KnowURLimit is a coin-operated commercial breathalyzer sold to establishments that sell alcoholic beverages, such as bars, night clubs, sporting events and other venues. These unique breathalyzer products are manufactured in China and distributed from Maryland in the USA. The breathalyzer is easy to install on a wall or countertop, offering the option to test a person’s intoxication level. It serves as a source of revenue for the bar owner and provides a safety service for the establishment’s customers.

The KnowURLimit Coin-Operated Breathalyzer features an easy to follow audible and visual guide, a 3-digit LED display showing the user’s calculated blood alcohol content (BAC), and a universal power supply for AC 90-220V. Its straw dispensing system is an inexpensive solution for bar and entertainment club owners, ensuring that each use is as sanitary as the previous one.

As everyone knows, it’s a crime for a driver to operate a vehicle while under the effects of alcohol or drugs. The offense is called driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated. It is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that is 0.08 or higher in the U.S., and drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when their BAC is .08 or higher.

While there has been a decline in the statistics on drunk driving deaths in the U.S. from 1982 to 2008, we still have entirely too many. The latest stats for 2008 indicate 37 percent of all driving fatalities were alcohol related (13,846 drunk-driving fatalities out of the total driving fatalities of 37,261). The state that has the most drunk driving fatalities is Texas (43% of driving fatalities or 1,463 deaths per year), and California is second (37% of driving fatalities or 1,198 deaths per year).

We asked Gregory Wilson of GW Enterprises, the product’s distributor, what made him decide to manufacture and distribute this product. “The company was started to help curb drinking and driving because of a few friends’ deaths (Nick Adenhart, the Angels pitcher) and it sponsors his charity,” said Wilson.

We were all saddened to hear of Nick Adenhart’s tragic death last year when he was out with friends after pitching a  great game for the Angels. Adenhart was a passenger in a car driven by a friend and accompanied by two other friends. Their car was hit broadside by a minivan that ran a red light, driven by a drunk driver with a suspended license for drunk driving. Three people in his car were killed, one survived. The driver and passenger in the minivan were not hurt. The driver was convicted on three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, and one felony count of hit-and-run, in addition to driving on a suspended license. He is serving a sentence of 51 years to life. Such tragedies might be preventable with the availability of products like the breathalyzer.

From accounts of what happened prior to the accident, the two men in the minivan were drinking heavily in several bars before driving home in the morning hours. Products like KnowURLimit could help prevent such senseless acts and save lives. The KnowURLimit Coin-Operated Breathalyzer has the following specifications:

Audio: Pre-programmed audio messages via MP3 files
Visual: Attractive LED lighting sequence resembling a taxi cab
Coin accepter: Pre-programmed to user’s currency requirements
Alcohol sensor: Accurate to 0.01 or ½ of a standard drink*
Straw dispenser: Sanitary individual use straw dispenser
Test feedback: Visual and audio
Power supply: 110v or 220v available
Mounting System: Wall mounting L-bracket system or counter top model
Refilling method: Easy to refill straw dispenser and easy to empty coin box

Providing a KnowURLimit unit in a bar or at a sporting event allows people to enjoy a few drinks while providing the means to make an informed decision as to whether or not they should get behind the wheel. It is the first of several products offered by GW Enterprises catering to the alcohol vending industry. The purpose of the KnowURLimit is to provide value to the establishment’s owner and patrons by offering the option to test one’s intoxication level. The machine is designed to offer the bar owner a revenue-generating opportunity while providing a service to their customers.

Cheap, pirated DVDs of American films that are produced in China can be found for sale on the streets of Beijing just a few days after the films are playing in theaters. These bootlegged DVDs are threatening legitimate DVD wholesale sales. Pirated DVD shops exist all over China. For instance, Chinese consumers can buy popular DVD movies for about $1.22 (8 yuan) from stores that exist just down the street from the Apple Store in Beijing. So why would anyone buy legitimate DVDs from the Apple Store?

A major reason for the DVD black market in China is its strict censorship policy and government restrictions on home entertainment products. This makes it nearly impossible for consumers in China to buy legal copies of American films because so few are approved for marketing. China only allows 20 foreign movies into theaters each year, and the government has strict licensing rules for the sale of home entertainment products. The censors must approve all films for legal viewing and they disapprove of movies with explicit sex scenes, as well as movies such as “The Social Network,” which is about Facebook, a site that is blocked by the government in China. Therefore, Chinese movie buffs are driven to illegal Internet downloads or stores and street vendors that sell pirated DVDs.

Bootleg DVDs in China are very slickly produced and packaged. In fact, many have extra features that make them better than those found on legitimate discs. This is a huge business. According to a report issued by the state-run media, the country’s pirate DVD industry totaled approximately $6 billion in 2010. China’s box office receipts, on the other hand, totaled a mere $1.5 billion for last year.

