SERVICE MARKETING / PRODUCT MARKETING AND IMPORTANCE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE

In this new business scenario we realize that whether it is product or service, marketing and customer service department need to go hand in hand for doing smart business.

Marketing department can bring new customers in service industry and product industry, but customer service is essential for both industries to retain their existing customers.

 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRODUCT MARKETING AND SERVICE MARKETING

The difference between product and services in marketing is that products are tangible and services are intangible.

PRODUCTS

Marketing is a product is usually much easier as it can be shown, demonstrated, touched and displayed. Tangible products are also much easier for audience to understand in terms of value or whether they are needed.

Regardless, the aim of our product marketing strategy should include finding the right market for our product and promoting it in a way that gets the best response from our target audience.

SERVICES

Services are intangible and showing its value to our audience can be more difficult. We can’t see or touch a service. Then the goal of marketing a service is to create good relationships with our target audience, developing and building trust.

CUSTOMISATION

While products are designed, built and delivered to a range of customers as standard, services can be customized depending on the needs and wants of the customers.

 

DELIVERY

The buyer can take away a product from seller while buyer needs to reach the seller to avail the service offered.

 

Eg: - The buyer can order a material through online store and product will reach to buyer with in a minimum working days to deliver it, In service if buyer is looking for an online movie store the buyer needs to login to the website and he can watch movie through that website only, but he can avail the service at same time no need of waiting.

EXPIRATION

It’s also important to understand that service are consumed immediately and cannot be returned once carried out. This is where the marketing goal of creating trust comes in. If provide a bad service, customers cannot return the service, but they may not return as customer.

CHARACTERISTIC OF PRODUCT AND SERVICE

There are several key characteristics that may help differentiate a product from services. Below are the key characteristics that differentiate product from service.

TANGIBILITY

Tangibility is one of the key characteristics that distinguish a product from a service. Products are generally tangible whereas services typically aren’t. there are some exceptions, such as in the case of digital products and software. Products and services often work closely together, especially from a sales and marketing perspective.

PERISHABILITY

Perishability is another characteristic that may help determine whether something is a product or a service. Perishability refers to things that can spoil or cease to be useful after a certain time. Due to their nature, products generally tend to be perishable, which isn’t the case for service. For example, food products often spoil after their expiration dates and are typically perishable. In contrast, a financial advisory service, for example, may remain functional or fit for use over time and is non- perishable.

It is important to note that there are some products that may have long shelf lives. Yet, they may still cease to work after a sufficiently long period of time and are thus perishable.

AVAILABILITY

Unless a product has patent protection, it’s likely that many versions of it exist. For example, consumers have plenty of choices when they want to buy a shirt or a pair of shoes. Physical products come in numerous different forms, whereas services usually only provide a limited range of options.

OWNERSHIP

Ownership is another defining characteristic that determines whether something is a product or a service. When a customer buys a product, the business transfers its ownership to the customer in exchange for payment. In contrast, when a customer buys a service, they only benefit from the service the company is offering. The customer doesn’t become its owner as it’s often intangible and difficult to quantify.

These controllable variables constitute the 4ps or the four pillars of marketing:-

1.     Product:  The tangible, physical good or intangible service being marketed.

2.     Price:  How much it costs to buy the product.

3.     Place:  Where and through what channels can one purchase the product.

4.     Promotion:  How the business promotes its product.

CONCLUSION

 Product marketing and service marketing can be considered as two sides of a coin, where product marketing is tangible we can touch and feel our product, while service offered cannot touch and feel it can only be assessed through its quality offered, and hence we can conclude that marketing a service is more difficult than marketing a product, the buyer and seller need to be profited simultaneously in service industry.

Marketing department can bring new customers in service industry and product industry, but customer service is essential for both industries to retain their existing customers and to build a brand image which is a core component of a business to bring new customers.

 

 

Top 12 Ways to Generate Sales Leads

Keeping leads in your pipeline is the only way to ensure that you will continue to grow your business Leads don’t happen automatically; you must create them. Here are the top dozen ways to generate your leads.

