The following is an excerpt from an article in:
The New York Times
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Amazon, Forced to Collect Sales Tax, Aims to Keep Its Competitive Edge
By DAVID STREITFELD
PATTERSON, Calif. — At the moment, it is little more than dirt and gravel. But a sunbaked field at the edge of this farming town will play a significant role in one of the most ambitious retailing ventures of the era: the relentless quest by the online mall Amazon.com to become all things to all shoppers.
A million-square-foot warehouse stocking razor blades and books, diapers and dog food will soon rise on this spot, less than a mile from the highway that will deliver these and just about every other product imaginable to customers 85 miles away in San Francisco. It is hundreds of miles closer to those consumers than Amazon’s existing centers in Nevada and Arizona.
A similar distribution center is being built on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Others are under way in Indiana, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
This multibillion-dollar building frenzy comes as Amazon is about to lose perhaps its biggest competitive edge — that the vast majority of its customers do not pay sales tax. After negotiations with lawmakers, the company is beginning to collect taxes in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and other states. But Amazon hopes that the warehouses will allow it to provide better service, giving it the ability to up-end the retailing industry in an entirely new way.
Amazon will soon be able to cut as much as a day off its two-day shipping times, said Jeff Bezos, its chief executive, in an interview. This will put the much-rumored same-day delivery — the elusive aspiration of every online merchant — potentially within reach in some metropolitan areas.
“We want fast delivery,” Mr. Bezos said. At a minimum, “we can work on making it the next day.”
It is a monumental bet, even for a company that consistently defied skeptics on Wall Street and Main Street as it rose to become one of the country’s largest retailers. Amazon’s delivery of everyday objects needs to be fast enough and cheap enough to wean customers from their local stores. Yet it also must be economically feasible for the retailer, which is investing so heavily in the warehouses that it is barely profitable.
For more, visit www.nytimes.com.
Showing posts with label sales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sales. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
IBM Helps Global Industry Leaders Connect with the Chief Executive Customer
Press release:
IBM Helps Global Industry Leaders Connect with the Chief Executive Customer
IBM Predicts Intelligent-Guided Future
ORLANDO - 06 Sep 2012: Today, from the Smarter Commerce Global Summit, IBM (NYSE:IBM) is helping a range of global business leaders across major industries, such as Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bank of America, ConocoPhillips, Expedia.com, Office Depot, Radio Shack, and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Customers are looking for new ways to connect with their customers accelerating key business processes such as marketing, sales, supply chain and customer service, driving faster business results.
IBM is also forecasting key Smarter Commerce trends including the prevalence of intelligent-guided customer experiences, mobile-first business strategies and the growth of hybrid cloud computing as the primary means for entering new markets.
From procurement and supply chain, marketing and sales, to customer service, companies are re-engineering key business processes to meet the preferences of their increasingly powerful and demanding clients, essentially their new chief executives.
IBM is helping more than 2,000 global brands transform operations centered around their customers. A variety of chief marketing officers (CMOs), chief information officers (CIOs) and other business leaders from many companies such as Husqvarna, Lenovo, Norwegian Cruise Line, SHOP.CA, Staples, Urban Outfitters and Wacoal will join IBM at the summit and present the business results they have achieved after working with IBM and shifting to a Smarter Commerce approach.
"The old adage 'the customer is always right' has evolved. The customer is dictating the terms under which commerce is conducted," said Craig Hayman, general manager, IBM Industry Solutions. "The new 'chief executive customer' expect companies to respect their time, preferences, values and privacy. Meeting these expectations requires insight, innovation and a system of engagement that delivers an intelligent guided customer experience at every touchpoint."
IBM Predicts Intelligent-Guided Future
Smarter Commerce is a growing market opportunity in excess of $20 billion per year in software alone that centers on the customer experience. In five years, intelligent-guided marketing and selling will routinely put the ultimate control in the hands of customers, allowing them to indicate what they are in the market for. In this new normal, businesses will have the ability to scan who is looking for what and make offers to customers to meet their preferences. Consumers will expect at most to wait just minutes or seconds for offers to come in and select the one they like. Bearing today's reality and this vision in mind, here are key trends IBM predicts will contribute to the evolution and expansion of Smarter Commerce:
1) Everything will be Data Driven
Stemming from buying behavior, social media interactions, and advanced analytics -- essentially the application of Big Data, customers will project what they are in the market for instead of settling for what's available on the shelf. Companies will respond within seconds essentially bidding for each individual's business. Sharpening analytics will help businesses across all industries anticipate and predict what customers want. The vision of marketing to a universe of one is realized.
