Consumer Questionnaire for Soft Drinks Essay

1.What is your monthly budget for consumption of drinks? Ans- Around Rs 300. 2 .Are you satisfied with the drinks available to you in the market? Ans- Yes, although different flavours would be appreciated, along with aerated fruit drinks. 3.Do you find the price range of these drinks to be appropriate?what is yan approximation of an ideal prioce? Ans- Not really. As it exceeds the budget if you generally eat out more than twice a week as is the case with most people. Rs 15 for 200 ml. 4.Are you willing to make changes to your existing choice of product?what would u like to see in a drink? Ans- Yes, if a new product with my requirements is available. Less sugar , less preservatives natural, no preservatives colour calories etc. 5.What more do you expect from your drink manufacturer that can help you to derive maximum satisfaction? Ans-Healthier drinks are more appreciated as opposed to sugar filled carbonated drinks. Also the pricing can be changed to make it better for consumers to buy on a regular basis. QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RETAILERS- MORE MANAGER, SADAKAT PEERZADE 1.What is your approximate profits from the sale of Soft drinks per month? Ans- turnover Around 1-2 lakhs, about 2-3 % . 2.Are you willing to take up promotional activities for a new range of products in this line? What kind? Ans- yes if the product is up to the standards we require and we get some incentives. 3.What is the feedback received from the consumers regarding the available products? Ans- Customers wanted more healthy options, drinks with less sugar, the most popular being Real fruit juices. 4.Do the existing manufacturer provide you assistance for the marketing of their products? Ans-Yes such as discounts on products and special offers offering extra quantity at the same price. Coupon booklets are also used along with leaflets. 5.Do you suggest any changes in the Marketing/Distribution system which can help to save cost? Ans- Providing more coolers and other storage facilities for stock to ensure better distribution. Also better packaging, quick deliveries so extra stock need not be kept. Free samples.

Goblin Shark

Maggie Payne Per. 3 10/16/12 Final Draft Most people probably think that sharks appeared around the same time as dinosaurs. But in fact they were alive about 132 million years before the dinosaurs. Even though sharks are older than humans, we still know very little about them. The things we do know are their structure, most species’ habitats, and what sharks are used for by humans. The Goblin shark is slightly different from other species such as the Great White shark or the Hammerhead shark. But all sharks have an odd skeleton, it’s odd because it’s made up of cartilage and it’s very flexible.Sharks also have slightly different organs from that of a human. For example, their stomach is very long, it stretches from the middle of their pectoral fin to the bottom of their belly. They also have spiral shaped intestines, a large liver, and a small heart located between the front of their pectoral fin and mouth, bellow the gills. They also have small spikes coa ting their skin called denticles. Sharks have the same five senses as humans do plus one extra sense. Shark’s have very small holes around their head called â€Å"ampullae of Lorenzini†.These give sharks the ability to sense small electrical currents given off by other animals within one meter. Most sharks use this as an advantage while hunting while others don’t need to. For example, they will use it while hunting for fish hidden in the sand on the sea floor. Sharks are used for many things, which is causing them to become endangered. Their flesh is used for all sorts of food including, shark fin soup, fish and chips, smoked shark, canned shark and shark fish cakes, dog food, and sashimi.Most of them are caught off of Honshu, a main island of Japan, causing the various Japanese dishes. Sharks are also used for various medical reasons like cornea transplants. Heart disease medicine is made with chemicals extracted from shark blood, there are even shark oil table ts. Burnt angel shark skin was once used to treat skin disease, and cartilage is used to treat burns. Sharks are often still hunted for their skin which is used for many things. For example, polished shark skin is used for purses, shoes, and to cover books and science tools.Shark skin was also used unpolished and with the denticles still on them, this is called Shagreen, which was used for non-stick grips and sword hilts. Also, shark teeth are often found and used to make jewelry such as necklaces. Although these things are good for humans, they are very bad for sharks because, they are becoming endangered. It’s bad because, if sharks went extinct, we would have a lot of big fish and seals to worry about because, they would be eating penguins and other birds that dwell near water and they might even eventually become a danger for humans.Sadly, the goblin shark is probably one of the sharks that gets caught and eaten. This would be an odd sight too. Why? Well, the goblin shark has very flabby skin that is bubble gum pink with a blue tint on their fins. When they die, they turn from that pink color to brown. They are generally about three to ten feet long but can grow up to thirteen feet long. They have an elongated snout which protrudes out of its forehead. It also has a long tail which looks similar to a frilled shark’s tail.The goblin sharks jaw can extend out of their skull to the full length of their snout. Because of this, the prey rarely gets away, another advantage that the goblin shark has on its prey is how its teeth are shaped. The teeth are long, dagger like, and smooth edged like, those of a Sandtiger shark. But the goblin sharks back teeth are flattened for crushing things like shells. The teeth are probably like this because they feed on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans such as crabs. They most likely feed on all these different things because of their habitat.They are scattered around the world and are found in the eastern and wes tern Atlantic, specifically near French Guiana, the Bay of Biscay, Madeira, Portugal, and South Africa. In the western Indian ocean near South Africa, and in the western Pacific, near Japan and Australia. They live about 40-280 meters below sea level which is near the bottom of the mesopelagic region of the ocean. They are at this depth because; they like to be near the outer shelf and upper slope area of the ocean. Most species of sharks like to be near, if not in, coral reefs like the Sandtiger shark.While others like to be in really deep water, like the Goblin shark. Even though they like different depths of the ocean the Goblin and Sandtiger shark are very similar and from the same family, but the Goblin shark evolved before the Sandtiger shark. Despite how much we know about sharks, and how many species we have found, we actually know very little. We have actually only discovered about 400 species, most of which we know very little about. For example, we are still trying to und erstand and learn more about the great white sharks and they are one of the most well known species.We are still trying to learn more about them because; there is a time in the year when they disappear for a short while. Scientists have guessed that it’s when they retreat to their breeding grounds. Humans even know a lot less about the goblin shark than the great white shark which means we have a lot to learn. Especially since there are also a lot of different species of other sea life we haven’t discovered and we might not for a long while because we are unable to get to the bottom of the deepest trenches and have enough time to thoroughly search them.

