Pricing Blog from the Professional Pricing Society

23rd Annual Spring Pricing Workshops & Conference

2012-01-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

SAVE THE DATE------MAKE PLANS TO ATTENDPPS 23rd Annual Spring Pricing Workshops & ConferenceJoin your peers for 4 days packed with the latest pricing trends!May 8-11, 2012 Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare Airport Hotel Chicago, Illinois

PPS Announces the Largest Pricing Event Ever Held in Europe: The 7th Annual PPS European and Global Pricing Conference and Workshops

2011-09-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

In response to increasing demand for pricing expertise worldwide, PPS creates an expanded program for its European & Global Pricing Conference in Barcelona 2011Marietta, GA (PRWEB) September 28, 2011 Marietta, GA (PRWEB) September 28, 2011 The Professional Pricing Society (PPS), the world's only professional society dedicated to pricing education and training, has announced the official

2011-09-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

CEO of Simon-Kucher & Partners to Speak at the Professional Pricing Society 22nd Annual Fall Pricing Conference Global Pricing Leader Dr. Georg Tacke Discusses “Inflation and Pricing” at World’s Largest Pricing Conference in Las Vegas in October 2011 Marietta, GA (PRWEB) September 12, 2011 The Professional Pricing Society (PPS), the world's only organization solely dedicated to pricing

Pricing Principles for Finance Executives Promo by Alejandro Erasso

2011-08-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

Bring Your Executives at No Extra Cost-Executive Summit-Vegas 2011

2011-08-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

JOIN THE RACE FOR HIGHER PROFITS

2011-08-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Program Announcement - 22nd Annual Fall Pricing Workshops & Conference

2011-07-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

PPS is proud to announce the official program for the 22nd Annual Fall Pricing Workshops & Conference to be held in Las Vegas from October 25th to 28th.Please click on this image and start planning your Workshop & Tracks selections. Complete your registration and travel arrangements and be ready to attend the biggest and most prestigious pricing event in the World.We have assembled a powerful

PPS BOOK CHAT July 13, 2011 with Tim Smith

2011-07-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

Join us for a compelling book chat on July 13, 2011Pricing Strategy: Setting Price Levels, Managing Price Discounts and Establishing Price StructuresAuthor: Tim Smith, PhD Managing Principal at Wiglaf Pricing; Adjunct Professor at DePaul University Register Nowhttp://members.pricingsociety.com/webinars.asp

Testimonial_Rahman_Genetech

2011-06-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

Testimonial_Shearman_Mico

2011-06-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

CFO Magazine Talks Pricing Software, Quotes PPS Members

2011-06-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

CFO Magazine ran an extensive piece in this month's issue entitled "The Price Is (More) Right - Improved technology – and leadership from finance – may help companies optimize their margins" highlighting both the importance of pricing in today's market and the power available to companies through emerging price optimization software systems.Many PPS member companies, experts and advisers are

Paul_Hunt - Pricing Solutions - PPS Spring Pricing Conference 2011

2011-05-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

PPS 2011 Spring Pricing Conference now on-demand!

PPS E-Ticket - Virtual Conference Access 2011

2011-04-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO 2011 Track Highlights

2011-04-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

WOMEN IN PRICING LUNCHEON 2011

2011-04-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

PPS is proud to announce the first Women In Pricing Luncheon. Hosted at the 22nd Annual Spring Pricing Conference in Chicago on May 5, 2011. Featuring Susan Lee and Rita Kathpalia of Simon-Kucher & Partners. Don't Miss It! www.pricingsociety.com/CHICAGO2011

PPS 22nd ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE HOTEL DEADLINE APRIL 12, 2011

2011-04-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

You have until April 12, 2011 to take advantage of the PPS Conference Hotel Room Discounts in Chicago. Book your room today at the special rates for conference attendees. Don't delay!

