FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
The measures promise to protect borrowers from prepayment penalties and misleading loans.By Ron Scherer Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
from the December 19, 2007 edition
New York - The federal regulatory process to fix some of the worst mortgage abuses is now moving ahead with greater speed.
The Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank, voted to take a wide range of actions that might prevent future malpractice, but will likely do little to help borrowers facing foreclosure. The Fed's main thrust appears aimed at banks who made loans to subprime borrowers, those with less than stellar credit ratings, and those who took out loans without proof of income or other documentation.
"This is a huge step," says Kurt Eggert, a law professor at Chapman University School of Law in Orange, Calif. and a past member of the Federal Reserve's Consumer Advisory Council. "If these steps had been taken five years ago we may not have had the meltdown, or at least it would have said there is a sheriff in town trying to force some reasonable basic rules of good lending."
If you would like to read this entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/Fedpasses.htm
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Fed passes reforms to combat subprime mortgage crisis
Employment Outlook in 2008
I thought you might be interested in the thoughts of Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration, on the employment prospects for 2008:
“We continue to see strong interest from employers in our MBA students despite the economic issues to date,” Ms. Sarikas denotes. “The major reasons they are giving include:
Building management of the future given anticipated retirements in the next few years, need to get the managers of the future in place and trained
Skill set - existing workforce doesn't always have the specific skills needed to grow the business or address current issues, they are hiring students with specific skill sets to meet those demands, we are seeing particular interest in the supply chain/operations area since these are critical issues for many people
Tight labor market - not enough people to fill all the jobs so even without adding positions it is a constant struggle just to stay even, there is significant demand for the best and the brightest, everyone wants them
I had an employer tell me last week "there are more jobs than well-qualified candidates" - supply and demand is still in full operation.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Manila's dirty war
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD-TRIBUNE
By John Hall
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
A Philippine court has sentenced 14 members of Abu Sayyaf - a militant Muslim organization with ties to Al Qaeda - to life imprisonment for a series of kidnappings in 2001 that resulted in the deaths of two American and several Filipino hostages.
The verdict - along with the deaths of several Abu Sayyaf leaders - seems to justify the U.S. decision to provide support to the Philippine military as part of its global "War on Terror."
But there is a more sinister face to this U.S. ally - a widespread campaign of repression, intimidation, arbitrary detention, disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took office in 2001, an estimated 800 political opponents, human rights campaigners and members of groups and churches critical of her government have been assassinated. Many others have survived assassination attempts. In fact, legitimate opponents or her government are just as likely to be targeted as Muslim terrorists and Communist rebels.
John Hall is an associate professor of law and director of the Center for Global Trade and Development, Chapman University School of Law, Orange, California. He worked previously at Public Interest Law Center in Manila.
To read this entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/manilasdirty.htm
Consumers' Shopping Patterns for the Current Holiday Season
FROM INTIMATE APPAREL BUSINESS
The holiday shopping season is winding down, and we asked the experts to analyze where consumers spent their cash. Northeastern University professor Tony Gao gave IAB the lowdown on how shoppers "spent" their holidays!
New Holiday Shopping Patterns…and Implications for the Intimate Apparel Retailer
By Tony Gao, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Northeastern University College of Business Administration
Retailers of intimate apparel and accessories have been through a tough holiday selling season this winter. Several changes in the U.S. economic situation over the past year have influenced American consumers’ shopping patterns and put the growth of consumer spending in check.
If you'd like to read this entire article, please go to: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/consumersshopping.htm
CALLAWAY GOLF UTILIZES WEBCOLLAGE TO IMPROVE WEB SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
WebCollage, a leading provider of online content integration solutions for manufacturers and their channel partners, today announced that Callaway Golf Company is using WebCollage’s service to integrate product marketing content from its website to the websites of its retail partners.
Callaway Golf, a recognized leader in technology and innovation in golf equipment design for 25 years, looks for ways to make consumers’ shopping experiences as simple and convenient as possible. Callaway Golf selected the WebCollage content syndication solution to ensure that its customers have access to complete, up-to-date information on Callaway Golf and Odyssey products wherever they shop for golf equipment online.
