Here is the eighth twenty-five of at least 200 contemporary buzzwords. Each is used in a sentence or followed by descriptive dialogue.

1. Politically charged - Mentioning transfers makes your entire conversation very politically charged
2. Prairie dog (in the cube farm) - Our loud laughter prompted our cube farm neighbors to prairie dog (stand up and look over the wall)
3. Process owners - If it doesn't work, then the process owners are at fault
4. Product shake-down - When you drive that car, do a complete product shake-down
5. Productivity-focused metrics - Productivity-focused metrics measure the key enablers to production efficiency
6. Promote accountability - Weekly project reviews will promote accountability among the troops
7. Pucker factor - Any questions not fully answered will create a pucker factor when the director visits
8. Pull out all the stops - They had to pull out all the stops to win the recognition award
9. Pull the plug on it - That project is no longer value-added so pull the plug on it
10. Push the button - Make sure the new budget is all-inclusive before you push the button
11. Quasi-approval - As long as the boss doesn't know about it, we have quasi-approval
12. Quasi-safe - No one has been hurt yet so it's quasi-safe
13. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.) - “Common courtesy - it's not so common anymore.” - Author unknown. So we must have an acronym: Rights and Responsibility, Equality, Standards of Success, Perception, Effort, Communication, Training.
14. Radar screen - The potential for error was not even on our radar screen
15. Ramp-up - Ramp-up the intensity until the assembly is complete
16. Recency of data - The value of your presentation is linked to the recency (freshness) of the data
17. Report on a dotted line - He works in the neighboring department but reports on a dotted line to our department's manager
18. Restructuring - This organization requires restructuring to become effective
19. Risk factors - Have you listed all the risk factors associated with making the data public?
20. Roadblocks - What are the roadblocks to getting complete buy-in?
21. Rocket science (not good) - We don't want to use rocket science to solve this problem
22. Role model - Very few employees are rated as a role model because most of us have imperfections in our work ethic
23. Root Cause Analysis - Perform root cause analysis to find the real culprits
24. Rosetta stone - The missing report could be the Rosetta stone of their data manipulation secrets
25. Rosy glasses - Sometimes we become protective and look at our employees through rosy glasses

Here are the facts:

• 1 in 6 owe more than their home is worth.
• Oil prices are tumbling down.
• Problems are not just in the US, but worldwide.
• We are giving 700 BILLION dollars to bail-out wall street! Do not rush this, make sure every situation goes well so the market does not explode again!

Important stocks to watch and hope they bounce back up. General Electric, Citigroup, Bank of America, General Motors and Morgan Stanley.

History can be important. In past years when the stock market went down to 8,000 points, it stopped dropping. Many investors believe the stock market will go right back up after it hits its low around 8,000 points. If you remember in the last year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 14,280.00 and that was a stock market high.

Keep your eye on a few stocks that are usually strong but are now only hanging in there. General Electric (GE) is around 20 dollars a share. After the stock market hits the low of 8,000. Buy, Buy, Buy! The government will fix this problem in a few days and everything will go back up! So make sure you know what to buy and don't buy stocks just because they are cheap. Smart investments make smart investors.

Image source: msn.com

The objective of this report is to provide an understanding of the competition mechanisms between countries which are traditionally exporters - the “Old World” producers represented by European countries - and the so called “New World” countries which today compete for the supremacy of the traditional model of wine growing and production.

World Wine Producers

The distribution of the world wine producers is clearly detailed in the map below.

The Old World producers are located in Europe. France, Italy and Spain are the main producers, followed by Portugal, Balkan states, UK and Germany. The European countries are still detaining a dominant position and they accounted for 70% of world production and consumption in 1999 (by data acquired by Euromonitor).

The New World producers are scattered around the world and are represented mainly by: Australia, Chile, United States, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Canada.

World Wine Exports

The world wine export are still dominated by the Old World producers (see diagram below), with only three countries (France, Italy and Spain) which account for 60% of the world volumes exports in 2003.

Among the New World producers, the largest exports are coming from Australia, Chile and United States.

Another interesting characteristic is showed by the diagram below where the value of wine in exports market are growing at greater rate than volume.

France Productions, Exports and International Image

France accounts for 20.3% or the world wine production, with one third of domestic production exported to other European countries (UK, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands) and outside Europe (major clients are United States, Canada, Denmark and Japan).