Bowen Family Systems

Bowen Family System Theory Introduction In doing my studies on family/systemic counselling, I found Bowen’s theory intriguing. In my work and everyday life, I witness triangulation on a daily basis, from my own experience, without the awareness from this module, I was often entwined in triangulation. As a trainee therapist I decided to write my paper on Bowenian Therapy in order to gain a better understanding and develop my awareness. Murray Bowen, M. D. (31 January 1913 9 October 1990) was an American psychiatrist and a professor in Psychiatry at the Georgetown University. Bowen was among the pioneers of family therapy and founders of systemic therapy. â€Å"The family systems theory is a theory introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen that suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit. Families are systems of interconnected and interdependent individuals, none of whom can be understood in isolation from the system† (Genopro. com 18/11/2010) Bowen’s interest in family began as he was practicing as a psychiatrist in the 1940s. He focused on schizophrenic patient’s emotional relationships with their mothers. Others have called it a symbiosis relationship, but for him it was only an exaggerated natural process of emotional relationship. In 1954 he started to hospitalize the entire family of the sick (schizophrenic) person. He found out that the entire family suffered with the sick person emotionally. He also studied the relationship between mother-child symbioses. This involved a certain repetitive pattern, where he observed alternating patterns of closeness and distance. They portrayed sensitive emotional tensions caused by separation anxiety and incorporation anxiety. In 1959 he started working with families with less severe problems. Surprisingly these families displayed the same problems as the disturbed families. He concluded that there is no discontinuity between the normal and disturbed families but vary along a continuum line of emotional fusion to differentiation. Bowen was one of the first to realize that the history of our family creates a template which shapes the values, thoughts, and experiences of each generation, as well as how that generation passes down these things to the next generation. Bowens theory focuses on the balance of two forces togetherness and individuality. Too much togetherness can prevent individuality, or developing ones own sense of self whereas too much individuality results in a distant and estranged family. The theory looks at the family as a system and describes the complex interactions that exist in any one unit. The way members of a family are connected and the way they react to one another makes the functioning of family members interdependent. According to the theory, mental illness happens as a result of emotional fusion. This can happen when there is an increase in the level of emotions and anxiety in the family. Bowen introduced eight interlocking concepts to explain family development and functioning. Below I will provide an overview of each concept. Differentiation of Self The first concept is Differentiation of Self, or the ability to separate feelings and thoughts. Undifferentiated people can not separate feelings and thoughts; They have difficulty thinking logically because when asked to think they are flooded with feelings, so this makes It difficult for them to base their responses on their own logical thinking. They also have difficulty differentiating between their feelings and the feelings of others. They look to their family to define how they think about issues, feel about people, and interpret their experiences. Differentiation is the process of freeing yourself from your familys processes to define yourself so you can have different opinions and values than your family members, but are still capable of staying emotionally connected to them. It means being able to calmly reflect on a conflicted interaction afterward, realising your wn role in it, and then choosing a different response for the future. Triangles Triangles are the basic units of systems. They balance between closeness and distance. The third person or party brings unity and creates continuity in warring situation. The triangle brings stressed person into a manageable level of operation. This involves true listening and gives a true advice for a better solution. In it virtually all relationships are shadowed by third parti es. For example when a couple have an argument, afterwards, one of the partners may call their friend to talk about the fight. The third person helps them reduce their anxiety and take action, or calm their strong emotions and reflect, and make decision. People who are more undifferentiated are likely to triangulate others and be triangulated whereas people who are differentiated cope well with life and relationship stress, and as a result are less likely to triangulate others or be triangulated. The Nuclear Family Emotional Process These are the emotional patterns in a family that continue over generations. This involves a modeling scenario where a family member models and imitates the behaviour and even the language of his or her parents. For example, a parent who teaches his or her children to be happy when things are ok and sad when things are bad shapes the future thinking of those children. Here the parent passes on an emotional view of the world (the emotional process), which is taught throughout generation from parent to a child, in a nuclear family. Reactions to this process can range from open conflict, to physical or emotional problems in one family member, to reactive distancing. This will bring problems with family members like substance abuse, mental illness and irresponsibility. The Multigenerational Transmission Process This process entails the way family emotional processes are transferred and maintained over generations. This captures how the whole family joins in The Family Projection Process, for example, by reinforcing the beliefs of the family. As the family continues this pattern over generations, they also refer back to previous generations (Hes just like his Uncle he was always irresponsible too or Shes just like your cousin Mary she was divorced four times. ). Sibling Position Bowen believed In sibling order and that each child had a place in the family hierarchy. He believed that the oldest sibling was more likely to be seen as overly responsible and mature whilst the youngest as overly irresponsible and immature. Emotional Cut-off Emotional cut-off refers to the techniques people use to reduce anxiety from their unresolved emotional issues with parents, siblings, and other members from the family of origin. Some people seek distance either by moving away physically or emotionally using silence, diversion or avoidance of difficult and hurtful topics. To avoid sensitive issues, they may move away from their families and refuse to go home regularly. This strategy may work in the short term to reduce immediate anxiety but over time, the deeper, unresolved problems are toxic towards other relationships. An open relationship is the opposite of emotional cut-off. It is the best way to reduce a familys over-all anxiety. Continued low anxiety permits family members who would like to, to begin the slow steps to better differentiation. Bowen wrote, It might be difficult for a family with severe cut-offs to begin more emotional contact with the extended family, but any effort toward reducing the cut-off with the extended family will soften the intensity of the family problem, reduce the symptoms, and make any kind of therapy far more productive. Societal Emotional Processes The concept of societal emotional process describes how the emotional system governs behaviour on a societal level, promoting both progressive and regressive periods in a society. Cultural forces are important in how a society functions but are insufficient for explaining the rise and fall in how well societies adapt to the challenges that face them. The society’s attitudes towards for example different races, cl asses, genders and sexual orientation, have definite effects on the family. In many ways, this is like the Family Projection Process scaled up to the level of a society as a whole. The way a family deals with prejudice, discrimination and persecution is instinctively passed on to their children so that they can survive in their unique environment. The coping practices of the parents and extended family may lead to more or less adaptive emotional health for the family and its members. Normal Family Development According to Bowen, all families lie along a continuum. Bowen believed that all families lie on a spectrum or continuum and that it is difficult to try to classify families into types. If circumstances change, one type of family could change and become another type of family. For this reason, Bowen is credited with being one of the first culturally sensitive family therapists. A normal, adjusted family will have tensions and anxieties but will be balanced in terms of their togetherness and differentiation. A normal family will have good emotional balance and recognise that some problems are external and others come from the individual. There are connections between the different generations in the family and also to the extended family. The transitions for example from adolescence to adulthood are smooth and supported by the wider family. Past pains and joys are shared. Bowen says no matter how we transform and forget the past, these memories of our relationship, still stay alive in us. The danger is the way our former family attachment will shape our new family. At various times difficulties in different relationships, sometimes called dyads, are resolved without drawing in others into their difficulties. The ability to tolerate and support family members with different views supports differentiation and is a sign of a healthy family. Awareness of external societal influences as well as the unique family influences helps a family to become well adjusted. During times of grief and loneliness for example, family members give space and allow the person opportunity to grow. A positive emotional atmosphere with a belief in the virtues of family builds normal family development. Finally, when family members depend on each ther for feedback and support rather than in co-dependent ways, the family develops healthily. Family Disorders Bowen believed that family problems result from emotional fusion, or from an increase in the level of anxiety in the family. He believed that the member with the symptom is the least differentiated member of the family, and is the one who has the least ability to resist the pull to become fused with another member. This person absorbs the anxiety and worries of t he whole family and has the least ability to separate their own thoughts and feelings from those of their family. Families face two kinds of problems. Vertical problems are passed down from one generation to the next. Thus, adults who had cold and distant relationships with their parents do not know how to have warm and close relationships with their children, and so pass down their own problems to their children. Horizontal problems are caused by environmental stressors or transition points in the family development. This may result from traumas such as a chronic illness, the loss of the family home, or the death of a family member. However, horizontal stress may also result from Social Emotional Processes, such as when a minority family moves from a like-minority neighbourhood to a very different neighbourhood, or when a family with traditional gender roles immigrates to a culture with very different views, and must raise their children there. The worst case for the family is when vertical and horizontal problems happen at once. Goals of Therapy Bowen’s therapy was not aimed at changing people or solving problems, it was basically geared towards: †¢ Helping families to inquire and explore their own roles in family problems Making them assume responsibility for their own problems†¢ People learning more about themselves and their relationships †¢ Decreasing emotional reactivity†¢ Improving self-focus †¢ Modifying dysfunctional patterns †¢ Evaluating progress of the family in terms of how they function now, as well as how adaptive they can be to future changes In general, the t herapist accomplishes this by giving less attention to specific problem they present with, and more attention to family patterns of emotions and relationships, as well as family structures of dyads and triangles. Techniques that are most prominent in the practice of Bowenian family systems therapy. Genogram: Bowen used what he termed a â€Å"family diagram† to collect and organise important data concerning the multigenerational family systems. In 1972 Guerin renamed the family diagram the â€Å"genogram. † The main function of the genogram is to organise data during the evaluation phase and to track relationship processes and key triangles over the course of therapy. In the process of assessment, the following are noted: the history of the presenting problems, exact dates are noted, history of the nuclear family, when the parents met, their courtship, their marriage, child rearing, where the family lived especially in relation to the location of the extended family, history of both spouses birth, sibling positions, facts about childhood, past and current functioning with parents The Therapy Triangle: This technique is based on the theoretical assumption that conflictual relationship processes within the family have activated key-symptom-related triangles in an attempt to re-establish stability; and the family will automatically attempt to include the therapist in the triangling process. If they succeed, therapy will be stalemated. On the other hand, if the therapist can remain free of reactive emotional entanglements, in other words, stay detriangled ,the family system and its members will calm down to the point where they can begin to work out s olutions to their dilemmas. Relationship Experiments: Relationship experiments are carried out around structural altercations in key triangles. The goal is to help the family members become aware of systems processes and learn to recognise their role in them. Thomas F. Fogarty developed experiments for use with emotional pursuers and distancers (lartin-drake. com 28/12/2010). Pursuers are encouraged to restrain their pursuit, stop making demands, and decrease pressure for emotional connection and see what happens in themselves and in the relationship. The exercise isn’t designed to be a magic cure, as some people have hoped, but to help clarify the emotional processes involved. Distancers are encouraged to move toward the other person and communicate personal thoughts and feelings, in other words, to find an alternative to either avoiding or capitulating to the others’ demands. Coaching: Coaching is the Bowenian alternative to the more emotionally involved role common to most other forms of therapy. By acting as a coach, the Bowenian therapist hopes to avoid taking over for patients or becoming embroiled in family triangles. The goal is increased understanding, increased self-focus, and more functional attachment to key family members. The I-Position: Taking a personal stand, saying what you feel, instead of what others are â€Å"doing†, is one of the most direct ways to break cycles of emotional reactivity. Bowenian therapists not only encourage clients to take I-Position, they also do so themselves. Another assumption in Bowenian therapy is that confrontation increases anxiety and decreases the ability to think clearly and see options. Therefore, displacing the focus, making it less personal and less threatening, is an excellent way to increase objectivity. This forms the basis for two related techniques, multiple family therapy and displacement stories. Conclusion In conclusion I believe that Bowen developed a comprehensive theory of family therapy which inspired generations. His theory describes how the family shapes the interplay of individuality and togetherness using six interlocking concepts which are: differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional process, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process and sibling position. In 1970 Bowen added two additional concepts: emotional cut-off and societal emotional process. Bowenian therapy is a process of active inquiry in which the therapist helps family members get past blaming and fault finding in order to face their own roles in family problems. The goals of Bowenian therapy are not to change people or to solve their problems. Instead they see therapy as an opportunity for people to learn more about themselves and their relationships so that they can assume responsibility for their own problems. Contents Introduction Differentiation of Self The Nuclear Family Emotional Process Triangles The Multigenerational Transmission Process Sibling Position Emotional Cut-off Societal Emotional Processes Normal Family Development Family Disorders Goals of Therapy Conclusion Bibliography Bibliography http://www. abacon. com/famtherapy/bowen. html (14/12/2010) http://www. anzjft. om/pages/articles/78. pdf (14/12/2010) http://www. bukisa. com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapyixzz14iOkMQpM (16/12/2010) http://www. genopro. com/genogram/fam ily-systems-theory/ (22/10/2010) http://www. houd. info/bowenTheory. pdf (22/10/2010) http://www. lartin-drake. com/distancer. pdf (22/10/2010) Bibliography http://www. abacon. com/famtherapy/bowen. html http://www. psychpage. com/learning/library/counseling/bowen. html http://www. bukisa. com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapy http://www. thebowencenter. org/ http://homepages. wmich. edu/~macdonal/SW 6680. 05/Friedman. Bow Contents Introduction