1. Join a networking group. Local business networking or lead groups are plentiful. Choose a group that encourages one-on-one exchanges where you can develop relationships over time. Don’t expect to do business directly with members of the group; instead, educate members about what you do so that they can refer people to you (and vice versa).

2. Join an association. Local chambers of commerce, professional associations and other groups offer opportunities to network as well. Again, relationships that take time to develop may not necessarily translate into immediate leads but can contribute to lead generation down the road.

Join an association’s committee, volunteer to be a speaker or help organize an event to create a close working relationship with other members.

3. Make cold calls. You can approach prospective customers by telephone or, if you’re bold and the situation is appropriate, in person. Either way, you not only generate leads, but help to develop your sales techniques.

4. Develop strategic alliances. Depending on the type of business you’re in, you may mesh well with another type of business for the purpose of cross-referrals. For example, accountants may refer clients to bankers and vice versa. In some cases, referrals may proceed only in one direction; develop a number of alliances so that referrals come your way.

5. Generate referrals. Obtain the names of prospective customers from your existing customer base. Offer incentives, if necessary, to solicit referral information (e.g., cash back with each referral that becomes a customer). Also seek referrals through family, friends and other business associates.

Ask for referrals by those who may have no interest in your business. For example, if a prospect turns you down, salvage the experience by asking for a referral to someone who might have a need for your product or service.

6. Host seminars. Instead of speaking a dozen or more in one place. Offer information through a seminar – this is a valued service to people and showcases your expertise. Build attendance by inviting existing customers and having them bring new faces. Leave your commercial for the end of your presentation – keep it brief so as not to distract from the presentation you've jest completed. Ask orally or through a written handout whether attendees have an interest in hearing from you after the seminar so you can follow up effectively.

7. Be a guest speaker. Local business associations and charitable organizations are always looking to fill their event schedule with speakers. Offer to talk to members on a topic that can highlight your expertise. Speaking leads to visibility in your community.

8. Host a special event. Hold an after-hours wine-and-cheese party for your customers. Have them bring their friends (your new prospects).

9. Become a community volunteer. Join a local organization that has nothing to do with business – the volunteer ambulance corps, Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) or the PTA. Again, the aim is not only to support the local organization or cause but to become visible and develop relationships. This activity may not produce immediate sales leads, but you’ll be supporting an important cause and over time you will gain new relationships that will help your business.

10. Send direct mail. A mail campaign need not be a massive undertaking costing thousands of dollars. You can adopt a limited program in which you send out five or 10 pieces each week. The key in your program is to target your prospects and then follow up with a telephone call. By having a direct mail piece precede your call, you’ve warmed up a prospect – you can refer to the piece and ask the prospect if he or she’s had a chance to read it and has any questions.

11. Use trade shows. Trade shows provide a venue for obtaining a large number of leads in a short amount of time. Whether you have a booth or table at the show or ware a visitor, you can exchange business cards with others at the show.

Write key information on the back of each business card to help you remember something about each person.

12. Observe the three-foot rule. Whenever you are with three feet of someone, be prepared to give your 30-second commercial about who you are and what you do. Introduce yourself, state the name of your business and give a brief explanation of what your company can do for a customer.

Using the three-foot rule turns waiting time into productive time when you’re standing in line at the post office, bank or another location.

454 MNCs join Jebel Ali Free Zone ( Jafz ) in 2012

 Rapid increase in developmental activities in the region to further boost JAFZA profile in the current fiscal Jebel Ali Free Zone  ( Jafza ), the flagship Free Zone operation of EconomicZones World  ( EZW ), has seen 454 multi-national companies joining the Free Zone in 2012, an increase of 26 per cent on the number of new joiners, last year.

The growth is quite significant especially that most of the new companies are large multi-nationals and market leaders in their respective fields. 27 per cent of the new companies are from Europe, 25 per cent from the GCC, 21 per cent from Asia Pacific, 9 per cent from Americas and 18 per cent from Africa and West Asia. The biggest number of investors comes from the developed world. In terms of countries, 11 per cent of the new companies are from the UK, 9 per cent from India, 5 per cent each from Germany, France and China. 18 per cent of the new companies have come from the Arab Spring countries.

