My Small Business Consultants

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This fall Argos received the Oracle Retail Excellence Award for Greatest Financial Impact. The Awards selection committee consisted of Accenture, Bain, Deloitte, Harvard Business School, IBM, Loeb & Associates, Oracle and Wipro Retail. Argos is the UK’s leading home and general merchandise retailer. The core objective of the Argos project was to remove potential constraints for the strategic growth plans of the business.

Among many benefits, Argos improved quality of customer experience by increasing product availability – the right product in the right place at the right time. Stock reduction benefits are on track against original plan of a 20% stock saving by 2010 and reduced inventory costs.

Download the in-depth case study on Argos, Ltd.

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Did you know that 94% of knowledge workers consider the printer to be an essential office technology and it is most missed while working out of office? I wanted to let you know about the upcoming launch of a cutting-edge e-commerce platform that is set to revolutionize the way that people and businesses buy and sell print services over the internet. As the first and only vendor-neutral aggregator of print providers, Earthtone is set to reshape an online printing market dominated by a few big-brand printers’ choice-poor proprietary solutions. Although the $12 billion quick printing industry is dominated by a few big brands, it is almost completely (90%) composed of smaller, locally-focused and independently operated print businesses. Without the economies of scale or the technical expertise to develop and deploy the world class online printing capabilities required to compete with the market leaders, these small businesses’ ability to attract and retain online customers has been significantly limited.
 
Like Expedia in the travel sector, Earthtone will give print buyers the ability to search for providers – by proximity, environmental credentials or specialization – according to their unique requirements and provide them with a secure and efficient way to submit files and pay for their orders online. At the same time, Earthtone’s platform is designed to support print providers of any type, size and location so as to maximize the choice available to buyers. Location-based search combined with fully integrated shipping ensure that buyers have the option of using the services of any of the hundreds of print providers on the network, irrespective of distance.
 
Also, buyers will be able to read and post user-reviews. At no charge, all users will be able to enjoy secure online document storage, file sharing, accounts-management, location mapping and many other features that make Earthtone more than a robust and user-friendly online printing solution.  With over 1,000 independent print providers signed up across the US and the UK, Earthtone’s choice-rich printing platform empowers print buyers by giving them efficient access to services and pricing from more suppliers than any other online printing gateway.
 
Earthtone launches next week. For a sneak preview, please contact Earthtone by emailing contact@earthtone.net and let me know if you are interested in speaking to Earthtone pre launch.

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Star Micronics Introduces A Major Extension to Its Printer Line Up

The HSP7000 Features the Fastest Speed in the Industry
for a Multifunction Printer – 250mm/sec
Star Micronics is proud to announce a major extension of its product line up; the HSP7000 multifunction (hybrid) printer. The HSP7000 is designed to assist and empower users who want to extend the capabilities of their current system.
Star Micronics has developed the best value solution for markets that utilize the three
(3) primary functions of a multistation printer:
 
- Read the check’s MICR reliably
- Endorse checks without jams
- Print a receipt as fast as possible

The HSP7000 combines key features from Star’s celebrated range of products, including the speed and reliability of the market leading TSP700 Series, and the engine from the high speed SP700 dot matrix printer. Star is bringing over 30 years of “know-how” in POS to the HSP7000; resulting in customers receiving the features they need with the reliability they demand, minus the overhead of unnecessary features and cost.
Click here to learn more.

Sign up for a Microsoft Live Small Business site and you can get free stuff.  Check out this article from Microsoft and thier partners.

http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/ResourceCenter/specialoffers

I am becoming more and more aware of the energy I am using and the waste that we are producing.  A few of the things that have changed in my house and office over the past couple of years include: Compact Florecent Lightbulbs, Kitchen Composting, Using the AC and Furnace less, Unplugging my chargers/wall warts when not in use.  Microsoft has a great little article that gives you some ideas on getting a little greener at your office.  Check out the article, I know I will be changing a few things around in my office.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX102396791033.aspx

From the Microsoft Small Business Center, this article talks about giving good presentations.  Taken from Marjorie Brody’s book Speaking Is an Audience-Centered Sport, you will find a number of great hints for improving your pubic speaches and presentations. 

1. Know your audience.
2. Make it interactive.
3. Tell stories, and use metaphors, analogies and quotes.
4. Make it relevant.
5. Be dynamic.
6. If you use PowerPoint, go easy on the slides.
7. Wear appropriate clothing.
8. Manage stage fright through repetition.

Enjoy the full article here: http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/finance/small-business-finance.aspx#AllThatJazz

Have you been confused about all the news about XP going away?  Did you know the Microsoft Windows Vista User License allows you to downgrade to Windows XP?  Did you know you can use your existing CD’s to do the downgrade?  This is an article from Microsoft to OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers) with a quick overview of what they can do under the downgrade license.  Take a look at what Microsoft is telling the computer manufacturers and get the facts before your next purchase.

http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?PageID=553056&wa=wsignin1.0