Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Bucket Lists? It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..........





Kerri looks forward to the New Year by looking back at a favourite New Year’s Eve



Unfortunately I am approaching one of those ages when it is tradition to set yourself a “bucket list”; those must do things before you die. Quick poll around the office has revealed our top bucket list:
1. African safari
2. Walking in Tuscany
3. Greek Islands cruise
4. Christmas in New York
5. Scandinavia in winter
6. Rio Carnival
7. Snowboard Japan/Canada/Europe
8. Milan Fashion Week
9. Sail the Caribbean
10. Trek Nepal/Himalayas
11. Visit the Colosseum


I haven’t made a bucket list yet, but thinking back, New Year’s Eve in New York would have been on there. Tick. Done. Best New Year’s of my life!

Imagine standing shoulder to shoulder, in a series of what look like cattle pens, eyes glued forward just watching for hours on end for that little ball to drop signalling the New Year in. It’s freezing cold. There are no toilets. Once you are in – you are in. We were told people bring plastic bags – the mind boggles what for!!! There is no food. No alcohol.

We were staying just a block from Times Square and our hotel had given us a special letter for us to be able to walk around the City after midday – New Yorkers start to gather in their little pens from 2pm in the afternoon. As each pen is filled up, new pens are opened further down the street and block after block it goes. Crossing the streets to get food for dinner requires said hotel letter to say that we are “locals” and where we should be, and able to walk where we want.
I have never seen so many police and weapons in my life.



Thankfully as a member of the worldwide police family, we didn’t have to line up from 2pm just to get a great view of the ball, we stayed warm in our hotel room until 11:30pm and then wandered with my son out to find a friendly policeman who ushered us up to the front of a pen for a fantastic view of the whole party. As everyone chants down and the ball starts to make its descent, it is really hard not to be completely caught up in the excitement. Tickertape falls all around you. Complete euphoria that I will never forget –nor the sight of my 8 year old screaming his lungs out with the best of them.



New York at Christmas and New Year is really spectacular. Fifth Avenue dressed up to the nines, the Christmas decorations adorning every building and corner, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, toy shopping at FAO Schwartz, ice skating in Central Park, coffee at Dean & Deluca, the post-Christmas sales! Battling extreme winds and frostbite atop Empire State Building, visiting the Natural History Museum – you know the one that Night at the Museum is based on, and then watching Night at the Museum at your hotel that night! There really is a sense of magic and romance about New York at this time of year that is hard to beat. Bah Humbug to our cab driver who told us on our arrival in New York, that all the terrible traffic at 9pm that night was to do with “some stupid tree”.


Everything about New York at New Year’s is lines – lineups to get into every attraction, all the major stores, and the funniest line was the unfortunate crowds shivering outside Grimaldi’s famous pizzeria whilst our pizza tour was ushered into the warmth to gorge ourselves on the best Neapolitan type “pie” I have ever had. But it’s just all part of the experience.


I’m a Christmas tragic if you haven’t worked that out, so on that note, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Urban Economics, and one day you will find me wishing you a Merry Christmas from New York as I tick Christmas Day in NYC off my bucket list. One day.
I’d love to hear your bucket lists!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Supermarkets a "World" Tour

Supermarkets of the World!

This month Anthony takes us global grocery shopping, to sample some of the differences and tastes of supermarkets around the world.

Ok, so “of the world” might be a bit of an exaggeration, rather these are some of my lazy observations from previous international travel. My most recent trip was to the United Kingdom so those supermarkets are most fresh in the memory. But Europe and the Americas also feature.

Brand Choice

Being used to the effective duopoly in supermarkets in Australia, I have noted a wider variety of choice in supermarket brands in Europe and the Americas. For instance, in the UK, the dominant four are Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrison, however there are a range of other brands competing for market position, such as Aldi, Booths, Iceland, Farmfoods, Waitrose and Lidl. Some of these players have adopted a particular market niche, such as Booths positioning itself in the North West of England. Its store signage promotes this regional point of difference and its sourcing of local produce. I have been reliably informed by the locals that Booths used to be a small, down-market store, far inferior to the likes of Tesco. But it has repositioned itself as an up-market store with high quality fresh produce.

