PRINTS ON FLOWERS - SPEAKING ROSES

Over 7 years ago, Speaking Roses invented a process that has revolutionized the floral and greeting card industries forever. They have created a method of transferring images and messages onto fresh-cut flowers without harming or shortening the life of the flowers. This refreshing twist on both flowers and greeting cards enhances the emotional response in both the giver and the receiver, and has garnished international attention and phenomenal success. And it is now being offered to you.

With 2 patents in the United States and many

others in other countries pending or already received, Speaking Roses is the first and the only business legally allowed to produce and sell personalized, fresh-cut flowers with images or messages right on the petals.

They have now decided to create an opportunity for others to be part of this revolutionary product. For this reason, they have created a 'Business in a Box' program, where you can now be a Speaking Roses licensed business owner in your own market. You will receive not only the equipment and supplies necessary to start and run your business, but you also get years of experience in business development, marketing strategies and public relations, which makes opening your own Speaking Roses business a great experience. They offer proven technology and equipment for both high and low volume production, as well as marketing materials, great methods and techniques, and personalized training that allow them to offer to you what truly is a 'business in a box.'

With the option of starting your Speaking Roses business on a part-time or full-time basis, you can begin working from home or in your own retail Speaking Roses store. With the floral, gifts, advertisement, corporate, and greeting card markets making up a $100 billion dollar industry, they provide you with all of the tools to help you tap into that potential. With the ability to place anything from a corporate logo to a marriage proposal on fresh-cut flowers, they have opened a door to an advertising world that is only just beginning to tap into its real potential.

The chance to get in on the ground floor of this amazing opportunity is now being offered to business-minded individuals who are looking to be the first in this new market to capture the hearts of consumers in a way that has already caught the attention of everyone from Hollywood to the guests at your best friend's wedding.

When you join their team as a Speaking Roses licensed owner, you start out running. With the 'know how' of experienced professionals, you join a company that is already experiencing unheard-of success, having already earned recognition from magazines such as Forbes, Family Circle, In Touch, and many more.

To find out more about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, click here.

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ILOILO CITY MOVES TO ATTRACT MORE INVESTORS

The committee formed by the city government to look into possible amendments in the present Incentives Code of Iloilo has reduced the capitalization of investors that will avail tax holidays on real property and business taxes from P50 million to P15 million.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the committee chaired by Councilor Jose Espinosa III has trimmed down the capitalization of prospective investors who will avail of the incentives. The tax break will be done in gradual basis within a five-year period.

The existing code only gives a three-year tax break for investors. In its proposed tax break, the committee wants it to lengthen to four or five years. The proposed incentive is designed to attract would be investors in the city in spite of the financial crisis.

The committee will present the new scheme of the Incentives Code as soon as it has ironed out all the details which is both beneficial to the city and the investors, said Treñas.

Treñas is optimistic that the proposed changes in the Incentive Code will be approved by members of the legislative body. There are three councilors who are with the committee, namely, Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo and Ely Estante aside from Espinosa. It needs an ordinance as assurance for the entering investors.

The entry of new investors with big capitalization has a multiplier effect not only on the city government but as well as to the people. It will generate employment as soon as the construction phase of the business site starts, said Treñas.

As soon as the construction phase is done, the firm will employ people to work with them. It will spark economic activity. The taxes as payment for the city government come as the third beneficiary for the entry of new investors, he said.(http://www.thenewstoday.info)

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SECRETS OF FRANCHISING SUCCESS

How to be a winning franchisor or franchisee

BY BUBBLES SALVADOR

LIKE ANY RELATIONSHIP, a give-and-take attitude is needed for any franchise business to succeed. Freda Co, Business Development Manager of Rice-in-A-Box (RBX), underscores the importance of teamwork. “Every piece of the puzzle should fit in and contribute to the whole system,” she says.

Franchisors should...

1. SELL A GOOD FRANCHISE. Josie Sy of Peanut World considers this rule number one. “The franchisor should make sure that his products are of good quality,” she says. Edgar Sia II, President and CEO of Mang Inasal, couldn’t agree more. “[It should be] a business model that is proven to be profitable.” 

2. MAINTAIN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH FRANCHISEES. According to Sy, this also consists of regularly visiting the franchised outlet. When the franchisor and franchisee are in constant touch, there is an opportunity for the franchisor to listen to the ideas and suggestions of franchisees as well, says Co.

3. ALWAYS INNOVATE AND IMPROVE HIS FRANCHISE. “We’re not just talking about the product, but the whole system as well,” says Co.

Franchisees, on the other hand, should…

1. BE PREPARED. The franchising scheme is complicated, so “Patience and hard work are needed to [master] this system,” says Sia. For Co, commitment to the business doesn’t end with allotting time and money, but “giving your best efforts until the end.”

