Hace unos días tuve la "oportunidad" de hablar con un chico que recientemente abrió lo que podríamos denominar un almacén de barrio. Está ubicado justo a dos casas de distancia de la mia y anteriormente pertenecía a una vecina muy conocida...el local estuvo cerrado por, al menos, año y medio.
Me pregunto cómo hacer funcionar eficientemente este negocio cuando está "rodeado" por un supermercado a menos de 50 mts y sobre una calle mucho más transitada y un maxiquiosco a 75 mts. Cuáles son las ventajas que tiene este almacén y cuáles son las desventajas? cómo potenciar las primeras y minimizar las segundas? qué target de clientes, if anyone, debe buscar? y qué mercaderías y con qué márgenes debe manejarse?
Puntos positivos: frente a la sede del Banco Nación, horarios extendidos (más que el súper del barrio), atención simpática, "recuerdo" de anterior dueña.
Puntos negativos: cercanía con el ya mencionado supermercado, hace más de un año que no abría sus puertas (costumbre), espacio reducido que afecta el mix de productos, desconocimiento de tipo de cliente que podría comprar allí por parte del nuevo dueño.
Qué haría yo:
1) considerando el poco espacio "a la vista", intentaría potenciar los productos que más "salen"; es decir, aquellos que, con el tiempo, noto que son los más demandados.
2) creo que no es conveniente competir en precio con el super vecino, asique intentaría elevar el margen por producto; esto es, si un yogurth me cuesta en el super $ 3, lo pondría en mi almacén a $ 3,15. Intentaría llevar el margen hasta el límite aguantable por el cliente. Muchas veces quienes me compran lo hacen de apuro o porque el súper está cerrado.
3) al mismo tiempo, me concentraría en vender aquellos productos que me dan mejor margen. Ejemplo: si el café X me da un mejor retorno que el café Y, yo vendo café X. Si el cliente busca precio, no viene a mi almacén.
4) como está ubicado en una ciudad chica, intentaría que mi stock se moviera constantemente; de esta forma, no mantendría un inventario alto porque seguramente necesito elevar mi caja y reducir mis gastos. Esto sería en principio dado que podría estar perdiendo descuentos por compras más grandes a los proveedores.
5) no dejaría de lado las ofertas. es posible que un producto que tengo en venta no tiene movimiento y su fecha de vencimiento esté cercana...pues lo promociono a buen precio, le saco todavía un margen y aprendo que no debo volver a ofrecerlo (voy conociendo a mis clientes).
6) Analizaría bien cuáles son los horarios en que tengo más ventas. Vale la pena extender mi horario media hora más o cerrar tan tarde?
7) finalmente, y a modo de prueba, probaría hacer algo distinto...ofrecer algo más. Podrían ser unas pizzetas a buen precio preparadas "in house" para los empleados del banco o café de máquina vía delivery para los negocios de la zona (banco, negocio de ropa, veterinaria, etc.).
Cuando se me ocurra algo más, lo escribo...no tengo información del manejo de caja, descuentos y tiempos de pago a proveedores, si vende fiado, etc.
Sí noté que tiene para vender vía tarjeta de débito. Y me pregunto: cuantás operaciones por esta via hace a la semana? cuál es el costo de mantener el posnet?
Saludos!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Escenario Politico Argentino, Que Se Arme!!
Si, desde la debacle de 2001-2002 que no se veia un escenario politico tan interesante ante elecciones parlamentarias. En breve, se estan armando tres frentes: el peronismo Kirchnerista, actualmente gobernando, el PROperonismo, una suerte de alianza entre el PRO de Macri y los peronistas no kirchneristas (auspiciados en las sombras por Duhalde) y la sociedad Seguidores de Carrio - UCR.
Mi opinion: creo que de las tres opciones hay solo dos capaces de gobernar y ellas son las dos que incluyen peronistas "potentes" en sus formulas (el kirchnerismo y el PROperonismo). La opcion Lilita suena linda, pero, creo, no deja de ser un rejuntado similar a la Alianza (que para mi en su momento fue una buena idea), que padecio de falta de poder con los riesgos que eso tiene con los peronistas en frente. Ademas, para aquellos que critican a los peronistas, la alianza que armo Carrio tiene algunos "elementos" bastantes irritables, ligados a hechos de corrupcion y arreglos impudicos.
Lo positivo es, dicho ya, que el escenario politico se arma con tres opciones diferentes y con similares oportunidades de triunfo, al menos por ahora. Eso significa que, si la cosa sale bien, el sistema politico comienza a reestructurarse y a funcionar nuevamente. Ya no habra solo una propuesta "ganadora" como sucede desde 2002.
Veremos...y en octubre sabremos...
Mi opinion: creo que de las tres opciones hay solo dos capaces de gobernar y ellas son las dos que incluyen peronistas "potentes" en sus formulas (el kirchnerismo y el PROperonismo). La opcion Lilita suena linda, pero, creo, no deja de ser un rejuntado similar a la Alianza (que para mi en su momento fue una buena idea), que padecio de falta de poder con los riesgos que eso tiene con los peronistas en frente. Ademas, para aquellos que critican a los peronistas, la alianza que armo Carrio tiene algunos "elementos" bastantes irritables, ligados a hechos de corrupcion y arreglos impudicos.
Lo positivo es, dicho ya, que el escenario politico se arma con tres opciones diferentes y con similares oportunidades de triunfo, al menos por ahora. Eso significa que, si la cosa sale bien, el sistema politico comienza a reestructurarse y a funcionar nuevamente. Ya no habra solo una propuesta "ganadora" como sucede desde 2002.
Veremos...y en octubre sabremos...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Economic Downturn
Yesterday afternoon I had an interesting but briefly conversation with two persons from one of the two main banks in Spain. Suddenly, and without "anestesya" (something I would have needed of right after coming from an exhausting "Quant" exam), they asked me the causes of the economic crisis.
