B2B News, Business to Business Portal News, Online Marketplace Trade World

Marketplace Media And Tangible Get Married

2009-06-16T23:29:00.000-07:00

Marketplace Media And Tangible Get Married

Marketplace Media has moved in with Tangible Media in Grey Lynn.

“It’s a great marriage of talent and resources” said Marketplace Media Director, Simon Little.

“Our future lies with like-minded people focused on producing great magazines and we believe our titles, Wares, NZ Hardware Journal, and Outdoor Power Equipment, with the online offering we have planned, will continue to provide a full news and marketing solution for the consumer electronics, home improvement and building supply industries.”

Tangible Media General Manager, John Baker says; “We are delighted to be collaborating with the Marketplace team. B2b, like specialist consumer publishing is all about the intense relationship readers have with focussed editorial product, delivered in print, on-line and via events. We believe this is the future of publishing and what makes our advertising proposition so compelling”

Marketplace Media was formed last month by award-winning brother and sister duo, Simon and Andrea Little acquiring the titles from failed publishing company 3media Group.

Tangible Media, the publishing arm of The Image Centre Group, publishes Classic Driver, Driver, Dish, NZ Fishing World, NZ Rugby World, NZ Today, Real Groove, The Groove Guide, Habitat and NZ Retail.

The Image Centre Group also includes; Image Print, Ice Interactive and the recently acquired Boston Digital.

Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz

Callcredit wins customer acquisition task for B2B directory Applegate

2009-06-16T23:24:00.000-07:00

business directory Applegate to provide outbound customer acquisition in the UK.

Callcredit won the business following a competitive pitch between outsourcers last month.

Applegate’s directories cover a range of B2B subjects including plastics, textiles, engineering and the chemical and construction sectors. The outbound telesales campaign will aim to generate new directory advertisers.

A dedicated team of specialist agents based in Callcredit’s 500 seat call centre in Bristol. Training of contact centre staff is taking place this month and the full service will commence by the end of the month.

Jon Molyneux-Bracchi, CEO of Applegate, said: Our partnership with Callcredit Marketing Solutions reinforces our objective to continue to be the UK and Ireland’s number one online business to business directory.

Duncan Graham, Commercial Director, Callcredit Marketing Solutions, adds: This is a great win for us; B2B relationships are more important than ever in the current climate and this provides a fantastic chance for us to demonstrate our telemarketing skills across diverse market sectors.

Source: http://www.brandrepublic.com

Tigers Connect Travel Systems & Solutions to launch B2B online operations soon

2009-06-16T23:17:00.000-07:00

Tigers Connect Travel Systems & Solutions Ltd., a Samvardhana Motherson Group Company, will soon start their full-fledged online B2B travel operations in the country. The company, which is currently offering their services to travel partners offline is in the process of developing a one-of-its-kind B2B travel portal with the assistance of the Group’s IT division – MothersonSumi Infotech & Designs Ltd. (MIND). According to Satwinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Tigers Connect Travel Systems & Solutions Ltd, the company will start trial runs of the system this week. The system is being designed to provide services to all verticals of the travel, viz. air ticketing, hotel booking, holiday tickets, Indian railway, bus, charters etc.

“We will carry out various levels of testing before launching our online operations officially. We have done the internal testing already. This week, almost 500 developers will simultaneously test the system for two hours continuously. As a second step, we will ask over 7,000 employees of Motherson Group companies all over the world to test the system by booking tickets, vouchers etc. to know how the server responds to the assigned tasks. Once we get their feedback, we will try to incorporate whatever suggestions in the next ten days, before exposing the system to the trade partners,” Singh informed. The COO added that there is a lot of expectation in the market already about their product, and almost 150 travel agents have already registered and are waiting for the system to be launched. “We were also able to bring onboard some marketing partners/channel partners in the last eight months,” he said.

Speaking about the USP of Tigers Connect, Singh said that the benefits will be manifold for their partners. “Better commission, robust system, and maximum live services are unique to our system. All our services are available on a single interface. Agents need not to deposit money for different services at different partners any more,” he said.The Samvardhana Motherson Group already manages a travel company called MATA – Motherson Air Travel Agency, an IATA accredited agency. “Yes, the travel system is not new to us. But MATA was basically taking care of the internal travel needs of the group companies. By launching Tigers, we wanted to look at business on a larger scale,” he clarified. He informed that the company will target four models primarily – travel partner model (travel agents), corporate model (large companies looking for travel services), in-house model (serving the Motherson Group requirements), and finally for those who are looking to establish their own travel business.

Singh informed that the system will be launched in phases on a global platform. Initially, the services will be confined to partners in India, and in the second phase it will be expanded to serve the Asia-Pacific clientele. “Our ultimate aim is to cater to customers the world over. In India, their services will be available in almost all the states, except four or five which are far-flung. We don’t want to get into those places where we won’t be able to serve our partners properly,” he said.

Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com

Free B2B Content Marketing Workbook Published by Velocity

2009-06-16T23:12:00.000-07:00

Velocity, the B2B marketing agency specialising in technology companies, today announced the publication of a free 49-page eBook called The B2B Content Marketing Workbook.

The eBook is available to download now from the Velocity website: www.velocitypartners.co.uk.

“In the era of information overload, Content Marketing is probably the single most important thing a B2B marketer can do,” says Stan Woods, Velocity MD, ” You can have lousy brochures. You can be a social media luddite. But if you get content marketing right, the world will beat a path to your door — and your sales guys will throw rose petals in your path (it’s embarrassing but feels kind of nice, too.).”

The Content Marketing Workbook covers topics like these:

* What Content Marketing and Thought Leadership are

* Why you need to get good at them (and fast)

* Why you’re perfectly placed to do it really, really well

* How to pick a topic prospects care about

* How to go beyond the dry, stale white paper

* What we think ‘good’ looks like — lots of examples

It’s free, it’s fun and it’s as fresh as new-baked bread plucked from a hot oven.

“This is the single best overview I’ve yet seen on strategic B2B content marketing”, says David Fideler, B2B marketing strategist and founder of the B2B Lead Nurturing group on Linked In, ” I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed by the ideas and value delivered.”

Source: http://www.pr.com

B2B marketplace tool targeted at SMEs

2009-06-16T23:10:00.000-07:00

BANGALORE, INDIA: MyTradeBook.com has announced the launch of a free Web-based B2B marketplace tool that allows businesses to build networks, engage in interest groups, buy, sell and advertise products and services, recruit human resources and partner with organizations related to their business ecosystem.

The tool will be initially launched in India and United Kingdom followed by other English speaking countries.

Given the current economic scenario, this tool which is targeted at the small and medium enterprises (SME) segment offers Indian businesses a free online platform that helps create new markets and reach out to potential global customers.

Announcing the launch, Richard Tunstall, managing director, MyTradeBook.com said: "There are many SMBs that have products and services with global appeal, but are constrained with limited marketing budgets, which becomes even more pronounced in the current economic scenario. MyTradeBook.com is designed to cut through the clutter of the existing B2B marketplaces by offering users with effective ways to reach out, collaborate and showcase their products and services in a much more targeted fashion. What's more important is that they can do it for free."

Amalgamating the concepts of business networking and B2B marketplace, this unique tool allows users to join as well as create interest groups. This facilitates collaboration and discussion between users on their areas of interest opening up avenues for generation of new ideas and business leads.

Users can also advertise their products and services for free in the Trade Pages of the tool and these posted advertisements can be linked to various interest groups and can be viewed by other members offering users with an opportunity to target their ads at the most relevant people.

Apart from offering users with the ability to search Trade Page ads, crucially MyTradeBook.com, also allows users to share Trade Page posts with other social networking sites, creating viral marketing opportunities. Presents unique blend of B2B marketplace and social networking concepts.

Source: http://www.ciol.com

Businesses use social networking sites to be smarter in business

2009-06-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- If you're a small business owner, you know how tough it can be to run your business, especially in tough economic times.

"The way the economy was heading in the beginning of the year, people were nervous, I think, a little bit about what it was going to do to their small businesses," said Nellie Mathous, Chamber of Commerce Events Director.

The seminars at Monday's Business Fair talked about ways to make your business smarter and more efficient. And the smartest...listen to their customers and the technologies they're using.

"It's not so much pushing your message out, but paying attention to the way the customer likes to communicate and using those modes of communication," said Karen Delmonico, Chamber of Commerce President.

Those at the business fair say the most important thing to take away is learning how to use social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to enhance your business.

"They build the buzz. They build the awareness about a business and what's going on with them. They're a way to get your name out there, and that's part of the best marketing you can do," said Jennifer King MacKenzie, Keegan Associates Executive Vice President.

"It's instant information. It's ideas. It's sharing. It's networking. It's business to business. It's even community involvement," said Mathous.

Besides using social networking sites, business owners should often check and update their websites.

"Having a website that someone can really engage in and get what they need in a quick fashion is very advantageous," said Darcy Norfolk, Ad Workshop Inphorm General Manager.

Those at the business fair say social networking is quickly becoming the norm. And learning to use the websites is a necessity.

Source: http://news10now.com/

IT'S YOUR BUSINESS: Business news releases Wednesday, June 10, 2009

2009-06-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Have you purchased your ticket to the 15th annual Business to Business Expo on Thursday, June 11? If you are looking for any kind of service or product or just want to be more involved in the community the Expo is the event to attend. It goes from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Three Oaks Banquiet Center in Estero.

Tickets to attend are $15 in advance per person and $20 at the door.

Advance registration ends tonight at midnight.

For reservations, visit bonitaspringschamber.com or call the chamber at 992-2943.

- Contributed by Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

Source: http://www.marconews.com/

Hallam’s Wish for B2B sales

2009-06-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

In three short years, Wish Communications has emerged as one of Yes Telecom’s leading dealer partners. Founder Mike Hallam discusses the changing dealer market

Northamptonshire-based Wish Communications has been in business only three years and already it boasts one of biggest customer bases among Yes Telecom dealers. From nothing in 2006, it is shortly to report annual turnover of more than £6 million.

Wish was set up by managing director Mike Hallam, operations director Simon Pickering and sales director Phil Butts. Their intention was to sign new business customers to all five networks, and take the joyous upfront loot. But 2006 was really the tail end of the dealer gold rush, as the market got saturated, networks looked to change their sales processes and mobile technology finally advanced beyond voice.

However, the trio, all veterans of The Caudwell Group’s old 4U business sales operation, also noted the shifting tectonic plates in the industry early. Speculation around networks moving away from upfront commissions and towards ongoing revenue share models was rife.

Vodafone has just bought up Manchester service provider Yes Telecom, and looked to be drawing its allies close. In November 2007, Wish set down deliberate allegiances with certain network suppliers. It retains indirect dealer codes with all five, it claims, but chooses to connect all its business with Orange and Vodafone, via Mainline and Yes Telecom respectively.

The latter accounts for 80 per cent of its base – around 12,500 connections, including 8,000 last year alone.

Hallam explains: “We set out to be all things to all men, by appeasing all networks and chasing the riches of commissions. The industry has now changed and we are seeing more alliances formed through ongoing revenue. The way the networks steered the market as a whole lead to us to make some strategic alliances of our own.

“The reality was, before, dealers weren’t interested in the longevity and the sustainability of the customer. They were more interested in how many customers they could acquire in a month. I would be amazed if any dealership is left feeding four or five networks in the next 18 months. Most B2B dealers will align themselves with two networks. Yes Telecom and Mainline, or Vodafone and Orange, are our preferred partners; wrongly or rightly, only time will tell.”

Source: http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/

B2B Publishing Industry Luminary and Bizo Advisor Bill Furlong Joins Company to Run Business Development and Partnership Strategy

2009-06-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

June 10, 2009 -- Bizo, Inc. the leading B2B audience targeting platform and advertising network, announced today that advisor Bill Furlong, the president and founder of SearchChannel and B2BWorks, and former managing director of Crain's BtoB Magazine, has joined the company full time as its VP of business development to build out Bizo's partnership strategies and focus on forging successful B2B industry partnerships.

Furlong has served on the IAB board of directors for two terms and founded and led B2BWorks, the first major B2B online advertising network. He is a frequent speaker at the Business Marketing Association, Direct Marketers Association and American Business Media, where he is a member of the Digital Media Council. Furlong has also been named to BtoB's Who's Who and Crain's Chicago Top Internet 100 list.

"I joined Bizo as an advisor four months ago, and after spending time with the company, I realized that this opportunity is just too exciting to stay on the sidelines as an advisor," said Furlong, "I care deeply about ensuring that B2B publishers and marketers are effective in their transition to digital and Bizo's approach to market gives them an unprecedented opportunity to monetize their online audiences."

"Bill is a triple-rare combination in the B2B information industry," said Chuck Richard, VP and Lead Analyst, Outsell Inc., a leading analyst firm for the information publishing industry. "One, he is locked in on an unwavering vision of where marketing is headed. Two, he brings sleeves-rolled-up, hands-on entrepreneurial experience running companies. And three, Bill has decades-strong roots in the traditions, realities and peculiarities of the industry."

"Bill joining Bizo to run business development gives us a superstar to ensure successful partnerships," said Russell Glass, CEO and founder of Bizo, "He is an industry leader and recognized expert in B2B digital media - having him help us guide Bizo to long-term success is a huge win for us, our customers and our partners. "

Furlong will remain the chairman of the board of directors of Search Channel.

In a separate release today, Bizo released a number of its growth and customer metrics including its B2B publisher earnings average of $3.65 CPM, more than 100% above the industry average.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/

Beamups Launches Online News Marketplace For UK

2009-06-10T00:02:00.000-07:00

The online news marketplace Beamups launches a UK version today, hoping to exploit the dire of state of the news industry by allowing producers to sell on unused and archive content. The site launched a beta for the Middle East in April and set up deals with broadcasters including the BBC, al Jazeera, ABC and Rtvi. For them, it’s an opportunity to make extra money from unused footage, while buyers get one source of global, professional material.

Beamups’ spokeswoman told me this is essentially a business-to-business service, and though they expect that some citizen journalism to make it onto the site it isn’t trying to do the same as sites Demotix, which focus very much on the amateur consumer market. Content is sold with a 40 percent commission to Beamups (fairly standard for B2B news content) and the seller decides the price. Terms can be for one-off use by multiple organisations or exclusively. Sellers get their own store and build up ratings much like eBay (NSDQ: EBAY) and don’t have to pay a subscription to join.

