netflix story is fascinating. What do you think are the biggest obstacles they will face while trying to take up less bandwidth and continue to generate attractive content? How significant of a threat do you really think Amazon Prime Video is to the Netflix model? I read recently that Netflix had expanded into 130 international markets but growth there has been slower than expected – perhaps due to the fact that broadband Internet access is not as widespread in many developing countries. Has this trend in their performance reversed at all?

This was a fascinating read. I am appalled to hear that cruise lines have exploited the negative impact of climate change on Venice for near-term gains without consideration for long-term consequences. I agree that limiting the travel options or restricting the number of ships makes sense as a viable way to constrict supply, charge higher prices, and fund necessary preventative measures. Or, the government could also levy a tax on all cruise operators. I think it’s fantastic that MOSE is in place and will protect Venice from floods to a degree, but the further regulatory interventions you suggest make a great deal of sense.

Interesting post! The idea that competitors such as VF corp are experimenting with plants that require less water reminds me of Indigo Agriculture and the push for science to keep up pace against environmental damage. I’m impressed to learn that the company’s sustainability practices have helped them save $23 million in energy and water costs. This is a great example of the beneficial linkage between sustainable practices and turning a better profit – whereas we usually think of sustainability as a cost-creator rather than a cost-saver. I am glad Hanes is leading through example, but I wonder how much more they could do with their size, scale, and influence in the sector, to rally other competitors together toward a common cause.

This was a fascinating article. I am impressed by the investment Toyota has made into “green” technology and the Mirai sounds like a very practical solution to the problem. I wonder about the two things you mention being in the way of mass adoption – the high price tag, and the lack of fueling stations. With regards to the second, what is the infrastructure investment needed to make this a more practical purchase for consumers? What role should the government play in driving this new infrastructure? It would seem that this is the future of automobiles, but only if there’s enough momentum and scale to back it.

This was a fascinating read – thank you for the article. I was particularly surprised by the statistic that in just 16 years, the lobster catch south of Cape Cod fell from 22 million to 3.3 million, and that lobsters may be extinct by 2100. I am impressed that Luke’s Lobster is vertically integrated and using sustainable practices, but could they be doing even more? Are they lobbying for regulations that may limit the warming of oceans? I am also surprised by the general lack of awareness from any of their promotional materials, for a cause that is so central to their business.

This was a fascinating read – thank you for the article. I was particularly surprised by the statistic that in just 16 years, the lobster catch south of Cape Cod fell from 22 million to 3.3 million, and that lobsters may be extinct by 2100. I am impressed that Luke’s Lobster is vertically integrated and using sustainable practices, but could they be doing even more? Are they lobbying for regulations that may limit the warming of oceans? I am also surprised by the general lack of awareness from any of their promotional materials, for a cause that is so central to their business.

John,

Great article. I wonder what steps AB InBev or its competitors have taken to support research into seeds for barley, etc. that require less water. Is that part of the SmartBarley program? For example, the work that Indigo Agriculture is doing to help fight food scarcity might be applicable here. I also find it disappointing that the merger did not yield any savings for consumers, even though the companies must have realized ignificant synergies. It would be interesting to learn how the relative price inelasticity of consumers affects AB InBev’s approach to capital investments and climate change issues.

John,

Great article. I wonder what steps AB InBev or its competitors have taken to support research into seeds for barley, etc. that require less water. Is that part of the SmartBarley program? For example, the work that Indigo Agriculture is doing to help fight food scarcity might be applicable here. I also find it disappointing that the merger did not yield any savings for consumers, even though the companies must have realized ignificant synergies. It would be interesting to learn how the relative price inelasticity of consumers affects AB InBev’s approach to capital investments and climate change issues.