JOIN RON BAKER FOR A LIVE BOOK CHAT APRIL 7, 2011

2011-03-31T07:08:00.000-07:00

PPS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ITS FIRST LIVE BOOK CHAT...Implementing Value Pricing by Ron Baker APRIL 7, 2011..Register NOW...Don't Miss Out! http://members.pricingsociety.com/webinar_details.asp?WID=270&elq=1e0fdc1b6a15454d96ee9d6d720f9a65

Frank Luby - Consumer Products Workshop

2011-03-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

PPS Announces Expanded Programs, Additional Speakers and Extended Schedule for 2011 Spring Pricing Conference

2011-03-11T05:54:00.000-08:00

PPS Announces Expanded Programs, Additional Speakers and Extended Schedule for 2011 Spring Pricing Conference

4 steps to get approval - Attend the Spring Pricing Conference in Chicago - May 3-6 2011

2011-03-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

Warren Buffett Says Pricing Power More Important Than Good Management

2011-02-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

Are you still having trouble convincing your C-Level of the value of pricing strategies and ongoing pricing training to your company’s profitability and growth? Then maybe it’s time they listen to one of the most successful men in the world. Warren Buffett, the billionaire chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., told Bloomberg this week that he rates businesses on their ability to

Pricing Strategies for Product Managers by Linda Gorchels

2011-02-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

Question: How can organizations insure that they are leveraging pricing strategies and tactics across all functional disciplines to get bottom line results?Answer: Begin by cross training individuals within the organization on the relevance and importance of pricing training in each department and equip management teams with a pricing toolkit: starting with the Product Manager. In this course

PPS 22nd Annual Pricing Wokrshops & Conference - Chicago May 3-6 2011

2011-02-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

On behalf of The Professional Pricing Society’s entire team, I am honored to present you our 22nd Annual PPS Spring Pricing Wokrshops & Conference in Chicago.Our Spring Conference will get you updated on the strategies, tactics, tools and resources you need to improve profitability and boost your pricing career.The complete program is outlined on this link www.pricingsociety.com/chicago2011 or in

McKinsey & Company Pricing Expert Craig Zawada Joins PROS Executive Team

2011-01-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

New Senior Vice President of Pricing Excellence brings world-class expertise to help customers drive profitability and growthHouston, Texas – December 14, 2010 – PROS Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PRO), a world leader in business-to-business pricing and margin optimization software, announced that Craig Zawada has joined the company as senior vice president, pricing excellence. In this role, he will

Happy Holidays Message from PPS

2010-12-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Zilliant Named An Innovative Software Company To Watch for 2010

2010-11-01T07:28:00.001-07:00

Another exciting announcement from PPS Member Company Zilliant:Zilliant Named An Innovative Software Company To Watch for 2010Leading market research firm recognizes Zilliant’s price optimization technology as a visionary information access solution Austin, TX – October 5, 2010 – Zilliant, the leading provider of price optimization and margin management solutions for B2B manufacturers,

PPS Announces Inaugural Global Pricing for Executives Summit in Brussels

2010-10-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

PPS Announces Inaugural Global Pricing for Executives Summit in Brussels

PPS 2010 Global Pricing for Executives Summit in Brussels - 16 November 2010

2010-10-11T14:08:00.000-07:00

A Venture Capitalist's View on Pricing Fixing and Collusion

2010-09-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

I ran across this article and thought it would be interesting to share. This is one area of pricing that we discuss in many different contexts, but this gives us an interesting perspective outside of the global pricing arena and into how pricing can and does affect small businesses and start-ups.For background, you need to start here, with "AngelGate": "So a Blogger Walks into a Bar."Synopsis: A

United Rentals Inc. Deploys Zilliant Solutions to Enhance Pricing Operations Across Branch Network

2010-09-13T11:19:00.001-07:00

Check out this exciting announcement from PPS Partner and Member, Zilliant:United Rentals Inc. Deploys Zilliant Solutions to Enhance Pricing Operations Across Branch NetworkWorld’s largest equipment rental company adopts price optimization to improve rental rates management across North AmericaAustin, TX – September 1, 2010 – Zilliant, the leading provider of price optimization and margin

Simon-Kucher and Partners Industry Pricing Series

2010-08-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

This article is one of a long series of pricing articles that have been running in the Monthly PPS Newsletter. Called the "Industry Pricing Series" by Simon-Kucher & Partners, these articles offer numerous pricing strategies that, although explained in the context of specific industries, can be applied in pricing practices across multiple specialties and practice areas. Introduction: Ever wonder

