SAO PAULO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Brazil's biggest bookstore chain, Saraiva, is trying to sell its online business, a move that could pave the way for Amazon's debut in Latin America's fastest growing e-commerce market, industry sources said.
Saraiva is widely seen as one of the main hurdles facing Amazon, the online retailer, as it prepares to set up shop in Brazil, a challenging market of 200 million people known for its tax and logistic complexities.
The Sao Paulo-based bookseller wants to sell its e-commerce platform and focus on its chain of over 100 stores and publishing businesses, where margins are higher, three industry executives told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"Saraiva is trying to sell its online operations. They have offered it to some retailers," said one of the sources.
"Why would this be interesting for Amazon? Amazon's main challenge will initially be overcoming the obstacle of the publishing companies. By buying Saraiva it shortens that distance dramatically," the same source said.
Amazon spokesman Craig Berman declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for Saraiva.
A second source said Saraiva has been preparing to spin off its online retail business for some time to focus on its publishing operations and bookstores, where it also sells CDs and DVDs.
"Their assets in terms of relationships with publishers and distributors could be important for Amazon," the source said.
Amazon is laying the ground to land in Brazil, a $12 billion e-commerce market where still low Internet penetration and a swelling middle class should provide sustainable business growth for years to come.
Reuters reported in June that the Seattle-based company was planning to open a digital bookstore in Brazil and start selling its Kindle e-reader by the end of 2012. An online approach would allow Amazon to avoid logistics hazards that could jeopardize a full-scale retail operation.
Saraiva has Brazil's biggest ebook catalog with 12,000 titles in Portuguese, yielding around $250,000 a month in revenue. Though ebooks account for just a fraction of Saraiva's Internet business -- it also offers DVDs, electronics and other consumer goods online -- the company says digital book sales are starting to grow at a faster pace.
One person familiar with Amazon's strategy for Brazil told Reuters that Saraiva approached the U.S. retailer in the past, but dismissed media reports of ongoing talks as market speculation. The source said Amazon is sticking to its original plan of focusing on organic growth in foreign markets.
DOORS OPEN
Even if Amazon doesn't end up buying Saraiva's online business, the dismembering of Brazil's biggest bookstore could help by weakening its top local competitor.
Earlier this year Saraiva was reportedly pressuring Brazilian publishers not to sign-up with Amazon in an attempt to protect its market leadership, which helped it pull in 731 million reais ($362 million) in net revenue in the first half of 2012.
Saraiva relies heavily on its network of 102 stores across Brazil. Products sold online account for just one-third of the company's retail business and shrank 6.4 percent in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period a year earlier.
"Saraiva's online business is not generating the necessary profits," said a third executive familiar with the company's management. "They recently decided to scale down their e-commerce sales in order to maintain profits. And that means the business is not interesting."
Saraiva is looking to unload its online business because of small margins and aggressive p rice competition from bigger e-commerce players such as B2W, which controls Bra zil's top platforms, Submarino and Americanas.com.
Earlier this month, Saraiva signaled it was open to entertaining offers following media reports that it was in talks with Amazon.
The company "is always attentive and willing to evaluate business opportunities of any other nature that arise and that may be of interest to its shareholders," Saraiva said in a securities filing.
Some analysts question the potential value of a Saraiva deal for Amazon, arguing that the U.S. company's strong branding would allow it to grow organically and rapidly seize a big chunk of the Brazilian market.
"The process of integrating Saraiva's operations could pose risks for Amazon. It would be better for them to start from scratch," said Caue de Campos Pinheiro, a retail analyst with SLW Corretora in Sao Paulo.
Others, however, say an acquisition would help Amazon safely navigate the Brazilian market, where a mix of steep taxes and poor infrastructure make it a difficult place to do business.
"They would have a head start," said Jordan Rohan, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus in New York. "And they would have access to a management team with local knowledge."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Hurricane Sandy wallops Internet commerce just as hard
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - From Fab.com to Amazon.com Inc and eBay Inc, e-commerce companies scrambled on Tuesday to get goods to buyers on time after Hurricane Sandy tore a swathe of destruction across the U.S. northeast.
The storm -- which severed power to warehouses and offices, ripped up rails and roads and shuttered airports -- challenged the notion that Internet retailers might benefit from problems at store chains exposed to the elements.
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Fab.com, a fast-growing design e-commerce start-up based in New York City, handled unusually strong volumes on Monday as people hunkered down at home. Then the problems began.
Fab operates out of two warehouses in hard-hit New Jersey, one self-owned and another run by warehouse company Dotcom Distribution. With both lacking power as of mid-afternoon, no packages were making it out the door on Tuesday.
