E mag july

Vol 3 Issue No.21 July 2013 | 30 | AED 5

Gopu Nandilath T H E

M A N

S O U T H

W H O

M A D E

I N D I A’ S

L A R G E S T

White Goods Empire AUTO REVIEW

KEY

CONCERNS

THE NEW ENJOYMENT FROM CHEVROLET FOR

India’s NBFC’s Mr. V P Nandakumar MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd.

/ uniquetimes

/ uniquetimes

BASICS ABOUT

Inflation Indexed Bonds Mr. Jizz P. Kottukappally

Business Diary

Coca- Cola

Helping Shed Weight with Mid Calories

T

o help those who are watching their weight to keep of unwanted health problems, Coca-Cola is planning to sell a mid-calorie cola which is sweetened with sugar and the naturally occurring no-calorie sweetener stevia in Argentina, thus becoming the first to market with a product long seen as being critical to the soda industry’s growth. The new product, CocaCola Life, will have half the calories of regular Coca-Cola. The world’s largest soda company has used stevia in 45 products, such as Vitaminwater Zero and Fanta Select, but nevein its flagship cola. Coca- Cola Life has already gone on sale in Argentina, however there is no date for introducing the product elsewhere.

T

he Ford EcoSport has been launched at a starting price of 5.59 lakh rupees in New Delhi. So what’s the benefit? You can trade your old car in for the brand new EcoSport, though it comes with a disclaimer- Ford is not offering any exchange benefits even for existing Ford customers who may own the Figo, Fiesta, Classic or the Endeavour. Although exchange is available, it will only be based on the value of your existing car. Currently, Ford offers exchange bonuses up o 25,000 rupees for the Classic and up to 15,000 for the Figo and the Fiesta. “Although there are no exchange benefits as such but there is exchange facility for the Ford EcoSport and we will offer attractive prices for existing Ford customers,” said AK Sing, executive director, Saachdev group that owns Harpreet Ford in the National Captial Region (NCR).

Customers Bancorp to buy stake in 08

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

A

Ford EcoSport

Launched

ccording to the financial service provider Religare Enterprises Ltd U.S. based Customers Bancorp Inc has agreed to pick up a 6 percent stake in the Delhi based banking aspirant for $51 million (about 300 crore rupees).

The multi-structured deal is part of Religare’s attempt to enter the banking fray, under which the promoters have to bring down their stake to 49 percent. The U.S. lender will be picking up the stake in Religare through a combination of primary and secondary market investment, financial services firm said in a statement. These teams will also enter into a business alliance agreement to find opportunities to service Religare’s customers across businesses, as well as potential customers for Customers Bancorp of Indian origin in the U.S. for their Indian investment needs.

RBI

Allows Use of External Commerical Borrowing

T

he Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday has relaxed external commercial borrowing (ECB) norms and allowed companies to use the overseas debt in order to pay for the import of services, technical know-how and license fee as part of capital goods imports. Currently, eligible entities can raise ECB for investment such as import of capital goods, new projects, modernization/expansion of existing production units in industrial sector, infrastructure sector and entities in the service sector. “on review, it has been decided to include import of services, technical know-how and payment of license fees as part of import of capital goods by the companies for the use in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors as permissible end uses of ECB,” the apex bank said.

T

itan industries is expecting a higher interest cost from government curbs on gold financing to hurt earnings for the fiscal year ending on March 2014, despite falling gold prices driving up sales, a top company executive said. Indian jewellery makers have been hit by a series of government restrictions as the country scrambles to stem a swelling current account deficit. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed measures forcing customers to pay upfront for gold and has prohibited credit from suppliers or bullion banks for import of gold for domestic use. India, the world’s biggest gold buyer, has also raised the import duty on gold twice since January 1, doubling it to 8 percent.

Sebi to Protect Investors I

n the wake of the 1200 crore rupees Saradha scam, where lakhs of investors were duped by the chit-fund company a move to boost investor confidence, the Finance Ministry has moved a note for an ordanance to promulgate a Securities Law Ordinance, which will give the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) more teeth to protect investors. The move will bring about amendments in the Securities Contract Act and the Sebi Act. The Sebi chief UK Sinha had on May 20th told NDTV that certain strengthening of the Sebi Act was required, adding that the government was seriously considering the same.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 09

Business Diary

Raj Jain Calls Quits on Walmart India S

ince the President of Walmart India Raj Jain has quit after having spent six years with the company, a shake up has begun in the sector.

Raj Jain has been replaced by Senior Vice-President for Walmart International Ramnik Narsey. According to Walk Asia President and CEO Scott Price, “Ramnik brings significant management and leadership experience to the role,” adding that Walmart remains optimistic about their business in India and look forward to their future in India under Ramnik’s leadership. Jain’s exit out of the company comes in the backdrop of investigations by Walmart over allegations of corruption against it in foreign markets, including India. Jain’s exit does not seem to be a good sign for Walmart India which has been trying hard to enter the multi-brand retail segment for years now.

T

he New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to seek the legal opinion from the solicitor general on the auction process of the five-star hotel Taj Mansingh, currently run by the Tatas, in New Delhi. The matter is subjudice as the Tataowned Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court regarding the auction. The urban development ministry had earlier suggested that NDMC should go for open bids for the property in which the Taj Hotel is situated. IHCL had entered into a 33 year lease for using the property in 1978, which ended on October 2011 and was extended by another year till October 10, 2012. Last September, the NDMC gave another one year extension to the Tatas for operating Taj Mansingh besides giving the first right of refusal in an auction to be conducted within one year.

Taj Mansingh

Employees on Strike.

T

he production at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant near Pune is crippled as the company’s nearly 2,000 employees continue their strike. The company has 925 permanent workers, besides 1,000 temporary and contractual employees and trainees. These 1,000 workers are also demanding permanent employment. “Our agitation continues and production remains crippled even today as the employees have not gone for work demanding wage revision,” Bajaj Auto Union sources said.

The Union’s demands include 25 percent wage hike, permanent employment for contractual workers, reinstatement of some suspended employees and bringing back to Chakan plant those transferred outside. It is also demanding that workmen be given an option to subscribe to 500 equity shares of the company at a discounted price of Rs. 1 per share.

10

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

McDonald’s and Politics M cDonald’s is finding itself on the front lines of a heated dispute over investment in Israeli occupied territories, after its license in Israel refused to open a restaurant in a West Bank settlement. “Our partner in Israel has determined that this particular location is not part of the growth plan,” a spokeswoman at McDonald’s U.S. headquarters tells Bloomberg Businessweek.

The decision sparked anger in Israel, with the mayor of Ariel calling it “The Big McInsult.” Some called for a boycott of the fast food giant’s other Israeli outlets. McDonald’s isn’t the only multinational caught up in the controversy. Activist groups have called on corporations to close their operations in the occupied territories asking consumers to boycott products made by companies that remain.

Hailing Passage of Immigration Bill T

he CEO’s of top American technology companies, including Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, have hailed the passage of the comprehensive immigration reform bill by U.S. Senate. The executives are arguing that this would give a big boost to the economic growth and attract high skilled workers. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said by passing the comprehensive immigration reform, the U.S. Senate took a significant step toward reforming the nation’s outdated immigration policies. “If enacted, these changes will strengthen our economic security, foster innovation and enable continued job growth in the U.S. Equally important, the legislation makes critical investments in our workforce by strengthening STEM education in the United States, including instruction focused on computer science,” said Ballmer.

JetBlue Airways D

avid Neeleman, the serial airline entrepreneur who founded JetBlue Airways, says that he is not plotting to acquire his former company as part of a larger scheme in order to build a new international carrier for Brazil. Not that he does not think his own Brazilian upstart, Azul, could one day become a major international player as they have not ruled out Azul expanding internationally at some point time, however that does not mean that they have to buy JetBlue.

Neeleman is the head of low-cost Brazilian carrier Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras is assembling an investment fund to acquire both TAP, the financially ailing Portuguese airline, and JetBlue.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 11

Business Diary

V.C.Padmanabhan Memorial Award U

nion Minister of State, Prof. K.V. Thomas said that Mr. Vinod Rai was the person , who had redefined the role of the Controller and Auditor General in the country by emphasizing the importance of transparency in democracy. Prof K.V.Thomas observed that while there was a difference of opinion about some of the specific conclusions made by Mr.Vinod Rai, there could be no denying his wider contributions. Prof K.V.Thomas was presenting V.C.Padmanabhan Memmorial Awards instituted by Manappuram Finance Ltd to four persons including Mr.Vinod Rai. Accepting the award, Mr. Vinod Rai said that auditors generally do not get any awards and recognitions but this was an exception. He lauded Manappuram’s contribution towards popularizing gold loans which converts an unproductive household asset into a productive asset. He also recalled his long association with Thrissur as the District Collector going back over 40 years from his earliest days in the Kerala cadre of the IAS. Along with Vinod Rai, Veteran actor Mr.Madhu, Mr.Jose Dominic (Casino Hotels, Kochi) and Mr.V.D.Satheesan MLA were also received V.C.Padmanabhan award for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields. Therambil Ramakrishnan MLA presided over the function. Manappuram Group Chair Mr.V.P.Nandakumar, Thrissur Muncipal Corporation Mayor Mr.I.P.Paul, Dr.V.M.Manoharan were among the speakers on the award distribution function. Later, Former UGC Chairman Dr.V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai delivered the V.C.Padmanabhan Memmorial Lecture on the topic- Corporate Social Responsibility and Development- Indian Perscpective.

