Q1 : Define "direct materials" and "indirect materials". List reasons for a large company having two separate deaprtments to manage the purchasing of each.

Direct Materials -  The raw materials used in the creation of the final products or finished products such as leather for making of shoes, sofa, belts, pants, handbags etc, variety of fabrics for making clothes, dresses, curtains, table clothes, towels etc. Those material which are easily dentified, conveniently measured and directly charged to the cost of production. A Car Agent company as an example - the salesman direct selling various models of imported car to the customer, the price allocated for different cars according to its brand name and production. 

Indirect Materials - Those materials which cannot be conveniently identified & allocated to the cost center or cost unit. The cleaning products are an indirect material cost. Indirect material or a service will usually be delivered directly to an individual or department, it will not be put into inventory such as thread in case of blouse making, pin & paste in case of table cloth making or curtain making etc. A Car Agent company as an example - the company provides various services such as Servicing Center, Workshop for Repair and Maintenance, Retail Shop selling Car spare parts and Car Wash Center. Hence, the company might have to pay the government for the Car Tax charges imported to Brunei. Whilst, repair and maintenance - the mechanics have to check the car and ensure what parts need to be changed and need to be done, labour fees will be charged too.

Q2: In about 200 words, describe the reasons a buyer might have for wanting to participate in an industry consortium marketplace instead of setting up its own private company marketplace.

In this task, I am going to give Empayar Siti Murni (ESM) as an example, one of the private company marketplace that provide various services ranging from non-Professional Model became Professional, non-experienced emcee became the Best emcee and People with no basic experience will learn how to makeup flawlessly to work and daily life. ESM is owned by a Malaysian, Siti Murni and works together with the spouse as a business-partner. Both of them are the CEO of the Empayar Siti Murni. ESM just started their business in early of this year 2012 in January.

The lady owner organize from time-to-time Modelling classes, teaching the New models on how to do proper Catwalk & to perform well with confident on stage with style in public. She conducts her own classes and assisted by her lady ESM and some of the models. She organised a Basic Make-up classes too to those have no basic experience to make-over beautifully their appearance. She has a professional make-up artist too. She held a Contest too, to find more models for her products like scarves and long dresses are sale at Empayar Siti Murni Couture (ESM). All those classes will be held at her own Studio. The updates and promotions are been up-to-date on their private facebook or can be found at page 'Tudung ESM'.

At the same time, while the couple working together with each other, the spouse organize and conducts JET classes (Jadilah Emcee Terbaik), he teaches techniques, dos and don'ts on how to become the best emcee ever. JET classes will be held at different venue as organised by the conductor.
There are two types of business marketplaces such as Industry consortium and Private company. The reasons why a buyer wanting/prefers to participate in an industry consortium marketplace instead of setting up its own private company marketplace are as stated below:

• Private company marketplaces deal with one buyer only instead of group of companies.
• Consortium marketplace have more power in a group of buyers instead of one buyer.
• Economies of Scale - gives the members of the consortium power over the price and negotiation power when dealing with the supplier while a private company trying to accomplish the same business task.
• Economies of Process  - different companies can benefit from sharing different technology processes so they able to learn more efficient ways to operate the business.
• Economies of information - by having a variety of companies with different valuable information on suppliers, other companies and successful business processes, it can give the buyer an advantage over private buyers.

Overall, a buyer might have for wanting to participate in an industry consortium marketplace instead of setting up its own private company marketplace because they would became more powerful in a group of buyers instead of one buyer. The more power the easy the company negotiate and control price as they are not operating as a private company.

Question 1 :
Select a retail store with which you are familiar that has a Web site on which it sells products or services similar to those it sells in its physical retail stores.
Explore the Web site and examine it carefully for features that indicate the level of services it provides. Using your experience in the physical store and review of the Website, write a 200 word evaluation of the company's touch point consistency.

DST is one of the retail shop in Brunei Darussalam, established in April, 1995. DST stands for Data Stream Technology Sdn Bhd. DST provides the country's mobile services such as Postpaid line, Prepaid line and Blackberry service. DST headquarters is located at Jalan Tungku Link, right before Jerudong International School and opposite University of Brunei Darussalam. DST understands their customers' needs, lives and businesses tailored with up-to-date products, services and user-friendly.

DST have five subsidiaries, there are as stated below :


DSTFascom - DST Technical Services Sdn Bhd's brand name. In Brunei, the services of the nationwide two-way trunk radios or walkie-talkie is provided by DSTFascom.


DSTSolutions -  stands for Datastream Solutions Sdn Bhd. DST's venture as enterprise solutions developer and provider supporting the Governement's e-Government initiatives and local ICT Industry.

DSTIncomm - It stands for Integrated Communications Sdn Bhd, it operates retail outlets. DSTIncomm is selling mobile phones, phones accessories to telephone systems for home, offices and Enterprise solutions. In addition to its many retail outlets throughout the districts in Brunei, DSTIncomm customers can purchase their products direct from all DSTIncomm branches and through online store.

