Mediaboss Marketing

New study from PwC unveils key trends driving change in the retail industry in 2012 Retailers must Find new ways to engage consumers as social media continues to transform the shopping experience

TORONTO , March 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Today's consumers are more empowered than ever before, with social media and mobile technology transforming the shopping experience. With over half (53%) of global internet shoppers expecting to spend more online in the future and consumers becoming increasingly sophisticated, retailers need to act now to insure a seamless multi-channel experience, according to a new study from PwC. The study, Customers take control - How the multichannel shopper is changing the global retail landscape, identifies key trends that will shape and transform the retail industry in 2012.

Alain Michaud, Canadian National Leader, Retail and Consumer, PwC, commented:

"With more than 70% of customers engaging in multi-channel shopping, it's clear that the convergence of in-store, online and mobile shopping has arrived. Retailers should leverage this convergence and re-evaluate their organizations to create a winning customer experience focused on integrating channels, taking mobile technology to new heights and creating a personalized shopping experience. Retailers who do not deliver this seamless experience and invest in the necessary changes to their business models, run a very real risk of losing market share."

Key Study Findings: The survey of over 7,000 online shoppers across three continents covering eight markets, shows a remarkably consistent picture across the world, with internet shopping becoming an integral part of day-to-day behaviour.

Alain Michaud commented:

"The reasons why shoppers choose a favourite are quite different in each country, which means it's going to be difficult to serve multiple countries, using one website and product range - unless, like Amazon, you have an extremely broad offer or, like Apple, a unique and globally compelling product range. In essence, consumers are creating their own multi-channel experiences by leveraging multiple retailers across a single category or product."

The integration of social, mobile and location-based technologies is providing a whole new locally-specific shopping experience. Retailers can send offers to encourage nearby customers to enter their shops and customers reap the benefits of coupons delivered on their mobile devices as they stand in front of the product.

Alain Michaud commented:

"Achieving retail growth in 2012 and beyond requires a 360-degree approach to customers, using accessible technologies like video, mobile, email and social media to improve traditional tactics. In order to communicate more effectively with customers, retailers must use innovative ideas to differentiate their brand."

More:
Savvy global consumers take control: Retailers lag behind

MONTREAL - As Montreal cops brace for this years edition of the march against police brutality which will coincide Thursday with student demonstrations against tuition hikes the officer in charge of overseeing crowd control operations has a message for would-be participants:

We know theres going to be a lot more people present at this years anti-brutality march, Chief Inspector Alain Bourdages told reporters Wednesday. And we want those people to know that bad people are going to be present, and theyre going to use the fact that theyre (inside a crowd) to commit criminal acts and other people are going to be caught in it.

This years march is the 16th. Out of the last 15, 13 turned into illegal assemblies that ended with arrests. Id urge anyone who shows up tomorrow who sees any illegal act going on to leave the march.

Weve had demonstrations of 30,000 students; it went very well. People have shown that even in large numbers, they can behave. The problem is when you have 100 or 200 people whose only intention is to hide in that group and to start breaking the law.

Bourdages made his comments during a rare meeting between police and the news media during which the Montreal forces approach to crowd control was explained and illustrated.

The meeting took place a week after a March 7 protest outside Loto-Qubecs office on Sherbrooke St. during which student protester Francis Grenier suffered a serious injury to his right eye after apparently being struck by a police flash grenade.

Bourdages called the incident deplorable and said it is under investigation but added that the crowd control grenades would remain in use.

The Rubber Ball grenade is meant to be thrown over the heads of protesters and explodes into two pieces with a 175-decibel blast before depositing a cloud of CS gas less intense than pepper spray onto those below.

Nine such grenades were used when demonstrators clashed with police March 7, police said, while aerosol cans spraying CS gas were used 37 times.

Bourdages said Montreal police applies a continuum of force when it comes to crowd control. Verbal warnings to disperse are followed by physical but non-forceful contact repeating the message.

Read this article:
Montreal police brief media on crowd control

TEWKSBURY, MA--(Marketwire -03/14/12)-

WHAT: Design Control for Medical Devices-Ensuring Compliant Processes and Procedures with PLM Webinar.

FDA statistics show that forty five to fifty percent of all medical device recalls stemmed from poor product design. Design controls are not only a regulatory requirement, they lay the foundation for the proper design and development of medical devices. Hosted by Omnify Software with a guest industry expert speaker, this complimentary educational webinar will help attendees learn how to implement effective and efficient product development procedures with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) technology in order to ensure compliant design controls, address design control challenges, simplify the audit process, and reduce the cost of compliance through automated enterprise systems and best practices.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 1:00 P.M. EDT

WHERE: Event will be presented online; those interested in attending this event can register at: https://omnifysoftwebinars.webex.com/omnifysoftwebinars/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=661666389

WHO: Roger Martin, founder of Compliance Dynamics, http://www.mycdyn.com, and Chuck McGinley, Sr. Applications Engineer for Omnify Software, http://www.omnifysoft.com/.

