Groupon - Daily Deal Aggregator Business Model Essay Example for Free

Groupon Daily Deal Aggregator Business Model Essay Objectives 1. Choosing a company with an Innovative Business Model Groupon Groupon is a deal-of-the day website that features discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies. It is based on the daily deal aggregator business model. Groupon was launched in November 2008, and the first market for Groupon was Chicago, followed soon thereafter by Boston, New York City, and Toronto. By October 2010, Groupon served more than 150 markets in North America and 100 markets in Europe, Asia and South America and had 35 million registered users. In addition to generation of revenues, offering daily deals on Groupon has proved to be beneficial for various businesses. Start-ups have gained market share by offering lucrative deals for customers on Groupon and attracting them to their businesses. Once these businesses gain their initial share of customers, it becomes easier for them to retain these customers and even attract new ones, with the help of providing quality product or service. Various businesses, domestic and international, have gained by often providing daily deals on Groupon. 2. Analysing the Business Model and Identifying the Innovation The Groupon Innovation Groupon is a daily deal website considered to be one of the top ten innovative Business Models with a huge user base of 83 million across 43 countries. Groupon sells coupons in a very unique way; As mentioned above, Groupon follows Daily deal Aggregator Business Model which enables groups of people who want to purchase a particular product or service to sign up and then seek a volume discount from vendors. These discounts are in the form of daily deals/coupons for products or services. Daily Deal websites typically  offer a single product or service a day for a discount and these deals become valid only after a pre-specified number of people sign up to avail this deal. When the deal expires, or sells out, the offer is gone. Daily Deal websites typically offer one product or service a day for a discount. This Business Model reduces risk for retailers who post the offers; They can treat the coupons as quantity discounts as well as sales promotion tools. Groupon makes money by keeping approximately half the money the customer pays for the coupon. For example, an $80 haircut could be purchased by the consumer for $40 through Groupon, and then Groupon and the retailer would split the $40. That is, the parlour gives a haircut valued at $80 and gets approximately $20 from Groupon for it (under a 50%/50% split). The consumer gets the haircut, in this example, from the parlour for which they have paid $40 to Groupon. Unlike classified advertising, the merchant does not pay any upfront cost to participate: Groupon collects personal information from willing customers and then contacts only those customers, primarily by daily email, who may possibly be interested in a particular product or service. Groupon breaks into new markets by identifying successful local businesses, first by sending in an advance a number of employees to gain data about the local market; when it finds a business with outstanding reviews, salespeople approach it and explain the model, and use social marketing sites such as Facebook to further promote the idea. Groupon’s biggest strength is its user base which has grown due to its First Mover Advantage and affordable deals. The question, however, at present is the sustainability of the business model. According to the CEO, Andrew Mason, Groupon is trying to â€Å"fundamentally change the way that people buy from local businesses in the same way that e-commerce changed the way that people buy products.† 3. Analysing the Market Scenerio Present Scenerio in the market The emergence of dozens of competitors to Groupon, with customers frequently playing one site off against another, diminishes the competitive differentiation between them. In addition, merchants whose goods and services are featured on the sites are now being courted by more players, making them less loyal and less likely to be prepared to pay rich premiums for the sites directing new customers to their store locations. Further, the benefits to both customers and merchants are likely to drop as the market is flooded with same kind of offers. Moreover, some of its big rivals are backed by some major funding and engineering resources. LivingSocial is backed by Amazon it grew gross revenues 32 percent from August to September, bolstered by a blockbuster Whole Foods deal. Smaller players like TravelZoo and Bloomspothave their own advantages; They tend to be more focused on a particular niche. Apart from competition, there are also the issues of taxation; States including New York have decided merchants should collect sales taxes on the full face value of items purchased, not the price that consumers actually pay.

