Archive for 18/01/2009

Toyota 2 - why aren’t we selling more?

Phil in his “Now even Toyota” comment identifies the need for more lean managers and giving the customers what they want.

To add further comment - the basic problem currently is that companies are not selling what they were. If the obstacle is price then more lean managers (taking waste out and reducing costs) is the answer since prices can be reduced whilst margins are protected.

But if the obstacle is not price then the answer lies elsewhere.

To often companies solely concentrate on reducing costs whilst a similar focus on increasing sales would reap greater returns. They should start by asking the question “what products, services or resources have we got that can satisfy a need in the market places?”

Environmental expert keeps finger on the pulse

Our environmental expert  writes

Environment Agency promotes reuse following market downturn

The Environment Agency has joined forces with Oxfam to encourage householders to reuse unwanted objects over the festive period - particularly in light of the downturn in the market for recovered materials.

The two organisations are urging the public to donate “quality” items, such as clothes and books, to one of Oxfam’s 730

UK shops, rather than putting them in their residual waste or recycling bin.

The move follows sharp falls in the prices being paid for recovered paper, plastics and metals and while the EA claims that householders can still be confident in being able to recycle materials at the curbside, it stresses that material should be reused instead if possible.

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