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Huge-scale data cleansing exercise. Telstra has shed light on planned works to its service qualification systems to help meet its obligations around migrating customers onto the National Broadband Network. The carrier said in a letter (pdf) to the ...Online Shopping has reached the convenience tipping point for Aussie shoppers - YAHOO!
A survey recently conducted by up and coming online discount provider, i love coupons has shown a whopping 73% of Australian shoppers believe online shopping is the best and most convenient way to shop.
Melbourne, Vic (PRWEB UK) 20 July 2012
A survey recently conducted by up and coming online discount provider, i love coupons has shown a whopping 73% of Australian shoppers believe online shopping is the best and most convenient way to shop.4600 shoppers were asked the question, has online shopping reached the tipping point of convenience, or is it still easier to shop in-store? With nearly three quarters voting in favour of online, it seems the scales have well and truly tipped.
Coupons Creative Director Louie Van Essen said the company was not surprised by the results, stating Australia is hot on the heels of a worldwide trend that is favoring all things online.
“Online shopping offers consumers a level of convenience and transparency conventional retail just can’t match. With 100% money back guarantees, fast shipping and the ability to shop anytime, anywhere – even from your mobile phone, it’s not surprising at all that increasing numbers of Aussie shoppers are making the online switch,” Mr Van Essen said.
Online shopping is still considered a relatively new concept in Australia but with overseas markets already wholly embracing the phenomenon it seems it won’t be long before the practice becomes second nature to Australian consumers.
“The online revolution has well and truly began and so it’s time for Aussie retailers to start taking bigger advantage of it.
“Increasingly it’s proving not enough to simply have an online store. Retailers need to increase their online presence and that’s where voucher code websites like ours can prove extremely advantageous.
“By aligning with group buying or coupon websites retailers can ensure they reach a broader customer pool, rather than hitting the same target audience every time.
“Online shoppers are smart, they’re constantly looking for the best deals and when you combine the ease and value of online shopping with a discount coupon it proves to be a very enticing offering for consumers,” Mr Van Essen explained.
“At i love coupons we have partnered with some big online retailers offering consumers some of the best online deals. No matter what your fashion taste, whether you’re looking for a The Iconic coupon, a Boohoo coupon or the latest percentage-off deal, our customers love the combined value that coupon websites and online shopping offer.
As e-commerce continues to grow in popularity in Australia many stores - in addition to partnering with group buying websites - are also increasing their competitive advantage by expanding their service offering. Stores like popular online retailer The Iconic, now offer Sydney CBD customers 3-hour delivery.
“The face of online shopping is truly changing. Now during their lunch break shoppers can log on to their favorite coupon site, download their SurfStitch promo code, make their purchase and have their parcel delivered to their office before they walk out the door at the end of the day.
“With that kind of value and convenience who wouldn’t prefer shopping online?” Mr Van Essen said.
i love coupons offers a broad range of discounts, catering to a range of interests and demographics. For more information please visit i love coupons website.
Dominic Gluchowski
i love coupons
1300 825 770
Email Information
Quiet revolution occurring in wholesale conduct - ftadviser.com
The European Commission has recently published a raft of legislative proposals – a draft regulation on key information documents for packaged retail investment products, a revision of the insurance mediation directive, and a proposal amending the Ucits Directive. The EC’s reason for producing these proposals was summed up by European Union commissioner Michel Barnier, who said: “In the aftermath of the biggest financial crisis in recent memory, the financial sector must place consumers at its heart.”
However, while the spotlight is firmly on the retail conduct space, it is worth remembering that a quiet revolution is occurring in wholesale conduct. Let me explain.
Traditionally in the wholesale markets the FSA has sought to rely on the ‘caveat emptor’ principle and focused its efforts on market abuse and transparency and disclosure. The FSA’s focus was to ensure the integrity and resilience of these markets rather than to introduce concepts of detriment and redress that it uses in the retail market.
However in June 2011 the FSA published its first Financial Conduct Authority approach document that said it would place greater emphasis on wholesale conduct and the risks attached to the activities in the wholesale markets. The FCA would go beyond relying on caveat emptor and, where it saw potential damage to market integrity, intervene.
While the FCA would continue to ensure the integrity and resilience of the wholesale markets, the Clive Adamson, director of the FSA’s supervision division, mentioned in a speech at the beginning of this year that in the new regime supervisory emphasis would be placed on three particular areas. First, where wholesale products filter down or are distributed to retail customers. Second, where certain behaviours in wholesale markets can cause damage to market integrity and, third, where market structures can result in participants being disadvantaged or the market being inefficient.
