Richard and Saladin essays

Richard and Saladin articles Richard 1 and Saladin were both significant pioneers in the Third Crusade. They were both shrewd at an early age, and had bright political and military capacity, which made them extremely effective. Richard was hot-tempered, remorseless, and reckless, which made it simple for him to be scorned by many. As opposed to Richard, Saladin considered verse and was known as a principled legend by the Muslims. He was even respected by the Christians for his genuineness and valiance. Saladin and Richard had common regard for each other after the Battle of Arsuf, when they had made a détente. Both Richard and Saladin had extraordinary military and political capacities at an early age. Richard 1 was given the duchy of Aquitaine, his moms legacy, at 11 years old and was enthroned as duke at Poitiers. Richards oldest sibling, Henry the Young King, was at the same time delegated as his dad's replacement. Richard and his other sibling, Geoffrey, at that point figured out how to guard their property while still adolescents. Richard was likewise six feet four inches tall, which gave him an extraordinary preferred position militarily. Saladin, as a youngster, was a researcher who examined the Koran just as verse, and his academic ways would proceed through his life. At the youthful age of fourteen, he went into the administration of his uncle who was an incredible and regarded Arab warrior. Another guide of Saladin was the Saracen boss Zenghi. Saladin took in his military exercises well and before long started to stand apart among Nur ed-Din's powers. Richard had no obedient devotion, prescience, or awareness of other's expectations. He joined his siblings in resistance to his dad, who attacked Aquistaine twice before Richard proposed and got pardon. A while later, Richard was busy with keeping down individuals revolting in his own duchy. His brutality drove the Gascons mad, and they later revolted. After Richard became beneficiary to England, and to Normandy and Anjou, his dad wished him to yield Aquitaine to his you... <!

Literature Review-Fdi in Retail Essays

Writing Review-Fdi in Retail Essays Writing Review-Fdi in Retail Essay Writing Review-Fdi in Retail Essay RETAIL MARKETING PROJECT INTERIM REPORT LITERATURE REVIEW AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE GROWTH PROSPECTS AND PROFITABILITY OF FDI IN RETAIL SEGMENTS OF INDIA Submitted to: Prof. Sapna Parashar Date: 23-07-2008 Submitted by: Arnab Sinha 071108 INDEX INDEX2 CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS3 Summary of Retail Market in India and FDI in Indian Retail3 LITERATURE REVIEW5 1. Writing Review-15 2. Writing Review-25 3. Writing Review-36 4. Writing Review-47 5. Writing Review-57 GAP ANALYSIS8 REFERENCES9 CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS Summary of Retail Market in India and FDI in Indian Retail India beat the AT Kearneys yearly Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) for the third back to back year, keeping up its situation as the most appealing business sector for retail speculation. The Indian retail advertise, which is the fifth biggest retail goal all inclusive, as per industry gauges is assessed to develop from the US$ 330 billion of every 2007 to US$ 427 billion by 2010 and US$ 637 billion by 2015. Thusly, composed re tail is probably going to build its offer in the complete retail market to 22 percent by 2010. Indias immense working class with its extending buying force and its practically undiscovered retail industry are key attractions for worldwide retail monsters needing to enter fresher markets. With universal brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Esprit and Puma (that have entered the nation) developing admirably more than 100 percent, numerous others are additionally intending to invasion into the Indian retail showcase. The Government permits 100 percent outside direct speculation (FDI) in real money and help through the programmed course and 51 percent in single brand. Moreover, the establishment course is accessible for enormous administrators. To additionally pull in worldwide retailers, the financial study 2007-08 has recommended an offer for remote value in all retail exchange and 100 percent in regard of extravagance brands and other concentrated retail chains. The assessed development of the Indian retail industry with part savvy particulars is given in the accompanying two charts: LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Writing Review-1 Title: An Examination of International Retail Franchising in Emerging Markets Authors: Dianne H. B. Welsh, Ilan Alon and Cecilia M. Falbe Source: Journal of Small Business Management Volume 44 Issue 1, Pages 130 †149, 6 Dec 2005 The article starts with a diagram of the advancement of the writing and afterward talks about the nature and extent of developing markets, with specific reference to their effect on the partners of worldwide retail diversifying. Next, the article builds up a reasonable model relating worldwide retail diversifying to its partners. At that point, an audit of the examination is partitioned into the territories of developing world market: Central and Eastern Europe, Mexico and South America, Asia, and different zones that incorporate India, Kuwait, and South Africa. The article finishes up by examining the following stage to building up an examination base for additional comprehension of developing markets notwithstanding the chances and difficulties for retail diversifying and future research. 2. Writing Review-2 Title : Regional Business Networks and the Multinational Retail Sector, Long Range Planning Authors: Stephane J. G. Girod, Alan M. Rugman Source: International Marketing Review, Volume 38, Issue 4, August 2005, Pages 335-357 This article analyzes the system connections of a lot of huge retail global undertakings (MNEs). The paper breaks down under what conditions a lead arrange procedure (portrayed by a system of five accomplices †the MNE, key providers, key accomplices, chose contenders and key associations in the non-business foundation) clarifies the internationalization of three retailers whose geographic degree, sectoral conditions and serious methodologies contrast significantly. It investigates why and when retailers will embrace a lead technique. The three firms are two U. K. - based worldwide retailers (Tesco and The Body Shop) and a French-based worldwide retailer (Moet Hennessy,Louis Vuitton). Proof of solid system connections for every one of the three retailers is found, albeit every grasp arrange techniques for various reasons. Their leader connections rely upon every retailer key utilization of firm-explicit points of interest (FSA s) and nation explicit focal points (CSA s). It gathers that a leader methodology can prevail with regards to conquering inward or potentially ecological limitations to cross-fringe asset moves, which are hindrances to remote direct venture (FDI). 3. Writing Review-3 Title: Foreign section into British retailing, 1850-1994 Creators: Andrew Godley, Scott Fletcher Source: International Marketing Review; Volume: 17 Issue: 4/5; 2000 This paper follows the historical backdrop of remote direct interest in UK retailing since 1850. The outcomes recommend that the upsurge of cross-outskirt movement during the 1980s and mid 1990s was excellent in supreme terms. Be that as it may, when contrasted with the most probable determinant of section rates, purchaser buying power, the ongoing upswing is best observed as an arrival, following quite a few years of moderately low passage rates, to the significant level of FDI winning in the mid twentieth century. In addition, the paper reasons that cross-outskirt retailing will proceed to increment, and to do as such at a rate near twice that of the development in buyer buying power. 4. Writing Review-4 Title: Sino-British joint endeavors in China: Investment examples and host nation conditions Authors: Huaning Li, Colin M. Clarke-Hill European Business Review; Volume: 16 Issue: 1; 2004 This paper examinations the speculation examples of Sino-British joint endeavors in China. The examination depends on the information of 551 Sino-British joint endeavors framed over the time of 1983 to 1996. It plans to give a review of Sino-British joint endeavors interest in China and to clarify the venture conditions. The article examinations the speculation designs from the components of venture esteem, topographical area, industry segment and value possession. To clarify the arrangement of the examples, it further investigates the host nation components of speculation dependent on the strategy system, financial determinants and business assistance. It uncovers the speculation pattern, the lopsided spatial dispersion, the sectoral attributes and the possession structure of joint endeavors. It additionally recommends that administration monetary system and strategies towards FDI are basic in molding the speculation designs. Locational focal points, financial development, modern structures and change process are major monetary components impacting the venture choices. Decentralization of dynamic and nearby governments assistance endeavors likewise assume an integral job in pulling in outside speculation. . Writing Review-5 Title: Host economy effects of transnational retail: the exploration motivation Authors: Neil M. Coe and Neil Wrigley Source: Journal of Economic Geography, April 21, 2007 The most recent decade has seen an increasing speed of retail remote direct venture into a scope of developing markets across East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America, drove by a little associate of food and general product reta ilers from Western Europe, and to a lesser degree, North America. While these speculation streams have had significant formative effects in have economies, inquire about around there is still in its early stages. This article accordingly maps out a point by point look into motivation as for the host economy effects of transnational retailing. In the wake of laying everything out experimentally and adroitly, the article considers various elements of these effects on retail seriousness, flexibly chain elements, utilization practices and purchaser/common society, institutional and administrative structures and, proportionally, on the retail transnational partnerships themselves. It finishes up by requiring a coordinated interdisciplinary research exertion into this significant and understudied part of monetary globalization. Hole ANALYSIS Most of the significant work encompassing outside interest in retail segment has centered after arranging procedures, have nation conditions, diversifying and speculation openings and effect of cross outskirt exchange. Ad lib on these works will be done based on exploring the extent of remote interest in different retail fragments, productivity over these segments and a similar investigation. Additionally effect of reasonable parameters that can influence composed retailing and passage of remote players will be assessed through a relapse investigation and hugeness will be tried. Likewise how government changes ought to be embraced will be prescribed that will give a lift to retail segment in India and the economy all in all. REFERENCES 1. ABI Inform Global, ABI Inform Trade Industry 2. EBSCO-Business Source Complete 3. ELSEVIER Science Direct 4. Value Waterhouse Coopers Analytical Publication 5. ibef. com 6. researchwiki. com 7. livemint. com

Obvious Marketing Moves I was Totally Missing on LinkedIn and Mobile!

