How can a B2b site help to reduce food product marketing cost?

While the food product prices are inflating, the incomes are not increasing at the same rate. A food manufacturing firm loses cost effectiveness as the input cost prices of the ingredients for food keep rising and to reduce losses, they pass on the rising food costs to the customer. Hence, alternative ways to reduce costs need to be contemplated.

The total cost of a unit of food product consists majorly of ingredients costs, preparation costs, and marketing costs. Given the shortage of rainfall, the prices of food products have gone up. The lower-middle and the lower income families are feeling the heat of rising food prices. The affordability of food products have gone down. This may lead to many food products losing their market share.

A B2b site like http://ebusinesszone.net can help you in this regard. The input costs of the raw materials are not under your control. And since the quality cannot come down, the cost of preparation also cannot drastically change. So, the only controllable cost is the marketing cost. Using internet to market your products helps you reduce the marketing cost.

Food products often involve the general marketing approaches and techniques that are applied for marketing other kinds of products and services. In addition, it also involves other kinds of challenges such as dealing with a perishable product whose quality and availability varies as a function of current harvest conditions. The value chain is particularly important. Marketing, services, and processing added do result in significantly higher prices.

Online advertising via marketplaces like http://ebusinesszone.net can help firms to build relationships with the customers. Internet penetration is highest among teenagers and also the middle-aged. One key aspect that differentiates food products from other types of product or service is the life of the product. The amount of supply should match the demand otherwise it will lead to old/unsold inventory. So, firms should also have effective reverse logistics in place to handle the unsold inventory. Therefore, to maximise the amount of units sold, firms can use http://ebusinesszone.net to widen the customer base that are willing to buy the product before the life of the product expires. In this way, you can provide good quality food products to customers. Online delivery mechanisms also should be in place. Reducing wastage should be the key priority.

By utilising an online marketplace like http://ebusinesszone.net, you can get in touch with the available distributors where you physically cannot reach. Online marketing gives you great visibility. You can get the best suppliers and can cut down on input costs. You can tie-up with local market players so as to market your product. This will reduce the cost of setting up a physical store to sell your products in every market.

You can advertise your service here.

Also you can find the right exporters to supply your products in international markets. The advantages of using http://ebusinesszone.net abound. Your overall cost comes down and you can pass on the cost saving to the customer. Hence you can provide good quality food products to your customers in a cost-effective manner.

Looking back at 2009

Here’s how the year unravelled:

The year 2009 started with the first black American becoming the President of the US, Barack Obama. In his first year in office, Obama overturned a prohibition on federal funding for stem-cell research, eased some restrictions on dealing with Cuba, pushed Congress to pass the health-care reform, promised to close the detention camp at Guantánamo, and pledged a cut in America’s emissions. He was awarded the Nobel peace prize, though many said this was premature. He defended the use of force in “just wars”.

American troops withdrew from Iraq’s big cities in June. Earlier Obama presented a plan to withdraw most troops from Iraq in 2010. Sporadic bursts of suicide-bombings that killed scores of people continued to plague the country.

Efforts to stabilise Afghanistan were hampered by a disputed presidential election. Amid claims of corruption and poll-rigging, Hamid Karzai was declared the winner, but only after his remaining rival pulled out of a run-off ballot. The war in Afghanistan continued to fight the resurgent Taliban.

The violence also intensified in Pakistan, with the most savage terrorist attacks carried out in Peshawar and Rawalpindi, besides other areas.

In the Lok Sabha elections in India, the UPA Government headed by the Congress won a thumping majority, this time even without the Left’s support.

China’s economy began to roar ahead again. Imports and exports grew following a sharp decline and its returning appetite for raw materials was partly responsible for rise in commodity process.

Governments around the world took measures to tackle the worst economic crisis in decades as unemployment shot up. Stimulus packages were announced by several governments after some leading banks went bankrupt or were taken over by the other banks. As a result of these measures, many economies seemingly emerged from recession. The IMF, and others urged countries to take steps to unwind their stimulus schemes as a result of increasing budget deficits.

An Air France jet en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed into the mid-Atlantic in June killing 228 people, the worst plane crash in a decade.