2. STUDY MARKET AND LOCATION. “‘Is the franchise a saleable product?’ ‘Is my target market in my desired location?’ These are some of the questions that every franchisee should answer,” says Co.

3. BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE MISTAKES. After all, it’s a learning process. As Sia says, “Just make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes. Always keep on finding ways to improve.”

4. FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE FRANCHISOR. Sy says every franchisee should enter the business with the mindset that rules are pre-determined, and they cannot just make decisions on their own.

The Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI) seeks to professionalize and standardize the local franchising industry. For more details, log on to

www.affi.com.ph.

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HOW TO DEAL WITH BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN DINERS

Do you treat a Caucasian diner the same way you would a Japanese? How do you get Thais to patronize your Tom Yum soup? Here are some tips for dealing with customers of different cultures:

CAUCASIANS: are wise spenders, always hungry for good food and unique dining experiences. Europeans and Americans tend to be very particular about wine lists, so attract them with extensive offerings.

INDIANS: spend less, so they respond well to value-for-money offerings. Throwing in freebies is the way to go.

JAPANESE: spend more and are more daring with their choices. They are very particular about the freshness of their ingredients.

THAI: like having chefs from their country. When you are able to prepare their food with utmost authenticity, they appreciate it.

PINOYS: are average spenders. They won’t binge like there’s no tomorrow, but they try stuff they find interesting. They usually ask their server for recommendations, so make sure your staff is well-versed on your menu. 

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COST-CUTTING IN THE FACE OF CRISIS

Businessmen used to follow the adage, “You need to spend money to make money,” but now that times are getting hard, ask yourself the following every time you consider taking on an expense:

■ Does it add value to the business?

■ If I hire this person, will my sales increase?

■ If I buy this piece of equipment, will it increase productivity?

Your answers to these will start you on the road to lower overhead costs.

Other ways you can avoid wasteful spending:

■ Keep an eye on your cash. This includes proper bookkeeping and constantly updating your cash flow statement and projection. Doing this may not necessarily prevent poor choices on how your money is spent, but at least you are planning for expenditures.

■ Lease instead of buy; if it’s really unavoidable, buy used equipment. However, be mindful of potential maintenance and/or upgrade costs.

■ Extend terms with suppliers to negotiate better rates.

Now, regarding your question about how to attract more customers, here are some low-cost ways to promote your business:

■ Go online. Social networking sites like Multiply (www.multiply.com) and Facebook (www.facebook.com), as well as blog sites like Blogger (www.blogger.com) and Wordpress (www.wordpress.com), are so user-friendly that you do not need knowledge in HTML to make your own webpage. These websites allow you to upload photos and videos with ease. You can even post announcements about your business.

■ Use buddy promotion. If you send out brochures, you could include a leaflet and/or business card of another business, which had agreed to do the same for you. This gives you the chance to reach a whole new pool of potential customers. Just make sure your products and services complement each other.

■ Give out discounts to those who pay in full or in advance. This will also help improve your cash flow.

Good luck with your business , and do update us from time to time on how you are doing.

SEE ALSO: Get help troubleshooting issues with streaming here!

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MORE AND MORE PEOPLE NOW SHOPPING ONLINE

If your retail store is experiencing a sales slump this year, maybe it’s time you started selling your products on the Web.

According to a recent global survey conducted by The Nielsen Company, over 85 percent of the world’s online population has used the Internet to make a purchase, up 40 percent from two years ago.

Even more encouraging—more than half of Internet users are regular online shoppers, making online purchases at least once a month.

When The Nielsen Company conducted its first survey into online shopping habits two years ago, only 10 percent of the world’s online population (627 million) had made a purchase over the Internet. Within two years, this number has surged by approximately 40 percent — to a staggering 875 million.

“The Internet is no longer a niche technology —it is mass media and an utterly integral part of modern life...As our lives become more fractured and cluttered, it isn’t surprising that consumers turn to the unrivalled convenience of the Internet when it comes to...buying products,” said Jonathan Carson, President, International, Nielsen Online.

OTHER FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT:

Globally, the most popular and purchased items over the Internet are Books (41% purchased in the past three months), Clothing/Accessories/Shoes (36%), Videos/DVDs/ Games (24%), Airline Tickets (24%) and Electronic Equipment (23%).

In fact, the number of Internet consumers buying books over the Internet has increased seven percent in the past two years but the biggest increase has been in Clothing /Accessories/Shoes which increased from 20 percent to 36 percent. “Some of the biggest buyers of books on the Internet are from developing countries—China, Brazil, Vietnam and Egypt—indicating massive growth potential for online retailers that can specifically target these fast-growing markets,” said Carson. 

SEE ALSO: Troubleshooting device errors with these helpful guides!

