Many businesses offer more literature than any other type of product, and for these businesses holding large amounts of literature it is costly to store this inventory. For many businesses, it is much less expensive to use a literature fulfilment company to handle this end of business. Not only do literature fulfilment companies offer your business the chance to save on inventory storage, but the headache of returns and shipping. Most literature fulfilment companies will find the least expensive delivery carriers for your products to be shipped with, but they also take care of all returns and exchanges.

These two actions alone take up an average of 23% of a business’ time when it comes to peak seasons. This is time that could be better used dealing with the sales and marketing end of your business.

Instead of holding your own inventory and dealing with the overhead for this requirement, simply using a literature fulfilment company will help to alleviate the troubles associated with inventory and your company no longer has to deal with any of these problems. The product your customers purchase can be handled through a fulfilment company’s automatic online service or you can place the order on their behalf. This allows your customers faster delivery times because most literature fulfilment businesses will offer 24 hour turnaround service and shipping. Your business not only gets less work due to using this business, but also gains a reputation for fast delivery and great products.

Many fulfilment companies will offer monthly or annual packages for your literature fulfilment needs. When deciding on your literature fulfilment company, ask about a dedicated account manager for your business and what systems will be used for your fulfilment.

Commercial property ­ shop, office space or plot ­ developed by DDA, is a safe buy

 Arati Bhargava a C

The area is virtually bubbling with commercial and residential real estate activity, says Syed Amir Ali Hashmi

Amritsar: is anticipating increased penetration of organized retailing in the next two to three years with a large inventory build-up of mall space distributed approximately across 10 malls. There are around 1012 upcoming hotel projects identified in and around the city, which are expected to augment the existing hotel room inventory across segments by 800-1,000 rooms over the next two to three years.

Guwahati: Infrastructure projects in Guwahati include the development of Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kathabari, a flyover project on GS Road near Vangagar, an international trade centre, and an athletics stadium at Saru Sajai. Modernisation plan is underway for the Guwahati airport (likely to be completed by 2010). On completion, Airports Authority of India plans to make Guwahati a hub for air connectivity. Guwahati is among 50 train stations identified for development as world-class stations.

The Reserve Bank of India's move to hike the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by 0.75% was aimed at balancing growth and inflation. The CRR is the minimum amount of funds banks need to park with the central bank. It is one of the key values that could directly impact your EMI outflow. Here are a few rates that could directly or indirectly have a bearing on home loan interest rates:

A veteran journalist often advised his junior colleagues to buy a house before they were 40 and another before they retire! Vivek Shukla tells you why

Noted journalist and writer, late V S Upadhyay, who played a key role in acquiring land from DDA for Delhi-based journalists in Gulmohar Park and was also responsible for enrolling many journalists as members of a cooperative society which built this posh area in South Delhi, used to tell his junior colleagues that they must purchase a house before reaching the age of 40. And if possible, they should buy another house before they retire!