Narayana Murthys Advice for small business entrepreneurs Y

ou should Bring the bad news early to win the faith of investors - this was the of advice Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy offered small business entrepreneurs.

"Bring the bad news early and pro-actively to your investors. I always say, let the bad news take the elevator, good news can take the steps," he told an SME (small and medium enterprises) event organised by ICICI Bank in Mumbai Monday evening. "So as long as you are willing to be open to bring the bad news to the investors, then they will trust you," the Infosys chief said. "If they trust you, then you can take bold and tough decisions," he said and advised small business owners not to be "hesitant" in updating investors. Murthy was called back to the helm of affairs at Infosys after the IT giant was battered with serious loses last financial year.

12

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Banking

KEY CONCERNS FOR INDIA’S NBFCs Shri V.P. Nandakumar is the MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 13

I

n this article, I’ll take a look at some of the important issues confronting India’s NBFCs today.

With financial inclusion a national focus, it is appropriate that I begin with a reference to how NBFCs promote financial inclusion.

It is now official that India’s quest for achieving financial inclusion through the banking sector is not making much headway. Recently, the RBI Dy. Governor Dr. K.C. Chakroborty noted that under the financial inclusion initiative 150 million accounts were opened, but only 30 million transactions have taken place.

14

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

It was further reported that the vast majority of our people Indians do not have access to the formal financial sector. Under the initiatives taken for financial inclusion, we have extended financial connectivity to over two lakh villages, created over 1.5 lakh banking correspondents and issued over three crore Kisan Credit cards. The number of bank accounts has also gone up to 17 crore but the bulk of these are inactive. Besides, over two-thirds of all villages do not have a banking presence. Often people have to sacrifice a day’s wages and cover long distances to access a banking outlet.

No surprise then, people continue to depend on informal means of saving and borrowing.

In contrast, in their own quiet way, NBFCs continue to play a stellar role in promoting financial inclusion. They have the advantages of greater last mile reach and low operating cost. It works to their advantage because when the costs are kept low, you reach break-even earlier. Once profitability is established, the activity becomes selfsustaining. This is the key difference between financial inclusion as carried out by the banks and as accomplished

by NBFCs. For banks, it is not a profit making exercise and therefore more

like charity. For NBFCs, it is their bread and butter. In fact, there’s no better example of life-changing financial inclusion than Shriram Transport Finance Corporation Ltd. which has, over the years, enabled tens of thousands of truck drivers become truck owners.

Major Concerns for NBFCs Borrowing Cost: NBFCs face a higher cost of borrowings which is eventually passed on to their borrowers in the form of higher interest on loans. It increases delinquencies and reduces profit margin which affects your credit rating with the banks in turn. With a low credit rating, cost of funds goes up further.

Capital Adequacy: NBFCs face more problems when raising capital. The compression in profit margins impacts your ability to attract private equity investment and meeting capital adequacy norms becomes a continuing challenge.

Uncertainty about retail NCDs: The uncertainty about whether the nondeposit taking NBFCs will be allowed to continue to tap retail NCDs is

another source of worry. It has become more acute after the recent statement

The Commercial Paper market is going through a bearish phase in line with the current downturn in the economy. This has increased the funding challenges for NBFCs. loan NBFCs are much better than the banks. The percentage of customers with a grievance is actually far lower for gold loan NBFCs than for banks.

Therefore, it’s time the RBI took an overall view of the matter.

Knee-jerk responses: Official policies relating to NBFCs in general, and gold loan NBFCs in particular, have been prone to knee-jerk reactions. Extreme reactions have affected the stability of the sector and eroded investor confidence. It has affected prospects for future growth.

dues to the public. In a competitive, free market setting, random instances of bankruptcies and defaults cannot be wished away entirely. In fact, it may even be a necessary evil, being the cost we bear in order to derive the full benefits of a flourishing free market economy. And so, when regulations are tightened too far with the objective of preventing defaults, there is the risk of stifling growth. Striking the right balance, therefore, is of the essence.

ECB Window: In order to broad base funding sources, RBI should consider allowing the larger and well managed NBFCs to access the ECB window. It will mitigate systemic risk by easing the pressure on the banks.

Thorat Committee recommendations: Any move to hike the requirement for tier - I or equity capital as recommended by the Usha Thorat committee should be introduced in a phased manner and not be pushed through overnight. In the current depressed market scenario, the capital market and the private equity players are averse to funding NBFCs. Once a recovery is underway, this is unlikely to be an issue.

A last word The important reason why India’s regulatory and policy making establishments continue to look at NBFCs with disfavor is the occasional instance of an NBFC defaulting on its

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 15

Finance Jiz P. Kottukappally The author is working as Asst General Manager, Catholic Syrian Bank and the views expressed are the personal opinion of the author.

Author can be reached at jizpauls@gmail.com

BASICS ABOUT Inflation

Indexed Bonds 16

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

“If you are carrying just thousand rupees to the market you don’t need a shopper bag , your pocket itself would be sufficient” A few days back on a Sunday morning I received a call at around 6.30am in the morning. I was quite irritated as on Sundays I am a very religious man.

God had worked for six days for the creation of the world and then took rest on the seventh day, so the Bible says. I religiously follow this part of the bible and for me also Sundays are meant for rest. Normally I don’t wake up at least up to 8’O clock. But as I picked up the mobile phone my irritation turned to joy as it was a call from a dear friend of mine, calling me to inform that he and his family would be joining us for lunch that day.

Normally my wife does all the shopping . But as it was a Sunday and I wanted to treat my friend very specially I decided to do the shopping myself. Taking a thousand rupee note out of my purse I asked my wife for a big shopper bag. My wife laughed at me and said “ if you are carrying just thousand rupees to the market you don’t need a shopper bag , your pocket itself would be sufficient”. Thinking it was her way finding reason for not getting out of bed early on a Sunday morning I walked out furiously. But once I reached the market I was shocked that my wife was right. As a banker I knew and looked upon inflation numbers as mere percentages. As a home maker my wife had practically experienced the impact of reduction in purchasing power of money.

Inflation means a rise in general level of prices of goods and services in a economy over a period of time. When the general price level rises, each unit

of currency buys fewer goods and services. Thus, inflation results in loss of value of money or reduction in its purchasing power and thus will over a period of time convert your pocket into your shopping bag.

For an “Aam Aadmi” inflation definitely has been a cause of worry.

People have been looking at safe financial investment products that can provide return above the inflation rate.

The absence of such products have seen savings flowing to investment in gold , thereby increasing its import and adversely affecting our current account deficit. It was keeping these in mind the Union Finance Minister in his Budget Speech 2013 proposed for the introduction of Inflation Indexed Bonds ( IIB) . Accordingly the first tranche of IIB were issued in the month of June 2013 for Rs. 1000 crores . The issue was however largely subscribed by large institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance and mutual funds.

However, for the retail investor, new series of bonds are expected only by next quarter.

Features of the first series of Inflation Indexed Bonds IIBs will be having a fixed real coupon rate and a nominal principal value that is adjusted against inflation. Periodic coupon payments are paid on adjusted principal. Thus these bonds provide inflation protection to both principal and coupon payment. At maturity, the adjusted principal or the face value,

whichever is higher, will be paid. The interest, however, would be paid to the investor from time to time depending on the terms. Final Wholesale Price Inflation (WPI) with four months lag will be used for providing inflation protection. i.e. Sept 2012 and Oct 2012 final WPI will be used as reference WPI for 1st Feb 2013 and 1st March 2013, respectively. These bonds will be issued by auction method. To begin with, these bonds will be issued for tenor of 10 years, though bonds with other maturities are also planned.

How do inflation indexed bonds work?

During the current phase, the RBI is issuing inflation indexed bonds which are linked with WPI. The invested principal is adjusted as per the prevailing WPI rates and a fixed interest rate is paid on the adjusted principal. Adjusted principal is arrived at by dividing WPI inflation index at a given point of time by inflation index at the time of deposit and multiplying it with the principal amount. Interest will be paid on the adjusted principal at the coupon rate. For eg assume that you are investing Rs 10,000 at a coupon rate of 4% in IIB today when the WPI is 100. If after one year the WPI BECOMES 108 the adjusted principal would become 10,800 ( 108/100* 10,000). Interest will be paid to you on 10,800@4%.

Difference between inflation indexed bonds and other fixed income products

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 17

In case of a fixed income securities like bank deposit, a pre-defined static interest rate is mentioned and at the end of the tenure an investor can withdraw the invested amount along with the interest rate accumulated.

Inflation risk has been a major risk associated with fixed income securities. If the inflation rate is higher than the interest rate being received on the fixed income products, it diminishes the purchasing power of the consumer. The main difference between fixed income securities and inflation indexed bonds is the principal adjustment and interest payment. In case of a fixed income securities like bank deposit, a pre-defined static interest rate is mentioned and at the end of the tenure an investor can withdraw the invested amount along with the interest rate accumulated. In case of inflation indexed bonds, the principal is adjusted to wholesale price index (WPI) and a fixed coupon rate or interest rate is paid on the periodically adjusted principal amount.

