April 5, 2010
Science of Business Intelligence
Universities Around the World Lack the Technology and Content to Prepare the Next-Generation Work Force in the Science of Business Intelligence, concludes a Survey.
Teradata Corporation has conducted an international survey. Responding to the survey were professors from more than 80 universities around the world, including Canada, China, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain and the United States.
The survey shows:
• Universities around the world lack the technology and content to prepare the next-generation work force in the science of business intelligence.
• Their instructors are struggling to teach in conformity with the expanding demands for data analytics.
• With the rapid growth of business data, professors need access to larger systems and data sets to teach proper analysis of information.
• The Challenges, reported by the Survey Respondents, are: Technology (43%), Content (41%), Marketing (11%) and Staffing (5%).
• Teachers can't adequately prepare students because they lack access to the needed software, hardware and real-world business problems.
• Students are ill-prepared for the required rigorous statistical analysis.
• Companies are hungry for qualified new business workers. But the universities around the world are struggling to develop the next-generation business intelligence work force.
The two largest areas of concern are an inability to provide relevant and meaningful problems for students to solve, and the cost of providing the database technology needed to solve the problems.
"It's clear from the survey that instructors want to change the way students learn about business intelligence," states Barbara Wixom, associate professor at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce. "Professors want to provide large data sets, contemporary software tools, and real-world content within their classrooms. But, factors like high technology costs, complex maintenance requirements, and steep learning curves present insurmountable obstacles."
Meanwhile, Teradata Corporation has stepped forward to provide the needed tools, including free software, hardware through the Teradata University Network.
"When we can help students understand what it means to use business intelligence to address problems faced by companies today, they are much better prepared to become productive employees," explained Scott Gnau, vice president and general manager, Research and Development, Teradata Corporation. "We recognize the obstacles universities face in teaching BI (Business Intelligence). By helping them prepare students, we're helping the business world capitalize on data analytics, one of the top technology priorities for companies today."
Source: Teradata University Network, Teradata Corporation
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"The age of chivalry is gone: that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded."
-- Edmund Burke [British Statesman] (1729-1797)
"The age of Academics is going: that of Professionals is succeeding."
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:37 PM | Link to this Post
Apple Sells Over 300,000 iPads First Day
Apple today announced that it sold over 300,000 iPads in the US as of midnight Saturday, April 3. These sales included deliveries of pre-ordered iPads to customers, deliveries to channel partners and sales at Apple Retail Stores. Apple also announced that iPad users downloaded over one million apps from Apple's App Store and over 250,000 ebooks from its iBookstore during the first day.
"It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world -- it's going to be a game changer," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.
Source: Apple
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March 28, 2010
Porsche in New York City
Photo: Year: 1950. The classic sports car Porsche in New York City. Model: Porsche 550 Spyder.
Photo: Year: 2010. The classic sports car Porsche in New York City. Model: Porsche 2011 Boxster Spyder.
Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:31 AM | Link to this Post
March 25, 2010
Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010
• Sweden replaces Denmark as world's most networked economy in The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 rankings.
• United States moves down two positions to fifth place.
• China (37th) and India (43rd) lead BRIC economies and continue upward trend with a 9 and 11 place improvement respectively.
• Ninth edition of report covers 133 economies, accounting for over 98% of world's GDP.
Sweden tops the rankings of The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010, released today (March 25, 2010) by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.
The report highlights the key role of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) as an enabler of a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable world in the aftermath of one of the most serious economic crises in decades. Sweden is followed by Singapore and Denmark, which was in the number one position for the last three years.
Photo: An overview captured during the session 'The Global Agenda 2010: The View from Davos' at the Congress Centre of the Annual Meeting 2010 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 31, 2010. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. swiss-image.ch/Photo by Michael Wuertenberg)
"Sweden, Singapore and Denmark's superior capacity to leverage ICT as an enabler of sustainable, long-term economic growth is built on similar premises, relating with a long-standing focus placed by governments and private sectors alike on education, innovation and ICT access and diffusion," said Irene Mia, Senior Economist of the Global Competitiveness Network at the World Economic Forum and co-editor of the report. "The success of these countries underlines the importance of a joint ICT vision, an implementation, by all the different stakeholders in a society for a country to take full advantage of ICT advances in its daily life and overall competitiveness strategy."
The report is produced by the World Economic Forum in cooperation with INSEAD, the leading international business school, within the framework of the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Network and the Industry Partnership Program for Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries.
Published for the ninth consecutive year with an extensive coverage of 133 economies worldwide, the report remains the world's most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.
