When the biggest automotive aftermarket show in North America, and even perhaps the world breaks its attendance record, then you know that there is a reason for the renewed optimism that automotive accessory manufacturers are showing these days. Although aftermarket sales by SEMA members for 2012 are expected to reach almost 30 billion dollars, this is still 4 billion short of its record from five years ago. Seems improbable that its beginnings were as an informal swap meet held in 1976 at a stadium in Los Angeles.
SEMA executives have also reported that China and the Middle East have seen explosive growth. These are two entirely different, and dare we say opposite markets however, as Middle East buyers from oil-rich nations do not think twice about extravagantly spending for cars and luxury aftermarket items. China, on the other hand, is justifiably derided for having manufacturers that turn out inferior and unsafe copies of popular aftermarket products and designs.
Along the way though, car owners and enthusiasts have seen an explosion of new products from competing manufacturers. These include HID lights, coilover suspensions, engine upgrades and body kits. In terms of mechanical and electronic upgrades, the best seem to come from German, Japanese and U.S. companies. The aftermarket Is Kenya Good For Business includes about a dozen categories, ranging from business services, to collision repair and refinishing, to wheels and tires, mobile electronics and technology, utility vehicles, racing and performance parts, vehicle restorations, body kits and restyling and car care. It also includes a host of other products ranging from automotive accessories to tools and equipment.
These new products are sold in traditional brick and mortar outlets as well as online. Nowadays, with most people cramped for time, online sales have also grown exponentially. And often offer the same products cheaper. What’s more, it’s so much easier to compare prices from the comfort of wherever your are, instead of physically going to different stores to check out the same items. This is not to say that you can do all your shopping online. For example, purchasing a coilover suspension Types Of Manufacturing Industry and setting it up properly are two different things, and the experience can sour if the product support is not there. Then again, some shops don’t really offer any product support at all. With the vast amount of information available on the net, however, it’s very easy to look up user and long-term review of the products you are looking at. Do remember that you get what you pay for and what looks like a terrific automotive upgrade now may turn out to be a piece of junk down the road.…
Tag: value
Value Propositions for Industrial Companies – Part I
A value or selling proposition, simply put, is a statement of several sentences that clearly states what your company offers its customers and how you are different from your competitors. Sounds easy, right? As with most marketing initiatives, what seems as if it should be simple really has a lot of back-story in terms of coming to certain insights and conclusions. A good value proposition will always be the result of an information gathering process about your industry, your customers, your competitors, your own company, and finally – your commitment to investing in making that proposition or offer a reality. A good value proposition isn’t just words – it’s a promise with legs.
Since the idea of a value proposition has come into the marketing vernacular, there have been many agencies and consultants that have made quite a nice living by making this process much more complicated than it needs to be, particularly in the industrial arena. Industrial companies don’t have a prospect pool of millions or billions of people. Their target customer base is much more narrow and focused. It is not necessary to spend tens of thousands of dollars on focus groups, surveys, or research.
Most established industrial companies already have all the knowledge they need to craft a value proposition in the heads of their key employees. Assemble a value proposition (VP) team; carve out half a day; find a location free of distractions; take cell phones at the door; and lock the team in until you’ve documented all the information you need. You decide who has the most knowledge about the following areas, and then bring them together, ready to be frank and objective.
1) Your customers
Profiles of typical customers and market segments
Objectives and needs specific to each customer segment
2) Your competitors
What are their weaknesses and strengths?
How are they attempting to position themselves?
What is the perception of them Competitive Industries within your customer base?
3) Your own company
Short and long term goals
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats
Core competencies
Primary features and benefits of your products and services
In bringing together your VP Team, it’s obvious to include your top sales and marketing Invest In African Small Business people, especially ones in the front lines. In addition, don’t forget to include:
One or two old timers, no matter what position they currently hold – they’ll have a wealth of knowledge about the evolution of your company and its competitors.
Someone from inside sales, or customer service – they may not get the first hand exposure to customers and competitors that the outside sales staff does, but they probably get more honest feed-back from customers. It’s a lot easier to complain over the phone than it is looking someone eye to eye.
One person from production and one person from engineering – their insights regarding your company’s manufacturing and innovative capabilities will round out your SWOT analysis.
