Leveraging Retail Formats

Leveraging Retail Formats Free Online Research Papers The evolution of retail formats in India have been driven largely by the critical need for an optimal location and therefore visibility, a critical mass of consumers, and ultimately profitability. When you connect a good location which then leads to a higher visibility, which in turn drives greater traffic to a store, you have optimal opportunity to drive sales through higher conversion. Therefore a retail format that supports the brand and provides a platform of visibility is critical to its success. In the heightened clutter of retail spaces today, achieving brand saliency and greater visibility continues to pose a serious challenge for retailers. An overwhelming part of retailing continues to happen on crowded high streets where retail stores compete with not only each other but a plethora of small disorganized stores and street vendors all jostling with each other and vying for the consumers attention. Brand signages struggle to keep afloat in the sea of advertisments, hoardings and neon signs all peddling services of auto parts shops to tailors to the local sweet shop. In such an environment, the task for a marketer is to ensure that his brand logo and identity is communicated overtly to the consumers on the street. This cluttered retail environment drives a brand to adopt a large frontage retail format to enhance brand visibility. Leading brands operating in niche segments or premium product categories often follow a distribution strategy of multiple retail formats ranging from flagship stores of 1500 – 4000 sq ft , mid sized retail stores with a size of 600- 1200 sq ft, boutique stores which could be as small as 300 sq ft. as in the case of mobile phones and shop in shop corners in leading multi brand stores. While the flagship stores play the role of image drivers and offer visibility to the brand in prime shopping destinations, the boutique store and the shop in shop concepts are usually tactical measure formats to extend the reach and visibility of the brand where a critical mass of the target consumer is not available to set up a large store and make it profitable. The second factor that drives brands to explore possibilities of leveraging retail formats is distribution and the need to reach out effectively to its target consumers spread across the country in cities where populations stretch from the hundred thousands to millions. Since in India, organized retailing is still developing there are large parts of urban India where organized retailing is still nascent. In these cities or retailing areas applying the model of a large retail store typically present in an upscale high street location, may not deliver the desired ROI to the company or the franchisee. In such a case, the brand may consider partnering with a complementing and non competing brand and share space. This delivers a dual advantage. It assures the brand of a retail domain in a targeted shopping destination and gives it visibility and hence builds awareness and equity. Secondly, it is a low risk business proposition for the franchisee. One brand that applied this strategy su ccessfully in the mid 1990s was Levi’s. As part of its expansion strategy into potential B class towns ( but until then deemed to be less profitable in the short term), the brand partnered with many brands and got franchisees to open lifestyle driven stores. So, a youth brand like Levi’s found itself partnering with Benetton , Nike amongst many other brands. This format allowed the brand to enter hithertho smaller markets like Amritsar, Aurangabad etc. with a presentable model in its early days in India and gain brand visibility and awareness at a lower risk to itself and its franchisee. A similar model was then adopted by other brands. Combining retailing activity with fun and entertainment is another innovative of leveraging a format to occupy consumer mind space and build emotional linkages. A brand in Mumbai, retail products at day and converts itself into a hip and happening lounge at night. Then there are brands that have begun to leverage their retail spaces to offer an opportunity to relax over coffee and snacks and showcase designer wear through fashion shows, exhibit art etc. This kind of fusion between shopping and leisure driven activities in such a retail format proves to be an enduring experience for the consumer. Thus by exploiting the multiple possibilities that exist through the adoption of numerous retail format strategies a brand can maximize visibility and seduce the customer. The adoption application of the right retail format becomes by itself a sound value proposition. Research Papers on Leveraging Retail FormatsMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NicePETSTEL analysis of IndiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementDefinition of Export QuotasGenetic Engineering