2) Businesses Go Mobile First as Devices Proliferate and Channels Merge
Businesses will primarily design applications and processes for mobile deployment instead of PCs as individuals center their lives around smart phones and device use explodes exponentially. Location-based services will expand individualized offers; drive acceleration of business processes and reduction of costs. Frictionless payments will remove obstacles to impulse buying, leading to less predictable market shifts in consumer demand and requiring greater analytics to decipher.
3) Cloud Computing will Lead Businesses to New Markets
Established companies will deploy a hybrid cloud model for rapid expansion to new markets while newer players will use the cloud in a virtual inventory model to start up quickly and cost-effectively compete against larger competitors. Businesses realize immediate returns with instant deployments, reducing capital budgets. Cloud technology will serve as the primary means for people to quickly connect with social and collaborative business networks, bringing intellectual capital to bear for business more rapidly and in new ways.
The Future Starts Now
Many companies are on the path toward Smarter Commerce today, meeting the expectations of the chief executive customer. To help organizations realize the full potential of Smarter Commerce, IBM is teaming up with First Data in a consortium of industry leaders includingKohl's, Nordstrom, CardSpring, Citi and others that bring together retail, financial and technology institutions to share and establish best practices in retail commerce.
RadioShack, a leading U.S. retailer of mobile and technology products, services and accessories, is working with IBM’s DemandTec cloud solutions designed to help CMOs and their teams improve price image and pricing operations throughout the entire pricing lifecycle.
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. engaged IBM Web analytics and strategic consulting services to better understand its customers’ online preferences and enable more precise marketing activities. Virgin Atlantic has been able to cater more effectively to customers and successfully evaluate and monitor site performance.
SHOP.CA is a case study in hybrid cloud technology deployment. Canada’s online marketplace retailer is using IBM Web analytics, a cloud solution, integrated with on-premise instances of WebSphere Commerce. The online retailer selected IBM's technology as the e-commerce engine to power its consumer storefront, multi-merchant product catalog and Shop.ca Rewards program. IBM is also providing analytics on visitor preferences and interactions, as well as analyzing their searching and buying histories. This data will give Shop.ca insight on how, when and where to reach shoppers with content and offers personalized to their tastes and preferences via mobile or social vehicles.
For more information on IBM Smarter Commerce, visit: http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/smarter_commerce/overview/
Friday, August 31, 2012
Extreme Networks Promotes Carlos Perea To Vice President Of Sales For Latin America
August 31, 2012
Extreme Networks Promotes Carlos Perea To Vice President Of Sales For Latin America
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR) today announced that it has promoted Carlos Perea to the position of Vice President of Sales for Latin America (LATAM). Perea, a twelve year veteran of the company with 23 years of industry experience, has sales and channel responsibility for the region.
Over the recently completed fiscal year for the company (FY'12), Perea led the Latin America region to impressive revenue growth highlighted by a 39% increase year-over-year in Brazil. Perea has also cultivated a strong base of channel and distribution partners in the region with customer wins in education, telecom service providers, and banking.
"Carlos has achieved measurable growth in Latin America and typifies the blend of leadership, depth of knowledge and trusted practices that lead to success," said Oscar Rodriguez, president and CEO of Extreme Networks.
"I am looking forward to success as we further build Latin America channels, customer references and local sales and support teams," said Perea. "Customer opportunities stemming from the cloud, mobility and data center trends in the Latin America markets give us the momentum for continued growth."
About Extreme Networks
Extreme Networks is a technology leader in high-performance Ethernet switching for cloud, data center and mobile networks. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Extreme Networks has more than 6,000 customers in more than 50 countries. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.extremenetworks.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including without limitation statements as to poetential growth and sales performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties, including network design and actual results of use of the product in different environments. We undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking information in this release. Other important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are contained in the Company's 10-Qs and 10-Ks which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov).
Extreme Networks is either a registered trademark or trademark of Extreme Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
SOURCE Extreme Networks, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Microsoft Appoints Stephen Schueler as Corporate Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing
Press release:
Microsoft Appoints Stephen Schueler as Corporate Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing
Aug 29, 2012
Seasoned retail and consumer marketing executive will drive channel strategy and execution.
REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 29, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Stephen Schueler will join the company as corporate vice president of Retail Sales and Marketing. In his position, Schueler will be responsible for driving demand through global retail partners and ensuring customers receive a great service experience.
