COMMERCE AND BUSINESS

IN SIGHT INTO AMERICA

COMMERCE AND BUSINESS

You cannot judge a nation by the cars it possess or the jewelry it owns but by the availability of goods at reasonable price, the export is more than the import and by the people above the poverty line.

In commerce and trade America, Japan and China are outstanding and carved out a place for them. There may be recession at times but they manage to pull out of it by sheer hard work and timely actions. We must know the secret of their success.

1. America encourages private enterprises. They are very strict about the quality of the products. The customer is fully guaranteed about the quality and if they are not satisfied with the quality, they can return the goods and get back their money-no asking for reasons.
2.Goods are available in installment basis and on credits with very low interest or no interest at all.
3.If they find that, their manufacturing costs or more they get them imported and American firms in foreign countries manufacture many products. For instance, some schoolbooks are printed at china and used in America. So also ready-made garments from Asian Countries, milk products from Swiss.
4.All the goods are available in one place like Wall Mart, Target etc.
5.This culture is fast catching in India now. Let us see the functioning of Wall mart- The biggest department stores in the world. It is not only in America but also in Canada, Mexico, and Britain. Its story is like our TVS-group. Its monthly turn over is one and half crores billion dollars.
6.In every town not less than 80,000 sq.ft building, fully air-conditioned.
7.Sam Walton started this company in 1962 in a small way. He set certain basic rules and objectives before him.

a)His business and place should be unique and special.
b)Customers should be received with utmost kindness and respects.
c)Customers should get quality products. To achieve these goals he set 10-commandments.

1.Full time hard work.
2.Share the profits with workers.
3.Encourage his workers to give their best.
4.No secrets and share the same with all his workers.
5.Incentives for worker who turn out better and efficient.
6.All share success.
7.Hear and adopt the ideas and suggestions of co-workers.
8.Fulfill the expectations of customers.
9.Keep under control the expenses.
10.Serve the customers continuously and higher and higher service.

There is one example: A customer-lady who was a diabetic patient- who came to purchase some items left her insulin packet in the shop. It was Sunday and she needed it urgently. She rang the shop and after finding the same, they handed over it to the customer within very short time. Such is their attention to the needs of its customers.

1. He brought one rule-Sun Set work- by which that day’s work should be finished on that day before sunset.

2. He used to welcome the customer coming 10 ft away to go near him and enquire what he wants-such is the hospitality of wall mart.
3. He always thinks how to reduce the price to benefit his customer.

4.He adopted rollback method by which a product selling at $1.98 and its purchase price was $1.00/- the next month to reduce the price to $.1.38 though it was selling at $.1.98 very well.
5.on festival days special offers- for example- a purchase for $50/- can get a gift coupon of $5/-.

Let us see the goods available in the wall mart:-

1.Apparels & luggage.
2.Appliances like electric stoves, gas stoves and kitchen aids.
3.Auto Hardware like spanners, car parts.
4.Book Stores.
5.Business Forms and Stationary.
6.Computer parts and software.
7.Electronic goods.
8.Family, Fun and Arts.
9.Furniture.
10.Gifts and Floral.
11.Home needs.
12.Jewelry collections.
13.Mattress
14.CDs.
15.Office Depot
16.Greeting cards.
17.Pets.
18.Phone
19.Games.
20.Milk, cake, bread.
21.Video games etc.

Like the above, there are special departmental stores like Office Depot, Savon Drugs, Best Buy, Target etc.

We used to hear from Indian relatives stories like- I asked him to get walkman from America-no answer, I asked to get one good T-shirt-no answer- ( Relative scolding the man calling him selfish but do you know that cost of one T-Shirt is $10/- equal to Rs.500.

America is very costly for certain items. To know an idea I am giving the cost of some items:
1. Flat panel TV-50”- $ 5999 – 14999. 2. DVD player- $ 359-459. 3. Camcorder-$ 249-399, 4. Computer-$ 829-999, 5. Cordless Speaker phone-$ 39-69, Washing machine-$ 299-499.

Since all are very big stores, unlike in India we have to go by car only. Car parking is bigger than the departmental stores.

The Shelf life of any article is only 3- months thereafter it will come to one dollar stores-the idea behind is that the goods should go on to move and no old stock.

There is Costco-whole sale departmental stores in every town. Here bulk purchases are made and the goods are cheaper by 30%.

Americans are very careful about quality, contents and packing with full details and instructions of how to use them.

Commerce and business is on full credit card basis and no cash transaction anywhere and hence there is any fear of carrying huge cash, which is very risky.

R.Jagannathan.