In addition, it can be mounted on the wall for an optimized way to watch movies. For people who want to get LCD TV, they have to know that even a larger LCD TV comes with a reasonable price tag compared with other kinds of TVs. Having the product these days is a great investment because it can last up to many years. LCD TVs can offer great display and the depth of its color can signify its intricate details. It has been made from the finest ways, which is why people will never go wrong in having it.

These days, there are lots of stores that can offer great deals with the product. However, one of the best places to purchase the TV is on the Internet. There are different websites that are offering low prices when it comes to the TV. The best part of it is that they can choose the best one for them right at the comfort of their home.  Nevertheless, they should choose reputable websites to avoid any troubles.

Different manufacturers can offer a great LED TV today. There are reviews on the Internet to help people identify which is the best TV that can offer all great features. Also, it is a must to consider its affordability. In addition, they can also seek help from people who have already bought a TV. In that way, they can determine which TV will suit their wants. It will result for them to avoid any mistakes that they might encounter.

Overall, LCD TV is one of the best TV sets that can bring pleasure for people. Watching Plasma TV is one of the best ways to relax and unwind, and doing it on a high-end television can further enhance their viewing pleasure. All they have to do is to take advantage in choosing the best product that will suit their lifestyle. Likewise, they have to get the one that will satisfy them in every way possible.

This age old concept has inspired everything from the micro-economics of trading with nearby villages to macro-economic trade policies.

It is also necessary for countries to shift their speciality as they develop and conditions change. The Caribbean is a prime example of this;

The Sugarcane Trade

Prior to the development of cheaper long haul flights, the primary export of the Caribbean was sugarcane and natural minerals, which are not products synonymous with a high return on investment. So the country was quite poor, dependent on self sufficient farming and fishing for survival.

Then the cost of long haul travel came plummeting down, and people could find they were ablto get a holiday to the islands in the Caribbean for a reasonable price and a lot quicker than it took to get there by boat. The tourism industry was born.

Sugarcane farming in Barbados

Tourism as a Primary Export

Tourism has become the most important export of the Caribbean islands, which is not a surprise, considering how stunning the countries, the crystal clear waters and pure white sand of Antigua is enough to understand how the countries had diverted their attention from the fields to the beaches.

Tourism became a fruitful opportunity for the countries, and as they developed more and more luxury hotels they received foreign investment for land and the value of the countries within the Caribbean sky rocketed.

As more and more money came into the countries, the countries’ leaders and economic figureheads had enough foresight to plan how to reinvest the money by developing an information infrastructure in line with some of the super powers of the world.

Development of Infrastructure

It was this forward thinking that meant the reinvestment of the money attained through tourism was invested in systems that could allow the country to get better and develop as a whole rather than ‘resort by resort’ that has been the case for many other tourist locations across the globe.

Instead they chose to reinvest in telecommunication systems that have again resulted in a slight shift in priority from the tourism industry to the technology industry within the countries. St Lucia for example, can easily be mistaken with Silicon Valley, with a growing number of tech agencies and development teams coming out of the Caribbean.

Countries like St Lucia are already outdoing the UK and the USA for saturation and computer ownership. And with this continued development, you can see this being a hotbed for the tech industry in no time, and with the sun, sea and sand, it’s is only going to get more popular of a destination.

And it’s not just story that is told in small towns in the tritely defined ‘western world’. Dubai remains the text book example of a city that, by now, should be a glittering giant of human endeavour. With the world’s biggest malls, some of the world’s biggest towers and even massive environmental engineering projects that are turning acres of sea into land. But the malls are full only when the tourist season gets going and the towers are empty. As for the artificial islands, long stretches of land are completely unoccupied: ‘the World’, the most ostentatious (with islands roughly in the shape of the world map) has only one complete development. Ordinary people caught up in the storm have been reaching for the Compensation calculator, but often find themselves permanently blighted by their involvement.

The amount of money thrown at developments in Dubai, and at developments closer to home begs the question: is a programme of revitalisation for towns actually all that responsible in the current financial climate? Lest we forget that property, specifically sub-prime loan losses, were the starting gun for the whole meltdown.

The answer of course is that measured investment, longer term plans with lower risks and an end to over enthusiastic lending ought to be the code of practice. And this is not one and the same as an end to revitalisation.

As it currently stands, areas that were struggling pre-recession are really no worse off than everywhere else. Your nearest large city will have areas that look identical to the most put-upon examples in Presque Isle. What has moved into your local Borders? How about Blockbusters, KB Toys, Movie Gallery, Office Depot, Inkstop? Countless chains have been removed from the game, or merged into other equally precarious brands.

The whole issue with our continued lapse into recession is that there isn’t enough spending. But the implicit assumption in government seems to be that consumers need to be ‘encouraged’ to spend, something that seems unlikely when all we ever hear about is cuts. True, many (perhaps even all) cuts are necessary, but some degree of spending is equally essential. How are we going to be encouraged to take the money from our Car accident compensation and spend it on consumer goods when the shops aren’t there, our malls are dilapidated and we won’t spend money on renovating even our heritage sites?

