Fast Food Business Plan

My business plan is to open a franchise of little Caesars in Jackson Heights, Queens NY. First let’s look at the fast food industry as a whole. History of the industry The concept of fast food is inspired by ancient Rome, in which bread and wine were sold in street-side stalls. In early 20th century In the United States, fast food history is associated with the introduction of drive-in restaurants. Since then, US industry of fast food has come a long way to become the largest fast food industry in the world. One of the pioneers of this field is White Castle, was founded in Kansas, in 1921, one of the major names when it comes to the American fast food sector. In 1930's, the American fast food industry achieved yet another milestone – when Howard Johnson's introduced the concept of franchising restaurants in the United States. NAICS Code and industry Description According to NAICS Fast food restaurant 722211, â€Å"The restaurant industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services (except snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating. Food and drink may be consumed on premises, taken out, or delivered to the customer’s location. Some establishments in this industry may provide these food services in combination with selling alcoholic beverages†. (Census) Growth of Industry Since 1982, consumers starting spent more on fast food as compare to table service restaurant, according to figures this annual growth rate turns into 6. 8% as compare to 4. 7% growth rate through 1997. This amount increased from 29. 3 to 34. 2 % between 1982 and 1997, while the restaurant proportion decreased from 41 to 35. 7 percent. As per a research of â€Å"US Fast Food Market Outlook 2010†, despite the growing concerns such as rising health consciousness and increasing incidences of obesity in the US population the US fast food industry has been witnessing impressive growth for the past few years. This research shows that during the economic down fall it was the only industry that benefited as people have changed their food habits from spending more money on dinning outside at restaurants to fast food products. It was expected that the fast food market will grow at a CAGR of around 5% during 2009-2011. . (Mark) According to the restaurant association in 2010 sales of restaurant industry are $580 billion; these restaurants are located over 945,000 locations, having 12. 7 million employees (one of the largest private-sector employers) across United States of America. Here are some more facts about restaurant industry: * $1. 6 billion: Restaurant-industry sales on a typical day in 2010. * $2,698: Average household expenditure for food away from home in 2008. * 40 percent of adults agree that purchasing meals from restaurants and take-out and delivery places makes them more productive in their day-to-day life. 73 percent of adults say they try to eat healthier now at restaurants than they did two years ago. * 57 percent of adults say they are likely to make a restaurant choice based on how much a restaurant supports charitable activities and the local community. * 78 percent of adults say they would like to receive restaurant gift cards or certificates on gift occasions. * 52 percent of adults say they would be more likely to patronize a restaurant if it offered a customer loyalty and reward program. 57 percent of adults say they are likely to make a restaurant choice based on how much a restaurant supports charitable activities and the local community. * 56 percent of adults say they are more likely to visit a restaurant that offers food grown or raised in an organic or environmentally friendly way. * 78 percent of adults agree that going out to a restaurant with family or friends gives them an opportunity to socialize and is a better way to make use of their leisure time than cooking and cleaning up. National restaurant association-1) In New York restaurant industry is a major source of power in the state’s economy. This industry has key contribution to tax revenues. Restaurant industry is providing jobs to thousands of people; it is becoming an emerging career option to people. They are giving the people nutritious and healthy Manu options to their customers. Re staurant industry is dedicated to protect their environment in these 4 areas, and to reduce their impact on the environment in four key areas: * profitability and entrepreneurship, * jobs and careers, * food and healthy living, and sustainability and social responsibility According to the restaurant association â€Å"New York alone has more than 38,596 eating and drinking places, with a projection to register $ 29 billion sales in 2010. In New York in restaurant industry there are 673,800 employments. Here are some more important facts that contribute in the restaurant industry in state’s economy: * New York’s restaurants generate an additional $. 98 in sales for the state economy against every $1. * In New York’s eating and drinking places generates an additional 23. 4 jobs in state against every extra $1 million. The restaurant job ratio of in New York is 8 percent of employment. * By 2020 this It is expected that this industry will be able to reach 10. 4% jo b growth. (National restaurant association-2) According to Construction Forecasts News & Analysis One of the major factors of fast food industry’s popularity is that they offer low and affordable prices with lots of other benefits together, despite the fact that this industry like other industries of world is face up to lots of problems one like rising prices of energy and food. However it is not been completely overcome the price hike issue. At the same time the hazards of fast food are now becoming well known and add to it another major threat to fast food industry is the increase of the number of good dinners. From the past year’s experience it is expected from the fast food industry to charge a bit more from the full service restaurant as the customer focuses on the dinners special and values. According to FDA figures â€Å"Quick service restaurants are projected to post sales of $164. 8 billion in 2010, a gain of 3. 0 percent over 2009. Sales at full-service restaurants are projected to reach $184. 2 billion in 2010, an increase of 1. 2 percent in current dollars over 2009† †. It is been expected from the eating-and-drinking place segment increase by 4. 5% to show the strongest growth in 2010. This is expected from fast food industry among all commercial industry segments that the strongest growth is in retail-host restaurants with a 4. 9 percent sales increase (this segment includes the food places located in gas/service stations and drug and grocery stores). (FDA-1) A big highlight of fast food industry is the availability of meals that meet a person’s requirements. This gives a sigh of relief to those parents or partners who have to travel between work and home for a big part of the day. With a lot of variety of delicacies like fish and chips, vegetarian and non-vegetarian burgers and pizzas are served with complimentary alcohol and carbonated drinks at many of these fast food restaurants. Though accessories like coleslaw, baked potatoes and mushy peas gives the solution to have vegetables in meals but the intake of fried food is making the new age child far from the balanced diet. There are lots and lots of varieties of fast food chains like Subway, Burger King, McDonald’s, Pret-a-Manger and Pizza Hut accommodate the demands for seafood, lean meat, special diet meal components, and other considerable regional variations. Experiments within the fast food industry had created new products like snacks such as sandwiches and baguettes. Fast food industry is also fulfilling the customer’s demand of dry of semi-dry meals which the customer can cook those meals in their own kitchen with less amount of time. Most fast food restaurants are now combining different style of food which is related to different cultures. This industry now flourishes on international appeal promoted by niche chains. At many outlets and drive-ins, the customers can see the food being prepared, so that they can be satisfy that the food they are going to have in that fast food restaurant is completely safe and made in hygienic conditions. Unvarying menus, special traded marks and a unique atmosphere can be observed at these take-away services and sit-ins all over the world. Eat-on-the-go is another unique style of fast food which just not removes the need for traditional cutlery, but also provides the choice to the customers to treat their foods in their own traditional or cultural style in their own selected atmosphere. The common menus include pitas, fried chicken, nuggets and tacos, served along with complimentary salads and breads. The fast food industry is now operating independent vendors. These venders have set standardized cooking, and production methods, and easy availability of low-cost delicacies. In 2009 because of the economic fall the restaurant industry also lost jobs. Regardless of the losses, the industry is still outperforming the national economy, and job growth is expected to resume in 2010. Still this industry remains one of the nation's largest private sector employers with its 12. million employees. By 2020, the industry is expected to employ 14 million more people with an increase of 1. 3 million jobs. Colorado is expected to post the strongest sales growth in 2010 at 2. 9 percent (2010 industry sales of $8. 7 billion), followed by Idaho at 2. 8 percent ($1. 6 billion). Forecasted to post growth of 2. 7 percent: New Jersey ($12. 8 billion), New York ($29. 0 billion), North Car olina ($12. 8 billion) and Texas ($34. 8 billion). The top states by restaurant sales volume in 2009 will be California at $58. 0 billion (2. percent growth); Texas at $34. 8 billion (2. 7 percent growth); New York at $29. 0 billion (2. 7 percent growth); Florida at $27. 6 billion (2. 4 percent growth); and Illinois at $18. 7 billion (1. 9 percent growth). In American from last few years people are been converted in to fast food choices . as in 1970, the Americans spent a total of $6 billion on fast food – the same am the same amount increased to $110 billion by 2000. According to the fast food industry statistics, this industry experienced an overall growth of 4. 8 percent in 2006 alone. Mark D) Even though, economically we are still in resection but expectations look quite positive from this industry. The following table looks at the forecast PE ratios of some of the company’s competitors: (Stock Market review) Market Share According to the stock market analysis the top players of this industry are McDonald’s, Yum! Brand, Wendy’s/Arby’s, Starbucks, Burger king, and Doctors Assoc/Subway, the following chart shows the market share of selected competitors: Company| Revenues (M)| Net Income (M)| Net Margin| Restaurants| Franchised %| McDonald's (MCD)| $22,745| $4,551| 20. %| 32,478| 81%| Yum! Brands (YUM)| $10,836| $1,083| 10. 0%| 37,000| | Starbuck’s (SBUX)| $9,775| $391| 4. 0%| 16,635| 47%| | | | | | | | | | | | | Wendy's International (WEN)| $3,581| $4| 0. 1%| 6,451| 80%| Burger King Holdings (BKC)| $2,537| $200| 7. 9%| 11,925| 88%| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Data from company FY 2009 annual reports (CKE data from FY annual, ended January 31, 2010). (Stock Market review-1) Although from the above figure it is very obvious that McDonald’s has a clear edge over all his competitors, but still this industry is the best example of perfect competition. In economic theory,  perfect competition  describes markets such that no participants are large enough to have the market power  to set the price of a homogeneous product. Because the conditions for perfect competition are strict, there are few if any perfectly competitive markets. Still, buyers and sellers in some auction-type markets say for commodities  or some financial assets may approximate the concept. Perfect competition serves as a benchmark against which to measure real-life and imperfectly competitive markets†. (Michael R. Baye) Profitability of the industry under perfect competition As I said fast food industry is an example of perfect competition market, so the question is how much control an individual company has to determine the price or decide the profit margin? To answer this question we need to look at the theoretical concept of economic, as per the economic concept; â€Å"In contrast to a monopoly  or oligopoly, it is impossible for a firm in perfect competition to earn economic profits  in the long run, which is to say that a firm cannot make any more money than is necessary to cover its economic costs. In order not to misinterpret this zero-long-run-profits thesis, it must be remembered that the term ‘profit' is also used in other ways. Neoclassical theory defines profit as what is left of revenue after all costs have been subtracted, including normal interest on capital plus the normal excess over it required to cover risk, and normal salary for managerial activity. Classical economist’s on the contrary defined profit as what is left after subtracting costs except interest and risk coverage; thus, if one leaves aside risk coverage for simplicity, the neoclassical zero-long-run-profit thesis would be re-expressed in classical parlance as profits coinciding with interest in the long period, i. e. the rate of profit tending to coincide with the rate of interest. Profits in the classical meaning do not tend to disappear in the long period but tend to normal profit. With this terminology, if a firm is earning abnormal profit in the short term, this will act as a trigger for other firms to enter the market. As other firms enter the market the market supply curve will shift out causing prices to fall. Existing firms will react to this lower price by adjusting their capital stock downward. This adjustment will cause their marginal cost to shift to the left causing the market supply curve to shift inward. However, the net effect of entry by new firms and adjustment by existing firms will be to shift the supply curve outward. The market price will be driven down until all firms are earning normal profit only†. (Michael R. Baye-1) It is important to note that perfect competition is a sufficient condition for allocate and productive efficiency, but it is not a necessary condition. In perfect competition if a company want to control price in the market it is important for the company to get involve in some kind of merger activities which give the company some extra powers over pricing a good example of such an activity is to bound the suppliers in some kind of contracts and restricting then to supply their products to your competitors. As we have seen this industry is growing with every passing year, so let’s discuss some of the marketing plan for the business in general the marketing plan for Little Caesars Pizza analyzes the company’s present state, the environment in which the company is competing in, and projections for the upcoming year. As a new location for the current franchise owners in a severely competitive market, many solutions will be offered to help Little Caesars Pizza advance in its market share locally here in Jackson Heights, Queens NY. We will build on the main corporate vision of Little Caesars Pizza, which is â€Å"To be the best take-home pizza chain by exceeding customer expectations with extraordinary value, great tasting products, and outstanding people while providing strong returns to our stakeholders† (â€Å"Little Caesars Pizza – Franchise Opportunities: About Us† 2011). A set of goals have been organized, all of which will contribute to the success of this franchise location in the upcoming years. We analyze its strengths and weaknesses that this particular Little Caesars Pizza is facing in its current atmosphere. The strengths including quality customer service through family owned franchises, constantly expanding into new markets and quality products are essential to it and must continually be emphasized throughout the organization. Other opportunities are laid out that must be taken advantage of for growth to occur. After analyzing and averaging data of current operations we have calculated projected gross sales to be around $382,225. 