Vodafones Sale Of Ownership Of Joint Venture To Verizon Essay

Vodafones Sale Of Ownership Of Joint Venture To Verizon - Essay Example is a United States (US) based company that is headquartered at New York and provides innovative technology and communication solutions, which enhances the way the customers play, work and live. On September 2013, Verizon Communications has agreed to pay Vodafone Group $130 billion in order to buy the US wireless business. This has been the third largest corporate deal in history. This paper focuses on the deal, highlighting on the history of the joint venture, rationale of the two companies behind the deal, reaction in the stock market, tax consequences and plans of Vodafone with this cash generation. Brief History of the Joint venture between Vodafone and Verizon In June 1994, the regional phone company of United States, Bell Atlantic, had formed a partnership in the wireless division with their immediate neighbour, NYNEX, covering almost 55 million customers who were regarded as potential for the organization (Thomson Reuters, 2013). This deal marked the beginning of the organization, Verizon Wireless. In 1996, NYNEX and Bell Atlantic agreed to enter into an outright merger. Then again in the year 1998, GTE and Bell Atlantic agreed to merge together. ... In June 2000, the merger of GTE and Bell Atlantic was closed and Verizon Communication was created. At this time, the wireless operation of GTE was included in Verizon Wireless. In this joint venture, Verizon Communications was the majority owner with a stake of about 55 percent (Thomson Reuters, 2013). In the year 2004, Vodafone lost the bidding for AT&T Wireless, which might have forced to sell the stake of Verizon Wireless. Arun Sarin, the CEO of Vodafone had said that Vodafone would discuss with Verizon regarding the future of their partnership. He insisted that both the companies would have bigger stake in the joint venture. In the year 2012, Verizon Wireless provided its parent with a dividend of $10 billion and $8.5 billion in December and January, respectively. At the beginning of 2013, Verizon was considering the purchase of their stake in Verizon Wireless (Thomson Reuters, 2013). In March, new sources claimed that Verizon was intending to resolve their relationship with Vod afone. In April 2013, Verizon expressed their desire to buy back the 45 percent of Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless and put an end to all speculations regarding the merger of Vodafone and Verizon. On this context, Gerard Kleisterlee, the chairman of Vodafone, had stated that the company will consider the offer seriously, provided it offers more value to the investors. Rationale of Verizon behind Buying and Vodafone behind selling On September 2013, Verizon Communications Inc. had announced their agreement with Vodafone group Plc. for acquiring 45 percent stakes of Vodafone in Verizon Wireless for $ 130 billion, comprising of stock and cash. Verizon expect that after closing the

Exploring the Logic of Experimental Design Assignment

Exploring the Logic of Experimental Design - Assignment Example Experiments are conducted by carrying out research studies, which attempt to put together information that is pertinent to the aims of the experiment. According to Jackson, the accomplishment of an experiment’s purpose is determined by its design and the way it is executed. Formal experiments evaluate physical entities while other modes of experimentation involve carrying out studies that involve observation and statistical surveys. The design of an experiment determines the feasibility of the intended results to the subject of the experiment, which makes experimental design a crucial factor in all analytical work (Scott, 2010). This paper seeks to highlight and explore the logic of experimental design, and how to apply them to create designs used in analytical research. Question #2 Experimental design is closely associated with methodology which are the steps taken to accomplish the task set out by the experimental design. An experiment is an inquiry into the intrinsic featur es of a subject, and it this inquiry requires a predetermined process of execution for it to serve its purpose (Jackson, 2012).The development or creation of an experiment stems from lack of information pertaining to the nature, function or purpose of an entity. Thus, this uncertainty and lack of knowledge prompts activities that are geared towards establishing and information concerning the unknown. Methodologies are ways of carrying out these activities, and they give rise to experimental designs that ensure these activities are purposely oriented. All endeavors that are carried out by man in an effort to gather information about a subject can be considered experiments or studies. This is because the sole purpose of an experiment is to account for or discount the nature and existence of a phenomenon. An experimental design accomplishes its purpose by ensuring that the methodology adhered to in an experiment is geared and oriented towards garnering the appropriate results in accord ance to the research hypothesis. Research hypotheses are the questions that experiments seek to answer by confirming their assumptions or disapproving their postulates. Question #3 The major advantage of experimental designs is that when they are properly conducted, they have the ability to illustrate causality. This is achieved by the degree to which the experiment’s parameters manipulate exposure to independent variables and elimination of confounding variables. For a study to qualify as a true experiment, the methodology should be designed in such a way as to exclude dependent variables (Scott, 2010). This is an aspect of experimental design that can be applied in educational studies to determine the cause and effect of both external and internal factors in an educational system. A disadvantage associated with experimental designs in an educational study is that they are difficult to design because they require a lot of human energy and resources. To effectively design an experiment focused on an educational system, it requires taking the behavior of the concerned parties, and in this case students, into the context of the experiment. This raises some hard to answer questions based on the ethical and moral consideration of the experimental group (Trochim, 2008). Question #4 Experiments are conducted using independent and dependent variabl

Corporate Annual Reports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Annual Reports - Essay Example Some landmark events such as acquisitions or additional issue of stocks also find a place in these reports. The stock market crash of 1929 resulted in stringent standards applied to the preparation of Annual Reports. Hence the report has to be audited by a qualified accounting professional. The auditors role is to check for any intentional or accidental errors in the companys accounts and give his/her stamp of approval if they are found truthful. In some countries it is mandatory for all publicly held companies to distribute their annual report to all shareholders. In addition to the annual report, shareholders can find more information about the corporation in their "10k" and "10Q" reports. 10K report is a detailed document on the corporations services, products, market share, competition, industry, its customer base, etc. On the other hand the 10Q report gives an elaborate analysis of the companys quarterly earnings. These documents are made easily accessible through the Security and Exchange Commissions website. There are three important financial components to annual reports. They are the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and the Cash Flow Statement. Apart from these major financial components, other information of interest is also included. For example, the Chairmans Address to the Shareholders, Highlighting of major achievements over the year, Managements assessment of the year, an auditors note and a summary of all financial information. Having said this, there is no universally accepted format for annual reports. This gives opportunity for corporations to show an impressive set of numbers, the reality of which can be deciphered only by reading the fine print. For example, some companies see annual reports as a marketing tool that projects the company in a kinder light. So much so that many corporations allocate huge quantities of money in adding frills to their annual reports, making the information look more

International Personality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Personality - Essay Example This is legal systems that regulate action by states. Sine 1945 the international legal system has been used in the world to arbitrate different conflicts and to bring conflicting sides to the table. The UN has played a pivotal role in the development of an internal legal system. However the principle subject that has been emphasized on the international law has been states rather than individuals. Individual have been placed under the municipal law. The international court of Justice had acknowledged in the repartition case which types of the international personality other than the statehood could be in existence which has seen an expansion of the subjects of the international law. But apart from the mention states, there have also been concerns that personality is also possessed by other bodies like international organization and human beings. The non-governmental organization and national liberation movement are also showing a great possession of international personality. (Nijman 2004, p. 2) In right to this we can therefore see that international personality is therefore bench marked on the power that is given to the entity. If the entity does not have the power to force the power that has been granted under the international laws, therefore it cannot be said to be an international person. This is the reason why the definition of an internal individual may not be the same as the normal definition since it will be referring to a specific entity rather those specific human beings. This means that the international community is taken as a being made up of "persons" who posses powers to act on behalf of the international community. This definition hence takes in the factors of power that is granted to the specific individual to implement the powers for the international community. While in our normal definition we may be referring to specific humans, the international community recognizes the states alone. But the non-governmental organization has also been given the same power of recognition in the international community as states. While the international law clearly defines an international person as "an entity that has the capacity to bear legal rights and duties under the international law" non governmental organizations have been able to bear the foresaid legal right and duties. (Greig 1996, p. 32) International organizations are also given legal

Pros and Cons Educational Changes Regarding Discrepancy Model and Research Paper

Pros and Cons Educational Changes Regarding Discrepancy Model and Response to Intervention - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that special education is the education provided by a school for those students that are not mentally of the same capability with their colleagues. The federal government is in charge of special education therefore it stipulates the rules that govern it. These rules determine whether a child’s special needs are serious enough to warrant more resource allocation to their education by the school. The discrepancy model of education is what determines the special needs of a child. In case a child has special learning needs, the discrepancy model determines how special a child is. This model is the one that determines whether an individualized education program (IEP) for the child under evaluation is necessary. In simpler words, the discrepancy model determines how far the child under evaluation has fallen behind others in the same class. This then forces the child to be fall back for a year or two depending on his IQ whereby the federal government will then start disbursing funds for them. In order for the federal government to send a student special education funds, they have to be behind by a year or two under the discrepancy model. Due to the problems associated with the discrepancy model, the federal government came up with another plan that would identify and help a special child without falling behind in classes. This method aims at helping the students with their classroom difficulties immediately.

Dangers of drunk driving Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Dangers of drunk driving - Research Paper Example With the help of two informative articles, statistics and information on this very topic have been provided and discussed well within the confines of this paper in order for the reader to be able to gauge a better insight into the harmful effects that are caused by drunken driving. In the United States of America, the leading cause of deaths for people under the age of 24 has been branded as motor vehicle wrecks due to drinking and driving. It has been estimated that one American life is lost every 20 minutes due to a drunk driver on the road, or even drinking and driving. (Gieck, D, Joseph, and David M Slagle ) The main thing that most traffic policemen check is the blood alcohol concentration of a driver on the road. If this turns out to be about 0.10 or more, then the driver is seven times more likely to be involved in a car accident than a driver who is completely sober at the time of driving. Most college students and young adults form the population that undergoes these traffic related fatalities with respect to heavy episodes of drinking. Thus, the concept of a free ride was started in a number of states within the United States. The main aim of the free ride was to provide intoxicated drivers with a cheap mode of transportation so that they are able to reach home safely along with mitigating the chance of harming anyone else on the road. (Gieck, D, Joseph, and David M Slagle ) It is important for such programs to be effective all over and not just in parts of the world because according to harm theory, it has been suggested that most accidents due to the effects of alcohol happen due to secondary measures. This means that most people under the influence of alcohol cause harm on activities that they carry out rather than harming themselves directly. It is very important for people to be able to judge the level of alcohol that they have consumed before riding their vehicles on the