Establishing a Healthy Communication Policy for Schools

Establishing a Healthy Communication Policy for Schools Communication is a key component to having a fantastic year and an excellent staff. It is essential that administrators, teachers, parents, staff, and students have a clear line of communication. This is a sample of a school communication policy that will assist in keeping clear communication lines with the entire school community. Communication Tips No matter who you are talking with- students, parents, teachers, or the principal- it helps to be courteous, professional, and well prepared. Written communications should always be proofread and written or typed neatly. How Teachers Will Communicate With Parents and Guardians Written Form All teachers will send home a form letter to each student’s parents introducing yourself, highlighting your class, contact information, goals you have for the year, etc. The letter will be sent home the first day of school.All letters or notes to parents should be proofread by at least two other faculty members before the note is sent home.After the letters have been proofread by two faculty members, they need to be turned into the principal for final approval.A copy needs to be made and put in that student’s file of each letter or note sent home to that student’s parents.All written communication should be professional, courteous, and have contact information to get back in touch with the teacher.Avoid the use of jargon.If the letter/note is hand written, make sure that it is legible. If it is typed, make sure that it is at least standard 12-point font. Electronic Form Copies should be printed and filed of any correspondence via electronic form.Make sure that all text/graphics are large enough to be seen or read.Avoid the use of jargon.Be sure to run spell/grammar check on any electronic communications.Only use electronic communications with parents who have expressed that it is the way they prefer to be contacted.You must log off your email every day before going home. Phone Be polite and courteous.Before you make the call, write down everything you need to communicate with that parent. Be organized with your thoughts.Keep a phone log. Record the date, time, and reason for calling that parent.Be direct and mindful of the parent’s time.If the parent is unable to talk to you at that time, politely ask when would be a good time to call them again.If you receive a voice mail; identify who you are, what you are calling about, and leave information for them to return your phone call. Parent-Teacher Conferences Dress professionally.Create a comfortable atmosphere. Don’t place a formal teachers desk between yourself and the parents. Use the same type of chair.Be prepared! Have your agenda ready. Have materials available that show the good and/or bad of the student.Always start the conference out with something positive.Be attentive and listen.Never talk about other students or teachers.Avoid the use of jargon.End the conference with something positive.Let them know that you care about their child.If the situation becomes difficult, call the office for assistance immediately.Keep a conference journal. Record the date, time, reason, and key points discussed in the conference. Miscellaneous Thursday Folders – Notes, letters, graded papers, and pertinent information will be sent home every Thursday with the students in a folder. The parent will take out and go through the papers, sign the folder, and return it back to the teacher the next day.Progress reports from each teacher need to go out bi-weekly.Each teacher should send four positive personal notes, make four positive phone calls, or a combination of both per week rotating through their home room roster. All parents need to receive positive information regarding their child at least two times per nine weeks.All correspondence with parents should be documented. Keep a file on hand for each student in your homeroom.Do not discuss other students or teachers with parents. Be professionally mindful.Develop a positive relationship with parents. Try to gain their trust and let them know that you have their child’s best interest in mind at all times.Always avoid the use of jargon. Use language that will make the parents feel comfortable and at ease. Keep it simple! Communications Within the School Community Principal to Teacher I will be sending out a daily e-mail to all staff each morning. The e-mail will highlight significant events, remind you of tasks, and offer suggestions for you to use in your classroom.All teachers need to check their email at least three times per day.We will have weekly staff meetings to go over relevant information and discuss events happening within our school. The meetings will be every Wednesday 3:15 p.m. We will have them in the cafeteria. These meetings are mandatory!Be sure to check your mail box daily. I will be placing grant information, classroom activities and ideas, and other information in your boxes as it becomes available.I am a hands-on principal. I think it is necessary for me to know what my teachers are doing in their classrooms. I will be visiting your classrooms several times per week.I would like to have one-on-one meetings with every teacher at least two times per nine weeks. I will use these meetings as an opportunity to see how you are doing, see if you h ave any needs, and to listen to ideas that you might have. Teacher to Principal I have an open door policy. Feel free to come in my office and discuss issues with me whenever you need. I am always happy to answer questions, take suggestions, and listen to my teachers.You are always welcome to email me for anything. I will check my email several times each day and will respond to your email as quick as possible.If an issue or problem comes up after school. Please feel free to call me at home. I will do my best to address your needs as quickly and conveniently as possible. Communications With Substitute Teachers If you know that you are going to be absent, please let the secretary know as soon as possible.If an emergency happens after school hours, please call the secretary or principal at home as soon as possible.You must fill out an absentee request form if you know you are going to be absent. If it is an emergency situation, then you must feel one out as soon as you return to school. Preparation and Materials for Substitutes: All teachers need to put a substitute packet together. The packet needs to be on file in the office. Be sure that you keep the packet up-to-date. The packet should include the following items: three days of updated emergency lesson plansenough copies of all work sheets for all studentsclass scheduleseating chartsclass rolesattendance slipslunch count slipssafety procedures and plansclass rulesstudent discipline policycontact teacher informationmiscellaneous informationIf you know that you are going to be absent and are capable of putting current lesson plans together, please turn them into the office to give to the substitute. Make sure that they are detailed, easy to follow, and state specifically what and when you want the substitute to do. Use the substitute lesson plan forms available in the office.If you are including worksheets in the lesson plans, try to copy them off for the substitute if it is possible. If it is not possible, make sure that you leave the correct number of copies that they will need for each sheet.If it is possible, write a personal note to the substitute making them feel welcome and giving them any information that you feel might help them. Communication With Students All students are to be treated fairly and with respect. If you expect them to respect you, then you have to respect them.You need to have an open door policy with all of your students. Let them know that they can trust you. Allow them the opportunity to come in, talk to you, ask you questions, and voice their concerns and opinions.It is our job to provide students with optimal opportunities to learn. We need to create an atmosphere that fosters learning and enhances a student’s ability to do such.All students regardless of race, color, or gender should be given equal opportunities and fair treatment by their teachers, administrators, and peers.All students should be encouraged to ask questions, and all teachers need to provide as an accurate of a response as possible.All teachers should have every student’s best interest in mind.

