Cyber Shopping

Cyber Monday is almost here and many retailers are wondering if the plummeting economy will take a toll on this year’s online shopping volume. While some critics believe Cyber Monday is simply a marketing ploy, others believe that there are valid reasons that lead to the surge in cyber shopping traffic on Monday, that closely parallels what we witness on Black Friday. Online retailers typically step up their promotions on Cyber Monday, particularly electronics dealers, and millions of consumers respond when they return to their high-speed internet connections at the office.

Take a look at these statistics posted by the National Retail Federation:
Cyber Monday statistics
· Last year approximately 70 million shopped for holiday gifts from work
· Men are more likely to shop from work than women (57.3% vs. 51.7%)
· Young adults 18-24 years old are more likely to shop from work than any other age group
· More than 550 online retailers posted holiday promotions/special savings on cybermonday.com last year

To kick off Cyber Monday, She-Tech is offering a pre-celebration sale. From November 28 to 12:00 midnight December 1st, you will receive 10% off all Arinna totes. She-Tech totes make great gifts and are a nice complimentary accessory for any fashion savvy tech-nista. We hope you have a phenomenal Cyber Monday. Happy shopping…stay connected!

A Season to Celebrate

The holidays are joyful times of festive celebrations with family and friends. For many, this season is something to look forward to and is always the best time of year. Unfortunately, for some, joy and excitement escape them and the holidays become hectic and stressful. Of course you want to put forth your best effort to make everything “perfect,” but don’t let this self-inflicted burden get the best of you and spoil your good times.

To avoid pressures related to holiday preparation, set realistic expectations. Even Wonder Woman can’t do it all, so don’t set yourself up to be disappointed by yourself and others. Instead, evaluate the amount of time you can allocate to shopping, cooking, coordinating and visiting family and friends and then determine how much you can accomplish without having to jump through hoops.

It also never hurts to set a budget. Retailers are offering deep discounts to encourage spending; however, these deals can quickly add up at the end of the day. No one wants to be in debt after the holidays and savvy shoppers all know that it doesn’t take a million dollars to be fabulous.

Something that I often like to do during this time of year is to help those that are less fortunate. Nothing feels better than taking the attention off of yourself and focusing on those in need. Make an effort this year to do something charitable for children, the elderly or the homeless. Most cities have shelters, donation centers and countless other volunteer opportunities.

To eliminate post-holiday regret always remember to avoid excess. The aftermath of gluttony can be depression, so it’s wise to avoid excessive shopping, eating and drinking. Doing life in moderation is a rule that shouldn’t be abandoned, even during the holidays.

From She-Tech we wish you the best and hope that this holiday is filled with family, friends and all the things you cherish the most. Celebrate life this season, be joyful and stay connected!

Blu-rays

Up until the recent year, the name Blue Ray may have provoked images of a delicate bird. Now when hearing the name , Blu-ray, you immediately associate it with the next-generation optical disc format, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD). A group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson) formed the BDA (Blu-ray Disc Association) and developed this new media format.

This new format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio offers a heightened high-definition sensory experience. Current optical disc technologies such as DVDs rely on a red laser to read and write data; whereas, the Blu-ray format uses a blue-violet laser.

Thus far, seven of the eight major movie studios have adopted the new technology as a successor to today's DVDs. Disney, Fox, Warner, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate and MGM have already released titles in the Blu-ray format. Check out this link for a listing of Blu-ray movies.

If you’re glued to your PC or laptop most of the time, you may be wondering if there are plans for this Blu-ray technology to be integrated with personal computing. Here’s the good news…there are plans to support the new format with two of the world’s largest PC manufacturer’s: HP and Dell.

I must say that the Blu-ray experience is not all hype. While shopping this past weekend, I came across a television that was playing a movie in Blu-ray. Without delay I was awestruck at the amazing clarity and sharpness that this format provides. Visit your nearest electronic retail store and check it out for yourself. Enjoy and stay connected!

Catalyst for Change

Given the recent election activity of 2008 and the record 94 women that served during the 110th U.S. Congress, one would think that gender barriers are beginning to fall. In the business world; however, progress is still somewhat sketchy. Women still earn less than men for "comparable" work, and they're still having trouble breaking into the highest executive positions.

A study conducted by Catalyst, a global non-profit organization who works to expand opportunities for women, discovered that women in technical fields were "relatively satisfied with their jobs and workplace cultures." It further stated that women were "less satisfied with their interactions with supervisors and their companies' approaches to fairness" compared with other workers." It was also perceived by women that companies failed to provide them with opportunities to participate in decision-making processes.

Nevertheless, female CIOs are growing in number and amongst InformationWeek’s 500 companies, about 75(15%) have a woman in the top IT position. Just five years ago there were only 45 women on the roster of top techs. Some additional news to make you smile is the impressive number of women that are in senior executive positions at some of the nation’s leading tech companies, such as Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, IBM, Google, Cisco and Microsoft. Unfortunately, Dell, receives no applause, with 0% women in senior exec positions and a pending class-action lawsuit filed in October by four women. These four former HR managers allege that the company systematically blocks women from entering its top executive “good old boy” ranks.

When hearing this news, the knee jerk reaction is to be appalled; however, we must closely assess the situation before passing judgment. At higher levels there is still a shortage of good talent and the field of IT is very much so male-dominated. I am a strong advocate of fair treatment, but before we play any card, whether it be race or gender, it behooves us all to examine ourselves.

If foul play is indeed the case at Dell, then I admire the four managers for their courage to challenge the status quo. Change is certainly possible and begins with the person in the mirror. At all levels let’s exude intelligence. Be a catalyst for change, be resilient and stay connected!

WIT

I would like to bring your attention to an organization that is a valuable resource for all tech-savvy women: WITI, Women in Technology International. WITI describes itself as the premier global organization dedicated to helping tech-savvy women attain their professional goals. They were founded in 1989 and currently have an international network of women that reaches over 2 million.

Over the years WITI has established powerful strategic alliances and programs to provide connections, resources, and opportunities within a supportive environment of women committed to helping each other. Their mission is admirable and you can also find regional networks in many metropolitan cities. If you ever get the opportunity I encourage you to attend one of their annual conferences. Just this past October in Silicon Valley, CA, they hosted a lineup of impressive women that spoke on topics, such as Workplace Innovation, Leveraging Your Skills and Leadership.

Throughout our professional lives we may come across those women that are trailblazers in their field or have demonstrated commendable tech-savvy, confidence and headship. For the first time in my career, my immediate manager is a woman and I feel fortunate to have her as a mentor. She is the backbone of the company and both the IT Director and President rely on her expertise.

Let each one, teach one so that we all can achieve greater success. Share your wisdom, be willing to learn and most of all…stay connected!