When compared to debt oriented mutual funds, inflation indexed bonds score higher in terms of capital protection.

Inflation indexed bonds and alternate investments for hedging inflation Gold has traditionally been a hedge against inflation. But the volatility in the price of gold recently has developed a situation in which currently investment in gold might not even offer any capital protection.

Inflation indexed bonds offer capital protection and can also be used as a hedge against inflation rates. Real estate is another are where people invest as hedge against inflation. But

18

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

capital for such investments is huge and cannot be easily affordable by many. Transaction coast, legal complications and lack of liquidity also acts as a deterrent for many people from investing in real estate.

IIB – Is it a real hedge against inflation Theoretically speaking IIBs can be a hedge against inflation. But practically is it so ? It is a well known fact that Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a better representative of the purchase power of individuals. Those who have been tracking inflation numbers also known that currently CPI is at 9.39 per cent and WPI is at just 4.89 per cent. In other words there is almost 5% difference between WPI and CPI. Currently inflation indexed bonds are linked to Wholesale Price Index and thus from the purchasing power point of view of individuals they still stand to lose. From the retail investor's perspective, linking the interest with CPI is more beneficial compared to linking it in WPI. If done so it can act as an alternative investment to gold as a hedge against inflation.

Disadvantages of inflation indexed bonds Inflation indexed bonds are currently linked to WPI and not CPI. The RBI has announced its plans to roll out inflation indexed bonds linked to CPI in the near future. The CPI linked

bonds will have a better advantage over WPI linked bonds. During periods of deflation, adjusted principal can be less than the original principal. This could affect the periodic interest payments. But as the amount payable on maturity is the adjusted principal or initial amount paid, whichever is higher capital protection is guaranteed.

A secondary market has to be developed so that individuals liquidity is not affected. The interest will be subjected to income-tax.

As of now purchasing IIBs is not easy.

It should be linked to CPI and made available to the retail investors through post offices or banks etc. Active secondary market has to be developed for these bonds so that adequate liquidity is provided to the retail investors. In such a scenario the amount received by sale in the secondary market could enjoy the benefit of cost inflation index especially if they are sold after three years. The product features and market is just emerging for the IIBs. But I feel it would be an interesting space to keep an eye on so as to protect your hard earned savings from inflation.

Interview

GOPU NANDILATH The Man who made

South India’s Largest

White Goods Empire 20

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Gopu Nandilath Group sustains the No 1 dealer position of almost all the leading brands through our truthful service and the immense experience in sales and after sales service which no one else can claim

F

rom a small showroom dealing with household equipments in Kurupam Road Thrissur, to 18 new generation retail showrooms spread all across Kerala, the journey that Gopu Nandilath undertook is quite scintillating. The tale of Gopu Nandilath Group which was founded 29 years back in the cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur is a success story of finding place in consumer’s heart through their trusted service.

The launch new age Nandilath G- Mart in Thrissur was a major turning point for him. He heralded the digital wave in the Kerala. With more than 200 international and national brands retailing in G-Mart catapulted itself to the top selling retail chains in India. Nandilath G -Mart has now showrooms spread all over Kerala give the consumers an amazing world of rare and most modern home appliances of the internationally popular brands. Gopu Nandilath Group sustains the No 1 dealer position of almost all the leading brands through our truthful service and the immense experience in sales and after sales service which no one else can claim.

Our Associate Editor Bejoy George talks with Gopu Nandilath the man who runs the entire show about his life and business.

Can you tell our readers about the time when you started the business.

The first showroom of Nandilath in Kuruppam Road, Thrissur in 1984. It was started with a dream to provide home appliances of international quality and emerging technologies to the customers in Kerala. Many of the major brands of the time at that time now cease to exist. In that time people bought home appliance for a lifetime.

It was also the time when television started to became popular in Kerala.

We sensed a decent a business opportunity when we started the business, and it turned out be very good. Something that has not changed is the values we keep in this business.

Was there any breakthrough in your business? or the business grew just organically.

Our business is built on strong foundations and we always made sure that business keeps growing. Our growth has always been organic, building a block at a time. Keeping that in mind, I should also say the opening of the Nandilath G-Mart, Thrissur in 2004 gave a major breakthrough. It was one of first large scale home appliances showroom in Kerala.

Nandilath G-mart is now present in Mavoor Road in Kozhikode, Thazhe

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 21

We always believe that great support brings back more customers. We also try to provide authorized service where it is possible.

22

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Chovva in Kannoor, Karamana in Trivandrum, Edappally in Kochi, Calicut Road-Perinthalmanna, TanaIringalakkuda, Kadappakkada-Kollam Main Road-Koilandy , Bypass RoadVadakara, Vadanappally, Mele Pattamby, and Mannarkkad. We are planning to increase our presence to more towns and make our showroom count to 50.

refrigerators, like double door refrigerators. Same is in the case with Televisions, earlier we had 20 inch and 21 inch CRT televisions, now we have big size 3D LED televisions. What I am trying to say is the scope of this business. There is always a latent need to up the comfort. Looking from another angle we are helping people to be more comfortable and happy.

Why did you choose white goods business.

What are the values you keep in your business?

People like to have a comfortable life.

Some appliance like AC, Washing Machines was considered luxuries, when we started the business. Now almost every house has one of them.

People also like to upgrade their home appliances. In the 90’s almost every house had only a 165 litre refrigerator, now consumers want bigger

One of the major advantages that our consumers see in us our strong support system. We always believe that great support brings back more customers. We also try to provide authorized service where it is possible.

We always treat customers like kings, we try to understand their needs and provide all support to make a choice.

We have 18 outlets across all major cities and towns in Kerala. We have a customer base of more than 2 Crores. We deal with more than 200 national and international brands and over 5000 types of products.

We make sure that once a person becomes a Nandilath G-Mart customer he will come back to us for his future purchases. I also believe that there is no substitute for hard work. It is just hard work that made our business, what it is today.

one Umbrella'. We wish to make it happen with the support and blessings from all the good customers and well wishers. In line with our vision we are planning to increase showroom count to 50 in near future.

What is your current business Size?

You are in the business for the last 29 years. Customer Experiences?

We have a trusted band of loyal customers, who has stayed with us all these years. There are many memorable experiences of customer loyalty. Our customers that always give us feedback to improve the business.

Some customers are very knowledgeable and give great ideas to implement. Our NRI customers have always backed. Many of them just call up our showroom and order home appliances for their dear and dear and we deliver it to them. They trust us completely and we make sure that we give them the best products and service.

What is the vision about your business?

The 29 years of experience and the deep knowledge of home appliances marketing makes the success story of Gopu Nandilath Group a series. It is Gopu Nandilath Group’s vision to provide an 'International Shopping Experience' to customers through the idea of 'International Brands under

We are presently the number one home appliances dealer in South India. We have 18 outlets across all major cities and towns in Kerala. We have a customer base of more than 2 Crores. We deal with more than 200 national and international brands and over 5000 types of products. We have more than 1000 sales advisors and 1200 service personnel. We have more than 1000 awards which were bestowed for our outstanding performances in sales and service. We are all set to start new Nandilath GMart Showrooms in Thodupuzha, Alapuzha, Thiruvanthapuram, Kochi and Thiruvallla. We already have showrooms in Thiruvanthapuram and Kochi , we are increasing the presence in these towns because of the huge customer support.

Is the group expanding into other business verticals?

I believe in the core-competency theory. My competency is home appliances business. I want to the best in this business. Diversification means that we lose focus on our core

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 23

business. It should not happen. There is immense opportunity in this business and as I have told I am expanding my retail space. I am fully concentrated on that.

There are lot of online shops springing up these days. Is it any way hurting the traditional model of business?

Yes people are becoming more websavvy and ordering online is fashion.

But I think currently online retailing has not been successful in selling home appliances. The primary reason is the service part; most household items need installation. This cannot be done by the online retail sites. The maximum they can do is to courier the item. The courier people will not even bring it inside your home. When we sell an item to our customer, we make sure that we deliver it to their home and do the basic installation. Another major issue is with service part, we are committed to give the best service to our customers.

The customers also like to see the product and compare it with many products available. The sales advisors

24

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

input are also important. An online store cannot provide all these and therefore naturally traditional showrooms have a good future ahead.

Keeping this in mind, an online store has many advantages. So many people today cannot go to a physical showroom; they will have to rely on an online platform. For people like that I have started an online store. The web address is www.nandilathgmart.com.

So anybody who wants to purchase online can logon to our site and purchase products, and at the same has the privilege of our exemplary service.

Your jobs demand a lot a time. How do you relax and what are your hobbies?

I love travelling to new places. I have travelled to almost all countries in the world. Travel gives us a sense of being a world citizen. Travelling also gives me an opportunity to see how businesses are run in these places. I take clues from there and try to implement in my showrooms I am an avid sports fan; I love all kind

of sports, and cricket in particular. I have travelled to watch the finals of several football world cup editions. I have travelled to Pakistan with a special visa to see cricket matches. I also went to the Olympics and other major sporting events. I also had the honour to give the man of the match award to the great Sachin Tendulkar in post match ceremony in Sri-Lanka What is your favourite destination?