After a quarter of a century of conflict, Sri Lanka’s civil war came to an end when the army overwhelmed the last remnants of the rebel Tamil Tigers. Thousands were killed in the final days of fighting and up to 300,000 were displaced.

Australia suffered its worst-ever outbreak of wildfires in February, in which more than 170 people died across Victoria. Australia was also criticised for the racial discrimination and physical assault against Indian students.

The H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu, spread from Mexico prompting WHO to declare a global pandemic. Countries advised their citizens to restrict travel and avoid public places. At least 9,500 people worldwide are thought to have died from the disease so far.

Hordes of environmental activists mingled with heads of governments at the Copenhagen conference on climate change, at which governments tried to thrash out agreements to reduce emissions.

Its time now to welcome the new year and hope that business in 2010 will be much better.

How can businesses go green?

Having an environment-friendly business not only clearly helps the environment, but can also make your business more efficient and reduce its costs. So, what are the steps in this direction?

1. Reduce waste, save money

Using recyclable and biodegradable packaging can reduce waste costs dramatically, whilst not costing more to purchase. For example, printing on both sides of the paper, using recycled white papers, moving to digital documents instead of hard copies, etc. These not only reduced waste and storage area but also provide an easily found record. Also save water by checking for leaking taps and using water diligently.

2. Reduce energy, save money

Computers and internets are indispensable part of businesses. Switching off your computers, printers, unplug mobile phone chargers, lights when not required are easy ways to not only save energy but also save money. Use LED desk lamps that use 90% less power than lamps using incandescent bulbs. Also solar power products, energy-efficient devices are very helpful in conserving power. To get the most-efficient energy saving products at the least possible price visit this site.

Also running cleaner vehicles and running them less often will reduce your bills. If you are giving a vehicle service for the transportation of your employees, do car pooling to the extent you can. Also encourage them to use public transport instead of using their private vehicles. This will also reduce the traffic and hence the time taken to reach the office.

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3. Change your products, make money

Introducing features that promote reusability or recycled nature of your products not only helps the environment but also helps sell your product. Can your business offer refills? Can they print on recycled paper? Any such product can be listed on http://ebusinesszone.net/ and you will get the best prices from the customers. Since, going green has become more a necessity than a choice, you will get many customers flocking for your eco-friendly product.

4. Buy plants and improve your environment

Plants not only make your office look nicer but as they absorb airborne pollutants and negative ions from computers, whilst emitting oxygen.

5. Move business tasks to an electronic format

You can drastically reduce costs by efficiently using technology. Have virtual offices instead of having many physical offices. Encourage work-from-home, using laptops instead of outdated computers that consume large quantity of power. Communicate using contemporary modes like Voice chat, Internet messenger, etc, instead of using multiple mobiles and other devices which on disposal become hazardous because of the batteries and chemicals.

6. Implement Lean and Six Sigma

Lean and Six Sigma are two disciplines that teach companies how to eliminate waste (Lean) and reduce mistakes (Six Sigma).

7. Review the IT equipment

Review the company’s IT equipment closely. Many of the computer companies are offering green solutions to reduce power usage and to help trade up old equipment. For more on help on IT, click here.

Going green improves the brand image of the company, attracts more new clients, gain higher profits because of less operating cost, shield from the inflation in energy prices and makes you an attractive employer and an eco-friendly organisation.

COPENHAGEN SUMMIT – A Success or a Failure?

What Copenhagen changed?

At Copenhagen, for the first time, unity amongst the developing nations shaped the design of the rules. Once the heat and the dust settles, this achievement will be seen as a game changer in leading the world on the pathway to the larger goal. The United States was desperate to secure such a deal.

The countries that brokered the text of the outcome, the US and the BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China), to the target of limiting global warming to 2C above pre-industrial temperatures, reflect a world in which the balance of power has significantly changed in the last 20 years. There is also increased public awareness with campaigns running around the world and the huge media coverage has made addressing climate change indispensable.

Green growth is now the prevailing economic model of our time. The idea that addressing climate change is bad for business has been buried. Countries from both developed and developing economies have announced low-carbon economic plans and are moving forward.

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What it did not change?

