http://www.commerce.net
CommerceNet is a consortium of US Silicon Valley companies whch have
come together to create an electronic marketplace and these extensive Web
pages track the development of that marketplace, with thorough examples
of applications. This is essential reading for anyone looking at the Internet
from a professional point of view Ü the future of doing business on
the Internet will probably happen here.
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http://www.wta.net
This site sets out to be a showcase for British companies who want to
set up an Internet presence. Any project which helps get UK companies onto
the Internet has to be applauded but currently there's very little on show
here. Businesses in the categories of computer services, furniture, luggage
and leather are covered and there's just one company listed in each area.
Unless you want details on Harry Lee's bedding and the horse hair that goes
into making the mattresses this site is not essential viewing.
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http://www.videonics.com/
Apparently for amateurs as well as professionals, Videonics has done
its level best to make the task of pushing its products as engaging as possible.
Unfortunately it's failed and in reality there's a great deal of material
that makes the whole process seem interminably dull (we are talking about
a creative process after all). It's hardly a general interest page but is
potentially of use to someone setting up a facilities house. Incidently,
the glossary is good.
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http://www.zynet.co.uk/bpark/
A good idea, badly executed is what you might conclude from visiting
this site. Essentially it's a repository of industry news snippets, takeover
bids, buyouts etc about anything from pharmaceuticals to construction or
healthcare. Sorted by category, it's easy to navigate but its problem is
really presentation. The metaphor of 'business park' is fine in itself (though
more resonant of 80s Milton Keynes than a high tech 90s corporate campus)
but it comes with a crap road sign graphic, circa 60s. Perhaps its problem
is that it's too British. Anyway, the information, though it appears in
date order, feels like it's been collated on a rather random basis, which
is a shame because some of the stuff is actually pretty interesting.
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http://tecc.co.uk/reeledit
Here we have one of those independent companies staffed by ex-BBC people,
in this case an off-line video editing facility that uses Avid but also
caters for 16mm as well. The site lists some of the broadcast programmes
that the outfit has been involved with (see what Hugh Scully has to say
by way of praise). Based in Shepherd's Bush, London, it has a very nice
front-end!
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http://www.webserve.co.uk/clients/ivca
Great looking but ultimately unrewarding site stating the aims, affiliated
members and relevant publications for those in the International Visual
Communication Association. It's an industry that covers anything from corporate
video and satellite conferencing to selling your common or garden slide
projector, but all you'll find here is a boring brochure-eye view of what's
going on in that world.
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http://www.ip.press.net
Some people where born to be in public relations (Max Clifford, come
on down), for others it is a career on a par with chiropody. Still, if PR
is your thing then take a look at the site of the Institute of Public Relations
for all you ever wanted to know about the strange world of PR. There's news,
information on training, membership and jobs. Plus forthcoming events where
you can meet other like-minded PR types - now where's my diary.
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http://www.ifaa.org.uk
This is the site of the Association of Independent Financial Advisers.
Although the very words financial adviser can strike fear into even the
bravest heart, with visions of never-ending phone calls, there's a list
of FAQs which should go some way to putting the record straight. There's
also some good advice on how to find a reputable financial adviser and what
to do if it all goes pear-shaped in your pocket. On the other side of the
coin, there's an area where financial advisors can join the IFA and a registered
members forum.
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http://www.flash.net/~lstepp/lobster.htm
Get your lovely Huckleberries here! For fruit lovers, this is the place
to get 'em fresh from the US. The background GIF makes it a bit tricky to
read the text, but the gist is clear. But be warned, as you excitedly click
on the link to the pricing and ordering page, there are few details and
it's not clear how you order from outside the US. The draw is the recipes
page with dancing berry GIFs and lip-smacking checklists for Huckleberry
pie, jam and muffins. Ripe for the picking, I don't think so.
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http://www.iocom.be/pilot/cybermarketing
If you've decided that there are big bucks to be made on or using the
Web, then this is certainly a place you should visit. It's packed with information
on interactive marketing, Web site promotion, public relations and online
advertising. There are also links to plenty of other money-making resources
on this well-designed, unfussy site.
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http://www.iocom.be/pilot/cybermarketing/
This is a directory of Internet business resources, covering interactive
marketing, online advertising and online shopping. Each week it picks the
best of the business and finance links from the MSN site (www.msn.com/).