Obvious Marketing Moves I was Totally Missing on LinkedIn and Mobile! Squeeze Pack Solutions While eating out of a nut butter squeeze pack a few weeks ago, I reached the point where I could not squeeze out any moreâ€"but I knew there was still plenty of almond butter stuck to the inside walls of the package. It didn’t take me long to figure out that I could cut the package open to extract the remaining goo. It was messy, but it worked. Shortly thereafter, I reached the end of a toothpaste tube and thought, “I wonder if there’s toothpaste stuck to the insides of this packaging too?” I cut open the tube and retrieved three brushings worth of paste. It took me what… 40 years? to even notice this problem. The solution was easy. Blinding Flashes of the Obvious We all have moments where something happens, or someone makes a suggestion to us, and a light bulb goes off. Wow! That makes total sense! How did I not think of that? It was right in front of my face. How have I not done that already? My ActionCOACH coaches call these sudden revelations “Blinding Flashes of the Obvious.” When one of these ideas arises, I am surprised by it because I probably knew somewhere deep inside that I needed to do this thing, but it hadn’t risen to the surface as a priority. After an initial, “What have I been thinking?!” I get into action. This past week, I attended The National Resume Writers’ Association annual conference, where I garnered several “blinding flashes of the obvious” from conversations I had with my colleagues. Here are my top two: 1. Create more than one LinkedIn profile Experience entry for my “job” at The Essay Expert. You’d think that as a LinkedIn expert I would have maximized my LinkedIn SEO already. I tell other people all the time that if they held more than one position at a company, they should create more than one entry in order to include more keywords. But was I following this advice myself? Nope. I was like the proverbial overweight, cigarette-smoking doctor. Yikes. At The NRWA conference, a fellow resume writer showed me her LinkedIn profile to ask my opinion. She had eight (eight!!) entries for her current business, and she had stuffed keywords into every one. While I did not recommend that she use this tactic, and while I believe that “keyword stuffing” can backfire, I realized that with only one entry for my role in my business, I was missing out on a big opportunity to put more keywords into my own LinkedIn profile. As of Sunday night, I have created separate sections in my profile for my position as an Executive Resume Writer, Executive LinkedIn Profile Writer, and College Admissions Essay Consultant. I am in disbelief that for the past eight years, I had been cramming all these roles into one LinkedIn Experience entry. I am curious to see what happens with my profile views and inquiries for business now that I have followed my own advice! 2. Get texting capabilities to and from my business phone line. For at least two years, texting has been the most popular form of communication used in this country. It would seem obvious that people would want to send texts to my business number. In fact, I’m sure many people have sent texts to my business number, thinking they were reaching me. Until yesterday, those texts were going directly to nowhere. Not only that, but when I wanted to send a text to a client, I had to do it through my personal cell phone. I did not like texting clients because then they would call me on my personal cell phone number, and I much prefer to keep that number, well, personal. I was avoiding texting because of this issue, despite the fact that my clients probably would have loved to text me. Was I thinking of the most obvious solution to this problem? No. I was not prioritizing the issue, despite the fact that 95% of texts are read within 3 minutes, while only 12% of emails are opened. Enabling text was a no-brainer, and I apparently had no brain. It took me until last week’s conference, at the suggestion of my brilliant colleague Robin Schlinger, to bite the bullet and enable texting capabilities on my business line. She mentioned that several executive clients had texted her with inquiries for her services, and that was enough to convince me to get on the texting bandwagon! Now clients will be able to reach out to me via their preferred mode of communication, whether that is phone, email, or … text!! And I can easily send texts without revealing my personal number. On a related note, I needed a better way to make calls from my cell phone that appeared to be coming from my business number. Purchasing texting capabilities led me to download the eVoice app, which solved that problem too. I had been wanting that kind of solution for yearsâ€"getting the app was another blinding flash of the obvious! In order to have the types of revelations I’ve been describing, we have to be paying attention, listening for good ideas (they could appear at any moment), and willing to take new action. Are you ready? Are there nagging problems in your life that you have been ignoring, not even giving them the time of day? Maybe they are more important than you think, and easier to fix than you think. I challenge you to have a “blinding flash of the obvious” this week, and share below what it is!

College And High School Are Very Different - 901 Words

College and high school are very different. It is important for students to be responsible because they will experience distinct differences in relationships between themselves and their professors/ teachers, behavior, and academics because being irresponsible in these areas can cause big problems. Professors in college are different than teachers in high school. Instructors do what they can to prepare their students for success. In high school some teachers will allow students to turn in work past its due date if they give an excuse like, â€Å"I forgot it at home† or â€Å"My dog ate it.† That excuse does not fly with certain professors in college. â€Å"Some might say that’s too bad.† In high school more test is assigned. At North Miami Senior High School, students are tested every week or two. The work is not that difficult, but more test are given. Teachers go over homework with students in class. On the other hand, professors do not care whether you attended class or not. Having more than two absences can cause a professor to withdraw students from their course. In secondary school, instructors are always concerned about students absents. As a result of missing too many days’ students can fail. Excusing a student from school would be un derstandable for a teacher. Certain issues students have with high school teachers might not sit well with college instructors. The different behaviors in college and high school can be a challenge for some but a lesson to others. In college,Show MoreRelatedThe Similarities And Differences Of High School And College715 Words   |  3 PagesWeather that is high school or college. The similarities and differences are not very dramatic,but they are there. High school and college which are two very different but similar worlds are similar and different in many ways. High school and College are very similar. They are both forms of school. High School and college are both a time in an individuals life when they are really finding out who they are and what they want to become and make of their life. It is also a time when the schools are tryingRead MoreEssay On Self Discipline1214 Words   |  5 Pagesrequired to be an academically successful college student is at a much higher level than that of the required self-discipline of a high school student. Fortunately, I attended a private Catholic high school that prepares its students very well for college. The age gap between a senior in high school and a college freshman may only be a few months to a year, but the way they are treated is the comparison of a baby to an adult. College professors try very hard to instruct the students but they realizeRead MoreHigh School Vs. College923 Words   |  4 PagesEng. 110-48 31 August 2015 High School Vs. College High school and college are both higher education institutions that enlighten students; however, there are many differences between the two that make them both unique. In high school, the goal is to gain a broad understanding of numerous subjects so that when they arrive to college, they have an understanding of their interests, goals, dreams, and what it takes to pursue their potential career. High school works as a place for students toRead MoreHigh School Vs. College902 Words   |  4 PagesEducation is a very critical part of a person’s life. There are many levels to education and an abundant amount of students that do not make it to the highest level possible. High school and college are the two main groups that can make or break a person’s education. Between high school and college, there are different requirements and goals needed to succeed. As a student, self-motivation, the value of education, and the responsibilities students must uphold fluctuate among high school and college. For aRead MoreHigh School Vs College Essays1205 Words   |  5 PagesHigh School vs. College As we go on in life we face many challenges and new situations that we deal with. A new situation that most people deal with is college and all the changes that come along with it. What many people dont realize is that high school, in many ways, is similar and differrent from college. Not only are people changing but the surroundings and work change as well. There are some things that seem to never change such as some work and people. The majority of the work in collegeRead MoreCompare And Contrast College Education And High School Education786 Words   |  4 Pagesquoted as saying â€Å"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.† He knew the importance of being educated and placed a high importance on never letting his brain to stagnate. In today’s modern society the two forms of education most popular are high school education and a college education. More people now than ever are striving to get their college degree which can lead to a better job. Going through both forms of education has shown me the many similarities and differences betweenRead MoreHigh School Vs. College1149 Words   |  5 PagesProfessor Grunow Writing 1010 October 26, 2015 High School vs. College Graduating from high school is what every student is looking forward to. However, going to college is a big accomplishment for all students. The first day of freshman high school and college feels the same, the excitement and pressured. As many students experienced, both high school and college could be compared their similarities. First, both students in college and high school are expected to behave in well mannered, attendRead MoreHigh School And College Should Have A Greater Chance For Success922 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween high school and college should have a greater chance for success† (S.Hansen). Most of us spend 15 to 16 years in school to get to college. School plays a significant role in our life. We can do so much different things in school such as play sports, volunteer and extracurricular activities. High school and college are significantly different and they are also similar in some ways, for instance they are different academically and socially. College educa tion is very expensive while high schoolRead MoreDifferences Between High School And College930 Words   |  4 PagesHigh school and college have some differences and some similarities. Some major differences between high school and college is that in college you schedule your classes for a certain time through the day, while in high school you have classes one after another till the end of the school day. Also college classes are long while high school classes are about only 50 minutes. Some major similarities between the two is that you still have to study for your classes as well as you still have papers andRead MoreHigh School Vs. College1434 Words   |  6 Pagespeople believe that transitioning from a High School environment to a College environment is arduous, others believe it is effortless. High School and College both require teachers and work, but they both have differences that many people are not aware of. People will say that college and High School are similar becau se they both require effort for one to pass, but what they do not realize is the amount of effort which is necessary for each. With High School, teachers give students busy work that will

Acorn Barnacles Facts

Acorn barnacles are crustaceans in the Balanidae family and Balanus genus that all share the same common name and can include any stalkless barnacle in the order Sessilia. They are part of class Maxillopoda, and their genus name comes from the Greek word balanos, meaning acorn. Acorn barnacles live along rocky shores and are filter feeders. They begin life as free swimmers like other crustaceans but attach themselves to rocks or bottoms of boats and spend the rest of their lives in this position. Fast Facts Scientific Name: BalanusCommon Names: Acorn barnacleOrder: SessiliaBasic Animal Group: InvertebrateSize: from 0.7 inch (balanus glandula) to above 4 inches (balanus nubilus)Life Span: 1 to 7 yearsDiet: Plankton and edible detritusHabitat: Rocky shoresPopulation: Not evaluatedFun Fact: In just 2 years, as much as 10 tons of acorn barnacles can be attached to ships, causing enough drag to increase fuel consumption by 40% Description Acorn Barnacle Shells. Â  medveh / Getty Images Plus Acorn barnacles are crustaceans and not mollusks. They are joint-legged animals that live inside cone-shaped shells, standing on their heads and grabbing food with their legs. Acorn barnacles are also sessile, or fixed in place, and remain in the place they attach themselves to as larvae. Due to their stationary lives, there is no discernible separation between the head and thorax. Because their legs absorb oxygen, acorn barnacles’ legs are feathery and gill-like. They produce a shell as they reach adulthood, which is made of six fused plates with a hole in the top to allow them to feed and a valve to seal the shell against predators. They also have cement glands that produce brown glue that attaches them to surfaces, an adhesive so strong that not even acids can remove the shell even after they have died. Common predators of acorn barnacles include starfish and snails. Both have the ability to penetrate their hard shells. Starfish can pull the shells apart while the snails are able to penetrate via the fused plates. Habitat and Distribution These creatures live on rocky shores along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in temperate and tropical regions across the world. They primarily live in tropical, tidal zone, marine environments but can survive in cooler regions. They attach themselves to ship hulls, whales, turtles, and rocks depending on the surface contour, water movement, and light. Diet and Behavior Their diet consists of plankton and edible detritus that they filter from the water with their feathery legs. Once attached to a surface, the barnacle’s valve opens, and its legs search the water for plankton. The valve tightly closes when it is threatened by a predator or when the tide becomes low. The door allows them to trap water in their shells and conserve moisture so that they do not dry out. Acorn barnacles prefer to settle in large groups, which comes in handy during breeding season. Some species, like balanus glandula, can reach population densities of up to 750,000 per square foot. They compete for space with other rock dwellers such as anemones and mussels. Each species adapts to different tidal zones, so different acorn barnacle species can be zoned above or below each other. Reproduction and Offspring These barnacles are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both female and male sex organs. Since they can’t fertilize themselves, they rely on fertilizing neighboring individuals. Because acorn barnacles are stationary, they grow long penises, which can be up to 6 times the length of their own bodies at 3 inches. They pass and receive sperm within a 3 inch range, and any barnacles more than this range from any neighbor can not reproduce. At the end of mating season, the penis dissolves only to be grown again the next year. Each barnacle broods fertilized eggs within their shells. Once hatched, acorn barnacles begin life as free swimming larvae. When they decide to settle, the larvae glue their heads to a hard surface and build their cone-shaped shells of limestone, becoming miniature adults. Species Closeup of Balanus balanoides on a stone. HHelene / iStock / Getty Images Plus Acorn barnacles are any stalkless barnacle species in the genus Balanus, and any barnacle in the order Sessilia can have the same common name. There are approximately 30 different species in the genus Balanus, from the smallest in size, Balanus glandula, to the largest, Balanus nubilus. All Balanus species are hermaphrodites. Some additional examples of acorn barnacle species are: Balanus crenatus, Balanus eburneus, Balanus perforatus, and Balanus trigonus. Conservation Status Most Balanus species have not been evaluated by the the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Balanus aquila has been designated as data deficient. However, their range and prevalence continue to increase as barnacles attach themselves to boats and animals that displace them large distances. Sources Acorn Barnacle. Monterey Bay Aquarium, https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-exhibits/animal-guide/invertebrates/acorn-barnacle.Acorn Barnacle. Oceana, https://oceana.org/marine-life/cephalopods-crustaceans-other-shellfish/acorn-barnacle.Acorn Barnacle. Slater Museum Of Natural History, https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/exhibits/marine-panel/acorn-barnacle/.Balanus Aquila. IUCN Red List Of Threatened Species, 1996, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2534/9450643.Lott, L. Semibalanus Balanoides. Animal Diversity Web, 2001, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Semibalanus_balanoides/.