All places have some unique charm, and as a traveller I enjoyed visiting this entire place. If you ask me for a particular destination, I would say New Zealand, those islands are really beautiful and the people are very friendly. Australia is also as a charming as New Zealand.

About your family?

We are settled in Thrissur. My wife Shiny, has been a strong support for me and my business. My daughter Aiswarya Sujith Nandilath and Arjun Nandilath help me understand new trends that appeal to youth.

Auto Review

The new

Enjoyment

from Chevrolet

26

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

The Enjoy is Chevrolet’s first shot at the relatively uncrowded compact MPV segment with only the Maruti Ertiga as its direct rival

M

aruti Suzuki was enjoying was a comfortable control in the relatively un- crowded MPV segment in the Indian Automobile Market. But the situation has changed. Chevrolet’s new offering enjoy poses itself as a strong competition for Ertiga and others in the segment. The Enjoy is more of a safe bet for Chevy. The design is not contemporary but it is not outdated.

The design is typical of MPV, with the steep nose, long body and big wind screens. The lines around the grill gives this MPV a very distinct look. The lines on the sides gives some elegance.

The backside is quite orthodox.

The car is built on a monocoque chassis, same as in the case of others in the competition. The major difference is in the fact the engine is installed longitudinally and connected to the rear wheel. The enjoy has all the advantages of a monocoque chassis, including more space for the passengers because you don’t have a big chassis below the seats. The doors open wide and getting in and out is a quite easy. Enjoy comes with two seating options; the seven seater and the eight seater. The captain seats have good thigh support and back

support. The top of the line models are fitted with captain seats. The back is also quite comfortable, but the negative you only a flip window in the backside. The wheels are 14 inchers with the top models having alloy wheels.

Inside there is no big surprise. There is no much of luxury. Enjoy is more of a practical package. There is no special touch in the case with equipments also. There is no Bluetooth, no climate control AC. The Enjoy will be enjoyed by practical users and not somebody who goes after luxury. The interior is quite airy; there is a lot of space. The dual tone dashboard is beautiful, and neat. The fit and finish is good. There is a lot of plastic feeling. The steering wheel looks quite basic as if you have travelled a decade back. Not something you expect after spending 9 odd lakh of rupees. The seats are pretty well finished and as I have said are quite comfortable.

In spite of all the lack of the equipments Enjoy impressed us with ride and handling, this MPV has sufficient power quick manoeuvre in the cities whenever you require. The suspension is quite good and absorbs all bumps. The vehicle handled well in

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 27

the cities and surprisingly handled really in the hill roads also. The steering is really nice and light, but it does inspire confidence at high speeds.

The gearshift is pretty smooth and gears falls into the slot correctly. There is a little bit of noise coming into the cabin once you cross the 1200 rpm mark.

Slipping into the seats after opening the big doors is dead easy, they are almost at the perfect height, and once inside, legroom and headroom on both rows is plentiful.

28

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Chevrolet has done a good job with Enjoy. The diesel version is supposed to well in Indian market, which is diesel incline. The new diesel engine has a lesser lag that Chevy’s earlier engines. The acceleration till 4000 rpm is quite good, but after that it loses steam, but don’t mind by that you will be far ahead in the road.

Indian families those who love to travel together, has a reason to enjoy now, they have a good option to be the family rider. Overall the new car delivers well for the customer. There are some concerns including the plastic quality and equipments list.

Chevrolet Enjoy has all the reasons in it for you to own. Enjoy your driving.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 29

Entrepreneur

RULES YOU SHOULD FOLLOW TO BECOME A

SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

Dr. Thomas Nechupadom heads Metanoeo, a total transformation/ grooming company that has been the by word for grooming and dressing, personality enhancement and Social/Corporate Etiquette for many pageants including Ms.South India and Mannapuram Ms. Queen of India contest 2012.

30

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

There is lot of sacrifice to be done if you want to be a successful entrepreneur. You also have to dream big and have a clear vision.

There is lot of sacrifice to be done if you want to be a successful entrepreneur. You also have to dream big and have a clear vision. An entrepreneur will have to visualize success and feel it. . You should actively visualize success in your mind that you can almost feel it, touch it or it is within your reach. Play this image back at every opportunity. How will your life change? What will your business look like if you achieved the big milestone?

Probably all these you know. Here come the flip side, you will also have to maintain some rules to become success. May be it sounds a little difficult, it may not that difficult if you practice it earnestly.

First of all it your attitude; successful entrepreneurs possess an attitude of openness and faith that you can have what you want if you can simply envision it as the first step on the path of action to acquiring it. Self-help gurus have taught us the power of visualization. If you want to be a successful writer, envision yourself signing books for a throng of people who have lined up to have your autograph. A personal development coach shared me her secret to help her continuously visualize her goals for the moment: when climbing stairs, recite your goal with every step you take. So if you want more money, say “I will have money� in every step of the stairs. This technique will reinforce your goal and keep it fresh in your consciousness.

You should never consider the possibility of failure. You need to completely believe in yourself. Think that what you are doing will chip in to the betterment of your environment and your personal self. Self belief is quite a wonderful thing it can make you unbelievable things. You should have a strong faith in your idea, your potential and yourself. You must believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have the ability to recognize and fulfil them. The more you can develop faith in your ability to achieve your goals, the more rapidly you can attain it. However, your self-belief should be balanced with calculated risks that you need to take to achieve greater rewards. Remember no pains no gains.

Be passionate in everything you do.

You need to develop or uncover an intense, personal passion to change the way things are and to live life to the fullest. Success comes easily if you love what you do. The most successful people will not be able to differentiate between their job and their hobby because both are essentially the same.

Entrepreneurs who succeed do not mind the fact that they are putting in 15 or 18 hours a day to their business because they absolutely love what they do. Success in business is all about patience and hard work, which can only be attained if you are passionate and crazy with your tasks and activities. The philosophy behind this simple, you will be able to bring the best when you absolutely

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 31

You have inherent strengths; you will have to focus on it. Everything cannot be done by everybody that is what makes us all unique. To be successful, you need to identify your strengths and concentrate on it. You will become more successful if you are able to lead your efforts to areas that you do best.

In business you know you have good marketing instincts, then exploit this strength and make full use of it. Seek help or support in areas that you may be poor at, such as accounting or bookkeeping. To transform your weakness to strength, consider taking hands-on learning or formal training.

An entrepreneur is always open for new learning. You need not be highly educated to be an entrepreneur. In fact, there are a lot of entrepreneurs who did not even finish secondary education. Studies show that most selfmade millionaires have average intelligence. Nonetheless, these people reached their full potentials achieved their financial and personal goals in business because they are willing to learn. To succeed, you must be willing to ask questions, remain curious, interested and open to new knowledge.

This willingness to learn becomes more crucial given the rapid changes in technologies and ways of doing business.

32

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

You should have a meticulous plan. To achieve your vision, you need to have tangible goals that will stepping-stone towards your ultimate vision. Write down your goals. You need to plan each day in such a way that your every action contributes to the attainment of your vision. Intense goal orientation is the characteristic of every successful entrepreneur. They have a vision, and they know how to get there. Your ability to set goals and make plans for your accomplishment is the skill required to succeed.

The road to success is not easy you must persevere and have faith. In spite of your good intentions and hard work, sometimes you will fail. Some successful entrepreneurs suffered setbacks and resounding defeats, even bankruptcy, yet managed to quickly stand up to make it big in their fields.

Your courage to persist in the face of adversity and ability to bounce back after a temporary disappointment will assure your success. You must learn to pick yourself up and start all over again. Your persistence is the measure of the belief in yourself. Remember, if you persevere, nothing can stop you.

Successful entrepreneurs are good networkers. You will have be in touch with a lot of people in Businesses always need assistance, more so small

businesses. Maybe the lady you met in a trade association meeting can help you secure funding, or the gentleman at a conference can provide you with management advice. It is important to form alliances with people who can help you, and whom you can help in return. To succeed in business, you need to possess good networking skills and always be alert to opportunities to expand your contacts.

Successful entrepreneur’s works very hard. Brian Tracy puts it out this way, “You work eight hours per day for survival; everything over eight hours per day is for success.” Ask any successful businessperson and they will tell you immediately that they had to work more than 60 hours per week at the start of their businesses. You should be prepared to bid good bye to your little pleasures to concentrate more on your work. You will have to live your business.

Self discipline is ultimate key to success. Thomas Huxley once said, “Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you like it or not.” Self-discipline is the key to success. The strength of will to force yourself to pay the price of success – doing what others don’t like to do, going the extra mile, fighting and winning the lonely battle with yourself.

Beauty Tips

Beauty Tips to Keeps You Fresh while Traveling Exercise when you have the opportunity, this will keep the skin nourished with increased blood circulation. A glowing skin will keep your confidence level up.

Keep your skin moisturized with hydrating lotion, especially if you have airconditioning.

Use a good quality sunscreen especially while travelling by road. Apply sunscreen generously not only to your face but your neck, chest and hands.

When you are travelling stick to a basic skin care routine; do not overdo any kind of skincare application.

