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Local Economic Development Agencies and Chambers of Commerce are not yet organized to optimize access to markets. In some way they are operating like community banks were operating 25 years ago.
25 years ago, there was about 14 000 community banks. Between 1994 and 2003, the number of community banks fell from 9600 to 7300; at the same time, branch banking nearly doubled with about 86 branch banks totalizing about 40 000 branches in 2003.
Since then, the traditional image of the brick and mortar bank where the bank manager was understanding the local market and had strong customer relationships changed dramatically in good part because of technology and regulatory changes. Automated teller machines (ATMs) proliferated; the Internet gave rise to virtual banking. Banks developed centralized call centers to handle customer service issues and to initiate transactions. The way banking was brought to local markets changed dramatically because of technology and convergence.
The same is about to happen for local Economic Development Agencies and Chambers of Commerce. Currently federated through regional and local office. They are not yet organized to optimize access to markets. In some way they are operating like community banks were operating 25 years ago (if not 50 years ago). Still today, thousands of economic development agencies operate as "brick and mortar centric" organizations where directors understand their local market and have strong customer relationships locally.
But things change. Economic Development Departments and head offices can witness a drastic change in the way international communications are performed. They have realized that preparing trade shows and commercial mission are not sufficient to attract commerce, investment and contracts.
We can predict that media and consulting convergence is about to change the geographic federation of economic development agencies by region, states and provinces and cities. Instead of being focused on local markets, agencies will become focus on export markets using the new media and virtually federating with flexibility under diverse criteria and categories.
Under economic pressure governments will be forced to accelerate these changes and to put away the dominant organization architecture based on brick and mortar. The convergence of digital media will change the current balance between political marketing and business marketing and accelerate the divide between these functions.
The private sector has already taken a large part of international communications channels; this trend shall affect the way economic development agencies will perform in the near future.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Selected as finalist by New York State
Last December, Industrial Affiliates has received a request for proposal to provide business development services to the New York State Department for Economic Development (NYS DED) and to the members of its export clusters. Last January our proposal was selected as one of the three finalists.
We beleive our selection as finalist was based on the strong background of professionals who joined us. For this occasion, we have regrouped professionnals from Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec joining together for the proposal and cumulating an impressive experience in Export, Training, Consultation, Market Intelligence and e-commerce. Several members of this Linkedin Group were part of this proposal
Inspired from corporate strategies used in the financial products and services industry, we proposed a scalable development plan based on the tools of the 21rst century. Our marketing plan and our tools can service a single business as well as to develop a network of hundreds of economic development agencies and thousands of export ready companies.
It was an honor to receive this request for proposal. Our selection as finalist energized our group and multiplied the possibilities to expand our reach in Quebec, Ontario and New York State in the very short term.
Our recent venture for the OMS Enterprise is an other step towards the implementation of the reach out plan. Today, we can say several economic development agencies are showing interest to use the tools and the business model to expand their reach in New York as well as several other states and provinces.
As the foundation of our business model is based on software as a service (saas) any one of our readers could use the system and the business model for their own success and business development.
In other words, our experience can become yours.
We beleive our selection as finalist was based on the strong background of professionals who joined us. For this occasion, we have regrouped professionnals from Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec joining together for the proposal and cumulating an impressive experience in Export, Training, Consultation, Market Intelligence and e-commerce. Several members of this Linkedin Group were part of this proposal
Inspired from corporate strategies used in the financial products and services industry, we proposed a scalable development plan based on the tools of the 21rst century. Our marketing plan and our tools can service a single business as well as to develop a network of hundreds of economic development agencies and thousands of export ready companies.
It was an honor to receive this request for proposal. Our selection as finalist energized our group and multiplied the possibilities to expand our reach in Quebec, Ontario and New York State in the very short term.
Our recent venture for the OMS Enterprise is an other step towards the implementation of the reach out plan. Today, we can say several economic development agencies are showing interest to use the tools and the business model to expand their reach in New York as well as several other states and provinces.
As the foundation of our business model is based on software as a service (saas) any one of our readers could use the system and the business model for their own success and business development.