What I am Passionate About Free Essays

Usain Bolt has won six Olympic gold medals. What do they all have in common? It is not that they won numerous gold medals. It Is they are all passionate about what they do, Since I started preschool at age four, my time outside of school have been piled up with never ending activities, first there was ballet, then came ice skating, art class, then swimming, chess, then Plano, speed reading, and flute. We will write a custom essay sample on What I am Passionate About or any similar topic only for you Order Now Whenever I quit doing one thing, I picked up something new. As the years go by, most of these activities are only memories, but one thing has rooted inside of me. After a day of academic learning and demanding homework, I will quickly retreat into my safe haven, drawing. I love drawing. I think I am better at it than spelling. Maybe that is the reason I am better at math and science than reading and writing in school. To me, math and science is another way of drawing using dfferent media. I believe when writers want to write, their minds will be filled with words and sentences, but when I want to express myself, my mind will be filled with images and graphics. School, homework, and keeping up good grades can be pretty stressful, When I draw, I feel I am In a world where there are endless sunshine, a warm breeze, soft rolling green hills, fragrant flowers, morning dew on the bright green grass, chirping birds†¦ sometimes there are lines, geometric shapes, and dots which all Intertwine In the endless void. As long as I can Imagine, I can draw, I feel happy. People often think artists are only appreciated when they are dead. I believe that is a narrow way to appreciate art. Art is the major part of our life. Everything we live by pretty much started out with an Idea throwing on a piece of paper in the form of sketch or drawing. How would Thomas Edison plan out his idea for the light bulb? Drawing has become a major part of me; it has become my anchor and my passion and I am pretty darn good at It. How to cite What I am Passionate About, Papers

Agenda Setting free essay sample

Agenda Setting Patricia Wigington Grand Canyon University COM 126 Introduction The mass media today, no longer reports public opinion, it drives it. This paper discusses how mass media sets the agenda, and what impact this had on the issues that emerged during the 2008 presidential election. According to Donald Shaw and Maxwell Combs, agenda is a theory to describe now the news media can have a considerable impact on shaping the publics opinion of a social reality, on influencing what people believe are important issues. (ShawMcCombs, 1977) Agenda SettingMedia consolidation is one thing that contributes to agenda-setting. As the number of newspapers dwindles and radio and TV stations are sold to one or two conglomerates, the news is in effect being censored because it reflect only the viewpoint of a single organization. If conflicting views are never even mentioned, the public is never aware that there is an entirely different side to the issue than the one being presented. It requires persistence to find out the facts of an issue, and people may not make the effort. Then too, the media itself has changed dramatically in recent years.Many people now get their news from digital media including the Internet, but the flood of electronic information may not make them more knowledgeable, just more informed about issues they may not consider important. Marshall McLuhan once famously argued that the medium is the message; David Considine twists it slightly, to the idea that the â€Å"medium is the massage,† and that we are all being worked over by the media, in particular younger people (Considine, 2009, p. 65). Today’s technology, people using several electronic devices simultaneously, practice widely known as multitasking (Considine, 2009). Time Magazine wondered, however, if people are â€Å"too wired for their own good,† and whether modern media were contributing to â€Å"students’ reduced attention spans, making it harder for educators to reach and teach them† (Considine, 2009, p. 65). There is a legitimate question as to whether this environment of electronic noise and constant communication makes them â€Å"active and informed citizens† or merely â€Å"spectators moving from one distraction to another† (Considine, 2009, p. 65).The answer seems clear when Considine reveals that despite the fact that in 2006, the number of young people ages 18-29 in the U. S. was 50 million, only seven million voted in the mid-term election (Considine, 2009). In other words, they have access to information but don’t transform that information into knowledge or political action. Younger people are a volatile population when it comes to voting. They become wildly enthusiastic for a particular candidate such as Ron Paul or Howard Dean, but fail to show up at the polls (Considine, 2009).Barack Obama was able to energize this group on his own behalf and that of other Democratic candidates: â€Å"Exit polling from the January 2008 Iowa caucus for the Democratic candidates showed a record turnout among eighteen-to twenty-nine year olds, who heavily supported the theme of change promoted by Senator Barack Obama† (Considine, 2009, p. 66). Now of course they seem to have disengaged again and organizations such as Democracy for America and Moveon. org are actively working to re-energize them and get them to the polls in November.Part of Barack Obama’s success in the 2008 election was due to his savvy use of electronic media (Considine, 2009). He was able to â€Å"use new technology to reach and energize voters; his campaign built a substantial database and achieved record-breaking fundraising† (Considine, 2009, p. 66). It also seems logical that part of his appeal is that he does know how to use Twitter and FaceBook, and that he tweets personal messages; his electronic presence immediately makes his opponent look old and out of touch.He further endeared himself to young voters and â€Å"reaffirmed his commitment to communication technology when he insisted on keeping his personal Blackberry† (Considine, 2009,p. 66) The tendency of the media to set agendas was clearly shown in the summer of 2009, when electronic forums such as YouTube and Twitter, along with traditional outlets such as newspaper columns, t ook up the health-care debate and buzzed about such ludicrous and inaccurate items as â€Å"’death panels,’ socialism, Hitler and fascism† (Jones McBeth, 2010, p. 29). These scare tactics, which are all completely false, were used to try and discredit both the reform effort and the President, and are a clear example of the way the media sets an agenda. Picking up on the hysteria of the far right, the media repeated the lies without doing any fact checking, leading commentators to wonder â€Å"how these ideas rationally relate to the debate over reform† (Jones McBeth, 2010, p. 329).The fact that these crazy notions were not only given credence but reported widely, and continue to appear in the media, show how powerful such things can be â€Å"in shaping public opinion and ultimately in shaping governmental action† (Jones McBeth, 2010, p. 329). The misleading claims about â€Å"death panels,† the idea of Obama being Hitler and leading the country into a Socialist government are all â€Å"elements of larger policy tall-tales that were intentionally used by opponents of health-care reform attempting to derail President Oba ma’s reform. Obama’s supporters countered these lies with stories of their own: personal accounts from Americans who, for various reasons, were priced out of the heath care system or even denied care (Jones McBeth, 2010). The use of narratives is a powerful tool in setting the political agenda in the United States. One study found that although TV and internet users had a common agenda (the use of electronic media), their â€Å"ranked agendas† differed greatly from the ranked agendas of the media themselves (Brubaker, 2008).That is, the TV watchers and internet users were not interested in the programming or information that was being presented to them: â€Å"The overall general media audience ranked 10 or the 11 public affairs issues significantly different than presented by the media† (Brubaker, 2008). TV watchers and internet users were interested in â€Å"important public affairs issues,† but the agenda they were following â€Å"significantly differed from the ag enda that medium was showing them’ (Brubaker, 2008). This implies that the media â€Å"are not powerful in setting the agenda of important public affairs or political issues.People have particular issues they feel are important, regardless of what the media present† (Brubaker, 2008). This seems to be at odds with the idea that the media sets the agenda. and people simply put up with it. With regard to the 2008 Presidential election, the agenda presented by the media was that of the war in Iraq, but it was quickly displaced by concern about the economy; an agenda driven by consumers’ interests, not those of the media (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). But this source claims that the media set another agenda, a highly visible but totally unnecessary one, that of race.Barack Obama is black, and that became a major issue in the election: â€Å"The measurement of Obama’s potential success didn’t lie in whether or not voters were willing to vote for a black candidate, but whether or not voters, more specifically white voters, could view Obama, or blacks in general, as leaders (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). Had the media been more concerned about Obama’s positions and qualifications and less about the color of hi s skin, the entire election would have been conducted on a much higher level.This source also notes that the racial issues was studied in swing states like Ohio, where it was deemed to be extremely important (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). In one study, Ohio was measured for â€Å"favorability between candidates in the areas of republicans, democrats, independents, men, women, whites and blacks;† it was found that a vast majority of black voters, as many as 90%, favored Obama, no matter what their previous voting record or party affiliation was (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010).The question raised by this result is whether our society â€Å"is the way it is because of the media, or is the media a direct reflection of the way society is †¦ In the case of Obama for President, the media clearly allowed race to chase to the top of the list of exaggerated issues that never should have been a part of the presidential election in the first place† (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010).In response to the popularity of Obama, the Republicans tried to set the media agenda to focus on issues such as Iraq and health care, arguing that race should not be consuming the attention focused on it ( Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). But Republicans also tried to set an agenda favorable to them by introducing Sarah Palin as their vice presidential candidate to appeal to women voters; setting the agenda worked in Ohio, where pollsters noted a shift among women of all races who were not previously affiliated with a particular party (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010).

Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand

Executive Summary What must be understood is that the way in which a product is promoted in one country (i.e. the name of the product, its general appearance, and how a company chooses to appeal to consumers) is often engineered to appeal to the cultural and social predilections of that particular consumer population.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, not all consumers in the global market place have the same tastes when it comes to particular methods of marketing a product. It is based on this that this paper will explore standardization versus customization of a global brand in order to determine the effectiveness of either met Introduction Branding is an important aspect of selling products since it is the manner in which consumers differentiate one product from the rest in terms of what the brand represents such as quality, product longevity and popularity (Viswanathan and Dickson 2007, pp. 46-63). This can often be seen in various advertisements wherein a brand name product is often compared to Brand X (a metaphor for another company’s products) wherein the brand name product that is being promoted is shown to be superior in terms of quality and value. However, the promotion of a particular brand is not limited to a products home market; rather, companies tend to expand into other international markets in order to be more competitive against their rivals in the same industry. For example, international advertising initiatives such as those done by Unilever, Pepsi and Kraft Foods all attempt to target new markets within foreign countries due to flat growth in their main consumer markets (i.e. the U.S.) They do this by utilizing various local pop culture icons in print ads and television advertisements in order to create an association between such stars and the product the company want s to sell thus resulting in a far greater degree of sales and product patronage.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this case, this is a form of informative advertising wherein companies seek to create greater awareness for their products/services. The reason behind such actions was noted in the work of Chang (1995) where it was stated that companies often implement a form of product customization in order to make a product more appealing to a local culture (Chang 1995, pp. 5-10). As such, based on the work of Chang (1995) this necessitates the development of new brand promotion initiatives that appeal more to the target market in the country that the company is attempting to penetrate. The reason behind such attempts at developing an appeal that is more in line with the tastes of the local populace instead of relying on the traditional branding of the company is due the pr esence of already well-established brands within the targeted markets with similar products lines (Chae and Hill 2000, pp. 538-562). Attempting to penetrate such markets with a branding strategy that was utilized in a company’s home market where there is already an assortment of local brands that are popular with local consumers in the new target market could result in a relatively low product uptake which could result in significant financial losses for the company. One way of overcoming this was actually shown by Wal-Mart when it entered into the Chinese market. What the company did was bring in it’s own branding into China yet adjusted its product lineup to include local favorites that would be bought by consumers. On the other hand, while Wal-mart was successful in integrating itself into an international market, other companies were not so lucky with particular brands such as Pepsi initially suffering a setback in the Chinese market due to the way in which the phr ase â€Å"Come alive with Pepsi!† (a phrase used in a lot of its branding initiatives) was translated erroneously resulting in â€Å"Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead†.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The last example of which showcases how branding can go wrong happened when Gerber attempted to market its products in South Africa. What must be understood is that literacy is often an issue in this part of the world resulting in canned products often bearing a photo of what is outside of it to tell people what is in the product. Thus, when marketed in South Africa sales of Gerber’s products plummeted since people though that the product contained processed babies. Taking such factors into consideration, it can be seen that it is often necessary to rebrand a product in order for it be successf ul in a local market given the potential for cultural misunderstandings to arise resulting in low product sales. However, this is not to say that adopting a standardized method of brand promotion is not effective. Companies such as Mc Donald’s, Toyota and Ford have implemented a pretty standardized brand strategy across different markets and have emerged as globally competitive companies with well-recognized brands. When analyzing such aspects, it is necessary to examine standardization versus customization of a global brand in order to determine which method of branding would be advantageous for a company looking to establish itself in other global markets.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Understanding Consumer Buying Behavior and Brand Development It is rather interesting to note that various theories of consumer decision-making processes always seem to assume that consumers pass through distinct stages/steps before, during and after the process of selecting a particular product to buy or service to utilize. What must be understood is that an average consumer is influenced by a myriad of different factors that affect the way in which they choose to patronize a particular product or service (Brierley 2012, pp. 225-233). This can range from various psychological reactions such as the way in which they think and feel about different products (i.e. brand perception) to the way in which the market environment they are currently present in affects the way in which they perceive a particular product or service (i.e. local culture, their family, local media influences, etc.) (Wagner et al. 2009, pp. 69-85). For example, the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent financial recession the U.S. and Europe is currently experiencing have greatly affected the way in which consumers perceive particular products or services at the present (Wagner et al., 2009, pp. 69-85). Consumers these days have become more conservative in their spending habits resulting in the resurgence of popular brands such as Mc Donald’s who have great product offerings at incredibly low prices. What is interesting though, is how affordability and lower incomes affect consumer choice and thus brand development. The concept of rational behavior assumes that all consumers are rational individuals who try to use their earned income in order to derive the greatest amount of satisfaction/ utility. In other words, consumers try to get the most out of their income through rational buying behavior which results in a maximization of total utility from the products or services used (Rossiter Foxall 2008, pp. 123-141). In the case of this section of the paper, this comes in the form of c ustomers opting for affordable food in the form of Mc Donald’s due to limited amounts of money. (Shaw, Shiu, Clarke 2000, pp. 879-894). This rational behavior is based on the fact that consumers will act in an economically competent manner in that they will not spend too much money on irrational purchases or services (Calder Burnkrant 1977, pp. 29-38). As such, the concept of rational behavior assumes all consumers engage in rational buying behaviors which becomes the basis for any future analysis of consumer patronage towards a particular type of brand (Oshikawa 1969, pp. 44-49). This is one of reasons why the standardization of the Mc Donald’s brand across multiple countries and consumer segments has been so successful given the brand’s association with fast and affordable food for the masses. This is one the factors that companies should consider when developing their international branding strategies wherein they need to know what their brand represents an d how it is effectively interpreted by the local populace and the consumer segment that the company is attempting to target (Viswanathan and Dickson 2007, pp. 46-63). In the case of Mc Donald’s, it has always had a more â€Å"generalized† marketing strategy which focuses on targeting class C (i.e. low income) or class b (i.e. mid-income) consumers due to the product offerings it has. By focusing on serving everybody, the company does not need to worry as much on product distinction; rather, it focuses on promotion through affordability. Similar companies that are able to utilize a standardized branding strategy by virtue of their business model come in the form of companies such as Tide (the detergent company) or Microsoft (the software developer) (O’Donnell and Jeong 2000, pp. 19-33). Either of the companies that were mentioned are focused more on generalized methods of sale to all consumer classes and thus customization of a global brand is not necessary. Howe ver, there are cases where customization is necessary given different price points that a company wishes to enter. It is based on this that the next section will examine such aspects. One of the approaches to branding that should be considered by companies when approaching consumer relationships is to take into account business cycles and market slumps and adjust branding strategies accordingly. As explained by Professor Leonard Lodish of the Wharton School of Business â€Å"pricing is a critical element of successful marketing, in good times and in bad and many companies do not focus enough on getting their pricing right†. It is based on this and the cyclical cycle of business that companies should consider proper branding strategies when penetrating particular markets. This takes the form of taking into account the physical value of the product being sold as well as various non-tangible elements that consumers take into consideration before they will be willing to pay for a product. For example, the state of the housing market in the U.S. is at an all-time low; however, there are still individuals who are in need of homes. In such cases, developers need to take into account the physical cost of the home itself and factor in the current housing slump before creating a price range for a particular apartment or home. It is based on this that it can be said that the greater the amount of non-tangible assets that are taken into consideration by the customer before making a purchase the greater the need for companies to fix prices in accordance with what is necessary to sell the product itself. This principle can be seen at work in the case of Whirpool and its branding strategy wherein it focused on a branding strategy that utilized a high-end brand (Bauknecht), a mass-market brand (Whirlpool) and a value brand (Ignis). By positioning itself in different points in the market with a branding strategy that enabled it to encompass different types of consumers, this enabled the company to develop a better pan-European positioning in terms of being able to penetrate multiple markets under different branding methods. This method of brand customization is in part due to the company’s desire to be able to appeal to multiple consumer segments through brands that are more inclined towards their end of the consumer market. For example, the brand â€Å"Whirlpool† is often associated as a mass-market type of product. However, it is not known as a high-end brand nor is associated as being a value brand that customers at the lower end of the consumer spectrum can afford. While the company could have implemented a standardized branding strategy in this case and sold different types of products for the upper and lower end of the consumer spectrum, the brand association of Whirlpool as a mass-market product would go against it. This would result in consumers in the upper end of the income spectrum assuming that the quality of the product is too low for their needs while those in the lower end of the consumer spectrum would assume that the product is too expensive for them to afford. By diversifying the company’s brand in Europe through the high end Bauknecht and the low end Ignis, this enabled the company to better capture the European market without attempting to overextend the Whirlpool brand name into multiple consumer spectrums which would cause confusion regarding the type of products the company makes (Ronkainen 1996, pp. 56-63). For example, if the company attempted to develop products for the upper end of the consumer spectrum those at the lower end would think that the brand is far too expensive for them despite the availability of affordable choices while the reverse can also occur wherein appealing to the lower end of the consumer spectrum might result in the alienation of those in the upper market segment. Rossiter Foxall (2008) explains that one of the best ways for a company to fail when it com es to penetrating new markets is to try to overextend the brand into multiple frontiers. This can cause not only a significant issue in consumer perceptions regarding the brand itself but could also cause logistical issues for the various stores attempting to sell different product price iterations of the same brand. The most effective solution as advocated by Rossiter Foxall (2008) is employed brand customization instead of standardization wherein a company has a brand embody a particular type of product that would suit a particular segment of the population. By doing so, this enables a company to reach multiple classes of consumers and be better suited to adapt to a new consumer environment as compared to sticking with a standardized method of branding. Conclusion Based on what has been presented, it can be seen that when it comes to standardization versus customization of a global brand, it all depends on the type of product that is being sold and how a company chooses to target its desired customers. A generalized consumer strategy as seen in the case of Mc Donald’s and Microsoft often follows a standardized strategy while attempting to focus on particular consumer segments would need a more customized branding initiative to become more effective especially in cases where targeting different types of consumer segments are involved as seen in the case of Whirlpool. Reference List Brierley, H 2012, ‘Why Loyalty Programs Alienate Great Customers’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 90, no. 7/8, p. 38 Calder, B, Burnkrant, R 1977, ‘Interpersonal Influence on Consumer Behavior: An Attribution Theory Approach’, Journal Of Consumer Research, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 29-38 Chae, M and Hill, J 2000,’Determinants and benefits of global strategic marketing planning formality’, International Marketing Review, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 538-562. Chang, T 1995,’Formulating adaptive marketing strategies in a global industry’, International Marketing Review, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 5-10 Ronkainen, I 1996, ‘Implementing global marketing strategy An interview with Whirlpool Corporation’, International Marketing Review, vol. 13, no. 3, 1, pp. 56-63. O’Donnell, S and Jeong, I 2000, Marketing standardization within global industries: An empirical study of performance implications’, International Marketing Review, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 19-33. Oshikawa, S 1969, ‘Can Cognitive Dissonance Theory Explain Consumer Behavior?’, Journal Of Marketing, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 44-49 Rossiter, J, Foxall, G 2008, ‘Hull-Spence Behavior Theory as a paradigm for consumer behavior’, Marketing Theory, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 123-141 Shaw, D, Shiu, E, Clarke, I 2000, ‘The Contribution of Ethical Obligation and Self-identity to the Theory of Planned Behaviour: An Exploration of Ethical Consumers’, Journal Of Marketing Management, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 879-894 Viswanathan, N and Di ckson, P 2007,’The fundamentals of standardizing global marketing strategy’, International Marketing Review, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 46-63. Wagner, T, Hennig-Thurau, T, Rudolph, T 2009, ‘Does Customer Demotion Jeopardize Loyalty?’, Journal Of Marketing, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 69-85. This report on Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand was written and submitted by user Zeke Beasley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Platos Description of Forms