Stick to a fruit based diet and eat plenty of fresh fruits instead of junk food.

Drink a lot of water that will detox your skin and flush out the toxins Fight the urge to pick or squeeze! Your skin’s ability to heal slows down when travelling, as your skin is focused on adjusting to a new environment.

Because water retention tends to occur during travelling, your eyes may become puffy. Use an eye gel instead of a cream along with some eye drops to keep your eyes moisturized.

Soak in a hot bath during the evening time if possible. Not only will the heat relax your tired muscles, the steam will open the pores to allow better penetration of your night cream.

Tressa Varghese Director, Phoebe International

34

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Don’t forget your beauty sleep! Sufficient sleep is essential to healing your skin.

Travel

The Beautiful

Islands:

NEW ZEALAND

36

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

New Zealand is marketed abroad as a "clean, green" adventure playground, with typical destinations being nature areas such as Milford Sound, Abel Tasman National Park or the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, while activities such as bungee jumping or whale watching exemplify typical tourist attractions, often marketed primarily to individual- and small-group travellers.

T

ourism is an important industry in New Zealand, contributing NZ$15 billion of the country's GDP in 2010. It is also New Zealand's largest export industry, with more than 2.4 million international tourists visiting per year providing 18% of the country's export earnings in 2010. New Zealand is marketed abroad as a "clean, green" adventure playground, with typical destinations being nature areas such as Milford Sound, Abel Tasman National Park or the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, while activities such as bungee jumping or whale watching exemplify typical tourist attractions, often marketed primarily to individualand small-group travellers. By far the highest number of New Zealand's tourists come from its neighbouring country Australia due to close proximity and relations.

The vast majority of tourist arrivals to New Zealand come through Auckland Airport which handled over eleven million passengers in 2004. Many international tourists also spend time in Christchurch, Queenstown, Rotorua, and Wellington. Other highprofile destinations include the Bay of Islands, Waitomo Caves, Aoraki / Mount Cook, and Milford Sound.

Many tourists travel large distances through the country during their stays, typically using coach lines or hire cars.

Domestic tourism is also important, with domestic tourism expenditure of $13 billion outweighing international tourist expenditure of $9 billion in

2010. Overall, tourism supports some 180,000 full-time equivalent jobs with half directly related to tourism.

Popular tourist activities in New Zealand include sightseeing, adventure tourism, tramping (hiking) and camping. To support active travel, New Zealand has created numerous walking and hiking paths some of which, like the Milford Track, have huge international recognition. There is also a walking route the length of the country, Te Araroa Trail, which is in the process of being finished as of the late 2000s, and a proposed New Zealand Cycleway.

Natural Beauty New Zealand is a country of stunning and diverse natural beauty: jagged mountains, rolling pasture land, steep fiords, pristine trout-filled lakes, raging rivers, scenic beaches, and active volcanic zones. These islands are one of Earth's most peculiar bioregions, inhabited by flightless birds seen nowhere else such as a nocturnal, burrowing parrot called the kakapo and kiwi. Kiwi are not only one of the national symbols – the others being the silver fern leaf and koru – but also the name New Zealanders usually call themselves.

These islands are sparsely populated, particularly away from the North Island, but easily accessible. There are sparklingly modern visitor facilities, and transport networks are reasonably developed. New Zealand often adds an

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 37

The Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river, flows through the middle of the city.

adventure twist to nature: it's the original home of jet-boating through shallow gorges, and bungy jumping off anything high enough to give a thrill.

Mâori culture continues to play an important part in everyday life and government and corporate symbolism with abundant opportunities for visitors to understand and experience both the history and present day forms of Mâori life.

Cities Auckland is the largest metropolitan area in New Zealand, with a population of over one million. It is in the northern half of the North Island, on a narrow isthmus of land that joins the Northland peninsula to the rest of the North Island. In November 2010, four formerly separate cities were amalgamated. These four were Manukau in the south, Waitakere in the west, North Shore in the north and

38

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Auckland City itself, on and around the isthmus. These other cities, rural areas, small towns and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf can be found in the Auckland Region article.

Hamilton is an inland city in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. The Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river, flows through the middle of the city. This effectively cuts the city in half, with Hamilton West containing the Central Business District and main shopping areas.

Hamilton East, among other things, is home to The University of Waikato, resulting in a large student population.

Rotorua is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. It’s hot springs and geysers have attracted tourists for over a hundred years.

Rotorua sits on the shores of Lake Rotorua of New Zealand. There are several other lakes nearby. Along with the geothermal wonders, there are also the more usual water activities such as

The city is famed for its Art Deco architecture. The 1931 Napier earthquake and a subsequent fire destroyed much of the downtown business area.

fishing, boating and white water rafting. Tourism is a major industry in Rotorua, and for good reason, the tourism services are therefore well developed and visitors should definitely make a stop at the Tourist Information Centre on the main road, Fenton Street. Rotorua is built over a geothermal hot spot. There are numerous natural vents, hot pools and other geothermal features in and around the city. Many of these are in parks and reserves. Natural eruptions of steam, hot water and mud occasionally occur in new locations.

Many places have their own private geothermal bores for heating and water for bathing although private use of naturally occurring geothermal water and steam is controlled. It has recently been refurbished. Wai-O-Tapu is also an entertaining day out.

Napier is a city in Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is famed for its Art Deco architecture. The 1931 Napier earthquake and a subsequent fire destroyed much of the downtown business area. When this area was rebuilt, it was reconstructed in the prevailing Art Deco style. Now it is the Art Deco capital of the world. The demolition rubble was dumped along the eastern foreshore and turned into gardens and a recreational reserve.

The nearby township of Taradale has the regions oldest and most famous

wineries that host concerts during the summer seasons.

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand but only its third largest city.

The Windy City is on the foreshore of Wellington Harbour and ringed by mountains, providing the scenic home of many of New Zealand's national arts and cultural attractions. Wellington offers a blend of culture, heritage, fine food, and lively arts and entertainment. Surrounded by hills and a rugged coastline, the city boasts a stunning harbour. Wellington’s charm is that it serves up a vibrant inner city experience with a slice of New Zealand scenery. And because of its compact nature, you can sample it all: boutiques, art galleries, trendy cafes and restaurants. Right on its doorstep is a network of walking and biking trails with beautiful wineries and vineyards just a few hours away.

Nelson is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island. Nelson is situated in a region often known as Nelson Tasman or the "Top of the South." It is actually slightly north of the capital city of Wellington. Together with Richmond, it has a population of around 50,000 ranking it as New Zealand’s 10th most populous city and the geographical centre of the nation. Nelson is a compact coastal city set amongst some of New Zealand's most stunning

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 39

scenery. The city is the economic and cultural centre for the Nelson-Tasman region and offers an excellent range of shopping, eating and cultural experiences with an abundance of parks, rivers, beaches and nature trails to explore. It is the place that most kiwis would like to retire to - if they could afford to, since Nelson has some of the most unaffordable housing and lowest "sunshine" wages in New Zealand.

Queenstown is a scenic town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most beautiful regions and offers year round attractions. The town sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by the Southern Alps. The most remarkable sight is the Remarkables, which is a saw-toothed range of mountains on the opposite side of the lake from the town.

have people returning to The Coromandel time after time.

Cathedral Cove

Christchurch is known as the Garden City, a well-deserved name. Looking from a few floors up, one is struck by the number of trees that grow like a forest throughout the suburbs.

Abel Tasman National Park is in the Nelson Tasman region of the South Island of New Zealand, between Golden Bay and Tasman Bay. Located in the Nelson and Marlborough Regions on the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island; The park is closed to vehicles, and access is either on foot (from one of the various car parks mentioned below) or by boat, or if you've got money to spend it is possible to charter a helicopter or small plane. Some of the land in the park is privately owned - mainly in Awaroa Bay and Torrent Bay. It is important to remember this when visiting the park - the locals are friendly but they don't want loads of travellers walking through their backyards all the time! However these areas are clearly marked so you shouldn't have any problems.

International tourism, especially foreign-student education for the Asian market, was a growing sector of the Christchurch economy, as is electronics and software development.

Because of this there is a high concentration of cyber-cafes here.

The Coromandel Peninsula is on the north-eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Fabulous golden and white sand beaches with magnificent coastal scenery, a rugged forest cloaked interior waiting to be explored, are just some of the natural attractions that

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand with a 2006 population of over 350,000, making it the second largest city in the country after Auckland. It is on the edge of the Canterbury plains and is a major stepping off point for touring the South Island. Christchurch was established in 1850 by English settlers.

Its English heritage shows in the older buildings, especially in the cultural precinct along Worcester Boulevard.

The River Avon flows through the central city and disrupts the regular rectangular layout of the city streets.

40

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

The Peninsula separates the Hauraki Gulf and coasts around Auckland from the Bay of Plenty. The Peninsula is a popular holiday destination and can get very busy during the summer months.

Local towns include Thames, Coromandel and Whitianga and Whangamata. Smaller settlements include Te Puru, Waiomu, Tapu, Colville, Whangapoua, Matarangi, Kuaotunu, Coroglen, Cooks Beach, Hahei, Hot Water Beach, Tairua and Pauanui.

Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's first national park and a World Heritage site. The park contains 3 active volcanoes as well as 2 major ski fields.

