A Day in Oporto – trendy city

Rua Miguel Bombarda
 

9.30 Breakfast with a view
Have breakfast at the hotel Eurostars Das Artes (1) (Rua do Rosário, 160; www.eurostarshotels.com, double, from 89 euros), an austere and modern four star hotel with a facade of blue tiles and a relaxing garden, as the many buildings that are in the neighborhood. Should visit their sunroom, review last mail and breathe: that calm will disappear once you walk out the door.  

10.00 The sidewalk gallery

Rua Miguel Bombarda is one of Europe's most street art galleries and avant-garde Multiespacios per square meter. First stop: Process you Home Design (2) (number 584), a gallery shop vintage decor with original furniture from Louis Poulsen. Serves Mendanha Artur, one of the drivers of the business area, which advises us on the path of the new art Luso. On the sidewalk, a gallery after another without rest: Presença (3) (570), with works of great art and Brazilian Portuguese, like photographers Helena Almeida and Miguel Rio Branco; Serpente (4) (in 558 ) for new artistic values; Quadrado Azul (5) (553), with international proposals and facilities infarction; Reflexus (6) (531), art photography and performance art.

 

11.30 The artist of the new seam

Eye of the streets perpendicular to Miguel Bombarda, art and design expand as oil stains on the margins. In the Rua Adolfo Casais Monteiro is Nuno Gama's Store (7) (101), one of Portugal's most famous designers in Spain and with few outlets in our country. This is important even with horn-rimmed glasses, studded belts and Converse sneakers, the environment demands it. The styling can be completed in Miau Frou Frou (8) (Michael Bombard, 416), a shop with clothes and anonymous young Portuguese designers. From necklaces to dress balloon thousand pieces.

12.30 An organic snack
Take a break in the perpendicular Rua do Rosário. The neighborhood becomes a more popular, shops and cafes, but the smell of resisting modernity. We stopped at Quintal (9) (Rosário, 177) for a 100% organic snack. Everything is echoed, until the cups of mud in which they serve you tea. A few more numbers there in the 274, Rua do Rosário, Madame Janvier - J is a disk space with bold, original vintage clothing and hair pins with images of the fifties. This is also art.

13.30 pictorial Tapas

For lunch, the restaurant bar Gallery 110 (11) (Do Rosário, 110). Luso modern Tapas style between old couches, chairs recycled and paintings by artists from the neighborhood. A simple scenario for garlic shrimp or cod salad. The account is discrete, such as local, about 20 euros per head. At night you can find live music.

15.30 The total space

In No. 274, Rua do Rosário is Wohh! (12) a usual signature of the trendy shops of London and Berlin. Clothes for shopaholics. But it is in muud (13) (Rosário, 294; www.muuda.com) where we understand that art is also sewn, is puckered and has pattern. In this beautiful, modern space (Artesabores & design are called) you can try clothes by young designers Portuguese (Ana Salazar, Alexandra Moura, Ricardo Dourado ...), the walls serve as gallery (exhibition change every month), and you can eat in an adjoining room (subject). 

17.00 The exclusive furniture Return to the starting point. Rua Miguel Bombarda continues to fuel the desire for the avant-garde. Carisma (14) (141) is great for those who lose the head with designer furniture or wish to illustrate the walls of your home with new names of art. Here presented Patricia Correia, Hugo Silva or Célia Dias, Portuguese sounding increasingly biennial art and design. Do not know if the pieces are sculptures and lamps. Topping the route Trindade (15) (200), which sponsors artists Lusos at very attractive prices. 

18.30 Pop Gallos

At the mall Bombarda (16) the name does not do justice to what's inside. It is true that international fashion shops, but also the core of meeting people in the neighborhood: just drink a soda in the halls, taking the sun on your indoor garden or buy a T-shirt. The new, colorful handicrafts Water Furtado (Loja, 4) debunks the traditional porcelain figure of a cock Portuguese, and Piurra (loja 26) sell furniture winding. 

 

20.30 Dinner in plan 'indie'

At the end of the street is bustling youth. It Rota do Cha (17) (www.rotadocha.pt; Miguel Bombarda, 457), a tearoom, shop and restaurant on two floors. The place is home to the decoration, and costs to discern whether you're in a Portuguese home oriental inspiration or a cultural center of New York's Soho indie. Streamed fashion victims. In the letter, vegetarian options, but also have good fish. Finally, a tea, of course, and all for 30 euros. 

