June 2022

Why Small Businesses in New Zealand MUST Go Online in Order to Survive These Days

The Internet has created a new economic ecosystem, the e-commerce online marketplace, and it has become the virtual main bazaar of the world. Providing a quick and convenient way of exchanging goods and services, e-commerce has boomed all over the world and in New Zealand in particular. Today, e-commerce has grown into a huge industry with US (New Zealand statistics are yet to be advertised) online retail generating $250B in revenues in 2010, with consumer-driven (B2C) online transactions impacting industries from travel services to consumer electronics, from books and music to sports & fashion accessories. With more than 70% of Kiwis using the Internet on a daily basis for private or business use, e-commerce’s growth curve is not likely to decrease anytime soon. In the last decade, many small e-commerce companies have rapidly stolen market share from traditional retailers and service providers, pressuring these established traditional players to deploy their own commerce websites and change their company.

According to NPD Group, consumer electronics, which includes the purchase of digital cameras, mobile phones, and computers, accounted for $26B of worldwide ecommerce sales occurring in 2006. As traditional brick and mortar companies continue to lose market share to e-commerce players, they will likely see continued declines in their revenues, operating margins, and profits. It is important to note that most ecommerce players are at a competitive advantage to retailers.

They have lower operating expenses and better inventory management due to operating in a virtual commerce environment. For example, (AMZN) has revenue per employee of nearly $850k while its retail counterpart, Best Buy (BBY), generates revenue per employee of only $270k. Nevertheless, traditional retailers are scrambling to keep up with the e-commerce trend, offering online catalogue shopping in addition to traditional stores. Without a doubt, e-commerce retailers will have the most to gain if they successfully disrupt retail customer acquisition and under-price retail businesses.

Obviously, pure play e-tailers that develop and deploy the most unique web technologies to enhance consumer experiences and keep prices competitive will be in the best position to ward off the “click and mortar” group.

The solution is joining online malls, where online shopping marketplaces are created. As a growing collection of small businesses, small businesses create and maintain online shops (online shopping carts), without the difficulties that involved in purchasing and developing an expensive stand alone ecommerce websites. The setup is so easy so anyone can open an elegant online store on these online shopping malls, in a matter of minutes, joining an ever growing marketplace of small businesses, and start selling online immediately.

In New Zealand, having an online store in online mall is a comprehensive eCommerce solution that gives many New Zealand’s SMB (small to medium businesses) owners a better connection with New Zealand’s online shopping market, in a very affordable price. Think about it as the biggest mall in New Zealand, don’t you want to be there?…

Gift Ideas for Men and Women

Everyone it seems has a problem finding the right gift for a loved one from time to time. I think that we should remember that gifts are an expression of our love or feelings for an individual. We all remember when as a child growing up we were so happy on our birthdays and Christmas to receive that special gift. We jumped for joy and had a huge smile on our face and gave the gift giver a hug, a kiss or both. Christmas time is one of the most happiest times for most people. The thoughts of gift giving to our friends and love ones is literally in the air entering our thoughts and hearts. We don’t seem to mine all the people and crowds, parking lots full to the brim with excited Santa helpers anxiously searching for gift ideas that will put a smile on our love ones face.

In searching for gifts for a women or man the thing to remember is what do you know about them, and what have they told you or what have you seen them wear. Women have always loved jewelry, this sparking artifact catches the shimmering light and reflects it back to dazzle her. She may also like flowers such as Roses or Tulips which give off a romantic fragrance in the air to tantalize. Men also love Romance so a perfect gift for that man in your life is to give your self wrapped in sensual Lingerie with a big red bow! You may feel that you would like to give the man in your life an actual box filled with a lovely surprise. You then need to think back to what your guy has shared with you. He may of mention a new watch or electronic game or phone he saw and thought that he would like to have. The key here is to listen and think back over the conversations you had earlier. Everyone has some sort of hobby they enjoy whether it be reading or riding a motorcycle or pedal bike.