Scientific Lab Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scientific Lab - Research Paper Example nown B: It was likely to be Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria which is a typical nonspore-forming rods, facultative anaerobic, motile and negative, They ferment glucose and utilize citrate as carbon source and are lactose and sucrose non fermenters. These tests have been fully explored in the next section. With regards to the aim of the experiment, which is to identify unknown bacteria from mixed culture #18 using biochemical and morphological test, the two organisms identified had distinct characteristics which were looked for following laboratory tests. Normally, Gram staining is employed to differentiate 2 bacteria groups with different cell wall constituent. The method has the ability to differentiate Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria group; thus the bacterial cells are either colored red or violet. Gram positive bacteria is shown by Violet staining due to a thick layer of peptidoglycan existing in the cell wall of the bacteria, thus the crystal violet is retained by these cells on a slide. Consequently, Gram negative bacteria is shown by red staining due to a thin layer of peptidoglycan existing in the bacteria cell wall, hence crystal violet is not retained by bacterial cells. (Winn et al,2006) MacConkey Agar is used to distinguish Gram- negative, lactose-fermenting organisms from organisms that are non-fermentative .It is an inhibitory and differential medium that contains Crystal violets, bile salts, inhibitory agent and neutral red. Neutral red acts as a pH indicator. Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria is known to be lactose fermenters hence unknown A while Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria is not lactose fermentor thus unknown B. The orinithine decarboxylase test is important for Enterobacteriaceae differentiation. (MacFaddin, 2000).   MR-VP broth for Methyl Red test consists of peptone, phosphate buffer and glucose. The unknown bacterium that is able to perform mixed-acid fermentation generates enough acid that overcame the broth buffering

Industry issue Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Industry issue - Assignment Example Various countries have tyre ratings to guide manufacturers in the production of quality tyres. In addition, the tire ratings help the consumer to select the right replacement for the worn out tyre or when buying a new tyre. Consumers should have the chance to compare the tyres’ treadwear, temperature resistance, and traction performance. Each tyre manufacturer is required to grade their tyres according to tyre rating guidelines, as will be discussed in this paper. Dunlop tyres will be discussed, too. Although tyres are often taken for granted, they contribute significantly to the safety of the driver and the vehicle. The failure of the driver to use proper types of tyres, incorrect inflation pressure, and worn out tyres can lead to dangerous driving, thereby causing loss of life and property. When tyres and wheels are out of balance, tire wear and driver fatigue are increased, which may create a driving hazard. A tyre’s resistance to heat is referred to as temperature rating. Tyres are graded according to how they can resist heat. For instance, high temperatures can cause a tyre puncture. In addition, driving in hot weather for long distances can lead to tread separation and blowouts in tyres. The highest to the lowest temperature rating includes grades â€Å"A†, â€Å"B† and â€Å"C†. Grade A tyres are said to have a higher temperature rating that grade B and C. All Dunlop tyres have a grade of temperature rating (Knowles, 2010, p. 62). The ability of the tyre to stop on a wet surface is referred to as the traction performance. High traction rated tyres should enable drivers to stop their motor vehicles on wet roads faster. However, tyres with a lower traction performance cannot allow drivers to stop fast on wet surfaces. Traction performance grades include â€Å"AA†, â€Å"A†, â€Å"B†, and â€Å"C† (highest to lowest) (iSeeCars,

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Growing up, children are often told things that grown ups would question, as people grow they learn to question those things too. In the book The Adventures of Hucklberry Finn written by Mark Twain. Huck faces the challenge of either following what everyone is telling him is right, but he knows is wrong, or going against the grain and standing up for what he knows is right. Throughout the book Huck is unsure in what he believes and struggles to determine if what he is taught is wrong. The widow took over the role as guardian for Huck since his father and mother are both out of the picture. When Huck was being raised by his father he wasnt taught any morals or values, so the widow took this as an opportunity to make Huck into a person whose life was all about morals. In the book the widow tells Huck that hell is bad and that heaven is good, but Huck is unsure that he should believe everything that she is telling him. Huck decides that going to hell, if it means following his gut and not societys hypocritical and cruel principles, is a better option than going to everyone elses heaven. â€Å"All right then, I’ll go to hell! (245). † This is Hucks true break with the world around him. Huck faces the moral conflict of whether or not to turn Jim in because it is what society dubbed as the right thing to do. â€Å"I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me (89). † Right off from the beginning, Huck wanted to turn Jim in because it was against society’s rules to help a slave escape and Huck knew it. But when Jim said that, â€Å"Huck; yous de bes fren Jims ever had; en you is de only fren; ole Jims got now (89). † helped Huck to grasp the concept that there is a friendship in the making. Even though Huck didn’t turn Jim in, he is till troubled by his conscience when the slave catchers were leaving because he knows it is wrong to help a slave. Still Huck cannot bring himself forward to tell on Jim, thus showing that his innate sense of right exceeds that of society. The con-mens attempt to pose as the brothers of the late Peter Wilks is an important part of Hucks moral development. The Duke and King try to take Peters estate, however, Huck decides to return the money to Peters three daughters. This action demonstrates further moral growth, as he does choose to abandon the two con-men. Huck learned that people can be nice and show each other that they care about one another. Women would walk up to Peters daughters and kiss their foreheads, and then put their hand on theirhead, and looked up towards the sky, with the tears running down, and then busted out and went off sobbing and swabbing, and give the next woman a show (159). Huck has never seen anything so disgusting. When Huck Finn sees one of the daughters crying beside the coffin, it makes a deep impact on him. Hucks religious beliefs and moral standards cross pathes as he handles the situation. When Huck says, All right then, Ill go to hell! (245). He has decided to go against what society tells him to do by freeing Jim. Throughout the entire book Huck struggles with separating his own moral beliefs and what society tells him is the right thing to do. From the beginning of the book Huck showed that he did not always believe what people told and went against the grain when he said he wanted to go to hell instead of heaven. The moral development that Huck shows throughout the book causes Huck to develop other traits as well, such as compassion and sincerity towards others. Huck really came out of his shell and fully developed his moral beliefs when he gave the money back that the con-men stole to the three girls. It allowed Huck to get in touch with his emotional side of his moral beliefs and it told him what th right thing to do was.