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WANT NEW WAYS TO ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS? TRY TIE - UPS!

Horizontal marketing is a clever and cost-efficient way to extend your reach

What do the following have in common: a restaurant, a museum, a department store, and a clothing label? Would you believe—their customers!

Late last year, customers of high-end retail chain Rustan’s department store were given a catalog for imported clothing brand Banana Republic, which included a coupon that offered a 15 percent discount on any Banana Republic purchase worth 10,000. While this cross-promotion is understandable, given that Rustan’s and Store Specialists, Inc. (the company that brought in Banana Republic) are sister companies, customers also received a promotional coupon for the Chef Laudico Bistro Filipino restaurant at The Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, as well as a discount coupon for the Ayala Museum in Makati.

Such is an example of horizontal marketing, defined as when two (or more) companies producing different products but with similar target audiences combine marketing efforts.

WHY IT WORKS

People buy different things all the time—from socks to party dresses, from toiletries to perfume. It therefore makes sense to forge alliances with companies that sell products complementary—not necessarily similar—to yours.

When executed properly, horizontal marketing can be a boon even to small businesses:

■ It can be an effective way for a business to increase customers without significant additional marketing investment. For example, when neighboring businesses hold an event, i.e. a sidewalk sale, they will only be responsible for a fraction of the overall marketing investment.

■ Such alliances allow/encourage different organizations to share their expertise and give each other access to new customer segments. You see this around you all the time: kiddie photography studios tie-up with children’s clothes and accessories stores, gyms tie-up with health food stores or spas, and appliance repair centers collaborate with home cleaning companies.

■ Small businesses with little or no brand identity can boost their image by offering bigger, more established brands some type of promotion for their customers. For example, if you own a dessert café, offer the well-known bookstore in your area a ton of “Free dessert!” coupons. The big bookstore may accept it because it’s a free gift, so when they hand it out, not only do you get an implied “endorsement,” but also access to all the customers looking for a place to snack after a day of shopping. The increased traffic will likely cover the discounts you offer.

CREATE A WINNING STRATEGY

Here are some ways you can make your horizontal marketing program a success:

■ BE A FRIEND FIRST. Don’t be in such a hurry to snag those customers that you offer a tepid promotion. Instead, have the customer’s experience in mind when you band together with other companies, so avoid piece-meal efforts. What other products or services would your clients like to receive? What would give them a compelling reason to ‘might as well try’ a new thing? Then pitch your ideas to your neighbors. For example, if you are a bookstore and are next door to a restaurant and an accessories shop, why not organize a “Children’s Fair”—you host a storytelling session, the restaurant sponsors the snacks, and the accessories shop takes care of the decorations and giveaways. It’s a win-win situation for all—even for the parents and the children.

■ EMPHASIZE ‘WHAT UNITES US’. Rally your fellow restaurateurs to organize a breakfast buffet for a cause; collaborate with fellow organic food enthusiasts to hold a fitness festival; get pet store owners to help advertise a “Pet Blessing Day.”

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Horizontal marketing is essentially collaborating with a business that complements yours, but be sure you have studied all possibilities and scenarios before entering into the relationship. Doing business with someone who may have a personality or management style different from yours may also compound matters. But as long as everything is handled professionally, you and your partner can count on stretching your marketing budgets further than ever. ●BY JEMPS GALLEGOS & JACLYN LUTANCO-CHUA

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LESSONS TO BE LEARNED IN FRANCHISING

New franchisees sometimes carry with them misconceptions about the business that can be detrimental to their success. Those who’ve been there and done that from the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. share some of these mistakes with us, and how to best avoid them:

Common mistake #1: Treating your franchise as a sideline. A lot of people get into a franchise “thinking they don’t have to work” and that it “works on auto-pilot”, YSA Skin Care president Robert Nazal and Holy Kettle Corn Chief Operating Officer Aristotle Alipon observe. On the contrary, you need to put in your time, hard work, physical presence, and care to make your franchise grow. In the absence of a professional managing team, a business will always need the hands-on management of it’s owner, says Bibingkinitan and The Tea Square president Richard Sanz. “That is why we require all our franchisees to log in at least four hours per day in their franchised outlet to ensure their focus,” he says.

Common mistake #2: Neglecting to improve yourself. Pica Pica Franchise Director Mercedes Mejia believes that being a business owner means having good people skills and having the ability to manage employees. So take courses or study articles that teach about management and self-improvement; when you improve yourself, you improve your business.

