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TAKE NOTE
Aspire To Own
That’s the sales philosophy the nation’s largest retailer
took going into this holiday season. Wal-Mart began offering shoppers
high-end items such as wide screen, high-def plasma televisions normally
considered overpriced for its consumer market. But that’s the
point.
The idea is that if—and when—these items do drop into
the average customer’s price range they won’t think of
going anywhere else to buy it.
Consumer experts say the strategy continues blurring the distinction
between high-end specialty retailers and low-end mass merchandisers.
For now, it works particularly well for home electronics, which are
in demand across all income levels and available at nearly every conceivable
outlet, but it has some retailers scratching their heads wondering
how to protect, or find, their niche.
East Meets East
The economies of India and China have grown so rapidly over the past
several years that each country now is looking to the other as a growth
market of which to take advantage.
India-China trade reached $13.6 billion in 2004—a sevenfold
increase from 1998, according to The New York Times—as companies
from each are hunting for business in the other and announcing ambitious
expansion plans.
Both countries have been known for inexpensive labor, especially when
compared to the United States, but as this rivalry heats up hiring
is becoming a matter of which will overpay the most.
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What do European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries have that the
United States doesn’t? In-flight, high-speed Internet service—in
particular, Connexion developed by Boeing.
The company is still struggling to bring the Internet to domestic
airlines, but surging fuel prices and concerns about adding equipment
weight to aircraft have slowed its plans. The company has announced
15 percent cuts in positions at Connexion by early next year.
What is keeping the program going are long-haul business travelers.
Boeing has signed up 13 airlines since 2003 — all foreign carriers
— and has signed 630 corporate agreements. |
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