00. Expenses and taxes would be taken from this to reach a net income for the year. The organizational structure of the Little Caesars Enterprises is quite structured. The family oriented atmosphere that it continues to impose in its franchises help develop a more personable relationship with its customers and develop a strong and healthy work environment. Little Caesars is an industry leader and will continue to grow in its current operations. Strategic Plan/ Focus The following portion demonstrates four aspects of Little Caesars Pizza’s business strategy influencing in our marketing plan. (1) The mission/vision, (2) goals, (3) core competence/sustainable competitive advantage, and (4) Corporate Philosophy of Little Caesars Pizza. 1 – Mission/Vision The mission of Little Caesars Pizza is, as described on the corporate web-site: â€Å"To be the best take-home pizza chain by exceeding customer expectations with extraordinary value, great tasting products, and outstanding people while providing strong returns to our stakeholders† (â€Å"Little Caesars Pizza – Franchise Opportunities: About Us† 2006). The Radford Manager agrees that they follow the corporate mission statement and use it as a model in day to day operations. 2 – Goals Little Caesars Pizza maintains a strong focus on value, great tasting pizza, and convenience. †¢ Financial Goals To make enough profit to exceed the initial start-up cost of the franchise. * To minimize expenses while still offering premium ingredients and customer service. * To increase sales by 10% from the first year of operation through promotion and customer service. †¢ Non-Financial Goals * To uphold the corporate mission/vision. * To obtain a good reputation m ainly from the student population as getting their money’s worth and holding a good customer relationship while maintaining outstanding customer service. * To create and maintain a happy and healthy work environment – Core Competencies and Sustainable Competitive Advantage When discussing Little Caesars Pizza’s core competency, there are two main objectives it seeks to achieve: (1) Supply convenient high-quality, competitively priced, pizza to the community’s population. (2) To deliver the pizza products in a timely manner with exceptional customer service. To transform these core competencies into a sustainable competitive advantage, Little Caesars will maintain quality relationships with its suppliers while continuing to emphasize customer service to employees. – Corporate Philosophy At the heart of Little Caesars Pizza’s philosophy is a profound commitment to give back to the communities that sustain its business. Little Caesars Pizza and its franchisees are devoted to numerous organizations throughout the United States. One of the most significant programs Little Caesars has founded is a nationally recognized program called the Love Kitchen, a pizza restaurant on wheels, and was established in 1985 by Little Caesars founders to feed the homeless and hungry in the United States and Canada. Since its start, the Love Kitchen has fed more than 1. 5 million people in need. In addition to visiting soup kitchens and homeless shelters, the Love Kitchen also responds to disasters, including the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast area, the site of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995. The Little Caesars Love Kitchen has received presidential declaration from the Reagan, Bush and Clinton Administrations, as well as a certificate of appreciation from the State of Michigan. Its franchisees support the Love Kitchen by providing food and labor for servings in their markets. There are no fees associated with the Love Kitchen for the driver, the vehicle, or fuel. Franchisees find it very rewarding to support the Love Kitchen in their communities. (â€Å"Little Caesars Pizza – Franchise Opportunities: Philosophy†, 2011) Target Markets The primary target market for Little Caesars Pizza is middle and low income families who desire to pay a low amount of money for a large portion of food to feed their family members. The secondary market consists of students who have little or no income and rely on part-time jobs or money from elsewhere to fund their food budget. Points of Difference The â€Å"points of difference† that differentiates the company from its competitors fall into three important areas: †¢ Superior Ingredients. Little Caesars uses superior ingredients and offers a variety of foods which includes sandwiches and side items. Compared to other pizza places that only focuses on one product which is pizza. †¢ Family Owned Environment. The owners of the Little Caesars Pizza value customer service and satisfaction and emphasize this to its employees. †¢ Affordability. The fast food industry provides a variety of cheap menu items which makes it affordable to many people. Positioning In the past, pizza products have been either fast but lacked quality or focused on quality but was time consuming, but not both. Little Caesars Pizza combines these two desirable characteristics to obtain a positioning in consumers’ minds as fast and high quality pizza, which allows customers to order them fresh out of the oven and tasty (Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. 2011). Marketing Program The four marketing elements that are used by Little Caesars are explained in detail below. The promotion strategy is the most evident with the Hot-N-Ready deal that it offer. Product Strategy Little Caesars is known for its pepperoni and cheese pizzas being readily available whenever you want. It also offer different crust styles, bread products, wings, sandwiches, and salads. Little Caesars emphasizes its use of only the finest ingredients to serve the highest quality products to its customers that are expecting more for their money. Product Line Online menu: Original Round Pizza-(12†, 14†, 16†,* 18†*) Deep Dish Pizza-(medium or large) Pizza by the Slice-(cheese or pepperoni) Baby PAN! PAN! -(two individual-sized deep dish pizzas w/ cheese and pepperoni) Crazy Bread-(8 sticks, topped with butter, garlic, and Parmesan cheese) Crazy Sauce-(Little Caesars exclusive tomato sauce) Italian Cheese Bread-(bread covered with melted cheese topped w/ Italian spices) Caesar Wings-(Hot, medium, or mild chick wings: 5, 10, 20, 30 pieces) Caesar Sandwiches*-(Italian, Ham and Cheese, Tuna) Salads-(Greek, Tossed, ; Antipasto w/ choice of dressing: individual ; family) Toppings: extra cheese, pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, beef topping, green pepper, onion, black olive, mushroom, bacon, pineapple, banana pepper rings, tomato, and anchovies Typical Menu: Cheese only 1st pizza 2nd pizza Toppings 12† medium $7. 49 $6. 00 $0. 75 each 14† large $9. 49 $7. 00 $1. 00 each 16† x-large $11. 49 $8. 00 $1. 25 each Specialty Pizzas: Meat sauce, Veggie, Supreme, Pepperoni 1st pizza 2nd pizza 12† Medium $9. 49 $6. 00 14† Large $12. 49 $7. 00 16† X-Large $15. 49 $8. 00 Stuffed Crust: additional $2. 0 for any size pizza (Mozzarella Stuffed Crust) Additional Items: Wings (BBQ, Italian, Hot) $0. 40/each Crazy Bread and Sauce $2. 49 Slices (Pepperoni or Cheese) $1. 59 Soft Drinks (20 oz / 2-Ltr) $1. 09/ $1. 99 Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dasani Unique Product Quality. Mentioned earlier, Little Caesars uses the best ingredients to serve its customers the h ighest quality products. The dough that it uses is always fresh which uses flour that is specially milled every day. Its special blends of cheeses are never frozen and it also uses the vine-ripened tomatoes to make the sauce, along with Little Caesars’ secret blend of spices. Packaging. Little Caesars uses its boxes to advertise its number one promotion. The pizza boxes are covered with the Hot-N-Ready logo. You can also find a few coupons on the box to be cut out and used. This helps bring its customers back by reminding them of the great deals Little Caesars’ offer every time its customer goes back for another piece of pizza. Price Strategy Affordability is Little Caesars number one price strategy. Its most recognized price strategy, as mentioned before, is the Hot-N-Ready pizzas for five dollars. This is its main price strategy however it also offers deals on the second pizza that you order at a set price. Little Caesars tries to make its food more desirable through price creating the attitude that you can get more for your money with convenience and great taste. Promotion Strategy The promotion strategy that Little Caesars has is primarily the Hot-N-Ready pizzas for five dollars. By having the Hot-N-Ready offer, it attracts many families that need a sufficient meal quick and cheap. Instead of delivering these pizzas, Little Caesars wants to make its customers experience a more personal approach by having its customers pick up their pizzas. This helps the customers build a relationship with Little Caesars and keeps them coming back for more, which other companies lack by using the delivery service. This company does a great thing for families; with pizza being such a hot commodity these days, it is offering great convenience for little money (Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. , 2011). Little Caesars also has certain promotions like Family Fun Pack, where Hasbro has combined with Little Caesars to have a drawing for four Hasbro games and one Family Pizza Party. It also offers sports deals for the sports fans. Little Caesars focuses on cheap and convenient food and achieve this with all its promotions. Little Caesars expectation of growth comes from its strategic planning and development. These strategies will be shown in the opening of more franchises and the spreading of its innovative promotional tactics; most recently the Hot-N-Ready slogan. This slogan is meant to aim towards value-oriented markets and focus on the quality of the Little Caesars product. Implementing these strategies of quality, freshness, and including price; with their $5 pizza deal, will help the company increase revenues, broaden its market, and grow as a company. The local Little Caesars in Radford should focus on implementing more advertising and low-cost student discounts. As the only advertising they do now is done all by corporate as part of the franchise, no additional campaign is done on the owners’ behalf. Also it should consider the delivery option due to the main target market locally is students, due to the lack of ability of and/or willingness of students to pick-up their own pizza. This poses a big problem with the local Little Caesars because competitors like Highlander’s and Mike’s Pizza are providing a good product with convenience of free delivery. Marketing on Campus with flyers and coupons should be a focus as well as to obtain recognition of the students. Most students do not go through catalogs or look online for food deals; they simply use what is given to them and what they know. Work cited Census: U. S. Census Bureau code and description of industry 2007, retrieved on 03-30-2011 http://www. census. gov/cgi-bin+/sssd/naics/naicsrch FDA-1: According to FDA figures â€Å"Quick service restaurants are projected to post sales of $164. 8 billion in 2010, a gain of 3. 0 percent over 2009. Retrieved on 03-31-2011 from http://www. da. gov/food/ FDA-2: According to the FD;C Act is protected through episodic unannounced inspections of facilities and products, educational activities, analysis of samples, and legal proceedings. Retrieved on 03-31-2011 from http://www. fda. gov/food/ FDA-3: According to FD;C local governments inspect restaurants, fast food spots and similar outlets, U. S. State and Local Governments is doing an impor tant role in these federal efforts, state and local governments are extremely active in the food inspection. Retrieved on 03-31-2011from http://www. fda. gov/food/ FDA-4: According to FDA Trend Analysis Report on the Occurrence of Food borne Illness Risk Factors in Selected Institutional Foodservice, Restaurant, and Retail Food Store Facility Types (1998-2008). Data items Showing Statistically Significant Improvement in fast food industry. Retrieved on 03-31-2011 http://www. fda. gov/food/labelingnutrition/default. htm FDA-5: According to FDA Trend Analysis Report on the Occurrence of Food borne Illness Risk Factors in Selected Institutional Foodservice, Restaurant, and Retail Food Store Facility Types (1998-2008). Percentage of observations found in compliance for each risk factor. Retrieved on 03-31-2011 http://www. fda. gov/food/labelingnutrition/default. htm Hoover: According to construction forecasts, take information from Hoovers Retrieved on 04-02-2011, from www. hoovers. com Hoover-1: According to construction forecasts, take information from Hoovers Retrieved on 04-02-2011, from www. hoovers. com Mark: According to Causes and Consequences of Fast Food Sales Growth written by Mark D. Jekanowski, Retrieved on 03-15-2011 www. econ. ag. gov Mark D: According to Causes and Consequences of Fast Food Sales Growth written by Mark D. Jekanowski, retrieved on 03-15-2011 www. con. ag. gov Michael R. Baye: According to Managerial Economics and the Business Strategy 7e, Retrieved on 04-02-2011. Michael R. Baye-1: According to Managerial Economics and the Business Strategy 7e, Retrieved on 04-02-2011. National restaurant association-1: According to the restaurant association in 2010 sales of restaurant industry are $580 billion; these restaurants are located over 945 ,000 locations, having 12. 7 million employees (one of the largest private-sector employers) across United States of America. Retrieved on 03-28-2011 from http://www. restaurant. rg National restaurant association-2: According to the restaurant association â€Å"New York alone has more than 38,596 eating and drinking places, with a projection to register $ 29 billion sales in 2010. Retrieved on03-28-2011 from http://www. restaurant. org/pdfs/research/state/newyork. pdf Stock Market review: According to the stock market analysis, the forecast of future growth rate of top companies in the industry. Retrieved on 04-05-2011 from http://www. stockmarketsreview. com/recommendations/mcdonalds_report_20101115_59520/ Stock Market review-1: According to the stock market analysis, the market share of top companies in the industry. Retrieved on 04-05-2011 from http://www. stockmarketsreview. com/recommendations/mcdonalds_report_20101115_59520/ Franchising. Com: http://www. franchising. com/littlecaesarspizza/? p=press;id=165 Hoovers: http://www. hoovers. com/free/co/factsheet. xhtml? COID=59853;cm_ven=PAID;c m_cat=BUS;cm_pla=CO1;cm_ite=Ilitch_Holdings Little Caesars Pizza – Franchise Opportunities: About Us. 2011: http://franchise. littlecaesars. com/STEP1Research/MissionStatement/tabid/60/Defaul t. aspx.