Upperclass Education Essay -- essays research papers fc

Land Of The Free, Home Of The Upper Class   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.† (Lazarus) This incredible, sentimental homage to the American dream brings many to ask, what a wonderful concept- but is this truly the case? Is America truly a land of opportunity and dreams realized, or is it more so a case of realizing we have been dreaming? In a country where image is made and sold like bread in a bakery, it is no wonder the idea of a land of opportunity still exists- it smells so good. In theory, a land of opportunity and self-motivation would be a real chance at success and pure determination and hard work could get a man wherever he desires to be. However, reality poses quite a different story. Everyday hardworking families struggle to get by on food stamps and minimum wage. If theories of equal opportunity held true, ev ery single parent working multiple jobs for their children would be able to send their kids to good schools and not need to worry about how to pay for a trip to dentist or a doctor’s check-up. And while it is easy to point fingers at the poor and say that its all their fault because of the decisions they’ve made or as luck would have it, a gray area develops when taking a look at the working class and realizing that there are boundaries in place that try to keep people in their positions of powerlessness. One of these boundaries is class through education. Through background, cost, and strategic tokenism, the American society has bordered out the same people it claims to embrace.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First of all, one may point out the arbitrary nature of class. While ideally most people would like to see a country of hard work and payoff, the fact of the matter is that from the moment we are born, before any chance to prove oneself, we are placed into a category that has either great advantages or vast disadvantages. The elite are nearly always born that way, just as those in poverty. Once a child is born into their status, where they live has major impact on how their life will pan out. For most of Middle America suburbs comprised of housing developments and apartment complexes put children into mediocre public schools with mi... ...emselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Clearly, the solution to this situation is far more complicated than most people like to admit and in no single action will we find a remedy for it. The inequalities in place must first and foremost be recognized and acknowledged for any sort of change to come about. We can no longer â€Å"accept it as inevitable, [and] something we just have to live with.† (Langston 127) Leveling the playing field does not make a person a socialist or jeopardize upper class status; in fact, chances are that more upward movement would benefit the economy as a whole and not just a single class of people. It is about time that instead of passively accepting the inequalities at hand that something ought to be done about them, one step at a time. After all, we want to live up to the lady who claims to lift her lamp beside the golden door to let people use their opportunities if they so choose. Bibliography Domhoff, G. William. Mapping The Social Landscape, Susan J. Ferguson. McGraw-Hill 2005. Page 290 Langston, Donna. â€Å"Tired Of Playing Monopoly,† Race, Class, and Gender. Wadsworth Publishing Company 1998. Pages 127-130 Lazarus, Emma. â€Å"The New Colossus† 1883

Week 5 Reflection

Week Five Reflection Paper Team B will reflect on why it is important for management as well as investors and creditors to understand the current and long-term liabilities. What makes it important to disclose contingencies as well as how do operating and capital leases relate to liabilities. It is important for managers to know what the company has as current or long-term liabilities because if they are not aware of what the funds look like they cannot affectively run the company. This knowledge helps a manager be more effective at planning and organizing what the companies priority are.Without taking time to learn this, managers could overdraft a company’s bank account just trying to order supplies. External vendors would want to obtain this kind of information for a few reasons. One, investors who want to invest in your company they want to make sure they are making a very sound decision on their investment. Investors would not invest in a company if it was on the verge of f iling for bankruptcy or going out of business. Creditor will also look at a company’s current and long-term liabilities.If a business has too much or too little debit this could be a sign of not being stable. So for a creditor this would also a high risk if they did not take the time to do some research and crunching of the numbers to see where the business or individual stands. The importance of disclosing any contingencies is really to keep companies honest about how their business is doing. Per FASB disclosing of this information gives financial statement users the ability to understand the nature of a loss contingency, potential magnitude as well as if known the potential timing.With a capital lease the liability relation would be equal, as you would list this lease on all financial statements, balance sheet, income statement as well as the cash flow statement. With operating leases the effect would be listed on the income statement and the cash flow statement but not the balance sheet. So team B has briefly reflected on the understanding of current and long-term liabilities, why is it important to disclose contingencies as well as how does operating and capital leases related to liabilities.

