The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 40

2 BUSINESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER IS, 2007 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TBOxom DONNIE MILLS BUSCH GARDENS Nintendo Says Wii Don't Have If, Bui- We ll Give You A Rain Check 4 s-i- i. I ri Nintendo officials say they have been ramping up production of their Wii game consoles, denying claims they have been creating an artificial shortage. Continued From Page 1 a "best practices" policy in which we share ideas with other parks. The Busch parks also work with five-year plans that we discuss with each other. Those plans include new product development, oftentimes things we do not make public until we determine internal funding.

QHas anything surprised you on your return? A Tampa has changed. There is so much more available to do here: sports, recreation, plenty of business. I want to meet people in the business community as soon as I can. Our job is to drive tourism here, so I will get around the community and become involved. QWill it be much different leading Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa compared with Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg? A The responsibilities are the same, but the markets are different.

Tampa has more attendance while Williamsburg is a seasonal park, although work goes on there yearlong. Tampa depends on both international and domestic visitors. Do you ride the roller coasters? A Sure, I ride, although not five or 10 times in a row any more with those G-forces at my age. When they had me test Griffon at Williamsburg (the world's first floorless dive coaster), they wanted meto rehearse a script to recite during the ride. I did that on the ground.

I practiced turning my head back and forth as if I were riding and people wondered what in the world I was doing. Then they got me in this aviator's hat when I actually went up. But it was fun. Tampa's market also involves Vfc working with Busch's Orlando parks Sea World and Discovery Cove. How does that work? A Our marketing team works across all our Florida parks and will include Aquatica when the water park opens in Orlando next year.

It is part of what I mentioned earlier, that our culture is to work together inside the company. It doesn't matter who has MORTGAGE CHANGES Continued From Page 1 ticians have been wrestling with what the government's response should be. The Senate's proposed changes are especially important now, given the credit crisis that has made it much more difficult and more expensive for people to refinance or get financing to buy a home. Private lenders have been reluctant to make new loans. Allowing the federal government to insure more and bigger loans should help provide some relief and ease the credit crunch.

The Senate's plan would give homeowners "the option of refinancing to an FHA-backed loan with the peace of mind that comes with it," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "And for future homebuyers, a fully backed FHA loan with honest, upfront terms, will help prevent crises like we now face." Modernizing the FHA is Congress' first attempt at stand-alone legislation to ease the subprime mortgage mess. The House passed a bill similar to the Senate's in September, but a final measure probably won't be ready for President Bush's signature until next year. Meanwhile, the White House last POSITION: Executive vice president and general manager, Busch Gardens Africa and Adventure Island, Tampa AGE: 49 WlFErNorene HIGH SCHOOL King High School. Tampa COLLEGE: University of South Florida, degree in marketing THEME PARK EXPERIENCE: Worked at five of Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks.

the good idea, it is important to use it QDo you work closely with Busch Entertainment headquarters in St. Louis? A This morning I have spoken with four different people at our St. Louis office on four different topics. QWhat is different about the theme park business from when you started your career with Busch more than three decades ago? A The customers have higher expectations. So you have to keep finding ways to exceed their expectations.

That's our goal with Jungala (Busch's 4-acre animal, entertainment and ride attraction that opens in April). There is much more competition for the leisure dollar. It's just a faster-paced world. QWhat advice would you give someone starting out with an interest in working for Busch Gardens? A You have to have patience, and you have to let things develop in front of you. You also have to take advantage of opportunities to cut across functions and learn.

I had some assignments in operations, then I had some focus on productivity. You have to advance your business skills overall. QWhat is going to be good about living in Tampa again? A My wife and I golf. We work out. But I like to be at home, and No-rene and I are looking forward to getting our house together.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovicstampatrib.com. week announced it had negotiated an agreement with mortgage companies to freeze interest rates for some subprime mortgages for five years. White House press secretary Dana Perino said the Senate bill "would give FHA some of the additional flexibility it needs to provide more families with a safe, affordable mortgage financing option." She said, however, the president still has some concerns about the bill. The Senate bill raises the maximum the FHA can insure in high-cost areas such as California and the Northeast from $362,790 to $417,000, the same level as loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The House would raise the maximum mortgage to $729,750 in high-cost areas, with the higher limit a point of contention between the House, Senate and the White House.

