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The Importance Of Market

tiffanymorgan — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:27:39 +0000

Business promotion and brand marketing is backbone of a progressing concern. Therefore, the critical issue in promoting business is to develop marketing teams, and organize resources with consideration and appropriation of cultural differences and consumer diversions. Marketing managers are supposed to be equipped with basic organizational and promotional skills so that they and their work force can contribute its best and achieve fruitful results towards the growth and progress of an organization. However, the globalize business concepts shrunken the world into a village which made it quite hard to develop the teams with multicultural individuals and diverse consumer behaviors. Moreover, it is fact that success of a business revolves around marketing management and market research which structures the organizational persona and studies the customer needs and demands. Therefore, in current ingenious and methodical business era achievement of standard business environment, market management and organizing the promotional teams is not only hard, but, in some cases it is impossible for an un-resourceful business approach. Therefore, it is much important to have strong business and market research strategies in current global and competitive business environment (William, 2001).
Constituents of Marketing Research:
Target Market Analysis:
Whenever any company needs to develop a marketing plan, target market analysis is first and foremost step to deal with and to find out the consumer response and need. Precise target market indication leads a marketing research and plant to straight and definite lines which will ultimately gives the best results.
Target Market’s Society and Culture:
The next step after classification of target market social and cultural norms of target market have to consider realistically. However, a global product needs to consider the global scenario and marketing research would be conducted globally. So, marketing research is organized according to the social and cultural norms of target market and if it is a global brand, so, it needs a global research and approach.
Consumer Purchasing Power:
Consumer purchasing power is most important constituent of market research. It deals with pricing and costing which drives the ultimate business aim that is earning the profits. However, market research is study of consumers and their purchasing power. The third element “consumer purchasing power” provides a strong base to the pricing module of a market research. An excellent and conclusive market research depends on consumer study.
Market Competition:
After the research and study of target market, it’s social and cultural norms and consumer’s purchasing power. Market competition evaluation is the conclusive constituent of a market research. Market competition assessment provides the final result to a marketing research. However, a global product could not be confined in single market borders. It needs an international market and consumer research. So, after consideration of international consumer and economic scenario a product would have full and final findings.
Global Brand Marketing By Philips:
Global brand needs global marketing which is quite hard due to the cultural differences and societal constraints. For instance, if we take example of Indian market, it is very diverse cultural society at the same time possesses a rich potential market for electronic items. Moreover, India has great potential as well as competition in electronic products which created huge economical space for electronic products. Marketing an electronic product with international as well as local competition is not an easy task. However, Philips has designed its unique marketing policy according to the Indian cultural constraints and market demands.
Philips Marketing Methodologies:
Questionnaire Survey:
Questionnaire survey is one of the marketing methodologies used by Philips. The telephone questionnaire allows for a sample population to be easily reached with responses documented and easily dissected using data entry and statistical analyzing methods. Because of their widespread use, questionnaires are non-confrontational to the sample population and do not force opinions or options, allowing for accurate and viable responses to be gathered with little bias or influence from the researchers or complicated research equipment. However, it is important to note that in any research methodology that is dealing with human responses to qualitative or quantitative questions remains the possibility of language bias. The questionnaire survey by Philips gives feedback of consumers no only for their up coming products but also to evaluate their product’s market standing.
Quantitative Research:

The quantitative research provides the direct consumer feedback. The quantitative research method often used by Philips to evaluative its consumer perception about the products introduced by Philips. It is a comprehensive evaluation process especially for a global market player. Philips as a global leader cares about its customers to facilitate them with providing them the most innovative and cost effective solution. So, quantitative research method is very comprehensive as well as provides conclusive results about customer needs and demands.
Qualitative Research:
Qualitative research is based on the searching out the technical things to make a product or upgrading the products. Philips often uses this method of research to build working relationship with the technical persons and professionals. It provides a great technical backup to the initiatives taken by the Philips. It also helps to build good understating among the customer and technical professionals (The Time Hundred, n.d).

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Patrick Ewald Announces Epic Pictures Group acquires Parkour Skills

Patrick1Gall — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:11:40 +0000

(1888PressRelease) Patrick Ewald, There is nothing quite like this film in the market. When I saw the trailer for this film, I knew that this was a really special movie.

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA – Epic Pictures Group has just closed an acquisition of the Swedish parkour action film, SKILLS, directed by Johannes Pinter. Deal was negotiated directly between the producer of Timelock films, Tomas Amlov, and Epic Pictures Group CEO, Patrick Ewald.