About 45,000 dignitaries travelled to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen – the vast majority convinced of the need for a new global agreement on climate change. But other than the acknowledgment by the US and the BASIC group of countries, there was no major agreement. Many of the key governments do not want a global deal. The big players prefer an informal setting where each country says what it is prepared to do where nothing is negotiated and nothing is legally binding. The political will, economic direction, and public pressure were not enough to overcome the concerns over sovereignty that many countries have in the context of international law.

According to the accord, reducing global emissions by 50% in 2050 below 1990 levels will take into account the right to equitable access to atmospheric space. A sustainable approach requires the atmospheric resource to be allocated fairly. However such reductions involve substantial financial allocations from developed to developing countries. The businesses also need to adjust to the targets and need to modify their processes. This implies significant cost implications. They need to look at cost-effective ways of running their business. Also, the outcome is far from the legally binding treaty which some had expected and for which many hoped.

For US, President Barack Obama was not able to pledge anything that Congress will not support, and his inability to step up the US offer in Copenhagen was probably the single biggest impediment to other parties improving theirs.

The reference to transparency in the text is significant as it will mean that for the first time actions by countries can be assessed globally, but there is no verification of the actions undertaken in the developing world unless they are paid for by the developed world.

It remains to be seen whether committed targets on emissions, which are due to be made at the end of January, will make a difference. There will also be a review of progress in 2015 which may offer the opportunity to adjust any targets. Many hoped the COP15 would lead to legally mandated coordinated action plan, but it appears that the outcome will be intergovernmental policy coordination with a focus on the implementation of the national strategies. The move to green growth is no longer in doubt, but the details, actions and time frame remain unclear at best.

Why is climate change convention important?

The Copenhagen summit opened with a hope that some concrete consensus would be reached at and it will lead to some action plan. These actions would be implemented by all parties, taking into account their common but differentiated responsibilities.

The ill-effects due to global warming

Warming of the climate is indisputable as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising sea level. And most of these adverse effects since the mid-20^th century are very likely due to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. In the 20^th century, average global temperature increased by 0.74 degree C while sea level rise resulting from thermal expansion of the ocean and melting of ice across the globe amounted to 17 cms.

If proper mitigation policies are not incorporated, the consequences in the long-term can be possible disappearance of sea ice, increase in hot extreme temperatures, increase in cyclone intensity, decrease in usable water resources, oceans becoming more acidic, extinction of species etc.

Several small island states and low lying coastal nations like Maldives, Bangladesh with land surface barely a metre or two above the sea level, would find that every storm surge and major swell of the seas represents a serious danger to life and property.

The necessary steps

The global community has a moral and material responsibility to do all it can to limit the growing impacts of climate change on these and other vulnerable societies across the globe. The ultimate objective of the convention for climate change could be to stabilise the GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

Societies must now respond to climate change by adapting to its impacts and reducing GHG emissions. There are viable adaptation options that can be implemented in several sectors at low cost and high benefit. Also it’s better to take early steps. Based on this reality this conference must put in place measures for financing adaptation projects in some of the most vulnerable regions in the world.

Is it feasible?

There seems to be a trade-off between growth and control of GHG emissions. But technology has given and will continue to give ample and viable options. Promoting green projects and green technology is one solution. Although individuals and institutions have started work on such green projects, it did not receive its deserved encouragement and attention. Rain water harvesting, use of renewable sources of energy, use of internet, afforestration and other cost-effective solutions will help us to come up with sustainable solutions to run business while not compromising on growth.

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Large scale mitigation actions need to be taken by the conference. This must involve action in the developed countries because the developed country parties must take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof. Mitigation of emissions is essential because the IPCC has assessed its costs as modest. According to IPCC, to limit average temperature increase at 2 to 2.4 degree C, the cost of mitigation by 2030 would not exceed 3% of the GDP. Mitigation carries many co-benefits, such as lower levels of air pollution and associated health benefits, higher energy security, larger employment, and stable agricultural production, and global food security. A move to renewable sources of energy would prove that employment generation would take place with enhanced output.

The evidence is now overwhelming that the world would benefit from early action, and that delay would only lead to costs in economic and human terms that would progressively become high.

The extended trading hours and its implications

The opening bell in the two top stock exchanges in India, the NSE and the BSE, will ring 55 minutes earlier, at 9 am from January 4. This is an attempt to boost trading volumes and correlate better with other Asian bourses. The close of trade timings is retained at 3.30 pm.

