This presentation is similar to the one previously, only it is focused squarely on Doing Business in China.
Monday, 31 December 2012
Why I am Excited About the Future
As I have said before it seemed that when the internet and the mobile phones came out, the world got smaller. It was a quantum leap in the way we live our lives and how we communicate with each other, not just everyday but across continents. Social Media like Facebook and Twitter mean that friends I have in far flung places such as Hong Kong and Australia are not out of sight. I probably communicate with some of them far more frequently than ones in my home city!
But I have a feeling that this next decade is going to be quite memorable in terms of innovation. We are on the cusp of a revolution both in terms of communication, manufacturing and transport.
So I’ve tried to tie together some of the interesting articles, ideas and products I have seen over the last year or so into tidy headings.
Manufacturing
Communication
Transport
Driverless Cars http://mrmcgowan.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Driverless%20Cars
High Speed Rail http://mrmcgowan.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/High%20Speed%20Rail
And I am definitely going to see what ideas they have for Mission: Impossible 5 as they have been on the money so far!
Entrepreneurial Tips from a Shark
cbc.ca/news/business/… This is an article from Canadian millionaire and Shark Tank/Dragons Den star Robert Herjavec.
Wigan in first profit in years
Perhaps with UEFA's financial fair policy in mind, Dave Whelan's Wigan Athletic have turned in their first profit in several years.
The Premier League football club posted its first profit in years as it trims salaries and cuts debt.
To read more click here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20874197
The Premier League football club posted its first profit in years as it trims salaries and cuts debt.
To read more click here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20874197
The rudest airline employees
After Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson’s rant on Twitter about a certain US based carrier for losing his wife’s luggage, I found this which may be interesting reading!
Grease Monkey Wipes - Shark Tank
Today’s episode (well last night’s actually) of Shark Tank on Dave saw Grease Monkey Wipes look for $40,000 for 40% of the business. The two cyclists who came up with a ‘new’ cleaning agent that used citrus as the main ingredient charmed two sharks into setting up a deal.
You can watch the full 10 minute pitch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esXY0klnfbA
I personally love trying to guess if they are going to be a success or not and then finding out the updates online. I was 100% certain (and right) about that silly Nubrella idea, but I wasn’t quite sure about the Grease Monkey Wipes. I think it was a 50-50 gamble. It could pay off as they could benefit from a wider distribution network and being a first mover, but likewise there is a lot of competition in those kind of markets and they could be easily replicated.
Find out what happened here:
Top 10 Biggest Shopping Malls in the UK
Ever wondered who is really the biggest shopping mall (or centre as we used to say in the UK)? Well do we judge it by square feet or actually by visitors?
Okay, we’ll do both.
Square feet is the easiest one to do first, so here we go:
1. Metro Centre, Gateshead 194,400 sq ft
2. Trafford Centre, Manchester 185,100 sq ft
3.Westfield Stratford City, London 175,000 sq ft
4. Bluewater, Dartford 155,700 sq ft
5. Westfield, London 149,400 sq ft
6. Westfield Merry Hill, Dudley 140,800 sq ft
7. Meadowhall, Sheffield 139,300 sq ft
8. Lakeside, Thurrock 133,700 sq ft
9. St David’s, Cardiff 130,100 sq ft
10. Liverpool One, Liverpool 130,060 sq ft
10. Armdale, Manchester 130,060 sq ft
Now when we come to visitors...
1. Bullring, Birmingham 40 million
2. Armdale, Manchester 40 million
3. St David’s, Cardiff 38 million
4. Eldon Square, Newcastle 36 million
5. Trafford Centre, Manchester 35 million
6. Bluewater, Dartford 27 million
& The Centre, Milton Keynes 27 million
8. Meadowhall, Sheffield 25 million
& Lakeside, Thurrock 25 million
10. Westfield Merry Hill, Dudley 23.5 million
And how do our Scottish shopping centres fare in comparison?
East Kilbride Shopping Centre, East Kilbride = 106,000 sq ft
Braehead, Renfrew = 98,400 sq ft
Silverburn, Glasgow = 91,100 sq ft
So quite a bit to go to compete with the big boys.
Steelmaker bets big on diversification
Automobile-use products to help Tangsteel retain winning touch
Tangshan Iron and Steel Group Co plans to further expand its overseas businesses and manufacture more steel products for automobile use as part of its efforts to counter the slump in the Chinese steel industry.
Tangsteel, a subsidiary of China's largest steel maker Hebei Iron and Steel Group, reported a profit of 260 million yuan ($41 million) for the first 10 months, at a time when most of the other major Chinese steel companies reported deficits caused by shrinking demand and higher raw material prices.
"The overseas market for steel products is getting more and more sluggish because of the weak global demand," said Sun Junxue, an employee at Tangsteel's corporate culture department. "Against the gloomy situation, our exports are maintaining an upward momentum," she said.