A lot of people ask should they wrap a gift using wrapping paper or should they use a gift bag. I think this depends on the gift being given and the size of the item in question. I do know that we all love unwrapping that gift all covered up and hidden away. We drool with excitement of what could it be! New shoes, a coat, new tools for the garden.…

How to Go Green With Your Holiday Shopping

The holiday season is a time of a lot of shopping for many people. Did you know that there are steps you can take to help you become more eco friendly while you do this holiday shopping? Many people think going green is too complicated to be put to practical use. Others want to do it but they’re not sure how to implement these changes to their daily lives.

The best part of eco friendly living is that it is a process. The smallest and simplest changes that you make along the way can still have a big impact. This means making smarter choices when you go shopping can help, even if it’s only your holiday shopping each year. Since this can be the biggest shopping season of the year, making the choice to make positive changes now is a good thing.

Here are some tips on how to go green with your holiday shopping:

· Get as much done in one trip as you can

· Save gas and time and shop online when you can

· Walk between stores when possible instead of driving

· Skip the plastic shopping bags and bring reusable bags instead

Now that you have these tips for how to go green with your holiday shopping, you can keep them in mind when the shopping season comes around each year. These are just a few ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and improve the environment during the holiday season. Did you also know that going green can help you save money over time?…

Hyderabad Lad Bazaar – A Quaint Marketplace

If you are visiting Hyderabad, you are sure to see the Charminar, Salarjung Museum, Hussain Sagar Lake and Golconda Fort. And what is Hyderabad without pearl? Of course, you will see them all, but, wait, there’s something you could be missing. A quaint little street located close to Charminar is definitely worth a visit. Lad Bazaar (street of love) is full of surprises. This quintessential bazaar was the main shopping area when Hyderabad was ruled by the Nizams. It is said that Ladli Begum, wife of Mir Mehboob Ali, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad founded Lad Bazaar. Another version has it that it was called Lord’s Bazaar. And Lad Bazaar is an evolution of the same name.

One of the oldest streets in Hyderabad, Lad Bazaar is home to some of the best local traditions. Many people visiting the Charminar invariably wander into this bazaar. It occupies a small area, but is crammed with hundreds of shops where time seems to have come to a standstill. Then there are workshops and cafes – some as small as a hole in a wall – sandwiched between Charminar and Chowk Masjid. Considered unique by virtue of its location, charm and the kind of merchandise that is sold here, Lad Bazaar is truly one of Hyderabad’s most exclusive streets.

Today, Lad Bazaar has no remnants of its noble lineage. According to historical records, the Nizam’s concubines lived in the many symmetrical tiny apartments that still flank both sides of the narrow street. Many tales of illicit romance hide behind the wooden shutters. These apartments are now being used by shop keepers as workshops for manufacturing the famous Hyderabadi lac bangles.

A throbbing marketplace, Lad Bazaar buzzes with activity round the year. And, during the wedding season and also during festivals, especially during the month of Ramzan, the bazaar is crowded with shoppers looking for the best deals in traditional bangles, beads, clothes, antique furniture, perfumes, decorative metal craft, bridal trousseaus and other bric-a-bric. However, it is the lac bangles that have women milling through the labyrinthine lanes. Bangle sellers and wayside vendors call out to them with the promise of good bargains. New designs are introduced every day and some of the bangles come with fancy names. So there could be a Shabnam or Henna vying with a Nargis or Sultana to adorn your wrists! Lad Bazaar is truly a haven for those who want to buy fancy items at a bargain. But you won’t find any fashionable women or stylish men frequenting the shops.

In one place, there’s a cage of cawing common crows. No, they don’t end up in frying pans. Instead, they are bought by patients only to be set free again, in the belief that they will get cured of their illness. Interestingly, the street has a number of names such as Joda Bazaar, Chudi Bazaar, Judwa Bazaar, Meena Bazaar and Murga Bazaar, each owing allegiance to the section in which the items are sold.

Lad Bazaar may not be a major tourist spot like Charminar, but it is definitely worth a visit, more so for its antiquity and oriental charm.…