Posts Tagged ‘advice’

Little Marcel wants to open stores in his name

April 24, 2012 - 2:08 pm Comments Off

 

His basic model is a marine motif declined over a tank. But the bit of blue and white Little Marcel preferred the colored stripes printed on a black background on which lies the mark in writing schoolboy.

Imagined in a store of ready-to-wear Grau-du-Roi (Gard), this "Marcel" knows a great climb since its inception in 2005. Now available in 1,500 outlets across the Hexagon, the idea was originally that of a gift for his partner Eric Schieven Linda Leseigneur. A present that had not fatally destined to be reproduced on an industrial scale.

Owned by the couple creator, the company KLS, which operates Little Marcel, employs 45 people and develops, six years after its creation, a turnover "of about 20 million euros, up 20% the previous year, "says commercial director Michel Levy.  

The South, a laboratory

In recent years, the catalog has been enriched and Little Marcel did not remain a prisoner of style nautical wear "left (his) signature." Offering various reasons, always colorful, the brand gingham dresses, swimwear polka dot … Distributed only in stores ready-to-wear at a price of "25 to 35 euros per t-shirt," she wishes to open signs his name in seven cities on the Mediterranean coast and Atlantic to accelerate its development model. All without external capital. "Without the staff, the installation of a shop costs around 300,000 euros," says commercial director.

"The South is our laboratory, advance Michel Levy. The idea is to open stores in areas where we have a mind awareness. "Thus, Hossegor (Landes), Bandol (Var) or Palavas (Hérault) should see the arrival of a store Little Marcel by the summer. "We first want to show us where the season strong on our brands work best, that is to say, in fine weather."

Therefore seasonal stores, an area of ​​100 to 150 square meters, that KLS develop its own before running franchises. "Let's say that eventually a 50-50 mix is ​​a good balance." If the sign function, with an estimated turnover "at the beginning" of € 500,000 per store, "thirty stores are expected to emerge in both years. "

Installed to date on the fishing port of Le Grau du Roi, the warehouse in Little Marcel, whose textiles are machined in Portugal, is planning to move a few miles away in the town of Aigues-Mortes. Soon it will invest a storage center 4000 sqm, against just over 1000 today.

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Complaints about mobile phones rose by 11%

March 17, 2012 - 9:40 pm Comments Off

 

When the VAT hike in early 2011 and the arrival of Free Mobile early 2012, mobile operators have seen their customers from leaving in droves to a competitor in search of a better price. "The price does not explain everything. We underestimated the frustration of customers, "recently confessed an operator. Because, rightly or wrongly, telecom focus the discontent of consumers. The sector holds in the palm of 2011 claims (24%), before the consumer (22%) and computers (12%), as the documentary credit.

Within the family telecoms, mobile internet is back in front in claims: in 2011, 53% of complaints received by the French Association of telecom users (AFUTT) concerned the mobile Internet access 38% and 9% fixed phone. Mobile-related complaints rose 11%, while those related to Internet were down 28%.

In Mobile, the fourth door on the invoice disputes: consumers are left with overruns, mostly due to premium rate calls as the SMS + or spam for users scammed. Also involved, according to AFUTT, misuse of mobile Internet abroad, and the complexity of fee schedules.

Furthermore the bill, disputes also include the termination of the contract. Customers who have purchased a package included with phone and find themselves thus committed 12 or 24 months, resent not being able to cancel without charge, including for reasons considered legitimate: death, moving abroad, loss of employment, etc fast cash without a hassle..

After contacting customer service, then the service consumer of their operator, the aggrieved clients can always resort to the mediator. "When the Ombudsman receives, operators generally find a solution because their desire is to reduce complaints," said Francois Cuinat, mediator of electronic communications. Complaints are more likely among clients of virtual operators (MVNO) than the "big" operators, indicates the AFUTT. "Orange, SFR and Bouygues have an index of conflict less than 1, the Bouygues Telecom is much improved this year. That of MVNOs still significantly higher, "said the AFUTT.

In this context, what impact will the arrival of Free Mobile? "We have nothing to report about Free Mobile. But for the mobile market as a whole, we are very interrogative on the effect of a competition that would be too exclusively based on prices, said Jacques Pomonti, president of the AFUTT. We hope that the price competition will not affect the quality of service or investment in infrastructure, "he concluded.