Recently the issue of wholesale conduct was covered in Lord (Adair) Turner’s speech at the FSA annual public meeting. While his speech did not go into detail on how wholesale conduct regulation would change, he did give a glimpse of the FSA’s rationale for the changes. He said: “An insurance company or pension fund may be itself a large institution, but sitting behind the company or pension fund are retail investors. Any poor practice which unreasonably shifts income to the industry is at the expense of some end retail customer. There are no free lunches, and shoddy wholesale practice is not a victimless act, even in those cases where it is not defined as a crime.”
All eyes will be on the latest FCA approach document which is due this autumn.
Simon Lovegrove is a lawyer for the financial services group of Norton Rose LLP
Beyonce and Blue Ivy's New York shopping spree! - Marie Claire
Beyonce and Blue Ivy caused quite a stir in New York yesterday, as they hit the city's swanky Bergdorf Goodman store for an afternoon shopping spree.
And don't they look gorgeous?
ADORABLE PICS! THE KNOWLES-CARTER FAMILY ALBUM
Every inch the proud mum, Beyoncesmiled from ear to ear as she stepped out onto the New York street with tiny Blue Ivy in her arms.
Dressed in a colourful printed playsuit and gold flats, the starlet showed off a siren red lip - and new blonde braids piled on top of her head.
But it was little Blue Ivy who really stole the show.
The first time we've set eyes on the tot this month, the adorable youngster snuggled into her mum's arms, sporting tiny cropped trousers, a colourful blouse and a shock of dark hair.
Could Harper Beckham have a fashion rival?
What do you think of Beyonce's new blonde braids? Isn't little Blue Ivy adorable? Leave your thoughts in the comments box below…
ADORABLE PICS! THE KNOWLES-CARTER FAMILY ALBUM
IS BEYONCE HOLLYWOOD'S MOST STYLISH CELEBRITY MUM?
Canada May Wholesale Sales Advance 0.9% - NASDAQ
By Paul Vieira
OTTAWA--For the second straight month, Canada's wholesale trade data handily beat market expectations, with the advance in May powered by sales of machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and food, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Month-over-month wholesale sales climbed 0.9% in May to 49.77 billion Canadian dollars (US$49.24 billion), following a 1.2% gain in April. The April data were revised downward from the original estimate of a 1.5% climb.
In volume terms, wholesale trade advanced 0.4% in May.
Prior to the data release, traders had anticipated a 0.2% gain in May for wholesale sales, according to economists at Royal Bank of Canada.
Wholesalers - which account for the largest portion of service sector - generally act as an intermediary in the distribution of merchandise. As a result, many wholesalers tend to sell merchandise in large quantities to retailers, businesses and institutional clients.
Canadian wholesale trade has been one of the few bright spots in terms of economic indicators released to date measuring second-quarter economic activity.
In May, four of the seven wholesale trade subsectors tracked by the data agency recorded month-over-month gains. The largest advance in dollar terms was in the machinery and equipment subsector, which grew 2.6% to C$10.74 billion. Much of the subsector's gain was driven by increased sales of computers and communications equipment.
The motor vehicle and parts subsector advanced 1.6% to C$8.29 billion. A 2.9% increase in auto sales offset a 2.2% decline in new auto parts and accessories.
The subsector covering food, beverage and tobacco recorded a 1.4% increase, to C$9.49 billion.
The catch-all miscellaneous sector recorded the biggest drop in dollar terms, as it fell 0.9% in May to C$7.04 billion.
Year-over-year, wholesale sales increased 6.2%.
On a regional basis, eight provinces recorded higher wholesale trade activity, led by Quebec and Alberta.
Meanwhile, inventories edged up slightly, 0.1% to C$59.74 billion, led by lumber and other wood products, and motor vehicles. The inventory-to-sales ratio - which measures the time in months required to exhaust stockpiles if were sales remain at present levels -- declined to 1.20:1 in May from 1.21:1 in April.
Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires 07-19-120850ET Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Petrol prices on rise again, says AA - The Independent
Dressed to kill: What do infectious disease agents have in their wardrobes?
The ability of certain pathogens, such as those which cause malaria, influenza and HIV, to disguise ...
Birmingham wholesale markets to be moved in 5 years, says council leader - birminghammail.net
Drivers are 'victims of speculators' as traders force up price of petrol by 5p a litre - Daily Mail
- The cost of oil and refined fuel has surged and this is being passed on to British motorists
- On average petrol is up 2p in a fortnight and could rise further
- Last month George Osborne scrapped a 3p fuel duty rise but this has been eaten up
By Ray Massey
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British motorists are 'victims of market speculators' who are forcing up petrol prices for profit, experts said today.
