ETD: 1008 Operations Tips; Replies to "How to sell an e-commerce solution"; Technology Requirements for the Apparel, Footwear and Fashion Industries

[E-Tailer's Digest]

  E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the  Retailer
  Issue #1008           September 26, 2006
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     CONTENTS
  [1]  Greetings
  [2]  Unique Products - Technology Requirements for the Apparel, 
Footwear and Fashion Industries
  [3]  Business Tips - Operations
  [4]  Member Replies - How to sell e-commerce solution
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  [1]  Greetings.
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Hi All:

We have had a number of issues with list members receiving html text 
and two copies of E-Tailer's Digest.  So we decided to issue 
text-only and direct you to the html at E-Tailer's Digest site, where 
the content is easier to read.

Today we are continuing with our series of common-sense Business Tips 
that will help you improve your bottom line.  Let's look at Part 2 of 
Operations.   So far we have discussed Security, a two-part 
Accounting and Administration,  Technology and Part 1 of Operations.

List members Ronnie Gauthier and Alan J. Zell offer advice to list 
member Raffaele Varotti who is seeking guidance on how to sell an 
e-commerce solution.  Very good comments.

Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.


Sincerely


George Matyjewicz, PhD
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, LLC
mailto:georgem at gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com

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  [2]  Unique Products - Technology Requirements for the Apparel, 
Footwear and Fashion Industries
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A detail report of the technology requirements of the Apparel 
Industry, designed for those companies who need to know what they 
should seek for use in their companies, and for the software house 
who develop software. The Apparel Industry includes those companies 
who sell fashion or apparel-related products to the retail industry, 
especially to chain stores, i.e., Menswear, Womenswear, Footwear, 
Accessories (handbags, scarves, jewelry, belts, watches, eyewear, 
etc), Lingerie and Kidswear.

Each segment of the industry has common and unique requirements. The 
most common requirements are the need for season/style/color/size in 
the product identity and the use of allocations of inventory when 
processing customer orders. One of the most common unique requirement 
is additional attributes to product identity, i.e., width with shoes, 
cup size with bras, inseams with men's pants.

Over 25 years experience with software in the apparel industry went 
into this report. It will save you untold hours trying to determine 
what is needed for your company. The report covers State of the 
Industry, Processing Flow, Issues to Consider, Software Requirements 
detailed by application, i.e., Order Processing, Inventory Control, 
WMS, Traffic, Letters of Credit, RMAs, A/R (factored & non-factored), 
Letters of Credit, Booking & Sales Reporting, Purchasing, EDI, CRM, 
Financials and more. It also reviews some software houses and their offerings.

http://etailersdigest.com/etd/etd1008.htm#Unique_Products..._

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  [3]  Business Tips - Operations
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We have had a series of common-sense business tips that will help you 
improve the bottom line.  So far we discussed Security, a two-part 
Accounting and Administration and Technology.  Today let's look at 
Part 2 of Operations:

o Ask For New Bids When You Change Quantities.
o Negotiate Shipping Costs.
o Bartering. Barter exchanges serve as a clearing-house or broker for 
their members...
o Counter Trade. Foreign restrictions make doing business in other 
countries difficult.
o Budget Your Materials and Supplies.
o Reward Employees.
... and much more.  http://etailersdigest.com/etd/etd1008.htm#Tips...

Next we will cover Part 3 of cost-saving tips on Operations to help 
improve your bottom line.

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  [4]  Member Replies - How to sell e-commerce solution
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List member Raffaele Varotti, of Bologna, Italy wrote:
"I need help in how to sell my e-commerce solution.  I have a 
software application which is "almost ready" to be on-line for making 
auctions. It is based on LAMP suite (Linux Apache MySql Php) and 
developed with Quanta. I can sell the entire code or the service - 
ecommerce auctions."

+++ List Member Replies +++
Answers to "How to sell e-commerce solution"
Ronnie Gauthier: Laws of marketing.  It's better to be first than it 
is to be better. Go after niches but market a total solution... and much more.
Alan J. Zell.  What is the problem(s) you are trying to solve?  Do 
people know they have the problem?  Is the problem so wide spread 
that there is a market for it? ... and much more.
http://etailersdigest.com/etd/etd1008.htm#Members_Posts...

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  Links to follow
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GAP Enterprises, Ltd.		http://www.gapent.com/
E-Tailer's Digest              		http://www.etailersdigest.com
Interim Help			http://interimhelp.com
Sophisticated Me		http://sophisticatedme.com/
Marketing Your Web 		http://www.gapent.com/myweb/
Automated Press Releases      	http://www.automatedpr.com