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Brand building's key to long-term success
Rand building started on day one for Riyaaz Amlani's new venture six years ago. His Mocha coffee shop chain wanted to differentiate itself from others, which Amlani thought had followed the Starbucks template faithfully. He spent several weeks planning nuances such as the quantity of the dessert scoop and the mix ‘n' match of furniture.
He designed the whole project with a belief that a coffee shop is not a restaurant, but a place for socialising. All this got early visitors talking about how different the experience was. And Mocha had got its brand baptism.
On the other hand, internet portal Sulekha.com didn't begin a brand-building exercise until this year, though it had started as early as 2001. The company focused on developing a critical mass of users and let growth come from word-of-mouth.
Police: Rapist hid killing spree for decades
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - In his early 30s, fresh off his release from prison on rape charges, Timothy Krajcir enrolled in college to study psychology and the criminal justice system. Like other students, Krajcir was seeking self-enlightenment, a detective said. But over the next six years, Krajcir murdered at least six women in two states, covering up his crimes in part by using what he learned at Southern Illinois University, authorities said. "He said initially he was trying to figure himself out. But he failed, obviously," said James Smith, a Cape Girardeau police detective who helped link Krajcir to five homicides here dating back 30 years. .
Summary Box: AP Interview: Rice says Iran, North Korea still dangerous
STILL CONCERNS: North Korea and Iran have a long way to go to get off the Bush administration's list of nuclear threats, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told The Associated Press on Wednesday. HER WORDS: "They are clearly still states about which there are significant proliferation concerns," Rice said. "It would be very irresponsible not to deal with those dangers." BLACKWATER BLAME: During the interview, Rice took responsibility for the Blackwater Worldwide problems. "Of course, anything that happens in this department, I'm ultimately responsible," she said. .
10stepmarketing Introduces 1-Hour Marketing Plan Just In Time for 2008 Planning
10stepmarketing, a small business marketing coaching firm, has introduced a new how-to product called the 1-Hour Marketing Plan to help small business owners and solo-professionals write their 2008 marketing plan quickly and easily. San Diego, CA (PRWEB) December 10, 2007 -- Small business marketing coach Debbie LaChusa, the founder of 10stepmarketing, has introduced a new how-to product called the 1-Hour Marketing Plan to help small business owners and solo-professionals write their 2008 marketing plan quickly and easily. The product costs $47.00 and is available for sale and instant download at http://www.1HourMarketingPlan.com The 1-Hour Marketing Plan includes a How-to Guide, Marketing Plan Template, Marketing Calendar Template, Marketing Budget Template, and a Sample Marketing Plan to show small business owners what a completed marketing plan looks like.
Cinderella fails to press the right buttons
The odd flash of learning struck incongruous notes too. "According to Plato happiness is contingent upon virtue," Buttons unbelievably remarks. The intermittent virtues of Fiona Laird's slick production have to do with its appeal to kids - clever audience involvement and the odd, surprising flash of spectacle. Stephen Brimson Lewis's design offers a small pumpkin which magically expands into a vehicle. Pauline Collins's cockney fairy godmother, who has a successful shot at flying, manages a bit of magic. A fairytale kitchen gives way to a down-at-heel, cardboard-wonder of a palace. Song and dance joviality reign supreme, but this is Fry well under par. .
Cubs land Fukudome
The Cubs signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year deal late Tuesday, outbidding San Diego and the White Sox to gain the services of their primary off-season target.
Terms of the deal were not immediately known, though it's believed to be worth in the neighborhood of $48 million to $50 milllion.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was not available for comment to confirm the deal, but it will be announced on Wednesday.
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