WebCollage seamlessly and automatically syndicates the latest information on a wide range of Callaway Golf products – including drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, golf balls, footwear and golf bags, as well as Odyssey putters – to the websites of Callaway Golf authorized retailers. This gives online shoppers access to dynamic Callaway Golf and Odyssey product showcases designed to help them improve their games by selecting the Callaway Golf or Odyssey equipment that is best for them.
“Content syndication enables manufacturers like Callaway Golf to leverage the investments they’ve made in online product and brand marketing content to educate and influence shoppers wherever they interact with Callaway Golf products online,” said Jed Alpert, Vice President of Marketing for WebCollage. “For retailers, providing thorough marketing content from Callaway Golf helps keep shoppers on their websites and turn more browsers into buyers both online and in-store.”
About Callaway Golf
Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf Company creates products and services designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2007, manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf accessories, under the Callaway Golf®, Odyssey®, Top-Flite®, and Ben Hogan® brands. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com .
About WebCollage Inc.
WebCollage is the leading Web content integration network for manufacturers and their channel partners — retailers, VARs and distributors. Using WebCollage's patented, turnkey solution, manufacturers can extend their Web product marketing content to all of their channel partners and address the challenge of how to optimize the selling and marketing of products via the Web. WebCollage benefits manufacturers and channel partners alike with measurable bottom-line results including higher conversion rates and larger overall order sizes.
Founded in 2000, WebCollage is a privately held company headquartered in New York, NY, and backed by Sierra Ventures, Cedar Fund, GSI Commerce, Inc., and Gilde IT Fund. For more information, please visit: www.webcollage.com or call 1.212.563.2112.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People
FROM CIO MAGAZINE
Schmoozing is a trial for shy people, but armed with these common-sense tips they can increase their networking mojo.
Meridith Levinson, CIO
December 11, 2007
But networking is a trial for shy people—geeks especially. They view it as insincere at best, manipulative at worst. They eschew networking for a variety of reasons including lack of confidence, fear of rejection and a sense of unworthiness.
If they could just relate to others more easily, if they just possessed more self-confidence and weren't such self-conscious wallflowers, the world would be their oyster, and schmoozing would be so much easier.
It is possible for shrinking violets and shy guys to master the skill of networking. They just have to realize, says Ferrazzi, that successful networking is all about building intimate, sincere relationships based on mutual generosity, not duplicity, and that they can't achieve their career goals on their own. They have to network their way to success.
If you're struggling to meet new people, here's some common-sense advice for increasing your networking mojo.
Start Small
If the idea of approaching people you don't know intimidates you, begin your networking efforts by seeking out familiar faces, such as relatives and friends.
"You can do a significant amount of valuable networking without ever having to make a cold call," says Lynne Sarikas, the director of Northeastern University's MBA Career Center.
"Starting with a known [contact] instead of an unknown demystifies the [networking] process and helps get a shy person over the hurdle." A series of successful conversations will make you more confident in the process, Sarikas adds.
If you would like to read this entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/howto.htm
Figuring Out What You're Worth
Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at the College of Business Administration at Northeastern University in Boston, shares some of her thoughts on determining your worth in the marketplace:
This is a tough one.
Absolutely do not ask colleagues - that is a taboo. Nothing good comes out of that.
Certainly use your resource - more is available online these days, check tools like salary.com and career beam to see what comparable positions are paying in the area. Type of company will make a difference, geography will make a difference, as well as how much experience you bring to the table. These tools help get you in the ballpark.
One of the best resources is your mentor. They often know or can get a range for the particular position and more importantly they can coach you on how to have the discussion with the boss.
Most people think they are worth more than the company can pay. Important not to draw a line in the sand that is unrealistic. Companies have comp bands to live with, merit budgets and pay equity issues. The boss may not even be able to give you what he or she wants to give you. If you dig your heals in too deeply you may end up having to walk away even though that wasn't what you desired.
I also advise students that salary is just one component of the package. Consider the investment plan, bonuses, health insurance, time off etc. It is the total package which makes up the true compensation.