The Senate bill would also lower the FHA down payment requirement from 3 percent to 1.5 percent, depending on an assortment of factors, and make it easier for FHA loans to be used to buy condos. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla, noting the vote's proximity to Christmas, said, "We have made a down payment on the solution to this problem" The legislation will help the FHA "be a source of salvation for those families who were trickeri into unaf-fordable loans," said Sen. Charles Schumer, The only senator to vote against the bill was Sen. Jon Kyi, R-Ariz.

SOLD FROM: Publix Super Markets, Grand Union Family Markets, Southern Family Markets, Stores and Food Lion stores nationwide from October through November for about $10. WHAT TO DO: Take the games away from children, and call Far East Brokers and Consultants at 1-877-695-8354. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission PROGRAM GUARANTEES YOU GET GAME BY JAN. 29 By PETER SVENSSON The Associated Press NEW YORK To deal with frustration among holiday shoppers hunting for its Wii game console, Nintendo Co.

and retailer GameStop Corp. are launching a rain-check program. "We expect this to be a great way for consumers who desperately want a Wii to have something to put under the tree," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said Friday. The rain checks will be available at the regular Wii system price, $249.99, on Thursday and Friday, and will entide buyers to get the Nintendo console before Jan. 29.

Fils-Aime said "many tens of thousands of rain checks" will be available. GameStop regularly takes deposits on hot software tides before they launch, so it has the infrastructure to deal with the rain-check program, Fils-Aime said. The company is working with other retailers, such as Wal-Mart Stores and Best Buy to push out inventory from the supply chain to shelves as quickly as possible before Christmas, he added. The Wii has been a startling success for the Japanese company, selling more than 6 million units in the United States since it was launched a little more than a year ago. In November alone, 981,000 were sold in the United States, according to NPD Group.

That compares with 770,000 Microsoft Xbox 360s sold, and 466,000 Sony PlayStation 3s. Wii sales have been constrained by supply, however, with units selling out minutes after going on store shelves. Nintendo has repeatedly denied rumors that it is creating an artificial shortage by not increasing production to match demand. "I get personal calls from people wanting to know why we don't just manufacture more. Believe me, if it were that easy, we would," Fils-Aime said during a conference call Friday.

"Production depends on components from a wide array of suppliers. If only one can't increase their capacity, then we can't increase ours," he said. After Nintendo raised production twice since April, production for the worldwide market is now at 1.8 million Wiis a month. Fils-Aime held out no hope of an imminent increase. "We'll keep producing at that level for quite a while," he said.

"When will we finally meet demand? There is no way to answer that question until we finally meet it." 7 get personal calls from people wanting to know why we don't just manufacture more. Believe me, if it were that easy, we would. REGGIE FILS-AIME President of Nintendo of America SANDWICH SHOP Continued From Page 1 abrupt shift in the course of the sandwich chain part of which was reflected in the "Blondie" comic itself, which runs in 2,300 newspapers in 55 countries. Dean Young and restaurant executive Lamar Berry kicked off their franchising concept on May 11, 2006, DILBERT By Scott Adams I DONT KNOW YOU. WHY ARE YOU IN THIS MEETING? HOW TO CONTACT US Nintendo Co.

Tampa. For example, additional bikes are assembled, and top sellers are placed in more convenient locations for shoppers who like to grab and go, she said. "It's definitely strategic shopping for that male shopper," she said. Botsch, whose mall includes four major department stores, said he hasn't noticed as many retailers worrying about having excess inventory in the final days. As a result, he doesn't expect to see extreme incentives offered.