By the Way and Mother

It is often said that life is about dreaming, and hoping and learning. As a child, I dreamed of only one thing – to be successful in everything- to be successful in everything I do to make everyone proud of me, especially my mother. But later I realized that I, just like most children, do not have to do anything to win my mother’s heart. Back in 70’s my father was diagnosed with lung cancer resulting in a very difficult, prolonged treatment that did not save him, after all.This was a cruel blow to our family, especially to my mother who has understandably at a loss, left with nine children to raise all by herself. She was young at 39 when she was widowed but she never entertained the thought of marrying again because she wanted to give her children her undivided attention. Now we are professionals in our own field but we know we can never repay our mother’s for all that she has done for us to be where we are now.Words will never be enough to honor a hero l ike my mother whose silent, endearing ways have given us the best of life, peace, joy, love and the security of knowing that even if we should fall in any way at any time again and again, she would always be by our side to be what she has always been to us- our certainty is the most uncertain times; the true hero who knows how to live her life to the fullest by doing the supreme sacrifice of living for her children. Even now at 68, she still amazes me by the way she manages the great and minute details of motherhood.Whenever I feel some doubts about my worth before God, I only have to think of how worthy I am to my mother according to the way she accepts me even if I had done something wrong. Yes, through my mother I know there is God. Thank you mama- for being all too human. You have led us to discovering that which is divine! And as a true hero you have freed us from the tyranny of ignorance by educating us beyond the corners of a formal school, for even in the comfort in our home you have always served as the light of our lives.

