Toyota 
Cartoon courtesy of shorelines art Toyota is working on a new green car. The car will be made using bio plastics made from seaweed. These bio plastics are already used for gift cards and mobile phone cases. It is claimed that production of the bio plastic uses 60% less carbon dioxide than petroleum based plastics and requires 30% less energy. Source the Marketer Back to the top Stay at home A recent survey by Mintel has revealed that more people are staying at home. Pub and restaurant visits are down by 4%. Meanwhile an increase of 3% on household spends on alcohol highlight the trend. Six out of ten people surveyed said they had reduced their pub drinking. The survey also revealed a loss of confidence in the economy with 70% of those interviewed admitting to spending less even if their personal circumstances had not changed.26% said they had postponed house improvements and 76% planned to spend less on clothes. Confirming suspicions that people like a little luxury and treats in an economic downturn theatre bookings are up. source Marketing Magazine Summ it up Marketing Find the most effective ways to promote your products and services with Marketing and promotional advice specific for your business One to one Marketing seminars only £75 including follow up report Thursday 7th May York - Only 1 place left Thursday 28th May Beverley To book your place or ring 07947 779542 | | | | |
Back to the top Good Customers Good customer service is important whatever business you are in and it is important to offer the same service whoever your customers. But do you know who your most profitable customers are. Sounds obvious but it is very easy to miss the customer who buys small amounts regularly and be swayed by the one off larger purchase customer. To help assess your most valuable customers compare the amount of time you spend on work for individual customers and the cost of recruiting your customers. signing up your customers. First look at the numbers and find which of your customers bring in 80% of your sales and which ones are the most profitable for your business? This will show you the customers you need to focus on then you need to: Consider the effect on your business if you lost this customer. How much time, money and customer care are you investing in this customer? What service are going to work for this customer for the following year? What new ideas do you have? Manage your customers well and keep up regular communication. Put together a development plan for your customers. Give your customers what they want, when they want it but within your own business expertise and strategies. Back to the Top How easy is it for you to buy fine quality wines from family run vineyards? You will not find the wines Andrassy's sell on supermarket shelves. Andrassy fine Wines are a family run business and they buy from family run wineries in France, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Portugal and New Zealand. www.andrassy.co.uk |
1. Back to the top Love or Hate Tesco? Last week Tesco announced record sales. They passed the £1bn per week mark and by doing so Tesco achieved the highest profit for a UK retailer. Strange when you consider that many people dislike Tesco and all it stands for. Brand Republic interviewed people in London to find out what they really thought of Tesco. People interviewed shopped regularly at Tesco because of 'Competitive prices', and the variety of goods on offer. This included groceries, household goods and clothes. Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco, said 'At a time when customers everywhere are feeling the economic strain, we are responding to their changing needs in all our markets by lowering prices, introducing more affordable products and offering even sharper promotions.' s Source Brand Republic April 29th 2009 Amazon US online book store Amazon also reported a sales increase. Sales increased by 24% in the three months to end of March to $177m (£121m), compared to last year. Amazon which now sells a range of 30 product categories from books to hairdryers and jewellery, says it has fared well from consumers who take advantage of its high-street beating prices. International sales in the UK, German, Japanese, French and Chinese delivered a 15% increase compared to last year, to $2.31bn (£1.58bn). It's US and Canadian sales rose by 21% to deliver $2.58bn (£1.765bn) in the same quarter. Amazon believe this is partly driven by the growth of its electronic book reading technology Kindle. Harmony House Cookery Club Join us once a month for cookery, demonstrations and food visits In May we will be 'Cooking for a crowd' Harmony House Cookery School Ring 01904 720933 or 07889 808749 |
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and finally.............. Chinese kids sold 'Barbie dream' The world's first store dedicated to Barbie has been opened in Shanghai. The store is spread across six floors all linked by a sweeping staircase lined with 875 Barbie's everyone dressed in pink. There is a throne where Chinese children can get their picture snapped, a catwalk where diminutive princesses can strut their stuff, a manicurist for mother and child, and boxes and boxes of dolls. Every version of Barbie you could imagine is here including one with the trademark blond hair are more Asian-looking Barbie's. source BBC news | 