The authorities in China say they are taking strong action to put a stop to copyright infringement of products such as films, music and clothing. They claim this crackdown has resulted in jailing 3,000 people since October 2010. However, the major problem is that China’s censorship policies make it almost impossible for consumers to buy legal DVDs of American films in China. This is acknowledged by Hollywood studios and Chinese consumers alike.

The Motion Picture Association of America estimates 9 out of 10 DVDs sold in China are bootlegged, and the piracy rates for Internet downloads are at least the same or higher. MPAA, the trade group that represents the six major Hollywood studies is hoping that a pending World Trade Organization dispute will force China to liberalize the theatrical distribution of movies and government policies regarding the import and sale of home entertainment products, including the retailer licensing process. This has been going on since 2009 and hopefully, resolution will happen soon.

Hollywood has started licensing deals with Chinese video portals such as Youku and Tudou, whereby they license films that users can pay 5 yuan to watch. Tudou is also going to start streaming TV programs like “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” in a licensing agreement with Disney Media Distribution. However, Chinese consumers are so used to bootlegging that they even have pirate brands such as Red Dragon, Monkey King and Pegasus. Some of the more established pirate brands are even putting watermarks on their DVDs to distinguish their products from other bootleggers.

So what can Hollywood do? The MPAA has taken people to court in China and has won these court cases. However, the penalties are not severe enough to discourage people from bootlegging. There are so many bootleg DVD factories and so little enforcement of the law that it’s hard to make a case for legitimate DVD wholesale sales.

If you combine the people who filed their taxes but have not paid, with those who failed to file and owe, along with those people included in the 47 percent listed above that filed their taxes incorrectly, you have an enormous amount of people requiring Tax Resolution just for the 2009 tax year.

Now the big question…”What can I do if I owe taxes or have unfiled returns?”

Many people and businesses fear that if they file their returns or the IRS finds out that they owe tax, they will be unable to pay and fear the consequences.

You will be happy to know that the Internal Revenue Service’s policy is to collect not based upon the amount you owe, but rather upon what you are able to pay. Based upon IRS Standards (some Local and some National), the IRS will collect only that money which they deem to be “disposable income.” That is the amount you have left over after you pay your expenses. There is no debtor’s prison, so as long as you legitimately file your returns, and set up an affordable payment plan or in some cases justify that you are unable to pay anything at all, you will be able to continue living your life without the concern of dodging the IRS.

The IRS has various plans by which to resolve your tax matters. The key is (1) choosing the right plan, and (2) making sure you know exactly how to properly file the necessary paperwork. If you do not know how which is the case with most individuals and businesses, you need to hire someone that is qualified to do so.

The Tax Resolution Institute is a company that has been resolving both people’s and business’ tax issues for over 25 years. Their President and Founder Peter Stephan not only practices Tax Resolution on a daily basis, he wrote the text book.

While there are multiple companies that practice in this area, you need to make sure that you choose a company that understands the complexities of each program in order to get the most favorable result. In cases too numerous to mention either an individual or their CPA or Attorney attempts to resolve tax issues and either does not get anywhere, or even scarier gets a result that they deem acceptable when in fact is only a fraction of what could be accomplished by someone properly qualified.

The Tax Resolution Institute is not only capable of dealing with all areas of personal Tax Resolution such as Offers In Compromise (“OIC”), Installment Agreements, Partial Pay Installment Agreements, and placement into Currently Non Collectable (CNC”) status, but is also well versed in resolving business related tax problems relating to Payroll Tax, Sales Tax, and Bulk Sale transactions. Unlike others who practice in these areas, the Tax Resolution Institute understands how the resolution of these sometimes complex issues not only affect one’s direct tax implications, but also additional items outside of the area of tax, for example, Bankruptcy.

Hangzhou Taiqing is a specialized company, producing some of the best gloves in the business for activities that require quality, durability, and style. The company also enjoys quite a bit of independence as an exporter who holds an export license, which means dealers seeking products from them will be able to rest assured, knowing that their needs are being met by professionals with experience that is hard to beat.

The company’s full line of gloves have become well renowned in the industry, and their joint venture specializing in producing gloves has benefited greatly from the fact that they own and operate their own line of glove knitting machines, and also in the added benefit of operating eight factories that make up a base of operations that numbers in the thousands, with machines of all kinds performing every task imaginable for glove production.

Hangzhou Taiqing has also processed gloves for many internationally renowned brands in the business, as well. The range of product is impressive, and some examples can be seen here:

• Anti-cut gloves
• Insulated gloves
• BBQ Gloves
• Oven gloves
• Garden gloves
• Garden printing tools
• PVC dotting gloves
• Buna-n gloves
• PU gloves
• Dipping/Rubber gloves
• Latex glove
• Knitting or Dotting Machine gloves
• Protective Appliances
• …and much more!