Iceland and Farmfoods have also positioned themselves in a particular sector, namely frozen goods. Neither of these would be described as full-line supermarkets, rather they are more comparable to a small Aldi size. The Iceland I visited had five aisles, four of which were banks of freezers offering a full range of frozen goods such as vegetables, desserts, pre-prepared meals, pizzas, chips, etc. The remaining aisle, incidentally the busiest when I visited, had a limited range of dry groceries, crisps and confectionery.

Size

The thing that most people associate with shopping in the United States is “big”. I certainly observed the bigness of supermarkets in terms of building size, car parking and product size. But what I recall most about supermarkets in South America (namely Chile, Peru and Argentina) is “small”. Small store sizes, small aisle-ways, small product sizes. I observed this in major cities like Lima and Santiago and also in the regional towns. However, this may be a skewed observation as I did not have a car to explore the cities’ suburbs.

Deli

Oh, the delis, oh my! We have a pretty good range of deli produce in our supermarkets in Australia, but the French and Italian delis (I know I am shamelessly place name dropping here) in supermarkets are a step up again. The cheeses, cured meats and prepared meals were in abundance. The seafood range was good, though obviously different to what we are used to. The prepared meals were my favourite. Even in small towns, the supermarket delis contained a wide variety of prepared meals, and several times while visiting our dinner ritual consisted of rolling up to a supermarket, salivating over the deli, randomly selecting a meal, then reheating and eating. Bourguignon! Bouillabaisse! Blanquette! Bon appétit!

Extras

Given the level of competition, it is unsurprising that supermarkets have been trying to differentiate themselves with extra facilities and services. In the UK, store types such as Tesco Extra or Sainsbury’s Superstore offer a broader array of products than a typical supermarket. But a range of non-core services were also evident in a more typical supermarket. Extra services such as cafes, travel agents, currency exchange, pharmacy, optician, banking and insurance were evident and on-line grocery ordering and delivery appeared to be more established and widespread than in Australia. Cafes in supermarkets appear to be standard in the UK and popular as an easy and cheap meal alternative. The larger format stores also have a wide variety of products we might not typically consider as supermarket lines, such as electronics, white goods, clothing and alcohol.

And one final note on grocery shopping in the UK, I have been told for years by ex-pats that Cadbury UK chocolate tastes different to and better than Australian Cadbury, and I have to agree. But Galaxy beats them both hands down. I pledge to diligently continue this research and keep you informed.




Tuesday, November 22, 2011

KL v Phuket It's On!

This month Ben shares the adventures of his first overseas trip to Kuala Lumpur and Phuket providing a compare/contrast of the two destinations.

At the age of 25 I finally decided to take my first trip out of this great land we call Oz accompanied by my amazing girlfriend (some great brownie points there…). So grab your passport and join me as we travel across to Asia!

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is Malaysia’s capital and the second most populous city. With a population of approximately 1.8 million, the city has evolved into a 21st century metropolis dominated by a mix of culture and technology from historic temples and mosques neighbouring skyscrapers, to colossal shopping malls. Located south-west of Thailand the island of Phuket (my second stop) is a mecca for tourists and armed forces alike, ready to experience all that Phuket has to offer. As Thailand’s largest and most popular island, the western shoreline where the rainforest meets the transparent turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea, is the spot where most tourists congregate.