And jolly handy it is too; you could look for a particular sector - say,
the best cybermarketing sites - or search for a particular company. There's
also a list of information sources, such as mailing lists, forums and publications.
At first it can be a bit tricky to navigate, but once you get the hang of
it you should be able to find what you're looking for.
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http://www.colourpages.com
This is a classified directory of advertising services offered by graphics-based
companies Ü artists, computer graphics suppliers, designers, manufacturers
of equipment and printers etc. Advertisers pay to be included and a text
entry costs £50 per year but it seems likely that in an industry that
relies totally on the visual image you really need your own Web page so
customers can see what they're getting. They offer that as well but think
before you buy.
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http://www.teletext.co.uk/teletext/
Perhaps it's a little unfair to mention this site as (i) it's only a
test page and (ii) it's too easy to take the piss out of it, but basically
the opportunity to talk about Teletext is very difficult to resist. Regardless
of whether, in the future, your PC and TV are one and the same box, it's
something of a marvel how long television has existed in its present form.
Does your television come on when you tell it to? Can it remember what programmes
you watch each week? Viewed in this context, this effort from Teletext is
rather apt. There's an appalling graphic and one FAQ. Where have these people
been? There's been a technology revolution. Which leads one to ask, this
test page Ü testing for what? Patience.
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http://www.sothebys.com
Sothebys has done a grand job and the world of auctions and antiques
truly comes alive when accessing its site. All the stuff on forthcoming
auctions, exhibitions, cool collectibles and such is explained simply, superbly
presented and never oversold, as it were. Related resources and essential
FAQs are discreetly placed, and what this site does best is to make the
process of buying at auction seem accessible. The 'adventures' section outlines
a few buying scenarios, for example Richard and Amanda buying a dining table
for their diminuitive Bethnal Green terraced house. A well illustrated narrative
is made more interesting as it also tests your surfing skills, all in the
process of accessing different areas on lots, budgets, bids and the sale
itself. Informative and entertaining, this puts a seemingly elitist occupation
into perspective. Top site of the month.
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http://www.sitpro.org.uk/index.html
It seems a continual mantra from business people, but doubtless it's
also a truism, that markets the world over are becoming increasingly competitive.
In this context, British businesses need all the help they can get and the
DTI-sponsored Simpler Trade Procedures Board site has appeared not a moment
too soon. Guidance and advice is provided to all UK companies, whether expert
exporters or complete beginners, in the form of fact sheets, a calendar,
news, links and an email address. Only one design fault Ü the turquoise
text is tiring to read.
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http://www.sciatl.com/modem/index.html
Scientific Atlanta's opening gambit is to remind its visitors that access
speed is the key issue for users and that it offers the answer by supplying
systems that allow you to access the Internet via your cable TV setup. There
are no bells and whistles here just simple graphics, clear navigation aids
and loads of company info.
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http://www.scotborders.co.uk/salvo/
Looking for an antique mirror, some old pub fittings, reclaimed roof
slates or an old oak door? This is an excellent UK-based site for anyone
interested in building reclamation and architectural salvage. Links to dealers'
Web pages are supplemented with requests from people looking for particular
things, objects or even restoration tips. There's also a regular update
of items, for example a large blue-glazed jardiniere and an ornate square
baluster sundial, that have been nicked and which you should be on the look
out for elsewhere.
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http://www.plumbnet.com/
Spent all night wrestling with your U-bend? Blocked drains, sweating
bronze valves or trouble with the overflow? PlumbNet is a marvel of everyday
maintenance. It is also American, so along with stuff about garbage and
faucets, there are few adjustments to make. But what made the site for Internet
was the picture of celebrated cyberplumber, Bob Allen, that accompanies
his regular column. Lock your doors.
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http://www.nikkei.co.jp/enews
This is an excellent online version of the Nikkei Weekly, an English
language business news periodical for 'big in Japan' executive types.
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http://medoc.ipl.co.uk/mw0001/index.html
Minutes must really count amongst the movers and shakers in the marketing
world! Officially called Marketing Week 00:01 because it appears on the
Web at one minute past midnight every Wednesday (presumably before the full
version of the magazine can actually be bought), the Web version takes a
pragmatic approach to what it's feasible to put online 9without making people
pay) and what it's possible to achieve (fast feedback from readers on the
issues of the day). It delivers two solid services: news and a discussion
forum, but there's also an events diary of conferences and the like, as
well as a list of job vacancies.