Schueler joins Microsoft from Procter & Gamble, where he most recently served as general manager for the Global Retail Operations Group responsible for global merchandising, promotion, and the third-party selling organizations. He will report to Chris Capossela, Chief Marketing Officer for Microsoft.
“I am pleased to have someone with Steve’s talent and deep experience leading our retail sales and marketing efforts,” said Capossela. “Steve is joining us at a pivotal moment for the company as we prepare to deliver Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and the new Office, as well as new Xbox 360 and Kinect experiences such as ‘Halo 4’ and ‘Nike+ Kinect.’”
“Microsoft has a strong history of partnering with the world’s most successful retail organizations,” said Schueler. “I look forward to deepening our relationships as we enter the most exciting launch season in Microsoft’s history. This is an incredible opportunity to draw upon my 24 years of retail experience at P&G and apply my learnings to the innovative world of technology.”
Schueler joined Procter & Gamble in 1988. Prior to leading Global Retail Operations he served as general manager of Procter & Gamble’s Eastern Europe Distribution Company, where he helped set the go-to-market strategy, vision, and planning for the organization. Steve has a long history with international business after working in the US, Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Ingram Micro Enables U.S. Channel Partners' Growth Initiatives With Increases in Credit Limits
Press release from Ingram Micro:
| Ingram Micro Enables U.S. Channel Partners' Growth Initiatives With Increases in Credit Limits |
| Aug 28, 2012 (Marketwire via COMTEX) --Leveraging the expertise of its credit analysts and propensity studies developed by its Business Intelligence Center (BIC), Ingram Micro Inc. ( Collectively the increases account for more than $8 million in available credit and were awarded to a select group of more than 500 pre-qualified channel partners who primarily sell to small and mid-size businesses (SMBs), as well as 175 high-potential channel partners focused on the consumer electronics (CE) space. The chosen partners were identified through a collaborative and thorough vetting process conducted by Ingram Micro's credit analysts, BIC team and sales. "Gaining access to working capital is a challenge for many channel partners -- especially those who are focused on meeting the business technology needs of today's growing SMBs," says Jamie Ferullo, director of sales, SMB, Ingram Micro U.S. "By identifying high-potential partners and extending them greater credit limits, we're helping to remove one of the biggest barriers to earning new and incremental business, and further enabling their success." Within the first few weeks of receiving increases to their credit lines, hundreds of Ingram Micro channel partners have experienced increases in revenue growth and expansion in their sales pipelines. "We had a very large project that needed to be financed and rolled out within a short period of time," says leading system integrator Brian Hogan, president of New England Systems and Software. "The willingness of Ingram Micro and its credit team to work with us helped immensely, and the increased credit line and short approval time allowed us to meet our schedule and come in on budget." Craig Raubenheimer, owner of Boston-based MSP Roan Solutions Inc., also reports immediate gains from the recent Ingram Micro credit limits, and calls Ingram Micro a strategic business partner who understands the needs of his business, and knows what it takes to help his business grow. "By automatically increasing our credit lines, Ingram Micro has opened the door to new sales opportunities that are having a direct and positive impact on our business revenues, and certainly positions us to better meet the financial needs of our customers moving forward," says Raubenheimer. In addition to increasing the credit lines for hundreds of SMB and CE-focused partners, Ingram Micro continues to invest in its team of credit analysts. All Ingram Micro channel partners in the U.S. have a dedicated Ingram Micro credit analyst to support their business. Ingram Micro Credit Analysts understand the industry landscape and have a proven track record for consulting with channel partners to identify the best financing options and secure additional credit as needed. "Growing a business is no easy task," says David Maffucci, president and director of technology for Visionary Computer, an Apple Specialist and Premium Service Provider located in Connecticut who has nearly doubled its sales in the last 12 months. "We needed to identify flexible financing options and get a dramatic increase in our available credit, fast. Thanks to the ongoing support from Ingram Micro and the recent increase to our credit line, we now have the purchasing power and resources a small business like ours needs to prosper and succeed." Channel partners who are interested in speaking to an Ingram Micro credit analyst and want to learn more about the financing options available to them should contact their Ingram Micro sales representative, dedicated credit analyst or the Ingram Micro credit department at (716) 616-4000. More information about Ingram Micro is available at www.ingrammicro.com andhttp://ingrammicroinc.wordpress.com. To learn, see and hear more about Ingram Micro online, follow the distributor on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/IngramMicro; Twitter at www.twitter.com/IngramMicroInc; and YouTube athttp://www.youtube.com/user/ingrammicroinc. About Ingram Micro Inc. As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics, technical and financial support, managed and cloud-based services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company is the only global broad-based IT distributor, serving more than 145 countries on six continents with the world's most comprehensive portfolio of IT products and services. Visit www.ingrammicro.com. |
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Avnet Technology Solutions Extends its Sales Toolkit To Go for Oracle Solution Providers in the Middle East Region
March 28, 2012 - Avnet Technology Solutions Extends its Sales Toolkit To Go for Oracle Solution Providers in the Middle East Region
Avnet's mobile-enabled toolkit allows Oracle solution providers to easily enhance their sales capabilities on the move
Dubai, UAE -- Avnet Technology Solutions, the global IT solutions distribution leader and operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced the availability of a new mobile-enabled "sales toolkit to go" for its Oracle hardware and software partners in the Middle East region after a successful launch in U.S. and Canada.