World Cup Pricing Questions

2010-07-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article I came across recently which argues that FIFA needs to re-analyze their pricing structure in order to not alienate the multitudes of fans worldwide who cannot afford the expense of attending soccer's greatest event. This is especially evident when the event is held in countries with large lower income populations, such as South Africa in 2010, or the next host

Guest Post: A Progressive Strategy for Trade Customer Pricing

2010-06-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

This guest article was previously highlighted in the Professional Pricing Society Newsletter.Title: A Progressive Strategy for Trade Customer PricingAuthor: Paul Andrew Smith, CPPEffectively managing trade pricing has become an increasingly difficult conundrum for Consumer Products (CP) companies over the past decade, due to the growth of large international retailers with massive buying power.

Christopher Provines Joins PPS Board of Advisors

2010-03-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

The Professional Pricing Society (PPS) is pleased to announce the addition of Christopher D. Provines to its Board of Advisors. Mr. Provines is the Vice President of Global Strategic Pricing, Reimbursement & Government Affairs for Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.With 20 years of experience in healthcare across the medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceutical and hospital market segments, Mr.

When Is the Price Right? Frank Luby Talks Pricing with CBS

2010-03-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Frank Luby for his recent interview with CBS! Frank gives insights into pricing strategies and consumer pricing decision making - read the article here: "When Is the Price Right? Jill Schlesinger on How Consumers Make Irrational Choices When Purchasing"And, don't miss Frank's new workshop at the Spring PPS Conference in Chicago: "Consumer Pricing: Approaches to Manage Today’s

The E-book Price War Isn’t Over Yet

2010-02-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

We have focused a great deal, both in this blog and in recent editions of the PPS Monthly Member Newsletter, on the unprecedented pricing challenges faced by pricers in the EBook industry. From our January Newsletter:The transition of traditional media to electronic delivery presents pricers with new challenges concerning customer price sensitivity and product adoption. Publishers in the EBook

Google Seeks Pricing Expertise

2010-01-12T12:00:00.001-08:00

Never underestimate the power of intelligent pricing strategy!We in the pricing field understand that few things have more of an impact on business success and the bottom line than strategic pricing initiatives and best practices. Because of its importance, pricing as a discipline is increasingly entering the spotlight among big economic players, increasing the opportunities available for pricing

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

Dear fellow Pricers,The team at The Professional Pricing Society wants to wish all of you a pleasant Holiday Season and a very successful 2010. We look forward to continue serving you and the Pricing Community overall in the new year.Best Wishes from all of us!Kevin, Chris, Katrese, Julie, Fabricio, Wynetta, Latonia, Darnell, Ciara, Helen, Stephanie, Joan and our events staff.

Outstanding PPS Fall Pricing Conference in Orlando

2009-11-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Fellow Pricers,First at all, we want to thank all of you again for investing your time and energy at our Fall 2009 Conference in Orlando. After compiling the anonymous evaluation surveys we are thrilled to tell you that this conference was rated one of the best pricing conferences ever held. Here are some of the details:Fall Conference Review and SynopsisNearly 400 people attended this year's

The Best of both Worlds - PPS All Inclusive Conference + Online CPP Pricing Courses Package

2009-10-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

THIS IS OUR MOST EXCITING OFFER YET!!Kevin Mitchell, President of PPS walks you through a new and exciting new offer that can bring new possibilities to those interested in pursuing Certification in Pricing. Play the video below to learn more...This offer is exclusively available for this year's Conference on European & Global Pricing in Brussels. Click HERE to see a chart describing this offer

PPS President Kevin Mitchell Gives a Preview to the European and Global Pricing Conference in Brussels

2009-09-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Kevin Mitchell, President of the Professional Pricing Society is proud to introduce the 5th Annual Conference on European & Global Pricing to be held in Brussels, Belgium on 25-26 November 2009. "We are excited with the level of talent we have for this conference and the response we are getting from our European members and followers, this is shaping up to be a great event in Brussels this

CPP Updates: New Workshops and CPP Bundle Packages

2009-09-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I initially told you about the online CPP Certification through PPS. We now have eleven cutting edge pricing education workshops available online (with two more coming this Fall) from leading minds in the pricing field.Additionally, PPS has assembled the NEW CPP Pricing Training and Certification Packages with you in mind! Here are some of the key benefits of buying these

PPS President talks about 20th Annual Fall Pricing Conference in Orlando FL, Oct 21-23 2009

2009-08-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Kevin Mitchell, President of the Professional Pricing Society is proud to introduce the 20th Annual Fall Pricing Workshops & Conference to be held in Orlando Florida from October 21-23 2009.This year, PPS announces the Innaugural Pricing for Executives Summit and after the succes of the first year, PPS is bringing back the 2nd Annual Pricing for Latin America

No Pricing Power in this Economy?

