Japan Heading to Deeper Recession?

I didn’t get surprised or shocked to see more and more recession use this case because the whole world is suffering and it is something that we all have to face and we all have to deal together. In fact, sometimes I feel that it will be tough recession for rich countries compare to the people of the poor countries. After all, we have from the parts were countries have been habituated to unemployment and poverty and other problems. In fact, these things are a part of our everyday life and they do not make us afraid that much anymore. We have already experienced the oldest and what is there more to have. Think of the Japanese people. Their seats and they can afford all kind of luxuries. They have high taste and high purchasing capacity and is in a company like Nokia cannot do well in the Japanese market because most people in Japan are fond of very expensive mobile phone sets.

So, I feel that the recession time for Japanese people will be really very hard to deal with and I just hope that it does not create social instability in the country. One good thing of the people of Japanese that their very disciplined and they’re also very focused. However, the last time they really suffered a tough economic recession and bad condition happened many years ago.

Related Article

Forbes

Borders Group is giving discount on best sellers on Black Friday

Members of Michigan Retailers Association are going to give 50% or more discounts. freep.com reports:

…members say they are expecting a 1% decline in holiday sales compared with last year. Many are already discounting 50% or more and 45% of them have added lower-price items to appeal to cash-strapped consumers.

Ann Arbor-based Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE:BGP) started to send special savings coupons to its 30 million loyalty program members. This will go on through the current holiday season. This gave them a two-day jump on Black Friday deals. Members will get:

50% off on selected bestsellers.

50% off on Blu-Ray disks.

The deals also include holiday wrap, digital photo frames, DVD box sets and CDs.

On October 6, 2008, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) started its holiday season sales promotion. You will get toys in $10 on Black Friday. Kids coats would cost $4 and Garmin GPS for $97.

Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover will open at midnight on Black Friday. It will offer $2500 worth of gift cards every half hour throughout the evening.

Queenstown based Prime Outlets will open up at 12 a.m. and host a “pajama party.” The first 500 shoppers who will visit guest services wearing pajamas will receive a free goodie bag filled with Jockey brad pajamas and other prizes.

Baltimore based Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a famous restaurant chain,

gave out its Black Friday deal. Diners on Black Friday and Saturday will receive one free petit filet or New York strip steak for purchasing another entrée in Ruth’s Chris Steak House situated in Annapolis, Baltimore and Pikesville.

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freep.com

Baltimore Business Journal

eBay is offering “$1 Holiday Doorbusters” on Black Friday

On November 25, 2008, J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP) announced that it is going to give the most compelling Black Friday prices ever offered in the company’s history. More than 400 products will be given on deep discounts.

According to Marshal Cohen, Chief Retail Analyst, The NPD Group, Inc., retailers would have to give shoppers the products they want at any price. In his 33 years of service in the retail sector for the first time, he is seeing that shoppers would enjoy 75% off on Black Friday and the week after that.

Online sellers have also become active as they know that some shoppers are going to shop online for better price and free shipping offers. On November 24, 2008, eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) introduced “$1 Holiday Doorbusters.” Company officials said that 100 gift items including digital cameras and GPS devices, one luxury item, including a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette, will be listed each day until December 8, 2008 for $1 fixed price.

Related article:

money.cnn.com

Wal-Mart stores Inc. will offer the best deals on Black Friday 2008

Some of the best Thanksgiving and Black Friday deals are offered on big flat screen televisions. Wal-Mart Inc. (WMT), Best Buy Co., Inc.(NYSE:BBY) will have 50 inch plasma television 40% cheaper compared to the price of 2007.

Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M) offering deep cuts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The retailer told its credit-card customers that on Black Friday at 5 a.m. there is going to be lots of morning specials. On November 19, 2008, the stores had “our lowest prices of the season.”

Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) is offering “Ultimate Gift Collection” for web buyers. These gift packages are designed by fashion designer Tory Burch, celebrity photographer Sam Jones and artist Ruben Toledo.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is going to be the winner of this Black Friday. It will give away the best deals among the retailers all over USA. It will be giving away biggest discounts this year. Wal-Mart is offering $4 prescriptions which helped the company to grab the market share from Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT). Bentonville, Arkansas based Wal-Mart will give 16-ounce can of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce for 88 cents at early morning on Black Friday. It will also give 42-inch Polaroid flat-panel television for $598 to the early morning shoppers. This is $200 less than the usual price. Sam’s Club, the subsidiary of Wal-Mart, made special agreements with Nintendo Co., Ltd (TYO:7974) to provide additional games accessories with its Wii game player. Sam’s Club will sell the entire package for $425 on Black Friday.

Kohl's Corporation (NYSE:KSS) in Greensboro is offering 30-40% discounts.

On Black Friday, Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) will let customers buy toys, tools and consumer electronics on layaway for the first time in 19 years. Shoppers can buy things on installments.