Under the theme ICT for Sustainability, this year's report explores the many and diverse links between ICT and sustainability, in all its dimensions.
• The Networked Readiness Index: View the Rankings of All Countries
The Networked Readiness Index (NRI), featured in the report, examines how prepared countries are to use ICT effectively on three dimensions:
1. The general business, regulatory and infrastructure environment for ICT.
2. The readiness of the three key stakeholder groups in a society -- individuals, businesses and governments -- to use and benefit from ICT.
3. The actual usage of the latest information and communication technologies available.
The NRI uses a combination of data from publicly available sources, as well as the results of the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum with its network of partner institutes (leading research institutes and business organizations) in the countries included in the report. The survey provides unique data on many qualitative dimensions important to assess national networked readiness.
• The cross-country analysis of the drivers of networked readiness provides useful comparative information for making business decisions and additional value to governments wishing to improve their ICT preparedness.
The report contains detailed country profiles for the 133 economies featured in the study, providing a snapshot of each economy's level of ICT penetration and usage. Also included is an extensive section of data tables, as well as each indicator used in the computation of the Index.
The editors of the report are Soumitra Dutta, Roland Berger Professor of Business and Technology, INSEAD, France, and Irene Mia, Director and Senior Economist, Global Competitiveness Network, World Economic Forum.
• Get the Entire Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010
Source: The World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland.
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March 24, 2010
Creative Play of Colors: smart fortwo Sprinkle by Rolf Sachs
Photos: An unconventional elegant eye-catcher: smart fortwo as a designer piece.
The world-famous Swiss designer Rolf Sachs has taken the smart slogan "open your mind" literally and has come up with his own ideas to design a smart fortwo for the Geneva Motor Show.
He used his unique splashing and marking technique as an unusual means of expression to create an enthusiastic and lively look with fine splashes of color.
Rolf Sachs is the son of wealthy industrialist and photographer Gunter Sachs and has lived and worked in London since 1994. Rolf Sachs is regarded as one of the big names in the creative design scene.
"smart and Rolf Sachs are a great team as both the young car brand and the work of the unconventional designer are characterised by new ideas, joie de vivre and responsibility towards the environment," explained Daimler AG. "This is why Rolf Sachs was commissioned to design the smart lounge at the Geneva Motor Show and give it a special ambience with his own personal style."
Source: Daimler AG, Stuttgart, Germany
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March 20, 2010
From Russia with Love: That's the Theme of The Netherlands International Flower Exhibition
Photo: Accompanied by HRH Princess Máxima der Nederlanden, Mrs Svetlana Medvedeva, spouse of the president of the Russian Federation, officially opens the 61st Keukenhof international flower exhibition in Lisse, The Netherlands. She was especially invited because this year's central theme is 'From Russia with Love'.
Source: Keukenhof
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March 19, 2010
Better City, Better Life: Siemens at EXPO 2010
Photos: View of Shanghai
"Better City, Better Life" - that's the theme of EXPO 2010, which will take place in Shanghai from May 1 - October 31, 2010. Siemens is supporting EXPO 2010 with green infrastructure technology.
On the 1st of May, the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai will open its doors to the world. About 70 million visitors are expected in the Chinese metropolis.
It is supposed to be the first green world exhibition in EXPO history.
As a global EXPO partner, Siemens has supplied technology used in more than 40 projects on the exhibition grounds. In addition, Siemens supplied infrastructure including technology for rapid mass transit, clean air, cleaner water and ultra-modern health care in Shanghai.
Photo: Siemens won contracts related to the EXPO. These include high-speed trains at a speed of 300 kph from Beijing to Tianjin.
"Our green technology will continue to upgrade the city's infrastructure well after the EXPO. Thus, it is a triple win for EXPO visitors, for the host city of Shanghai and for Siemens," said Richard Hausmann, CEO Siemens Northeast Asia and President and CEO of Siemens Ltd., China.
Siemens was awarded contracts in connection with the Expo with a total value of more than one billion euros. About 90 percent of this amount is related to environmentally friendly products and solutions.
Photo: In China, ensuring a supply of clean water is a pressing problem. Shanghai, which is naturally rich in water, suffers from polluted springs. Siemens water treatment solutions help clean up Taihu Lake not far from Shanghai.
Photo: Shanghai buildings in the evening.
More than 50,000 energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produced by Siemens' lighting subsidiary Osram will illuminate the pavilions and boulevards. LEDs consume 80 percent less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs.