A Management Report On L Oreal Marketing Essay

A Management Report On L Oreal Marketing Essay INTRODUCTION The Management report that I am presenting here reflects a complete analysis of LOreal With some very significant aspect of the companys profile including companys overview and history. Also a brief idea about its products, and their brands. No business in this planet is free from weaknesses, which actually comes within the organisation and threats that acts as the external factors as a result of the business environment where it operates. We all know that SWOT analysis is actually an important instrument or an ideal measuring parameter of any organisation to determine its present value in the competitive business environment. Moreover to plan a strategic move in order to deal with any incompetences of the business. Therefore it becomes utmost important for this report to spill the beans on the internal strengths and weaknesses of the organisation followed by the external growth opportunity, and their rivals which is a threat for the organisation. In short we have to apply SWOT analy sis in order to get a transparent and true picture of the LOreal. Which I have attempted to present in a form of an ideal Management Report, as much as possible.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFdSU5d70mky_9HXugsFRzesHlhA_mC4q8GzP3wEDsmViVUmTEAOaTQEHXC26R_yvRks6TPy3cR82BxCvePbfrGipaMbjVxCJA2qKlhinvL8NnFLs8SDmGxUh0nDzCl9mz83v-NcP4TFV/s320/logo_l_oreal.jpg The business world today is far more dynamic than we can ever think of; hence it calls for the evaluation of all the factors of the business, be it internal or external, technical or social. All these important aspects of the business need to be evaluated at frequent intervals. Therefore the dynamic nature of the business and the requirement of this report have made it compulsory to critical analysis the decision making factors and strategic policies in the wake of the globalisation and redefined business paradigm. Nevertheless in response to the present culture the feedback of LOreal has been given an equal importance in this report. In order to determine and deal with the effectiveness of response, in terms of current business scenario. The scope of any improvement in the responses from LOreal are dealt with great care and understanding. And this area of the report forms the recommendation and suggestion part. In addition it winds-up with the conclusion of the entire Management Report as a whole. http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?report_id=334974t=dcat_id= LOREALS OVERVIEW HISTORY The name says it all; LOreal is the worlds renowned and biggest cosmetics and beauty Product Company. The company was founded by Eugene Schueller in year 1909. But now the company is controlled by the founders daughter Lilliane and in year 2009 LOreal has celebrated its 100 years of relentless service to the mass. Initially the company was registered as Societe Francaise de Teintures Inoffensives pourCheveus, in year 1909 in the days of it formation, but years later it was then named as LOreal. The company has four strong pillars of their entire business portfolio, namely Consumer Products, Luxury Products, Professional Products and Active Cosmetics. LOreal operates in some 130 countries with a complete range of 27 beauty products, in different segments of their business. To help LOreal achieve their goals and objective a dedicated strong team of 67,662 employees are engaged in the project of attaining the desired mission of LOreal. A century of expertise in the field of beauty care products is completely driven with innovation. That is reason why LOreal invests some 1/3 rd of their revenue is devoted to their RD department. LOreal holds a stake of 19.5 % in Sanofi/Synthelabo. Apart from this, a holding company Gesparal has 51% of LOreal share and the food giant from Switzerland Nestle hold the balance 49% of the Gesparal The success of LOreal stands on the strong foundation of 5 key area of expertise, Hair care, Hair colour, Skin care, Make-up and Fragrances. The revenue generated from LOreal is estimated to be more than 50% from outside of Europe. Acquiring other brands is one of the vital activities, in which LOreal is focusing to a great extent. LOreal has been a great platform for the young breeding talents through their global recruitment strategy. LOreal follows an equal opportunity program, therefore as a result of that its employee are from 110 nationalities, a classic example of cosmopolitan environment diversity Management. 97% of the LOreal factories are ISO approved. And LOreal operates 38 factories all over the world, manufacturing some 4.9 billions units in 2009. LOreal has the list following brands which includes Internal Analysis Strengths Unique vision The company was with a passion and a quest to transcending the border to make the world beautiful. The credit of outstanding success of the LOreal as a company goes without doubt to the vision of the concept of working as a team, which operates under the truly outstanding Director Lindsay Owen-Jones. Worlds prestigious Brand This French company has brought a revolution in the beauty product industry. A giant in manufacturing of some world class cosmetic for example Lancà ´me, Vichy and the brand for the mass like The body shop, Laboratories Garnier and Maybelline. The other brand includes Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Gemey Maybelline, Sanofi/Synthelabo Giorgio Armani Parfums, Soft Sheen-Carson, Galderma, and many more Strong RD Department The biggest asset or strength of the company is their relentless effort in RD department, which keeps a continuous effort toward finding new and innovative products in the field of beauty and cosmetics market. This contributes a great deal in the competitive market like beauty product industry, in not just making new customer but retaining old customer as well by offering a brand new product to their customer at frequent intervals at a global platform. Multiple product range LOreal has a strong product collection presence in the beauty product industry. Starting from hair care to skin care and from fragrances to styling products. The companys multiple product division like Consumer Products, Luxury Products, Professional Products and Active Cosmetics has made it unique in the global scenario. Dermatological Pharmaceuticals advancement The next great strength of the LOreal group is advance level of activity in the dermatological and Pharmaceuticals sectors, giving them a position of nano-technology patent holder in United States. Sound distribution channel Apart from this LOreal has a sound distribution channel and logistic department which helps a proper and smooth supply of its products, ensuring that the products are available to the maximum customers. The most expensive products and luxury items are distributed through duty-free shops and the department stores. And the hair care products are sold maximum from the hair salons. And the active cosmetics department sale their product via multiple beauty outlets and from pharmacies as well. Advance Advertisement strategy The strong advertisement strategy from LOreal puts the company miles ahead from its competitors. By understanding the requirement of the customer it succeeds it bringing to their customer the right product, through the deadly combination of marketing advertisement strategy. Weaknesses Organisational structure The company has grown enormously big, and there are various division and sub-division of the organisation, this has made the organisational sector a bit decentralised one, owing to its gigantic size. At times it becomes impossible to find out the exact division responsible for the pitfalls of the company. Low profit margin The company has got a numerous rivals, and to compete