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Bloomberg

money.cnn.com

Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc. great offer Black Friday 2008

Best Buy Co. Toys “R” US Inc. would open stores at 5 a.m. Out of its total 230 stores around the country, Disney Stores will open up half of them at midnight. Paul Gainer, Vice President and General Manager, Retail operations, Disney store North America, said that compared to last year this is a 5% increase. He said that their main goal is to offer convenience this year. They are going to maximize every opportunity.

Stores at Glendale and Montebello will open up at midnight.

Some stores are not waiting until the Black Friday.San Francisco based Gap Inc. that owns retail subsidiaries like Banana Republic, Old Navy chains, will open up 80 stores on November 27, 2008.

Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc. is offering 20% off from the total bills for shoppers who would come between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

In Macy’s Inc. customers can get a special savings pass that would get them $10 off a $25 purchase from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kohl's Corp., will open up at 4 a.m. and offer 300 early bird deals till 1 p.m. on Friday. This includes 40% to 50% off on designer women’s apparel and 50% off the toys.

Related article:

Los Angeles Times

Sam's Club is optimistic about Black Friday 2008

Sam’s Club, a subsidiary of the retail giant, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) expresses optimism about the upcoming “Blitz” Friday aka Black Friday. In an interview with Reuters, Doug McMillon, CEO Sam’s Club said: 

"In the past few weeks, people have been waiting for (Black) Friday and the prices that they're going to see between now and Christmas,…We're going to have enough to take care of blitz morning,"

Due to the ongoing financial crisis, people are not so much excited. The 2008 Holiday season will be the worst for retailers in the last two decades. The October retailers report showed a disastrous result for the retailers. Consumers have become frugal. However, Mr. McMillon sees this as an opportunity for higher sales. He said, shoppers who are now coming to their stores are waiting for Black Friday when product prices will go down. On Black Friday, Sam’s Club will open up at 5 a.m. and offer shoppers free breakfast. Mr. McMillon said that the main advantage of Sam’s Club is that it is a big box retailer and comes with a wide range of products. This is why people would come to their stores.

Mr. McMillon predicts that consumer electronics such as digital cameras, camcorders, and Blackberry smartphone are going to be the top favorites among shoppers. If you are still not interested then here is a motivator for you: Sam’s Club is going to offer Wii Fit video game for under $79. 

Related articles:

Forbes

Market Watch

Black Friday 2008 or Discount Friday 2008?

Mashed potatos+Turkey = Incomplete Black Friday. So, what more do you need to add in the equation? Yes, Black Friday, the official day to kick start holiday shopping. Over the years, Black Friday has achieved special status among shoppers for getting deep discounts and door buster deals. This year, the retailers are giving more discounts and door buster deals to attract more shoppers. The economic crisis, fuel price rise have made shoppers reconsider and reorganize their shopping plans. Retailers are afraid of poor sales. Los Angeles Times:

This year, however, fewer consumers are in the mood to shop and retailers have been slashing prices for weeks in the hopes of boosting sales. This month alone, luxury retailers Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue have held massive sales, with many items 40% to 70% off, while discounters such as Kmart have offered "early Black Friday" specials on toys and other merchandise.

 side from discounts, retailers are going for early openings; as early as midnight. Walt Disney, KB Toys will open up their stores at 12 a.m. Along with door buster deals, discounts, shoppers will also get perks such as free parking. If you are one of those shoppers who enjoy shopping in stores then Black Friday 2008 is your best time. Wish you all good luck in DEAL HUNTING! 

Related article:

latimesblogs.latimes.com

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. resets its motorcycle sales targets and future expansion plans

Japan’s second largest automaker, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (TYO: 7267), is expecting a drop in the sales of its two wheelers in 2009. The two wheeler products of Honda Motor Co., which helped the company to survive downturns compared to its rivals like Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203), observed a 16% increase in sales in the current term. However, the worldwide credit crunch have started to affect sales in developing countries like China, India, Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia, which are major markets of Honda motor cycles. Tatsuhiro Oyama, Chief Operating Officer, Operations, Honda Motorcycle, said that tighter credits had started to affect buyers in many markets leading to a prediction of dry sale in 2009. Mr. Oyama is saying that if the sales figure remains flat next year, they would be very lucky.

In order to avoid inventory build up, Honda is now following the conventional path; slashing down production and forcing workers to take leave. The company told its Brazil plant workers to take eleven days paid leave between October and December.

In the next two years, Honda is planning to sale 18 million motorcycles. Only a month ago, this sales target would have been dubbed as “conservative.” Honda also postponed its plan to build up a new motorcycle manufacturing plant in Southern Japan with an annual production capacity of half million units. The company has decided to wait till the demand of big bikes in Europe and USA picks up. The plant was supposed to start production in the middle of 2009.

Related article:

Reuters

Microsoft CEO ordered by judge to appear at the court

Microsoft CEO has been ordered by judge to present at the court.Steven Ballmer, Chief Executive officer, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is facing lawsuit over misinforming consumers regarding Windows Vista. Marsha Pechman, U.S. District Judge, did not grant Microsoft’s request to stop consumer lawyers from questioning Ballmer on the ground of a recorded conversation between Ballmer and the top executive of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) which indicates that Ballmer have first hand knowledge about the case.