The China Pavilion, with a total surface area of 160,000 square meters, is one of the largest Siemens projects at the Expo.
In addition to solutions for reduced energy consumption, Siemens also supplied infrastructure in advance of the Expo that will assure adequate power supply to the city of Shanghai both during and after the event.
Source: Siemens AG, Berlin
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:20 AM | Link to this Post
March 15, 2010
Global Institutional Profiles Project: Thomson Reuters Launches Academic Reputation Survey
Thomson Reuters today announced it has launched the highly anticipated Academic Reputation Survey, which will help inform the Times Higher Education's influential World University Rankings.
The survey reflects a new approach to data gathering and analytics to provide a one-of-a-kind resource to the global scholarly community.
A unique feature of the Thomson Reuters Academic Reputation Survey is an opportunity for disciplinary focus: academics will highlight what they believe to be the strongest universities in their specific fields, both in teaching and research.
With the ability to select from hundreds of disciplines and over 6,000 academic institutions, scholars will have great latitude in pinpointing their reputation assessment.
"Researcher engagement is critical to ensuring that this new initiative delivers what the industry has long been asking for -- a more accurate representation of the institutional landscape, from the source," said Jonathan Adams, director of research evaluation at Thomson Reuters. "The survey results, combined with clear methodology, will provide the community with a thorough, accurate, and multi-faceted data source to support institutional assessment, comparisons and rankings."
Participants of the survey have been carefully selected from Thomson Reuters internal databases and supplemented by a third-party source for balanced coverage of disciplines and geographic regions.
The survey will represent thousands of researchers, university administrators, and students worldwide. And their responses will provide the most reliable and accurate representation of academic viewpoints used in the World University Rankings' seven year history, says Thomson Reuters.
The Academic Reputation Survey is part of the Thomson Reuters Global Institutional Profiles Project. The initiative will create data-driven profiles of globally significant research institutions -- combining reputation feedback, scholarly outputs, citation patterns, funding levels, and faculty characteristics across disciplines in one comprehensive database.
• The data can be packaged and analyzed to different specifications, giving organizations custom information for evaluating and benchmarking their performance and supporting efforts to secure research funding.
• Get the Report: New Outlooks on Institutional Profiles
Source: Thomson Reuters
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World University Rankings 2009: TOP 200 WORLD UNIVERSITIES
"Soon, any Academic Institution with Higher Global Ranking would be an Automatic Candidate for Grants, Funds, and Investment."
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 5:09 PM | Link to this Post
March 8, 2010
Cars.com Consumer Search Index: Toyota and GM Lose Ground With Consumers in February
Hyundai, Kia and Ford Accelerate on Cars.com as Longtime Market Leaders See Declining Interest.
Amidst concerns over the Toyota recall, interest in several of the brand's popular models declined sharply in February on Cars.com. According to the most recent Cars.com Consumer Search Index, which tracks the fluctuation of consumer contact with dealers originating from the site, 6 of the top 10 decreases were for Toyota models including Rav4, Corolla, Camry, Highlander, Prius and FJ Cruiser.
GM rounded out the top ten decreases, with four models experiencing sharp declines in consumer interest - Sierra 1500, Corvette, Tahoe and Equinox.
The Korean manufacturers Hyundai and Kia benefited directly from Toyota's troubles. Interest in the new Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sorento skyrocketed in the month of February according to Cars.com.
In addition to the two Korean manufacturers, Ford continued its strong performance on the site which has helped propel the manufacturer past GM in terms of total sales for the first time since 1998.
The Hyundai Sonata topped Cars.com's list of new cars experiencing the largest increase in consumer contacts to dealers, with a whopping 106 percent increase. The Sonata was followed by the Hyundai Tucson at 83 percent and the Kia Sorento at 69 percent. Ford also had three cars in the top 10. The new Fusion, Escape and F-150 ranked 6th, 7th and 8th respectively.
The Toyota Sienna, which wasn't part of the recall, bucked the trend and ranked 4th out of the 10 vehicles experiencing the largest increase in consumer contacts to dealers.
"The aggressive marketing efforts on the part of Hyundai and Kia are working when it comes to generating interest among car shoppers," said Cars.com Editor in Chief Patrick Olsen. "It's nothing short of surprising to see the activity that the new Toyota Sienna has generated, considering all the turmoil surrounding the automaker's recalls."
Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by some media companies, including Belo, Gannett Co., Inc., The McClatchy Company, Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company.