In other words, our experience can become yours.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Industrial Affiliates and IMS add “OMS Enterprise” to their OEM agreement
Industrial Affiliates and Internet Merchandising Systems Inc. announced today their intention to add “OMS Enterprise” under the umbrella of their OEM Software Agreement signed on November 28 2009.
”OMS Enterprise” is part of this new generation of scalable softwares that include virtual resources provided as a service to businesses and professionals. OMS Enterprise is designed to:
1.Economic Development categories and subcategories
Trade
Including
The extension of our OEM software License Agreement with IMS Cart to ”OMS Enterprise” is a major step for the integration of our services within technological clouds, which will increase our strength and provide access to large markets » said Pierre Dumas, president and founder of Industrial Affiliates.
« OMS Enterprise is designed and configured from IMS's Enterprise Distribution Manager, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) application, with a powerful pre-built functionality that delivers features, benefits and exceptional price performance», said John Shenton, President of Internet Merchandising Systems. IMS Enterprise Distribution Manager can used by any reservation company seeking a system that enables them to distribute rates and inventory online and establish a significant and powerful booking and reservation online e-distribution centre.
About Internet Merchandising Systems Inc
Internet Merchandising Systems Inc. was founded on a commitment to develop innovative products and services to meet the online reservation needs of our clients and partners in improving their profitability and productivity. IMS has created and delivered, pre-built application functionality with a scalable service orientated architecture for Internet reservations, and integrated ticketing systems that helps companies build connected enterprises to capture more market share, communicate effectively and operate competitively in today’s Internet environment. www.imscart.com
About Industrial Affiliates
Industrial Affiliates provides business networks development services with agents referring opportunities to organizations, whether business associations, manufacturers, consultation and service providers. Industrial Affiliates also help to systematically manage opportunities between product and service suppliers and referring agents while keeping suppliers in charge of customer relationships. They acquire new customers they could hardly reach otherwise and pay referring agents only when sales or qualifying actions are completed. www.industrialaffiliates.net
”OMS Enterprise” is part of this new generation of scalable softwares that include virtual resources provided as a service to businesses and professionals. OMS Enterprise is designed to:
- Help business managers to advertise an unlimited number of business offers, to receive leads and reserve them under the the account of the disclosing party as well as to send informations of the sales process to the disclosing party.
- Help Economic Development Agencies, to advertise an unlimited number of businesses on the WEB and to receive reports about the performance of their business cluster or partners.
- Create an unlimited number of free regional business opportunity boards that extends the reach of businesses to receive sales leads from new markets and find new clients they could not find easily otherwise.
- Help businesses receive leads from professionals, reserve each leads under the professional accounts of disclosing party and provide systematic follow up.
1.Economic Development categories and subcategories
Trade
- direct sales
- distribution
- Acquisition
- Joint Venture
- New Implementation
- Real Estate
- Lisensor/licensee
- Sub-contractor/subcontractee
- Strategic Alliance
Including
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale Trade
- Information and Cultural Industries
- Finance and Insurance
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Region (ex: North America),
- Country,
- State/province,
- Airport city
The extension of our OEM software License Agreement with IMS Cart to ”OMS Enterprise” is a major step for the integration of our services within technological clouds, which will increase our strength and provide access to large markets » said Pierre Dumas, president and founder of Industrial Affiliates.
« OMS Enterprise is designed and configured from IMS's Enterprise Distribution Manager, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) application, with a powerful pre-built functionality that delivers features, benefits and exceptional price performance», said John Shenton, President of Internet Merchandising Systems. IMS Enterprise Distribution Manager can used by any reservation company seeking a system that enables them to distribute rates and inventory online and establish a significant and powerful booking and reservation online e-distribution centre.