 

22.00 A blue cocktail Picasso
In Porto you are installing the culture of a drink in a hotel. Capping the night for artists: the Infanta Sagres (18) (Filipa de Lencastre, 62; www.hotelinfantesagres.pt, double, from 140 euros). The atmosphere is sophisticated, and the cocktail, blue Picasso (10 euros), that's why we take a day surrounded by art.

 

tbs

Casa del Libro and its IT problem

Context:

Casa del libro was founded in 1923 in Madrid. The company is the second bookseller in Spain. Casa del libro belongs to Planeta, the main editorial group in Spain. It is also known for their database with more than 3'000'000 references.

The bet:

In the late 90's, Planeta wanted to achieve leadership in the Spanish book market, and saw the casadellibro.com a way to achieve it. Casa del livro already sold book in the internet, but in a very rustic way, with a demand of lot of processing. In 1999, they hired a consulting firm and in 2001 a CEO, to develop this business.

The problem:

To support the expectations of a increasing market, and business expectations, the consulting firm, suggested the most advance and expensive IT solution. This year, brought to the company new challenges: 11^th terrorist attack, the AOL, their partner in internet was slowing activity, and the IT solution did work. In such context, the group adopted a austerity position, trying to cut expenditures

The question:

Should they keep the platform and redesign or change to another, in this case Microsoft?

To make a decision, we must to make some questions:

• Is this a long term bet to Planeta?
  
• The priority is to reduce cost or develop a business that can bust sales?
  
• Was the investment first platform considered a sunk cost (as it should)?
  
• Was is the trend in the demand in the business plan?
  

In my opinion this is a short call decision: focus on cost, focus in rapid implementation, so we should opt for the Microsoft solution. The old system had higher installation cost, had a very high maintenance cost and to justify its implementation the scalability was fairly high. The Microsoft solution would have lower installation costs and low maintenance cost. In this period, beginning of 2000 e-commerce in Spain was a mirage, so we should be very cautious in our decision. We should never forget that at this time, the first investment is a sunk cost, so we should decide on future expectations.

 

tbs

TESCO 

How a CRM change an industry

Brief Tesco history:

The chain was founded by Jack Cohen in 1919. The brand first appeared after Cohen bought a shipment of tea from T.E. Stockwell and he used those initials and added the first two letters of his own surname. The first Tesco store was opened in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware, Middlesex. During the 1950s and the 1960s Tesco grew organically, and also through acquisitions, until it owned more than 800 stores.

The Tesco Miracle began when after buying Dunnhumby (marketing data specialist) Tesco discovered that the top 100 costumers spend the same amount of money as the button 4000. They also discovered that the 25% of the bottom base only represented 2% of the total sales. With Dunnhumby, Tesco has able develop a huge CRM were it could study the value of each client, the frequency of buying, expenditure, where and what product the clients bought. Dunnhumby analyses the sales data from stores to enable it to construct complex marketing strategies and promotional campaigns. Within only a few months its impact was obvious. Research showed that customers spent 28% more at Tesco while cutting their spending at Sainsbury’s by 16%.

In 1995, period when retail stores competed “only” on price, it believed that all it needed to attract customers was low prices, Tesco was able to make a revolution in this market: customer-focused instead of “Always Low Prices” recognizing customer intelligence as a key factor of differentiation.

In this same year, Tesco launch the Club card, a loyal card where clients received points in which purchase. With this strategy, Tesco was able to collect data from their clients, and retained their clients. With this information, Tesco usually sent to its clients, vouchers with discount of the product that they like. To the best clients, the store manager, reserve a place to the top clients. Just to have an idea of the volume of the information collect in the first 3 month of trial, Dunnhumby collected 50 billion transactions.

The success of Tesco was so big (see the graph above) that the company has also sold its services to Kroger. It has helped Kroger to stage a recovery against Wal-Mart after a long period of losing ground.

Today, Tesco sells 97 full range of financial services with a partnership with Bank of Scotland, cars between others. Tesco identified 108 different segments which engage in different ways.

After the store success Tesco went online, becoming the leader in e-grocery and second e-retailer in the world after Amazon.com. 2008 Update on Tesco UK Online Market Share - share of UK visits in September 2008 was:

• Tesco 27.1%
• Asda 10.1%
• Aldi (which doesn't sell online) 9.5%
• Sainsburys 6.9%
• Waitrose / Ocado on 4.2%.