In the most recent years, domestic sales of wine have declined constantly. The wine consumption is becoming more occasional. This is partially due to an aggressive anti-alcohol campaign and driving restrictions set by the local government, but also facilitated by a lack of marketing strategy: the wine market is loosing touch with the youth (the average age of wine drinker is gone up from 35 to 55) and young people are getting keener to beer or alcohol pops.

Lowered domestic sales may result in a greater emphasis on exports, however the recent trend showed how French exports continue to loose market share to the New World (see diagram below).

Global Trade Atlas-Global Trade Information Source 2004

Considering France international reputation and image, it is useful to analyse its strengths and weaknesses, taking into consideration the important differences existing between standard and premium market.

Strengths:

France remain quality leader in the premium market; its international image express Sophistication, Tradition and Charm.

Weaknesses:

There are many weak points to be addressed . The puzzling classification and labeling, the unreliable quality, the rigid “appellation d'origine controlee” which dictates strict rules on methods of production (see more details on par.6.4) . Its international image is often seen as intimidating, boring and old fashioned.

Success of New World over the Old World: Key Factors

The following analysis aims to elucidate the main reasons accounting for the New World success over the Old World. We identified the following key factors:

• Taste of Wine:

  Many people like the sophistication of wine but not so much the taste; Old World provides a wine which taste need to be acquired (more acidic, dry and harsh) and the rigid appellation controlee does not allow manipulations (the only exception is the adding of sugar known aschaptilization) . The New World wine is by contrast easy to drink (less acidic, sweet and fruity), therefore appealing to a wider range of consumers.

• Labels:

  Traditionally the labels of Old World wine are very cryptic. They are in foreign language, denomination of wine is by place of origin (by naming the specific vineyard or “chateau” or the region where the wine has been produced, following the terroir concept as “unique combination of subsoil and amount of days of sun and rain during the growing season”). New World wine labels are by contrast easy to understand. They are in English, with indication of grapes variety (i.e. Chardonnay, Cabernet Savignon, Merlot), and additional information like taste description and meal suggestions. With enticing attractive labels, New World wine is just more accessible and easier to understand than European wines. Recently, some producers from the Old World has responded to the new consumer needs and starting to provide fully descriptive labels in english.

• Image and Brand:

  Old World wine hold a strong image only in the premium market The Old World needs to build a global brand and strengthen its international image for the standard market to compete with the strong image and wine brands created by the New World producers (places associated with sun, youth and fun).

• Wine Quality:

  The unreliable and too often irregular quality of Old World wine is finding difficult to compete with the very regular quality provided by the New World.

• High Fragmentation:

  The archaic structure of production which still in place in the Old World is characterised by small family vineyards or huge cooperatives
  supported by government subsidies (and traditionally more preoccupied with maintaining low price rather than achieving better quality). In both cases their culture is far from the marketing orientation needed in the modern wine market. New World production is offered by few big companies with high capital and strong marketing orientation.

• Expensive Production:

  The high fragmentation and little scale of production does make difficult for Old World producers to be very profitable: often the costs are too high, allowing no margins to spend on promotion, market research and product development. They must compete with the large scale production of New World , always very cost effective and with large margins to invest in research and promotion.

Evaluation of Different Strategies

European old world's producers are meeting on a regular basis to discuss alternative courses of action in order to fight back the ever more pressing competition exercised by new world's producers. Different strategies have been suggested in one of these discussions by the Bordeaux winemakers: we will analyse positive and negative sides of each proposed strategy.

Premium & Standard Wine Market

Strategy No.1:

“Stick to what we have always been doing and build upon our unique terrier. After all the world's wine critics, wine enthusiasts and our local customers remain discerning and are loyal to our wines”.

Evaluation:

It is important to distinct between Standard and Premium wine market.

Old World wines may have struggled to stop the advance of their New World competitors in the mass market - at least in non-producing countries such as the UK - but the premium market has largely remained dominated by French, and to a lesser extent, Spanish and Italian producers.

“In the standard market, France's obsession with tradition and maintaining the status quo will result in the bankruptcy and collapse of many producers who refuse to recognize the competitive nature of the global wine market” (M. Parker, Jr., 2004).

