Promotion Strategy

evade of Contents Sr No. Title P No. 1. admission 2-5 2. publicityal Mix 5 3. gross gross gross sales process 7-8 4. ad 9-13 5. varied Methods 14-15 6. Public Relations 15 7. References 18 Introduction What is progressal schema ? Promotional system is the consumption of ex promoteing, persuading, and influencing a consumer decision. It is as of the essence(predicate) to non realize organizations as it is to a profit oriented friendship like Colgate-Palmolive. roughly promotional strategies be aimed at bettering primary demand, the desire for a general crossway category.For grammatical case, the Wisconsin Milk market Board conjures natural racy m wholeow by advertisements with dig up referring to any particular cheese maker. But virtually promotional strategies argon aimed at creating selective demand, the desire for a particular production. landed estate O Lakes rangeThe taste that stands above. Land O Lakes 4-Quart Cheeseis an example. The ob jectives of promotion, the comp adeptnts of the promotional mix own(prenominal)ized sell, advertisement, allots promotion, and exoteric dealings argon discussed, and finally, the f locomoteors that influence marketers decisions in selecting a promotional mix atomic number 18 explained.Objectives of Promotional Strategy Promotional dodging objectives vary among organizations. Some use promotion to expand their markets, well-nigh separatewises to hold their au and thentic stupefys, free others to present a corporeal viewpoint on a public issue. Promotional strategies corporation overly be use to move over selected markets. Most sources lay the particular promotional objectives or determinations of providing information, differentiating the product, increasing gross revenue, stabilize sales, and accentuating the products value. An organization clear rush multiple promotional objectives.The National pork barrel barrel Producers Council has developed The separate White Meat promotional campaign originally to position pork as a white meat quite a than a red meat. Other goals of the campaign acknowledge increasing the sale of pork and informing consumers that pork is low in calories and cholesterol, high in nutrition, easy to prepare, and versatile. To illustrate the versatility of pork, one advertisement in the campaign features 21 different pork dishes and offers consumers a free booklet for those and other pork recipes. Providing InformationIn the early days of promotional campaigns, when there was often a get around supply of many percentage points, just close to advertisements were designed to inform the public of a products availability. Today, a major portion of advertise in the United States is still informational. A gargantuan section of the daily sweet(a)spapers on Wednesdays and Thursdays consists of publicizing that tells shoppers which products are featured by stores and at what price. Health insurance adver tisements in sunshine newspaper supplements mark information somewhat rising hospital make ups.Industrial salespeople get buyers aware of the latest technological advances in a particular field. demeanor retailers advertise to keep consumers abreast of current styles. Promotional campaigns designed to inform are often aimed at specific market segments. Warner Bros. Records, for example, created a pressure disc advertisement headed at the baby-boom generation. In explaining the purpose of the ad, a Warner executive director said, We believe that most boomers are unaware that our classic recordings of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are on CD along with the current releases. The ad informs baby boomers that Warner releases non only contemporary recordings tho also some of its beat out albums from preceding years, including those by Flee cardinalod Mac, Van Morrison, and ZZ Top, on thick(p) discs. Included in the ad is a list of classic recordings now available on compact disc s. Differentiating the Product Marketers often develop a promotional dodging to sort their goods or work from those of competitors. To accomplish this, they attempt to occupy a position in the market that appeals to their sucker customers.Promotions that apply the concept of positioning announce to consumers meaningful distinctions ab come out the attri justes, price, quality, or usage of a good or table service. Positioning is often utilize for goods or services that are non drawing cards in their field. The advertisement for taters Oil clean in inning 13. 2 is part of a promotional campaign The spud-Phoenix community uses to cross off its household cleaner from its much larger competition. While market leader Mr. Clean and other large competitors much(prenominal)(prenominal) as Top chew over are forced as tough on dirt cleaners, Murphys Oil Soap is positioned as a aristocratical household cleaner.The positioning strategy is carried by dint of in other ads in th e campaign, in which care shamrs of churches and opera houses emphasize the soaps gentle cleaning attribute. Increasing Sales Increasing sales volume is the most common objective of a promotional strategy. Some strategies concentrate on primary demand, others on selective demand. Sometimes specific audiences are targeted. In an effort to contour the sales volume of its bodywear, Danskin developed an advert campaign targeted at women age 18 to 44. Advertisements in the $3 million campaign, helped win the sales of Danskins adult garments by 30 pct in one year.The campaign ascendent alone the Worlds a Stagecommunicates the center that Danskin garments do-nothing be purchased not only for exercise and dance but also as everyday uniform. Stabilizing Sales Sales stabilization is other goal of promotional strategy. Sales contests are often held during s privation periods. such(prenominal) contests offer prizes (such as vacation trips, color televisions, and scholarships) to sales personnel who bear certain goals. Sales promotion materialscalendars, pens, and the likeare sometimes distributed to find sales during off-periods.Advertising is also often used to stabilize sales. Hotels are move on weekdays with crinkle travelers, but these people go home on Friday. So many hotels promote weekend packages at lower range to attract tourists and vacationers. A stable sales pattern allows the pissed to mitigate financial, purchasing, and market planning to even out the production cycle and to visit some management and production constitutes. The correct use of promotional strategy evoke be a valuable tool in accomplishing these objectives. Accentuating the Products ValueSome promotional strategies are based on factors, such as warranty designs and fixate services, that add to the products value. legion(predicate) Ford Motor Company advertisements promote specific car and light truck models. Some ads, however, are designed to promote Fords 6-year, 60,000- mile powertrain warranty, while others concentrate on the Lifetime Service Guarantee offered by Ford dealers. These promotions point out greater ownership utility to buyers, indeed enhancing the products value. The Promotional Mix Firms use various elements to achieve their promotional objectives.Promotion consists of devil components individualised sell and non own(prenominal) selling. Personal selling is a promotional creation made on a person-to-person basis with a capableness buyer. Non own(prenominal) selling consists of advert, sales promotion, and public relations. The promotional mix is a combination of personal selling and nonpersonal selling. Marketers attempt to develop a promotional mix that effectively and expeditiously communicates their message to target customers. Personal marketing For many companies, personal sellinga promotional presentation made on a person-to-person basis to a potential buyeris the key to marketing ffectiveness. The promotional strateg y of Merrill Lynch, a financial services firm, focuses on its 12,000-person sales force. Selling was the original system of promotion. Today, selling employs over 6 million Ameri fundaments. The sales function of most companies is changing rapidly. In some cases, the change has been only cosmetic, such as when the title salesclerk is changed to account representative but the job function remains the same. Yet, many firms are making signifi enduret changes in their sales force. Sales duties have been spread out, and in some instances, the function itself has changed.The primary trim back is toward increased professionalism on the part of sales personnel. Todays sales people act as advisors to their customers, helping them utilize more efficiently the dots they buy. Sales Tasks Sales tasks vary significantly from one order or situation to another, but it usually implicates three basic tasks order processing, imaginative selling, and missionary selling. sight Processing The t ask of order processing involves the receipt and handling of an order. ask are identified and pointed out to the customer, and the order is processed.The handling of orders is e limitedly cardinal in satisfying customer needfully. The Willamette Industries advertisement points out that the firms salespeople take a customer-oriented approach to order processing. They check the quality of the products their retail customers receive, know their customers market, and check that products are available when customers need them. Route sales personnel for such consumer products as bread, milk, and flaccid drinks are examples of order processors. They check a stores stock, publish the inventory level to the store manager, and complete the sale.Most sales jobs have at least a minor order-processing function. It becomes the primary duty in cases where needs are readily identified and acknowledged by the customer. Creative Selling Sales representatives for most industrial goods and some c onsumer goods are touch in creative selling, a cogent type of promotional presentation. Creative selling is used when the benefits of a good or service are not readily apparent and its purchase is being based on a careful analysis of alternatives. In new-product selling, sales people need to be very creative if initial orders are to be secured.Missionary Selling An corroborative form of selling in which the representative markets the good give of a company or provides technical or operational assistance to the customer is called missionary selling. For example, many technically based organizations, such as IBM and Xerox, provide systems specialists who jaw with their customers. These people are problem solvers and sometimes work on problems not flat involving their employers product. A person who sells a highly technical product whitethorn do 55 part missionary selling, 40 percentage creative selling, and 5 percent order processing.By contrast, the job of retail salespeople m ay be 70 percent order processing, 15 percent creative selling, and 15 classifying a particular sales job. The Sales Process long time ago, sales personnel memorized a sales talk provided by their employers. such(prenominal) a canned sales presentation was intended to provide all the information the customer needed to make a purchase decision. The complete sales process was viewed as a situation in which the likely customer was passive and ready to buy if the appropriate information could be identified and presented by the representative.Contemporary selling recognizes that the interaction between buyers and sellers usually rules out canned presentations in all but the simplest of sales situations. Todays professional sales personnel typically follow a sequential pattern, but the true(a) presentation varies according to the circumstances. Figure 13. 5 viewings that seven steps can be identified in the sales process scenerying and qualifying, the approach, the presentation, the reflection, handling objections, the closing, and the follow-up. Prospecting and flip In prospecting, salespeople identify potential customers.They may come from many sources, such as previous customers, friends, business associates, neighbors, other sales personnel, and other employees in the firm. A recent study indicated increased publicizing in business publications results in more prospects for salespeople promoting industrial goods and services. In the qualifying process, potential customers are identified in terms of their financial ability and authority to buy. Those who lack the necessary financial resources or who are not in a position to make the purchase decision are given no further attention.The Approach Salespeople should carefully prepare their approach to potential customers. All available information about prospects should be collected and analyzed. Sales representatives should return that the initial impression they give prospects often affects the prospects future attitudes. The Presentation The presentation is the stage at which the salesperson transmits the promotional message. The usual method is to reveal the goods or services major features, highlight its advantages, and cite examples of consumer satisfaction. The Demonstration A demonstration allows the prospect to become involved in the presentation.Demonstrations reinforce the message communicated to the prospective buyer. In promoting some goods and services, the demonstration is a critical step in the sales process. Paper manufacturers, for example, produce elaborate booklets that their salespeople use to demonstrate different types of paper, paper finishes, and graphic techniques. The demonstration allows salespeople to show art directors, designers, printers, and other potential customers what different paper specimens look like when they are printed. Handling Objections Many salespeople fear objections from the prospect be event they view them as a rebuke.Actually, such o bjections should be welcomed, because they allow additional points in mount of the sale and to answer questions the consumer has about the good or service to be presented by the sales representative. The gag integrity The closing is the critical point in sellingthe time at which the seller actually asks the prospect to buy the product. The seller should watch for guides that the prospect is ready to buy. For example, if a prospect starts discussing where the new equipment would fit in the coif system they are inspecting, it should give the sales agent a signal to attempt to close the sale.Effective closing techniques might be that the salesclerk can ask the prospect directly or propose alternative purchases. Or the salesperson may do something that implies the sale has been completed, such as travel toward a cash register. This forces the prospect to say no if they do not want to complete the sale. The Follow-Up later-sale activities are very grave in find whether a custome r will buy again later. After the prospect agrees to buy, the salesperson should complete the order processing quickly and efficiently and reassure the customer about the purchase decision.Later, the salesperson should check with the customer to determine whether the good or service is satisfactory. Many firms employ telemarketers to yield post-sale activities. Telemarketing is a personal selling approach conducted entirely by telephone. Telemarketers employed by the Apple Bank for Savings in refreshful York make follow up calls to customers to measure their reaction to the banks services. Telemarketers also achieve other functions in the sales process. At Apple Bank, they handle customer inquiries and help market the banks financial services.For example, telemarketers call customers when their certificates of deposit are about to mature and suggest other savings alternatives. Advertising For many firms, announce is the most effective type of nonpersonal promotion. Advertising is a paid, non personal sales colloquy usually directed at a large number of potential buyers. Firms in the United States account for about half(a) of worldwide advertising expenditures. U. S. marketers spend more than $100 billion all(prenominal) year, or about $420 for each man, woman, and child.The nations leading advertisers are Philip Morris Procter & Gamble ecumenical Motors Sears, Roebuck and Ford Motor Company, each of which spends more than $1 billion on advertising annually. Advertising expenditures can vary considerably from persistence to industry and company to company. In the nonresidential general courseing contracting industry, for instance, advertising spending amounts to only dickens-tenths of 1 percent of sales. At the other peak is the retail get off-order house industry, which spends 14 percent of sales on advertising. Types of AdvertisingThe two basic types of advertising are product and institutional. Product advertising involves the selling of a good or service. Advertisements for Nike Air shoes, Marriott hotels, and Packard Bell computers would be classified as product advertising. Institutional advertising involves the promotion of a concept, estimation, or philosophy, or the goodwill of an industry, company, organization, or government entity. For example, Texas promoted tourism with the theme reckon a country where the natives are friendly and the language barrier is substantially overcome. Institutional advertising by profit-seeking firms is called corporate advertising. A form of institutional advertising that is growing in immensity, advocacy advertising supports a specific viewpoint on a public issue. Its purpose is to influence public opinion and/or the legislative process. Advocacy advertising is used by many nonprofit organizations. For example, advertisements by the National Rifle linkup support Americans constitutional right to keep and bear arms and speak out against the passage of gun-control laws.The Chemi cal Bank advertisement an example of a corporate advocacy advertisement. The ad expresses Chemical Banks viewpoint concerning a current law that prohibits commercial banks from competing in the securities underwriting market. Advocacy advertising is sometimes referred to as cause advertising. Advertising and the Product Life Cycle Product and institutional advertising can be subdivided by its purposes to inform, persuade, or remind. Informative advertising, intended to build initial demand for a product, is used in the introductory mannikin of the product keep cycle.When Johnson Johnson introduced its Acuvue fluid contact lensthe nations origin disposable lensit launched a massive advertising campaign directed at consumers and eye-care professionals to explain the health benefits of using the new product. Persuasive advertising attempts to amend the competitive status of a product, institution, or concept. It is used in the fruit and maturity stages of the product life cycle. The Kinder-Care advertisement in Figure 13. 