Higher-income online shoppers are especially keen on bargains, survey says
FROM INTERNET RETAILER
Consumers rated detailed product benefits and capabilities as the most important piece of information when researching a product for purchase, chosen by 67% of 333 adult shoppers in an online survey conducted by WebCollage, a company that helps manufacturers disseminate product information online. Other important pieces of information cited were: system requirements (61%), list of items included with product (61%), comparison of different models (58%), product documentation or warranty information (51%), manufacturer’s overview of product (48%), list of new features in this model (45%), list of compatible accessories (44%), larger or alternate product images (31%), and product tours or demos (27%).
If you'd like to read this entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/higherincome.htm
Understanding The Mind Of Your Online Customer
FROM CHASESAGUM.COM
Understanding The Mind Of Your Online Customer
Janet Meiners recently wrote a very helpful article on Marketing Pilgrim about what customers want. She pulled information from two different survey sources on how online customers want more detailed product descriptions. As obvious as this may sound, it’s very rare to find an e-commerce website these days with very detailed product descriptions. It seems today that many online entrepreneurs have a “short attention span” and are not spending the time and energy to give each product description the attention and care it deserves. Here is a striking stat:
79 percent of those surveyed “rarely or never” purchase a product without complete product information.
- the e-tailing group
This data comes from the WebCollage’s 2007 Survey of Online Consumer Product Research Habits. What does this stat tell you? It says that if you do not give better product descriptions and information, then your potential customer will leave your website and purchase somewhere else.
If you would like to read this entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/understandingthe.htm
Networking Advice for Shy People
“While networking is often the most important step in the job search process resulting in the most jobs, students often resist networking because they are afraid of the process or shy,” says Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration. Here are some important steps she suggests:
To network successfully you need to develop and nurture an interest in other people. In any life situation you are always meeting new people. You need to learn to initiate and stimulate meaningful conversation to learn more about them. Most people like talking about themselves when given the opportunity. Using that interaction to gather relevant information and then following up takes that interaction to the next level.
Students should identify areas of interest and passion and then identify appropriate meetings or events to attend which relate to that passion. Starting in a room with a shared passion or interest makes initial conversations much easier.
Students also need to learn not to apologize for networking. You are interested in learning more about the person and you are an interesting person for them to know. Demonstrate your interest by asking specific questions. Take notes where appropriate and always follow-up with a thank you and next steps.
Networking is not limited to job search - it is a lifelong skill and activity that we should all be practicing. Focus on how you can add value to the networking relationship. Keep you network informed about your progress.
For those who are really shy or very reluctant to network, start with the low hanging fruit. Talk to relatives, friends, neighbors. Expand slowly through your church, your social groups, your non-profit connections, your classmates, former colleagues, etc. People you know need to know you are looking and how they can help by connecting you to other relevant contacts. You can do a significant amount of valuable networking without ever having to make a cold call. This builds the network and builds confidence in the student. Hopefully once they get comfortable with the process they can expand their focus.
Take risks - don't be afraid to talk to the person next to you at a banquet or on an airplane. They may be feeling as uncomfortable as you are and will appreciate you breaking the ice. They just might be a fabulous contact for you or know the right person for you to talk to.
While we interact with others all the day in the course of our daily lives, I don't consider that networking. I prefer to think of networking a more strategic, focused activity and it is the follow-up that distinguishes it from casual social interaction.
Retailers try out mobile checkout
FROM THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Retailers try out mobile checkout
By Kim Leonard
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 8, 2007
The green and red gift card packages at American Eagle Outfitters stores this season play music and record personal greetings.
Consumers will find another "wow" factor when they buy them.
The South Side-based retailer is testing a mobile checkout concept for gift card sales in 50 of its stores, including seven in Western Pennsylvania. Sales associates carry devices about twice the size of a cell phone, ringing up sales of the cards and allowing customers to skip long lines.
Apple stores, including locations in Shadyside and South Hills Village, did away with checkout areas during renovations in the past year, moving to a similar system. Other stores and supermarkets in the United States slowly are adopting portable point-of-sale systems, though acceptance is stronger in Europe.
American Eagle has been looking at its numbers since mobile checkout kicked off a few weeks ago, "but it's too early to tell if our gift card sales are up," said Rick Milazzo, the company's chief information officer.
While portable checkout and scanning devices have been around for about 15 years, they haven't taken off much yet domestically because of factors including cost and the sense that customers still like dealing with a clerk at a counter, said Tony Gao, a retail expert and marketing professor at Northeastern University in Boston.