Japan Civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Japan Civilization - Essay Example rpretation of culture and history, the Tokugawa period was unique with regards to the way in which Edo-art, theater developed, and government sponsored and supported arts flourished during this time. Firstly, with regards to art during this particular period, it is something of a deviation from traditional Japanese art; yet, at the same time, it was a movement that sought to re-integrate an understanding and appreciation for the most traditional aspects of Japanese culture. Whereas the arts were not officially supported by the government prior to this period, the Tokugawa period saw a time in Japanese history in which landholders were the ones that were ultimately the pinnacle of society. Within such an interpretation, these landholders had to shoulder the majority of the tax burden. As such, once these taxes were received by the government, artists were supported, at least in small part by the proceeds of these taxes. In such a way, it comes as little surprise that the portraits and etchings that they engaged invariably were concentric upon the subject matter of harvesting, planting, and the manual labor that is oftentimes evidenced in fields or on farms. As a result of the growth of wealth derived from a thriving merchant culture, a desire for amusement was born within Tokugawa society. One of the most prominent outgrowths of this desire for amusement is with regards to the theater that came to such a level of prominence during this period of Japanese history known as the Kabuki (Nenzy 12). Within this theater, lavish displays of passion, costumes, and intrigue were represented directly to a new class of people who had grown as a direct result of the policies and constraints that the shogun had encouraged by the development and evolution of this â€Å"new† society. Many have argued that no other aspect of culture represents the Tokugawa era better than the Edo woodblock images that were churned out in such volume during these times. These images would,

Perspectives on International Trade and Finance Assignment - 1

Perspectives on International Trade and Finance - Assignment Example Examples of countries that Nike Inc. imports the products from include those in parts of Asia and Taiwan. These products are imported to the United States after which further processing is carried out before exporting them to international markets. These processes involve strategies and marketing processes worth researching. This paper discuses import and export strategies of Nike Inc. that has made it successful in its business gaining fame as a leading multinational company in the world. Table of Contents Executive summary 2 Introduction 4 Import and export strategies 4 Labor specialization 5 Global competitive rivalry 5 Diversification of operating risks 5 Trademarks and patents 6 Product’s Market Potential 6 Brand image and reputation 7 Consumer preference in receiving country 7 Technical innovation 8 Evaluation, promotion and product authenticity with consumers 8 Compliance to the code of demeanor, native laws and ethics 9 Concentration of retail market share 9 Tax laws a nd unexpected Tax liabilities 9 Conclusion 10 Perspectives on international trade and finance Introduction International trade consists of exporting and imports. ... This paper mainly borrows the ideas of import and export strategies form Nike Inc. of the United States of America. Import and export strategies Domestic producers in a foreign country produce goods for export. The export of these goods normally involves permission from custom authorities in the producing country as well as the consuming country. There are many import and export strategies having differing level of risks and legal requirements. In order to get an insight into these strategies it is worthwhile discussing import and export processes. Import processes are of two types. These include: Trade and consumer goods and services Intermediate services and goods that form part of the consumer’s source chain. There exist three categories of importers: Those who seek for a product to import then later sell the same product. Importers who source for products at cheaper prices â€Å"Importers using external sourcing as part of their supply chain† (Zampetti, 2006). Labor specialization It is worth noting that importing products has advantages such as labor specialization which makes export to and import from countries efficient than manufacturing all products within a country. â€Å"A good example is Nike Inc. that buys shoes form foreign companies in Asia, Taiwan, Korea and China† (United States, 2007). Nike Inc. does so because companies in the aforementioned countries have the ability to manufacture shoes that are of high quality at low cost than they can do as Nike Inc. Global competitive rivalry Companies all over the world always compete for market superiority. â€Å"This competition spurs companies and industries to import goods of higher quality at a lower cost for purposes of

The Education of John Dewey - a biography by Jay Martin Essay

The Education of John Dewey - a biography by Jay Martin - Essay Example John Dewey was considered as one of the most ten important thinkers in the history of the country of America. This was of the many instances of popularity he achieved during his lifetime from his birth in the year 1859 till his death in 1952. The short hand word of Pragmatism identified his line of thinking conventionally. The body of thought as prescribed by the prominent thinker has been identified as one of the distinctive philosophy of the American society that had been ruling the philosophy of the country for the last fifty years. The work he had done for the education system of the society has still been famous and influential in recent period in the eve of the changing world and has been considerably famous for the worldwide system of education. According to him education is the immediate necessity of life. The ascendance of multiculturalism and that of independent thinking of individuals in the American pedagogy of the contemporary period was anticipated in the educational wo rks that had been done by him in his lifetime. In the emerging democracies of the present world The University of Chicago Laboratory School that have been founded by him in the year 1896 has been a model for the schools and also in entire world of schools. John Dewey had well established himself as one of the eminent reformers of the education system of the country.... The movement of progressive education emphasized on attacking the established education system of the country from both inside and outside the establishment. However, according to some critics of the education philosophy of John Dewey, the philosophy had racial assumptions underlying it. The famous child centered education philosophy of John Dewey holds true for the American as well as the European American students but not for the African Americans. Apart from this criticism the educational thoughts propagated by him had been truly helpful for education of every society of the country. There was a need of continuous interaction of the classroom education of an individual along with experience of his real life. There is the need of students in continuously learning the use of the past experience of the individual along with the present one for the attainment of decisions intelligent enough in the future. Education of the individual is defined as the only process in achieving so. Acco rding to John Dewey harmonization of individuals with the people of the society, which is involved in the growth of the mental power of individuals, is the ultimate meaning of education. A democratic society in the country could only be evolved with the achievement of education with respect to the intelligence capacity of each individual of the society along with his or her own uniqueness. Dewey perceived democracy as a ‘â€Å"way of life† founded on a working belief in the possibilities of human nature and in the capacity of humans for â€Å"intelligent judgment and action† (Martin 438). He addressed the League for Industrial Democracy in 1931 and suggested the ban of Japanese commodities unless they receded their forces from the borders

Survey Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Survey - Research Paper Example g to the survey, more than half of the respondents applauded the efforts made by the service provider as a step in the right direction especially for the young population, who constitute the largest bulk of the fast food clients. Among the sample of four hundred students, a hundred were optimistic that the proposed small sustainable lifestyle changes would indeed go a long way in improving their general wellness and fitness. One of the key determinants of the success of a program is gathering the right information. Out of those surveyed, at least fifty of them reported that they had no concrete information on the program and how it would affect their fitness and health. Great hindrance to the same being lack of interest on matters health, the general stereotype as pertain fast foods. Diet plays an important role in fitness and health, and the need for a well-balanced nutrition is key. Service providers such as KCAL’s with calorie-controlled, refreshingly wholesome tasty and affordable fast foods have made this possible. There was an admission by the majority of not having the right information pertaining the right components of the various foods.There was an admission by at least a hundred out those surveyed that the first key consideration was cost, rather than the nutrition component. The high demand for fast and tasty foods among the young population is a great attraction for most of the respondents, with at least half of the population admitting to the same. The efforts to provide rich flavors,tantalizing tastes and health promoting nutrients dishes by KCAL was a reason for most admitting that they would seek to try out the program and that it would actually help them achieve their envisioned goal of a better

Law Course Work - Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law Course Work - Case Study - Essay Example cedures agreements and other alternative methods of resolving disputes about employment rights; to provide for the adjustment of awards of compensation for unfair dismissal in cases where no use is made of internal procedures for appealing against dismissal; to make provision about cases involving both unfair dismissal and disability discrimination; and for connected purposes,† (Crown Copyright. 1998). In Emily Worth’s case, a meeting was set on 17 July 2006, of which Worth was informed about in July 16, 2006. She was later handed a letter hours prior to the meeting signed by Head Teacher Pat Butcher alleging charges against Emily of â€Å"Abandoning your class, swearing and using abusive language, [and] †refusal to co-operate with the legitimate management decisions of the Head Teacher and behaving in an unreasonable and unprofessional manner.† The letter also stated that the alleged offences were if proven would amount to gross misconduct. In fact, gross misconduct which may merit instant dismissal requires acts such as failure to comply with reasonable and lawful instructions, theft, sale or consumption of alcohol, physical assault, breach of duty of confidentiality, sexual or racial harassment, fighting, and willful damage to an employers property, or attending work under the influence of prohibited drugs. The mentioned acts may not be exclusive but it has always been lawful that a proper investigation must be conducted of which the employees may also appeal. Emily’s case will have to be evaluated based on applicable law, rules and regulations and jurisprudence. In this matter, the disciplinary hearing has to prove that due process has been undertaken prior to dismissal of Emily Worth. There are two ways to show that a dismissal was not unfair, of which the employer or its representative must have a valid reason for dismissing an employee or that they have acted reasonably in the circumstances in that an adequate investigation must have been

Electronic health record (EHR) Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Electronic health record (EHR) - Coursework Example On a general scale, this type of recording system prompts direct access to key health information on the level that can be both personal and population-based. Such actions are solely executed by permitted health personnel as authorized users of the system. In whole, it is a significant provision of necessary data sets that supports the decision-making process for â€Å"quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care...(in) efficient processes for health care delivery† (Lehmann et al., 2006, p. 3). Broadly speaking, the system adapted in EHR serves as fundamental parameter in which health care team base the category of care to be provided, as past information are profound on how present health status should be approached in clinical settings. As EHR is an electronically run, it largely involves both hardware constructs and software applications. In particular, connections are managed through workstations of computer sets and servers for large database storage and application se ttings, which must be affiliated by a telecommunication services for further assistance inter-departmental network interactions within and outside the clinical zone (please see Figure 1 in Appendix A). As the hardware part of the infrastructure is presented through routers, PCs and related electronic devices, softwares are the application mechanics that run the programs needed in entering data information in computer equipments. To establish a valid link in all computer programs in different clinical departments, a â€Å"local area network (LAN)† must be installed in each computers, or â€Å"wide area networking (WAN)† in multiple site connections, uniting strategic users (billing/accounting, administrative and recording sectors) who require copies of basic and/or patient information (Walker, Bieber, & Richards, 2006). As the structural side of EHR have been explained, it is important to note that the internal flow of organization management is also a critical point in the success of the whole system. In Figure 2 (please see Appendix B) a sample of customized work flow of organization communication and function of both health care and IT teams involved in the system of electronic recording are presented. Basing from the diagram, one can surmise that the simple arrival of a clients for a check-up requires an extensive flow of functional work. In the absence of a systematized work flow structure, the whole organization may face delays as information storage and retrieval are backlogged by inappropriate system of recording. The large volume of data stored through EHR makes it an ideal system for promoting an intensive communication pattern that is both comprehensive and accurate in form. As unique identifiers, this type of system has been largely encouraged in first world countries due to its unique characteristics. It is an identification medium that can easily be accessed from internal and external data systems, efficiently discriminating between similar demographic information from potential receptors of health care (Cunningham, n.d.). The idea of storing bulk of information starting from birth to the dying moments is essential in order to trace how individuals maintain their well-being during their whole life. This is an epidemiological tool that inventively personalizes health services provided by one

