In preparation for the release of our upcoming Future Of Retail report, PSFK reached out and spoke to Yazid Aksas of Sharpmen- an E-retailer that has built an online shopping channel that features narrative-based YouTube videos around the products it curates as a way to capture the attention of its male-only audience. SharpmenTV showcases one-to-two-minute videos featuring information about the products across a wide swath of categories, including fashion, art and food. In the near future, Sharpmen plans to display personalized landing pages for each consumer based on the preferences he stated in his profile after signing up. For example, a wine lover will see videos reflecting their interests, while an outdoor enthusiast may enjoy features based on those expressed preferences. All information is presented through videos and through using both flash sales and “pop-up shops” formats, Sharpman offers additional product information to aid in connecting shoppers with the products they purchase. We spoke to Yazid Askas, to get his thoughts.
Tell us a little about Sharpmen. How does the service work? Can you tell us about SharpmenTV and share a little about the idea driving the concept?
Sharpmen is the first online shopping channel for men. We present brands and products through videos and you can buy what you are watching. The concept came from my own frustration: while I was browsing TV channels I kept on landing on those shopping channels that had nothing to offer to a guy like me. Then I realized this was a great opportunity to create something fully dedicated to men’s lifestyle and that would cover everything they need in their busy lives, from fashion to wine. Since men statistically traffic Youtube frequently, we are focusing all our marketing on it via SharpmenTV, our Youtube channel, which act as a source of traffic and enables people to discover what we are offering. I really think Youtube is the next big thing in eCommerce.
Are there any notable figures or statistics around customer engagement and usage?
We launched a week ago and we already have 6,000 views and 1500 Youtube subscribers without anybody knowing we even exist. So it’s kind of shocking for us. It just tells us that men respond really well to Youtube as a way to discover cool products.
We have noticed that curated shopping experiences are being built which take into consideration your likes and those of your friends. These services often help simplify the process of shopping online by building a user-centric experience centered on expressed preferences or those of likeminded individuals, often aiding in the discovery of new products. Do you see this trend manifesting on a wider scale? How so?
I think you can only see more of it in the future and the reason is simple: there is just so much out there, so many brands, so many products, it’s overwhelming, and next thing you know you end up spending 2 hours finding a tie, while if I present you 5 styles that I believe make sense for you, you will act right away and convert more easily. We are moving from a wide inventory play for big retailers, to a personalization play where less is better. The wide usage of Facebook Connect is probably going to help a lot to scale that seamlessly.
Can you tell us a little about the decision to display personalized home pages for each consumer based on the preferences profile he fills out when signing up? Why is this level of personalization important?
I think it’s very important to personalize your offering in order to save time to our customers. There is only one thing you can not buy in this world, it’s time and people are very sensitive to that. So personalization is key: We want your experience to be different from that of your neighbor because you are different from him. Your style might be very casual and you may like the outdoors a lot, while the next guy is the opposite. We should show you first what you care about. It’s good for you, and it’s good for us because you will convert better.
What are the opportunities for retailers partnering with Sharpmen?
We are very excited by the wide range of partnerships we can set up for Sharpmen. Whether that’s with cool brands that make sense for our audience, and we’ve signed 150 of those so far, media properties that want to push their eCommerce revenues or retailers who want to add a curated video commerce component to their offering.
Check out an example of one of Sharpmen’s YouTube videos below.
Thanks Yazid!
Business confidence dip amid crisis - The Guardian
The Lloyds Bank Wholesale Banking and Markets Business Barometer fell to minus 21% from 26% last month, meaning most respondents are negative on the view of the economy.
The eurozone crisis continued to escalate throughout May as fears grew over the health of the Spanish economy and the possibility of Greece exiting the euro.
Trevor Williams, chief economist at Lloyds Bank Wholesale Banking & Markets, said: "The renewed concern around the eurozone is clearly having an impact on businesses' sentiment towards prospects for the UK economy and, to a lesser extent, to their own prospects."
Companies also became less confident about their own prospects, although the decline was not as severe as the sentiment towards the broader economic outlook.
Businesses' confidence in relation to their own prospects currently stands at 35%, down eight points on April's 43%, Lloyds said, which still remains higher than during the worst of the financial crisis in 2008/09.