Beamups is fronted by former News Corp (NYSE: NWS) Europe senior vice president Dean Stewart, and was founded by two documentary cameramen, Boaz Eshtai and Yosi Romano - who grew tired of always having to hand over the rights to their work for the BBC, APTN, the Discovery (NSDQ: DISAB) Channel and National Geographic. Their most widely distributed work wouldn’t make them a proportionate amount of money, while some of their best work would sometimes not find a suitable slot at all.

“As freelance budgets and crew sizes are shrinking, we wanted to open up the news market to offer an international distribution model that gives professional journalists precious access to newsrooms around the world,” said Eshtai.

Source: http://www.paidcontent.co.uk

B2b Market Place for Wooden Handicrafts Launch of The Largest Online Hub for Wooden Handicrafts

2009-06-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

This is the one stop platform for all those who are looking for detailed knowledge of the various handicrafts associations along with wood crafts trade leads and wood craft publications. Some of the core areas of competencies include antique wood crafts, garden decoratives, wooden corporate gifts, wooden furniture, wooden kitchen accessories, wooden shutters and wooden toys and games.

Also find general information on the handicrafts with special emphasis on the industrial resources and industry overview with an insight on the various factors affecting the market growth of wooden handicrafts. The manufacturing regions, export import policies and production process has also been discussed at length. Here one can also find vivid collection of wood carvings, wood crafts and wood finishes.

The provision for receiving free quotes for wooden handicrafts also makes this B2B marketplace very palpable. You not only are capable to post buying or sourcing requirements for free but can also get multiple quotes directly from authentic wooden handicrafts manufacturers and suppliers. One can also send free request regarding the buying requirement along with other details to get responses from genuine globals sellers or suppliers, for free. Helpful tips related to the wooden handicrafts industry is also disseminated on a regular basis.

Exclusive range of wooden candle holders, wooden letters, wooden name plates, wooden bowls, wooden scoops and wooden planters along with their images, highlights and possible usage, have also been displayed on the website.

Source: http://www.enewswire.co.uk

B2B marketing moving dollars online

2009-06-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

One of the trends coming out of the recession appears to be the shift to online marketing for many b2b companies with a recent report backing up that theory.

eMarketer reports that a joint study from MarketingProfs and Forrester Research finds that two-thirds of respondents say their budgets would stay the same or increase in 2009. However, while these companies are not decreasing their marketing spending, they are shifting where their dollars go.

The report finds that 47 percent of b2b companies said they plan to increase spending on search engine marketing (SEM) this year while 34 percent said they will increase spending on blogs, according to eMarketer.

In fact, blogs appear to be the biggest winner in this study with only 7 percent of b2b companies saying they plan to cut their budget allocations to blogs. By contrast, 55 percent said they will cut spending on print advertising - the largest percentage on the list.

A report earlier this month from Outsell found that 74 percent of small b2b advertisers will increase or maintain spending in 2009 with another 60 percent of large b2b advertisers expected to do the same. Much of these dollars will end up going to online marketing with the report finding that the category will see an 8.2 percent increase over 2008.

Source: http://www.komarketingassociates.com

B2BTradeWorld.com: A Smart Business-to-Business Tool

2009-06-09T23:44:00.000-07:00

The www.b2btradeworld.com is a business-to-business portal gives you a platform to improve your company’s productivity in both the factors of revenue and growth. B2b trade world is a creative and an online B2B portal from India. Our company was established in 2007 and has attained the position of India’s biggest online B2B portal. B2B trade world is a great platform with latest features, which carry out electronic business and manage significant parts of corporate business processes.

www.b2btradeworld.com is one of the India’s well-known and fast-growing B2B Trade Portal, perfect for suppliers and buyers from small and medium-sized businesses all over the India including manufacturers, importers, exporters, purchasing departments, procurement agents, trading companies, distributors, retailers etc. We are committed to providing effective and efficient services that meet or exceed the expectations of our members. Free memberships are available for buyers and suppliers, paid Premium Suppliers (Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum) are also available.

Our emphasis has always been on quality of visitors rather than quantity.

B2btradeworld.com contains unique database and rich information with databases of millions of buyers, sellers, agents, distributors, retailers and wholesalers.

SOME SPECIAL ADVANTAGES TO BE WITH US:

Companies can reduce their costs by overcoming mediators.
Cost of selling and marketing can also be reduced.
Selling cycle is shortened.
Through JIT (just in time) delivery the company can have the track of good as to which place it has reached with the help of electronic commerce.
Companies can get an easy and instant access to thousands of prospective buyers and sellers. This gives the company an opportunity to expand its business by finding new customers and suppliers from this new community and thereby companies can get every chance to expand their business operations dramatically.
Buyers can study, compare and research a product offered on a marketplace without leaving the marketplace. This ability gives key information necessary to make a faster purchasing decision helps.

UNIQUE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Business Directory (Exclusive database of manufacturers, suppliers and exporters worldwide)
Trade offers (Post buying and selling offers)
My B2B World (personalized virtual office of all services)
Industry News (provides latest updates from niches market )
Email Marketing
SEO services (Search Engine Optimization)
Reconstruction of present company’s website
Offering feature of “lead on demand” for exports and imports
Advertise with us (Brand Creation, Brand promotion and Brand Make over)

This is an online business where you can market your companies’ product online and offline. This provides you a link to the global market to sell and buy your product.

B2B Trade Links Pvt Ltd

F-8, Krishna Tower, Opp. Sachin Tower,

100 Ft. Ring Road, Satellite,

Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380015, India

Phone: +91-79-40067776

Email: info@b2btradeworld.com

Website: http://www.b2btradeworld.com

Online marketing takes slight dip in first quarter

2009-06-09T23:35:00.000-07:00

Although all industries have suffered during the recession, a new report finds that the online advertising market saw only a slight decline in the first quarter of this year.

According to the report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), online advertising revenues reached $5.5 billion during the first quarter of 2009 - a 5 percent drop from the same period in 2008.

Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of IAB, says that because online marketing has become a line item for many companies it is susceptible to market conditions, but he expects the industry to rebound throughout 2009 as people continue to spend more time online.

"For this, and other reasons, interactive media continues to gain share of marketing spend. We're confident that growth will resume as the U.S. economic climate improves," he said. "Interactive advertising is the most accountable way to reach consumers - and in this economy, digital media will be a core component of any successful marketing campaign."

A joint study last month from MarketingProfs and Forrester Research shows good signs for the business-to-business online marketing community. According to the report, 47 percent of b2b companies said they plan on increasing spending on search engine marketing this year.

Source: http://www.komarketingassociates.com

Growth in Non Print Products Offsets B2B Revenue Decline

2009-06-09T23:28:00.000-07:00

Revenue growth in online, live events and data products helped to offset declines in B2B magazine revenue in 2008, according to American Business Media's 2009 Media Financial Survey, as reported in Publishing Executive.

Among the companies participating in the survey, B2B revenue dropped 2.2 per cent in 2008 as opposed to 2007. Profitability declined even further: B2B media company contribution (revenue less operating expenses) dropped 7.8 per cent. The 2008 revenue and profitability figures however, remain above 2006 figures due to large gains in 2007.

Despite an overall decline in 2008 there were several key revenue categories that showed gains such as online revenue which showed the strongest growth, up 15.1 per cent in 2008 and rising at a compound annual growth rate of 26.8 per cent from 2006 to 2008. Online display and search advertising, which accounts for more than 50 per cent of total online revenue, gained 12.4 per cent in 2008 and grew at a compound annual growth rate of 30.7 per cent since 2006.

Trade Shows, the third largest revenue stream for B2B publishers, behind magazines and online grew 4.3 per cent in 2008, among those companies participating in the study and at a compound annual growth rate of 25.4 per cent from 2006 to 2008. Revenue from data and conferences also increased 7.0 per cent and 9.9 per cent respectively. Custom publishing revenue has remained relatively flat.

Magazines were the weakest performers, showing an 8.4 per cent decrease and a 3.9 per cent decline on a compound annual growth rate basis over the three year period.

As for profit performance, all major B2B media company revenue categories, except for magazines, for participating publishers increased on a contribution basis in 2008 and across the three year period of 2006 to 2008. Key magazine operating costs such as ad sales, editorial and production have not declined in line with revenue, and therefore, have negatively affected magazine contribution, which dropped 26.8 per cent in 2008 as opposed to 2007 and at a compound annual growth rate of 16.5 per cent from 2006 to 2008.

Source: http://www.mediabiznet.com.au

Trade mission to tap garment sector in Syria & Jordan

2009-06-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

The Taiwan External Trade and Development Council (TAITRA) has sent a trade mission to Syria and Jordan with the objective to increase bilateral trade, with special emphasis being laid on the garment manufacturing and electronic cable sector.

It is estimated that US $4 million worth of trade orders will be signed by the trade mission. TAITRA intends to build on Taiwan's success in tapping into the garment manufacturing in particular and pipe industries in Syria.

Bi-lateral trade with Syria in 2009 touched $166 million, up 26 percent from that in 2007, which is however, well below Taiwan's bilateral trade with Jordan, even though Jordan's population is less than one-third of Syria's.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com

New LifeShirt to address data & usability gaps in RPM market

2009-06-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

VivoMetrics Inc, a leading innovator in remote patient monitoring (RPM), announced the first complete prototype of their next generation LifeShirt for the remote monitoring of patients' vital signs by healthcare professionals. The new LifeShirt has significant advantages over currently available monitoring technologies, dramatically simplifying the way in which key vital sign data is collected and transmitted to remote care providers. The system also provides a more complete understanding of patient health status by continuously collecting and fusing multiple vital signs into a validated, actionable health index--helping transform healthcare through the practical realization of telemedicine.

The next generation LifeShirt incorporates cutting-edge sensor technology and wireless data transmission into a lightweight, comfortable "smart garment" that eliminates the need for patients to operate multiple, discrete monitoring devices at specific times or to manually transmit vital sign data to those remotely managing their care. The system will passively and continuously collect electrocardiogram (ECG), respiratory, and temperature data in context with posture and activity levels and automatically transmit that data via cellular networks or Bluetooth to their healthcare providers.

VivoMetrics' new LifeShirt will nearly eliminate patient involvement in their own vital sign monitoring, requiring the user to simply wear the garment.

Numerous studies confirm the potential of RPM initiatives to improve outcomes for patients with chronic diseases and reduce the net cost of their care. It is estimated that savings resulting from RPM will reach $200 billion over the next 25 years in the United States alone. However, an April 2009 report by Datamonitor notes that available telehealth technology will need to improve in terms of reliability and ease-of-use in order for adoption to increase.

VivoMetrics' intent is to address these needs with the next generation LifeShirt and help make the full promise of RPM a reality.

"VivoMetrics has been a true innovator in remote monitoring technologies," says Kent Tonkin, assistant director of information technology at St. Francis University's Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-served Areas (CERMUSA), a federally funded program that has begun a partnership with VivoMetrics and is dedicated to improving access to healthcare. "Solutions like LifeShirt can help us reach our goals of providing better lives and lower healthcare costs for our neighbors."

In addition to simplifying how vital sign data is collected, VivoMetrics also intends to transform how healthcare professionals can utilize this data in caring for their remote patients. In partnership with OBS Medical (Carmel, IN), VivoMetrics is adapting hospital-proven decision-assist software to fuse data from multiple vital signs into a single index of health status that will provide actionable insights into a patient's wellbeing and enable caregivers to proactively intervene in their care.

"The challenge for us is quite clear. If patients and providers aren't completely comfortable with monitoring technology, they won't use it," says Howard R. Baker, VivoMetrics' president and chief executive officer. "The key to strong adoption and sustainability in the RPM space will be highly dependent on both patient and provider compliance. It's exciting for us to be able to draw upon over 10 years of experience acquiring quality data in a vast array of ambulatory environments. We're creating solutions that address the enormous cost of caring for a population that is growing older and experiencing increasing rates of chronic illness."

The first integrated prototypes of the new LifeShirt have been assembled and tested, and VivoMetrics expects to begin collecting clinical data later this year.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com

Faction Media Selected As 'Best of the Best' for B2B Cross-Media Marketing Campaign

2009-06-09T21:42:00.000-07:00

DENVER, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Faction Media, a full-service digitally led marketing agency based in Denver, has been recognized by the marketing community at the XMPie Users Conference in Las Vegas. Faction's work for tw telecom was the winner of the 2009 Best of the Best Award -- the integrated, cross-media campaign was hailed for its creativity and unique approach in leveraging emerging technologies and driving campaign results.

"We wanted to do something that had never been done before. With the explosion of emerging technologies and channels available, there are so many possibilities to be unique, creative and more relevant than ever before. We built a campaign that took advantage of paid search, e-mail, variable direct mail, dynamically generated video and database driven Web content to tell the tw telecom story," said Aaron Batte, Founder and Director of Account Services at Faction.

The campaign was targeted at key telecommunications and IT decision-makers with the goal of generating qualified high-value leads, increasing overall revenue, gaining market share, and raising brand awareness. The strategy called for a highly personalized conversational experience for each prospect. Each individual was encouraged to use the Web's many facets including e-mail, search engine interaction, Web browsing, dynamic streaming video, to reflect how a high-speed network connection from tw telecom can change the way they do business.

"At the heart of this campaign's success was our ability to engage the audience in a unique and surprisingly entertaining way, enhancing their experience through multiple points of personalization," added Dave Greves, Founder and Account Strategist.

The annual XMPie Best of the Best Award recognizes marketing campaigns that, using the XMPie technology, have significantly impacted overall business effectiveness, leveraged measurement of response metrics, utilized best practices of data integration and presented overall creative excellence. XMPie is a software business unit of Xerox(R) Corporation.

Faction Media

Faction Media is a full-service digitally led communications agency that helps clients compete, evolve and grow in an increasingly complex and fragmented marketplace. Faction provides digital strategy, audience insight, creative services, interactive development, search marketing, performance analytics and marketing optimization to Fortune 1000 companies including some of the largest and most innovative businesses in the World.

Faction Media's Unified Marketing(TM) approach combines new and evolving interactive tools with traditional channels to identify, build and execute the most effective and successful brand and demand generation campaigns. A commitment to performance accountability, technology, and creative innovation has defined Faction Media's place as a leader in Business-to-Business communications and marketing.

Source: http://news.prnewswire.com

E-Commerce in Textile and Apparel-A FUTURE TREND

2009-06-08T22:12:00.000-07:00

E-commerce is an exemplary concept in the future of textile and apparel industry. It is playing a major role in the present scenario of textile and apparel industry. It is also very significant that the future of textile and apparel industry is complete only with E-commerce. Diverse e-commerce applications are being implemented in the textile and apparel supply chain. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the capacity to make extravagant amounts of information available to users located in various parts of the world. ICTs also facilitate rapid communication between them. One application of these technologies is in the development of e-commerce to support electronic trading.