COIS20025-Assessment-Item1 (information system of master) Essay

COIS20025-Assessment-Item1 (information system of master) - Essay Example The other records such as staff and finance details are not handled and modeled into the system. The very idea to create an integrated system would involve fetching the large scale behavior of all the entities of the system. The reason is that due to lack of integration, not all entities are participating in the system and thus prevail the inconsistency. The various procedures are being performed in the student record management system relate to the various functions like record of student data, student attendance, student fees and several factors for determining the objective of running of the system. i. Student records – It is stored for collecting the records of various students who take admission. Their detailed data is stored in the system. It is stored and taken care by the admission personnel. The records in respect to students detail and students attendance is maintained in simple text based system with no functionality towards unique storage of data, consistency of data, integrity rules and association among various records. The processes that are carried out entails the various forms of compliances required by the school and highlight the need for a revamped system for data storage and detail. iii. Processes: The various processes would highlight for determination of the student’s present status in an organization and derive the very detail for their recording the personal and academic details. The various fees related detail would help the school to track down the numbers for non-payment of their fees and issue notifications accordingly. iv. Performance: Currently the system has very poor response system and lacks all performance requirements. The performance of the system would improve as the proposed system would be highly updated with no redundancies, retrieval of consistent information and make sure to fetch the right detail

Advanced Language Arts Essay Example for Free

Advanced Language Arts Essay Although teachers might disagree, having students eating in class will help students and teachers stay on task and not worry about lunch time. Staff should let us students eat during class because students will be more focused, awake, and excited to learn and participate in class. If student were able to eat during class then they would be able to concentrate on the objective they are learning instead of thinking about â€Å"what’s for lunch?† One of the many reasons students should be able to eat in class is due to that us students don’t have enough time to wake up earlier and cook our self a nice meal. We barely have enough time to get ready for school in the mornings. It is even harder, trying to eat breakfast, if a student has to walk to school every day. All of the years that I’ve been attending school there have not been a year when teachers don’t emphasize how important eating breakfast is. We have heard multiple of times â€Å"the most important mean of the day is breakfast.† Another reason why students should be able to eat in class is because teachers are allowed to eat in front of us but we are not allowed to eat in class. We should have to follow the same rules. There has been a time where I go to school with any empty stomach and I always see a teacher eating a granola bar. Seeing them eat doesn’t let me concentrate and it gets me more hungry and at that time I just hold my stomach tight and hope my stomach doesn’t growl. My final reason why teachers should let students eat in class is because kids will have energy to participate in class. Shouldn’t all teachers desire to see all their students’ hands up eager to answer questions? If teachers would just give it a chance and let students eat in lass they would be participating in school activities and fund raisers. In conclusion, eating during class will help students concentrate and have energy.

Environmental Health Essay Example for Free

Environmental Health Essay What is Environmental Health? Environmental health is the branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health. Environmental Health is the field of science that studies how the environment influences human health and disease. â€Å"Environment,† in this context, means things in the natural environment like air, water and soil, and also all the physical, chemical, biological and social features of our surroundings. The man-made, or â€Å"built,† environment includes physical structures where people live and work such as homes, offices, schools, farms and factories, as well as community systems such as roads and transportation systems, land use practices and waste management. Consequences of human alteration to the natural environment, such as air pollution, are also parts of the man-made environment. The social environment encompasses lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, socioeconomic status, and other societal influences that may affect health. The Media of Environmental Hazards Air, water and food are the major environmental media or vectors through which exposure to hazardous environmental agents occur. Environmental hazards †¢ The major environmental hazards and their relative importance in various environmental settings. †¢ Chemical agents: pesticides, VOC’S, and PCB’S †¢ Physical agents: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, vibration, temperature, and noise. †¢ Biological agents: infectious and allergic disorders Interaction between hazardous exposures and humans †¢ Four characteristics critical to exposure assessment: †¢ Route ( Inhalation, Ingestion, Dermal) †¢ Magnitude (Concentration or Dose) †¢ Duration ( Minutes, Hours, Days, Lifetime) †¢ Frequency (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonally) All of the environmental media are possible exposure routes, and should be considered in a risk assessment. †¢ Humans have access to environmental toxicants by contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, and breathing contaminated air

