The big clock on the tower of the Palace of Westminster in London is often called Big Ben. But Big Ben is really the bell of the clock. It is the biggest clock bell in Britain. It weighs 13.5 tons. The clock tower is 318 feet high. You have to go up 374 steps to reach the top. So the clock looks small from the pavement below the tower. But its face is 23 feet wide. It would only just fit into some classrooms. The minute-hand is 14 feet long. Its weight is equal to that of two bags of coal. The hour-hand is 9 feet long. The clock bell is called Big Ben after Sir Benjamin Hall. He had the job to see that the bell was put up. Sir Benjamin was a big man. One day he said in Parliament, "Shall we call the bell St. Stephen's?" St. Stephen's is the name of the tower. But someone said for a joke, "Why not call it Big Ben?" Now the bell is known all over the world by that name.
To be successful in operating in the online and offline world, retailers should probably try to integrate the two as much as possible. Some businesses, for example, have set up their operation to allow customers to shop online, over the telephone or in stores.Worry for retailers as web shopping clicks into place by Elizabeth Rigby For traditional stores, online shopping has become a cause for concern in a difficult retail environment. The Internet is accounting for more spending than ever. In addition, it also makes it easier for consumers to compare prices across a far bigger selection of items than a trip to the high street. ‘The way the Internet encourages people to shop about is having a big im- pact on the market’, says Nick Gladding of Verdict Research, a consultancy. Internet retailers have been able to offer cut-throat prices because they do not have to bear the cost of running a physical shop. Price-comparison website such as Kelkoo, where a shopper can compare prices on any product from DVDs to Prada perfume to get the best deal, make the market more competitive. ‘It is a lot more competitive online just because you are always just one click away from a rival’, says a CEO.
The clock tower is 318 feet high. You have to go up 374 steps to reach the top. So the clock looks small from the pavement below the tower.
But its face is 23 feet wide. It would only just fit into some classrooms.
The minute-hand is 14 feet long. Its weight is equal to that of two bags of coal. The hour-hand is 9 feet long.
The clock bell is called Big Ben after Sir Benjamin Hall. He had the job to see that the bell was put up.
Sir Benjamin was a big man. One day he said in Parliament, "Shall we call the bell St. Stephen's?" St. Stephen's is the name of the tower.
But someone said for a joke, "Why not call it Big Ben?" Now the bell is known all over the world by that name.
should probably try to integrate the two as much as possible. Some businesses,
for example, have set up their operation to allow customers to shop online, over
the telephone or in stores.Worry for retailers as web shopping clicks into place
by Elizabeth Rigby
For traditional stores, online shopping has become a cause for concern in a
difficult retail environment. The Internet is accounting for more spending than
ever. In addition, it also makes it easier for consumers to compare prices across
a far bigger selection of items than a trip to the high street.
‘The way the Internet encourages people to shop about is having a big im-
pact on the market’, says Nick Gladding of Verdict Research, a consultancy.
Internet retailers have been able to offer cut-throat prices because they do not
have to bear the cost of running a physical shop.
Price-comparison website such as Kelkoo, where a shopper can compare
prices on any product from DVDs to Prada perfume to get the best deal, make
the market more competitive. ‘It is a lot more competitive online just because
you are always just one click away from a rival’, says a CEO.