SKILLS is a teen-action-drama that focuses on a various action sports such as parkour, skateboard, street dance and martial arts. The target audiences are teenagers and adults who like action films in general and action sports in particular.

According to Wikipedia: Parkour (sometimes also abbreviated to PK), also parcours, or l’art du déplacement (1) (English: the art of displacement) is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one’s path by adapting one’s movements to the environment.(2) It is a non-competitive, physical discipline of French origin in which participants run along a route, attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible. Skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves are employed. The object of parkour is to get from one place to another using only the human body and the objects in the environment. The obstacles can be anything in one’s environment, but parkour is often seen practiced in urban areas because of the many suitable public structures available such as buildings and rails. The term freerunning is sometimes used interchangeably with parkour.

Many people recognize the parkour style from the opening chase scene from James Bond’s Casino Royale.

Currently shooting, film will be completed after Cannes. Epic Pictures will be showing buyers a trailer cut from the rough footage.

“There is nothing quite like this film in the market. When I saw the trailer for this film, I knew that this was a really special movie. I am a huge fan of parkour and I find it one of the most exciting and thrilling urban sports. It is like looking a tightrope walker at 100 times the speed.” says Patrick Ewald, CEO of Epic Pictures Group.

The movie stars one of the world’s leading parkour-artists, Swedish Marcus Gustafsson, as well as one of Sweden’s greatest female skateboarders, My Magnusson. Martial artist Tim Man, seen in ONG BAK 2 and STREETFIGHTER: LEGEND OF CHUN LI, is also included in the cast. Director Johannes Pinter has previously directed the horror film SLEEPWALKER.

Timelock Film AB is a small Swedish production company focusing on development and production of feature films, in the comedy-, drama- and action genre, targeting the young audience. We also provide post production and script consultant services for TV- and feature film production. The company was founded in 2001 and has a background as vast background in producing shorts. The short/novella-film “THE OTHER SIDE” won the Swedish Filminstitute Award 2003, and participated in competition in Locarno.

Skills synopsis: Kelvin is an average teenager struggling with his loyalty to his friends, conflicts with his father, and practicing his main interest in life – parkour. After his father is shot and ends up in a coma during a police case, Kelvin starts his own search for the perpetrator. Kelvin soon finds an underground world of sub cultures with their own rules. Kelvin is forced into a violent battle of skills in an urban gladiator game. A game that not only forces him to stretch his parkour talents, but also questions his moral boundaries – how far is he willing to go for family and friends?

Writer/Director – Johannes Pinter: Debuted with the dark thriller “Sleepwalker” in 2000. The feature won the New Blood Award in the French thriller film festival in Cognac, and was nominated for Best Movie in the Sitges International Film festival in Spain. Oscar winning producer Mark Johnson (“Rain man”, “Narnia”) picked up the American remake rights for “Sleepwalker”. As a writer, he penned two versions (uncredited) for the American actioner “Pathfinder” directed by Marcus Nispel. His latest writing job was the adaptation of the Swedish bestselling novel “Odjuret” (“The Beast”) by authors Roslund and Hellstrom (“Box 21″). Pinter is also an editor, with several features under his belt from countries like Norway, Ireland, Bulgaria and of course Sweden. He is one of Scandinavia’s most renowned trailer producers. Among the titles with trailers signed Pinter is Swedish “Let the right one in”, “Arn – the knights templar” and several “Wallander” movies, as well as Danish “Flame and Citron”, Russian action-thriller “Newsmakers”, Norwegian blockbusters “Max Manus” and “Kautokeino”, and horror franchise “Fritt vilt” (“Cold prey”). http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750259

Producer – Tomas Amlöv – 35 years old computer-geek retrained as a movie-producer. Among the films I produced is THE OTHER SIDE that highlighted the Swedish immigration policy and won the Swedish Film Institute, short-/novellofilm award in 2003 as well as participated in competition in Locarno international film festival.

DoP, Ola Magnestam: Constantly engaged cinematographer of TV- and short films. The images for the 2009 student-Oscar winner ELKLAND are one of many strong feats. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1327520/

Cast:
Marcus Gustafsson (KELVIN): Considered one of the best parkour/freerunning artists in the world. Got a gold medal in the “style” event at the world championship in parkour in Hamburg 2008. Done a lot of commercial gigs for the likes of RED BULL, PEAK PERFORMANCE, SVT and TV4 among others.