These products are all exported to America, Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world, and the company has also recently launched (thermal transfer) printing series. In addition, some of their best received products fall under the gardening category, with examples of their products below:

• Cotton Gloves & Mittens
• Other Agricultural & Gardening Tools
• Shovels
• Forks
• Other Gloves & Mittens
• Household Gloves
• Sprayers
• Other Tools
• Pruning Shears
• Garden Trowels
• Hedge Trimmers
• Cotton Slippers

The main mission of Hangzhou Taiqing lies in their never ending desire to continue researching and developing new products, receive trading orders, strengthen product quality, and offering the best complete services to clients across the world.

A supplier who actually knows something about the freshest styles and latest trends in fashion, is badly needed in the business of wholesale clothing, and it’s especially true because going to a company that lacks actual hands-on experience with the items in question, will often lead to disappointments. Those of us who want the high-quality and authentic feel and fit of urban street wear and sexy chic apparel, already know that only those who actually use the products for themselves, are even capable of delivering on their promise, each and every time.

Sam Monem, the company’s manager, is the driving force behind the fashions at IslandWholesaler and their vast collection of sizzling street wear. He and his staff are completely ready to take any customer’s queries, and turn them into totally stylish and exciting shipments of hot and trendy clothing that will undoubtedly turn heads everywhere, while other companies continue to offer the same tired fashions that do little besides elicit yawns from customers. His priority is not only welcoming new prospects, clients, and other interested parties, but also providing top-notch service to his valued repeat clients that turn to him for their wholesale clothing needs. In the business, Sam’s team is well-known for their ability to answer any questions they may have about these goods as well.

Anyone can quickly find that one of the major selling points behind IslandWholesaler is a core philosophy of value statements to their loyal customers, and this is supported by the fact that they have a spotless track record for doing business with their customers, keeping a high level of integrity and service of the highest quality, as evidenced by positive reports from the Better Business Bureau record, and the stream of comments that have poured in from past customers who did business with them before. It’s not easy to find another company of this scope that holds such a coveted status, by being a company that is A-rated with the Better Business Bureau, and credited  with having zero incidents to tarnish their reputations, since the company was established in 2002. For this reason, from the USA to the UK – and even as far away as New Zealand – their loyal base of customers are raving about the vast selection of clothes that IslandWholesaler offers, and they are also jumping at the chance to get some for themselves as well.

The quality of the clothing that is for sale through this company is another factor to take into consideration. Islandwholesaler.com has gone through extensive efforts to ensure that the goods they carry are legit, with many items for sale being brought into their inventories from genuine and authentic manufacturers and distributors who already carried branded labels in retail environments.

You’ll find fashions in ladies jersey dresses, men’s jerseys, Sean John, Ecko, Outkast, Rocawear, SouthPole, and other brands, just to name a few.

A list of the fashions available from Islandwholesaler.com are:

• Ecko Unlimited
• Ecko Red
• Victorious
• Baby Phat
• 5ive Jungle
• Phat Farm
• Dereon
• Coogi
• Enyce
• Akademiks
• Makaveli
• Apple Bottoms
• Sean John
• Rocawear
• Gino Green
• Lot 29
• Notorious BIG
• Kanji
• Palis
• Ricco Tizio
• Palis Ladies

The above are just examples of what’s selling now, and in addition, the company offers a seven day return policy that will safeguard buyers who may be dissatisfied with their selections for any reason. These returns are allowed within seven days of receiving the goods, and must be authorized by phone, to ensure security and the best service possible.

Important notice: IslandWholesaler always welcomes all new inquiries, and requires that new accounts pay for shipping upfront, prior to delivery of the shipment, to guarantee the prevention of fraudulent orders. This keeps prices low for everyone who orders from the company, and ensures that everyone wins.

In addition to all the great features of this company, an international shipping program is also available that will make customers outside the USA very glad to call the company for their urban wear needs. All international orders must be prepaid by bank wire or Western Union only, and credit cards will not be accepted, since this will also help to prevent activity that ultimately raises prices for everyone in the end. It is strongly recommended that international customers contact IslandWholesaler directly, regarding policies for shipping outside of the USA.

The professional and energetic team at IslandWholesaler.com knows and understands that doing business online can be a little tricky at times, so they strive for the best customer service and product quality everyday, to keep things working without effort or interruptions. Customers should also remember that any additional questions can be answered directly, by calling the company at 786-269-0629, or by sending an email through their helpful and easy to use website.

UK-founded Worthington Brown Design Ltd. is bringing the professional level quality of western design agencies to China, with a satellite office in the top-ranked tourism and technology city of Hangzhou. The need for such a service has been demonstrated time after time, and the company decided to put themselves directly into the mix, in order to bring an unprecedented level of service to unique clients.

Companies have been hunting for trustworthy and effective English-based design services in China for some time, and the results are usually not positive when Chinese design firms and foreign companies attempt to coordinate marketing campaigns, especially when dealing with language barriers and incompatible creative visions.