in the challenging market, the product pricing is considerably low compare to the other companies, and many times the profit does not meet the expectation of their own margin. To a great extent advertising and marketing of a high-end nature is highly a reason to a low return. Lack of control. The co-ordination and the control of LOreal is somewhat lacking due to its gigantic size. This is again observed as a negative point and as a setback. External Analysis Opportunities Infinite field The main fields of expertise of LOreal is the product of beauty care which truly provides an edge and a never ending opportunity to concentrate and keep developing and specialising in the various aspect of beauty care like hair colouring styling, skin care cosmetics and fragrances as well. Brand image The name of LOreal is more than enough for its consumers, because its been a leading brand in the fields of beauty for ages. The brand name itself gives LOreal a great opportunity to develop its business abundantly. Patent Rights Another great advantage is the chunk of their market share in this particular industry in which they operate. It gives them advantage to have the world class brands and various patent registered in their names. This gives them an edge over their rivals because the customer cannot get the same cosmetics in other brands. Threats Growing Competition The field of beauty product industry is vast; therefore everyday a new organisation is born. This raises the bar of growing competition for LOreal Economic turmoil The economics downturn is been witnessed very often in many countries for example USA, and Britain, this could possible be a great threat to the business opportunity and profit margin of LOreal. Many of the LOreal products are in the top line, which the basic customer will find it expensive especially in the times of credit crunch and recession. http://loreal.exteen.com/20080805/swot-analysis-l-oreal http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Loreal-Swot/149358 The impact of globalisation on LOreal Global expansion is at the heart of LOreal growth strategy. This French cosmetics and toiletries giant have experienced unmatched growth and success in the sector with an unparallel global expansion into new beauty-product markets. And these plans are executed under the sharp and judicious direction of Owen Jones, the chairman of the company. The business goes global because of its strategic vision, some 16 years back LOreal used to pocket 75% of the revenue from the sales of Europe, major from France, but by 2004, a total of 85% of its revenue generated, were outside France, we can cite this as a classic example of ideal globalisation. LOreal is a real global leader in every segment of its industry. Globalisation means inviting tougher rivalry with the international player at a global level. Therefore it has to be backed up with a mastermind global strategy that will give a cutting edge at a worldwide level, and a brand image of the organisation. But in order to internationalise, a business has to initiate lot of innovative and latest business tactics, at regular intervals for instance global entry strategy, proper marketing mix, standardisation, or adaptation of international policy and procedure etc. Let us analyse the global strategy that has put LOreal miles ahead of its rivals in the beauty industry. From the research and findings I have realize certain strategic decision making and policies formation of LOreal which can be said as the influence of globalisation. Acquisition strategy. To dream LOreal beyond the French borders is the milestone, as told to the fortune audience, and was considered to be his smartest move as CEO. As he told the Fortune audience, The defining moment for me was when I decided LOreal must become a world company and not just a French one. (Chairman LOreal) In the battle to reign global beauty market, LOreal has developed a winning formula, Consolidation which is considered as a lethal weapon to support their competitive strategy. The mastermind strategy of Owen Jones to buy local cosmetic brands, give it a facelift, and sell it in the international market has helped LOreal to gain a good market share in the beauty industry. Lets take a brief look at all the acquisition of LOreal. Maybelline LOreal makes a risky investment of $758 millions to acquire Maybelline in 1996, it head quarters were shifted to New York. The product line like nail polish and lipstick were given a complete transformation and launched with exciting new colours. The sales figure reflects a big rise in 2003, where 56% of total sales came from outside US. In Japan it become the hottest selling beauty products amongst teens, the products like curls mascara and volume express line were in growing popularity all over. Soft-Sheen- Carson A leader in hair care industry soft sheen was acquired by the giant LOreal in year 1998, and later on it went to acquire Carson product an ethnic manufacturer in hair and skin care. The mastermind Owen then merged two companies to form soft sheen- Carson in august 1998. The potential market of hair care product was targeted by LOreal. This was a global move to cover half of total African market, and currently LOreal control 41% of South African market. Kiehl Jones went further to buy Kiehl, a small cosmetics firm exactly going in contrast with the regular LOreal brand and products. Jones find it extremely interesting that the firm is doing exceptionally good. It main emphasis is on product quality, for the rest LOreal gives a bouncing life to the product by giving it a new look and proper product placement makes it well presentable in the international market at selected European stores. And these are done without ads or promotions. Shu Uemura To get a strong foot hold in Japan, LOreal went on further to takeover Shu Uemura as a part of strategic alliance with Japanese Shu Uemura, a cosmetic company rapidly stretching its presence in China and other Asian countries. The Body Shop LOreal gave a shocking surprise by gobbling up The Body shop in year 2005, such a small port folio. But it was strategic decision for going global and increasing its brand port folio when the company decided to go for a  £ 650m purchase of the ethical beauty retailer. This has a strong presence with 2550 outlets all over UK. Indeed a very smart move by the by acquiring this port folio, LOreal has built its ethical image in the market at a global level. And to book an image that the company is going natural and minimise its carbon footprints. Others Mininurse Yue-Sai are two small organisations that were respectively bought in 2003 2004 by LOreal as a strategy of global expansion, but now are performing excellent in the local cosmetic markets. Canan a specialist in hair care was a recent acquisition from Turkey in late 2007. In the recent past LOreal has been concentrating on higher end port folio. As a result to push its salon market, three more acquisition has been witnessed, Columbia Beauty Supply, Beauty Alliance and Malys. The purchase of YSL Beautà © is a step to give weight to its Luxury division. While to earn some brownie point on the dermatology market CollaGenex was acquired as well. Looking into the market latest trends for natural beauty remedy In a hunt to increase it footprints in natural and organic arena. Sanoflore was the next deal to freeze, which will give LOreal an additional brand in its Active Cosmetic Division. Therefore Sanoflore will join its group with Dermablend, La RochePosay, Ombrelle and SkinCeu ticals. But as the competition intensify, the company is looking ahead to have more acquisition in Asia market as well and make a strong presence in the world of beauty market by the instrument of this acquisition policy and growing as well in the port folio management. And in future