Petrol is set soar another 5p a litre because of rises in the wholesale cost already in the pipeline, the AA has warned.
It comes after a damning AA report revealed how oil giants failed to pass on a 2p drop in the price of fuel - leaving families ripped-off by up to 5 a month.
Unpleasant: The cost of fuel is up 2p in around two weeks and market traders are being blamed for forcing up the price
After weeks of falls, fuel prices are now rising again with petrol now costing an average 132.18p and diesel 137.26p a litre.
Millions of motorists have already been ‘short-changed’ as victims of profiteering oil-giants, petrol retailers and City speculators that resulted in drivers failing to receive the full benefits of an earlier drop, says the AA dossier.
But with oil and wholesale prices now rising again, motorists can expect the increases to be passed on swiftly to the pumps – with the AA calculating that recent wholesale rises will add up to 5p a litre.
The row comes as oil companies, petrol retailers, and supermarkets are this week called in to explain themselves to transport and energy minsters over allegations of rip-off prices, profiteering, market manipulation and a lack of price transparency.
The AA calculates that motorists are missing out around 2p a litre – or more than 1 per average car fill-up - with a two car family 5 a month worse off.
It blames oil giants, City speculators and a lack of transparency in the system for the scandal.
The AA said that Britain’s 33 million motorists have been ‘short-changed’ because the full benefits of the fall in the north west European wholesale price of petrol were not fully passed on to consumers. If they had, motorists would have been paying even less for fuel than they were at the beginning of the month.
Rise: Chancellor George OPsborne scrapped a 3p fuel tax increase last month but many are already paying that amount weeks later
Average petrol prices peaked at 142.48p a litre in mid-April and were as low as 130.81p at the beginning of this month, before going up again.
The AA report notes: ‘A 10-week slump in UK petrol prices ended at the beginning of July as commodity speculation clawed back a third of the fall in wholesale petrol costs
‘At the bottom of the price slump, UK drivers should have seen an average saving closer to 14p a litre rather than the actual 11.67p – in effect, short-changing them by more than 1 a tank.’
AA president Edmund King said: ‘After the massive boost lower pump prices have given to family budgets and non-fuel consumer spending, it would be extremely disappointing if much of the benefit is lost to commodity speculation.’
He said UK inflation for June fell very close to the Bank of England's target: ‘It makes you wonder how much closer it would have got had the full extent of lower fuel costs been passed on to drivers.’
Mr King said speculation in the oil and wholesale fuel markets appeared to be driving up prices more than normal supply and demand and urged ministers to act adding: ‘This week, the Government and the fuel retail industry discuss bringing greater transparency into the UK road fuel market.
'The benefits are blindingly obvious - drivers and business can see whether wholesale price movements are being passed on fairly at the pump, and the retailers can justify what they charge for fuel.’
Spelling out how drivers have been short-changed, the AA explained that from the middle to the end of June, the wholesale price of petrol levelled out at around the equivalent of 45p a litre – a drop of at least 12p a litre from the peaks in late March and early April. When the reduction in VAT is accounted for that would have extended the fall by a further 2p to 14p per litre.
But the AA said the difference between the average saving passed on to drivers (11.67p per litre) and what they should have got (14p per litre) meant drivers were deprived of more than 2p per litre.
As a result, a typical 50-litre tank refill should have cost 7 less than in mid-April, but drivers experienced only a fall 5.84 - losing out to the extent of 1.16 per fill-up.
Similarly, a two-car family should have seen its monthly petrol costs fall 29.73 but, on average, saw only a 24.78 reduction – missing out on 4.95 a month.
Fears: After months of dropping prices experts fear the cost of fuel is heading towards its peak, pictured here in March
The AA adds that UK high streets should have received a 7.24million-a-day spending boost from cash saved from lower pump prices – but actually got 6.03 million per day instead – a loss of 1.21million per day.
The AA report said petrol wholesale petrol prices plummeted from more than $1,220 a tonne in early April to around $920 in June – but bounced back on Monday to $1,000.
It highlights: ‘Of particular note was a $40 to $50-a-tonne surge in the wholesale price a fortnight ago, after a commodity speculator firm bought every cargo of premium unleaded offered for sale in North West Europe on one day. That alone threatened to raise UK pump prices by at least 2p a litre.’