This is clearly a success story,

tbs

One of the major computer manufacturers worldwide - Dell - has prompted new efforts by Microsoft to make Windows more secure, saying that the Ubuntu Linux distribution offers greater protection, mainly because it is less concerned in security attacks PCs, given the low number of system users. According to the site IT PRO, the company decided to give greater support to Ubuntu, even revealing, in a statement ten reasons why PC users should choose the distribution of Linux instead of Windows to buy their computers. Among the reasons listed, the highest security, boot, stylish design and the fact that Ubuntu is "social from the start". "Linux has been around for 20 years. The software is not only stable and reliable, but also universal. Linux is used in computers of all sizes, from smaller to larger" advocates Dell.

The company has been selling PCs with Ubuntu since 2007, ensuring that all computers have been tested to ensure the best experience of internet and multimedia that Linux can offer, the web site The Register. Dell's intention is to make clear to their customers and consumers that there is no reason to fear a PC with Linux simply because the operating system is not exactly the same as Windows. According to the Gemini site, the company is preparing to offer soon 10:04 Ubunto distribution LTS (Long Term Support) on several of its systems, which justifies their very effort to make the public more receptive to the system

The 10 reasons:

10) Ubuntu is simple and elegant: If you're the kind of person who likes your computer to simply work, Ubuntu is right for you. It's based on stable, secure, easy-to-use software that's been around for a long time.

9) Ubuntu is designed for the Internet: Do you spend most of your time on the Internet? Ubuntu connects you to the Internet in seconds. Firefox is a very popular browser and works well with practically every website you'll run across, e.g. news sites, social media sites, etc. It also works great with web-based e-mail sites like Yahoo or Gmail.

8) Ubuntu is "social from the start": The people who make Ubuntu designed it to be very social-media centric. Do you use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or any of the other dozens of popular social networking sites? Ubuntu 9.10 works very well with these websites. And beginning with Ubuntu 10.04, these websites will be integrated into the Ubuntu OS itself for your convenience.

7) Ubuntu plays videos, songs, and movies easily: Do you like to watch videos on YouTube, buy songs from Amazon, pop in DVD's from the local video store? No problem! Dell bundles a multimedia player with Ubuntu to deliver a great entertainment experience.(DRM protected music not supported.)

6) Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft® Windows®: The vast majority of viruses and spyware written by hackers are not designed to target and attack Linux.

5) Ubuntu boots up fast: Beginning with Ubuntu 10.04, available on Dell systems this summer, boot times have improved dramatically over Ubuntu 9.10. Depending upon the Dell computer your purchase, boot times can be around 30 seconds!

4) With Ubuntu, you have access to 1,000's of free software programs

3) Ubuntu with OpenOffice is compatible with Microsoft® Office and Adobe® Acrobat®: Do you need to open Microsoft Office documents? What about Adobe Acrobat? Ubuntu comes with the award-winning OpenOffice software. With it, not only can you create word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and even drawings, but it can also open and save documents in Microsoft Office format. Do you ever get .pdf files emailed to you—no problem!

2) Ubuntu is based on Linux®: Linux has been around for nearly 20 years. The software itself is not only stable and reliable, but also pervasive. Linux is used on computers of all sizes ranging from the biggest to the smallest.

1) Ubuntu comes pre-loaded with select Dell desktop, notebook, and netbook computers

The fanny part of all this story is that some people have phone to Dell to order and…

"The only problem is that today, after reading this news I called in and tried to buy a Dell computer with no operating system, but those mounted on promotion, and failed. Without the system the computer is even more expensive ... Strange?"

Should companies adapt to ERP's, or the other way around?

First what is a ERP?

Enterprise Resource Planning, a business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. As the ERP methodology has become more popular,software applications have emerged to help business managers implement ERP in business activities such as inventory control, order tracking, customer service, finance and human resources

Evolution

In the beginning the programs were tailor made. These functional systems facilitated the work of a single department or function. These systems grew as a natural expansion of the capabilities of systems of the first era. These new functional areas added features and functions to encompass more activities and to provide more value and assistance. The problem with functional applications is their isolation. The clients end with several databases and data fragmentation.

The question

There is no exact under. To avoid these isolated islands, companies should have some discipline and should respect the organization purposed by specialists / consultants. They have more experience. On the other hand, which company is different, and nowadays these ERP’s are easily customized, so very near the reality of their clients.