The growth clearly indicates shift in the outlook of developed economies about the Middle East as a lucrative market apart from being one of the largest oil producing regions in the world.

Trade remains the main driver of the Free Zone's growth. 83 per cent of the new companies are engaged in trading, 9 per cent in services and 7 per cent in industrial activities.

The total number of active companies in Jafza at the end of 2012 stood at 6,918. These companies are estimated to have generated business worth USD 82 billion in the year, which accounts for more than a quarter of Dubai's total non-oil trade. Jafza also accounts for half of Dubai's total exports.

Ibrahim Mohamed Al Janahi, Deputy CEO Jafza and Chief Commercial Officer of EZW ,commenting on Jafza’s distinctive growth in the number of new companies, said:

"Continued investor interest in Jafza is quite assuring and reaffirms strong resurgence in regional economies and, at the same time, shows the growing importance of Middle East region for the developed, as well as, developing economies across the world. This also cements Jafza 's status as the region's gateway and the top trading and logistics centre."

The broader composition of investors' interest reinforces Jafza and Dubai's strength as the Business and Trading hub of the Middle East comprising West Asia, Africa, South Asia, and the CIS. The combined GDP of the region exceeds USD 8 trillion.

The Middle East is considered one of the world's most affluent and fastest growing regions. More than USD 4 trillion is expected to be spent in the region on infrastructure development in the next 10 years.

Some of the leading names that joined Jafza in 2012 include Halliburton, Schlumberger, Sinopec, CNPC, Giordano, Bauer Kompressoren, NSK Bearings, Manuchar, Fauchon Paris, Cryogenic Industries, Summit Construction Equipment, Komatsu DSO, JX Nippon, Roche Diagnostics among others.

Jafza 's remarkable success in attracting big multinationals is attributed to its unmatched logistics strength, leveraged through its location between the region's two largest enablers - Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum and Dubai International Airport, deep commitment to excellence and efficiency and its investor friendly approach.

The economic outlook for the Middle East looks quite good in 2013. Most of the oil exporting countries in the region are expected to grow at healthy rates and these countries will continue to focus on economic diversification. With the easing of the Arab unrest fears the investments in developmental activities in the region are expected to grow significantly in the year, opening huge opportunities for global investors, who, in view of anemic growth in the US and EU's continued downturn, are in the lookout for greener markets. Jafza , therefore, expects the growth momentum to pick-up further in 2013.

should you require more clarifications please feel free to contact me on rupeshpr@hotmail.com

Hamriyah Free Zone aims to attract Turkish companies

Hamriya Free Zone hopes to attract Turkish companies following its various market initiatives in the country.

During February 10 to February 22, a Hamriyah Free Zone Authoritydelegation headed by Director of Commercial affairs Saud Salim Al Mazrouei organised three seminars in Istanbul, Ankara and Konya, highlighting the incentives the free zone could offer to Turkish companies.

"Turkey has been identified as one of the most potential emerging markets to be benefitted from our Free Zone incentives and attractions. Accordingly, our marketing machinery has been spearheading various marketing initiatives in Turkey," Al Mazrouei said.

Recently, another delegation had visited major cities of Bursa and Sakarya with government officials and businessmen. The highlight of the events was key incentives and opportunities that Turkish investors can avail from Hamriyah Free Zone to expand their market reach into the Mena region.

The potential investors were impressed by its track record of over 5,000 investors from 149 countries with an investment exceeding $2 billion within a short span and HFZ 's service levels wherein licenses can be issued even in 2 hours with one stop services to assist them with their business needs.

"The response to these initiatives has been tremendous. Over 300 Turkish businessmen attended the events and exchanged views and sought clarifications from the Free Zone delegation. Many of them hoped to convert their serious inquiries into Free Zone licenses after discussions with their organizations," 

Should you require more clarifications please feel free to contact me on rupeshpr@hotmail.com

Number of new Business setup in Dubai

The Department of Economic Development (DED) witnessed a nine per cent increase in licences issued in January 2013 compared to the same month of 2012 as economic activity in Dubai remained on an upward curve. While 1,310 licences were issued in January 2012, 1,428 were issued in January 2013 reflecting increasing investor confidence in Dubai.