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Sony plays with her big PS Vita

February 21, 2012 - 11:36 am Comments Off

 

Sony, with its new portable video game console, the PlayStation Vita (Vita PS), released this week in the U.S. and Europe, plays big. The Tokyo group has difficulty in televisions and scalded online players last year due to piracy of bank cards. In addition, Sony should try to forget the limited success of the PSP. Its first handheld console was "to compete with the DS" Nintendo. Finally, in its different versions, it sold half of PSP than DS, with respectively 75 million and 155 million units.

To impose its PS Vita, Sony is betting on innovation in terms of hardware and business model. Faced with the rise of smartphones, the PS Vita has a large touch screen in an advanced display (OLED) and has, on the back, a touch pad used to play. It can connect to the Internet or network of Sony PlayStation Network via Wi-Fi or a 3G mobile operator.

Before subsidies, it is sold between 250 euros (WiFi only) and 300 euros. In stores, Micromania began presenting to potential clients the console.

In addition, the sales model evolves. The PS Vita will be offered by mobile operators. It will be well funded, in part, in exchange for a commitment of subscription for mobile data, such as those proposed for internet tablets. "We have signed a European agreement with Vodafone. In France, SFR will offer the console exclusive, "said Philippe Cardon, the CEO of the gaming division of Sony in France. SFR should have three to six months ahead of other operators, if Orange, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile wanted to offer.

Console to a euro

This is the first to launch a portable game console, even if mobile operators, TV channels, pay TV, cable operators and Internet service providers have already offered or sold at prices minimal consoles in exchange for long-term subscription to their service. SFR offers the console and at 29 euros, which includes reimbursement of 100 euros. And its price drops to 1 euro provided a subscription to 37 euros per month, with 3 GB of data included. "The goal is to provide a console that will satisfy both players and allow them to? Socialize? other players who are around them, "said Philippe Cardon. He added that the console will have "at its output a fifty titles. A score can only be downloaded, of which 7 were developed at Sony. "

Download, games should cost about ten dollars less than those available in store. These titles should be richer "that games like Fifa for smartphones that cost 1-2 euros but have fewer features. The casual gaming (single games, Ed) smartphone and tablet is complementary to our business. It serves to broaden the gaming audience, "says the head of Sony. Nevertheless, despite a score of 0.5 million PS Vita sold in Japan in less than a month, some critics ensure it takes off more slowly than the PSP.

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Meeting between Orange and Free Roaming on the contract

February 15, 2012 - 2:44 am Comments Off

 

The tone rises between Orange and Free Mobile. Both operators have had a long meeting Tuesday afternoon on their roaming contract. Neither party did not wish to comment. This contract allows Free Mobile, which has pledged to cover 27% of the population with its own network, using the Orange network for the remaining three quarters, pending the gradual ramp-up its own infrastructure.

But Orange claims that 90% to 95% of calls made by customers Free Mobile currently go through its network. "The rise of Free Mobile Traffic is bigger and faster than had been anticipated and announced by Free. When you put these offers on the market, is expected to be some demand. There was a big underestimation on the part of the Free ", on Tuesday said the CEO of Orange, Stéphane Richard, on lepoint.fr.

"We manage the network from day to day, but it is in the interest of both parties to adapt the forecast, because the situation is not entirely satisfactory. We're open to our partner Free, and we will talk together. I hope we can ensure that the agreement can continue, "he said. Free Mobile home, he denies any tension or psychodrama, saying it is normal discussion between two partners.

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December 1, 2011 - 4:48 pm Comments Off

The automobile market in France falling off again. After rising 2.8% in October, new car registrations fell by 7.6% in November to 179,160 units, according to figures of the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA) on Thursday. The many business operations that had previously provided support for the request do not seem to great effect.

French manufacturers are particularly lagging behind. Sales were down 11.5% in November against a decline of 2% for foreign manufacturers. PSA Peugeot Citroen has suffered a decline of 15.4% over the month due to a decline of 23.4% of sales against 4.9% for Peugeot Citroen. His rival Renault suffered a decrease in sales of 7.2%. The group manages to limit the damage with its Dacia brand, which recorded a 26.9% jump in sales in November against a decline of 13.8% for the Renault brand.He then said that the Franco-Japanese to be careful, particularly with regard to investments. PSA had for its part submitted a conservation plan in late October that passes not delete 6800 jobs worldwide, including over 4,000 in the Hexagon.