It’s a simple matter of something being “lost in translation,” and it’s nothing new to many entrepreneurs who strike out to create a presence in China. It’s also a source of frustration for Chinese enterprises who have not experienced success with bringing their message to the masses, in easily-understood English.

With a full range of creative services available, Worthington Brown offers clients the chance to make themselves get noticed in China, and around the world. Their expertise is adaptable to all forms of media, whether it’s in print mediums like magazines, catalogs, and brochures; to more technological solutions like online email campaigns, and web design.

In particular, the company’s presence in China has been in full operation for the last five years, and their web design capabilities have also expanded tremendously since 2006, filling a very important niche in the market, where foreign companies with specific requirements are concerned. Companies who are trying to build a reputation in the notoriously volatile Chinese market are always trying to come up with methods for creating a “Western Face” that equates to a brand and company image that appeals to Chinese tastes, as a trustworthy and accessible product or service with features familiar to them.

The expatriate market in particular has been highly receptive to the “makeover” benefits of getting a brand identity and marketing strategy in place, with the help of Worthington Brown’s creative direction.

One of the biggest assets provided by their creative services is through a process of getting to know and understand the client’s business purpose, thereby ensuring a message and branding strategy that fully underlines their ultimate message.

As a marketing firm Hangzhou China, Worthington Brown Design Ltd. has a proven track record of servicing a full range of B2B and B2C clients throughout China, the UK and internationally. Take a look at their site today, to begin the process of getting noticed by everyone!

Qingdao Yaguan Cap Co., Ltd. is known in the industry for their professionalism in producing various kinds of caps such as:

• Baseball Caps
• Sports Caps
• Casual Caps
• Golf Caps
• Beret Caps
• Bucket Hats
• Sunvisors
• Knitted Caps
• and much more!

The company accepts OEM requests, and they also have their own design team who can supply the newest and biggest designs that are in demand, as fashion caps are being requested by global customers, and made to fit their requirements. Qingdao Yaguan has more than 300 workers and many advanced machines at their services, such as  sewing, molding, heating machines, ironing machines, and embroidering stations, amongst others.

The company covers an area of 10,000 square meters, giving them plenty of room to produce the best in their full range of goods. Customers can rest assured, knowing that their products are welcomed by consumers with high quality standards, in countries like the USA,Canada, Korea, UK, Italy, Spain, Austria, South Africa, East and South Asia, and others. The list of export markets continues to grow for Qingdao Yaguan, and continues to bring endless satisfaction to buyers everywhere.

With the attitude of friendly cooperation and the spirit of satisfying the clients, we offer high quality products to our clients sincerely.

The general manger and the staff of Qingdao Yaguan Cap Co., Ltd are always ready to welcome people from both at home in China, and abroad, to come to the factory for a visit, some professional guidance, and of course, business negotiations that will get everyone started on the road to success with their own hat and caps ventures!

Established seven years ago as a city guide and handy reference manual for visitors to the city of Hangzhou, MORE Magazine has come a long way from its humble beginnings. With a close-knit and dedicated team of editorial staff at its core, the magazine has become one of the foremost and widely-recognized publications in China today, and has also provided countless visitors to the famed capital tourist city of Hangzhou with a better experience than they could have managed on their own, without professional help.

Most travelers who have done business in China already know that getting useful information is a sometimes arduous task, and time is easily wasted when spent trying to pry details from locals with nearly zero English skills, or from business relations that are only interested in cornering their guests, in order to maintain a greater degree of leverage over them.

MORE Magazine offers the visitor a convenient and powerful tool to add to their arsenal; and to make matters even better, the magazine is always available FREE of charge, and can be found at nearly every expat-friendly venue in town, including all major international hotels like the Hyatt Regency Hangzhou, Intercontinental Hotel, and Wyndham Grand Plaza Royal West Lake Hangzhou, amongst many other smaller establishments in every corner of the city. Published monthly as a slick and colorful magazine with roughly 50 pages in each issue – and with a very useful tear-out map of the city’s central district to add to its tremendous value – readers will find a variety of content within the pages, including reviews of restaurants, musical venue reports, and suggested sightseeing for locals and visitors alike.

Some of the main points to consider about MORE Magazine are:

Readers will also be rewarded with intriguing articles ranging from topics about local interests like Hangzhou’s lush green tea field tours, lifestyle stories, restaurant reviews that cover the full range of Hangzhou’s diverse mix of world-class Asian and western cuisines, to interviews with fascinating celebrities and entertainment media icons like Henry Rollins, Amos Gitai, and even Q+A sessions with designers from the hit American television program Project Runway! As loyal readers have discovered, there’s always something surprising going on with MORE… and there’s MORE to come in the future.

See what all the talk is about, and find out what’s going on in Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Chengdu with MORE Magazine and a team of writers, photographers, and contributors who have been providing the final word in what makes China such an interesting place for people who bring their own experiences and interests to one of the fastest-moving cities in China!

