This weekend marks the start of the wedding season. I think of a better way to do it than with two weddings - one at The Curtis Center and the other at Glen Foerd Mansion. These are two of our favorite places to film. And then we have the Trash the Dress on Sunday with the 6 great photographers.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Starting the Season
This weekend marks the start of the wedding season. I think of a better way to do it than with two weddings - one at The Curtis Center and the other at Glen Foerd Mansion. These are two of our favorite places to film. And then we have the Trash the Dress on Sunday with the 6 great photographers.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Retailers call for cut in card charges
EAST of England businesses have joined national retailers in calling on banks to reduce their “prohibitive” plastic card charges as a survey revealed more than half of transactions are still in cash.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which carried out a “cost of collection” survey, has claimed there is a drive by plastic card issuers to kill off cash, and condemned it as a “self-serving attempt to rake in millions more in charges”.
The BRC said customers did not realise the “huge” sums retailers were charged for processing card payments.
On average, a £20 cash transaction costs a retailer less than four pence, while a £20 credit card transaction costs at least 17 pence, it claimed.
Collecting all payments, including cash, cards and cheques, cost retailers £317million last year, with processing of credit card payments accounting for 51% of that, even though they represented only 22% of sales turnover, it said.
BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said: “Banks have long abused their position by imposing much higher charges on retailers for processing card payments than cash. Clearly the banks have spotted that replacing cash with cards would mean a further boost to their profits.
“Retailers are not opposed in principle to cards taking a bigger share of the payments market, but as they try to accelerate that process, the banks should acknowledge their card charges are too high. There should be a lower, fixed fee per transaction which actually reflects the costs of processing.”
David Burch, East of England policy officer for the Federation of Small Businesses, said the charges were “extremely prohibitive” for retailers.
About 23% of their membership in the region was made up of retailers, and most of them supported a range of payment options, he said.
“Most of them wish to see as wide a range of payment options as possible,” he said.
“We would also welcome a reduction in charges for the use of these cards because they are extremely prohibitive to retailers.”
Around 70% of their East of England FSB members still relied heavily on cash and cheques to receive and make payments, he added.
Andy Rayner, a member of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce said the issue affected retailers more when they were small businesses.
“For a small, independent business that could certainly hurt you,” he said. “The banks have had it in a lot of ways their own way for many years.”
He called for all costs to be looked at and reduced accordingly.
“It's all about being fair. Everybody has to earn a living and everybody has to make a living in business,” he said. “What we are trying to do as retailers is to offer as many ways to pay as possible. Because you want to make that sale in a lot of ways you swallow that cost.”
Link
IPO Update: Transformers & Rectifiers India Limited
Transforming the power equation
TRIL has entered the capital markets with a public issue of 29.95 Lac shares of Rs. 10 each at a price band of Rs. 425-465 per share through book building process. Investment Guru is of the view that Power transmission and distribution is an integral part of the power sector’s growth story and Transformers play a pivotal role in this process. TRIL is one of the major players in this segment.
However, in this case too the promoters have not left much on the table for the investors as similar companies are available at same valuations in the secondary markets. One can apply for the issue with a view of moderate listing gains on listing. However, from a medium term perspective investment in peers such as Indo-tech transformers is also advisable as the company is operating on better margins.
Let’s take a look at the company
- TRIL is one of the major players in the Indian markets manufacturing a wide range of transformers ranging from power generation, transmission and distribution transformers, industrial transformers and a wide range of speciality transformers.
- TRIL manufacture transformers upto 220 kV Class, having an installed capacity of 7,200 MVA transformers per annum.
- The company currently operate through two manufacturing units, located at Changodar, near Ahmedabad and Odhav, in Ahmedabad, both in Gujarat
- Key customers include utilities and power transmission companies. The company has also exported transformers to countries such as the England, Canada, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
- Company’s business strategy is to focus on manufacturing of high capacity transformers at the proposed manufacturing facility at Moraiya since high capacity transformers command better margins.