Women in History

Transportation and Trade Pre-History to 1500 CE World Civilizations 1 February 25, 2013 Transportation and Trade From the prehistoric time period to 1500 C. E. there have been many technological advances in the way of transportation and the way that different cultures have used their advances. In this, the student will attempt to convey to the reader ways that certain world culture areas evolved in the way of transportation to become more successful in transporting their goods for trade.Starting with Ancient Mesopotamia (my personal favorite) there are very many different ways that the Mesopotamians changed their method of travel to accommodate their growing needs for certain goods. Starting by traveling on foot, Mesopotamians would take sling bags and fill them with their goods when they only had a few small items to transport. Maybe a small amount of Barley or wheat to make some bread with or some pickled or dried, salted fish would fit into most sling bags and the person would han g it over one shoulder like the way women carried babies in slings and just walk their route to get the goods t their destination.When they needed to carry moderate loads they would wrap a cloth around their bundle of goods that might also include some meats from beef, sheep, or goats and wrap the bundle onto their back and use their forehead as a balancing point to hold the package of goods steady and keep themselves balanced to be able to walk without problems. Heavier loads however, were loaded onto a quite large pallet and covered in a cloth and tied down with rope. Then the pallet was loaded onto the carrier’s back and carried that way.Due to the strain and limited space, they usually only kept meats and fish within the same or very nearby cities to avoid spoiling. In 3000 BC the Mesopotamians began utilizing donkeys as a mode of travel to carry goods. This enabled them to carry more and heavier items, and also they were able to carry different items as it was not as tax ing on the individual traveling and the donkey could bear the weight instead. With the introduction of donkeys as domesticated animals the Mesopotamians were able to transport textiles (cloth and/or fabric).While this is too heavy for a human to be able to carry enough to make the trip lucrative for all involved, using a donkey made it a lot easier to transport. Tied to the back of a donkey in bundles, the ass could walk for miles without needing a break and was able to bear the heaviness of the load. Donkeys enabled Mesopotamians to be able to travel and carry goods as far away as Kanesh in Turkey. The donkeys were also able to transport items such as gold, silver, and precious stones.In order to make the stones enough to make the trip worthwhile, they could not just carry it on foot because it was too heavy once you had enough of these metals to prove enough to accomplish all needs. They could carry more grains also. The donkey was also able to carry wine and lapis lazuli (Mined i n Afghanistan large chunks of it were able to be transported to make jewelry to trade. Without donkey assistance they would not have been able to carry enough back at once to make the amount of items needed to trade for survival or profit).Which were both very heavy and needed to be carried by an ulterior method to get to where it needed to go efficiently and effectively. Around 2500-2350 B. C. , boats began being introduced to the Mesopotamians for a way to travel and transport their goods from place to place. Starting with gulf boats, they were Stronger than common river boats, used to transport goods from South Mesopotamia to the Gulf. Made out of reeds and other woods covered in bitumen (A natural tar-like substance that is derived from petroleum to make the wood waterproof).The Mesopotamians were able to continue to transport barley, wheat, and textiles, but now, more of them and much faster. They also became able to transport stone. Mesopotamian Kings sent expeditions in searc h of unusual stones and carried from the gulf into Mesopotamia. Special woods like pine and cedar from as far away as India were traded in Southern Mesopotamia in trading posts. Pearls, known as fish eyes to the Mesopotamians were also able to be harvested and transported. Pearls were used to make jewelry and were exchanged for Babylonian goods.Carnelian, a red or reddish white mineral that usually came from India was used to make jewelry and to decorate objects was also moved this way first. Copper, mixed with Tin and Bronze, being one of the most important traded goods traded, it came from Anatolia, Iran, and the Gulf. Ivory became available to be moved with the use of the gulf boat as well. Also, reeds cut from along the river banks and woven into mats or tied together as bundles for building boats and houses. Reeds were easier transported by water than by land.Another form of boat that was used later on as needs became greater and more abundant amounts of goods were needed to su rvive this period was the coracle. The coracle is a small round boat made of animal skins and covered with the bitumen and were paddled or drifted downstream. They mostly used these coracles for moving and transporting fish, (more of it, and some of it was even transported alive in large post. Reeds, grains, and meat from beef, goats and sheep were also moved using coracles.Although the type of goods did not change, the amounts and condition of some of these goods were very different as opposed to the foot or donkey method of traveling. Rafts which were simply logs tied together and placed on top of inflated animal skins. Was good for easy storage of the equipment used for making the rafts as they could be floated downstream and then dismantled upon arrival and the wood could be sold. With rafts the Mesopotamians were able to move more and heavier logs by lashing them together and floating them in the river along with side raft.Larger amounts of reeds and grains for beer and wine we re able to be moved easier this way and then the trip was even more advantageous. Assyrians used rafts to move large flat stone slabs to use in decorating their palaces. River boats that were made of reeds bundled and lashed and often covered in bitumen also to waterproof just the same as the coracle and gulf boats were. Usually drifted downstream with the current but then needed to be towed back upstream by various means such as donkeys, oxen or even people. The Mesopotamians carried all of the usual items on these river boats (grain, reeds, logs, wool, wine, and beer).Although, they were also able to carry and transport