My Magnusson (LINDA): Plays Kelvin’s love interest Linda. One of Sweden’s most skillful female skateboarders. Has toured Sweden with the No Limit Tour: the greatest female skateboarders in the country together on one ramp.

Tim Man (MONK): Plays Kelvin’s mentor Monk. Actor and stunt coordinator with focus on martial arts movies. Been working as an actor and stunt double in Swedish features FROSTBITE and GÖTA KANAL 2, and the international successes ONG BAK 2 and STREET FIGHTER: LEGEND OF CHUN LI. Has great insight and experience in movie action.

Sean Banan (STRETCH): Sina “Sean Banan” big breakthrough was the dance-docu-show FLOOR FILLER where he reached the final. But he became a national celebrity after participation in the tv-show “circus Möller”. His popularity comes both from great dancing skills and his way of always making people laugh.

About Epic Pictures Group

Headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, Epic Pictures Group is a worldwide film, television and home video/VOD/digital sales organization specializing in the financing, production, and distribution of unique, award winning and innovative feature films from independent filmmakers from around the world.

Under the guidance of CEO Patrick Ewald and COO Shaked Berenson, Epic Pictures Group represents worldwide sales for both its own slate of films and third party content. Epic Pictures Group releases 10 to 20 films annually.

The company was established by CEO Patrick Ewald and COO Shaked Berenson in the fall of 2007 by with the official launch of the company at The American Film Market in Santa Monica, California.

Epic Picture Group’s foreign sales team seeks out relationships with creative and exceptional producers and talent in order to secure A-level, quality projects. Epic Pictures Group actively develops a full range of new relationships and strategic alliances with financiers, independent production companies, producers and studios.

Epic Pictures Group is committed to establishing a rising presence in the domestic and international film community through the worldwide release of high profile and diverse films.

Epic Pictures Group has a recognized presence at all major motion picture and television festivals and markets including Cannes, The American Film Market (AFM), Berlin, The Hong Kong Filmart, The Sundance Film Festival, The Toronto Film Festival, as well as MIPCOM and MIP-TV.

Most recently, Patrick Ewald, Shaked Berenson and the Epic Pictures Group has executive produced or produced SPACE DOGS in 3D, LUSTER starring TWILGIHT’S BILLY BURKE and Andrew Howard, and THE POSSESSION OF DAVID O’REILLY. Patrick Ewald, Shaked Berenson and Epic Pictures Group has also just acquired the sales licensing rights to DEADLINE starring the late Brittany Murphy, THE MALAY CHRONICLES: BLOODLINES, GENGHIS KHAN, HOUSEBROKEN starring Danny Devito, and FINDING AMANDA starring Matthew Broderick and Brittany Murphy.

For More Information Contact:

Greg Commons
Manager, Corporate Affairs
Epic Pictures Group
9107 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 450
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-461-1941
Email: greg ( @ ) epic-pictures dot com

http://www.epic-pictures.com

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/patrick-ewald/epic-pictures/patrick-ewald-announces-epic-pictures-group-acquires-parkour-pr-218556.html

Shorted AOL – Tanks Today On A Posted 59% Loss In Revenue-Short Sell Is Good

Patrick1Gall — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:00:04 +0000

(1888PressRelease) AOL just sold ICQ-Tanked ON Stock Price and also posted a loss of 59% of their revenue and their ad sales are week-see our story and get updates so you can make money

Santa Monica California, For Immediate Release

BusinessCapitalloans.com calls AOL A Long Term Short.

AOL shorts are feeling a birthday party now. Our blog network shorted AOL at $28.40 and $28.10 and we see lower downside, as the large carrier of run of network traffic, just posted a 59% drop in revenue with earning only about $30mm vs last year of 75+mm.

Now the stock price has not taken into account, that Bebo.com, a wonderful investment of $850mm, will be showing a major loss on next quarters sheets. Bebo.com has been reported to close and pack up shop from Reuters.com

AOL, owns advertising.com , which they hoped would help, but with small business ad sales declining, as most small businesses went broke, there is only a upside for the major players. Not many companies go to the AOL Advertising.Aol.com, their Advertising-platform to make large buys. Our research online shows, that AOL has run of network traffic, such as smaller search engines , which means their traffic is as Standard and Poor would say ” Junk ”

In our opinion, we see the AOL hitting $15-20 a share in the next 14-21 days or less. The company is not worth $75 Billion, as the market cap is almost 3B shares. We believe the company and assets are worth about $5b-$10b now on a rough opinion.