The AA report notes: ‘The higher cost of oil, courtesy of a Norwegian industrial dispute and concerns about Iran, and a weaker pound contributed somewhat to higher petrol costs. However, market speculation that had inflated petrol prices to record levels this spring has also re-emerged.’
Fears that motorists are paying too much for their fuel also intensified after an official report suggested that banks and other traders are manipulating oil prices in the same way they rigged interest rates.
The study by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) on behalf of the G20 Finance Ministers, including Chancellor George Osborne, concluded that the oil price market is wide open to ‘manipulation and distortion’ and that traders have an ‘incentive’ to do so.’
Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers’ Association said the wholesale fuel trading system was open to ‘abuse’ adding: ‘Businesses, motorists and independent retailers all need much greater price transparency.’
Quentin Willson, national spokesman for FairFuelUK said: ‘Speculation and price manipulation is rife in the oil market. Such heartless exploitation of hard-working families and businesses for personal gain is unbelievable.'
The AA said Londoners were enjoying an Olympic fuel price bonus as prices in the capital - usually among the most expensive in the country - are lower than average at 132.0p for petrol and 137.2p for diesel.
Across the UK, petrol is cheapest in Yorkshire and Humberside at 131.6p a litre and most expensive in Northern Ireland at 133.4p. South East England is dearest for diesel at 137.8p a litre and is cheapest in Yorkshire and Humberside at 136.6p.
E-commerce Shopping Cart Software Developers in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld - YAHOO!
Revenue for shopping cart software developers has been on the rise, even during the recession. Consumers' increasing comfort with online shopping has boosted revenue for e-tailers, the key downstream market for the industry. As a result, demand from e-tailers for shopping cart software has been rising. However, price competition among operators is constraining profit growth. Over the next five years, revenue will continue rising, and consolidation will help stabilize profit and increase major players' market share. For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the E-commerce Shopping Cart Software Developers industry to its growing industry report collection.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 19, 2012
IBISWorld estimates that revenue for the E-commerce Shopping Cart Software Developers industry will increase at an annualized rate of 2.8% to $345.4 million in the five years to 2012. Industry growth slowed during the recession; however, the industry has continued to grow thanks to the proliferation of e-commerce. Small and medium-size businesses have increasingly opened e-commerce websites that require shopping cart software. Furthermore, a greater proportion of services are conducted online now more than ever. These two factors, coupled with an expanding number of broadband connections, have made this industry's products necessary for many aspects of an increasingly digital world, says IBISWorld industry analyst Kevin Culbert.Industry revenue is expected to grow 4.5% in 2012, boosted by continued improvement in the economy and growth in downstream markets. In spite of this growth, the number of firms operating in the industry is expected to decline during the year. While a large number of enterprises entered the industry during the early to mid-2000s, industry operators have started to consolidate, evidenced by Web.com Group Inc.'s acquisition of Network Solutions in October 2011, continues Culbert. As a result of such acquisitions, the number of firms operating in the industry has increased just 0.7% annually on average to 119 in the five years to 2012. The E-commerce Shopping Cart Software Developers industry has a low level of concentration and no major players. The industry is expected to continue consolidating over the next five years.
Many of the industry's products have little product differentiation, which has led to price competition over the past five years. Although price competition softened profit margins, industry consolidation is expected to bring profit to a normalized level. In the next five years, the industry will continue to benefit from factors that have driven growth during the past decade. An increasing percentage of services conducted online and growth in the E-Commerce and Online Auctions industry – the primary sources of downstream demand – will contribute to strong industry growth over the five years to 2017. During that time, IBISWorld estimates that industry revenue will increase 5.6% annually on average to $453.5 million. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s E-commerce Shopping Cart Software Developers in the US industry report page.
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IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry comprises establishments that primarily develop software for e-commerce shopping carts. Shopping cart software is designed to perform various functions, including easing the buying process; storing confidential credit card, address and shopping history information; up- and cross-selling; allowing feedback and reviews; and monitoring customer behavior in the cart.
Industry Performance
Executive Summary
Key External Drivers
Current Performance
Industry Outlook
Industry Life Cycle
Products & Markets
Supply Chain
Products & Services
Major Markets
Globalization & Trade
Business Locations
Competitive Landscape
Market Share Concentration
Key Success Factors
Cost Structure Benchmarks
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Major Companies
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About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.
Gavin Smith
IBISWorld
310-866-5042
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Buy even smaller cars!
- exlimeyinsunnyflorida, livingthedreamUSA, 20/7/2012 02:49
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