- The company intends to leverage its relationships with the power transmission companies to take up turnkey projects for setting up sub stations.
- TRIL has a healthy order book position of Rs.319 crore as on September 1, 2007 with most of the contracts having an embedded price variation clause, shielding the company from adverse movement in prices of key raw materials like copper and steel. TRIL has strong in- house design capabilities which is a key success factor for this industry as transformers are custom built as per the requirements of the customer.
- CARE has assigned a 'CARE IPO Grade 4' to the IPO which indicates above average fundamentals.
- Power transformers constituted 77% of total sales of the company in FY07 followed by furnace transformers (13%) and others (10%). Sales to State electricity utilities constituted 51% of total sales of TRIL for FY07 with the remaining to industrial and other sectors.
- During FY07, TRIL's total income grew by 69% over FY06 on account of increase in sales volume as well as per mva realisations. The company was able to sell higher mva (80 and above) transformers in FY07 as compared to FY06, where margins are better.
- TRIL's PAT margin also improved to 7.99% in FY07 as compared to 5.8% in FY06. ROCE and RONW were high at 62% and 54% in YQ7 as compared to 42% and 43% in FY06 respectively.
- EPS for the six months ended September,2007 (annualized) is Rs. 20.4 (post issue equity) which translates into a PE multiple of 23.
- Return on Net Worth is 41.36 % for FY07.
Issue Opens : December 7, 2007
Issue closes: December 12, 2007
Registrar: Intime Spectrum
Click here to check IPO Allotment Status of TRIL
EntreCard Credits for sale at eBay - Batch #2
After my successful (and profitable) sale of EntreCard (EC) Credits at eBay, I'm at it again. This time, I auction 4,500 EC Credits at eBay with starting price at USD8.15. This is very cheap considering that EntreCard.com themselves is selling the EC Credits at USD9.50 for 1,000 EC Credits. Hopefully, the bids on the auction pickup in the next few days.
For non-EntreCard members, EC Credits can be use to advertise on mega site without paying them with real cash. You trade your EC Credits for a space on their front page. And that process may bring in more visitors to your site. In a mega site, some charge a few hundred dollars daily or month but some of those site is willing to allow you to advertise on their site in exchange for a few thousand EC Credits. Thus, advertising on those site with EC Credits is much more economical.
Below are EC Credits for sale by EntreCard owners:
EzRich Project Updates:
* Jun 14, 2008: Making real cash with EntreCard credits - Part 2
Related posts:
* Making real cash with EntreCard credits
* How to make money with EntreCard Credits
* List of EntreCard Credits for sale at eBay
EntreCard Credits being auctioned at eBay
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Why is it one of the most cost-effective ways to advertise your business
Ever heard of affiliate programs? These are forms of Internet advertising that rewards the affiliates for driving traffic to the advertiser or for other transactions. The advertiser pays the affiliate to place a link on their website, and the affiliate sends traffic to the advertiser in return. Simply put, it's about paying commissions to people who help you make sales. It's that easy. NOT.
Affiliate marketing has its ups and downs. It could be draining if you are not armed with updated information and the technical how-tos. But this article's sole objective is to reach out to you and not to badmouth affiliate marketing.
Here are the following reasons on why web marketers go gaga over affiliate marketing as a form of Internet advertisement.
1. Low cost
Many are scared to go on a home based business because of the capital required. In affiliate marketing, you don't have to spend much to start raking in moolah.
2. Inventories not included
Product management fuss could be very stressing. An inventory is not asked to be maintained. The merchant does the maintenance required.
3. Unlimited income through leverage
When you have a paid job, your monthly income mainly relies on whether you go to work or not. With affiliate marketing, your affiliates could all just lead traffic to your site without having to lift a finger after providing them your ad copy and links. Though not every web marketer earns limitless, it still is a fact that all the necessary matters for the advertiser or Internet marketer are all there to be successful.