This blog post is our opinion, from the 15 years we have been watching AOL and seen a steady decline, after mergers and major losses in the past. This could be AOL’s last run on the stock market, if they do not buy a wise investment website or network, first to recover the $850mm, they lost on Bebo.com and then to make money, or stay afloat.

AOL on top of the news, just made a quick sell and sold on week ads sales, the old Tech messenger to a Russian company, probably for the database. Whats next will AOL, sell their instant messenger and then advertising.com .

Whoever is the brain behind AOL, doesn’t know where the market is going online and has clearly demonstrated it this morning”!

To get our internet stock picks up or down, please subscribe on the right hand side for our newsletters and be the first to know the next stock we have a strong opinion on. To see the full storyl post, http://www.businesscapitalloans.com/shorted-aol-tanks-today-on-a-posted-59-loss-in-revenue-short-sell-is-good.php

http://www.businesscapitalloans.com

info ( @ ) businesscapitalloans dot com

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/shorted-aol-tanks-today-on-a-posted-59-loss-in-revenue-sh-pr-205090.html

Introducing Brokers And White Label Partnerships Requests At Tadawul FX Grow by 20%

Patrick1Gall — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:29:54 +0000

(1888PressRelease) Online forex broker Tadawul FX enjoys an impressive 20% growth in Introducing Brokers and White Label Partnerships Requests.

Online forex broker Tadawul FX is now reaching further than ever before thanks to its very successful Introducing Brokers (IB) Program and White Label Partnerships. Indeed, the online forex broker has seen growth of 20% in its partnerships as a result.

Ramzi Chamat, CEO of Tadawul FX, also known as TDFX, said, “Introducing Brokers play an important role in the growth of TDFX and in growing global brand awareness in their home markets,”

“They penetrate markets where TDFX has more limited access to due to language and cultural barriers and TDFX has really capitalised on this which explains why our company growth in this area is so high.”

Already respected for their honest stance, high work ethic, and extraordinary level of customer service, Tadawul FX offers its IB and White Label partners clear incentives, one of which is live payments. Contrary to many partnerships worldwide where affiliate rewards are collated and paid at the end of the month, TDFX can arrange commissions to be paid on any day requested by its IBs and White Label partners.

Another recognized perk of partnering with TDFX is the excellent managed account facilities on offer, including the ability to trade hundreds of accounts simultaneously via the MultiTerminal and MAM Systems. TDFX IBs also benefit from the increased level of marketing and promotional assistance offered by the broker, both online and offline, including dedicated customised IB tracking of all referred client accounts.

“As we are well established in online forex trading, IBs and White Label partners are proud to be associated with Tadawul FX,” continues Ramzi.

“They benefit from Tadawul FX’s strong reputation for customer focus, our state-of-the-art technology, can present a quality product, and are provided with individual support in the form of their own account manager, 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.”

http://www.tadawulfx.com

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/online-forex-brokers/introducing-brokers/introducing-brokers-and-white-label-partnerships-requests-at-pr-204117.html

Northern Leasing To Attend Electronic Transaction Association Meeting In Las Vegas

Patrick1Gall — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:17:40 +0000

(1888PressRelease)As the market leader in micro-ticket leasing, we have originated over 500,000 equipment leases since our founding in 1991. Northern Leasing offers a wide variety of POS equipment leasing services.

New York, NY – Northern Leasing Systems, Inc. will be presenting its services at the Electronic Transactions Association’s annual Meeting and Expo in Las Vegas in mid-April. Representatives of Northern Leasing will meet with the company’s customers, independent sales organizations (ISO’s) and other credit card terminal partners to discuss the leasing programs designed for their small business retail merchants. Developing both credit card and point of sale (POS) terminal leasing and financing programs to be offered through the ISO’s and other micro-ticket sales organizations is a specialty of Northern Leasing, having been in the credit card terminal leasing market since 1991. These programs offer the retail merchant the opportunity to achieve low, fixed lease payments and thereby maximize its cash flow and limit its exposure to equipment obsolescence.

Northern Leasing representatives will describe how its micro-ticket leasing and financing programs enhance both the merchant processor and the ISO’s sales efforts through superior customer service, prompt credit approvals and simple documentation processes. The small business leasing services offered by Northern Leasing Systems also include sign leasing programs. Having offered such small business financing programs for over 19 years, Northern Leasing has earned a reputation for a high level of customer service to ISO’s and to small businesses in the United States, Canada and in the UK.

