Market Analysis

Using Franchising as a Route to Market

Leave a comment

The franchise model is a great way to establish a company and may well be the quickest route to market. Once the brand is recognised on a national or international platform it becomes easier to develop and enhance new product lines. By starting your own franchise, your place in the market could grow faster than going at it alone.

This may be true for some businesses but not all businesses are suitable for adaptation to the franchise model. You must evaluate your business and assess whether or not it can be taught to individuals who are not from a business background. It is important to understand the costs involved especially with regards to recruiting your franchisees.

You must consider all aspects of your business with relation to the franchise model. Being selective in your recruitment is one of many points to take into account before any decision is made. You should ask yourself what type of person it takes to make a successful business and find out who possesses such traits from the people who are interested in becoming franchisees for your company.

It is wise to investigate methods of training as you will have to decide who will train your franchisees and provide constant support. Your franchisees are only able to make a success of the business if they have sufficient product knowledge which is solely obtainable through the quality of training they will embark. First, you should look at the unique selling points of your business and then educate your franchisees to the level where they are confident it their pitch.

Once you have researched the practices involved with setting up your own franchise, and are happy with results, then you are ready to seek expert advice. There are many administrational processes to navigate before launching your franchise and you will need guidance in producing franchise agreements, training systems, support mechanisms and marketing material. The franchise agreement is one of the most integral parts of your business, so it is best to consult a franchise lawyer that can help produce a professional document for you.

If you choose to outsource your training as opposed to offering it in house, you should look at a range of training providers then decide which company will do the best job, and there are many good training providers, so they must be examined in depth. The companies you come across should not only provide initial training to your franchisees, but also supply constant support whenever necessary.

You may need assistance with your marketing materials so a marketing expert is worth investing in and should be preferably selected from the franchise industry as this way they will have inside knowledge of how to target franchise buyers productively. It is crucial for them to have an understanding of what your franchise entails and they should be in a position to mange your business sufficiently.

The franchise route may seem a daunting challenge especially when entering new markets however, if the procedure is carried out strategically, your business can become a remarkable success resulting in a long term lucrative business.

Market Analysis

Samsung Galaxy Tab Carries 205 Bill of Materials Isuppli Teardown Reveals

Leave a comment

According to a market research firm iSuppli Corp, with its new Galaxy Tab GT-P1000, Samsung Electronics has developed a product with features and component costs that position it as a large-scale smart phone, rather than as a true competitor to Apple Inc.’s iPad.

The Galaxy Tab carries a Bill of Materials (BOM) of $205.22, significantly less than iSuppli’s $264.27 estimate for the 16Gbyte 3G version of the iPad, based on the preliminary results of a dissection conducted by iSuppli’s Teardown Analysis service. However, the reduced cost is largely the result of Galaxy’s smaller and lower resolution display compared to the iPad.

“Instead of matching up with the iPad on a feature-by-feature basis, the Galaxy Tab really is larger version of Samsung’s Galaxy S smart phone,” said Andrew Rassweiler, director, principal analyst and teardown services manager for iSuppli. “While the design approach makes the Galaxy less expensive to produce than the iPad 3G, it also makes for a product that lacks the same usability. The Galaxy Tab’s screen resolution, size and technology are not at the same level as the iPad. This is a critical difference, given the fact that the display is a key differentiating factor for the iPad.”

On the plus side for the Galaxy Tab, the device includes some features not found in the iPad. For example, the Galaxy Tab includes a gyroscopic Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensor, likely for use in gaming. Furthermore, the Galaxy Tab comes with a primary 3 Megapixel (MP) autofocus camera along with a 1.3MP front-facing or video conferencing camera. Finally, the Galaxy Tab includes build-in support for Adobe’s Flash to provide more universal Web browsing—something notably lacking from the iPad.

The expanding Galaxy

Aside from the use of a larger display, the component content of the Galaxy Tab closely resembles that of the Samsung Galaxy S smart phone. Notably, both feature a Samsung-branded Hummingbird 1GHz ARM-based applications processor and an Infineon Technologies baseband processor that controls the wireless telephony/communication portion of the design.

The Galaxy Tab is a functional cell phone as well as tablet computing device, running 3G (UMTS/HSPA) in three frequency bands. According to Samsung, Galaxy Tab users can download applications from the Samsung Apps store and digital media from the company’s Hub service.

