Technology Toolkit

As a reseller, you need to find great products at a low price, so that you can sell them on at a competitive price and still make a profit. Buy low, factor in overhead, and sell at a profit–that’s a basic tenet of any business model—Business 101, if you will. Cell phone covers are a huge seller today, as most consumers, no matter how much or how little they’ve spent on their phone, wish to protect their investment. Users also like to jazz up their phones, and let their personality shine through.

There’s a wide variety of product out there in colors, patterns, and designs to suit anyone’s taste. With the huge number of brands of phones that are being manufactured these days, not to mention the multiple models within each brand, it can be difficult to choose which ones to purchase for your inventory.

It’s wise to research your geographic area to determine which brands and styles of phones are popular. A few minutes on the internet should tell you which phone carriers are the most-used in your area, which will give you a broad idea of the brands supported.

From there, take a look at the demographics. Income brackets can tell you whether you should be stocking cell phone covers for executives or working guys. Smartphones like iPhone and Blackberries are often the favorite of management types, while Motorola or Nextel may be more popular with electricians and plumbers.

If you live near a major sports team, such as the Redskins or Phillies, consider looking for covers with those logos. Nascar is popular in many areas, but it’s absolutely huge in the Carolinas.

The teenage male population in any area will likely go for the sports themed covers, while girls go for—well, girly things like flowers, hearts, and ladybugs. Again, you may find differences between the more affluent kids and their working class counterparts, often a reflection of their parents’ values. Teens with iPhones are more likely to be found in well-to-do areas. While most teens today have cell phones, kids in less prosperous neighborhoods will have less expensive phones.

Once you’ve determined the income and occupation demographics of the area in which you are located, begin to research cell phone accessory wholesalers. There are several good companies who sell on-line, as well as traditional wholesalers with warehouses and catalogs.

Factors to delve into include cost and speed of shipping, the reliability of the company, and customer service. Does the wholesaler carry a wide range of merchandise, so that you can buy everything you need at one place? Does the company guarantee their products? Are they interested in your business, or just their own? If it’s an on-line e-tailer, can you talk to a live person in case of questions or concerns about the products, policies, or any problems, or is everything done electronically?

Look into several companies, and then narrow your choices to a “short list.” Speak to a representative from each of these finalists, and see who “clicks.” Even in this day and age of electronic retailing, and on-line ease of purchase, the human factor is still important. Choosing to do business with a company that feels right is just as important as any other factor.

Lighting industry for several annual growth rate of more than 20%, adding a new light source LED popular around the world, naturally attracted multinational giants \”coveted.\” Toshiba, like Japan, Germany LUMEX holding companies and other enterprises financially strong, has a long history, and holds the light source upstream core technologies. New light source or LED lighting system to achieve its overall proficiency, or to perfect the business concept and technology according to cut into the Chinese construction market, a sudden widening of the gap between the strength of the domestic brand.

It is reported on the lighting technology companies and semiconductor companies in various sectors identified as Toshiba Group provides a complete monopoly of LED production opportunities. Toshiba Lighting Systems Co., Ltd. Therefore, a lighting capacity in Germany also plans to invest two production bases in 50 million, LED commercial lighting set up R & D and production and assembly sites.

Foreign brand product line from a comprehensive to strong.

LED applications in the hall corner, lighting the first exhibition attracted a lot of Walton\’s eyes – because of its LED products covering home, business license, such as several outdoor areas. According to insiders, in fact, this phenomenon can be said that many budding miniature energy-saving lighting business, do first, after all stronger.

And have a solid background in-coming brand strength is achieved in a short time scale line combat strategy, because there are a variety of core competencies to support. Such beautiful lighting with the U.S. backing of the Group\’s brand, any consortium of listed companies, lighting and other enterprises to develop new sources.

The exhibition BDO Runda Electric is a typical example. The company is a smart small household electrical appliances, micro-special motor-based export-oriented companies. Following the introduction of strategic investors in Guangdong health Lunda, the LED into the business after the BDO Runda continue to develop LED business coded.

The LED is located in Wuhu industrialization projects, total investment of 4.1 billion is expected, including chip, package, and application of the three sub-projects covering the industry on the River. The same year the lighting display of the United States, including home, business license, electrical products and other fields to show their \”recruits\” formed by two complete product line.

Precision-coming brand products and market positioning.

If a large number of specialization seems to be the choice of brand strength, \”Suo Laika does not currently involved in other products, even if the LED so hot. Because discharge lamp market is still early stage of development, need to have more R & D strength of the brand to promote the industry.

This is also the responsibility of enterprises. \”energy-efficient lighting Technology Co., Ltd. Guangdong Shunxiang river answer Qiang Qiang, general manager of Lam strong. Christie E-chairman and three rainbow lighting Huangcheng Min Qian Hu boss said: Only a single product and strong corporate profitability will not blindly launched new products.