About Northern Leasing
Based in New York City, Northern Leasing Systems Inc. is the leading provider of micro-ticket leasing programs serving Independent Sales Organizations and retail merchants with lease and financing programs for credit card terminals, point of sale (POS) terminals, signs and other micro-ticket equipment. Northern leasing and finance programs are designed to assist the retail merchant in obtaining the use of the credit card and/or POS terminals and other micro-ticket equipment, including signage, that is needed in the merchants business while maximizing the business cash flow and minimizing equipment obsolescence.

Contact info:
Cortes E. DeRussy
Director, Special Projects
Northern Leasing Systems, Inc.
132 West 31st Street
New York, NY 10001
212-457-8534
FAX 212-457-8535
e_mail: cderussy ( @ ) northernleasing dot com
http://www.northernleasing.net

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/northern-leasing/northern-leasing-systems/northern-leasing-to-attend-electronic-transaction-associatio-pr-203206.html

Foreclosures Hit Aspen Real Estate Market

Patrick1Gall — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:52:27 +0000

(1888PressRelease)Foreclosures are now starting to hit the Aspen Real Estate Market. McKinley Sales Real Estate is the go to broker for many of the major banks for bank owned listings throought the Aspen and Vail Valleys.

Aspen, CO – A new Basalt real estate company is listing the some of the first foreclosures to reach the resale market in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley.

781 Meadowood, located just behind the Aspen Chapel is among one of the first foreclosures to hit the Aspen real estate market. The home was previously owned by Pamela Phillips, who is in police custody in connection with the death of her ex-husband, Gary Triano. In December 2007 the property was listed for $7,995,000, now the price tag is $4,000,000.

McKinley Sales represents many of the major mortgage companies including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, Indymac, U.S. Bank, PMH Financial, and Fannie Mae. They are working on 37 foreclosed properties located in the Roaring Fork Valley and several other resort areas. “Our clients usually send us 3-5 new listings per week which indicates that our local real estate market is still on the decline”, states McKinley.

McKinley has been a broker since 1992 and has worked with the banks since 1995. She has obtained the highest level of real estate foreclosure education available. She notes, “I’ve worked with the banks during the past 15 years and predicted the Roaring Fork Valley would eventually succumb to market decline. I saw the same situation in the Boulder area. Some of the long-time locals told me the Roaring Fork Valley was an isolated market and we wouldn’t see bank- owned properties here. But we’re seeing them here now, including homes in Aspen, Vail, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood and outlying areas, as well as commercial and vacant land. With the combination of skyrocketing prices in 2005-07, and then the economic downturn, it was almost a certainty”, states Kim.

“On the brighter side, bank-owned property listings offer discounts that allow first-time homeowners to enter the market, many of whom have not previously been able to own a home,” says McKinley. A foreclosure purchase requires a bit more endurance from buyers, since the sellers are corporations with very little knowledge of the property and they will usually require the property to be sold “as-is”.

Some of the mortgage companies offer Relocation Assistance in the form of cash, to the previous homeowners. This scenario is beneficial to everyone in that the previous owner has funds to move and the mortgage company obtains access to the property without the eviction process and fees involved.

Some buyers and local brokers are confused and frustrated by the bank owned process as it is a different from traditional real estate, but foreclosures are part of our market now and probably will be for some time to come.
As a licensed Colorado real estate brokerage, McKinley Sales also represents homeowners who need assistance navigating the short sale process to avoid foreclosure.

Through a dedicated track record of nearly two decades of real estate experience, McKinley Sales, Inc. Real Estate offers the inside track on foreclosed properties, representation of buyers and sellers of real estate, navigation assistance on short sales, and has one of the only certified 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange Counselors in the Roaring Fork Valley.

McKinley Sales, Inc. Real Estate is located at 23286 Two Rivers Rd #21, Basalt, CO. Kim McKinley can be reached at 970.379.4559 or by email at AspenBroker at Gmail.com

http://McKinleySalesCO.com

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/foreclosures-hit-aspen-real-estate-market-pr-198059.html

Groton Utilities selects NorthStar Utilities Solutions’ MeterSense MDM

Patrick1Gall — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:11:29 +0000

(1888PressRelease) NorthStar Utilities Solutions’ MeterSense MDM is becoming the fastest growing mid-market meter data management solution. Combining business process oriented solutions with energy analytics and solid reporting, MeterSense is the MDM of choice. Groton Utilities in Groton, CT is using MeterSense as part of their smart metering project.

