Guy Work

By Haywood Dickerson

 Phil Lempert (The Supermarket Guru) test-drives the Stop & Shop’s “Shopping Buddy”, a grocery chain’s attempt to eliminate the annoying check-out line.

It’s a fact : most supermarket shoppers love going to the supermarket - finding new products, tasting free samples and finding bargains - spending money.

But then it comes time to check out….

Having enjoyed the displays and the picking-out of items, they are then faced with the task of taking their selections, putting them on a conveyor and then putting them back in their cart.

And, usually, of having to wait in line for such a dubious privilege.

Yes, dealing with the supermarket check-out line - including the horror of having kids screaming for the candy “conveniently” placed there by profit-hungry conglomerates - is among the least popular chores, according to many surveys. And while many supermarkets have installed “self-checkout” lanes, only a third of consumers, according to a ACNielsen Homescan (the global leader in market research, information and analysis.) consumer panel of over 61,000 Americans, believe this kind of help-yourself method is no way near a solution.

Plainly, supermarkets need to figure out better ways to check out. And many of them are trying to come up with an answer.

One chain in particular, Stop & Shop, a chain based in the Boston area, is seeking to change the whole way we shop for groceries - including the dreaded check-out lane.

To find out more, I traveled to Braintree, Mass., to, um, check out Stop & Shop’s Shopping Buddy. I also looked at IBM’s Everywhere Display, a new in-store tool for marketing products to consumers.

The Shopping Buddy

Shopping Buddy can help you organize your shopping trip and save money! The Shopping Buddy is a small tablet that you activate with your Stop & Shop card. Once activated, the Shopping Buddy displays your personal savings coupons and shopping history by aisle, based on your location. It’s easy to see the things that you normally buy that are on sale in each aisle. You can also use Buddy to:

* Keep a running total of today’s purchases

* Order deli without waiting in line

* Scan and bag your items as you shop for quick checkout

Shopping Buddy is only available in the Braintree, Quincy Southern Artery, Kingston and Plymouth Massachusetts stores.

The IBM Everywhere Display

This transforms any surface into a virtual interactive touch screen computer. Next to an item on the grocery store shelf the Everywhere Display can give you information about the item including videos and web based information. It can tell you if an item is in stock and if not you can then and there place a special order for it. Of course, promotional savings are attached to these displays as well.

So, when will every store in America be as easy and fun to shop?

The Shopping Buddy is available in 20 stores in New England now and we will see another 150 installations in both Stop & Shop and its sister chain Giant (Washington DC area) by the end of 2005.

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Review of the Citi Professional Card

By Raul Levine

 Citibank renders its quality services to students, business personnel and the frequent travelers. It has brought for the business people, the Citi Professional Card to assist you in running (and managing the finances) your own business.

Features Of The Card

The Citi Professional Card has no annual fee, a reasonable annual percentage rate (APR) and theft protection options. For the initial nine months, there is a 0% APR on the balance transfers. No balance-transfer fee is applicable.

The card acts as the personal assistant.

Benefits Of The Card

The credit card enables you make business expenses, also helping in categorizing these expenses under suitable heads in your monthly statement. This option helps you during tax calculations. The card gives you the opportunity to create separate accounts for all your clients, equipment, supplies and materials.

The credit card can also help you with a phone number, restaurant information, travel arrangements and other office needs. You can avail of the services of amicable assistants for making hotel and travel reservations for you.

The Citi Professional Card provides you with online banking services, helping you pay your bills on time and track your outgoing expenses. This enables you to save your money and time if you are in the habit of missing out on payments.

The card allows you earn rebates and many more benefits from your daily business related purchases. Moreover, you can determine categories for expenses and every time you get a credit card statement, the purchases you made will be placed within your designated categories.

Points And Rewards

The beneficial online expense reporting tool enables you to set up reports for certain clients for helping you observe the transactions that are related to a specific category. The card demands no redemption fees for the points and no fees for the Thank You Network rewards program. The first purchase you make with your card will give you 10000 reward points, which are redeemable for a $100 gift card.

With spending every dollar at the participating retail establishments, like gas stations, supply stores and restaurants, you obtain 3 points. However, for spending every dollar at other locations, you earn one point. The points can always be added to your Thank You Network points balance.

Card Features

In case you already have a business credit card, you can transfer your balance to the Citi Professional Card in order to enjoy 9 months of 0% interest.

The card also provides you with access to a customer service 24/7. You can avail of the toll free number for speaking to a representative or gaining access to your online account for making payments, viewing minute statement details and gaining information on the unbilled activity.

Perks

The card offers you many Internet account related services, fraud and security protection services, lost and stolen card reporting and access to the online expense reporting tool.

It further provides many travel and emergency assistant services, a maximum of $1000000 in travel accident insurance, emergency card and cash replacement, quarterly and end of the year financial statements and many more benefits.

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