bricks with much more ease than was available before these boats were used. Bricks were made of mud of baked used to build structures. Normally made near the place to be used, but sometimes needed to be transported to different cities. Moving on to Medieval Europe we have a very simple people. They usually did not go very far if they did leave because everything wa s so far away that they had to venture for days or even weeks to simply thirty miles and back. Most of the civilians that did travel did so on foot.Most people in Medieval Europe stayed near the places where they were born. Whenever one did venture out, the person would usually be able to walk up to ten or twenty miles to a village, work all day and then walk back again at the end of the day. If the road was well maintained, they could walk further, however, it was uncommon unless need was emergent to go further. If not traveling on foot, the second most available choice after 2500 CE was on horseback. Horses could go much faster and further than a human simply walking to and from a destination.Horses could go as far as thirty miles without needing a break. Would leave it to where the rider was able to accomplish much more with his day and even be able to bring with him some goods to trade where he ended up riding to. When they needed to move more than just a small amount of goods s uch as locally grown foods to sell or trade or things like wool. Wool was very heavy and a horse could not carry a very large amount on just horseback. They used covered wagons pulled by horse or oxen able to transport silk, wool, and grown foods to trade.Could only go 20 Miles at a time when using horses for pull the wagon or 10 miles at a time (when using oxen oxen) before needed to stop and rest, or repair wagon due to condition of roads. Although this did make the trip take longer that with just one single horse, and also the trip was more lucrative because of the goods that could be carried back using a covered wagon. If there was more than just a moderate amount of supplies or goods they would use sailing ships to transport them. There were a few different types of sailing ship that was used, each one having its own purpose.The first type of sailing ship that was used was a Knarr. This was the most common type used for most people. The Knarr had a sole square rigged sail and w as mainly used to move light cargo. The next most available type of sailing ship used was the trade cog. These were single mast, flat bottomed ships with steep sides. The flat bottom allowed the sailors to come into port easier and go right up on land to be able to load and unload the goods and cargo better, faster, and easier. One more type of sailing ship that was used by Medieval Europeans was a hulk.Also having a flat bottom like the trade cog, this ship was easy to dock on land to make boarding and de-boarding of cargo and persons easy. However, unlike the previous ships, the hulk had no mast making oceanic travel impossible in this craft. The hulk was used mainly in canals and rivers due to the limited controllability when attempting ocean traveling. The final two types of sailing ships that were used were the caravel and carrack. Both of these ships were mainly created by the Portuguese for exploration voyages.The caravel had either both square and lateen rigged sails, or sim ply just lateen rigged sails. The carrack was a rather large ship, much larger than the caravel was. With six sails (a mizzen, a bowsprit, a spritsail, a foresail, and two topsails) this ship was very easily controlled no matter what the conditions. The many different sails made it so that the carrack could sail against the wind. In the Ancient Roman Empire transportation of goods didn’t really pick up too much until the Romans began using ships to move things, on account of how taxing everything was.The invention of their roads did however help with the traveling but the items they had to trade and transport were so far away that they needed to be able to use shipping methods via waterways to get the items moved efficiently and in a method that was worthwhile to the people moving the items and the amounts of goods they needed to move The Romans started using ferries for transportation for crossing and traveling shallow passages. Although these passages could have been waded across, rivers like The Euphrates River had already begun to be inhabited by crocodiles and other harmful creatures.Making it undesired to cross without being on a protecting contraption of some kind. Horse drawn chariots were two wheeled vehicles drawn by three or four horses (later on in history to be drawn by 2 horses) that were hitched side by side. This was a preferred method of transportations for Emperors and other royal persons. They were often made out of wood for the basket and wheels. The chariot was strengthened in some places by bronze or iron. The tires were also made of iron or bronze and the wheels had anywhere from four to eight spokes.Sledges, pulled by oxen were used mainly to transport things that were very large and/or heavy. Sledges were known to carry large statues, animals, bricks and sunbaked soil. Sledges were made of Wood as well, but constructed much sturdier to be able to bear the weight of the large and heavy items that they were carrying. Last but not least, the Romans used ships to transport salves, silk from China, perfumes, cotton, precious stones, spices, and precious metals.The romans differed on which ones they used the three most common types of ships that were used were rafts, sailing ships, and merchant ships. References Leokum, A. â€Å"When Were Ships First Used† The Free Lance Star October 24, 1968, Tell Me Why! Pg. 23 Print. Beller, Steven. â€Å"Vienna. † The World Book Encyclopedia. 2009 ed. Print. O'Brien, Patrick Karl. â€Å"THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONS: MESOPOTAMIA AND THE INDUS REGION 4000-1800 BC† Oxford Atlas of World History. First published in 2002 by Philip's an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group Second edition 2005Reprinted with revisions 2007. Print. Singman, Jeffrey L. Blaine, Bradford B. Daily Life in Medieval Europe Speculum Vol. 76, No. 2 (Apr. , 2001), pp. 523-524 Published by: Medieval Academy of America Stable URL: http://www. jstor. org/stable/2903521 Nelson, Eric. â€Å"All Roa ds Lead To Rome† Complete Idiot's Guide to the Roman Empire August, 2011 Print. Derived from: http://site. ebrary. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/lib/ashford/docDetail. action? docID=10048566;p00=ancient%20roman%20travel%20trade

