The movement of human traffic within Japanese firms having an external customer service and/or sales effort is a study of contrasts. In the morning, after the departmental meetings, the office is a buzz of activity, with sales and service people on the phone to prospective and existing customers. Appointments are being made and customers are happy to get the personal attention.

This week's Gadget Watch takes a look at the new bluetooth adapter headphones, the demise of the Gocco print kits and the BT bluetooth keyboard for mobile phones.

Today’s column is for employers and managers who are tasked with starting a new operation or rapidly expanding an existing one, and who need to find an office space to cope with the increase in staff. Just how big should the office be? Do you want to load up on extra space while waiting for sales to rise, or try to office-hop to keep up with expansion?

In mid-March, 2008, a company called Nihon Uni introduced a new t-shirt which is made of toughened polyethylene fibers to make it knife resistant. What is the shape of the market for these products? How much do media reports of stabbings affect consumer perception? For the full story, Read Terrie's Take Now