Bricks and Clicks Business Model

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By Cynthia Mittelsteadt, March 2, 2010

I was doing some research this morning on online shopping and found new ways to describe retailers that have online stores. I found this Wikipedia article fun.

Bricks-and-clicks is a business model where a company integrates both offline (bricks) and online (clicks) click-and-mortar or clicks-and-bricks, as well as bricks, clicks and flips, (flips referring to catalogs). One of the most major examples of this is WalMart's Site-to-Store centers.

For example, an electronics store may allow the user to order online, but pick up their order immediately at a local store, which the user finds using locator software. Conversely, a furniture store may have displays at a local store from which a customer can order an item electronically for delivery.

The bricks and clicks model has typically been used by traditional retailers who have extensive logistics and supply chains. Part of the reason for its success is that it is far easier for a traditional retailer to establish an online presence than it is for a start-up company to employ a successful pure "dot com" strategy, or for an online retailer to establish a traditional presence (including a strong brand).

The success of the model in many sectors has destroyed the credibility of analysts who argued that the Internet would render traditional retailers obsolete through disintermediation.

In economics, disintermediation is the removal of intermediaries in a supply chain: "cutting out the middleman". Instead of going through traditional distribution channels, which had some type of intermediate (such as a distributor, wholesaler, broker, or agent), companies may now deal with every customer directly, for example via the Internet. One important factor is a drop in the cost of servicing customers directly.

Disintermediation initiated by consumers is often the result of high market transparency, in that buyers are aware of supply prices direct from the manufacturer. Buyers bypass the middlemen (wholesalers and retailers) in order to buy directly from the manufacturer and thereby pay less. Buyers can alternatively elect to purchase from wholesalers. Often, a B2C company functions as the bridge between buyer and manufacturer.

To illustrate, a typical B2C supply chain is composed of four or five entities (in order):

Supplier

Manufacturer

Wholesaler

Retailer

Buyer

It has been argued that the Internet modifies the supply chain due to market transparency:

• Supplier
• Manufacturer
• Buyer

Contact:

Cynthia Mittelsteadt

DubLi Shopping Consultant

(510) 659-6330

Skype: cynthia.ebishop

cynthiamittel@gmail.com

5178 Mowry Avenue #2164

Fremont, CA 94538

http://dubli.com/video-2959282

Current US Federal Government Laws & Rules Not Protecting Consumers

Consumers and Investors Need Your Help Against Pyramid Scheme
Submitted by Cynthia Mittelsteadt, March 1, 2010

A day doesn’t go by that another MLM or network marketing company fails or is exposed as a scam or “pyramid scheme.” Every time this happens, consumers and small home business owners get hurt and lose millions of dollars a month. Legitimate direct marketing companies and consumers have been looking to the US Federal and State Governments to strengthen the laws to protect people looking for a home-based businesses and consumers purchasing products and services from MLM companies for years without success.
After researching the US Federal Government archives, I did not find any recent laws or rules regarding direct or networking marketing protection. Large network marketing companies like Amway, Mary Kay, Pre-paid Legal, Usana and many others continue to avoid prosecution by hiding behind the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) “Amway Safeguards Rule.”
In 1975, the FTC pursued Amway for deceptive business practices. After years of litigation, the FTC ruled that Amway was not an illegal pyramid scheme. In its decision, the FTC identified a “pyramid scheme” as the payment by participants of money to the company in return for which they receive (1) the right to sell a product and (2) the right to receive in return for recruiting other participants into the program rewards which are unrelated to the sale of the product to ultimate users. The FTC also created the “Amway Safeguards Rule.”
Amway was not a pyramid scheme because of three consumer protection safeguards in its company policies: (1) it bought back goods of terminating distributors, (2) it required distributors to have sales to at least ten customers per month, and (3) it required distributors to sell seventy percent of the products they purchased each month to non-distributors.
The Amway decision has made it significantly more difficult for the FTC to prosecute companies under the FTC Act. MLMs, with the advice of legal counsel, now routinely implement the Amway Safeguards to ensure they will not be prosecuted as illegal pyramid schemes. In reality, these “safeguards” merely create mechanical steps that companies can follow to avoid prosecution. Thus, as long as a company utilizes the three Amway Safeguards identified by the FTC, it will not be prosecuted, even though the earnings of participants may be derived primarily from the payments of new recruits.
Assuming most companies have the Amway Safeguards in place, the only way to prosecute a pyramid marketing scheme under the FTC Act is to prove that a company has misrepresented its earnings potential. This is difficult to do because these companies typically tout the success of a few people at the top of the pyramid and then include a generic disclaimer, such as: “Success as a XYZ Company Representative is not guaranteed, but rather influenced by an individual’s specific efforts. Not all CAN Independent Representatives make a profit and no one can be guaranteed success as a XYZ Company Independent Representative.” Source: McGeorge Law Review, Vol. 39, No. 83, 2008
On May 23, 1998, presented a prepared statement Debra A. Valentine, General Counsel for the U.S. FTC addressed the FTC’s concern about the growing international problem of pyramid schemes. In her statement she observed, “What is striking about these schemes is that while they are very old forms of fraud, modern technology has vastly multiplied their potential for harming our citizens. The Internet in particular offers pyramid builders a multi-lane highway to worldwide recruits in virtually no time.” Source: “FTC 1998 Pyramid Scheme Statement.”
On April 12, 2006, the FTC published a Notice of a Proposed Business Opportunity Rule. On July 1, 2007, the FTC modified the Proposed Rule. As of the date, the Proposed Rule had not yet been enacted.