At the Paris Stock Exchange, the new integrated seem to investors. Renault won the title at 0.07% to 27.77 euros 9:40, in a market down 0.89%. The action Peugeot loses 0.90% to 13.71 side euros.

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November 30, 2011 - 2:00 am Comments Off

The drachma, lira and other marks will they soon return to their distributors? Among the patrons, many do not want to believe, but the taboo has fallen in recent weeks, the crisis of sovereign debt has indeed reached the heart of the monetary union. "We're not there, and policies must absolutely do everything to avoid it, demonstrates a pattern of CAC 40. But never the uncertainties have been greater, and in the circles of European bosses, the topic is everywhere. "

Within groups – especially multinationals – the challenge now is to consider this assumption is not quite school, building plans for the "case". A subject on which, not surprisingly, more people start to speak outside the euro area and within it. Across the Channel, Constable British banks have their very formally requested to develop crisis plans ad hoc.In New York and London, in turn, several large financial platforms (CLS Bank, ICMA, Thomson Reuters or FXall) that run from bank to bank transactions, including foreign exchange, have informed their customers that they were preparing. For those operators who brew massive amounts of transactions, it is to ensure full and prompt treatment, even if the name change money.

November 12, 2011 - 11:36 am Comments Off

The Paris market takes a few colors on Friday. In this holiday, where the activity should be reduced, the CAC 40 opened up 0.21% to 3070.33 points. Same trend in Frankfurt the DAX index rose 0.23% to 5881.49 points. In London, the FTSE-100 index key values ​​has opened down slightly from 0.07% to 5541.55 points.

Investor sentiment is supported by advanced this week in the eurozone. Management of public finances in Greece and Italy, two countries that focus on crisis fears of European debt, will change hands. In Greece, Lucas Papademos, former Vice President of the European Central Bank (ECB) has éténommé at the head of a government of national unity. In his first statement, he said that the euro is a "guarantee of monetary stability." The new Greek prime minister should take the oath at noon today.

Air France: a union of three up in the strike notice

October 26, 2011 - 8:04 am Comments Off

The threat of a strike by cabin crew of Air France for the Thanksgiving holiday continues to weigh, despite progress in negotiations. One of the three unions, Unac, has indeed lifted its strike notice on Tuesday, after further management proposals. "Given the achievements and progress of these negotiations, delegates from the Unac consider that we should not miss this opportunity to meet our demands," said the union.

But two other unions, the SNPNC-FO and UNSA-Air, have maintained their parallel strike notice, which shall commence from 29 October for three to five days.

Negotiations break down including the number of crew members present on long flights, medium and short haul Air France would like to reduce.However, "this will place a serious case of the safety of passengers on flights of Air France," a judge of the unions representing flight attendants and stewards, the SNPNC-FO, in a statement.

Individualisation of pay

The unions also challenge the project management to change the evaluation system flight attendants. Air France would they be judged by their purser, rather than instructors, who are former cabin crew, as is the case.

But the unions, particularly the UNSA-Air, fear that this reform does not lead to an individualisation of pay in lieu of the automatic promotion today. They also fear that this new mission will turn the heads of cab "chefaillons.""After eight hours of negotiations, management has not provided a satisfactory response to our demands," summarized the SNPNC-FO cash advance today.

The social atmosphere is tense at Air France, then the group is setting up a savings plan which aims to restore its competitiveness. The priority of the airline is more than ever to fight against fierce competition from low cost airlines, said Jean-Cyril Spinetta, head Air France-KLM, in an interview to Le Monde dated Tuesday.

Restore competitiveness

To do this, Air France opened on October 2 its first regional base in Marseilles, to serve thirty destinations. Other bases are expected to follow in Toulouse, Nice and Bordeaux in 2012, after negotiations with the unions. The opening lines of low cost flights from Marseille had required a significant reorganization of work, to achieve lower costs by 15%.

If negotiations prove difficult, the group has little choice. Air France KLM has lost 40% of its market value in two and a half years, and suffered a loss of 197 million euros in the first quarter of fiscal 2011-2012. Just days after replacing unexpected Pierre-Henri Gourgeon Juniac by Alexander at the head of the group, Air France – KLM is also expected to issue a warning on its results for the period April to September, announced on Tuesday morning radio BFM Business. The company declined to comment on this information.