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http://www.demon.co.uk/mace/mace.html
MACE specialises in the production of independent market research reports
on the information technology market in the UK and Europe. Kind of dull
if it's not your line of business but you can order documents by email if
you want.
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http://www.lowehoward-spink.co.uk/
This is actually a pretty low key affair from one of the UK's top advertising
agencies. It exudes a grown up professionalism and confidence that, if anything,
undersells the company's expertise. Lowe Howard-Spink is also one of the
industry's interactive advertising top dogs and you'll recognise the work
it's done for Vauxhall on the Internet. Otherwise, feel free to browse among
its select list of clients and check out some of its award-winning campaigns
Ü MPEG or Quicktime commercials for Tesco and the Frontera or posters
for Olympus, Stella Artois and Newquay Steam Lager.
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http://www.lme.co.uk/
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http://www.livingston.co.uk
It appears that if you're already 'in' a business that involves the
hiring of industrial electronic equipment then you'll probably be familiar
with what Livingston Rental does. If not, then the home page is not altogether
a big help. However, this is simply an online version of a catalogue that
exists on disk, which presumably makes it easier for clients to get their
hands on a helium leak detector, digital oscilloscope, microwave power meter,
Sun Microsystems Voyager SPARC Workstation or whatever it is they want.
Searchable by product, manufacturer or a description of what you'd like
a particular machine to do, the site also uses a piece of software that
helps you to decide whether it's more appropriate to buy or rent. Remarkable.
One Effluent and Water Quality Logging System please!
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http://www.lawton.co.uk/linkshome/
The main reason for bookmarking this site is so that you can use it
when a 'serious' client comes into the office and says, ñOh, Internet,
haw haw, heard a lot about it, never seen it before of course. Ignoring
your usual timewasting Web sites (hangman, that's my dog and meatloaf recipes)
you head straight for Lawton Links. Instant access to the the major news
networks, British businesses, perennial politics sites and seminal software
corporations at the execution of one quick key stroke. Translated, that
means it's basically pretty dull but the boss and client will be impressed!
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http://www.mni.co.uk/euro/car/regs.htm
This site from Dublin offers car number plates for hefty plates (from
£200 to £2,000 plus). Click on the appropriate letter of the
alphabet and the available options pop up. Nicely presented if blatantly
commercial.
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http://www.hjheinz.com/sites/Heinz/HomePage.html
This is a weird experience because Heinz has essentially set up an easy-to-use
interface for businesses ordering Heinz stock. Crates of ketchup, huge vats
of spaghetti hoops Ü they're all available via a world-wide tender-offering
network. Somehow one would expect a little more.
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http://www.hdb.co.uk
Wow! A bank with a sense of humour, that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Hamilton Direct Bank is the lending arm of HFC and is similar to First Direct,
in that it has no branches - the only way you can contact the bank is via
the telephone, and now the Web. You'll find information on the various loans
the company has, plus an interesting concept - a credit card whose interest
rate goes down, the more you spend.
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http://www.checkin.co.uk/index.html
If you want to find a flight from the UK to any major airport overseas,
Globepost's Travel Services site could prove a very useful resource. Simply
enter where you want to start and end up, the maximum fare, and whether
you'd prefer a direct or roundabout trip, and back it comes, listing the
cheapest first. Only thing is, the tables are not exactly user-friendly,
spewing out codes like LGW (London Gatwick) which you need to look up in
another database afterwards. However, with comprehensive links to airports,
weather and travel advice, a travel quiz with prizes, and flight dates and
on-line booking promised soon, this is one to bookmark.
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http://www.tradeworld.co.uk/chairs/
What is you sit on, but can't take with you when you go. That's right,
a chair. Now here's a business site that works well as a Web site and as
an advertisement for a company. It's a pleasure to wander around and look
at their funky designs. There are no prices as these are limited edition
pieces of furniture marked with a gold-plated plaque to show that fact.
Navigation is as simple as clicking on the chair of your chice which takes
you through to that range and so on. The design is clean and quick to load
and if you have a thing about chairs, you'll be very happy here.