The commercial sector saw a 69 per cent increase in the number of licences, the highest among all sectors in January 2013, while the professional sector accounted for a 28 per cent rise, followed by the tourism and industrial sectors at two per cent and one per cent respectively.

The total number of licences amended in January 2013 was 5,937, while the total number of renewed licences reached 8,085. The total number of business registration and licensing (BRL) transactions reached 48,806, compared to 44,376 in January 2012, an increase of 10 per cent.

The number of trade names issued in January 2013 reached 5,809, up five per cent from January 2012 (5,539), and the number of initial approvals increased eight per cent to 2,525 from 2,347.

The total number of commercial activities licensed in January 2013 were 3,515, with General trade leading the list of the top 10 licensed activities (184 licences) followed by Tiling of floors and walls (90 licenses), Carpentry and flooring (89), Dyes & paints (88), Readymade garments (81), Sanitary extensions & wares (80), Installation of suspended ceilings and light cut-outs (80), Computers and accessories (78), Computer systems and software (75), and Installation of air conditioning systems, ventilation and air purification (72).

The number of professional activities licensed in January 2013 reached 944. Special-purpose facility activity led the list of the top 10 licensed activities in this category with 88 licences, followed by cleaning services for buildings and residences (51), restaurants (38), consulting and management studies (27), cafes (22), transactions follow-up services (22), printing and copying services (21), business services (21), beauty and personal care centre for ladies (21), and ladies' salons (20).

In the tourism sector, inbound tourism was the leader with 17 licences, followed by travel and tourism agent (3), hotel management, certified airline agent, foreign tour operator, and leasing of hotel apartments with one license each.

In the industrial activities segment, metal and welding workshop industry led the list of licensed activities followed by plastic covers, ice, cocoa and confectionery, tents and umbrellas, paper, packaging, paper bags, manufacturing of napkins and paper towels and Office paper products.

Courtesy - Zawya.com 

OFFSHORE COMPANIES - TAX SAVING AND ASSET PROTECTION

Offshore companies in UAE will always help the expat investors to be anonymous and to protect their assets by saving Double taxation.

Key Benefits of Offshore Company.

             Asset protection

             Anonymity

             Confidentiality

             Bank account with full control

             No financial reporting

             100% foreign owner ship

             Zero corporate tax

             Zero personal tax

             Full repatriation of capital and profits

             No currency control

             Strategic location

Advantages of using a UAE offshore company for buying and selling Properties:

• Set up time: 2- 3 working days.
• Tax and duty exemption.
• 100% foreign ownership permitted and 100% tax and duty exemption.

Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)

Since UAE have zero taxation, accordingly double taxation prevention treaties are aimed at making the UAE a more attractive jurisdiction to incorporate offshore companies to protect assets and to do international trading. Generally, under these treaties profits generated from shares, dividends, interest, royalties and fees are taxable only in the state where the income is earned according to mutually agreed terms and conditions.

• Protect expat investors from direct or indirect double taxation.

• Investments to be taxed in the country of residence other than that country of source.

• The U.A.E signed several bilateral agreements for avoidance and prevention of double taxation with most of its major trade partners.

Other Activities Allowed

The company can also act as Trading Company, Consulting Company, Holding Company (Buy/Hold/Sell stakes of companies).

Should you require more clarification please feel free to contact me on rupeshpr@hotmail.com 

Visa renewal of Housemaid Sponsored by an Expatriate

Maid Visa Renewal

    Visa renewal of Housemaid Sponsored by an Expatriate

ü  Required Documents:

• Prepaid Application Form.

• Maid's original passport.

• Copy of sponsor's and wife's passport.

• 3 photographs of the maid with white background (one on the application's front page, one overleaf and one for Maid's labor card.

• Original Medical Certificate.

• Copy of Tenancy Contract

• If the sponsor is a private sector employee; Attested copy of his Employment Contract.

• If the sponsor is a Government / Free zone Employee; Copy of Salary Certificate.