OTTAWA, ON – NorthStar Utilities Solutions’ MeterSense MDM has been selected as the meter data management element of the smart metering program at Groton Utilities in Southeastern Connecticut. The smart metering project is just one of many initiatives at Groton that are aimed at providing the highest level of customer service at the lowest possible cost. This means driving every possible benefit out of its smart metering investment. MeterSense uses automated validation routines to ensure the quality of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) data while minimizing manual intervention to drive efficiency and control costs. MeterSense also monitors the performance of the AMI system itself so that the slightest performance issue can be identified and quickly corrected. This will allow Groton to maintain its high level of customer satisfaction, through timely and accurate billing, while minimizing the effort and cost of cleansing and managing the huge volumes of smart metering data.

“MeterSense is an important part of our smart metering project. We need to ensure we get complete, high quality data for billing. MeterSense can automatically clean up the data as well as streamline our customer service processes, so we can keep working efficiently,” explained Noel Wehner, Project Manager for Groton Utilities. “It can also help us understand any communications issues with our advanced metering infrastructure.”

The MeterSense solution monitors the performance of the AMI network by tracking the data coming in. The solution reports on the completeness of the data and identifies any communications irregularities. Meters are plotted on a map with communication issues highlighted by color, showing the user what to select in order to determine the problem.

In addition to optimizing its billing processes and monitoring its metering system, Groton expects benefits in other areas. By managing the huge volume of information and automatically exchanging it with other systems, MeterSense will help Groton to continue improving the way it coordinates with its supply agency and cooperates with other utilities in the area to get the best pricing.

About Groton Utilities
Groton Utilities is a municipally owned and operated utility providing Electric, Water, Cable TV and High-Speed Internet Access services to thousands of consumers in Southeastern Connecticut. The mission of Groton Utilities is to be the Premier Utility Service Provider in the Northeast. Groton prides itself on providing a high level of customer service at the lowest possible cost.

Learn more about MeterSense
Utilities will get a chance to see MeterSense on display at the CS Week conference in Nashville, May 24-28. Visit us to learn more about how MeterSense can help utilities turn their smart grid visions into realities.

About NorthStar Utilities Solutions
NorthStar has served the utility market for more than 30 years. We deliver integrated solutions for utilities’ billing, customer information, and financial and meter data management needs. More than 200 customers in North America and the Caribbean use NorthStar solutions to manage revenues, deliver superior customer service, improve efficiencies and reduce costs.

For more information on NorthStar Utilities Solutions and the NorthStar product suite, please visit www.northstarutilities.com.

MeterSense – Enabling The Smart Grid

For additional information contact:
Ken Hayes
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
NorthStar Utilities Solutions
A division of Harris Computer Systems
256-686-1278 or 256-642-6368
khayes @ northstarutilities.com
sales @ northstarutilities.com

About Harris
Harris is a leading provider of utility customer information systems (CIS), billing, financial management, and meter data management software solutions. Since 1976, Harris has focused on providing feature-rich and robust turnkey solutions to public power and water markets as well as all levels of local government throughout North America. Harris’ focus is on creating long-term relationships with our customers and ensuring that we meet the changing needs of our customers over time.

For further information on Harris Computer Systems and NorthStar please visit our website at http://www.harriscomputer.com, or call 888-847-7747 x 3183.

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/northstar/metersense/groton-utilities-selects-northstar-utilities-solutions-mete-pr-197036.html

The 2010 Government Contractor’s Resource Guide Edition Launched as E-Book

Patrick1Gall — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:24:33 +0000

(1888PressRelease) The original Government Contractor’s Resource Guide used by government contractors, contracting officers and as resource material for university curriculum featured in national newspapers + magazines, one of the best selling guides on contracting in market now launched as e-book.

Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV – Every 20 seconds of every working day, the U.S. Government issues a contract. Last fiscal year, U.S. Government allocated $409 billion for contracting. This makes the U.S. Government the largest marketplace in the world and a great opportunity for your business. The information on government contracting is plentiful, but sifting through extraneous information to find exactly what you need is an arduous task. To ease the information gathering process, we have assembled as much pertinent information as possible to help you obtain resources and avoid some of the pitfalls, time, money and frustration commonly experienced in government contracting.

