Avenged Sevenfold free essay sample

At 7:30, on a cold December night, my friend and I found ourselves outside of the Roseland Theater in downtown Portland. Looking through the windows, I could see the usual smog inside, and when we opened the door, we were bulldozed by a cloud of cigarette smoke, and an explosion of music. The air was uncomfortably humid, scented with beer, and we were completely stoked to see Avenged Sevenfold in concert. That night there were three bands opening up for Avenged Sevenfold: Black Tide, The Confession, and Operator. We climbed the stairs and walked into the concert hall just as Black Tide was finishing their second song. I admit I had never even heard of them before that night. Each member of the band had long dark hair that fell far below their shoulders and were head banging excessively. Their music was cluttered, the lead’s voice seemed off key, and I think their hair might have gotten tangled in the guitar strings. We will write a custom essay sample on Avenged Sevenfold or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It sounded almost like a car crash. Overall, Black Tide’s music was great, that is, if you like cat food. Travis and I slowly pushed ourselves forward through the crowd, and as The Confession started to play, we were about halfway to the stage, right in the middle of a huge mosh pit. Most of the guys left me moderately alone, but I was pulled in more then a few times. Being a 5 ft 5† girl, with absolutely no upper body strength, surrounded by huge sweaty men, I was tossed around quite a bit. The Confession’s lead singer was wearing a plaid, button up shirt, and had shaggy hair that covered his eyes. He ran around the stage the whole time, jumping, posing, and a few times, it looked like he was going to lunge off of the stage. But his voice was incomparable, and he had a way of capturing the whole audience with his alluring tones. The Confession had a great set, and their lyrics were incredible. The whole crowd loved them, and you could really tell that the band was having a lot of fun. But I suppose that any band would sound that good after enduring Black Tide’s eye gauging performance. Everyone took a long break before Operator came on, so Travis and I got about half way to the stage, found some other friends from school, and took a bit of a break from pushing our way any further. When Operator finally started up, we were recharged, and ready for them. Operator’s lead singer was the main event for this band. He stood a good eight feet in front of them, shirtless, muscular, and coated in sweat. Seriously, it looked like he had been rubbing vegetable oil all over his chest back stage†¦ Oh boy. Their sound was immense, they had a lot of power behind their guitars, and the whole concert hall was reverberating with their music. It was very much like the ocean pounding against the sand, flooding all of Roseland with its weight. The only thing I could think of the whole time (other than how great the lead singer looked) was how hypnotically the crowd seemed to flow to their songs. Sometime near the end of Operator’s performance, I got separated from my friends, and shoved my way up into the second row to the stage. When the band had finished, there was a good 15 minutes where no one was playing, and everyone was biting each other’s heads off to get closer to the stage, where Avenged Sevenfold would soon be appearing. Being as close to the stage as I was, felt a lot like being shoved through a small, plastic tube. Every time I took a breathe, I could feel my carbon dioxide bouncing off the person next to me, and I was forced to breathe it in again. Also, it really didn’t help that I was compressed in between two half naked, extremely obese men, drenched in sweat. If someone was to have picked them up, and shaken them, enough sweat would have fallen off of their gigantic bodies to fill a swimming pool. It was the closest to suffocation and drowning that I ever want to get. But then, it was as if a light from heaven had broken through ceiling, and descended upon me, because entering the stage at last, was M Shadows, followed by the rest of Avenged Sevenfold! The audience erupted with shrieks and cheers. And I was so close to the stage, that I could practically see the stitching on M Shadow’s jeans! They started their set, and immediately, the throng of people began jolting back and forth, and up and down to the beat. The Confession and Operator looked like preschoolers compared to these guys! Synyster Gates took charge, and executed some out of this world guitar solos, that I could feel thrust through me in a big wave, and hit the person behind me. M Shadows’ tremendous voice seemed to break through the sound barrier, raising everyone’s heart rate by 50 beats. He sang so passionately, that every muscle in my body turned with the music, and it was absolutely impossible not to jump around, vigorously with the crowd. Avenged Sevenfold’s fanatical performance was beyond words. I was sick for two and a half weeks after this concert, that’s how good it was.

