Monday, October 13, 2014

Kick the ball and Be in the Goal

Kick the Ball and Be in the Goal

Do you know why the earth is shaped like a globe?

So you can kick it and it will roll away! (Laughter) From the moment you wake up in the morning you are always with people and your mind is caught up in worldly thoughts. So sometime during the day, sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and kick the world away like a ball.

But as soon as you open your eyes, hold onto the ball because you need to kick it again in the next session. (Laughter) During the day be 100 percent attached to the work, don't try to detach yourself. But when you sit for meditation, then totally detach yourself. Only those who can totally detach can take total responsibility.

Eventually you will be able to be both attached and detached simultaneously. Kick the ball and be in the goal! This is the art of living, the skill of living.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Potato Tale

Once, a Junior School teacher asked her students to bring some potatoes in a plastic bag to school. Each potato will be given a name of the person whom that child hates. Like this, the number of potatoes will be equal to the number of persons they hate.

On a decided day, the children brought their potatoes well addressed. Some had two, some had three and some had even five potatoes.

The teacher said they have to carry these potatoes with them everywhere they go for a week.

As the days passed the children started to complain about the spoiled smell that started coming from these potatoes. Also some students who had many potatoes complained that it was very heavy to carry them all around. The children got rid of this assignment after a week, when it got over.

The teacher asked, "How did you feel in this one week?"

The children discussed their problems about the smell and weight.

Then the teacher said, "This situation is very similar to what you carry in your heart when you don't like some people. This hatred makes your heart unhealthy and you carry that hatred in your heart everywhere you go. If you can't bear the smell of spoiled potatoes for a week, imagine the impact on your heart of this hatred that you carry throughout your life."

Our heart is a beautiful garden that needs a regular cleaning of unwanted weeds. Forgive those who have not behaved with you as expected and forget the bad things. This also makes room available for storing good things..
Have a blessed life ... 

Friday, November 1, 2013

Nature's pic

Putting my interest into photography...

MARKETING APPROACH AND ASPECTS OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR


A consumer’s buying behaviour is influenced by cultural, social, and personal factors.
1. Cultural Factors
Culture is the fundamental determinant of a person’s wants and behaviour.Each culture consists of smaller subcultures that provide more specific identification and socialization for their members.
2. Social Factors
Social factors such as reference groups, family and social roles and statuses affect our buying behaviour.
3. Personal Factors
Personal factors include the buyer’s age and stage in the life cycle; occupation and economic circumstances; personality and self-concept; and lifestyle and values.

Analyzing the difference and difference in Marketing Approach
Marketing Approach
Marketing is a process in which we show our customers a path to reach there aspiring personalities by using our product/service.
Five ways of marketing approaches are
·        Décor
·        Merchandise
·        Product display
·        Product range
·        Pricing
Décor: It is a multi–faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.
Merchandize: Behind the scenes, there is another factor at work. Corporations and independent store owners alike are always trying to get the edge on their competitors. One way to do this is to hire a merchandising solutions company to design custom store displays that will attract more customers in a certain demographic. It includes every walk of life and therefore encompasses a enormous captive audience for promotion features.  The nation's largest retailers spend millions every year on in-store marketing programs that correspond to seasonal and promotional changes. As products change, so will a retail landscape. Retailers can also use facing techniques to create the look of a perfectly stocked store, even when it is not. Increases as the number of pertinent merchandise facts included in the advertisement increases." –Charles Edwards – Leader
Product display: The way we display our store in whole market environment as well as the way we display our products in store.
Product range: Different designs or variations of the same product platform that appeal to different market segments. Complete portfolio of the products that a company manufactures and or/ markets.
Pricing: This are the few pricing strategy’s we follow to attract customers, based on the market environment and the customers those who come to store,pricing strategy price system  is selected, PLC Mgt, Value pricing, Product Sabotage, Price elasticity of Demand, Time based Pricing, Suggested Retail Price, Purchasing power, Psychological Pricing, Options pricing, Group Buy, Cost the limit of pricing.
Up-market shopping mall
Décor-
With today's seemingly unlimited competition, numerous shopping centers are faced with the need to critically examine themselves. Examine your shopping center as a consumer or retailer would. Does the center look sharp and appealing? What needs to be improved? Often this might include facade improvements, parking lot repair, better signs, entrance/exit changes, lighting, new roof repair, store fronts, beautification, and more. Physical deficiencies can loom large in the consumer's mind if newer, more modern shopping centers are located nearby.
Merchandize- The way in which items attract the public is changing into the technical age of Electronic Promotion.
This evolution brings moving images and sound to the once static ad. board, it is visually eye catching and provides far more data in a non pushy form. Patrons just can’t help but put a stop to and watch the dynamic monitor, influencing their selection of procure, which is what merchandising is all about.
Where these dynamic indoor (or out-of-doors) LCD TVs are placed is evenly important as the item they portray. Often monitors are located at the point of sale, where the shopper queue to pay for their purchase, but can also be converted by the moving ads to pick up the advertised goods, on screen next to them, and pay for it too whilst at the till point. Another innovative way is to screen the display in the floor of the store, where customers are attracted to the ads and are drawn to the electronic concept along with the retailer’s shop floor layout.
This is the way forward in a demanding world of sales, where every individual is a prospective sale. It opens up a whole new concept for promoting merchandise and visually communicates the advertisement to the consumer in a modern, contemporary and unique way.