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http://www.freeride.com/
FreeRide, in its fledgling form, gets a mention this month in the hope
that some reckless entrepreneur will 'take the idea and run with it', ie
instigate it over here. FreeRide is a service, as yet untried and untested,
that rewards your retail habit with free time online. Here's the deal. You
shop, drop the relevant receipts or barcodes of your groceries into an envelope
and send it to FreeRide. They then lob your access provider a credit coupon
which pays for extra time online. Hurrah! A Whopper with fries might mean
an extra few minutes on AOL or a Coca Cola for an email in CompuServe. Whatever!
It all sounds highly implausible but an interesting experiment to watch.
Maybe there's no such thing as a free lunch but it seems you can now lunch
in exchange for free time.
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http://www.eurosolve.com/
Got a problem wth your information technology? Check out Eurosolve.
A rather naff homepage opens the door to custom-built Pcs, mobile phones
and even a credit checking service where you can check up on anyone you
might have dealings with. It costs £20 though. They are also offering
a deal on Orange phones and you can order your own CallSure phone number
for life, also for £20, which might be handy if, like me, you keep
moving and having to tell everyone your new number every few months. This
isn't the most scintillatingly designed site I've ever seen and it comes
across as a half-hearted marketing effort. A normal business site then!
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http://www.edgeonline.com/
At the moment EEO promises more than it delivers, although it's still
pretty impressive, dispensing advice to small businesses on how to boost
their bottom line and sharpen their competitive edge. Business Builders,
which will be available shortly, is a fantastic module-based training manual
packed full of step-by-step procedures for building a business, from identifying
a market and creating a company's identity to expansion and new product
development. A regular item called Expert Talk has advice on tactics and
operational strategies from top dogs in industry and the editors have already
instigated a database of companies seeking investment called On the Move.
The list of links to business resources grows every day. If your company
is developing apace, especially in the American market, then you can't afford
to give this a miss.
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http://www.emap.com/labs/
Cheeky little plug for the specky Emap spods who carry clipboards and
put all manner of computer kit through its paces. (Actually they're all
rather dashing and handsome, except for Claire, who's glam and gorge!).
Although they're often engaged in torturing new products to death for this
magazine, Lan, Network Week and What Personal Computer, they do a sideline
in testing for other big organisations. This site explains a bit about all
of that, how to get them to work for you and is also not a bad place to
start if you're considering shelling out on some state-of-the-art equipment
y'self.
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http://www.pavilion.co.uk/sales-arena/
Site of marketing monthly Sales Arena shares a common focus with the
magazine, of improving sales and marketing success. They also claim ñpower
is knowledge, and after studying this site, ñyou should be able to
answer even the most difficult question from the MD. Not graphic heaven,
but lots of links to relevant resources, and packed with plenty good stuff
at the click of buttons labelled Sales, Careers, Marketing, Design, PR,
and (best of the bunch) Travel. Too many flash up the dreaded Under construction
but Travel wafts you far and wide, from What's on in English theatres to
online hotel and air reservations, a Traffic Master, car hire info, weather
forecasts, and so on. If you don't see what you want, email a suggestion.
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http://www.duracell.com/
Given that Duracell products already have a reputation for their funky
ads, this is quite a groovy example of how to jazz up customer relations.
One of the best bits is where they plant the notion that everything, including
the World Wide Web, is powered by their batteries Ü check to discover
the witty twist. Competitions change on a regular basis and contributions
are forever being solicited from users. Odd sound files and Quicktimes movies
are thrown in for enjoyment and then there's also the usual advertising
blurb. No Web site looks like it or lasts like it. A winner every time.
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http://www.cybercard.co.uk/
Sadly this site offering a Personalized Greeting Card Shop wouldn't
load past the dullish homepage. Promises of designing ñyour own unique
and distinctive Cybercard to give to someone special...featuring your own
personal message on the front. Then they'll print it out and send it for
you, even recreating your signature. While I admire the initiative of someone
who's obviously putting their DTP program to use, if this is an example
of their marketing technique, they've got a yellow card.
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http://www.businessconnections.bt.com
This magazine for small businesses is on issue two and is updated monthly.
The site is backed by BT but it's not all about Brian Waldman selling you
phones there's useful information on there. For example the Advice Archive
contains 300 business related documents in a searchable database. The only
problem is you're not given many clues as to what to search for and all
searches are case sensitive. Features include extracts pulled from Business
Opportunity World, a magazine aimed at medium and start-up businesses and
this month there's a useful VAT fact sheet. Well worth visiting.