2009-08-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting comment in an Associated Press story this morning:Inflation a no-show in July, likely to stay mutedBy MARTIN CRUTSINGER (AP) – 18 hours agoWASHINGTON — Inflation was a no-show in July and likely will stay away for months to come, giving the Federal Reserve room to keep invigorating the economy with record-low interest rates.That was the message economists took from a report

What's New for the Annual Fall Pricing Conference in Orlando

2009-08-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

This year has been challenging for pricers.At PPS, it is our job to bring you the most up to date and applicable knowledge available to help you thrive in your career, especially in these challenging economic times. That is just what we have designed for Orlando this year!We are bringing together the largest gathering of pricing experts, leaders and professionals ever assembled. Whether you are

Guest Article: Use Suppliers' Pricing Mistakes

2009-07-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

This week I am happy to feature a guest article from PPS Board Member Jerold Bernstein.Use Suppliers’ Pricing MistakesNow more than ever, getting the best price from your suppliers is a vital skill. It requires clear knowledge of the markets, good negotiating skills and shrewdness about supplier strengths and weaknesses. Sometime mistakes your suppliers make can work to your advantage. Here are

Retailers "Fine Tune" Discount Pricing Strategies

2009-07-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

U.S. retailers are getting creative in their discount and pricing strategies, according to reports from multiple news outlets this month. In addition to continuing to follow the schedule of sales - preseason, post season, school's out, school's starting, holidays, etc. - retailers are starting to take a more focused approach on how and where they are applying their discounts and price breaks, all

Microsoft Windows 7 Pricing Strategy

2009-06-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

Microsoft is set to announce its Windows 7 pricing platform any time now. Will they continue with their habit of confusing consumers with multiple levels of segmentation? Or take a simpler approach that will not leave consumers in the dark about what benefits they are actually receiving at each price point? As ZDnet.com reported:"Any day now, Microsoft should be going public with its long-awaited

PPS Launches Online Pricing Training and Certification Program, Announces 2009 Spring CPP Graduates

2009-05-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

News from the Professional Pricing Society:The Professional Pricing Society announces Online Pricing Training and Online Certified Pricing Professional course delivery for increased access, flexibility and cost-effectivenessAtlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 6, 2009 -- The Professional Pricing Society (PPS), the world's only professional society dedicated to pricing education and training, has expanded

Pricing for Product Managers

2009-04-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

This economy is presenting both unprecedented challenges and exciting opportunities for pricers. For those pricing professionals who can embrace the challenge, apply ingenuity and sound pricing strategies, and be agile enough to benefit for opportunities despite the obstacles that the business community as a whole is facing, they can build a foundation of success now that will catapult them ahead

Don't Just Cut Prices

2009-04-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

Here is another great example of price cutting vs. staying true to your value proposition and developing innovative competition strategies that promote your strengths, not bend to market and pricing pressures. Best Buy is implementing a new customer retention strategy aimed at fighting Wal Mart's impossible to be price cutting without engaging in a price cutting war. "Best Buy is preparing to

Pricing Human Life

2009-04-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

The New York Times ran an article last month entitled "Pricing Human Life," which uses pricing models and economics to explain the functioning of the nation's health system. This article is part of an interesting column called Economix, which is designed to educate people in "the science of everyday life." I thought I would share as it is another unique example of how pricing principles are

Toys R' Us Prices for Kids, Competes Against "Dollar Stores"

2009-04-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

Toys R' Us is implementing a new (and I think very intelligent) pricing strategy that will both increase the company's competitiveness against "dollar stores" and other low cost merchandisers, but that will also tap into a new (and loyal) market - kids.Starting this week, Toys R' Us is displaying roughly 100 items right inside the front doors priced from $1-$3 to meet the budget of kids