By the end of November, Tangsteel's steel product exports had risen to 1.4 million tons covering more than 150 countries and regions, according to company data.
The company's exports of cold-rolled sheets, which are used for automobile manufacturing, reached more than 1 million tons during the first eleven months. The export of hot-rolled sheets, long products and medium and heavy plates, all of which are for automobile use, totaled more than 300,000 tons during the same period.
The company plans to double its current output of automobile-use steel products to about 800,000 tons in 2013.
"We began to sell our automobile-use steel products in overseas markets from 2009 onwards," said Sun. "We have doubled the export volume this year compared with what it was in 2009."
She said besides the overseas markets in the Middle East and Indonesia, the company has also entered the European and American steel markets and also in developed countries such as Germany and Italy.
Headquartered in Tangshan, Hebei province in North China, Tangsteel is a Chinese steel company with 70 years of history.
In June, the company received a $270 million structured steel prepayment loan from six international banks led by Deutsche Bank. The loan facilitates the prepayment of $270 million of its steel exports to global steel producer Duferco, the principal operating trade subsidiary of Duferco International Trading Holding SA, a global steel trading company based in Luxembourg.
Duferco is both the exclusive off-taker of steel products exported under this prepayment arrangement and a 10-percent risk guarantor.
"With this loan, Tangsteel is pioneering the use of overseas funds in the domestic iron and steel industry to expand its international business," said Yu Yong, general manager of Hebei Iron and Steel Group.
The company's steel output in 2012 was about 16 million tons. The steel products for automobile use accounted for a very small portion of the total output.
"Tangsteel's automobile-use steel production is still at an early stage currently," said Hu Yanping, a steel analyst with Umetal.com, a domestic industrial information provider. "The company has made much progress in steel products for electronic appliances in recent years."
"The automobile-use steel sheets represent high-end products with good quality. We have improved our capability levels by producing export-quality products," said Sun. "However, it is not our only focus."
The decline in Japanese automobile sales due to the recent political disputes has not affected Tangsteel, as Japan is not a major export market for the company, said company officials.
Tangsteel's overseas focus does not just end with owning expensive high-end manufacturing equipment and production lines, said Yu of Hebei Iron and Steel Group.
"Our strategy is to improve the quality of existing products and make them the market toppers, be it for automobile use or for construction or electronic home appliances," he said.
"The market is changing all the time," said Sun at the corporate culture department of Tangsteel. "We cannot stop the change of the market, but we can improve our products to satisfy the market and increase our competitiveness."
China's steel production capacity has in recent times far exceeded demand, thereby creating a glut. The government has been encouraging the industry to become more concentrated through integration.
Domestic steel companies have been making efforts to survive competition and bolster their weak economic performance by reducing raw material costs and producing high value-added products.
Some companies have also enhanced their upstream businesses by acquiring overseas mining resources in an effort to reduce iron ore costs.
However, many of them did not taste success due to factors such as political risks, unexpected higher exploration costs, management shortages and lack of operational experience in foreign countries. Tangsteel, however, chose a different path by making both its services and products better, especially in its marketing strategies.
"There are products that were particularly designed and developed for a foreign client from the Middle East," said Yang Bianjiang, a technician at the company. "We produce certain kinds of steel sheets with individualized requirements to meet their needs."
It doesn't matter how advanced our company's facilities are. But it does matter who is using them, said Yu.
He believes that in such a gloomy economic situation market competition is not only between steel products, but also in the way companies do their business.
"Getting orders was never a problem for us in the past. Buyers often came to us," said Sun. "But things have changed fundamentally."
The company has sent about 100 technicians to the market to further improve its services for potential buyers.
"They are better equipped to explain our products," said Sun. "The market information they collect is valuable to the company as well. The production lines should know where the products go and how they are used."
"China's steel industry should learn more from the manufacturing companies to establish the brand and service," said Yu of Hebei Iron and Steel Group. "Our strategy is to sell steel like household electronic appliances with full services."
dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn
Tangshan Iron and Steel Group Co plans to further expand its overseas businesses and manufacture more steel products for automobile use as part of its efforts to counter the slump in the Chinese steel industry.
Tangsteel, a subsidiary of China's largest steel maker Hebei Iron and Steel Group, reported a profit of 260 million yuan ($41 million) for the first 10 months, at a time when most of the other major Chinese steel companies reported deficits caused by shrinking demand and higher raw material prices.
"The overseas market for steel products is getting more and more sluggish because of the weak global demand," said Sun Junxue, an employee at Tangsteel's corporate culture department. "Against the gloomy situation, our exports are maintaining an upward momentum," she said.
By the end of November, Tangsteel's steel product exports had risen to 1.4 million tons covering more than 150 countries and regions, according to company data.