In recognition of the fact that many sellers of “business opportunities” can easily avoid the disclosure requirements of the Franchise Rule, either by offering to repurchase products from the victim or by keeping the initial investment below $500, the Proposed Rule aims to cast a wide net. It requires that, in connection with the sale of any “business opportunity,” the offeror of the opportunity make specific disclosures at least seven days before the prospective purchaser signs a contract or pays any money, whichever occurs first. Recognizing the burden of disclosure requirements under the Franchise Rule, the Proposed Rule requires the disclosure of significantly less information. Specifically, the Proposed Rule would eliminate the $500 minimum investment requirement from the Franchise Rule, meaning it would apply to all business opportunities, even if they have a smaller start-up cost.
The Proposed Rule also would eliminate many of the [twenty] disclosures that are required for franchises (trademarks, for example), but do not apply to business opportunities. Instead, the [Proposed Rule would require a one-page disclosure addressing five items: (1) whether or not sellers make earnings claims; (2) a list of any criminal or civil legal actions against the seller or its representatives that involve fraud, misrepresentations, securities, or deceptive or unfair trade practices; (3) whether the seller has cancellation or refund policies and such policies’ terms; (4) the total number of purchasers in the past two years and the number of those purchasers seeking a refund or to cancel in that time period; (5) and a list of references. Source: McGeorge Law Review, Vol. 39, No. 83, 2008
On March 12, 2003 the US House of Representative H.R. 1220 was proposed to the US House of Representatives to prohibit pyramid promotional schemes, chain letters, and related schemes. The Bill applies to enterprises that finance returns to participants through sums taken from newly attracted participants; in which new participants are promised large returns for their investments; and involve unfair and deceptive sales tactics, and lead to the victimization of unwitting individuals.
The Bill covers pyramid promotional schemes, chain letters and relates to schemes constituting a threat in interstate commerce and to the financial well-being of the citizens of the United States. With the advent of the global Internet makes pyramid promotional schemes international threats.

Do Something – Petition for Consumer Protection Against Pyramid Schemes
The US Federal and State Government have done very little to protect consumers and business opportunity seekers against “Pyramid Schemes” and “Internet Scams.” In recent years, Federal and State Lawmakers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) have ignored, allowed or protected pyramid and Ponzi operators to flourish without consumer safeguards. This has not only cost consumer billions of dollars but the Federal and State Government in lost tax revenue. Case in point, the Bernard Madoff scandal is part of a larger pattern of neglect and failure to enforce laws and protect consumers from Ponzi and pyramid scams. The $50 billion lost by investors is only the tip of the iceberg that cases like this cost consumers, investors and the Government.
How many more of these schemes and scams have to occur before the US Government acts on consumer protection fraud laws? I am asking you to do your part, if you want this to change. Please, Sign the Petition Below. Fraud and deception flourish when honest people are silent.

We, the People, call on Congress and the Obama Administration to end the neglect of consumer protection and the failure of law enforcement regarding pyramid scams and Ponzi operators.
We respectfully request a Congressional Investigation of the FTC and SEC regarding enforcement of laws against Pyramid Selling Schemes, Multi-level Marketing Scams, Ponzi Investment Frauds, Bogus "Business Opportunity" and "Work from Home" Schemes.

Sign Petition Here: (http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/ConsumerPetition.php )

Contact:

Cynthia Mittelsteadt
DubLi Shopping Consultant
(510) 659-6330
Skype: cynthia.ebishop

cynthiamittel@gmail.com
5178 Mowry Avenue #2164, Fremont, CA 94538
http://dubli.com/video-2959282

Copyright © 2010 eBusiness Insight, Inc.

Recommended Free Internet Tools - Part 1

Fast and Free Content for Your Articles and Blogs
The Wikipedia Powerset Search Engine

Cynthia Mittelsteadt, February 28, 2010

I do a lot of research to find content for the articles I write for my blogs. I get some of my content from Wikipedia and recently discovered an amazing search engine called Powerset from Microsoft which is specifically designed for Wikipedia.

When I started my home-based business, I spent a lot of money on Internet services, tools and software that did not provide the value and the functionality I needed to develop and manage a successful Internet business. Writing good articles and blogs is one of the most important marketing tools for N online business. I discovered that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find rich high-quality content. Learn from my mistakes and try out the free tools I am recommending in this article and in my blogs in the days to come.