7 is an example of persuasive advertising. Since it was established in 1969, Kinder-Care used informational ads that promoted the centers hours and programs.But now that the company has grown to almost 1,400 centers and competitors such as La Petite Academy, Childrens World, and Gerber Childrens cracker bonbon have entered the market, Kinder-Care has shifted to a persuasive advertising approach. The theme of the campaignThe Joys of Kinder-Carepromotes the idea of trust, which the firms marketing research indicated was parents major child-care concern. One of the most popular approaches to persuasive product advertising is comparative advertising, which makes direct comparisons with competitive products. Numerous companies have used comparative advertising in recent years.The Pepsi Challenge is an example of comparative advertising. Pepsi-Cola ads have used blind taste tests in which a majority of consumers choose Pepsi over Coca- Cola. A lthough Coca-Cola still leads the soft-drink market, the Pepsi Challenge helped increase Pepsi sales considerably. Reminder-oriented advertising, used in the late-maturity and decline stages of the product life cycle, attempts to keep a products name in front of the consumer or to remind people of the immensity of a concept or an institution. Soft drinks, beer, toothpaste, and cigarettes are products for which reminder-oriented advertising is used.The Association of Railroads used an advertisement that began Todays railroads, Americas great untapped resource. Even police cars in some areas of the United States scat reminder-oriented themes such as We protect and serve. E. D. Bullard Company designed the poster shown in Figure 13. 8 to remind workers of the importance of wearing hard hats. Advertising Media All marketers shell the question of how to best allocate their advertising expenditures. Cost is an important consideration, but it is equally important to choose the media b est suited for the job. All media have dvantages and harms these are discussed in the sections that follow. Newspapers Newspapers, with 26 percent of total advertising volume, are the largest of the advertising media. 9 Because newspaper advertising can be tailored for individual communities, topical anaesthetic advertising is common. Newspapers also reach fullly everyone in the community. Other advantages are that readers can refer back to them, and they can be coordinated with other advertising and merchandising efforts. In fact, advertising is considered the third most reusable feature in newspapers, after subject and local news. A disadvantage is the relatively short life span. video recording Television ranks second overall to newspapers with 22 percent of all advertising volume, but it is the leader in national advertising. Television advertising can be classified as network, national, local, and cable. Television has a significant impact on potential customers despite i ts high cost. Mass coverage, repetition, flexibility, and prestige are other advantages. The mediums ability to reach wide audiences was demonstrated vividly by the 1989 Pepsi commercial featuring pop singer Micahael Jackson. The firm spent $5 million to beam the commercial to 250 million viewing audience in 40 nations, from Finland to the Philippines. The ad was pulled because of Michael Jacksons range of a function and judicial problems. ) In addition to high cost, its disadvantages include the temporary nature of the message, some public distrust, and lack of selectivity in the ability to reach specific target market segments without considerable wasted coverage. Direct Mail Direct mail is the third-leading advertising medium, with about 17 percent of total advertising expenditures. Its advantages include selectivity, intense coverage, speed, flexibility, complete information, and personalization. On the other hand, direct mail is exceedingly costly.It is also dependent on e ffective mailing lists, and it sometimes meets with consumer resistance. intercommunicate set With 99 percent of all U. S. households owning on average five radio sets, radio is another important transmit advertising medium. Radio, which accounts for 7 percent of total advertising volume, can be classified as network, spot, and local advertising. Advantages of radio are immediacy, low cost, targeted audience selection, flexibility, and mobility. Disadvantages include the short life span of a radio message and a highly fragmentise audience.Magazines Magazines account for about 5 percent of advertising volume. Modern Maturity, with almost 20 million subscribers, is the nations largest magazine in terms of paid subscriptions. It is followed by Readers Digest and TV Guide, each with about 17 million subscribers. Advantages of magazines include selectivity, quality reproduction, long life, and prestige. The main disadvantage of magazines is that they lack the flexibility of newspaper s and broadcast media, but the appearance of local advertising in various regional editions of national news magazines suggests that this problem is being overcome.Out portal Advertising One percent of total advertising expenditures are on alfresco advertising such as billboards. Its strength is in communicating simple ideas quickly. Other advantages are repetition and the ability to promote goods and services available for sale nearby. However, the message must be brief, and there are aesthetic considerations. Other Media Options Other media include advertising in movie theaters and on airline movie screens. Recently, several firms such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Chrysler, and Hershey placed ads on videocassette movies.Many firms peril their advertising message on trucks, while others use transit advertising. An advertising vehicle gaining in popularity is the hot-air balloon, used by organizations such as maxwell theater, Coors, Eastman Kodak, and the states of Maryland and Connec ticut. These alternative media can be employed separately or in conjunction with advertising campaigns using more traditional media. pile you name the candy the space creature picked up in the select E. T. ? Reeses Candy companys sales of Reeses Pieces went through the profit ceiling for this exposure.As such, many other companies now pay thousands of dollars for this type of theatrical exposure and advertising. Sales Promotion Sales promotion consists of the forms of promotion other than advertising, personal selling, and public relations that increase sales through one-time selling efforts. Sales promotion was traditionally viewed as a supplement to a firms sales or advertising efforts, but now it has become an integral part of the promotional mix. Expenditures for sales promotion total more than $100 billion each year. Point-of-Purchase Advertising (POP)Point-of-purchase advertising (POP) consists of displays and demonstrations promoting an item at a time and place near the loc ation of the actual purchase decision, such as in a retail store. Video advertising on supermarket shopping carts is an example. POP can be very effective in continuing a theme developed by some other aspect of the firms promotional strategy. strong point Advertising Specialty advertising is the giving away of profitable swop such as pens, calendars, T-shirts, glassware, and pocket calculators that are imprinted with the donors name, logo, or message.Because the items are useful and are often personalized with the recipients name, they tend to be kept and used by the targeted audience, giving the advertiser reiterateed exposure. Originally designed to identify and create goodwill for advertisers, specialty advertising is now used to devolve sales leads and develop traffic for stores and trade show exhibitors. Trade Shows A trade show is often used to promote goods or services to resellers in the distribution occupation. Retailers and wholesalers attend trade conventions and sh ows where manufacturers exhibit their lines. Such shows are very important n the toy, furniture, and fashion industries. They have also been used to promote the products of one nation to buyers from another. L. A. geared wheel used a trade show extravaganza to let retailers know about its diversified product line. The company, which originally produced a line of teenage fashion athletic footwear, expanded its offerings to include 80 womens shoe styles, a mens and a childrens line, and an apparel collection. But most retailers carry a limited number of L. A. Gear styles compared to those of nationally recognized brand names such as Nike and Reebok.To build its brand recognition among retailers, L. A. Gear designed a trade show display replicating the city of Los Angeles, complete with a Beverly Hills Hotel and a 25-foot City Hall. The display includes a stage where dancers, gymnasts, and other performers entertained retailers attending the National garment Fair in New York and the Super Show, the trade show of the riotous goods industry. Don Wasley, L. A. Gears vice-president of promotion, said, When we created this trade show booth, it was to let the retailers know wed arrived.We wanted them to take us seriously. Other Sales Promotion Methods Other sales promotion techniques include types, coupons, premiums, contests, and trading stamps. Most of these methods are used to introduce new products or encourage consumers to try a new brand. A sample is a free gift of a product distributed by mail, door to door, in a demonstration, or inside packages containing other products. Samples are oddly useful in promoting new products. PepsiCo used a novel take in promotion to boost the market share of Pepsi Cola in Brazil.Young potent students wearing T-shirts with the Pepsi logo dispensed Pepsi samples from refrigerated backpacks to beachgoers sunning themselves on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. The promotion back up PepsiCos Taste of a new generation advertising campaign in Brazil, where 50 percent of the population is younger than 20. A coupon is an advertising clipping or package inclusion stamps are similar to premiums in that they are redeemable for additional switch. Historically, they have been used to build devotion to a certain retailer or supplier. Contests, sweepstakes, and games offer cash or merchandise redeemable by the customer.Offering what amounts to a small price discount, it can help get a customer to try a new or different product. Many retailers, including southern supermarket giant Winn Dixie, double the face value of manufacturers coupons. In a recent survey comparing various methods of consumer promotion, 83 percent of respondents said coupons increased the value of their shopping dollar. The respondents gave sweepstakes and other sales promotion techniques much lower ratings. A premium is an item given free or at a reduced cost with the purchase of another product. Premiums are most effective when they relate in so me way to the purchased item.To promote its new cinnamon-and-raisin biscuits and increase overall breakfast traffic, Hardees fast- aliment restaurants offered the premium of a California Raisin figurine for 99 cents with the purchase of two biscuits. Sales during the four-week promotion increased 18 percent, well above Hardees goal of increasing sales 4. 5 percent. McDonals and Burger King promote theatrical releases through their Kids Meals. work as prizes to participating winners. The transit poster advertises an American inwrought Beverage Corporation sweepstakes in which the grand prize is a 1957 Thunderbird Classic.The first person to spell Cruisin by collecting specially marked bottleful caps from Soho Natural Soda wins the car. Public Relations Public relations is an organizations communications with its various publics, such as customers, vendors, news media, employees, stockholders, government, and the general public. Many of these communication efforts have a marketing purpose. Johnson Johnson Health Care Company launched a five-year public relations campaign to educate the public on trim down childhood injuries.The Safe Kids program includes a free safety getup for children that contains Band-Aids and other JJ products. The firm hopes the goodwill generated by the program will not only enhance its image as a caring and concerned company but also translate into more sales. Building our image builds our business, said a JJ executive. 14 Public relations is often used to supplement advertising and personal selling efforts. In some cases, however, public relations is used as a dominant element in a firms promotional campaign. For example, in ddition to advertising, Paramount Pictures developed a public relations program to promote the Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America. The program was designed to change Murphys image and broaden his appeal beyond his hard-core, young male fans. In the movie, Murphy plays a romantic and humorous leading man, a departure from his beaten(prenominal) tough-guy role in previous films such as Beverly Hills Cop and Trading Places. To stress the versatility of Murphys talent, Paramount prepared publicity releases for newspapers and magazines and sent electronic press kits to television stations.These efforts resulted in extensive media coverage for the movie. For example, several magazines featured Murphy in cover stories, and radio stations gave the movies soundtrack additional playing time. Selecting a Promotional Mix Selecting the appropriate promotional mix is one of the toughest tasks confronting marketers, but there are some general guideposts to assist in determining the relative allocations of promotional efforts and expenditures among personal selling, advertising, sales promotion, and public relations. These guidelines might be stated as a series of four rules.The first guideline is the decision whether to spend promotional monies on advertising or personal selling. Once this decisi on is made, the marketer needs to determine the level of sales promotion and public relations efforts. A second consideration is the market served by the good or service. For instance, a drill press is change to the industrial market, so the manufacturers strategy must emphasize the sales force. By contrast, California Raisins are sold to consumers an effective advertising campaign is important to consumer products like raisins.The third rule deals with the value of the product. Most companies cannot afford to emphasize personal selling in marketing a low-priced item and instead choose advertising for the promotional strategy of goods like toothpaste, cosmetics, soft drinks, and candy. Higher-priced items in both industrial and consumer markets rely more on personal selling. Examples include time-share vacation condominiums and Boeing aircraft. Finally, the marketer needs to consider the time phase involved. Advertising is usually used to precondition a person for a sales resentat ion. An effective and consistent advertising theme may favorably influence individuals when they are approached by a salesclerk in a store. But except for self-service situations, a salesperson is typically involved in completing the actual transaction. Advertising is often used again after the sale to assure consumers of the correctness of their selection and to precondition them for repeat purchases. Alternative Promotional Strategies The selection of a promotional mix is directly related to the promotional strategy the firm will employ.The marketer has two alternative strategies available to meet these goals pushing strategy or puff strategy. A pushing strategy is a sales-oriented approach. The product, product line, or service is marketed to wholesalers and retailers in the marketing channels. Sales personnel explain to them why they should carry this particular item or service. The marketing intermediaries are usually offered special discounts, promotional materials, and coope rative advertising allowances. In the last case, the manufacturer shares the cost of local advertising of the product or line.All these strategies are designed to impress wholesalers and retailers to push the product or service to their customers. The kiwifruit advertisement is an example of a pushing strategy. In it, the New Zealand Kiwifruit Authority suggests ways retailers can merchandise the fruit so consumers will buy it. A clout strategy attempts to generate consumer demand for the product, product line, or service, primarily through advertising and sales promotion appeals. Most advertising is aimed at the ultimate consumer, who then asks the retailer for the product or service the retailer in turn requests the item or service from the supplier.The marketer hopes that strong consumer demand will pull the product or service through the marketing channel by forcing marketing intermediaries to carry it. The General Foods advertisement for maxwell House coffee in illustrates a pulling strategy. The ad announced a sales promotion that tied in with the Taste of boodle outdoor food festival. Consumers who brought two exculpate coffee cans to the Maxwell House coffee bar at the festival received $6 worth of free food tickets. The consumer pull influenced Chicago-area retailers to prominently feature the brand at their stores. With consumers edeeming about 49,000 empty cans, the promotion was so successful it produced record sales and moved the Maxwell House brand from third place to first in the Chicago market. Most marketing situations require the use of both strategies, although the emphasis can vary. Consumer products are often heavily dependent on a pulling strategy, while most industrial products are sold through a pushing strategy. References 1. Colton. M. Jo Ann (2000). The Entrepreneurs Guide to Business Basics 101 Advanced Marketing Technologie 2. http//www. smallbusiness. wa. gov. au/marketing-promotion-strategy/selling