The company's exports of cold-rolled sheets, which are used for automobile manufacturing, reached more than 1 million tons during the first eleven months. The export of hot-rolled sheets, long products and medium and heavy plates, all of which are for automobile use, totaled more than 300,000 tons during the same period.
The company plans to double its current output of automobile-use steel products to about 800,000 tons in 2013.
"We began to sell our automobile-use steel products in overseas markets from 2009 onwards," said Sun. "We have doubled the export volume this year compared with what it was in 2009."
She said besides the overseas markets in the Middle East and Indonesia, the company has also entered the European and American steel markets and also in developed countries such as Germany and Italy.
Headquartered in Tangshan, Hebei province in North China, Tangsteel is a Chinese steel company with 70 years of history.
In June, the company received a $270 million structured steel prepayment loan from six international banks led by Deutsche Bank. The loan facilitates the prepayment of $270 million of its steel exports to global steel producer Duferco, the principal operating trade subsidiary of Duferco International Trading Holding SA, a global steel trading company based in Luxembourg.
Duferco is both the exclusive off-taker of steel products exported under this prepayment arrangement and a 10-percent risk guarantor.
"With this loan, Tangsteel is pioneering the use of overseas funds in the domestic iron and steel industry to expand its international business," said Yu Yong, general manager of Hebei Iron and Steel Group.
The company's steel output in 2012 was about 16 million tons. The steel products for automobile use accounted for a very small portion of the total output.
"Tangsteel's automobile-use steel production is still at an early stage currently," said Hu Yanping, a steel analyst with Umetal.com, a domestic industrial information provider. "The company has made much progress in steel products for electronic appliances in recent years."
"The automobile-use steel sheets represent high-end products with good quality. We have improved our capability levels by producing export-quality products," said Sun. "However, it is not our only focus."
The decline in Japanese automobile sales due to the recent political disputes has not affected Tangsteel, as Japan is not a major export market for the company, said company officials.
Tangsteel's overseas focus does not just end with owning expensive high-end manufacturing equipment and production lines, said Yu of Hebei Iron and Steel Group.
"Our strategy is to improve the quality of existing products and make them the market toppers, be it for automobile use or for construction or electronic home appliances," he said.
"The market is changing all the time," said Sun at the corporate culture department of Tangsteel. "We cannot stop the change of the market, but we can improve our products to satisfy the market and increase our competitiveness."
China's steel production capacity has in recent times far exceeded demand, thereby creating a glut. The government has been encouraging the industry to become more concentrated through integration.
Domestic steel companies have been making efforts to survive competition and bolster their weak economic performance by reducing raw material costs and producing high value-added products.
Some companies have also enhanced their upstream businesses by acquiring overseas mining resources in an effort to reduce iron ore costs.
However, many of them did not taste success due to factors such as political risks, unexpected higher exploration costs, management shortages and lack of operational experience in foreign countries. Tangsteel, however, chose a different path by making both its services and products better, especially in its marketing strategies.
"There are products that were particularly designed and developed for a foreign client from the Middle East," said Yang Bianjiang, a technician at the company. "We produce certain kinds of steel sheets with individualized requirements to meet their needs."
It doesn't matter how advanced our company's facilities are. But it does matter who is using them, said Yu.
He believes that in such a gloomy economic situation market competition is not only between steel products, but also in the way companies do their business.
"Getting orders was never a problem for us in the past. Buyers often came to us," said Sun. "But things have changed fundamentally."
The company has sent about 100 technicians to the market to further improve its services for potential buyers.
"They are better equipped to explain our products," said Sun. "The market information they collect is valuable to the company as well. The production lines should know where the products go and how they are used."
"China's steel industry should learn more from the manufacturing companies to establish the brand and service," said Yu of Hebei Iron and Steel Group. "Our strategy is to sell steel like household electronic appliances with full services."
dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn
France 24 : US firms fall out of love with France, survey says
It seems the election of France's first socialist government in 17 years has not gone down well with corporate America.
US firms fall out of love with France, survey says:
Click here to read the article: http://www.france24.com/en/node/5379236
France 24 : Top French court overturns 75 percent tax rate for rich
Perhaps Gerard Depardieu need not have move his house from France into Belgium after all!
A top French court overturns 75 percent tax rate for rich, which was one of President Hollande's key policies.
Click here to read the article: http://www.france24.com/en/node/5380503
France 24 : French movie stars are 'the highest-paid'
Neve knew this: France subsidises it's movie stars making them 'the highest-paid' in the world.
Click here to read the article: http://www.france24.com/en/node/5380413
Business Quotes
Here’s an interesting quote when we think of Internal Organisation and indeed organisational structure.
“If you can’t feed a team with two pizzas, it’s too large”
- Jeff Bezos, CEO Amazon
Balance Sheet Presentation
Can find a link to my Balance Sheet presentation for Accounting & Finance and Business Management.
