Marketing World

Posted on 06:17 PM, June 10, 2010

BY JEFFREY O. VALISNO, Sub-Editor

Not all foreign brands can claim instant recall among majority of Filipino consumers as much as the case of European appliance manufacturer Electrolux.

Decades after Electrolux rose to fame selling vacuum cleaners via door-to-door salespeople, many Filipinos continue to trust the brand.

A number of Pinoy consumers still remember the company’s catchy jingle (I’m gonna knock on your door, ring on your bell, tap on your window too...") which became popular during the 1970s and 1980s.

Malu P. Estaris, general manager of the local unit of Electrolux, said various informal surveys indicate that nine out of 10 Filipinos know the company and regard its products highly.

"The challenge for us is to sustain that positive consumer perception in growing our market," Ms. Estaris told BusinessWorld in an interview.

Boosting the company’s share in the highly competitive appliance market became easier as Electrolux patrons continue to support the brand.

"Those who knew us then are the ones who are patronizing us today, because they know the quality of our appliances," she explained.

From selling a mix consisting primarily of vacuum cleaners, Electrolux Philippines has grown to include stylish refrigerators, sleek washing machines and modern dishwashers.

"We are now available in retail and appliance stores nationwide," Ms. Estaris said. "And we don’t just sell vacuum cleaners. We offer premium, innovative products," she added.

Recently, Electrolux Philippines expanded its product offerings by launching its line of small domestic appliances.

Aside from updated models of their vacuum cleaners, the line include steam irons, rice cookers, coffee makers and bread toasters.

"Small domestic appliances is a huge market here in the Philippines and through our philosophy of ’Thinking of you,’ we feel that our innovative small appliances will provide us with new opportunities for growth," Santa Nikolaus, general manager of Electrolux East-Asia, told reporters.

Mr. Nikolaus explained that the Electrolux philosophy "Thinking of You" promises Filipinos thoughtfully designed appliances that answer their unique wants and needs in new and exciting ways.

He said their steam iron is a prime example of how the company puts importance on customer insights.

"Extensive consumer work by Electrolux revealed that safety is the number one concern among Asian consumers [when it comes to] irons," mr. Nikolaus said.

He said their irons have a three-way auto shut-off function, a 360-degree cable that provides flexibility and durability and the Electrolux patented safety stand, which is a rubber-napped heel surface that prevents it from slipping when placed in an upright position.

For ease in ironing, he suggested the company’s NEO series dry iron that includes a variable temperature setting to deal with different kinds of fabric, 1,000-watt power for quick heat up and a stainless steel or nonstick sole plate for easy glide.

"Its lightweight material and 180-degrees swivel cord give it good reach and maneuverability for comfortable ironing," mr. Nikolaus added.

Another item launched was the Neo Collection breakfast set, which answers the busy urbanite’s need to have a good breakfast.

The set includes a coffee maker that can hold as many as 10 cups of coffee, with a nonstick warming plate and a keep warm function so consumers can get piping hot coffee anytime.

"It is also easy to use and clean as it comes with a permanent filter and an anti-drip system, making it a perfect fit for those with a fast-paced lifestyle," mr. Nikolaus said.

The ETS 2000 Pop-up toaster, meanwhile, has a seven-setting electric browning control that allows consumers to toast bread seven different ways.

"It even has self-centering bread guides for even toasting," he added.

In response to the Filipinos’ love for having rice with their meals, Electrolux also launched its new range of rice cookers.

The Electrolux ERC2181 rice cooker has four functions (cook, warm, steam and porridge) while the ERC2180 has a 1.8-liter capacity that can keep rice warm for up to 72 hours. both models have an inner pot with a nonstick coating, and also come with a steam rack and ladle.

When it comes to cleaning, Electrolux has two new vacuum cleaners to suit the particular needs of its consumers. those looking for superb dirt pickup can check out the Z4009 75 Tornado.

"Truly a tornado in cleaning, it uses cyclonic technology, where suction is provided by the internal spinning of an airstream created by the wide drum and sealed container," mr. Nikolaus said.