The 2010 edition of “The Government Contractor’s Resource Guide” is now available as an e-book. This guide has been used by government contractors, contracting officers, and as resource material for university curriculum, featured in national newspapers and magazines.

“I had one goal in mind when the first edition came out in 2006, to produce an easy to use guide which incorporated my lessons learned and resources gathered from my research and almost two decades of experience as a government contractor.” states Gallagher, “When I first started out, like many others new to government contracting it seemed unfathomable that a business – never mind a small business – could penetrate the walls of government contracting and unlock the keys to success.

After many years of attending workshops, expos, training, and conducting outreach for the government all the while using my own marketing research background, I managed to harvest the key materials located throughout countless websites, books, handouts and documents, policies and procedures. I incorporated into The Government Contractor’s Resource Guide what I believe to be among the most relevant of this information, compiled into an affordable easy to use 177 page guide.”

The Guide contains information issued helpful for both large and small business going after contracts and serves as a quick reference for procurement and contracting officers when contracting with business.

“From the time the first edition was published back in 2006 testimonials keep pouring in” says Gallagher, “The testimonials on The Guide’s usefulness range from a former U.S. government agency head overseeing small business contracting hailing it as one of the most comprehensive easy to use guides she has ever seen in or out of government, to other government contractors’ testimonials – even those with years of experience – expressing its usefulness especially with contact names, phone numbers. useful websites, policy and procedure references, samples of teaming agreements, nondisclosure agreement template, and even definitions of acronyms used everyday inside government. “Nothing is more costly than plunging into the sea of unknowns of government contracting with little or no information or with so much information it seems overwhelming.” she concludes. The Government Resource Guide helps the reader decipher what to do and what not to do – at the same time providing them with additional tools to continue training, marketing and networking such as where to attend FREE workshops and other online valuable resources.

The Government Contractor’s Resource Book provides various samples of Teaming Agreements, Subcontracting Agreements, and Non-Disclosure Agreements for the business. It also provides information on how to market to find contracting and subcontracting opportunities. In addition, the Resource Book arms the contractor with types of government bidding procedures and purchasing programs, as well as explaining the contractor’s responsibilities and administrative requirement when performing on government contracts.

The Government Contractor’s Resource Guide E-book is now available through retail bookstores, online at Google books, lulu, Amazon, among others and also directly available by going to the gov2biz website. The Guide e-book is priced at $37.00. The Government Contractor’s Resource Guide is published by Access International, ISBN 1-3 0-0789647-0-2 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2006907430. Daisy Gallagher is a leading expert in her field, with two decades under her belt as an award winning government contractor, and internationally recognized business leader.

Media Contact:
Author: Daisy Gallagher AMA, PMP

http://gallagher-gallagher.com

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/daisy-gallagher/government-resource-guide/the-2010-government-contractor-s-resource-guide-edition-laun-pr-194865.html

City of San Marcos selects NorthStar Utilities Solutions’ MeterSense MDM

Patrick1Gall — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:25:52 +0000

(1888PressRelease)NorthStar Utilities Solutions’ MeterSense MDM is selected by the City of San Marcos, TX. MeterSense will manage the information from the City’s smart meters, filling gaps and elevating data quality before presenting energy usage information for customers to view via web portal. MeterSense is now the fastest growing MDM in the mid-size utility market.

OTTAWA – NorthStar Utilities Solutions, a division of Harris Computer Systems, is pleased to announce that the City of San Marcos has signed an agreement to acquire their MeterSense Meter Data Management (MDM) solution, to further advance the City’s smart metering project.

“We evaluated several Meter Data Management solutions and MeterSense came out on top,” said Tom Taggart, Director of Public Services. “MeterSense gives us strong and flexible validation plus configurable workflows to automate manual tasks. We’re confident that it will allow us to streamline our processes and get the maximum benefit out of our AMI system – in terms of both customer service and cost control.”

MeterSense will manage the information from the City’s smart meters, filling gaps and elevating data quality before presenting energy usage information for customers to view via web portal. With intuitive reports showing hourly usage online, the customers will be able to visualize their energy patterns and have the ability to control their costs. Ultimately, customers will have the opportunity to save money through Time-of-Use (TOU) rates. MeterSense ties together utility information systems such as the Geographic Information System (GIS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Outage Management System (OMS), allowing the City to easily analyze operations and monitor their vital electric and water distribution infrastructure.