In 1993 Tongariro National Park became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes. The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and religious significance for the Maori people and symbolize the spiritual links between this community and its environment. The park has active and extinct volcanoes, a diverse range of ecosystems and some spectacular landscapes.

Fitness

Tips to Maintain Fitness while Traveling 42

UNIQUE TIMES June 2013

Today’s lifestyle requires you to be busy.

Most of the people find it difficult to squeeze time in between their busy schedules to find time to work out.

T

oday’s lifestyle requires you to be busy. Most of the people find it difficult to squeeze time in between their busy schedules to find time to work out. The problem becomes worse when you go out of town for a business or pleasure trip.

Your tight schedules and in a rather unknown place can easily derail your fitness routine. With a little amount of management and some tips you can take control of your fitness regime.

Consider a pair of tennis shoes specifically for travel that will smash or bend for easy packing. Fill a baggie with mixed nuts and dried fruit, energy bars, and fresh fruit for emergency snacks to make unhealthy options less tempting. During travel, you may need to spend a lot of time waiting you can take advantage of this time. Major airports in world have places for yoga and walking tracks. Most of the hotels have fitness centres.

You need to dress suitably to take advantage of any opportunity arising to do a workout. Exercise opportunities on the road won’t do you much good if you are not prepared. If your business attire doesn’t allow for athletic footwear, invest in a comfortable pair of dressy shoes. Rubber-soled dress shoes or a stylish pair of flats can make all of the difference. At the very least, carry your athletic shoes in your carryon. Stick with a comfortable, yet presentable, outfit so you can walk the terminals during a layover. The same preparation tips stand for road trips. A quick walk around the parking lot at the rest stop will stretch the legs and burn a few calories.

Be very careful with what you eat.

Convenience stores and gas stations may be the easiest place to stop while on the road, but they can be a nightmare for a healthy eating plan.

Instead, visit the nearest roadside farm stand, or follow the signs to the Farmer’s Market where you can find fresh produce to provide healthy fuel.

For meals, skip the fast food and stop by a supermarket for a prepared salad or healthy sandwich.

Make some extra space in your baggage for your fitness essentials like the band and apparel. Be sure you leave space to squeeze in fitness essentials. An exercise band or tube will fit in the outside pocket of your bag for hotel-room strength training.

Try to walk more during free time.

Visiting a market during your travels combines a learning opportunity, exercise, and healthy food into one adventure. Set out on foot if the market is nearby – every extra step counts. Take advantage of the fresh produce, and meals for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack.

project in the city you Book an active excursion. Make visit. This will allow you to borrow a bike to see the sights while burning calories. If you enjoy road races, look for upcoming events at your destination. Local fitness studios may have active weekend retreats, or a boot camp class that you can join during your trip.

The most important thing is get enough rest. Travel can leave you sleep-deprived and unable to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep for adults. Lack of sleep can result in weight gain. When you are exhausted from being on the road, make sleep a priority. Continue to choose healthy foods, but it may be wise to skip a workout when your schedule causes exercise to compete with sleep. Plan to get back to your exercise routine once you return home. But remember, exercise can improve sleep patterns if done at least three hours before bedtime. If you are having trouble sleeping on the road, a workout may help.

Go out for a trekking or go for cycling.

It is an easy option to burn your calories. Check for a Yellow Bike

June 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 43

Sports

Start Playing

GOLF

44

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules

G

olfing is often thought of as a passive sport that does not require any real degree of fitness. In reality, golf incorporates cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and even balance and coordination. With all of these benefits, it's hard to say no to a game of golf.

Golf is a precision club and ball sport in which rival players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course using the fewest number of strokes. Golf is defined, in the rules of golf, as "playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules. It is one of the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing area.

Instead, the game is played on a golf course, generally consisting of an arranged progression of either 9 or 18 holes. Golf competition is generally played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known simply as stroke play, or the lowest score on the most individual holes during a complete round by an individual or team, known as match play. Stroke play is the most commonly seen format at virtually all levels of play, although variations of match play such as "skins" games are also seen in televised events. Other forms of scoring also exist.

Every round of golf is based on playing a number of holes in a given order. A round typically consists of 18 holes that are played in the order determined by the course layout. On a standard course of 18 holes, each hole

is played once in the round. Playing a hole on a golf course is initiated by putting a ball into play by striking it with a club on the teeing ground. For this first shot on each hole, it is allowed but not required for the golfer to place the ball on a tee prior to striking it. A tee in this last sense is a small peg which can be used to elevate the ball slightly above the ground up to a few centimetres high, which reduces the interference of the ground or grass on the movement of the club making the ball easier to hit, and also places the ball in the very centre of the striking face of the club for better distance. Tees are commonly made of wood but may be constructed of any material, including plastic.

Traditionally, golfers used mounds of sand to elevate the ball, and containers of sand were provided for the purpose.

A few courses still require sand to be used instead of peg tees, to reduce litter and reduce damage to the teeing ground.

In stroke play competitions played according to strict rules, each player plays his or her ball until it is holed no matter how many strokes that may take, but in match play it is acceptable to simply pick up one's ball and surrender the holeafter enough strokes have been made by a player that it is mathematically impossible for the player to win the hole. It is also acceptable in informal stroke play to surrender the hole after hitting three strokes more than the "par" rating of the hole a "triple bogey" - see below; while technically a violation of Rule 32, this practice speeds play as a courtesy to others, and avoids runaway

scores, excessive frustration and injuries caused by overexertion.

Players can walk to their next shot or drive in golf carts over the course or along pathways beside it. The game can be played either individually or in groups and sometimes accompanied by caddies, who carry and manage the players' equipment and who are allowed by the rules to give advice on the play of the course. A caddy's advice can only be given to the player or players for whom the caddy is working, and not to competing players.

The underlying principle of the rules is fairness. As stated on the back cover of the official rule book: Play the ball as it lies, play the course as you find it, and if you cannot do either, do what is fair.

There are strict regulations regarding the amateur status of golfers.

Essentially, anybody who has ever received payment or compensation for giving instruction, or played golf for money, is not considered an amateur and may not participate in competitions limited solely to amateurs. However, amateur golfers may receive expenses which comply with strict guidelines and they may accept non-cash prizes within the limits established by the Rules of Amateur Status.

In addition to the officially printed rules, golfers also abide by a set of guidelines called golf etiquette.

Etiquette guidelines cover matters such as safety, fairness, pace of play, and a player's obligation to contribute to the care of the course. Though there are no penalties for breach of etiquette rules, players generally follow

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 45

the rules of golf etiquette in an effort to improve everyone's playing experience.

Golf clubs are used to hit the golf ball.

Each club is composed of a shaft with a lance (or "grip") on the top end and a club head on the bottom. Long clubs, which have a lower amount of degreed loft, are those meant to propel the ball a comparatively longer distance, and short clubs a higher degree of loft and a comparatively shorter distance.

Typically, the actual physical length of each club is longer or shorter, depending on the distance the club is intended to propel the ball.

Golf clubs have traditionally been arranged into three basic types. Woods are large-headed, long-shafted clubs meant to propel the ball a long distance from relatively "open" lies, such as the tee box and fairway. Of particular importance is the driver or "1-wood", which is the lowest lofted wood club, and in modern times has become highly specialized for making extremely long-distance tee shots, up to 300 yards or more in the hands of a professional golfer. Traditionally these

46

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

clubs had heads made of a hardwood, hence the name, but virtually all modern woods are now made of metal such as titanium, or of composite materials. Irons are shorter-shafted clubs with a metal head primarily consisting of a flat, angled striking face. Traditionally the club head was forged from iron; modern iron club heads are investment-cast from a steel alloy. Irons of varying loft are used for a variety of shots from virtually anywhere on the course, but most often for shorter-distance shots approaching the green, or to get the ball out of tricky lies such as sand traps. The third class is the putter, which evolved from the irons to create a low-lofted, balanced club designed to roll the ball along the green and into the hole. Putters are virtually always used on the green or in the surrounding rough/fringe. A fourth class, called hybrids, evolved as a cross between woods and irons, and are typically seen replacing the low-lofted irons with a club that provides similar distance, but a higher launch angle and a more forgiving nature.

A maximum of 14 clubs is allowed in a

player's bag at one time during a stipulated round. The choice of clubs is at the golfer's discretion, although every club must be constructed in accordance with parameters outlined in the rules. Clubs which meet these parameters are usually called "conforming". Violation of these rules can result in disqualification. The exact shot hit at any given time on a golf course, and which club is used to accomplish the shot, are always completely at the discretion of the golfer; in other words, there is no restriction whatsoever on which club a golfer may or may not use at any time for any shot. Golf balls are spherical, usually white (although other colours are allowed), and minutely pockmarked by dimples that decrease aerodynamic drag by increasing air turbulence around the ball in motion, which delays "boundary layer" separation and reduces the draginducing "wake" behind the ball, thereby allowing the ball to fly farther.

There is a lot. There is a lot more learn about golf. Once you start learning, you will ‘?more be interested to learn more about this game.

Premier Business & Lifestyle Magazine

The Magazine you find in a premium hotel

Premier Business & Lifestyle Magazine Full Name

: (Mr / Mrs / Ms / M/s) : ................................................................................

