May 2020

MK | Mark Kirkwood partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. MK was a pioneer in boutique revenue-engine and business strategy when it was founded in 2008. To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. MK’s diverse, domestic teams bring deep industry and […]

Analyzing the Battleground It’s necessary to understand why a price war is occurring – or may occur. But, it’s also critical to recognize where to look for resources in battle. It’s important to carefully analyze your customers, company, competitors, and other players within and outside the industry that may have an interest in how the

If you find yourself in a price war, you’ll need to understand how it started in order to respond effectively. Often the best counterattack does not involve a retaliatory price cut. IN THE BATTLE TO CAPTURE THE CUSTOMER, companies use a wide range of tactics to ward off competitors. Increasingly, price is the weapon of

GDP is reported at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Therefore, a 30% Q2 decline is around a 7% decline from Q1 (SA). From Merrill Lynch: CIO We are tracking -5.2% qoq saar for 1Q GDP and expect a -30% qoq saar plunge in 2Q. [SAAR May 15 estimate] From the NY Fed: Nowcasting Report The New

GDP sinks 4.8% in the first quarter, biggest drop since 2008 and there is worse to come Sharp and sudden plunge in economy echoes Great Depression The numbers: The collapse in the U.S. economy caused by the coronavirus pandemic triggered the biggest drop in gross domestic product in the first quarter since 2008 in a prelude

The COVID-19 crisis is obviously having a dramatic impact on the world, and its trajectory is at this point unpredictable. As a result, the tremendous uncertainty about what lies ahead can cripple business leaders’ ability to take strategic action. Public policy—regarding financial interventions, for example, and the timing of the reopening of local economies—is often