4. Go worldwide
With affiliate marketing, you are dealing with a global market place. All you have to do is choose a niche product and prepare all the necessary tools for your affiliates to lead traffic from just about anywhere to your website.
5. Low risk
The very main reason for Internet marketer's enthusiasm with affiliate marketing is its having a low risk factor. Especially for those with low budget set aside for advertising, affiliate marketing is just the way to do it.
6. No closing time
With affiliate marketing, your business works every single second of the day while targeting a worldwide market! What could be better than that?
But all of these will be put to waste if you don't have the right niche product and all the other important tools to make it big in affiliate marketing, i.e., well-SEO-ed website. So better work on this first before ever considering those benefits.
Career Management - How to Create Mini Celebrity-Status in Your Industry
1. Potential exposure to future "dream" positions - they contact YOU!
2. Establishment as an expert in your industry
3. Widen your network
4. More ability to garner positive references and testimonials
5. More control over who you work with and how you work
Different points will stand out as meaningful to different people. The real point is, managing your career gives you options....options you may not have had otherwise.
So, where do you start? Here are three quick and easy tips:
Tip #1 Get a Platform
It's easy to get a platform to express your option and ideas about your area of interest in your industry - by starting a blog! www.wordpress.com is a free site where you can set up your blog in minutes (very easily by the way - even if you are like me i.e. not technical).
Another option is to sign up for a linked in account (e mail me and I will invite you to my list!) Linked in is a business-oriented networking site. Once you have set up your profile you can answer questions other business people are asking on various topics. A quick way to establish your credibility!
Tip #2 Rub Shoulders with High Performers in Your Industry
Get involved in a corporate volunteer group or industry association. These are two wonderful portals filled with people that care deeply about industries and issues - just like you! Not only will this broaden your networking circle but it will keep you growing in your career!
And remember if you attend an industry luncheon to listen to a great speaker - introduce yourself to him or her after their presentation. Give them your business card as well - and gulp, ask for theirs! It's the little things you do as you "put yourself out there" to be open to new opportunities, friendships and possibilities that will pay off in the long run.
Tip #3 Grow Your Knowledge Base
What was the last certification you received? How about on going training?
I recommend making sure that each year you commit to 2-3 actions that result in your learning a new tool for your trade. To make sure you will be motivated to do this - make it that one training, certification or learning experience that has been in the back of your mind to master! You know the one I am talking about. Check with your employers ongoing education benefits to find out if your training might be a covered expense!
Establishing mini-celebrity status doesn't mean you have a gigantic ego. It's simply a wise business move that opens doors of possibility for you. You will be amazed how putting these simple tips into action will quickly change-up your career status!
Career marketing expert Mary Elizabeth Bradford is "The Career Artisan". Mary Elizabeth delivers simple ways for career seekers to focus on, find and land the job they want. She has over 13 years experience in career marketing, coaching, resume writing and executive recruiting. For free tip on getting more interviewing, bigger offers and reaching your career goals quickly and easily visit http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com
Chinese Yuan Carry Trade Basket Update - July 20, 2007
This is an update on the performance of the Chinese Yuan Carry Trade Basket. The experiment was started with a base of $100,000 on March 20, 2007. I have included the performance figures for both of the experiments that I have been running, although they are the same in composition, I have leveraged them differently.
Since Inception (5 times leveraged basket):
Increase (decrease) in Account Balance: $11,019.70
Increase (decrease) in Unrealized Gains: $23,221.74
Increase (decrease) in Net Asset Value: $34,241.44
Total Portfolio Value: $134,241.44 +34.24%
Since Inception (10 times leveraged basket):
Increase (decrease) in Account Balance: $22,039.40
Increase (decrease) in Unrealized Gains: $46,443.47
Increase (decrease) in Net Asset Value: $68,482.87
Total Portfolio Value: $168,482.87 +68.48% +55.87%
In 17 days since the last update, the portfolio has increased by 12.61%, which has been due to the continued weakness in the US Dollar versus all major currencies.