"This not only results in a powerful performance but also prevents dust from clogging the filter. Cleaning is easy but it is also easy to clean," he added.

Meanwhile, those looking for all-in-one cleaning can choose the Flexio II, the company’s newest wet and dry vacuum cleaner. It has enhanced features like higher input power with a stronger suction for excellent pickup of all kinds of dirt plus a tank that has a 30-liter capacity to clean up liquids.

"It’s a very exciting time for our organization," mr. Nikolaus said.

"For years, Electrolux Philippines has been focused on providing consumers with a full range of big appliances (or "white goods") but now we are poised to become the only brand in the market that offers big appliances as well as small domestic appliances."

For further information about Electrolux, visit electrolux.com.ph.

Electrolux expands range to keep consumers happy

Emily and Martin are newlyweds who just bought their first house. They were excited to start their lives together, but once they moved into their new digs, all they seemed to do was work. Evenings, weekends — all of their free time was spent renovating the 80-year-old house. They were tired — and frustrated. And that's no way to start a marriage.

But for all of their toil and trouble, the couple put only a small dent in the much-needed renovations. what they really wanted was to turn their dark, drab, open-concept kitchen and dining room into a bright, inviting room for informal entertaining. the problem was that they didn't know where to start — and, like many newlyweds, they were low on funds. so they asked me to help them with a budget-conscious kitchen/dining-room face-lift that would reflect their casual, contemporary style.

Because I had to keep dollars and cents in mind, I decided to give Emily and Martin the look of a new kitchen without gutting it. the couple owned stainless-steel and black appliances and had painted the walls a grayish-blue, so I chose a design scheme to complement the existing elements: a color palette of bold black and clean white, with accents in blue and silver.

Paint goes a long way in making old look like new. I started off in the kitchen by giving the existing cabinets a fresh coat of paint — white for the upper cabinets and black for the lower cabinets. I then added jewel-like hardware to provide a bit of sparkle. to tie the area together, I put up a stunning linear backsplash in a cool blue glass tile.

I kept the kitchen's appliances but replaced the single-basin sink with a beautiful, modern under-mount sink with a stunning faucet that is sure to be a conversation piece. I then replaced the pink countertop with beautiful taupe quartz flecked with silver and blue. I put the same type of quartz on the kitchen island, which separates the kitchen from the dining room, and added a few funky stools around it.

Emily and Martin wanted the dining room and kitchen to flow into each other. so in the dining room, I incorporated store-bought cabinetry that has a similar style to the kitchen cabinets. I stacked up white base and glass-fronted cabinetry into two columns and placed a black leather and chrome bench between them. Above the bench, which also functions as a banquette, I put up a chalkboard wall for messages.

To warm up the dining room, I put in a new walnut table, a few wood and black leather chairs, and added a heap of blue, brown and geometrical black-and-white pillows on the bench.

To brighten things up, I put in a host of new lighting: task lighting over the sink, two pendants over the island and an elegant chandelier in the dining room. I also added ultramodern blinds to the dining-room window and framed these with crisp white cotton linen drapes that are banded with black fabric.

After a few final accents and accessories — an area rug, a modern mirror, some lamps and a cool wine rack — the redesign was complete.

This dated, dysfunctional space needed an infusion of style and substance. so I united contemporary colors, cheerful lighting and lots of function, and turned Emily and Martin's first house into a comfortable and classic "home sweet home." now that's divine!

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV's "Divine Design." For more ideas, information and show times, visit HGTV.com or divinedesign.tv.

Designer Candice Olson tackles a budget-conscious kitchen face-lift

Ashburn

A Cabinet manufacturers use many types of finishes, so a cleaning product that might work well on one brand might strip away or dull the finish of another. To learn what finish is on your cabinets and what cleaner to use, check with the manufacturer.