Apple CEO takes massive pay cut
From BBC Business News:
Tim Cook will take home a salary of just 1% of the $378m (£235m) he received to be Apple's boss last year. In a regulatory filing, the iPhone-maker's head said he would get a salary of $1.4m and a bonus of $2.8m for 2012.
Most of his money from 2011 came from a grant of shares awarded for becoming the chief executive, and Apple said he would not get any new shares. "Mr Cook's target cash compensation remains significantly below the median for CEOs of peer companies," it said.
ASIMO
Here is a popular “person” with pupils, especially younger ones when we talk about Technology in ICT... ASIMO!
ASIMO is a robot created and developed by Honda. His name stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility. One of his main talents is that he can walk and indeed run almost like a human. His name is based on I, Robot author Isaac Asimov.
As any sci-fi fan will know Asimov (the author) created the “Three Laws of Robotics” which are:
<![if !supportLists]>1. <![endif]>A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
<![if !supportLists]>2. <![endif]>A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
<![if !supportLists]>3. <![endif]>A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Honda believe he is a STEM ambassador of a very unique kind, with one aim to get more children interested in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (though not necessarily in that order).
ASIMO is 4ft 3, so is akin to a child in a way. He is powered by a Lithium battery which can last for around an hour.
Here is Top Gear’s James May meeting ASIMO a couple of years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DMDLrsicZ8
I have read that he has been at Disneyland since 2005. Well when I was there in 2009 I didn’t see him! Perhaps he was on tour as he does get about for a little chap.
For more information on the remarkable ASIMO, here is his official webpage: http://world.honda.com/ASIMO/
Famous Product Failures Presentation
A companion presentation to earlier information on failed products:
Most powerful businesswomen in the world
Might be a little dated, but always good to promote good female business role models to pupils. Will update it in the coming year:
Sunday, 30 December 2012
Business Facts
Business News Asia
Summary of latest news from around Asia:
CHINA LOOK TO CHANGE LABOUR LAWS
China aims to ensure workers hired through labour contracting agents get the same treatment as directly hired employees, according to a draft bill considered by lawmakers Monday.
The draft amendment to the Labour Contract Law is undergoing a second reading at a five-day bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, or the legislature. In China, some organizations employ a number of leased employees via labor leasing agents, but do not sign contracts with these workers or give them fair pay and welfare, even though they have been working with them for a number of years.
Pudong, Shanghai
SHANGHAI’S NEW UNIVERSITY
Officials in Shanghai have held a cornerstone-laying ceremony for the city's ShanghaiTech University project, being built in the Pudong Science and Technology Park of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Yin Jie, deputy director of the Shanghai Education Committee, said: "The university will act as a dynamic hub where research, education and innovation will meet to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to learning about, and solving problems facing society," said Yin.
Yin said the university, covering an area of about 84 hectares, is designed to be small with its four colleges expecting to have 800 professional teachers from overseas institutions and CAS providing courses on material, life, information and management sciences.
SINGAPORE COFFEE OUTLET TO EXPAND
Klassno is expanding its retail outreach in Bahrain through partnership with local distributor Babasons.
Singapore owned Klassno, which is one of the holding's leading coffee brands, is currently available across over 110 stores in the country.
The brand is keen to redefine the concept of coffee making and drinking in the Middle East as it expands across Bahrain, said Food Empire Middle East country manager Abhishek Gupta. "We have experienced a great demand for our products from coffee lovers from across the country," he said.
TOKYO STAR BANK IN TAKEOVER TALKS
Taiwan's Chinatrust Commercial Bank is in talks to buy the regional Tokyo Star Bank for about ¥50 billion in what would be the first acquisition of a Japanese bank by a foreign lender.
Aiming to expand financial transactions in Japan, Taipei-based Chinatrust hopes to acquire nearly all of the common shares of Tokyo Star from its shareholders, including U.S. private equity group Lone Star, Japanese lender Shinsei Bank and French financial giant Credit Agricole, informed sources said.
Sources: China Daily, Japan Times, Gulf Daily News
Doing Business in India
Presentation on Doing Business in India.
I sometimes use this when we discuss culture and the importance not only of decentralisation but proper market research.
Famous Scottish Inventors
A presentation on Famous Scottish Inventors. This was part of our welcome to visitors from Donkorkrom, Ghana to our school.
#business #technology
Trading, Profit and Loss Account - Presentation
Here is a useful presentation created by my colleague Mr Arthur, I added some content, but the credit is all his.
India and Russia agree to link South and Central Asia
In another sign that the world is truly changing, two old rivals are burying the hatchet. India, so often protected from Russia by Britain and her Empire is now cosying up to the Great Bear.
India's pet project to link south with central Asia has received vital support from Russian president Vladimir Putin. During talks in New Delhi, Singh and Putin agreed to open the north-south corridor through Iran in 2013.
