The busy holiday season has proven to be an ideal time for identity thieves to target unsuspecting victims. The Federal Trade Commission reports that in 2007, consumers reported losses from identity theft and fraud of more than $1.2 billion, and with consumers facing an already tough economy, they need to be particularly vigilant this holiday season.

Below are some tips that the identity theft protection company, LifeLock, offers for shoppers to keep in mind to safeguard their identities this holiday season:

• Shut out Scrooge – Make it difficult for criminals to apply for and receive new credit in your name. Place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus and deny those thieves looking to thwart your credit and your holiday spirit.
• Memorize it – If you don’t know it by heart yet, think of a catchy way to memorize your Social Security number, and then you can keep it stored in the safest place of all (your brain!) and not in your wallet.
• Are you really you? – Write “See ID” in ink on the back of your credit card next to your signature. This is an effective way of reminding cashiers to check the credit card against your photo identification.
• Keep your distance – Beware of anyone looking over your shoulder when you are making a purchase. Especially when using a debit card, make sure to cover the PIN keypad while entering your personal PIN—“shoulder surfers” could be watching or even recording on a cell phone camera!
• Gone “phishing” – Watch out for “phishing” scams, when crooks send you e-mails that look to be from legitimate companies, requesting that you provide them with personal information.

Two recent independent studies have concluded that more than one-third of Americans who own a High-Definition Television (HDTV) are not currently watching HD programming. The same studies note that HDTV ownership has increased nearly 50 percent in U.S. households over the past year.  “Holiday HDTV shoppers remember … HDTVs aren’t HD unless you get HD service. Comcast is your best choice for HD programming, and we’ve made getting it installed even easier and faster than before,” said Derek Harrar, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. “Once you’ve experienced HD, you’ll want more. With well over 1,000 HD choices, we deliver more of the best HD content than anyone else.”

Additional findings show:

• a surge in HD viewing time with 43 percent of consumers that have HD programming spending half of their TV time watching HD. The growth in HD viewing is attributed to the growing number of choices in HD
• 33 percent of HDTV owners have more than one HDTV set
• more than one-quarter of HD viewing homes now have more than one TV set connected to HD service
• top-viewed categories of HD continue to be movies, action/drama, concerts and sports
• gender differences exist for HD viewing, with 48 percent of men seeking out HD content when sitting down to watch television, while only 31 percent of women do the same

Supply chains must offer more flexibility in 2009. The predicted need for even greater flexibility, and other 2009 predictions, come as the overall economy and supply chain industry face an unprecedented group of challenges in today’s marketplace. Uncertain economic conditions and rising business costs have companies evaluating how to leverage the global supply chain for even more value and operational efficiency in the current marketplace says i2 Technologies.

“This is an unprecedented time in the history of global economics,” said Steve Estrada, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, i2. “The supply chain is literally the lifeblood of the economy, and we are advising our customers to adopt more flexible practices to maneuver through these uncertain times. Our predictions for 2009 are based on our expertise and 20-years of leadership in this market, as well as a keen sense of how this market is changing.”

2009 supply chain predictions from i2 include:

1. SaaS and other engagement models will dominate in 2009

Software as a service (SaaS) and other engagement models will dominate the market in 2009 as companies seek to focus technology budgets on gaining a competitive advantage quickly without additional infrastructure. Outcome-based service engagements will be encoded into contracts in 2009 utilizing a managed business process services approach.

2. Risk becomes real and so does risk management

Supply chain agility will go from being a conference topic to a practical imperative for most companies. The focus will shift from traditional planning tools to process playbooks that use tools and point-of-use analytics coupled with process structures that emphasize governance mechanisms. The emphasis will be on rapid informed decision making as a key component of risk management.

3. Supply chain solutions drive a “greener” enterprise

Enterprises focusing on green initiatives are driving bottom line value and winning over customers. Streamlining the supply chain enables companies to decrease both human and manufacturing waste, optimize transportation networks and drive a leaner and greener business. Despite economic challenges, green initiatives driven by supply chain efficiency will continue to be a focus for companies.