Common mistake #3: Focusing on money too much. “Relatives of OFWs often come to the office and wave their money around, thinking that it is the only thing needed to acquire a franchise,” shares Canton Dimsum House owner Gilbert Jim. He says an applicant must also consider if they have proposed the right location, and if they can manage the franchise well. Others make the mistake of choosing franchises based on price and affordability, shares Nazal. Although financial gain is one of the reasons to franchise, it should not be the ONLY reason. “In our franchise orientations, we always mention never to work for money,” says Sanz. Among his franchisees, those who work with zeal and passion are the most successful because “their passion for the product and business drives them to excel, then the money abundantly flows afterwards as a result of their passion and zeal.”

Common mistake #4: Charging personal expenses to the business. Some new franchisees make the mistake of charging their family’s expenses like groceries and other utilities in the income of their franchise; this eats up their operational expenses and messes up their financial accounting. Aquabest’s Neil Delgado suggests to “Get a salary from the business then deduct your personal expenses from there.”

Common mistake #5: Having unrealistic expectations. Although the failure rate in having a franchise business is relatively low, all franchisors agree that they cannot guarantee a 100% success rate because it depends on a variety of factors. Some franchisees expect their franchisors to do everything for them, which is a common misconception. While franchisors are there to support and guide you, managing the business and running it lies on your hands. You also need to manage your expectations. To prepare for the natural highs and lows of doing business, “they should have a passion for the business they are entering, “points out Jovic Navarro of The Cockhouse. “Study the market well and be prepared for the lows because there will be dips in your income,” advises Alipon. At the end of the day, your franchise’s success actually depends on you.

Knowing what not to do helps you focus on what you need to do in order to succeed. Cheers to a great year ahead! ●

The Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI) seeks to professionalize and standardize the local franchising industry. For more details, log on to

www.affi.com.ph.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

Some mistakes new franchisees make and how to avoid them

HELP LINE

JAN/FEB 2008 • GLOBE MASIGASIG •

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THE WORLD'S BILLIONAIRES 2009

The richest people in the world have gotten poorer, just like the rest of us. No one scaped from the upshot of the recession. This year the world's billionaires have an average net worth of $3 billion, down 23% in 12 months from 2008. The world now has 793 billionaires, compared to 1,125 last year. 

RANK	NAME	CITIZENSHIP	AGE	NET WORTH ($BIL)	RESIDENCE
1	William Gates III	United States	53	40.0	United States
2	Warren Buffett	United States	78	37.0	United States
3	Carlos Slim Helu & family	Mexico	69	35.0	Mexico
4	Lawrence Ellison	United States	64	22.5	United States
5	Ingvar Kamprad & family	Sweden	83	22.0	Switzerland
6	Karl Albrecht	Germany	89	21.5	Germany
7	Mukesh Ambani	India	51	19.5	India
8	Lakshmi Mittal	India	58	19.3	United Kingdom
9	Theo Albrecht	Germany	87	18.8	Germany
10	Amancio Ortega	Spain	73	18.3	Spain
11	Jim Walton	United States	61	17.8	United States
12	Alice Walton	United States	59	17.6	United States
12	Christy Walton & family	United States	54	17.6	United States
12	S Robson Walton	United States	65	17.6	United States
15	Bernard Arnault	France	60	16.5	France
16	Li Ka-shing	Hong Kong	80	16.2	Hong Kong
17	Michael Bloomberg	United States	67	16.0	United States
18	Stefan Persson	Sweden	61	14.5	Sweden
19	Charles Koch	United States	73	14.0	United States
19	David Koch	United States	68	14.0	United States
21	Liliane Bettencourt	France	86	13.4	France
22	Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud	Saudi Arabia	54	13.3	Saudi Arabia
23	Michael Otto & family	Germany	65	13.2	Germany
24	David Thomson & family	Canada	51	13.0	Canada
25	Michael Dell	United States	44	12.3	United States

Two Filipino entry from the list includes:

234

Henry Sy & family

Philippines

84

2.7

Philippines

522

Lucio Tan & family

Philippines

74

1.4

Philippines

For the complete list visit www.forbes.com

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ASIAN SPIRIT RENAMED TO ZEST AIR

Zest Air is the new name of Asian Spirit acquired by Mr. Alfredo M. Yao. Zest Air is under new management. Mr. Yao is the President and CEO of Zest Air and also the Chairman Zest-O Corporation.

On March 26, AMY Holdings Corporation (AHC) acquired 99.6 percent of Asian Spirit Inc., Seeing the opportunity for growth, the new owners felt that the only way to enhance its profitability was by infusing new capital, re-fleeting, altering management style and innovating marketing strategies. Seven months later Zest Airways orange and green colors flew the Philippine skies, making way for a bigger and better airline. With acquisition of seven new aircraft, Zest Air successfully flies to 13 Philippine destinations.

If Zest-O is the refreshing drink, Zest Air is now called as the refreshing airlines. Funny it sounds, a free Zest-O drink if you fly with Zest Air. True!

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