The DellHell case

In June 2005, Dell Inc. received some complains from one client - Jeff Jarvis. Jeff Jarvis acquired a Dell Computer, and nothing could predict what happened. Jeff purchased a Dell manufactured laptop as well as the four year at home warranty. After the purchase, Jeff started to have major problem with his computer. Since his problems were not resolved by Dell he began to write a blog with the name Dell Hell. In this blog he reported almost daily the experience with Dell’s customer service. It was not long before the “Dell Hell” posts began to catch the attention of the mainstream media. As a result of the bad press and Dell Inc.’s continued silence on the issue, the computer industry giant’s sales and reputation began to plummet.

It was not until Jarvis wrote a letter directly to Michael George, Dell’ s Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for US Consumer Business, that Jarvis received the long awaited reply.

However, the fires of Dell Hell had been stoked and continued to burn throughout the summer of 2005. Thousands of other unhappy Dell customers had either commented on Jarvis’ blogs or linked to it from their own and it was not long before the mainstream media took notice.

So what went wrong?

Despite the bad press and negative blogging, Dell remained quiet and silent. Why? Dell knew what was being said about them in the blogosphere, but it was company policy not reply publicly. In the eyes of Dell, blogging did not have much credibility. Don’t forget that at this time, blogging was in its beginning…

Final Resolution:

A year after the Dell Hell incident, Dell created two new corporate communication initiatives which incorporated social media technology

How to avoid the Hell?

The “Dell Hell” case teaches us the importance for the corporate approach to both social media and consumer relations. Dell learned from their experience with mainstream social media and took the proper measures to counter the effects of ‘Dell Hell’ and preventative care to avoid future incidents. Dell should have give more importance to the critics since they started in the Jarvis Blog.

OPORTO

History

The name of Porto Portugal, came from pre-Roman settlement. In Roman times is designated or Portus Cale Cale, being the origin of the name of Portugal. In the year 868, Vímara Peres, founder of Portugalense Land, had an important contribution in the conquest of territory from the Moors, thus restoring the city of Portugal.

In 1111, D. Theresa, mother of the first king of Portugal, granted the Bishop Hugo the land of Porto. The weapons part of the city the image of Our Lady. Hence the fact that Porto is also known as the "city of the Virgin," epithets that must be attached to the "Old, Noble, Leal e Invictus', which were being allocated over the following centuries and made valor of its inhabitants, and which were ratified by decree of King Maria II of Portugal.

f you arrive in your car, you better find a good parking, since the layout of the streets makes it difficult to traffic (more if you do not know well the city) and parking is really difficult.

The area of the medieval village is bounded by walls of the fourteenth century and was classified by Unesco as World Heritage. Here are located the oldest buildings in the city, its typical streets and some of the most attractive public spaces. Since the development of Porto was a process accompanied by close relations with the left bank of the Douro River, the proposed classification also includes Flagship Ponte D. Luis I, written by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel - Theophile Seyrig - and it is the monument overlooking the convent Agostinho Da Serra do Pilar. The area of protection practically coincides with the older suburbs of the medieval city, either side of the Port, as Vila Nova de Gaia. The latter includes the amphitheater on the hillside, where to deploy the Port Wine cellars. The northern shore, are part of the old parish Miragaia, the northern belt, whose renovation was begun in the eighteenth century, the old suburb of San Ildefonso and the escarpment of the cranes and Fontainhas that in terraces down to the River Douro.

Not in the shade, but in parallel. Oporto makes noise of modernity at the same time Lisbon. But the town of Duero is more pure in their proposed design, contemporary art and urban culture. Among the cakes and wine cellars of Porto, the river cruises and tours by the Portuguese baroque, is growing a particular neighborhood, full of modern young fans and the iPhone cigarette pants and dream of being artists.

Always in the shadow of the magical Lisbon and washed by an already dying Duero, Portugal's second city has a soul and names Port one of the world's most famous wines.

Cathedral Quarter

In this area there are many interesting sights of Porto. In the shadow of the Cathedral extends Barredo, a neighborhood of narrow streets and labyrinthine that preserves the medieval layout. Here will be very lively street markets, and deserves punishment he walked down to the port (and lost a little) towards the streets.

The Cathedral (or know) was built as a church and fort on the S. Thirteenth time of retaining the canopy of the west facade. The building has seen many changes throughout its history, what is needed is unity of style. In the south transept is accessed XIV century cloister and the Chapel of Sao Vicente. At the door of the cathedral there is a large plaza, the Palace Square Sé, with wonderful views of the city. In one corner of the square stands a pillory Manueline topped hooks.

