Markiting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Markiting - Essay Example For calculate the benefits the company must has marketing tool in find out buyer wants, behaviour and market size. 2)Developing Marketing Strategies – a company needs makng a positioning strategy. It must follow new-product developmet, testing and launching. Just after launching the product strategy has to undergone many changes in the different stages of product life-cycle. When a product is launch the product has to passes by four stages which are introduction, growth, maturity and decline and this cycle is called product life cycle (Kotler 2004). The figure given below shows a typical bell shaped product life cycle in terms of product revenue and profits. A new product takes time to settle in the minds of consumers. So ate first there happens low or no profits, low sales and high promotional expenditures (Kotler 2004). The marketing mix is affecting this way: 4)Promotion is done for holding innovators and quickly adopters. Marketing communications are everytime helping in educating and bringing interest in those consumers who may go for the product in future. In the growth stage sales increases because more consumers come to know the product and and buy it (Kotler 2004). There is competition. Attention is now on the safeguarding market share and also maximizing profit. In the following way it assist the marketing managers to making decisions: In the decline stage the sales of the product goes down a lot because of many reasons like change in technology, change in consumers tastes, more domestic and internation competitions (Kotler 2004). In such a stage the marketing managers should: Examples: Boston Market which declared bankruptcy and was taken over by McDonald’s came back into existence by revilatizing (Kotler 2004). Even Pitney Bowes was once predicting that the company will fail due to internet but the company still continuing as it

Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 5

Business - Essay Example The company currently operates with more than 450 stores. Morison was incorporated in 1899 in Brandford, UK. The company currently has a market cap of GBP 8.02 billion with a share price of GBP 303.3. Safeway is one of the biggest food as well as drug retailers in North America. Within US and Canada the company operated within 1692 stores as of Mar-2011.The Company currently has a market cap of $8.93 billion with current share price of $24.25. Compared to Morrison, Safeway was incorporated in 1990 in California. Analysis The financial statements of both the companies before and after the takeover are as follows: Morrison Balance sheet as of 2010 and 2004: 2010 (million GBP) 2004 (million GBP) Assets Non-current assets 7,666 1,739 Current Assets 1,094 492 Liabilities Current Liabilities (2,152) (814) Non-current Liabilities (1,659) (100) Net Assets 4,959 1,357 Dividends 363 174 Profit Retained 2,008 1,143 Merger Reserve 2,578 Capital Employed 4,949 1,317 Morrison Income statement as o f 2010 and 2004: 2010 (million GBP) 2004 (million GBP) Turnover 15,410 4,959 Cost of sales (14,348) (3,696) Gross Profit 1,062 1,263 Operating profit 907 306 As can be seen above the difference in assets, liabilities, turnover and profits of the company in 6 years after the company acquired Safeway. The turnover has gone up by 210.75% and operating profit has gone up by 195.44%. The nets assets of the company following the takeover have gone up by 265.4%. All these are good signs for the company and represents that the company had followed the positive outlook following the merger. This means that the company has maintained the aggressive growth rate even after the takeover of Safeway in 2004. Next analysis of company would be stock price analysis of past 7 years following the takeover of Safeway. This is discussed as follows: The stock price analysis shows the positive outlook for the company. It shows how the stock has continued to provide return to its investors even after the ta keover of Safeway. The analysis of stock chart for 2004 shows the positive investor sentiment following the takeover. This is also due to high presence of company in retail industry in UK. The food and retail sector represents the biggest industry in the United Kingdom, providing employment to more than four million people in production, manufacturing, retailing and distribution. Retail sector accounted for 9% of the GDP of the country in 2003 (Datamonitor, 2003). In last few years, UK’s supermarkets have been under increasing scrutiny in regard to their treatment with suppliers, in own-label products, still the development of supply networks in the country had been an integral part of supermarket strategies in the past decade. The US$ 9 trillion Retail industry is one of the world’s largest industries and still growing. 47 of the Global Fortune 500 companies & 25 of Asia’s Top 200 companies are retailers. Even as the developing countries are making rapid stride s in this industry, organized Retail is currently dominated by the developed countries with the USA, EU & Japan constituting 80% of world. (Global retail Business) Retail is a significant contributor to the overall economic activity the world over: the total Retail share in the World GDP is 27% while in the USA it accounts for 22% of the GDP. The share of organized Retail in the developing markets ranges between 20% - 55%. Over recent months these three risks have abated or disappeared: †¢

