Two interesting things happened this week in the world of business. The first and most noteworthy (especially for anyone located in Western New York) was the news of Kodak's bankruptcy. After over one hundred years, a brand as associated with America as Chevrolet and Ford has dropped all the way from the top. The second piece of interesting news actually involves Chevrolet. After years dominated by lost revenue and government bailouts, General Motors has regained its title of top selling automaker for 2011.

Can Kodak make the same comeback as General Motors is? Can Kodak's products begin making headlines again, as opposed to their balance sheet?

Kodak's market strategy is different from General Motors. And the market fundamentals at play in Kodak's space paint a much bleaker future for the company than the fundamentals at play for General Motors.

While General Motors (and Chevrolet in particular) has been and currently is focused on the consumer, Kodak places a significant focus on business demands (particularly printing) in order to earn profits. This takes away the influence of one important factor in General Motor's battle back to the top: nostalgia. While the American consumer typically feels as though they should at least evaluate a General Motors product when looking for a car or truck, business managers likely feel no allegiance to one brand vs. another for their office printing needs.

Furthermore, the automotive industry is actually growing. Economies in developing countries like China and Brazil are creating middle classes that can afford an automobile (and are considering General Motors). However, the future for personal cameras and consumer printers is not very optimistic. The movement toward smart phones and mobile technology (a market which Kodak offers no solution), coupled with these devices' continuously improving photography capabilities, is minimizing consumers' demand for a stand-alone camera. And who prints things these days? Almost any information can be consumed on a mobile device (be it a phone, tablet, or e-reader). I don't see demand for printing products growing in the near future.

Yes, if Kodak wins their copyright lawsuits it could provide some extra revenue. Unfortunately, Kodak needs solutions for consumer demands before its reputation will be rejuvenated.