Platos Description of Forms Free Online Research Papers Plato’s description of forms makes sense in the eyes of civilization and the process of education. If a prisoner sees nothing but shadows his whole life then he is raised to believe that life is a matter of shadows. With a proper introduction, into the world around him, would help him understand the world he is actually in. This education would not be able to be accomplished in a matter of seconds, and would take time to teach him about everything in the cave prior to, him walking out and seeing the â€Å"Real World†. Now as this man is taught, his discipline would sustain him through his thought process, as long as he has a sense of discipline. In my opinion though, Plato put it in a simple format. There would have to be many other factors that would have to be taught to the prisoner, before the prisoner could fully respect the world around him, i.e. right and wrong. It would be immoral to introduce a man to the world in a split second. The man would be no more than a cave dweller, who runs ramped with out boundaries. He would no doubt be using his natural instincts. If the prisoner was introduced to the world, and the man had a better understanding of the world around him, when returned to his place as a prisoner in the world, it would no doubt drive the man insane, knowing that there was something better than darkness and shadows. While I read about Plato’s idea of â€Å"Good†, I feel that â€Å"Good† is actually a reference to Nature and being related directly to God. The reason I say this is because Plato referred to the sun as a descendant of god. Therefore, the sun provides God’s will upon the subjects of Earth/Universe. We are going to take a trip for a minute. Let’s say for one moment that Nature wasn’t something God created to regulate the beings on Earth/Universe, then, like dirt; animals; plants; water; we as humans would have complete control over Nature. Humans have a misunderstanding of control. The reality is that humans have no control over anything other than their own actions. That puts humans into the society we have today, where we have no choice but to fit in. The idea mankind carries is, that people are and will be completely and totally right until the end of our existence, which, will be at our own demise due to our unwillingness to unders tand every aspect of Life. Unless, we start to completely understand that we cannot create life, other than offspring, but we do have the capability to destroy life. Research Papers on Plato's Description of FormsGenetic EngineeringThe Spring and AutumnCapital PunishmentMind TravelHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenStandardized TestingRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThree Concepts of Psychodynamic

Lean Manufacturing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lean Manufacturing - Essay Example Corrective action must be taken after survey. The idle time is too high and not permissible in any way. With the supply coming in weekly, the issue to each process should be regulated. Movements both within the section and between sections must be speeded up by use of trolleys, installation of conveyors and use of fork-lifts, wherever suitable. This must be identified and put in place as top priority. At the moment we are paying a lot of wages plus overtime to workers for doing nothing. With such heavy idle time as against so little productive time, we need to cut down one shift altogether and move to a regime of controlled efforts and by using Pull methods of Just in Time system of inventory. ERP software plays a vital role in the success of Lean manufacturing setup. Nothing will be gained by just designing a superb system and by laying down rules and parameters. A well-understood, well-defined and easy to follow implementation plan must be prepared. This is to be done with active assistance from the solution providers. The Implementation Team along with the Company designated resources must first carry out a joint Systems Requirement Study (SRS). This SRS must consider all points raised in the strategy above and identify the areas of data entry points. It is these areas that have to be carefully monitored to see that accurate data is available. With accurate data available, the company can take corrective action based on actual information. This will go a long way in bring down wastages and eliminating downtime and idle time. A productive maintenance plan is to be drawn us to ensure that downtime is brought down to zero level with accurately planned maintenance schedules prepared in advance. Spares are to be procured for such programmes well before time. Having said this, these weak links are to be paid extra attention and care is to be taken to make the workers understand that

Trailblazers in Photography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trailblazers in Photography - Essay Example Thus, throughout the development of photography, several individuals have dedicated their lives to this art with astounding results and their names etched on the list of trailblazers in photography. Prominent trailblazers in photography Simply described, photography is the art as well as the science of creating long-lasting images on a film or paper and this ideally forms the basis of trailblazers in photography. Basically, the camera obscura which implies a dark chamber is the main device used in photography. Its invention dates back to Leonardo da Vinci discovery of the pin-hole camera. The camera works on the principle of concealing the image of an illuminated object where the image is taken (Halstead 1). Ancient cameras required the object to be exposed to light for as long as eight hours. The first photograph recorded was taken in 1826 by the French innovator, Joseph Nicephore Niepce. The exposure time recorded was eight hours which accounted for no ancient human photographs. Th ese ancient photographs were monochromes which continued to dominate the world of photography even after color photography came into being. The first color photograph of a tartan ribbon was taken by James Clerk Maxwell in 1861 (Halstead 1). Advancement in photography was then taken over by companies like Kodak, Sony among others. Photography has several genres among them photojournalism. Besides, various individuals have been for a long time known as trailblazers in photography. Among the distinguished figures of photojournalism, Alfred Eisenstaedt also became known as Eisie. Beginning his career in 1920 in Berlin as a photojournalist, Eisie rose to leave a great legacy and profound impact in photography. Using a camera invented by Dr. Erich Salomon, this photographer succeeded in recording people’s lives. In fact, he endured the risk of annoying people by venturing into their rooms to photograph them. Furthermore, he engaged the people he photographed on the subject of his i nterest (Eder 258). His pictures produced a life story unlike others who did not utilize such ensuing opportunities or particular interests. Eisie revolutionized photojournalism in several ways. He had a passion for photography and never got tired of taking pictures. Eisie was a real visual story teller and provided a platform on which other foundations of photojournalism are based. The work Eisie was based on real life situations which represented a particular subject of his own interest. His passion for photography, humor, decisions and determination made him produce the best photos ever in his era. Photographs taken at his time were mostly monochromes (Halstead 1). Though todays photos are colored, few can match Eisie work. His contribution was so immense that he was named the photojournalist of the century. Fashion and women nudity are subjects of fascination which materialize hard to study apart. Few photographers dedicated their time to photograph these aspects. Helmut Newton is one of the famous photographers who dedicated his time to photograph fashion but later deviated to photographing naked women. Helmut started as a portrait photographer in Singapore. Basically, experience in photography paced way for the establishment of a studio in Australia. He later worked for the popular magazine dubbed as Playboy in California. Helmut had his best photography career and his photos remain highly priced assets (Weaver and Daniel 22). His popularity has