The survey data suggest an underlying 0.2% growth in gross domestic product (GDP) between April and June, Lloyds said, but only once the impact of the Diamond Jubilee is taken into account, which is likely to have reduced growth by 0.5 percentage points.
The most notable declines in confidence in May came in the North and Midlands and in the retail and distribution sector.
The deepening troubles in the eurozone have also hit confidence on stock markets.
Debt-ridden Greece, which is in its fifth year of recession, faces a crucial election later this month, which has been branded a referendum on whether it will stay in the eurozone and stomach more painful austerity measures.
Meanwhile, there are fears over the health of Spain's banking sector, after its fourth biggest lender, Bankia, said it needed a 19 billion euro (£15.2 billion) bail-out. In the UK, banking stocks have been among the worst hit.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Clearwire Builds on Wholesale Momentum With Jolt Mobile Agreement - Yahoo Finance
- Clearwire's 4G Mobile Broadband Network to Power Jolt Mobile's Pay-As-You-Go Service
- Companies Expect to Pursue Agreement to Include LTE Capability In the Future
BELLEVUE, Wash. and LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearwire Corporation (Nasdaq:CLWR - News), a leading provider of 4G mobile broadband services in the U.S., and Jolt Mobile Inc., a full service prepaid wireless solution provider, today announced a wholesale agreement that will enable Jolt Mobile to offer its customers high-speed mobile broadband service using Clearwire's 4G network.
"Clearwire's wholesale 4G services can benefit a broad range of providers including national and regional operators, MVNOs, and non-traditional entrants, to serve a diverse range of customers and product options," said Don Stroberg, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and wholesale at Clearwire. "Clearwire's 4G network is a great fit for Jolt, enabling them to add 4G mobile data plans to their prepaid service portfolio. We're thrilled to continue building momentum as the premier wholesale provider of 4G capacity to carriers in the U.S."
Jolt Mobile offers no-contract pre-paid and pay-as-you-go wireless plans that enable its customers -- consisting mainly of ethnic communities, students and seniors -- to affordably connect with family and friends nationwide and throughout the world. Under its agreement with Clearwire, Jolt Mobile customers will have the option to add 4G mobile broadband service on Clearwire's 4G network to their plans.
"With this agreement, Jolt Mobile customers can have 4G data plans that give them access to the Internet at home, at work, and on the go," said Avi Yroshalmaine, president of Jolt Mobile. "By partnering with Clearwire we aim to give our customers a compelling 4G alternative to higher-priced carriers."
Clearwire is constructing a next-generation 4G LTE Advanced-ready network to address the capacity needs of carriers in urban markets where demand for mobile broadband is high. As Clearwire's LTE network comes online, Jolt Mobile and Clearwire expect to pursue an agreement to offer users even faster speeds on this network.
About Clearwire
Clearwire Corporation (Nasdaq:CLWR - News), through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of 4G wireless broadband services offering services in areas of the U.S. where more than 130 million people live. The company holds the deepest portfolio of wireless spectrum available for data services in the U.S. Clearwire serves retail customers through its own CLEAR(R) brand as well as through wholesale relationships with some of the leading companies in the retail, technology and telecommunications industries. The company is constructing a next-generation 4G LTE Advanced-ready network to address the capacity needs of the market, and is also working closely with the Global TDD-LTE Initiative and China Mobile to further the TDD-LTE ecosystem. Clearwire is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. Additional information is available at http://www.clearwire.com.
The Clearwire Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8493
About Jolt Mobile, Inc.
Jolt Mobile, Inc., a subsidiary of NET, Inc., is a pay-as-you-go service. They make it easier for retailers to activate new SIM cards and refill them. With Jolt Mobile, Inc. customers enjoy direct International dialing, making it easier to stay in contact with friends and family all over the world without having to worry about being charged outrageous rates. Additional information is available at http://www.joltmobile.com.
The Jolt Mobile, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13137
Forward-Looking Statements
This release, and other written and oral statements made by Clearwire from time to time, contain forward-looking statements which are based on management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made with information that is currently available. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, management's expectations regarding future financial and operating performance and financial condition; proposed transactions; network development and market launch plans; strategic plans and objectives; industry conditions; the strength of the balance sheet; and liquidity and financing needs. The words "will," "would," "may," "should," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," "designed," "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Clearwire's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from such statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ are:
- We have a history of operating losses and we expect to continue to realize significant net losses for the foreseeable future.
