April 1 - 15 , 2017 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY 9
durianrepublic by JJ Atencio
As a businessman and a customer , I learned early on that there are three basic values that we all look for in the products and services we buy or use . We all want it FAST , CHEAP and GOOD . This simple principle has led to many life-changing innovations that affect not only how we make things , but also the way we buy them .
As life becomes more complicated , our time has become so precious that we need things fast . Even with rising incomes , buying the right things that last long at the right price to maintain a certain lifestyle requires us to always look for bargains and discounts . And through it all , we need good products that don ’ t break easily or quickly .
Now , mechanization in the 1920s , the discovery of the assembly line system in the 50 ’ s , computerization in the 70s and automation in the 80s enabled the manufacturing process to achieve enormous economies of scale that made many ordinary products available at low prices in massive quantities .
Today , the idea of fast , cheap and good has given rise to everyday products like fast food , low-cost housing , compact cars and budget airlines . And the push to make “ new improved ” versions of these products faster , cheaper and better than its predecessor is making industries more
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Conrad Manila in sales , revenue , event management , and marketing .
Conrad Manila ’ s General Manager Harald Feurstein is fully supportive of the appointment . He said , “ We are pleased to have Michael join the Conrad Manila team in the role of director of business development . His strong understanding of the luxury hotel sector makes him a good fit to the property and a strong leader to the business development team .”
Michael is excited about his appointment to be part of a “ great international brand and I am looking forward to continuing to strengthen the hotel ’ s leading position in the market .”
Conrad Manila offers the popular Conrad Concierge mobile app , which gives global luxury travelers the ability to customize details of their hotel stay before , during and after visit via a smartphone or tablet . Whether it ’ s pre-selecting bath amenities or checking-in while in-transit from the airport , guests can access a variety of features by using the app . * * * Here are creative writing classes for your youngsters teens from multi-awarded
competitive , and the market more discerning . In today ’ s world , fast is now instant like coffee , cheap is now affordable like ready-to-wear , and good is now generic like medicine .
But that ’ s only half of the story .
The other half of the principle is you can typically only get two out three each time . Meaning : If its fast and cheap , it won ’ t be good . If its cheap and good , it won ’ t be fast . And , if you want it good and fast , it won ’ t be cheap .
There are many products that come to mind that have two out of three of theses values . From cheap gadgets that break down after a month , good food that takes an hour to serve , to being disappointed at having to pay so much and wait so long for an ill-fitting suit .
But what if you can break that rule and provide a product or service that has all three ?
Companies that are able to provide goods and services that are fast , cheap and good are destined to dominate the market . In the old days , cars were hand made , took forever to build , and cost a small fortune that only the rich could afford one . Then Henry Ford came along , and created the assembly line to mass produce a dependable Model T that was “ big enough for the family , small enough to maintain but sold at a price that anyone working can well afford to own one .” What happened was not just the creation of an innovative product , but a change in the very way humans lived .
Today , you ’ ve got apparel companies like JBanks for suits , as well as H & M , Zara and Uniqlo for smart casual wear that can provide the widest range of clothes that are ready to wear , cheap to buy and as good as their up-scale counterparts . And they ’ re killing their c o m p e t i t i o n as a result . Perhaps the most significant wave today in consumerism is internet s h o p p i n g where , because of rent-free virtual offices and shops , c o u n t l e s s goods and services are being created e v e r y d a y to provide c o n s u m e r s with the same goods , but faster and cheaper with significantly m o r e convenience .
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book author Neni Sta . Romana Cruz .
Young Writers ’ Summer Hangout ( individual classes ): April 22 , 29 , May 13 , 20 , 27 , and June 3 ( 1:30 p . m . to 3 p . m .)
Wonder of Words Workshop ( 6 sessions ): May 8 , 10 , 12 , 15 , 17 , and 19 ( 1:30 p . m . to 3 p . m . for eight to 12 years old ; 4 p . m . to 6 p . m . for 13 to 17 years old ) at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street . For registration & fee details , writethingsph @ gm ail . com .
“ Writing That Works ” and “ Photography That Gets Published ” workshops will be given by Chelo Banal-Formoso and Mandy Navasero , respectively . Day one , consisting of lectures and actual exercises , will be held on April 27 , Thursday , at Two Gardens in Silang , Cavite . Day two , consisting of sharing and critiques , will be held on May 4 at the LRI Bldg ., Rm . 329 , LRI Design Plaza , Makati City . To sign up , call 02 896 3208 or 63 995 791 8191 or email luzamandolina @ gmail . com or drop by LRI Design Plaza .
And on May 15 , one-day travel photography to Lukban ’ s PAHIYAS Fiesta . Lunch at Potter by Ugu Bigyan . ( mb . com )
Fast , Cheap and Good
dialect , the word “ cheap ” is not so much associated with “ mura ” as it is more understood in the context of “ sulit ”. Goods and services are not anymore measured in terms of just its rock-bottom prices but also in terms of value for money . Being “ cheap ” therefore means creating more and more benefits in the product than its increase in price . While its true that we get what we pay for , the challenge of being fast , cheap and good all the time is a mission towards adding more and more value in terms of its accessibility , price leadership and reliable functionality .
I ’ ve always believed that business exists because they are able to effectively solve a problem . And if you can create a product that solves the basic problems of slow delivery , expensive price and shoddy product , the market is wide open . This principle applies not only in business but also government . But that ’ s another story for another time .
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