4. Business Intelligence (BI) will no longer be a separate enterprise application category

There will be a sharp shift in focus from the traditional technology-focused BI implementations that merely deliver the same tired descriptive and retrospective reports. Instead, a unified science of supply chain analytics will emerge that delivers prescriptive analytics to decision makers at the point of use. As a consequence, analytics will cease to exist as a separate category and become a fundamental part of the decision support landscape.

5. The rise of the first-principle supply chain professional

In a break from the highly compartmentalized nature of supply chain professionals in recent years, the need for multi-dimensional expertise will lead to greater demand for first-principle practitioners. These professionals will be equally at home discussing Service Oriented Architecture or the relative merits of different stochastic programming algorithms and leading a sales and operations planning meetings or revenue and cost management initiatives through large teams.

As the economy worsens and consumers find it more difficult to pay their bills on time, same-day or urgent bill payment services are becoming effective tools for helping people better manage their finances.  One service you can offer your clients is MoneyGram’s ExpressPayment service which will allow them to have an affordable option to make a same-day, cash payment for their phone, mortgage, auto, credit card or other major bills and avoid unwanted late fees and the drastic repercussions that occur when bills go unpaid such as utility service disruption, car repossession and home foreclosure.

According to the 2008 Expedited Payments Forecast compiled by Javelin Strategy & Research, 31 percent of Americans are waiting longer to pay their bills and 15 percent are using more “rush” or same-day payment services in the last six months most likely as a result of the weakening economy. As a result, MoneyGram is experiencing strong growth in many key sectors.

“We provide a much-needed service for our customers, especially in this economic environment,” said Greg Waltz, vice president and general manager of payment products at MoneyGram. “Customers use our ExpressPayment service as a cash management tool to control exactly when a bill is paid, allowing them more flexibility within their budgets.”

“MoneyGram makes paying bills less stressful and provides peace of mind with a fast, affordable and convenient way to pay bills. MoneyGram’s 2,200+ direct biller relationships allow the guaranteed payment notification in many cases to arrive at the biller before the consumer has left the store. MoneyGram’s ExpressPayment service is offered at all MoneyGram agent locations in the United States,” said Waltz.

With the busiest retail shopping day of the year just over a week away, retailers and shoppers are hoping for an enjoyable holiday season. But the nation’s weakened economy has many law enforcement officials forecasting increased shoplifting and theft – crimes that could lead to lower profits for retailers and higher prices and limited selection for consumers.

Adding to the problem are fewer security and sales associates on the lookout for suspicious shoppers. Because of this, retailers are expected to rely heavily on sophisticated anti-theft technology, such as tags and smart cameras, to help catch and deter shoplifters.

According to a recent National Retail Security Survey conducted by the University of Florida, with a funding grant from ADT Security Services, retailers lost almost $12 billion to the 27 million shoplifters who stole merchandise from them in 2007. This loss was down from 2006 as retailers strengthened their use of anti-shoplifting technology and training, but the anticipated swell of shoplifting this holiday season will require an even greater use of electronic loss prevention tools.

“Many retailers are bracing for more shoplifting this season and will be counting on technology to help control theft, particularly as many stores have had to cut back on staff due to the slowing economy,” said Ed Wolfe, a veteran loss prevention executive formerly with Neiman Marcus and The Home Depot.

There will be a new and different type of shoplifter this holiday season, predicts Richard Mangan, a criminology professor at Florida Atlantic University and former DEA special agent.

“Clearly, shoplifting is going to be a bigger problem than in years past. Times of financial stress could drive individuals who normally would not consider shoplifting, to reconsider attempting this crime,” Mangan said.

Small business owners remain relatively optimistic – yet realistic – about opportunities and growth for their businesses, despite tough economic conditions.

The latest “Small Business and the Economy” survey by Intuit found that 82 percent of business owners still see opportunities for their business, compared to 91 percent in a similar Intuit survey conducted six months ago. In the most recent survey, conducted in the second week of October, 64 percent said they still expect to grow, compared to 77 percent six months ago.