National Brands And Private Labels

National Brands And Private Labels Different peer reviewed articles and articles published in newspapers, business magazines, retail industry websites and industry experts, test a hypothesis and to draw a conclusion. Findings: The findings from the study suggest that private labels are generally considered low on price and quality. Incidence of rejection generally happens prior to purchase due to extrinsic cues. Store loyalty and image plays a crucial role in selecting the private labels. Retailers derive higher margins, differentiate themselves from competitors and have better control over value chain in the case of private labels. To compete with national brands, retailers these days are developing a portfolio of private labels across price points, improving the extrinsic cues to improve the perceived image of private labels. Managers can enhance consumers perception of the PLB image by improving the service quality that relates to the PLB and provide PLB products with good quality and reliable performance safe for use to reduce perceived performance risk and physical risk, which in turn will increase consumers purchase intention for PLB products. INTRODUCTION: Private Labels: Private labels are defined as the products owned and branded by the organizations whose primary objective is distribution rather than production (Schutte, 1969). Private labels can also be seen as brands owned not by a manufacturer or producer but by a retailer or supplier who gets its goods made by a contract manufacturer under its own label. Pandya Joshi, in their book define store brands or PLs as brands owned, controlled and sold exclusively by retailer.Private label products encompass all merchandize sold under a retailers brand. That brand can be the retailers own name or a name created exclusively by that retailer. Distinction between National-Brands and Private Labels: The national brand is the product that is distributed nationally under a brand name owned by the producer or distributor, as opposed to local brands (products distributed only in some areas of the country), and private label brands (products that carry the brand of the retailer rather than the producer.) National Brands has longer history than the Private Label. So customer knowledge towards the national brand is higher than private labels. With the rise of national advertising, manufacturers brands or national brands (NBs) became widely recognized by consumers who elected their preferred brands and became loyal to them. Over time, manufacturers could exercise greater influence over the final demand for their products and secured a better bargaining position when dealing with retailers (Grant 1987). Retailers saw their margins drastically reduced, and their power to determine the prices to consumers depreciated (Borden 1967). In the food retailing industry, supermarket chains were no longer able to compete, solely, on the basis of price. A way found by retailers to beat competition was through the establishment of Private Label. TYPES OF PRIVATE LABEL Generic private labels Private labels first came onto the scene several decades ago in the US and Europe, and about a decade ago in India, as cheap, inferior products. They were presented as generics, often not bearing the name of the retailer, but simply the name of the product, such as milk or butter, in plain script on a white plain background. Mostly basic food products, canned goods and paper goods, they were offered at low prices, competitive with the lowest priced product in that category. The product range appealed to the budget-sensitive shopper. They were seen as low quality but cheap. Retailers rarely run price promotions because the product is cheap already and there is usually only one product to choose from. It emphasizes on the basic use of a product and is available in simple packaging, limited advertisement and cut in quality and therefore occupies the lowest price tier. Classic /copy cat private labels Copycat store brands carry the name of the retailer and tend to have packaging and price points very close to the products that they compete with. The retailers tend to target branded products that are already successful then produce a copycat that has similar ingredients, packaging and pricing. Copycat retailers can thereby cash in on the success of the branded product without having to incur the costs associated with developing the product and researching the market. Marketing costs are also kept down since the product is instantly recognizable as being associated with the product it is copying. With copycat brands there is no cost of failure to absorb since only successful products are targeted. The retailer tends to produce a similar product and offer it at a lower price than the branded product so the message to the consumer is that it is as good but cheaper. The advantages of having copycat brands is not only to make profit on the sale of the product itself, but it creates competition for the existing manufacturer branded products as well as increasing the retailers bargaining power with the manufacturers, since the retailer has the option to promote its own brand in competition with the original brands. The Spanish clothing chain Zara is a very successful copycat company that sells private labels only, producing fashion clothing at very low prices that imitates famous designers and well-known brands. They employ talented and unknown young designers to pick up on key trends and translate them into clothing for the Zara chain. Its strategy allows it to operate with extremely low costs of advertising, staffing, market research, and so on, that the manufacturer brands continue to incur. Premium private labels As retailer strategies have developed, the approaches have evolved to incorporate premium store brands. Retailers have seen the opportunity to differentiate their products and thereby target a whole new section of the market. The latest trend is to establish high quality products with distinctive packaging, presented as a whole new product line by the retailer, targeted at competing with the top brands in the range. Kumar and Steenkamp define two types of premium brands: the premium private label which is exclusive, higher in price, and superior in quality to competing brands; and the premium-lite store brand which is promoted as being equal or better in quality to the competing brands, while being cheaper. Value innovators in private labels Value innovators are the fourth main category of private labels. The retailers following this approach have focused on cutting down costs and processes to simplify the production and marketing of product ranges, so that a good quality product can be offered at very low prices. The value innovator approach differs greatly to the generic, copycat and premium label approaches. There are a number of key principles that must be adhered to for this approach to be successful. Limited number of products Low costs of production and marketing Good quality products at low prices PRIVATE LABEL BRANDS IN INDIAN MARKET  » Indias largest retail company Future Group has 12 apparel, 4 FMCG and 2 household product private labels in its formats Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar and Pantaloon. Besides these it also has many other private labels across categories and formats.  » Aditya Birlas private labels segment has 7 brands which Aditya Birla Retail Limited provides customers products under its own labels. Private label Food Brands include Feasters, Kitchens Promise, and Best of India. Home Personal care brands include Enriche, 110%, Pestex, Paradise and Germex. It is also planning to launch its private labels in milk and dairy products.  » Tata Croma has plans for 100+ private labels across categories like personal care equipment, laptops, small appliances, etc.  » Reliance Fresh sells staples and food items under Reliance Select and Reliance Value brands. It has recently launched Dairy Pure, in the liquid milk segment. Reliance also sells a number of private labels in other categories like apparel, through its various other formats.  » Shoppers Stop has around 10 private labels, the prominent ones being Stop, Kashish, Life, etc.  » Bharti retail recently launched 8 international private labels of Wal-Mart in its supermarket chain, Easy day.  » Myntra is looking to launch its own private label by Q3 2012, which according to him, will contribute to a better bottom-line for the company, since the margins in private labels are higher.  » Flipkart has entered the private label league through online store brand Digiflip, a brand that sells digital accessories such as laptop bags, sleeves and camera bags pouches.  » Ruchi Soya Corp has tied up recently with Future Group for manufacturing its private label brand Fresh Pure. Internationally  » Nestle works with Lidl, a discount retailer, to create products and packaging in many categories across countries. In the Indian context, Brand owners and manufactures like Indo Nissin (Brand: Top Ramen), Dynamix Dairy (Brand: Dynamix) etc. also manufacture private label brands for their retailers to occupy their excess production capacity.  » Wal Marts private label George is one of the highest selling apparel brands in the US.  » Aldi, the German deep discounter has more than 90 per cent of its sales coming from private labels. Some of its private labels sell more than any national brand in Germany ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE LABEL: The advantages and disadvantages vary depending to which market sector we are referring to. These can be defined as follows: For Retailers: Advantages: Reduction of producer domination in the marketplace Increase in consumer loyalty An opportunity to differentiate and provide variety Flexibility in pricing strategy Positive control over stock keeping inventory Better bargaining position in a depressed economy Disadvantages: Erosion of brand image and brand value if private label quality is poor Lack of standardization of private labels between categories upsets the customer Financial control concerns Excessive focus on the private label at the expense of other products The retailer could be perceived as less powerful in the marketplace as they dont promote recognized brands Low price may equate to low quality Lack of financial support from suppliers For Consumers Advantages: A guarantee of the same quality for a serious price differentiation More variety within the category A trusted retail name equals trust in the product Product provides a need based on a want, where products were missing within the category. E.g. ethnic foods, diet foods, sugar free foods and so on. Disadvantages: Low quality product. Consumers may have a prejudice to low price equaling low quality Previous customer failures could affect the whole private label range in a store. INDIA SCENARIO: Correlated with the immense growth in the retail sector, the growth in sales of private brands stands at an impressive 30% (YOY). As per an AC Nielsen study groceries account for 46% of Private Brand sales. Correlated with the immense growth in the retail sector, the growth in sales of private brands stands at an impressive 30% (YOY). As per an AC Nielsen study groceries account for 46% of Private Brand sales. Strategic Issues for Retail CEOs, a thought leadership report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, puts forth that private label products will be a major lever for growth of participants in Indias retail sector. Indian consumers, often referred to as value conscious, will find major benefit in purchasing private label products since final promotional offers to quickly move their own brands. Indias major retailers expect to embark upon the following strategies for their private label products: costs paid are lower. A demanding and aspiring middle class of 300 million people (or 75 million households) and a large young population of 500 million under the age of 25 years are just two of the demographic-oriented statistics that suggest a large market for private labels in India. In India, private labels are becoming a major component of retailers long-term strategies encompassing product development and sales. Most retailers are investing towards creating robust private label ranges which will appeal to consumers, delight consumers and also meet consumers price preferences. Those retailers who develop good quality, well-priced private labels, and focus on branding and promotion, will increase both their top and bottom lines in a retail environment where innovation, meeting customers needs and efficiency are imperative. (Indian Retail embraces private labels by N. V. Sivakumar). The greatest potential for private labels lies in developing countries, where retail chains with well-developed private-label ranges are growing rapidly. Although growth for private labels is expected in all most all sectors, the highest growth in share is anticipated in the ready-meals sector. The growth of private labels in the international market, especially in developing countries, will be guided by the demands of busier lifestyles. Delivering higher quality and convenience, and introducing innovation in product ranges will help the private-label market to expand further. Retailers can make use of these opportunities by offering good-quality private labels that will foster a sense of brand quality among the customers. Over the long term, this could offer retailers a significant advantage in the global retail sphere. (Going global with private labels: Sandeep Puri Dr Harsh Dwivedi). Private labels are still nascent in India which is to be expected given that modern trade started in the late 1990s. Given the variances in market maturity between Indias retail sector and that of other retail markets in the US and in Europe, it is natural that private labels have yet to achieve a level of sophistication in India that they enjoy overseas. RESEARCH FINDINGS: Some of the significant findings from the PLMA (Private Label Manufacturers Association) Research Report 2010 2011 are: 1). Consumers continue to turn to private-label products in these supermarket categories in which they had formerly purchased only a national-brand product. Around 43 percent of these consumers report that they have recently forsaken a familiar national brand for a private-label counterpart-a marked increase since the GfK study conducted in June 2009, when only 35 percent of consumers said they had done so. 2). Ninety-seven percent respondents compared private labels favorably to their previous national brand choices in the same categories. About 49 percent said that their new private-label selections compared very favorably to their earlier selected national brands. This is an impressive increase from 2009 when only 26 percent reported the same. A 2010 online global survey conducted by The Nielsen Company reveals that 60 percent of consumers across 55 countries from Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America and Middle East/Africa (comprising countries from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and South Africa) say they are buying more private-label brands because of the economic slowdown. An uncertain economy encouraged many customers to try private labels for the first time. Once this initial barrier was breached, they found private labels to be as good as their branded counterparts, albeit at economical prices. PRIVATE LABELS VS NATIONAL BRANDS: There are a few reasons driving private label growth: an increased concentration among retailers, an improved quality perception among consumers, and a rising social acceptance of private labels consumption. In addition, the current economic downturn has further boosted the appeal of private labels because of their price utility. To combat the threat posed by private labels, consumer packaged goods companies frequently adopt new innovation strategies focused on delivering new value to consumers. Furthermore, research shows that national brand manufacturers have mainly focused on increasing their distance from private labels through innovation and advertising in order to provide a superior value to the consumers compared to private labels brands. In this sense, product innovations help to sustain a national brands competitive advantage and provide a basis for a sustainable price premium over store brands. Research also shows that introduction of new products by national brands has a positive impact on their brand equity which makes them less vulnerable to PLs. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE LABELS IN INDIA: 1).Lack of retailer sophistication could hamper private label growth There is lack of supply chain sophistication among Indian retailers. Most retailers still exchange information manually with suppliers. Indian retailers are yet to implement bar-coding techniques properly, let alone sophisticated technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID). There is also a lack of integrated IT systems, coupled with low overall IT spending. As is evident, Indian retailers have a long way to go before they can be compared with international retailers such as Tesco and Wal-Mart, in terms of technology and supply chain sophistication. Therefore, unless retailers pay attention to these issues, they will be unable to make successful private label portfolios. 2).Rural areas unlikely to be tapped by private labels in the near future While it is widely acknowledged that the real potential in Indian retail lies in rural areas, the rural retail scenario continues to be unorganized and highly fragmented. While FMCG manufacturers such as Hindustan Unilever and ITC continue their efforts to solve the rural retail jigsaw through projects such as Shakti and e-Choupal, major retailers have tended to stay away from the rural scene. In light of high access costs due to infrastructure bottlenecks, along with absence of a successful rural retailing model, the above trend is likely to continue in the coming years. Therefore, the Indian private label market is expected to be largely confined to urban areas (metro cities), with some growth also coming from semi-urban areas (tier II towns). 3).Psyche of the urban Indian consumer is both a hurdle and an opportunity In an ACNielsen consumer survey in 2005, only 56 per cent Indians agreed that private labels are a good option in comparison with brands as against four in five consumers in developed countries. Further, the same survey also concluded that a majority of Indian consumers associate private labels with low cost, and are, therefore, apprehensive about compromising on quality. The target segment for organized retail in India is still predominantly urban, and in the context of private labels, it is more inclined towards upwardly mobile urban consumers. This segment gives high priority to quality, and the budget label perception does not help at all. Further, Indian retailers have not been able to develop a bond with consumers. Consumer loyalty has been seen to provide impetus to private label growth in developed countries such as the United Kingdom. The lack of this bonding and loyalty could hamper private label penetration in coming years. At the same time, though, the Indian consumers psyche also provides an opportunity for retailers. The Indian urban consumer is price-conscious, but also expects high quality. Private label products could actually fit the bill perfectly. 4).Intense competition in Indian retail could provide impetus to private labels With the entrance of several corporate majors such as Reliance, there is intense store-level competition in the current Indian retail scenario. However, if Indian retailers were to follow the UK model, this could actually turn out to be a boon for private label growth. Major UK retailers such as Sainsbury and Tesco have successfully used private labels to differentiate themselves. This scenario could be replicated in India in the near future. 5).Private labels likely to exhibit maximum penetration in food and groceries, clothing and consumer durables segments All segments where percentage of organized retail is relatively high, and which are also exhibiting the highest overall growth rates, are most likely to show maximum private label penetration in the near future. The following figure illustrates the findings of a simple analytical model based on the above two assumptions. Private label penetration by category http://www.indiaretailing.com/images/private10.jpg 6).Ability of retailers to innovate likely to drive future growth of private labels The main USP of private labels is their customization according to user demands. They are then promoted by various means including innovative packaging, promotional schemes, and placement within the retail store. Therefore, success of private label retailers globally has been dependent on their ability to innovate in all aspects of a product formulation or ingredients, supply chain, packaging, advertising, promotional schemes, and so on. The dynamism of private label retailers, in responding to changing consumer needs through suitable modifications, is also critical. In light of the intense competition in Indian retail, coupled with the choosy Indian customer, future success of private labels would depend on the ability of Indian retailers to innovate. This is again a question mark, given the reputation of Indian companies as poor innovators. RECENT TRENDS: Private labels are a growth opportunity that retailers cannot afford to ignore and many are assessing market potential by conducting pilot projects to assess the impact that own brands have on visibility, sales and revenues. Others are working on enhancing depth and breadth of private label ranges. Other selected observations include: While low-price private labels exist, retailers are changing their focus from a price game to one that involves developing a portfolio of brands with distinct positioning for each brand. Retail chains are trying to understand unfulfilled demands existing in Indian market through need-gap analysis. Retailers are incorporating demographic and psychographic indicators into their need-gap assessments. Retailers are also learning from the lessons of experimentation; the quality of their private labels is being improved, product extensions are being created, etc. Some retailers are launching dedicated formats for private labels in apparel and accessories. In the early stages of being launched, this is an indication of the level of commitment that retailers are exhibiting to private labels. Retailers are also working to increase and improve the level of trust that consumers have with regard to private label offerings. That said, sharp promotions, competitive pricing, freebies, etc. are some ways in which retailers can incentivize consumers to try private label products. Factors Influencing Private label Strategies: Private labels apparently be successful without having to rely on the price weapon?. Economic theory hold that the price consumers are willing to pay for a product depends on the utility they derive from consuming the product. A major source of utility is the perceived quality of the product. Perceived quality is defined as the degree of perceived performance excellence of the product. How well does the brand perform its function in the eyes of the consumer? Perceived Quality, Not Price, Drives Private Label Success To understand the relation between perceived quality and price, we need to understand the different types of buyers: Random Buyers are not particularly price sensitive and see little difference in quality. Brand buyers are consumers who are low on price sensitivity and perceive a large quality difference between leading national brands and the store brands .They will buy national brand Private label buyers are price sensitive consumers who perceive a small quality gap between leading manufacturer brands and the store brand. They will purchase the store brand. Toss-ups are consumers who are high on price sensitivity and perceive large quality differences between leading national brands and the store brand The battleground is among toss-ups and random buyers. However the strategy to induce them to private labels is very different. Random buyers can be attracted to the private by using in-store stimuli that guide the shopper to the private label, such as favorable shelf facings, shelf tag ons, and end-of the aisle displays. Toss-ups will usually purchase national brand since for most consumers quality is more important than price. This is especially true if the national brand regularly runs price promotions, which will appeal to the toss-ups high price sensitivity. Private labels can convert toss-ups in to private label buyers only if they convince consumers that the quality of the private labels is comparable to, if not better than, the quality of the national brands. National Brands Irrational Price Premium The question to ask is whether consumers willing to pay more for better quality? It is beneficial that they value quality, but better quality products often cost more to produce, which translates in to higher prices. Thus the question is whether products of higher perceived quality also command a higher price in the marketplace. Consumers are often willing to pay disproportionate price premium for better quality, because quality typically has more weightage than price in purchase decisions. When the relationship between perceived quality gap the price premium commanded by the NBs over PLs for CPGS (consumer package goods) was examined on 75 CPG categories in France, one of the worlds most important and competitive private label markets, the following insights were seen In categories where the perceived quality of national brands exceeds the quality of store brands, the average price premium for manufacturer brands is 56 percent. In quality- equivalent categories (i.e., categories where consumers do not perceive a quality difference between national brands and store brands), the price premium commanded by national brands is 37 percent. The French findings are consistent with the evidence from the United States. A recent study ( using objective quality as reported by Consumer Reports) finds that a 1 percent quality gap between manufacturer and store brands is associated with a 5 percent price gap The price premium that national brands command in quality- equivalent markets is the same as in France, or 37 percent. In 33 percent of the cases, consumers perceive manufacturer and store brands as quality equivalent; however they are willing to pay the same price for the store brands as for the manufacturer brand in only 5 percent of the cases. Conclusion The perceived quality gap between NBs and store brands is a major factor driving the price gap Quality is not the only factor; there is residual price gap that cannot be explained by quality perceptions. The findings we had in categories where consumers do not perceive a quality difference between national and store brands , the price premium commanded by manufacturer brands is substantial 37 percent . Consumers are unwilling to pay equivalent prices for store brands even if they perceive them as quality equivalent. This last result is rather depressing for retailers. Why are consumers willing to pay a price premium for manufacturer brands, even when they do not perceive a quality difference between national and store brands? The reason is that national brands have a clear advantage on brand imagery. BRAND IMAGERY AND THE PRICE GAP National brands offer something intangible that most private labels do not (yet) offer. They allow consumers to identify with the values imbued in the brand, and help consumers express who they are and how these brands fit in to their lifestyle and self concept. Brand imagery refers to the personalized social-emotional bond the consumer has with the brand. What does the brand stand for, and does that appeal to me? Consumers show no difficulty in assigning personality characteristics to brands, in thinking about brands as if they are animated, humanized, and personalized. For example brands like Marlboro, Harley- Davidson, Jack Daniels, and Levis glamorize American ideals of the West, strength, and masculinity, while sophisticated brands like Gucci, Chivas Regal, Revlon, and Mercedes are associated with aspiring imagers such as the upper class, glamour, and sexiness. These image components, regardless of the functional qualities of the product, can be extremely important to people. Two brands may be quality equivalent, but if one brand is stronger on image; it will generate higher utility in the target segment. Consumers are willing to pay a price premium for image utility. Using the French CPG data mentioned earlier, the findings are as below The average price premium commanded by manufacturer brands in categories that are low on imagery (e.g., floor cleaners, kitchen paper, canned green beans) is 38 percent. The average price premium commanded by manufacturer brands in categories that are high on imagery (e.g. deodorants, hair coloring products, whiskey) is 61 percent. Thus the price premium associated with brand imagery is, on average, 23 percent and contributes significantly to the price gap. Although the importance of brand imagery varies across consumers, some generalizations still emerge. Younger consumers attach more importance to brand imagery because of their greater desire for social acceptability, besides being more image conscious in general Singles and couples attach more importance to image utility than larger families. Poorer consumers give more weight to brand imagery. This seems paradoxical since they stand to gain most from purchasing a lower priced store brands. However, it allows them to show the world that they are also sophisticated consumers .Thus the fact that the poor buy private labels more often than the rich is because they have to, not because they want to. IMPLICATIONS FOR RETAILERS We have seen that there is a lot more to private label success than price. We can formalize these ideas by drawing on economic theory. Consumers will purchase a private label if the price premium for the national brands exceeds the utility the consumer derives from the surplus in perceived quality and imagery generated by the national brand. Thus private labels do not have to compete on price alone. Beyond managing the price gap, they can also compete on two non price strategies. We will discuss them first before turning to managing the price gap. Decreasing the Perceived Quality Gap One way to decrease the perceived quality gap with the national brands is to increase the objective (actual) quality of the private label by using better materials