As you may imagine, my brain was burning, and I started with what I think were the "causes": the story is that to stimulate the economy back in 2001 (or 2002?), Alan The Great and his "corte" at the FED decided to slash interest rates several times up to 1% in the US. The reduction of interest rates has a lag in its effects though but it enhance expectations on people to go and get a loan either to buy a house or to pay the credit card debt (which at the end, allow them to finance new acquisitions). The "stimulus" cut the vicious circle of pessimism making private consumption to react and, therefore, companies go buy new machines to satisfy customers' needs.
From what I see, the reduction in interest rates along with a precarious risk analysis of loan-takers created a bubble in consumption and real state investments that burst about eight months ago and that now we are "enjoying" so much! As mentioned earlier, the cut in interest rates has a lag period (usually around 9 months): as soon as the expansive effect starts it is difficult to stop and that is why it is so important to calibrate monetary policy. Well, when consumption increases too much guess who comes: inflation! (yeap, we argentines know about it...sadly!)
Once again, when the FED reacted to the increases in expected inflation it was too late: the world was consuming...and growing...but too much. Interest rates were increased with the goal of moderating growth and, hence, inflation. And when the adjustment in interest rates came into effect consumers, mainly in the US, find out difficult to afford their debts (mortgages, credit cards, etc) and have to reduce consumption in other stuff (a new car, a cinema ticket) to pay them. As a consequence, the economy starts to cool off, business are affected due to lower sales and have to fired employees, many of them that got a loan and suddenly lost their jobs...and left their houses to the bank.
Why the crisis spread out in the financial system? Well, nowadays the financial system is so developed and there are so many financial instruments to "play" with...Let's suppose that 1 million consumers with bad credit ratings got a mortgage loan with Bank 1. After that, Bank 1 takes 2/3 of those loans, divide them in four and sell them in the market. Banks 2, 3, 4,...,n do the same. Since financial markets are so integrated investment banks, that do not give mortgages, and other commercial banks from other countries buy those trenches expecting a good return. Then, the "domino" effect comes into the picture: as soon as mortgages owners stop paying their loans they affect not only Bank 1, who lent them the money, but also the "real" and new creditors. That is what is called "toxic assets". And that is one of the main initiators of the crisis.
As you may imagine, my brain was burning, and I started with what I think were the "causes": the story is that to stimulate the economy back in 2001 (or 2002?), Alan The Great and his "corte" at the FED decided to slash interest rates several times up to 1% in the US. The reduction of interest rates has a lag in its effects though but it enhance expectations on people to go and get a loan either to buy a house or to pay the credit card debt (which at the end, allow them to finance new acquisitions). The "stimulus" cut the vicious circle of pessimism making private consumption to react and, therefore, companies go buy new machines to satisfy customers' needs.
From what I see, the reduction in interest rates along with a precarious risk analysis of loan-takers created a bubble in consumption and real state investments that burst about eight months ago and that now we are "enjoying" so much! As mentioned earlier, the cut in interest rates has a lag period (usually around 9 months): as soon as the expansive effect starts it is difficult to stop and that is why it is so important to calibrate monetary policy. Well, when consumption increases too much guess who comes: inflation! (yeap, we argentines know about it...sadly!)
Once again, when the FED reacted to the increases in expected inflation it was too late: the world was consuming...and growing...but too much. Interest rates were increased with the goal of moderating growth and, hence, inflation. And when the adjustment in interest rates came into effect consumers, mainly in the US, find out difficult to afford their debts (mortgages, credit cards, etc) and have to reduce consumption in other stuff (a new car, a cinema ticket) to pay them. As a consequence, the economy starts to cool off, business are affected due to lower sales and have to fired employees, many of them that got a loan and suddenly lost their jobs...and left their houses to the bank.
Why the crisis spread out in the financial system? Well, nowadays the financial system is so developed and there are so many financial instruments to "play" with...Let's suppose that 1 million consumers with bad credit ratings got a mortgage loan with Bank 1. After that, Bank 1 takes 2/3 of those loans, divide them in four and sell them in the market. Banks 2, 3, 4,...,n do the same. Since financial markets are so integrated investment banks, that do not give mortgages, and other commercial banks from other countries buy those trenches expecting a good return. Then, the "domino" effect comes into the picture: as soon as mortgages owners stop paying their loans they affect not only Bank 1, who lent them the money, but also the "real" and new creditors. That is what is called "toxic assets". And that is one of the main initiators of the crisis.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Closed
This weekend is just for studying, studying and studying...nothing new though but the "big" difference is that finals are coming:
Monday: marketing case + mid-term assignment (analysis of a cosmetic brand)
Tuesday: Financial Accounting
Wednesday: Quantitative Analysis
Thursday: Managerial Economics (basic micro and macro)
Friday: Information Systems
Sure I will survive, no matter exams go well or bad, but am doing my best...
Finally, I have an extra activity on Wednesday afternoon that will take me three to four hours. Unfortunately, I can tell because of what we call "cabala" (no, it is not a date!). Hopefully in the future you will know...
Monday: marketing case + mid-term assignment (analysis of a cosmetic brand)
Tuesday: Financial Accounting
Wednesday: Quantitative Analysis
Thursday: Managerial Economics (basic micro and macro)
Friday: Information Systems
Sure I will survive, no matter exams go well or bad, but am doing my best...
Finally, I have an extra activity on Wednesday afternoon that will take me three to four hours. Unfortunately, I can tell because of what we call "cabala" (no, it is not a date!). Hopefully in the future you will know...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Casa del Libro
So far a bit different from Buenos Aires, the competition among booksellers is pretty concentrated in Madrid. In Buenos Aires, though the offer is becoming more concentrated, one can find some "independent" booksellers in Avenida Corrientes and in Avenida Santa Fe. However, I must recognize, I hardly go to those; I usually buy in libraries located in shopping malls that belong to large bookseller chains. And I think that is the trend...
The idea of this post is to discuss a new case for our Information Systems class. As the title refers, it is related to Casa del Libro. This bookseller chain competes against general stores such as El Corte Ingles (where you can buy food and clothes and bikes and books and...) and FNAC (mainly electronics). However, "nobleza obliga", Casa del Libro is owned by Grupo Planeta, the main editorial group in Spain and the seventh in the world; so that, it is not alone in this world.