Travelling to KL and Phuket in low season was the best decision we made. Other than the obvious; cheaper accommodation and activities, travelling in low season had numerous benefits. Topping the list was the smaller crowds as it was hard enough walking through Chinatown in KL or Phuket Town’s night market when we were there. I cannot imagine peak season where I assume you don’t choose the direction you walk, the crowd chooses for you.
Transport from the airport at both destinations was entertaining to say the least. Arriving at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in KL (gotta love cheap fares through AirAsia), we boarded our pre-booked shuttle to KL Sentral, an exclusive urban centre built around Malaysia’s largest transit hub. Although we thought ourselves as the best of planners, the shuttle we chose overheated forcing the driver to double-clutch the entire trip. Arriving at Phuket International Airport, we bartered the price of our taxi but the gentleman we were talking to wasn’t our driver, our actual driver was waiting round the corner and looked like a UFC fighter. The entire trip he kept trying to increase our agreed price while driving extremely slow on the highway. Then to our shock he pulled over, threw our bags in the back of another taxi of significantly lesser quality, slammed the boot and drove off. Arriving at the hotel we realised amongst our confusion, the UFC fighter stole our duty free alcohol!

Unlike our trip from the airports our trip to the airports was much more pleasant. In KL we booked a taxi from the hotel and had a lovely lady that I’m sure doubled as a tour guide, as she explained the history of all the destinations we passed, which was great as we didn’t see much due to the overheating shuttle bus on the way to the hotel. In Phuket we booked a taxi from the guys outside our hotel. The night before we headed home we walked past our taxi driver around 1 am and asked why he was still awake. He commented that someone else would take us. Hearing this, we were a little nervous wondering if anyone would turn up but upon exiting the lift at 5am with bags packed, there was our taxi driver waiting in a jet black Mercedes! The driver was driving significantly under the speed limit, AGAIN! But to our surprise once we hit the highway his foot hit the floor and we were travelling around the somewhat exhilarating speed of 140 km/h. Needless to say, we got to the airport extra early.

Leaving our iPhones at home we had no contact with family and friends at home. As instructed by the concierge we headed towards Kuala Lumpur City Centre where the Petronas Towers are located with a 6 level shopping mall at the base. We searched everywhere for an international calling card but all we could find were international sim cards, which really helps when your phone is at home. We experienced a similar plight at other tourist destinations in KL. Upon arriving at Phuket we thought we would have another shot at locating an international calling card and lo and behold the convenience store at the airport sold them. Opposite our hotel was an internet and international calling café. It was surprising that it was impossible to contact home in KL, a modern cybercity, but in Phuket, an island with lower socio-economic characteristics, we could do.

Transport on the monorails in KL was as fun as riding the trams in Melbourne! KL’s transit rail network is a combination of four independently owned monorail networks allowing tourists, with transit rail map in hand, to navigate easily through the city. Although monorails were our preferred transport mode in KL, in Phuket we favoured scooters and the occasional tuk-tuk. Early on in our trip we found a man we called ‘scooter guy’ who spoke no English but we would tell his boss where we wanted to go and he would translate. My girlfriend and I both jumped on the back of the scooter and hung on for dear life, as we scooted through the streets and highways of Phuket. Scooter guy was the best! For 500 baht (approximately $16 AUD) scooter guy drove us around for an entire day taking us to Phuket Zoo and Phuket Town’s Night Market, and waited for us the entire time. With our backpack full of shopping and scooter guy’s front basket fitting the rest he dropped us back to the hotel. Scooter guy was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

The shopping experience in each destination was very different. In Phuket we were literally attacked everywhere we went by the massage ladies, the suit fast talkers, the persistent DVD salesmen, and at night, the scary and very persistent ‘lady show’ salesmen. While shopping in Phuket we could haggle down to a price we were happy to pay but if not, we would pretend to walk out of the shop and 9 times out of 10 they would chase us down the street to make the sale. However, when we tried this same stunt in KL, where the merchants were a lot more stubborn and haggled a lot less, we found ourselves walking away with no one chasing us…! To our utter embarrassment, we turned around and walked back numerous times.