Due to the delay in the development of Windows Vista, the latest version of Microsoft’s flagship software, the company advised hardware manufacturers to label their products as “Vista Capable” but the products could not even run the basic Windows Vista let alone the premium edition. Despite knowing about the problem, the company went ahead and started selling Vista in January 2007 and the case was made in March 2007. Judge Marsha Pechman classified the case as a “class-action, or group, lawsuit” in February. On April 13, 2008, Microsoft faced the trial.David Bowermaster, Microsoft spokesperson, forwarded an email which says:

“We will of course comply with the court’s order …Mr. Ballmer’s knowledge about the Windows Vista Capable program comes from the executives he empowered to run the program and make decisions, and two of those executives already testified in this case.”

Marsha Pechman limited Ballmer’s presence in court up to three hours and she ordered that the trial will be conducted within 30 days of her ruling.

Related articles:

Bloomberg

ONGC discovers oil deposits in the Eastern off-shore of Andhra Pradesh

India’s state owned energy company, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited(ONGC) (BOM: 500312), discovered large oil deposits in an eastern offshore acreage in Andhra Pradesh which it received from the government on a nomination basis. The Hindu reports:

"Three hydrocarbon bearing sands have been encountered in the gross interval 3,757 meters to 4,185 meters based on geological data, log evaluation and one mini-Drill Stem Test carried out on September 30 and October 1, 2008. The thickest sand interval (4,1084,185 meters) comprises 55 metres of net oil pay," it said.

The company discovered the deposit at a water depth of 225 meters but it did not mention the quantity of oil reserved. This is the most significant discovery made by the company after its gas discovery in Krishna-Godavari basin in December 2006.

On the other hand, to meet the growing energy demand, ONGC Videsh Ltd, (OVL), the foreign arm of ONGC got clearance from the Russian government to buy British oil company, Imperial Energy Corporation plc (LON:IEC).

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South Asia Fair

The Hindu

Jet Airways pilots demand removal of expatriate pilots

In a move to cut costs, India’s largest domestic airlines, Jet Airways (India) Limited (BOM: 532617), proposed 20% salary cut of its pilots, engineers and other staff. However, the pilots have not agreed with their proposal and made a counter proposal to the management that it should get rid of all its expatriate pilots. The pilots are saying that they will negotiate after the company removes all its 200 expatriate pilots because they are paid 40%-50% more than domestic pilots. The Hindu reports:

The Society for Welfare of Indian Pilots (SWIP), a pilots body of Jet Airways, is understood to have conveyed to the Jet management that all expat pilots should be removed. "We will not settle for less...all the expat pilots must go (from the airline)," a senior Jet Airways pilot told PTI here today on condition of strict anonymity. "We are ready to co-operate with the company and willing to negotiate on salary cut proposals but the management (of Jet Airways) should first remove the expat pilots," he said.

Wolfgang Proch-Schaeur, Chief Executive Officer, Jet Airways said that that the management had not yet taken any decision on removing expatriate pilots. The pilots demanded that 15% of its expatriate pilots who fly the wide-body aircrafts should be removed.

Aside from pilots, other employees including high level officials who are paid half million Rupees salary per-month will observe a deduction. A five member-team has been formed to implement various cost-cutting measures which will be headed by Jet Airways’ founder Chairman, Naresh Goyal.

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The Hindu

Money Control.com

Tata Motors shuts down its Jamshedpur plant

Tata Motors Limited (BOM: 500570), which previously made headlines for its high profile acquisitions, just become another victim of global credit crunch. Recently, the company declared to shutdown its Jamshedpur plant for five days starting from November 25, 2008. This is the second shutdown in this month in order to adjust the production with declining sales orders. Earlier, it was shut down for three days from November 6 to November 8, 2008. However, it was an unofficial five day shut down. Tata Motors even reduced its production targets in October and put 3,000 temporary workers on leave. More than 70% of the companies that are dependent on Tata were affected from this shutdown. Already, its Pune and Lucknow plants are shutdown starting from November 22 to November 27, 2008. The company forced its workers to take leave without pay. Bachcha Singh, spokesperson of Telco Workers Union said:

"We are with the company. We have suggested to the company management that they adopt measures to cut costs to meet the challenge of global meltdown,"

On November 6, 2008, Ratan Tata, head of the 62.5 billion Tata Group conglomerate, forwarded an e-mail to the heads of all the 98 companies. In the email, he advised to stop all kinds of merger and take over procedures and adopt strict cost cutting measures to keep the companies operational. Tata borrowed heavily from investors and banks to fund its take over plans and now it is under huge debt. Last year, the company produced 1,25,000 vehicles which has come down to 50,000 due to world wide economic crisis.