The case refers to the launch of www.casadellbro.com in September 2001, just months before the "dot-com" crash and days before the 9/11 attacks. The goal behind the launching of the website was to increase Casa del Libro market share and become the leader in the Spanish book market. In 1999, the company had hired a consulting firm to develop the business plan and got an agreement with AOL, which was just launching its operations in the Spanish ISP market in 2001.
Casa del Libro had been selling books online since 1995 through an artisan website, and operations required a great deal of manual processing. The "big bosses" of Grupo Planeta decided to take the Internet wave, invest a lot of money in a state-of-the-art platform, go for an alliance with AOL and take over the online book market planet(a)!
However, in September 2001 they discovered that the UNIX platform could not be adapted due a mistake in the design phase, that AOL did not meet its target in the ISP market, that terrorist attacked the Twin Tower in NYC bringing the world to an economic recession, and, la "frutilla del postre", the "dot-com" bubble...burst!
THE DECISION
Grupo Planeta's management had to decide whether continue with the idea of launching the website and run it with the UNIX platform or switch to a cheaper Microsoft platform. The UNIX platform needed a re-design process but guaranteed high availability in case of high traffic and a large number of transactions; it implied also high maintenance costs (plus the expenses for the re-designing process). On the other hand, the Microsoft platform had lower maintenance and development costs but was not an state-of-the-art server nor as powerful as UNIX.
Considering the context, I would switch to the Microsoft platform. Though most analysts forecasted growth for business through online services, I think that at the time it was very difficult to predict how the e-economy would react to the "dot-com" crash in terms of reliability in business transactions, and, more important, when and how the "real" economy would react to the economic recession after the 9/11 attacks. In such a context, the best idea would be to retreat to a "wait and see" position. In any case, the evolution of online sales via the Microsoft platform would give an idea to managers about how to react and whether to switch back to the UNIX platform. In addition, it would be very difficult to raise the issue about investing lots of money in an Internet business while the holding company, characterized by its conservatism, was focused on reducing costs to face the crisis and the crash of the "dot-com" era had just occurred.
Let's see what our professor tell us tomorrow about this story...
The idea of this post is to discuss a new case for our Information Systems class. As the title refers, it is related to Casa del Libro. This bookseller chain competes against general stores such as El Corte Ingles (where you can buy food and clothes and bikes and books and...) and FNAC (mainly electronics). However, "nobleza obliga", Casa del Libro is owned by Grupo Planeta, the main editorial group in Spain and the seventh in the world; so that, it is not alone in this world.
The case refers to the launch of www.casadellbro.com in September 2001, just months before the "dot-com" crash and days before the 9/11 attacks. The goal behind the launching of the website was to increase Casa del Libro market share and become the leader in the Spanish book market. In 1999, the company had hired a consulting firm to develop the business plan and got an agreement with AOL, which was just launching its operations in the Spanish ISP market in 2001.
Casa del Libro had been selling books online since 1995 through an artisan website, and operations required a great deal of manual processing. The "big bosses" of Grupo Planeta decided to take the Internet wave, invest a lot of money in a state-of-the-art platform, go for an alliance with AOL and take over the online book market planet(a)!
However, in September 2001 they discovered that the UNIX platform could not be adapted due a mistake in the design phase, that AOL did not meet its target in the ISP market, that terrorist attacked the Twin Tower in NYC bringing the world to an economic recession, and, la "frutilla del postre", the "dot-com" bubble...burst!
THE DECISION
Grupo Planeta's management had to decide whether continue with the idea of launching the website and run it with the UNIX platform or switch to a cheaper Microsoft platform. The UNIX platform needed a re-design process but guaranteed high availability in case of high traffic and a large number of transactions; it implied also high maintenance costs (plus the expenses for the re-designing process). On the other hand, the Microsoft platform had lower maintenance and development costs but was not an state-of-the-art server nor as powerful as UNIX.
Considering the context, I would switch to the Microsoft platform. Though most analysts forecasted growth for business through online services, I think that at the time it was very difficult to predict how the e-economy would react to the "dot-com" crash in terms of reliability in business transactions, and, more important, when and how the "real" economy would react to the economic recession after the 9/11 attacks. In such a context, the best idea would be to retreat to a "wait and see" position. In any case, the evolution of online sales via the Microsoft platform would give an idea to managers about how to react and whether to switch back to the UNIX platform. In addition, it would be very difficult to raise the issue about investing lots of money in an Internet business while the holding company, characterized by its conservatism, was focused on reducing costs to face the crisis and the crash of the "dot-com" era had just occurred.
Let's see what our professor tell us tomorrow about this story...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tesco Case
We were given a new case to analyze: yes, it is the Tesco Case!
As many of you may know, Tesco is an english "super" super market where nowadays you can buy from milk to movies, not to mention the opportunity to get a loan when you consider how to pay all the stuff your wife just bought! (Carrefour, I am waiting for your offer!).
The brief assignment required by our professor consists of defining what we think of the competitive IT advantage generated by Tesco.
From what I read, I think Tesco has based its IT-generated competitive advantage by being the first one to take advantage of the possibilities that technology creates for the business. The company has been highly innovative since the beginning of its story and took the right direction by acquiring advances in technology to increase its knowledge of customers habits and preferences. Investments in technology and, from there, marketing were hugh but they clearly payed off.
However, Tesco not only focused its efforts on strengthening its supermarkets sales through the famous Club Card but also clearly diversify its business to different services such as finance, insurance, traveling, and mobile phones! Tesco provides a large array of online uses for customers apart from shopping online such as trading shares, compare its prices with those of competitors, and more...and everything is easy to find in its website.
Another issue Tesco took advantage of was its location. Tesco has mainly focused its commercial activities in the UK, though in the middle 90s it started to expand internationally (mainly to Eastern Europe countries and Asia). That concentration allowed it to focus its efforts on increasing market share in the UK market. Tesco was able to use technology to research its market and customer successfully. And the customers help: it would be very different to get all the customer information and online interaction with them in a different market, one less used to deal with through the internet. In addition, the responsible use of data by Tesco allowed the company to continue innovating and get acceptance of new online "products" by its clients.
As many of you may know, Tesco is an english "super" super market where nowadays you can buy from milk to movies, not to mention the opportunity to get a loan when you consider how to pay all the stuff your wife just bought! (Carrefour, I am waiting for your offer!).