• If the sponsor is an Investor/Partner: Copy of the Contract showing his shareholding, Copy and original of the partners' financial security deposit, copy of the Trade License and Partners List. 

• Employment Contract to be signed by the Sponsor and the Maid. This Contract will be given by the Immigration Staff at the time of submitting the Application. Immigration Staff will ask the Salary of Maid to enter in the employment contract. It will be convenient to sign the Contract if the Maid accompanied at the time of submission.

 There is 30 days grace period from the date of Visa expiry.

Should you require more clarifications please feel free to contact me on rupeshpr@hotmail.com

Trade License Renewal – Ajman Free zone

Ajman Free zone Trade license Renewal.

Every year it is mandatory to renew the trade license to conduct business.

Required Documents:

• Request Letter from company (signed and stamped) .

• For Branch Of Foreign Company we required conformation letter from the mother company should be signed and stamped from

a)      UAE embassy in the foreign country

b)      Ministry of Foreign Affairs in U.AE

• Submitting original document (Trade license+ Chamber of commerce+ registration certificate) if it is valid

• Copy of Civil Defiance Certificate (in case of warehouse/land or showroom)

Particulars	Fee Amount
General Trading	Dh. 9100
One activity trading	Dh. 3900
Two activity trading	Dh. 5200
Three activity trading	Dh. 6500
Service	Dh. 6500
Industrial/ Manufacturing	Dh. 9100

AFZA reserves the right to amend charges without advance notice

 Note:

• Owner must be physically present while applying the above procedure.

Authorization letter must be submitted in case the owner authorizes a person to sign/apply on his behalf in his absence.

• Any delay will cost you penalty.

a)      Monthly Dh. 100**(Actual fines will be intimated after initial submission)

• There will be inspection for warehouse, land and showroom.

• It’s a compulsory to submit a police report for losing any original document (only if it's still valid).

• It's not compulsory to provide with the original documents (License, Chamber, Commercial    Registration) while applying the above procedure (only of its not valid)

• It’s possible to update the passport number while renewing the license.

• The owner can add a partner and change the legal status of the license form entity to company.

• Please check the Establishment card validity.

• Sewage fess 2400 is adding with renewal Fees.

Should you require more clarifications please feel free to contact me on rupeshpr@gmail.com

Protect your Business- Register your Trademark.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination thereof, which identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one company or party from those of another.

A service mark is same as a trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of the service rather than the product. Throughout this website, the terms "mark" and "trademark" refer to both trademarks and service marks.

Owning a trademark or service mark grants the owner the exclusive right to identify their goods and/or services with that mark.

Why register a trademark?

Registering a trademark heightens the protection it receives, deters others from using your trademark, and increases the remedies should someone infringe upon the trademark.

A. Greater Protection

1. Registration protects a company's name or logo, which is often a company's most valuable asset; 

2. The trademark owner receives exclusive nationwide ownership of the mark;

3. Registration decreases the likelihood of another party claiming that your trademark infringes upon their trademark;

4. Registration provides official notice to others that a trademark is already taken; consequently, a company that later adopts a confusingly similar trademark can not claim ignorance of the mark;

5. The trademark owner obtains the future right to make the mark "incontestable," which provides conclusive evidence regarding the validity of the mark and of the registrant's exclusive right to use the mark; and

6. A United States Registration can be used as a basis for obtaining registration in foreign countries.

B. Greater Deterrence

1. The trademark owner obtains the right to put a , after the mark, alerting others to your registration and preventing the defense of innocent infringement;
2. The trademark will appear in trademark search reports ordered by others, likely discouraging others from proceeding with the registration of the same or similar mark; and

3. The United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") will refuse registration to any trademarks it deems confusingly similar to your trademark.

C. Greater Remedies

1. Registration grants the trademark owner the right to recover up to triple damages and attorney's fees from an infringer;
2. The trademark owner receives the presumption of being the valid owner of the mark;

3. A registration increases the likelihood of the successful filing of a dispute resolution policy for an infringing Internet domain name; and

4. The trademark owner has an automatic right to sue in federal court. 

How is trademark protection different from copyright and patent protection?