In “the good old days,” manufactures supplied products to retailers and retailers were the trusted partner who sold the product to the consumer. Alas, the “good old days” are certainly in the past and we live in a different world that has changed forever.

Consumers are drifting toward buying more products online. There are many reasons for this drift, but one of them is the lack of trust that consumers have for many retailers.

The trusted retailer is becoming less easy to find, as far as consumers are concerned. This does not mean the demise of the retailer, but it does mean that manufacturers, suppliers and retailers have to work harder to build trust with consumers.

It is easy to say this is the retailers problem, but that does not help the supply chain, and we should all be working together to build the supply chain and helping each other. Some of the techniques we can use could be called “common sense,” but often that can become a rare sense, and as a result, the consumer looks somewhere else to purchase the product.

Signage Strategies are the Responsibility of all.

In this article I will look at one simple technique to grow sales that we can all get involved in, signage. To sell a product, we have to provide the relevant information to the consumer. As consumers become less confident in sales advice, signage becomes more important as a tool to help the selling process.

Sonia Larsen of Michigan University wrote a wonderful book called “Signs that Sell.” In that book she talked about the common sense we have often forgotten. To sell products, it is best to write signs in a lower type face as this is easier for the consumer to read. Research has indicated that the consumer wants to read three benefits of the product using bullet points. A sign with less than three benefits suggests to the consumer than the sales team are unaware of the benefits; whereas, putting more than three benefits on the sign suggests the product is complicated and should be avoided.

The consumer wants to know what the product is, the three benefits and the price. A failure to provide this basic information can result in a loss of sales for everyone in the supply chain. As a manufacturer or supplier, you may feel that this is the responsibility of the retailer. In my experience working with retailers, I would not make that assumption. Clearly, some retailers are aware of how to write a sign to maximise sales, but take a walk down your Main Street and look at some of the signage and I suspect you will find that a lot of retailers are hoping a product will sell rather than encouraging the customer to buy.

I am not suggesting that getting the signage correct is the only remedy to increasing sales in stores. It is a collection of a lot of little things that make the difference. In future articles, I will look at other ideas where the manufacturer, supplier and retailer can join forces and make a difference.

John Stanley is a retail business coach, speaker and author. He has authored several successful marketing and retail books, produces a monthly internet TV program Retail Globe Report on retail trends as well as monthly e-training for his Club Members on his website. As a CSP John is considered one of the top ten percent of speakers in the world. John Stanley helps retailers: Increase sales per square metre, increase the average sale per customer, better manage stock, merchandise and display to maximise potential, market more effectively to convert lookers into buyers. Visit www.johnstanley.com.au to join his Members Club or for information on how he can help you grow your business or email linda@johnstanley.com.au

FOBShanghai.com has developed a business forum that provides quality business answers for new entrepreneurs in a global marketplace of buyers, sellers, and manufacturers on the FOB Business Forum. The forum has many different threads posted under four major sections: Trade Forums, World Trade, Non-Trade Forums and FOB General Purpose. Members can select various topics under these major sections, which have moderators overseeing the content. Content threads are also organized under four geographic areas: Asia, USA, Europe and Africa. Members can search for threads by keyword and send private messages to other members through the P.M. (private message) messaging client.

FobShanghai.com is the largest international trade community in China. Founded in 2001, it has more than 1,000,000 members located mostly in eastern and southern China. FOBShanghai provides a free B2B portal for Chinese and overseas buyers to help Chinese exporters develop their business with zero cost.

The FOBShanghai forum came to the attention of TopTenWholesale CEO Jason Prescott on his recent trip to China in establishing a sales team for Manufacturer.com.”Their community and content is purely amazing,” said Prescott, “there is a Chinese and English version.”

According to the FAQ, the forum was developed to provide a resource for entrepreneurs when time is of essence as finding access to quality leads can help turn time into profit without going through extra steps.

“Nearly all the export and import staff in China is using this forum,” said Manufacturer.com Sales Manager Hagard Wei. “It helps newbies to solve problems and allows experienced guys to share their knowledge and make friends,” he added. It is well known that the Chinese business community likes to post information in forums or bulletin boards. Chinese business is largely focused on personal interaction. Therefore, this forum was established to fulfill cultural and business needs.

China has come a long way toward becoming one of the largest economic powerhouses in the world due to the economic reforms that started in the late 1970s. Another factor that helped China transform itself from a third-world country into one of the worlds’ most influential economic powers was inception of the Internet and electronic commerce starting in the mid 1990s. In some sectors of the Chinese business community, the understanding of free enterprise and competition is still vague, thus international business forums go a long way toward helping Chinese companies deal with the current economic realities.

Below are examples of the different sections and topics members can access on the FOB Shanghai Forums.