Hostile Or Friendly Takeovers Mergers Economics Essay

Hostile Or Friendly Takeovers Mergers Economics Essay The process of mergers and acquisitions is gaining a significant importance in todays corporate world and is extensively used for reorganizing the business organizations. (Cartwright, Cooper, 1992).The phrase mergers and acquisitions refer to the characteristic features of Corporate strategy, corporate finance and management that deal with the purchasing, selling and combining of different companies that can support, fund, or give their hand to an upcoming company in a given industry and grow rapidly without having to create another firm(Gauhan, 2007). There are many reasons why MNCS go in for merging and acquisition, the most important among them are the rising market, political power, defensive reactions, economies of scope or synergies, reduction of transaction and information costs.( Gaughan,2005) The factors that generates a firm to go in for merger and acquisition are identified in the budding regulatory changes that happen internationally, regionally at national levels and in the fast pace of technological change which enhance the market opportunities of a business, technological interrelationship, communications and cross border reconstituting. The advantages of MAs are evaluated in terms of the ability to exploit the scale and scope of economies, gain the market control, economize the transaction costs, diversify risks, and to provide access to the existing know-how It is. (Cantwell, Santangelo, 2002) A multinational enterprise (MNE) considering an entry into a foreign market by foreign direct investment (FDI) has to consider two strategic decisions regarding the organizational form of its foreign operation. First what is the level of control i.e. whether it will be a full ownership or a joint venture and, secondly, the mode of foreign entry i.e. setting up a new venture via Greenfield investment or merger and acquisition (Muller, 2007). Let us analyze the circumstances which make MA activity the optimal entry mode into a new international market in the forthcoming paragraphs. In the period of global competition, firms realise that the effectual use of universal sourcing will contribute significantly to the performance of the market. With the materialization of new products and technologies, the firms began to experience a new developing cycle which is accompanied by the degree of competition in the market. Most of the development of the industries experience four processes and they are starting up, developing, maturing and the declining (Wang, 2009). With the invention of new products and technologies, the industries start experiencing a new developing cycle. In the initial stages of development due to less competition firms preferred greenfield investment as the optimal mode of entry in to the foreign market. As the industry started maturing the speed of the MAs which is one of the main factor started to be seen as the biggest advantage over the Greenfield investment or any other entry modes (Kang, 2001). One of the most fundamental motives for MAs is th e speedy growth and the growth through MAs are a quicker process and it takes only few months than the other entry modes. An example of this kind is the German automobile company Daimler-Benz which realised that it needed a bigger occurrence in the U.S automobile market, therefore it did not waste its time by building new factories in United States which would have taken years, instead it acquired the number three U.S. automobile company, Chrysler, and merged the two operations to form Daimler-Chrysler(Barba Navaretti,2006). Firms either expand within their own industry which is the internal growth or they expand outside their business category which is the external growth to increase the market share or the removal of a rival. When the firms grow internally, competitors respond quickly and take the market share and in due course of time the firms advantages dissipate. The firms are left out with only solution of acquiring other companies that have possessions. For example Johnson a nd Johnson, rather than internally trying to be on the fore front of each of the major area of innovation decided to purchase those companies who had developed successful products. This strategy simply describes that instead of suppressing its competitors by its internal growth JJ stretched out for acquisition to increase its market power and this is referred to as inorganic development (Gaughan, 2007).Companies like Nestle use acquisition as a form of external growth to improve its organic growth( Morschett, Schramm-Klein,2009) Merging so as to create synergy is most often the cited validation for an acquirer to shell out a premium to the target firm. Synergy is created by redeploying a firms assets. The acquiring firm may transfer a resource from the target firm to the acquiring firm and assets may be redeployed from the bidder to the target. Authors like Colombo, Conca, and Gnan (2007) found that a strong forecaster of acquisition performance was the extent to which the asset is redeployed from the target. For example, Renault acquired Nissan and therefore the leadership skills of CEO Ghosn were redeployed to the benefit Renault and firms like Ford and GM were unsuccessful in enticing Ghosn away from Renault (Hopkins.D, 2008) Economic motivations are an important subcategory of MA establishing the economies of scale thereby reducing the costs due to superfluous resources of two firms in the same or related industry. Thus acquiring a firm in the same or a related industry results in considerable overlap between the two firms and reduces costs. When Daimler-Benz acquired Chrysler it announced that the merger would lead to $1.3 billion of cost savings in the first year mainly through collaboration (Morck, Yeung, 1992). Diversification is another important strategy that motivates the firms going in for MA.Diversification is growing outside a companys current industry category. Firms either diversifies to extend their product, extend their market, or purely diversify. When a firm is specialized in a given technology or product base it tries to enter new market by entering in to different industries, different social group or different geographical location. An example of this type is G.E which was merely an electronic company through a pattern of acquisitions and diversification started operating in insurance, television stations, plastics, medical equipments and so on(Hitt.M,Ireland.D,2009). Often firms go in for merger and acquisitions to exploit a core competence and take an insubstantial skill, know-how, or information and purchase it by spreading its use to additional industries where it can create a competitive advantage. For example the company such as Honda by its internal combustion engines develops a core competence and tries to use it as a basis of competitive advantage in different businesses (Hopkins, 2008) (Morosini, Shane, Singh, 1998) say that the larger the distance in culture of the countries in which merger partners are based the greater the potential benefit Cultural differences can also be a source of complimentary strength in the cross border MAs i.e. cultural differences between countries, like the nations strength allows working in groups for example collectivism in Japan versus the individualistic in the U.S, clearly shows that by the combination of two companies that are based out of different culture and country might result in a stronger combined company (Hennart, Young-Ryeol, 1993). Companies in order to improve their product development and to improvise their research and development which is important for the future growth of many companies go in for MA and cross border activities. During the 1990s a widespread consolidation took place in the pharmaceutical industry and the motive for such a merger was to come up with new drugs and mounting costs of RD, this explains the reason for the mega merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham merged in order to increase the RD budgets.(Gaughan.P,2007) Changes in the technology results a firm to either buy or sell depending on its position with respect to technological changes and effects. For example, Indias third largest software exporter Wipro had a success history of 10 acquisitions. Most of the acquired companies were based out in Europe and dealt technology or RD services. The Nerve Wire, AMS and Mpower helped Wipro gain skills in areas like financial securities, utility consulting and technologies respectively. (Paulson, Ed., Huber, 2007) CONCLUSION These were one among the few strategic factors that motivate a firm to opt for the Merger and Acquisition than going in for the other modes of entry. Despite the fact that by far the largest part of worldwide FDI takes the form of MA while in some regions Greenfield investment is most prominent.

