ASB/Main Report Regional Economic Scoreboard December 2008 Quarter
February 27th, 2009
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Archive for February, 2009
Sex Just Not Selling Anymore
February 23rd, 2009
Global marketing maestro Martin Lindstrom, has been scanning people’s brains to see how they react to ads, jingles and product smells, and he says sex doesn’t sell, Nokia tunes make people feel physically sick and Apple is a mini-religion. Lindstrom, author of the best-selling book, Buyology - Truth and Lies About Why We Buy, says [...]
Exceeding Expectations: The Key To Value
February 23rd, 2009
Exceeding expectations is the means by which value is created and things get sold. You can exceed expectations in price, quality or service and possibly all three - but you must understand what it really means to exceed expectations before you can actually do it. The first thing to understand about exceeding expectations is the [...]
Personal Credibility Matters In Business
February 23rd, 2009
To be influential in business and earn the respect of potential clients, you need strong personal credibility. Having people believe you is critical to becoming a better leader and building your business. Here’s how:
1. Earn Respect With What You Do. Don’t try to earn it from status, position or power, which is counter-productive.
2. Let People [...]
What’s Happening With NZ’s Aust Relationship?
February 20th, 2009
Is NZ being taken for a ride by Aust? Our economic future is tied strongly to theirs, but in certain areas, we are letting Aust take a lead when NZ should be acting more independently. There are real concerns NZ’s Pacific policy may be playing out through relations with Canberra. When he was Opposition Leader [...]
Wild Currency Ride Set To Last
February 20th, 2009
Economists are predicting the dollar could be depressed for years yet, with a potential exchange rate below US50c. Good for exporters, but not the economy in general. The Kiwi has dropped by 15% against the US dollar in the past three months and is now about 30 cents below its high. The underlying factors in [...]
Take Control Of NZ’s Currency
February 20th, 2009
In July 2007 The Main Report quoted NZ Institute head David Skilling, who was calling for NZ to take more control of its currency rather than leaving the determination of its value to foreign currency markets. At the time Skilling advocated either merging the NZ dollar with the Aust dollar or at the very [...]
Carbon Calculators Not Up To The Task
February 16th, 2009
Current tools available for local businesses to calculate their carbon emissions are disappointing. A Waikato Management School masters student, Pauline de Haes, has tested four widely available carbon calculators developed for NZ small businesses. She looked at Catalyst R&D ACE www.sustainable.org.nz, The NZ Business Council For Sustainable Development Emissions Calculator www.nzbcsd.org.nz, the Trees of Canterbury [...]
Marketing Tips To Help Weather The Downturn
February 16th, 2009
Here are some proven niche marketing tips to help your business weather the economic downturn:
• Clarify your value. In times of turmoil, customers analyse their buying decisions, and they’re not just searching for the lowest price. Companies must hone their marketing messages to define their value and competitive advantages. And they must develop a niche [...]
Start Your Insurance Renewal Programme Early
February 13th, 2009
Your premium renewal process should really start around four months before renewal if you are to avoid nasty premium increases. If you ran into renewal problems in 2008, consider these factors this year:
• Start negotiations early and ask tough questions.
• Do your homework on exposure to risk.
• Make sure you confirm the timetable in writing.
• [...]
Traits For Entrepreneurs
February 13th, 2009
In tough times an entrepreneurial spirit might be the difference between your business staying afloat or going bust. Here are five traits which make a good entrepreneur.
1. It’s not just the idea. Where people go wrong is in thinking the idea is the most important thing. Ideas are actually not hard to find – it’s [...]
A New Kind Of Capitalism On The Way?
February 13th, 2009
Robert Peston, a BBC financial commentator says the semi-permanent nationalisation of the banking system, soon to be followed by significant taxpayer support for real companies in the real economy, means banks and private sector companies will have to work much harder to sustain the goodwill of those who are keeping them alive: taxpayers.
He says, “those [...]