Managerial Economics: A Game Theoretic Approach Essay

Using computations from Assignment 1, determine the commercialize structure in which the low-calorie frozen, microwavable diet family operates.The commercialise structure that this c altogetherer is likely to be in is the oligopoly structure whereby it could be in a duopoly or not. A duopoly is a market structure in which there be few unanimouss in the industry. It is a market structure that lies between two market structures, that is, perfectly competitive market and monopoly. There are two or to a greater extent sellers but the number of sellers is not as large as that of the matchlesss stick out for in a perfectly competitive market. The steadfastly can be categorized as a monopoly mainly because of the cross sectional assume of the firm. The cross scathe elasticity petition of this situation firm is 0.68. This exactly means that an subjoin in the prices of the competitors growth by one whole implies a 0.68 unit ontogenesis in cost of the touchstone demanded . This basically implies that the cross sectional demand in inelastic. As such, the increase in price, decrease in price or generally the turn of prices by this particular firm volition not produce a earthshaking effect in terms of the quantity demanded. This is the ideal representation of a firm in an oligopoly. The scope for mortal action can be said to be appearance greater than in the case that the product was differentiated. In other words, one individual seller does not stand to lose in the case that he or she decides to charge a higher price. For this reason, this firm is definitely chthonian an oligopoly market structure.(Webster, 2003)Outline a plan that give assess the effectiveness of the market structure for the alliances operationsThe issue of prices is basically the basis of the plan that is to be formulated. Generally, the price quantity combination depends upon the actions that are taken by the pass off of the firms in the duopoly. In other words, the pro fit that is accrued by for from each one one and every seller is a result of the decisions that have been reached by each individual seller. The monopoly price that leave be charged under this market structure could come with a series of consultations or s refer individual experiments. For this particular firm to maximise its profits it needs to fix its price through an analysis with the assumption that there exists only one firm in the market. In the event that the firm fixes its price higher than this price, it will make gains. In the event that it fixes the price lower, it will lose.Given that argument operations have changed from the market structure specified in the superior scenario in Assignment 1, determine two (2) likely agents that might have ca utilise the change. Predict the primary manner in which this change would likely cushion business operations in the new market environment.The assumed market structure was that the firm was under a perfectly competitive mar ket. It besides turns out that the firm is in an imperfect market, a duopoly precisely. There are a number of f actors that are likely to have caused the change in this market structure. One of the reasons is that there probably existed one factor of production that is owned by a few firms only. As a result, not many firms are able to produce the product. Besides, it is also a possibility that there existed many firms initially in the market under a perfectly competitive market. These firms could have decided to merge thenceforth and consolidated themselves into one major firm with the aim of reducing controversy. In this way, the number of sellers reduces.Analyze the major short run and long toll chromosome mappings for the low-calorie, frozen microwaveable food company given the appeal functions below. offer of the essence(p) ways in which the low-calorie food company may use this information in order to make decisions in both the short-run and the long-run.TC = 160,000,00 0 + 100Q + 0.0063212Q2VC = 100Q + 0.0063212Q2MC= 100 + 0.0126424QThe total comprise function is an increasing function of quantity produced. This implies that an increase in the quantity produced results to an increase in the embody of production. This is consistent with economic theory. The intercept of the total cost function is 160,000 heart and soul that when no quantity is produced, or rather when the quantity produced is zero, the fixed cost is 160,000. The Marginal Cost function is also an increasing function of quantity produced. It gives the effect of producing an extra unit. The firm should thereby produce up to a level whereby the cost of producing an extra unit does not exceed the returns from that particular unit.(Hirschey, 2008)Determine the possible circumstances under which the company should discontinue operations. Suggest key actions that management should take in order to confront these circumstances. brook a rationale for your responseThe firm should disconti nue its operations in the case that the Total costs are more(prenominal) than the total gross. This would imply that the firm is making freeinges. The firm should also discontinue its operations in the event that the marginal costs are greater than the marginal receipts. That is, the cost of producing an additional unit is greater than the cost of selling that additional unit. The firm should also discontinue its operations in the event that the marginal revenue is zero or less. This is with regard to the law of diminishing marginal revenue which holds that the revenue from selling an additional unit will increase to a point where an additional unit of input will not increase the quantity produced. In this case wherefore, extra costs will be incurred in the process of producing an extra unit but revenue will not change. This is an unproductive phase of production.Suggest one (1) pricing polity that will enable your low-calorie, frozen microwavable food company to maximize profi ts. yield a rationale for your suggestion.At ceteris Paribus, the demand function of the market isThe demand equation will be as shown below, with all other factors held eonianQ = -5200 42*(P) + 20*600 + 5.2*5500 + 0.2*10000 + 0.25*5000Q = 38650 42(P)P = 38650/42 (Q)/42The proportion prices and quantities are5200 + 45P=38650 42P33,450=87PP = 384.48Q = 5200 + 45*(384.48) = 22,501.6Total Revenue = Price X Quantity = 38650/42 (Q)/42QMR= 38650/42 = 920. 23 = PThe intermediate revenue should be equal to the price and give the demand function. The outperform pricing solution that this firm can and should make is to produce at this price.Outline a plan, based on the information provided in the scenario, which the company could use in order to evaluate its financial performance. Consider all the key drivers of performance, such as company profit or loss for both the short term and long term, and the fundamental manner in which each factor influences managerial decisions.Being a fi rm under the oligopoly market structure, the firm should put the concept of price leadership into practice. Essentially, this manifestly implies that the firm should be able to put itself out as a dominant firm and as such it should be able to argument the authority to set the prices in the market. It should also be able to be the firm that commands any change when it comes to prices in such a way that it has the ability to change prices while the other firms follow suit. The firm therefore is in a situation in which it is able to control prices to its benefit. As a consequence, the other competing firms will not be able to maximize their own profits unless they follow the prices that are set by this firm. In other words, a special monopoly is created in the duopoly. (Washick, 2005)Recommend two (2) actions that the company could take in order to improve its profitability and deliver more value to its stakeholders. Outline, in brief, a plan to implement your recommendations.Due to the homogenization of products, there is the problem of competition especially among the buyers. This simply implies that there will be one single price for sellers. As a result, the take up recommendation with regard to the action that the firm should take is to ensure that they maximize on output. A change in terms of output by the seller has a very significant effect in terms of the prices of the good that is produced. As much as the actions of his or her rivals could be clean unknown, it is most definite that the other sellers will change or bowdlerise the prices in a way that they will match the output. An increase in terms of the output also implies that the firm will also increase its revenue.The Collusion Solution is also another recommendation that could be used by this particular firm in question. This basically implies that the market participants could invariably try and join together in the event that the participants find that the competition is too much, they co uld join together so as to create one competitive firm. (Waschick,2005)ReferencesFisher, T., & Waschick, R. (2005). Managerial Economics A Game Theoretic Approach. capital of the United Kingdom Routledge.Hirschey, M. (2008). Managerial Economics. New York Cengage Learning.Webster, T. J. (2003). Managerial Economics Theory and Practice. London academic Press.Source document

Anne Bradstreets `Before the Birth of One of Her Children` is written to her husband. What does the poem suggest about their relationship?

The wo creation speaking in the verse form experiences that the danger of big birth could lead to termination and with deaths parting blowThe sentence by is most irrevocable. With the uncertainty of what the ordeal would bring her, she writes her final words by the poem. It is clear that the woman in the poem has a very reasoned relationship with her husband. She says that the reason why she makes the poem is because she wonders him too much love bids me/These farewell lines to recommend to thee. In her love for him, she is even willing to fork out up some of the years God allots for her life to his husband when she says, And if I see not half my days thats due,/What nature would, God shell out to yours and you Finally, the fact that the coming birth is not the first time for the span suggests that they enjoy the experience of sharing life with their kids. She wants him to take care of them if of all time she dies as much as he took care of her when she was a dwell ask to my little babes, my safe remains./And if thou love thyself, or lovedst me,/These O foster from step-dames injury. We do not hear the husband in the poem but we get the idea that he loves her, too, when she bids him to kiss this paper for thy dear loves sake,/Who with salt tears this last farewell did take. She knows he would take her whole step ending very badly. Question 2 Describe and explain Mrs. Gearsons reaction to her sons death in William Dean Howells story Editha. When Editha meets Mrs.Gearsons for the first time, the mothers tone was reproachful of the young girl he told me he had asked you to come if he got killed. You didnt expect that, I suppose, when you sent him. She knew why her son went to war in spite her bringing him up to think that was (is) a fool affaire as well as a bad thing. Editha has influenced his son so greatly for him to do something that was against the values he grew up with. Mrs. Gearsons has read the garner Editha gave George before he l eft where she told him that she would only marry a man who must love his country, first of all.In mocking, she told Editha I suppose you would exact been glad to die, such a brave person as you Mrs. Gearson looked at war as being not about soldiers fighting for the remark of their country, but of people killing each other and mothers and wives losing sons and husbands. Editha would neither understand her blame in Georges death nor the pain that Mrs. Gearson was feeling. She simply reject Mrs. Gearsons outbursts as the consequence of ill health. In the end, she would continue to live again in the ideal.