it will continue to seek more acquisition targets in the emerging market. http://www.scf-online.com/english/24_e/international_24_e.htm http://www.fortune.com/fortune/ceo/articles/0,15114,372136-1,00.html Strong logistics efficiency In the run to support the global recognition and other manufacturing strategies, the company has to depend on the strong logistic effiency. The availablity of the product to the end user is extremely vital to any organisation, LOreal is no exception, and therefore ensuring the product available to the outlets for everlasting satisfaction of the customer is one of the major goal of LOreal. It an has got an extremely strong distribution channel and logistic department, maintained by centrex the centre of supply chain management. LOreal partner group is developed with the supplier and the for the smooth supply of raw-material, container or packaging , equipments, point of sale or promotional items LOreal depends on its suppliers for all its plants, factories and warehousing supplies. LOreal continuous try to maximise the performance the supply chain management in order to improve time limit, imroving responsiveness etc. Centrex monitors all procurement orders and deals with it. In order to assure that the required level of service is achieved logistic department and the supply chain management has received special attention to suport the compamys strategic vision. Strength of R D LOreal has one of the most strong Research and development team in the field of beauty product development. It attract some 3400 expertise in 30 different discipline from multiple nationalities to build a strong RD team. The company have invested 625 million dollars in just dermatological research and cosmetic department, in year 2009. A total of 18 research centers worldwide and 13 evaluation centres operates to achieve the long tern growth. Some 500 scientist worked day and night to discover 5000 formulas each year. LOreal has filed 647 patent in year 2009, and 35,000 patents are active worldwide. It has amlost 1000 active allaince with leading academic research institution LOreal invest 1/3rd of its budget to the advanced research projects which is 3% of it revenue generated goes to the Research and Development department. The company owns the product development centres at New York, Paris, Dubai, Rio-de-Janeiro and shanghai. Therefore LOreal exploiting its research department qui ckly capitalise on latest consumer trends worldwide. In short the RD department has contributed to a great extent in making this company where it is today, in terms of global recognition and acceptance. Branding strategy LOreal branding strategy has given a gaint leap in support of the globalisation, and has helped to spread the business not only in Europe but worldwide. The company has a global presence over 150 countries which is possible only because it hold a very good brand image. The company follows a powerful and efficient branding strategy, which makes it possible to generate a steady flow of revenue year after year. As a result of the global branding strategy the LOreal achieved the impossible dream of becoming the largest cosmetic in the world. Whilst the global economy was in a downturn mode still the company made successful sales both in Asia and Latin America. It would not be wrong to say that the company has succeeded reaching across the French boundaries due to it brand reputation. Global portfolio management. LOreal holds some of the best names of the prestigious brands portfolios for their varied range of beauty products under one roof. Some renowned names include Lancà ´me, Maybelline, The Body Shop, Vichy Laboratories, Matrix Ralph Lauren Fragrances and so on and so forth. LOreal is very careful with brand portfolio Management like the quantum of water mixing to the moisturising cream. With the world of brands under its roof the port- folio management team has to be extremely cautious and judicious to place each brand in the right segment so that it does not affect its other brand market. This is hitting the right audience with the right product. http://finance.mapsofworld.com/brand/value/loreal.html LOreal response With respect to various challenges posed by the global business environment, LOreal has always come up with a solution, to stay ahead in the international market. Let us analyse the effectiveness of LOreal responses with regards to national and international issues of the business world. Table showing the responses to the situation LOreal response Pros Cons 1. Acquire Shu Uemura To achieve a place in Asian industry, and a bigger sales graph Fails to cater the Japanese market 2. Purchasing of Nivea Mid-segments market is filled up. Expose to Biersdorf. 3. Generate opportunity in dermatological and cosmetic field More sale and new customer Risk of losing if there is no strong market for dermo-cosmetic area. 4 Introducing new products for gaining more mileage. Increase revenue by opening up a new market for all brands. Inviting rivalry and more competition. 5. Diversify into clothes and accessories Using similar technique to gain competitive advantg. High risk in the new field and global player to deal with. 6. Form a brand new line of LOreal cosmetic stores. Brand products to be easily available Loss of capital if the stores does not work out as per planned and fail to generate increased sales figure. 7. Keep a got stock of all the products to tackle supply issues. A happy customer, not loosing sales, and retaining customers. Stock loss due to expiry date. Additional holding and shipping cost. Recommendations and suggestion The recommendation for the LOreal is that they should design more products to suit the Japanese market, and even selling the same products to Americans as the American market are more in more requirement of the ethnic Asian touch trends, by giving the products a brand new look with its latest packaging tools to make it look more authentic. A large section of American market is untouched; LOreal should plan to consider tapping those markets as well launching a similar strategy as in the African expansion. So far the South American market is largely untapped. By taking a similar approach perhaps even designing products for South American ethnicities. Since diversity management is at the heart of LOreal it should take a plunge and diversify into clothing and accessories, with the wealth of rich experience similar to the beauty product industry. A step into dermo-cosmetics lines must be beneficial in towards the progress of the company because there is a massive demand for such product which is an alternative for plastic surgery. LOreals should take advantage of its research and develop related products which will lead them ahead of their rivals. Chain stores of LOreal must be there to generate more sales and to bring confidence to their customer when they see the LOreal store rather than buying the LOreals products from other retail outlet. This in actually an untapped niche for big chain of cosmetic stores, for the LOreal products, would be ideally to fill this gap for the niche market. CONCLUSION LOreal in spite of the growing competition has become a giant in its domain. It success rest on the four pillars of their entire business portfolio, namely Consumer Products, Luxury Products, Professional Products and Active Cosmetics. And the main reason of it success are strength of RD team, effective organization structure, strong distribution channels, Brand portfolio management, Acquisitions Branding strategy. LOreal has a number of rivals like Estee Lauder is the main threat. Proctor Gamble, Unilever and Revlon in hair care segment. Avon a hardcore competitors in Russia, and Nivea control the mid segment market. LOreal need to concentrate a bit more towards Men care items, and avoid too much rivalry.