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Public: 51% turnout

October 23, 2011 - 1:04 am Comments Off

Barely more than one agent in two has passed. Participation in professional elections in state civil service fell 51% against 70% in previous elections. This dip can be explained by the Ministry of Education (more than half of voters), where the number of voters has plummeted to 38.5%. Participation has also maintained or slightly increased.

Several unions of education have questioned the electronic voting used for the first time. Besides errors "classic" in sending the professions of faith or the constitution of electoral lists – that private voting some candidates! – Bugs, especially complex and lengthy procedures have discouraged or computer agents prevented some from voting.The FSU, crumbling a bit, but still by far in the lead for Education (40.6%, double the UNSA and three times the CFDT and FOR), the judge "malfunctions" so many they constitute a "denial of social democracy." According to the CGT, "for 10% of the workforce, the conditions were not met in order to vote." Tens of thousands of voters have not received the code allowing them to vote.

Demobilization

"The elections were conducted generally without real difficulty," scans the Minister of Public Service, citing the use of "modern" and "environmentally responsible". François Sauvadet "rejects the word" failed ". Participation is also the result of the decision of each agent to vote or not. " The officers had "one week to decide," says one colleague in Education, Luc Chatel.Favor of electronic voting and … up, the CFDT and Unsa also note that if teachers are not mobilized, principals or administrative officers of Education have been more involved, as postal workers, while they also voted on the Internet. The vote for the first time, contract – which the unions have not always paid great attention – may also explain the poor performance against.

Mechanical consequence of the demobilization of troops of Education, FSU – so far the first union of all the public service of this state, but almost exclusively among teachers – see the gap is closing with its competitors.It drops to 20.9% of the votes (19.1% including private school teachers under contract, for the first time integrated into the social dialogue bodies of the state).

The reformists up

His pursuers, rather than reformist protesters, progress: FOR 17.8% (16.2% with private school teachers), the UNSA with 16.7% (15.3%), with 12.6% CFDT (14.5%). Then come the CGT with 13.4% (12.8%), Partners with 6.5% (6.2%), CFE-CGC with 6.3% (5.8%) and the CFTC with 1, 6% (3.9%). FO heels and the FSU and even seems able to catch up. However, the CFTC could disappear from the list of allowed unions to negotiate and sign agreements for all the officials, failing sufficient score.

But these results should be taken with a grain of salt: more than 300 000 registered agents are still missing the call, about 2 million.Are integrated nor France Telecom nor the Department of Justice, who will vote Nov. 22. In the first case, it was always intended, in the second the vote was postponed at the last minute because they have been properly prepared.

They do not include either the results of the Ministries of Economy and Budget, who had not finished stripping, yesterday afternoon. What added a little more sense of improvisation and confusion. At some point – even among union leaders – questioned whether Bercy did not take pleasure in soap the plank at the Department of Civil Service, at the forefront of this election. In the week already, as the "flop" of participation seemed to indicate the climate was tense between 101 and 110 rue de Grenelle – seat of the Ministry of Public Service and that of the National Education.

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Nobel: Beijing takes it out on Norwegian salmon

October 8, 2011 - 8:52 pm Comments Off

The award, last year's Nobel Peace jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was an unexpected victim: salmon from Norway, host of the committee awarding the famous distinctions.

Furious at the sudden media exposure of Liu – they consider a "criminal" – Chinese authorities have in fact increased the veterinary strengthened against Norwegian salmon. The AFP ensures that the health tests are so extensive that these fish end up rotting in warehouses.

Result, exports of Norwegian salmon in China have fallen by half during the first eight months of 2011, Oslo hoped an increase of at least 30%. Three figures sum up the confusion of Scandinavian fishermen. December 2010, the date of the ceremony: 1000 tons sold. January 2011: 315 tonnes. February 2011, 75 tonnes.Norwegian exporters have tried to go through Hong Kong, but this shortcut stale quickly resulted in an impasse.

The operation antisaumon is very symbolic, since the other Chinese imports from Norway were up by 16% because of higher commodity prices. It is true that to meet their urgent needs of the Chinese energy resources are much less fussy.