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http://www.leadstory.com/
Global comms giant AT&T launch a lead story page sponsored business
network's. It's purpose is to ñexamine timely news topics, bringing
you complete analysis, opinion and background from a wide variety of sources
on the Web. Clearly aimed at business bods, stories such as the vagaries
of the housing market and chemical advances for dieters are all analysed
from an informed perspective of wider economic implications. Information
is the word here, with no concessions to the site's attractiveness. Future
plans include online business directories, demographics, and ñsavvy
marketing advice. Major drawback is the utterly American bias.
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http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/aw
An excellent advert for one of the most unpopular privatised utilities
that works both as a customer services department and a glimpse of day-to-day
goings on for the potential investor. It's the first step towards online
accountability and there's still a long way to go, but for the basic facts
about the business, its environmental programmes, new projects and how the
waterworks works, this is a great start.
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http://www.analyticaleng.co.uk/
Now you might have an oil well at the bottom of your garden or require
the construction of a one-off volument production design for say, a twin
ferrule compression fitting. You don't? Oh, well these guys could knock
it together for you if you did. This, again, is a functional site which
has been put together by someone who has worked hard but hasn't included
anything of immediate interest to draw you in and surfing around doesn't
produce anything of interest unless you are researching this company. Another
shallow marketing experience.
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http://www.adweb.co.uk/
The slogan that appears around AdWeb is 'AdWeb Ü Reaching the Regions'
and a line at the top says 'UK Regional Press Information Centre'. It's
a help but, let's face it, things could be clearer, so here goes. The main
information currently residing on AdWeb's server is useful data from a variety
of sources for those doing lots of selling - rate and circulation data from
local papers, the Newspaper Society's database, media services like BMRB/TGI
and Telmar and a couple of agencies. Somebody needs to sort out the overall
structure and presentation and signpost the site for those who aren't involved
in putting it together. Unless that's done then people won't go beyond the
first page and they won't find out that by 1993 58% of all adults had a
building society account. You wouldn't want to miss out on that, would you?
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http://www.21net.com/index.html
Very commendable that an organisation should spend time anticipating
the future and telling everyone all about it, presumably in the assumption
that everyone will change their business plans and strategies accordingly
and everyone will become very very rich. Or is this really altrusim at work?
21st Century Online is in the business of predicting change Ü in science,
industry, technology and culture, and this site is a kind of nexus for exciting
ideas and innovations that may become the 'next big thing'. Top thinkers
are recruited to expand on all kinds of millenium theories; top corporations
have pledged their support ;and regular columns take a sideways glance at
all kinds of industry shifts. Make sure you check the Time Machine for a
compendium of future change. Apparently e-money is scheduled to become global
currency in the year 2001!
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http://www.bp.com/
Big pipes and men in hard hats Ü this site is of limited interest
but, of course, professionally put together and features BP's caring side
Ü clean air and grassy knolls Ü plus corporate stats from the
petrochemical industry. Weighty subject, weighty graphics, so plenty of
waiting around.
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http://www.businessmonitor.co.uk
A free service for monied suits and high-flying execs offering filing
cabinets full of articles, reports and general information on international
trade and investment overseas. A library of odd stuff on money laundering,
corporate crooks, selling off the family silver and less entertaining capitalist
practices like buying stocks and shares, is supplemented with corporate
profiles, professional directories and indirect advice on where to stash
your offshore cash.
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http://www.demon.co.uk/onpro/
An exclusively UK marketing resource, this site should have plenty of
practical advice and information for anyone in the business of selling straight
to the consumer. Exceptionally well designed, the Direct Marketing Selector
has compiled a directory of databases, details of business and consumer
lists, addresses of useful contacts and a glossary of marketing terms. Rather
frustratingly, the site can only offer pointers on where to go for lifestyle
and demographic data. Obviously most of the material costs money but, ideally,
in the future you'll be able to access it direct from this site (go on...).
A further load of Web links for other relevant sites are reviewed and rated
on content, style and functionality. This gives the site a distinct identity
and perspective. Although it needs more real content, it can only get better.