Product Displays Focus is also paid in displaying different types of consumer goods. Display cases in malls are designed for intelligent space utilization that makes them very functional for the places like exhibitions too. Available in different dimensions and shelf configuration, the structure of the stands is modular making them perfect for easy installation.
Product Range - Mall includes almost everything you ever wanted under one roof. It covers wide range of variety from apparels to accessories, beauty products, health productions, electronic gadgets, recreational equipments, home decoration and so on.

Pricing- With increase in the price in the area acquired for the shop in mall, Brand names, air conditioning , Appealing environment and offering recreational activities prices are higher and
The products are expensive. As a final aside, the larger stores and shops in town will have price-marked goods, so haggling is generally not possible.
Example- DLF Promenade, Select Citywalk, MGF Metropolitan.

Traditional Market
A marketplace is a location where goods and services are exchanged. The traditional market square is a city square where traders set up stalls and buyers browse the merchandise. This kind of market is very old, and countless such markets are still in operation around the whole world. It is preferred due to; a rooted habit of making purchases traditionally, the tangibility of the product, more apparent communication with salespeople, stronger purchase sensations and instant transactions.
Décor- Interior is done making use of the space available.
Merchandizing- Banners plays very important role in merchandizing
Product Display- Products are displayed in a way that it grabs the attention of consumers
Product Range- Wide range of product s are available.
Pricing- Prices are flexible also includes bargaining.
Example- Janpath, Dilli Hart

Weekly Market
A Street market is an outdoor market such as traditionally held in a market square or in a market town, and are often held only on particular days of the week. Very similar markets, or bazaars can also be found in large enclosed spaces, instead of on a street. It is full of great treasures like handicrafts, shoes, clothes, CDs, movies and electronics, and much more! Here the selection is endless and the prices are rather cheap, especially with the help of a few bartering techniques .Here you will find a variety of items ranging from blown glass, ceramics, jewelry,clothes, footwears, accessories and much more. As in many markets, you will also be entertained as you shop with street performances, and there is always a chance to stop for ice cream or snack to make time for more shopping!
Décor- It is restricted by the restriction in infrastructure development
 Being an outdoor market with limited space decoration is not of prime importance.
Merchandizing- All the trading activity takes place without any banners or hoardings. And the method adopted by them is to promote through word of mouth. It can also be found from the study that the accessibility plays a very crucial role. The market  which is accessible by motorized road functions better.

Product Display- Because of lack of space products are displayed or aligned in a manner where consumer is able to see the product’s presence and can choose accordingly.
Product Range- It includes unbranded products like household items, vegetables, fruits often used by the masses.
Pricing- Prices are low. Although you will probably get a great price anyways, don’t forget to negotiate for the best price!
Example- Monday market Tilak Nagar, Malka ganj.
Local Retail Shop
Retail consists of the sale of goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk. Shopping generally refers to the act of buying products. Sometimes this is done to obtain necessities such as food and clothing; sometimes it is done as a recreational activity. Recreational shopping often involves window shopping (just looking, not buying) and browsing and does not always result in a purchase.
Décor-Interior of the local retail shop is of not of prime importance as comparatively the area size is larger than the malls and they make sure to use the entire space effectively. On special occasions decoration takes place mainly at the entrance or the place where it can grab customer’s attention. Entire shop is furnished in the way it is required.
Merchandizing- Hoardings , Posters promoting particular brand and also giving offers as given by the manufacturer.
Product Display-As per the furnishing in the shop products are arranged according to their usage, more selling products are kept in front.
Product Range-Offers huge variety from health care, personal care,ice creams, eatables, stationeries and so on.
Retail pricing-The pricing technique used by most retailers is cost-plus pricing. This involves adding a markup amount (or percentage) to the retailer's cost. Another common technique is suggested retail pricing. This simply involves charging the amount suggested by the manufacturer and usually printed on the product by the manufacturer.In Western countries, retail prices are often called psychological prices or odd prices. Often prices are fixed and displayed on signs or labels. Alternatively, when prices are not clearly displayed, there can be price discrimination, where the sale price is dependent upon who the customer is. For example, a customer may have to pay more if the seller determines that he or she is willing and/or able to. Another example would be the practice of discounting for youths, students, or senior citizens.
Example- South Extension, Vasant Kunj
ASPECTS OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR

Processes that are likely to precede the purchase
Purchase act
Activities which often follow the purchase
Clarification of wants media exposure
Actual purchase
No. of items brought at one time
Who uses the product
Storing and maintaining the product
Examinig alternative products
Timing of the purchase
Setting where the product is typically used
Searching for information
Place where purchase was made
Evaluating the products performance
Shopping
Price paid
--------------------
Talking with others
How Purchased- Cah/Credit

-------------------------
Processes that are likely to precede the purchase
Purchase act
Activities which often follow the purchase
Clarification of wants media exposure
Actual purchase
No. of items brought at one time
Who uses the product
Storing and maintaining the product
Examinig alternative products
Timing of the purchase
Setting where the product is typically used
Searching for information
Place where purchase was made
Evaluating the products performance
Shopping
Price paid
--------------------
Talking with others
How Purchased- Cah/Credit

-------------------------

A Glimpse from the growing Ecommerce Industry in India


Most of us are aware of buying products online through some sites like e-bay or amazon.com. Almost everything from gym equipment to laptops, from apparels to jewelleries, is purchased online in this age of e-commerce. While these are products, people are also buying services online. Consultants to business lawyers are offering their services to their potential clients. Customers are also eager to transact online, as it is much hassle-free. Moreover, there is enough freedom offered to them to go online, look for a product, and compare a few more of different models, along with their prices. The bonus is that the customer can also go to other online product review sites, and discussion forums. Once the customer likes a product after all research, he can order for it online. E-commerce has also made it easy to pay. These days a number of methods have evolved to pay your dealers – credit cards, debit cards, PayPal account, direct online money transfer and many more. Once the payment is made, the dealers dispatch the product, which reaches the doorstep of the customers within few days.
A new generation of dotcom start-ups is invading the e-commerce space in India, where buying and selling online is expected to grow 47% and reach Rs. 46,500 crore by year-end, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

Considering the scenario many e-commerce firms have raised money and are actively working on their ventures. Yebhi.com is one among them to create a benchmark in e-commerce industry.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Story time...

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons from Arabia. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.

Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He presented the task to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch. Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, "May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem." So he cried out to his court, "Go and get a farmer."

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, "Bring me the doer of this miracle."

The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king. The king asked him, "How did you make the falcon fly?"

With head bowed, the farmer said to the king, " It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting."

Moral :-We are all made to fly - to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But instead of doing that, we sit on our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us. The possibilities are endless, but for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar, the comfortable, the mundane. So for the most part, our lives are mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling. So let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free ourselves to the glory of flight.  So determine to break the 'branch' of our own limitations and comfort zone that we seat on, the 'branch' of fear and phobias that we cling on to and we can experience the 'flight' of freedom and sky high confidence

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Is Compromise only a Customization- or something beyond that


“The man who refuses to judge, who neither agrees nor disagrees, who declares that there are no absolutes and believes that he escapes responsibility, is the man responsible for all the blood that is now spilled in the world. Reality is an absolute, existence is an absolute, a speck of dust is an absolute and so is a human life. Whether you live or die is an absolute. Whether you have a piece of bread or not, is an absolute. Whether you eat your bread or see it vanish into a looter's stomach, is an absolute.

There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil. The man who is wrong still retains some respect for truth, if only by accepting the responsibility of choice. But the man in the middle is the knave who blanks out the truth in order to pretend that no choice or values exist, who is willing to sit out the course of any battle, willing to cash in on the blood of the innocent or to crawl on his belly to the guilty, who dispenses justice by condemning both the robber and the robbed to jail, who solves conflicts by ordering the thinker and the fool to meet each other halfway. In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit. In that transfusion of blood which drains the good to feed the evil, the compromise is the transmitting rubber tube.”
“You cannot build a dream on a foundation of sand. To weather the test of storms, it must be cemented in the heart with uncompromising conviction
“The middle path makes me wary. . . . But in the middle of my life, I am coming to see the middle path as a walk with wisdom where conversations of complexity can be found, that the middle path is the path of movement. . . . In the right and left worlds, the stories are largely set. . . . We become missionaries for a position . . . practitioners of the missionary position. Variety is lost. Diversity is lost. Creativity is lost in our inability to make love with the world.”
“In my terms, I settled for the realities of life, and submitted to its necessities: if this, then that, and so the years passed. In Adrian's terms, I gave up on life, gave up on examining it, took it as it came. And so, for the first time, I began to feel a more general remorse - a feeling somewhere between self-pity and self-hatred - about my whole life. All of it. I had lost the friends of my youth. I had lost the love of my wife. I had abandoned the ambitions I had entertained. I had wanted life not to bother me too much, and had succeeded - and how pitiful that was.”

“Sometimes customizing is necessary because of an injury or the inability to do, for a short or long period, the kind of exercise you formerly did. When you're used to customizing for fun, doing it under duress won't seem like such an imposition. Either way, experiment until you find activities that make you happy as well as healthy. Choose your exercise using the same criteria you'd apply to choosing a date--that is, attractive to you and able to hold your interest for an hour.”