The Attitudes of Death by the Deceased essays

The Attitudes of Death by the Deceased essays Emily Dickinson and Randall Jarrell both use a unique style of narration, having the deceased speak. Only through this manifestation do these poems have a lasting impact and greater meaning. Both in Dickinsons I heard a Fly Buzz-and in Jarrells Death of the Ball Turret Gunner, death is portrayed through the words of the posthumous speakers without the orthodox conception of heaven, but instead with an anomalistic manifestation of death as purely the end of ones existence; Using its own unique metaphor each poem brings into view the dismal transition from life to the withered state of death. In Dickensons I heard a Fly Buzz- a simple fly is used in the ceremonious transition from life to death as God is absent. The central figure of the scene is expected to make a glorious exit and the build-up is just right for it, but at the moment of climax it was not God that came but there interposed a Fly. The fly comes between the speaker and the onlookers, between life and death. No longer is her family and friends, or the material items that have been the focus of her attention throughout her life important to her, in her last moments her attention is on the fly. It is the fact that the fly obscures the ritual of dying, flying between the light and me, that allows the speaker to see the fact of death. The fly obliterates the speakers false notions of death and becomes a reminder of her ghastly condition and decay. The only sound of heavenly music is the uncertain stumbling buzz of the fly. The buzz grows until it takes up her entire field of perception and comes between her and the light until the windows fail and she is left in darkness, in ignorance, and in death. It is then that she can not see to see as she is ignorant. The fly reduced human life to an elementary and meaningless level. Ins...

A Brief History of the Cuban Revolution

A Brief History of the Cuban Revolution In the final days of 1958, ragged rebels began the process of driving out forces loyal to Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. By New Year’s Day 1959, the nation was theirs, and Fidel Castro, Chà © Guevara, Raà ºl Castro, Camilo Cienfuegos, and their companions rode triumphantly into Havana and history. The revolution began long before, however, and the eventual rebel triumph was the result of many years of hardship, guerrilla warfare, and propaganda battles. Transcendental Graphics / Getty Images Batista Seizes Power The revolution began in 1952 when former Army Sergeant Fulgencio Batista seized power during a hotly contested election. Batista had been president from 1940 to 1944 and ran for president in 1952. When it became apparent that he would lose, he seized power before the elections, which were canceled. Many people in Cuba were disgusted by his power grab, preferring Cuba’s democracy, as flawed as it was. One such person was rising political star Fidel Castro, who would likely have won a seat in Congress had the 1952 elections taken place. Castro immediately began plotting Batista’s downfall. Assault on Moncada On the morning of July 26, 1953, Castro made his move. For a revolution to succeed, he needed weapons, and he selected the isolated Moncada barracks as his target. 138 men attacked the compound at dawn: it was hoped that the element of surprise would make up for the rebels’ lack of numbers and arms. The attack was a fiasco almost from the start, and the rebels were routed after a firefight that lasted a few hours. Many were captured. Nineteen federal soldiers were killed; the remaining ones took out their anger on captured rebels, and most of them were shot. Fidel and Raul Castro escaped  but were captured later. 'History Will Absolve Me' The Castros and surviving rebels were put on public trial. Fidel, a trained lawyer, turned the tables on the Batista dictatorship by making the trial about the power grab. Basically, his argument was that as a loyal Cuban, he had taken up arms against the dictatorship because it was his civic duty. He made long speeches and the government belatedly tried to shut him up by claiming he was too ill to attend his own trial. His most famous quote from the trial was, â€Å"History will absolve me.† He was sentenced to 15 years in prison  but had become a nationally recognized figure and a hero to many poor Cubans. Mexico and the Granma In May 1955 the Batista government, bending to international pressure to reform, released many political prisoners, including those who had taken part in the Moncada assault. Fidel and Raul Castro went to Mexico to regroup and plan the next step in the revolution. There they met up with many disaffected Cuban exiles who joined the new â€Å"26th of July Movement,† named after the date of the Moncada assault. Among the new recruits were charismatic Cuban exile Camilo Cienfuegos and Argentine doctor Ernesto â€Å"Chà ©Ã¢â‚¬  Guevara. In November  1956, 82 men crowded onto the tiny yacht Granma and set sail for Cuba and revolution. In the Highlands Batista’s men had learned of the returning rebels and ambushed them. Fidel and Raul made it into the wooded central highlands with only a handful of survivors from Mexico; Cienfuegos and Guevara were among them. In the impenetrable highlands, the rebels regrouped, attracting new members, collecting weapons, and staging guerrilla attacks on military targets. Try as he might, Batista could not root them out. The leaders of the revolution permitted foreign journalists to visit and interviews with them were published around the world. The Movement Gains Strength As the July 26th movement gained power in the mountains, other rebel groups took up the fight as well. In the cities, rebel groups loosely allied with Castro carried out hit-and-run attacks and nearly succeeded in assassinating Batista. Batista decided on a bold move: he sent a large portion of his army into the highlands in the summer of 1958 to try and flush out Castro once and for all. The move backfired: the nimble rebels carried out guerrilla attacks on the soldiers, many of whom switched sides or deserted. By the end of 1958, Castro was ready to deliver the knockout punch. Underwood Archives / Getty Images Castro Tightens the Noose In late 1958 Castro divided his forces, sending Cienfuegos and Guevara into the plains with small armies; Castro followed them with the remaining rebels. The rebels captured towns and villages along the way, where they were greeted as liberators. Cienfuegos captured the small garrison at Yaguajay on Dec. 30. Defying the odds, Guevara and 300 weary rebels defeated a much larger force at the city of Santa Clara on December 28–30, capturing valuable munitions in the process. Meanwhile, government officials were negotiating with Castro, trying to salvage the situation and halt the bloodshed. Victory for the Revolution Batista and his inner circle, seeing that Castro’s victory was inevitable, took what loot they could gather up and fled. Batista authorized some of his subordinates to deal with Castro and the rebels. The people of Cuba took to the streets, joyfully greeting the rebels. Cienfuegos and Guevara and their men entered Havana on January 2nd and disarmed the remaining military installations. Castro made his way into Havana slowly, pausing in every town, city, and village along the way to give speeches to the cheering crowds, finally entering Havana on January 9th. Aftermath and Legacy The Castro brothers quickly consolidated their power, sweeping away all remnants of the Batista regime and muscling out all of the rival rebel groups that had aided them in their rise to power. Raul Castro and Chà © Guevara were put in charge of organizing squads to bring to trial and execute Batista era war criminals who had engaged in torture and murder under the old regime. Although Castro first positioned himself as a nationalist, he soon gravitated toward communism and openly courted the leaders of the Soviet Union. Communist Cuba would be a thorn in the side of the United States for decades, triggering international incidents such as the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The United States imposed a trade embargo in 1962 that led to years of hardship for the Cuban people. Under Castro, Cuba has become a player on the international stage. The prime example is its intervention in Angola: thousands of Cuban troops were sent there in the 1970s to support a leftist movement. The Cuban revolution inspired revolutionaries throughout Latin America as idealistic young men and women took up arms to try and change hated governments for new ones. The results were mixed. In Nicaragua, rebel Sandinistas eventually did overthrow the government and come to power. In the southern part of South America, the upswing in Marxist revolutionary groups such as Chiles MIR and Uruguays Tupamaros led to right-wing military governments seizing power; Chilean dictator  Augusto Pinochet is a prime example. Working together through Operation Condor, these repressive governments waged a war of terror on their own citizens. The Marxist rebellions were stamped out, but many innocent civilians died as well. Cuba and the United States, meanwhile, maintained an antagonistic relationship well into the first decade of the 21st century. Waves of migrants fled the island nation over the years, transforming the ethnic makeup of Miami and South Florida; in 1980 alone, more than 125,000 Cubans fled in makeshift boats in what came to be known as the Mariel Boatlift. After Fidel In 2008, the aging Fidel Castro stepped down as president of Cuba, installing his brother Raul in power. During the next five years, the government gradually loosened its tight restrictions on foreign travel and also began allowing some private economic activity among its citizens. The U.S. also began to engage Cuba under the direction of President Barack Obama, and by 2015 announced that the long-standing embargo would gradually be loosened.   The announcement resulted in a surge of travel from the U.S. to Cuba and more cultural exchanges between the two nations. However, with the election of Donald Trump as president in 2016, the relationship between the two countries is in flux. Fidel Castro died on Nov. 25, 2016.  Raà ºl Castro announced municipal elections for October 2017, and Cubas National Assembly officially confirmed Miguel Dà ­az-Canel as Cuba’s new head of state.

