Coca-Cola Zero – Taste it to believe it! Coca-Cola wanted to tell its consumers that Coca-Cola Zero has the same great taste. So @CocaCola planned this small surprise for some consumers in a multiplex. #CokeZeroIndia #TasteItToBelieveIt
Sony looks to boost Christmas tab sales by chopping the price of world’s slimmest tablet.
Tyler McGee, the former Vice President of Telecommunications has unexpectedly quit Samsung Australia and has been replaced by a former Vodafone executive.
McGee who has successfully run the most profitable division of the local Samsung subsidiary has been replaced by Prasad Gokhale, a former Vodafone UK executive who now has the title of Vice President of the Telecommunications Division in Australia.
Samsung Australia said “Tyler McGee the former Vice President of Telecommunications has unexpectedly quit and has been replaced by a former Vodafone executive”.
At Vodafone Group U.K, Gokhale he was a key member of Vodafone’s leadership team and led its terminals business across Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and Turkey.
Samsung said that he has a strong track record across global markets, driving transformation and business development programs, and brings a wealth of experience in developing cutting edge technology and innovative solutions for international customers.
In Australia the Telecommunications division that includes tablets and smartphones has witnessed rapid growth under McGee.
In their latest financial filings Samsung Australia reported a $706 million dollar increase in revenues with the Telecommunications division being a major contributor to the growth.
Between 2011 and 2012 Samsung Australia lifted revenues from $1.617 Billion to $2.324 Billion. Profits went from $10,416,000 to $15,299,000.
During the same period Samsung Australia’s overall market share of the tablet market doubled from 12% to 24%.
Mr. S.R. Yoon, Managing Director – Samsung Electronics Australia, said, “Prasad has a proven global track record with the depth of experience required to move the Samsung telecommunications business forward. As a previous business partner he is already familiar with the Samsung operation in Australia and we believe his global perspective and leadership qualities will add another dimension to the business.”
Gokhale said “My initial focus will be to develop a deeper understanding of the team, our customers and their needs. I look forward to leveraging my experience from global markets to help develop solutions that meet the changing and growing expectations of partners and consumers. My main objective is that in addition to being Australia’s leading technology brand, we are also the most preferred brand of choice for our partners and consumers.”
During his previous role at Vodafone Group U.K. as Director of Terminals, Prasad drove a transformation program of Vodafone’s mobile device procurement and portfolio management business across 13 markets He held a range of management roles at Vodafone, including senior positions in both Japan and Australia. Prasad is multi-lingual and was educated at Sydney University (MBA) and Griffith University (Bachelor International Business).
Source : SmartHouse Australia
Hungry consumers to spend $30bn this Christmas, new figures show.
Australians are expected to spend $1,280 each, on average, according to projections from Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) Christmas Retail Index.
This week alone, shoppers will start to get serious about their Christmas shopping, spending $5.8 billion instore and online – with $3.3bn to be spent in Australian bricks and mortar stores. $29.6bn is to be spent in total.
The bulk of online shopping will be done in the coming weeks to ensure pre-Christmas delivery.
About $1.4 billion will be spent on overseas websites this week – greater than the $970 million set to be spent with local retailers.
According to the Christmas Retail Index, consumers will spend more this year with overseas online retailers – $2.6 billion this year up from $2.2bn in 2012.
This week, New South Wales shoppers look set to be the biggest spenders with $1.8bn, followed by Victorians on $1.5bn and Queenslanders who are expected to spend just under $1.2bn.
ANRA CEO Margy Osmond said the surge in spending will be a Christmas bonus for retailers who are hoping retail trade figures will continue their momentum after recording five months of gains.
“When we looked at the demographics of consumers expected to hit the shops in the coming weeks. There were no surprises, the figures showed 53 per cent of women will do most of their Christmas shopping between 13 November and 11 December. While one in three men said they would do most of their shopping between 14 December and Christmas Eve.
“The retail figures for October will be released next week giving the sector a feel for what to expect for the last few weeks of the year and we are hoping to see the results of warm Spring weather and those Spring racing splurges reflected in these figures.”
Source : SmartHouse Australia
JVC, the comeback kid: Dick Smith sell first JVC TVs on Deal Frenzy
Dick Smith has signed an exclusive deal with JVC to bring its TVs back to Australia after a multi-year hiatus.