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http://www.klt.co.jp/nikon
Absolute state-of-the-art Jap camera equipment, absolute state-of-the-art
Web business venture. This site is expertly put together, it supports frames,
showing off the full range of product lines and technology in detail but,
nevertheless, it's a rather dull and lifeless affair which exudes an everyday
corporatism that does little justice to all the flash hardware on show.
Includes global contacts for Nikon but very little else.
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http://www.polaroid.com
What you thought was an easy peasy cult camera that you can just point
and click is actually an extremely sophisticated piece of machinery that
does lots of things, like you wouldn't imagine. This is a site for people,
including professionals, who are serious about great snaps.
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http://www.ftech.net/~clocks
Although this claims to be for anyone interested in time-keeping, with
the exception of the 'repair finder service' it's really for the dedicated
clock watcher! Established in 1858, the Institute itself has a library and
a museum (details are here) and for anyone interested in learning the trade
there is information on apprenticeships and correspondence courses. Tick
tock.
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http://www.zenithmedia.com
This is a handy list of hotlinks covering advertising and media-related
material from a company already well placed in the industry. All this information
is available elsewhere but for anyone interested in the Net presence of
the big brands this provides a direct link to some of the seminal sites,
including Grolsch, Tango, Direct Debit, Vauxhall et al.
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http://www.electrolux.se/
Hey, the happening world of household appliances. General stuff on the
company and a genuine plea for product feedback.
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http://www.gold.net/users/gz72
This is a good place to start if you are thinking about designing and
building your own house. It explains, in quite a straightforward fashion,
what you should be thinking about in terms of buying land, talking to architects,
getting the gas put on and stuff like that. There are useful lists of self-build
mortgage schemes and where to get materials. All you need is the cash.
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http://www.u-net.com/tka/magic/
The word FREE sort of jumps out at you from this page and, if Marketing
Magic is able to advise you without extensive research then, yes, it will
do it for FREE. Otherwise there are a few good tips for transforming your
business, for example dos and don'ts for press releases and when to close
that sale?
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http://www.mindspring.com/~dmonline/WMO.html
This American publication has a few tips for business initiatives online.
Whether it's an article on boosting your Web site backgrounds or coping
with new publishing priorities in the workplace, each issue has a few ideas
it might be worth noting down. The latest marketing scams are also reviewed.
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http://www.rockgarden.co.uk/rock/
A very impressive site that, in a way, says as much about the people
who created it as it does about resturant/bar/rock venue The Rock Garden
in London. Lively and bright with a painterly eye for design, it makes this
well established, slightly tired, touristy evening out look shiny and brand
new.
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http://www.esselte.com/letraset/
For a fabulously famous font and graphics workshop, the design of these
pages is pretty poor. Navigating is a little tricky because it's hard to
remember where you are, and the product on show is hardly exhaustive. Each
month there's a certain amount of stuff available for free but this feels
more like a taster than the real thing.
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http://www.rankxerox.co.uk
Elaborate and quite colourful brochure information on computer peripheral
equipment, of use if you're looking for the part number of something that
faxes, prints, copies or scans.
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http://www.melanet.com/melanet/home.html
MelaNet offers a central location for the promotion of black business
enterprise, including an opportunity to get hold of the US-based Black Business
Directory. A number of retail outlets can be found in the marketplace and
you're encouraged to 'Buy Black Today'.
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http://www.Net-Classifieds.co.uk
Presumably Net Classifieds needs a little publicity to get the ball
rolling because currently, from bargain properties to personals and small
ads, there is very little there. However, once there is, you're guaranteed
classified advertisements from South Africa to Singapore.
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http://www.shatz.co.uk/adagency/
A straight forward list of names, addresses and numbers for all the
ad agency's in London.
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http://www.project.com/project/
Extraordinarily slick front end for a company of communications specialists
working in the area of events and exhibitions. Also provides an arena for
Power Presentations, the company's commercially available CD-ROM product
for presenters who use computers.
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http://www.industry.net
US-based, big-time industry subscription service, full of company information,
product development and trade fairs a-go-go.
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http://www.innotts.co.uk/~tiffany
A company set up to design, manufacture and deliver corporate name badges
has found a practical way of harnessing the Web. Select off-the-shelf designs
and typefaces, or have them fully customised with your company logo. Order
them, and then admire all your staff wearing them. It's always nice to know
the name of the person you're complaining to.
