Dell, struggling to recharge its lineup of consumer product offerings, indicated Monday that a digital music player is not in the computer maker's near-term plans despite speculation that such a product is in the works. 12 Nov 2008
We like to touch and feel a new product before we buy it, but we cannot do that when offered a product via an email. So how can email marketers get around the challenge of still encouraging a sale based on an email? How can they appeal to the senses via email? 12 Nov 2008
The National Credit Act (NCA) has, to a large degree, protected consumers from the credit crunch now facing the nation. At the same time it is weeding out bad apples in the micro lending industry, in this case a micro-lender in the Northern Cape who charged up to 240% interest on short term loans. 12 Nov 2008
For years, South African bank customers have complained of high bank charges. Now it seems customers in the UK will also begin to feel the pinch - and they could end up paying for services they presently enjoy for free. 12 Nov 2008
Circuit City has filed for reorganisation relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond. The retailer - the second largest in the electronics goods space after Best Buy - has clearly been struggling for the last several months. In November alone, it slashed its workforce by 20% and announced plans to close 155 stores. 11 Nov 2008
Motor vehicle, food and beverage manufacturing have contributed towards the 2.5% decrease in manufacturing for the third quarter of 2008, reported Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), Tuesday, 11 November. 11 Nov 2008
Credit agencies have lost integrity in the midst of the ongoing global financial crisis and in an attempt to regain credibility, they have downgraded many emerging markets from stable to negative. 11 Nov 2008
Consumer foods group Tiger Brand expects headline earnings per share (HEPS) from continuing operations for the year ended September to reflect an improvement of between 32% and 37% compared to that achieved in the previous financial year. 11 Nov 2008
Old Mutual's closing share price was R8,48 last Thursday. On Friday, its third-quarter results showed the group's unrealised losses on its US Life business had doubled to $2,3bn. 11 Nov 2008
Industry leaders in South Africa's automotive industry are optimistic that local factories will escape most of the damage caused by the US's credit crunch, with growth forecasted from as early as the middle of 2009. 11 Nov 2008
Enterprise organisations often think of customer service as an unavoidable fact of business, a necessary expense. Rethink customer service, however, and it can become a strategic weapon that fosters growth and competitive advantage. 11 Nov 2008
Demands by the EU to fit nutritional information on to food packaging will not work because the labels are too big, food companies have complained. 11 Nov 2008
Retail sales are likely to remain in the doldrums in the months to come given a challenging economic and financial environment, said Standard Bank group economists in a research note on Friday. 10 Nov 2008
Furniture retailer Lewis has reported a 0.9% decline to 305.7 cents in headline earnings per share for the interim period ended September compared with the same time a year ago. 10 Nov 2008
The ClareMart Auction Group will sell what is billed as a first in South Africa, when a local 'tequila' distillery and plant goes under its hammer. 10 Nov 2008
The multimillion dollar point of sale corporation, Marin's, has landed on local ground. Based in France, the company is investing in South Africa with an aim to place the country in the forefront of economic and technological advancement. 10 Nov 2008
Retail sales figures to be released tomorrow are expected to show further deterioration due to a slowdown in consumer expenditure as higher living and debt-servicing costs are demanding a larger chunk of consumers' budgets. 10 Nov 2008
When's the last time you heard an online retailer complain that their banner ads were too well targeted? How about an online publisher lamenting the torrent of accurate user data they were able to capture, or for that matter a user who just wanted more of the ads they were getting to be irrelevant to them? 10 Nov 2008
More is better, right? Wrong. In The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, Barry Schwartz explains how too many options actually cause more psychological distress than good. And nowhere is the overabundance of choice more prevalent than the Internet, where any given Web site can present us with an overwhelming number of alternatives at once. 10 Nov 2008
As the economy continues to decline, retailers are fighting a fierce battle for a share of the consumer's wallet. Every customer counts, but the loyal customers are particularly valuable, especially when your competitor is just a click away. 10 Nov 2008
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