Intercultural Communications Essay Example for Free

Intercultural Communications Essay My stepmother was born in Masan, the countryside of Korea, to a family of four daughters. My step-grandfather was a hard working man. He had a small taxi and truck business. My mother’s youth was during the recovering of the war. My mom has told me stories about growing up. She rarely got nice things unlike how a lot of Korean children now get today. However, she says growing up was not as hard as most kids during the time. â€Å"Korean kids have to learn how to respect their elders,† my mother states. â€Å"For example at the dinner table you do not start eating until the elders start.† She says that hitting kids was a common thing and teachers even hit their students who failed to do assignments and do their responsibilities. It is also part of Korean culture for the eldest son to take care of the parents. Back then; the parents would even live with the eldest son even after he has married. Today, it has changed a lot and most parents would rather live alone. Children are supposed to live at home with their parents until marriage. In the United States, it was not as strict. It was common for men to move out of their parents home at eighteen and start working or go to college. These days not all Koreans still follow the culture but still, many do. Back then, Korea was recovering from war and a lot of parents were focused on their children’s education. They would do anything for their education. So, kids would do nothing but study. â€Å"I would go to school at seven in the morning and not finish until ten at night. I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner at school,† my mom says. She studied a lot. Generally, Korea’s students study a lot more and harder than the average American. It was not until around high school years when her father made more money and became successful. My stepmom even paid for most of her college and travel expenses. She traveled to Australia to learn English and did a lot of missionary work all over the world years later. I think all of those years of studying hard paid off for her. I learned that my mom is very strict about certain things pertaining to me because of how she was raised. For Christmas, she received an orange. In today’s world, it is common for kids to go out to the mall and hang out with their friends and buy a few things. At least, that is how it is in America. My mom did not have that. In her view, kids are not really supposed to receive much money from their parents. The money should stay with the parents. I learned that the United States and Korea today share some culture similarities and some drastic differences. I feel that by learning more about cultures outside of your own one really opens up new ideas and different ways of thinking. By learning more about Korean culture over the years, I feel that I have become an a lot more open minded individual and it has made me a stronger today. Works Cited: Kim, Tara. Personal Interview. 1 Nov. 2011

Not Enough Drinking Water Essay Example for Free

Not Enough Drinking Water Essay Pop culture has recently become obsessed with trying to provide clean drinking water to those who do not have it. This is a pathetic issue to choose to fix. These poor people are a waste of space and need to learn how to fix their own problems instead of turning to the reach to fix them. Do you think the rich got rich by relying on other people? No. They found easy solutions to their difficult problems. People have wasted tons of money on giving these people clean water supplies when there are cheap solutions to get the job done. For one these people should just drink their own urine. It is full of vitamins and nutrients that at the time the body doesn’t need but will at a later date. It also would make an endless cycle and the people would always have a supply of it. Drinking urine would be almost completely free, all that would be needed would be some kind of bottle to collect and contain it in until it was needed again. With this solution every person would have their very own source of water and people would never have to fight over it or share supplies again. It would also teach people to become much more self-sufficient because they are supplying their own source of life. Another easy solution is to make the people of these very poor areas used to not having any water by contaminating the little supply they have and forcing them to become assimilated to their new way of life. This is a perfect example of natural selection, the most fit will survive and be able to reproduce while the rest will die off. This will cause future generations of people to be well adapted to having little water and let them live much longer. This would be completely cost free; the only thing that would need to be done is some mud will need to be thrown into the large sources of drinking water. Some people feel that giving these pathetic people drinking water or drilling wells will fix the problems but they won’t this will only make the problem worse by showing these people that they can always rely on other people. Giving them other ways to get safe water is a complete waste of time and money. The world needs to see this fact and ban together to follow cheaper easier and faster ways of helping these poor pathetic people.