If you don't know the company, look on the inside of the sink base cabinet. Companies that are members of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association typically place a seal from the organization there. It should include a code that you can then link to the manufacturer by going to the organization's Web site, http://kcma.org. Click on "visitors and homeowners."

In general, according to a technical sheet prepared by the Sherwin-Williams paint and finishes company, solvent-based cleaners should be used on cabinets coated with standard lacquer or a penetrating oil. If there is a catalyzed finish, you can probably use either water- or solvent-based cleaners. If you aren't sure what category a cleaner fits under, check the label; solvent-based cleaners typically say "flammable."

Reading labels can head off other potential problems. even though solvent-based cleaners usually work well on non-catalyzed finishes, a cleaner that contains lemon oil may still damage the finish. If you use a cleaner that contains silicone and eventually decide to refinish the cabinets, the new coat of finish might not stick.

Have a problem in your home? Send questions to localliving@washpost.com. please put "How To" in the subject line and tell us where you live.

To clean a kitchen cabinet of grease, find out what products are recommended

The newly launched website ricecookers4u.com has grouped together products from all the top rice cooker brands in one place. It offers brands like Zojirushi, Aroma, Panasonic, Sanyo and many others at most competitive prices on the web.

(PRWEB) June 24, 2010 -- Ricecookers4u.com caters for all kinds of budgets. the cheapest rice cookers can be as low as $15 and the most expensive ones can be as high as $400. the two most popular manufacturers are Aroma and Zojirushi rice cookers.

Zojirushi rice cooker brand tend to be the most expensive as some the rice cookers take the art of cooking rice to another level. These machines are extremely versatile and last for years and hence you end up paying a bit more for them.

With an Aroma rice cooker you get best of both worlds. They tend to be the most affordable brand but still offers the taste of rice which is hard to beat.

Ricecookers4u.com is an easy to use website. you will see all the rice cooker brands as tabs at the top of each page, allowing you to easily navigate from one brand to the other. Within each brand you can narrow down products by price range, enabling you to easily pick a rice cooker that falls within your budget.

Another extremely useful section on the site is the best sellers area. Here you will be able to find the best selling rice cookers from all the brands. A lot of the customers would simply choose a rice cooker from the bestselling section.

The website also does independent reviews of various rice cooker products. the reviews would discuss each product in detail, highlighting its features, advantages and disadvantages, giving customers a lot more than just the price and the product image as most of the other sites do.

To view the site please click here.

Source : PRWeb

Ricecookers4u.com Offers the Most Comprehensive Collection of Rice Cookers on ...

Saturday, June 26, 2010 12:00 AM | Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |
Playstation stolen while man sleeps

A Salisbury man claims his Playstation was stolen while he was asleep.

Christopher Uhler, 22, 942 Lincolnton Road, reported Tuesday that he went to bed at about 5 a.m. when he woke up at 1:20 p.m., his Playstation 3 was missing.

Uhler claims that he was playing games on the Playstation with a neighbor before he went to sleep, and suspects that the neighbor then made off with his game console.

The Salisbury Police Department is investigating the theft.

In other reports from the Salisbury Police Department:

Howard Miller of Salisbury was arrested after a traffic stop revealed that he had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.

The arresting officer, a.L. Bouk, called in a dog because he believed he smelled marijuana on Miller.

Police found .7 grams of marijuana on Miller.

Miller was charged with simple possession and arrested as a result of the outstanding warrants.

Both warrants were issued for failure to comply.

• L.a. Murph’s Fine Cooking at 1532 W. Innes St. in Salisbury reported that a customer may have stolen $350 from a cash register Thursday.

• Kanibhai Patel, 25, of Salisbury reported that his vehicle was broken into and someone made off with his CD ;player.

• Murphy’s Express at 1010 Freeland Drive in Salisbury reported that beer was stolen from the convenience store.

• Ronald Wilkerson reported that his credit card was stolen from his residence in Woodleaf and used at Country Cupboard on Tuesday. the credit card thieves charged $8.12 on his card.