Starbucks Challenge - Maintain Brand Standards while Reversing "High Price Point" Image

2009-03-17T10:00:00.001-07:00

This is a great pricing case study: Starbucks is working to counteract dwindling sales by adding new product offerings, including a new line of breakfast items that are priced below $4. They are also restructuring their menus to promote their iced coffees and other specialty drinks that are below $3. These tactics are meant to change the widespread opinion that Starbucks is priced higher than

Apps Pricing Follow Up: Set a Sustainable Price

2009-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

The verdict is in on the IPhone App pricing experiment. In an earlier post here we talked about iPhone application firm App Cubby's experiments with a "pay-what-you-want" pricing model to encourage shrinking sales. Reacting to user complaints about App Store's lack of a try-before-you-buy feature, App Cubby reduced its prices across the board to $0.99 and created a donation page where satisfied

Pricing to Fight Alcoholism?

2009-03-16T10:40:00.001-07:00

This is an interesting pricing application that we haven't focused on too much but that has interesting implications. How does the government set, control or use pricing to instigate social behaviors? Should they be allowed to do it?There is an interesting debate around this subject going on in the UK. Legislators in Scotland are trying to pass minimum prices on alcohol to curb the country's

Online Pricing Training Now Available

2009-03-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

We know the economy is tough and you can't come to us, so we are bringing pricing training to you because we know how critical pricing training and CPP certifications are to today's pricers.We are glad to announce ANOTHER NEW PPS Online Training Workshop presented by Tim Smith, Ph.D., Managing Principal, Wiglaf Pricing. We are also offering: Avoid the Commodity Trap: Pricing Services in a

Pricing Advice in Two Sentences

2009-03-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

We have a great discussion going on in the Professional Pricing Society LinkedIn group. I wanted to re-print some of the discussion here, because I thought it would be beneficial to many of our readers. One of our members posted the following question:"If you had only two sentences to share your most valuable pricing advice, what would those two sentences be ?"We have had a great deal of response

Guest Insight: Price discrimination is economically efficient

2009-03-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

Pricers, here is a great article that was submitted to us by author Leigh Caldwell whose blog covers economics, modeling behaviors and trends, and several other fascinating subjects. This article, "Price Discrimination is Economically Efficient", argues that price discrimination - if it can be maintained in a competitive environment - enables companies to sell products to more people and thus

Retailer Backlash over Prices

2009-03-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

The tension is mounting between suppliers and retailers. People are spending less, yet retailers are forced to raise prices to compensate for the lost profit of the suppliers. One great recent example is the price of milk - suppliers lost an average of .05 a gallon last month to stop the rapidly increasing price per gallon that had been passed on to consumers. Now, however, suppliers are in

Is Cutting Prices a Good Strategy?

2009-03-03T10:32:00.001-08:00

We have been talking a lot about how pricing strategy plays an integral part in business sustainability and success, and have been focusing on the numerous pricing strategies being employed in various industries to survive the current economic downturn.One of the primary issues for many businesses, as we have pointed out, is the decreasing amount of expendable income consumers have at their

Developing Pricing in Latin America

2009-02-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is another great topic from the PPS LinkedIn community: how to develop pricing in Latin America:"Pricing has become a top priority for companies in the US and Europe, given its enormous impact on the botton line and the consistent work of many organizations as PPS."However Latin America is still far behind in the trend. How can we help Latin American companies discover the value of the

B2B Pricing White Paper

2009-02-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

In response to the last post, I thought I would post this informative white paper on pricing from a B2B perspective, written by Nick Hague, the Director of B2B International Ltd. It provides a great foundation on how pricing works, gives and introduction to pricing research, and addresses some of the considerations pricers face in the B2B pricing environment:"In the ever-changing business world

How to set prices in a B2B-environment?

2009-02-24T16:35:00.000-08:00

Hi pricers - this is a great question that was raised in my linked in group, and that has spurred a lot of feedback from member pricers. I thought it was worth reprinting here because there are bound to be other pricers facing this issue or with valuable opinions to share. Warmly, EMHow do you set prices in a B2B-environment when there's no external reliable market information available? Do you

Top 10 Things Your C-Suite Must Know about Pricing in 2009...