"Over the years, all the stores seem to deal a lot more with their inventory control," he said. Wal-Mart's approach to this issue has been aggressive. Several new holiday strategies launched as early as Oct. 1 aim to stretch the company's holiday sales over a longer period of time. Since then, 20 percent of the entire store's inventory has been marked down, Hobbs said.

Another tactic involves Wal-Mart's Web site: the "site-to-store" program allows customers to buy a product online that will be shipped for free to a local store. Hobbs said the site-to-store plan automatically increases each store's inventory, specifically for larger products not normally kept on site. Retailers are united in knowing one product that will increase in popularity as Christmas Day nears: gift cards. An estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of all holiday gifts given in recent years has fallen in this tiny, plastic category. Hobbs said it's one thing all retailers, including Wal-Mart, are prepared to offer up until the last minute.

"I promise you we are not running out of gift cards," she said. Reporter Mary Sliedden can be reached at msheddentampatrib.com or (813) 259-7365. In November 2Q06, the first location opened in Palm Harbor, with its specialty, a 1-pound, double-decker, 24-ingredient behemoth called "The Dagwood," priced at $8.90. The company's Web site lists 20 locations built or under development. Hartford declined to elaborate on why the organization was laying off employees now, and said the ultimate decision about the chain would rest with the board of directors.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at rmullinstampatrib.com or (813) 259-7919. AND WHO SHOULD I SAY HATES TEAMWORK? YOU SHOULD LEAVE. CHRISTMAS CRUNCHTIME Continued From Page 1 malls are staying open an hour later at night. Individual department stores also are opening up their doors for early bird and night owl specials. This year, that final push is aided by an extra weekend of shopping; 2007 marks the longest holiday season in six years.

The International Council of Shopping Centers reports the number of shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas has grown to 32 from 29 over that time. Industry watchers are hoping that the additional shopping time can make a difference. Although the National Retail Federation estimates that just 4 percent of shoppers start their shopping in the final two weeks of December, it doesn't mean people are done handing over their credit cards for more gifts. "Consumers continue to be slow in finishing their holiday shopping according to our consumer surveys which implies a big surge in demand is yet to come." said Michael P. Niemira, ICSC's chief economist.

"As such we will be watching the next few weeks to determine how successful this holiday shopping season will be for retailers." Last week, the ICSC reported that weekly chain store sales rose slightly, by 0.2 percent. On a year-over-year basis, sales slowed by 2.3 percent. The nation's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, does shift gears for the final two weekends, said Judy Hobbs, Wal-Mart's market manager for in Clearwater, near Young's studio, hoping to sell about 100 U.S. territories for between $200,000 and $300,000 each. In turn, those marketing partners would seek franchisees to pay a $20,000 fee and another $200,000 to build out and start a location.

Two days after the public debut, the "Blondie" comic strip featured Dagwood telling his wife, Blondie, "Honey, I have finally decided to start that sandwich shop I've been dreaming about." A few days later, Dagwood goes behind the counter of a sandwich shop to start making his lunch. FN CREATING THE ILLUSION OF WORK BY CONFLATING THE CONCEPTS OF ATTENDANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY. CONSUMER ALERT WHAT: Far East Brokers and Consultants recalls about 14,000 fishing games. REASON: The recalled game has parts that contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. DESCRIPTION: The recalled Fishing Game contains a fishing pole, one large battery operated fish, and three small windup fish.

The UPC 011546208270 and product 25741 are on the packaging. Our address: Business, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker Tampa FL 33606-2395 To send comments and ideas through e-mail: moneysensetampatrib.com Business fax: (813) 258-8504 To call Senior Business Editor Mark Guidera: (813) 259-7836 To contact Assistant Business Editor Dale Hokrein: (813) 259-8416, dhokreintampatrib.com To contact Assistant Business Editor Mike Kersmarki: (813) 259-7853, mkersmarkitampatrib.com To contact Business News Administrator Christina Mancing: (813) 259-7871, cmancingtampatrib.com For information about The Tampa Tribune's news departments: (813) 259-7600 tr.