“We expect tremendous value from tying together multiple systems. It’ll help us understand our operations without spending hours tracking down all the data,” explained Ernest Cavazos, Utility Billing Business Office Manager. “That will allow us to focus on serving our customers better, with streamlined processes so we can do it more efficiently.”

In addition to serving up verified usage data for customers, MeterSense will present information to utility personnel. For example, the City will have immediate access to better water usage information to identify leaks and notify customers proactively. Service personnel will be able to respond more quickly to restore power after electrical outages. Also, by deploying MeterSense, San Marcos will actually be able to eliminate some of the other systems and services they are using, further reducing costs and eliminating system interfaces.

“San Marcos is a great example of a utility with a vision to leverage technology in the drive for higher customer service and better efficiency,” said Rob DiMurro, NorthStar Utilities Solutions’ General Manager. “MeterSense plays a clear role in boosting the return on utilities’ technology investments and we are proud to be a part of the San Marcos smart metering initiative.”

About San Marcos
San Marcos Electric Utility is a municipally owned and operated retail electric distribution system purchased by the City of San Marcos in 1986. The Electric Utility serves residential, commercial, institutional and industrial customers. The Water-Wastewater Utility is owned by the City of San Marcos and operates a high quality wastewater treatment plant and water system rated superior by the State of Texas. The utility promotes water conservation and works closely with agencies such as the GBRA, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and other organizations to develop regional water policies.

Learn more about MeterSense
MeterSense will be on display one of the utility industry’s premier trade shows: CS Week, May 24-28. Visit us to learn more about how MeterSense can help utilities turn their smart grid visions into realities.

For more information on NorthStar Utilities Solutions and the NorthStar product suite, please visit www.northstarutilities.com..

MeterSense – Enabling The Smart Grid

For further information on Harris Computer Systems and NorthStar please visit our website at http://www.harriscomputer.com, or call 888-847-7747 x 3183.

Source:

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/mdm/ami/city-of-san-marcos-selects-northstar-utilities-solutions-me-pr-194101.html

Surviving in a changing market

William King — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:11:05 +0000

The market is always changing and in order to keep up with the changes you have to modify your own marketing techniques. The easiest way to stay ahead of the competition is not merely to make changes to what you already have but to keep adding something fresh. Every time you add something to your products and services you are creating new opportunities to increase your sales figures. Sometimes this can mean something as simple as adding some new useful information to your website. It may not sound like much but something as small as an information change can do the trick.

That is nothing compared to what can be achieved by adding a new product or service. Making such additions helps you increase your customer base because you can appeal to new customers in addition to existing ones. Your existing customer base will become more loyal through repeat purchases and it is in your interest to have as many repeat customers as possible. You can also outdo your competition by bundling an older product or service with the new one and making a strong value addition to your latest offering.

Another thing to do is to shape oneself into a valuable resource for everyone. Nothing goes as well as something offered totally free. This can be information. Offer helpful newsletters or website updates. You can do all this quickly and quite economically. Every time someone visits your website for information they can see your products and services and this increases your potential sales.

You must also give yourself a unique touch. This will be the reason why anyone looking for something will come to you rather than go to your competitor for a similar product or service. You can do a number of things to make yourself unique. Make sure you deliver fastest, keep your policies simple, give personal attention to all your customers, and stand by your guarantees and offers. Depending on your niche there will be several factors that can help you become unique and you must utilize them for maximum benefit. This will automatically boost your sales.

A common mistake often made while marketing is promoting the product or service. You should remember that when someone buys something they are not interested in that product as a product but more interested in what that product can do for them. In other words they are looking for a solution to some problem or some tool to make their job easier. You should promote the benefits of your products and services and not the product or service itself. Tell your prospects and customers how their lives can be made easier by using your product or service and they will pay more attention to you. There are very few people that buy a car for the “cool” factor or as a status symbol. Most people are simply looking for a means of private transportation.

Construct your website and sales page around these principles and you have a much better chance of surviving in a changing market.

William King is the director of Wholesale Pages UK: http://www.wholesalepages.co.uk , Australia Wholesalers – Australian Wholesale Dropshippers & Suppliers Directory: http://www.australiawholesalers.com , Pakistan Property & Pakistan Real Estate Properties Portal: http://www.zameen.com and Dubai Property & UAE Property & Dubai Real Estate Portal: http://www.bayut.com . He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers, entrepreneurs and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.