Marketing Reserch Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing Reserch - Assignment Example (Mumbai Mirror, Business Briefs, 28 May 2007). the tremendous potential of the internet for genuine marketing purposes. And with the rising volumes of online trading, the menace is only threatening to grow further unchecked. (Times of India, Times Business section, 25 May 2007). Small retailers and street vendors have protested, and in some cases, even ransacked outlets operated by modern retailers. This in part has been provoked by an unprecedented rush in the last two years mostly by Indian corporate houses who have said they want to invest billions of dollars to roll out thousands of stores selling everything from fruits to furniture. Higher prices may reduce the attraction of palm oil as a substitute for soya bean oil, especially in China and India, the biggest importers of both oils. It may also make palm oil less attractive in its use in new applications such as bio-fuels. (Mint, Money Matters, p17, 31 May 2007, www.livemint.com). Although revenue jumped 37%, India's leading retailer, Shoppers' Stop, reported a fourth quarter loss of Rs. 22 million ( US$ 543,210), for the year 2006-07. This in spite of competition from other majors like Reliance Retail and Bharti-Wal-Mart, yet to begin. While management has blamed competition, other factors like soaring employee and operating costs including bludgeoning depreciation also have a decisive role in the loss. (Business Today, It's beginning to hurt, p46, 03 June 2007M, www.business-today.com). Five examples of problem-solving research 1. Smart Accounting helps Dunlop turn around. After 12 years in the red, Dunlop India reported a positive net worth in April for 2006-07. Compared to a negative net worth of Rs. 2611.50 million (US$ 64.5 million) in 2005-06, Dunlop reported Rs 1518.20 million (US$ 37.5 million) in the positive net worth last year. Evaluating its real estate, the company transferred part of it to its associate companies, including Dunlop Properties and Bharatiya Hotels. Instead of paying cash, these companies have issued shares of equal worth to Dunlop, which has booked them as other income, thereby shoring up its balance sheet. (Business Today, Dunlop's Paper Trick, p52, 03 June 2007, www.business-today.com). 2. Handloom industry to get a new lease of life. The handloom industry is the second largest economic activity in the country after agriculture. India is perhaps the only country to produce handlooms on large, commercial scale. However, overpowered by the presence of power loom and mill sectors, the industry is going through a lean phase. However, officials are pinning their hopes on the recent initiatives of the textile ministry to boost the dwindling prospects of the handloom industry. The ministry has initiated the development of Handloom Export Zones (HEZ) at various handloom clusters in