About Omnify Software

Omnify Software, the leading provider of business-ready Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, helps OEMs shorten development cycles, accelerate product innovation and improve bottom-line profitability. Omnify's commitment to customer success has resulted in a unique solution that is quick to implement, easy to use, and provides an open integration platform built on the Microsoft .NET Framework. Omnify is well-known for superior customer service, delivering outstanding training, development and support with a team of experienced technology professionals. For more information about Omnify Software Product Lifecycle Management, please call 978-988-3800, email info@omnifysoft.com or visit http://www.omnifysoft.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube; or subscribe to the Omnify Software RSS Feed.

"Omnify" is a registered trademark of Omnify Software. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name "Omnify" is a trademark and/or property of Omnify Software. All other trade, product, or service names referenced in this release may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Original post:
Media Alert: Omnify Software Hosts Webinar on Design Control for Medical Devices

Dr. Vincent Lepore, who specializes in breast augmentation and tummy tuck in San Jose, discusses new AAFPRS survey results that reveal an increase in plastic surgery patients' reliance on social networking.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) March 15, 2012

"Social networking such as Facebook and Twitter can be highly valuable for personal and professional communications," Dr. Lepore says. "However, when it comes to health decisions, such as whether to have breast enlargement in San Jose, I recommend that my patients use a variety of reliable resources, including advice and recommendations from board-certified specialists.

The survey showed that 42 percent of patients get their information about facial plastic surgery from social media. More findings from the survey can be found at http://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/m_stats.html.

That statistic makes it clear that patients are using social networking to an extent that concerns me," Dr. Lepore says.

His concerns echo those of Dr. Tom D. Wang, president of the AAFPRS, who said in an announcement about the survey results, "We are encouraged by the possibilities Facebook, Twitter and other social channels offer for prospective patients, but we urge all patients . . . to ensure information is from a reliable source.

Theres a great deal of misinformation out there, and the best way to circumvent that is to consult an AAFPRS physician who is qualified, experienced and trained in performing facial plastic procedures."

In addition to providing accurate information, a qualified plastic surgeon will make sure a prospective patient is making the decision for the right reasons, Dr. Lepore says.

"I always ask patients to describe their decision-making process for the desired procedure, such as a tummy tuck in San Jose, he says. If they say they decided on a procedure because they read a lot of Facebook posts from people who had it, I talk with them about what they really want for themselves. That way, I can make sure the patients are making informed decisions and have realistic expectations.

###

See more here:
Patients Use Social Networking for Decisions on Plastic Surgery

Chennai, March 14:

Projects getting delayed? Employee productivity down? Blame it on social-networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Salary.com surveyed around 3,200 people visiting its site from February to March to find out which sites they visit the most.

Of the people who took the survey, 39 per cent said they spend a mere hour a week or less on non-work related items. That's followed by 29 per cent who spend up to two hours a week wasting time on the computer at work, and 21 per cent who waste up to five hours a week. Only 3 per cent of respondents spend 10 hours or more on personal tasks while at work in a given week.

It came as no surprise that Facebook was the most visited site. The social media behemoth with nearly 850 million users worldwide is visited by 41 per cent of respondents. That's followed closely by LinkedIn at 37 per cent, Yahoo! at 31 per cent, Google+ at 28 per cent and Amazon.com with 25 per cent. Twitter ranked near the bottom with a measly 8 per cent. And even though Pinterest, an online pinboard, has been garnering a lot of media attention lately, only 4 per cent of the respondents currently use the service, said the survey. The US-based Salary.com provides on-demand talent management, payroll and compensation solution to help companies and people manage pay and performance.

A number of Indian companies, too, restrict giving access to employees to sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Leave alone access to such sites, there is no Internet connection in some of the software development centres.

Systems are wired for coding. It is very confidential work as banking systems, for global banks are involved. There is no Internet access in development centres for security reasons, bugs and other threats, said an official of a Chennai-based software company who did not wish to be identified.

So if employees are wasting time instead of working, it stands to reason they might be doing it because they are underpaid, right? Wrong.

Of the top six reasons why employees waste time at work, being underpaid ranked dead last at 18 per cent. Most employees 35 per cent said they waste time at work because they are not challenged enough. That was followed closely by the 34 per cent who claimed they waste time because their hours are too long, 32 per cent whose company gives them no incentive to work harder, and 30 per cent who are unsatisfied, said the survey.

raja@thehindu.co.in

Read the rest here:
Blame social networking for falling employee productivity