The product has a strong reserve force strength and technological Haiming Kai Lighting Co., Ltd. carrying on its source, commercial lighting strong offensive Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition, to expand its brand. It is reported that the company was in February 2010 from the previous Haiming Kai Investment (Group) Co., Ltd. Shanghai Lighting Co., Ltd. integrated lighting resources and Lighting Co., Ltd. of Shanghai light up the core formed.

After nearly two years of development, the number of domestic LED lighting business surge, \”the number of 3000 ~ 4000, the scale of reputation slightly more than 50 enterprises,\” China and Hong Kong Liangqi Peng, chairman of HSBC Group, told reporters.

Brand Consciousness.

Now the domestic LED industry has developed to the \”brand\” awakening stage. Liang Qipeng LED flagship brand, \”Tovey\” is leveraging the Expo to display the \”manufacturer of quality\” image.

It is noteworthy that, recently held in Guangzhou International Lighting Show, LED companies squeeze as the biggest highlight of the show, beauty, TCL, Foshan Lighting, yearning to quickly enter the market, establish brand professional lighting.

From China Lighting Association data show that in the LED industry chain, epitaxial wafers and chips accounted for 70% of profits and the application of LED package and only 30% of profits. This means that if you do not achieve a breakthrough in the upstream, domestic enterprises can only among 30% of the profit share of a small cup of soup.

30% of the cost of reduced domestic.

If the LED chip domestically, the cost will be reduced by 30%, LED lighting will not only into the large-scale civilian universal stage, local LED company by the United States, Japan and Germany, the patent situation will be greatly changed. Fortunately, the domestic business investment in LED lighting, \”upstream\” of impulse has become increasingly evident.

Company, Limited, Vice President Lianghai revealed in the next three years with the side LED optoelectronic industry will reach 3 billion yuan investment, mainly in the chip area, and strive to become the largest global supplier of three chips.

It is understood that in January this year, three high security optical LED throwing 12 billion yuan to establish a base; Silan to develop and fund-raising to the issuance of not more than 600 million yuan, for high-brightness LED chip production line project of expansion and additional working capital .

In fact, many places are facing a big street office problem: management is very extensive. So can not figure out how much electricity each route specific, of course, would be unable to calculate how much energy. It is the roads that a gate, not tell exactly which way how many.

Therefore, we are looking for an investment company to do these things, that is, the energy management contract (EMC) model to a \”build – transfer\” (BT) mode. As for the government to protect, EMC became the BT model, which is likely to be promoted up faster.

We are currently negotiating with the investment company, to Mianyang this model well, and then select a few areas in Sichuan do demonstration, do the promotion. In addition, we will give away model approach, such as with the signing of the 2500 neijiang millions of LED lighting contract, we will send it to be 100 million LED lights.

Particularly worth mentioning is that there are good conditions for Mianyang, reconstruction design of the start from the LED lamps, and now the Second Ring Road in Mianyang City, starting from the design of LED lamps is directly integrated into the budget to go. Jiuzhou will use this condition, the LED lamps to achieve a certain scale.

First aid bag is a medical products, security products such as integrated product line into place by use of pre-hospital emergency ambulance first aid bag, the workplace, first aid bags, first aid bags transport, family first aid bags, outdoor travel individuals with first-aid bag.

As early as 1890, Johnson & Johnson to launch contains anti-inflammatory dressings, surgical supplies, wound care equipment, first aid bag first aid guide. At present, the developed countries, the main parts first aid bags are: wound care dressings dressings, such as wound stickers, bandages, gauze, cotton balls, etc.

Europe and the United States market demand.

Europe, the United States and other developed countries and regions, government aid to the people skills training accident has attached great importance to education and training related to an early start, first aid products with high penetration rate, market capacity is large. Europe, the United States have passed legislation to aid in the form of bags as standard cars.

Currently, the U.S. supermarkets, convenience stores are selling aid bags. Germany can produce for different occasions and purposes and in accordance with standards of emergency first aid bags, first aid bags, such as auto, workplace, first aid bags, first aid kit and other fire trucks.

From the demand point of view, Europe to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Britain and other countries in great demand for first aid bags, of which nearly three years in Germany, the world\’s largest first aid bag imports accounted for 16.7% share. Asia\’s major importing regions and countries, first aid bags with Chinese Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan.

Europe and the United States and importers of all first aid bags brand success factors can be summarized as:

1. First aid bag configuration professional products, cover burns, sprains and strains, pain, fever, asphyxia, fractures and other aspects of therapeutic products;

2. High standardization of product quality, Germany, the United States, Australia and other markets have a standard first-aid bag configuration requirements;

3. Design of human nature, in the use, performance, structural design, very practical and ongoing basis.

According to industry analysis, the health care system more robust in Europe, the United States and developed countries and regions, first aid bags will be more widely popular, the market demand growth momentum will continue. Open up European and American market, product line extension is a means to improve sales; In addition, product standards, quality, design, etc. to upgrade, such as the identity clear, accessories complete classification reasonable, are areas requiring attention.

