ETD: 693 Best time to buy; Youth is not wasted on the young;
TOURBUS - Internet History; Selling municipalities;`Men Ask: Who Needs
to buy Clothes?
E-Tailer's Digest
etd_post@gapent.com
Tue, 10 Jun 2003 06:18:42 -0400
--=====================_476505==.ALT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the Retailer
Issue #0693 June 10, 2003
George Matyjewicz, Moderator mailto:georgem@gapent.com
Published by: GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.etailersdigest.com
===================================================================
CONTENTS
[1] Greetings
[2] Best time to buy
[3] Youth is not wasted on the young
----- ---- --- -- -> Important Offer <- -- --- ---- ---- --
[4] TOURBUS - Internet History
[5] Selling municipalities
[6] Men Ask: Who Needs to buy Clothes?
===================================================================
[1] Greetings.
===================================================================
Hi All:
Ever think back on how your Web site has developed over the years? Check
out the post from Phil Glowatz. - over 10 billion pages of Internet
history. It's like seeing a snapshot of you as a child. Enter a URL and
see the history.
Last issue I wrote about working with young folks. Well Jules Kaplan
shares an interesting experience. Very good.
In answer to the query about selling to municipalities, Marty Oskvig offers
some top notch first hand experience. And the tip will work with many
other industries. Check it out.
Jan Owens is back with an excellent review of what's wrong with men's
clothes buying. What do you think?
Have you ever wondered when is the best time to buy things? Me too. So,
maybe some of our retail gurus can help.
Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.
Sincerely
Dr. George Matyjewicz
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
mailto:georgem@gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com
===================================================================
[2] Best time to buy
===================================================================
This rainy weekend I went out looking for a new car, and learned a lot. It
seems the auto manufacturers come out with new programs every 60 days,
which lasts for 60 days. And the programs run the gamut - from nothing to
zero percent financing with no payments for 240 days. And leasing is even
better. And I have to tell you, some of the programs are very enticing.
We all know about the January "white sales", i.e., linens and things go on
sale in January. And sample sales in the major cities which are five times
a year. And selling a house is best during the spring. And don't buy
apples at any time other than October.
Which got me to thinking. What is the best time to buy things? For
example, is July and August (the next 60 day program) the best time to buy
an auto?
Are their particular buying seasons for merchandise? What's it like with
your business? Is there a site which tells you when is the best time to
buy what?
George
===================================================================
[3] Youth is not wasted on the young
===================================================================
Your comments "Throughout my career I have always found working with
younger people to be the best experiences."
I agree with you 100%. I have found that working with younger
people, they bring the eagerness and learning curve, exceptionally high.
Here is my experience: I have hired a programmer for development of a new
site, called www.ezpaymentservices.com who with proper documentation was
able to put this site up in record time. He took over the project, that
was failing and in less then 10 weeks turned it around to become a viable
program that we will be launching on July 1, 2003.
His background, a Romanian Citizen, Physics major at a University in
Bucharest Romania has two years before he graduates. Has been in top of his
class. Won several competition in his field. Has been working for other
companies designing web sites, developing programs in VB, C++. PHP Web
Pages and well versed in Linux plus Microsoft Operating Systems since the
age of 16.
What is refreshing is his integrity and honesty plus his work ethic. In
fact he has become an employee of our company. Funny thing, I only have
corresponded with him by email, but you build a report. Every two weeks he
receives a paycheck from us. The only way we send him funds is by Western
Union. Yes George I know about your endeavor, but for only two
transactions would it be worth while.
Youth has it advantage. In fact he could be my Grand son, but he is
not. You see, I am going to be 68, but I will not retire because of the
youth of this world is worth it.
Yours truly
Jules Kaplan
ChekFaxx Development Co. INC.- E-commerce Payment Solution Provider
Now on Line For EFT Processing www.ezpaymentservices.com
Available NOW http://www.addressmanagerpro.com
Discover how to add your email address to Your Windows Address Book
Accept Check by FAX - PHONE - E-MAIL - INTERNET http://chekfaxx.com
ChekFaxx5 Net Work Version Available Now
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
Great story Jules! I too have worked with programmers in Eastern Europe
and found them to be excellent workers. We paid them with digital
currency, mainly because they had a difficult time trying to get any other
type of currency.
I also found the same thing here in the US - young people with great
ideas, who are willing to work and do a good job. Of course, the pay scale
is a bit higher here (like 6-10 times as high).
What's more impressive - 68! Wow! Way to go!
George
===================================================================
[4] TOURBUS - Internet History
===================================================================
The Internet Archive has been taking snapshots of Internet sites since 1996
and stashing them away for posterity. To date, more than 10 billion pages
have been stored in the Internet Archive's database.
http://www.archive.org/
Phil Glowatz
http://glowatz.com/
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
What a neat site. It's amazing to see how a site changes over the years.