Cars.com Consumer Search Index - February 2010:
• Consumer Contacts to Dealers:
February Movers ------ % Increase
-------------------------------------------
Hyundai Sonata ------ 106%
Hyundai Tucson ------ 83%
Kia Sorento ------ 69%
Toyota Sienna ------ 30%
Honda Odyssey ------ 19%
Ford Fusion ------ 15%
Ford Escape ------ 11%
Ford F150 ------ 10%
Honda Civic ------ 9%
Chevrolet Camaro ------ 7%
------------------------------------------
February Losers ------ % Decrease
------------------------------------------
GMC Sierra 1500 ------ 51%
Toyota RAV4 ------ 50%
Toyota Camry ------ 38%
Toyota Corolla ------ 37%
Toyota Highlander ------ 37%
Chevrolet Corvette ------ 35%
Toyota Prius ------ 34%
Chevrolet Tahoe ------ 33%
Chevrolet Equinox ------ 28%
Toyota FJ Cruiser ------ 25%
------------------------------------------
Source: Cars.com
|GlobalGiants.Com|
"The news from the car sales front corroborates that the marketing and communications structure of a big automobile company is flawed without the following two distinct specialist divisions working in conjunction:
• One that specializes in long term advertising & marketing strategy, studies the genuine needs of diverse auto consumers, and keeps itself abreast of the trends and developments in the auto industry.
• One that specializes in short term advertising & marketing strategy, remains alert, monitors the changes and fluctuations in the wants and preferences of various categories of car buyers, watches the movements of the competitors, and looks after the situation."
© GlobalGiants.Com. All Rights Reserved.
Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:09 AM | Link to this Post
March 4, 2010
The Plastiki Expedition
An 11,000 nautical mile journey-with-a-message from San Francisco, California, to Sydney, Australia, setting sail March 2010.
Photo: Eco-Friendly Catamaran, The Plastiki, Made From 12,500 Reclaimed Plastic Bottles Prepares to Embark on Transpacific Voyage From US to Australia. February 25, 2010. San Francisco, CA. (Photo: Luca Babini).
The Plastiki, an eco-conscious catamaran made from reclaimed plastic bottles is embarking on transpacific journey to raise awareness of ocean pollution problem by showcasing plastic debris as a resource and demonstrating real world solutions through its design and construction.
The goal of The Plastiki Expedition is to draw attention to the massive amounts of plastic debris in the world's oceans, and to showcase re-thinking waste as a resource by demonstrating real world solutions to this pressing problem.
The legacy of The Plastiki Expedition will be its capacity to shift public thinking and perception from plastics as the enemy to how plastic can become part of the solution. To solve the marine debris and waste issues at large will require a reprogramming of how the global community currently uses, re-uses and ultimately disposes of plastics.
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March 3, 2010
Porsche 918 Spyder Concept Car Unveiled in Geneva
Efficient and Fast Plug-in Hybrid Super Sports Car.
Photo: Porsche debuts three advanced hybrids at this year's Geneva Auto Show: the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept (front center); the 911 GT3 R Hybrid (left); and the Cayenne S Hybrid (back).
On the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche has unveiled an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car featuring hybrid and electric drive technology.
Photo: Michael Macht, President and CEO of Porsche AG, presents the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept Car in Geneva.
The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
In addition to this two-seater high-performance 918 Spyder mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology, the other two models on display are:
1. Porsche's new Cayenne S Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive
2. 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric drive on the front axle and a flywheel mass battery
Photo: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept.
The 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility.
A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes:
1. The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles.
2. In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.
3. The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels.
4. In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the high standard of driving dynamics on the track.
According to Porsche, with the hybrid drive system offering this wide range of individual modes and applications, the 918 Spyder is able either to achieve lap times comparable to those of a thoroughbred racing car, or the extremely low emissions and high fuel economy figures of a plug-in hybrid.
Porsche 918 Spyder has lightweight body structure.
Photo: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept.
"The driver and passenger are not only embedded in contoured sports bucket seats but also form part of the cockpit, which provides a synthesis of efficient functionality and ergonomic high-tech operation," explains the company.
The center console rises up towards the front in the 918 Spyder and houses a touch screen for intuitive control of the car's functions, serving to reduce the number of visible controls and maintain the principle of direct operation.
The control units relevant to the driver are mainly concentrated on the three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes are supplemented by a switch enabling the driver to call up various drive programs.
Photo: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept.
The Porsche 918 Spyder concept also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance.
In cities with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the driver is able to reach a certain destination on electric power alone.
Applying this information and using further info on the availability and location of special energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his personal style of driving as well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.