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http://www.crayola.com/crayola/
Billy Crystal likes burnt sienna best; Bryan Adams likes denim; Whoopi
Goldberg prefers magenta; and Mike Myers goes for blue. Celebrities' favourite
crayon colours Ü what else would you use a page like this for?
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http://www.habitech.com/
Claiming to make business furniture that incorporates all your corporate
needs, Habitech can cater for one simple computer desk or a building full
of furniture custom-configured for lan centres and other specialised applications.
Shipping from the States.
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http://www.engr.iupui.edu/~ho/interests/commmenu.html
Uh-oh, information overload. More general articles, reading lists, essays
on commercial opportunities and advertising, user surveys, purchasing studies
and statistics than you can shake a stick at. However, for an idea of what's
out there businesswise, this is a very useful first port of call.
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http://www.zing.co.uk/creative.html
Aiming to be a directory of design, advertising, photography and artist/illustrator
types, this lacks just one thing...content. If you are actually one of the
above and looking for exposure, mail Creative.net now with your details
and put us all out of our misery.
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http://www.maverick.co.uk/maverick/
Online catalogue from trade-only distributor of presentation and multimedia
products, Maverick. Monitors, LCD panels, overhead projectors...it's hardly
a riveting read but someone must have a need to know what's available and
how much it all costs.
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http://www.Frost.com/
A company with bases in London, New York and Silicon Valley, specialising
in 'high-technology' market research. Most useful on this side of the Atlantic
for its IT seminars, current topics include ISDN, voice and data integration,
client/server, Windows, X.400 and ATM.
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http://www.iinet.com.au/~bold/
Brad Tonkin, a modest (not) entrepreneur and business mogul, has developed
the '10 Bold Strokes to Success'. Based around this formula and the cod-science
of 'chutzpahology', his weekly newsletter aims to help other 'success driven
entrepreneurs' bullshit their way to the top.
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http://www.toppan.co.jp/shiseido/
Brief history of Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido, which derives its
name from a classic Chinese book on Confucianism praising the virtues of
the earth from which all things come.
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http://www.cityscape.co.uk/users/ay36/
A piece of self-promotion from an Edinburgh-based PR agengy, including
company business strategies, product launches and press releases - as if
anyone is at all interested.
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http://www.emoticon.com/
An ever-enlarging dictionary of the ridiculous bandwidth-saving symbols,
from which the company gets its name, is supplemented by a putting-all-profits-into-good-causes
selection of emoticon accessories, T-shirts, mouse mats etc and links to
'quite exciting places to go' : - (
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http://www.demon.co.uk/proact
Designed to help business users find useful information fast, this site
indirectly acts as a guide to establishing a corporate presence on the Web.
Thoughtful and clear, it's a welcome UK business site.
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http://www.imagin.com/imagination/
Imagination is a communications consultancy with a reputation for glam
events and creative PR nous. Given the company's track record - Cadbury's
World, Nike Town and the Dinosaur Gallery at the Natural History Museum
- this site lacks a little imagination and should really deliver more.
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http://www.bodyshop.co.uk/
In a weird display of corporate embarrassment, high street scent merchants,
the Body Shop, has opted not to showcase its wares on the Net. Instead,
you can participate in token, but noble, campaigns to locate missing people,
save wildlife, petition oppressive governments and stop violence against
women.
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http://www.digiplanet.com/nutrasweet/index.html
This pretty Digital Planet site will do its darndest to ward you off
sugar, and on to its synthetic substitute. Its emphatic arguments are apparently
supported by largely un-named authorities and research trials Ü not
unlike those of the sugar industry.
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http://www.dbinfo.co.uk/dbinfo/
The first thing you might notice about this site, the UK's Network Innovation's
first creation, is its divergence from the the accepted paradigms of site
design. It has borderless buttons, blue text and prolific use of Netscape
enhancements. For a small fee, Dynamic Business Information will supply
online credit reports on individuals or businesses worldwide.
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http://silkroute.com/silkroute/
This silk route to Asia promises to open up the digital doors to Asian
travel, Hang Seng movements, stock p/e ratios and commerce in general.
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http://www.hhcl.com/wwoa.html
Imagine how advertising agencies must be rubbing their hands together
with glee, thinking of the prospects this brand new medium offers. Watch
this spot to see how they're going.
