| How to brand like the big guys
Scott Jungles is the owner of the PRstore (www.prstore.com) in Wilmington, a full-service marketing store offering advice and creative services to help small business owners establish and communicate their message and increase their sales. Contact him at (302)995-1944.Branding: why small businesses should act like big businessesMost of us recognize brands we use everyday. Picking coffee at Starbucks, visiting Trader Joe's for groceries or stopping by Home Depot for materials for the weekend home improvement project are things we often do without thinking.Yet the reason we buy something, visit a store or contribute to a particular effort is based on how we know about it, how we understand it, and how we value it — its brand. Even paying attention to something we know nothing about is a conscious decision and could be a rejection of known brands.Most brands we easily identify and use tend to be large, national companies.
Helping the Laggards Join the Race
"Laggards" is an often-used term, frequently said in exasperation, anger or resignation, usually in contrast to "leaders." In the worlds of corporate responsibility and business and human rights, the two words delineate a spectrum. At one end are companies that stay abreast of, contribute to and apply international best practice. These firms are active in forums in their industry and beyond, and are in constant conversation with non-governmental organizations and civil society. At the other end are companies that do not seem to be making any effort to even learn about good practice—and for the most part get away with it. But this dichotomy is neither true nor helpful. Laggards are not all pure evil, out to exploit their workers and host communities to make a dishonest buck.
Voices: Online shopping
We asked you whether you you planning to do some Christmas shopping online this year. Here's what you had to say. This is only part of the online shopping story. Part of the reason online shopping is so small in Canada is duties. The duties charged on an item imported from the states can be extremely high. Last year, I purchased an mp3 player online. When it arrived I received a notice that the duties were going to be nearly 50 per cent of the total cost of the item. Yes, we can talk about parity all we want, but until the federal government decides to do something about such restrictive duties, parity won't matter. Sam Patterson, Toronto I've been frustrated lately trying to book travel online from sites that have Canadian versions of their sites, but the exchange rate is completely out of proportion.
Business awards
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Kentucky District Office has recognized Republic Bank as the recipient of its Gold Lender Award. Republic Bank received the award for lending excellence as a community bank by lending 43 SBA loans totaling $5,690,900 during the 2007 fiscal year. James C. Klotter of Lexington is this year's recipient of the Kentucky Historical Society's Governor's Award for his book, Kentucky Justice, Southern Honor, and American Manhood: Understanding the Life and Death of Richard Reid. The award is given to the author of the best book to appear on Kentucky history during the past four years. Governor's Award winners receive a plaque and a $1,000 prize, funded by the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation. Tracy E. K'Meyer is this year's winner of the Kentucky Historical Society's Richard H.
Zinifex Says A$2.2 Bln Can Be Deployed To Grow Mining Business Or Returned To Shareholders; Warns Of Lower Profit In ...
(RTTNews) - Sunday, Australia-based zinc and copper miner Zinifex Limited (ZFEXF.PK) said that it has more than A$2.2 billion, which could be deployed to grow its mining business or to return to shareholders. The company said its primary focus while considering possible acquisitions that met its growth criteria was to deliver shareholder return. Zinifex added that it has a clear strategy to grow its mining business, primarily in the metals it currently produces, being zinc and copper, as well as lead, silver and gold. Looking ahead to fiscal year 2008, Zinifex said that lower zinc prices, a stronger Australian dollar as compared to the U.S. dollar, and higher costs would lower revenue and profit, even as cost pressures persisted. Zinifex noted that 2007 was another outstanding financial year for it, with a profit of A$1.3 billion and the successful merger of its smelter business with that of Umicore to create Nyrstar, the world's largest producer of zinc metal, in addition to subsequent sale of 87% of Nyrstar shares in one of the largest IPOs in Europe.
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