Aristotles Political Virtues Essay -- Aristotle Politics Philosophy E

Aristotle's Political Virtues ABSTRACT: This paper argues that Aristotle conceives happiness not primarily as an exercise of virtue in private or with friends, but as the exercise of virtue in governing an ideal state. The best states are knit together so tightly that the interests of one person are the same as the interests of all. Hence, a person who acts for his or her own good must also act for the good of all fellow citizens. It follows that discussions of Aristotle’s altruism and egoism are misconceived. Why does Aristotle think that the good life must be lived in a state (polis)? It is usually supposed that the state serves to provide the security and stability that individuals need for virtuous acts.(1) Though it is also recognized that participating in the governing of the state could play some important, or even necessary, role in a good life, the predominant view is that happiness is mostly pursued individually or with friends.(2) Such private pursuits seem to R. G. Mulgan a bulwark protecting individual ends from subordination to those of the state.(3) The idea that happiness is a private pursuit is implicit in the contrast, formerly drawn often, between the egoism of ancient ethicists and the properly moral analyses of modern philosophers.(4) Recent writers have attacked this contrast, pointing to the importance Aristotle accords concern for others in friendship (philia) and the centrality of friendship in happiness.(5) Yet they, too, presume that happiness is mainly a private pursuit, for they imagine that concern for others manifests itself when the other's interest conflicts with one's own—as if, even among friends, personal interests must conflict and the person who furthers the interests of his friend doe... ...rtues promotes the common interest. To conclude, the good life must be lived in a state because it is the life of virtue and virtue, or at least moral virtue, is best exercised in governing the state.(17) Aristotle claims that the polis exists by nature because, among other reasons, a person is not self-sufficient outside of it (Pol. I.2.1253a25-29).(18) What he means is hardly clear in its context; but if the foregoing analysis is correct, a person can realize his nature in the ideal polis because, in governing it, he exercises, to greatest possible degree, the human virtues. NOTES (1) R. G. Mulgan, Aristotle's Political Theory: An Introduction for Students of Political Theory (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987), p. 7. Mulgan would be right if he were thinking exclusively of philosophical pursuits. My concern here will be with the realization of moral virtues.

Expressing Oneself Through Tattoos :: Tattooing

The world has changed tremendously throughout the years. Through the personal and cultural expression of tattooing oneself most wonder why people today get tattoos. Furthermore, those who think tattoos are just for looks will have to realize that tattoos are a part of ones life. Therefore one might say, â€Å" Tattooing is used in a way to mark important events or people in their lives in a permanent way.†(Milcetich) people today should look in the meaning and value of a tattoo â€Å"As a statement carved in ones body† (Milcetich). Along with that meaning in ones body, people’s attitudes towards tattoos have begun to change what one thinks about tattoos. Attitudes towards life have changed more and more over the years as the personal interest in tattoos grow. â€Å"Teenagers create control over life when they side with tattoos to control emotions and life† (Babb’s). â€Å"Making a permanent choice with ones body through tattoos is a huge commitment† (Babb’s). Undoubtedly sometimes the personal interest is usually based on stereotypes, and self-expression. â€Å"Tattoos are usually chosen to express something that lies under the individual’s skin† (scoop). The abstract world tends to look down upon the ones who take part in this art. People choose to really show what’s on the inside by revealing it on the outside with tattoos. Which is the only way they can express either feeling or emotions? Symbolism and meaning is by far one of the most important aspects of the tattoo industry. â€Å"The abstract emotions and human awareness of emotions show what really is going on in ones life (Johnson)†. For that reason tattooing is a form of self-expression, and can stand for literal interpretations. For the most part these interpretations are the conveying of spiritual meaning, or marking milestones such as life or death† (Johnson). For those who think tattooing is just for looks or put a bad judgment on it, should also realize that ones personal interest reflects upon their lives. â€Å"Many individuals get their first tattoos during adolescence or young adulthood.†(Bravermark) Due to the mainstream culture, these traditions traditionally associate with stereotypes. Stereotypes defiantly have a huge impact on life. Which leads to the next point? Whether flaunted or hidden, sought as art or brought out on a whim, the tattoo has left a huge impact on generation a fter generation. â€Å"The impact on the world today through the history and visual reasoning behind tattoos, lead to the inquiry of personal life changing experiences.