Address

: .................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................. ................................................................... Postal Code : .........................

Contact Number :...................................................................................................................

UAE Launching Offer for 1 year

E-mail

WHY SUBSCRIBE ?

Only

TO SUBSCRIBE

AED 60

: .................................................................................................................. : www.uniquetimes.org/subscribe Vistit Call Hotline numbers : 98460 50283, 94470 50283, 93499 50283 95678 50283, 96337 50283

By Post

: Please fill the form below and send it to us.

L 5/106, Changampuzha Nagar, Cochin-33

UAE

: Jazz Media Services LLC, Dubai, + 971 4 3583453

Never miss an issue Get your issue before it goes on sale in shops Hassle-free delivery to your door Beat the price hike in the next six months

SUBSCRIBE

Yes, I would like to subscribe to Unique Times, 1 Year ¨ 12 issues for 360/- (AED 60 for UAE readers) I enclose a Cheque / Demand Draft fo the amount Ticked above, made payable to Unique Times, Kochi

uniquetimesindia@gmail.com

Gadgets

4499/-

Nokia Asha 501 FM Radio 3-inch LCD Capacitive Touchscreen Dual Standby SIM (GSM + GSM) Expandable Storage Capacity of 32 GB 3.2 MP Primary Camera Wi-Fi Enabled

Nokia Asha 210 5199/-

QWERTY Keypad Expandable Storage Capacity of 32 GB FM Radio GPRS Enabled Dual Standby SIM (GSM + GSM) Nokia Series 40 OS 2.4-inch LCD Transmissive Screen 2 MP Primary Camera

Nokia Asha 306 3-inch LCD Resistive Touchscreen Expandable Storage Capacity of 32 GB Wi-Fi Enabled 2 MP Primary Camera Bluetooth Support FM Radio with Recording

3669/-

3849/-

Nokia Asha 206 Dual Standby SIM (GSM + GSM) 1.3 MP Primary Camera Alphanumeric Keypad GPRS and EDGE Enabled 2.4-inch LCD Screen FM Radio with Recording Expandable Storage Capacity of 32 GB

48

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 I9200 8 MP Primary Camera 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Dual Core Processor Wi-Fi Enabled Expandable Storage Capacity of 64 GB 6.3-inch TFT Capacitive Touchscreen 1.9 MP Secondary Camera Android v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS

30990

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 I9152 Android v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS 1.9 MP Secondary Camera 5.8-inch TFT Capacitive Touchscreen 1.4 GHz Dual Core Processor Expandable Storage Capacity of 64 GB Full HD Recording Wi-Fi Enabled 8 MP Primary Camera

24900

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 49

Gadgets

Huawei Ascend Mate

24,990

8 MP BSI Primary Camera + 1 MP HD Secondary Camera 16 Core GPU + 2 GB RAM 4050 mAh Battery Capacity Power Bank Full Hardware Decode + Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound GPS + Glonass Dual Satellite One Hand UI Android v4.1 Jelly Bean OS 1.5 GHz Quad Core Processor 6.1-inch HD Toshiba IPS+ Screen Magic Touch Dual Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz + 5 Ghz

50

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

SONY Xperia Z Ultra

6.4-inch TFT Triluminos display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and Shatter proof sheet on scratch-resistant glass 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor 2GB RAM 8-megapixel rear camera with Exmor RS sensor 2-megapixel front facing camera 16GB internal storage expandable up to 64GB via microSD card Android 4.2 Jelly Bean 4G LTE/ NFC/ Bluetooth 4.0/ Wi-Fi 3000mAh battery

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 51

Books

Winning without Losing

Author: Jordan Milne, Martin Bjergegaard Publisher: Profile Books (2013), Rs. 350

(Paperback)

A

business book about more than business: the ultimate guide to improving your work/life balance. Whatever your job is, chances are you find it hard to switch off. Today, we work longer hours, at weekends, at home and on the move while the office is only ever a click away via smart phones and the Internet. But as much as we assume that this is the price of success it doesn't have to be this way. Martin Bjergegaard and Jordan Milne are here to show you how to build your business into something big, sustainable and widely recognized and still lead a happy, whole and balanced life. In sixty-five short insights, they reveal strategies and methods which will allow you to combine professional success with putting friends, family and happiness first. Their Efficiency Boosters will increase your effectiveness, while you'll learn all about how to avoid Time and Energy Wasters and build aNew Mindset that gives you to optimism and enthusiasm needed to succeed.

Entrepreneur 5 P.M. to 9 A.M.: Launching a Profitable Start-up without Quitting Your Job

Author: Kanth Miriyala, Reethika Sunder Publisher: Rupa Publications India (2013),Rs. 195

(Paperback)

Y

ou have a job. And an idea for a business. What do you do then?

Crisp, reader-friendly and practical, Entrepreneur 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. tells you how you can become an entrepreneur even if you have a full-time job and are risk-averse. With facts, flowcharts and illustrations, this is a fast and super-useful read from which you will come away with a clear and solid roadmap for converting your idea into a viable enterprise and taking your venture from zero to launch.

The Professional Companion: How to Make the Best of Your Workplace Skills 1st Edition

I

Author: Subroto Bagchi Publisher: Portfolio (2012), Rs. 262

n The Professional, one of the biggest-selling business books ever to come out of India, Subroto Bagchi asked the key question: What does it mean to be a professional? He outlined a few characteristics that mark a thorough professional, and showed how one can behave professionally or otherwise in diverse situations, in and out of the workplace. Inspired by the lessons learnt from that game-changing book, many an aspiring professional has been wanting to test his/her mettle using Bagchis tools. The Professional Companion fulfills exactly that need. In this do-it-yourself workbook that is meant as a companion volume to The Professional, Bagchi takes you through simple exercises that allow you to understand how professional your approach is in a given context, and helps you develop a wider skill set and a more committed outlook.

52

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

(Paperback)

From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom

Author: Prasad Kaipa, Navi Radjou Publisher: Eury Press/ Random House India (2013) Rs. 499

(Hard Cover)

L

eaders insist on sticking to the time-tested formulae of either functional leadership that focusses on operational excellence or smart leadership that focusses on growth. When a leader's focus is too functional, the organization becomes introverted and can focus too much on bottom line profitability while missing out on topline growth opportunities. But when leaders focus too much on smart leadership, the organization may experience quick growth but lose its effectiveness quickly. To strike a fine balance between From Smart to Wise provides a fresh and timely approach to nurturing wise, resilient, and flexible leadership in a world of growing complexity. Drawing on inspiring real-life stories of historical and contemporary wise leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet the authors identify six characteristics of wise leaders and offer a practical framework to help readers develop their own style of wise leadership that is both functional and smart.

Leading Without Licence: Leadership The Anna Hazare Way

Author: Satheesh Namasivayam, Sivaram Bandhakavi Publisher: Rupa Publication,Rs. 140

(Paperback)

I

n February 2011, Anna Hazare suddenly shot to the nation s attention when he conveyed to the prime minister his intention to fast on matters relating to corruption. Since then, he has galvanized a massive, national movement to combat corruption in the country. So, how did Mr Hazare, at the age of 74 and relatively unknown to the masses, manage to spearhead this movement against corruption?

Simply put, how did he become a leader?

It is this question that Leading without Licence: Leadership the Anna Hazare Way answers. In this book, Satheesh Namasivayam and Sivaram Bandhakavi illustrate how Mr Hazare is masterfully practising a set of principles, proven to be effective over the ages, in exercising leadership. As they explain, leading is an act that comprises the performance of smaller sub-acts, in expanding circles of influence. If you understand these sub-acts and know how to combine them, you too can become a leader.

The Game changers: 20 extraordinary success stories of entrepreneurs from IIT Kharagpur

Author: Yuvnesh Modi, Rahul Kumar, Alok Kothari Publisher: Random House India (2012), Rs. 150

(Paperback)

I

ITians in India are a privileged lot. They toil to enter the portals of India's most prestigious engineering college, but once their education is complete, seven figure salaries and blazing career paths await them. However, there are people who break the mould – IITians who have rejected cushy jobs because their inner instinct told them that bigger and better things awaited them if they took a different path. This book traces the story of 20 such individuals from IIT Kharagpur. The book covers the stories of some quite well-known figures. They include Krishna Mehta, Ventakata Subramaniam, Sunil Gaitonde, Arvind Kejriwal, Anuradha Acharya, Vikram Kumar, Bikash Barai, Praful Kulkarni, Anand Deshpande, Vijay Kumar, Arjun Malhotra, Sam Dalal, Suhas Patil, Kiran Seth, Bikram Dasgupta, Prabhakant Sinha, Ranbir Singh Gupta, Vinod Gupta, Sridhar Mittal and Harish Hande.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 53

COMMUNICATING FOR

SUCCESS 54

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

Communication may be intentional or unintentional, may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes.

H

uman are capable of seamless communication.

Communication is something human’s do out of reflex, but are using this God-gifted talent for good use? Communication is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing, or behaviour. It is the meaningful exchange of information between two and a group of person. One definition of communication is any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person information about that person's needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or affective states.

Communication may be intentional or unintentional, may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes. Communication requires a sender, a message, and a recipient, although the receiver doesn't have to be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast distances in time and space.