As earlier discussed, a trademark is any word, symbol, device, logo or slogan that identifies and distinguishes one product or service from another.

A copyright is a bundle of rights granted to authors of creative works such as books, websites, computer software, music, architecture, paintings and many other creative works. A copyright owner has the exclusive right to copy and sell the work and additionally has the right to perform it and make variations on it.

A patent is a right provided by the government that allows inventors to prevent another from making, selling, or using another invention that is similar in nature. Patents may be used to protect inventions, machines, devices, processes and many other things. Registering A Trademark does not practice patent law. 

Is there a worldwide trademark?

No. However, it is possible to file one application for a group of countries such as:

1. The European Union, covering 15 countries in Europe;

2. The Madrid Protocol, covering several dozen countries; and

3. The Andean Pact, covering several South American countries.

Otherwise, one must seek trademark protection on a country-by-country basis. 

Should you require more clarification please feel free to contact me on rupeshpr@gmail.com

Business setup in Hamriyah Free Zone

Company formation in Hamriyah Free Zone

Branch of a Local / International company

Basically, whether the branch is of a local company or of an international company, no capital is required to be deposited with the bank. The following documents should be provided.

Local Company	International Company
License or Certificate of Commercial Registration from the Economic Department. (Notarized copy)	Certificate of Incorporation/Good-standing (Notarized copy)
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company. (Notarized copy)	Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company (Notarized copy)
Board Resolution for opening a branch in Hamriyah Free Zone and to appoint the manager for the Free Zone operations (Notarized copy) with his passport copy and Power of Attorney.	Board Resolution for opening a branch in Hamriyah Free Zone and to appoint the manager for the Free Zone operations (Notarized copy) with his passport copy and Power of Attorney.
Bank’s reference letter regarding creditworthiness of the company (Original).	Bank’s reference letter regarding

Important aspects of an FZE 

Ø  An FZE / FZC will be a limited liability entity.

Ø  Not only natural persons but juristic persons like Companies can also incorporate FZE/FZCs in Hamriyah Free Zone.

Ø  FZE / FZC’s like branches of local or foreign companies will have to get a Free Zone License after incorporation/Registration.

Ø  An FZE will be sole shareholder company. An FZC will be multi Shareholder Company with 2 to 5 shareholders.

Ø  No share may be transferred without prior written approval of HFZA.

Ø  The Financial Years shall be from January to December each year, except the commencement of the first year which shall be the date of Incorporation.

Minimum Legal Requirements

Ø  Free Zone Establishments (FZE) / Free Zone Company (FZC) should abide by the FZE / FZC Implementing Rules and Regulations. FZE Implementing Rules and Regulations are equivalent to its Memorandum and Articles of Association where as FZC Implementing Rules and Regulations are equivalent to its Articles of Association.

Ø  FZE/FZE should submit its audited financial statements to Hamriyah Free Zone Authority every year within 3 months from the end of the financial year.

Ø  There should be at least 2 Directors and a Secretary for FZE / FZC's.

Ø  If a foreign national is to be appointed as a Director or Secretary, HFZA may require that such persons hold valid residence and work permit from the relevant authorities.

Ø  At least one of the Directors and the Secretary must be residents.

Ø  The offices of Director and Secretary may be held jointly by a single person.

License types

The type of License that will be issued to an applicant company will be defined by the activity the applicant company is permitted by the Hamriyah Free Zone to undertake as follows:

1. Industrial License

This license will allow the holder to import raw materials for the purpose of manufacturing, processing and/or assembly of specified products. The finished products may be exported outside the UAE. If the finished products are sold in the UAE market then the License holder will need to do this through a local distributor or a local agent.

2. Commercial License

This license will allow the holder to import, export, sell, distribute and store items specified on the license. If the finished products are sold in the UAE market then the License holder will need to do this through a local distributor or a local agent.

3. Service License

This license allows the holder to carry out the services which are specified on the license within the Hamriyah Free Zone only.

Should you require more clarification or assistance to start your business in Hamriyah Free zone please feel free to contact me on rupeshpr@hotmail.com or call me on 00971-553660266