2009-02-20T07:25:00.000-08:00

Many companies struggling to make the numbers are reverting to cost-cutting across the board - including pricing departments, training and travel budgets. Now it’s more important than ever to make your executive team understand the critical role of pricing for growing sales and profitability. If you’re wondering how to make your boardroom pitch for pricing training, here are some key facts and 10

More Price Cuts in the High End Market

2009-02-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

We have been talking a great deal about how different industries are being affected by the current economic mire, especially industries driven by consumer spending. Another industry is beginning to cave quickly, following in the footsteps of consumer electronics and other non-essential commodities:"Luxury handbag maker Coach Inc. is bowing to consumers’ stubborn refusal to spend, lowering its

Pricing as an Economic Indicator

2009-02-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Pricing is not just an activity of business operations, a tactic to increase profits or a product of supply and demand. It is also a central economic force and therefore a powerful economic indicator, as this recent article accurately demonstrates:"Prices for food in U.S. grocery stores jumped 6.6% last year - the biggest spike since 1980 - underscoring yet again that inflation is a much bigger

New On-Demand Pricing Webinars

2009-02-18T15:38:00.000-08:00

New On-Demand Pricing Webinars from PPS expert source Simon-Kucher & Partners:"Best Practice in Managing Changes to Your Pricing Strategy" - In this turbulent economic environment, pricing is still on top of the executive agenda. However, robust change management is crucial to ensure you can deliver the benefits of your pricing initiative. This webinar will provide you with the best practice in

More on Mobile Phone Pricing Wars

2009-02-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

In follow up to my post last week: "Mobile Pricing Wars and Gas Pricing Study" - Demand is continuing to decrease in the consumer electronics markets as consumers continue to cut extra spending, and cell phone companies are feeling the heat more than most. Recent coverage of this industry is demonstrating what a competitive pricing market this is becoming.One recent article reads:Nokia and its

Mobile Pricing Wars and Gas Pricing Study

2009-02-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

In case you were ever wondering - (this is probably more for our beginning pricers than for our experts, but I thought it bore explanation just the same). We have spent a lot time focusing on how closely tied consumer spending, retail pricing and manufacturer costs are when it comes to commodity items. Indeed, in these difficult times, consumers are even starting to feel the pinch from increasing

Price of Online Advertising Drops

2009-02-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

The price of online advertising plummeted last year, which isn't a surprise as businesses have been increasingly tightening their belts and looking for ways to cut costs. Advertising budgets are often one of the first things to go, but this represents an interesting trend as print has long been suffering for the lower prices and wider reach of online advertising. The fact that online outlets are

Pricing in an inflationary downturn

2009-02-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

Continuing on our subject of pricing in a downturn and, more specifically, in an inflationary downturn, The McKinsey Quarterly (a great resource for pricing articles and research) released a great article to guide companies through pricing hurdles in this uncertain economy."In the current environment, costs are rising as price sensitivity increases. Six tactics can help companies get pricing

Consumers Want Low Prices, the Economy Needs Price Increases

2009-02-10T21:01:00.000-08:00

Our continued economic woes and inability to restart the economy have led us to an interesting conundrum. The cost of goods and services is increasing beyond the level of high end goods. It is hitting consumers where it hurts - in everyday needs and expenses. As a result, expendable income for many people is dwindling daily. Most consumers are severely tightening their budgets, saving what they

Pricing Video Series 6 - Transfer Pricing

2009-02-10T20:59:00.000-08:00

Here is the final video in the Managerial Accounting - Pricing series: Transfer Pricing:

Domino's New Pricing Strategy

2009-02-04T14:48:00.001-08:00

The economy is tough for everyone. Consumers are pinching pennies and seeking max value for their dollar not just in high end products, but in everything they purchase, as grocers and fast food chains are learning.Domino's Pizza, for example, is looking to attract more value focused consumers and to recover many of the consumers it has lost due to recent price increases. Domino's told Forbes

Pricing Video - Target Costing Method

2009-02-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

Here is video #5 in the pricing series we have been running. This video explains the Target Costing Method of pricing:

The 10 Most Pressing Questions for Pricing Professionals Today

2009-02-03T10:46:00.000-08:00

PPS listed the following as the top ten questions facing pricing professionals today:How should I respond to the unprecedented market turbulence initiated by the global financial crisis?How can I be ready to capitalize in opportunities the recovery will bring?How can I realistically assess my organization's readiness for pricing changes?How can I successfully structure services pricing during the

OnDemand Pricing Webinar - Pricing in Turbulent Times

2009-01-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

Pricing strategies webinars are available on demand from the Professional Pricing Society. These webinars provide valuable information from leaders in the pricing industry. This week's feature on-demand webinar is hosted by Pricing Solutions' President Paul Hunt:Sponsor: Pricing SolutionsTitle:Pricing During Turbulent TimesSpeakers:Paul Hunt, PresidentDescription:Companies are experiencing

Pricing Video Series 4 - Time and Materials Method

2009-01-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

Video 4 in the Managerial Accounting Pricing Series:

Commodity Pricing

2009-01-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

The current economic turmoil is really creating a highly educational environment for new and experienced pricers to both observe the importance of pricing strategies in different business models and industries as well as to ...Commodity retailers are looking at their pricing strategy as well. According to this report by the AP, commodity retailers raised prices last year to keep up with the costs

Retail Pricing - How Retailers Communicate Pricing In-Store

2009-01-26T07:44:00.000-08:00

One of our readers left a comment regarding the debate between customer service and pricing as the primary keys to success and customer loyalty in retail product pricing. (View post here). His firm, RetailNet Group, just published a brief survey of their recent store visits and observations of how retailers are delivering price and value in new and interesting ways in-store. He was kind enough to

Pricing Video Series 3 - Return on Assets Method

2009-01-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Part three in the pricing video series Managerial Accounting - Return on Assets Method:Again, this is a great series for new pricers who are just starting to learn pricing fundamentals. I hope you are finding this useful. Warmly, EM

Demand Pricing Update - Apple and ITunes

2009-01-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

The variable and demand pricing strategies continue: Apple recently announced that it would raise the price of "hit" songs on ITunes - those in high demand - and lower prices for the extensive library of tracks that garner less volume and customer attention:From the LA Times: "Apple raises prices as music sales slide":"As for variable pricing, I've weighed in before on the need for record

Retail Pricing - Customer Satisfaction Still Critical

2009-01-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting article from a retail industry blogger arguing that low prices are not the only key to retailer success and customer loyalty:"While the retail industry has been hyperfocused on pricing, the retailers who have continued to focus on customer satisfaction, like Amazon and Apple, have emerged as the winners in a losing holiday season."The link between customer satisfaction and

Pricing on Twitter

2009-01-21T17:01:00.000-08:00

Follow us on Twitter! Pricers - if you are on Twitter, connect with us and let us know!Click here to follow the Professional Pricing Society.Click here to follow Eric Mitchell.

Pricing Strategies for Retail Recovery

2009-01-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Retailers have been trying to weather the storm through strategic pricing and inventory management, and strategies are continuing into 2009 following a historic low holiday volume. This report provides and interesting insight into how strategic pricing plays a critical role in overall business sustainability and stability strategies.From CNN Money.com: "...research shows that holiday sales

Pricing Series Video Two - Gross Margin Method

2009-01-21T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here is part two of the seven part pricing series - Material VariancesMore to come - EM

Pricing Video Series 1 - Managerial Accounting

2009-01-15T09:11:00.000-08:00

Here is something I found that I thought would be useful to our readers. It is a good basic series of video classes by a managerial accounting teacher. It is best described as an excellent starter series on pricing from a managerial accounting perspective and a good refresher for the professional pricer. But its greatest value to the viewer is that it is a great primer series for business owners

Banking Pricing Wars

2009-01-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

Businesses are not the only ones engaging in pricing wars to claim their part of the dwindling consumer and profit pies. Here are two very interesting and recently developing stories from the banking world:"As Deposit War Heats Up Smart Pricing Is Vital" - US Banker:"Banks are falling in love all over again with consumer deposits; add to this newfound affection the industry's new entrants