Powerset is one of my favorite tools to search for great content for my articles. It instantly searches Wikipedia for keyword rich content and pictures that you can use in your articles to generate traffic to your website or blog. And best of all, it‘s FREE.

We all know what a valuable site Wikipedia is, but Wikipedia can be quite difficult to find the exact information you want fast. How can you use Wikipedia to find information about your niche market or favorite topic to write articles or blogs?

That is where Powerset.com (http://www.powerset.com ) comes in and saves the day. Powerset is an amazing Wikipedia search engine that automatically sorts and summarizes Wikipedia keyword searches for you. You can quickly see all the information about your particular topic. Powerset will cut your research time down by approximately 95%.

Let me know if this amazing tool helps you find rich content for your article or blog on Wikipedia faster.

Cynthia Mittelsteadt

(510) 659-6330
cynthiamittel@gmail.com

Skype: cynthia.ebishop
Twitter: dublibigsavings

A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anything from change the world to share your shopping list.

DubLi Helps Online Shoppers Save More Money

DubLi's goal is to help people save money on the things they buy online every day, every week, every month, every birthday, anniversary and holiday at lower price than ever before.

DubLi is doing this by creating a Closed Group Community of Online Shoppers that when pulled together it help everyone get greater discounts.

“The Dubli business model COULD change the dynamic of the buying public forever.”

DubLi is a global e-commerce platform composed of two very unique and individual business models: DubLi.com, is a reverse auction portal selling the most popular branded merchandise sold online. DubLi Network is the business opportunity site where consumers can establish their own business in a competitive market.

DubLi.com's auction portal features only high quality inventory from the world's leading manufacturers, popular gift cards and debit/cash cards from Visa, MasterCard and AMEX. The auction website is open for business seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The key difference between a reverse auction and a traditional auction is that the price for an item in a traditional auction is continually driven up from bids placed by potential buyers, whereas in a reverse auction, the price for an item is continually driven down.dubli, dubli.com, online shopping, smart online shoppers,Visa, MasterCard, Amex, reverse auction, closed group community, global e-commerce, iPod, Hewlett Packard,Sony,Nintendo,disney,Rolex,Louis Vuitton, Gucci

Brands featured in DubLi auctions include, but are not limited to: iPod, Hewlett Packard, SONY, Nintendo, Disney, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci. The success behind DubLi.com's reverse auction lies in the formula of being able to drive down prices incrementally with single bids placed by the consumers until the prices reaches a point where it provides good value to the buyer. DubLi includes a best price guarantee assuring the auction winners that they are buying the products at a lower price than they can get from any online merchant. If the customer finds the item at a lower price 30 days after purchase from DubLi, they match the price and give the 10% of the purchase price

The primary objective of DubLi's business model is to provide equal opportunities for buyers on the web to profit from downward purchase pricing. The reverse auction business model offered by DubLi Network is a proactive effort to help DubLi's Business Associates yield maximum returns on an Internet business as well as to provide high quality goods and services to customers in any country around the world.

It is easy to join the DubLi Shopping Community where we past the power of number savings onto our members. It’s Fun, It’s Fast and It’s Free to Join! Watch this short video, register and get Free Credits to try out the Auction on us: http://www.itsfunfastfree.com

Once you are registered and have redeemed your Free Credits worth 80¢ each give me a call for your own personal shopping training.

Cynthia Mittelsteadt

DubLi Shopping Consultant

(510) 659-6330

Skype: cynthia.ebishop

cynthiamittel@gmail.com

DubLi Customer Get Discounted AMEX Gift Cards with No Monthly Fee

American Express has now eliminated monthly fees on its popular gift cards in a move that is likely to prompt its competitors to do the same. American Express says that consumers have been enthusiastic about the cards as an alternative to store-based gift certificates because the holders can redeem them anywhere American Express is accepted, but many complained about the monthly fee that kicked in after 12 months and eroded the balance.

American Express’ decision goes further than legislation Congress enacted earlier this year that would limit, but not eliminate, monthly fees on gift cards. American Express began selling gift cards five years ago, and it now sells more than $1 billion worth of cards a year. Consumers who are members of DubLi, the Global Online Shopping portal can buy discounted American Express Gift Cards in the DubLi Auctions for discounts up to 98%. There are currently two American Express Gift Cards in the Xpress Auction.
It is easy to join the DubLi Shopping Community where we past the power of number savings onto our members. It’s Fun, It’s Fast and It’s Free to Join! Watch this short video, register and get Free Credits to try out the Auction on us: http://www.itsfunfastfree.com

Once you are registered and have redeemed your Free Credits worth 80¢ each give me a call for your own personal shopping training.

Cynthia Mittelsteadt
DubLi Shopping Consultant
(510) 659-6330
Skype: cynthia.ebishop
cynthiamittel@gmail.com