Cezanne and Pollock essays

Cezanne and Pollock essays Explain Czanne and Pollocks contribution to Modernism by: Describing their new techniques/materials (practice) Innovation in concepts, theories and intentions Explore the significance of their work and the influence they had on other artists (support with critical and historical quotes/comments.) I want to make of Impressionism something soled and durable, like the art of the museums Paul Czanne The source of my painting is the unconscious Jackson Pollock Modernism is the revolutionary ideas and styles in art, architecture, and literature that developed in the early 20th century as a reaction to traditional forms. Both Czanne and Pollock understood that although their art was turning away from traditional forms, art is continuity. Never disregarding the Old Master, Czanne is said to be the father of modernism and Pollock the man who brought art from Paris to America. These two men, both known as avant-garde artists, one whos aim in life was to paint fruit and avoid people, the other who spent most of his time drunk, two great artists who revolutionised the art world with their use of new material and techniques and with their ideas and theories. Czanne began as an Impressionist but soon became frustrated, as Impressionist did not generate paintings that were compositionally strong, and so the creator of Modernism set out on a journey to empower objects with three-dimensional solidity. Czanne wanted to establish an equilibrium between the vivacious colour and solid form of three-dimensional objects and the two-dimensional surface of the picture plane. (Post-Impressionism: Cezanne, Nineteenth Century Art, pg 478). Similarly, Pollock was a modernist whose works were most prominent between 1948 and 1952. Pollock set out to explain as well as he could an emotional response to the da...

Consumer Law (UK) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Consumer Law (UK) - Assignment Example These legal enactments are termed under the provision of consumer laws with the sole intention to protect consumers from any kind of harm caused by the fraudulent activities of businesses. There are various contracts in which consumer laws are applicable which commonly include contract of buying goods, distance selling, services contract and other areas such as holiday packages and insurance among others. Notably, if consumers are affected due to any sort of fraud in the aforementioned areas, they can take the assistance of such law provisions (Consumer rights) to deal with such situations. There are various acts that collectively fall under the consumer law dimension such as the Sales of Goods Act 1979, Consumer Protection Act 1987 and Consumer Credit Act 1974 among others (Bryan 11-12). THESIS STATEMENT The thesis discusses a certain case giving rise to situations for the implementation of consumer law. The aim of the thesis is therefore to recommend the victims of certain fraudule nt activities of businesses about their rights based on the consumer law of UK. The thesis further depicts the criminal liability of the company involved in the breach of statutory provisions. CASE OVERVIEW It was in March 2003 that Ajay decided to book a holiday trip to Cornwall. The decision came after Ajay saw a brochure of the Sunshine Holiday Plc. The hotel that Ajay choose as part of the holiday package was described in the brochure as one of the exclusive hotels of Cornwall and further portrayed as breathtaking and best suited for a restful holiday. Furthermore, the brochure also described that the hotel has heated swimming pools both in its indoor and outdoor that would provide extraordinary experiences to the visitors. The brochure of the company further promised car services for the visitors in the hotel to allow them to enjoy all the entertainment facilities that would be available in the nearby town. In the brochure, the company also described about the additional offers to the visitors, if the tour is booked within the last week of March. The additional offers would included holiday insurance for the entire family, return couch travel and free car services among others were mentioned quite precisely in the brochure. On arrival of Ajay and his family in that particular hotel, they found out that it was on the top of the cliff and there was no easy access to the beach from that place. There was also lot of noise that came out in early morning from the bar of the hotels and created immense disturbances for the visitors. It has also been observed by Ajay and his family that both the indoor and outdoor swimming pools of the hotel were unavailable for some reason and car services of the hotel was also discontinued since the previous year. Furthermore, he also found out that in regard to the holiday insurance package promised by the hotel authority in the brochure, Ajay and his family was charged a considerable amount in spite of the fact that it was sup posed to be free of cost as was mentioned. Subsequently, Ajay complained about the entire issue to the hotelier but they pointed out a clause in the brochure which stated as â€Å"hotel and other charges may be revised at the discretion of the Tour Operator†. Later, Ajay’s wife, while buying a leather bag from the hotel shop