The Tell Tale Heart Essays -- Poem Poetry Analysis Edgar Allen Poe Sym

In the â€Å"Tell-Tale Heart† by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator is extremely uncanny due to the reader’s inability to trust him. Right from the beggining the reader can tell that the narrator is crazy although the narrator does proclaim that he is sane. Since a person cannot trust a crazy person, the narrator himself is unreliable and therefore uncanny. Also as the story progress the narrator falls deeper and deeper into lunacy making him more and more unreliable, until the end of the story where the narrator gives in to his insanity, and the reader loses all ability to believe him. In the first lines of â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, the reader can tell that narrator is crazy, however the narrator claims the he is not crazy and is very much sane, because how could a crazy person come up with such a good plan. â€Å"How, then, am I mad? Hearken! And observer how healthily – how calmly I can tell you the whole story,† (Poe 74). The reader can see from this quote that narrator is claiming that he is not insane because he can tell anyone what happened without having a mental breakdown or any other problems that people associate with crazy people. This is the begging of the unreliability of the narrator. Here the reader is merely questioning the amount of details. The narrator then goes on to explain how he didn’t hate the old man but he hated his eye. Upon reading a little bit into the story the reader finds that the narrator likes the old man or rather doesn’t having anything against him, except for his eye. The pale blue eye was the focus point for his rage he hates but not the old man. How can anyone just hate someone’s eye without being mentally unstable? â€Å"I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture – a... ...o trust him at all. The reader cannot really believe that the narrator could hear the beating of the dead man’s heart. So they think and they might realize that it is one of the police men’s pocket watch, because earlier in the story the narrator describes a beating heart as a pocket watch wrapped in cotton. Now with narrator completely mad and his reader confused and dazed Poe ends his story to leave it filled with suspense. Thought the entire story there is a constant uncanny element, the unreliable narrator, and with it the questioning reader. In â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† by Edgar Allan Poe, the reader is forced to think whether they should believe the ramblings of a crazy and unreliable narrator or not. This really brings out the uncanny in the story. Works Cited Poe, Edgar Allan. Edgar Allan Poe: The Gold-Bug and Other Tales. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1991.

The Collapse of the American Dream

The Collapse of the American Dream â€Å"The American Dream has run out of gas,† said JG Ballard, a prominent English novelist. The American Dream was once a reality, a time when the citizens of America were the simple migrants who had immigrated because they sought a place where they could dictate their own fate. It was further developed in the 1770’s, and was referenced to by a great document through the words â€Å"all men are created equal† and that they are â€Å"endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights† including â€Å"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. These words are the basis of the Dream, which is now defined by Webster’s dictionary as the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. For generations, achieving the dream was the goal of all Americans. However, this period of happiness did not last long; for times change, and the people along with them. Today, th e American dream has evolved into an unachievable illusion, caused by a capitalistic economy, human nature and the government. To start off, the American dream is unattainable because of the capitalist economy. For example, in the Grapes of Wrath, the Joads are unable to get jobs because of the income disparity in the economy. When traveling the California, a garish one-eyed man appears. He tells the Joads how the flyers that advertise job are actually fraud. To fill 800 positions they print out several thousand flyers. Employers use unemployment to their advantage and drive wages down further making it impossible for many to achieve the American Dream. The Capitalistic economy strives to maximize profits, regardless of human consequences. The Joads end up losing their so called American dream and their family endures much suffering which causes them to break apart Similarly, In the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents the American Dream as a corrupt shadow of what it once was. The valley of ashes, one of the settings of the novel, is a capitalist wasteland that represents the degradation of the Dream. Fitzgerald compares the valley of ashes with the Eggs, the other setting, on many occasions. All descriptions of the valley of ashes are grim. The poor live in the ashes compared to the wealthy who live in clean and extravagant communities. This shows the disparity caused by capitalism; only the rich can enjoy their lives, while the poor must work long hours of manual labor in order to survive. The dream is nonexistent to anyone who is not born with a silver spoon. The time where one could work hard and rise from rags to riches is gone. Likewise, in the recent Muppets movie, the characters are hindered on their way to the American dream by the capitalist oil baron Tex Richman. He tries to raze Muppet studios and drill for the oil beneath it. This once again shows that capitalism does not care for human rights; it’s only goal is money and power. But naturally, since the Muppets is a children’s movie, Tex becomes a better person by the end of the movie. Sadly, it is not so in reality. People are not afraid to go out and kill each other’s dreams for personal gain. Next, The American Dream is unreachable because of the government. For instance, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is denied the American dream because of the biased system. Long before the trial occurs, Harper Lee makes the reader recognize how prejudiced Maycomb county is. Atticus acknowledges this fact when he tells his brother John that the jury couldn’t possibly taken Tom Robinson’s word over the Ewell’s. And later, even though Atticus points out plenty of holes and discrepancies with Mayella’s story, the jury refuses to believe the word of a black man. For Tom, the worst part of the deal is being imprisoned after the court hearing. This, Atticus says, is what led him to try to escape; â€Å"he was tired of white man’s justice. † The American Dream is nonexistent to all colored folks because they were denied their basic liberties by the system that was supposed to protect them. Likewise, in the novel Anthem the people of future world are denied their American Dream by the government. Equality, the protagonist of the novel, is a very intelligent person who desires only to be a scholar. Instead, the government delegates him the task of street-sweeping. Later, when he discovers the light, the government, instead of praising his accomplishment, shuns him and banishes him from society. Thus, his Dream to unify mankind and teach them about the wonders of the unmentionable times is killed. Lastly, The Night Thoreau spent in Jail presents Henry David Thoreau, an able man, fighting for his dream, though the government forestalls him at every turn. The Mexican war is going on in during the novel. Thoreau, the protagonist, does not believe that it is a just war and refuses to pay tax. He is so determined to prove his point, that he even goes and lives in the woods, creating a sanctuary he calls his Walden. Still, the government throws him in jail, and he continues to refuse to pay, boycotting the war. Finally, he is kicked out of jail and finds that he made no impact. The war was as Abraham Lincoln said was â€Å"of the sheerest deception,† as the people had no choice in the matter. So, Henry David’s dream was unfinished, and he died a heart-broken death at the age of 45. Finally, the American Dream is unachievable because of human greed. Although this great nation was founded on the noblest of principles, the founding fathers forgot one crucial detail; people always want more than they have. According to Daniel Gilbert, a highly esteemed professor and writer of the Futile Pursuit of Happiness, says that people have a tendency to miswant, or mistakenly believing that wanting something will bring one happiness. This leads them to think that money, is the most important thing, and soon, they stop at nothing to achieve more and more money, often throwing others under the bus. The novel, Death and the American Dream, by Daniel Cano, is about a Mexican revolutionary who wants to start over in America. He is actually an American citizen, but his only identification is his American passport. His friend, desperate for money, steals his passport and makes him look like an illegal immigrant to get a reward. It is a story of betrayal, politics and life; a shockingly real portrayal of life today. Similarly, they say that life is a race. What they don’t say is that if one falls, he is unlikely to ever get up again. In conclusion, the American Dream is now just an unattainable dream, instead of a reality because of the capitalistic economy, the government and human nature. When this nation was first created, American believed that wealth, prosperity and happiness could be created through handwork and perseverance. But now, with society on the verge of collapse, America needs to stop dreaming and wake up. Works Cited Cano, Daniel. Death and the American Dream. Tempe, Ariz: Bilingual, 2009. Print Gertner, Jon. â€Å"The Futile Pursuit of Happiness – New York Times. † The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. New York Times, Sept. -Oct. 2003. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. Fitzgerald, Francis Scott. The Great Gatsby. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin, 1986. Print. Lawrence, Jerome, and Robert Edwin Lee. The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. New York: Hill & Wang, 1970. Print. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin, 1973. Rand, Ayn. Anthem. New York: Plume, 1999. Print. Steinbeck, John, and Robert J. DeMott. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