China export growths.

In China, the first aid only bags early in the professional ambulance, hospitals, Red Cross organizations and other institutions. As the public medical service, growing demand, medical and health fields further deepening of reform and the government into the medical cause of the increase, coupled with the medical industry, in-depth understanding of foreign markets and the continuous influx of foreign products in China market, so that our emergency bags was the development of industry, product quality requirements of foreign markets increased with the rise.

At present, China has established the first-aid kit industry standards, product standards. First Aid Bag products as developed countries with high penetration rate, market demand, the development of powerful, so nearly 10 years, the rapid growth of China\’s exports of emergency bags.

At present, manufacturers should take first aid bag a mature market, producing high quality products that meet market requirements, and exploring new markets, such as medical conditions and the national health security system is more comprehensive Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries medical market. Meanwhile, the introduction of new functional products to meet market changes and development needs.

As brands go, few are as successful as Penny Arcade. Begun in 1998 as a web comic focused on videogame culture as seen through the eyes of the writer and artist, it has grown into a cultural touchstone and an example of how a brand can develop from humble roots into a true powerhouse.

Penny Arcade began as a comic focused on gaming jokes and little else. It made humorous references to the difficulties of console and computer gaming alike, made early commentary on the Mac vs. PC war and generally was just a sort of in-joke for gamers. Gaming culture knew about it, but no one else did, and that was all right.

However, the humor and irony with which they approached their subject matter touched nerves in certain places. Gamers finally felt there was a comic for them. It was humorous and said all the things they had been thinking, so people tuned in.

Now the site handles 2 million unique views a day. Artist Mike Krahulik and writer Jerry Holkins make their income entirely Penny Arcade merchandise and revenue. They are entirely self-sufficient and, by all accounts, are living incredibly comfortable lives on generous income.

And Penny Arcade is a worldwide brand. Even people only on the fringe of the gaming world can reference it. People dress up as Penny Arcade characters at gaming and animation conventions; its merchandise arm is one of the largest on the web and the comic makes forays into greater and greater events every year.

The nature of its success also seems to lie not in conscious efforts to brand, but in the creators adopting a brand based entirely on what they love: ironic, sarcastic humor. More importantly, they have kept this love consistent as the brand moved forward. They love video games and have made these things the focus. They have developed an identity and kept it without compromise — an important lesson for us all. In an age when everyone is rebranding and rebooting and re-reing just about everything, Penny Arcade serves as an example of how a brand can pick and stick with an identity and thrive.

Which is not to say they haven\’t adapted or changed with the times.

In 2003, noticing their own growing popularity and understanding the power of leveraging such numbers, Krahulik and Holkins decided to take a positive step with their earnings. They founded an incredible new charity known as Child\’s Play. Child\’s Play has a simple premise: Kids love video games, and a child being sick is terrible. Thus, they call upon their gamer audiences to donate money that goes toward purchasing games and platforms of all sorts — video games, consoles, board games, card games — for children\’s hospitals across the world.

This is a classic example of using a parent brand\’s popularity to drive and promote a new brand. Child\’s Play would have become a noble failure if Penny Arcade weren\’t already a tremendously popular force in the gaming world. Yet it also feeds into the popularity of Penny Arcade itself. Major companies such as Nintendo and Sony now have donated hundreds of consoles and games to the Child\’s Play cause

Consider next the success of the dynamic duo’s additional venture, Penny Arcade Expo (PAX). This is a major fan convention for gamers and social culture adherents. Starting as a relatively modest, regional convention, PAX has expanded to host the original West Coast convention as well as a new East Coast convention. Massive amounts of money change hands at these events, and they have become major promotional events for gaming companies. Again, the popularity of Penny Arcade has allowed a new brand to flourish, while feeding into old brands — the websites for Child\’s Play and Penny Arcade receive huge boosts during PAX events.

The most important lesson, as always, is finding a way to let people know that you love what you do and that you do it well. Having a branding campaign is an excellent decision — Holkins and Krahulik have hired business managers who help them make decisions about which advertisements to include on their sites. Yet they focus primarily on talking about games, drawing excellent comics and bringing together a previously maligned group — gamers, who have a reputation as antisocial oddities — to do great things.

They have appealed to their audience\’s sense of pride. They reject the concept that gamers can\’t do good, holding up Child\’s Play as proof. They love what they do, and will not apologize for it. When they succeeded, they did more than simply sit and draw upon their established success — they used it to create new places they could succeed.

So the second lesson behind the astounding success of the Penny Arcade brand is that while doing what you love is important, it\’s equally important to find new challenges and new places to succeed. Rather than simply donate to charities that already existed, they found a niche that hadn\’t been filled and created a charity. If you wish your brand to have any measure of success, find a new way your brand can challenge itself.