E-Commerce A New Concept and Scope

E-commerce can be specified as any form of economic activity conducted through computer-mediated networks. The potential of e-commerce caught public's attention as a result of ventures such as the electronic bookshop. As a result there are a growing number of other Internet-based retailers in the business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce area. However, business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce is growing much more quickly than B2C forms of electronic trading. E-commerce is a new and exciting technology, attracting much interest. It has the power of fundamentally changing the ways in which companies do business. It is having a profound effect on the management of the supply chain. Aspects of e-commerce are much diversified.

E-commerce has a large impact on industry as a whole, including aspects associated with Business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in companies practicing electronic commerce. Two basic modes of organizing such companies have emerged. The first is creating a "brick-and-mortar" company, by installing an e-commerce division. The second is initiation of an enterprise as an electronic commerce company (dot.com), without previous organizational links to a traditional "brick-and-mortar" organization. Both modes of corporate practice of electronic commerce require redesign, recalibration, and even restructuring of key organizational dimensions. In such companies, there is also a question of applicability of traditional organizational dimensions to this new format of conducting commerce. As electronic markets and electronic commerce proliferate, there has been a marked increase in scientific studies of this phenomenon.

The emerging conventional wisdom suggests that electronic commerce is different enough to warrant an in-depth examination of traditional organization design in the present global scenario; e-commerce and e-business have increasingly become a necessary component of business strategy. E-commerce also acts as a strong catalyst for economic development. The integration of information and communications technology (ICT) in business has heavily improved inter organization relationships and intra organizational relationships. Specifically, the use of ICT in business has improved productivity, encouraged greater customer participation, and enabled mass customization and has also reduced costs. With the help of developments in the Internet and Web-based technologies, distinctions between traditional markets and the global electronic marketplace are gradually being narrowed down. The strategic positioning, the ability of a company to determine emerging opportunities and utilize the necessary human capital skill is the main aim of each and every firm. To make the most of these opportunities through an e-business strategy that is simple, workable and practicable within the context of a global information milieu and new economic environment is the focus of e-commerce. E-commerce coupled with the appropriate strategy and policy approach enables small and medium scale enterprises to compete with large and capital-rich businesses.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

A new B2B Marketplace – revolutionary approach towards outsourcing

2009-06-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

www.dataentryprojects.net - an OUTSOURCING portal that made a new wave online in B2B marketplace. It adopts a revolutionary and transparent approach towards outsourcing.

Ahmedabad, IN - June, 6 2009 - A new transparent B2B marketplace – http://www.dataentryprojects.net is making waves amongst outsourcing industry across the globe with its revolutionary approach towards outsourcing. It adopts very transparent approach to help outsourcing service buyers and providers.

It covers the entire spectrum of data entry and back office tasks which is a perfect fit to be outsourced viz. data entry, administrative support, data processing, data conversion, word processing, web research, typing services, claim processing, scanning and indexing, mailing list development and much more.

“It has attracted thousands of visitors in precedent two days” said CEO. Many businesses are preferring www.dataentryprojects.net for their back office outsourcing over many other project portals. Experts envisage that it will be “next Google of outsourcing”.

The portal works in an awfully easy manner:

Service Buyers - How It Works?

• E-mail your project description/requirements on projects@dataentryprojects.net or post it on site FREE.

• An editorial team will put your project on DataEntryProjects.

• Project alert email will be sent to all registered providers.

• Services providers searching for the projects will examine your project's details.

• If any provider is interested in undertaking your project, then he will contact you directly.

Service Buyers - Benefits

• Service is absolutely FREE. NO Middleman, NO Fees, NO Commission.

• No need to search for freelance service providers or companies. There are hundreds of services providers visiting the website daily.

• Your project being considered by a variety of skilled service providers locally, nationally, and globally.

• Choice to select your preferred provider based on capability, costs and talent.

• All service providers are pre-screened, so only authentically skilled service providers will get in touch with you.

• No obligation on your part to award the project.

Service Providers - How it Works?

• Register/Sign up on website http://www.dataentryprojects.net absolutely FREE.

• Search projects from the categories you prefer.

• Purchase contact details of the outsourcing services buyers associated with projects.

• Get connected to unlimited outsourcing services buyers.

Service Providers - Benefits

• Absolutely FREE registration.

• Free listing of company / freelancer profile.

• Providing verified leads.

• Save time and resources in finding buyers.

• Cut down marketing overheads.

• Build international clientele. Get projects locally, nationally and globally.

The portal also introduces various membership plans that suit every freelancers / companies’ budget and need.

The portal is muck talked in the outsourcing industry and many businesses sees it as a one stop solution for their back office outsourcing which saves valuable time wasted in bidding process.

Source: http://ecommwire.com/

Imported Kids Apparels from China - Are they Toxic?

2009-06-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

How safe are the clothes we buy for our 'small people'? A report states that imported clothing from China contains unacceptable levels of toxic chemicals.

Chemicals residues on clothing are hazardous to human health. Increasing concern about global awareness has sparked the consumer's desire for organic clothing, leading more and more people to choose the nature's life style. Utmost care should be taken in the purchase of kids clothing. It should be kept in mind that they should be non toxic, eco friendly and free from chemicals, and skin irritants. A report states the shocking fact that the children's clothes imported from China contain excessive chemical content that can harm the kids.

The provincial quality and technology supervision administration has discovered the shocking fact that out of all the garments imported from China; only 53.5% meet with the safety standards. An inside information states that the garments included false information about the raw materials, color fastness, and also had excessive content of the chemical formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is commonly used in garments as an embalming fluid to give a 'permanent press' look. Excessive content of this chemical in our clothes can cause irritation in eyes, skin, nose, and result in respiratory problems, and diseases like cancer. It can also result in headaches, skin rashes, nausea, and chronic fatigue. Just by simply touching those products, or breathing the formaldehyde they release into the air, can cause intense symptoms.

Two years ago, New Zealand's Ministry of Consumer Affairs were investigating claims that clothes with high level of formaldehyde were imported from China and sold in their country. Tests conducted on these clothing revealed levels of formaldehyde in Chinese made clothing up to 900 times more than the level known to affect humans. The Chinese made flannelette pyjamas claiming to be low fire danger has also proved futile. (Source: http://www.abc.net.au). Earlier a worldwide recall of Chinese toys was made due to high lead content. An investigative New Zealand television show revealed that 500 times more than the safe amount of formaldehyde was found in the woolen and cotton clothes imported from China.

Researches supported by the WHO (World Health Organization) states that 20 parts per million of formaldehyde is enough to be hazardous to human health. Europe has limited the chemical residue in kids clothing to a maximum of 30ppm.

If China is to increase the quality of materials and processes, it will simultaneously increase the cost of goods. Profits would be less and Chinese products would be less competitive. Entry of low cost manufacturers from China into the global market, who are less aware of the chemical risks, product regulations, safety, and childrens health, is likely to pose a serious threat.

This induces a growing concern about the Chinese clothing. Stricter regulations are needed regarding garments, especially for children's clothing.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

Strategies to protect your profits

2009-06-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

Mr Tito Mboweni - Governor of SA Reserve Bank - has cautioned South Africans to fasten their belts, as we've officially hit our first recession in 17 years. Our economy shrunk by 6,4% in the first quarter of 2009 on compared to a contraction of 1,8% in the fourth quarter.

Trimming overheads is not the only way to weather the current economic downturn. And desperate times do not always call for desperate measures so don't be too reactive when faced with the negative economic news in the media.

Rather assess your organisation's performance across the various marketing departments and initiate some of the following profit protection strategies. That way you'll reduce the effects of the economic downturn in ways that go beyond profit-threatening cost cutting.

Focus your strategy and competitive advantage

Snap out of any fearful paralysis and take another look at your business goals and marketing strategies. Trim out all the "luxurious" marketing activities and focus your valuable resources on core activities that will get results in these times. Importantly, make sure that your brands offer additional value to your customers.

Keep an eagle eye on your competition

Consistently monitor your competitive by regularly reviewing their product offerings, advertising communications, price points, websites and press coverage. Be sure you are always aware of their new products, promotions and strategic moves.

Reassess your objectives and prioritise

Create a special strike force to monitor key indicators and be sure your marketing and sales teams are perfectly aligned with your key objectives and with each other. Do this by creating an approved list of marketing priorities and ensure everyone is on the same page. Also identify your best performing employees and look after them.

Have a strong online presence

And sweat your website to become a hard working business tool. Be sure its optimised, user-friendly, easy to navigate and that your content is always current. You do not have to have an expensive website but make sure you have the basics in place.

Lead by example

During tough times managers have to stay positive and convey a positive and confident message to your staff and your clients. And be sure that you nurture your relationships with key accounts if you're a B2B brand or your existing and potential customers if a consumer brand.

Be brand-centricTM

The brand-centricTM approach is the process of entrenching your brand and it's values within your organisation and in your communications to your customers. This means encouraging your employees to live by your brand values and creating the appropriate infrastructure to enable this. It also means ensuring that all your brand messaging communicates those values at all touch points with your consumers.

Enhance customer relationships

Nurture your relationships with your current customers. Stay in contact with them via direct channels such as SMS, emails and maintain your above the line presence. For example, Vespa SA has initiated a Vespa community and organises regular Vespa Club Runs. It also keeps potential Vespa clients and current clients updated with news, offers and events in a monthly e-newsletter called the "Vespa Sting".

Offer potential clients with guarantees

A believable guarantee will make it safe for prospects to give your organisation a try. This will work for consumer brands and B2B brands.

Maximise call to action and cross sell

Provide vouchers and sampling opportunities as often as possible to the right target market. Offer incentives to purchase and actively cross-sell related products.

Capture new customers and steal market share

Publish customer testimonials and success stories on your website. Make use of word-of-mouth and viral techniques. This can be done by calling for feedback either via your call centre or your website - a good way to create awareness of your positive brand experiences and for finding out your weaknesses.

Yes its official, South Africa is in an economic recession, but make sure it doesn't become a psychological one as this could snowball into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Rather turn your attention back to marketing your brands using smart, prudent methods. That way you will ensure that your business and your goals don't contract and will pass through this downturn stronger than ever before.

Source: http://www.moneyweb.co.za/

The Israeli Diamond Industry Sees Economic Crisis as Opportunity for Innovative Marketing

2009-06-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

The Israeli Diamond Industry, one of the major stakeholders ofIsrael's economy, has found a unique way to deal with the global economicmeltdown. Instead of freezing marketing activities and pulling advertisingdollars, the Israeli Diamond Industry is investing huge efforts in reachingout to clients, using both new and traditional marketing tools.

"We see the economic crisis as an opportunity, not a problem,"said Eli Avidar, Managing Director of the Israel Diamond Institute Group ofCompanies (IDI). "The key to success in this economic climate is to adoptassertive and sometimes unconventional strategies in marketing, managementand development." That is, in his words "Do the unexpected."

Avidar and his team have created a 10-stage B2B strategicmarketing program dubbed, 'Together Works', which is being rolled outthroughout 2009. The plan is geared to helping Israeli diamantaires andIsrael's trading partners throughout the world. Avidar said, "IDI isproviding tools necessary to help diamond companies survive and even thriveduring these difficult times. Our message is clear: The Israeli DiamondIndustry reaches out to its international trading partners. By workingtogether we can all benefit."

So far IDI has launched four stages of 'Together Works,' with thelatest inaugurated on May 31, 2009 at a press conference at the JCK Show inLas Vegas, the largest jewellery trade show for the U.S. market.

With this stage IDI is making use of the power of social networksand Web 2.0 to promote Israeli diamonds. At the press conference IDIpreviewed 38 video spots especially created for YouTube. In addition, theInstitute said that IDI was actively using social networks such as Twitterand Facebook, and has gone online with The Israeli Diamond Industry blog.This is in addition to its flagship diamond portal in English, Chinese,Russian and Hebrew. IDI's plan is to develop an online B2B community whichwill create a place for the industry to share ideas and communicate directlywith Ramat Gan.

Earlier stages of 'Together Works' launched a major print andonline advertising campaign in leading trade publications and websites.Moreover, in the United States IDI introduced a 24/7 toll-free number,1-888-42-WORKS, for ongoing and new clients to reach out with their immediatediamond needs. These are uploaded in real time to IDI's online portal and allIsraeli diamond companies will receive text messages updating them on the newdemands. IDI also launched "CALL ASIA", a unique call centre that initiatesdirect contact with a massive database of Asian B2B diamond buyers everyweek to ask for their specific diamond needs. Here too the information isinstantly uploaded on to the IDI portal and Israeli diamond suppliers arenotified by text message.

As a further benefit to diamond partners in the United States,IDI has launched a new seasonal magazine, Reflections - Diamonds. Fashion.Trends. Clearly. Reflections focuses on the latest in styles, trends, andcelebrity jewellery. It is distributed free of charge as a handout forcustomers to over 10,000 retailers in the United States in order to boostdiamond sales. Reflections can also be accessed online through IDI's portalsite at http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/Reflections.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/

TAITRA Features Recession Beating Global B2B Tools on Taiwantrade

2009-06-05T22:02:00.001-07:00

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) features recession beating B2B tools on Taiwantrade. Designed to meet the rapidly changing requirements of global trading during challenging times, Taiwantrade provides instant access to B2B commerce tools to international small and medium enterprises who are members. Taiwantrade is going to launch a promotion to offer free memberships and elite bonus to all worldwide suppliers and buyers next week.

Essential tools include an electronic bulletin board showcases numerous buy and sell business opportunities posted by Taiwantrade members from around the world, and alerts for new products, biz exchange trade leads, new suppliers, special offers, and trade-related news. Taiwantrade also provides an extensive business and trade database. A personalized homepage will highlight exactly the information that was specified while signing up as a member.

Taiwanese companies play a major global role in supplying the world’s requirements in sectors such as electronics, communications, computers, auto parts, and motorcycles. Associations representing these industries work closely with Taiwantrade to enable global buyers and suppliers to obtain the latest information on products and manufacturing services offered by these Taiwanese enterprises.

In 2008, TAITRA organized 28 international trade shows, provided services to 10,072 local and foreign exhibitors. TAITRA updated a domestic suppliers' database that features more than 240,000 companies, and established a foreign buyers' database that includes more than 1.12 million companies. TAITRA provided enterprise-portal services over 30,000 companies, compiled 240,000 pieces of new electronic product catalogs, initiated 706,600 trade leads, and racked up 7,668,176 visits to the Taiwantrade and TAITRA websites. TAITRA also sponsored 68 promotional seminars concerning eMarketing, increased foreign company members by 27,364, and organized 23 international online trade shows. Plus, TAITRA arranged 915 purchasing tours for foreign buyers to come to Taiwan.