George
==================================================================
[5] Selling municipalities
==================================================================
Our moderator wrote...
>.......Selling to municipalities is a bear. They do a lot of looking from
> November to June, then record the anticipated purchase into the budget,
> which they try to get passed in the fall. I did that route at one
point, and hated it.
> Can any of our list members offer some help?
First, ask the city clerk or Economic Development Director to identify who
needs your information to make their purchasing recommendations to the key
decision maker, and then go to the coffee shop owner nearest the city
office to mention the name and ask who really has the power in making such
decisions. :)
Marty Oskvig
www.creativememories.com/moskvig
(former city Economic Development Director, now trains business partners in
direct sales)
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
Great tip Marty! It's always to nice to know where the real source of
power is, eh?
George
===================================================================
[6] Men Ask: Who Needs to buy Clothes?
===================================================================
'Good article in today's (Sunday's) New York Times. "Men Ask: Who Needs to
buy Clothes?" by Tracie Rozhon, New York Times, Sec. 3 (Money & Business),
Sunday, June 8, 2003, pp. 1, 10.
Between a more casual workplace; the lack of interesting new ideas in
casual fashions; and the fact that everyone already has enough khaki's,
there is no surprise that many men's shops are going out of business, and
many men's shops that used to have small women's sections have given those
more selling space. It is also interesting to note some behavioral issues:
The NPD Group, the market research company, reports: Where women even three
years ago women shopped for 76 percent of men, more men now buy their own
clothes. Women work and are increasingly busy, so men increasingly fend
for themselves. However, men have different shopping styles. To
paraphrase the article, where women prefer to see 40 pairs of black slacks
on a rack, men prefer to see 3, and then have help matching a shirt and tie
(or whatever.) It seems that this is particularly a problem when
department stores are perceived to have less and less in-store help and
declining service standards.
Also: when they do shop, many are drifting toward lower-priced options like
Kohl's. Further, where some retailers have been helped by sales and
coupons in their women's and children's wear, men don't seem to do
coupons. I'm sure that some of this has to do with the economy, but most
men were never the most enthusiastic clothing shoppers, particularly when
they are all sorts of neat toys coming out (digital cameras, hand-held
computers, etc.)
The article cites a number of stores that have greatly shifted their
merchandise to women's from men's clothing and accessories. Barneys New
York, which began life selling off-price men's clothing, but went upmarket
in recent years and traditionally only had a smaller women's
representation, is now 65% women's wear. Also: the clothing chains that
have been doing better than others (Abercrombie and Fitch; Pacific Sunwear)
seem to attribute much of this success in shifting their mixes to more
women's clothing. However, Joseph Banks, which had sold moderately-priced
menswear, is doing reasonably well since it (1) introduced a coordinated
dressing plan; (2) included some higher-end goods; and (3) trained sales
staff to help build compete outfits from good/better/best lines of merchandise.
A few men's retailers that continue to suffer sales declines (Casual male
Big & Tall) or are in bankruptcy Today's Man) are also noted.
(Jan's note: but puh-leeeeze! I have had it with that cliche that better
service requires that I get a thank-you note. I want the functional
aspects: better in-store help without a hard sell. Maybe this is part of
the reason why we see the interest in online shopping, with automatic
suggestions that go with the initial item?)
Regards,
Jan Owens
owens@uwp.edu
jan-owens@wi.rr.com
===================================================================
Links to follow
===================================================================
GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.gapent.com/
Sarbanes-Oxley 2002 http://www.sarbanes-oxley2002.com
E-Tailer's Digest http://www.etailersdigest.com
ETD Archives: http://topica.com/lists/etailer/read
Prior to 29 Dec
1999 http://etailersdigest.com/archives/index.htm
Marketing Your Web http://www.gapent.com/myweb/
Automated Press Releases http://www.automatedpr.com
--=====================_476505==.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
<html>
<body>
<font face="arial" size=2> E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for
the Retailer<br>
Issue
#0693<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>
June 10, 2003<br>
George Matyjewicz,
Moderator
<a href="mailto:georgem@gapent.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:georgem@gapent.com</a><br>
Published by: GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
<a href="http://www.etailersdigest.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.etailersdigest.com</a><br>
===================================================================
<br><br>
CONTENTS <br><br>
[1] Greetings<br>
[2] Best time to buy<br>
[3] Youth is not wasted on the young<br>
----- ---- --- -- -> Important Offer <- -- --- ---- ---- -- <br>
[4] TOURBUS - Internet History <br>
[5] Selling municipalities<br>
[6] Men Ask: Who Needs to buy Clothes?<br><br>
===================================================================
<br>
[1] Greetings.<br>
===================================================================
<br>
Hi All:<br><br>
Ever think back on how your Web site has developed over the years?