The approach would be successful in the Premium market where increasing demand of fine wine from such countries like Asia, South America, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia will make rise considerably top wine prices. The Premium market will see growing demand and profits. (Faced with declining margins from "standard" wines, New World producers are also shifting their marketing focus to premium products- examples are Chilean drinks group CCU, establishing a joint venture with French wine maker Château D'assault in 2001 for the production of super-premium wines in Chile and America's E&J Gallo with its recent efforts to enhance the equity of the UK's number one Californian brand, Wine Cellars, which has been re-launched under the new name Ernest & Julio Gallo Sierra Valley).

Creation of an accessible French brand

Strategy No.2:

“Adopt Australian methods of wine production and branding for international markets. We must develop an accessible French brand, learning from British Diageo with their “Le Piat d'Or” or American Australian Southcorp with “Vichon”.

Evaluation:

Branding has proved to be a fundamental factor for the success of New World producers. In order for wine producers to develop an international brand for French wine French governmentrecently agreed to double financial support for the industry to € 15m (£9m). Consumer insights are inspiring the creation of accessible French wine brands that avoids the pretensions of the Old World to appeal to real people.

In particular in the UK, one of the major key markets for France wine exports, there has been an effort with the following brands and related advertisement campaigns:

• Burgundy'slogo and “Red Dress” ads

Press campaign: newspapers, food and wine pubs

Budget: £650,000

• Vin de Pays d'Oc : “It's all happening in the Oc”

Transformation campaign: address region's lack of clear identity, used in UK

Budget: £500,000

• Rhône “Think Red. Think Côtes du Rhône.”
• French Connection has become the fastest growing French wine brand; it is now listed as the number three French wine brand, and number 12 in the top 20 list of all wine brands sold in the UK (AC Nielsen).

The Global wine company (acquisitions and mergers)

Strategy No.3:

“Follow the example provided by French LVHM and Pernod Ricard and buy into the new world wines' position and marketing expertise (LVHM own Australian Green Point and Californian Domaine Chandon; Pernod Ricard owns Australian Jacob's Creek and South African Long Mountain)

Evaluation:

This is definitely the quickest way forward for Old World producers in order to acquire the marketing knowledge and strategic strength they so urgently need.

With growing consolidation in the global alcoholic drinks market, and given the highly fragmented nature of the wine market, there is strong possibility for further merger and acquisition activity in the new wine market (as new research from Euromonitor International have confirmed). Industry consolidation is likely to make life harder for the smaller local wineries in the short term. Lack of capital is a major barrier to growth for smaller players, and this factor drive them into acquisition by larger companies.

This trend will lead eventually to a new structure of the wine production model: we are going toward the global wine company of the future.

The new global wine company will have a truly global organizational culture, will develop a series of global brands at different price to meet consumer expectations, and will create extraordinary communication systems to support an enormously complex production and marketing interface.

Appellation d'origine controlee and competitive disadvantage

Strategy No.4:

“Seek the disestablishment of appellation controlee for many of our wine-growing areas so that we can develop the global French brand we need”.

Appelation d'origine controlee is the French system of designating and controlling both the geography and the quality of wines (as well as some food products).

Near the end of the 19th Century, French vineyards (as well as most all vineyards in Europe) suffered the devastation of vine diseases and pests accidentally introduced from America. European viticulture was very nearly destroyed before measures were found to deal with these problems.

In the intervening years, the available quantity of the fine wine was reduced to a trickle and French wine was in the highest demand. Fraud and adulteration were rampant and widespread until a series laws were passed in the beginning of the 20th Century aimed at ending these deceptions. The laws specify and delimit the geography from which a particular wine (or other product) may originate and methods by which it may be made.

The regulations are administered by a powerful quasi-governmental body, Institut National des Appellations d'Origine, or INAO, founded in 1935. Every imaginable facet from producer to consumer has been considered controlled or regulated and the use of AC terms on labels of French wine requires absolute compliance.

Evaluation:

We believe that this strict system of regulations lead to a competitive disadvantage for French and other Old World producers.

Competitive disadvantage deriving from expensive production (the mandatory use of expensive oak barrels to flavour instead of the cheaper oak chips widely used by the New World producers is one of the factor and also the rigid rules regarding the appellation upon which an Old World Chardonnay must be 100% compared to 85% for New World), not allowed manipulations in order to reach a better taste, and confusing labels practice previously mentioned. Furthermore, the historic reasons which lead to its creation are not justified today, at least with regards of its most severe rules and considering the standard wine market.