Karl Marx on Labor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Karl Marx on Labor - Essay Example Marx therefore, was primarily concerned with the way in which people are related to the ‘means of production’ (Morrison 44) which embodies anything that people use in order to survive; in other words anything that provides the means by which man can â€Å"obtain livelihoods, produce income and acquire needs† (Morrison 44), such as tools, raw materials, employment that provides monetary rewards and land that provides food, drink and fuel. Further to Marx’s concept of means of production is that a person’s relationship to it, ascertains their position in society, their class (Ebeling 9). One class however, according to Marx has owned and controlled the means of production all through history; thus society is divided into classes based on economic status, with the owners of the means of production becoming the ruling class. His theory therefore, posits that the forces of production are conveyed through social relationships that are autonomous of individ ual purpose or will. Marx called the ruling class the bourgeois society and defined them as those who live on the profits of the labour of others; the important point here is that for Marx, the possession of money does not in itself define bourgeoisie but by the fact that the money is increased by the employment and exploitation of other people’s labour . ... For Marx, the social relationship is not only exploitative but is also contradictory, wherein the concerns of each party are opposed to each other (Quigley 3). He further argued that such a class system then was typified by dispute and class struggles (Giddens & Held 151) focussed on elements that encourage divides and disparities. In fact for Marx, every aspect of society is based on such factors; government, family, institutions and religion all help to promote and justify advantage and control for some at the detriment of others. His theories of conflict and power propose that capitalism manipulates the market and becomes more and more powerful, and that they endeavour to dominate not only the financial systems via means of production but also the political policies and government (Smith and Rickett 952). It is the ideologies of the ruling class that prevail within a capitalist regime and therefore the workers or proletariat are seen merely as an object of commodity (Quigley 2) an d simply a means to an end; in other words, profit for the ruling class. The proletariat, with no choice or control over production or distribution of the products they produce is therefore, according to Marx, disconnected from that which they manufacture and work on and they are only able to receive a small wage for that labour; thus what they produce does not belong to them in any way (Quigley 2). This separation from the product the workers produce is what Marx calls alienation of labour. Marx noted four aspects of alienation in terms of labour, the first of which is separation of the worker from the product they produce; these products within

International Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

International Marketing - Assignment Example Communicating in the local language helps customers to receive the products and services positively. Doing business internationally involves changing the promotional or branding materials to suit their values and attitude. Analysis of the values and attitudes secures a comfortable working environment (Cateora, Gilly and Graham 398). Employees in the United States take weekly vacations while France employees take monthly vacations. Understanding this concept of culture is vital for international marketers considering various multinationals have had problems in the past. For instance, China banned commercials by Nike televisions for animating the kung fu master since it insulted the Chinese national dignity (Cateora, Gilly and Graham 389). The technology level available in the country of business aids the international marketers in handling promotions. It involves the analysis of transport and infrastructure of the location of interest (Cateora, Gilly and Graham 390). Education varies across cultural backgrounds thus; marketing internationally requires a synopsis of the educational background of their target market. In conclusion, analyzing the background aids the multinationals to have favorable response from their target market. I agree with you on the importance of culture in the marketing environment. It is important for marketers to treat their customers with dignity. Asian cultures value their cultural concepts and the example of McDonalds in Japan shows this. It is true that the general population of a country constitutes to the cultural background, but analyzing the regional cultures is also important in international marketing. The factors you mentioned such as political, economical, and technological apply in securing different countries. The value of these concepts dictates the penetration pace of multinationals. Stability in international marketing works better if the