Trade Forums
• Business Talk
• Fraud and Security
• Basics of Import Export
• Inventory
• Ecommerce
• Business Opportunities
• Logistics

World Trade
• China Business
• Business India
• Brazil Business
• Other Countries

Non-Trade Forums
• Free Talk
• Putonghua
• Travel Guide
• Expats

FOB General Purpose
• User Comments

You can access the FOB Forum after registering, and it’s also useful to set up a profile with a photo to make your interactions more personal.

The National Hardware Show®, the industry’s biggest trade exhibition, is coming to Las Vegas May 10-12. The show is so popular that it’s already sold-out. In addition to first-time categories like Outdoor Recreation, DIY Security and Energy Efficient Products, the Show will feature over 600 new exhibitors.

With categories like Hardware & Tools, Homewares, Lawn & Garden/Outdoor Living, Paint & Accessories, Plumbing & Electrical, Storage & Organization, Tailgating, Camping & Picnic, and core product categories in the International Sourcing area, attendees get 9 shows in 1.

One of our WholesaleU advertisers, INSTA-LEVEL, will be exhibiting at the National Hardware Show in booth 4344. Their booth at a Home and Garden Show is shown above. Manager Eric Rasmussen of INSTA-LEVEL said, “We will have a drawing at the National Hardware Show twice a day for a free level when visitors come by our booth and leave their business cards.”

INSTA-LEVEL has been exhibited in a number of home remodeling and home and garden shows since their product was introduced in December 2010, and is looking forward to exhibiting at the 2011 National Hardware Show. “We are very excited to go to the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas in May,” said Rasmussen. “We believe that a tool company or retailer will want the INSTA-LEVEL™ to be part of their tool lineup,” he added.

Roger Pankow of INSTA-LEVEL said, “The response to the INSTA-LEVEL™ has been phenomenal. Everyone who looks at this new product thinks it is great, and we get comments like “Cool,” “Awesome,” “Wow,” and “Why didn’t someone think of that before.”

“The 2011 National Hardware Show will have something for everyone, focusing on both large and small retailers, spreading out into relevant new categories and exploring the expansive reach of social media like never before,” said Rich Russo, event director, National Hardware Show®. The major theme of the 2011 Show is “A New Way to Market,” as the show grows exponentially with an impressive list of global attendees from the normal retail and wholesale outlets, in addition to channels like grocery stores, drug stores, catalogers and Internet vendors that represent approximately $240 billion in sales revenue. The show will also offer special events that include product demonstrations, NRHA TV and social networking, not to mention the many presentations by industry experts.

Last, but not least, exhibitors with Energy Efficient Products will be given a special designation in the show directory and on the National Hardware Show® website, making it easy for show attendees to discover the latest new products in energy saving innovation. In addition to CFL lighting, the Energy Efficient Products category includes pipe insulation, weather stripping, programmable thermostats, motion sensor lights, dimmer switch

Pick up a local newspaper, switch on the TV or radio and there is a retailer promoting a special on something. In Australia, supermarkets have been promoting cheap liquor and a thumbs-down promotional sign on specific “loss leader” items. Then we cross the world to the UK and “Everyday Low price” signs are scattered around a leading supermarket. Everyone seems to be playing the price game at present. One reason for this is to stimulate the consumer to spend.

Since the start of the year, consumers have held on tightly to their purse strings. They have been only buying what they perceive as a necessity.

The reasons for this are complex, but a major reason is what is happening in the world. Forget specific economies for a minute. The global natural disasters in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and other places at the start of 2011 are a major concern for people and have shaken their confidence. As I write this article, there is a news flash concerning an earthquake that shook Blackpool in the UK. Blackpool is a town that is nowhere near a fault line. All these events are causing uncertainty in the retail world.

Where are you in the Game?

The challenge is, as a retailer, where do you fit into the game rules? It is very clear that there are only two places to be in the marketplace if you have a future. Firstly, you can position yourself as a price leader and play the “Everyday Low Price” game. It is working, and the leaders in the game are announcing healthy profit results. To do this, you need maximum market penetration. For example, Tesco in the UK owns 30% of the grocery market and takes 80,000 pounds a minute in other goods and services as well. This is a real challenge to compete with in a price game. If you decide on this approach, you will need very understanding suppliers as they will be asked to share the burden of reduced margins which will be passed on to the consumer.

At the other extreme are the true niche specialists who provide a wide and deep range within a specific category, have qualified, knowledgeable team members serving the customer and can create a trust relationship with the consumer. Alas, there are a lot of retailers who have positioned themselves in the middle in the consumers’ mind. Those retailers are really suffering and finding this a difficult business to be in at present.

What can you do to Play the Game?