The Big Sleep: Novel or Movie? :: Movie Film comparison compare contrast

The Big Sleep: Novel or Movie? Architects forever changed the urban landscape when they began building skyscrapers. After only a short while they turned away from the burdensome load-bearing walls and opted for a thin, geometric steel skeleton. The skeleton allowed more glass and embellishments; businesses could have huge windows to display their wares on bustling city streets. Raymond Chandler creates a strong skeleton of figurative language in his novel, The Big Sleep. Howard Hawks piles the importance of his movie on his famous duo, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Which is finer? Stories and skyscrapers are the same. Details run throughout Chandler's text. They come in the form of slap-you-in-the-face similes, lively images and repeated metonyms. The figurative language unifies the book. With every turn of the page we are blasted with sly similes. Chandler can pack five or more on a page and still maintain the super-cool voice of his narrator, Marlowe. Agnes' silver nails move rather than she. But Chandler's most crafty play is in Chapter Twenty-six. He uses figurative language to make his characters predators or prey. Marlowe first "[hangs] there motionless, like a lazy fish in water", then he moves "like a cat on a mantel" (Chandler 171, 172). Marlowe is stalking the office while Canino speaks to Jones in a "purring voice;" Jones has a "bird-like voice" (175, 171). Later, Marlowe addresses Jones's body and says "You died like a poisoned rat, Harry, but you're no rat to me" (178). Harry Jones wasn't Marlowe's prey. The dynamic of the chapter is set up through imagery and metaphor. I love Chandler's figurative language and I love his narrator. Marlowe is the reason that this language is possible. Marlowe isn't going to shuffle around topics; he goes straight to the point and is determined to drag you along. That is why he uses such language &emdash; to pull us in and let us understand. We hear you Marlowe. We are getting every point. We can better understand his character if we know what he is thinking about. The details offer us insider information. We see what little things he notices -- the little things that add up. I miss the knight in the movie. The Big Sleep: Novel or Movie? :: Movie Film comparison compare contrast The Big Sleep: Novel or Movie? Architects forever changed the urban landscape when they began building skyscrapers. After only a short while they turned away from the burdensome load-bearing walls and opted for a thin, geometric steel skeleton. The skeleton allowed more glass and embellishments; businesses could have huge windows to display their wares on bustling city streets. Raymond Chandler creates a strong skeleton of figurative language in his novel, The Big Sleep. Howard Hawks piles the importance of his movie on his famous duo, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Which is finer? Stories and skyscrapers are the same. Details run throughout Chandler's text. They come in the form of slap-you-in-the-face similes, lively images and repeated metonyms. The figurative language unifies the book. With every turn of the page we are blasted with sly similes. Chandler can pack five or more on a page and still maintain the super-cool voice of his narrator, Marlowe. Agnes' silver nails move rather than she. But Chandler's most crafty play is in Chapter Twenty-six. He uses figurative language to make his characters predators or prey. Marlowe first "[hangs] there motionless, like a lazy fish in water", then he moves "like a cat on a mantel" (Chandler 171, 172). Marlowe is stalking the office while Canino speaks to Jones in a "purring voice;" Jones has a "bird-like voice" (175, 171). Later, Marlowe addresses Jones's body and says "You died like a poisoned rat, Harry, but you're no rat to me" (178). Harry Jones wasn't Marlowe's prey. The dynamic of the chapter is set up through imagery and metaphor. I love Chandler's figurative language and I love his narrator. Marlowe is the reason that this language is possible. Marlowe isn't going to shuffle around topics; he goes straight to the point and is determined to drag you along. That is why he uses such language &emdash; to pull us in and let us understand. We hear you Marlowe. We are getting every point. We can better understand his character if we know what he is thinking about. The details offer us insider information. We see what little things he notices -- the little things that add up. I miss the knight in the movie.