Puritanism Versus Deism Analysis

Puritanism Versus Deism Analysis The seventeenth century colonists all respected the Bible. Both Puritans and Deists believed in God. However, the way in which they perceived God in their own lives differed. While Puritans believed God to be all encompassing taking the inevitably evilness of human nature and saving them through his grace; the Deist belief deems that humans are inherently good and the decisions they make ultimately effect their own fate. As shown in the writings of John Winthrop, Michael Wigglesworth, John Dane and Mary Rowlandson, Puritans believed in predestination and that God played an active role in their lives; whereas, Deist Benjamin Franklin believed that God played an inactive role in their daily lives and their fate was consequently left up to their own decisions. Contradictory to the Deist belief, Puritans believe that God has already chosen a path for them through predestination and they have no ability to alter this path. As Wigglesworth discusses Gods grace for those he chooses to save he quotes a New England minister, Thomas Shepard, who believed your best duties are tainted, poisoned, and mingled with some sin, and therefore are most odious in the eyes of a holy God. Your good duties can not save you, yet your bad works will damn you (Wigglesworth, 4). Wigglesworth, following Puritan ideals, believed that good deeds cannot get anyone into heaven (Wigglesworth, 4). Although God had predetermined the people who would go to Heaven and who would go to Hell, it was impossible to know whether one was actually damned to Hell or not. This triggered the question of whether or not to do good things if one was already damned to Hell. As a Puritan ideal, everyone was to live life by doing as much good as possible. While Deists determined their own f ate and could change it based upon decisions they made, Puritans accepted the fact that people were either chosen to be saved and go to Heaven or damned to Hell. In Puritanism saved mothers, fathers, husbands and siblings will be satisfied with the damnation of their relations (Wigglesworth, 4). The Puritans were content in the fact that their God had chosen a path for them that they were not able to alter and accepted that even some of their family members will be damned to Hell. An obvious difference between Puritan and Deist beliefs is the purpose that God takes in ones life. The Puritans believe in an all encompassing God. All good and bad things are acts of God and are not of a persons doing. In this belief both good and bad things are seen in a positive way; times of hardship are just as rewarding as times of benevolence. The majority of Mary Rowlandsons early life was lived in prosperity, everything in perfect harmony while others lived through many trials and afflictions, in sickness, weakness, poverty, losses, crosses, and cares of the World (Rowlandson, 8). During these times of bliss she sometimes wished that she would have her own trials and tribulations so that she would know God was thinking of her. Then, as she had wished for, Mary Rowlandson went through times of hardship. When she was captured and imprisoned for years by the Indians, she thought of these times as beneficial to her. These struggles proved Rowlandson to believe when God calls a person to any thing, and through never so many difficulties, he is fully able to carry them through, and make them see and say they have been gainers thereby (Rowlandson, 8). Instead of dreading times of adversity, Rowlandson saw them as a sense of caring. God cared enough to test her, using her times of struggling to bring her closer to him. In recollection of being captured by the Indians and her imprisonment, Rowlandson says, it is good for me that I have been afflicted (Rowlandson, 8). Without this vital event, she may have never begun to truly rely on God as she did throughout these times. The Puritans believed that good and bad events in their lives were taken by the providence of God or as his punishment (Dane, 9). Dane thinks of the intervention God takes in his life and speaks of how there were many wonderful, unspeakable, unsearchable mercies of a God that taketh care of us when we take no care of ourselves (Dane, 8). Dane viewed the event where he was stung by a wasp as p unishment from God because he did not regularly attend church on Sundays. Puritan belief is that everything is an act of God, meaning our actions are solely based on Gods decisions, not of our own ability to choose what is believed to be the best choice. If God chooses to save someone, he will save them because humans have no ability to save themselves. The Deist Franklins opinion of Gods role in ones life is quite contradictory of that of the Puritans. Deism beliefs are that of Gods inactive role with man. According to Franklin, God is the creator of man but he does not interfere with everyday decisions of humans. God grants man free will and the ability to change ones fate based upon his or her decisions. Deist Franklin believed that one works towards moral perfection through virtuous acts. Consequently, he came up with thirteen virtues that at that time occurrd to [him] as necessary or desirable to achieve moral perfection (Franklin, 12). Where Puritans looked to the Bible as a work of God with specific examples of events that God created in different peoples lives, the Deists believed the Bible to be mostly fables, a collection of stories created to teach lessons and help others achieve this moral excellence (Franklin, 6). To them the Bible was used as a guideline of ideals that are morally acceptable and how the choices one mad e affected the outcome of his or her situation. Franklin attributed any bad or good event in his life to his own doing. He gauged his closeness to God based upon his degree of success. He believed that he had become successful because he had kept his lifestyle close to that of the thirteen virtues. In Deist beliefs, God was not thought of as one who made the ultimate decisions for a person but more so led people in the direction in which was honorably acceptable. Deists believe that humans had the ability to change their own fate. They have free will to make their own decisions and every action and good and bad situation was of their own doing. The process of achieving moral perfection is represented through the idea of self-improvement. People have the ability to choose to better oneself by attempting to imitate that of God. Franklin stated that in an effort to better oneself one should always be employd in something useful [and] cut off all unnecessary actions (Franklin, 13). With the creation of Franklins thirteen virtues(temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility), Franklin had created his own path and as long as he strove to achieve these virtues, good would happen to him. Franklin, as well as most Deists, believed that one is taught right and wrong and then they are to make decisions based upon these ideals to ultimately decide his or her o wn fate. When Franklin speaks of his attempt at moral perfection he says that I knewà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other (Franklin, 12). In Deist Franklins belief of self-improvement it is unacceptable for one to be lethargic; when one is unproductive he or she is not at his or her best. The lack of motivation or desire to be improving oneself decreases their chances of going to Heaven. Rowlandson, Dane, Winthrop, Wigglesworth and Franklin use their first hand experiences to explain the Puritan and Deist beliefs of the 17th century. While the Puritans believed in predestination and every event that occurred in ones life was simply an act of God, the Deists believed in the ability for one to make his or her own decisions and decide his or her fate. God was involved in the everyday life of Puritans; whereas, in Deism God is the creator not and prevalent in the everyday actions of man; he teaches right from wrong but leaves the ultimate decision of ones actions up too him or herself.