Mr. Yuen-Chuan Chao, the President and CEO of TAITRA stated that “The e-Procurement Site service of Taiwantrade helped foreign buyers and sellers create 54 global business transactions in 2008, of which value reached up to US$800 million. We are redoubling our efforts in 2009 to overcome the challenges of the difficult times. Taiwantrade is a major component in our strategies.”

With the B2B commerce tools on Taiwantrade, it has never been easier for worldwide buyers and sellers to locate online vital global trade information that exponentially increases business opportunities.

About Taiwantrade

Taiwantrade is an interactive e-business portal designed to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with immediate access to B2B e-commerce activities, and to help them gain a digital edge over their competitors worldwide. Backed by a wealth of trade promotion resources and strong support from different trade and industry associations, e-marketplaces, and popular trade websites, Taiwantrade offers the utmost online trade and promotion services. Taiwantrade is sponsored by the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and administered by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/

B2b Market Place for Wooden Handicrafts Launch of The Largest Online Hub for Wooden

2009-06-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.enewswire.co.uk/

B2B marketplace tool targeted at SMEs

2009-06-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

The tool will be initially launched in India and United Kingdom followed by other English speaking countries.

Source: http://www.ciol.com/

Bharti-Del Monte JV launches wide range of F&B products in India, to invest Rs.100 crore in new processing unit

2009-06-04T23:13:00.000-07:00

New Delhi - India's Bharti Enterprises have teamed up with Philippine-based Del Monte Pacific Ltd. to launch a wide range of Del Monte food products, including beverages, packaged fruits and ketchup.

The 50:50 joint venture - FieldFresh Foods - will invest Rs.100 crore to set up a food processing unit at Hosur in Tamil Nadu where it would produce beverages and processed food from 2010. However, packaged fruits, like pineapple, will continue to be imported from Del Monte till the Hosur unit can be expanded.

The venture will also invest in research and development (R&D) in a 300-acre company-owned land in Punjab.

"We are geared to break new ground in the food and beverage (F&B) market in India. Besides establishing a strong retail presence, we plan to leverage growth avenues in the B2B segment. I am optimistic that our plans will propel us to be one of the top two F&B companies in India by 2014," said Sanjay Nandrajog, CEO, FieldFresh Foods.

The F&B market in India holds great potential. While AT Kearney estimates the market sales of food and beverage retailing in India at $135 billion and growing at 10-15 percent annually, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has come out with a vision document that lists out a plan to double the market size of the food processing industry to Rs.8,20,000 crore by 2009-10 and trebling it to Rs.13,50,000 crore by 2014-15.

"We are delighted to bring Del Monte to India. This is a significant milestone for the company as we make our entry into the processed food and beverage segment. We will invest much more as we outline other products in future growth. Our plan to bring in significant investment to set up a modern production facility underlines our commitment to the development of the processed foods sector in India and our intent to emerge as a leading player," said Rakesh Mittal, vice chairman and managing director, Bharti Enterprises.

"India's fast expanding economy, evolving consumer needs, and the emergence of organized retail offer tremendous opportunities for growth. We want to be in top 10 (Indian processed food) companies in the next five years," he said when asked about the joint venture's growth plans. "The journey has just begun."

"We take great pride in being associated with a company like Bharti which will help us establish a strong foothold and penetration in the Indian market. Our endeavor is to provide world class products in all our markets including India and we have taken the first steps into the Indian retail market with a clear vision of capturing the consumer's imagination with our range of innovative products. Indian consumers will be able to experience international quality products, for which Del Monte is known the world over. We look forward to leveraging our skill and knowledge and also draw from the experience that Bharti has gained in creating a great business in India," said Joselite D. Campos Jr., managing director and CEO, Del Monte Pacific, which holds exclusive rights to produce and distribute food and beverage products under the Del Monte brand in the Indian sub-continent.

Initially Del Monte products would be sold in 15 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune by the end of this year and later be expanded into 25 cities across India.

The unlisted FieldFresh Foods was set up in 2004 to supply fresh fruits and vegetables and counts food retailers and supermarkets such as Easy Day, Big Bazaar, 24/7, More and Big Apple among it clients.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/

The Importance of Website Conversion

2009-06-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

Many companies make the mistake of spending money in areas where it's not necessary. Take, for example, companies pumping marketing dollars into increasing traffic on the website. It's great to get more traffic, but that is just the first step. Now you need that traffic to do something.

Website Conversion Defined

The percentage of total visitors who come to the website, follow through after clicking on the company's desired point of action (POA) and submit information, download a demo, make a purchase, etc. is the definition of website conversion. In an e-commerce application, multiple visitors will add items to their shopping carts, but a smaller percentage will actually make the purchase. The percentage of visitors that completes the transaction signifies the conversion rate for the website. In a lead-generating application, multiple visitors will follow a path that you desire for them to follow (at first), but will not complete the form, download, etc. The percentage that does signifies the conversion rate.

In order to boost the website conversion rate, companies need to determine why potential customers drop out at certain points in the process and eliminate these roadblocks in order to increase sales. Clearly defined POAs, intuitive navigation, and simple checkout processes all make it easier for potential customers to buy, contact, download, or whatever else it is that you want them to do that will lead to a sale.

Point of Action

Basically, the POA on your website is what you want visitors to do initially. Many websites will have more than one POA, so POAs are further broken down into primary, secondary, and even tertiary POAs. A primary POA (usually the most profitable action for a user to take) might be completing a purchase on the site while a secondary POA might be signing up for the site's email newsletter announcing weekly specials. As a general rule, the marketing department (not the web designers) in consultation with sales should decide what the primary and secondary POAs will be.

Some websites have no clear POA and mainly serve as 'brochure-ware.' If a website doesn't have clear POAs that guide users toward taking specific, valuable actions, those users are of course less likely to become purchasers.

Take Rate

The number (or percentage) of visitors who show interest in your POA (i.e. click on a link to visit the site's contact form), comprise your take rate. Say a B2B website is highlighting its downloadable demo as its POA; a visitor might click on that link to get to a download page. Whether or not they actually follow through with the download has no bearing on the take rate - the take rate merely demonstrates that there was enough interest for them to take the POA.

On an e-commerce site, for instance, a visitor who adds a product to his shopping basket has taken the first step toward the company's desired POA, but the potential purchaser may not complete the transaction.

There are many ways to improve the take rate of a website. One of the biggest ways is to simply make it very clear to visitors, on every page of your site, what you want them to do. Whether this is to purchase, to contact, to download, to sign up, or any number of other actions, make it clear and prominent for the visitor. No matter where they are on your site when they decide they are ready to take that POA, your site should make it easy for them to do so.

Website Conversion Rate

The actual website conversion rate is the ratio equal to the number of people who actually convert on the site versus the overall number of visitors to the site for a given period. If, for example, 3 out of every 100 visitors to your B2B site filled out a contact form (and that form was your only POA) your website conversion rate would be 3%.

Obviously, improving your take rate will also improve your conversion rate, since more people will be coming to the form, download page, purchase page, etc. But there are many things you can do to increase the likelihood that people will convert after they have taken the initial POA. Keeping contact forms short and only asking for the minimal information you need is one way. Having a prominent and clear privacy policy or encryption policy can also help. The important thing to recognize is that a large number of people who demonstrate an interest in your products or services by clicking on your POA may not follow thorough, and it is important to determine why and to remove those obstacles.

Putting it Together

There are literally thousands of elements you can change on your website to increase both your take rate and website conversion rate. A/B testing has long been used to determine how changing certain variables affects the conversion and take rates. However, this method is limited to testing one variable at a time if you want to gather the granular metrics from each slight modification. Today, with more sophisticated testing software packages available, multivariate testing, which enables you to test many variables at the same time while still seeing granular results, is becoming more common. Common tests include changing color schemes, tweaking various aspects of navigation, copy, and POAs have all been proven to maximize the take rate, website conversion rate, and subsequently, your revenue and bottom line. Website conversion is all about your visitors - appeal to their needs and desires in a logical, concise way, and you'll see your rates improve.

Source: http://www.techlinks.net/

Indian Manufacturers Suppliers Exporters Directory,Buyers and Sellers,B2b Business Directory India

2009-06-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

Sme.in opened the doors of global access for small and medium enterprises.

We are aware of the fact that every company wants to adopt latest marketing strategies to expand their business. And in today’s internet world, internet marketing strategies are the most sought after form of marketing. But the high costs linked with them makes them beyond the reach of small and medium enterprises. So after taking overview of the entire situation, sme.in was incepted in 2004. This online business directory’s primary objective was to promote the business of SMEs up to global level. This has been a joint venture of SMEBS and MIDC, Maharashtra. This portal is multi lingual, i.e. it is published in 16 international languages. The manufacturers from 177 countries are listed here. So this directory has enhanced product promotion in 177 countries with sixteen languages, which is really impressive

Today this B2B directory celebrates 5 years of its success in providing a cost effective solution for the small and medium enterprise for expanding their business in global market. It has gained a growing recognition from the very year of its launch. It has enjoyed popularity as more and more people got aware of its advanced and unique features.

So this portal has helped the SMEs to get global vicinity and generate prospective business leads from anywhere in the world. This site has actually helped in promoting the concept of globalization of the economy. This user friendly site has brought the global buyers and sellers on a single platform to interact with each other.

Source: http://www.prminds.com/pressrelease.php?id=7301

B2b Market Place for Wooden Handicrafts Launch of The Largest Online Hub for Wood

2009-06-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

Wooden Handicrafts, the B2b marketplace dedicated specifically to the handicrafts industry contains comprehensive information about the various ranges of wooden handicrafts available throughout the world. Browse through the website (http://www.wooden-handicrafts.com/) to get complete information on the suppliers, manufacturers and dealers of wooden manufacturers across the globe.
This is the one stop platform for all those who are looking for detailed knowledge of the various handicrafts associations along with wood crafts trade leads and wood craft publications. Some of the core areas of competencies include antique wood crafts, garden decoratives, wooden corporate gifts, wooden furniture, wooden kitchen accessories, wooden shutters and wooden toys and games.
Also find general information on the handicrafts with special emphasis on the industrial resources and industry overview with an insight on the various factors affecting the market growth of wooden handicrafts. The manufacturing regions, export import policies and production process has also been discussed at length. Here one can also find vivid collection of wood carvings, wood crafts and wood finishes.
The provision for receiving free quotes for wooden handicrafts also makes this B2B marketplace very palpable. You not only are capable to post buying or sourcing requirements for free but can also get multiple quotes directly from authentic wooden handicrafts manufacturers and suppliers. One can also send free request regarding the buying requirement along with other details to get responses from genuine globals sellers or suppliers, for free. Helpful tips related to the wooden handicrafts industry is also disseminated on a regular basis.
Exclusive range of wooden candle holders, wooden letters, wooden name plates, wooden bowls, wooden scoops and wooden planters along with their images, highlights and possible usage, have also been displayed on the website.

Source: http://www.enewswire.co.uk/2009/06/04/b2b-market-place-wooden-handicrafts-launch-largest-online-hub-wooden-handicrafts/

Tex-Styles India, a successful event

2009-06-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

The 15th edition of the premier show Tex-Styles India 2009 concluded on a successful note on March 3, 2009. The annual international event, held at Pragati Maidan during March 1-3, 2009 drew participation from as many as 176 leading Indian manufacturers and exporters of textiles, fabrics, furnishings and fashion accessories in a display area covering over 10,000 sqm.

The products on display included a wide range of fabrics for furnishings, made-ups, accessories, yarns, shawls, fibres etc. The special features of the event, namely, Theme Pavilion, Trend Forum, Fabric Folio, Designers-Gallery and Silk Mark Galleria accentuated the B2B ambience of the fair.

The three-day specialised show of India’s prowess in textiles, witnessed footfalls of 1,355 business persons; which included 545 overseas visitors and 247 buying agents based in India representing leading overseas companies.Despite the prevailing global economic slowdown, the fair generated a business of around Rs.406 million. Reportedly, 80% of the exhibitors have shown interest to participate in the fair next year.

Earlier, the fair was inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit on 1st March, 2009. Also present on the occasion were Dr. Sheela Bhide, Chairman and Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Mr. Rajiv Yadav, Executive Director, ITPO, Mr. A.B. Joshi, Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Mr. K.K. Sinha, CMD, The Handicrafts & Handlooms Exports Corporation of India Ltd., Mr. V.S. Velayutham, Chairman, The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, Mr. K.A. Marrapan, Chairman, Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council, exhibitors, visitors (both from India and abroad) and media persons.

Referring to the intrinsic strength of Indian textiles Industry, Mrs. Dikshit said that the fair provides a startling presentation of the innovations, concepts, colour and development of fabrics which have tremendous export potential. She also applauded ITPO and supporting organizations for hosting the 15th edition of this fair.

The fair was organized by ITPO with the support of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Textiles, Office of the Textile Commissioner, Textiles Committee and all textiles related Export Promotion Councils.

The 16th edition of Tex-Styles India will be held during February 24-27, 2010.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=73367

Welcome to India — We are like that only!

2009-06-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

When Sam Walton opened his first store all those years ago, he had the luxury of being a pioneer and could afford to experiment, make mistakes and perfect the model — without being under the public glare. However, the first store of Bharti Wal- Mart cannot afford this luxury. Apart from being in retail, it is a joint venture with a leading Indian and US corporate. Its every move will be watched and commented upon, second-guessed and debated.

A couple of thoughts came to my mind while reading about the opening of the first store.

First is the name, Best Price Modern Wholesale (BPMW). Phew! That’s quite a mouthful I wonder at the logic behind such a long name that defies most branding principles. Unless the expectation of FDI being allowed in the venture has prompted an interim name which can be changed without much impact on the consumer’s psyche. Even though this is a cash-and-carry with a dedicated B2B customer base, the name does play a role and as of now, it is purely functional and more like a statement. Maybe considerations of a future dispute over the brand name prompted this call? I can only speculate.

Next is the core of any retail enterprise – the sourcing and supply chain. India’s enormous geographical spread makes this a daunting task at best. The existing system of wholesale markets offers an easy and cost-effective alternative to direct sourcing, especially in the grocery and fresh categories. Wal-Mart already has sourcing machinery in India, but that is more for non-food merchandise. The game changer would be to establish a true farm-to-fork chain. Sounds nice on paper — easier said than done.