Dick Smith is the exclusive retailer of Japanese Victor Company’s TV’s down under, as part of an international relaunch, which will see the legendary JVC sets make a global comeback.
To celebrate its relaunch, the JVC 50″ Full HD LED TV will feature in Dick Smith’s Deal Frenzy sale at $697 – $200 off the RRP, which kicks off today.
Rather than joining Click Frenzy, Dick Smith has gone out on its own launching Deal Frenzy – a two-day, online only sale.
Other deals include: Acer W3-810 32GB Windows 8 tablet for $298 – $150 off.
Dick Smith 31.5″ HD LED TV and built in DVD Player for $248 – $100 off – and Swann DVR8-3000 DVR with 6 cameras for $849 (half price).
JVC TV’s start at $298 for 23″ HD TV with built in Blu Ray player and 40″ Full HD LED TV for $597.
However, the only Smart (internet connected) JVC TV is not cheap at $1,498.
“We’re thrilled to add such an iconic, trusted brand to our ever expanding TV range. The JVC line-up boasts good quality TVs at affordable prices,” Roger Drinkwater, Dick’s Smith’s Merchandise Manager.
“We’re promoting the return of JVC TVs in Australia by giving customers some fantastic deals this week.”
The retailer is targeting unprepared Melbourne and Sydney residents where analogue TV broadcast will be shut down early next month.
News Source : SmartHouse Australia
The British newspaper claims that the new Sony PlayStation 4 has some surprising shortcomings.
| The publication listed several issues including some basic problems such as connected storage. The issues are listed as follows.
1. Users will not be able to connect an external hard drive to the PS4 to extend the storage 2. PS4 does not support dynamic themes as they currently exist on the PlayStation 3 system 3. The PS4 does not support audio CDs 4. Users cannot rename their online ID on PS4 5. The PS4 will not be able to play MP3 files 6. If users rent a game and install it, then decide to buy a digital copy, they will not be able to use the install data to activate their license 8. The feature allowing users to suspend and resume progress across different games will not be available at launch 9. PS4 is not backwards compatible with PS1, 2, or 3 games from discs 10. Users cannot turn off the light bar on the dual shock four 11. Users will not be able to play background music without a subscription to Music Unlimited at an extra cost 12. The PS4 does not have a music visualizer 13. A child’s sub account cannot be changed into a master account when they turn 18. Instead, a new master account must be created Source : Smarthouse Australia |
| The Internet behemoth launched Amazon Australia webstore last week, is now tipped to be a major player in the market, locally, with 2 million eBooks, Kindle ereaders and tablets.
“I’m glad Amazon is charging GST in Australia for the first time”, says Jon Page, General Manager, Pages & Pages book store in Sydney suburb of Mosman, but hit out at its anti competitive practices.
Pages & Pages are holding a Kindle Amnesty 2.0, today to promote other non Kindle e reader alternatives to Aussie booklovers, an event which has got worldwide attention.
Kindle owners are invited to bring in their ereader to Mosman store and purchase a Kobo eReader, instead.
In exchange for their Kindle, consumers will receive a $50 Kobo gift voucher to spend on ebooks – there 3.5 million in the Kobo library – over 1m more than its rival, Amazon.
Canadian-based Kobo is backing the Pages & Page Kindle Amnesty and has partnered up with Australian Booksellers Association.
Amazon closed eco system means Kindle owners can buy Amazon ebooks only, which is “not fair”. Amazon doesn’t communicate this fact with consumers either, says Page. Kindle is the default term for ereader which is “inaccurate”, he says
Kobo is an open platform and technically superior ereader – its Aura HD has a highest resolution screen on the market.
Page also hope ACCC can looks into what he alleges are Amazon’s predatory pricing tactics, selling well below cost price.
“Amazon lock competition out” but lock users in, and rarely make money. However, the US based giant has “deep pockets” – many of Kindle titles cost as little as A$1.05.
“Its hard to compete when you’re up against a company that makes $12bn a quarter”.
“Its been a tough year,” admits Page, but says “Christmas is starting early”
Print titles still make up the majority of sales, – ebooks account for just 15%-20% of book sales, so paper backs are definitely “not being wiped out” by cheaper digital books.
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