Related articles:

The Hindu

Hindustan Times

South Asia Fair

Indian airlines are facing serious crisis amidst global credit crunch

India’s aviation industry is now facing tough times. Global credit crunch, fuel price rise and decrease in number of travelers lead to job cuts, reshaping the routes, decreasing number of flights, and increasing air-fares. Finding no other options, the domestic and national airlines are now looking forward to raise money from banks and investment companies for their survival. Jet Airways (India) Limited (BOM:532617), India’s second largest international airlines and largest domestic airlines, is now in talks with State Bank of India (BOM:500112) and Punjab National Bank (BOM:532461). The company is asking for Rs. 15 billion for working capital and expansion plan funding. Jet Airways is also asking Abu-Dhabi based investment company, Mubadala Development Co. to lend Rs. 10 billion.

Jet Airways’ major rival, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. (BOM:532747) is also looking for potential investors in Singapore and Hong Kong but company officials did not reveal any information on the issue. An inside person, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that recently, the airlines took a loan of Rs. 10 billion from ICICI Bank Limited (BOM:532174) and asking for a second loan. It is also talking with investors to raise Rs. 20.48 billion through equity sales.

India’s national airlines, Air India Limited, which is owned by the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) is also looking forward to raise $2.5 billion from banks to fund its acquisition of 23 Boeing planes. NACIL is asking for a soft loan of Rs. 40 billion. Government is now evaluating the proposal.

Indian airlines are about to incur a loss of about Rs. 100billion. To continue their operations, they need to raise Rs. 40 billion working capital but the banks are finding it difficult to provide such a large amount of money.

Related article:

Livemint.com

LG Incite CF 810: LG's latest Windows based mobile phone

Famous South Korean Electronics Company, The Laclede Group, Inc.
(NYSE:LG), in collaboration with AT&T Inc.(NYSE:T), announced to launch its latest Windows based mobile phone,LG Incite CF810. It is LG’s first Windows based mobile released in USA. LG’s previous Windows based mobile phone, LG KS20, was released in Europe in 2007. Later, an American edition was sold through the FCC website. Operated by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, the LG Incite CF810 sports features similar to those of Apple iPhone. Here are some of the major features of the LG Incite CF 810:

• The LG Incite CF 810 supports the latest 3G network.
• The LG Incite CF 810 comes with an integrated GPS.
• The LG Incite CF 810 comes with Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g).
• The LG Incite CF 810 supports Bluetooth.
• The LG Incite CF 810 comes with Microsoft Office Mobile, Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5. It is the first mobile phone from LG that supports Windows Media Player 10.
• The LG Incite CF 810 has 3-inch touch screen.
• The LG Incite CF 810 has 3.0 megapixel camera. It features AT&T’s Video Share which, for the first time in US, enables users to share live video while participating in a voice call.
• The LG Incite CF 810 comes with QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode containing twenty haptic keys with vibration feedback.
• The LG Incite CF 810 has a user friendly interface. It has a scroll button to the upper right of the screen. You can also use a stylus.
• With the LG Incite CF 810’s drag-and-drop favorites menu users can easily access to various applications.
• The LG Incite CF 810 comes with AT&T Navigator. It gives turn-by-turn voice directions, 3-D moving maps, traffic alerts, re-routing, and other “location-based services.” Market Watch reports:
  

There also is business and personal e-mail access through Microsoft Direct Push and AT&T's Xpress Mail service, instant messaging and AT&T Mobile Music service, which provides fast access to downloadable music from eMusic(R). Store all your favorite songs with the microSD Memory Port with up to 16GB of support.

The LG Incite CF 810 is the second fruit of LG Microsoft collaboration. On November 3, 2008, LG and Microsoft signed a preliminary agreement on “strategic collaboration in mobile technology.” Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, recently visited South Korea and signed the agreement. Previously, LG and Microsoft joined hands to produce a Windows enabled version of a Chocolate phone for South Korea. This was followed by collaboration between LG and AT&T.Priced at $199.99, the LG Incite CF 810 comes with a two-year contract.

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Beta News

Market Watch

Reuters

Can Maruti Suzuki A-star lift up Maruti Suzuki's falling share prices?

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (BOM: 532500) launched its latest model car, Maruti Suzuki A-Star on November 19, 2008. It is the first Suzuki car to be produced in India. Now the million dollar question is: Will the A-Star save Maruti Suzuki falling share price? Though A-Star comes with some impressive upgrade it failed to impress the investors. The company’s share prices hit the lowest point for the first time in last three years. In addition, the global credit crunch and falling domestic demand created serious problem. Famous Korean auto-maker, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. cut down its production by 10%. Maruti also admitted of cutting production at its Delhi Gurgaon plant. Livemint.com reports:

While Maruti has reaffirmed its fiscal year 2010-11 target of exporting 200,000 vehicles, that now seems like an ambitious target. For one, its contract manufacturing deal with Nissan Motor Co. for 50,000 vehicles has still not been finalized. Besides, with most global auto makers feeling the heat of the slowdown, it’s unlikely that Maruti Suzuki’s exports division would go unscathed.

As far as the domestic market is concerned, the launch of the A-Star should help the company regain some lost market share in the A2 segment.