Kristal Astro - Kristal Astro Sdn Bhd is the Brunei's only operator of quality satellite television service. DST is joined venture with Astro Malaysia. It provides radio programs and other interactive services where we can find many talented DJ or amcees.

KFM - It stands for Kristal Media Sdn Bhd. Currently, KFM is the only private commercial radio station in Brunei.  

Based on my experience, I subscribed to Postpaid line from DST. The Postpaid Plan are optional, I can either choose Essential Voice Plan, Extra Voice Plan, Extra Text Plan, Executive Voice Plan, Executive Text Plan, Elite Voice Plan or Blackberry Plan. I enjoy using my SMS, MMS, Voice call, Video call and Internet browsing especially. I can check or view my account bill through the Web Portal at My DST Account. Firstly, I need to register before I can browse into the webportal. Amazingly, I can even pay my phone bills online too. Otherwise, DST customers may go to the nearer DST branches to make their payments for Postpaid monthly bills, Astro bills, to puchase Prepaid line/s, Recharge cards, Broadband and Router. DST currently  have eight branches - Yayasan branch, Gadong branch, Serusop branch, Tutong branch, KB branch, Tg Bunut branch, Temburong branch and Giant branch. The new branch will be open soon this year at Airport Mall.

To purchase a mobile phone, I ever bought it  from DSTIncomm but I found the prices are a bit expensive than other mobile retail shop. Now, I preferred to purchase a handphone from Dee Jay, QQ estation online shop or at www.emall.com.bn online shop which offers their items with affordable/cheaper prices plus free mobile accessories.

The customers may contact DSTCare Hotline 151 or dial +6738987151 or by faxing it to +6732249998 to inquiries further, complaints and for roaming services. DSTCare operating 24 hours a day.

Question 2 :

What were the main forces that led to the commercialization of the Internet? Summarize your answer in about 100 words.

Brand awareness and promotion

Advertising and marketing are what some people are doing every day. The key reason why there are various trade shows and exhibition occur every year is the fact businesses are wanting to reach customers and sell their product. When you participate to such events, you will find all sorts of goods like promotional products which are vital to any business promotional efforts. Seeing a company logo or any kind of printed mark on a particular promotional product could actually help establish brand awareness. This type of business promotion makes a great idea of letting consumers recognize an organization and its products and services. There'll be some moments that you might instantly suggest this company with other people.

Corporate image making

Consumer perception of the corporate entity behind a brand. Corporate image or reputation, describes the manner in which a company, its activities and its products or services are perceived by outsiders. In a competitive business climate, many businesses actively work to create and communicate a positive image to their customers, shareholders, the financial community, distributors and retailers, financial institutions and analysts, shareholders, government regulatory agencies, social action organizations, the general public and employees. Every retail shops, should create the standard corporate colours and logo to be used or display on any advertisement, banner, leaflets, booklets, offices and company's vehicles/transportation. Findings from the goods and service sector indicate that corporate image has a significant but indirect impact on customer loyalty.

Direct sales of goods and services

Direct selling is the marketing and selling of products directly to consumers away from a fixed retail location. The direct personal presentation, demonstration and sale of products and provide good services to consumers, usually in their homes or at their jobs.

Question 3 : 

Describe two possible service-for-fee offerings that might become available to users of Internet-enabled wireless devices (such as iPad or mobile phones) in the near future. Write one paragraph for each service in which you outline the profit potential and risk of losses for each.

Cheezbox Cafe & Restaurant is on Facebook.
- Cheezbox is one of the most popular restaurant in town in Bandar Seri Begawan. It is located at External Cafe Ramp A, The Mall Gadong. The Western Cuisine, Asian Delicacies and Local delights are the finest delicacies served to their customers. Beside food, they provide FREE Internet Broadband surfing/Wi Fi too as one of a way to attracts their customers so they enjoy eating while browsing on the internet. The computers are provided at side of each dining table to be used by their walk-in customers or they can even use their personal handphones and iPad to browse with Free Wi Fi. They just need to pay bill for their foods and drinks only. During festive seasons like Ramadhan, Hari Raya, for Kids Birthday Party and so forth, they do offer a great promotions from time to time and for every dine-in customers entitled a Lucky Draw to win a prize. If one day, there plan to charge their customers, am sure most of their customers will not use their internet anymore. The website is up-to-date.

Quality Used Car for sale

http://www.bru-qualityusedcars.blogspot.com/

-  This website is selling quality used car both local and imported cars. The salesman name and contact number are displayed on the website, made easy for their customer and buyer to deal and inquiries further. Perhaps we wanted to make appointment to test-drive the car before we purchase it. It can save our energy, and transport fuel. The pictures of the cars are been displayed clearly with price stated below each picture in the web but sometimes don't, that made us need to call the salesman and inquiry. The update of the website need to be done every time they received used car coming in for sale otherwise, the sale scale will drop down. 

Question 4 :

In two paragraphs, explain why a customer-centric Web site design is so important, yet is so difficult to accomplish.