Communication requires that the communicating parties share an area of communicative commonality. The communication

process is complete once the receiver has understood the message of the sender.

It might seem easy, but communicating effectively actually takes quite a bit of finesse.

Choosing the right words, listening with our minds instead of just our ears, and getting our message across are skills that we all need to work on. Read on for some tips.

No matter how well intentioned and intellectually compatible the group of people you've hired may be, inevitably you're going to have squabbles over who jammed up the copier or accidentally deleted a coworker's file. Most minor issues will blow over on their own, but a few can turn into major disputes.

Some office arguments can be serious enough to prompt legal action.

It doesn't matter whether you're producing movies or computer chips, the work day can be as fun and exciting as your company wants to make it. You don't have to come up with these kinds of creative ideas yourself. There are companies that specialize in coming up with and implementing employee perks that will do all the work for you Giving employees as little as 15 minutes a day to cut loose can make them much more appreciative and productive when they do need to put their noses to the grindstone.

No employee wants to exist in a vacuum. Whether they're working tirelessly to get projects done or slacking off, your workers need to know that you recognize and appreciate their efforts or expect them to work harder. You don't have to hold regular meetings to share feedback, although that's one way to do it. There are many other ways to let your employees know what you're thinking through email, phone calls, or a brief status update a couple of mornings a week.

When employees feel as though they have control over their job, they feel a sense of purpose and are more invested in the entire process. Autonomy breeds innovation and job satisfaction.

Babysitting, on the other hand, makes employees feel as though the company doesn't consider them competent enough to do their job. They feel insecure and unmotivated.

You have conversations with your employees all day, but are you really listening? If you're thinking ahead to the next meeting or planning tonight's dinner during the conversation, you're not paying attention. Being an effective communicator means listening as well as talking. Sounds easy, but listening actually takes some practice.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 55

Travel

The

Heart of

N E T H E R L A N D

Amsterdam DOING BUSINESS IN FREE ZONES

The city is located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country. It comprises the northern part of the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe.

12 56

UNIQUE TIMES July June2013 2013

Each Free Zone is designed around one or more business industry categories and only offers licenses to companies within those categories.

A

Free Zone Authority offers business licenses to foreignowned businesses. Each Free Zone is designed around one or more business industry categories and only offers licenses to companies within those categories.

Advantages of Free zone A company set up in a Free Zone offers owner 100 % import and export tax exemptions, 100 % repatriation of capital and profits, Corporate tax exemptions for up to 50 years, Purpose built office or warehouse facilities, No personal income taxes, Assistance with labour recruitment and additional support services, such as sponsorship and housing. Each Free Zone is designed around one or more business industry categories and only offers licenses to companies within those categories. An independent Free Zone Authority (FZA) governs each free zone, and is the agency responsible for issuing FTZ operating licenses and assisting companies with establishing their business in the FTZ.

Ras Al Khaimah in the northernmost part of the U.A.E., 45 minutes by road from Dubai. It was established in May 2000 by an Emiri Decree from Ras Al Khaimah's ruler His Highness Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi, with His Highness Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qassimi as its Chairman. RAK FTZ has five parks in Ras Al Khaimah – Business Park, Industrial Park, Technology Park, Aviation Park and Academy Zone. It also has representative offices in Turkey, India, Germany, and USA and is the first free zone to offer business centre as well as innovation and promotion centre facilities in four locations in the UAE. Jebel Ali Free Zone is a free economic zone located in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, near Abu Dhabi. Created under an Emiri Decree, Jafza commenced operations in 1985 with standard size office units and warehouses to provide ready built facilities to customers. In 1990 Jafza expanded its facilities to include light industrial units.

The Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority

Dubai Airport Freezone

The Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority (RAKFTZ) is one of the "free zones" of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). It is located in the Emirate of

Dubai Airport Freezone is located next to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Airport Freezone provides unrivalled access to 24-hour logistics services, world-class facilities and

June 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 57

Ajman free zone was established in 1988 and was granted autonomous status under the Amiri decree no.3 of 1996 issued by H.H. Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, ruler of Ajman. infrastructure. The free zone also provides direct access to a number of government services, including Immigration, Customs and the Chamber of Commerce helping to streamline red-tape procedures and provide clear processes and guidelines. International investors will reap the benefits of dynamic growth for their companies, through the free trade zone's excellent tax and investment incentives, such as 100% tax exemption, 100% foreign ownership.

Ajman Free Zone Ajman Free Zone is a free trade zone in Ajman, one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates located on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Persian Gulf. The zone was established in 1988 and was granted autonomous status under the Amiri decree no.3 of 1996 issued by H.H. Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, ruler of Ajman.

Ajman Free Zone Authority has been named as the sole regulatory agency for Free Zone in the Ajman.

The formation of the Free Zone Authority in 1996 has given impetus to industrial activity in the Free Zone which has resulted in quadruple growth in the number of companies during the last few years. A multi-million Dirhams development plan on over a mission square metre area is under progress at the Free Zone, which on completion will be able to accommodate 4000 companies.

Situated at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, Ajman Free Zone is well placed to serve the eastern and western markets.

For anybody who would like to explore the lucrative market of the Middle East and GCC, free-zone will be a good option to start with. The free-zone management is all willing to help you start your business.

58

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

UNIQUE DIARY

UN

IQU

ED

IAR Y

GREAT

GIFTING

OPTION For Bulk Purchase

UNIQUE DIARY L5-106, Changampuzha Nagar, Kochi - 33 Contact: +91 98460 50283

Apps

T ART & SCIENCE

his is app from Infosys. Art & Science strives to share rare, human, interesting, and highly practical insights into the world of business. The goal-as the name implies-is to approach these insights from both a right- and left-brain perspective; this app is for people who take business seriously, but not so seriously that imagination, creativity, and freedom of exploration never see daylight.

Insightly I

nsightly is designed as a simple to use yet powerful CRM system for small business. With integrations to Google Apps, MailChimp, LinkedIn and Twitter, and with great mobile apps for tablets and smart phones, Insightly is the leading customer management system for small business. Insighlty is the best choice for smaller businesses, because you don’t have to worry about anything technical like server upgrades or security fixes.

Over 300,000 users in 100 countries rely on Insightly every single day.

60

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

S

alesforce.com Inc. is a global enterprise software company headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Though best known for its customer relationship management (CRM) product, Salesforce has also expanded into the "social enterprise arena" through acquisitions. It is currently ranked the most innovative company in America by Forbes magazine, as well as number 27 in Fortune's magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2012.

OmniGraffle O

mniGraffle is a diagramming application made by The Omni Group. OmniGraffle is built only for Mac OS X and the iPad. It may be used to create diagrams, flow charts, org charts, and illustrations. It features a drag-anddrop WYSIWYG interface. "Stencils"—groups of shapes to drag and drop—are available as extensions for OmniGraffle, and users can create their own stencils.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 61

Social Media

Social Media

Marketing

62

UNIQUE TIMES July 2013

S

ocial media marketing refers to the process of gaining website traffic or attention through social media sites. Social media marketing programs usually centre on efforts to create content that attracts attention and encourages readers to share it with their social networks. A corporate message spreads from user to user and presumably resonates because it appears to come from a trusted, third-party source, as opposed to the brand or company itself.

Listening

Patience

Value

Social Media marketing requires a lot of patient listening from your clients and that require very less amount of talking. Go through your client’s online content and join discussions to learn more about them. Once you know you customer you can create influencing content.

Social media and content marketing success doesn’t happen overnight.

While it’s possible to catch lightning in a bottle, it’s far more likely that you’ll need to commit to the long haul to achieve results.

If you spend all your time on the social Web directly promoting your products and services, people will stop listening. You must add value to the conversation. Focus less on conversions and more on creating amazing content and developing relationships with online influencers. In time, those people will become a powerful catalyst for word-of-mouth marketing for your business.

Compounding Focus Be focused in your strategy, specialized content will always receive good support and shares. A highly-focused social media and content marketing strategy intended to build a strong brand has a better chance for success than a broad strategy that attempts to be all things to all people.

Quality Quality is always better than quantity.

It is better to have 1000 online connections who work, than 10000 online connections that don’t work and disappear after connecting with you the first time.

Reciprocity You should also share good content from your connections, if you want them to share your content. Please be generous in promoting content.

If your content is of amazing quality and work to build your online audience of quality followers, they’ll share it with their own audiences on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, their own blogs and more. This sharing and discussing of your content opens new entry points for search engines like Google to find it in keyword searches. Those entry points could grow to hundreds or thousands of more potential ways for people to find you online.

Acknowledgment You wouldn’t ignore someone who reaches out to you in person so don’t ignore them online. Building relationships is one of the most important parts of social media marketing success, so always acknowledge every person who reaches out to you.

Influence Spend time finding the online influencers in your market who have quality audiences and are likely to be interested in your products, services and business. Connect with those people and work to build relationships with them.

Accessibility Don’t publish your content and then disappear. Be available to your audience. That means you need to consistently publish content and participate in conversations.

Followers online can be fickle and they won’t hesitate to replace you if you disappear for weeks or months.

July 2013 UNIQUE TIMES 63

RNI Reg. No: KERENG/2011/42633