Relationship Marketing in the UK Retail Sector

Relationship Marketing in the UK Retail Sector Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1. Overview Relationship marketing plays a significant role in the present market scenarios as it mainly illustrates the relationship among the customers and organizations. Relationship marketing is a form of marketing that evolved during 1970 and 1980s (Regis McKenna, 1991, p. 4). It mainly highlights the consumer satisfaction instead of focusing on sales transactions because these relationships will help the organizations in sustaining and supporting the technological edge of the company. According to Lisa A. Guion and Heather Kent (2005, p.1), Relationship marketing is the process of attracting, maintaining and enhancing relationships with key individuals over time. The marketer should act like an integrator where they must synthesize technological capability with the market needs and the marketer must be supposed to bring the customer into organizations. Customers mingle with the companies as participants for the adaptation and development of services and goods. So, the relationships are con sidered as the key point for the basis of customer choice and company adaption. Relationship marketing involves in using the one-on-one communication in earning the loyalty of customers (GUION, L. A., 2005). These relationships can be easily improved in the organizations if the marketing is part of everyones job description that is from receptionist to board of directors. This method integrates the customers in designing the products which in turn creates a substance in the relationship. Relationship marketing is the key point to be considered in the retail sector. Many of the countries have increased its growth due to retailing. Retailers interact with the final customer in a supply network, but they are both buyers and sellers of goods and services (Malcolm Sullivan and Dennis Adcock, 2002, p.3). Presently, there is a vast change in the retail industry and offers employment to more number of people. In these sector, retailer acts as a trader or dealer who sells the goods in small quantities. Retail sector will include various organizations related to different markets. Marketing in the retail sector can be improved only when there is a constant relationship between the customer and the organizations. Hence, it can be said that relationship marketing plays a vital role in marketing the goods in retail sectors. This marketing increase the growth of the retail sectors and further raises the market level of the country over the worldwide. In this thesis, the further sections include Literature review, Research methodology, Findings and Analysis, and Conclusions. In the Literature Review section it briefly describes about the retail marketing in UK, relationship marketing, approaches used for maintaining the relationship, types of markets and challenges that are faced by organizations. Research methodology section illustrates the approach that is selected for analyzing the relationship marketing in UK retail sector with the help of various case studies. Findings and analysis section discusses and analyzes the performance of maintaining the relationship marketing in various organizations. The last section draws the conclusions and recommendations. 1.2. Aims and Objectives Aim: To study relationship marketing in the UK Retail sector Objectives: To focus on retail and relationship marketing To identify the various approaches those are used by various sectors for maintaining the relationships between customers and organizations. Discuss the challenges that are faced in the retail sectors. To examine the experimental results of relationship marketing in different retail sectors. 1.3. Purpose of Study The main purpose of this research is to study the relationship marketing among the various retail sectors in UK. This report helps many of the organizations in analyzing the relationship marketing as it provides a clear idea on the retail sector and relationship marketing. Relationship marketing mainly focuses on the relationship among customers and organizations, rather concentrating on sales of goods. It will highlight the organization performance with respect to the relationship between industry and consumers. 1.4. Research Context The present research is done in relationship marketing as it consists of the customer service and improving the quality according to customers taste such that both the customers and organizations are profited in real drive. Relationship marketing is the secret of the successful business marketing (Jane F.Eastham, Liz Sharples and Stephen D.Ball, 2001). The research mainly focuses on the relationship of internal marketing, suppliers, requirements of the markets and there influences how they are co-related with each other (Helen Peck, Martin Christopher and Adrian Payne, 1999). Maintaining good relationship between quality and the services provided by retailers has influenced new customers which have increased the growth of sales such that most of the organizations earn more and more profits (Martin Christopher, Adrian Payne and David Ballantyne, 2002. The present research work will be beneficial for business people who will gain a better understanding regarding retail market and helpf ul for the organizations that implement relationship management in gaining profits (Bob Stone and Ron Jacobs, 2007). It may be useful for the organizations as it may directly affect people who are involved in generating new ideas. So, the relationships are considered as the key point for the basis of customer choice and company adaption. Relationship marketing involves in using the one-on-one communication in earning the loyalty of customers (GUION, L. A., 2005). These relationships can be easily improved in the organizations if the marketing is part of everyones job description that is from receptionist to board of directors. This research integrates the customers in designing the products which in turn creates a substance in the relationship. Relationship marketing is the key point to be considered in the retail sector. With the use of retailing most of the companies have improved their growth vigorously. 1.5. Research Method According to Grinnell (1993), the word research is a combination of two syllables namely, re and search. Therefore, the meaning of research work can be taken as examining a particular thing again and again for achieving a systematic and faultless investigation in some kind of field that has been undertaken. The methodology of research work will focus on identifying the hidden problems of some field, determining solution for them and positioning the resulted data for reaching the conclusions of the research work (Ranjit Kumar, 2005). Case studies are selected as a suitable research methodology for the present research and researcher has to work hard in collecting the required data from different resources along with its evidences. In this type of research method, the gathered data is huge and many technologies have to be used for analyzing and organizing the data so as to reach the goals of the research work (Bill Gillham, 2000). Research Area: Here the research area considered is UK retail marketing where it illustrates retail and relationship marketing, challenges that are faced in the retail sectors and gives experimental results of relationship marketing in different retail sectors. Selecting Cases: Selecting cases is the critical step for any organization. UK market is very large and it became difficult here to select suitable cases studies for this research. At last this research considered two UK market leading organizations for the case studies including McDonald and Debenhams. Identifications: This is the next step in research approach where the researchers need to identify the state of relationship marketing in considered organizations. Those identifications are given in the research methodology chapter of this research document. Analyzing and monitoring results: An analysis must be taken after making research on any organization. And analysis must be monitor to understand the identification in the considered organizations. This research illustrates the analysis results with different types of graphs that can be understood by any person. Recommendations: There are some recommendations given in the fifth chapter of this research documentation based on the research experience. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1. Overview Relationship Marketing is a marketing strategy that is developed from the direct response marketing campaigns that emphasizes customer retention and satisfaction rather than the major focus on point of sales transaction. It is a form of marketing the will recognize the long term values for the firm and focuses on acquisition of new clients by targeting the majority demographics based upon the prospective client lists. The main idea behind relationship marketing theory is the identification of key drivers which influences important outcomes for the firm and a better understanding of the fundamental relations between service providers and customers (Helen Peck, Martin Christopher and Adrian Payne, 1999). In the further sections of this chapter the retail marketing sector in UK is clearly discussed along with the relationship marketing in organizations with respect to six market frameworks. Creating and implementing the relationship marketing strategies and description of Relationship m arketing along with the applications is clearly explained followed by the discussion on types of markets by comparing and contrasting the various approaches followed in the organizations. 2.2 Retail Marketing Retailer is a dealer or trader who sells goods in small quantities or more. Retailing includes activities such as selling of products or goods and providing services to customers from a fixed location, which may be a departmental store or a boutique or by a mail in small or individual loads. Apart from these functionalities, retailing may also include services such as, delivery of products and goods. Retail Marketing is a process of buying and selling products or goods in the market. According to Philip J. Kitchen and Tony Proctor (2001) Retail marketing is mainly concerned with retail organization and it focuses on the application of marketing tools within its operating context. The retail marketing task is to deflect the customer in to the retail store and help to decide an appropriate compromise with regards store design, provision of services and customer desires (Malcolm Sullivan and Dennis Adcock, 2002). Retail marketing encompasses the activities involved in facilitating mutua lly beneficial exchange relationship between business organizations supplying goods and services and customers (Philip J. Kitchen and Tony Proctor, 2001, 264). Retailing marketing is a distribution channel function where one organization buys products from supplying firms or manufactures the product themselves, and then sells these directly to consumers (Retailing, 2009, p. 1). Retail marketing has its influence on the daily life of consumers and shopkeepers. Retailing is supported to provide utility to the customer and this comes from four different perspectives. These prospective can be explained as follows: Product utility This type of utility is about the form of a product that is acceptable to the customer. That is the retailer provides final end products, but not raw materials and products which are usable to customers. Place utility Retailing outlets will be available at places where the customers feel to be comfortable for their convenience (Malcolm Sullivan and Dennis Adcock, 2002). Time utility Retail outlets or shops are available at a time suitable to the customer. Ownership utility Retailers facilitate the transfer of ownership to customer depending upon the market situations (Malcolm Sullivan and Dennis Adcock, 2002). 2.2.1 Retail Marketing in UK Since the Second World War, UK has become a service company: that is, in terms of output and in terms of employment. Many of the existing features of UK retailing are well known to the general public who has observed substantial changes in shops. Retail marketing is a highly dynamic industry in UK and it reflects the changes in rest of the society. With customer require patterns are affected by changing demographics and changes in incomes, customer credit and growth in part-time labor. Customers are comparatively affluent, sophisticated and time-pressured and therefore demanding a service (Philip J. Kitchen and Tony Proctor, 2001). In 1970s, most of advertisers are the manufacturing companies, such as Currys and comet in electrical sector, supermarkets and high street banks. Now, the situation has changed and the retailers are maintaining close relationships with their customers. The change of influence has developed in 3 different ways and they can be given as follows: Firstly, most of the retail groups in UK have grown to equivalent or gone beyond the manufacturing organization in both capacity and size. Secondly, with the severe changes in retail marketing, the stores of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"own-label merchandise have increased. Most of the stores are offering high quality and excellent value products. Third one is the development the market information. With the new technology like scanning restocking issues, the retailer can plan ranges, layouts and promotional details very precisely (Malcolm Sullivan and Dennis Adcock, 2002). There is revival of price competition in 1990s, accompanied by a string service significance. And there has also been an increase in retailer diversification (e.g., high street fashion retailers moving into catalogue selling and grocers into non-food products). In spite of the increasing globalization of retailing, this is still usually the national environment, with its institutions, culture, and dictatorial framework. The UK retail market has experienced a dramatic re-shape in the year of 2004. This re-shape has been led by the achievement of Safeway supermarket chain by Morrisons, which has created the countrys fourth biggest retailer. The UK biggest retailers are Tesco and asda and next are the Sainsburys. With the achievement of the Safeway supermarket chain, Morrisons is in the fight for the third place with Sainsburys (Graduate Prospects, 2009). Over the next five years, the UK retail Market is in a position to increase its size by 15%, taking its value to just over  £312bn (Datamonitor, 2009). But this represents a slowing down of annual growth and with increase in cost of credit and operating costs; the UK retail sector faces challenging times. The companies will suffer who cannot compete against shrinking margins. Among the UK retail market sector, electrical sector is the best performer with a growth of 24 % (Datamonitor, 2009). Hence, from the above discussion it can be understood that the retail marketing is crucial to effectively communicate a business to its customers in order to sell the products, launch new products to the marketplace, and to capitalize on revenues and profits. 2.3 Relationship Marketing Relationship marketing is a process of attracting, enhancing and maintaining the relationships between the customers and managers in an organization. It mainly concentrates on increasing the life time value of customers and the strategies of relationship marketing mainly focus on the enhancement and development of relationships with a number of key marketings. Relationship marketing will maintain the internal marketing relationships as well as external marketing relationships with suppliers, customers, referral sources, employees and recruitment markets (Adrian Payne, Martin Christopher, Helen Peck and Moira Clark, 1998). According to GRONROOS, C. (1994, p.421), relationship marketing is defined as Marketing is to establish, maintain and enhance relationships with customers and other partners, at a profit, so that the objectives of the parties involved are met. This is achieved by a mutual exchange and fulfillment of promises. These relationships are of two types in the marketing fie ld. First one is for attracting the customers and another one is to develop the relationships with customers for achieving maximum profits in the organizations (GRONROOS, C., 1994). But, According to ZEITHAML, V. A. and BITNER, M. J. (2000, p.30), Relationship Marketing (RM) is defined as Relationship Marketing is a philosophy of doing business, a strategic orientation that focuses on keeping and improving current customers, rather than acquiring new customers. Hence, from the above discussion it can be understood that relationship marketing plays a vital role to develop the organization by maintaining the relationships between consumers, suppliers and managers. RM is communicated closely with customers in order to improve a beneficial, mutually, continuous and long-term relationship. RM is a philosophy where it assumes that customers are maintaining the relationships within a single organization rather than selecting the different organizations. It is a consistent application up-to -Date Knowledge of consumers to service and product design. Six markets framework in Relationship Marketing Relationship Marketing contains six marketing models for improving the relationships between customers and company. These markets maintain the relationship between many organizations as well as within the organization. The six marketing models are considered as the central point of Relationship Marketing and the importance of these models is discussed as follows: (Helen Peck, Martin Christopher and Adrian Payne, 1999). Internal Markets Internal marketing maintains the relationships between employees in the organization. It mainly concentrates on the issues like why and how the employees are working in the organization to improve the effectiveness of an organization. In internal marketing, business to business marketing information can be examined. Thus, observing the employee behavior in the organizations is necessary to estimate their performance and the examined information is useful for managers to take decisions. Customer Markets In this marketing, it maintains the relationship with customers. It supplies products and services to two types of customers. They are consumers like end purchasers and trade customers like retailers and their relative power is to determine which sort of relationships are cultivated more continuously (Helen Peck, Martin Christopher and Adrian Payne, 1999). Referral Marketing It develops a plan for referral motivation and can be characterized based on the type of relationship. If Referral market has high credibility factor, then it can be considered as a decisive element and it is considered as customers, if the consumers enter into this markets with formal and informal referral agreements between themselves and suppliers of corresponding services and products. Thus, the relationships in this market need to be fair, open and well defined in the areas (Helen Peck, Martin Christopher and Adrian Payne, 1999). Thus, from the above discussion it can be understood that planning is necessary to take the further actions within the organizations. Referral Marketing can prepare perfect plans in the organization. Recruitment Markets This is also called as Employee Markets. Employment is becoming a part of an organization. It is a market related task so that it maintains the relationship with educational institutions, labor unions and recruitment partners. From the above discussion it can be stated that Recruitment Marketing plays an important role in developing the organization. The performance of the company can be improved by recruiting the best employees. Influence Marketing It is closely linked with the decision-making department within the organization because it influences the relationships in the organizations internally as well as externally. This market consists of different types of sub markets like stockholders, government agencies and consumer associations (Soren Hougaard and Mogens Bjerre, 2003). Thus, it also considered as an important marketing model in the organization because well defined decisions are useful for the company to get more profits. Supplier Markets In recent years, improving the relationships with the suppliers is considered as a great deal in the organizations. Every organization need to maintain contain the relationship with suppliers because marketing system approach contains downstream as well as upstream activities. This approach matched with the developments within the Supply Chain Management (SCM). Supplier Markets deals with the supplier issues in the organization (Soren Hougaard and Mogens Bjerre, 2003). Hence, it is necessary to maintain the relationship with the customers to get the mutual benefits in the organization and every marketing business needs long term relationships to improve the performance of the markets. 2.4 Creating and implementing the relationship marketing strategies According to NORMANN, R. and RAMIREZ, R. Marketing strategies provide the intellectual frame work, conceptual models and governing ideas that allow company mangers to identify the opportunities for bringing value to the customers and for delivering that value at a profit (cited in Helen Peck, Martin Christopher and Adrian Payne, 1999, pp. 407). These strategies are helpful for a company to define its business and links together. Relationship marketing implies relationship between the customer and buyer. Traditional marketing approach is based on management of the so-called marketing mix and relationship marketing rather than management of the stakeholder domains. Marketing strategies and planning approaches are influenced in the retail business environment. The relationship marketing values emerge from customers and consumer values. These customer and consumer values are an impact of various elements like people, process and proactive (personalized) services. People are the essential part of a company and consumers are motivating and training the employees to attract the customers for selling their retail business shares. Customer satisfaction is very important in this interaction process. Processes are the way for creating values for the customer. The core processes of retail business include new product development processes, customer management process, supplier management process and order fulfillment process (Helen Peck, Martin Christopher and Adrian Payne, 1999). Now-a-days, most of the retail markets are developed based on the customer supported services. Customer services include relationships between the suppliers and customers. Thes e services affected on the development of the retail firms and their customers to face market competitors. Customer services are helpful for the retail organizations and thereby increasing the share value in market. The relationship marketing strategies are defined by the implementation methods. These implementation methods are based on the sub system to improve the organization processes and relationships (Alain Ferrand and Scott McCarthy, 2008). Hence these three elements of the marketing can affect the marketing success and these elements are helpful while building up the relationship strategies. Implementation of relationship strategies is based on delivering and creating a value in retail business. This implementation involves many strategies. The first one is relationships in multiple stockholders this issue illustrates two models in the retail business and the models are relationship value management frame work and service profit chain. These models are helpful in market domains for understanding the relationships between the consumer and customer. The second one is selecting an appropriate relationship marketing strategies for different customers. Third strategy is detail planning within the six market models. Finally organizations make use of this relationship management (Martin Christopher, Adrian Payne and David Ballantyne, 2002). Achieving more profits for a retailing company is not an easy task and needs good customer relationship management. Customer relationship is the most important aspect in every market strategy. Marketing relationships are the living things in all types of businesses. If the company maintains good market relationships with their customers then automatically profits are obtained. These profits are obtained in the following ways (William M. Pride and O. C. Ferrell, 2004). By attracting new customers. By enhancing the profits of the existed customer. By increasing the customer relationship. Implementing the market relationship means exchange of relationships between the consumer and customer. Maintaining good relationship with customers is the main goal of many retail marketers. To maintain these relationships for a long time retail marketers are turned into the market research and information technology (William M. Pride and O. C. Ferrell, 2004). To create marketing strategies Customer Relationship Management (CRM) focuses on the customer information. Managing these relationships need to identify the buying behavior and consumer behavior with the customer. CRM is mainly focused on developing the company relationship capabilities. To improve these capabilities customer management leader must contain good relationship qualities with the customers (Bryan Foss and Merlin Stone, 2001). Hence from the above discussion it can be stated that implementation of marketing strategies depends upon customer interactions because profits for an organizations can be obtained by maintai ning good customer relationships. 2.5 Description of Relationship marketing and its applications In relationship marketing organizations mainly concentrates on customer satisfaction. Relationship marketing has lot of applications towards organization and customers. Organizations can maintain a long relationship with the customers through relationship marketing. Maintaining long relationship with the customers will be a benefit for both customers and organizations (Rajeev Batra and David Shepard, 1999). For any organization, though profit is the main motive they should also concentrate on customer needs. If organizations concentrate on quality and needs of customer then they can get the profits easily (Jakki J. Mohr, Sanjit Senguptha and Stanley F. Slater, 2004). Some of the applications towards the organizations for maintaining good customer relationships: Increased purchase If organization maintains a good relationship with the customer then they tend to buy more products. Organizations must ensure that the customers should remain interested and engaged in purchasing the product (Christian, 2008). Lower costs Sometimes organizations may decrease the cost of the product for attracting the new user and to maintain the existing customers. This decrease of costs will be a great benefit to both the customers and organizations. Customers can buy their products for low costs as well as the organizations can attract more customers. Life time value Good and loyal customers can generate life time value of a product or organization. If loyal customers buy the products in same organization throughout his life time then organization will get profits continuously (Shajahan, S., 2004). Sustainability Maintaining long relationships with customers is a great benefit to the organization. Customer may stick to one particular organization for a long time if organizations have good relationships with their customers. Through these long relationships with the customers an organization can give a good competition to other organizations. Organizations can sustain in the competitive market with good customer relationship. Word of mouth promotion To promote any product organizations needs lot of promotions and advertisements, for this it requires lot of money. But if organizations maintain good will in the market then the product will automatically promoted through customer referrals and mouth promotions. Employees job satisfaction Satisfaction of customers will bring satisfaction to the employees in the organization. If customer satisfied then the turnover of the organization will increase (Levitt, 2009). From the above discussion it can be understood that, all the applications towards the organization will lead to the profits of the organization. For any organization Profit is the ultimate goal. So ultimate goal of the organization can be achieved by maintain good relationships with the customers. Relationship marketing has been implementing in many organizations. For example, Meridien group of hotels used relationship marketing very effectively for satisfying the customers. Meridien hotels are established all over the world. This hotel is open to all the travelers all over the world. Meridian group of hotels recently launched a program called moments.com. By this program they are attracting the customers and they are finding the loyal customers. Before using relational marketing they used to implement the seasonal packages. But implementing relationship marketing is more advantageous than other methods. Now Merridian hotels are implementing the packages based on the customer needs but not on the seasons. They provided all the requirements for the customers within the hotel only. This made the customers to choose Merridian hotel as one of the best hotel in the world (SHAINESH, G. and Atul Parvatiyar, 2001). 2.6 Approaches for maintaining relationships among the customers and retailers Customer plays an important role in any type of business. The relationship between customer and retailer is maintained when customer is loyalty and satisfied. Further, developing the relationship retailers must and should have the total information about the customers (Margaret Bruce, Christopher Moore and Grete Birtwistle, 2004). But according to Robert H. Lowson, The relationship between customer service level and inventory of finished goods for low, medium and high vendor process time (2002, p.207), if the retail markets provide better services for the customer in supply of good in time that maintains a good relationship between them. But as some aspects the retails are unable to meet the requirements of the customer satisfaction. Some of the approaches for maintain relationship among the customers and retailers were as follows: Identify the customer Try to find out relevant customer that what the products and services they need they might be either internal or external customers and by maintain the data base of the customers (Greg Balanko-Dickson, 2006). Gaining customer attention-Try to attract the more and more customer by advertizing the product. Understanding customer needs-Try to understand the needs of the customer in detail regarding what they are, actually what is the need and what they do. Customer expectations-Try to clarity the customer exactly what the products are been delivered. Feedback of customers-Taking the feedback from the customer also helps a lot for the retailers, regarding the comments they mentioned and opine of the customer about the performance of the product and how useful to them (Kimball Fisher, R.Rayner and William Belgard, 1995). According to Gavriel Salvendy (2001, p.775), Relationship among manufacturers, suppliers, vendors, retailers and customers work together to provide a product that the customer wants at a price that the customer is willing to pay. By maintaining the quality of service in the production of goods at best price the market standards and retailers are trying t