Check out the post from Phil Glowatz. - over 10 billion pages of Internet
history. It's like seeing a snapshot of you as a child.
Enter a URL and see the history.<br><br>
Last issue I wrote about working with young folks. Well Jules
Kaplan shares an interesting experience. Very good.<br><br>
In answer to the query about selling to municipalities, Marty Oskvig
offers some top notch first hand experience. And the tip will work
with many other industries. Check it out.<br><br>
Jan Owens is back with an excellent review of what's wrong with
men's clothes buying. What do you think?<br><br>
Have you ever wondered when is the best time to buy things? Me
too. So, maybe some of our retail gurus can help.<br><br>
Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.<br><br>
Sincerely<br><br>
<br>
Dr. George Matyjewicz<br>
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.<br>
<a href="mailto:georgem@gapent.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:georgem@gapent.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.etailersdigest.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.etailersdigest.com</a><br><br>
===================================================================
<br>
[2] Best time to buy<br>
===================================================================<br>
This rainy weekend I went out looking for a new car, and learned a
lot. It seems the auto manufacturers come out with new programs
every 60 days, which lasts for 60 days. And the programs run the
gamut - from nothing to zero percent financing with no payments for 240
days. And leasing is even better. And I have to tell you,
some of the programs are very enticing. <br><br>
We all know about the January "white sales", i.e., linens and
things go on sale in January. And sample sales in the major cities
which are five times a year. And selling a house is best during the
spring. And don't buy apples at any time other than
October.<br><br>
Which got me to thinking. What is the best time to buy
things? For example, is July and August (the next 60 day program)
the best time to buy an auto? <br><br>
Are their particular buying seasons for merchandise? What's it like
with your business? Is there a site which tells you when is the
best time to buy what?<br><br>
George<br><br>
<br>
===================================================================
<br>
[3] Youth is not wasted on the young<br>
===================================================================<br>
Your comments "Throughout my career I have always found working with
younger people to be the best experiences."<br>
<br>
I agree with you 100%. I have found that working with younger
people, they bring the eagerness and learning curve, exceptionally
high.<br>
<br>
Here is my experience: I have hired a programmer for development of
a new site, called
<a href="http://www.ezpaymentservices.com/" eudora="autourl">www.ezpaymentservices.com</a>
who with proper documentation was able to put this site up in record time. He took over the project, that was failing and in less then 10 weeks turned it around to become a viable program that we will be launching on July 1, 2003.<br>
<br>
His background, a Romanian Citizen, Physics major at a University in Bucharest Romania has two years before he graduates. Has been in top of his class. Won several competition in his field. Has been working for other companies designing web sites, developing programs in VB, C++. PHP Web Pages and well versed in Linux plus Microsoft Operating Systems since the age of 16.<br>
<br>
What is refreshing is his integrity and honesty plus his work ethic. In fact he has become an employee of our company. Funny thing, I only have corresponded with him by email, but you build a report. Every two weeks he receives a paycheck from us. The only way we send him funds is by Western Union. Yes George I know about your endeavor, but for only two transactions would it be worth while. <br>
<br>
Youth has it advantage. In fact he could be my Grand son, but he is not. You see, I am going to be 68, but I will not retire because of the youth of this world is worth it.<br>
<br>
Yours truly<br>
<br>
Jules Kaplan <br><br>
ChekFaxx Development Co. INC.- E-commerce Payment Solution Provider <br>
Now on Line For EFT Processing <a href="http://www.ezpaymentservices.com/" eudora="autourl">www.ezpaymentservices.com</a><br>
Available NOW <a href="http://www.addressmanagerpro.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.addressmanagerpro.com</a><br>
Discover how to add your email address to Your Windows Address Book<br>
Accept Check by FAX - PHONE - E-MAIL - INTERNET <a href="http://chekfaxx.com/" eudora="autourl">http://chekfaxx.com</a><br>
ChekFaxx5 Net Work Version Available Now <br><br>
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++<br>
Great story Jules! I too have worked with programmers in Eastern Europe and found them to be excellent workers. We paid them with digital currency, mainly because they had a difficult time trying to get any other type of currency. <br><br>
I also found the same thing here in the US - young people with great ideas, who are willing to work and do a good job. Of course, the pay scale is a bit higher here (like 6-10 times as high). <br><br>
What's more impressive - 68! Wow! Way to go!<br><br>
George<br><br>
=================================================================== <br>
[4] TOURBUS - Internet History <br>
===================================================================<br>
The Internet Archive has been taking snapshots of Internet sites since 1996 and stashing them away for posterity. To date, more than 10 billion pages have been stored in the Internet Archive's database.<br><br>
<a href="http://www.archive.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.archive.org/</a><br><br>
Phil Glowatz<br>
<a href="http://glowatz.com/" eudora="autourl">http://glowatz.com/</a><br><br>
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++<br>
What a neat site. It's amazing to see how a site changes over the years. <br><br>