Display of thrift

The Galaxy Tab employs a 7-inch TFT-LCD display with a 1,024 by 600 resolution. In contrast, the iPad uses a larger 9.7-inch diagonal display with a resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels. While also using a TFT-LCD display, the iPad adds In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, which enhances the viewing angle and picture quality.

iSuppli estimates the cost of the display/touch subsystem in the Galaxy Tab at $57; The comparable figure in the iPad analysis would be $98. As in most new smart phone and tablet designs dissected by iSuppli’s Teardown Analysis service, the display and touch screen represent the most expensive portion of the design, accounting for 27.8 percent of the Galaxy Tab’s total BOM. Samsung Mobile Display is the source of the LCD screen.

Stardust memories

Next on the cost ranking is the memory subsystem, at a cost of $51, representing 24.9 percent of the total BOM. This subsystem features a 16Gbyte of Multilevel Cell (MLC) NAND Flash memory from SanDisk Corp. It also includes a Samsung multichip package combining 8Gbits of MLC Flex-One NAND, 4Gbits of mobile Double Data Rate (DDR) mobile DRAM and 1Gbit of One DRAM.

The numerous mechanical and electromechanical components represent the third most expensive electronic subsystem in the Galaxy Tab, at a cost of $15.22, or 7.4 percent of the BOM.

User interface facts

The user interface subsystem is fourth on the cost list at $13.87, or 6.8 percent of the BOM. This section includes the gyroscope—a 3-axis device from STMicroelectronics. It also features a capacitive touch screen controller from Atmel Corp. and an LVDS transmitter from Texas Instruments Inc.

Next on the cost countdown is the Samsung-supplied battery, at $10.60, or 5.2 percent of the BOM. No. 6 on the cost list is the baseband subsystem, featuring an integrated circuit from Infineon, at a cost of $10.07, accounting for 4.9 percent of the BOM.

Radio frequency and more

Coming in seventh on the cost list is the radio frequency/power amplifier subsystem at $9.09, or 4.4 percent of the BOM. This system features an Infineon radio frequency transceiver and four TriQuint Semiconductor transmit modules.

Next are the applications processing subsystem at $8.84, or 4.3 percent of the BOM. This section includes the previously mentioned apps processor from Samsung. Other notable suppliers include a single-chip Bluetooth/FM/WLAN controller and a GPS receiver device from Broadcom Corp. Maxim Integrated Products contributed a power management Integrated Circuit (IC).

Market Analysis

Advertising Items in Today’s Market

Leave a comment

The market with regard to promotional pieces will continue to expand significantly in the past few years. All sorts of things from t-shirts and coats to socks and underwear are being branded or provided as a marketing tool. Pens, key chains, plates, even dinner forks are each being used to transport a personal message. That sales message is the name or purpose of a corporation or charitable business. The promo object notion has improved enormously to include pretty much every possible style of merchandise imaginable. Even the United States Army is using promotional products such as free give away video games, clothes, and bags as recruitment incentives and bonuses.

A advertising item is anything which is used to promote something. These item range from branded devices with contact information to simply being items that are given away for some purpose. Some of these gadgets are sold. Other tactics include giving them away with a purchase. Make a donation and receive a hat or shirt. Promotions are everywhere.

A company or charitable organization that is seeking to make a larger splash in their local market will need to seriously consider these types of promotions carefully. A restaurant will be a fine place to sell t-shirts or the use of branded plates and cups. However, giving away DVDs at a restaurant might be a hit or miss venture. The key to discovering the marketing item potential for your business is to take into account what type of firm you have. A ballpark will find it ridiculously helpful to give away mini-bats, baseball caps, or even branded baseballs. A computer software design firm might give away free demo software showing what they do for their clients in greater detail. Another example would be a company that is trying collect money as a charitable cause for the homeless. Pencils, notebooks, and even t-shirts might be a good giveaway. This means they must spend a little money on marketing their charity but the return for this expense will be far higher normally. This also leads to greater ability to render aid.

The current small business market is very cutthroat in most fields. As soon as one individual or company discovers a slightly different method of promoting another will be along shortly to try and use this knowledge for their own gain. Promo goods are the one type of promoting that allows for constant innovation and long term reach. A shirt or company jacket will last for years in most situations. Every time the owner wears it they will be marketing the company that gave it to them. Between free giveaways and the sale of promo objects there is no limit to what can be achieved through this type of marketing.

Market Analysis

Enter The Mobile Application Development Market

Leave a comment

Mobile technologies have been successful in penetrating largely into the lives of millions. As the market of Android, iPhone, iPad, and Blackberry web apps heats up, countless companies can be seen diverting a considerable amount of investments and focus towards mobile application development. Here are a few points to help you succeed in the market of mobile apps.