Babbit Vs. The Hobbit :: essays research papers

Babbitt vs. The Hobbit  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sinclair Lewis’ character of George Babbitt is similar to J.R.R Tolkien’s character of Bilbo Baggins, but they are also very different. These two characters are alike in two different ways: in personality and the heroic journey. However, on every other subject these two characters are extraordinarily different. The most basic of these differences being that George Babbitt is an anti-hero and Bilbo Baggins is a hero.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning both characters seem very much alike in the way that they are portrayed. Babbitt is shown as a well to do middle aged man enjoying an afternoon nap. He is also shown to be extremely average. Bilbo too is shown enjoying a pleasant afternoon in a very average way. Both personalities are basically the same: neither will take major risks and both would rather stay at home rather than go off on some kind of “adventure';. Both are what are considered prominent, wealthy, normal, conforming members of their communities. However, both Babbitt and Bilbo show inner turmoil with their need to be “free';.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Here is where the differences start to appear. The hobbit refers to something as simple as climbing a tree as an adventure. The prominent business man thinks that spending a weekend away from his wife and family is an adventure. To set forth upon an adventure of any kind a person needs to be free again, both characters define freedom in different ways. Bilbo simply needs to be away from the influence of his friends and family to find out what he really wants for himself and what he wants to do about it. Bilbo finds freedom when he makes the choice to follow the dwarves into the unknown. When Babbitt is finally given freedom when he is able to go camping alone with his friends for a week he is suddenly terrified about what he is going to do with himself. Babbitt’s friends seem to bring out his inner-self when he is finally pulled away from home and on a train going to Maine. Once up in Maine the men say that they are going to “loaf by ourselves and smok e and cuss and be natural';. In other words they are going to be free from the rules imposed on them by their wives, families and the community itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Each character is also tested in a different way. Bilbo was tested several different times, each dealing with his loyalty and service to the dwarves.

Starbucks Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Star Bucks Problem Statement Howard Shultz and the senior management at Starbucks have to decide how to react to the opportunities that are being made available because of their rapid growth. The decision for a strategic growth plan has to be made in the near future. This will prove to be key for Starbucks reaching their long-term goal of becoming the most recognized and respected brand of coffee in the world. Situation Analysis Starbucks is currently the industry leader in specialty coffee. They purchased more high quality coffee beans than anyone else in the world and keep in good standings with the producers to ensure they get the best beans. Getting the best beans is only the first part, Starbucks also has a â€Å"closed loop system† that protects the beans from oxygen immediately after roasting to the time of packaging. They did this through their invention of a one-way valve which let the natural gasses escape but keeping oxygen out. This gave them the unique ability to ensure freshness and extended the shelf life to 26 weeks. Starbucks isn’t only about the coffee, it’s also about a place where people can escape to enjoy music, reflect, read, or just chat. It is a total coffee experience. The retail outlet has been responsible for much of Starbucks growth and has contributed substantially to their brand equity. The Starbucks case doesn’t mention many weaknesses. The main one, however, is their supply chain operations. This hasn’t caused any problems yet but they mention that handling four business units is becoming challenging. They have yet to come up with a long-term solution for such possible problems. As mention earlier Starbucks has many opportunities of which it can take advantage. These include a joint venture with McDonald’s, where the restaurant giant would supply its customers with Starbucks coffee. Another is the bottled Frappuccino product that Pepsi and Starbucks have created. This has had a very positive response in the test markets and posses to be a lucrative option. Starbucks could also look at the vertical integration possibility of producing its own beans. This could prove to be very successful if they can capture a significant amount of the production they could become a price setter in the coffee commodities. Also because small coffee retail outlets are so trendy it is possible for them to set ... ...nal locations in the heaviest coffee drinking countries. This has to be done quickly as to get the jump on other that may also be considering this type of a move. At the same time they should be selling franchise right for the coffee carts. This will provide an increased cash flow as well. During all of this Starbucks should be looking at coffee producers who are in financial trouble or are looking at selling their farms. This has to be done discretely as not to cause unnecessary bad press. After they run a couple of these coffee producing farms for a few years they should be able to see how the whole operation works and determine its viability. Once it’s proven viable they should send out simultaneous offers to the biggest producers as to catch them and other coffee companies off guard. Starbucks also should be getting into the bottled Frappuccino as soon as possible. They should leave the introduction of the product up to Pepsi because of their past experience. They should leave their entry into the grocery store market until some of these other strategies are implemented. This will prove to be the best strategy for Starbucks being able to reach their long-term gaol.