Source: Porsche AG
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:22 AM | Link to this Post
March 1, 2010
Airbus showcases its latest products at Singapore Airshow
Photo: Singapore Airshow 2010 - A330-200F on display. (© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2010)
Airbus had a major presence at this year's Singapore Airshow, showcasing both its commercial and military transport products. The highlight was the first public presentation of the new A330-200F Freighter. The aircraft, which is currently undergoing its certification program, was on static display throughout the show.
The new freighter is the latest addition to the highly successful A330 Family and will enter service later this year. According to Airbus, offering the lowest operating costs in the medium sized freighter category, the A330-200F can carry more than 69 tonnes of cargo on non-stop flights of 3,200 nautical miles. The aircraft features a versatile main-deck cargo loading system, which can accommodate both pallets and containers, enabling operators to serve the freight lift needs of varying markets.
Photo: The A380 made its first visit to Switzerland for airport compatibility tests in advance of Singapore Airlines' new service with the jetliner to Zurich, which will begin in March. (© SWISS AIR FORCE 2010)
Photo: The A330-200 Freighter completed successful cold-weather testing in Canada, keeping this new cargo aircraft programme on track for its planned certification in March. (© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2010)
Meanwhile, Airbus welcomed over 50 Spanish students at its headquarters and final assembly lines in Toulouse, South of France as part of its commitment to establish relations with the future international engineering generations. The visiting students, mainly made up of those studying aeronautical engineering at the Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya in Terrassa in Northern Spain, spent a day at Airbus where they met industry experts, were given tailored presentations on Airbus products and had a guided tour of the company's A380 and A330/A340 Final Assembly Lines.
Photo: Underscoring its commitment to establishing ties with future international engineers, Airbus welcomed more than 50 Spanish university students to its Toulouse, France headquarters. (© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2010)
The Spanish students belonged to The European Association of Aerospace Students, EUROAVIA, an association which aims to stimulate contacts between students and the aerospace industry. "With over 80 different nationalities working at Airbus sites across the world, Airbus is a living example of how successful an international company with cross-cultural diversity can be," said Thomas Ehm, Head of Employment, Training and Competence management at Airbus. "As an expanding company in a highly innovative industry, it is important to support young engineers and establish strong links with universities and dynamic young people who may well go on to become innovative employees of tomorrow" he added.
Source: Airbus Headquarters, France
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:39 PM | Link to this Post
February 26, 2010
Goodyear's Aerial TV Coverage of Sports
Goodyear continues long tradition of providing aerial coverage of the Olympic Games.
Viewers of the winter Olympic Games from Vancouver, British Columbia may have seen some spectacular aerial views of the event brought to them by Goodyear.
According to Goodyear, it provided its first Olympic coverage almost 88 years ago.
• Goodyear, one of the world's largest tire companies, manufactures its products in 59 facilities in 24 countries around the world.
Photo: Goodyear Blimp
In 1932, the Goodyear blimp Volunteer gave a local radio station a bird's-eye view of the summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles - starting the first of nine Olympics in which the company would coordinate the aerial views.
"Goodyear works at the request of the networks and has supported the Olympic Games in Los Angeles twice, Lillehammer, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Turin, Beijing and now Vancouver," said Sara Waldman, Goodyear's airship public relations manager. "We've used our famous blimps, planes, helicopters and tethered aerostats to provide the aerial views."
Goodyear has used a variety of aerial camera platforms due to the challenges and limitations of Olympic Winter Games in mountainous regions with heavy snow and ice, explained Waldman.
Goodyear's coverage of the Vancouver games is being provided by an airplane and a helicopter equipped with high-definition cameras and working with the production teams at the various venues around Vancouver.
For more than 50 years, Goodyear's blimps have provided aerial coverage of the most watched sports, entertainment and news events around the world, says the company.
According to the company, the partial list of events covered by the Goodyear blimps includes the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, and championships for NASCAR, the PGA, World Cup Soccer, the America's Cup, Grand Slam Tennis, Triple Crown horse races and the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four.
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February 12, 2010
Cole Haan Debuts "The Inspired Life" Spring 2010 Ad Campaign Shot by photographer Todd Selby.
For Spring 2010, Cole Haan has partnered with fashion photographer Todd Selby to create a new advertising campaign, "The Inspired Life."
According to Cole Haan, the imagery celebrates family, friends, art, nature, community, competition, adventure, and love -- the forces that drive and color our lives.
