Search CompleteMarkets

...ght not think about, like losing luggage or being delayed at the airport beca...ical emergencies, and lost or stolen luggage. Another option is medical only ...

...industry. An airline lost all the luggage on one of its flights. Twenty-four o... dropped from their compartments and luggage fell from the overhead bins. A la...

... effort. 5. Plan or perish. Strange as it might sound, although there's always value in bringing order out of chaos, a well-organized and properly implemented marketing plan isn't the complete answer. Even with the best research, things sometimes don't work out as planned. Former Coca-Cola marketing guru Sergio Zyman says that it's equally important to have a destination plan. The marketing task isn't so much about answers as it is about asking the crucial questions. In many cases, the marketing plan sounds the alarm when reaching the destination appears to be in jeopardy- allowing you to change your course. 6. Use the Web as a bellwether. Successful E-commerce seems to reflect directly what customers don't like and what they want changed. For example, selection is important to many customers. If they're shopping for luggage, they want to know what's available, and going from store to store takes too much time. Going to E-bags.com, however, is quick and easy. Traditional booksellers were shocked when websites selling books appeared. Of all products, this is the one that customers need to touch and browse, they said. Evidently all customers aren't like that, particularly when they heard, I'm so sorry, we don't have that book, but we'll order it for you. It will take only a week or two. Transforming unpleasant and painful experiences is where the Internet shines. 7. All that counts is the customer. Aren't those words obvious? Not always. Consider your personal experiences with banks, bakeries, doctors' offices, restaurants, electronics stores, supermarkets- anywhere! Do they always ...

... that won't play. 107 incorrect medical procedures will be performed by the end of the day today. 315 entries in Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language (unabridged) will turn out to be misspelled. Incidentally, 99.9 percent accuracy would be a remarkable improvement in the context of current performance levels. For example: A Hewlett-Packard study of 300,000 semiconductors from three American firms and three Japanese firms recently found the average failure rate of the American chips was more than 0.1 percent. The failure rate for the Japanese-made chips was zero. The U.S. airline industry, despite reams of advertising about improved performance, reported last year that just 80% of its flights departed on time-and only 74% arrived on schedule. The airline industry also assumes 5% to 10% of all luggage will be mishandled and 3% of all checked baggage will be lost en route. And don't look to the heavens for salvation: The Office of Technology Assessment recently published a report stating, Of the more than 20,000 objects fired into orbit since 1957, fewer than 5% remain operational. Natalie Gabel compiled this report while working as an intern for Training Special Projects. Reprinted with permission form the March 1991 issue of Training, The Magazine of Human Resources Development, copyright 1991, Lakewood Publications, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (612) 333-0471. All rights reserved. Login or Register (for FREE) to gain access to thousands of other great articles. Need more reasons to join? Need insurance for you, your business or your family? Get quality appointments - Save ...

...of what you actually lost if your luggage were stolen. Know exactly what kind ...

...try also assumes 5% to 10% of all luggage will be mishandled and 3% of all che...