Indian officials said they will help if Iran found it difficult to accomplish the task. The corridor is, by and large complete, they said, except for a section inside Iran between Qazvin-Rasht-Astara. The Iranian portion of corridor is needed or else the whole project could be up in smoke.
The agreement was signed by India, Iran, Russia and Oman in 2001. Iran has been uncooperative until now.
This would be a major breakthrough, as this could open up trade and many business opportunities for such a vast region, which up until now has been poorly served in terms of infrastructure and transport links.
Bolivia nationalise two electricity firms
With rising electricity prices in the UK and elsewhere, it is interesting to see what other countries are doing. In South America, Bolivia has bought over two Spanish-owned electricity supply firms.
President Evo Morales accused the subsidiaries of the Spanish company, Iberdrola, of overcharging consumers in rural areas. Mr Morales said rural households had been paying three times more for their electricity than people in urban areas. The left-wing president has previously nationalised oil, telecommunications and energy-generating companies.
It is the age old debate: privatisation versus nationalisation.
Source: BBC Business News
The 60s - a turbulent decade for American Politics
This isn’t directed at Business, but was something that grew out of my own interest in that most turbulent of decades, the 1960s. In particular, I have read many biographies on the Kennedys, Nixon, LBJ, and books on Vietnam, the Cuban missile crisis, the assassination of JFK, and Dr Martin Luther King jnr and the Civil Rights movement.
So I slogged away and created this presentation about US history. I hope you find it interesting and it stimulates you to go find out more about an incredible yet traumatic period of modern history.
Management Gurus
This is a helpful slideshow presentation I made for actually myself, when trying to summarise many of the most famous management gurus. It is not really needed for Higher Business Management, though some obviously do appear in the course. It is helpful for teachers and educators and university/college business students.
McDonald's & Franchising
in Higher Business Management franchising is a topic which seems quite popular with examiners.
Here is a presentation I created some years ago which looks at McDonald's, one of the most famous franchises.
http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/21794?rel=0&hostedIn=slideshare#
Here is a presentation I created some years ago which looks at McDonald's, one of the most famous franchises.
http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/21794?rel=0&hostedIn=slideshare#
Office Layout Presentation
Another presentation on Office Layout, aimed at Standard Grade Administration pupils, but may help others.
http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/268741?rel=0&hostedIn=slideshare#
http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/268741?rel=0&hostedIn=slideshare#
Loss Leaders
here's a presentation on Loss Leaders
http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/1028813?rel=0&hostedIn=slideshare#
#business
http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/1028813?rel=0&hostedIn=slideshare#
#business
Podcasting Guide: How to use Audacity
For those of you who want to get podcasting, here's a free & easy guide to using Audacity, which is open source.
It is easy to use & pupils will enjoy it. Great for creating revision materials.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8463893/How-to-Use-Audacity-Guide
It is easy to use & pupils will enjoy it. Great for creating revision materials.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8463893/How-to-Use-Audacity-Guide
Walmart - the high cost of low price
Here is a link to some notes on the excellent video called: "Walmart - the high cost of low price"
http://www.scribd.com/doc/37416671/Walmart-Dvd-Statistics
#business
http://www.scribd.com/doc/37416671/Walmart-Dvd-Statistics
#business
Bluewater Retail Park & Market Segmentation
Here's a link to a presentation I did for pupils on market segmentation with reference to the Bluewater Retail Park:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38431820/Bluewater-Retail-Park
#business
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38431820/Bluewater-Retail-Park
#business
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Business Facts
India's famous Tata firm have the Tata Nano which costs $2,500. Its the cheapest new car in the world & seats four passengers, a top speed of 65 mph.
Business Facts
Samsung of South Korea, originally sold noodles & groceries. They only moved into Electronis in the 1960s.
Business Facts
The Toyota Prius has won the ecoENERGY award each year since the model was introduced in the 2001 model year.
The Living Wage
The idea of a so called 'Living Wage' has cropped up again. A think tank have said that paying staff at least £7.45 per hour outside London, and £8.55 within the capital, would boost national coffers by £6.5bn a year. They believe the government would collect more income tax and pay out less in benefits and tax credits.
Matthew Pennycook, of the Resolution Foundation, said: "There are significant overall public savings to be made from paying a living wage, on top of the beneficial effects it would have on reducing working poverty."
"Public-sector employers are well-placed to expand the living wage and to set an example which the private sector can follow."
The idea of a living wage is separate from that of the legally-enforced minimum wage.
Source: BBC Business News
Business Facts
Ikea furniture and associated products uses between 800 to 1,000 different types of screw!
Business Quotes
“Business is a game, played for fantastic stakes, and you're in competition with experts. If you want to win, you have to learn to be a master of the game.”