"The biggest impact to us right now is that our warehouses have no power," said Jason Goldberg, founder and chief executive of Fab.com. "We're doing everything humanly possible to send packages as quickly as possible."
Retailers from New York to Washington are starting to re-open and re-staff in the aftermath of Monday's destruction. But many of Fab.com's fellow Internet retailers were still struggling to fill orders, handle customer service and keep websites running ahead of the crucial holiday season.
Those efforts are geared at ensuring buyers do not wait too long for their products -- and averting a damaging backlash against their sites and reputation.
Amazon.com warned merchants on Tuesday that use its shipping service, Fulfillment by Amazon, that Sandy might impact the handling of orders. Third-party sellers on its marketplace that handle their own shipping were instructed to contact shoppers directly about their orders.
It advised them to temporarily deactivate online listings should they be unable to meet usual shipping standards.
"Because the Internet is an opaque purchasing method, customers don't always understand where their product is coming from or if they are going to be affected," said Eric Heller, head of Marketplace Ignition, which helps online retailers sell through websites such as Amazon.com. "We're encouraging sellers to proactively reach out to buyers that may be affected."
RECOVERY PLANS
EBay pursued a similar tactic, emailing shoppers who purchased items from merchants that may have been impacted by the storm in recent days, asking for patience. It recommended that affected eBay Store-subscribers put their pages in "vacation mode" to control purchasing and show shoppers that their operation has been temporarily disrupted, a spokeswoman said.
And Gilt Groupe, which runs a popular high-end fashion website, expects delivery times to take one to three days longer than normal, said Kevin Ryan, founder and CEO of the company.
Beyond logistics tangles, loss of power and telecommunications have hurt Internet firms that rely on telephone and Web-based customer service in the absence of store staff.
The storm -- which severed power to warehouses and offices, ripped up rails and roads and shuttered airports -- challenged the notion that Internet retailers might benefit from problems at store chains exposed to the elements.
L'Oréal Paris 2012Entdecke unsere Tipps und Tricks. In der L'Oréal Paris Hair-Lounge www.inside-loreal-paris.de
Studium Marketingmit Schwerpunkt Kommunikation – Master nach 8 Semestern möglich! www.wam.de
Fab.com, a fast-growing design e-commerce start-up based in New York City, handled unusually strong volumes on Monday as people hunkered down at home. Then the problems began.
Fab operates out of two warehouses in hard-hit New Jersey, one self-owned and another run by warehouse company Dotcom Distribution. With both lacking power as of mid-afternoon, no packages were making it out the door on Tuesday.
"The biggest impact to us right now is that our warehouses have no power," said Jason Goldberg, founder and chief executive of Fab.com. "We're doing everything humanly possible to send packages as quickly as possible."
Retailers from New York to Washington are starting to re-open and re-staff in the aftermath of Monday's destruction. But many of Fab.com's fellow Internet retailers were still struggling to fill orders, handle customer service and keep websites running ahead of the crucial holiday season.
Those efforts are geared at ensuring buyers do not wait too long for their products -- and averting a damaging backlash against their sites and reputation.
Amazon.com warned merchants on Tuesday that use its shipping service, Fulfillment by Amazon, that Sandy might impact the handling of orders. Third-party sellers on its marketplace that handle their own shipping were instructed to contact shoppers directly about their orders.
It advised them to temporarily deactivate online listings should they be unable to meet usual shipping standards.
"Because the Internet is an opaque purchasing method, customers don't always understand where their product is coming from or if they are going to be affected," said Eric Heller, head of Marketplace Ignition, which helps online retailers sell through websites such as Amazon.com. "We're encouraging sellers to proactively reach out to buyers that may be affected."
RECOVERY PLANS
EBay pursued a similar tactic, emailing shoppers who purchased items from merchants that may have been impacted by the storm in recent days, asking for patience. It recommended that affected eBay Store-subscribers put their pages in "vacation mode" to control purchasing and show shoppers that their operation has been temporarily disrupted, a spokeswoman said.
And Gilt Groupe, which runs a popular high-end fashion website, expects delivery times to take one to three days longer than normal, said Kevin Ryan, founder and CEO of the company.
Beyond logistics tangles, loss of power and telecommunications have hurt Internet firms that rely on telephone and Web-based customer service in the absence of store staff.
UPDATE: NYSE Traders Will Experience Spotty Cell Phone, Wireless Internet Service
UPDATE: NYSE CEO Duncan Niederauer was just talking on CNBC from the floor of the exchange.