International Market Entry and Development Research Paper

International Market Entry and Development - Research Paper Example This deficiency in groundwork is quite apparent in the decisive factors that are functional to differentiate the international markets in comparison to one another so as to decide on to enter the market of appropriate countries. The countries that are chosen for actions in the international business are mostly dependent on the factors of immediacy or personal choice in comparison to factors such as size of the market, pace of progress or convenience (Cateora & Ghauri, 2000). Choosing an appropriate country is given vital importance owing to the unfeasibility of trying to enter all the states and nations in a global context. This also involves monetary and supply limitations as well as the massive amount of probable hazard occurring from choosing a market that is poor (Alon, 2004). Market Research Process It is extremely crucial to conduct a thorough market research while entering in a new international market in order to assess the possible hazards in the foreign market. Failing in u nderstanding the problems would result in implementing correct decisions for incorrect problems. International markets are new to the marketer so, there are high possibilities of misinterpreting the problems in the new foreign market. Therefore, it can be understood that it is quite essential to carry out a research that is investigative in order to gain a proper understanding of the market situations and problems (Zainbooks, n.d.). The research procedure for business will involve a four step procedure. In the first step, the objectives of research regarding the size of the structure of the market and the concept of the product in the new market are determined. The structure of the market involves the market size and the development stage among others and the concept of the product would involve that how the product is identified in the new market. This also involves ascertaining the potential of the market for the specific product along with the approach of the customers towards th e product. The second step deals with structuring or designing a proper research plan where the objectives of the research should be decipher into particular information requirements. In the third step, the research plan is implemented and to conclude in the final step the findings and the details are evaluated as well as interpreted (Zainbooks, n.d.). Product Adaptation & Approaches to Promotional Strategies While entering a new foreign market, it becomes necessary for the product that is to be introduced to adapt itself according to the new foreign market. This essentially means to modify the product so that it mirrors the characteristics of the new market. This is important as the consumers are different in the foreign market. This would also prove advantageous as this alteration will help in accommodating it among the consumers and would also ensure prolonged penetration. There are few adaptations that become compulsory for a product while entering a new foreign market. These in clude the government regulations, cultural essentials such as whether the product is suitable for the consumers, technological considerations such as