George<br><br>
================================================================== <br>
[5] Selling municipalities<br>
==================================================================<br>
Our moderator wrote...<br>
>.......Selling to municipalities is a bear. They do a lot of looking from <br>
> November to June, then record the anticipated purchase into the budget, <br>
> which they try to get passed in the fall. I did that route at one point, and hated it.<br>
> Can any of our list members offer some help?<br><br>
First, ask the city clerk or Economic Development Director to identify who needs your information to make their purchasing recommendations to the key decision maker, and then go to the coffee shop owner nearest the city office to mention the name and ask who really has the power in making such decisions. :) <br><br>
Marty Oskvig <br>
<a href="http://www.creativememories.com/moskvig" eudora="autourl">www.creativememories.com/moskvig</a><br>
(former city Economic Development Director, now trains business partners in direct sales)<br><br>
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++<br>
Great tip Marty! It's always to nice to know where the real source of power is, eh?<br><br>
George<br><br>
===================================================================<br>
[6] Men Ask: Who Needs to buy Clothes?<br>
===================================================================<br>
'Good article in today's (Sunday's) New York Times. "Men Ask: Who Needs to buy Clothes?" by Tracie Rozhon, New York Times, Sec. 3 (Money & Business), Sunday, June 8, 2003, pp. 1, 10.<br>
<br>
Between a more casual workplace; the lack of interesting new ideas in casual fashions; and the fact that everyone already has enough khaki's, there is no surprise that many men's shops are going out of business, and many men's shops that used to have small women's sections have given those more selling space. It is also interesting to note some behavioral issues:<br>
<br>
The NPD Group, the market research company, reports: Where women even three years ago women shopped for 76 percent of men, more men now buy their own clothes. Women work and are increasingly busy, so men increasingly fend for themselves. However, men have different shopping styles. To paraphrase the article, where women prefer to see 40 pairs of black slacks on a rack, men prefer to see 3, and then have help matching a shirt and tie (or whatever.) It seems that this is particularly a problem when department stores are perceived to have less and less in-store help and declining service standards.<br>
<br>
Also: when they do shop, many are drifting toward lower-priced options like Kohl's. Further, where some retailers have been helped by sales and coupons in their women's and children's wear, men don't seem to do coupons. I'm sure that some of this has to do with the economy, but most men were never the most enthusiastic clothing shoppers, particularly when they are all sorts of neat toys coming out (digital cameras, hand-held computers, etc.)<br>
<br>
The article cites a number of stores that have greatly shifted their merchandise to women's from men's clothing and accessories. Barneys New York, which began life selling off-price men's clothing, but went upmarket in recent years and traditionally only had a smaller women's representation, is now 65% women's wear. Also: the clothing chains that have been doing better than others (Abercrombie and Fitch; Pacific Sunwear) seem to attribute much of this success in shifting their mixes to more women's clothing. However, Joseph Banks, which had sold moderately-priced menswear, is doing reasonably well since it (1) introduced a coordinated dressing plan; (2) included some higher-end goods; and (3) trained sales staff to help build compete outfits from good/better/best lines of merchandise.<br>
<br>
A few men's retailers that continue to suffer sales declines (Casual male Big & Tall) or are in bankruptcy Today's Man) are also noted.<br>
<br>
(Jan's note: but puh-leeeeze! I have had it with that cliche that better service requires that I get a thank-you note. I want the functional aspects: better in-store help without a hard sell. Maybe this is part of the reason why we see the interest in online shopping, with automatic suggestions that go with the initial item?)<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Jan Owens<br>
owens@uwp.edu<br>
jan-owens@wi.rr.com<br>
<br><br>
=================================================================== <br>
Links to follow<br>
=================================================================== <br><br>
GAP Enterprises, Ltd. <x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><a href="http://www.gapent.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.gapent.com/</a><br>
Sarbanes-Oxley 2002<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><a href="http://www.sarbanes-oxley2002.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.sarbanes-oxley2002.com</a><br>
E-Tailer's Digest<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><a href="http://www.etailersdigest.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.etailersdigest.com</a><br>
ETD Archives: <x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><a href="http://topica.com/lists/etailer/read" eudora="autourl">http://topica.com/lists/etailer/read</a><br>
Prior to 29 Dec 1999 <x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><a href="http://etailersdigest.com/archives/index.htm" eudora="autourl">http://etailersdigest.com/archives/index.htm</a><br>
Marketing Your Web <x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><a href="http://www.gapent.com/myweb/" eudora="autourl">http://www.gapent.com/myweb/</a><br>
Automated Press Releases <x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><a href="http://www.automatedpr.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.automatedpr.com</a> </font></body>
</html>
--=====================_476505==.ALT--