About Internet Merchandising Systems Inc
Internet Merchandising Systems Inc. was founded on a commitment to develop innovative products and services to meet the online reservation needs of our clients and partners in improving their profitability and productivity. IMS has created and delivered, pre-built application functionality with a scalable service orientated architecture for Internet reservations, and integrated ticketing systems that helps companies build connected enterprises to capture more market share, communicate effectively and operate competitively in today’s Internet environment. www.imscart.com
About Industrial Affiliates
Industrial Affiliates provides business networks development services with agents referring opportunities to organizations, whether business associations, manufacturers, consultation and service providers. Industrial Affiliates also help to systematically manage opportunities between product and service suppliers and referring agents while keeping suppliers in charge of customer relationships. They acquire new customers they could hardly reach otherwise and pay referring agents only when sales or qualifying actions are completed. www.industrialaffiliates.net
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Forthcoming Marketing Campaign
In the past few months, Industrial Affiliates signed affiliation and alliances with
Industrial Affiliates is looking for companies and professionals interested to develop business in an interdependent and complementary fashion on new markets.
We propose a unique marketing campaign
Our first goal is to federate a group of companies interested to publish and advertise business offers to over 1200 economic development agencies located in 10 provinces and 25 states. These states are located in the North East, Mid Atlantic, Mid West and South of United States. Globally these markets represent over 10 000 billion dollars in Gross Domestic Product.
How can this campaign be free of charge?
We believe that our federation in the same marketing campaign can be a powerful vector to contact thousands of economic development agencies, intermediaries and clients the targeted markets. We also know this audience has a strategic value for large private companies and for governments. However, at this point in time, we do not have confirmation of sponsorship yet and we do not guarantee that we will have the sponsorships.
For Industrial Affiliates and for you as well, this campaign is a way to open new information pipelines and to gradually increase the number of companies using the same approach. We can start with small steps and grow as we gain momentum.
Geographic segmentation
We plan three stages in the reach out plan
1. Advertise and publish business offers in and between New York State, Ontario and Quebec markets. .
2. Same in the remaining 8 other provinces Canada and 13 states of USA:
The foundations of this campaign
Our approach is to federate several small companies into export clusters sharing the same marketing campaign.
This campaign is also based on entrepreneurship. We are all independent contractors. Nothing in our joint marketing campaign must be interpreted a partnership, legal association or joint venture. The marketing campaign will include an advertising agreement including several disclaimers and conditions to protect everyone as independent businesses.
Industrial Affiliates do not act as a sales intermediary or referrer during this promotion except for the companies that we have signed a formal affiliation agreement. So anyone who wants to join the campaign do not commit commissions, royalties or fees unless it is specifically agreed
Industrial Affiliates simply shares a marketing process , a communication plan and communication platform to advertise and publish business offers to economic development agencies or other intermediaries and clients.
Each business offers proposed by you must therefore have a reasonable competitive edge on the targeted market. Your business offer also need to be structured in a way to attract members in its customer value chain. Your business offer must therefore emerge from a thoughtful marketing and communication plan. This is the responsibility of each members
My roles as entrepreneur and publisher
As many entrepreneurs I have several roles in my company. I am a marketing consultant and Internet Technology entrepreneur. My roles will be described in our marketing agreement before we advertise business offers. Acting as a publisher I am interested to publish business offers that in our judgment will make sense to the audience as economic development agent.
However, we do hope this campaign will lead you to generate sales and along time to invest more in new marketing and communication services increasing sales and reducing costs. We also hope like most of our members, that we will continue to expand our affiliations with other companies, continue to provide marketing services and Develop IT systems
Your role
You are in charge of your plan and you delegate tasks and responbilities. You are responsible to advertise good and competitive business offers
Just make sure your offer can raise attention, interest and action on these markets.
It will be useful any way.
I have traveled to developed business in 20 of the 35 states and provinces targeted.
I remain available to answer your questions.
Pierre Dumas, M.Sc.
- Salesforce http://www.salesforce.com/ ,
- Taleo http://www.taleo.com/ ,
- Echosign http://www.echosign.com/ ,
- CFCI http://www.contactsmonde.com/ and
- Help Online http://www.help-online.ca/ .
Our business offer
What we are looking for Industrial Affiliates is looking for companies and professionals interested to develop business in an interdependent and complementary fashion on new markets.