In June 2009, Maruti Suzuki is going to launch another new model named Splash which would further help the company but Maruti will not make much revenue in a sinking market. Yesterday, Maruti Suzuki shares were priced Rs 502.95 at 12.06 pm. On Thursday, the price was Rs. 468.25.

Related article:

Livemint.com

Review of Canon PowerShot SX10 Digital Camera

I am a big fan of cannon digital camera and in fact, I use one for my work. Of course, I cannot afford to buy a very expensive model of Canton but I know that many people like high quality professional digital cameras from the company and they are very popular. Despite the fact that I cannot buy an expensive one I look for reviews related to them and I would like you to read this review:

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Review

Positive outlook for Dell in Asia but it is not Enough

The world wide economic recession is now touching almost all the big companies in the whole world. This is something that is causing a lot of havoc among the companies and every day, we just see some bad news items about economic recession. So, I think that the officials of Dell should be happy to see that they are doing fine in Asia. So, the company is now thinking of investing more in some Asian countries like China and India.

But the problem is that Asia market is not yet that big compared to Europe and USA. So, the positive growth in Asia is not enough to prevent drop in overall revenue because of the bad economy condition in Europe and America. Still, my opinion is that the Asian market for Dell products will continue to grow and the company should concentrate on capturing more market share in different countries of Asia.

 

Related Article

PC World

How to avoid plumbers to save money for Black Friday

Already I wrote about plumber’s Black Friday. Like shoppers and retailers plumbers run around the town instead of enjoying meals with their families because it is their earning season. Unfortunately, the plumbing and cleaning service personals believe that the ongoing economic crisis will affect their business. If you are one of those who do not want to spend extra money on plumbers then here are some tips for you:

• Do not clean those oils on your plates with water. They clog the pipe by solidifying. Wipe the oily pots and plates with towels and throw them in trash and then clean them.
• Do not throw away fibrous waste, poultry skins, celery, fruit and potato peels into the disposal because they can not sufficiently grind them.
• Do not wait to fill up your disposal before turning on.
• Wait ten minutes between showers. It would give time for the slow drains to clear water.
• Do not flush cotton balls, swabs, hair, facial scrub pads in the toilet.
• In order to avoid extra holiday service charge call a plumber before the holidays.
• If you do not have time or money to call a plumber then buy a CLR Power Plumber from Jelmar. A pressurized drain opener the power plumber will clear your drains in seconds. You do not need to use any acids, additives or lye. Hence, it is environmentally safe.

Related article:

Market Watch

Market Watch

Black Friday : also significant to the plumbers

Black Friday is the buzz of the towns but what about Thanksgiving? Do you forget about this festival? What about the Thanksgiving Turkey and all the foods that goes into your stomach and in your drainage systems? The next day after Thanksgiving is not only a big day for retailers but plumbers as well. The excessive food waste clogs sinks and toilets around the country. Hence, the next day after Thanksgiving is also a busy day for plumbers. Like the retailers they also make extra money on this day. Roto-Rooter, the largest plumbing service in USA receives large number of calls and it is the single busiest day of the year for the company. Market Watch reports:

Most Americans take part in Thanksgiving celebrations with eleven or more people. Big holiday meals require a busy kitchen, meaning lots of grease and food go down the kitchen drain into the garbage disposal. Holiday guests require extra showers, wash cycles and toilet flushes. "Often, a house already has partially clogged drainpipes that aren't noticeable until holiday guests arrive and overwhelm the system," said Paul Abrams, a spokesman for Roto-Rooter.

On a typical Friday, calls to Roto-Rooter jumps up by almost 50%. During the Thanksgiving weekend, Roto-Rooter call jumps up by 21%.

During the weekend they stack up a revenue close to million dollars. This year, the plumber service is afraid that the number of emergency calls will decrease.

Related article:

Market Watch

Some interesting facts about Black Friday

Black Friday is creating fever all over USA. The Friday after Thanksgiving is considered to be the day that kicks off the holiday season shopping in USA. All the retailers and departmental stores offer bonuses and “door buster deals” but do not believe every thing you read or hear. Here is why:

• First of all, Black Friday is not Friday but Black Thursday because most of the retailers deals starts from the midnight of Thanksgiving and that is the best time for shoppers to shop.
• Many Black Friday shoppers believe that they would get better deals in the store but that is not true. Driving to the store costs your gas. If one store does not have a “particular product deal” other retailers might have it. If the store from which you are buying is not present in your state then it will save on sales tax this is very good for you if you are buying “large ticket” items.
• The best way to shop is shop online. If you enjoy standing in long cues then it is different but if you are looking for better options then go online. You will get same deals. You do not need to ruin your night’s sleep.
• It is true that some deals finish quickly but there are hundreds of other better deals. If you can not get a particular deal then do not worry, the Cyber Monday is right at the corner.
• It is true that Black Friday deals are best deals. Hence, you should start as quickly as possible.