Grassroots-level sourcing initiatives would be a competitive advantage as long as they are done for grocery, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. If this is limited to the branded products and the non-food that is already being sourced by their global sourcing team, the stores would be just another addition to the retail landscape.

This is typically a chicken-and-egg story. Does a chain first build enough stores to amortise the cost of an elaborate sourcing and supply chain mechanism, or vice versa? The temptation to build stores first is obvious. Revenue flows in from day one. I recently read a news article about how retailers shun direct procurement. I can understand this temptation from the perspective of managing the OPEX. However, this is not what retail is all about and I have written an extensive piece about this on my blog.

I assume that the revised roll-out of stores within a shorter time frame is to leverage their efforts at a comprehensive and grassroots-level sourcing mechanism. However, the proposed $100-million investment seems to be more towards setting up stores, assuming an average set-up cost of $5 million per store. So, where is the money for backward integration?

Next is the issue of India and its peculiarities. It is a unique country and cannot be treated with a cookie-cutter approach. I remember the first hypermarket of a foreign operator that opened in Mumbai. They had an entire run of paints with various shades and pack sizes, no doubt based on their international experience with DIY customers. Did the chain have Indian managers? Of course! Were their inputs taken about Indian consuming habits? Very doubtful. Integrating international best practices with Indian peculiarities is a must-do, without which the best practices would lose their relevance. Be it the number of car parking slots required or the IT systems, India is different and needs an indigenous solution.

BPMW has got the timing right and has a golden opportunity with regard to scripting a new chapter in the Indian retail story. What would actually set it apart would be out-of-the-box solutions for the customers. Value is not only price. In that context, even though the name suggests best price, the stores would become winners by offering holistic value to the customers.

The BPMW team should explore simple but far-reaching ideas to make a positive impact on the businesses of their customers and more importantly explore ideas that create a strong emotional connect. For example, the customers could be offered life insurance for free based on annual purchase slabs. Given that this customer segment usually does not have such a financial safety net, the emotional and actual benefits of such a simple step would have far-reaching implications.

That the existing cash-and-carry stores are now expanding is proof that this format has found acceptance with the B2B customers. Anyway, almost 30 per cent of the small traders purchase from the wholesale market and for them this format is a good alternative.

Hotels and restaurants find tremendous value in the offerings because of the range of food products made available. One of the existing cash-and-carry operators works towards offering specialised food products, including special cuts of meats for its customers. In a way, this is good for BPMW as there is an existing benchmark. They need to match the value offering and better it in the coming years.

The MTV spoof of yesteryear which ends with the line “We are like that only”, about sums up India.

Accepting and managing the environment and consumers should be a key guiding principle. I sincerely hope that the team sheds its legacy of greatness, experiments and finds a brilliant working model for the Indian marketplace.

And in true Indian style, let us welcome this new addition to the Indian retail landscape and wish them well.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/

Live Chat Buyers' Guide for Automotive Dealers:11 Key Questions to Ask any Provider before You Buy

2009-06-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

ActivEngage, the automotive industry's premier provider of proactive live chat with business intelligence for dealer websites, today announced the release of the Live Chat Buyers' Guide, a new eBook for automotive dealers. lEleven Key Questions to Ask any Live Chat Provider before You Buy) helps educate dealers about the most critical requirements for live chat success and details the questions dealers should discuss with any chat vendor. As consumers increasingly use and expect live chat on dealership websites, and more options become available, it is more important than ever for dealers to make the best decision for their dealership needs.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) June 2, 2009 -- ActivEngage, the automotive industry's premier provider of proactive live chat with business intelligence for dealer websites, today announced the release of the Live Chat Buyers' Guide, a new eBook for automotive dealers. Eleven Key Questions to Ask any Live Chat Provider before You Buy helps educate dealers about the most critical requirements for live chat success and details the questions dealers should discuss with any chat vendor. As consumers increasingly use and expect live chat on dealership websites, and more options become available, it is more important than ever for dealers to make the best decision for their dealership needs.

The new eBook guides dealers through the discussion they need to have with chat vendors to ensure success and addresses the best in class technology, service and support capabilities that chat vendors should offer dealerships. The main focus of the Buyers' Guide helps dealers determine whether a chat vendor merely offers IM technology, or a true chat application with business intelligence.

Business intelligence enables the most effective live chat because it allows dealers to leverage knowledge about the customer's behavior, before they engage them in conversation, and it facilitates a high level of personalization that IM technology does not allow. This is key for increased website lead generation. Other questions are designed to help dealers assess how much experience chat vendors have with meeting the unique needs of dealerships, another important determinant of success. The questions also allow dealers to gauge how progressive providers' technical capabilities are and how adept vendors are at integrating chat with other communication channels, in addition to the dealership website.

"Increasingly, dealers now realize the benefits that live chat can offer to enhance customer service and qualified lead generation at the dealership website," commented Todd Smith, ActivEngage co-founder. "We created the eBook Buyers' Guide to help all dealers make the most well-informed purchase decision, based on their particular dealership needs. Effective live chat is not about putting a "click-to-chat" button the website and it's not just about the technology. The best vendors will also offer dealers the business intelligence and services that can easily double or triple website leads when used properly. Live chat is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to increase first-party leads, and that is more important than ever today."

Source: http://www.prweb.com/

451 Marketing Announces the Launch of its "B2B Social Contest"

2009-06-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

Boston, MA (PRWEB) June 1, 2009 -- 451 Marketing, a Boston-based new media communications agency, announced the launch of its "B2B Social Contest" today. To demonstrate the power of social media in generating new business leads for business-to-business (B2B) companies, 451 Marketing will give away a free, 6-month online lead generation campaign (a $42,000 value) to the business that best describes why social media will help it grow.

"We have decided to launch this campaign in direct response to the emergence of social media as an integral component of any B2B marketing campaign," said 451 Marketing Founding Partner AJ Gerritson. "B2B companies now recognize the importance of cultivating leads online through social media marketing and inbound marketing strategies, and we look forward to offering our expertise to the contest's winner."

The contest will run from June 1, 2009 through September 1, 2009. B2B companies that wish to enter the contest must, in an e-mail, describe their company, its mission, product or service, and what differentiates their company from its competitors. Most importantly, they must convey why and how they think social media marketing will positively impact their B2B business. Upon receipt, these e-mail submissions will be posted on The B2B Social Contest Blog.

Companies are encouraged to ask their clients, friends, and colleagues to comment on their company's post. On September 1, 2009, 451 Marketing will tally the total number of comments each post received over the course of the 3 month contest. The five posts with the most comments will be considered finalists, and 451 Marketing will select the winner from this pool.

About 451 Marketing:

451 Marketing is a Boston-based, Inbound Marketing agency that specializes in leveraging new media technologies to generate new business leads for B2B companies. We are experts in social media marketing, search marketing, digital public relations (PR 2.0), and Web site 2.0 design and development. For more information, contact us at moreinfo (at) 451marketing.com.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/

B2B Marketing Moving Dollars Online

2009-06-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

One of the trends coming out of the recession appears to be the shift to online marketing for many b2b companies with a recent report backing up that theory.

Source: http://www.komarketingassociates.com/

Capturing the Value of Content Marketing

2009-06-03T22:06:00.000-07:00

Click on one of your shortened URLs in Twitter, and your analytics may show a referral from Twitter. But if you click on that same shortened URL in a Twitter client like TweetDeck, the click-through will probably show up as a direct visit, because TweetDeck doesn’t pass along the referrer string in the URL. How many other sources of your traffic are like this? Probably more than you think.

Content marketing is very effective for B2B marketers. Think about all of the case studies, white papers, brochures, technical papers, newsletters you have. Likely, many of these assets are in pdf form. They took a lot of time and money to create. When it comes to analytics, you may know how many people download these assets, but you probably have no idea whether these assets help drive people back into your site.

Smart marketers put links into their pdfs. They know many people never print a pdf; they view it electronically. Ideally, links in the pdf drive readers back into your site for deeper engagement. The primary value of these marketing assets isn’t measured by how many people download them. It’s much better measured by whether readers of those assets take further action. Unfortunately, if you’re like most marketers, a click-through from one of these assets shows up as a direct visit. There’s no way to attribute it to your content marketing.

Suppose you’re searching your analytics for prospects. Suddenly, you find five direct visits from a Fortune 500 company in a span of three days. Each visit is fairly long and deep, but it’s also broad; and you really can’t determine their particular interest or what issue prompted that interest. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that these visits came from a particular white paper? That would give you tremendous insight into the visitor’s interest and motivation.

To begin capturing that information, you need to tag the URLs in your links. If you’re using Google Analytics, you can use Google’s URL Builder to append information to the URL. Then use these tagged URLs in the links you put into pdfs and other similar media (e.g. PowerPoint assets you make available). In doing so, you’ll not only be able to track click-through from certain channels of content marketing (e.g., white papers), but you’ll also be able to drill down within that channel to see how much traffic each white papers is driving. If you’re using another analytics platform, find out how to use its tagging capabilities.

If you use shortened URLs in these content marketing assets, make sure you tag your URL before shortening it. Incidentally, you can also do this for your tweets that contain short URLs linking back to your site. That way, in your analytics, you’ll be to identify click-through from people using tools like TweetDeck and distinguish it from direct visits.

Source: http://searchengineland.com/

Hyundai Motor America Reports May 2009 Sales

2009-06-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hyundai Urges Quick Passage of Fleet Modernization Program

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 36,937 vehicles in May, a nine percent increase over April and a 20 percent decline versus a record-setting May 2008.

"Record sales of our new Genesis and Elantra Touring models, and continued strength of core models like the Alabama-built Sonata and Santa Fe, lift our retail market share to its highest level of the year," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America vice president of national sales. "What's even more heartening for us is that May marks the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year monthly retail share gains, even as we've been steadily reducing our incentive spending."

While making its May sales announcement, Hyundai Chief Executive Officer John Krafcik commented on the pending Fleet Modernization program. "While Hyundai has fared better than most others over the last several months, we can't lose sight of the fact that U.S. auto industry sales are now forecast at the lowest levels in 26 years," Krafcik said. "It is imperative that the country move forward with the Fleet Modernization program. Our research shows that one in nine car buyers are delaying their purchases until the legislation is resolved.

"The longer this bill remains stuck in Congress, the greater the pressures placed on all aspects of the U.S. automotive industry - from suppliers to manufacturers to dealers. We urge Congress to move quickly so that American consumers can benefit from this bill during the peak summer buying season," said Krafcik.

More than half of all vehicles sold by Hyundai Motor America are manufactured in the United States at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing in Montgomery, AL. In total, Hyundai directly employs more than 5,000 people in the U.S., with facilities in 14 states across the country. Including its almost 800 dealers and suppliers, Hyundai has created more than 35,000 jobs in the United States.

As Hyundai's market share climbs, so too does the list of awards and accolades. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is both North American Car of the Year and its V8 engine is on Ward's Auto World's "10 Best Engines" list. The Genesis also received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, along with Entourage, Santa Fe and Veracruz.

The Alabama-built 2009 Sonata was the highest ranked Premium Mid-Size Car in AutoPacific's 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, and the Genesis topped the Aspirational Luxury Car category. Hyundai has also increased its lead over the industry average in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study(SM) (VDS).

All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by America's Best Warranty. In addition, the Hyundai Assurance Program is now offered on all new Hyundai's leased or purchased at a participating Hyundai dealership. Hyundai Assurance provides protection from certain income-changing life events, allowing consumers to return their vehicles in the first year of ownership without impacting their credit histories, while covering vehicle depreciation (negative equity) up to $7,500.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 780 dealerships nationwide.

Source: http://sev.prnewswire.com/

Reality Check: Auto component exports may skid

2009-06-02T22:50:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: The bankruptcyfiling by General Motors , the world’s largest carmaker till last year, may hit Indian auto component exports and lead

to surplus capacity and payment delays in the domestic market , say industry experts. GM accounts for a significant chunk of $900 million worth of auto components India exports to US every year.

The exact extent of loss of orders for Indian component makers could not be ascertained. Some component makers said they had cut exposure to GM in the previous months as its bankruptcy became imminent. “As part of its restructuring GM will close 11-12 plants and phase out some models. If a component maker is supplying auto parts to that model or plant, then it would be definitely impacted ,” said Surinder Kapur, chairman and MD of parts maker Sona Group, which sells about 3% of its overall export to GM in the US.

Agreed Shriram Pistons managing director AK Taneja: “The component industry is already facing the a surplus capacity and GM’s restructuring could add to that burden.” Several Indian component makers had insured themselves against loss of orders and delayed payment on account of the US automaker’s bankruptcy.

But many were not able to get insurance cover. Auto Component Makers Association (ACMA) secretary-general Vishnu Mathur said the companies who have not got the insurance cover might face delayed payments. Though some manufacturers such as Rico Auto, which gets 2.5% of its overall export revenues from GM, said they haven’t faced any payment delays yet. Meanwhile, GM India in a press statement clarified that it would continue to operate in the country even as its parent filed for bankruptcy.

GM said it would go ahead with its plan to launch new cars including the mid-size sedan Cruze, a new mini-car (code M300) and an array of alternative fuels cars. Kolkata-based GM India dealer Dulli Chand Motors’ owner Rajesh Sanci said the news has ended several months of uncertainty in the market . “GM has made it clear that its Indian subsidiary is separate from the US and Canadian operations. While customers were a bit wary initially, but there has been no real impact on our retail sales as our average monthly sales of 80-90 cars remains intact.”

Impact minimal, says Sundram

WHEN reports of General Motors filing for bankruptcy trickled in, it deepened the worries of Indian auto-component makers, who were already coping with low demand in the domestic market, reports ET NOW. But TVS group company Sundram Fasteners, which has been supplying radiator caps to GM for the last fifteen years is not worried as it has gradually reduced exposure to the carmaker over the years, a top official said.

“Last year, of our total sales of Rs 1,260 crore, GM contributed Rs 11 crore. At one point, the supply was huge but now it’s less than 1% of revenues. We have diversified our exposure over the years,” Sundram Fasteners chairman and managing director Suresh Krishna said.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

India manufacturing gains strength; PMI rises to 55.7

2009-06-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

The performance of the India manufacturing economy improved further during May, building on the growth seen in April. The domestic market was the main driver of expansion, as foreign demand for Indian manufactures remained weak. A second straight month of output and new order growth led companies to hold off from further workforce rationalization. However, competitive pressures continued to restrain the pricing power of manufacturers. Despite accelerated input price inflation, firms cut their tariffs for the seventh month running.