General Motors Essay

A car for every purse and mean Alfred P Sloan Jr, Former President & CEO command aims. oecumenical Motors, mavin of the realitys grandst automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its world(a) headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 205,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 157 countries.GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GMs largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. Company tarradiddle General Motors was founded on Wednesday, September 16, 1908, in Flint, Michigan, as a retentiveness company for Buick by William C. Durant. Durant started acquiring many companies like Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Cartercar, El more(prenominal), Ewing, Pontiac etc.Durant doomed control of GM in 1910 to a bankers trust, due to the large nub of debt (around $1 million) taken on in its acquisitions. Durant left the firm and co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Company in 1911 with Louis Chevrolet. After a brilliant stock vitiate back campaign, he returned to head GM in 1916. GM surpassed crossbreeding Motor Company in sales in the late twenties thanks to the attractorship of Alfred P. Sloan. Sloan was inventing new ways of managing a complex oecumenic organization, while paying special attention to consumer demands.Car buyers no long-dated wanted the cheapest and most basic model they wanted style, power, and prestige, which GM offered them. During the twenties and 1930s, General Motors assumed control of the Yellow Coach bus company, and helped gain Greyhound bus lines. They replaced intercity train transport with b employs. GM inescapably a adept of urgency regarding revising a strategic plan that incorporates the next geneproportionn of vehicles. In todays ball-shaped economy and highly agonistical auto persistence GM has no sentence to procrastinate. As stated,GM has vindicatory too untold at risk in not becoming an industry attracter in alternative can technology. Fuel-economy legislation is sparking the race. This is a critical time in auto industry with many threats, but opportunities as well. The next several years provide delineate GM. Vision disputation The GM vision is as follows GMs vision is to be the world leader in transportation products and related to services. GM allow earn our customers enthusiasm through continuous good driven by the integrity, teamwork, and innovation of GM people.The proposed new vision for GM is as follows For GM to produce the automotive industry leader in alternative fueled vehicles and providing superior quality products that global consumers call to take heed when they think of quality and innovation. My vision for GM is to be the industry leader in innovation, and w present all other industry con tention strives to imitate. Mission Statement The current GM mission statements are as follows Drive improvements in market tract, r pointue, brands, people, responsiveness, and cost effectiveness through the implementation of global coarse metrics and best practice sharing.The new proposed mission statement lead be as follows GM will constrain an industry leader, not a follower. To regain lost market share that was lost to unknown disputation, and once again be the auto industry leader in sales and market share in todays global market. Values Statement The auto industry just like the global economy is going through tremendous change, due to rising fuel prices, and surroundingsal worries, such(prenominal) as global warming. GM must use these threats as opportunities, and take advantage of changing consumer buying habits.GM needs to change consumer perception of the company, from a dull, poor quality, vehicles to innovative, quality, and environmentally friendly company. To d o this GM must portray an image that states that GM values what the consumer wants and what the environment needs. Listen to what consumers are saying directly and indirectly about GMs current products, and create innovative, green, vehicles that turn consumers into customers. At the same time provide GM stakeholders pride and financial incentives to remain with GM. Environmental analytic thinking GM and the entire auto industry are currently challenged with the completed storm.The auto industry is being dissipate by a promiscuous US and global economy, rising fuel prices, and social and political environmental concerns and issues. In order to overcome these electromotive force threat, GM should consider chaw producing a range of alternative fueled vehicles, i. e. fuel cell, electric, and hybrid. SWOT depth psychology Strengths 1. Large Market Share Although GMs market share in the US has dropped it is still very much competitive at 26 percent. They also strike an increasing share in the Chinese market. With the sound decisions there is no reason for GM to not become the automotive leader it once was. . Global Experience As explained in a higher place even with GMs youthful decline they still have the market share and the experience to bounce back. They have been a intercontinental company for nearly a century now and have schematic themselves as the global leader for most of them. If you recall I menti atomic number 53d preceding(prenominal) that a current opportunity for GM is to expand globally and as we can intoxicate they already have the experience to do so. It is just a matter of the correct planning and proper implementation of those plans that will decided whether or not GMs goals are achieved. 3. change of Brand NamesGM as I mentioned has been the automotive leader for the majority of the last century. A large reason for that is the wide miscellanea of quality brand names that appeal to all target markets. The current GM brands includ e Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, Saab, Daewoo, Opel, and Holden. 4. GMAC Customer Financing Program Since its establishment in 1919 it has proven to be GMs most reliable character reference of revenue. 5. OnStar Satellite Technology Developed in 1996 OnStar currently has over 3 million subscribers and is standard on all GM vehicles.This technology allows the vehicles to be tracked in the event of an emergency or theft. It also allows the driver and or passengers the ability to communicate with OnStar personnel at the click of a button. Weaknesses 1. Behind on Alternative aught Movement This is GMs biggest weakness. The alternative energy/hybrid trend has begun to take place in the automotive industry and GM has been one step behind the competition in terms of alternative energy vehicles. This has led to many problems including passing play of market share and a decrease in company profit.In order for any automotive company to be successful from this c harge up forward they must be Hybrid friendly and fuel efficient. 2. uncatch Organizational Structure As we can see in show 1 of the case GMs organizational structure seems to be too vertically integrated. This causes a omit of communication between employees from lapse to bottom and may have played a part in GM falling behind on the alternative energy movement. 3. dead(a) Profitability Looking at GMs profit we see that they are certainly struggling with respect to the size of their company.Their profit bound was about 1. 5% and the ROE has dramatically decreased over the recent years dropping to 10% in 2004. This is a situation that shareholders will not be pleased with. 4. Overly Dependent on US market GM has become too dependent on the US market and must take advantage of the opportunity to expand globally. The competition is becoming too strong to focus on just one country. 5. Overly Dependent on General Motors Acceptance Corporation(GMAC) Financing GM has become too depen dent on its financing program.Granted it is a great strength for GM, but they once again cannot rely totally on financing in order to turn profit, especially if they want to compete with Honda and Toyota who are rapidly growing. 6. Poor Credit Status GMs credit status has like everything else has been steadily declining. Their current ratio is just barely above 1 and their acid test is even lower. Although, I dont see them getting denied based on their credit at this point, the seriousness of the matter is certainly apparent. Opportunities 1. Alternative Energy movementIt is obvious that GM was behind its competition with regards to the research and victimisation of hybrid vehicles. However hybrid technology is still very much new giving GM the opportunity to once again become the automotive industrys leader in innovation and technology. 2. move to Expand Globally. Recently GM saw an increase in the Chinese automotive market, which proves their needs to be more emphasis put on f oreign markets. If GM can infiltrate these markets and successfully grow along with their continuing focus on the US market they will be headed in a positive direction. . Low Interest Rates With the right marketing strategy the low interest rates have the potential to generate an immediate increase in sales. 4. Develop New fomite Styles and Models This is an opportunity that will never be satisfied, meaning that GM should of all time be attempting to develop the automotive worlds most best-selling(predicate) vehicles, and as we know, what is in today will be out tomorrow. Threats 1. salary increase Fuel Prices With GM being a large producer in both trucks and SUVs, sales have drastically decreased due to the lack of fuel efficiency.The rise in fuel prices has played a monumental role in creating the opportunity for development of both hybrid and more fuel efficient vehicles. As you will find with most threats, an equal opportunity will usually emerge as is the case here with GMs opportunity mentioned above. 2. Growth of Competitors GM no yearner has the luxury of being the known leader in the automotive industry and faces the reality that they are in serious trouble. As I mentioned foregoing Toyota took the first step in the direction of hybrid echnology and has since drastically big(p) and become the questionable automotive frontrunner to start the 21st century. 3. Pension Payouts. carve up of this threat is their own doing and the other is simply unavoidable. GM is responsible for providing too-generous pension benefits to its employees, which at the time seemed like a great idea, however they are now experiencing problems as more and more people start to collect. 4. Increased Health Care Costs GM, like many large companies with quality employee health care benefits, is experiencing a large financial hit that only gets worse as time continues. . Rising Supply Costs, i. e. brace Once again this threat affects the entire automotive industry and forces each company to cut manufacturing and production costs as much as possible, without taking away from the quality of the product. Core Competence The core competence of General Motors is innovation. This is the driving force behind its $190 above turnover. General Motors has been utilizing innovation in service ad technology to secure itself a dominant position in the automobile industry, since 1908.In 1911, it conceptualized, locomotiveered and commercialized the self-starter engine for the first time. Then in 1926, its product Cadillac was the pioneer in fashioning a nationwide service strategy. In 1996 General Motors introduced OnStar satellite technology which allows equipped vehicles to be tracked in case of an emergency or theft and allows the passengers to communicate with OnStar personnel. Other new car concepts include minicars such as Chevy Aveo. However in the case of hybrid vehicles, General Motors was unable to keep up to the pace of the market demand.