Foreign Acquisition of U.S. Firms Seen as Good for Economy
FROM THE NY SUN
Foreign Acquisition of U.S. Firms Seen as Good for Economy
BY TRAVIS PANTIN - Special to the SunDecember 5, 2007
It wasn't long ago that American companies were snatching up firms abroad at the same pace. Now, a slowing American economy and the depreciating greenback is putting many of these American acquisitions on hold. "Both the euro and the pound are far stronger than they have been in recent decades," a finance professor at Northeastern University in Boston, Wes Marple, said. This makes American assets look cheap, he said.
To read this entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/Foreignacquisition.htm
White House info on language and early childhood development
Here’s something the White House has put out on language and early childhood development: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/earlychildhood/sect2.html
Research coming out of the American Psychological Association (APA) finds that toddlers learn better from books with photographs rather than those with illustrations or “likenesses” of objects ( http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/dev4261352.pdf ). The research finds that very young children understand the meaning of objects presented in color photographs better than black and white images or drawings, indicating that real-world, life-like images are important learning tools for babies and toddlers.
One of my clients, Bella Vista Foto ( www.bellavistafoto.com ) took that research and decided to take it one step further. Using the thought process in the research; Bella Vista Foto turns digital photos of objects like family members, family pets, favorite toys and everyday objects from their clients, or takes photos for their clients and crafts a customized book in various themes complete with photo captions or even stories. These books make unique holiday gifts.
“Instead of going to the bookstore to buy generic picture books to interact with your toddler, a custom photo book is more engaging and more effective in developing their skills and learning about the immediate world around them, with the items personalized and easily identifiable,” says Erika O’Connor, founder of Bella Vista Foto.
“Alphabet books are a great example of the type of custom books that we create for families. A is for Adam, B is for bed (insert photo of toddler’s bed), C is for car (insert photo of Mommy’s car), D is for Dog, (insert photo of family dog), etc.,” Ms. O’Connor adds. “Imagine sitting down with your toddler and seeing the connection that is made with the letter and the photo of something that is familiar to him. These custom photo books become more interesting to your toddler and a much richer learning experience is created as their learning skills are sharpened.”
Adding to the richness of the learning experience, Bella Vista Foto has also included a foreign language component to the ABC books. ABC books can be customized in several language choices – Spanish, French, German and Italian – to spark the language learning in toddlers as well. Bella Vista Foto can have the photos sent to them to make these books, Bella Vista Foto can take the photos, or they can use stock photos of objects kids can identify with and make the books.
Product Knowledge Generates Online Sales
FROM MANAGE SMARTER BLOG
Product Knowledge Generates Online SalesDecember 03, 2007
Give your online customers what they want and increase revenue in the process
By Stacy Straczynski
Gifting at both consumer and corporate levels is of top priority now that the holiday season is rapidly approaching. Online shopping continues to grow in popularity yet again this year and your organization wants a big piece of that increasing revenue potential. Recent research suggests the best way to do that is to offer comprehensive information to your online audience.
According to the new survey conducted by WebCollage, a N.Y.-based Web content integration network, shoppers tend to visit—and purchase from—Web sites that provide easy-to-understand, detailed product information. The survey originally conducted in May 2007 set out to determine how online consumers go about researching products and how that experience influenced purchasing decisions. The "2007 Survey of Online Consumer Product Research Habits" confirmed that Web sites that offer compelling information to aid consumers in determining and comparing compatibility and quality of both products and their companies influenced where online shoppers made their final purchases. And over a third of respondents (37 percent) went so far as to report that they would purchase from a competitor who offered more compelling product information.
To read the entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/productknowledgenerates.htm
Product Info Key To Online Retail Success, Survey Finds
FROM INFORMATIONWEEK
"Customers want to know things like how a product works, its complete set of features, and accessories and whether the product is compatible with products they already own," Jed Alpert, VP of marketing for WebCollage, said in a prepared statement. "That's why manufacturers need to focus on providing their retail channel partners with complete product information, first and foremost."
To read the entire story, please visit: http://www.paradigmshiftpr.com/productinfokey.htm
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