The brief assignment required by our professor consists of defining what we think of the competitive IT advantage generated by Tesco.
From what I read, I think Tesco has based its IT-generated competitive advantage by being the first one to take advantage of the possibilities that technology creates for the business. The company has been highly innovative since the beginning of its story and took the right direction by acquiring advances in technology to increase its knowledge of customers habits and preferences. Investments in technology and, from there, marketing were hugh but they clearly payed off.
However, Tesco not only focused its efforts on strengthening its supermarkets sales through the famous Club Card but also clearly diversify its business to different services such as finance, insurance, traveling, and mobile phones! Tesco provides a large array of online uses for customers apart from shopping online such as trading shares, compare its prices with those of competitors, and more...and everything is easy to find in its website.
Another issue Tesco took advantage of was its location. Tesco has mainly focused its commercial activities in the UK, though in the middle 90s it started to expand internationally (mainly to Eastern Europe countries and Asia). That concentration allowed it to focus its efforts on increasing market share in the UK market. Tesco was able to use technology to research its market and customer successfully. And the customers help: it would be very different to get all the customer information and online interaction with them in a different market, one less used to deal with through the internet. In addition, the responsible use of data by Tesco allowed the company to continue innovating and get acceptance of new online "products" by its clients.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Upcoming "Free-economics" Era
After my unsuccessful prediction regarding whether Meneame.net is a profitable business (answer: it is not), our Information System professor asked us to write about an article written by Chris Anderson. The article and references about the author are here.
In very basic terms, the article reflects the power of internet and how it is changing the way different industries are starting to communicate with customers. The term "free" reflects the tendency that many internet companies are following: give free things to people and earn very good money.
The best example of the "free" era is this. To provide you with just some figures: Google revenues were up 20.92 billion US dollars and the company value as of January 22, 2009 is 80.92 billion US dollars. Now, how much do you pay to use Google? I am sure you will say nothing (0); otherwise someone is stealing from you and it is not Google (and not me either).
Who is paying Google then? Following what the article says, there are three parties interacting: customers like you and me that go around different websites, the medium (Google) and, finally, advertisers. The first two agents participate in a free market whereas advertisers pay the bill. Something similar to what occurs in the media industry where you pay nothing to listen to the radio or watch TV (till cable providers show up) but advertisers do.
According to Andersen, what is going on in this internet era is what economists call "cross-subsidies": you give away something for free knowing that you will get something in return...for a profit, of course. The best example, also cited in the article, is Gillette: they almost give razors for free knowing that you will later need to pay for blades and shaving cream.
Andersen claims that the Friedman proposition of "there is no such thing as a free lunch" is vanishing. Andersen, we have to talk...do not discredit such an economist in front of other economist (with lower knowdledge though). There is always someone who have to pay the bill and, at the end, it is either advertisers or customers who pay it.
In very basic terms, the article reflects the power of internet and how it is changing the way different industries are starting to communicate with customers. The term "free" reflects the tendency that many internet companies are following: give free things to people and earn very good money.
The best example of the "free" era is this. To provide you with just some figures: Google revenues were up 20.92 billion US dollars and the company value as of January 22, 2009 is 80.92 billion US dollars. Now, how much do you pay to use Google? I am sure you will say nothing (0); otherwise someone is stealing from you and it is not Google (and not me either).
Who is paying Google then? Following what the article says, there are three parties interacting: customers like you and me that go around different websites, the medium (Google) and, finally, advertisers. The first two agents participate in a free market whereas advertisers pay the bill. Something similar to what occurs in the media industry where you pay nothing to listen to the radio or watch TV (till cable providers show up) but advertisers do.
According to Andersen, what is going on in this internet era is what economists call "cross-subsidies": you give away something for free knowing that you will get something in return...for a profit, of course. The best example, also cited in the article, is Gillette: they almost give razors for free knowing that you will later need to pay for blades and shaving cream.
Andersen claims that the Friedman proposition of "there is no such thing as a free lunch" is vanishing. Andersen, we have to talk...do not discredit such an economist in front of other economist (with lower knowdledge though). There is always someone who have to pay the bill and, at the end, it is either advertisers or customers who pay it.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Meneame.net
Our Information System professor has asked us to analyze the case of meneame.net; this website, according to the info given by our professor, is a social network where users send different kind of news that they consider interesting. Those news are voted by other users and news that get more votes are posted in the front page.
If you check the site you are able to see how news show up and then the comments and votes. The website seems to be very famous in Spain and, since its launch in December 2005, the number of monthly visitors has follow an increasing trend with more than 20 millions visits in June.
Our professor has asked us to think whether meneame.net could turn out to be an economically sounding project. I strongly think that with number of visits per month mentioned, the site should be a profitable business. Imagine you want to promote your business in internet, what kind of site would you look for to post your ad? Obviously, the one with the most visits as possible.
Hence, with the power of Google sense, meneame.net has to be a profitable. The main issue for executives from the company is to define what kind of ads they allow since they get paid every time an ad is "click". As a consequence, they have to determine what type of people gets into the site, for how long, from where, what ages. The larger the data they come up with, the better to sharpen the target market for ads in the website.
It is possible to research news by topic, to check out users and comments as a great quantity of statistics; however, I think that the website could have more order and become more use-friendly. The website is very focused and dynamic and I consider that an advantage; otherwise, people tend to lose attention and may become less interested reducing their visits.
Well, I may post some other thoughts on the issue tomorrow. It is getting late and tomorrow we have classes!! and a loooong day waiting for us...
If you check the site you are able to see how news show up and then the comments and votes. The website seems to be very famous in Spain and, since its launch in December 2005, the number of monthly visitors has follow an increasing trend with more than 20 millions visits in June.
Our professor has asked us to think whether meneame.net could turn out to be an economically sounding project. I strongly think that with number of visits per month mentioned, the site should be a profitable business. Imagine you want to promote your business in internet, what kind of site would you look for to post your ad? Obviously, the one with the most visits as possible.