Architecture Manueline: school which flourished during the reign of King Manuel I, is a variety of specifically Portuguese late Gothic.. Maritime motifs abound, the influence of the age of discovery and conquest of the Portuguese navigators. The decor is rich and elaborate. The maximum representations of this style is the Convent of Christ in Tomar; the porch of the Church of Madre de Deus, Lisbon, and the Battle Royal Cloister.

Sao Bento Train Station: In the area of the cathedral is the Sao Bento station, 1916, the lobby is decorated with tiles, the work of Jorge Colaço, representing typical historical scenes and rural festivals. It retains the aura of romance of the old steam train travel.

Barrio de Ribeira: Follow the river Duero, with its narrow streets and arcades. You will find many houses with tile facades, and others painted in pastel colors that give the neighborhood a quaint tone.

Boavista neighborhood

Extension of the city, the long Avenida de Boavista is surrounded by hotels, shops and office buildings. Shopping area of Porto, in the heart of the Boavista Rotunda is a statue of a lion crushing an eagle (the Luso-British army defeated the Napoleonic eagle.). Visit the beautiful Casa da Musica one of the City’s most important building.

The Centre “Baixa”

If we look at the Avenida dos Aliados, found in the far north the city of Oporto. In the Baixa (lower or neighborhood) is the Rua Santa Catarina and Rua Sa Bandeira, elegant shopping streets. In between is the covered market Bolhao, another crucial point of the city.

This area also houses the Majestic Café, a wonderful well preserved, with a century old. It is worth stopping for a while in one of their tables for a coffee (or whatever you want, have a very wide letter.)

 Café Majestic, Palacio de la Bolsa and Igreja de Sao Francisco. This Church was built in 1842 on the old monastery of San Francisco. The most interesting building is the Arab room, inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, with beautiful golden arabesques. Located next to the Palacio de la Bolsa. Open from 9.00 to 18.00 h.

Built in the S. XIV, the church interior was paneled in S. XVIII, being hidden its initial structure. In 1833 a fire destroyed part of the cloister and the church (as we have seen on this ground is building the exchange.)

The altar and the pillars are covered with carvings representing angels, animals and decorative garlands, talldos with more than 200 kgs. gold. It should be noted the Tree of Jesse, which shows the family tree of Christ, with Jesse, father of King David, at the base, and St. Joseph, the Virgin and Jesus Christ crowning the height. You can go down to the catacombs, interesting (and somewhat frightening) visit.

Church (and Tower) clergy: Built by Niccolo Nasoni XVIII. It has attached the Tower, 75 meters high, one of the reference points of Porto.

Dom Luis I Bridge: Designed by architect Seyrig, an attendant of Eiffel (the style of the building shows the influence of this one) was built in 1886 and is 172 m. long.

Vila Nova de Gaia (the other parto of the river)

Opposite the old part of town, across the river, is Gaia, with the port wine cellars aligned and open to visitors. To enter them it's best to buy a combined ticket which includes boat trip and visit. Numerous small boats offering a tour of the Duero, passing under the six bridges that link the two sides of the city, and then given the opportunity to visit one (or several) holds.

Port wine: When the S. XVII British merchants discovered the port wine found a nasty surprise: the wine is sour during the trip from Portugal to the Islands. They soon discovered a way to avoid it: add brandy. This interrupted the process of fermenting grapes, retaining its natural sweetness. Obtained and a sweet wine with many degrees of excellent flavor. Port wine as we know it today. It can be said therefore that the Port is a Portuguese wine but a British invention, which is noted on the labels of wineries, most English name.

There are different types of Oporto.

·         White: it is sweet and dry, served cold and is drunk as an aperitif.

·         Tawny: pink tone and flavor somewhere between white and ruby

·         Ruby: deep red, fruity and are aged in wood.

·         Vintage: the most appreciated, is made from a mixture of the best wines of the same crop.

Some practical information on arrival in the city

Oporto is one of those cities that have the good taste to communicate the airport and the downtown of a comfortable, quick and cheap. El Metro (it is actually a round surface, the rocky soil of Porto prevents build an underground metro) connects the airport with the Trindade Station (next to the Avenida dos Aliados) in 30 minutes, € 1.35. However, if you choose to take a taxi ...