Analysis of Self and Architecture

TO THEORIZE ARCHITECTURE BASED ON ANALYSIS OF SELF & A ; ARCHITECTURE Takaharu Tezuka was born in twelvemonth 1964 in the metropolis of Tokyo, Japan. He received his Bachelors from the Musashi Institute of Technology in Japan and Masters in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States of America. He so worked for Richard Rogers Partnership Ltd from twelvemonth 1990 to 1994 in London. Together with his married woman, they established Tezuka Architects in twelvemonth 1994 and have won legion awards for their broad scope of work from the Japan Institute of Architects Prize and the AIJ Annual Architectural Commendations for Roof House and Kids Design Award, the Ministry Prize Gold Prize for Fuji Kindergarten in 2007. His calling so started blossoming with other undertakings runing from houses, commercial and educational edifices, community undertakings and even universe renowned museums and exhibitions. Designed and built in twelvemonth 2012 to ease drama and kid development based around Montessori rules, Yamamotochou Fuji Kindergarten is an excessive pre-primary school in Tokyo, Japan. The most bewitching component is so its outstanding halo-shaped signifier which accommodates about 600 kids. This design maximises and utilises the full the tight urban site by consciously including the sense of drama, with a roof deck environing the full single-storey construction with a big enclosed cardinal courtyard. â€Å"While we are busy working, besides we are besides inspired by our kids. We found out kids loves doing circles. It is a sort of natural inherent aptitude, so we were inspired to do the edifice unit of ammunition so they can maintain running around† . With its round orientation, the courtyard becomes a cardinal point to run into for the preschoolers, carry throughing a intentional system of togetherness. Tezuka besides designed the kindergarten by integrating bing trees st ick outing from the buiding, which provides a sense of welcoming of nature but besides acts a green canopy. Their thought of The Fuji Kindergarten architectural analysis was based on 3 theories, which is climatic factors, architectural theory and design schemes. As for design schemes, the inside informations are really clean and precise, all the things of what high-end architecture is approximately. There is a sense of graduated table to the bannisters, door grips, floor, ceiling tallness and H2O fountains which are so good considered for the graduated table of the users. To suit different group sizes and different activities, all the furniture can easy be moved and rearranged. As for the chairs and desks for the childs, many wooden boxes are used to divide smaller countries which besides act as extra benches for siting. These boxes are besides used to hive away drama points, larning stuffs and children’s coats and places. This provides great flexibleness, and the interior infinite is often reconfigured through the twelvemonth. Besides, the railings designed harmonizing to kids graduated table. Rail ings are placed at each border of the roof to maintain kids safe. The infinites between the bannisters are besides sufficient plenty to let kids to sit on the roof and swing their legs over the eaves of the roof during assemblies or occasions. As for the fanlights, it allows kids to look down into the suites below. Individual fanlights are designed in each schoolroom to let the natural sunshine to ooze in. Children could besides mount up rope ladders taking up to the fanlight. The three trees embedded in the edifice besides form a drama characteristic. Children can scramble in the subdivisions or drama in the cyberspaces that are placed around the short pantss to forestall anybody falling through to the suites below. In maintaining with the school’s educational ethos of non-directed drama and find, there is no fixed drama equipment on the roof or in the courtyard, with the exclusion of a slide associating the roof to the land. Takaharu believes that this will further regard f or nature, so that kids could play around it and extinguish psychological barriers between in and out. Last but non least is the particularization of ceiling tallness and the usage of traditional visible radiation bulbs. With the consideration of the graduated table of a kid, the ceiling highs are set to 2.1m which stresses an utterly near the land degree to the rooftop. Takaharu Tezuka besides had the thought of utilizing traditional bare visible radiation bulbs with strings attached in this edifice to educate the childs about the manner visible radiation is produced when they pull on and off. ARCHITECTURAL THEORY The Fuji Kindergarten architectural theory was based on 5 Le Corbusier’s 5 points of Architecture which is, the free design land floor program, roof garden, pilotis, free design facade and horizontal Windowss. Based on the free design land floor program, the school is designed to promote kids to mix and weave around the infinite which promotes self-discovery and to research without intervention. It besides encourages societal accomplishments and eliminates hierarchal constructions preschoolers to mix and steer about at will. Besides, no fixed walls are placed between schoolrooms, so the kids can travel in between category freely. As for the roof deck, it is an advanced drama resource. It has a little incline towards the interior perimeter, which at a tallness of merely 2.1m allows staff at land degree to maintain an oculus on kids playing up above. With specific border of a start to an terminal, kids would of course run about the roof without vacillation. This besides boosts t he action and wellness of the children.Based on pilotis, the columns are non merely designed to back up the construction but to extinguish back uping walls that would impact the physical and ocular connexion within the kindergarten. The Fuji Kindergarten free design of facade separated from the outside of the edifice from its structural map. Stilts and thin seeable floor slabs sites absolutely into the bing site. This besides encourages kids to play about and research the construction of edifice. Last, horizontal Windowss run along the full kindergarten to let suites to be lit every bit. CLIMATIC FACTORS During most of the twelvemonth, the big sliding screens that form the interior wall of the edifice are pushed back, opening up the interior infinites to the sheltered courtyard in the centre of the school. This provides unobstructed positions throughout the kindergarten. It ensures that the suites are ever good ventilated and, as a effect, there is no demand for an air conditioning system. Other systems have been carefully designed to work in the unfastened interior infinite. During winter, the sliding screens remain closed and suites are kept warm by utilizing underfloor warming system. Lighting can be adjusted utilizing ceiling-mounted pull chords, leting instructors and kids to command the degree of illuming in their portion of the edifice. As Japan has a long history of holding frequent temblors. The columns are placed somewhat farther apart and specifically designed for temblors. Besides, the edifice is besides surrounded by large trees which shade the roof during hotter period like summer. Throughout his calling, â€Å"Takaharu Tezuka holds a profound belief in the construct of design with a surgical knife instead than a hack saw, and the importance of making functional places unambiguously catered to the occupants populating within.