Hence, with the power of Google sense, meneame.net has to be a profitable. The main issue for executives from the company is to define what kind of ads they allow since they get paid every time an ad is "click". As a consequence, they have to determine what type of people gets into the site, for how long, from where, what ages. The larger the data they come up with, the better to sharpen the target market for ads in the website.
It is possible to research news by topic, to check out users and comments as a great quantity of statistics; however, I think that the website could have more order and become more use-friendly. The website is very focused and dynamic and I consider that an advantage; otherwise, people tend to lose attention and may become less interested reducing their visits.
Well, I may post some other thoughts on the issue tomorrow. It is getting late and tomorrow we have classes!! and a loooong day waiting for us...
Assignments
Yes, I can blame them. I am not posting as usually as I should due to the increase quantity of assignments we have had since the re-starting of classes. This coming week: entrepreneurship presentation (which counts as 10 assignments given the workload!) + organizational behavior final case (50% of the final grade) + possible quizz (I got the gossip, can't reveal the source nor the class). Not to mention the daily readings!
I just hope that in coming weeks I can post something interesting such as the Playboy - Facebook news (did you check it? I mean both Playboy and your Facebook, and, of course, the post).
I just hope that in coming weeks I can post something interesting such as the Playboy - Facebook news (did you check it? I mean both Playboy and your Facebook, and, of course, the post).
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Back!
After some weeks, yes, I am back (for good or for bad, whatever!).
I was absent for more than 10 days because too many things were happening around. First of all, I was on vacation!! Not that classes started just now but there were no classes till January 7 and, in the meantime, my wife left to Argentina (which does not mean she left me - yet), my parents came to visit and I had a quantitative exam that took almost all my energies last week.
I am very happy that my parents are here after more than three months without seeing each other. I am eating so well...and traveling!! yes, we went to Lisbon for three days and this last Saturday we visited Salamanca. I really enjoyed both trips and sharing time with my parents.
I do not think we will keep traveling since I have to much to do in relation to school, to get a summer internship...and to posting, of course!
I apologize for the absence and will try to be much more blog active in the weeks to come!
I was absent for more than 10 days because too many things were happening around. First of all, I was on vacation!! Not that classes started just now but there were no classes till January 7 and, in the meantime, my wife left to Argentina (which does not mean she left me - yet), my parents came to visit and I had a quantitative exam that took almost all my energies last week.
I am very happy that my parents are here after more than three months without seeing each other. I am eating so well...and traveling!! yes, we went to Lisbon for three days and this last Saturday we visited Salamanca. I really enjoyed both trips and sharing time with my parents.
I do not think we will keep traveling since I have to much to do in relation to school, to get a summer internship...and to posting, of course!
I apologize for the absence and will try to be much more blog active in the weeks to come!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Playboy News!
I read this morning this news about how internet is "killing" the TV business. In fact, according to different sources, advertising expenses (yes, as we use it in finance accounting) were larger in internet than in TV in 2008; moreover, breaking news are always post first in the internet than broadcast in TV and soap operas are becoming available via internet streaming with the audience choosing the "finale" of each chapter...
In the same news linked above, I also found out that Playboy Argentina published a special edition in October which cover showed...hottest argentine girls on FACEBOOK!
Enjoy...
In the same news linked above, I also found out that Playboy Argentina published a special edition in October which cover showed...hottest argentine girls on FACEBOOK!
Enjoy...
Friday, December 19, 2008
Fever!
Yes, during the last three days I have been sick and bored all the time. I hope to be good by tomorrow and then be able to go out on Sunday for a walk at least. In this three days I have missed the following classes:
- Managerial Economics (x2)
- Information Systems (x2)
- Financial Accounting
- Quantitative Analysis
As I just mentioned it is unfortunately really boring because I am not able to do nothing but watching TV (which I can't stand more than 1 hour), sleeping (which make me feel as a lazy person), or reading (and I cannot concentrate for more than 25 minutes).
Apart from that, after getting an Ibuprofeno 600 I was able to deliver my assignment for Information System on Wednesday, the same that was posted below. I did not take that medicine again because I am not very used to take that kind of medicine (horse medicine) and my stomach was in pain during the night.
Nothing else to say. Well, just one more thing, I would loved to have this other kind of fever instead.
- Managerial Economics (x2)
- Information Systems (x2)
- Financial Accounting
- Quantitative Analysis
As I just mentioned it is unfortunately really boring because I am not able to do nothing but watching TV (which I can't stand more than 1 hour), sleeping (which make me feel as a lazy person), or reading (and I cannot concentrate for more than 25 minutes).
Apart from that, after getting an Ibuprofeno 600 I was able to deliver my assignment for Information System on Wednesday, the same that was posted below. I did not take that medicine again because I am not very used to take that kind of medicine (horse medicine) and my stomach was in pain during the night.
Nothing else to say. Well, just one more thing, I would loved to have this other kind of fever instead.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
You Blogger, Get Your Pulitzer!
I just found this news (in Spanish) which says that from now on bloggers will be considered as candidates for the Pulitzer Prize.
Vichy Case
This is a case we had to prepare for our Information System class at IE.
France Vichy Cosmetics: To Blog Or Not To Blog?
Situation – Context
On April 27, 2005 Vichy Laboratories launched in France a blog called “Dairy of My Skin” with the goal of promoting a new anti-age product: Peel Abrasion. The blog would act as a marketing tool where “Claire”, a false character, talks to women about common wrinkles worries.
“Dairy of My Skin” was not Vichy’s first experience using blogs a marketing tool. In February 2005, Vichy Korea ran two blogs with successful results.
Vichy hired the advertising agency Euro RSCG4 to implement the “blog” marketing plan. This multinational agency had a department specialized in Digital Marketing.
Problems
“Dairy of My Skin” was highly criticized by bloggers, marketing, and blog marketing specialists. The main causes of the criticisms were:
- Writing style: “Claire” was clearly not writing the blog but a designer was in charge of doing so.
- Lack of spontaneity: everything in the blog was programmed and done in advance.
Bloggers negative comments about Vichy’s blog disseminated quickly around the French blogosphere.
Even after the apologize of Delphine, product manager of Vichy in France, the news spread to national press: Le Monde criticized the cosmetic company for using blogs to communicate with costumers.