Marketing Mix of Unilever Soaps Essay

Unilever Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast- moving consumer goods. We aim to provide people the world over with products that are good for them and good for others. Vision Unilever’s Corporate Purpose * Deep roots in local cultures and markets around the world gives Unilever a strong relationship with consumers and are the foundation for future growth. They hope to bring their wealth of knowledge and international expertise to the service of local consumers – a truly multi-local multinational. * Unilever believes that long-term success requires a total commitment to exceptional standards of performance and productivity, to working together effectively, and to a willingness to embrace new ideas and learn continuously. * To succeed also requires, Unilever believes, the highest standards of corporate behavior towards everyone they work with, the communities they touch, and the environment on which they have an impact. This is Unilever’s road to sustainable, profitable growth, creating long-term value for shareholders, our people, and our business partners. Unilever’s Growth Priorities Ambition: To win share and grow volume in every category and country. * Winning with brands & Innovation * Winning with people * Winning in the marketplace * Winning through continuous improvement Consumer Product Market By and large in the consumer product markets that prevail all over, products are defined in terms of the buying behavior of shoppers. Following three are the major categories defined; * Convenience goods * Shopping goods * Specialty goods Convenience goods, usually the edible food items, are known to be purchased often, quickly, and with little comparison or effort. On the other hand shopping goods involve product comparisons on such bases as quality, price, style and suitability like for example if you go out to purchase a television set, you’ll definitely take into account whether you want an LCD or an LED or even Plasma maybe; other than this you would be making a mental analysis in your head as to whether your last reviews about a particular brand say Samsung or Song or LG was good or bad and likewise you would be narrowing down your list of choice. Lastly specialty goods possess unique attributes for which a significant group of buyers is willing to make a special effort; an example maybe of Mercedes or any sports car or any luxury item for that matter. These shopping characteristics, in turn, determine marketing mix emphasis for each product type. For example, in our case of the chosen product category soap which comes underneath the head of convenience good; the often impulsive nature of purchases puts stress on the â€Å"place† element to make sure these products are widely available and highly visible. 1. Product Product: A product is more than something with physical characteristics. In a very narrow sense a product is set of tangible physical assembled in an identifiable form. From the perspective of a marketing manager a new product can be anything management believes to be new, usually categorized as a major innovation, a minor innovation, or a modification. Major Innovation – this entails any new product that the company develops & introduces; having no prior existence in the market by any company Minor Innovation –  this entails a product which the company previously did not make but others in the market did. Modification – is an adjustment in the tangible features that may include color, packaging, size; product improvements etc. All facts and figures considered mostly when new products find their way on shelves is through modifications. Unilever’s Products Unilever’s products image building features includes: †¢Color: For the sake of variety they have full colored products. Like LUX, Dove, Lifebuoy are available in different colors. †¢Quality: Unilever maintains the high standards of quality of its products for the entire target market, which creates a strong image in the consumer’s mind. †¢Warranty: It is the policy of the company that it replaces the products damaged due to manufacturing or quality fault whenever claimed. 2.1. LUX In 1954 local production of this remarkable successful toilet soap began. Lux happens to be the largest Unilever brand globally, with its glamorous association with film stars providing a common link across the world. History of Lux: Lux soap was first launched in the UK in 1899. The name â€Å"LUX† was chosen as the Latin word for â€Å"light†. Lux was introduced as bathroom soap in the US in 1925 and in the UK in 1928 as a brand extension of LUX soap flakes. Formula given by Research and Development departments in foreign countries: LUX is produced in Pakistan from imported raw materials. Sodium soap, glycerol and different extracts according to flavors, coming from Unilever plants. †¢Almond Oil: An excellent skin softener and moisturizer. Almond oil is great for all skin types but especially beneficial for dry or irritated skin. †¢Cocoa Butter: Cocoa Butter is absorbed quickly into the skin to soften, lubricated, moisten and nutrients the skin. Works great to prevent and treat scars, stretch marks, and damage skin. †¢Colorants: Unilever uses a combination of micas, oxides, spices, and clays to achieve colors in their products. †¢Distilled Water: Unilever always uses distilled water for safety and purity. †¢Fragrance Oil: Fragrance oils are added in small enough quantities to not be an irritant for most people. Yet, they add enough to give a light scent which, in your favorite fragrance, you will have a hard time resisting the urge to sniff  your hand (again and again!). †¢Glycerin: Glycerin draws moisture to the skin keeping it soft. †¢Sodium hydroxides: This is the chemical used to make soap. Without this chemical, there is no soap, period. It causes a chemical reaction called specifications. Once specification is complete, the finished product is soap – and there is n o lye in the finished product. †¢Monodie Tahiti: A moisturizing and naturally fragrant oil, which quickly penetrates the skin acting as a natural barrier helping prevent dehydration (and wrinkles) of the skin. It is a wonderfully, naturally scented oil excellent for all skin types. †¢Olive Oil: Moisturizing oil used in soaps – Castile soaps are generally 100% olive oil. It softens skin while attracting moisture to your skin. It’s a mild soap which keeps your skin soft, supple and younger looking. †¢Vitamin E: A natural skin antioxidant, promoting healthy tissue Color: LUX is offered in Pakistan in five different flavors which are: †¢LUX Peach & Cream †¢LUX Strawberry & Cream †¢LUX Purple Lotus & Cream †¢LUX Aqua Sparkle †¢LUX Nature Pure Sizes: LUX in three different sizes, 80gm, 115gm and 155gm.With five different fragrances, three different sizes, international standard and high quality design, as a product, LUX has been highly successful over the years. Target Market: †¢Urban and suburban †¢Upper class people †¢Middle class people †¢Financially well-off who can afford to buy LUX. 2.2. LIFEBUOY The brand has long legendary status in the country. Lifebuoy aims to provide affordable and accessible hygiene solutions that enable people to lead a life free from hygiene related worries, everywhere, regardless of the boundaries of nationality, religion and socio-economic status. History of Lifebuoy: Lifebuoy is one of Unilever’s oldest brands. Lifebuoy Royal Disinfectant Soap was launched in 1894 as an affordable new product in the UK, to support people in their mission for better personal hygiene. Soon after launch, Lifebuoy soap travelled across the world, reaching countries such as Pakistan, where even today it is still the market-leading brand. Lifebuoy on a Mission According to the World Health Organization, diarrhea is the single largest cause of death, killing 2.2 million people every year. In Pakistan, a large number of children are also affected by this fatal disease every year. It’s been estimated that if everyone washed their hands properly at key times during the day, up to half of all childhood deaths from diarrhea could be avoided. Health and Hygiene education is the core Lifebuoy’s plans. The Way Forward For the past few years, major changes have been made to the classic Lifebuoy soap bar to ensure that it provides improved hygiene protection and a more enjoyable healthy washing experience for its billions of consumers. †¢Lifebuoy soap’s classic hard red brick shape has been replaced with a new signature Lifebuoy shape. The new shape makes the bar easier to grip and use †¢Lifebuoy soap’s characteristic medicated, carbolic smell has been replaced with a more enjoyable and contemporary ‘health’ fragrance FRAGRANCE These four variants help you protect your family from the 10 infection causing germs and stay one step ahead of them. †¢Lifebuoy Nature: A soap bar color is Green color. Green is the color of nature and life. Green symbolizes secure, natural relaxed, self-respect and well being. It’s anti-acne with neem and lemon. †¢Lifebuoy Total PROTECT Bar Soap: It’s in Red color. It is warmest of all color. Red is the color most chosen by extroverts. Active kids need unbeatable, long-lasting protection from germs. Lifebuoy Total protect Bar Soap is lab-proven to keep your family protected  from 10 infection causing germs. †¢Lifebuoy Care pack is of Blue color in which soap bar color is blue. It commands respect and authority. †¢Lifebuoy cool fresh PRODUCT: Product involved some elements which are Variety, Quality, shape & Brand Name. †¢Quality: Lifebuoy’s quality is very popular among the people. Lifebuoy has continued to change as per consumer needs. Since the soap has undergone numerous product quality improvements to offer best hygiene results. †¢Shape: Lifebuoy soap’s classic hard red brick shape has been replaced with a new signature Lifebuoy shape. The new shape makes the bar easier to grip and to use. Target Market: †¢All households who can afford buying soap †¢Children 2.3. Dove In a world of hype and stereotypes, the Dove brand provides a refreshing alternative for women who recognize that beauty isn’t simply about how you look. The Dove brand’s mission is to make more women feel beautiful every day by widening the definition of beauty and inspiring them to take great care of them. History of Dove Unilever acquired a French patent for a radically new product; a personal cleansing bar that was not soap. Rather, this new bar contained a pH-neutral cleanser and a moisturizing component. Dove Bar was born and launched in the US in 1957. †¢It promised women that it wouldn’t dry their face the way that soap did. Women tried it. And it didn’t. Thus began a very trusting relationship between Dove and its users. Shape: The shape of the bar is a perfect shape to fit into the palm of your hand. It’s oval and curved, like the back of a spoon, and is a nice fat bar of soap, not a teeny little slim bar. On both big sides of the soap is the Dove title and logo of the bird, just like on the box. Dove Bar Ingredients: Stearic Acid †¢Uses: Used as a hardener in soap. According to DCI, it also gives liquid soap a pearly appearance. †¢About This Ingredient: According to DCI and Cosmetics Info it safe by the FDA and CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) expert panel. Stearic acid is a constituent in some vegetable oils. Sodium Tallowate †¢Uses: Used for cleansing. †¢About This Ingredient: Sodium tallowate is a salt of Tallow (according to Cosmetic Cop’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients it is a substance extracted from the fatty deposits of animals, especially from suet (the fat of cattle and sheep). It clogs pores, cause blackheads, and increase the incidence of eczema for individuals with sensitive skin. Sodium Palmitate †¢Uses: Used for cleansing and creating lather. †¢About This Ingredient: Sodium Palmitate is a salt of Palmitic Acid (according to Cosmetic Cop’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Palmitic Acid can be drying to the skin).This ingredient cleanses your skin, best for oily skins. Lauric Acid †¢Uses: According to Cosmetic Info it is a surfactant and cleansing agent. †¢About This Ingredient: Lauric Acid occurs naturally in some vegetable oils like palm oil. Water †¢Uses: Typically used in soap as a solvent for dissolving the oxidizer. †¢About This Ingredient: A solvent is always needed to dissolve the oxidizer. It can be water, milk, or any other liquid containing water. Water is used as a means of dissolving the oxidizer (the thing that combines with the oils to make soap). Sodium Stearate †¢Uses: The Stearate salts are generally used for their lubricating properties. They also help to keep emulsions from separating into their oil and liquid components, according to Cosmetic Info. †¢About This Ingredient: According to DCI, this ingredient is about 98% Stearic Acid. Cocamidopropyl Betaine †¢Uses: Used as a surfactant, according to Cosmetic Info. †¢About This Ingredient: This is generally regarded as one of the more gentle surfactants. This ingredient cleanses your skin. Sodium Cocoate †¢Uses: Used as a surfactant. †¢About This Ingredient: This is a gentle surfactant.This ingredient cleanses your skin. Sodium Palm Kernelate †¢Uses: Used as a surfactant. †¢About This Ingredient: This is a gentle surfactant.This ingredient cleanses your skin. Sodium Chloride †¢Uses: Used as a thickening agent. †¢About This Ingredient: Sodium Chloride is the same as ordinary table salt. Tetrasodium EDTA †¢Uses: Used as a preservative and chelating agent. †¢About This Ingredient: No known toxicity to the skin. Tetrasodium Etidronate †¢Uses: Used as a preservative and chelating agent (DCI lists this as a synonym for Tetrasodium EDTA. †¢About This Ingredient: No known toxicity to the skin. Maltol †¢Uses: Used as a flavoring agent. †¢About This Ingredient: It occurs naturally in some types of plants. It does have a fragrance. It used as a fragrance. Titanium Dioxide †¢Uses: Used as a whitening agent. †¢About This Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide is thought to have no negative side effects when used externally. PACKAGING DOVE †¢Dove soap comes in little cardboard box. The box is 8.5 cm long, 3.3 cm wide and 6 cm high. The color of the box is the typical Dove colors of the blue ‘Dove’ on a white background with the little simple gold outline of a dove over the Dove title. Beneath the words ‘Dove Cream Bar’ is the other familiar picture of a little gold droplet causing some ripples with the fraction ‘1/4’ in it. This is to show that the Dove products wit with this symbol are a quarter moisturizer them. †¢The front and back of the box both have the main title and  ¼ moisturizer bit on them. The remaining 4 sides are covered with lots of ‘blurb’. This includes ingredients, barcode, and quantity. Dove is available in 75g pack & 135g pack. 2. PLACEMENT/DISTRIBUTION Dire attention needs to be devoted to the question of ‘place’ – especially as to where to make available the product and in terms of how to get that product there; otherwise successful product decisions that have been taken will be lost. No doubt these decisions are to a very large extent influenced by the type of product that is marketed and the environment in which it is marketed, the company policies & resources and not to forget consumer needs – the ultimate buyer. These place decisions then pave way for pricing & promotion decisions to be undertaken. At the basic level, the first thing that the marketing managers need to identify is whether or not to use intermediaries; and if the answer to the question is yes then further decisions need to be taken in regards of type & organization of them i.e. wholesalers or retailers. Distribution channels once established are often hard & costly to change. 3.4. LUX Unilever Pakistan Ltd. has a huge distribution channel for LUX all over the country as its sales reach more than 10 million pieces a year as per the recent increase in demand for all of its products that were originally targeted towards urban and suburban middle & upper middleclass. Warehouses = 6/ one in each division. The company does not use its own fleet of transport for distributing its product; therefore, it has outsourced its distribution process to various third party distributors, exclusively dedicated to Unilever Pakistan Ltd. These distributors then supply the product all over Pakistan to a huge number of retailers. 