Summary and Insights on Selected Bible Passages Essay

Summary and Insights on Selected Bible Passages - Essay Example To begin with, the 2nd Book of Samuel is an account of significant events in David’s reign as King. In Chapter 5, he was proclaimed the anointed ruler by God. God hides when he conveys his messages to David. He uses Nathan, a prophet to be his messenger. Nathan relayed to David the messages of God sent in his dreams. One of the most significant events ever recorded in this Book is when God established his covenant with David by detailing His promises as follows:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦I have cut you off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people of Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. The Lord declares to you that the Lord Himself will establish a house for you. When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom† (Holy Bible New International Version, 2 Sam 7: 9-12).   In other words, for winning God’s favor, David, as written in Chapter 7, received great fame, fortune and successes in all the endeavors he took including victories in all the battles he fought. At the onset, it was also disclosed that God requested David through Nathan to build a house of cedar for the Ark of the Covenant which was then housed in a tent.On Chapter 11, the dark side of King David was revealed.  

Marketing research Exploring University of Leicester Students' Essay

Marketing research Exploring University of Leicester Students' Perception of Healthy Eating and Food Consumption - Essay Example Social Factors 11 3. Consumption Pattern 12 3.1. Involve In Purchasing 12 3.2. Intake of Vegetables and Fruits 12 3.3. Fat Intake 13 3.4. Intake of Fish and Meat 13 3.5 Consumption of Organic Food 13 References 15 Bibliography 19 Appendix 20 Evaluation of Research Design 1. Research Paradigm The research paradigm selected for this study has been interpretive. The interpretive research is chosen owing to different reasons. One of the primary reasons behind its selection is that this approach, unlike positivist approach deems that reality and the individual who observes it cannot be distinguished. On the other hand, the positivist approach believes that the reality is separate from the individual who observes it. The positivist approach is often blamed for its dualistic nature. Interpretative approach is also ascertained to provide an in-depth understanding of the complex world of human experience from their beliefs and perspectives. This approach is further consistent with the constru ction of the social world characterised by the interaction between the researcher and the participants (Andrade, 2009). Hence, the rationale behind selecting interpretive approach is that the study has aimed at attaining opinions regarding the healthy eating and food consumption habit. In this context, the opinions and beliefs cannot be quantified or measured, thus exploratory research has been chosen for this study. The exploratory research facilitates in drawing valuable insights regarding concept, people or any particular situation (Maxwell, 2008). Correspondingly, this study has intended at ascertaining deep insights regarding the participants’ perception on healthy eating and food consumption. While on the other hand, conclusive research particularly involves obtaining and analysing specific data to address particular specific questions (Dr. Nancy D. Albers-Miller, n.d.). Furthermore, inductive research has been adopted in this research study. Unlike deductive research, inductive research involves generalising the observations such as the factors that motivate participants to purchase and consume certain specific food items, which is not feasible with the use of deductive method (University of Pretoria, n.d.). Secondary research had been initially conducted in order to comprehend that further research is required. Moreover, secondary research had been undertaken as it was convenient to identify the known factor with the use of secondary sources. The qualitative research was conducted as the tool for primary research (Church, 2001). The qualitative research was selected in order to gain reliable understanding regarding the behaviour of the participants for uncovering the motivations behind purchasing and consuming certain categories of food items (Roller, 2011). At the same time, ad-hoc research approach was adopted in this study as this study involved identifying certain specific problem that was hard to generalise. While longitudinal approach was omitted as this approach requires longer time as well as it is more complicated and expensive in nature (Yee & Niemeier, 1996). 2. Data Collection Methods Data collection is an important procedure for any research in order to ensure the validity and reliability of the research study. It is thus crucial to select the most appropriate method of data collection. Correspondingly, focus group has been used in this study. The focus group is adopted so that more in-depth understanding regarding the perceptions, attitudes, beliefs and experiences could be