Related article:

prweb.com

iPod and Video game are hot "Black Friday 2008" items

In a recent poll conducted by reputed American organization, Consumer Reports, it has been found out that more shoppers will be looking for bargains and deep discounts on products on the coming “Black Friday.” American economy is going through a tough time and people are going to spend less but that does not mean they would not go shopping. In fact, 26% of the respondents said that they would go out for shopping on Black Friday which is 5% higher from 2007. cbs4.com reports:

Fighting the crowds and hunting down those blockbuster deals may be a game for the young, the biggest percentage (36%) of those who are planning to hit the malls are between the ages of 18 and 34.

Compared to early years, holiday shoppers are not starting their shopping early. Of the total respondent, only 38% have started their shopping which was 43% in 2006. About 85% of the shoppers are going to hunt for electronic products. Compared to the last season, this is a 15% rise. Out of the total respondents, 46% want to go for video-game system and iPods and 43% will go for MP3 players.

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cbs4.com

Special Black Friday 2008 service offered by Frankfort Avenue Trolley service

For the shoppers enjoyment on “Black Friday,” the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Service at Louisville is going to have a special service on November 28, 2008. Typically, the Frank Fort Avenue Trolley Service runs in the evenings on the last Friday every month. On November 28, 2008, for the holiday shoppers, the trolley will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. This has been decided by the Frankfort Avenue Business Association. bizjournals.com reports:

The free trolley service, operated by Transit Authority of River City, typically runs in the evenings on the last Friday of every month. But on Nov. 28, trolleys will run from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and most stores along the route will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the Frankfort Avenue Business Association.

The Frankfort Avenue Trolleys run from Johnston Street in Butchertown to Frankfort and Stilz avenues. On their way they stop near shops, restaurants and galleries at Frankfort, Mellwood and Story avenues.

Related article:

bizjournals.com

The Pier Shops "Black Friday 2008" passport to indulgence

The Pier Shops, the famous Atlantic city shopping mall, in collaboration with Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. is offering “Caesars Passport to Indulgence” to “Total Reward Members.” Using these passports, members can enjoy a private one hour shopping prior to public opening from November 28^th to November 30^th, 2008. In addition, they will get discounts in all the shops at other Pier Shops and restaurants.

If you are a regular shopper at The Pier Shops and has not become a “Total Reward Member,” you can get them for free. All you have to do is sign up at the “Total Rewards Center” in any one of the four Harrah’s Entertainment casinos. On November 28, 2008, The Pier Shops will open up at 8 a.m. for “Total Reward Members” and at 9 a.m. for general public. On the next two days, The Pier Shops will open up at 9 a.m. for “Total Reward Members” and 10 a.m. for general people. “Total Reward Members” can use their passports any time during these three days. For more information, visit the following links:

http://www.thepiershopsatcaesars.com.

http://www.harrahs.com

Related articles:

Market Watch

Black Friday 101

The way it looks, the coming Black Friday is not going to be a shopping festival but a desperate effort to sale as many products as possible on the retailer’s part and getting the best deal on buyers part. Yes, it is a war front and the million dollar question is: “Are you ready to put down your fork on the Thanksgiving Day and endure the chilling cold and stand the long queue in front of retail stores to get the best product at a deep discount?”

First of all, retailers have turned the day after Thanksgiving into a national holiday. They are offering great deals on technology products as they are expected to be the top favorite on Black Friday 2008. However, these products will be “hard to find” and they are limited.

In order to get the products you want, you need to do little bit of research by going through various Black Friday websites such as, Bfads.net,

Black-Friday.net, Fat Wallet.com. You should remember that information in these websites is not very much reliable. Retailers can change every thing at the last moment.

The second step is to look into the retail stores and see what products they have and where they are located. You can shop in groups to cover more stores. If you are looking for one particular product you can take another person who will stand at the check out line. You can also have another person at home who will be sitting in front of the computer and keep you updated with last minute deals.

If you are not ready to go through all these hassles, then you should wait for the “Cyber Monday.” You will get the same discount like "Black Friday" but you will not get those “door buster deals.”

Related articles:

New York Times

Boscov's is expected to open up before Black Friday 2008

Boscov's, one of the last family owned department store chains in USA, is hoping to open up its 39 stores before “Black Friday.” The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2008. Out of its total 49 stores, it will have to sell 10 stores. On November 18, 2008, a court hearing was held which cleared major obstacles for the buyout. The regional department store chains which were supposed to be sold to Versa - Capital Management, Inc., a Philadelphia-based private equity firm, for $11 million, will now be bought by Albert R. Boscov, son of the Boscov’s founder, Solomon Boscov, and his brother-in-law, Edwin Lakin. They collected around $300 million from their friends and families. A final sale order will be issued by the court on November 21, 2008. After this, everything will be finalized by November 26, 2008 Philly.com reports:

"That's enough to convince the court that we're for real," the retail hound from Reading said with a smile. His spunk and legendary charm gushed as he fielded questions from a knot of reporters during a recess from the sale hearing - his first public remarks about a deal sure to leave the most savvy dealmakers in awe.