Essay on Human Behaviour and Social Norms

Running head HUMAN demeanor AND SOCIAL NORMS Do cordial averages diverge gracious demeanour? tender-hearted behavior is the rejoinder to implementn stimuli, which ar soci ally and environ psychically affected. This response is something that female genital organ easily be influenced and shaped through many soulfulnessal, situational, companion suitable, biological, mental f phone numberors. In this essay the case of friendly norms influencing pitying deportment pass on be analyzed using previous studies. affable norms argon slice of a larger influential scale generally named as amicable influence.Social influence is the exercise of power that an individual or a pigeonholing can use on new(prenominal) individuals or indian lodge in rank to alter their attitudes, behaviours and lead them to a desired direction. Social influence has as an outcome three different behavioural patterns, which be deference, contour and allegiance. All of them will be discussed, hardly especially conformity and respect, which principally include the influence of accessible norms on behaviour (Franzoi, 2009 Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004).Firstly, conformity in general is the action to adapt with the behaviour of the rest of the masses delinquent to perceived group hale. Practically, this means that the way good deal dress, entertain themselves, protest, work, eat, go on vacations, disclose themselves and substantially anything an individual can occupy himself, is create by groups direction and tendencies because the majority of people, if not all of them, try to socialize and be accepted by their society in any possible way.This phenomenon is called conformity and it is an ambiguous question if independence, which indeed is a reality, exists anyway. This happens because people voluntarily direct their independence towards societys preferences and tendencies in order to feel that they belong somewhere and they start a cross social identity (Franzoi, 2 009). The second factor of influence is the conformance and it is has to do with the public and undecided acceptance of ones mortal to act according to tending(p) social direction by the indicated social power. However, compliance can be divided into home(a) and outside(a).This means that a person can comply with a situation either because someone else indirectly forces him or either because he weighs he should act like this. For example, if someone asks his friend to lie in order not to have problems with parents (e. g. uphold a sneaking out) but he does it in the name of friendly relationship even if he does not really want it, this is a clear example of external force making you to comply. Internal compliance is the confrontation reconcile where individual(prenominal) judgements and attitudes force you to do something without having any external pressure to do something.This issue is very important because in the case of external compliance, social norms are in a gre at influential spotlight in contrast to internal compliance where personal beliefs mainly pip place on the decisional process (Franzoi, 2009). On the new(prenominal) hand obedience is the total performance of a given order by social power without any resistance against it or trial to sustain independence. Social power is the available social sources through social acceptance and social status that a person or a group of people can have in order to exercise persuasion and give motive to make people change or fulfill their requests.Consequently, these three parts of social influence represents the levels of personal accordance to social patterns, dominating or not. Specifically, it can be noticed that the level of individuals independence sets if a situation is more(prenominal) about conformity (unconscious but voluntary acceptance of the norms), or compliance (internal or external acceptance) or obedience (total accordance to social power) (Cook et al. , as cited in Franzoi, 20 09 Franzoi, 2009). Focusing more one the aspect of conformity and the influence of social norms, there are specific factors that affect conformity and levels of social norms influence on it.These factors can be situational, personal and cultural. Situational factors can be group size, group cohesiveness, and social support. Group size is important because as Asch (1955) found, the larger the group, the bigger the phenomenon of conformity due to social norms. Group cohesiveness makes the group to have greater bonds due to similarity and ability to easily show empathy to each different (Christensen et al. , 2004) and social support is noticed to groups with higher levels of cohesiveness and bonding. On the other hand, there are personal factors ffecting the type of conformity such as self-awareness (ability to understand own self), self- demo (try to present ideal self in order to conform), personal control (desire to feel that one has control, as a human right, over particular situ ations) and gender (gender differences- women are more likely to conform) (Franzoi, 2009). found on all the previously referred material, conformity is totally driven by social norms, norms that are not written but sometimes are more powerful than law the way that a person conforms to society affects the level and type of his compliance to societys requests.For example, if a person has as personal characteristic not to like altering his self-image/ presentation based on societys preferences due to his intense belief in independence, it is possible that this person will comply more tall(prenominal) because of external motivation instead of internal. On the other hand, this means that if a person has an internal compliance only to smile to people who knows and not to anybody else due to his belief, this will affect the way that he conforms to the social norm of smiling to people in general in order to be kind.This shows how social norms can affect conformity and consequently complia nce and the other way around, respectively. Furthermore, people have a tendency to create and preserve meaningful relationships with other people because they need socializing as human beings, which is called as affiliation. Affiliation is a good example of internal compliance. This motivation makes the compliance to socializing and dedicating energy and time on building relationships, an internal acceptance for personal growth (Franzoi, 2009 Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004).Nevertheless, there is the issue of how and when external compliance to social norms such as stereotyping occurs. In particular, Bargh and Chartrand (1999) did a occupy on automaticity of behaviour and found that when people are unconsciously pre-occupied with e. g. stereotyping words, even if they believe that stereotyping is wrong, they are likely to stereotype because they unconsciously externally comply with the given stimuli. Stereotyping is a form of social norm. People whitethorn stereotype in order to prote ct themselves for example, filthy aggressive people on the highroad may be perceived as thieves or criminals.So there are two outcomes on this example. One person may believe that the mien cannot indicate anything about personal characteristics but in the end he conforms to the social norm and try to avoid him as the other people around him do (external compliance). On the other hand, one may unfeignedly believe that these kinds of people are definitely criminals because he might have a bad experience in the past so he avoids him due to his belief (internal compliance to the social norm of avoiding this kind of people) (Franzoi, 2009 Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004 Bargh & Chartrand, 1999).Rimal and authoritative (2005) did a study on how perceived norms affect human behaviour with college students in order to investigate intentions to alcohol consumption. They proposed the theory of normative social behaviour that includes three mechanisms injunctive norms (such as social approval) , outcome expectations (such as personal benefits) and group identity (such as similarity). Their hypothesis was that these three mechanisms are able to moderate the influence of social norms on the human behaviour. Indeed, their results showed that these normative mechanisms could predict the intention of alcohol consumption to college students.Consequently, this study is a clear perform to the question whether social norms affect human behaviour. In addition, Rivis and Sheeran (2003) did a study on Theory of planned behaviour in order to realize out whether added descriptive norms can be good predictors of human behaviour in the particular model. Their results showed that younger participants and health risk behaviours are greatly related to stronger correlation between intentions of behaviour and descriptive norms confirming that behaviour is affected by norms.As a conclusion, the general point of view in all these theories and facts is that social norms affect human behaviour through the state of conformity and compliance. Substantially, the intentions of behaviour can be affected either tacitly or explicitly. People conform to the society in order to be accepted and comply with motley social norms that conformity requires through implicit/internal or explicit/external way. Even if personal and situational factors may influence the level of compliance and conformity, people constantly comply with various requests either due to personal beliefs or due to accepting others personal beliefs.Word count 1. 440 References Asch, S. E. (1955). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific American, 31-35. Bargh, J. A. , & Chartrand, T. L. (1999). The unbearable automaticity of being. American Psychologist, 54, 462-479. Christensen, P. N. , & Rothberger, H. , & Wood, W. , & Maltz, D. C. (2004). Social norms and identity relevance A motivational approach to normative behaviour. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30, 1295-1309. Cialdini, R. B. , & Goldstein, N. J. (2004).Social influence Compliance and conformity. Annual review article of Psychology, 55, 591-621. Franzoi, S. L. (2009). Social psychology (5th ed. ). New York McGraw-Hill. Rimal, R. N. , & Real, K. (2005). How behaviours are influenced by perceived norms A test of the theory of normative social behaviour. Communication Research, 32, 389-414. Rivis, A. , & Sheeran, P. (2003). Descriptive norms as an additional predictor in the theory of planned behaviour A meta-analysis. Current psychology, 22, 218-233.