The Breakdown of the Union Essay Example for Free

The Breakdown of the Union Essay Manifest Destiny is a phrase that expressed the belief that the United States had a divinely inspired mission to expand, spreading its form of democracy and freedom.The phrase Manifest Destiny was first used primarily by Jackson Democrats in the 1840s to promote the annexation of much of what is now the Western United States (the Oregon Territory, the Texas Annexation, and the Mexican Cession). Slavery, the exploitation of Africans for hard labor, was also growing vastly in popularity during this period of territorial expansion. These controversial ideologies, including such events as Mexican War, the Wilmont Provisio, the development of the Republican Party, the Dred Scott Decision, the Brooks-Sumner Incident, the Anthony Burns Incident, the Ostend Manifesto, Uncle Toms Cabin, and unbalanced congressional representation aided in sending the Union into uproar and eventually splitting it entirely. The Mexican War between the United States and Mexico began with a Mexican attack on American troops along the southern border of Texas on Apr. 25, 1846. Fighting ended when U.S. Gen. Winfield Scott occupied Mexico City on Sept. 14, 1847; a few months later a peace treaty was signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo. In addition to recognizing the U.S. annexation of Texas, defeated Mexico ceded California and , New Mexico (including all the present-day states of the Southwest) to the United States. During the war political quarrels arose regarding the disposition of conquered Mexico. A strong All-Mexico movement urged annexation of the entire territory. Abolitionists opposed that position and fought for the exclusion of slavery from any territory absorbed by the United States. In 1847 the House of Representatives passed the Wilmot Proviso, stipulating that none of the territory acquired should be open to slavery. The Senate avoided the issue, and a late attempt to add it to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was defeated. A major cause of conflict between the Southern slave states and the Northern free states was the lack of assistance given by northerners to southern slave-owners and their agents seeking to recapture escaped slaves. In 1850 Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law. The law stated that in future any federal marshal who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave could be fined $1,000. People suspected of being a runaway slave could be arrested without  warrant and turned over to a claimant on nothing more than his sworn testimony of ownership. The Fugitive Slave Law brought the issue home to anti-slavery citizens in the North, since it made them and their institutions responsible for enforcing slavery. Even moderate abolitionists were now faced with the immediate choice of defying what they believed an unjust law or breaking with their own conscience and belief. The case of Anthony Burns, in which a fugitive slave was returned to slavery under the protest of 50,000 citizens of Boston, and the celebration of the abolitionist, Charles Sumners assault by Preston S. Brooks, fell under this statute. The Ostend Manifesto was a secret document written in 1854 by U.S. diplomats at Ostend, Belgium, describing a plan to acquire Cuba from Spain. The document declared that Cuba is as necessary to the North American republic as any of its present members, and that it belongs naturally to that great family of states of which the Union is the Providential Nursery. The aggressively worded document, and Soulà ©s advocacy of slavery, caused outrage among Northerners who felt it was a Southern attempt to extend slavery. American free-soilers, just recently stirred with the Fugitive Slave Law passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, decried the manifesto of brigands. Thus the American scheme to capture Cuba fizzled. Meeting in a Ripon, Wisconsin Congregational Church on February 28, 1854 some thirty opponents of the Nebraska Act called for the organization of a new political party and suggested that Republican would be the most appropriate name. The radicals also took a leading role in the creation of the Republican Party in many northern states during the summer of 1854 . While conservatives and many moderates were content merely to call for the restoration of the Missouri Compromise or a prohibition of slavery extension, the radicals insisted that no further political compromise with slavery was possible. In the following years, this anti-slavery party would gain many followers. By 1856 the Republicans had elected a Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives and placed a candidate in the election for president. In the Election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln would become inaugurated as a member of the Republican party, defeating John  Breckinridge, Stephen Douglas, and John Bell of the Southern Democratic Party, Northern Democratic Party, and Constitutional Union respectively. Dred Scott was an American slave who was taken first to Illinois, a free state, and then to Minnesota, a free territory, for an extended period of time, and then back to the slave state of Missouri. After his original master died, he sued for his freedom. He initially won his freedom from a Missouri lower court, but the decision was reversed by the Missouri Supreme Court and remanded to the trial court. Simultaneously, Scott had filed suit in federal court, where, after prevailing on the issue of his status as a citizen of Missouri, he lost a trial by jury. Scott appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which used the case to fundamentally change the legal balance of power in favor of slaveholders. The Court ruled that: 1. No Negroes, not even free Negroes, could ever become citizens of the United States. They were beings of an inferior order not included in the phrase all men in the Declaration of Independence nor afforded any rights by the Constitution. 2. The exclusion of slavery from a U.S. territory in the Missouri Compromise was an unconstitutional deprivation of property (Negro slaves) without due process prohibited by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 3. Dred Scott was not free, because Missouri law alone applied after he returned there. The decision was a culmination of what many at that time considered was a push to expand slavery. The expansion of the territories and resulting admission of new states meant that the longstanding Missouri Compromise would cause the loss of political power in the South as all new states would be admitted as free states. Thus, Democratic party politicians sought repeal of the Missouri Compromise and were finally successful in 1854 with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which naturally ended the compromise. Overall the reaction to the decision from opponents of slavery was fierce. Uncle Toms Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century (and the second best-selling book of the century after the Bible) and is credited with both helping to start the American Civil War and helping to fuel the abolitionist cause in the United States. This era also marked a dramatic  increase in congressional representation for free states. Compared to the overall equality of representation in senate and minor favoring of free states in the House during 1813, an 1860 summation exhibits a vast tip in the scale for free states over slave states. An unfair congress meant anger and conflict in the unaffiliated south, as well as future secession. At the advent of the mid-1800s, the Union faced perilous difficulties that seemed only to be solvable by war. By 1861, Civil catastrophe was inevitable, and the differences that initially split the nation soon engulfed it. Conflicts including the Mexican War, the Wilmont Provisio, the growth of the Republican Party, the Dred Scott Decision, the Brooks-Sumner Incident, the Anthony Burns Incident, the Ostend Manifesto, Uncle Toms Cabin, and unbalanced congressional representation contributed to national dispute and eventual dissemination of the state.

