Evenimentul national al anului 2007: Forumul Distributiei. “Distribution Forum” (Hotel Residence II – 29 Octombrie 2007, http://www.sirius-evenimente.com/) a fost un bun prilej pentru a clarifica unele din problemele cu care se confrunta producatorii si importatorii din Romania, “a lua pulsul” relatiei strategice dintre furnizorii romani si marile retele de distributie, a analiza modul de functionare a parteneriatelor producator-distribuitorin privinta “tintirii si incantarii” consumatorului roman si a identifica impreuna solutii de lucru la proiectul pe termen lung de creare a valorii pentru consumatorul roman, etica fiind o componenta inevitabila. Este cu atat mai salutara contributia, in acest context, a Oanei Stefanescu (absolventa a Universitatii Romano-Americane), Director Sirius Holding, competenta, dinamica si in pas cu “timpul distributiei”, atat de plastic caracterizat cu mult timp inainte de Peter Drucker. La nivelul industriei de retail se considera ca ultimii cinci ani au fost unii dintre cei mai turbulenti din istoria sa, pe fondul reformarii retailului datorita influentarii de care consumatori.  Atat retailerii, cat si producatorii de bunuri de consum devin mult mai centrati pe consumator si creste constientizarea faptului ca traim deja intr-o “noua lume a cumparaturilor” in care schimbarile in obiceiurile de consum au avut un impact puternic asupra obiceiurilor de cumparare ale consumatorilor. Particularitatea distributiei consta in materializarea accesului la cerere printr-o multiplicare a punctelor de vanzare, distributia (un serviciu al carui produs este un sortiment) distingandu-se prin modul in care raspunde  unor nevoi specifice. In domeniul bunurilor de consum cu miscare rapida – FMCG (domeniul suportand cel mai rapid impact al aderarii Romaniei la Uniunea Europeana),  know how-ul in punctul de vanzare (offline si online), ca loc de intalnire intre consumator si produs, va face din ce in ce mai bine diferenta, crescand considerabil accentul pus pe un mediu de vanzare mai atragator, sporind vertiginos concurenta categoriilor de prestatii necesar a fi dezvoltate pentru a personaliza ofertele propuse.  Consumatorii romani doresc si ei tot mai mare posibilitate de alegere, tot mai multe şi mai bune servicii, tot mai multă informatie, tot mai bun raport pret-calitate, tot mai putin timp si energie cheltuite, tot mai mare incredere in distribuitor si in produsele oferite. Pe piata romaneasca activeaza in prezent numeroase retele de distributie internationale, fiecare avand dezvoltata o retea de magazine in functie de piata tinta vizata si de specificul grupului respectiv. In mod cert, urmatoarea perioada va aduce schimbari majore pe piata de retail. Ramane de vazut in ce masura comertul traditional va tine pasul cu dezvoltarea formelor moderne de comert, pe fondul: cresterii luptei de marketing pentru ocuparea niselor de piata inca libere si identificarea unora noi; sporirii recurgerii la marketingul de participare; cautarii de catre autoritatile responsabile a realizarii echilibrului comercial indispensabil intre centrul orasului si zonele periferice, evaluand contributia efectiva a implantarilor comerciale atat la viata socio-economica a locuitorilor cat si la dezvoltarea economica a zonei in general.

O “minune a Romaniei” si urmarirea firului gandurilor vizionare. Excelenta sa Domnul Moscardo de Souza, fost Ambasador al Braziliei in Romania si ulterior Ambasador al Braziliei in Belgia, a facut afirmatia ca Universitatea Romano-Americana este “o minune a Romaniei”. Domnul Moscardo de Souza este cel care sustinea in Gazeta Diplomatica, Bruxelles, ca ar fi necesara o “mutatie culturala” pentru a transfera punctul de tinta al economicului catre metaeconomic si al scenariilor materiale catre persoana umana. Intr-un comentariu fata de aceasta luare de pozitie, Fondatorul Universitatii Romano-Americane, Profesorul Ion Smedescu, isi exprima placerea de a urmari firul gandurilor vizionare despre organizarea societatii planetare in contextul unor mutatii radicale si efecte extraordinare care impun cu necesitate o noua sarcina, specifica unei filosofii profunde si tenace, conciliind conceptiile pentru a putea pune economia in serviciul societatii, pe fondul dezvoltarii unei atitudini cetatenesti mai participative. Volumul de „Expuneri, Alocutiuni, Mesaje (1991-2006)”, aparut in anul 2007 la Editura Pro Universitaria, Bucuresti si semnat Ion Smedescu, ofera oportunitatea intelegerii demersului constructiv tenace al celui care varsa o lacrima de suflet cu fiecare an care se adauga la istoria acestei „minuni a Romaniei” – Universitatea Romano-Americana, confirmand parca spusele lui Brancusi: „Timpul perfectioneaza spiritul omenesc, iar spiritul cere el insusi aceasta”.