- If our business fails to perform as we expect or if we incur unforeseen expenses in the near term, we will require additional capital to fund our current business. Also, we will need substantial additional capital over the long-term. Such additional capital may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain additional capital, our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations will likely be materially and adversely affected, and we will be forced to consider all available alternatives.
- Our current plans and projections are based on a number of assumptions about our future performance, which may prove to be inaccurate, such as our ability to substantially expand our wholesale business and implement various cost savings initiatives.
- Our business has become increasingly dependent on our wholesale partners, and Sprint in particular. If we do not receive the amount of revenues we expect from existing wholesale partners or if we are unable to enter into new agreements with additional wholesale partners for new wholesale commitments, our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected, or we could be forced to consider all available alternatives.
- We regularly evaluate our plans, and we may elect to pursue new or alternative strategies which we believe would be beneficial to our business, including among other things, expanding our network coverage to new markets, augmenting our network coverage in existing markets, changing our sales and marketing strategy and/or acquiring additional spectrum. Such modifications to our plans could significantly change our capital requirements.
- We plan to deploy LTE on our wireless broadband network, alongside mobile WiMAX and we will incur significant costs to deploy such technology. Additionally, LTE technology, or other alternative technologies that we may consider, may not perform as we expect on our network and deploying such technologies would result in additional risks to the company, including uncertainty regarding our ability to successfully add a new technology to our current network and to operate dual technology networks without disruptions to customer service, as well as our ability to generate new wholesale customers for the new network.
- We currently depend on our commercial partners to develop and deliver the equipment for our legacy and mobile WiMAX networks, and will be dependent on commercial partners to deliver equipment and devices for our planned LTE network as well.
- Many of our competitors for our retail business are better established and have significantly greater resources, and may subsidize their competitive offerings with other products and services.
- Our substantial indebtedness and restrictive debt covenants could limit our financing options and liquidity position and may limit our ability to grow our business.
- Sprint owns just less than a majority of our common shares, is our largest shareholder, and has the contractual ability to obtain enough shares to hold the majority voting interest in the company, and Sprint may have, or may develop in the future, interests that may diverge from other stockholders.
- Future sales of large blocks of our common stock may adversely impact our stock price.
For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please refer to Clearwire's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 16, 2012 and subsequent Form 10-Q filings. Clearwire assumes no obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking statements.
Wholesale Jersey Cleveland Browns - Salon
Through the given situation, it can prove to be fairly complicated to find a Wholesale Jerseys Cheap sports shop with that jersey you Wholesale Jerseys China like as there must be hundreds looking for the similar jersey because which team will be playing closely. Probability are either sports store you visit to would be stating you that they ran out of merchandise. Disappointed a bit? Can't accuse you, though all is never disappeared. You can still possess that wish jersey of yours with other means. You can begin looking for wholesale soccer jerseys.
These wholesale soccer jerseys are market at a price lesser contrast to the jerseys you see at numerous of sports shops, hence the word discount appears legitimize. But Wholesale Jerseys that's simply one of the benefits. The merchandise of wholesale soccer jerseys are much more than which seen at authentic stores as they are added more in demand on account of of the prices they are sold at. You will be able to save some cash which you can use for another soccer accessories if you desire.
In short, when your town sports store out of of soccer jerseys, or when you're searching to Wholesale NFL Jerseys save some money, then buy a wholesale soccer jersey. You'll love it.
Are you a huge supporter of soccer? Are you supporting a certain soccer Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping club? About all probably you will need to brag this support by having your own jersey to symbolize this team. Owning a jersey is continually a really compact statement in terms of letting another recognize who you follow.
Now you discover that this soccer club is becoming to be playing anywhere close your location also you decide to purchase pass so you can see the play live. This is certainly the chance to show thousands of audience how big a fan you are with that certain soccer team. Though the thing is, you can't own a single still.
MLB Jerseys 2009 All Star
MLB Jerseys 2009 World Baseball Classic
MLB Jerseys 2010 All Star
MLB Jerseys 2011 All Star
No comments:
Post a Comment