So after a very enjoyable trip to KL and Phuket, what have I learnt from my first overseas trip?
Ø Always choose the appropriate destination for the people you are travelling with. KL and Phuket were great for my girlfriend and I as we could relax at the beach or shop for hours and hours in the one location.
Ø The second time you visit a destination you are considerably more knowledgeable. For example, passing through KL on our way home we caught the ‘fast train’ to KL Sentral instead of the overheating shuttle bus, which gave us more time for last minute shopping.
Ø KL is a destination for shopping for higher quality products (my girlfriend especially recommends the handbags) at reasonable prices with efficient monorail transport whereas Phuket is best for lower quality products (more beachwear – board shorts, singlets, etc.) with tuk-tuk and scooter rides, if you dare!

Thank you for joining me on my first trip overseas with many more planned for the future, annual leave permitting of course.

Feeling Crowded?
Today (31st October) the world population is projected to reach 7 billion according to the United Nations Population Fund and is projected to reach over 9 billion by 2050.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Household Expenditure Survey 2009/10

Occupancy costs comprised 20% of household expenses in the US and UK in 2009, whilst the 2003/04 Household Expenditure Survey published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that occupancy costs in Australia – mortgage, rent, payments – comprised 16.1% of total household expenses. What does the latest survey show?

The 2009/10 HES was released by the ABS on the 6th September 2011 and provides a critical insight to the expenditure practices of Australian households and their implications for retailing development and performance in Australia.

The amount Australian households spend on their housing or occupancy costs has risen markedly from 10.7% of all expenditure in 1988/89 to 13.9% in 1998/99 and 18.0% at the time of the 2009/10 survey, reflecting the need for households to direct an increasing share of their incomes to cover the simple need of providing shelter. Housing comprised the largest proportion of a broad expenditure group in 2009/10, overtaking food and non-alcoholic beverages, which comprised the highest proportion in 2003/04. Food and non-alcoholic beverages expenditure has been steadily decreasing since the 1988/89 survey (19.1%), comprising 16.5% in 2009/10.

The clear growth sectors in terms of share of expenditure have been in recreational goods and services, medical care and health expenses, and miscellaneous goods and services. Households are more willing to direct their incomes towards goods and services that are in effect improving their overall lifestyle
rather than simply filling a need.

The largest decline exhibited in a broad expenditure group was in the household furnishings and equipment group, decreasing by 23.4% since 2003/04 and a significant 57.4% since the 1988/89 survey, heralding challenges for the bulky goods sector and the future positioning of development and discount development stalls.

As Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggests, individuals first aim to meet basic psychological needs of hunger and thirst and shelter, followed by safety, family, property and resources once this need has been met. At the top of the hierarchy is self actualisation, esteem and social (love and belonging). The 2009/10 expenditure survey demonstrates that Australian households are slowly but steadily increasing the amount they spend to meet these higher needs.

The most basic human needs for shelter, food and water comprise the "lion's share" of total household expenditure (34.5% in 2009/10), but has decreased since 2003/04, whilst expenditure on more esoteric items e.g. health and fitness membership, theatre and cinema admissions and holidays has increased markedly over time.

However, the proportion spent on a number of broad expenditure groups has remained constant since the 2003/04 survey, including domestic fuel and power, alcoholic beverages, transport and personal care. Obviously, the level and pattern of expenditure differed between households, reflecting characteristics such as income, wealth, household composition, household size and location.


So where to for the 2015/16 survey and beyond?

Basic household needs will continue to comprise the "lion's share" of total expenditure, and it is unlikely that we will see a complete inversion of the needs pyramid however we do anticipate an evolvement into more of a "hour glass" shape, with continued emphasis on self actualization and "I have made it" expenditure, particularly as confidence in the economic outlook starts to take shape. Key expenditure themes we believe will continue to dominate include:

  1. FEED ME - continued decline in expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages but continue prominence
  2. HOUSE ME - continued growth in household costs as occupancy and utility costs continue to grow
  3. DO IT BY ME – a decline in household establishment expenditure
  4. DO IT FOR ME – increasing expenditure on "do it for me" goods and services



Tuesday, October 4, 2011

South Miami Beach



This month Kerri takes us on a leisurely cycle ride up and down South Miami Beach.