Ceres Gardening Company Case Study Essay

1. How has the confederation grown? What is its basic outline + how has it evolved? What have been the detect factors in the federations maturement?The growth of the company has been fueled by the grocery storeplace pack growth in innate products. cere change magnitude their r notwithstandingues by over 75% in just five years, plot of ground growing profits by over 25% (based on Exhibits 2, 3 & 4). wraps basic strategy started with its founder, Jonathan Wydown, to promote sustainable organic gardens and landscapes to environmentally conscious consumers. Mr. Wydown has been a prop onent of soil preservation, biodiversity, and natural fertilizers and infestation control. Mr. Wydown was confident that the same principles behind organic farming would in timetually declargon to kinsfolk gardens and lawns. Mr. Wydown s vision evolved into the creation and development of a commercialize niche of selected certified organic seeds and seedlings for vegetables, culinary herbs, a nd flowers bringing the farm to the home per se. This market niche and products became the companys differentiator and competitive edge. The key factors that drove the companys growth are* Market demand and segmentation wrap up developed a market niche for organic-conscious consumers who are concerned about the environment. Although products are priced at a higher premium, the apprise from the companys environmentally conscious go-to-market strategy and segmentation allowed wrap to develop a loyal consumer familiarity.* Product Offerings wrap expanded its products offerings to intromit open-pollinated, organically grown, and heirloom varieties of seeds and seedlings for vegetables, culinary herbs, and flowers. The company similarly added live envisionts, such as one-year-old trees.* Production Strategy wrap principal farm was located in centralCalifornia. As the demand for wrap products increased, Ceress product capability was challenged. To keep up with the increased demand, Ceres developed a network of small, independent organic farms, offering them a commitment to procure goods in exchange for an exclusive supplier relationship. These further strengthened Ceres production capability.* Distri neverthelession Channel In the early years, Ceres operated primarily as a mail- coif catalog company. This was their main scattering channel. The operation was ran soundly and valued for its quality, reliability, and hands-on node service. Moreover, Ceres provided a free periodical company newsletter, which included tillage tips, introduced new products, and created a sense of community among the expanding customer base. This alternative marketing expanded Ceres channel from one time purchase to future incremental (post-sale) revenues. Eventually, Ceres expanded its transmit to include retail channels, and direct sale through a sales strong point model.* GetCeres Program enabled the average nursery or garden concenter to stock a sufficient in ventory of Ceres products to meet the seasonal demands of the customer. If a retailer ran out of seasonal products, the customer would probably not return later, thus a potence loss of sale. Essentially the schedule meets the challenge of having the plenty of stock of the right product in the investment firm at the right time based on consumer attitudes, behaviors, and preferences. The program in any case provided incentives to retail storeowners by offering deep discounts to control inventory and encompassing payment plans.2. Questions3.1. How is Ceres monetary health? Which specific items in the subsidiary financial statements + which ratios might you calculate/research to encourage you assess its financial health?The financial health of Ceres is excellent and bears to show a positive trend from 2002 to 2006. (Please refer to Table 1)* Current proportionality shows Ceres ability to pay short-term obligations. The current ratio indicates that the company would be able to cover its liabilities in 2002 2 times over.* Quick Ratio measures Ceres ability to meet its short-term obligations with assets excluding inventory. The quick ratio indicates that Ceres would be able to cover liabilities 1.6 times over.* Debt Equity shows Ceres financial leverage and its aggressive posture in financing its growth with debt. The company could potentially generate more earnings than it would have without this outside financing. This indicates that even with Ceres expansion of distribution channels, extension of payment terms, and the creation of a direct sales force, Ceres was able to manage to stay down the stairs 1 with a mean average of .74.* Inventory Turnover shows an good turnover of inventory. Ceres does not hold inventory for long periods of time, which stool incur additional costs by having assets sit without revenue generation. It shows Ceres ability to manage inventory in a seasonal bicycle and further indicates their ability to forecast demands on pr oduct movement.* Accounts Receivable shows Ceres effectiveness in extending credit as well as compendium debts. The extended payment terms appear to be working. The prompt accumulation of debts enables Ceres to use the monies to reinvest into the business.3.2. What should Ceres strategic plan be, given the trends in the organic gardening market?A move forward strategy is a renewed focus on market penetration and diversification of product portfolio. As the CMO, Annette OConnell reported, Growth in organic gardening products is strong, and the trends should support long term growth.Market Penetration capitalize on the movement from wholesale organic farming to weekend home gardeners and nutrition service industries. While Ceres can retain to cement their market share in organic farming, the weekend gardener and food fabrication market are prime market niches. To reach these markets, Ceres has to shine its product portfolio.Product Portfolio Diversification Ceres has to consi der diversifying its product portfolio from materials (i.e. seeds, samplings, 1-year-old take trees, etc.) to services and solutions to help organic farmers, food service industries, and weekend gardeners on the how tos of organic gardening. You not only sell the seeds but also help the consumers manage the gardening process thus providing Ceres a market differentiator as a one-stop consumer experience.3. How would you evaluate Ceres marketing efforts? Should the Ceres program be expanded? Why or wherefore not?The GetCeres Program is a sound marketing plan but can be fraught with challenges if not managed effectively. The main purpose of the program is to address inventory and enable the average nursery or garden center to stock a sufficient inventory of Ceres organic products by having the right products in the stores at the right time. loafer line help Ceres increase sales by circumstances business partners manage their inventory. With that said, stores and business partners are not willing to carry inventories on their books if they are not able to churn it appropriately. To alleviate angst and potential cost exposure, Ceres extended their payment terms from 75 to 90 days to 120 days and a 15% discount the storeowner or business partner agrees to hold a minimum stock inventory. To help protect Ceres average gross margins, it successfully raised prices fairly on most of its products.4. Questions5.3. In your opinion, did Ceres learn the right CMO? What reference did that play in its financial situation?In our opinion, Ceres meshd the right CMO. Through the CMO leadership, distribution channels were expanded from mail order catalog to an expanded network of storeowners and retail merchants. The CMO further increased their market reach by developing a direct sales force and the appropriately compensation plan. Inventory was managed efficiently through the introduction of the GetCeres Program. Overall, the companys debt equity, inventory turnover, and accounts receivable ratios showed a positive trend and continue to forecast a better future.5.4. Why is it important to ensure that you hire someone who is the best fit for a position?It is important to hire someone who is a best fit because of the notion of a overlap vision and common values. A strategy remains to be a strategy without the proper tactical execution. Both Wydown and OConnell agreed,The best flair for Ceres to build its competitive position would be to push even more aggressively to increase profits and lower margins by expanding distribution channels and market footprint. OConnell had a background in retail and consumer packaged goods. This was the best fit for Ceress CEO, Jonathan Wydown whose strategy for growth was to move from a mail order catalog model to expression a retail presence. Wydown and OConnell believed that Ceres reputation for quality and customer service would give the company an advantage over the competition.5. If you were CEO Jonathan Wydown , what would you plan to say during your upcoming meeting with the posit regarding Ceres growth prospects + change flow projections for 2007 and the near future?During the upcoming meeting with the bank, the focus should be given on the debt equity, inventory turnover, and accounts receivable ratios and how well the company has managed its trading operations over a sustained period (i.e. 2002 to 2006). From the Balance Sheet provided, it is transparent that operational, financing, and investment cash flow is positive. The market-projected growth is 8% to 10% per year. Ceres has kept pace with the overall industry, but Ceres has to review its financing model to sustain their own growth in the market they chose to manage in order to continue having a competitive edge. As such, the bank discussion should center on the increase of revolving credit and capitalization of investments to continue to fund the retail distribution model.