* If you already have an idea of developing a great mobile application, then initially conduct a through research to find out if any other app on similar/same plans is already present. The next step is to find out the ways to improvise and differentiate your ideas. Analyze if there is actually a requirement for the app that you have planned to develop. You have to see that the developing of this app is really apt for your business strategies or you are simply wasting your time and money
* Whether you plan to develop app for individual business, internal business or other businesses, it is significant to congregate complete understanding of the targeted audience. This allows taking technology and designing decisions more accurately. Your app needs to be multilingual in case you are planning to target global audience
* You need to understand the limitations of mobile application programming. You can not come up with an app that can run perfectly on almost all the platforms. In fact all mobile platforms differ from one another and for running the application on a particular platform you need to develop it by using some specific technologies. It is impossible for you to run a single app on Windows, Blackberry as well as Android Mobile Platforms. Therefore it is imperative to choose the right mobile platform before starting application development
* When there are millions of competitors trying to tap the market, it becomes critical to move forward in a timely manner. Or else, there are chances that some other development company might beat you in introducing some similar concept. In mobile phone application development industry the right timing is very important in order to maximize the return on your investment
* Like almost all the other products, it is essential to check the pricing of your app. Research on the cots of some similar mobile applications and then set a competitive rate accordingly

General Forex

Trade FOREX successfully with a minimum knowledge

Leave a comment

It’s said that 85% of Forex traders are losing their money in the first three months of their trading, I think in some market cases it exceeds this ratio and may hits 95%, most of people say this loss is a result of trading while having no strong knowledge about Forex market, I don’t agree this all the way.
For me I think the most important reason is trading style including strategy, money management and risk management, another important reason is crowding up your mind with a lot of technical and fundamental tools and trying to apply all of them at once.
Theoretically all analysis methods “wither it’s technical or fundamental” are correct ways because they are only measuring tools, they differs in the accuracy of their results and this varies from time to time, they just give you inputs and you are responsible of applying these inputs that’s why I don’t mind which indicator you are using, just try not to crowd your mind with a lot of them.
To move yourself into the successful 15% you don’t need to know a lot in analysis field, you don’t need to have a big capital too. I wouldn’t encourage you to be calm, concentrate, look at your charts and go the way they tell you and such advices. We’ll be instead discussing the actual steps that you can take in order to get yourself out of loss and list your name in the 15% successful traders list. The best resource for FOREX  trading is MoneyTec MoneyTec,   – Active Traders Community Forum, Chat. MoneyTec is an online trading community that promotes mature, intelligent & respectful discussion in a positive & safe environment for everyone.
My strategy depends on simplicity as it just includes 2 indicators for the technical part of it. Let’s see how would it work:
a)    Money Management:
1.    First of all count your capital well and I mean by this the money you can afford to lose “this is rule no. 1 in investment as this will remove stress from you”.
2.    Decide your monthly return average expectation from this money : This will make you able to count the average weekly and daily return “Weekly and Daily Target”.
3.    Decide what will you do with your profits in case you achieve your targets, how much will you get out from it and how much will you re-invest : This will be enough to have a steady and stable trading strategy.
4.    Most important point, limit your trade size, this shouldn’t exceed 5% of your balance if you want to survive in this market.
These are all what we need from money management right now, it’s a huge subject to be involved in.
b)    Risk Management :
1.    Limit your loss : The whole money you can afford to loss from your investment budget.
2.    According to your daily and weekly target, you could limit your daily and weekly loss, so if it touch that limit you stop trading till the other period of time, risking of $1 per $3 expected profit is good while 1: 2 still accepted.
3.    Keep in mind that “If you lost a day, it means you lost that day’s profit of the total month’s profit” don’t try and squeeze yourself the day after to get a double profit, otherwise you will be spoiling your trading system.
c)    Technical Trading System :
This trading system is a common old system traders were used to use it randomly, we will be using it in a more modern way, it contains of :
1.    2 Exponential Moving Average (EMA) of values 7 – 15 .
2.    Relative Strength Index (RSI) as a confirmation tool.
Well, now as we have everything setup, it isn’t so hard to understand that system, the usual way was used by traders is : “once EMA-7 cross EMA-15 you go with it, so if it cross to up, you buy, otherwise you are selling”, this is completely true but you need to confirm this signal by another tool like “RSI”, once you get Moving Averages signal you check your RSI line direction and value, if it’s positive you can start trading, if not you should ignore till you get a positive signal that everything is fine, your stop loss would be if the EMA-15 returns to cross EMA-7 and your stop loss would be 20% of your daily affordable loss that you decided before, so you have a chance to trade for 5 times per day if you lost all trades.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t put all trade size limit “which you decide before while setting up your money management section” in just one trade, you may need to support your trade later or add more fund to it.
Last thing to be said is the classical advice “Don’t be greedy and don’t feel panic”, this is the best feature we have in Forex, take profit and stop loss points.