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http://www.fedex.com/
Federal Express has revolutionised the way companies haul freight, take
orders and service customers. This foray into online parcel tracking marks
yet another transport industry first.
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http://www.milfac.co.uk/milfac/
This site currently has information on over 26,000 UK companies and
the aim is to expand to 3 million, which will also include a large proportion
of European listings. You can search by product/service category or by name.
At the moment it's a very slow service, probably due to the access provider,
but this may change.
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http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/friends/home.html
This Russian-based information service is a joint venture with the US
and aims to help create a better understanding between the two nations.
There is plenty of information on topics such as economics, education, geography,
music, weather and health, plus a literature section which contains the
full text of The Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina. There are also resources
encouraging business alliances but the travel information is a bit light
on.
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http://ibd.ar.com/
This is an attempt to collate business pages and resumes into a easy-to-search
directory. It's not particularly well structured, but it's yet another place
to look.
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http://www.africa.com/
This Cape Town service promises to encourage business with and within
the newly acceptable South Africa. The facilites are in place, but at this
stage not many have taken up the offer. If you want to do business in this
region, or are curious about opportunities and protocol, it's not an expensive
place to put your feelers out.
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http://www.sony.com/
This US site of the Japanese electronic and multimedia giant features
news, service and support, product information and material from its huge
stable of film, music, publishing, video, games and electronics interests.
There are even audio pages for top music talents such as Mariah Carey, Black
Sabbath and Oasis.
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http://mainsail.com/dmworld.htm
Resources for direct marketing such as lists, list-builders, copywriters,
consultants and agencies. There's a growing employment section, literature
for sale and guides to using direct marketing on the Internet.
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http://asa.ugl.lib.umich.edu/chdocs/cyberpreneur/Cyber.html
A massive and crucial collection of links pointing to information relevant
to setting up enterprises on the Internet.
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http://www.aztec.co.za/wka/wka.html
Nothing but unashamed puffed up self-promotion from this South African
advertising agency, with such gorgeous graphics that you'll overlook the
corporate rhetoric. What's more, it just might bring them business.
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http://www.cyberzine.org/html/Entrepreneur/enetpage2.html
Here you'll find a wealth of links to business resources and commercial
sites. The Classic Internet Ad Samples have loony products for sale, such
as the talking fork, the yummy yummy toothbrush, the swearing key ring and
the rapping Christmas tree. Possibly the most capitalist site on the Web.
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http://www.tig.com
The Internet Group is another doing-business-on-the-Internet firm. As
well as pages on TIG's publishing, consulting and seminar services, there
are also links to services offered by its clients, as well as sections of
information about the commercial use of the Internet. If you're planning
business or professional use of the Internet, TIG is an essential destination.
Its Hot Sites page offers links to commercial use in categories such as
travel, government, financial services, legal services, shopping malls and
storefronts.
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http://incorporate.com/tcc/home.html
The Company Corporation will incorporate your business in the State
of Delaware (very useful for US citizens looking for tax breaks) and look
after all your accounting obligations, for a reasonable fee. All the details,
like fictitious name applications, are here, but if you need more they're
eager to help.
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http://www.ramp.com
This site aims to be an Internet 'one-stop shop', providing access to
dozens of popular addresses. The road motif is used throughout as you journey
down the highway, with exits to various places. The business section includes
banks, stock market prices, Wells Fargo business services and the US Patent
Office. The rest stop offers humour, a huge games section and Internet chat
lines. You can check out clients' diverse home pages or visit the products
and services area for trips to art galleries, book stores, health clubs
and restaurants. This is a great site with lots to see and do.
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http://www.mecklerweb.com
MecklerWeb is US publisher MecklerMedia's commercial Internet presence.
This tight professional site is setting a high standard with daily Internet
news, company announcements, a multi-storey shopping mall, net happenings
and smart advertising promotions.
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http://digicash.com
Ecash is a recent Internet security initiative and this is its home
page. Electronic 'cash' is purchased from Digicash to pay for a growing
range of services. This system is the brainchild of an organisation with
its roots in bank 'smart cards'. It's still experimental, but the company
hopes to set a standard. You can register here, with your own electronic
wallet of ecash. There's a growing number of shops participating which are
all accessible from this page as well as details on how to start your own.
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