Lawfirm

Why do we get so caught up in what is happening on the other side of the fence?  The grass is not greener and to believe it is requires a change in how we are viewing the scenery.  In addition to changing our glasses to take in this new view, our attention requires a full turnabout and eyeful of what is going on in our own yard and life.  He or she is not any better than me or you physically or materially and it is important to realize that to green up our own grass, we need to start taking care of it.  I am zeroing in on comparison being the thief of joy because that is the darn truth.  We will always be at different levels of health, looks, and financial status and that is just how the world works.  The important thing is to make the best out of what we have, celebrate who we are at this moment, and work on becoming a better self than we were yesterday. I refuse to waste my time worrying about someone else’s grass and let the weeds infest mine. I do not h...

This post is inspired by  my learned Twitter friend @vijaysankaran when he queried about my opinion about the brand refresh by Raymond. I was more familiar with Re-branding and not refresh which lead to more learning about this term.  Brand refresh is a term that signifies slight modification of the brand ( or brand elements). Radical modification or change of brand elements implies re-branding.  Refreshing of brand usually happens under following conditions  The brand is perceived to be old. Brand is trying to appeal to a new segment , for example younger crowd. When there is a change in the brand positioning. When there is a shift in the characteristics of the TG. When the brand elements need modernization .  When the brand launches products in other categories ( Brand Extensions) When you feel consumers are bored with the brand. When nothing else can be refreshed ! Brand often do these refreshing by slightly tweaking the logo/color/tagline /positioning e...

In 1989, with torches and pitchforks, Congress chased the Tariff Schedule of the United States away from our black and white villages, never to be seen again. Where did it go? What happened to its arcane rules like "chief use" and the "more than doctrine?" Unfortunately, we now know. Dispatches from the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit show that its unmarked grave is empty. Shuffling marks in the dirt lead to the Courthouse where the Federal Circuit has taken up and decided  Victoria's Secret Direct, LLC v. United States . This may be the final edition of a horror tale subtitled, "Rise of the TSUS." I have two prior postings on this case here and here . Sadly, the photo of the fit model used as demonstrative evidence has been removed. You should go back and read those posts. The terrifying issue here is the correct tariff classification of knit tops for women that provide both body coverage and bust support, eliminating the need for a brassier...

Although the reports of Raymond entering into the readymade segment was there since 2007, I feel the brand has only now fully launched itself into this category. The " Complete Man" now has become readymade ! The Indian men's wear market is around Rs 97000 crore and the formal menswear market is estimated to be around Rs 15000 crore ( Source TOI ) . Raymond has brands like Park Avenue, Parx, Color Plus and Notting Hill in the segment. The addition of Raymond will further strengthen the company's portfolio but at the same time would cannibalize the other brands like Park Avenue. Having said that the move has to be seen in the larger picture where the trend is moving towards the ready-to-wear segment. Raymond is now running the campaign for its ready-wear push. The brand retains the tagline " The Complete Man". Watch the ad here : Raymond Readymade The ad is well crafted - simple and elegant. As long as the brand moves with in the positioning of " The Co...

I want a hot body and there is nothing wrong with that.  In fact, I believe that health and fitness play a large role in finding the fountain of youth and I am implementing that into maintaining my “hot body” philosophy.  I feel honored to have joined the 50+ club and that does not mean I am supposed to change in some way and enter into a doom and gloom frump sorority for women.  I believe that age is just a number and what I think in my mind is what I feel in my body and soul.  Health will always be my priority, but I am not going to lie and tell you that I do not want my body to look good in and out of my clothes.  There should be one of those “snarky e-cards” that states “I do not want a hot body…said no woman ever”. In fact, let me create that for you. Being healthy and fit feels sexy, and when it is just me and the mirror, I like what I see and enjoy the confidence that goes along with that.  We are all our own worst critics and will always find someth...

Sometimes we can get caught up in worrying about so much in this life, and even things that may never happen.  Worry is definitely a thief of our happiness and will dictate our attitude for the day.  It can become a chronic way of thinking and existing, and not only zaps our energy, but can be exhausting for those around us.  Whenever I feel a worry, I stop and think about the cause and ask myself if it is warranted.  Sometimes worry just does not make sense, and the root cause many times is fear or insecurity about something.  The “What If” this or that kind of worry when nothing definite has even revealed itself.  I found one of the best ways to beat up that kind of mentality is to sweat more.  I get my butt going and use that energy on a high energy workout like HIIT (high intensity interval training) or weight training. Studies have shown that consistent exercise reduces stress and guess what, that includes the stress that comes from worry.  I...

The Jones Act is an aspect of customs law we don't often cover. It is, however, disproportionately represented in the rulings Customs and Border Protection issues. It is, therefore, worth a brief look. The part of the Jones Act with which we are concerned regulates coastwise transport and is 46 U.S.C. § 55103. Under the law, to be a coastwise-qualified vessel, the ship must have been made at a U.S. shipyard, documented in the U.S., and owned by a citizen of the U.S. Only coastwise-qualified vessel can carry passengers or cargo from one U.S. port to another. A non-coastwise-qualified vessel may not transport passengers or cargo from one U.S. port to another U.S. port without risking a $300 penalty. Many ships are documented in Panama, the Bahamas, and other countries where the fees and regulations are favorable. This is why cruises departing the U.S. return to the port of departure. Customs is often asked whether a person who happens to be on a ship is considered a passenger for pur...

Let me clarify before I continue writing this article that my stance with sex is that it belongs and is a big part of a healthy marriage. The issue with sex and menopause, or even going through the premenopausal period brings lots of changes to the female body that can negatively impact our sex lives. I do cover all things health related and never to offend, but hopefully to motivate, inspire, educate, or get us thinking about our lives in a healthier way.  I have joined the ranks of the 50+ woman and feel that it is important to speak out about subjects that we all want to talk about, but seem to hide behind closed doors feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or in denial.  Whatever the case may be, please know that no woman will escape going through menopause, we all have this in common, and it is pretty awesome to think that there is a support system to lean on for answers. I am just going to blurt it out, when it comes to sex and menopause, use it or lose it ladies.  As our ho...

October 6 ,2014 could have been a historical day for Flipkart but in reality, that day proved to be more of a PR nightmare than a marketing success. It may be true that on that day, the company would have emptied its inventory of many products but at the cost of a lot of goodwill . The huge hype created by Flipkart and the subsequent backlash forces us to refresh some basics in managing expectations.  One of the classic theories related to expectation and subsequent satisfaction is Expectation-Confirmation Theory ( ECT) . The theory is no rocket science . It simply states that during the pre-purchase stage, the consumer forms expectations either by the conscious act of the marketer or through other means. After the purchase or service encounter, the consumer's satisfaction is decided on the perceived performance of whether the original expectations are confirmed. Because of the equity established by Flipkart, the consumers expected that on that day  They would get a fair barga...

I stopped counting calories years ago, and simply made my focus on eating healthy quality “real” food each day.  I like that motivational poster that says “no one has ever gotten fat eating too much kale” and this is really true and can be applied to most of the healthy food choices out there.  I do not feel the need to keep track of ingredients I know are providing health benefits and awesome nutrients that keep my body looking and feeling the way it does.  I keep my refrigerator, pantry and counters stocked with plenty of organic vegetables, greens, fruits, yogurts, raw nuts, lean meats, and my list goes on and believe me, I am stuffing my face every three hours or less with a nutrient dense fiber rich food. Maintaining a healthy body is about living a quality life and that means being concerned about the quality of food that I eat.  There is a big difference in consuming a McDonald’s Big Mac and fries compared to an organic chicken breast with a sweet potato and m...