Monday 8 February 2010

Filetes por acciones: un restaurante de Nueva York cobra en títulos de Bolsa

En varios medios ha surgido esta noticia que es en si misma curiosa respecto al método de pago, el cálculo de elasticidad/precio y una nueva cultura de consumo.

Como se explica en el artículo, Smith & Wollensky, una cadena de restaurantes que presume de ser la catedral del filete, acaba de patentar un original sistema para satisfacer la cuenta de sus clientes neoyorquinos, que se podrá pagar con acciones o títulos de Bolsa. Así lo proclamaba un anuncio a toda página publicado esta semana en la sección de negocios de "The New York Times", que ha despertado reacciones ambivalentes en Wall Street.

Afirman que la teoría es clara, a los ejecutivos se les paga menos en afectivo y más en acciones.

Allan Stillman (uno de los fundadores del restaurante) afirmaba que la sequía de cash entre los ejecutivos era un drama, no tan solo para la hostelería sino también para el sector servicios.

La realidad es que de momento nadie ha pagado en acciones aunque la idea es original.

Como expresaba Anna Grau en ABC, hoy filetes por acciones, mañana, ¿desayunos por diamantes?

Friday 5 February 2010

Functionall (el triunfo de lo simple)



Definition: Captures the phenomenon of simple, small and/or cheap products and services designed for low(er)-income consumers in emerging markets, with cross-over appeal to consumers in mature consumer societies.

Goods and services especially designed for emerging markets often incorporate one or more of the following characteristics:

•Smaller and/or limited number of features, to keep prices low.
•Simpler, or easier to use, for inexperienced consumers.
•Energy efficient (or not using any traditional energies at all) and/or easy to repair and/or waste-reducing.
•Robust, as some of them are used in rugged conditions.
•Well-designed (the democratization of design is a global phenomenon).
•Aimed at helping owners to generate income, or allow users to create self-sustaining systems


A few reasons why these products are of interest to consumers in more prosperous economies, too:

•Cheap: ‘Cheap’ is king, both because of the recession (reduced spending power), and because of the shift away from ‘bling’ towards frugality and practicality as new status symbols.
•Simplicity and convenience: Small/simple (and cheap!) also rules because of transient lifestyles (more experiences in smaller, affordable doses), and the continual need for more convenience and simplicity. Look for numerous FUNCTIONALL innovations to especially do well in prosperous metropolitan areas (URBANY!), where busy, transient lifestyles are the norm.
•Design: Aforementioned 'democratization of design' means even demanding, experienced consumers will be pleased with products from countries and brands previously not known for high quality and design standards.
•Sustainability: Anything using less or no traditional energy, or causing less waste, or boasting longer life expectancy, will go down well with eco-(status) conscious consumers.

FUNCTIONALL is not only about all consumers, it’s also about all brands. Count on brands from established consumer societies and brands from emerging nations to come up with numerous FUNCTIONALL innovations. From Tata to Nokia.

Source: www.trendwatching.com