Impact Of Offshore Exploration And Exploitation Environmental Sciences Essay

Literally called muffin embrocate, Petroleum is a Grecian word for petra substance stone and oleum significance oil colour. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines it as of course happening flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of disparate molecular weights and causation(a) liquid organic compounds, which ar found in geologic formations below the Earth s surface. This formation beneath the Earth frequently takes topographical point over a long period of clip, say eons. It explicates from the mud of antediluvian guidess and animate beings ( zooplanktons and algae ) that were buried and compressed beneath 1000s of pess of claies, stones and littorals. by means of the interaction of certain geologic conditions, these organic stuffs are so modify by subsurface heat and overburden force per building block battlefield into hydrocarbon compounds we is called sodding(a) oil ( rough oil and natural gas ) .For umpteen centuries, in the alto gether oil resources and its byproducts have been discovered and used for assorted homo activities. In the modern epoch, these resources are sought and exploited from locations that are more(prenominal) hard and risky to entree, including the offshores.Resources deposited in the offshore countries are no different from those found onshore as they contain the same sort of hydrocarbon substances. For illustration, a signifier of natural gas called gas hydrate is available twain offshore and onshore but seaward resources are of greater meshing because of their volume and potency for future large-scale development.The ground for this increased and bang-up involvement in offshore crude oil geographic outing and development in this present century is that many onshore crude oil resources have either been exhausted, are no longer scotchally executable, or are unable to be to the full developed collect to limitations of national ownership or geopolitical jobs.This notwithstanding, the value of cipher-rich crude oil in all of its signifiers lies in the many merchandises that can be make from it and the importance of their utilizations. Crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon compounds are the bases of the raise merchandises that are indispensable for modern manners of transit, which are preponderantly fuelled by motor gasolene, jet fuel, and Diesel fuel. Petroleum anyways provides fuels for warming, industrial deceitfulness procedures, and the coevals of electricity. Petroleum resources can besides be converted into petrochemicals and its derived functions such(prenominal) as plastics, pharmaceutical ingredients and edifice stuffs, which represent other parts of the petroleum-source market.Economically, imply and supply factors drive the investings and operations that the crude oil application makes in searching and moveing crude oil resources. With high crude oil pecuniary values in the market, the industry can afford to bring forrard resources that might otherwise be uneconomic and can put in new engineerings to make resources that would otherwise be unavailable. When crude oil pecuniary values in the market are low, even proved militias whitethorn non be produced because the cost of development and production would non let any can income for operators.Since crude oil resources define modern trade forms, excite both international selling and the accomplishable for war, the force per whole area to imbue out resource development to the offshore countries is inevitable as this pull up stakes relieve the jobs of increased planetary demand for crude oil and its byproducts, trim down supplies onshore and buffer the current lifting addition in merchandises monetary values.POTENTIAL IMPACTSFor decennaries, our oceans were defend from offshore oil oil production but with the increased demand for crude oil resources globally and depletion of same onshore, attending has shifted to the offshore environment.In 2008 for case, f ormer American president Bush, lifted a White House moratorium on offshore boring and the Congress subsequently followed by leting a federal official prohibition on boring to run out. In March 2010, the Obama presidential term indicated that they would besides potentially allow boring along several formerly protected coastlines, mid- and south Atlantic seashore and in the eastern disconnection of Mexico. Barely had that been agreed upon, the black deepwater skyline oil boring gala affair in April of 2010 came. This released about 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico afoul(ip) b individuallyes and coastal wetlands from Louisiana to Florida killed birds, fishes and devil dog mammals and devastated the diversion and fishing-based economic systems of the Gulf provinces ( reader ) .Fortunately, these hideous developments caused the Obama disposal to revoke on its earlier class and on December 1, 2012 it was announced that the East and West seashores every bit goo dish as the eastern Gulf be continuously protected from offshore boring.Despite this recent event in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil industry and others affiliated to the industry are still clamoring for the continuance of seaward oil boring.This enlargement of development offshore, go away non be without the attendant effectuate that the resource geographic pleasure trip and development go onwards hold on the Marine environment, the life signifiers that live therein and the worlds at big.BackgroundThis subheading lead be a elaborate penetration into the seaward oilfield platform where the seek will be carried out. It will state the twelvemonth of the oilfield s keep an eye on, the terminate or blocks where the resource is found, the existent location of the oilfield in kilometers north, E, West or South in relation to other environing oilfields and/or countries and the piss reconditeness ( TVDSS ) at which the resource is located. Other parametric quantities will imply the oilfield s geologic age ( Mesozoic, Middle Jurassic or Cenozoic etc ) , the informant type ( sandstone or shale ) , the estimated militias ( STOIIP in MMstb unit ) and recoverable sums of militias. It will yield the seismal activity that led to the formation of the field, the extent to which the field has been developed, trend of complexness of geological fault and its attendant construction. The quality of the reservoir, the formations with the most copious intervals or dramas, its temperature, force per unit area ( and likely force per unit area at which depletion is expect ) . The belongingss of the reserve- API gravitation in ( 0 ) , GOR in ( scf/bbl ) will besides be provided.With the increased force per unit area to beginning for options to onshore oil resources offshore, the appraisal of the inauspicious reachs of the signal for crude oil and it derivatives to run into planetary demand raises a push-down store of concerns such asEnvironmental sensitiveness and disast ers to marine ecosystemsLack of scientific discipline on marine ecosystem as this is a field with really limited certification chant geographic expeditionBuilt-in hazard of deepwater boringInadequate resources for regulative inadvertenceUnproved oil regurgitate responseThere are serious environmental impact associated with each phase of seaward boring from geographic expedition ( location and find ) to development ( boring and production ) and marine transit. While some impacts may be unseeable to the bare eyes, there are a multitudinous of impacts and environmental branchings that the public moldiness cognize about before sing offshore boring. and eventually the ultimate effects it will hold on the opportunities of working other marine resources that will hold slighter or no detrimental effects on the environment, the marine beings and worlds.AIMS AND OBJECTIVESBy analysis of H2O samples utilizing setup, observation of marine life signifiers and deposits analysis for oozes of hydrocarbons in them utilizing equipment, this survey will1. Outline attainable impacts of offshore crude oil geographic expedition and development2. Chase away the legion myths that have been put forth by oil boring advocates.3. Suggests options that will accomplish talent independence from fogy fuel4. Analyze the effects of seaward oil boring on the opportunities of working other marine resources that will hold small or no negative effects on the Marine environment, marine beings and worlds.ActivitiesTo ease this survey and accomplish the set aims, the undermentioned activities will be carried outAvailable literature on the effects of seaward oil boring will be extensively reviewed. This will organize a footing for this researchQualitative modeling to measure the direct impact of each phase of oil boring on the marine ecosystem and coastal countriesExploration of possible options to dodo fuels with really small or no hurtful effects on the environment.MethodThe information ( where available ) , samples of H2O and may be life signifiers that will be observed during this survey will be sourced from offshore platforms located at . Besides, peoples single sentiments will be sought to find the extent to which offshore geographic expedition affects them.If justly done, this rating will be a valuable tool for avoiding possible environmental and aquatic jeopardies occasioned by ceaseless development offshore.These methods may convert depending on when this surveies will get down and the development of more stringy tools and techniques that will be more efficient, give truth and limpidity of issuings and besides be cost effectual.EXPECTED OUTPUTSThe universe s oceans and beaches are critical recreational, economic and ecological hoarded wealths that will be polluted by an addition in offshore crude oil boring. Alternatively of recommending for transient and environmentally less harmful ways to run into the planetary demand for oi l, we should seek a comprehensive and environmentally sustainable nix program that will include energy preservation and may be fuel efficiency if we must utilize fossil fuel.After the purposes and objectives that this survey sets out to accomplish has been attained, it is expected that the consequences obtained and observations made will1. Deter crude oil industry s participants and their affiliates from offshore development.2. Cause us to look towards developing sustainable energy solutions that includes renewable beginnings and preservation that will protect our natural resources, instead than boring for fossil fuels off our oceans.3. Cause us to ablactate ourselves off the over-dependence on oil to salvage our environment and cut down the worsening consequence of clime alteration.4. Save and protect our coastlines from industrialisation.5. Chase away the assorted myths that advocates of seaward development are invariably seeking to jostle down our pharynxs.6. enhance a rush in the figure of ocean protection protagonists.RestrictionSince the informations to be used for this work were non generated personally, some degrees of uncertainness as to the truth of the work exist.Problemn, may originate during sampleProblems with package use may originate if tutorial is non given.Duration OF PROJECTAll things being equal, research undertaking continuance is expected to wipe a period of three old ages, between the beginning of the work and entry of bound study. A Gantt chart, ( an illustration is shown below ) will be used to demo a dislocation of what and when an activity will be carried out. An activity, whenever completed will be struck off to give lucidity to works yet to be done.UndertakingDurationApr.MayJun.Jul.Aug.Sept.Oct.NovResearch Definition/Proposal Submission5 hebdomadsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAInterim presentation/proposal defense mechanism1 twenty-four hoursAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALiterature research and background surveies4 hebdomadsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPetrel G & A G tutorial1 hebdomadAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAModelling/ analyses utilizing package3 hebdomadsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQuantitative modelling/ design surveies2 hebdomadsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACompilation/ presentation of patterning consequences to supervisor1 hebdomadsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWrite-up3 hebdomadsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASubmission of bill of exchange for cogent evidence indication/supervisor s sign-off2 yearssAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAlteration of study2 hebdomadsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAApproval/submission of reason out study3 yearssAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPresentation and oral session1 hebdomadAAAAAAAATable 1 mannikin of a typical Gnatt ChartSummaryOffshore oil boring and oil spills have the possible to critically impact pristine Marine ecosystems. While there are legion environmental jobs associated with oil boring, there are besides negative economic impacts that we merely can non afford during difficult economic times.It is tyrannical that we switch off from an old mentality of trusting on fossil fuels. Cli mate alteration and other environmental jobs are non waiting for us to reconstruct our energy portfolio. Oil boring and continued usage of fossil fuels will merely worsen clime alteration, and maintain us pin down in a backward frame of head which overlooks sustainable energy and preservation.New offshore boring is non portion of the reply to sustainable energy instead the replies for sustainable energy is already gazing us right in the face.At the completion of this survey, recommendations will be suggested that will restrict or wholly extinguish the impacts of offshore geographic expedition and development.

Battle at the Pumps: Is there a solution for increasing prices?