Characters Compared to Celebrities Essay Example for Free

Characters Compared to Celebrities Essay Tom Buchanan is the husband of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tom can be described as an extremely wealthy brute of a man. He is very athletic and successful. Tom is also very selfish, and he will do anything to get what he wants. In addition he has absolutely no shame in anything that he does and he thinks very highly of himself. Tom is very judgemental and often forces confrontation. These characteristics can be found in many spoiled and greedy celebrities, one of which is Donald Trump. Three qualities that we will examine between Tom and Donald will be greed, selfishness, and  I would think that Tom represents a Donald Trump figure. Toms fairly ostentatious state of being in the opening chapter is something akin to Trump. Additionally, Tom has no problem with the magnitude of me and the sense of his own superiority. Indeed, Trump is similar in that he has no shortage of faith in self. Where I think that their real connection lies in how they feel that their success allows them to parlay this into speaking with an air of authority on any subject. Tom has no basis or any idea to speak of the coloured people or the threatening of the White society. He holds no degrees of advanced study in this field nor does his theory even make logical sense. Yet, because he is wealthy and represents a sense of power, he is able to speak with absolute clarity, and presumes that others will take what he says as gospel, as if the law is being written as it is being said. Trump operates in much of the same manner. He believes that his insights on national topics are relevant because he is a success. He can publicly weigh out a run for the political office of President because of his success and his wealth. His ability to speak of issues such as 9/11 or Rosie ODonnell are only accepted, or entertained because of his wealth. In this manner, Tom and Trump are fairly similar.