I am going to use Zahra-fashion.com website as an example. Zahra-fashion.com with own creativity and initiative had design their website beautifully with multi-colors background and clear layout, easy for the customers to find their items, products and services they provide to the customers. Clear introduction, address, location and contact number are stated clearly for walk-in customers. They have information corner for current and future dealers. Dealers contact lists are displayed on the website too. They even have corner for the customers to purchase or order their products online internationally. The payment should be made by cash as the bank details and name are given on the website for the customers to bank-in their payment before they receive their items. They successfully attract many customers and keep customers's loyalty by giving a honest services, supplies and sell good quality products.

The difficulties are if Zahra-fashion.com did not deal business with honesty, bad quality products supplies, bad services, very high price with bad quality and non-friendly user website, surely the customers will not be loyal, will get disappointed and will look for a better one because there are many other competitors online.

Question 5 :

Promoting products on the Web is different from using mass media promotion or personal contact. Assume that you want to explain these differences to a person who is planning to open a Web site that will sell fishing-rod. Write one paragraph about each approach (mass media, personal contact, the Web). In each paragraph, explain the advantages and disadvantages of the approach for the fishing rod Web business.

The advantages and disadvantages of the approach for the fishing rod web business are as follows :
Advantages :

• easy to get customers and buyers online.
• news spread rapidly from mouth to mouth.
• very friendly website- it invites the customers to find and walk-in the shop and buy the items.
• website been updated with useful information, up-to-date, attractive info and gives attractive offers, very pleasant services, and easy access.
• fiberglass fishing rods are very flexible, they're also very strong and durable.
• varieties of fishing rods
• low and reasonable prices
• promotions or festive sales
• payment mode online by credit cards, paypal, debit card
• no website rental

Disadvantages :

• bad quality of fishing rods
• no varieties.
• less personal contacts to spread the news 
• unfriendly website - no contact or address 
• very expensive and unreasonable prices
• non up-to-date web - old stocks
• no online promotions, no online sales
• very boring contents and out-dated information eg. contact number is out of service or unreachable  and address not updated when the retail shop moved to other venue.
• no promotion, no special discount.

INTRODUCTION

In this task, I am going to have a look at the various ways in which furniture shop can advertise and market their furniture products and services. Furniture mostly is considered as an investment rather than a source of commodity that can give regular sales and maintenance. Hence, once furniture is bought, it is needed to be there for a certain number of years to last. In a business like this which is difficult to generate sales, a very careful sales strategy must be used in order to make a sale of furniture and cater to the other competitions in the market. The followings are the outputs of this research.

WEBSITE THAT SELL HOME FURNITURE ONLINE.

URL : http://www.datcobrunei.com/

Da Vinci Collections was the formal name of Dat-co. Dat-co is founded in Brunei by George and June Cheong. In 1990, the first Dat-co store was established by The Cheongs, dealing with high-end furniture in Brunei. Dat-co started to sell Cappelletti the Italian brand brass beds. The store located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. Dat-co collection mainly imported from Italy, Spain and America. The exquisite luxury, exclusive collections from Dat-co that is synonymous with the brand's name. The company's trademark stylish English Classic, Elegant design and decorative furniture that mostly attracts both walk-in customers and online customers to buy their furniture. The furniture ranging from bedroom sets, dining sets, chandeliers, table lamps, ceiling lights, antique-style clocks, figurines, crystal glasses, wall frames, wall mirrors, cabinets, drawers, classic telephones and Dat-co provide services for customize furniture, carpet services and decorative services too. Apparently, the manufacturer is based in Shanghai as it was impossible to have it made in Italy.

The great promotions or discounts normally offered every half a year or during festive seasons. That is the best time to shop. The customers will enjoy the great offers with affordable prices, receive good services and decor their homes and offices beautifully. The quality of the furniture, the customers's satisfaction and loyalty that really matters to Dat-co.

CONCLUSION

From this website, Dat-co became the most trusted store, famous and well known all over the world and one of the most luxury furniture store found in Asia. It is one of the best store to shop home furniture in Brunei. Their customers are mostly from Royalty members, Rich and Famous people, celebrities and nobles. 

In this task, there a plenty of the furniture based websites as well as the social networking sites where we can advertise a product about our future business. We can also seek the services of the advertising of the powerful advertising media like World Wide Web in order to seek the potential buyers of our furniture products. Make the best usage of pictures and logos in order to design our advertising material. The greatest advantage that is offered by the online advertising is that it not only targets the potential buyers existing in an area, but also the ones who are migrating into the area that we operate our furniture business in. Blogs can also serve as good advertising tools, provided that we have the ability to market our blogs effectively. Consequently, I acknowledged the useful of eCommerce business and ready to make a report where you can save budget and energy to advertise and to promote our products and services in any kind of businesses such as Home Furniture, Clothing and Scarves, Shoes, Handbags, Kids Wear and many more.

REFERENCES

DAT-CO 2012 :DAT-CO CLASSIC

URL : http://www.datcobrunei.com/, (accessed on 02/05/2012)