Niederauer told CNBC reporter Bob Pisani that the NYSE is taking measures to mitigate the phone and internet service issues:
Cell phone usage is pretty spotty for all of us down here in lower Manhattan right now. Also, some of the internet connections are kind of slow, so if people use that for some of their data feeds, that's slow.
So, we've actually been giving each of the brokers one of our own lines so they can get incoming and make outgoing calls if they have a phone issue.
Some people's Blackberrys aren't working. Depending on your internet service provider, you've got internet. So, I think we're trying to cover them with as much phone and data help as we can to help them run their business from down here.
Then, I'll give you guys another update after the opening.
----------------
ORIGINAL: Bloomberg TV reporter Alix Steel was just down at the NYSE, and she said that although the floor is open today, traders will still face a nasty inconvenience left over from Hurricane Sandy:
I was just inside the New York Stock Exchange. Traders are trickling in from everywhere from Long Island to New Jersey.
But the real problem is right now there is no Verizon service or wifi in the exchange. The exchange itself is up and running, but the guys are basically trading blind. Their Bloomberg terminals are down. They don't have internet access. One trader told me there's not going to be that much action going on down on the floor today.
Steel noted, however, that this is the last day of the month, and traders are saying there should be some volatility as big funds rebalance their portfolios and log monthly gains (or losses).
Niederauer told CNBC reporter Bob Pisani that the NYSE is taking measures to mitigate the phone and internet service issues:
Cell phone usage is pretty spotty for all of us down here in lower Manhattan right now. Also, some of the internet connections are kind of slow, so if people use that for some of their data feeds, that's slow.
So, we've actually been giving each of the brokers one of our own lines so they can get incoming and make outgoing calls if they have a phone issue.
Some people's Blackberrys aren't working. Depending on your internet service provider, you've got internet. So, I think we're trying to cover them with as much phone and data help as we can to help them run their business from down here.
Then, I'll give you guys another update after the opening.
----------------
ORIGINAL: Bloomberg TV reporter Alix Steel was just down at the NYSE, and she said that although the floor is open today, traders will still face a nasty inconvenience left over from Hurricane Sandy:
I was just inside the New York Stock Exchange. Traders are trickling in from everywhere from Long Island to New Jersey.
But the real problem is right now there is no Verizon service or wifi in the exchange. The exchange itself is up and running, but the guys are basically trading blind. Their Bloomberg terminals are down. They don't have internet access. One trader told me there's not going to be that much action going on down on the floor today.
Steel noted, however, that this is the last day of the month, and traders are saying there should be some volatility as big funds rebalance their portfolios and log monthly gains (or losses).
SEO Company Announces Three New Enhanced Small Business Internet Marketing Plans
Ajax Union, a Brooklyn-based SEO company, is revitalizing its small business web optimization plans to offer a more comprehensive approach to local internet marketing. A full description of the company's three new plans is available online at http://www.AjaxUnion.com and the goal of each of these packages is not just to drive traffic to a client's website, but also to ensure that the visitors are relevant customers.
"Since 2008, we've been presenting our clients with an effective blend of industry-tested, local internet marketing services. Ajax Union's new packages are broken down into three levels and we now offer the Silver Pass, the Gold Pass, and the Platinum Pass. Despite their newly improved lux-sounding titles, each of our plans is still outfitted with the qualities our customers have come to appreciate most: 100% transparency, 100% flexibility, and zero contracts," said Sarah Mogin, Ajax Union's SEO Manager.
The Silver Pass is great for organizations in the beginning stages of their small business internet marketing enterprises. It contains initiatives designed to boost a company's search engine rankings, it helps them recruit leads on Google AdWords, and it assists them in developing a brand via social media. The Silver Pass's SEO enhancements are rooted in article marketing and directory listings, while the Social Media initiatives include weekly promo updates and ad management on Facebook. The plan allocates $1000 a month for pay-per-click ads, which are managed, organized, and run by the company's dedicated PPC team. The SEO company's Silver Pass also offers on-page optimization through the use of meta tags, HTML, and content structuring, as well as comprehensive reporting obtained via link tracking, Google Analytics, webmaster tools and ranking analysis. Technical Set-Up tools employed include competitive landscape analysis, account creation, and website optimization monitoring. The Silver Pass from Ajax Union can be obtained for the low rate of $1,800 per month plus a $2,800 start-up fee.
The Gold Pass is a middle-of-the-road local internet marketing approach that includes all the benefits of the Silver Pass but also offers strategic advertising through blogging and email blasts. For optimal results, the Gold Pass utilizes Google+ micro blogging and social bookmarking, both of which are performed three times a week on average. Email marketing is executed using monthly branded e-blasts. In addition, clients who choose the Gold Pass package have an increased Ad Spend budget of $5,000. This packaged has a $5,000 start-up charge and is priced at $3,600 per month.