If Judge Gross signs off on the asset-purchase agreement at a hearing Friday, Boscov's Department Store L.L.C. and its 8,000 mostly regional employees will stay in business.

The ten stores which were bought by the executives in a move to expand Boscov’s business proved to be a burden for the company. In his testimony, Boscov’s financial adviser, J. Scott Victor, said that the Boscov’s has the capacity to bring in $12.7 million revenue in its first year compared to its 2007 loss. The main strength of the departmental store chains is its army of loyal customers. Many of the services offered by Boscov’s are not offered by stores anymore. Albert R. Boscov is hopeful that they are going to do great business in the coming “Black Friday.”

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AP

Philly.com

Black Friday 2008: The Ultimate Retail War

“Drastic nature calls for drastic measures” this best describes the condition of American retailers. With gas price rise (though it has come down now) and economic crisis, American retailers are expecting a grim “Black Friday 2008” and they are using every last trick in their books to attract consumers even if it means opening up stores at 12 a.m at midnight. For the past few days, I have been covering on Black Friday and I found out that many large retail chain stores are planning to open up a larger portion of their stores at midnight. For example, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) will open up its 100 stores from midnight and the rest 100 from 5 a.m. Same goes for KB Toys, Inc., the largest mall-based specialty toy retailer. Out of its 460 stores, 270 will open up from midnight. Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:

Other retailers are giving away door prizes to early shoppers, all in reaction to economic conditions that analysts say will turn the cheery —- and impressionable —- holiday shopper of Christmas past into a steely-eyed bargain hunter.

“This year, consumers are on a budget, and they mean it,” said National Retail Federation spokeswoman Ellen Davis.

Sales predictions range from downright dire to the modestly glum, and retailers are feeling the pressure, said Candace Collett, a principal with WSL Strategic Retail, a consulting firm.

However, keeping the doors open from midnight is not enough. Aggressive advertising, deep discounts, bonus, door buster deals are going to make a lot of difference in the coming holiday season shopping. Already some of the retailers gave away their special price listings such as Michigan based Meijer gave out their list which contains special prices of 400 items. In addition, some retailers are sending out e-mail alerts. For example, Simon Property Group, Inc

(NYSE:SPG) that operates Discover Mills and other malls are sending out e-mail alerts.

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Atlanta Journal Constitution

Meijer's Black Friday 2008 shopping deals

Stores of the famous Michigan based retailer, Meijer, will remain all through the day of the “Black Friday.” The retailer released its entire special pricing list to catch as many customers as possible on the upcoming “Black Friday.” Jeff Handler, Senior Vice President Marketing, Meijer, said that the ongoing economic crisis has forced people to spend more time to search for the best value in retail and Meijer always strives to provide the best customer service. Mr. Handler said that this year, their aim is to help customers plan their shopping trips and get the best price in the market.Marekt Watch reports:

• Save $420 on a Sylvania 32 inch High Definition LCD TV, selling for only $379.99.
  
• Purchase a new iPOD Nano for $149.99 and receive a $50.00 mail-in rebate.
  
• Select Blu-ray movies only $9.99.
  
• All Lego Bionicle playsets: Buy One Get One FREE
  
• All Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Disney Cars or Speed Racer single pack vehicles: Buy One Get One FREE
  
• 75% off all 10 and 14 karat gold jewelry.
  

Meijer released three different holiday ads to make easy for its customers to find out the best deals. From November 19, 2008 to November 22, 2008, customers can find these ads at the Meijer official website: http://www.meijer.com/home.jsp . On top of the homepage, there is a link titled “Ads, Sales & Alerts,” which gives the customers a list of 400 specific items with special holiday prices. Prices of some products have been slashed more than 50%. The wish-list items include electronics, jewelry and toys. 

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Marekt Watch

 

Maritz predicts not so exciting Black Friday 2008

Just another grim prediction for the upcoming “Black Friday” to boost retailers’ morale.  Famous travel and marketing research firm, Maritz conducted an online poll on 1,525 respondents on holiday shopping, buying behaviors and gift giving trends from October 14 to October 24, 2008. Here are the some of the findings of the poll: 

The retailers which are going to see the highest number of buyers are: Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Toys R Us, K-Mart, Kohl's, Sears, Macy's,Circuit City, Victoria's Secret, and Apple Store/iTunes. People are willing to go for big-box retailers because they have the capability to offer competitive prices and comes with a wide range of product choice which makes their stores a “one-stop shopping” center. Buyers are going to choosier. These stores should go for value added benefits like free shipping or any other value added services to ensure their profit.           

Retailers are not gathering up items in fear of inventory build up. Hence, there is a good chance a shoppers might not get everything in one store. However, in order to be competitive, retailers should have a good stock of gift cards, though the projected spending on gift card per people has decreased. Market Watch reports: 

According to the poll, 55 percent of respondents still plan to purchase gift cards this year (compared to 56 percent in 2007 and 54 percent in 2006). The number of gift cards purchased will also remain the same as last year (with a median of four gift cards each year). But the true difference is in the amount spent on each gift card. The average spend on gift cards dropped to $161 from $273 in 2007. Based on the projected overall spend this holiday season, approximately 29 percent of gift giving will involve gift cards, compared to 43 percent last year.