Analysis of UK Basic Chemicals Company

Analysis of UK Basic Chemicals Company BASIC CHEMICALS IN UK ANALYSIS HEADLINES The market size of basic chemicals in UK has declined to GBP12,422 million recording a decline of 2.6% in 2013 due to lower sales to manufacturers of plastic and synthetic rubber in primary form Reach regulation tightened in 2013 limiting competition of non-EU companies in UK Profit margin declines to a record low of 3% preventing production expansion in UK Shale gas remains an ace for basic chemicals producers in UK UK basic chemicals industry is matured. It is expected to grow at CAGR of 0.7% during 2013-2019 MARKET TRENDS The market size of basic chemicals in UK has declined to GBP12,422 million recording a decline of 2.6% in 2013. Contraction of the industry was driven by falling revenues from plastics in primary forms, household cleaning and personal care, photochemicals and explosive, as well as pharmaceuticals segments. Purchases of basic chemicals by plastic in primary forms and synthetic rubber industry declined by 23% to GBP1,360 million. The plastics industry in UK was having trouble competing with producers abroad as oversupply in the world settled-in. UK producers do not have access to cheap raw materials. Consequently, production of plastics and rubber in primary form declined by 23% in UK during 2013 negatively reflecting on revenues of basic chemical industry. Household cleaning and personal care producers reduced their purchases of basic chemicals by 15% in UK during 2013 as turnover of household cleaning and personal care products at constant prices declined by 5.1%. Declining prices of specialty chemicals caused by increasing competition from China was the main reason of lower sales. Competition from abroad is limited by high infrastructure barriers for certain products. Currently ethylene production is concentrated in Grangemouth, Mossmorran and Wilton, UK and there is a network of 8 pipelines connecting major producers and consumers in UK. It is also proposed to connect ethylene network with Rotterdam. Potentially increasing imports if competition kicks-in. As of June, 2013 the regulation of chemicals in EU territory became stricter based on REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances) regulation. The requirement to register chemicals manufactured or intended to import into EU in quantities greater than 100 tons per year forces companies to register within ECA (European Chemicals Agency). Registration within ECA results in higher costs as extensive research to confirm their safety is needed. Imports were pushed out as local producers were able to win-back their market share. Though market of basic chemicals in UK contracted by just 2.6% during 2013 but imports of basic chemicals declined by 25%. Imports made 63% of the basic chemicals market in 2013 in comparison to 81% in 2012. Local producers were pushing out imports of hydrocarbons, oxygen-function compounds and other organic chemicals as their import declined by 31%. PRODUCTION TRENDS Despite declining markets, production of basic chemicals was booming recording an 11% growth in 2013. The growth was driven by hydrocarbons, oxygen-function compounds and other organic chemicals expansion as the segment was winning back market share from imports. As competition in hydrocarbons, oxygen-function compounds and other organic chemicals got tense world-wide, domestic producers chose to compete in local market cutting down segment exports by 20% and total basic chemicals export by 17%. Cost pressure to the basic chemicals industry declined. Total costs related to basic chemicals increased by 12% in UK during. However, cost per unit of produce declined by 5% as turnover at constant prices increased by 17%. As production of hydrocarbons soared, costs related to refined petroleum products by 17% in 2013. The rise in costs in relation to growth in production at constant prices is related to increased share of basic chemicals manufactured from oil products as PPI of refined petroleum products decreased by 5%. Purchases of gas has increased by 21% due to 9.4% rise in prices for industrial uses. Increase in production of hydrocarbons drove the purchases of gas upwards as well. The gas supply is well diversified with most of the gas coming from domestic supplies and Norway. Electricity costs increased by 20% in production of basic chemicals in UK during 2013. Mostly it was related to increased production in quantity though, electricity price rose by 2.6% for industrial users in UK during 2013. UK’s electricity generating capacities are outdated and plants one by one are turned off. Investments are increasing consequently raising electricity wholesale price. Despite an 11% growth in production, profits declined by 21% to GBP284 million in 2013. Profit margin has declined to a record low of 3% as producers were not able to cut costs at same amount as producer prices decreased by 5.7% in 2013. Low profitability repelled new companies and prevents the industry from expansion in the next couple years. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE Economies of scale is a major drive force in the industry. Though 27 companies with over 250 employees make less than 2% of companies in the industry, they generated 90% of turnover in 2013 as costs. Largest companies in the industry were Ineos Group Ltd, BP Aromatics Ltd, BASF Plc, Air Products Group Ltd and Croda International Plc. Ineos Group Ltd, a UK-based subsidiary of Ineos AG, manufactures petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products as polymers, chlorvinyls, ethanol, esters, ammonia and nitric acids, plastics, melamines, pnenols, oligomers, olefines, oxides and styrenics. The company sold its INEOS ChlorVinyls divission of chlorine business to 2M Group Ltd that operated in UK in August, 2013. Ineos Group also acquired a powerplant from Fortum in Grangemouth, UK in October, 2014 for GBP54 million. BP Aromatics Ltd is a UK-based subsidiary of BP Plc engaged in manufacture of purified terephthalic acid, acetic acid and olefins and derivatives that are derived from crude oil or natural gas. The company opened a brand-new bioethanol plant in Hull, UK in July, 2013 that cost GBP350 million. BASF Plc is a UK-based subsidiary of BASF SE. The company operates under 6 business segments: chemicals, plastics, performance products, functional solutions, agricultural as well as oil and gas. The chemicals segment is further divided into inorganics, petrochemicals and intermediates divisions. in January, 2013 the company completed acquisition of Pronova BioPharma. In 2014, the company sold its styrolution divission to Ineos as well as began building ammonia plant in Texas, US together with Yara. Air Products Group Ltd is a multinational subsidiary of Air Products Chemicals Inc, which divides its busines into 4 divisions: gases, chemicals, equipment and services solutions. Air Products Group Ltd and Oman Oil Co have signed a joint venture that will provide full range of industrial gases in Oman in December, 2013. Croda International Plc is a multinational company engaged in manufacture of natural based speciality chemicals: consumer care which consists of global businesses in personal care, health care and crop care as well as Industrial Specialities which comprises home care, base oleochemicals, additives for polymers, polymers and coatings, lubricants and lubricant additives, and processed vegetable oils. The company has manufacturing facilities throughout the UK and mainland Europe, North and South America, India, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia and Japan. Croda has invested GBP12 million in April, 2013 in new manufacturing facility in East Yorkshire, UK for processing specialty acrylic-based polymers. The company acquired Sipo to boost its presence in emerging markets in September, 2013. PROSPECTS UK basic chemicals industry is matured. It is expected to grow at CAGR of 0.7% during 2013-2019. The growth will be strongest in bases, gases and other inorganics of 2.5% CAGR during same period. The growth will be hold back by increasing overproduction in world market. Prices of most basic chemicals will continue to be on decline in 2014. It is expected that the price of inorganic and organic chemicals will continue to decline in UK by up to 10% due to sluggish demand in EU and increasing oversupply globally in 2014. Meanwhile, organic chemicals prices should decline by up to 4% in France in 2014 as production continues to increase in N. America with further rapid decline in 2015 as oil and gas prices collapse. Shale gas revolution in US is causing a major headache for UK basic chemicals producers as UK manufacturers have to pay up to 3 times more for gas than US producers. Consequently, producers in N. America are increasing production capacity and might further pressure prices of hydrocarbon-based chemicals down. UK shale gas reserves are estimated between 2.8 and 39.9 trillion cubic metres. Though it remains unclear how much of it is technical extractable. Exploration of shale gas and its extraction is a slow-going process in UK but if successful it could give a boost to basic chemicals market Electricity price most likely will continue to rise as demand of investment increases. Currently, the generation capacities and grid is outdated and a third of power plants are projected to be shut down by 2015. Consequently, investments and price of wholesale electricity should increase deteriorating UK industry’s competitiveness. Recent events in Ukraine and Russia pose little threat to supply of gases in UK as 73% of it is supplied by domestic production and Norway. Qatar supplies another 12% and only 15% of gas that is supplied by Belgium and Netherlands might be redirected from Russia. Though price issue remains if supply struggles in continental Europe, prices of gas might increase. However, supply issues in continental Europe could boost basic chemicals export from UK as producers in other countries might have to cut production. Tightening REACH regulation creates barriers of imports of mostly specialty chemicals as extensive and costly research is required before chemicals are approved by ECA for trade and use in EU. As EU companies tend to have higher market share they gain competitive advantage in distributing their overhead costs in comparison to non-EU producers.