Playstation stolen while man sleeps

Spam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation. the labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, and sodium nitrite to help keep its color. Spam's gelatinous glaze, or aspic, forms from the cooling of meat stock.[1] the product has become part of many jokes and urban legends about mystery meat, which has made it part of pop culture and folklore.
Varieties of Spam vary by region and include Spam Classic, Spam Hot & Spicy, Spam less Sodium, Spam Lite, Spam Oven Roasted Turkey, Hickory Smoked, and Spam Spread.[2]
Spam sold in North America, South America, and Australia is produced in Austin, Minnesota, (also known as Spam Town USA) and in Fremont, Nebraska. Spam for the UK market is produced in Denmark by Tulip under license from Hormel.[3] Spam is also made in the Philippines and in South Korea.[4] in 2007, the seven billionth can of Spam was sold.[5]
Contents [hide]
1 Name origin
2 Nutritional data
3 Varieties
4 International usage
4.1 United States and territories
4.2 Europe
4.3 Asia
5 Spam celebrations
6 Cultural references
6.1 Monty Python sketch
6.2 Internet spam
7 Trivia
8 see also
9 References
10 External links
[edit]Name origin

Introduced on July 5, 1937, the name "Spam" was chosen when the product, whose original name was far less memorable (Hormel Spiced Ham), began to lose market share. the name was chosen from multiple entries in a naming contest. a Hormel official once stated that the original meaning of the name "Spam" was "Shoulder of Pork and Ham".[6] According to writer Marguerite Patten in Spam – the Cookbook, the name was suggested by Kenneth Daigneau, an actor and the brother of a Hormel vice president, who was given a $100 prize for creating the name.[7] at one time, the official explanation was that the name was a portmanteau of "Spiced Ham". According to the British documentary-reality show "1940's House", when SPAM was offered by the United States to those affected by World War II in the UK, SPAM stood for Specially Processed American Meats.
Many jocular backronyms have been devised, such as "Something Posing As Meat", "Specially Processed Artificial Meat", "Stuff, Pork and Ham", "Spare parts Animal Meat" and "Special Product of Austin Minnesota".[8]
According to Hormel's trademark guidelines, Spam should be spelled with all capital letters and treated as an adjective, as in the phrase "SPAM luncheon meat".
[edit]Nutritional data

Spam is typically sold in cans with a net weight of 340 grams (12 ounces). a 56 gram (2 ounce) serving of original Spam provides seven grams of protein, two grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of fat (23% US Daily Value) including 6 grams of saturated fat (28% U.S. Daily Value), and 170 calories. a serving also contains nearly a third of the recommended daily intake of sodium (salt). a 56 gram serving of Spam contains 767 mg of sodium, equivalent to approximately 2 grams of salt, indicating about 3.6% of Spam's mass is salt. Spam provides very little in terms of vitamins and minerals (0% vitamin a, 1% vitamin C , 1% calcium, 3% iron). It has been listed as a food that is a poor choice for weight loss and optimum health and as a food that "is high in saturated fat and sodium".[9]
[edit]Varieties

There are several different flavors of Spam, including:[10]
Spam Classic — original flavor
Spam Hot & Spicy — with tabasco flavor
Spam less Sodium — "25% less sodium"
Spam Lite — "33% less calories and 50% less fat"
Spam Oven Roasted Turkey
Spam Hickory Smoke flavor
Spam Spread — "if you're a spreader, not a slicer ... just like Spam Classic, but in a spreadable form"
Spam with Bacon
Spam with Cheese
Spam Garlic
Spam Golden Honey Grail — a limited-release special flavor made in honor of Monty Python's SPAMALOT Broadway musical
Spam Mild
In addition to flavor, some of the tins come in smaller sizes than normal, many consumers, however, consider this to be beneficial. a more popular option is the 7 oz (200g) size can. Recently, "Spam Singles" have been produced: a single sandwich-sized slice of Spam (Classic or Lite), wrapped in plastic instead of a metal container.
[edit]International usage

if you see this gime me the star! lol?