The final and most exclusive small business internet marketing plan from Ajax Union is reserved for companies who truly wish to kick their web presence into high gear. Available for $5,400 a month and with a $5,400 start-up fee, the Platinum Pass has the combined features of its Gold and Silver precedents, with the added bonus of expanded Social Media efforts, PPC management with up to $15k Ad Spend, and daily Google+ micro blogging. The Platinum Pass also adds press releases and video marketing to the arsenal of local internet marketing tools.
To be contacted about the search engine agency's marketing plans, visit http://www.AjaxUnion.com/pr-form and fill out the form to receive a 10% discount on your first month of service with Ajax Union.
"Since 2008, we've been presenting our clients with an effective blend of industry-tested, local internet marketing services. Ajax Union's new packages are broken down into three levels and we now offer the Silver Pass, the Gold Pass, and the Platinum Pass. Despite their newly improved lux-sounding titles, each of our plans is still outfitted with the qualities our customers have come to appreciate most: 100% transparency, 100% flexibility, and zero contracts," said Sarah Mogin, Ajax Union's SEO Manager.
The Silver Pass is great for organizations in the beginning stages of their small business internet marketing enterprises. It contains initiatives designed to boost a company's search engine rankings, it helps them recruit leads on Google AdWords, and it assists them in developing a brand via social media. The Silver Pass's SEO enhancements are rooted in article marketing and directory listings, while the Social Media initiatives include weekly promo updates and ad management on Facebook. The plan allocates $1000 a month for pay-per-click ads, which are managed, organized, and run by the company's dedicated PPC team. The SEO company's Silver Pass also offers on-page optimization through the use of meta tags, HTML, and content structuring, as well as comprehensive reporting obtained via link tracking, Google Analytics, webmaster tools and ranking analysis. Technical Set-Up tools employed include competitive landscape analysis, account creation, and website optimization monitoring. The Silver Pass from Ajax Union can be obtained for the low rate of $1,800 per month plus a $2,800 start-up fee.
The Gold Pass is a middle-of-the-road local internet marketing approach that includes all the benefits of the Silver Pass but also offers strategic advertising through blogging and email blasts. For optimal results, the Gold Pass utilizes Google+ micro blogging and social bookmarking, both of which are performed three times a week on average. Email marketing is executed using monthly branded e-blasts. In addition, clients who choose the Gold Pass package have an increased Ad Spend budget of $5,000. This packaged has a $5,000 start-up charge and is priced at $3,600 per month.
The final and most exclusive small business internet marketing plan from Ajax Union is reserved for companies who truly wish to kick their web presence into high gear. Available for $5,400 a month and with a $5,400 start-up fee, the Platinum Pass has the combined features of its Gold and Silver precedents, with the added bonus of expanded Social Media efforts, PPC management with up to $15k Ad Spend, and daily Google+ micro blogging. The Platinum Pass also adds press releases and video marketing to the arsenal of local internet marketing tools.
To be contacted about the search engine agency's marketing plans, visit http://www.AjaxUnion.com/pr-form and fill out the form to receive a 10% discount on your first month of service with Ajax Union.
IIT Delhi to offer online certificate course in business management
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, has announced the launch of a specialized certificate course in Business Management starting January, 2013. The course, patterned on the Minor Area specialization in Business Management offered to the undergraduate IIT Delhi students, is open to graduates from any discipline. The course will be conducted in a blended mode with a combination of contact and online classes. The online classes will be conducted on WizIQ.
Universities and Colleges across India are utilizing WizIQ to adopt ICT for blended/online/distance academic programmes.
Students in their final year, working or aspiring to be in jobs that need an understanding of organizational functioning can apply for the course.
Though a significant part of the course will be conducted online via the WizIQ Virtual Classroom, it has in-campus sessions. The first and last phase will comprise of regular classes in the IIT-D Campus while the second phase will comprise of online classes on WizIQ. Students will receive orientation to attend online classes on WizIQ in the first phase and will be issued login credentials.
The 6-month course will start on January next, and end on June, 2013. Renowned faculty from IIT-D and experts from pioneer institutes and industry will conduct the classes. Upon successful completion of the course, a Certificate in Business Management will be awarded by the Continuing Education Program and the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi.
The course will require students to have their own laptop/desktop computers with good internet connectivity.
Universities and Colleges across India are utilizing WizIQ to adopt ICT for blended/online/distance academic programmes.
Students in their final year, working or aspiring to be in jobs that need an understanding of organizational functioning can apply for the course.