The headline Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose for the fifth successive month in May to 55.7. It was the highest reading since last September and indicated a marked improvement in the health of India’s manufacturing industry.

Production at Indian manufacturing plants rose at a strong pace during the latest survey period, mirroring a similarly steep increase in incoming new business. However, demand was focused on the home market as new work from abroad was largely unchanged since the previous month. Panel members cited improved (domestic) economic conditions and demand, new product launches, promotional activities and good quality service as the primary reasons for the expansions in output and new work.

Increased workloads led to a build-up of unfinished business during May. It was the fastest increase in outstanding orders since last September. However, the rate of growth was only slight.

With incoming new work and production rising since April, as well as an accumulation of backlogs, Indian manufacturers generally maintained their staffing numbers. Marginal growth in May ended a five-month period of retrenchment.

Buying activity and stock levels at Indian manufacturers were raised in May to accommodate greater demand for their products. Purchasing activity and pre-production stocks increased sharply over the month, and at the fastest rates for nine and 16 months, respectively. Meanwhile, growth of post-production inventories slowed, partly as a consequence of greater-than-anticipated sales levels.

Average lead times for input deliveries were unchanged during May. Where longer delivery times were reported, they were frequently attributed to higher demand for raw materials and short supplies of certain commodities. Where improved vendor performance was noted, more efficient order processing and the better availability of transport were mentioned.

Purchasing costs in India’s manufacturing sector rose for the second consecutive month, and at an accelerated pace in May. This was commonly linked to higher demand for raw materials. However, strong competition prevented firms from passing on their greater cost burdens to customers. Charges were reduced further, albeit at the weakest rate in the current seven-month period of decline.

Commenting on the latest survey findings, Gemma Wallace, economist at Markit, said: “Rising for a second straight month in May, the headline PMI indicates that India’s manufacturing economy is gaining strength, after a five-month period of weakness. Data show that the sector is currently being carried by robust domestic demand, as export sales continued to fall. Nevertheless, this alone was enough to boost manufacturers’ confidence; inventories were built up for the second month running, whilst workers were hired for the first time since last October. There is also evidence of mounting inflationary pressures within the sector. Demand for raw materials contributed to an increase in input costs over the month, although inflation also reflected speculation on commodities markets. While intense competition remained a bind on manufacturers’ pricing power in May, the latest cut in charges was only fractional. If competitive pressures are mitigated by further improvements in demand going forward, it will most likely result in output prices rising.”

Source: http://www.reliableplant.com/

JewelleryNetAsia to Exhibit at JCK Las Vegas Show

2009-06-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

HONG KONG, June 1 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- JewelleryNetAsia ( http://www.jewellerynetasia.com ), the leading portal for the jewellery industry in Asia will be exhibiting at the JCK Las Vegas Show at booth Nr. L40. JewelleryNetAsia is sharing a booth with the leading publication Jewellery News Asia ( http://www.jewellerynewsasia.com ).

It is the first time for JewelleryNetAsia to be represented at an exhibition in the USA: "For a successful online trade portal such as JewelleryNetAsia it seems obsolete to take part at trade shows, but presence at leading events such as this one or the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gems Fair definitely helps us to establish additional contacts and to feel the pulse of the industry in the real world," said Jerome Hainz, responsible manager for the development of the portal.

Jewellery retailers, traders and manufacturers are invited to search products and business partners in Asia from JewelleryNetAsia's extensive database online. Also first hand information on leading print publications and events in Asia will be available.

JewelleryNetAsia manager Janice Wong will be at hand onsite from May 30 to June 3 at booth Nr.L40 to take questions and to demonstrate the wealth of opportunities that JewelleryNetAsia can generate for doing business with Asia.

Notes to Editor:

About JewelleryNetAsia.com

Established in 2001, JewelleryNetAsia.com is Asia's prime trade portal for the jewellery and gem industries.

It provides a round-the-clock marketing and sourcing platform that caters for global suppliers and buyers. Members of the jewellery trade will benefit from the enriched directory of more than 2,400 leading suppliers worldwide, with many thousands of new quality products and designs, illustrated with photos. Exhibition visitors can conveniently plan their visit and on-site schedule ahead of our exhibitions with the on-line pre-fair appointment system and pre-registration service at JewelleryNetAsia.com . There is also the latest industry news posted everyday, as well as news archives contributed by Jewellery News Asia, the leading jewellery trade publication in the region. JewelleryNetAsia.com is a UBM Asia B2B portal. Owned by United Business Media plc ( http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com ), UBM Asia organises over 110 trade fairs in 13 market sectors each year, and provides high-quality business information through 22 trade publications and associated B2B websites. With its headquarters in Hong Kong, UBM Asia has over 600 staff in 14 major cities in Asia and the USA.

The Jewellery Group of UBM Asia organises Asia's biggest jewellery fair, the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair, one of the top three fine jewellery trade events in the world, and the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair, which is Asia's biggest mid-year international jewellery fair. In addition, both events are held concurrently with the June and September editions of Asia's Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair. In mainland China, UBM Asia organises the China International Gold, Jewellery and Gem Fair in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai in March, June and November respectively. In Japan, UBM organises the annual Japan Jewellery Fair held in Tokyo.

UBM Asia's flagship magazine, Jewellery News Asia is Asia's leading jewellery trade publication. Valued for its high-quality news coverage, Jewellery News Asia is widely read by trade professionals worldwide. For the jewellery industry in Greater China, UBM Asia publishes a Chinese edition of Jewellery News Asia and China Calendar. Other publications include Silver Styles, Asia's Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Review, Jewellery and Gemstone Directory of Hong Kong, Equipment & Supplies Directory for Asia's Jewellery Industry, and Jewellery News Asia's Trade Fair and Conference Guide. In Japan, UBM publishes Four Seasons of Jewellery, one of Japan's most established trade magazines, respected for its focus on design and fashion trends.

Apart from JewelleryNetAsia.com, UBM Asia also owns http://www.AsiaFJA.com , Asia's leading on-line trading network for fashion jewellery and accessories trades.

For enquiries, please contact:

Jerome Hainz

Manager eBusiness, UBM Asia

Tel: +852-2585-6129

Fax: +852-3749-7342

Email: jeromehainz@cmpasia.com

Source: http://news.prnewswire.com/

B2B marketing moving dollars online

2009-06-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

One of the trends coming out of the recession appears to be the shift to online marketing for many b2b companies with a recent report backing up that theory.

eMarketer reports that a joint study from MarketingProfs and Forrester Research finds that two-thirds of respondents say their budgets would stay the same or increase in 2009. However, while these companies are not decreasing their marketing spending, they are shifting where their dollars go.

The report finds that 47 percent of b2b companies said they plan to increase spending on search engine marketing (SEM) this year while 34 percent said they will increase spending on blogs, according to eMarketer.

In fact, blogs appear to be the biggest winner in this study with only 7 percent of b2b companies saying they plan to cut their budget allocations to blogs. By contrast, 55 percent said they will cut spending on print advertising - the largest percentage on the list.

A report earlier this month from Outsell found that 74 percent of small b2b advertisers will increase or maintain spending in 2009 with another 60 percent of large b2b advertisers expected to do the same. Much of these dollars will end up going to online marketing with the report finding that the category will see an 8.2 percent increase over 2008.

Source: http://www.komarketingassociates.com/

Silverpop lead-management app introduces graphical interface

2009-06-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

Atlanta—Online marketing company Silverpop Systems has added a “drag and drop” graphical interface to its Silverpop Engage B2B demand-generation application, for easier visualization of the marketing-sales funnel.

Engage BtoB (formerly called Vtrenz, prior to the company’s acquisition of Vtrenz Inc. in 2007) now allows users to create and visualize campaign flow, graphically showing sales lead pathways from inquiry to conversion. Campaign tracking can include single-track drip programs to complex multiple-track campaigns with yes/no decision points, automatically moving prospects down appropriate paths, according to the company.

Source: http://www.btobonline.com/

Industry Group Urges Protection of Technology Suppliers in GM Bankruptcy

2009-06-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

Wants Auto Supplier Support Program to include manufacturing technology providers

The Association For Manufacturing Technology, on June 1, urged the U.S Congress and the Administration to protect the manufacturing technology supplier base in the wake of GM's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

"While it is unfortunate to see an industry icon such as GM fall into insolvency, the association also recognizes that bankruptcy can often lead to a company emerging leaner, more responsive and with a business plan that is more likely to lead to success than the status quo. Manufacturing technology suppliers are a crucial component to ensuring that a revived GM is once again a top international competitor, with the ability to produce the most advanced vehicles in the world. But if government fails to act, a number of those technology suppliers might not exist to further the mission of a revitalized American automotive industry," AMT said.

"One critical action that government can take right now is to expand the Auto Supplier Support Program to include manufacturing technology providers up and down the supply chain, as currently they are not receiving any direct funds from the program," said Douglas K. Woods, AMT President. "Additionally, GM has so far received $19.4 billion from the federal government to cover operations and losses. The total could reach as much as $50 billion in government support. Some portion of the additional funds should be funneled toward its key manufacturing technology providers."

The group said that it "implores the Administration and Congress to ensure that automotive supply chain participants are protected and also encouraged to continue toward the rebuilding of GM. Without them, American manufacturing faces a bleak, uncertain future."

Source: http://www.industryweek.com/

Business To Business Prospecting By Rhino Telemarketing

2009-06-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

We specialize in business to business (B2B) telemarketing. We have a proven pay for performance system and have experience setting appointments and b2b prospecting-lead generation in many industry’s including: Insurance, High Tech, janitorial, Accounting, Payroll, Merchant Services (POS), SEO Local Search, Print Advertising, Employee Benefits, and more.

WE DO NOT PROVIDE ANY B2C TELEMARKETING SERVICES!

We are based out of Jacksonville Florida, and hire and train only the most money motivated business development telemarketing staff that have mature, enthusiastic, energetic, clear sounding voices that the Jacksonville area and home agent arenas provide.

Our President has been a proven leader in b2b sales for 17 years.

Our proven lead generation system is highly effective in that we are experts at getting past gatekeepers and gaining interest from decision makers including making sure there is a budget for your product or service.

We offer short term agreements (10 appointment minimum) All new projects are looked at on a case-by-case basis and can be as low as $50.00 per qualified lead or appointment.

Long term agreements (monthly contracts) are earned after you want lock in a long term project.

Source: http://www.webwire.com/

Japanese textile major & Vardhman Group sign JV

2009-06-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

Nisshinbo Textile Inc, Japan and the Indian textiles major, Vardhman Group will set up a joint venture company to manufacture shirts in Ludhiana in Punjab, India, which will be exported as well as sold in the domestic markets, with Nisshinbo looking after export markets and Vardhman, local markets.

Nisshinbo is a world-class textile manufacturer, with comprehensive operations including spinning, weaving, knitting, finishing and sewing and the Vardhman Group is one of the largest textile conglomerates in India having footprints in specialized yarns, fabrics, sewing threads and acrylic fibre.

Fibre2fashion spoke to a senior company official at Nisshinbo Textile Inc in Japan, who confirmed the news of the joint venture with the Vardhman Group. The JV will install 250 stitching machines and will have an output of 1.2 million shirts per annum, which will be gradually increased to 1.8 million units per year.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

Canadian auto supplier seeks to buy Checker Motors

2009-05-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

Checker Motors Corp. is asking a bankruptcy court to approve its sale to a Canadian automotive supplier for $1.6 million.

Documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court say Windsor, Ontario-based Narmco Group LLC proposes buying Kalamazoo-based Checker, which has operated under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since Jan. 16.

The Kalamazoo Gazette says Judge James D. Gregg will hold a hearing on the sale June 9 in Grand Rapids.

Checker produced taxicabs in Kalamazoo until 1984 before becoming a supplier of stamped metal parts to automakers, primarily General Motors Corp. Narmco also supplies GM and more than a dozen other automakers and suppliers.

The court documents do not mention the fate of Checker's Kalamazoo operations or its approximately 250 employees, should the sale be approved.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D98HJBNO0.htm

'Cotton carryover stocks may not decline in 2009-10' – Mr Butler, Cotlook

2009-05-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

The cotton sector has had a very tough time in the just completed cotton season. At just about the time harvesting for the new cotton crop had begun, the economic turmoil broke out, bringing down with it prices of all commodities including cotton to new lows.

Prices of cotton in the New York Futures markets had the misfortune of touching four year lows. This has made a lot of farmers across many major cotton producing countries like China jittery and acreage of cotton is expected to fall substantially.

To understand the actual condition of cotton market, in the previous few months and the current scenario, Fibre2fashion spoke to few proficient people from the cotton sector like Mr. Ray Butler, Chief editor of Cotton Outlook and Managing Director of Cotlook Limited, which provides market summaries, industry related and general news stories on the cotton industry.

We started by asking his views about cotton production in the next cotton season vis-à-vis the just completed season, to which he said, “Cotton Outlook’s initial estimate of 2009/2010 production was released in February, since when it has increased slightly, thanks mainly to USDA’s slightly higher projection of US plantings than suggested by the National Cotton Council’s earlier survey of farmers’ planting intentions”.

He continued by saying “Global cotton output is currently projected at close to 23.2 million tons, barely one percent less than estimated production during the 2008-2009 season”.

Further we tried to know the consumption pattern against production in the 2008-09 cotton season to which he explained by saying, “World cotton consumption fell during the 2007/2008 season for the first time in this century and the current 2008/2009 season has witnessed a substantial further decline, perhaps of the order of 11 percent, to around 22.5 million tons.

He also added that “According to Cotlook’s data, therefore, world carryover stocks have risen during each of the past five seasons and, based on present estimates, seems unlikely to decline in 2009/2010”.

We then questioned him about the impact on availability of cotton next year as Chinese farmers are expected to reduce acreage in 2009-10 season, to which he said, “Some of the more pessimistic assessments of the 2009/2010 season’s cut in China’s cotton area have tended to disappear in recent weeks, owing to the firming of prices, brought about by the Chinese governments macro-control policies”.

He carried on “Observers seem increasingly inclined to the view that, given no abnormal setbacks, the new season’s output will therefore be reduced only moderately compared with 2008/2009. Cotlook’s current projection is a decline of 550,000-725,000 tons and China’s import requirement will persist both next season and into the future but the magnitude and timing of imports remains largely in the hands of government, by dint of quota controls”.