Mrs. Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman of Federal Trade Commission, USA gave an excellent presentation with “competition family’s” international flavour on the occasion of speaking about the central role of economic analysis in competition policy, in Bucharest, on 27 March, 2007, at the Academy of Economic Studies. She has stimulated the audience thinking on a number of related issues by making it simple to understand that in applying competition policy it is essential to look at the facts, but the analytical framework of the economic theory is essential to sound competition policy enforcement. Having a real rhythm of spirit and a special sense of humour, Deborah Platt Majoras proved a logical brilliance in treating the concepts put forward in debate, by leaving a clear message truly appreciated by the attracted audience. She made an excellent presentation of the proper objective of the competition policy – promotion of the consumer welfare (applying the consumer-welfare standard) – and of the importance of adequately applying the economic analysis to competition rules by integrating both law and, economics that competitions authorities should focus on, because finally most of the decisions taken by are essentially economic decisions. Getting to questions at the end of the wonderful presentation there were some interesting ones emerging from and the answers gave by the Chairman of FTC demonstrated the ability in conveying the points.

Romanian Distribution Committee expresses its joy that FTC “partner with NGOs, including consumer and interest groups that help identify consumer issues and educate consumers”, because indeed consumers are recognized by most businesses “as the life blood they are”. And…“like competition, consumer protection issues have gone global” (Remarks of Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission, on the occasion of ABA Consumer Protection Conference, Washington, D.C., January 30, 2007).

Romanian Distribution Committee was also happy to recently find again that “The FTC’s core mission, however, remains constant – protecting consumers from harm” (Deborah Platt Majoras – “Building A Culture of Privacy and Security – Together”, The IAPP Privacy Summit, March 7, 2007) and also to observe “some of the principles that are important to the agency”: “forming partnerships and leverage resources; remaining focused on consumer harm; getting the facts; planning for the future and not just respond to the often overwhelming problems of today” (Remarks of Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission ABA Consumer Protection Conference, Washington, D.C., January 30, 2007).

The following two pictures present the meeting again on the 27 th of March 2007 between Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission and Theodor Purcarea, Professor at the Romanian-American University and President of the Romanian Distribution Committee (in one of the pictures one can also see Professor Mihai Korka, the Dean of the Faculty of International Economic Relations, the Academy of Economic Studies). It is worth to mention that Romanian Trade Magazine (“Revista de Comert, Tribuna Economica”) presented in the September 2003 issue a picture from the first meeting, Bonn, Germany, 19 May, 2003, which showed Deborah Platt Majoras, Bärbel Dieckmann, Mayor of Bonn and Theodor Purcarea.

APC Romania (Consumers’ Protection Association Romania), a Founding Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee, is confirming the ability to reach its role of independent campaigning voice for Romanian consumers, by focusing on the shared concerns of consumers within Romanian society at large and by constantly covering the complex area of expectations from business in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Let see in this respect the statement of Dr. Costel Stanciu – President of APC Romania – on the occasion of the visit made in Bucharest by European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva on 5.02.2007. As President of APC Romania Dr. Costel Stanciu, specialized in quality management, is continuing the tradition of wellknown leaders in the field of quality management, such as the american Dr. W. Edwards Deming (“Quality can only be defined in terms of customer satisfaction”) and the (romanian -) american Dr. Joseph Guran (“Quality as fitness for use” and the necessity for ongoing quality improvement which is only achieved through “project by project” improvement, a succession of small improvement projects carried out throughout the organization). APC Romania’s involvement in the reference domains (advice to consumers; informing the consumers; representing the consumers; projects sustained) is proving its constant concern for “ongoing quality improvement” of its activities.

APC Romania (Consumers’ Protection Association Romania, www.apc-romania.ro/) has been founded in 1990 and actually has 5000 members and 18 branches all over Romania. APC Romania was recognized in 2005, by the Romanian Government, as a public utility organization and as an important actor in the social dialogue. APC Romania is a member of the following organizations: Consumers International; BEUC; International Network of Civil Society Organizations in Competition (INCSOC); Consumers Citizenship Network; E-Consumers Network; CEE Network – network of NGOs from Central and Eastern European region operating in the joint fields of consumer an environmental protection; ADR Directory.

APC Romania’s aims are: represent consumers and promote consumers interests; lobby for improvement of level of consumers’ protection, enforcement of consumers’ rights as well as consumers’ information and education; enhance transparency of production methods and quality of products and services offered on the market; inform consumers on the main characteristics of the products and services offered on the market; give advice to consumers referring to solving specific problems; educate consumers on their rights; create equal chances for all consumers.

Through the development of the consumers advise and information system, of informing system Infoteka and of the informative materials created, through the initiatives and amendments brought to legislative proposals, through the lobby activities, APC Romania has proved the achievement of its role as a consumers’ organization formed by consumers. In fact, the individual consumers’ members are the ones who decide the association’s policy and are involved in the decision-making process. The General Assembly is electing by vote the Management Board (a young, dynamic and professional one in present), the President.

Colaborarea dintre oamenii de marketing si cei de IT pusa in discutie cu ocazia inaugurarii, in data de 30 ianuarie, la Universitatea Romano-Americana, a primului Centru de Inovare Microsoft din Romania. Discutiile purtate in context, intre reprezentantii unor prestigioase firme de IT si reprezentantii Universitatii Romano-Americane, au evidentiat importanta cresterii competentelor studentilor in domeniul aplicatiilor de afaceri, a cultivarii gandirii in termeni de arhitectura a afacerii si a necesarei conversatii pentru un impact eficace al solutiilor IT asupra afacerii si clientilor, dezvoltand o mai buna intelegere a cerintelor in deplasarea catre marketingul tehnologizat pentru a obtine un marketing de precizie. Acest prim Centru de Inovare Microsoft din Romania se alatura retelei de peste 100 de centre existenta pe mapamond.