Latino Gangs in Movies Essay -- Movies Films Gangs Violence Essays

Latino Gangs in Movies American filmmakers of the late twentieth century portrayed Latinos as merciless pursuers of the "American Dream". The Latino immigrants were characterized as "Urban Bandidos", seeking the path to ultimate wealth and power in a society dominated by Anglo authority. West Side Story, Fort Apache, and Scarface each portrayed the Latino character differently, but commonly depicted the "Urban Bandido" as a man in search of money and power in America. Not only do these immigrants fight for the warped American dream, but they often fight without fear, willing to risk almost anything to reach the top. In West Side Story, the Puerto Rican gang known as the Sharks always gets blamed for the conflicts that arise between the two groups. The Latino males are depicted as violent and angry, while the senoritas are portrayed as submissive and willing to assimilate into the anglo-governed society. The popular musical presents American audiences with the idea of interracial relationships in a society that looks down upon the mixing of cultures. Tony and Maria refuse to ignore their undying love for each other, and put that devotion before all other beliefs and concerns about their opposing social groups. As the two gangs fight for territory, Tony and Maria fight to make their friends understand that it doesn't have to be a "space†¦impregnated with cultural symbols and political significations for the relations, interactions, and social actions according to the "American Way of Life" (Sandoval, 167). Fort Apache conveys the image of a society where Anglos are the strong, heroic force and the Latinos take a submissive, incompetent role in the urban life. Paul Newman plays the white cop, displaying his hero... ...es to gaining the most material wealth possible. The Anglo characters of these late 20th century films play the role of the "good guy", always appearing when the need for a hero or savior arises. Overall, American audiences do not see a great change in the presentation of Latino characters in the storyline. They are portrayed negatively through time, although in the more recent films, the Latino is more of a violent, greedy druglord in place of the typical greaser or bandit that we are accustomed to seeing. The stereotypes remain present through the second half of the century, identifying Latinos as dark, violent, inferior bandits, and the Latinas as weak, unintelligible, sexual objects. It seems as though the American cinema has no intention of introducing the world to a more accurate representation of Latinos and Latinas even as we approach the end of the century.