While remaining fairly optimistic, small business owners are also realistic about the downturn in the economy. Sixty-seven percent say worrying about how to find new customers keeps them up at night, while 60 percent plan to focus on reducing costs and retaining current customers.

This mix of optimism with realism may reflect the fact that many are not new to tough times. More than 60 percent of the survey respondents said they had previously survived a recession.

Intuit, a leading provider of software and services for small businesses, offers 10 tips to help small business owners survive and thrive during tough economic times.

• Look for freebies: Many free and nearly free business tools and resources are available for small businesses, including software and marketing advice. Now may be the best time to take advantage of them.
• Get online and get found: Intuit Websites, www.intuitwebsites.com, offers easy Web site design tools and services, including 2,000 design templates, to help create a Web site and sell online. It’s free for the first 30 days and inexpensive thereafter.
• Find customers: Go to www.intuit.com and click on Promote Your Business. Here business owners will find online services to list their business on local Web sites, place Web ads next to search results related to their business, and drive sales using e-mail marketing with a free 60-day trial. There are also tools to create professional-looking business cards.
• Manage your money: QuickBooks is easy-to-use accounting software to help business owners make sure that their money isn’t slipping through the cracks. It helps them stay organized, look professional and be ready for tax time. Get started for free with QuickBooks Simple Start Free edition.
• Get paid faster: Billing Manager offers free online invoicing to help business owners get paid fast. It lets them get and stay organized, see all overdue invoices and send reminders, and create and send professional-looking invoices. For a small monthly fee, they can also accept credit cards.
• Let them pay with plastic: Whether you run a retail store, take orders by phone or sell online, customers will appreciate having the option to pay by credit card. Check out Intuit QuickBooks Merchant Service for a free 60-day trial and a competitive rate thereafter.
• Do payroll yourself: Run your own payroll with easy-to-use Intuit Online Payroll. Pay employees, pay taxes and file forms online in just a few easy steps, starting with a three-month free trial.
• Free for the day incorporation: Use MyCorporation.com to file business documents and save hundreds of dollars in attorney fees. MyCorporation.com will let anyone register a new corporation or LLC for free from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Pacific time on Nov. 11, saving nearly $150. Use the coupon code – FREE149 – to get the discount.
• Stay connected: QuickBooks Online Community is a free small business resource site where business owners and QuickBooks users can share advice and tips with each other and get answers from small business experts. They can also join an online community of like-minded entrepreneurs.
• Barter it: You’re a Web designer and a small business down the street is a printer. See if you can revamp their Web site for free for a reduced cost on printing. Joining a community of entrepreneurs like the one above might let you help each other out by bartering complementary services.

Built specifically for small businesses running Google AdWords campaigns, magnify360 has unveiled a new tool, called the Google Cost Optimizer. The new tool provides great visibility into the performance of campaigns, allowing for unprecedented end-to-end performance management and rapid optimization of landing pages. magnify360 will launch comparable tools for other advertising and affiliate networks, all of which will eventually feed into a single interface on the magnify360 Platform.

Google Cost Optimizer synchronizes in real-time to clients’ Adwords accounts and automatically responds to campaign changes, including bids, Ad groups, keywords and more. This synchronization enables the tool to calculate campaign performance metrics in clients’ actual dollar values:

- Individual keyword phrase return on investment (ROI) in real-time

- Cost per click in real-time

- Revenue per click in real-time

- Conversion rate in real-time

- Dollar value lead scoring in real-time

- Campaign ROI in real-time

With this level of granularity into individual keyword and visitor ROI and cost per acquisition (CPA), search marketers can easily manage the performance of their campaigns. magnify360’s Google Cost Optimizer provides the ability for marketers to quickly tie individual leads and/or customers to the exact keyword phrase that generated their click and conversion, indicating which keywords to bolster and which to abandon. This is also possible at the visitor segment or profile level.

“In order for businesses to survive this recession, marketing must be more efficient,” said Olivier Chaine, ceo and founder of magnify360. “We built Google Cost Optimizer so that our search marketing clients can quickly and easily optimize every single penny.”