Developed by Avnet, the sales toolkit is available to Avnet's Oracle partners and is designed to help sales teams close data center solutions focused deals easily and more efficiently. It features a broad range of product, market and best practice information that can be accessed from any mobile device, including smartphones and tablets, with Web browsing capabilities.
The Avnet exclusive mobile-enabled sales toolkit allows Oracle partners to consult, document and reinforce solutions sales strategy throughout every stage of the sales process from virtually any location. With the toolkit, partners will go to meetings more prepared and knowledgeable about Oracle-based data center solutions and will be able to act as trusted advisors to their customers.
Hani Barakat, senior director Oracle business, Avnet Technology Solutions Middle East and Africa, said, "We want to provide our Oracle Business Partners with a tool that gives them access to Avnet and Oracle expertise wherever and whenever they need it in a way that is both highly informative and portable. Avnet's new mobile-enabled toolkit reinforces our direction to drive solution sales strategy while equipping our partners with access to the right information at every stage of the sales cycle".
The toolkit features all of the sales enablement information partners have come to expect from Avnet. Partners will also be able to access customer role profiles with information about concerns and sale points; feature and benefit specifications on different Oracle hardware and software products that can be used to build complete solutions; objection handling resources; and a comprehensive Avnet and Oracle glossary. It is easy to access and is available on any phone or tablet with Internet access. Each module of the toolkit also comes with training to help partners maximize their use of the tool and the resources it contains.
About Avnet Technology Solutions
As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver services, software and hardware solutions that address the business needs of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2011, the group served customers in more than 70 countries and generated US $11.5 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.
As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver services, software and hardware solutions that address the business needs of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2011, the group served customers in more than 70 countries and generated US $11.5 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.
About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011, Avnet generated revenue of $26.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011, Avnet generated revenue of $26.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Dell Helps Growing Businesses Streamline Critical Sales Processes With Addition of eSignature and eDocument Solutions To Dell Cloud Business Applications Portfolio
Dell Helps Growing Businesses Streamline Critical Sales Processes With Addition of eSignature and eDocument Solutions To Dell Cloud Business Applications Portfolio
Monday, March 26, 2012
GE Capital Retail Bank and Discount Tire Renew Consumer Financing Agreement
26 March 2012
GE Capital Retail Bank and Discount Tire Renew Consumer Financing Agreement
Building on their 15 year relationship, the Discount Tire CarCareONESM Card is Available Through more than 800 Locations Nationwide
STAMFORD, Conn. and SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. –– March 26, 2012 –– GE Capital Retail Bank has announced a multi-year renewal to continue providing financing for customers of Discount Tire, the nation’s leading independent tire retailer. GE Capital’s Retail Finance business, the operating entity that provides financial solutions to retailers and dealers to help grow their customer sales, will continue to manage the Discount Tire relationship and service the account.
The Discount Tire CarCareONE credit card program, which began in 1997, provides customers with convenient payment options and benefits for their full-service tire replacement, wheel, and maintenance and repair purchases at any of the company’s more than 800 stores and online at discountire.comor tires.com. Cardholders* can qualify for rebates, promotional financing terms, exclusive savings, e-bill and e-payment, and other options.
“The CarCareONE financing program is an essential tool for supporting our growth initiatives and an important part of our service offering, giving customers payment options that enable them to budget for planned and unplanned auto care,” said Christian Roe, chief financial officer of finance for Discount Tire. “GE Capital understands the needs of our customers and our business as we continue to evolve.”
Established in 1960 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Discount Tire operates more than 800 stores in 23 states and offers one of the largest selections of leading brand tires and wheels, as well as full service tire service and repair. Over the past half century, Discount Tire has grown to become the world's largest independent tire and wheel retailer today.