The Old World should seek the disestablishment of Appellation d'origine controlee at least for the lower category wine. Since in the Premium market the Appellation characterises the product as original and distinctive we would not consider this strategy as successful as in the lower market.

Protectionism versus being marketing oriented

Suggested strategy:

“We must protect our consumers from practices that undermine our European heritage; we need to use our political clout in the EU as well as in our own parliament”.

Evaluation:

We believe protectionism is not the answer.

The new global economy and competitive system should eventually lead to the point of mutual recognition that high quality wine can be made in many different places around the globe allowing the consumers to decide which wine they like best. In today's global community we should be reveling in the diversity of wines available to consumers, and we should be doing everything we can to promote appreciation of the wines that result from different terroir, viticulture, and wine making styles rather than erecting protectionist trade barriers to the free flow of wine around the world.

World wine market: long term predictions

We would like to end this analysis considering a few interesting predictions formulated by Mr. Robert M. Parker, Jr., wine advocate and undeniably the world's most prominent wine critic (recently published in the October 2004 issue Food & Wine magazine).

“The wine Web will go mainstream”: there will be a full range of Web sites tailored to disseminate information about new wines and new producers supported by experts, consultants, specialists and advisors which will assume the role of today's wine publications.

“World bidding wars will begin for top wines”: World's greatest wines will reach a prohibitive price due to the increasing demand coming from new developing countries, i.e. Asia, South America, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. The most limited production wines will become even more expensive and more difficult to obtain.

“France will feel a squeeze”: “France's obsession with tradition and maintaining the status quo will result in the bankruptcy and collapse of many producers who refuse to recognize the competitive nature of the global wine market”.

“Spain will be the star, Southern Italy will ascend”: Both these countries continue to make regional wines as they have for centuries, but they have adopted the New World style to some extent to increase their share of the new wine market.

Spain will rise as a leader both in wine quality and creativity, benefiting from the combination of tradition with a modern winemaking culture.

In Italy the winemaking revolution has commenced and its rewards will become evident over the next ten years.

“Value will be valued”: Due to increased competition in the market, more high-quality and low-priced wines will generally be available.

”Diversity will be the word”: Quality wines will come from unexpected places like Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Mexico, China, Japan, Lebanon, Turkey and perhaps even India.

Conclusion

In the modern wine market the Old world producers are seeing their share of the exports market decreasing rapidly as they start to recognise the urgency to change their mentality in order to challenge new competitors with strong marketing orientation.

In the recent years, New World producers have successfully taken market share from Old World competitors through a combination of successful factors. These are aggressive marketing and effective branding, consistent product quality and reliable supplies.

The Old World future ability to counter the ongoing threat from New World producers will depend on adopting an extensive marketingapproach: size, branding, distribution channels and new mergers in order to benefit from the new global economy will all play a fundamental role in determining its success.

 

As I learned from my own experience after a particularly messy divorce, my credit was shot and I had bills up the wazoo! I would describe into whose wazoo I wanted to place these bills, but that would be an altogether different article.

As we move towards a more connected society, a person's credit rating becomes ever more important. Being approved for loans, the interest rate you receive, even employment opportunities can be affected by your credit rating. Knowing this I decided to find a free credit repair service.

The first thing I learned is that there are two different processes. Credit repair, and Debt consolidation.

Firstly, I realized that I would benefit from debt consolidation. This is a service that is beneficial if you currently have unpaid bills, and more particularly, if you have accounts in arrears. In a nutshell the service will work like this: The Company will take stock of all of your debt payments, and then contact these debtors, (Credit card companies, Mortgage companies' auto loan holders, etc.) Your consolidator will then negotiate better terms for you. Such as lower payments, lower interest, or Partial debt forgiveness. Then they will request one monthly payment from you, to cover all of the combined debt. Keep in mind that the consolidation company will also charge a little over the debt payment, as their fee. Usually there is no up-front payment, so this is how they are reimbursed. In my case for an approximate monthly payment of $532, I paid an additional 48 dollars. But I realize they must also make a living. I used Care One, and I was quite satisfied. They were professional, timely, and always returned my correspondence.

Now here's the rub; if you consolidate your debt using this method, it WILL show on your credit report. But it is far better to use this method, than to have an account in collection, or worse...Bankruptcy on your report.

