November 15, 2009 — We sell some of the most exclusive designer handbags

available at hugely reduced prices. Our inventory is updated almost daily with new brands coming on-board every week.

If you want Marc Jacobs, Donald J. Pliner, Moschino, Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Kenneth Cole, Betsey Johnson, Cynthia Rowley, Guiseppe Zanotti, Franco Sarto, Kate Spade, L.A.M.B., Lacoste, MAXX New York, Perlina, Isacc Mizrahi, Bally and many others at huge discounts, you have come to the right place.

Some bags that started at over $1,000 are discounted to under $500.00, a 50% discount! We have bags that were once $300.00 and are now less than $150.00. With an economy as tough as ours, there are some great deals to be had,,, and they are here!

The best discounts anywhere! We have partnered with some of the greatest manufacturers through a strong relationship with mass-wholesale sites. The best customer service, unmatched. Many of our handbags, designer bags, and clutches come with free overnight shipping.

We will not be undesold for the Holiday Season!
designer bags , designer handbags , handbags , discount handbags , L.A.M.B. , MAXX New York , Moschino

With over 4000 staff, 260 retail outlets, a funeral service and property management operations, managing HR and payroll effectively was a priority for the group. Previously, Scotmid had two separate HR and Payroll systems that were not integrated and unable to communicate efficiently. It was decided to upgrade these systems and Carval was chosen as its HR Unity range is fully integrated. It is also able to manage an expansive recruitment drive and to track training being provided to Scotmid staff. However, the key determinant behind the decision to opt for Carval was the system’s self-service ability that allows store managers to access the data held.

Ultimately, individual store managers will use this feature to plan the hours to be worked and costs per store. The information from the stores will then be fed directly into the Payroll. Initially, though, the system is to be run centrally from the Edinburgh Head office; with store based input to be rolled out over time.

Scotmid’s IT Projects Manager, Stewart Ross believes that the new system will have a major impact on administrative efficiency noting, “Just as we constantly strive to do things better for our customers, it is a top priority to be a good employer. With over 4000 staff, managing the HR and Payroll operation is a major responsibility. In choosing Carval software we have ensured best practice by ultimately having the combined data available to both store management and administrators alike. This makes the whole process a great deal more efficient and responsive and ultimately the real beneficiary will be those who work for us.”

John Ovington, Sales and Support Director of Carval welcomed Ross’s comments adding, “Scotmid’s excellent reputation stretches back 150 years. It is a company renowned for its excellent levels of customer service. That just wouldn’t have happened without the right staff in place capable of delivering that level of quality. That is why the HR and Payroll function is just so important here and as a responsible employer Scotmid decided to invest in technology to keep their HR and Payroll systems up to date. We are delighted they have chosen Carval and look forward to working with them on the self-service roll-out.”

As part of a special investigation, Sky News was able to purchase forged €50 banknotes from a man calling himself “Tony” in London.

He charged £100 for €300.

A Sky News team was then able to spend the fake notes in five different shops and pubs in Dublin.

Not one of the small businesses targeted had a machine or special marker to detect counterfeit currency.

Dublin cafe manager Chris Tecklenberg was disappointed his staff did not spot the fake note.

He said: “I was quite surprised really because we are normally quite vigilant with that sort of thing.

“The actual note on first glance looks quite genuine.”

Barry Robinson works in his family’s art shop and also accepted a fake banknote without question.

He said: “This time of year it’s easier to pass because it’s busy and people are just concerned with getting money in to the till.”

The counterfeit dealer in London denied selling fake notes when he was confronted by Sky News.

But figures from the European  Central Bank show there are potentially many organised criminals operating in the UK and Europe, taking advantage of the latest printing technology.

In the first half of 2008, 312,000 counterfeit Euro notes were withdrawn from circulation.

That is an increase of 18% on the first six months of 2007 when 265,000 notes were seized.

The bank also says the €50 note has been the most counterfeited.

Banknote expert Yasher Beresine said: “The quality doesn’t have to be particularly excellent and this is why you will very rarely see completely new bank notes when they are forged.

“They are always a little bit torn, a little bit used, because it is of course much more difficult then to detect.”

The European Central Bank has warned retailers to be on the look-out for forged notes during this busy retail period, but it insists the number of counterfeits remain low.

While those who think they can get away with spending fake money are being warned that they could end up spending time in prison instead.