In conclusion he said, “Cotton Outlook does not make price forecasts. The Cotlook A Index currently stands at 59.25 US cents per lb (CFR main Far Eastern ports), levels last seen at the end of January. The introduction of a forward Cotlook A Index for the 2009/2010 season is anticipated shortly”.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

Cotton imports may shoot up by 60%

2009-05-31T22:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the increase of nearly 25-40 percent in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of cotton, implemented by the government of India, the country could end up importing a higher number of bales in the current cotton season.

International cotton prices are quoting at a discount ever since the government owned agency Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) started its procurement, forcing eligible importers to import cotton which is available at a lower rate.

Fibre2fashion spoke to Mr DK Nair, Secretary General of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) was very forthcoming when he said, “About 500,000 bales (1 bale = 170 kg) of cotton has arrived in the country so far and another 500,000 bales may be imported in the remaining part of the current cotton year, since ours is the costliest cotton in the world today and mills are looking for cheaper options abroad”.

He added by saying, “An unprecedented increase in imports may lead to decline in prices for the new crop and if this happens, it would be the result of reckless government intervention in the cotton economy during this year. The Government needs to separate populism from policy and to recognise the interdependence of cotton farmers and textile mills”.

Mr KF Jhunjhunwala, Chairman of Cotton Textiles and Allied Products Research Foundation, and Past President of Cotton Association of India, said, “This year import of cotton till September will touch 800,000 bales out of which 500,000 will be extra long fibres and 300,000 bales would be medium and small staple fiber”.

“Every year we import approximately 600,000 bales of cotton so this year it will exceed by only 200,000 bales which is not a matter of concern, though it is tough to predict about the future because it depends on the behaviour of the weather and if it rains well situation will be good”.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

Online retailing gathers steam in Indi

2009-05-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

E-tailing, or online retailing, is catching up in India with major retailers setting shop online.

The latest one to join the bandwagon is the Tata group, which recently announced that it would open an e-mall for the group’s products in the next two months. Earlier this month, Vishal Retail launched its online shopping portal — Vishalmegamart.com.

It was the Future group’s foray into e-tailing in 2007 that started the trend, though Fabmall was the first e-tailer in India (it set up an online shop in the late 1990s). Shoppers Stop followed by its e-tailing venture in late 2008 and so did the Anil Ambani-owned ADAG group, which launched RelianceMoneyMall the same year.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has pegged the e-commerce market in India at Rs 9,210 crore. The market is estimated to grow 30 per cent year-on-year. E-retailing comes under e-commerce.

E-tailing helps retailers build loyal customers and is aimed at selling in areas where they don’t have a physical presence. Sankarson Banerjee, CEO of Future Bazaar (the Future group’s e-tailing venture), says the foray has worked well for the group. “In FY09, Future Bazaar sold Rs 122 crore worth of goods, 1.5 per cent of total sales of the Future group. By 2011, we expect it to be 2-3 per cent. Worldwide, it contributes 7-10 per cent of sales,” he said . Electronic goods and apparel are the most bought products online.

Banerjee agrees, “Besides international audience, we get orders from J&K, Andaman & Nicobar, etc.” Ambareesh Murty, country manager, eBay India, concurs, “Online marketplaces help create trade between metros and Tier II & III cities by bridging the demand and supply gap.” Over a third of all products bought by eBayers in hilly areas (North East, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh) are tech gadgets (mobile phones, digital cameras and USB drives). While women from the metros are buying a lot of sarees, the sellers are spread across various cities and towns of India, including manufacturing hubs and handicraft hubs like Devanagere (Karnataka), Chittaurgarh (Rajasthan), Lucknow and Kunnamkulam (Kerala).

Moreover, e-tailing helps retailers save on the real estate cost. Also, an e-tailer does not have to carry huge inventories and can cut supply chain costs. But Banerjee disagrees, “It has other cost factors like delivery, technology, etc. It’s not cheaper.”

This year, there will be more such ventures. Arvind Retail, which sells a small part of its apparels through third-party e-commerce websites, is understood to be planning a foray into e-tailing. TV18, which already owns a 24-hour home shopping TV channel and a price checking site, called compareindia.com, is also learnt to plannig an e-tailing foray.

But replicating the success such ventures have had in the developed world is a far-away dream considering the broadband bottleneck. Anand Ramanathan, manager, Business Performance Services, KPMG, says, “It’s a good complimentary service but I don’t see it making big contribution to sales in the near future.”

On if e-tailing is aimed at getting customers where reatilers don’t have a physical presence, Ramanathan said, “Not really, the retailer has to have physical presence for delivery. Consider the Fabmall (a part of Trinetra Super Retail Limited) story.” Fabmall also opened brick-and-mortar stores. Two years back, it was acquired by the Aditya Birla Group.

These new ventures will be pitted directly against established players like eBay, Indiatimes, Rediff and Sify. Murty says it will only help the established players. “We welcome the entry of reputed brands that consumers trust. The launch of IRCTC (Indian Railway’s e-commerce arm) to power sale of railway tickets has encouraged a whole new demographic to shop online. We see new e-commerce entrants helping increase the size of the market by encouraging new non-shoppers to turn online shoppers,” said Murty.

Incidentally, e-tailing is not limited to retailers. FMCG major Amway also launched its own e-tailing portal in 2008.

For the direct-selling company, the online medium is aimed at expanding the company’s existing distribution network across 500,000 Amway Business Owners and also to tap the vast semi-urban customers base with direct access to Amway’s product range.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com

B2B Portals- “the new Age Shopping Sites”

2009-05-31T22:01:00.000-07:00

A portal can be defined as the root destination for users that combines web links, features and services. At its beginning it was used as a generic word for popular search engines and internet access providers such as AOL, MSN and Yahoo but in recent days it has bought revolution in covering and converging business websites, where a corporate portal or enterprise information portal acts as a source for employees, customers, suppliers and other associates of a company to access corporate information and web services. B2B portals refer to websites that are natured to carry out electronic business and manage considerable parts of corporate business processes.

A B2B portal brings you an uncountable number of advantages. They lace your business with features like faster and easier access to product information, quicker response to client requests and better support. This not only increases the existing customer base but also reduces the cost of acquiring new customer significantly. They allow a business power the benefits of e-commerce for promotion and branding for instance an export business. These B2B portals integrate the whole marketplace into one and let you choose from variety. You can either place an order for purchase or directly buy products using your credit card. Whole transaction is managed by a consolidated workplace reducing the time in document process. As far as your research is concerned the company directories and E-catalogs do a very good job. If you want to go more in-depth then refer to those user and expert reviews posted on these portals along with the buying guides detailing product features.

Other than providing ease to your costumers, B2b have got a lot to offer to you internal business functionality. It augments the performance of the supply chain management system, internal messaging system product content adding system. It not only gives bells and whistles to your information exchange and product adding mechanism but also increases your return on investment.

With all the above offerings B2B portals is the future to come. They are growing day by day and helping the import/export companies in making their business more effective. Whenever you need to avalanche your business to the next level, this is the new option, other than traditional advertising, with added cost effectiveness. Overall, B2B portals are the lifeline of ongoing leading business companies and therefore play an influential role in the success of any business.

Source: http://www.ozelwebtasarim.com/

Mobile eCommerce - success means doing it right

2009-05-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

The promise, hype and expectation of South African eCommerce fulfillment, fuelled by the realisation that online procurement and supply-chain management could potentially trim costs and improve customer relationships, even after 10 years has fallen short.

In 2007, World Wide Worx study of internet shopping, predicted a contribution of at least 20% to the holiday shopping spend and that the trend showed that consumers were beginning to gain confidence in online gift shopping specifically.

Two years later and South Africa has still not perfected the formula nor managed to successfully bring online purchases mainstream. Approximately only half of the current internet users shop online. It is still very much a developing market with statistics predicting that internet usage figures alone are set to grow by a further 13% during 2009, providing some hope that with it, so will online shopping. Although online browsing has increased significantly with consumer's easily performing product price comparisons, most purchases are still taking place offline.

Although it is still a developing market, this year it seems that a new trend is being adopted by internet commerce-potential institutions. It is as if South Africa decided to skip completing the eCommerce cycle and jump straight onto mCommerce. For the South and larger African market mobile commerce would be a step in a potentially lucrative direction as the mobile platform is the most accessible form of internet access on the continent.

But how successful can this channel be if we consider that we've hardly scratched the surface on eCommerce?

Obstacles faced in eCommerce

Up to 2003 the biggest obstacle to eCommerce was the lack of a robust online payment platform and costs involved to create bespoke commerce solutions put many companies off from investing in developing this on their websites. Six years later the complications have finally mostly been ironed out, but the hesitation to leverage these systems still remains.

Bandwidth was another technical barrier, which also mostly lead to shopping carts and payment systems that were in place to time-out, leaving would be purchasers with the fear that their credit card would be doubly charged.

From the design and usability side, commerce websites in South Africa are not up to the commonly accepted Western Standards. When a website is not user-friendly and simple to navigate, drop-off rates are high, which result in the site not generating enough revenue.

Some companies also encountered delivery issues, and with the era of instant gratification for those individuals that were already net savvy, waiting for up to six weeks versus immediate satisfaction of store purchase was no contest.

Although by no means the only obstacles, having learnt from these, how can we make both eCommerce and mCommerce a success, and can we do this jointly?

Development considerations for e+mCommerce

It is hugely important to ensure that a website is initially built correctly. Don't have an add-on wish list for later, unless you are 200% sure that all the ‘wish-list' components will work with the existing website functionality. For example some might develop commerce functionality, but consider mobile commerce functionality as an afterthought. Ideally if the site is created on a XHTML platform, it would not require a full redevelopment at a later stage and could save companies fortunes.

Consult with usability and conversion experts and conduct user-group testing on the platform to ensure that it can cater to both ‘newbies' and ‘techperts'.

Ensuring that your website has a robust and simple ‘shopping cart' will minimise the purchase drop-off rates. One does not need to invest in bespoke carts to achieve this. There are many “off-the-shelf” products that cater to this and won't break the bank. By using “off-the-shelf” products can save up to 35% on maintenance and license fees alone. Commerce software products that have proven functionality include Magento, OSCommerce and Zend Cart.

Achieving success through Mobile Commerce

Mobile Commerce,, or mCommerce, include applications and services that are accessible from internet-enabled mobile devices (cellphones).

Mobile is the most accessible form of internet access on the African continent, therefore products and services in theory have a much wider chance for adoption if they are accessible through this platform.

Achieving success in mCommerce as with eCommerce very much relies on a sound technical structure. Making your website mobile friendly does not necessarily mean that you need to build an entirely separate website primarily for mobile. It is of course ideal to own a .mobi in addition to the .com or .co.za domain extensions indicating that your website is focussed and viewable on a mobile device.

There are dedicated mobi search engines, which can be utilised from both the desktop as well as mobile device. As with websites ensuring the structure is accessible by these search engines will also ensure that you gain increased visibility. XHTML hierarchies have ensured that both desktop and mobile search engines are easily able to read the content and classify it. Also, the website should automatically be enabled to transform itself to the mobile screen if developed in this coding structure.

Understanding mobile devices and their capabilities to render this structure is of vital importance. Ensure that it is compatible with the most prevalent cellphones and that updates for new phones could easily be implemented.

As with most things online, the marketing would be the biggest factor in achieving success. Comprehensive campaigns including press articles, social media and search are the primary channels to use to increase adoption rate.

FormFunction Digital Consultants Pty Ltd is one of the leading digital exploration and implementation companies in South Africa and takes pride as a strategic consulting business first and foremost. Understanding and hands-on experience with various web and social application platforms, successful eCommerce websites deployment in technologies including Magento, OSCommerce and Zend, and experience as one of the first agencies to create an iPhone application make them a natural forerunner in the field of mobile commerce in South Africa.

To understand how your company could potentially benefit from creating an eCommerce or mCommerce presence, contact FormFunction to arrange an objective and informative consulting meeting.

Source: http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/16/36419.html

Who will benefit from the ecommerce boom in China?

2009-05-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

Implications

Chinese ecommerce grew over 120% last year, projected to grow very rapidly in the next 3-5 year. who will benefit from the ecommerce boom in China? Portals like sina/sohu? search engine like baidu? any other potential players in the market?

Analysis

Chinese ecommerce grew over 120% last year, projected to be in high growth for the next 3-5 years. Now large companies such as Mcdonald, KFC, Haier, Gome, Lancome are all going ecommerce, who will benefit from the ecommerce boom in China? consumers of course, some businesses as well.

Companies that are already in this industry will no doubt thrive on the growth. Alibaba, who is not only the largest B2B ecommerce platform in the world, but also owns the largest C2C website in China - Taobao.com, though Taobao is not very proftable due to the free listing strategy(beats ebay out of China this way), it does have dominant position and could quickly turn into a cash machine once good model is implemented. Its new ad system had a pretty good feedback. Other large ecommerce companies such as dangdang.com and 360buy.com will likely to be on a short list of future public companies.

Baidu, and other search engines will be the largest indirect benefitors. They has been largely replying on advertising dollar from traditional SMEs. It's all going to start to change once ecommerce takes off. Google has hugely benefited from ecommerce. Chinese search engines will probably do the same. However, a couple of minor drawbacks for baidu are its technology and some doubtful business practices. SEM for ecommerce is very much data-oriented. Baidu need to have better technology to support advanced bidding and optimization. Baidu is also notoriously known for its somewhat bad practices such as, dont allow tracking, high fraud clicking, blacklist etc. They have to change before its too late. the only good thing is that they do have a very strong position in the market, and consumers dont have any other good alternatives to go to. (well google.cn is good, but its so damn hard to spell for Chinese )

Portal and vertical media will benefit as well. A lot of ecommerce companies will have to rely on advertising on portal sites to build their brands. Verticals are very good places to advertise to their target audience. We have already seen that the search engine traffic is not enough for ecommerce businesses in China. therefore portals and verticals could become good complimentaries of traffic source for large ecommerce businesses.

Networks, mostly performance based will experience a large growth as well. Analaytics, SEM based companies, leads generation and web consulting companies will somewhat benefit from ecommerce boom as well.

In a way, the nature of ecommerce, will bring Chinese online advertising to a new level where data became much more important. In the past, this area is hugely underdeveloped.

Source: http://www.glgroup.com/

B2B marketplace tool targeted at SMEs

2009-05-29T22:10:00.000-07:00

The tool will be initially launched in India and United Kingdom followed by other English speaking countries.