The campaign portrays real life individuals wearing Cole Haan, chosen for their unique approaches to life and style. Each individual was shot in his/her natural environment, producing a campaign that reveals everyday interests rendered meaningful and beautiful, explains the company.
The campaign will be supported with a fully integrated marketing including a debut in the March issues of top women's and men's fashion titles, online, out of home, direct mail and in-store.
Cole Haan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc., is America's style and luxury brand offering handcrafted men's and women's footwear, accessories and outerwear. The brand has stores in Japan as well. Recent expansion in Asia includes first new concept store in Macao, along with presence in Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, and two new stores in Dubai. Cole Haan is looking for global expansion in Europe, Latin America, India, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Cole Haan
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:58 AM | Link to this Post
February 2, 2010
Made in China or Swiss Made?
Advertising that a toy is made in China can be as successful as saying a watch is "Swiss Made", if the marketing is done right, a Queensland University of Technology researcher says.
Professor Brett Martin found that promoting a product's country of manufacture could help it to sell, even if it was made in a country associated with lower quality.
"It is standard advertising practice to market a product's country of origin if the country is perceived as a high quality producer and not mention the country if it is not," Professor Martin said.
"However, my research has found consumers can easily be persuaded to think positively about a 'low quality' country."
Professor Martin said the trick was to get consumers to imagine positive thoughts when reading product information.
"This is because getting people to use their imagination weakens the stereotypes people use about goods from different countries," he said.
His study tested 516 young adults after they viewed product information for digital cameras made in Germany, which is seen as a manufacturer of high quality products, and Poland, which is regarded as a maker of lower quality products.
Measuring their purchase intentions and emotions, the study found that sparking the consumers' imaginations about Poland created a lasting positive response towards the Polish-made camera which equalled the positive response felt towards the German-made camera.
"These findings form an interesting consideration for marketers," he said.
"Having a strong country of manufacture can be effective for advertising, but if you get people to imagine how good a supposedly weaker country is, the advantage for the high quality country drops substantially.
"This is because many people form a quick impression when they find out where a product is from, like a t-shirt from Hawaii.
"Getting them to imagine the islands' great beaches and surf culture interrupts that thinking and lets a product sell on its merits, rather than being dismissed without consideration."
Professor Martin said his research which is forthcoming in the Journal of Consumer Behaviour meant companies which manufactured their products in countries associated with lower quality should rethink their marketing strategies and not just compete on price.
He said that a strong country of manufacture was not necessarily the great advantage that many advertisers think and cautioned against resting on the laurels of a country's good reputation.
Source: Queensland University of Technology, Australia
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:18 AM | Link to this Post
January 27, 2010
iPad: Apple's New Revolutionary Device
Apple today introduced iPad, a device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, viewing photos, watching videos, listening to music, and playing games.
iPad's responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch(TM) display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds-- thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. "iPad includes 12 new innovative applications designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 applications in the Apple Store," says Apple.
iPad will be available in late March worldwide.
"iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before."
Source: Apple
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:33 PM | Link to this Post
December 27, 2009
Longines PrimaLuna: a New Star in the Longines Galaxy
Photo: The Refined New Longines PrimaLuna. The circular rose gold case, set with 48 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds (total weight 0.403 carats), surrounds a white mother-of-pearl dial decorated with 11 arabesque Arabic numerals. The case houses an automatic self-winding mechanical movement L595 that shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date. This model is fitted on a rose gold bracelet with a folding safety clasp. Water-resistant to 30 meters.
Photo: A symbol of passing time, living time, the moon that enchants us. The New Longines PrimaLuna. The circular stainless steel and rose gold case, set with 48 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds (total weight 0.403 carats), surrounds a silvered dial with a flinqué decoration featuring 11 blue Roman numerals. The watch houses an automatic self-winding mechanical movement L595 that shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date. This model is fitted on a stainless steel and rose gold bracelet with a folding safety clasp. Water-resistant to 30 meters.
• Elegant, contemporary, subtle and carefree, the new Longines PrimaLuna offers a new collection of exquisite models.
• This ladies' watch is also a piece of jewelry. The pleasing curves of the case are enhanced by a play of diamonds.
Photo: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, wearing the Longines PrimaLuna. (Photo © Longines.)
Photo: The New Longines PrimaLuna. The circular stainless steel case, set with 48 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds (total weight 0.403 carats), surrounds a white mother-of-pearl dial set with 11 diamonds and houses a quartz movement L129 that shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date. This model is fitted on a stainless steel bracelet with a folding safety clasp. Water-resistant to 30 meters.