Your CFO, or another high level accounting exec. – goals are only good if …
Value Castors Beat the Budget
If you walk into any supermarket on the high street or into your local out of town supermarkets you will no doubt notice the huge range of product offerings varying from budget value products right up to high end high quality ranges. Any one product, for example lets say chicken, will be sold in value cheap and cheerful packs, medium range priced chicken and then at the top end of the pricing scale are the high quality, often organic chickens, priced accordingly at a premium. This method of selling such a wide range of products at prices to suit a wide range of budgets ensures these retailers can meet everyone’s needs.
This method of product and price marketing can be replicated across into other industries. Within the materials handling and castors supply industries similar trends of price value marketing can be seen. Castors can range from value castors, which bought in quantity, offer the end consumer the best value for money. Budget castors offer such value for money in this price sensisitive market in which we operate. At the other end of the scale, are industrial castors, that are able to withstand greater weight loads and usage, these are wroth their premium price. It’s the old adage that you get what you pay for. In the middle of the scale are medium duty castors that are competitively priced for today’s market.
One of the first commentators was a gentleman named Adam Smith who in 1776 described the Industrialisation of Nations, and how the division of labour would produce increases in productivity. The British Industrial revolution saw the mass manufacturing of castors and wheels in the United Kingdom. Traditionally British manufacturers of castors and wheels, such as Flexello and Revvo Castors dominated the home market. However just as Adam Smith predicted, as the markets grew, and the process of division labour developed, How To Become An Electrician In Alabama cheaper castors and wheels were imported from countries with economical manufacturing, material and labour costs. Castors manufacturing developed in Europe, in Italy and Germany for example. Over the last ten to twenty years China has become one of the leading castors manufacturers. With cheap material costs and labour costs the Chinese market has grown considerably. The only draw back with such value castors is the length of time they take to get to our shores! It is indeed a slow boat from China!
So any modern castors distributor must take these market changes into account. Castors and wheels, like in supermarkets, must meet all customers’ requirements from cheap value castors up to heavy duty industrial castors. Adam Smith in 1776 may have been one of the first to write about the Industrialisation of Nations, however in today’s Pricing Problems Of Industry market this simplistic view has been overtaken by a price and value castors marketing strategy. Casting the net far and wide enables castors manufacturers to catch all the castors requirements from customers. Whether its value budget castors, sensitively priced or whether …
Value Addition Through Industrial Design
Industrial Design is a systematic application of science and arts to design a product or solution which is mutually beneficial for the user and the manufacturer. This mutually beneficial process is the foundation for creating a value rich product or service. Companies are investing millions today on Industrial design to create environments, systems and processes which will create the world’s best products / services.
But how does Industrial design contribute the most Industrial Technology News to value addition to a product or service?
Industrial design, being a creative & scientific process, focuses on the process than the end. This focus leads to research and analysis at every stage of product development. Industrial design focuses on the process of production as well as the marketability of the product. Commonly, Industrial design takes into account each and every process which leads to creation of a superior and acceptable solution to a customer’s need.
Industrial Design is applied for new product development as well as to enhance an existing product. The usual process involves:
1. Analysis of the User & his/her needs – This is the stage where an Industrial designer evaluates the need for a product and whether it will cater to the user. User analysis will also study the interaction of user with the products & its related responses. This helps in creating value because this stage defines the product and it’s attributes.
2. Comparative Product Study helps to evaluate the product vis-a-vis other products in the market. It helps in creating an innovative product as well as a product which can best suit the user needs. It also is a contributing factor for pricing.
3. Prototyping and Product attributes definition is based on the previous two processes and lead to a prototype of the product which is then Small Scale Industries Pdf refined to create the end product. The end product can be such that it is easy to use as well as the best answer to the customer’s need.
This research process is followed by marketing analysis to define the process of production which will comprise of:
1. Raw material acquisition, supplier and logistics – which will contribute to the pricing of the product.
2. Distribution channel
3. Location of the production unit
4. Ergonomics
All the above combined with other detailed processes will ensure that the consumer has to pay an affordable price for the product which best suits his/her needs. Here, price and need are the value additions to the product. Since, Industrial design will help create the best processes; it will also ensure that the worker who actually is at each stage of the production process interacts with the systems effectively and efficiently. This in turn increases the productivity and quality leading to a product which is high in quality and low in price thus creating customer value and also benefits the manufacturer.
Companies such as Design Industry are experts in Industrial Design with over 75 awards to their credit for various Industrial Design solutions they …