Remember when Grandpa utilise to tell stories of how accelerator pedal cost $0. 10 a g everyon when he first started brainish? We laughed at the thought of anything costing little than a dollar, but with forthwiths national average for botch up sitting at $3. 00 a gallon, the 300% bell increase is no laughing matter (Benton, 2007).If the outlay for muff incubates to increase at the rate it is now, our children ordain be the iodines finding humor in our silly rants of supporting $90. 00 to ask our SUV tanks. Gas hikes and impairment gouging ar issues that most Ameri give notices would rather not be associated with.Neverthe slight, we all assuage go jobs to go to and errands to run. So, while some deal that the damage increases be scarce a part of inflation, in that location are more arguing that float pricing is a game of politics. each way, we all will continue to pay what we start to go overprotect from point A to point B. Targeting when bumble hikes b ecame such a glowing issue dates acantha to the infamous Katrina calamity in idealistic of 2005. In addition to the catastrophic storm, many claim that politics also tour a part in price determination.Whatever the designer, a solution essential be sought. Thankfully, there are a few solution-seekers out there who are actively searching for ways to make living in the days of $3. 00 plus per gallon a bit more tolerable, albeit still an, ah-hem, unpleasant issue. Collaborations mingled with companies, innovations in vehicles, and vehicle purchasing incentives are all ways businesses are working together to keep the bitterness at bay. Nevertheless, many of us wont be happy until we are concludedly dependent on our own resources for the precious commodity.So, while we will never see the same prices Grandpa paid for shooteroline in our life era, reviewing the causes and finding solutions are the only ways we will avoid victorious out a second mortgage just to locate blow in the cars. Immediately after Hurri domiciliatee Katrina, Americans panicked, and fearful gas retailers began a recitation that was, for the most part, unheard of. Lines of gaseous state-starved automobiles fight at the Pumps 3 parked themselves at gas pumps, struggling to get every last drop of gas available before it was all gone.Rumors of depleted gas set supply sent small town natural gas retailers, as vigorous as few big city retailers into gouging mode. Within hours, prices went from $2. 00 to just over $3. 00 a gallon in states such as Texas and Louisiana, the states closest to the disaster (AP, 2005). Another spark contributing to the gas fire blazing at the pumps is the claim that election years tend to send gas prices into a rollercoaster pattern down before elections, and up after elections. In fact, Joe Benton of ConsumerAffairs. com writes that pre-election gas prices averaged $2.50 a gallon, and that gas prices are sure to rise again proper after the midterm electi ons (2006). Mr. Benton was correct. Just after the elections the national average for gas prices increased 12. 5 cents in December, and has steadily move to rise. Though the shine is unexplainable, rest assured that the elections have nothing to do with it. If they were the reason for the decreased gas prices, however, most Americans would vie for monthly elections Unfortunately, for the disgruntled, the days paying less than $2. 00 a gallon for gasoline are yen gone.In fact, we drivers, bus riders, airline passengers and taxi goers must continue the suffrage, as melees to locate the best gas source is continued. Until one is found, companies, manufacturers and even the authorities are giving a go at attempts to soften the blows of outrageously priced petro. The battle of fair gas prices has produced an effort among many to seek ways around getting hosed at the pump. For example, John Wakefield of white potato Oil Corporation, states that Murphy USAs pur commove is to be a lo w cost provider to the communities they serve (2006).To keep abreast with this statement, Murphy USA has collaborated with discount retailer, Wal-Mart, in do to offer a minimum of a three-cent discount for those who secure sack with a Wal-Mart seat card. This allows Murphy USA to maintain its position in offering a below average price for Battle at the Pumps 4 gasoline throughout the nation (Wakefield, 2006). Additionally, manufacturers, such as Ford and Chevy, have united in the labors of providing an alternative for gas guzzling vehicles. Their answer to the gas price dilemma has been to increase promotion of hybrid and flex- open fire vehicles.Hybrid vehicles, although in existence for many years, have become a popular choice for saving dollars at the pump, as have flex-fuel vehicles. Hybrid vehicles combine some(prenominal) the gasoline- provide and electric agencyed sources under the hood in order to increase the distance between fill-ups, which, in turn, saves one from filling up as often as with a strictly gas-powered vehicle (Layton, 2007) Similarly, flex-fuel vehicles (FFV), which have been around for a reckon of years as well, are also designed to combine power sources in order save on gasoline usage.In the FFV case, a conclave of gasoline and E85 fuel work together to increase the number of miles goaded between fill-ups, resulting in dollars saved (USDoE, 2007). The down side to both types of vehicles, however, is that they both cost a pretty penny, which brings us back to where we started angry rough spending mega-bucks just to drive. On the contrary, there is an up-side to the hybrid vehicle The government offers a tax credit to those who purchase a hybrid (USDoE, 2007).Thats greatif you can afford the high price traverse prone to the hybrid. But if you cant, what else is the government doing to ensure that we dont go bankrupt at the pumps? Though they sometimes seem like the unwholesome guys, the government is making attempts to kee p Americans from going into boxing matches with gas home attendants. Along with offering incentives to those who choose to finance or straight-out purchase hybrid vehicles, they are also looking out for the little bulkthose who cant afford to pay the $4.00 per gallon price tag that has become a frequenter of many gas stations crossways America post Katrina. Price gouging, or pricing above the grocery when demand increases, was a practice few were aware of before Battle at the Pump 5 August of 2005. However, when disaster struck, gas retailers took action, irrespective of who it would affect. Soon, consumers were left with no where to turn and had no choice but to pay for overpriced fuel. Thankfully Super Government with its flowing red, white and dour cape came to our rescue, regulating pricing among gas retailers.Although there is no equity against price gouging, suspicious pricing will entail an investigation. In August 2005, the Energy Department created a hotline for peopl e who fell victim to price gouging (Pope, 2005). Though efforts have been made, without a law to formally enforce a no price gouging allowed law, the problem, though not as wide banquet as it had been initially, still exists. Gradually, as demand has continues to outweigh the supply of gasoline available, price gouging has sneakily made itself an accepted practice.Investigations pending for suspected price gougers, the government is also seeking ways for America to become less dependent on international sources to keep America on the roads and in the air. As we wearily trudge to the pumps prepared to sacrifice our limbs just for a few gallons of gas, alternatives are being sought in order to use domestic sources for fuel. Biodiesel, a renewable fuel derived from sources such as vegetable anoints and recycled restaurant greases, is just one of the alternative fuels being researched for general use among Americans.In May of 2005, President Bush announced that efforts in making Bio diesel a main source for fuel were in the works, and estimated that by 2010, our clownish will become solely dependent on itself to fuel our vehicles, figurees and trains (Bush, 2005). Upon receiving the intelligence agency, farmers crossways America gained new hope in assisting in the effort to run the ongoing problem of finding fuel alternatives. But one cant help but wonder What about those folks who cant afford to transition into a vehicle that runs on the fuel alternatives soon to be available?This is, indeed, has the Battle at the Pumps 6 potentiality to cripple hopes of becoming domestically dependent. Look around the next time you are on the road and you will see cars dating back to the early 60s and beyond. For some people, driving these vintage vehicles is a choice, but for others, it is unavoidable. It makes sense to assume that if we all had the money to drive a modern day vehicle, we would. But for those people who are stuck in that 1976 razz Nova, gas prices are still an issue that fuel alternatives wont solve.Needless to say, if President Bush is determined for America to depend on ourselves for fuel, tapping into the crude oil sources available on our own soil is required. This, however, presents another problem formerly the soil is broken, where do those who live on the realm go? The bulky lands of Alaska are notorious for housing thousands of acres of untapped oil reserves. However, on those acres, life exists. Caribou, bison, bears, elk and even people inhabit these lands. For years, these habitors have been the reason that the oil reserves Alaska has to offer have gone undisturbed.Nature activists have long protested the spoiling of the majestic lands across the Artic coastline. For this, we have continued to rely on countries such as the Middle Eastern lands, for oil. Years of jokes, ridicule and derision have been directed at presidents, past and present, as well as the government in general, for not making stronger efforts in aggressively utilizing this land, regardless of who is affected. With pretty much no choice, President Bush proposed a plan to break ground along the Artic coastline in order to make use of the untapped oil lying beneath the thick blankets of frozen land and fluffed snow (Rosen, 2003).There continues, as expected, to be protests against the efforts, to include the protests of the Inupiat Eskimos, who strongly feel that none of the villages in this region of Alaska will support the proposed project. Ultimately, someone is going to be unhappy. Battle at the Pump 7 To those who have decided to put on party hats in celebration of the anticipated Alaskan oil tapping project dont mess up your dos just yet. The future in gas pricing will continue a long time pattern that Grandpa, Grandma, Dad and Mom have all had the unpleasant chore of experiencing.The crystal ball of gas prices forecasts continued increases. While the rise may not be in fuel pricing, many will feel the impact of whatev er solution is utilized to control this currently uncontrollable nuisance. While scientists are doing their best to break up all issues with fuel alternatives, some alternatives, such as hydrogen, will pose an earlier predicted problem older vehicles would have to undergo a complete replacement of their fueling systems. Alas, the efforts to seek out solutions must continue.Though many efforts have been made to resolve the long time issue of inflated gas prices, as weeks go by, Americans resume the struggle with unfair gouging and seemingly gratuitous price hikes. It seems almost impossible to consider the alternatives of spending money on gasheaven forbid we actually walk anywhere. Unfortunately, this horrible plight weve found ourselves in appears to be without light. The only way to pleasantly brave out the task of spending money is towellspend money.To ensure that we brave this rain cloud, we can either cross our fingers for monthly elections (for the benefit of price drops) , or we can purchase hybrid vehicles, stop in at the local Wal-Mart to purchase a gift cards, and gas up at Murphy USA. So, although solutions are being attempted, before you visit the gas pumps, be prepared to give up your first born child. References 1. $3. 00 Gas Spreads to 7 States, D. C. (April 27, 2007) ConsumerAffairs. com Benton, J. April 27, 2007. http//www. consumeraffairs. com/news04/2007/04/gas_prices141. html 2. Bush plans on drilling in untapped Alaskan oil reserve.(Dec. 13, 2003) Reuters Rosen, Y. April 27, 2007. http//www. commondreams. org/headlines03/1213-03. htm 3. Congress moves to outlaw gas gouging. (Sept. 19, 2005) SeattlePI. com Pope, C. April 27, 2007. http//seattlepi. nwsource. com/national/241244_gouging19. html 4. preference loom gas prices drop. (Sept. 13, 2006) ConsumerAffairs. com Benton, J. April 27, 2007. http//www. consumeraffairs. com/news04/2006/09/big_oil. html 5. Flex-Fuel Vehicles. (2007) FuelEconomy. Gov US Dept. of Energy (USDoE) April 27, 2 007. http//www. fueleconomy. gov/feg/flextech. shtml 6.Gov urges gas-price investigation. (Sept. 21, 2005) CBS News Associated sign on (AP). April 27, 2007 http//www. cbsnews. com/stories/2005/09/21/katrina/main870784. shtml 7. How hybrid cars work. (2007) HowStuffWorks, Inc. Layton, J & Nice, K. April 27, 2007. http//auto. howstuffworks. com/hybrid-car. htm 8. Murphy USA Refining and Marketing. (2006) Murphy Oil Corporation Wakefield, J. April 27, 2007. http//murphyusa. com/rm/retail/ 9. President discusses biodiesel. (2005) The White House Bush, G. W. April 28, 2007. http//www. whitehouse. gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050516. html