Are You an Ebay Shopper?

As I write this article, I am keeping an eye on an item on eBay. Do I have to keep an eye on it? No. I have set up a program that swoops in in the final seconds of the bidding, leaving the previous bidder, who thought they had the item, wondering what happened.

Is that what is happening to you in business? Do you think you have customers sewn up; success just with your grasp, but something always goes wrong?

There is talk in the news about the Retail Industry slowdown in home décor, furniture and home improvement sales. Pier 1 mentioned they are streamlining and cutting their merchandise offerings by 25% to focus on their core customer. Many retailers who were interviewed mentioned that they have been watching the slowdown trend for a while and already have plans in place to manage what's happening.

Is that how you run your business? Do you look at seasonal, regional and/or global trends that will affect the future of your business or do you wait until the bottom falls out and then wonder what you are going to do. Wouldn't you rather have a heads up on what's happening, before it happens?

Sometimes even experience researchers find it difficult to be guided by research. Instead they look for facts and theories to support the hypothesis that is already formed.

If you think that research takes too long, sign up for a number of newsletters and let the information come to you. If you worry about being spammed, use a hotmail account. Keep an open mind. Rather than coming to conclusions before you have the information, make a list of specific facts and assign weights that will influence your decisions. Create a chart and fill in the answers from each information source, tally the weighted results and then make your decisions based on fact?tempered by entrepreneurial intuition. Set up a system that works for you and commit to use it.

If you are in Retail then these two web sites have newsletters that report on trends from all over the world.

http://www.springwise.com

http://www.trendwatching.com

No matter what your business, somewhere on the net there are newsletters/RSS feeds that can deliver information to give you the edge you need, so you aren't sideswiped?knocked out of the game in the final seconds.

And my purchase on eBay?.I missed the first one because someone else paid more than I thought it was worth; but the second one?the competition is still wondering what happened and my purchase is on it's way. I used my proven system and won.

Do you want things to be your way in your world or do you want to know what's really going on in your industry so you can anticipate challenges and make plans to avoid problems?

A theory must be tempered by reality. -Jawaharlal Nehru

Copyright(c) 2005 Nancy Fraser Nota Bene Consulting, All Rights reserved

Nancy Fraser is the President of Nota Bene Consulting. She has been helping clients improve their advertising results and grow their businesses for over 20 years. Free advertising and marketing information in the Notable News http://www.notable-marketing.com

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:25:37 GMT

Thai Protest Stops Trains and Planes - New York Times


Times Online
Thai Protest Stops Trains and Planes
New York Times - 54 minutes ago
By THOMAS FULLER BANGKOK - Protesters in Thailand ratcheted up their campaign to oust the government on Friday, broadening their occupation to stop trains and block provincial airports, as well as waging an unsuccessful attack on police headquarters ...
Thai rioters attack police station Aljazeera.net
UPDATE 8-Thai protests hit police HQ, disrupt airports Reuters
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Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:31:31 GMT

Gustav on the Brink of Explosive Development - Washington Post


Telegraph.co.uk
Gustav on the Brink of Explosive Development
Washington Post - 1 hour ago
Over the past 48 hours Tropical Storm Gustav proved it was a survivor, as it withstood difficult journeys over Haiti and Jamaica. Now it may turn into a monster.
Video: Gustav Set to Batter Cuba, Enter Gulf of Mexico AssociatedPress
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Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:05:23 GMT

Microsoft to Buy Greenfield, Adding European Web Shopping Site - Bloomberg


Siliconrepublic.com
Microsoft to Buy Greenfield, Adding European Web Shopping Site
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Phil Serafino and Dina Bass Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp., seeking to catch Google Inc. in the Internet-search market, agreed to buy Greenfield Online Inc. for $486 million to add Web sites that help consumers find product reviews and ...
Survey Says ... Microsoft Is a Smart Shopper Motley Fool
Microsoft to buy price comparison website Financial Times
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Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:24:21 GMT

Detroit mayor's political future back in court - The Associated Press


Washington Post
Detroit mayor's political future back in court
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
DETROIT (AP) - A lawyer for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick asked a judge Friday to freeze next week's hearing that could remove him from office, accusing Gov.
Judge to decide Tuesday on mayor's bid to halt ouster DetNews.com
Hearing under way on suit against Granholm Detroit Free Press
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Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:06:32 GMT

In Lack of Health Insurance Coverage Texas Is First - eMaxHealth.com


Ontario Now
In Lack of Health Insurance Coverage Texas Is First
eMaxHealth.com - 3 hours ago
Texas is at the top of the heap again - this time we are the most uninsured state, health care-wise, in the country. Oh wait, being without health insurance coverage is not a good thing, is it?
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Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:22:00 GMT

Evacuations begin in Louisiana - Houston Chronicle


Calgary Herald
Evacuations begin in Louisiana
Houston Chronicle - 1 hour ago
By DANE SCHILLER Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle NEW ORLEANS - About 1000 disabled and elderly residents west of the city are being evacuated this afternoon and New Orleans officials are considering whether to order more people out of the projected ...
Video: New Orleans Braces For Gustav CBS
Gulf Coast prepares as storm Gustav approaches The Associated Press
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Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:56:04 GMT

Mayor Melton Advises Public of West Nile Precautions - WLBT-TV

Mayor Melton Advises Public of West Nile Precautions
WLBT-TV - 57 minutes ago
When planning outdoor activities this Labor Day weekend, Jackson residents are encouraged to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus by protecting themselves from mosquito bites and removing sources of standing water near their homes.
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