“For more than 15 years, we’ve enjoyed working with Discount Tire to build their business and provide their customers with convenient payment options,” said Mike Mattevi, vice president of sales, automotive industry, for GE Capital’s Retail Finance business. “We’re pleased to extend our relationship and continue supporting Discount Tire’s customer service and satisfaction guarantee.”
For more than 75 years, GE Capital’s Retail Finance business has provided billions of dollars in consumer financing through major retailers and more than 200,000 small- and mid-sized businesses throughout the United States. GE Capital is a leading provider of consumer credit in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. The company supports its clients with proprietary online technology such as Business Center, which includes service, marketing and sales tools, as well as the newly launched Learning Center, providing businesses with fast and easy access to training tools and resources on how to better understand and offer financing to consumers.
About Discount TireDiscount Tire, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is America's largest independent tire retailer. Also referred to as America's Tire in Oregon and some parts of California and Washington, Discount Tire currently operates over 800 stores in 23 states across the country. Serving more than 40 million customers, Discount Tire has built its success on the motto, "Be fair, be truthful, work hard, be there on time, and help people." Atdiscounttire.com and tires.com, customers can research, order and make an appointment for service.
About GE Capital’s Retail Finance businessGE Capital’s Retail Finance business is among the country’s most successful retail lenders, with more than 75 years of experience in consumer financing. The business, which originates loans as a unit of GE Capital Retail Bank, provides customized credit programs to retailers and consumers in the United States and Canada that help drive sales. This includes private label and bankcard credit programs to major national, regional and independent retailers in the U.S., as well as private label credit programs, promotional and installment lending, bankcards and financial services for consumers through dealers; contractors; manufacturers; healthcare practices; and service providers across nearly 20 industries. More information can be found atwww.gogecapital.com and twitter.com/GoGECapital.
GE Capital is one of the world’s largest providers of credit. For over one million businesses, large and small, GE Capital provides financing to purchase, lease and distribute equipment, as well as capital for real estate and corporate acquisitions, refinancings and restructurings. For our 100+ million consumer customers, GE Capital offers credit cards, sales finance programs, home, car and personal loans and credit insurance. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter@GECapital.
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
* subject to credit approval as determined by GE Capital Retail Bank.
The Discount Tire CarCareONE credit card program, which began in 1997, provides customers with convenient payment options and benefits for their full-service tire replacement, wheel, and maintenance and repair purchases at any of the company’s more than 800 stores and online at discountire.comor tires.com. Cardholders* can qualify for rebates, promotional financing terms, exclusive savings, e-bill and e-payment, and other options.
“The CarCareONE financing program is an essential tool for supporting our growth initiatives and an important part of our service offering, giving customers payment options that enable them to budget for planned and unplanned auto care,” said Christian Roe, chief financial officer of finance for Discount Tire. “GE Capital understands the needs of our customers and our business as we continue to evolve.”
Established in 1960 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Discount Tire operates more than 800 stores in 23 states and offers one of the largest selections of leading brand tires and wheels, as well as full service tire service and repair. Over the past half century, Discount Tire has grown to become the world's largest independent tire and wheel retailer today.
“For more than 15 years, we’ve enjoyed working with Discount Tire to build their business and provide their customers with convenient payment options,” said Mike Mattevi, vice president of sales, automotive industry, for GE Capital’s Retail Finance business. “We’re pleased to extend our relationship and continue supporting Discount Tire’s customer service and satisfaction guarantee.”
For more than 75 years, GE Capital’s Retail Finance business has provided billions of dollars in consumer financing through major retailers and more than 200,000 small- and mid-sized businesses throughout the United States. GE Capital is a leading provider of consumer credit in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. The company supports its clients with proprietary online technology such as Business Center, which includes service, marketing and sales tools, as well as the newly launched Learning Center, providing businesses with fast and easy access to training tools and resources on how to better understand and offer financing to consumers.
About Discount TireDiscount Tire, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is America's largest independent tire retailer. Also referred to as America's Tire in Oregon and some parts of California and Washington, Discount Tire currently operates over 800 stores in 23 states across the country. Serving more than 40 million customers, Discount Tire has built its success on the motto, "Be fair, be truthful, work hard, be there on time, and help people." Atdiscounttire.com and tires.com, customers can research, order and make an appointment for service.