There has been large scale apprehension about the change of timing. While large brokers can quickly adapt to the additional trading hours, it will not be so easy for smaller stakeholders. The decision to postpone the implementation of the revised timings to Jan 4 gives the smaller players the much-needed breather and time to adjust. But are the brokers ready? Blame it on the human nature to be averse to changes or real operational issues, marketmen may not be quite pleased with the alteration. While the equity markets are quite robust, the banking system is not geared up to handle the pressure. It needs to make available margin money to traders and customers early to allow trading to begin at 9 am. There is also the stress factor that gets added.

What is SEBI’s rationale?

The Sebi’s rationale for extension in trade timings is rooted in the fact that securities market should be aligned with the currency markets. It is also a global practice that all large markets open by 9 am. Asian markets especially Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong open for trading much ahead of the Indian time. So the associated fear is that some of the trade might shift to Singapore and Hong Kong exchanges in the long run if Indian markets do not open early. However since the US, the UK, and Hong Kong markets are highly liquid compared with Indian markets, the rationale for the Indian exchanges to copy the timings doesn’t hold teeth.

Also extended hours will mean changing the working processes, more overheads, multiple shifts and overtime wages for the employees. Infrastructure hurdles can be overcome if everyone – the regulators, the exchanges, the banking system, and the intermediaries such as brokerages and traders – decide to scale up with better technology and processes.

So, is the move good for India?

The whole point of having an exchange is to let people convert information into money. The longer the trading hours, the less the pile-up of information that cannot be acted on. Given the international aspirations that India has, it must go for such realignments. Although there is no linear co-relation between longer trading duration and higher volumes, it could be the case in future and help businesses grow and be receptive to the international changes. It might be a good move for the development and synchronisation of the currency and capital markets in the long term. The cost related to process changes although may seem cumbersome, but similar changes have taken place in the past. This is a picture of the dynamic environment that we are operating in.

How do you welcome 2010?

Performances by prominent rock bands and Santa Claus distributing sweets among kids will be part of the week-long events planned for Christmas and to herald 2010. People celebrate New Year with their loves ones, leaving behind all the grudges and sadness. The whole world joins together holding its breath as the clock strikes twelve. Drinking, dancing, eating out, and enjoying are all part of the celebrations of the New Year’s Eve. Also shopping, buying gifts for your near and dear ones are inevitable. To express the enjoyment and greetings, new forms of communication through E-cards, and social networking sites has grown tremendously.

Some one of the businesses that hugely benefit during the new year festivities are retail, garments, gifts and crafts, transportation and travel, furniture, lighting, food and beverage, etc. If you have time constraints and you want the best deals, get all the information on http://ebusinesszone.net/. The New Year time is a busy and profitable time for both the customers and the businesses.

Amid the fun and excitement, it’s important to make safety a priority. A new year is a time to cherish the past year and take new resolutions for the upcoming year. Hence, before planning for the future, it is necessary to plan and be safe in the present. Here are a few precautionary tips:

1. Do not hold a wallet out filled with cash.
2. Take utmost care of the credit cards and ATM cards. Do not hold them in public view. Use them only when you are among the trustworthy people.
3. Beware of your surroundings. Do not pick anything left on the street or anywhere else. Many a times, packed gifts items may turn out to be explosives.
4. Avoid too much crowd. Party only in safe locations where you find police personnel patrolling the area or under enough security arrangements.
5. For the benefit of the society, when you find any suspicious thing left in a public area, inform the police immediately.
6. Have emergency numbers handy. Carry first-aid.
7. Avoiding drunken driving. Too many lives are ruined by drunk driving.
8. Do not let your children use costly materials like iPods, mobiles, etc. It may be robbed amongst the crowd without your knowledge.
9. If you are travelling in a private vehicle and are not driving, make sure that you are not under the influence of alcohol. The driver may take advantage of the situation.
10. If you are going out for a New Year party and you are driving, you will need to have a Plan B prepared in advance in case you overindulge. Any of these might do: make an advance taxi reservation, have a hotel room reserved, and take along a designated driver who doesn’t drink.
11. Relax and enjoy yourself! After this past year, you deserve some real fun. And you’ll be able to have a great time because of the contingency plans you put in place in advance.

Have a Safe and a Happy New Year!