― Sidney Sheldon, from his book Master of the Game
Primary v Secondary Research
A quick look at the different ways to collect information.
Primary Research is also called Field research.
It has major advantages.
-It will gather valuable data as it will be fit for purpose.
-The information will be relevant and up-to-date.
Disadvantages
-Field research is very expensive. You need to pay researchers/interviewers to collect the data/information.
-It also takes time to collect.
Examples of Primary include: Surveys, Personal interviews, Hall Tests, Observations and Focus groups
Secondary research is also called Desk research.
Advantages
It is a lot cheaper to obtain than primary research.
It is usually quicker to obtain as it will have already been collected.
Disadvantages
The information may suffer from bias. The source will need to be verified.
The information may be out of date as things may have moved on in your business environment.
The information may not be fit for purpose.
Examples of Secondary include government publications/statistics, sales figures, MINTEL reports, newspaper articles.
Pricing - What is Market Skimming?
This is a pricing tactic that is often used in electronics.
When the product is first released the price is set high, quite often a premium price. Once the people who want and can afford it have bought it, the price is lowered to target the next strata of customers – in other words the next level of customers who can afford it. This is akin to ‘skimming’ the cream off the top and then repeating the process.
Eventually the price of the product will come down to a more competitive price which will be affordable by the majority of consumers, the mass market.
For example when the PS3 was launched it was very expensive, but just in time for the Christmas market. It soon came down in price before the slimline version was launched which is viewed as a product extension.
It won’t be long though before we have a PS4 I am sure.
Apple's new smartphone: the iWatch
More information on apple’s planned rival to the smartphone... what has been dubbed the iWatch:
#business #apple #iWatch
Trump Towers Rio
The Apprentice Star and Billionaire, Donald Trump has announced ambitious plans to build the Trump Towers Rio in the port zone of Rio de Janeiro, host city of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
The Towers will stand 38 stories high and contain residential apartments and office space. It will utilise the upgrade of the city’s infrastructure with new sewers, better quality street lighting and fibre optic cables incorporated into the complex.
Rio’s antiquated port zone is being regenerated as part of the drive for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and more importantly for Rio when she hosts the Olympics.
Coca Cola's Distribution Channels - Higher Business Management
Found this excellent presentation on Coca Cola and their distribution channels.
#business
Trade Unions - Higher Business Management
A small question that may crop up in any exam could be about The Role of Trade Unions.
Trade unions are organisations that represent people at
work.
q Their
purpose is to protect and improve people's pay and conditions of employment.
q They
also campaign for laws and policies which will benefit working people and
working conditions.
q Trade
unions exist because an individual worker has very little power to influence
decisions that are made about his or her job.
q By
joining together with other workers, there is more chance of having a voice and
influence.
q This
is known as collective bargaining.
Russian East Asia Pipeline Open for Business
Without too much fanfare Russia have just completed a very ambitious pipeline to East Asia. This has an impact on the EU as it signals Russia’s new world view which has a Pacific focus. The 21st Century may be the Pacific Century and the USA and China are always mentioned, but everyone seems to forget Russia and her vast Pacific coastline.
Russian President Vladimir Putin commissioned the pipeline Tuesday with the completion of the 4,740 km-long (2,945 miles) East Siberia - Pacific Ocean (ESPO) section, which runs between the Siberian city of Skovorodino and the Pacific port of Kosmino.
The new section will "considerably increase the infrastructure capacity of the regions in Russia's far east," said Putin in a televised address. He called the commissioning a "significant event." The $25 billion (around 20 billion euros) pipeline carries some 30 million tons of oil annually, and is set to raise its output to 50 million tons per year.
Source: The Local (Germany)
China demand for oil hits record highs
China’s oil demand has hit a new record of 42.96 million metric tons which equates as an incredible 10.5 million barrels per day. This is a 9.1% increase since last November.
And it looks with the continued urbanisation of China as people are moving into the cities from rural areas it is only going to continue. China have tried to address the problem by beginning their High Speed Rail engineering project and plans for the 3D Express Coach and other fascinating transport solutions.
But is it too little too late?
#business #china
Business Quotes
This quote is one which is not just for Business but for a wider aim. One for people to dream and not to just blindly obey the status quo. I am sure it has inspired many people and many entrepreneurs as they have shrugged off people who said their product wouldn’t sell.
It is also rather poignant in that Robert Kennedy used it often when he was running for President in 1968.
"Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why'? I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not'?"
Senator Robert F. Kennedy, quoting George Bernard Shaw
For those who are too young to know, Robert Kennedy was Presiden John F. Kennedy’s younger brother. He too, like his brother, was murdered by an assassin. Kennedy was shot in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
Friday, 28 December 2012
Russia's massive traffic jams
I know that Sao Paulo is the world's most congested city, Athens has been often cited as Europe's worst, and that China have had the odd epic scene of gridlock.