There are ways you can play the game to ensure that you can develop your business. These include:

1. Genuine Loyalty Schemes

I mention loyalty schemes and many retailers instantly think of the Tesco Club Card. This was launched in 1995 and there are over 12 million members in the UK alone, 35 million around the world. This is the world’s largest database with each member buying around 20 products a week and giving Tesco 12 billion pieces of data a year to manage their business. Although I admire the Tesco scheme, in my mind they are offering a small discount to the customer to obtain an amazing amount of research which they can then use to develop their offer to the consumer. It is an excellent research tool, but not the type of situation that should be applied by small retailers.

I believe you should create a genuine loyalty card. Remember, in most retail business 80% of the profit comes from the top 20% of your customers. They are not looking for a discount so why would you want to reduce your profit margin with them. Take these loyal customers and offer them genuine loyalty. This means that you do not discount your core product. You will provide incentives, but they will be away from the core product. This may include networking with other retailers. I am a great believer in the Thank You Card concept where another retailer gets involved in offering a thank you present to your loyal customers.

2. Play the Price Game

If you do not understand the psychology of pricing then get a copy of “Priceless” by William Poundstone, Scibe Publications. This is an excellent read and will make you seriously look at how you can play the pricing game in 2011 and beyond. In this article, I will only mention a few ideas from his book that can help you develop your pricing strategy to grow sales.

Bundling. We have all come across this in the food industry. It is where several products are grouped together to provide an incentive to the consumer to spend more money. The normal practise includes three items, the third item being the only one that is discounted. The aim is that the overall profit goes up as the average sale per customer is increased.

Bracketing. This is where expensive items are offered in two sizes. By doing this, the smaller item is made to look more attractive to the consumer and sales go up on this item. Often the retailer does not care if the larger more expensive item does not sell. The aim is to sell the smaller item.

Remove the $, € or £ Sign. It works. The restaurant industry has already proved it. A product with the financial symbol in front of it will sell less quickly that a product with no financial symbol in front of it. I cannot explain the logic, but it can increase sales.

Provide Three Options in a Range. When looking at ranging, provide the customer with three options to do a specific job. The aim is to sell the middle of the range. To help you understand this concept, think about selling wine. You have a cheap one, a middle of the road and an expensive wine. In today’s prudent economy most people will not select the expensive one, they will think the cheaper one is inferior and will select the middle of the range. The price is relatively irrelevant. It is the positioning in price of the three products that is important. You could sell a more expensive item just by getting the price points correct on the three that you have selected to sell.

There are other ways to play the price game. You could join our Members Club and network with other niche retailers around the world to share ideas and discuss solutions. The rules of the game are that it is no longer a matter of just adding your margin. It is about understanding how the consumer thinks and then pricing accordingly. An interesting game is unfolding and you need to be a player.

John Stanley is a retail business coach, speaker and author. He has authored several successful marketing and retail books, produces a monthly internet TV program Retail Globe Report on retail trends as well as monthly e-training for his Club Members on his website. As a CSP John is considered one of the top ten percent of speakers in the world. John Stanley helps retailers: Increase sales per square metre, increase the average sale per customer, better manage stock, merchandise and display to maximise potential, market more effectively to convert lookers into buyers. Visit www.johnstanley.com.au to join his Members Club or for information on how he can help you grow your business or email linda@johnstanley.com.au

For a B2B directory that gives users the power to ind members at the click of a key, the Dragon Guide puts some of the best Chinese business people within your reach.

Often considered a B2B “guide of guides” that puts all kinds of resources from the best search engines and directories right in front of people who can make the most of the information available.

According to the Dragon Guide, “Descendants of the Dragon is the Chinese people since ancient times,” and they carry on a tradition of trust and value for all members who wish to utilize their services, in order to maximize the effectiveness of the information found within.

“Wizard Dragon” symbolizes YOUR guide, as they offer users a chance to personalize searches to find the most relevant results.

With China emerging as a power player in global trade, ever since a reform and opening up period that has catapulted the country into the spotlight, this is a resource that pays off.

This is the reason why users that represent the world’s elite are engaged in foreign trade in this industry, are advocates of the Dragon Guide.

Some of the many regions in the world that are found on the site are as follows:

• Russia
• United States
• Japan
• India
• South Africa
• Germany
• United Arab Emirates
• Australia
• Brazil
• In addition to the full range of services, there are other handy options on the site as well:
• Yahoo Translator
• Ministry of Commerce Free Buying Leads
• Network World exact time
• Global Currency Converter
• Conversion metric standard
• E-mail address genuine validation
• Global Weather
• RMB uppercase conversion tool
• Google Translation
• World Time check
• Daily exchange rates

As a business Yellowpage Catalog, the Dragon Guide is unmatched in its performance, especially when getting the best services an range of information to customers who want to maximize their potential in global markets that are otherwise difficult to access. In addition, perhaps the slogan used by the Dragon Guide says it all, when visitors are encouraged to: “Continue to work hard – Dragon Wizard!” It’s a good piece of advice, and never goes out of style.