Airline and Performing Arts Pursue Demand Pricing

2009-01-02T10:48:00.000-08:00

As promised, more updates on new airline pricing models: "Frontier debuts new a la carte pricing model":(Dec 22) "Late last week, Frontier Airlines became the first U.S. airline to unveil a new “menu-pricing” fare structure, in which passengers can choose from among three different pricing levels: Classic Plus, Classic, and Economy. Each ticket level comes with a certain number of amenities—the

Small Business Pricing Q&A

2009-01-02T10:37:00.000-08:00

I found this surfing recent pricing news: a small business pricing Q&A in the Houston Chronicle. It touched on a concept that PPS has focused on for many years, and that deserves revisiting in the current economy - one in which small businesses can most certainly thrive if they play their cards right:"Finding the right balance among all the factors involved is more art than science. A common

SaaS Pricing, Google Style

2009-01-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

An update on SaaS (software as a service) pricing, according to one of the leaders in SaaS, Google. "Google App Engine Gets System Management, Quota Dashboards and ... Pricing!"Google's latest app product provides and environment for programmers to develop, buy and sell their software and programs online. Following an AdWords pricing model, Google is setting itself up for the next great

Intuit's Pricing Gone Wrong

2009-01-02T10:20:00.000-08:00

Although everyone is scrambling to find ways to increase profits in 2009 through creative marketing and pricing strategies, not all strategies are finding success. From the Washington Post: "Intuit Finds Customer Complaints Too Taxing to Endure""I'd like to think that nobody's worrying about doing their 2008 taxes yet. But a lot of people do pay attention to that task this early--so many that

The Minimum Pricing Debate

2008-12-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

The weak economy, as I mentioned in my last post, is encouraging cutthroat pricing wars between retailers trying to make the most of this slow year. However, manufacturers are hurting as well and trying to protect themselves with minimum pricing agreements. This issue is currently gaining a lot of attention. As pricers we can see all sides of the issue, especially as most of these debates are

More Online Pricing Wars: Black Friday and Automobiles

2008-12-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

With the economy uncertain, consumers have been increasingly less likely to spend money as freely as in recent past. This is a problem for retailers who depend on these six weeks to fix their profits for the rest of the year. Retailers are vying for the business of a shrinking consumer pool with shrinking funds, and the competition is as fierce online as in brick and mortar stores (where a Wal

NFL Follows Airline Pricing Examples

2008-12-18T11:50:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Giants will be the first NFL team to employ "dynamic pricing" strategies to increase ticket sales in this down economy. Prices on a certain number of tickets will rise and fall each week based on demand.The team will employ a pricing software to determine prices right up to the day before the game. See the following articles:"The San Francisco Giants are taking a page from the

Pilgrim’s Pride in Bankruptcy …. Amazingly “Bo” Pilgrim Still Doesn’t Get Pricing

2008-12-15T20:35:00.001-08:00

Thanks to our contributing pricing expert, Tim Smith, PhD, for this enlightening guest post.Cost of chicken feed is up, but the price of chicken is flat to down. What went wrong? Marshall's scissors alone would predict the current profit failures in chicken production.Though branding and quality issues can provide price differentiation within the chicken market, the core price level of chicken

How is today’s economy impacting company pricing plans?

2008-12-09T06:45:00.000-08:00

How is today’s economy impacting company pricing plans?Your pricing department activity and staffing issues?Well the Macro-economic news is overwhelming. Good time to connect with you and about your micro-economic issues of the day. To what extent is your company responding to downward price pressures? How much more or less is the company turning to your department for price and profit help?

SaaS Pricing Model Expands as Economy Tightens

2008-12-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

As more and more businesses are tightening their belts and preparing for more economic uncertainty in the near future, software providers are increasingly moving to provide SaaS (software as a service) solutions and pricing models. Fewer companies are budgeting for the capital expenditures needed for enterprise system purchases or upgrades, and are instead opting for Web-based platforms that are

Holiday Pricing Search Engine

2008-12-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

Move over Google spider - there is a new spider in town.PriceSpider.com, a search bot that scans retail sites online for consumer price comparison, in expanding and advertising its benefits to consumers this holiday season: The advantage of PriceSpider.com is its active search engine technology that continuously scans for pricing and product information. Holiday shoppers can utilize the