Consulting Assignment for Advanced Marketing

Table of Content CONSULTING ASSIGNMENT CONSULTING ASSIGNMENT 1 1 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS & TRENDS 1. 1 Macro-Environmental Analysis Political There are legal requirements to set up retailing shops in Singapore. One can just apply for a retail permit online at the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA) website. This leads to it being easy to overcome the barriers of entry, which may further cause an increase in the amount of competitors for OSIM.Since OSIM is in the Health industry, its subsidiary company of GNC/RichLife would have to go through the need of applying an additional permit from Health Sciences Authority (HSA). Another major concern would be the product safety issues and requirements in OSIM’s products. OSIM is registered with SPRING Singapore for Consumer Protection Scheme. This scheme ensures the basic safety requirements in OSIM’s products, and is further verified authentic with the â€Å"Safety Mark† label. Economical According to the latest World Health Statistics (2008), Singapore’s total health care expenditure only amounts to 3. % of its gross domestic product, which is substantially lesser than other Asian countries like Malaysia, China and India. However, Singapore spends more dollars per head than Malaysia, China and India, with an average of SGD$1228 per person. Even though Singapore is facing an economy recession since 2009, Singstat has reported an increase of about 4. 5% in sales of medical goods in 2009 as compared to in 2008. This proves that Singaporeans are progressively concerned about healthcare and are more willing to spend on healthcare even in times of economic downturn.With this display of trend in Singapore, more competition and new entrants have penetrated Singapore. This will affect OSIM in terms of sales and many other factors, as new players will be fighting for the same market share. Increasing sales of healthcare products in Singapore shows that the lifestyle he althcare industry will continue to flourish or if not, do better in future. 3 More and more competitors are seeking to reduce production costs by locating their manufacturing plants in countries with low production costs and labor.This will affect OSIM in terms of pricecompetitiveness, as all of their massage chairs are designed and built in Japan. Social As Singapore is expected to continue developing into an increasingly affluent society, this will have substantial impact on trends in consumer behavior. Consumers will progressively become more brand and status conscious, more discerning and health conscious. As the population ages and material comfort grows, consumers are expected to pay more attention to their health, thus an increasing demand for fitness and health clubs, as well as choosing more expensive yet healthier food choices.This is particularly true for â€Å"Baby-Boomers† in their fifties now with larger spending power. More emphasis is placed on leisure activit ies, such as travelling, water sports, golfing and cultural activities. However, being workaholics, Singaporeans are constantly moving forward, hence little time is allocated to work out. Therefore, there is a potential market for OSIM that is in accordance with its philosophy of bringing healthy lifestyle to its consumers without the need of spending hours in the gym. In addition, especially after the recent pandemics such as Bird Flu, H1N1 and SARs, there is a greater need to lead a healthy lifestyle.Speaking of social status, being able to purchase an OSIM uDream would reflect the status symbol of those who can afford it due to its hefty price tag. Technological OSIM stands out from its competitors in terms of technological advances as well as the innovative design for its products. It is further proven and supported by prestigious Singapore Awards such as â€Å"The Brand with Exceptional Performance† and â€Å"RedDot Design Award† on more than one occasion. OSIM al so makes it a point to constantly come up with new designs and products to further attract existing customers as well as new potential buyers.The company has come up with 6 new products catering to different needs in the last two years, such as uKimono, uSqueez Warm in 2009, and also uRobic, uSpace, uYoYo and uCrown, the world’s first anti-stress head massager in 2008. Offering an extensive range of products to suit the different needs of customers, as well as a wide range in product pricing, OSIM seeks out a large range of target market. 4 Improvements in technical functionality such as additional health benefits other than removing muscle aches in the massage chairs, lower electrical consumptions would help give OSIM further competitive advantage.OSIM has also made use of the technological advancements available to almost every household, which is the access of the internet. OSIM’s website allows potential buyers to find out more information, reviews by other users, and even to make online purchases, all at the comfort of their own home as well as at their own time. In order to attract more buyers, OSIM even have exclusive online offers that are not available in the physical shops. 