Overview of Fmcg Sector

An Overview of the FMCG Industry in India chillibreeze writer — Shital Vakhariya Looking for more info Read our more comprehensive report of the same at: India-Reports Read more about Discount Retailing   Ã‚  | | | What are Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)? Products which have a quick turnover, and relatively low cost are known as Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). FMCG products are those that get replaced within a year.Examples of FMCG generally include a wide range of frequently purchased consumer products such as toiletries, soap, cosmetics, tooth cleaning products, shaving products and detergents, as well as other non-durables such as glassware, bulbs, batteries, paper products, and plastic goods. FMCG may also include pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, packaged food products, soft drinks, tissue paper, and chocolate bars. A subset of FMCGs are Fast Moving Consumer Electronics which include innovative electronic products such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital c ameras, GPS Systems and Laptops.These are replaced more frequently than other electronic products. White goods in FMCG refer to household electronic items such as Refrigerators, T. Vs, Music Systems, etc. In 2005, the Rs. 48,000-crore FMCG segment was one of the fast growing industries in India. According to the AC Nielsen India study, the industry grew 5. 3% in value between 2004 and 2005. Indian FMCG Sector | | The Indian FMCG sector is the fourth largest in the economy and has a market size of US$13. 1 billion. Well-established distribution networks, as well as intense competition between the organised and unorganised segments are the characteristics of this sector.FMCG in India has a strong and competitive MNC presence across the entire value chain. It has been predicted that the FMCG market will reach to US$ 33. 4 billion in 2015 from US $ billion 11. 6 in 2003. The middle class and the rural segments of the Indian population are the most promising market for FMCG, and give bra nd makers the opportunity to convert them to branded products. Most of the product categories like jams, toothpaste, skin care, shampoos, etc, in India, have low per capita consumption as well as low penetration level, but the potential for growth is huge.The Indian Economy is surging ahead by leaps and bounds, keeping pace with rapid urbanization, increased literacy levels, and rising per capita income. The big firms are growing bigger and small-time companies are catching up as well. According to the study conducted by AC Nielsen, 62 of the top 100 brands are owned by MNCs, and the balance by Indian companies. Fifteen companies own these 62 brands, and 27 of these are owned by Hindustan Lever. Pepsi is at number three followed by Thums Up. Britannia takes the fifth place, followed by Colgate (6), Nirma (7), Coca-Cola (8) and Parle (9).These are figures the soft drink and cigarette companies have always shied away from revealing. Personal care, cigarettes, and soft drinks are the t hree biggest categories in FMCG. Between them, they account for 35 of the top 100 brands. Exhibit I THE TOP 10 COMPANIES IN FMCG SECTOR S. NO. | Companies| 1. | Hindustan Unilever Ltd. | 2. | ITC (Indian Tobacco Company)| 3. | Nestle India| 4. | GCMMF (AMUL)| 5. | Dabur India| 6. | Asian Paints (India)| 7. | Cadbury India| 8. | Britannia Industries| 9. | Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care| 10. | Marico Industries| Source: Naukrihub. comThe companies mentioned in Exhibit I, are the leaders in their respective sectors. The personal care category has the largest number of brands, i. e. , 21, inclusive of Lux, Lifebuoy, Fair and Lovely, Vicks, and Ponds. There are 11 HLL brands in the 21, aggregating Rs. 3,799 crore or 54% of the personal care category. Cigarettes account for 17% of the top 100 FMCG sales, and just below the personal care category. ITC alone accounts for 60% volume market share and 70% by value of all filter cigarettes in India. The foods category in FMCG is g aining popularity with a swing of launches by HLL, ITC, Godrej, and others.This category has 18 major brands, aggregating Rs. 4,637 crore. Nestle and Amul slug it out in the powders segment. The food category has also seen innovations like softies in ice creams, chapattis by HLL, ready to eat rice by HLL and pizzas by both GCMMF and Godrej Pillsbury. This category seems to have faster development than the stagnating personal care category. Amul, India's largest foods company, has a good presence in the food category with its ice-creams, curd, milk, butter, cheese, and so on. Britannia also ranks in the top 100 FMCG brands, dominates the biscuits category and has launched a series of products at various prices.In the household care category (like mosquito repellents), Godrej and Reckitt are two players. Goodknight from Godrej, is worth above Rs 217 crore, followed by Reckitt's Mortein at Rs 149 crore. In the shampoo category, HLL's Clinic and Sunsilk make it to the top 100, although P;amp;G's Head and Shoulders and Pantene are also trying hard to be positioned on top. Clinic is nearly double the size of Sunsilk. Dabur is among the top five FMCG companies in India and is a herbal specialist. With a turnover of Rs. 19 billion (approx.US$ 420 million) in 2005-2006, Dabur has brands like Dabur Amla, Dabur Chyawanprash, Vatika, Hajmola and Real. Asian Paints is enjoying a formidable presence in the Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Far East, Middle East, South Pacific, Caribbean, Africa and Europe. Asian Paints is India's largest paint company, with a turnover of Rs. 22. 6 billion (around USD 513 million). Forbes Global magazine, USA, ranked Asian Paints among the 200 Best Small Companies in the World Cadbury India is the market leader in the chocolate confectionery market with a 70% market share and is ranked number two in the total food drinks market.Its popular brands include Cadbury's Dairy Milk, 5 Star, Eclairs, and Gems. The Rs. 15. 6 billion (USD 380 Mill ion) Marico is a leading Indian group in consumer products and services in the Global Beauty and Wellness space. Scope Of The Sector| | | The Indian FMCG sector with a market size of US$13. 1 billion is the fourth largest sector in the economy. A well-established distribution network, intense competition between the organized and unorganized segments characterize the sector. FMCG Sector is expected to grow by over 60% by 2010. That will translate into an annual growth of 10% over a 5-year period.It has been estimated that FMCG sector will rise from around Rs 56,500 crores in 2005 to Rs 92,100 crores in 2010. Hair care, household care, male grooming, female hygiene, and the chocolates and confectionery categories are estimated to be the fastest growing segments, says an HSBC report. Though the sector witnessed a slower growth in 2002-2004, it has been able to make a fine recovery since then. | | For example, Hindustan Levers Limited (HLL) has shown a healthy growth in the last quarte r. An estimated double-digit growth over the next few years shows that the good times are likely to continue.Growth Prospects With the presence of 12. 2% of the world population in the villages of India, the Indian rural FMCG market is something no one can overlook. Increased focus on farm sector will boost rural incomes, hence providing better growth prospects to the FMCG companies. Better infrastructure facilities will improve their supply chain. FMCG sector is also likely to benefit from growing demand in the market. Because of the low per capita consumption for almost all the products in the country, FMCG companies have immense possibilities for growth.And if the companies are able to change the mindset of the consumers, i. e. if they are able to take the consumers to branded products and offer new generation products, they would be able to generate higher growth in the near future. It is expected that the rural income will rise in 2007, boosting purchasing power in the countrys ide. However, the demand in urban areas would be the key growth driver over the long term. Also, increase in the urban population, along with increase in income levels and the availability of new categories, would help the urban areas maintain their position in terms of consumption.At present, urban India accounts for 66% of total FMCG consumption, with rural India accounting for the remaining 34%. However, rural India accounts for more than 40% consumption in major FMCG categories such as personal care, fabric care, and hot beverages. In urban areas, home and personal care category, including skin care, household care and feminine hygiene, will keep growing at relatively attractive rates. Within the foods segment, it is estimated that processed foods, bakery, and dairy are long-term growth categories in both rural and urban areas. Indian Competitiveness and Comparison with the World MarketsThe following factors make India a competitive player in FMCG sector:? Availability of raw ma terials Because of the diverse agro-climatic conditions in India, there is a large raw material base suitable for food processing industries. India is the largest producer of livestock, milk, sugarcane, coconut, spices and cashew and is the second largest producer of rice, wheat and fruits &vegetables. India also produces caustic soda and soda ash, which are required for the production of soaps and detergents. The availability of these raw materials gives India the location advantage. Labor cost comparison Low cost labor gives India a competitive advantage. India's labor cost is amongst the lowest in the world, after China ;amp; Indonesia. Low labor costs give the advantage of low cost of production. Many MNC's have established their plants in India to outsource for domestic and export markets. ? Presence across value chain Indian companies have their presence across the value chain of FMCG sector, right from the supply of raw materials to packaged goods in the food-processing s ector. This brings India a more cost competitive advantage.For example, Amul supplies milk as well as dairy products like cheese, butter, etc. | Strategic Intent We intend to significantly accelerate profitable growth. To do this, we will: * Focus on growing our core brands across categories, reaching out to new geographies, within and outside India, and improve operational efficiencies by leveraging technology * Be the preferred company to meet the health and personal grooming needs of our target consumers with safe, efficacious, natural solutions by synthesizing our deep knowledge of ayurveda and herbs with modern science * Provide our consumers with innovative products ithin easy reach * Build a platform to enable Dabur to become a global ayurvedic leader * Be a professionally managed employer of choice, attracting, developing and retaining quality personnel * Be responsible citizens with a commitment to environmental protection * Provide superior returns, relative to our peer gr oup, to our shareholders * Dabur India Limited | * Dabur India Limited is India's leading FMCG company with interests in health care, personal care and foods. Dabur has a history of more than 100 years and the company has carved a niche for it self in the field of Ayurvedic medicines.The products of Dabur are marketed in more than 50 countries worldwide. The company has 2 major strategic business units (SBU) – Consumer Care Division (CCD) ;amp; Consumer Health Division (CHD), and 3 Subsidiary Group companies – Dabur Foods, Dabur Nepal and Dabur International. Dabur International has 3 step down subsidiaries – Asian Consumer Care in Bangladesh, African Consumer Care in Nigeria and Dabur Egypt. The origin of Dabur can be traced back to 1884 when Dr. S. K. Burman started a health care products manufacturing facility in a small Calcutta pharmacy.In 1896, as a result of growing popularity of Dabur products, Dr. Burman set up a manufacturing plant for mass production of formulations. In early 1900s, Dabur entered the specialized area of nature based Ayurvedic medicines. In 1919, Dabur established research laboratories to develop scientific processes and quality checks. In 1936, Dabur became a full-fledged company with the name Dabur India (Dr. S. K. Burman) Pvt Ltd. Dabur shifted its operations to Delhi in 1972. Dabur became a Public Limited Company in 1986 and Dabur India Limited came into existence after reverse merger with Vidogum Limited.In 1992, Dabur entered into a joint venture with Agrolimen of Spain to manufacture and market confectionary items in India. In 1994, Dabur raised its first IPO. In 1998, day to day running of the company was handed over to professionals. In 2000, Dabur achieved a turnover of Rs 1000 crores. In 2005, Dabur acquired Balsara. Dabur crossed $ 2 billion market cap in 2006. Some of the well-known brands of Dabur are: Amla Chyawanprash, Hajmola, Lal Dantmanjan, Nature Care, Pudin Hara, Babool Toothpaste, Hingoli, D abur Honey, Lemoneez, Meswak, Odonil, Real, RealActiv and Vatika.