Alternative Solutions
Vichy France has to decide about a response strategy. Should Vichy act nationwide using traditional communication methods or new ones? Should Vichy let the time go by so that this “problem” is forgotten? What to do with the blog?
No doubt, the “Dairy of My Skin” experience was not a happy one. There are different reasons that Vichy should adjust to avoid this kind of failure. Moreover, the response given by product manager Delphine in the blog was not convincing and bloggers wondered whether Delphine was a true character (another Claire?).
I will mention a list of alternative solutions for the case:
- Avoid using blogs for future marketing plans and use traditional channels of communication.
- Organize press interviews for Vichy executives where they can talk about the company strategy and briefly refer to the blog issue.
- Discontinue “Dairy of My Skin”.
- Continue with marketing plans that include blogs but considering the mistakes from this experience.
- In relation to the last alternative, ask for advise to Vichy Korea, which was very successful with its blogs experiences.
- Take advise from bloggers to develop and run future blogs.
My Choice
Rather than accepting just one of the alternatives, I would combine most of them.
First, I think that Vichy should not abandon its idea of using blogs as a marketing tool and as a means to communicate with costumers. In fact, as mentioned in the case, most companies are creating blogs to promote products and interact with costumers.
Asking for advise to Vichy Korea would be a good idea. Although it is very possible that costumers differ greatly between the two markets, Vichy Korea was able to run blogs successfully and, apparently, without major criticisms.
I will also ask for advise to experienced bloggers in order to find out how they relate to each other and how they communicate with followers.
Then, I would discontinue “Dairy of My Skin”. It would be very difficult to build trust with costumers through this blog and change perceptions coming from them, from the press, and from bloggers.
Finally, I do think that Vichy should explain the reasons behind its bad experience with “Dairy of My Skin”. By doing so, the company admits its mistakes before costumers and commits to avoid future similar issues. In my opinion, the best way to do it is through press interviews in which company executives talk about different subjects, including the blog failure and how they will deal with it in the future.
France Vichy Cosmetics: To Blog Or Not To Blog?
Situation – Context
On April 27, 2005 Vichy Laboratories launched in France a blog called “Dairy of My Skin” with the goal of promoting a new anti-age product: Peel Abrasion. The blog would act as a marketing tool where “Claire”, a false character, talks to women about common wrinkles worries.
“Dairy of My Skin” was not Vichy’s first experience using blogs a marketing tool. In February 2005, Vichy Korea ran two blogs with successful results.
Vichy hired the advertising agency Euro RSCG4 to implement the “blog” marketing plan. This multinational agency had a department specialized in Digital Marketing.
Problems
“Dairy of My Skin” was highly criticized by bloggers, marketing, and blog marketing specialists. The main causes of the criticisms were:
- Writing style: “Claire” was clearly not writing the blog but a designer was in charge of doing so.
- Lack of spontaneity: everything in the blog was programmed and done in advance.
Bloggers negative comments about Vichy’s blog disseminated quickly around the French blogosphere.
Even after the apologize of Delphine, product manager of Vichy in France, the news spread to national press: Le Monde criticized the cosmetic company for using blogs to communicate with costumers.
Alternative Solutions
Vichy France has to decide about a response strategy. Should Vichy act nationwide using traditional communication methods or new ones? Should Vichy let the time go by so that this “problem” is forgotten? What to do with the blog?
No doubt, the “Dairy of My Skin” experience was not a happy one. There are different reasons that Vichy should adjust to avoid this kind of failure. Moreover, the response given by product manager Delphine in the blog was not convincing and bloggers wondered whether Delphine was a true character (another Claire?).
I will mention a list of alternative solutions for the case:
- Avoid using blogs for future marketing plans and use traditional channels of communication.
- Organize press interviews for Vichy executives where they can talk about the company strategy and briefly refer to the blog issue.
- Discontinue “Dairy of My Skin”.
- Continue with marketing plans that include blogs but considering the mistakes from this experience.
- In relation to the last alternative, ask for advise to Vichy Korea, which was very successful with its blogs experiences.
- Take advise from bloggers to develop and run future blogs.
My Choice
Rather than accepting just one of the alternatives, I would combine most of them.
First, I think that Vichy should not abandon its idea of using blogs as a marketing tool and as a means to communicate with costumers. In fact, as mentioned in the case, most companies are creating blogs to promote products and interact with costumers.
Asking for advise to Vichy Korea would be a good idea. Although it is very possible that costumers differ greatly between the two markets, Vichy Korea was able to run blogs successfully and, apparently, without major criticisms.
I will also ask for advise to experienced bloggers in order to find out how they relate to each other and how they communicate with followers.
Then, I would discontinue “Dairy of My Skin”. It would be very difficult to build trust with costumers through this blog and change perceptions coming from them, from the press, and from bloggers.
Finally, I do think that Vichy should explain the reasons behind its bad experience with “Dairy of My Skin”. By doing so, the company admits its mistakes before costumers and commits to avoid future similar issues. In my opinion, the best way to do it is through press interviews in which company executives talk about different subjects, including the blog failure and how they will deal with it in the future.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Newspaper vs. Digital News
Thinking of a new post, I decided to write about a new dilemma some people, including me, may be facing: comparing your preference between newspapers and digital news, what do you choose? And what do you think it is more convenient?
I tend to read news from the internet from various reasons: they are constantly updated and it is a must to check them whenever I get online, they are cheaper (I do not have to pay to read news from most newspapers worldwide), and I can check news on different topics, from finance to sports to politics, from different sources and countries, among others. I admitted I began to read news online when I moved abroad and this way was the only one to find out what was going on in my country. Now, I just do it because, it is convenient.
However, if you ask me what I prefer, I answer newspapers. One can take them everywhere and, at least in my case, there are few things as good as reading your newspapers on a Sunday morning...in addition, I find specific news easier than in their digital version.
As this old article reflects, digital news have been taking customers out of traditional newspapers, and this is why the later have had to create their own websites. Many times I wonder why I have to pay for a newspaper while I can get the same info on its website for free; moreover, I always ask myself whether there is sense in reading a newspaper in the evening or at night or it is just better to check tomorrow newspapers news in the web (and most of the times I just keep on reading the newspaper at that time of the day).
