| National City INSIGHTS: Forecasts, Research, Strategy, and Opinions designed to help you and your business succeed. |
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 Feature
Doing Business with the Big Boxes:
Do You Have What it takes?
For many suppliers and manufacturers, it’s the grand salami…the holy grail…the big enchilada…all rolled into one. We’re talking about a contract with a Big Box retail industry leader, or RIL — truly a supplier’s dream come true.
Think about it: Suddenly your products occupy thousands of feet of new shelf space, face to face with a thundering herd of buyers you could barely imagine before. And the enhanced credibility that comes with your new mass outlet is a force multiplier, building your strength in other markets as well.
 Find out what it takes to do business with Big Boxes |
Business Planning & Strategies
Successful Implementations Do Happen
Sometimes it seems the phrase successful software implementation is an oxymoron — you know, a contradiction in terms, something that never happens. It seems that way because the horror stories — such as the now infamous tale of Hershey running short on inventory just before Halloween because it couldn't get its new ERP system running properly — make front-page news.
But the truth is, the amount of companies completing successful implementations today outnumbers those that fail. Dedham, Mass.-based ARC Advisory Group recently completed a survey of 158 companies that had finished installing supply chain management systems and found nearly two-thirds of those projects met or exceeded expectations.
For this report, MSI spoke with users, analysts, and consultants in an effort to tell you what it will take to make your next implementation successful.
Learn what it will take to make your next implementation successful |
Trends & Technologies
Real Time Means Real Change
More companies are striving to be round-the-clock, round-the-globe businesses that support their customers, suppliers, and employees with real-time data. The Web, global operations, offshore outsourcing, and other technology-enabled functions have given companies — whether they're financial-services firms, retailers, or manufacturers — the means to operate 24 hours a day in real time. However, this kind of performance doesn't come without challenges.
How effective is I.T. as the key enabler, and how important are business processes to companies' 24/7 efforts?
Explore the reality of real-time business operations |
Economics
World: Latest Assumptions
World GDP growth will accelerate from 2.7% in 2003 to 4% in 2004, before slowing to 3.2% in 2005 and 3% in 2006. Although most regions of the world are experiencing faster growth, the U.S. and China are expanding exceptionally quickly. Japan, the world's second-largest economy and long the laggard of the OECD, will grow at a similar pace to the U.S. this year. India, Russia, Thailand and several other emerging markets are also expanding extremely rapidly.
Find out the latest on the world economy |
Finance & Treasury
How to Deal With Five Types of Budget 'Gamers'
One of the biggest problems to deal with during budget review time is the games some managers play. These budget gamers will do everything in the book to persuade the top brass to yield to their budget requests — requests that otherwise should be slashed to pieces. Fortunately, there are ways to identify and deal with the various tricks these gamers pull.
Richard Steele, a London-based partner with Marakon Associates, an international strategy-consulting firm, and Craig Albright, formerly with Marakon in New York City, have some solutions.
Learn how to deal with 5 types of Budget 'Gamers' |
International & Trade
Steel Producers Threaten Action Against Any Russian Import Surge
U.S. steel producers fearful that a flood of Russian imports will soon swamp the U.S. market have warned that they will take whatever action is available under U.S. trade law to counteract any surge in steel imports from Russia. The most likely action, according to industry sources, would be to petition the Department of Commerce to hit Russian steel imports with countervailing duties.
EU steel destined for the U.S.? |
Human Resources & Benefits
Exclusive IOMA Survey:
How Do Compensation Managers Plan to Deal With Future Growth?
The number of dissatisfied employees is growing, which increases the potential for key workers to flee once the hiring scene improves. Even employees who have little desire to leave are feeling uncomfortable. Lower pay increases have translated into lower morale (and lower productivity) for many.
The Institute of Management and Administration (IOMA) surveyed more than 400 HR/compensation professionals to uncover what plans — if any — are being put into place to deal with the changing marketplace.
So what will managers do? Find out |
Legislative & Regulatory
Anti-Spam Law Impacts Legitimate e-Mail
Consider this hypothetical: Mary, a partner with P.J. Goldmorg & Co., a prominent Wall Street Investment Banking Firm, meets George, the CEO of a small biotech company, at a conference. George, who is not a client of P.J. Goldmorg's, mentions during the conference that his company is considering going public. The two exchange business cards and go on their way. When Mary gets back to her office she sends George a short e-mail that says only the following: "George, it was a pleasure meeting you at the conference. Our firm provides an array of financial advisory services and I think we could be of tremendous value to you in preparing for your public offering. Attached is some material describing our practice. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Mary" As soon as she hits "send," Mary has just violated the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM Act).
Not possible, you think. How could such a simple (and very common) business related e-mail violate a law that, at least by its title, deals with only "spam." Despite its clever name, the recently enacted CAN-SPAM Act, which became effective on Jan. 1, 2004, does not in fact prohibit "spam." What the law does do is regulate "commercial e-mail."
Are you compliant? Find out. |
Sales & Marketing
The Confidence Game
Consumers are opting out of marketing channels at an alarming rate. Thanks to the federal do-no-call list, the 18% of consumers who had removed their name from a telemarketing list in 2001 has nearly doubled to 34% in 2004. And this resistance is spilling over to other channels.
In 2001, 23% of all consumers had removed their name from a mailing list, a tick or two over the 20% reported in 1999. This year it was 35%. And what about spam? In 1998, 60% of all consumers felt they received too much junk e-mail. This increased to a whopping 87% in 2004.
Perhaps that is why mistrust and suspicion are the watchwords in Yankelovich Inc.'s 2004 study of consumer attitudes toward marketing.
Discover what customers think and what it takes to earn their trust |
Small Business
Cash Flow Guide
Whether you are an established firm or just starting out, there is one business truth that there is no escaping - cash flow is the lifeblood of your business.
It's been said that "Profit is an opinion, but cash is a fact."
The accrual method of accounting recognizes income when it is earned, and expenses when they are incurred, not when the money is collected or spent.
So while your income statement and balance sheet can show if you are making a profit and how your assets are supported, they tell little about your cash flow.
Just making a profit doesn't ensure that your firm is financially sound. Even if you are experiencing soaring sales and profits, you may find that you are cash poor. When it comes to paying the bills, it is cash that counts.
This Guide provides the information and tools you can use to plan and improve your cash flow.
Learn more about the Cash Flow Cycle |
Women Business Owners
Women Business Owner of the Month
In July of 2000, Innovation Automation, Inc. officially opened its doors to fully utilize my expertise to design and manufacture automated machinery solutions for the manufacturing sector.
Along the way I met National City Small Business Banking Officer Lori Meeder. She took the time to listen to my need for more capital leverage and told me that National City might be able to help. I was truly impressed by Lori’s requests for extensive data to support my applications. Ultimately I secured a business line of credit triple that of my previous line.
Read the full story |
Personal Investing
Grab the Energy Chain
Oil's price will not collapse to $28. Expect a stable $35 level that will provide ample profit opportunity to owners of Btu. In the past 12 months the price of oil rose 50% to $45. The price of oil company shares (measured by the S&P 500 Energy Index) is up only 27%. Why is Wall Street so cool on the sector? Apparently out of a belief that oil prices will collapse in the near future, making the current gusher of oil industry profits a very short-lived phenomenon.
Energy savant, Daniel Tulis, has a different view. He thinks high prices are going to stick around for a while. Not as high as they are now, but high enough and long enough to make the energy-producing sector of the market a terrific buy.
Uncover these terrific buys and grab the energy chain |
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