Though a significant part of the course will be conducted online via the WizIQ Virtual Classroom, it has in-campus sessions. The first and last phase will comprise of regular classes in the IIT-D Campus while the second phase will comprise of online classes on WizIQ. Students will receive orientation to attend online classes on WizIQ in the first phase and will be issued login credentials.
The 6-month course will start on January next, and end on June, 2013. Renowned faculty from IIT-D and experts from pioneer institutes and industry will conduct the classes. Upon successful completion of the course, a Certificate in Business Management will be awarded by the Continuing Education Program and the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi.
The course will require students to have their own laptop/desktop computers with good internet connectivity.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Improve Your Online Presence With Customized WordPress Theme Design
As soon as you commence with your online venture one must always consider the importance of customized WordPress theme design. Incorporating this wonderful tool in your online site is truly a work of charm especially if you are running a business. WordPress is commonly used as a blogging platform. Due to this fact, the platform has also been referred to as "BLOG". Aside from being a blogging tool, this platform possesses incredible functions that an individual can utilize for their online business. At the same time, it is among the best Content Management Systems (CMS) available on the market today. Most importantly, the overall system is easy to use and you will never have any problem posting your contents. In addition, this has already been proven and tested by many users.
As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons why most site owners would choose WordPress in comparison with other CMS. Mainly, they always strive to give quality service as well as excellence in the field.
Generally speaking, any individual could choose from the many WordPress theme design and layouts. However your main concern is that these designs and templates have already been used by thousands of site owners. The next big thing that you need to undertake is to customize and make them unique since it would not be ethical to duplicate one's work. Moreover, your theme design would then be considered as a fraud in the sense that your prospects will not trust you anymore. By doing this, you will be able to hold up against your competitors as well as it will eventually set you apart from other competitions. Always remember that the more you distinguish your online presence, the better traffic and return it will give you.
Then again, implementing the appropriate WordPress theme design can sometimes be troublesome especially if you are fed up with your contents. Most certainly, this is easy to handle. One option that you can consider is to employ a graphic guy to get the job done. This can help save you time and effort on your site plus you will have extra time to ease your mind. Once you have settled with that savvy guy then you are ready for your contents. As you final point, do not forget to speak out what is on your mind so that you will get the right design.
Immediately after utilizing your customized theme you can already consider yourself among the most creative webmasters. I know that this is a bit fast but given the fact purchased templates are way over modified ones. The level of uniqueness is just incomparable. Some features that modified templates offer are changeable header, background display and colour, navigation, icons, control keys, and the layout colour. Also, you can always incorporate what your preferred requirements are.
A customized WordPress theme design will undoubtedly take your website presence to the next level. Not only that, it can also mean better traffic and more gains. Make sure you understand these ideas simply because these are your guide towards a better online marketing.
I'm Jeemar Mel P. Vilan, a freelance writer. I have been writing online for already 3 years. Moreover, I craft articles with passion and care.
As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons why most site owners would choose WordPress in comparison with other CMS. Mainly, they always strive to give quality service as well as excellence in the field.
Generally speaking, any individual could choose from the many WordPress theme design and layouts. However your main concern is that these designs and templates have already been used by thousands of site owners. The next big thing that you need to undertake is to customize and make them unique since it would not be ethical to duplicate one's work. Moreover, your theme design would then be considered as a fraud in the sense that your prospects will not trust you anymore. By doing this, you will be able to hold up against your competitors as well as it will eventually set you apart from other competitions. Always remember that the more you distinguish your online presence, the better traffic and return it will give you.
Then again, implementing the appropriate WordPress theme design can sometimes be troublesome especially if you are fed up with your contents. Most certainly, this is easy to handle. One option that you can consider is to employ a graphic guy to get the job done. This can help save you time and effort on your site plus you will have extra time to ease your mind. Once you have settled with that savvy guy then you are ready for your contents. As you final point, do not forget to speak out what is on your mind so that you will get the right design.
Immediately after utilizing your customized theme you can already consider yourself among the most creative webmasters. I know that this is a bit fast but given the fact purchased templates are way over modified ones. The level of uniqueness is just incomparable. Some features that modified templates offer are changeable header, background display and colour, navigation, icons, control keys, and the layout colour. Also, you can always incorporate what your preferred requirements are.
A customized WordPress theme design will undoubtedly take your website presence to the next level. Not only that, it can also mean better traffic and more gains. Make sure you understand these ideas simply because these are your guide towards a better online marketing.
I'm Jeemar Mel P. Vilan, a freelance writer. I have been writing online for already 3 years. Moreover, I craft articles with passion and care.
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