IndiaRetailBiz » Retail Jest

What’s there in a word? A lot, if it is ‘McJob’

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:08:19 +0000

Mc Donald is pressing hard to drop the word ‘McJob’ from dictionaries.

McDonald, the world’s biggest fast food retailer, is pressing hard for either drop the word ‘McJob’ altogether from, or at least altering its meaning in, English language dictionaries, according a CNN Money report.

The word ‘McJob,’ which entered in the Webster dictionary, about 20 years ago, describes McJob as “a low-paying job that requires little skill and provides little opportunity for advancement.”

Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which also began using the word since 2001, defines McJob as “an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, especially one created by the expansion of the service sector.”

Arguing that the OED’s definition was “outdated” and “insulting,” McDonald is leading a battle to change the definition of McJob to “reflect a job that is stimulating, rewarding … and offers skills that last a lifetime.”

In response, the OED has invited public to submit their opinion on definition of the word McJob. “We’re analysing the situation at the moment and evidence for the usage of the word,” said John Simpson, an OED representative to TIME. “It’s a continuing process.”

Teen sets himself on fire at WalMart!

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:16:02 +0000

Which is the best place to attempt a suicide? Well, it turns out to be a Wal-Mart store! Here is an interesting story of how a teenager was saved from sustaining injuries:

In an apparent attempted suicide Friday (13th April) morning, a 17-year-old set himself on fire in the electronics section of the Towne Boulevard Wal-Mart Middletown (Ohio USA) store.

According to the Middletown Division of Police, the teen from the 2000 block of Arlington Avenue, walked into the electronics department at the WalMart and lit his jacket on fire. He used a lighter and tissues stuffed in his pocket to ignite his jacket, which became “severely burnt.”

However, the Wal-Mart store manager, who used a nearby fire extinguisher to put out the flames, was able to save the 17-year-old from sustaining any injuries.

Source: Middle Town Journal

PS: This post has been written with absolutely no intention to denigrate Wal-Mart in any manner whatsoever.

Help desis; Buy from desis

kk — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:06:09 +0000

“If our current strategy doen’t work, our last option will be only to appeal to the Indian consumers to help desis (locals) by buying from desi retailers”

Kishore Biyani CEO, Future Group and Managing Director, Pantaloon Retailing (India) Limited, speaking joculary on being asked: As to what he will do to meet the challenge of the multi national retailers?

Business Standard (Chinese Whispers) December 6, 2006.

What do Indian retailers dread?

kk — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 23:24:36 +0000

Bachi Karkaria, the well known columnist, of the Times Group, who writes a popular weekly column “Erratica” in the Sunday Times, summed up fears of the Indian retailers, who for obvious reasons dread the entry of Wal-Mart in India, very well in just one word, thus:

Alec Smart said:

“What do Indian retailers dread?

Walmartyrdom.”

(Sunday Times: 3rd December, 2006)