 

Four out of five respondents said that they bought items only when they find a sale. Three out of four respondents are doing pre-shopping research to get the best deals. Seven out of ten already purchased gifts before the season and 65% respondents admitted to cut back the number of gifts per person.   

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Market Watch

Nokia: Bad forecast for Mobile Phone Demand

The ongoing global economic recession is affecting every sector. Just think of the continual reduction in oil price in the international market. $55.00 is now the current on a price and there is strong possibility that it can even go lower. So, I’m not surprised to see that Nokia has stated that there would be a decrease in demand of mobile phone in the fourth quarter. But the only reason for the slowdown of the month of mobile phone is the global economic recession and there are very few chances that this economic conditions will improve in the short term.

Xinhua reported:

Nokia says global demand for mobile phones would be lower in the fourth quarter than previously forecast because of the international economic slowdown, according to reports Friday from Helsinki.

Nokia, the world's largest cell phone maker, estimated mobile phone volumes in the fourth quarter would be approximately 330 million, lower than its previous forecast.

This is a surely bad news for mobile phone makers but I think that there is still a lot tougher room for growth in the mobile phones sector because most people in Asia and Africa still do not own a mobile phone set. But the good thing is that most people do not consider mobile phone a luxury item anymore for desktop. Rather, they feel that it is a part of everyday necessity and an integral part of communication in human lives in our time.

Hyundai i20 to Get into the Indian Market in the First Quarter of 2009?

In my earlier entry, I wrote that Hyundai i20 will launched in Indian market on 8 November 2008. Well, just after uploading the post, I came across an article in internet that claims Hyundai i20’s launch in Indian market might be delayed and rescheduled to the first quarter of 2009. The report published in Car Trade in India website says that they have got to know from a reliable source of Hyundai that the proposed November 8 release for Hyundai i20 in Indian market might be rescheduled to early next year. However, as nothing is officially announced yet, I think, it is better to stick to November 8 as the launching date for Hyundai i20 in the Indian car market.

Hyundai i20 is a five-door hatchback car that has been launched in the Paris Motor Show last month. Hyundai i20 is a model in between i10 and i30. Hyundai i10 saw huge success in Indian market. Now, many people in India are waiting for the release of Hyundai i20. The passenger car features more space and flexible seating system than the model like Hyundai Getz. Designed by Hyundai’s European Car Design Centre in Russelsheim, Germany, Hyundai i20 follows European standard of style and ride. The car will be manufactured in Hyundai’s Chennai manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudu.

Car users can choose between petrol engine and diesel engine as Hyundai i20 offers both petrol and diesel versions. New 1.2-litre petrol engine will be available for those who want to use petrol version of Hyundai i20, while a new 1.4-litre CRTD plus a 1.6-litre engines are for those who prefers diesel engines. Hyundai i20 will compete with Maruti Swift in Segment B. The price of the car has not been revealed officially, but it could be in the range of Rs. 5.5 lakh and above. However, nothing is confirmed yet about the price of the car. Hyundai will launch a 3-door variant of i20 early 2009 for the European market.

Hyundai i20 to Get Released in Indian Market on November 8

Hyundai i20, the upcoming hatchback car from Hyundai’s volt, is expected to go on sale in India from 8 November. The five-door hatchback car sports some eye-catching features and car users are eagerly waiting for the release of Hyundai i20 in Indian market. The passenger car was launched in Paris Motor Show recently and is expected to grab a chunk of market share soon after it becomes available in Indian market.

With 2525mm wheelbase, Hyundai i20 is spacious enough for a B segment car. Hyundai i20 features a seven-strong line-up of petrol and turbodiesel engines for European market. Users can choose between manual transmission and automatic transmission.

Car Wale reported:

For Europe, the i20 will have a seven-strong line-up of petrol and turbodiesel engines, with the choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The Euro IV-compliant petrol line-up comprises the 78bhp 1.2, 100bhp 1.4 and 126bhp 1.6 all available with five-speed manual transmissions, with the option of four-speed automatic gearboxes on the 1.4 and 1.6 models. The Euro IV -compliant turbodiesel engines are fitted with CPF diesel particulate traps as standard for the 1.6l (115bhp and 128bhp) diesel engine. The 1.4 comes in two specifications – 75bhp and 90bhp – while the flagship 1.6 is available in 115bhp and 128bhp trim. We’re expecting the 78bhp 1.2 and 115bhp 1.6 to make it here, but the 75bhp 1.4 would make a lot more sense for our market.

Hyundai i20 provides enough safety measures too. High-tensile steel has been used in the frame of the car and it offers six airbags, active headrests, front seatbelt pretensioners and latest generation ABS anti-lock brakes along. Hyundai i20 also comes equipped with ESP electronic stability control, EBD Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. However, the fact is that it is not yet confirmed how many of these features will be available for the Indian market.