It’s a give and take arrangement, and hopefully one we can sort out before the economy spirals downward again.

Consumer behaviour is changing and causing a relationship to develop between these scenarios occurring on a day to day basis and the no longer shy post-recession Brits cashing in on some unfortunate and costly mistakes. Consumers are now bulk buying mispriced products and selling them on, creating an entire industry built on entrepreneurial instinct and taking advantage in the relative infancy of the newly social aspect of e-commerce.

M&S and Argos Mispricing

In the last month there have been two mispricing examples which highlight the grey area of the consumer law concerning online mispricing.  They also highlight the fact that huge corporate companies are just as susceptible to these mistakes as an individual running their own t-shirt store. Earlier this month, Marks and Spencer accidentally priced a Panasonic plasma TV worth over £1000 at just £199. The deal was posted on bargain hunting platform Hot UK deals as customers flocked to the site, paid on their credit card and snapped up the 50 inch 3D television for a rock bottom price. Initially, Marks and Spencer were reluctant to honour the deal, but following an online petition and even a petition song, they honoured the deal and though they would have lost out on cash, they earned a few brand brownie points.

Argos on the other hand, did completely the opposite. On the 21^st January, a day which suspiciously coincided with the launch of their new catalogue, Argos listed a brand new, sim free Nokia Lumia 800 mobile phone reduced from £449.99 down to £119.99. Naturally it attracted a lot of interest, was listed on Hot UK deals and loads of people bought the product. However, when Argos realised their ‘mistake’ they contacted customers via text message to say that the deal would not be honoured. Those who purchased the item on their credit cards or via Paypal would have to wait seven days for the money to be refunded to their accounts. The whole situation was very messy and their brand has taken a bit of a battering on the Hot UK deal comments section with over 1500 comments discussing the situation. Despite this, Argos have stood firm and not honoured the deal.

These two examples show that there’s no real right or wrong when it comes to cashing in on online mistakes and the law is this industry is a minefield for both consumers and the retailers. One thing is certain and that is, until there is a clear law in place, consumers socially sharing and bulk buying mispriced products will continue, and rightfully so.

Welcome to Downtown Presque Isle, Maine

Downtown Business Owner / Operators Survey

The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee (PIDRC) is our community program for improving and maintaining the heart of our city. It is a volunteer-driven organization working to revitalize downtown Presque Isle. PIDRC has adopted the National Main Street USA 4-Point Model.

PIDRC partners with businesses, as well as civic and professional, individuals and educational organizations. The revitalization of downtown Presque Isle is important and something in which everyone, not just the committee, can participate. The future of our city’s downtown area holds much excitement and we need your support. We cordially invite you to join us.

Save the Date! The 2nd Annual Aroostook Women’s XC Ski Day, a benefit for the Battered Women’s Project, is just around the corner on February 1, 2009. Please mark your calendar and click here for details.

About PIDRC

Vision

The Downtown Revitalization Committee is a community-based organization that works to preserve and advance Presque Isle’s historical heritage by emphasizing economic vitality of the downtown district, keeping the downtown and surrounding area economically viable and attractive, and maintaining the wonderful quality of life that exists.

Mission

It is our mission to encourage our community to preserve and reinvest in the economic, aesthetic, and cultural future of Presque Isle by promoting viability and vitality of the downtown.

Officers, 2009:

Cathy Beaulieu, Chair
Billie Brodsky, Vice Chair
Rachel Rice, Secretary
Luke Rossignol, Treasurer

Board of Directors, 2009:

Cathy Beaulieu
Virginia Joles
Rachel Rice
Craig Green
Billie Brodsky
Gretchen Morse

Community Involvement

In the spring of 2006, an energetic group of businesspeople and residents banded together to revitalize the warm and welcoming atmosphere of Downtown Presque Isle. We are making progress. Some of the highlights of our accomplishments include:

Brought back and increased the number of Flower Buckets on Main Street in the Summer
Returned benches and trash receptacles
Collaborative effort with the City of Presque Isle, University of Maine at Presque Isle, Northern Maine Community College and SAD 1 resulting in the city’s first Mural, located next to the Key Bank Building on Main Street
Collaborative effort with the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest for StreetFair 2008, a very successful, first-time event held on Main Street
Partnered with Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce as Hosts of Happy Hour Social held at Café Sorpreso

Press & Media

January 1, 2009
PIDRC seeks marketing firm to establish Downtown brand identity
The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee is seeking a marketing firm to develop a logo and tagline for Downtown Presque Isle. Incorporating the theme of “The Star City,” usage of the logo and tagline will be widespread, serving as a visual representation and symbol of recognition for area residents, business owners and the public.

September 29, 2008
New mural featuring Star City educational institutions unveiled in downtown Presque Isle: A first-of-its-kind project to be undertaken through Presque Isle’s initiative to breathe new life and a new look to the downtown was unveiled at a celebration held in the center of the city today.

September 10, 2008
Chamber, Downtown Revitalization Committee thrilled with success of StreetFair 2008
If you were in downtown Presque Isle on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 23 during the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival, you may have noticed the hundreds of people feasting and dancing on Main Street.