However it looks like Russia is trying its best to take the title:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/02/world/europe/russia-traffic/index.html
However it looks like Russia is trying its best to take the title:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/02/world/europe/russia-traffic/index.html
The 18 year old Millionaires in waiting?
So will we end up with more millionaires?
According to this article it is not out of the reach of anyone starting work at 18 today in the UK:
What happens when supermarket foods go off....
Interesting article from Forbes on what happens to old food:
Funny Company Names
Something a bit lighthearted.
Surely the name of a business is important? Well you would think so eh?
Wait until you read some of these quite literally incredible names.
I think a re-branding job should be done on several of these!
Tighter Internet Laws for China Announced
Seems a lot of business news coming out of China over the last few days and this is one which is quite stunning: stricter laws regulating the internet and what can and can’t be said online. The Chinese Government can now delete and remove posts which they believe are illegal.
Read more here: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/419003/20121228/china-introduces-tighter-internet-laws-legalising-post.htm
Has the Great Firewall of China has just got a bit bigger?
Apple sued by Chinese software writers for $166,000
Apple are being told to pay $166,000 to 7 Chinese writers for infringement of copyright.
Apparently the writers have sued Apple over their content being free on iTunes and being downloaded through the AppStore. The writers have seen the work being given away for free, which has meant lost revenue for them and their company called ChineseAll.
Another incident in the ‘conflict’ between China and Apple! To be honest, I can only see one winner.
The benefits of free delivery for companies
Is free delivery really becoming a USP or actually an essential part of any online business? Companies like Amazon and Play.com have often used this as a great selling point for customers to make purchases from them.
Here, from Entrepreneur.com are some tips on how to get the best out of free delivery or free shipping as our American friends call it:
The Chinese Rival to GPS
China is taking on GPS in the Pacific region via the Beidou satellite system. Beidou means “Big Dipper” and is now providing service to people in the Pacific region with the aim to go global by 2020. The Chinese claim Beidou can already be received in Australia and New Zealand.
This is the latest in a series of Chinese statements to challenge the West and in particular the USA’s authority on Technology. China wish to offer alternatives to the status quo.
Sina Weibo is the Chinese version of Twitter,
Renren is the equivalent of Facebook,
and youku is their YouTube.
The Chinese also have founded an alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize named after Confucius.
China have displayed their willingness to do things their way, for example they have rejected the West’s transport policy of increasing air travel in such a large country by investing in High Speed Rail and all the various bridges and other engineering projects they had to complete in order to connect her cities.
China’s space program may be in its infancy but they also have aspirations to put a Chinese astronaut on the moon very soon and have a space station in orbit by 2020.
And China have recently received their first ever Aircraft Carrier, which may really be redundant in an age of Stealth Bombers which can attack targets from the US Mid West, but it is a symbol of just how serious they are about being a true global superpower.
How successful will the Chinese versions be of all these established products and services remain to be seen. Can they be competitive and attract other customers? But with a domestic market of over 1 billion people the question is do they need to?
Manila to become the new Macau
Plans are underway to transform the capital of the Philippines into the next Macau or Singapore. Manila already has relaxed gambling laws and some major operators have decided to act quickly and not wait until other South East Asian nations legalise gambling.
Macau already has The Venetian and other Las Vegas casino hotels in place, and can easily be reached from Hong Kong by hydrofoil in about an hour. Naturally there will be questions of infrastructure and the age old problem of corruption that will need to be answered in Manila. But the Philippines are in a great location to gain visitors from all over the region.
Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/business/global/for-casino-builders-manila-is-the-next-macau.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
Nubrella - Shark Tank
I saw this product on Shark Tank this morning and I thought this was doomed to failure. I thought it was a bit wacky and OTT. It was called the Nubrella and is basically an umbrella you can wear over your head like a see through hood. I was surprised that no-one mentioned the good old fashioned waterproof hood as a rival to this product, and indeed perhaps there is a market for a Velcro attachable hood that can stick onto suits and jackets?
It just looked so ridiculous that I was gobsmacked when the product created enough interest that Kevin Harrington and Daymond John both gave the inventor $200,000 for a controlling 51% stake in his company.
Among the markets they could aim for was workers out on tractors and people on bikes. The acid test for me would be if they sell it to a rainy country like Scotland and see if anyone buys them. We Scots are made of stern stuff and perhaps would rather get soaked than to “get a riddy” as we Glaswegians would say, meaning we would be red-faced, embarrassed.
I found it on Amazon:
There is no retail price and it is currently out of stock.