Is the traditional newspaper going to disappear? Really hard to say though new generations are so into technology that they will hardly bother to go and get the newspapers from outside, not to mention why they should pay (same dilemma for me, although I still pay...). I think newspapers are well-aware of this tendency and are doing improvements to change their business models (well, I am a MBA student and am supposed to use these kind of words!) and satisfy every market getting the best from them.
I tend to read news from the internet from various reasons: they are constantly updated and it is a must to check them whenever I get online, they are cheaper (I do not have to pay to read news from most newspapers worldwide), and I can check news on different topics, from finance to sports to politics, from different sources and countries, among others. I admitted I began to read news online when I moved abroad and this way was the only one to find out what was going on in my country. Now, I just do it because, it is convenient.
However, if you ask me what I prefer, I answer newspapers. One can take them everywhere and, at least in my case, there are few things as good as reading your newspapers on a Sunday morning...in addition, I find specific news easier than in their digital version.
As this old article reflects, digital news have been taking customers out of traditional newspapers, and this is why the later have had to create their own websites. Many times I wonder why I have to pay for a newspaper while I can get the same info on its website for free; moreover, I always ask myself whether there is sense in reading a newspaper in the evening or at night or it is just better to check tomorrow newspapers news in the web (and most of the times I just keep on reading the newspaper at that time of the day).
Is the traditional newspaper going to disappear? Really hard to say though new generations are so into technology that they will hardly bother to go and get the newspapers from outside, not to mention why they should pay (same dilemma for me, although I still pay...). I think newspapers are well-aware of this tendency and are doing improvements to change their business models (well, I am a MBA student and am supposed to use these kind of words!) and satisfy every market getting the best from them.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
My "new" Blog and My Tech Experience
Hey there,
I am here again and I hope to get here more often than in my "previous" blog experience...I moved to Madrid almost three months ago to start my MBA at Instituto de Empresa and, if everythings go well, I expect to finish my studies at the end of December...2009. After that, who knows...
I decided to re-start this blog after an Information Systems class we had this past week in which Professor Dans "suggested" us to build a presence in the web where we can expose part of what we are learning in his class (including assignments!).
I should admit I am very interested in this class, mainly because of my ignorance in the subject and, should admit again, my disinterest in new technologies apart from e-mail and news access. I consider this is a good opportunity to learn on the topic, activity I would not practice by myself.
Before start writing, I was remembering how I perceived internet access when I discovered its existence and the day I first got "wired". I was 17 years old when my brother told me he was using "his" PC to get to the internet via the home land, of course, phone. He was 12 years old at that time...I did not pay much attention because I was more interested in playing soccer and going out with friends (who, as you may imagine, did not even had heard about the word "internet" either at the time). What I do remember is when the phone bill arrived two months later and my parents were not able to understand the reason of such an increase in the amount due...
Two years after this event, being already 19 years old, I was in college and had to ask my brother for help to get "there" so that I would be able to get info for a class. However, my access was pretty sporadic until I did a trip abroad along with 3 friends in 2000 and one of them had an e-mail account! As soon as I came back from that trip I took a one week class on "internet access, its advantages and something else" promoted.
I am here again and I hope to get here more often than in my "previous" blog experience...I moved to Madrid almost three months ago to start my MBA at Instituto de Empresa and, if everythings go well, I expect to finish my studies at the end of December...2009. After that, who knows...
I decided to re-start this blog after an Information Systems class we had this past week in which Professor Dans "suggested" us to build a presence in the web where we can expose part of what we are learning in his class (including assignments!).
I should admit I am very interested in this class, mainly because of my ignorance in the subject and, should admit again, my disinterest in new technologies apart from e-mail and news access. I consider this is a good opportunity to learn on the topic, activity I would not practice by myself.
Before start writing, I was remembering how I perceived internet access when I discovered its existence and the day I first got "wired". I was 17 years old when my brother told me he was using "his" PC to get to the internet via the home land, of course, phone. He was 12 years old at that time...I did not pay much attention because I was more interested in playing soccer and going out with friends (who, as you may imagine, did not even had heard about the word "internet" either at the time). What I do remember is when the phone bill arrived two months later and my parents were not able to understand the reason of such an increase in the amount due...
Two years after this event, being already 19 years old, I was in college and had to ask my brother for help to get "there" so that I would be able to get info for a class. However, my access was pretty sporadic until I did a trip abroad along with 3 friends in 2000 and one of them had an e-mail account! As soon as I came back from that trip I took a one week class on "internet access, its advantages and something else" promoted.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Contradicciones
El gobierno termina de anunciar que habra aumentos en las tarifas de electricidad para los que mas tienen y, con esos aumentos, comenzaran a reducirse los subsidios al sector. La realidad los atropello porque el nivel de gasto publico, direccionado en gran parte a subsidiar energia, sobrepasa los ingresos.
Algunos podran decir "mas vale tarde que nunca", pero asi y todo quizas ya sea demasiado tarde. Ahora el golpe de las nuevas tarifas electricas, que todavia hay que ver a cuanto llegan, va a pegar en los sectores medios que han comenzado a disminuir su consumo porque a los ahorros se los comio la inflacion.
El caso del INDEC parece no se va a destapar. A quien le importa en este pais que el caso de manipulacion de indices estadisticos lo denuncie el FMI; mas bien todo lo contrario, seria "un nuevo ataque del imperio" porque no los dejamos hacer negocios. Lo que yo me pregunto es cuanto tardaremos en conocer el verdadero nivel del superavit fiscal primario. Hoy para simular que sigue por encima del 3% del PIB se estan retrasando obras publicas, pagos a proveedores del estado y distribucion de fondos a las provincias...
Algunos podran decir "mas vale tarde que nunca", pero asi y todo quizas ya sea demasiado tarde. Ahora el golpe de las nuevas tarifas electricas, que todavia hay que ver a cuanto llegan, va a pegar en los sectores medios que han comenzado a disminuir su consumo porque a los ahorros se los comio la inflacion.