About GE Capital’s Retail Finance businessGE Capital’s Retail Finance business is among the country’s most successful retail lenders, with more than 75 years of experience in consumer financing. The business, which originates loans as a unit of GE Capital Retail Bank, provides customized credit programs to retailers and consumers in the United States and Canada that help drive sales. This includes private label and bankcard credit programs to major national, regional and independent retailers in the U.S., as well as private label credit programs, promotional and installment lending, bankcards and financial services for consumers through dealers; contractors; manufacturers; healthcare practices; and service providers across nearly 20 industries. More information can be found atwww.gogecapital.com and twitter.com/GoGECapital.
GE Capital is one of the world’s largest providers of credit. For over one million businesses, large and small, GE Capital provides financing to purchase, lease and distribute equipment, as well as capital for real estate and corporate acquisitions, refinancings and restructurings. For our 100+ million consumer customers, GE Capital offers credit cards, sales finance programs, home, car and personal loans and credit insurance. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter@GECapital.
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
* subject to credit approval as determined by GE Capital Retail Bank.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Checkpoint Systems wins prestigious industry award with Nano Gate™
Monday, March 19, 2012
Checkpoint Systems wins prestigious industry award with Nano Gate™
Checkpoint Systems, a global leader in high-theft solutions has been honoured with a prestigious industry award by readers of the German publication, Handelsjournal.
Checkpoint scooped the “Best Retail Product” award in the economic efficiency category for its Alpha Nano Gate antenna, a small gate that offers big protection against theft. The award celebrates the industry’s most inventive products and services designed to help retailers increase sales, improve profitability and enhance operations.
Nano Gate is an innovative, small security antenna, which can be easily installed in retail stores, in “unprotected zones” where thieves tend to hide or attempt to remove security devices. Nano Gate works together with Checkpoint’s Alpha® 3 Alarm™ technology products, extending their reach and enhancing their value, while serving as a comprehensive security solution.
Wolfgang Meltzner, store manager of A.T.U in Cologne-Mülheim, who has used Nano Gate in his outlets, commented: “When high-priced motor oils and tools began to disappear from our shelves, we decided to do something about it. We began using Nano Gate in our stores together with matching Alpha components. From the first day, we not only noticed the deterrent aspect, we also saw a decrease in shoplifting, which is what we hoped for.”
Commenting on the award win, Kai Beilenhoff, Vice President for Alpha Europe at Checkpoint Systems, added: “Nano Gate offers an innovative and easy-to-implement solution for securing high-theft products. It has already paid dividends for many retailers around the globe and we’re delighted to have won this award. Our nomination reaffirms that Checkpoint is meeting the retail industry’s requirements for robust anti-theft solutions.”
Available since early 2011, Nano Gate has an aesthically pleasing design and is simple to install. Nano Gate triggers Alpha’s 3 Alarm technology, preventing thieves from taking retailers’ high-risk merchandise into restrooms, emergency exits, elevators, fitting rooms, or similar unprotected areas within their stores. Merchandise protected with 3 Alarm technology alerts retail staff when products are being tampered with in-store. It activates an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) alarm when unpaid merchandise leaves a store and starts a continuous alarming for five minutes when stolen merchandise has left the store. Most thieves end up dropping the stolen merchandise and running away.
Nano Gate is particularly suitable for small retailers who do not have a traditional EAS system installed but still want to protect their high-theft items. It enables store operators to maintain an attractive, consumer-oriented shopping environment while ensuring that merchandise is kept secure. For large retail stores using EAS, Nano Gate provides additional security to prevent goods from being readily moved from proposed sale areas into other sections of the store.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Home Builder Stocks at Highest Point in 2 Years After 6-Month Rise
Excerpt from an article in
The New York Times
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Home Builder Stocks at Highest Point in 2 Years After 6-Month Rise
By CHRISTINE HAUSER
After a bullish report on housing at a late summer investment conference in Dallas, the officials at Federated Investors decided to sink a few million dollars into the shares of the home builder Lennar.
Philip J. Orlando, Federated’s chief equities market strategist, was hoping for a return of 20 percent to 30 percent, confident in an improving jobs market and upticks in housing construction and sales data.
Like many other stocks in the home building industry, Lennar surged, nearly doubling in price.
Home builder stocks are at their highest level in two years, with the Standard & Poor’s index of 11 home builder stocks rising 80 percent since October, the most recent low for the industry.
Investors looking to ride the wave from the last six months, however, may be too late. Home builder shares typically increase before the spring and summer home-selling season. And while housing reports have shown some improvement in recent months, data this week has been mixed. A report on Wednesday showed that the sales of existing homes declined slightly in February, while median sales prices rose for the first time in more than a year.
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