And there is a killer review by a Mr Stephen M. Charme
“One of the worst purchases ever made, July 20, 2011
By Stephen M. Charme
This review is from: Nubrella Hands Free Umbrella (Apparel)
If you look at my hundreds of reviews you will see that I rarely write one star reviews. That is because I generally avoid products like this. However, my wife saw this on Shark Tank and ordered not one but two because she was convinced how great this would be. She was dead wrong. Here is why:
1. This product comes with minimalist instructions that do not tell you how to properly position it so you are not being hit in the head while you are wearing it. Amazingly, the company's website has no such information either. Hmmm. That made me suspicious. Eventually I did find a You Tube demo, but even when "properly adjusted" this still grazed my head and was not comfortable to wear. No wonder there is nothing on the website.
2. I tried this in a driving rain storm after I adjusted it. While it did keep my head and shoulders dry, my pants got soaked, which does not happen with a regular umbrella because when you hold it over your head, it does more than just protect your head and shoulders. In addition, visibility was nonexistent. It was like driving your car in a rainstorm with no windshield wipers on. In addition, while this is hands free, the trade off is that the handle is pressed into your stomach for support. Not very comfortable when walking.
3. If you open this in the house before you go outside, good luck fitting through the doorway. I barely made it.
4. My wife was led to believe that this would be great for bicycle riding and running in the rain. No way. I tried each, and it was virtually impossible to do either because with such vigorous movement this kept bumping into my head, and the handle kept pressing into my stomach. And of course I also could not see where I was going.
5. This is not something that you can easily stow on a crowded train or bus, and I seriously doubt that airport security would let you bring this on a plane. This is also not something that I would want to bring into a business meeting.
Bottom line: This product is expensive, cumbersome, and does not work as well as a regular umbrella to provide maximum protection. Hands free is nice--but not when I am getting soaked from the waist down, can't see where I am going, and have a handle being driven into my stomach. There is no way I would recommend it. I have read the positive review, and can say only that I vigorously disagree.”
Strong words, but to be honest it does echo what I felt. It looked cumbersome and outrageous. I have never seen one in the flesh and you would think they would make a beeline over to the UK to try and sell it here since we do get a lot of rain.
I really do have to question the Sharks judgement on this product.
Qubits - A new rival for Lego?
While watching the US version of Dragons Den, Shark Tank, there came on an inventor who had a bendable construction toy called Qubits. It looked pretty good, however there was a caveat: they would go to the 4 big toy makers and see if they would take some orders.
Sadly, after they left the Tank, the big toy firms weren’t too keen on the project and the deal was off. Having such a large competitor as Lego may have been crucial in this decision.
However, the inventor has been mentored by John and he has won a contract from Discovery Toys and in addition he won a British Airways invention award which had prize money. This has been used to help drum up business outside the USA.
You can see for yourself and visit the toy construction maker here: http://www.qubits.com/
I wonder if he has moved into the educational arena and/or computer games? I would be interested to find out what is currently happening, as the information I found was a bit out of date. Can David beat Goliath?
iPads in Education
More and more schools are buying iPads for classroom use. I think iPad minis could really be the one that could aid pupils learning in particular. They are much more compact.
The only issue I have is that does this mean we need to create all new materials using apple software? Where is my motivation transferring or converting all my stuff into iPad friendly applications? Or are we just going to PDF everything?!
Seriously, from a pupils point of view it could have a big impact on classroom learning and especially motivation. I think it is important we to embrace technology but I also believe that the importance of reading a book (not a Kindle!) and learning information that I carry around in my head (and not rely on the crutch that is Google) is still important. Our young people have to be flexible and have a wide range of skills. And importantly, when we say they have ICT or IT skills do we mean much more than just being able to copy and paste onto Word or PowerPoint and make a pretty poster/presentation? Can they use graphics packages? Can they use Corel Draw or AutoCAD or Inventor? Can they create pie charts in Excel and create queries in Access? Can they add signatures to their Emails?
But I do believe new software which can allow simulations and role play may really be the best use of all. With that in mind here is a link here to 10 uses for the iPad in education:
I have to admit I use my iPad a lot, but not much for education! Well, I suppose I do use it to update this blog and indeed my twitter account. But I would never create materials on it as I am not a fan of Pages or Numbers. I much prefer the likes of Word and Excel, but perhaps I am a dinosaur.
PDO - Protected Designation of Origin
I knew of this before but didn’t know the official term. What a PDO is, is basically a copyright on the use of certain terms, but with a link to a Geographic region.
For example, a bottle of Champagne can only come from the specific region in France that has the PDO. All others have to be called sparkling wine. Great if you are in the Champagne region, not so much if you are out with it.
Having a PDO is a huge USP (Unique Selling Point) and is worth a lot of money in terms of sales.
They are protected under the laws of trade organisations such as the EU (European Union) and NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). They don’t half love their acronyms eh?
Some examples of famous products that have PDOs are:
Champagne
Parma Ham
Camembert
Melton Mowbray Pork Pies
Gorgonzola
Bourbon Whiskey (from Tennessee)
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