In a move that perhaps signals a change of tack in the battle for control over Kenya’s consumer market, Chinese manufacturers are setting up local production plants that are being served through direct imports, that are quietly gaining a bit of foothold in Ken ya. China’s reputation for being the world’s factory and source for low-cost solutions through production models that have brought a large percentage of global trade in manufactured goods.

In the past five years, Chinese companies have established a strong local presence in Kenya, particularly in the telecommunications sector. In addition, the automotive, infrastructure, battery, food and beverage industries are also finding themselves developing fast, with help from the companies that are willing to be first to break ground in markets that require more initial outlay of manpower and investments to set the wheels in motion.

The local economy will also benefit greatly from the investments made in areas that over the full spectrum of technology and skills transfers that add a great deal of drive to Kenya’s workforce. On the other hand, Chinese companies that are finding themselves in a position to compete with well established western companies are discovering that some break-in time will be needed, in order to get up to speed and be able to meet or exceed expectations when pitted against players who have roughly 50 years of actual dominance under their belts.

The good news for these companies from China is that a large number of contracts and bids – which is growing larger every year – are being lost to the lowest bidders, who provide acceptable services for a large discount. In time, the market should stabilize, but at the present there is a heavy advantage for firms who don’t have the spending power to take on big price tags with western companies that command higher fees.

Another large growth sector is in the automotive industry, with companies like China’s Foton bracing for a fight to the finish with rivals like Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Nissan, and Toyota, in the area of work vehicles and industrial applications.

The growth of Chinese economic clout in Kenya has caused a bit of concern in some Western countries, with even the US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger being quoted in leaked diplomatic cables expressing resentment at growth of Chinese products in the local market that are shrinking market share of American companies like Eveready East Africa, and others that were once considered a safe place for American enterprises to grow at their own pace.

Moeim Fashion is a new breed of online wholesale fashion marketplace where vendors and buyers can interact to conduct business in the same place. Buyers can register to gain access to over 240 legitimate vendors displaying 60,000 different fashion products on Moeim’s website with many new items uploaded daily. Moeim provides quality services to vendors and buyers by making shopping convenient, easy and efficient, while offering information on the latest fashion trends and events. Retailers can make direct purchases on the website; however, they must be registered and must submit verifiable documents stating they are a business since the website is only for B2B.

Moeim has created an environment where vendors can showcase their latest fashion products right out of their production lines for fashion buyers to view and examine online before they reach competitors. The site was the first online wholesale marketplace to integrate a secure payment system allowing buyers and vendors to make secure transactions. “Using our services could be the step our customers need to take their business to the next level,” said Moeim CEO Brian Noh. “The best thing about our website is that our services are completely free,” he added.

We asked Noh what he hopes to accomplish by providing services to both retailers and wholesalers. “Moeim’s mission is to develop a next generation shopping site where customers can find all kinds of information related to the shopping experience in convenient, pleasant surroundings and where they can access the latest information on fashion trends and events,” said Noh. “Life has dramatically changed and continues to evolve since the emergence of the Internet,” he said. “I envision the Internet expanding into mobile and TV platforms with ecommerce growing explosively,” he added.

“The web came to be regarded as a core commercial line of business in a very short time period,” he continued. “Under these circumstances, Moeim was founded to realize the vision of Establishing and Building a No. 1 Platform for Internet-Based Fashion Commerce,” said Noh.

The Moeim website features New Arrivals and On Sale items in the following categories:

• Women
• Men
• Kids
• Accessories
• Jewelry
• Bags
• Shoes
• Hats

It also has a catalog of vendors too long to list in its entirety, including Ambition, Adore Knits, Blanc Noir, Catwalk, Diana and Decapolis to name a few. Buyers can find brands with an alphabetical keypad on the site or scroll down the list.

Moeim’s focus is to provide quality service to buyers and fashion vendors. Its shopping solution is based on web 2.0 technologies such as Widgets and AJAX. They strive to improve their site to make it user friendly and offer discounts and free shipping on purchases over $200, $300 and $400. Moeim wants to help their customers’ businesses grow by providing an innovative source for conducting ecommerce in a better way and with all resources in the same place.

“Consistent networking with customers is not an option but a necessity,” said Noh. “That is our strong conviction as a commerce platform provider,” he added. Moeim’s “shopping solution” may result in the best performance in conjunction with its “media service” and “social networking service,” which are unique in its shopping platform.
Moeim offers services such as its New Arrivals brochure and Moeim Rewards Program, providing retail members with instant, accurate product information tailored to the specific interests of each retailer and wholesaler, along with effective marketing tools.

Weekly Best and Trend Reports, created by Moeim’s sophisticated statistics package help to strengthen the R&D capability of its retail and wholesale members. Moeim’s Business Intelligence service enables wholesalers to develop the best products for their customers.

Retailers can join this B2B ecommerce platform to make purchases directly from the website with credit/debit cards or through PayPal. Services are completely free, but are for B2B transactions only.