This is how Longines describes PrimaLuna: "A silvery moon on a spring night; a star that glistens reaches its peak and then disappears. A symbol of passing time, living time, the new Longines PrimaLuna is a tribute to the silvery star the moon that entrances us with its rounded, delicate lines. Its soft silhouette is enhanced by the exquisite purity of the dial and the whole is illuminated by a play of sparkling diamonds. Graceful, magical, this is a model that will seduce women who appreciate contemporary, sophisticated elegance."
Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World's leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 130 countries. Based in St. Imier in Switzerland since 1832, Longines has been timekeeper for world championships in various sports.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:59 PM | Link to this Post
December 23, 2009
Volvo XC90 Makes its First Appearance in Bollywood
• Volvo XC90 R-Design makes its first appearance in Bollywood with "3 Idiots" starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The film will be released on December 25.
"We are delighted to be a part of a big banner Bollywood movie. Bollywood is a cult in India," says Paul De Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India.
For the first time in India, Volvo Cars gets associated with Bollywood with the debut of its red XC90 R-Design in the much awaited releases of 2009 - 3 Idiots. Produced by Vinod Chopra Films and directed by Raj Kumar Hirani, the film's cast includes Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi.
Aamir Khan has scored successes in all the movies in which he has been involved since the start of the 2000s. Today he is somewhat more restrained in his on-screen output and performs in no more than two movies a year. The female co-star Kareena Kapoor is also immensely popular. The other two stars R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi, are also among Bollywood's acting elite.
"The movie and its lead characters emanate vibrancy, energy and sportiness; exactly the qualities represented by our XC90 R-Design. Hence the ideal integration of our brand and the movie," says Paul De Voijs.
"Artistic integrity is crucial for successful brand placements and the utility of the product has to be woven properly into the script. The placement should be a natural fit," Paul de Voijs further adds.
The film is about the journey two friends undertake in their search for a third compatriot, played by Aamir Khan. The backdrop of the movie is along the length and breadth of India, covering the scenic beauty of the mountainous region of Ladakh. The film has been shot along the world's highest-altitude road, at 5,590 metres or 18,340 feet above sea level. The landscape is dramatic and breathtaking.
Volvo Auto India is a new operator in India, a gigantic, fast-growing market and one of the most competitive in the world. Volvo established a presence in India just over two years ago and has since then worked intensively to market the Swedish brand.
With a corporate office in Gurgaon, Volvo Cars opened its first dealership in Chandigarh in March 2008 and currently market's its products through its dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Pune.
So far Volvo Auto India has chosen to launch two models, the Volvo XC90 and Volvo S80 but the coming years they are lining up more new models. The first one to be launched during 2010 is the Volvo XC60. The focus is on positioning the brand in the luxury car segment.
• In 2012, India is expected to be the world's fifth or sixth largest car market.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:43 AM | Link to this Post
December 10, 2009
Many Automotive Brands are Losing Buyers to Competitors Due to Poor Customer Treatment though they have High Customer Satisfaction with the New-Vehicle Sales Process: J.D. Power
Overall satisfaction with the new-vehicle purchase experience has improved from 2008, but automakers are losing 12 percent of new-vehicle sales to other brands, on average, as a result of poor customer treatment at dealerships, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study.
The study is a comprehensive analysis of the new-vehicle purchase experience. Overall customer satisfaction is measured for five factors:
Dealership Facility;
Salesperson;
Paperwork, Finance Process;
Delivery process; and
Vehicle Price.
Overall satisfaction averages 836 points on a 1,000-point scale in 2009, up by 11 points from 2008. Satisfaction with each of the five factors improves from 2008, with the greatest improvements in the two areas that are most within the dealer's control -- the salesperson and delivery process factors.
According to J.D. Power, salespeople have improved most notably from 2008 in helping buyers stay within their budgets and in negotiating prices quickly. Within the delivery process, dealerships have improved considerably in providing complete explanations of the owner's manual and explaining vehicle features.
"In this difficult economy, dealerships are working particularly hard to close sales, but need to be attentive to customers without exerting unwanted sales pressure," said Jon Osborn, director of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "Nearly one in four buyers in 2009 reports experiencing sales pressure from their selling dealer."
The study finds that more than one in five shoppers who leave a dealership without purchasing a vehicle do so because they experienced poor treatment or dealer performance issues such as pricing games, sales pressure tactics or discourteous treatment. While 43 percent of these buyers ultimately purchased from a different dealer of the same brand, 57 percent decided to purchase from a different brand altogether. For the industry as a whole, this equals a 12 percent loss of retail sales to other brands.