After this step is taken, if needed, it is time to repair your credit. Of course the first thing I did was to seek a free credit repair service. I tried several of them. But to no avail. But I did learn a few of their tricks that they used to hook me in. To be fair, in my heart of hearts, I could not understand how they could offer this service for free. And of course they didn't. You will get advice to begin, but you will be told that you must upgrade for the "good" advice, and the "premium" services. Sound familiar? I guess the old wisdom is true; maybe there is no such thing as a free lunch. But then again why should there be? You get what you pay for! Pound wise and penny foolish... A stitch in time.... Ok I stopped... (I am addicted to adages!)

I tried four different free credit repair services, and was to a greater or lesser degree, disappointed. In the end I went to a local accountant specializing in this service. He asked me question, viewed my documents and situations. Then he actually helped repair my credit. Not t perfect but much better than it was. Sure, I paid a total of $350, but I believe the improvement in my credit saved me FAR more than $350!

So, in my not so humble opinion, with the hell of experience under my belt, I will leave you with this: If you have current, debt that you are having major problems repaying, use a consolidator. I recommend Care One, but I am sure there are others just as reputable. As for the free credit repair services... I was disappointed. It is well worth it to pay a professional for this. Ask around, references from friends are usually the best.
But no matter what road you chose, do something now! Your credit does not repair itself. It will only grow worse in time if left unattended. I wish you luck... Been there, Done that.

 

This article helps you decide which words to cut and which words to put in their place.

1. Unfamiliar/Technical Words

   You will communicate best if you use words that are familiar to your reader. (Clichés are an exception to this rule-words and phrases that people have heard too often tend to turn off their minds a little and propel their eyes on to the next thing.) To create effective business communications, assume your reader is a layperson with limited technical knowledge of the subject-do not write over your reader's head by using technical words or jargon.

   Unfamiliar:

   • ascertain
   • consummate
   • peruse

   Familiar

   • find out
   • learn
   • close
   • bring about
   • read
   • study

2. Long Words

   A paragraph full of long words can be yawn inducing. Make an effort to use short words; they tend to be more easily digestible.

   Long:

   During the preceding year, the company was able to accelerate productive operations. The action was predicted on the assumption that the company was operating at a financial deficit.

   Short:

   Last year the company was able to speed up operations. The action was based on the belief that the company was losing money.

3. Abstract Words

   The line between abstract and concrete words is hard to define, since all words have something of the abstract in them. In general, abstract words have a greater number of meanings, most of them somewhat vague, so your reader has to try to interpret which meanings apply. Concrete words are those that give your reader a specific mental picture.

   Abstract

   • sizable loss
   • near future
   • work saving machine

   Concrete

   • 34 percent loss
   • on Wednesday
   • performs the work of five operators

4. Passive Words

   Verbs are the strongest words, and they are at their strongest when they are active rather than passive. Active-voice verbs show their subjects in action; passive-voice verbs act on their subjects. While the passive is needed for variety and has definite uses (such as to avoid placing blame), the active voice strengthens and shortens sentences.

   Passive:

   A sales increase of 32 percent occurred last month. The new procedure is thought to be superior by the president. The office will be cleaned by the janitor.

   Active:

   Sales increased 32 percent last month. The president thinks the new procedure is superior. The janitor will clean the office.

5. Camouflaged Words

   Watch for these endings in the words you use (check the polysyllable words):
   • -ion
   • -tion
   • -ing
   • -ment
   • -ant
   • -ence
   • -ence
   • -ancy
   • -ency
   Most of these endings are used to change verbs into nouns and adjectives. In effect, they are camouflaged verbs. Get rid of them and strengthen your writing.

   Poor:

   The manager affected implementation of the new rules. Adaptation to the new office environment was made easily by the personnel. We make verifications of the shipments weekly.

   Improved:

   The manager implemented the new rules. The personnel adapted easily to the new office environment. We verify shipments weekly.

6. Unnecessary Words

   Most business writing could do with a pruning job. To reduce unnecessary words, start with a clear idea of what you want to say. After composing, go through your message and cut every word that is not essential to your meaning.

   Poor:

   • consensus of opinion
   • first and foremost
   • just recently
   • ask the question
   • basic fundamentals
   • exactly identical
   • very unique

   Improved:

   • consensus
   • (either word, but not both)
   • recently
   • ask
   • fundamentals
   • identical
   • unique

So be your own editor, cut the poor and unnecessary words, and polish your writing to make your communication in business more effective than ever.