3.5. Lifebuoy The strategy that Lifebuoy follows is like that in every small or big shop customer will be able to find out the product. Its distribution network directly covers about 50,000villages, reaching about 250 million consumers. It basically targets Rural, semi-urban and urban people. Rural: 72% of Pakistan’s population is in the rural areas; hence about 50% of the soaps are sold in the rural markets. Lifebuoy’s variants like Lifebuoy care,  Lifebuoy total, lifebuoy active are specially positioned for the rural market. Semi-urban: For the semi-urban segment, Lifebuoy nature & Lifebuoy fresh is positioned. Urban: All varieties are found here. 3.6. DOVE It uses one distribution channel to provide its various products to retailers. Placement and distribution of DOVE is more popular in Metropolitan cities although demand is rising now. The general trade comprises grocery stores, chemists, wholesale, and general stores. 3. PRICING STRATEGIES One of the main components of marketing mix is ‘Price’ or pricing strategy incorporated by a company for a particular product. Unilever’s pricing strategy for its soap items is quite conventional based on the country (Pakistan) it is operating in. as explained in detail in the product, place and promotional parts of this report, the market is segmented into different categories based on purchasing capacity. Thus different items in category of soaps cater to the demands and needs of a particular targeted segment. The current prices for different SKUs of Lux, Lifebuoy and dove are as follows: LUX LUX luxury bar 155g Rs. 50 LUX 115g Rs. 40 LUX 80g Rs. 28 Lifebuoy Lifebuoy Jumbo Pack 155g Rs. 38 Lifebuoy 115g Rs. 32 Lifebuoy 75g Rs.24 Dove Dove white beauty bar 75g Rs. 55 Dove beauty cream bar 135g Rs.85 4.7. LUX Lux is a soap associated with beauty more or less. The target market is middle, lower middle and upper middle class. This constitutes another big chunk of population. The prices suggest the Lux is neither too cheap nor  excessively expensive. The impression that Lux gives is of a soap that is of better quality and appeals to the female populations in general. The strategy is neither skimming nor penetrative; it’s a hybrid of both as it is for any product which lies in between high and low end of product prices. Lux is a well known brand with high awareness among consumers. The value-based-pricing approach is the most suitable tag for Lux’s pricing and persona in the market. 4.8. Lifebuoy As clear from the price listings above, lifebuoy is a low-end soap of Unilever. The main focus has been to target the lesser-earning and rural population of the country. Given that huge chunk of the population falls in the low earning category, this is a big target market that needs addressing. This segment of population is very elastic in terms of demand, so a cheaper soap like Lifebuoy has high demand. Lifebuoy, for its economic price, is also used as the public toiletry item in public toilets and schools or collages or hospitals. Unilever’s strategy for Lifebuoy is penetrative in nature. As the aim is quantity maximization through lower prices. Its logical as quantity demanded will increase if the prices are kept lower for the targeted market segment. The pricing objective is to maximize quantity. As number of units sold increase, the cost of producing will decrease automatically. So it can be said the Lifebuoy is produced with cost-plus pricing method. 4.9. DOVE Dove is a prestigious brand of Unilever. Quality is the focus and target market is the upper middle and upper class of the society. Dove’s pricing suggests soap not intended for the economic buyer but for customers who believe in high quality as compared to quantity. The packing, the look the fragrance all give the indication of a quality product. The strategists believe in quality leadership as the core objective for pricing of Dove. high price gives an indication to the customer that this is the best product to have been offered in the soap category by the company. The objective is also profit margin maximization through skimmed pricing that is Unilever aims to focus on the cream of the customers who are not price sensitive and are willing to pay higher to get better quality. 4. PROMOTION Even when you have come up with the right kind of product; with the required quality attributes at the right price and through the correct distribution channels have placed it at the right spot; there is still one thing that remains; how will your intended customer know that you exist? It’s the same like if you come up with a brilliant business idea altogether and you cook up its whole feasibility without really reaping anything out of it; unless you spread the word and someone out there suddenly feels the same vibes that yes this will work and you may as a result perhaps find investment that you needed. So the element that essentially is required is promotion! and it makes a significant part of a company’s marketing mix. Promotion therefore caters to the need identified of informing people about your product in general and that it presents a better solution to whatever perceived problem or crave that they might have. Now this task has over the decades become extremely tedious for marketing managers since every day we are bombarded with different companies trying to sell their products through various modes of promotion may it be direct like selling or indirect like advertisement, publicity or sales promotion. Now it is the job of the manager at hand to identify how to be the â€Å"one† who stands out; the one to whom you would actually listen to and absorb rather than just letting it slip from one ear to the next; this task requires upmost efforts & painstaking brainstorming and idea generation & not to mention some creative efforts on the part of the marketing team on the whole. A simple example to note the efficacy of such measures is if you’d contrast the advertisement of perhaps Surf Excel and say Nirma; on most grounds we have reason to bet our money on surf excel that it has better chances of retaining in the minds of customers when they go for a purchase. Each detail no matter how minute – matters; in case of television advertisements, which channel you are going to use for airing your commercial; the reach; which season like if you are Qarshi; you’d want your commercial to air more in summers and maybe in the holy month of Ramazan as well, which time slot i.e. morning, afternoon, evening, night; whether you want your commercial to run first during the ad break or you want it in-between; the frequency – everything matters. Same goes for print media including newspapers and magazines, radio etc. Print media in terms of which newspaper or magazine? Which page? How many words? Bottom of the page or top of the page? Or maybe you’d want the whole page to yourself.  Radio in terms of which frequency to air through, at what time? How many times? And so forth; billboards & hoardings are the same story. Promotion can be seen in respect of communication. The company tends to be the sender; the mode of communication can be termed as the channel and the audience of course is the ultimate consumer; the underlying assumption is to get the message across. Since communication requires effort, expense, and time, most messages are sent with the expectation that they will generate a feedback and obviously the expectance is skewed towards the positivity whereby which the company would experience a rise in sales share & profits; therefore deciding on the promotional budget & promotion mix is imperative. Unilever Promotion For promotion; we have evaluated the indirect measures that include advertisement, sales promotion & publicity. The following outlines the key traits of each; * The aim of advertising is to inform; to persuade & to remind. * Sales promotions is usually to retailer where they are encouraged to carry higher inventory levels and stocking of related items; build brand loyalty and of course the idea is to offset competitors promotions. Sales promotions can also be targeted to customers so as to increase their current purchases or to divert customers for competitors to one’s own brand. * Publicity entails being newsworthy and believable and it includes events such as anniversary celebrations & sponsorships. 5.10. LUX LUX is positioned to be beauty soap entailed to â€Å"bringing out the star in you†. Since childhood, I along with my group members remember LUX being advertised on television screens with female models, may it be from TV or film industry; the underlying concept had always been of beauty and over the years it has sticked to that philosophy; by introducing new product variants in terms of fragrance, color; use of milk proteins, rose extract and what not. LUX has used female models time and again in its commercial each time it brought a new product improvement in terms of fruit extracts, skin moisturizing minerals etc. Some of the models that were prominent include Reema featuring a new white LUX with double moisturizing; Iraj Manzoor with  the green LUX having sea minerals. In both of these ads the message was of LUX not being just soap but a total skin care system; as you may remember by the lines â€Å"sirf soap nae, mukaamal skincare†. And then there were commercials that featured Iman Ali; tag line â€Å"mujh mai star jagaaye†; Reema with silk protein extracts; sonya jahan with new lux white commercial; â€Å"khoobsorate ka raaz ab app kai pass.† And of course Katrina Kaif with purple lotus and the tagline was to moisturize your skin with beauty oils. For its 50th anniversary(Publicity), LUX featured top models headed by Barbara Sharif in its commercial whereby which the tag was â€Å"salha saal se chala aa raha hai, LUX aur khoobsorate ka safar †¦ ab app manain hamaray sath †¦ LUX kai sath khubsoorte kai 50 saal †¦ kyunkai hum laye hain khas app kai liya LUX special edition †¦ Special edition mai dhundain 50 yrs coupon and jeetya saal bhar kai liya free lux† So in short the campaign introduced a special edition LUX bar which had a coupon that would entail you to free LUX supply for the whole year; talk about big! but I guess being a multinational company you have that leve rage to do so. As a promotional campaign (Publicity), LUX also introduced LUX style awards for the first time in 2002; which was no doubt the first of its kind in our country. And at one stance which we believe is memorable; to promote this – LUX came up with a special Black limited edition; and the commercial was aired by the name of vision factory directed by Asim Raza who evidently did an excellent job at shooting the whole thing; the main leads were Iman Ali & Shaan and the commercial picked pace with the intimidating lines â€Å" wakt aa gaya hai app se milnay ka †¦ humain join kerain at the lux style awards† and subsequently the invitation process was the LUX special edition wrapper to be sent to such and such address. LUX also featured in its ads â€Å"who will be the next LUX girl?† Sms and win exciting prizes. Recent promotional activities(Sales promotion) include the LUX gold coin scheme; and for that particular reason they came up with a new commercial featuring Humaima Malik, the now extremely popular Mahira Khan, Reema & ofcourse Meera. The commercial opens with the lines â€Å"lux kai ander chupee hain app ki kismet †¦ 4 beauties nai bajhe hain special wishes lux bars mai †¦ hazar sonay kai sikay †¦ khas app kai liya†; so this is where the four television models have been incorporated into the whole scheme. For publicity LUX also featured Ali Zafar who sang the song â€Å"dakha jo teri ankhun mai† & the video had Amina  Haq, Meera & Reema as playing the supporting roles alongside him. 5.11. Lifebuoy Lifebuoy is a brand with a rich history; infact even now; lifebuoy brings with it the nostalgic feeling of school days where one used to find â€Å"red colored† bars in washrooms & other rest rooms across the country. Although it wasn’t a particular brand of soap which had a great fragrance to its name; still the positioning had been so strong; that the memory of it remains evident in the minds of people on the whole. Today however, Lifebuoy has come a long way from being targeted to perhaps the poor labor class (lowest income class) to middle income bracket consumers thereby changing its earlier positioned strategy to a hygienic soap whereby which families can protect themselves from multiple ailments. Initial commercial that we as a group recall is that of a football ground in which the kid falls; and later the close was on â€Å"Lifebuoy hai jahan, tandrustee hai wahan †¦ Lifebuoy†. After that it’s noticeable that Lifebuoy undertook some drastic changes in its commercials; uplifting the image that it had built for so long to where now we see it as being positioned as â€Å"advance lifebuoy† that is supposedly catering to 10 infection causing bacteria; punch line â€Å"advance jaraseem†¦advance hifazat†¦.10 infections walay jaraseem se bachayega†¦aik hifazat†¦care†¦Lifebuoy†. Previously there had been commercials that featured Lifebouy as more powerful than ordinary soap in terms that it gave you better protection even hours after you bathed; furthermore active 4 was there with a blue variant incorporating â€Å"healthy ho ga Pakistan†. Then of course there had been the â€Å"Germbusters – Lifebuoy koe dar nahe†- a 5 to 6 minute graphic showing children & germs fighting against each other; singers were Ali Azmat of Junoon & Ahmed Butt of EP; which was later incorporated into a short film by asad u l haq â€Å"lifebuoy khud badlo apni dunya campaign – koe dar nahee†. Most recent campaign includes â€Å"Lifebuoy total care – Healthy ho ga Pakistan †¦ Panch ka pahara† with Wasim Akram. In this with the partnership of Wasim Akram & IT, Lifebuoy has launched its school programme in Pakistan to embed the habit of hand washing at 5 key occasions of the day in an effort to build a healthy Pakistan and they have reported figures as high as 1000 schools in 2010 with a student strength of 250,000. Lifebuoy on the independence day of Pakistan as a publicity drive  came up with Haroons video of the very famous patriotic song Dil Se on the grounds of â€Å"bari quom, bari hifazat †¦ Lifebuoy† 5.12. Dove Where LUX has by and large used female models in its advertisements to promote the concept on beauty; Dove which was launched as a mild soap; goes on to portray a different meaning to the word beauty. It widens the meaning of beauty; giving women a reason to take greater care of themselves; one of its advertisements had emphasized â€Å"since when did our definition of beauty became so distorted† and â€Å"beauty is in each one of us, that’s why women trust their skin to Dove†. Its exquisite logo of dove symbolizes purity & softness and the packaging, product, colors variations all compliment this fact and the general feel of the product for women specifically becomes nothing short of being pampered. Over the years, it has stayed true to its tag-line â€Å"one quarter moisturizing cream to one quarter cleansing cream† in its advertisement. In contrast to Lifebuoy & LUX, Dove is the least promoted brand and we believe there is room to work for better market appeal towards it. Some other Remarks regarding Sales Promotion The shop that was visited; eds in Defence – the manager there told that as an incentive overall Unilever in its sales promotion hands over Rs.250, 000/month to them ; now imagine this is only one shop that we are talking about – Consider how many corner or small departmental stores are there in Defence, and then not to mention the bigger ones like Alfatah, Pot Pourri etc and then we should not forget that there are other areas in Lahore and to top it all Unilever is a brand present across cities; so all in all what can be concluded is that Unilever on the whole for its products spends huge sum of money so as to ensure that their products are available, they occupy a better display and they are within reach of consumers.