"With the billions of dollars that automakers spend designing, producing and marketing new vehicles, as well as in driving customers to showrooms, it is critical that potential buyers are not pushed out the dealer's door because of a poor customer experience," said Osborn. "Manufacturers and dealers should be concerned with the experiences of all shoppers, whether they purchase or not. From a buyer's perspective, recollections of their shopping experience include not only the selling dealer, but also all of the other dealers they visited."
The 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study is based on responses from approximately 48,000 new-vehicle buyers who purchased or leased their new vehicles in May or June 2009. The study was fielded between August and October 2009.
Sales Satisfaction Index Ranking --------- J.D. Power Circle Rating
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)
• Luxury Brands
Jaguar ---------------------- 898 ---------------- 5
Cadillac ---------------------- 893 --------------- 5
Lexus ----------------------- 877 ---------------- 4
Mercedes-Benz ------------ 877 ---------------- 4
Land Rover ------------------ 872 --------------- 4
(Average) ------------------- 864 ---------------- 3
Lincoln ----------------------- 863 --------------- 3
BMW ------------------------ 861 ---------------- 3
Porsche ---------------------- 861 --------------- 3
SAAB ------------------------- 857 --------------- 3
Acura ------------------------ 856 ---------------- 3
Infiniti ------------------------ 845 --------------- 2
Volvo ------------------------- 842 --------------- 2
Audi -------------------------- 828 --------------- 2
• Mass Market Brands
Mercury ---------------------- 867 --------------- 5
smart ------------------------- 865 --------------- 5
Buick ------------------------- 864 --------------- 5
Pontiac ----------------------- 864 --------------- 5
Chevrolet -------------------- 863 --------------- 5
MINI -------------------------- 862 --------------- 5
Saturn ------------------------ 858 --------------- 4
HUMMER --------------------- 856 --------------- 4
GMC -------------------------- 853 ---------------- 4
Ford --------------------------- 847 --------------- 4
Subaru ------------------------ 834 -------------- 3
Suzuki ------------------------ 832 --------------- 3
(Average) -------------------- 832 --------------- 3
Honda ------------------------ 830 --------------- 3
Volkswagen ------------------ 828 --------------- 3
Scion -------------------------- 826 --------------- 3
Kia ----------------------------- 823 -------------- 3
Toyota ------------------------ 823 --------------- 3
Chrysler ---------------------- 822 --------------- 3
Hyundai ---------------------- 819 --------------- 3
Nissan ------------------------ 815 --------------- 3
Mazda ------------------------- 809 --------------- 2
Dodge ------------------------ 805 ---------------- 2
Jeep -------------------------- 805 ---------------- 2
Mitsubishi ------------------- 778 ---------------- 2
Source: J.D. Power and Associates
|GlobalGiants.Com|
"A typical car buyer trusts others' advice rather than any traditional advertising.
Hence, the Word of Mouth is the forgotten most powerful publicity tool that an automobile manufacturer may explore and employ to advertise its products as well as to promote its dealer showrooms."
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:58 AM | Link to this Post
December 2, 2009
Los Angeles International Auto Show: Porsche Boxster Spyder Makes World Debut
Photo: Porsche Launched the New Boxster Spyder to World Media in Los Angeles.
Today, at a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Porsche took the wraps off one of its most nimble and sportiest mid-engine cars: the 2011 Boxster Spyder.
• Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., is the exclusive importer of Porsche vehicles for the United States. It is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing.h.c. F. Porsche AG.
Photos: Porsche rolled out its new Boxster Spyder for the first time at a press conference at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. Helping usher in the sports car for this world debut was Austria's freestyle rock drummer Alfred Vogel. (Porsche Cars North America, Inc., Axel Koester)
"The new Boxster Spyder looks distinctly different from its Boxster siblings," said Klaus Berning, Porsche's executive board member responsible for worldwide sales and marketing, speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show press conference today. "Our designers borrowed from the rich history of our mid-engine sports and race cars of the '50s, but under the skin it has our most advanced technology so that its performance matches the Spyder's looks, making it the quintessential purist Porsche."
"When equipped with Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission and the Sports Chrono Package, the new Spyder, using Launch Control, accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Top track speed is 166 mph -- with the roof open."
Weighing only 2,811 lbs. and delivering 320 horsepower, it goes on sale in February 2010 and will join the Boxster and Boxster S that made their world debut here last year.
Source: Porsche
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:20 PM | Link to this Post