We propose a unique marketing campaign
Our first goal is to federate a group of companies interested to publish and advertise business offers to over 1200 economic development agencies located in 10 provinces and 25 states. These states are located in the North East, Mid Atlantic, Mid West and South of United States. Globally these markets represent over 10 000 billion dollars in Gross Domestic Product.
Our second goal is to find sponsors interested to begin this reach out plan in
- New York State,
- Ontario and
- Quebec.
How can this campaign be free of charge?
We believe that our federation in the same marketing campaign can be a powerful vector to contact thousands of economic development agencies, intermediaries and clients the targeted markets. We also know this audience has a strategic value for large private companies and for governments. However, at this point in time, we do not have confirmation of sponsorship yet and we do not guarantee that we will have the sponsorships.
For Industrial Affiliates and for you as well, this campaign is a way to open new information pipelines and to gradually increase the number of companies using the same approach. We can start with small steps and grow as we gain momentum.
Geographic segmentation
We plan three stages in the reach out plan
1. Advertise and publish business offers in and between New York State, Ontario and Quebec markets. .
2. Same in the remaining 8 other provinces Canada and 13 states of USA:
Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New-Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia Saskatchewan
USA: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin).3. Reach out to 11 more states
USA: Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina.We estimate that over 190 000 companies would be involved in interstate, inter provincial and export in these markets. We also think that Economic Development Agencies and other intermediaries can become good intermediaries as they have contacts, knowledge and access to these companies.
The foundations of this campaign
Our approach is to federate several small companies into export clusters sharing the same marketing campaign.
This campaign is also based on entrepreneurship. We are all independent contractors. Nothing in our joint marketing campaign must be interpreted a partnership, legal association or joint venture. The marketing campaign will include an advertising agreement including several disclaimers and conditions to protect everyone as independent businesses.
Industrial Affiliates do not act as a sales intermediary or referrer during this promotion except for the companies that we have signed a formal affiliation agreement. So anyone who wants to join the campaign do not commit commissions, royalties or fees unless it is specifically agreed
Industrial Affiliates simply shares a marketing process , a communication plan and communication platform to advertise and publish business offers to economic development agencies or other intermediaries and clients.
Each business offers proposed by you must therefore have a reasonable competitive edge on the targeted market. Your business offer also need to be structured in a way to attract members in its customer value chain. Your business offer must therefore emerge from a thoughtful marketing and communication plan. This is the responsibility of each members
My roles as entrepreneur and publisher
As many entrepreneurs I have several roles in my company. I am a marketing consultant and Internet Technology entrepreneur. My roles will be described in our marketing agreement before we advertise business offers. Acting as a publisher I am interested to publish business offers that in our judgment will make sense to the audience as economic development agent.
However, we do hope this campaign will lead you to generate sales and along time to invest more in new marketing and communication services increasing sales and reducing costs. We also hope like most of our members, that we will continue to expand our affiliations with other companies, continue to provide marketing services and Develop IT systems
Your role
You are in charge of your plan and you delegate tasks and responbilities. You are responsible to advertise good and competitive business offers
Don't be too technical. Think of this campaign as if it was a trade show: your role is to write a business offers that can raise attention, interest and action from our readers, intermediaries and prospects.Tangibles for your organization
- First and foremost, the federation of our business offers aims to find sponsors for our collective campaign;
- This campaign can create new information pipelines that will help you find new intermediaries and clients on new markets;
- You will gradually learn from this new marketing experience.
Take this opportunity and advertise your business offer.
Our interest is to convert networking into sales.
I invite you to take this opportunity
Take the time to advertise and publish a precise business offer according to your business priorities
Our interest is to convert networking into sales.
I invite you to take this opportunity
Take the time to advertise and publish a precise business offer according to your business priorities
You can write as many business offers that you want.
In the beginning you will advetise in the section discussion of this group.
In the beginning you will advetise in the section discussion of this group.
Later we intend to publish your offer on the platform appropriate for our audience
Just make sure your offer can raise attention, interest and action on these markets.
It will be useful any way.
I have traveled to developed business in 20 of the 35 states and provinces targeted.
I remain available to answer your questions.
Pierre Dumas, M.Sc.
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