US retail sales unexpectedly fell in July, following two months of rises, as job security fears appear to have once again knocked consumer spending.

Sales declined 0.1% last month, following a revised 0.8% increase in June, the official figures from the Commerce Department showed.

Excluding sales of car and auto parts, sales were down 0.6% in July.

The figures disappointed analysts, who had been expecting on average a rise of 0.7% in overall sales last month.

Weak consumers

Car sales saw the biggest rise in July, adding 2.4% as they benefited from the government’s “cash for clunkers” scrappage scheme.

The weak retail sales figures came a week after other official data showed that the US economy lost an additional 247,000 jobs in July, although this was less than had been expected.

At the same time, the unemployment rate fell to 9.4% from 9.5% in June.

“The US consumer remains weak,” said Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO Capital Markets.

“The jobs situation, while slowly improving, is still dismal.”

The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that the US recession now appeared to be over.

Its comments came after other official figures showed that US worker productivity had increased at its fastest annual pace for nearly six years in the second quarter of 2009, while US exports rose in June.

You know the part of the classic wedding ceremony in which couples vow to stick together “for richer, for poorer”? Well, a lot of spouses lately are really putting the latter part of that promise to the test.

Blame the economy for shaking up once-solid unions. Marital roles are shifting as onetime breadwinners adjust to long bouts of unemployment. Husbands and wives are blaming each other for bad investments and onerous debt. Spouses who once smoothed over spats with a little shopping therapy can no longer afford to fill that prescription. “It’s the biggest stress on married couples in the past 60 years,” says Margaret Shapiro, a clinical social worker in Philadelphia.

How are you and your spouse coping with the challenges you’re facing? And what can you do to ensure you pull together to solve those problems instead of being torn apart by them? The following quiz provides insights into the specific ways the economy may be affecting your marriage, plus the steps you can take to strengthen your relationship — and your finances.

Question 1: Your company reduced salaries 10% this year, and you’re looking hard for ways to cut your family’s expenses. But your spouse insists that you’re exaggerating the financial difficulties and resists attempts to ratchet back your lifestyle. Every conversation about money is turning into a battle. What is most likely to result in a lasting solution to the tension?

A. Let your spouse pick one splurge each month and enjoy it.

B. Together, take a look at the numbers in your investment and checking accounts.

C. Split up your finances so you don’t have to discuss every purchase.

Answer : B. While some couples might benefit from dividing their money or looking the other way when one makes an occasional indulgent purchase, one of the biggest breeding grounds for arguments is simply that most spouses appear to be operating under different sets of “facts” about the resources they have to work with.

According to a study by Jay Zagorsky at Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research, the typical husband reports that the couple earn 5% more and have a net worth 10% higher than his wife thinks they do. And men believe household debt is lower than their wives do.

Moreover, the gap between what husbands and wives say their household earns, saves, and owes gets bigger the longer they are married. (The study didn’t reveal which spouse is usually closer to the mark.)

Rather than fight about whether you can afford to take a ski vacation this winter or whether it’s necessary to ditch your premium cable-TV channels, get the facts you need to make an informed decision. Block out time to sit down together and sort out the basics.

At a minimum you both need to know — and agree on the numbers for — your income (look at last year’s tax return and this year’s most recent pay stubs), your assets (check your account balances online and get a rough estimate of your home’s market value at zillow.com), and your liabilities (add up your most recent loan and credit card statements to see how much you owe overall and do a back-of-the-envelope total of your monthly expenses). That way you’ll know for sure whether you need to cut back and what extras you can swing.

If the exercise reveals you can’t afford the slopes in Vail, find a compromise. Ask your spouse why the trip matters so much: family tradition of a big trip? Relaxation? Love of snow? Then see if you can find a cheaper way to fulfill that goal.

Give up the bottle. Stop drinking bottled water and instead buy a filter for your faucet (about $34, plus $25 for replacements). If your family consumes 12 gallons a month, you’ll save about $15.

Eat what’s ripe. Out-of-season produce costs 20% to 50% more than it does when it’s in season. For a list of what’s in season when, go to fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. Estimated savings: $7 a month.

Differentiate between clean and dirty. Organic produce costs $1 to $2 more than the conventional kind. Cut your pesticide intake by going organic on the dirtiest produce (apples, lettuce) and conventional on the cleanest (kiwi, tomatoes). For a list of clean and dirty fruits and veggies, go to foodnews.org. Savings: $18 a month.