Vietnam War :: essays research papers

The Vietnam War Bullets cut through the air with blazing speed. Cutting skin as it sped through the air. Piercing cries of pain followed. It seemed like the terror and violence wouldn’t end. What could men do against such reckless hate ? So what was the Vietnam war all about, and why did the United States feel they had to get involved ? President Harry Truman established a foreign policy doctrine commonly known as â€Å"Containment†. This new doctrine was intended to prevent the spread of Communism. The containment doctrine simply stated that any new communist government had to be either part of the â€Å"American empire† or the Soviet empire. It also declared the United States pledge to stop any new communist government that was seeking to expand it’s boarders. However Harry Truman had no idea this new foreign policy would be one of the reasons that would lead the United States into Vietnam in 1965. Then in 1954 Ho Chi Mihn after defeating France in several battles decided to form a National Liberation Front (NLF). This new armed force would fight to the death just to obtain a free and independent Vietnam. This increase the Vietnamese people’s respect for Ho Chi Mihn, especially in the North region. However in America this seemed a bit suspicious. Later in 1954 the Geneva Accords treaty was drafted. The Geneva Accords divided Vietnam in half, creating North and South Vietnam. It also stated that free elections had to be held to decide Vietnam’s fate. Except this was ignored, and South Vietnam announced themselves as ant-communist. This assured the United States support which would provide aid and protection from the communists in the North. South Vietnam’s new president was Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem had once resided in the United States where he caught the attention of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower reasoned that the communist take-over risk of Southeast Asia had heightened, so he sought to use Diem as a nationalist capable of countering the Communist Viet Minh. Diem however showed his true colors and was an embarrassment to the United States. So in 1961 John F. Kennedy increased the supply of weapons and soldiers sent in Vietnam. But on November 2, 1963, Diem was assassinated. So John F. Kennedy planned his ideas for the withdrawal of soldiers from Vietnam. But 20 days later President Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. So around 3 am the following morning Lyndon B.