El caso del INDEC parece no se va a destapar. A quien le importa en este pais que el caso de manipulacion de indices estadisticos lo denuncie el FMI; mas bien todo lo contrario, seria "un nuevo ataque del imperio" porque no los dejamos hacer negocios. Lo que yo me pregunto es cuanto tardaremos en conocer el verdadero nivel del superavit fiscal primario. Hoy para simular que sigue por encima del 3% del PIB se estan retrasando obras publicas, pagos a proveedores del estado y distribucion de fondos a las provincias...
Thursday, July 24, 2008
¿Massa = Lousteau?
Si bien todavía es temprano para dar opiniones respecto a si el gobierno cambiará de rumbo, sí creo que Sergio Massa puede ser un nuevo Lousteau, para un lado o para el otro. Esto es, Massa puede hacer lo que Lousteau no pudo, no supo o no quiso, y darle más coherencia a las políticas y formas de actuar del gobierno kirchnerista.
O, por el contrario, que la marea devidista se lo lleve por delante, quedar como el nuevo joven títere que no maneja ni mueve nada y terminar renunciando. Una diferencia importante es que Massa en caso de renunciar vuelve a la intendencia de Tigre ya que el muy vivo pidió licencia. Mientras tanto, ¿alguien sabe donde está Martín?
O, por el contrario, que la marea devidista se lo lleve por delante, quedar como el nuevo joven títere que no maneja ni mueve nada y terminar renunciando. Una diferencia importante es que Massa en caso de renunciar vuelve a la intendencia de Tigre ya que el muy vivo pidió licencia. Mientras tanto, ¿alguien sabe donde está Martín?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Y ahora y ahora...
...parece decirle Cobos al gobierno nacional, del cual forma parte.
Alguien se acuerdo cuando el vicepresidente fue "cascoteado" verbalmente por el jefe de gabinete de ministros y por Aníbal Fernández?
Lo que viene, lo que viene...se pueden hacer mil conjeturas:
1) El gobierno deroga la resolución 125l, que aún sigue en pie pero es muy vulnerable ante la Justicia. Es decir, si un chacarero se presenta a un juez seguro le van a dar la razón y la retención a pagar será la anterior al 11 de marzo (35%).
2) El gobierno no deroga la 125 y se arriesga a entrar en conflicto con la Justicia en el futuro desconociendo sus decisiones.
3) El gobierno deroga la 125 e inmediatamente llama a los representantes de la mesa de enlace a negociar un plan de retenciones móviles nuevo, aunque con reformas ya previstas en la ley que salió de diputados y bajó Cobos.
4) Quién sabe...
En los primeros días, me juego por la opción 4. Hay que ver como reacciona Néstor y escucharla hoy a la tarde, si va, a CFK en el Chaco.
Una vez más, es todo tan imprevisible...
Alguien se acuerdo cuando el vicepresidente fue "cascoteado" verbalmente por el jefe de gabinete de ministros y por Aníbal Fernández?
Lo que viene, lo que viene...se pueden hacer mil conjeturas:
1) El gobierno deroga la resolución 125l, que aún sigue en pie pero es muy vulnerable ante la Justicia. Es decir, si un chacarero se presenta a un juez seguro le van a dar la razón y la retención a pagar será la anterior al 11 de marzo (35%).
2) El gobierno no deroga la 125 y se arriesga a entrar en conflicto con la Justicia en el futuro desconociendo sus decisiones.
3) El gobierno deroga la 125 e inmediatamente llama a los representantes de la mesa de enlace a negociar un plan de retenciones móviles nuevo, aunque con reformas ya previstas en la ley que salió de diputados y bajó Cobos.
4) Quién sabe...
En los primeros días, me juego por la opción 4. Hay que ver como reacciona Néstor y escucharla hoy a la tarde, si va, a CFK en el Chaco.
Una vez más, es todo tan imprevisible...
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Haciendo Agua...
...subterranea. Asi definiria yo el significado de esta muy buena nota de Critica de la Argentina respecto a como se va cayendo el modelo kirchnerista de gestion.
Y digo que refleja subterraneamente los problemas del modelo economico actual que no son visibles, es decir, que la mayoria de la opinion publica no ve, desconoce, debido a que es dificil acceder a esa informacion. La inflacion, la inseguridad y, en menor medida, la corrupcion si pueden ser "apreciados" por la sociedad; son hechos que se sienten todos los dias (la corrupcion se lee y tambien se siente en los organismos publicos).
Este problema de desfinanciamiento de Cammesa como consecuencia de la falta de inversiones en el sector + no actualizacion de tarifas + arreglos entre funcionarios y sector publico por doquier = una cuenta que vamos a pagar y sufrir todos.
Cuales son los otros sectores "subterraneos" en problemas? Yo no tengo ni idea, pero se me ocurren: transportes (aereo, terrestre, fluvial, pedestre...), salud (como estan las obras sociales sindicales?) y otros servicios publicos (agua, gas?). Seguramente hay mas sectores con problemas a futuro por inconsistencias presentes, no me salen ahora y tampoco tengo tanta info. Pero que los hay, los hay.
Se veia venir...
Y digo que refleja subterraneamente los problemas del modelo economico actual que no son visibles, es decir, que la mayoria de la opinion publica no ve, desconoce, debido a que es dificil acceder a esa informacion. La inflacion, la inseguridad y, en menor medida, la corrupcion si pueden ser "apreciados" por la sociedad; son hechos que se sienten todos los dias (la corrupcion se lee y tambien se siente en los organismos publicos).
Este problema de desfinanciamiento de Cammesa como consecuencia de la falta de inversiones en el sector + no actualizacion de tarifas + arreglos entre funcionarios y sector publico por doquier = una cuenta que vamos a pagar y sufrir todos.
Cuales son los otros sectores "subterraneos" en problemas? Yo no tengo ni idea, pero se me ocurren: transportes (aereo, terrestre, fluvial, pedestre...), salud (como estan las obras sociales sindicales?) y otros servicios publicos (agua, gas?). Seguramente hay mas sectores con problemas a futuro por inconsistencias presentes, no me salen ahora y tampoco tengo tanta info. Pero que los hay, los hay.
Se veia venir...
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