Source: http://www.ciol.com/

Hydraulic distributors in Kolkata

2009-05-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

The word ‘hydraulic’ refers to the exertion of liquid pressure on something to provide mechanical force. There are different types of heavy machines and tools where hydraulic pressure is used to provide them the power required to perform certain functions. It may sound very simple, but hydraulic pressure is capable of generating huge power which helps machineries perform heavy duties. Hydraulic machines and tools are very common in the mechanical industry and are largely used in construction works. Real estate developers are among the biggest takers of the hydraulic machines and tools because they work much faster than ordinary machineries and help constructors meet their deadline. These days, hydraulic machines and tools are of high demand all over the world and the distributors are earning heavily from their supply business.

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal is among the most developed cities in India. In the recent times, the city has encouraged a number of real estate developers. Hundreds of real estate projects have come up in different corners of Kolkata and many more are under construction. Thanks to the continuous rise in the population in the city, the demand for house is at an all time high here, which has brought smiles on the faces of the developers. Just like all other places in the world, hydraulic machines are largely used in construction works in Kolkata. There are several hydraulic distributors in Kolkata who supply equipments to the developers on a huge scale.

Kolkata is a large city and hydraulic distributors have their shops in different parts. For a person who is not familiar with the streets and lanes of the city, finding out a hydraulic distributor’s shop is not very easy. Yellow pages do provide information on distributors of machines and tools but depending on such data is not a very smart thing to do as information on such books are not regularly updated. Internet is better.

You will find a number of B2B (Business-to-business) portals on the web that provide detailed information on all kinds of business-related topics. There are several Kolkata-based B2B portals from where you can get a clear overview of the city. Planned specially to cater to the needs of the business-class people, these portals are the best guides to the city. These B2B portals actually create a supply management chain for different entities of a business. They are a medium of communication between buyers and sellers, manufacturers and traders, dealers and wholesalers and of course between suppliers and consumers. As internet can be accessed at any time from any place, more people are opting for these B2B portals for their advantage. They are enlisting their names and profiles on these portals to make sure every time somebody search for people like them, they find their names on the lists.

If hydraulic distributors in Kolkata are what you are looking for just search for it on any city-based B2B portal and you will be provided with a list of names on your computer screen.

You will not only find their names and contact numbers but their full profile which will help you to take fast decision. Besides, you can make use of the interactive tools like live chat and free SMS to communicate directly with the distributors and get going with your business.

Source: http://www.bignews.biz/

Consumer M2M: The Approaching Mass Market-Beecham Research

2009-05-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

The rapidly emerging M2M (machine-to-machine) market is already a $50bn business with strong growth prospects. Traditionally a B2B (Business-to-Business) solutions/services market, a new report by leading analyst firm and M2M specialist Beecham Research (www.beechamresearch.com) predicts the coming of age of a growing Consumer market for M2M products and services that will rapidly catch up to the traditional business. The report entitled "Consumer M2M: The Approaching Mass Market" forecasts over 100m consumer M2M products being shipped within the next 5 years - with most of them being connected to cellular mobile networks.

"A fundamental change in the M2M arena is now under way", explains Georg Steimel, lead author of the report. "Today the M2M market is dominated by individual business solutions serving the needs of individual users. In contrast, the developing consumer market requires integrated solutions that offer simplicity and one-stop-shop availability that is easily enabled. To get to this requires new and innovative business models".

According to Beecham Research, the M2M market is still small compared with the worldwide mobile handset business. Nevertheless, new network connections for mobile handsets are rapidly slowing in many markets - particularly in Europe and North America. On the other hand, those for M2M are speeding up. "Mobile Operators need this business", says Robin Duke-Woolley, Founder and CEO of Beecham Research.

Yet M2M is very different to the mobile handset business, even for consumer products. Although using less airtime, it offers low cost of sale and low churn together with stable revenues and margins. "M2M is all about creating new service opportunities, even when it comes to consumer products", continues Duke-Woolley. "What we are beginning to see is highly innovative, new ideas being translated into new product and service opportunities over the next few years that will change our lifestyles."

Further details and the report itself Consumer M2M: The Approaching Mass Market are available through Beecham Research's website, at www.beechamresearch.com/reports.aspx or by e-mail to info@beechamresearch.com.

About Beecham Research:

Beecham Research (www.beechamresearch.com) operates globally and is focused exclusively on the M2M market - Remote Device Management and Services, also known as "The Internet of Things". Headquartered in London, UK, the firm also has offices in Boston MA, Bonn Germany and Milan Italy. The firm offers standard reports as well as tailored research and business development services, with staff who have long experience of business management in high technology supply and service companies as well as in consulting and market analysis.

Source: http://www.americanchronicle.com/

S Kumars leads race to acquire Barack Obama's tailor

2009-05-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

S Kumars and private-equity firm Emerisque Brands will acquire bankrupt Hartmarx for $119 million.

Textile major S Kumars Nationwide Ltd (SKNL) is close to acquiring the tailor of US President Barack Obama. Hartmarx, the bankrupt US suitmaker, has accepted the bid of SKNL, along with British private-equity firm Emerisque Brands, according to this report.

Emerisque Brands U.K. Limited and SKNL North America B.V will acquire the firm for a total sum of $119 million. Hartmarx, based out of Chicago, had recently come to fame when it custom made the tuxedo Obama wore on Inauguration Day and the suit Obama wore on Election Night.

The offer by Emerisque and SKNL involves paying $70.5 million cash and a secured note worth $15 million. The two have also agreed to assume $33.5 million of Hartmarx liabilities. Hartmarx's biggest debtor is Wells Fargo. There are other players also in the race, who are interested in acquiring various brands and segments of the firm. Homi Patel is the Hartmarx Chairman and CEO.

The deal, also called a "stalking horse bid", which means an attempt by a debtor to maximize the value of its assets as part of or before a bankruptcy court-approved auction process.

Hartmarx, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, could come under bankruptcy auction in June. Emerisque and SKNL have signed a breakup agreement, where Hartmarx will pay a $1.65 million break-up fee plus $2 million for expenses if it goes for a rival bid. Similarly, SKNL and Emerisque have agreed to pay $4 million termination fee if they abandon the bid.

S Kumars has been expanding its footprint across the world through its aggressive inorganic strategy. Last year alone it acquired around three firms. In May last year, it acquired a controlling stake in Italian fabric manufacturer, Klopman International. Then it also acquired Italian shirt fabrics maker Leggiuno SpA later last year. Another one of its acquisitions last year was Scottish fashion chain Internacionale.

To fund its inorganic strategy and expansion , the company has also been tapping private equity on a regular basis. S Kumars raised $220 million (Rs 900 crore) from Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, who picked 25.4% in its subsidiary Reid & Taylor, last year. SKNL also raised $107 million from Hong Kong-based ADM Capital for itself and its retail arm Brandhouse Retail in 2007.

Source: http://in.reuters.com/

Indian Manufacturers Suppliers Exporters Directory,Buyers and Sellers,B2b Business Directory India

2009-05-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sme.in opened the doors of global access for small and medium enterprises.

Today this B2B directory celebrates 5 years of its success in providing a cost effective solution for the small and medium enterprise for expanding their business in global market. It has gained a growing recognition from the very year of its launch. It has enjoyed popularity as more and more people got aware of its advanced and unique features.

So this portal has helped the SMEs to get global vicinity and generate prospective business leads from anywhere in the world. This site has actually helped in promoting the concept of globalization of the economy. This user friendly site has brought the global buyers and sellers on a single platform to interact with each other.

Source: http://www.prminds.com/pressrelease.php?id=7301

6,000 exporters have gone bankrupt since Romania's EU accession

2009-05-28T21:40:00.000-07:00

Approximately 6,000 exporters have gone bankrupt since Romania's accession to the European Union, the main reason being the incapacity to pay VAT to suppliers, the President of the National Association of Exporters and Importers (ANEIR), Mihai Ionescu, said Wednesday.

Number of Romanian exporters has dropped from almost 16,000 to around 9,800, said the ANEIR head.

"The exporters did not have money to pay the VAT to their suppliers, after which they could not resist until the Fisc would return them the money," Ionescu explained.

The ANEIR president also said the exporters had been affected from the accession to the European Union until now by the currency risk, being strongly disadvantaged by the appreciation of the leu, especially when the rate reached up to 3.10 lei / euro, in July 2007.

Mihai Ionescu said that exports fell by 63% in the first decade of this month compared to the same period last year, which signals the worsening of the situation because of the financial crisis. The only exception was the automotive sector, where Romanian exporters were helped by the "Rabla (scrap cars)" programme in Germany, according to the ANEIR head.

The German government has recently introduced a 2,500-euro scrap incentive for owners of cars older than nine years, when buying a new model. Some consequences of the measure were not anticipated by the government. Thus, the German consumers would not give up their cars older than nine years for a new Mercedes, BMW or Audi, which remain expensive even with the bonus of 2,500 euro, and go for Dacia's 7,500-euro Logan model, where the reduction is 33% on the car's list price.

Dacia Logan sales in Germany increased six/fold in February, and the model has received the status of "ironic symbol of the crisis" on this market.

Source: http://www.curierulnational.ro/

Zinc, Lead futures trade down

2009-05-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

Base metals futures such as Zinc and Lead have traded in the negative zone at the MCX today as traders preferred to take short position eyeing slowing demand for base metals form consuming industry following global economic recession.

MCX Zinc May contract declined 0.88% at Rs 67.90 per kg as against its previous closing at Rs 68.50. It opened at Rs 68.25 and touched a low of Rs 67.40. (2.13 p.m., Thursday).

Zinc June contract opened at Rs 69.65 per kg as against its previous closing at Rs 69.50. It touched the lowest level of Rs 68.25 and last traded price for the same was Rs 68.65, down 1.22%. Zinc July contract shed 1.43%, at Rs 69.15 a kg. It opened at Rs 70.15 per kg and touched the lowest level of Rs 69.10.

Similarly, Lead June contract traded marginally lower at Rs 68.80 per kg as against its previous close of Rs 68.90 per kg. It tossed in the range of Rs 69.10-68.30 after opening at Rs 69.05. The open interest of the same was 1,446. Lead July contract slipped by 1.07% to Rs 69.30 per kg. It opened at Rs 69.75 as compared to its earlier close of Rs 70.05.

Source: http://www.myiris.com/

India copper futures edge lower on rupee

2009-05-28T05:11:00.000-07:00

MUMBAI, May 20 (Reuters) - India's copper futures edged lower on Wednesday pressured by a strong rupee locally, which makes the dollar-quoted asset cheaper, analysts said. The most active June copper contract MCCM9 was 0.25 percent lower at 219.45 rupees per kg at 5:51 p.m..

The Indian rupee trimmed its early fall and rose as a large corporate and exporters sold dollars, but further gains were capped due to the drop in domestic shares. See [ID:nBOM424647]

A weak dollar against other currencies and higher equity markets limited the downside, they added.

The dollar hit its lowest level against a basket of currencies in more than four months as slight gains in U.S. stock futures prompted some investors toward perceived riskier assets. See [ID:nLK960296]

World stocks rose for the fourth session in a row on Wednesday and Wall Street looked set to open higher. See [ID:nLK465622]

"It is trading in a narrow range since three days," said Navneet Damani, an analyst with Anand Rathi Commodities. Copper may trade in the range of 218-224 rupees on Wednesday, said Damani. May zinc MZIK9 was 2.92 percent lower at 69.80 rupees per kg, while lead for May delivery MLDK9 was 2.67 percent lower at 69.15 rupees per kg at 5:53 p.m..

Source: http://in.reuters.com/

Japanese textile major & Vardhman Group sign JV

2009-05-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

Cotton imports may shoot up by 60%

2009-05-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

BtoB Technology PR, Marketing Firm Arketi Group Offers Tips On Attaining Thought Leadership

2009-05-28T04:46:00.000-07:00

Learn how to create killer content, promote it and use it to generate leads for your business-to-business organization

05.26.2009 – Arketi Group ( www.arketi.com), a high-tech BtoB public relations and marketing firm consistently recognized as one of the nation's “Top BtoB Agencies”, offers tip to technology PR and marketing pros on how they can position their organization as thought leaders.

Business-to-business technology companies often face two combined hurdles: how to generate content for public relations and marketing campaigns, and how to increase leads for the sales team.

“In order to keep prospects energized and interested in your products or services, public relations and marketing teams must have relevant and compelling content to deliver,” said Mike Neumeier, APR, principal at Arketi Group. “Often companies struggle in developing original content to use for PR and marketing efforts because, simply put, they are focused on delivering their core business. This puts B2B marketers in a bind.”

1) Create killer content

One way to break out of this uncomfortable situation is to commit to a thought leadership strategy grounded in unique industry research. Architecting and executing focused survey campaigns is one of the strongest ways to deliver a unique form of thought leadership that generates persuasive content, and that can be leveraged across multiple marketing avenues.

Creating content your company can own also permits you to highlight your company’s expertise and differentiate it from the competition with fact-based data. By elevating the conversation to trends and issues – and away from features and benefits – you can stake a claim to a true thought leadership position. (For an example, click the Underwriter Survey on Xerox Mortgage Services’ homepage .)

2) Publish and promote your content

Now that the marketing team has content, how can they harness it?

From a PR perspective, news releases, bylined articles or interviews with subject matter experts rank high on the list for using your content. A series of presentations and panel events at trade shows are easy extensions and can be coupled with distributing the survey findings at the event.

In addition, thought leadership-based content also provides the information necessary to drive a series of webinars, whitepapers or direct mail efforts that extend beyond the usual product- or service-based marketing programs. These marketing efforts raise your organization above the expected marketplace messages and position you as a true industry discussion leader with new thinking and ideas. (See this in action for Sprint .)

3) Arm Sales with your content

Every industry has a unique sales cycle, but the common thread for most B2B companies is that the sales force always wants more leads. Today more marketers are using thought leadership-based content to generate leads.

Start by merchandising thought leadership content online. Create a sales sheet highlighting new industry insights and “fast facts” with professionally designed graphics and charts. This becomes a unique collateral piece for the sales team, as well as an effective website download offer that can attract site visitors, increase traffic and grow your leads database.

Survey findings can also be leveraged in customer and prospect e-marketing efforts. For example, pay-per-click campaigns can be constructed to help disseminate the information and also attract prospects to your website.

Thought leadership-based surveys support and complement other marketing tools such as whitepapers, presentations and media coverage. When using these calls-to-action on your website, don’t forget to employ the “give-to-get” model by adding a registration page for to capture the lead, before users can download the item. (Check out StatCom’s 2008 National Survey on Patient Flow Challenges and Technologies.)

With a smart thought leadership program, B2B companies of all sizes can create compelling and insightful content, repurpose it for multiple marketing efforts, and use it to support the lead generation efforts.

Source: http://www.pitchengine.com/