Compare and Contrast how Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Perkins Gilman :: English Literature

Compare and Contrast how Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Perkins Gilman present the situation, behaviour and attitude of the women in the stories The Withered Arm and Turned. Explain what motivates these characters to behave as they do. Thomas Cookes Compare and Contrast how Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Perkins Gilman present the situation, behaviour and attitude of the women in the stories 'The Withered Arm' and 'Turned'. Explain what motivates these characters to behave as they do. Hardy and Gilman both share a similarity of characters and theme in their short stories. Both focus particularly on the female characters and the ways in which the other characters react and behave towards them throughout the stories. Both stories have two strong main female characters and two weaker more naÃÆ'Â ¯ve but also lead female characters. The way these characters interact with each other is very similar in both stories, how Marion and Rhoda seem to almost mother Gerta and Mrs. Lodge as they appear to have a kind of power over the two younger women. Although it can be argued that in the case of Mrs. Lodge, she has Rhoda's ex lover as her husband and this could be looked upon that she has an advantage over Rhoda. She feels as though Gertrude is 'closing doors' between herself and Farmer Lodge that finally there is no chance of rekindling the old flames she once had with him or for Farmer Lodge to make 'any reparation' for what he did to her. Both the elder women also have greater knowledge of men and how the world works, even if Mrs. Lodge is what is called a 'lady complete' she is still unaware of how society works and is treated. Both Rhoda and Marion are women who refuse to conform to how society expects them to act and behave. This is obvious when Marion takes in Gerta after discovering her husband to be having relations with the girl. Most women of the time would have taken back their husband and banished the girl, and although this is Marion's instinct she knows deep down this is wrong. Rhoda is similar to Gerta; she also had a sexual relationship outside of marriage with Mr. Lodge and bore a child from it, but yet still continues to hold her head high and not disappears in society as many women of the time would have done. In a way this difference between these two similar characters is kind of ironic as Marion has to deal with her husband having relations outside marriage with a girl, whereas Rhoda is a woman who had sexual relations outside marriage. Compare and Contrast how Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Perkins Gilman :: English Literature Compare and Contrast how Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Perkins Gilman present the situation, behaviour and attitude of the women in the stories The Withered Arm and Turned. Explain what motivates these characters to behave as they do. Thomas Cookes Compare and Contrast how Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Perkins Gilman present the situation, behaviour and attitude of the women in the stories 'The Withered Arm' and 'Turned'. Explain what motivates these characters to behave as they do. Hardy and Gilman both share a similarity of characters and theme in their short stories. Both focus particularly on the female characters and the ways in which the other characters react and behave towards them throughout the stories. Both stories have two strong main female characters and two weaker more naÃÆ'Â ¯ve but also lead female characters. The way these characters interact with each other is very similar in both stories, how Marion and Rhoda seem to almost mother Gerta and Mrs. Lodge as they appear to have a kind of power over the two younger women. Although it can be argued that in the case of Mrs. Lodge, she has Rhoda's ex lover as her husband and this could be looked upon that she has an advantage over Rhoda. She feels as though Gertrude is 'closing doors' between herself and Farmer Lodge that finally there is no chance of rekindling the old flames she once had with him or for Farmer Lodge to make 'any reparation' for what he did to her. Both the elder women also have greater knowledge of men and how the world works, even if Mrs. Lodge is what is called a 'lady complete' she is still unaware of how society works and is treated. Both Rhoda and Marion are women who refuse to conform to how society expects them to act and behave. This is obvious when Marion takes in Gerta after discovering her husband to be having relations with the girl. Most women of the time would have taken back their husband and banished the girl, and although this is Marion's instinct she knows deep down this is wrong. Rhoda is similar to Gerta; she also had a sexual relationship outside of marriage with Mr. Lodge and bore a child from it, but yet still continues to hold her head high and not disappears in society as many women of the time would have done. In a way this difference between these two similar characters is kind of ironic as Marion has to deal with her husband having relations outside marriage with a girl, whereas Rhoda is a woman who had sexual relations outside marriage.

Mexican American Borderlands and The Caribbean

The negative side effects of tattoos Tattoos are permanent pictures or designs on the skin, pricked and stained with indelible dyes. They contain mainly industrial organic pigments with high microbiological impurities load. Tattoos are body arts. In our society today, tattoos have Increase In popularity among all ages but most prevalent among the adolescent and young adults.Reports have shown that the Increase in the adolescent involvement in tattooing is fuelled by peer pressure and their quests to belong to certain groups or to be accepted. (A. E Almsman Pl). This makes them not to consider the hazards that are associated with it. In this essay, I will be investigating the negative side effects that are associated with tattoos such as how society view people involved, common health risk and Flanagan hardships. According to Anne E.Almsman of Fingers School of Medicine and North Western University, tattooing has been associated with high-risk behaviors such as sexual intercourse, bin ge ringing, smoking, marijuana use, fighting, gang membership, and truancy and school failure. (A. E Almsman P 2). Many health professionals also, associate body arts with criminal activity or psychiatric disturbances. Tattoos are viewed in our society today as unprofessional and offensive. It can reduce an employment opportunities. For example, you cannot be a recruit of the military If you have offensive tattoo on your neck, above. r on any obvious part of your body that suggest gang membership. Furthermore, excessive tattoos may be a form of self-harm. There is usually ins during the procedures and while the tattoo and is healing. Tattoos from most commercial tattoo parlors are associated with infections, including potentially deadly infections like stash, tetanus, hepatitis B or C, and HIVE. Other side effects include; acute Inflammatory reactions caused by physical tissue injury and Injection of pigment dyes, excessive and unsightly scarring, nerve damage, allergic reactions an d sometimes uncontrolled bleeding. MEMBER reports) Furthermore, tattoos can cause misdiagnoses or interference with medical procedures like Mrs. (Robert Prepaid 2). Also because of the risk of infection, one will not be able to donate blood for at least a year after having tattoos for the risk of infections. It cost a lot of money to do tattoos and take care of it during the healing process. From a survey I conducted, an average tattoo studio cost about a $100. 00 per hour. Think about spending more than three hours. In addition, removing tattoos can be expensive and painful, and usually does not leave the area looking completely healed.In conclusion, getting tattoos poses a read health risk that can lead to infections or even attracting HIVE and those involved are mostly associated with negative criminal activities and high-risk behavior. . Anne E. Almsman Epidemiology of tattoos and piercing . Legislation in the United States Robert Prepaid; Publication on Medicine plus Health Day , American Academy of Dermatology, â€Å"Tattoos, Body Piercing, and Other Skin Adornments† www. Monoclinic. Com, Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MEMBER) â€Å"Tattoos: Understand risks and precautions† http://www. Tenement. Com/ teen-issues/piercing-and-tattoos. HTML

“500 Days Of Summer” Film Essay

Non-verbal communication plays a key role in signifying the status of Tom and Summer’s relationship. Provide depth examples of how proxemics, eye contact, touch, and chronemics are articulated in the film. Interpersonal communication skills provide the tools to make a foundation for friendships and romantic relationships. Conflict and nonverbal communication are looked into with more depth in interpersonal relationships. In the movie 500 Days of Summer, audiences a lot of nonverbal communication. The movie shows characters Tom Hansen and Summer Finn during their attempts to build a relationship. Tom and Summer’s experiences shows issues such as conflicts within a romantic relationship, and nonverbal communication. In 500 Days of Summer, nonverbal communication signified a great deal between Tom and Summer. One example of nonverbal communication is when Tom reached to hold Summer’s hand in public, but Summer moved her hand quickly away from his, so that they wouldn’t hold hands. Not only was she letting him know she did not want to show affection in front of anyone, but she was stating her loss of interest in him romantically. However, moments such as this were evidence of mixed messages Summer usually showed to Tom. She did keep physical intimacy with him. However, she did not want to publicly establish a romantic relationship with him. Then again nonverbal messages are more easy to change and mean another than verbal meanings. A smile can express comfort or just being happy or smiling because someone else in smiling at you. Another example that of non verbal communication that showed, is when Tom and Summer went to the store and they were flirting with each other and playing the roles if they were all ready living together. The Proxemics in that chosen area gave them the opportunity so show more affection with each other. They had a depiction of the future they could have with one another. To go more into depth they were already a lot of problems that were going on between Tom and Summers relationship. There were many nonverbal cues between Tom and Summer. A lot of problems came in to play when one of them confused or  misinterpreted the others nonverbal communications. All in all, relationships are built upon building blocks of many subjects. In the movie 500 Days of Summer, one can see the nonverbal communication through out the whole movie. People will see Tom and Summer’s example of how relationships are able to form, as well as how relationships can be terminated from the non verbal communication skills with many other communication problems.