† ( 2014, Levin ) As a decision for his architecture believes, Takaharu Tezuka summarized that â€Å"Our minimal art is non a manner but a effect. We try to do a undertaking where we ourselves want to populate or remain. We believe the reply can be found in our life style. We are seeking to hold a normal happy life, and the life of human being is ever the ultimate intent of architecture† . Architecture is a like a linguistic communication with vocabulary that carries messages and communicates significances. By utilizing this architectural linguistic communication, based on my theory of ego, I think Takaharu tezuka has merely one thought, which is to stress on human activity and connectivity. He is really inventive and demanding when planing architectural inside informations. Architecture imaginativeness is steadfastly rooted into Takaharu’s cardinal apprehension of construction, stuffs and economic sciences. There’s a touch of material elegance in the architectural signifiers and preciseness of the structural solutions. These personal touches are emerged from understanding their client’s life style and aspirations. However, there is no uncertainty that beyond these facets, Tezuka is even more interested in abstract and allusive qualities of architecture like infinite and visible radiation. His work is besides singular for its mutableness, its abili ty to take on different visual aspects depending on the season, clip of twenty-four hours and the activity of the residents. The architecture responds to these conditions freely, largely by changing the grade of closing or openness in taking to hike the quality of architectural mutableness. Tezuka’s work seems like it is tied into a long tradition of Nipponese Common architecture good known for skiding doors, screens and removable elements. These are exactly the elements that most intrigued the early modernist who visited from the West to Japan, such as blunt Lloyd Wright and Walter Gropious. Through the influences of those designers, the impression of flexible spacial boundaries entered the architectural imaginativeness of planetary modernism. Tezuka designs a client’s house which includes elements of sunshine, air current and humidness that has an undeniable touchable freshness. These are places suited to citizens of the 21stcentury which combines and embraces nature into simple life. Mentions MentionsPlaning for instruction. 2011. p48 Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.oecd.org/edu/innovation- education/centreforeffectivelearningenvironmentscele/48533289.pdf on 22 June 2014Design and Trend. 2013. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.designntrend.com/articles/3813/20130412/worlds-best-classroom-japan-fuji-kindergarten-wraps-around-100-year.htm on 22 June 2014Planing for Education: Collection of Exemplary Educational Facilities. 2011. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //edfacilitiesinvestment-db.org/facilities/9 on 22 June 2014

George Orwells “A Hanging” Essay

George Orwells’ â€Å"A Hanging† is a very descriptive piece. It starts off going into a detailed description of the weather, jail cells, and the inmates. The description goes so far to even mention that the man who was going to be hanged jumped over a water puddle. This shows me that even though it shouldn’t matter because he’s about to die it is just a natural instinct. When Orwell starts to describe the weather it sends out a dark uneasiness atmosphere. He describes the jail cells where the condemned people live as â€Å"small animal cages† this gives the impression on how bad the conditions were. This is the first sign of how inhumane it is there. Orwell then described the prisoner â€Å"a puny wisp of a man with vague liquid eyes.† He described him like this without telling about the crime so no one could stereotype the prisoner or be influenced to see him in a different light but only as a favorable, powerless Hindu man. Orwell gives in tense description to show the harsh treatment and to give his dislike for the way the people were treated. The dog that jumped on the man who was about to be executed was friendly to him and didn’t see him in his wrong doing unlike the people who intended to execute him. This made the inhumane execution seem even worse. I think the major conflict is that he knows that this harmless seeming man is about to be executed and he has no choice but to go along with the killing of this man even though he knows it is wrong. He has a strong dislike for the situation but because of his occupation and he doesn’t want to be looked at differently he doesn’t stand up for the man and stop the execution. He is expected to help with the hanging because it is one of his duties as an imperialist British police officer. In the story Orwell said, â€Å"I saw the mystery the unspeakable wrongness, of cutting a life short when it is in full tide.† To me this means they would be ending a man’s life that has a future and once his life is ended that future will never be experience d. After this Orwells view of capital punishment it is morally wrong and he thinks that no person should take another person’s life. When the prisoner begins to chant to his god it started to build up tension between the execution party and him. When Orwell said â€Å"the Indians  had gone grey like bad coffee.† He is simply expressing his distaste for the actual hanging itself. When he talks about the clanking sound then the dead silence he showed me how quick and easy it was to take a person’s life. The dog then again showed human like emotions against what was going on. Orwell said â€Å"it stopped short, barked then retreated into a corner of the yard.† This made me think the dog had emotional ties with the man also and it shows the dog in shock and just disgusted at the things that had just took place. Throughout this story Orwell expresses his outrage of the things that are taking place but doesn’t seem to try to stand up for what is morally right. Orwell uses figurative imagery and vivid description to revel his disapproval for capital punishment. Orwell skillfully manipulated the mood to engage readers’ emotions and convinces his anti-capital punishment among you. He sometimes even showed his emotional reactions through the dog. The purpose is to show the contrast of the overall value of life with it being destroyed by another people. He also tries to improve the mood of understanding the issues of capital punishment that have took place by showing how wrong it is to take someone’s life no matter their crime, religion, or anything that makes them different from another person. He resolves his conflict by writing about this and informing people that your morals shouldn’t be put to the side just because it is the duties of your occupation. Orwell is showing people that capital punishment is wrong no matter what the circumstances. Some feelings I felt while reading this were sympathy, compassion, uncomfortableness, surprise, and unease. At the beginning of this I was all for capital punishment but as I have read it I feel as if capital punishment is wrong because no one should have the right to say because of whatever reason it may be you need to die. They should just stay locked away forever if people think that they should be killed for some kind of wrong doing. I don’t see how the how the execution party could watch either because handing somebody is inhumane no matter how you look at it. I feel that the people that are conducting the execution are the most inhumane people and that the execution party that watches it are not far from it. I now understand the actual meaning of capital punishment and reading this short story has changed my perception on capital punishment a great deal. I also understand why I should not let other outside factors influence what I know is morally correct whether it be something as serious  as capital punishment or just day to day things in my life. What’s right is rig ht and what’s wrong is wrong.