Archive for May, 2011
NAI Global Chief Economist Warns of Inflation in Latest White Paper
May 9th
In his latest white paper, “Beware of Inflation”, NAI Global Chief Economist Dr. Peter Linneman questions how it is possible to not have inflation in the U.S. economy when healthcare and commodities prices are rapidly increasing and Federal and State governments are running record deficits. Dr. Linneman examines the impact of CPI increases, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, government deficits and other factors that will lead to massive inflation in the U.S. economy.
“How is it possible to have 25% increases in healthcare costs, which account for roughly 17% of GDP, and not have serious inflation?” said Dr. Linneman. “As inflation takes hold, generations that have never witnessed inflation will experience its destructive power. It is essential that [investors] are aware of the damage that inflation can wreak on [their] net investment position.”
Cornerstones to International Expansion
May 9th
With an every expanding global marketplace, retailers are faced with the daunting task of embarking on network expansion beyond the U.S. borders. Whether it is into Canada, Mexico or China, there are five key cornerstones retailers need to understand in order to meet with a successful international presence. Each cornerstone is linked with the next, yet each possesses its own challenges.
First and foremost understanding Culture; specifically the customer buying behaviors and patterns. Understanding what people are buying, their socio-economic composition, provides insights’ into Content and what is the best inventory mix to adapt to local market conditions. Only once a strong understanding of the market place has been achieved can a retailer move to the next cornerstone which is Compliance. Each country has their own set of rules and regulations regarding foreign expansion/ownership of property. Compliance is critical to knowing how far a retailer is able to operate in a particular country.
Buyer Qualification and Bidding Process
May 9th
Most sellers and brokers use a marketing process that contains a specific “Call for Offers” date upon which initial bids are due. The goal of this effort is to stage follow-up e-mails and calls to encourage all offers to be received at the same time. This creates a sense of urgency and allows for psychological leveraging. I personally, like to provide a sample letter of intent so that all offers are presented in the same format.