I had fully intended this month’s Urban Excursions to focus on South Miami Beach, its art deco architecture, its festivals, its people, its lifestyle. But the more I thought back on my South Miami Beach experience, the more this article seemed to morph into a focus on pedal power. And with the release this month of the State Government’s Queensland Cycle Strategy 2011 – 2021, it seems somewhat appropriate to focus on cities and their cycle phenomena.

Now just to put a little perspective here – I lived a deprived childhood. I never owned a bike and it never really mattered, because I walked to school just down the road and all the neighbourhood kids would congregate in our backyard for cricket. We never needed a bike to go anywhere! Now a mother of a 9 year old, I do have a bike but it is a hand-me-down men’s bike that is too big for me and has sent me headlong into powerpoles, gutters etc – its fault entirely not mine of course. However, I am inspired to up the ante and actually use said too big bike more than once a year. And maybe even, although the very thought almost paralyses me, cycle to work!

But I digress. The Cycle Strategy estimated that in 2006, 1.4% or 21,000 commute trips were by bicycle, with targets to increase this share to 2.8% by 2021 and 4.2% by 2031. Improving the “friendliness” of the commute for cyclists is a key component of this, utilising the proportion of commutes undertaken by female cyclists (only 19%) as an indicator of how friendly the commute trip is for cyclists.

South Miami Beach has, like many cities, recently introduced a city cycle hire scheme. Decobike, is rated as relatively successful, achieving 180,000 rides in its first four months of operation, which in comparison to the population of Miami Beach represents a daily share of 1.7% of the total resident population. Helmets not compulsory of course. With a culture of cruising on all matter of two and four wheeled modes, Miami Beach appears made for cycle commuting.

It’s a relatively flat and dense urban environment. There are large, expansive cycle paths that run right along the beach. Who wouldn’t want to cycle there? And as a tourist, there are several hire shops hiring bikes of all shapes and sizes, blades, scooters and my favourite –the Segway! Sashaying up and down the foreshore, enjoying the winter sunshine, people watching, taking in the art deco buildings, now this is Miami Beach at its best. Miami Beach, particularly South Miami Beach, is all about the weird, the wonderful and the beautiful people. I certainly don’t belong in any of those categories, but it was quintessentially the Miami experience to cruise up and down and feel part of the pulsing heart of Miami Beach; the Atlantic on one side, the famous art deco buildings on the other.

Having fluctuated from a prosperous playground for the rich and famous to a crime ravaged poverty belt, and now again resurrected as a popular destination for the rich and famous, Miami Beach has managed to retain its art deco buildings, thanks to a very active and passionate group of locals putting the Miami Beach Architectural District on the National Register of Historic Places. A popular Art Deco Festival, including walking tours of the district, is held in January and the area has established as a major entertainment venue both day and night, including cafes, restaurants, shops, bars, nightclubs and hotels. People watching and cruising are essential!


So my Miami Beach lessons for the cycle strategy in creating this female’s friendly cycle experience:

1. Dedicated, wide pathways

2. Cafes selling mouthwateringly fluffy pancakes with melting icecream and syrup to build up the energy levels

3. Alfresco dining and wine bars to increase the afternoon activity and social scene

4. Bustling streetscape views one side, sparkling water views the other

5. Plenty of eye candy doesn’t hurt either!

In our Urban Excursions “research” around the world, we have seen in China and Europe cycling being a major commuter transport mode and this contrasts with South Miami Beach’s leisurely seen-and-be-seen cycling. We think, with Queensland’s 21st economy and wonderful sunshine, we can take the best ideas from both.