1. 2 FIVE FORCES IMPACTING ON OSIM’S INDUSTRYThreat of New Entrants It is relatively easy to apply for operating license for new businesses in Singapore and it can be reflected in the daily average of 138 (ACRA Annual Report 2008/2009) of new entities that were registered. However, the initial capital requirement is high for the healthcare industry because of the R&D cost and infrastructure of the manufacturing plant. In addition, the increase in imitations also amplifies the competitiveness of the industry posing great price differentials, thus leading to a high threat of new entrant. Despite being less price-competitive, OSIM’s products possess more superior quality.Therefore, threat of new entrants is deemed to be moderate. Threat of Substitute OSIM is highly threatened by the many varieties of substitutes available in the market. Since OSIM’s mission statement is to â€Å"offer their customers total well-being†, customers can also easily find these needs in many other substitutes. For instance, there has been a recent surge of fitness clubs, which serves as a one-stop centre for many consumers. Customers looking for a total workout can obtain all the equipments they need in these fitness clubs, without having to buy them.These fitness clubs also cater to consumers’ needs for lifestyle, for example, by providing plasma televisions fitted all around the clubs. Other substitutes includes, the very well-received spas and massage parlors, low cost manual and electrical massaging equipment, participating in active sports like Yoga or kickboxing, adopting healthier eating habits and consumption of health supplement pills. 5 It can be seen that most of the substitutes provide consumers with lower cost benefit s an d some may even provide the same health advantages as OSIM products, hence, the threat of substitutes for OSIM is relatively high.Power of Buyer Consumers are presented with a wide array of competitive brands and alternatives such as fitness clubs and traditional massages. As Singaporeans are becoming more affluent, an average household income amounts to SGD$7440 which illustrates a high spending power. Hence, power of buyer is moderate. Power of Supplier Supplier Power for OSIM is moderate. They do not own their personal manufacturing plant or factory. Most of their manufacturing is outsourced to external companies in China and Japan. Recently, they have also entered a Joint Venture Agreement with Daito Electric Machine Industry Company.Daito will help OSIM in the molding and manufacturing of healthcare appliances. However, given that OSIM has numerous supplies of manufacturers, they can fall back on other manufacturers if one fails to commit for whatever reasons, thus the power of supplier is low. Intensity of Rivalry in Industry The main rivals in the healthcare industry include OTO and Ogawa. Being the market leader, OSIM is renowned for its quality and constant innovations. This clearly differentiates OSIM from its competitors. Conversely, its price positioning might put off some consumers and encourage consumers to patronage its competitors.Furthermore, as mode of entry to the retail market in Singapore is relatively easy, cost of exiting would be higher as ACRA has the right to reject any application of termination of a retail permit if they feel that the applicant can still â€Å"survive† the business, which simply means that the barriers to exiting the market is high. 6 1. 3 Key issues that are likely to impact on the marketing strategy for OSIM Key Environmental Possible Market Impact / Industry Issues Economical Rising expenditure on health OSIM care in Singapore can offer more attractive Possible Marketing Mix Implications romotions such as a package deal to attract more buyers Social Consumers are more aware of OSIM can educate consumers on the the need to live a healthier products and the health benefits lifestyle Technological Ever-advancing technology OSIM has to constantly update themselves with the latest technology to continuously innovate to retail existing customers Threat Substitutes of Many different forms of It is difficult for OSIM to counter such except to offer more substitutes, some of which substitutes might cost a lot less than the attractive promotions, better products roducts of OSIM or even attempting to reach out to the consumers more readily with well located shops Intensity of Rivalry Mode of entry into a retail The chances of more competitors within Industry business is relatively easy, entering the market and â€Å"lingering†, and while barriers of exit are high since OSIM focuses on quality in its products, it has to counter such new businesses in the form of quality products with newe r technology, rather than low pricing strategies 7 Consulting Assignment 2 2 COMPETITOR ANALYSIS 2. 1 Market Segmentation OSIM OTO OGAWAGeographic ? Residential Areas ? Shopping Areas ? CBD Areas ? All age groups ? Residential Areas ? CBD Areas ? Residential Areas ? Shopping Areas ? CBD Areas ? All age groups Demographic ? Middle-aged Psychographic ? Consumers that seek innovation ? Fast-paced lifestyle ? Family-oriented ? Benefit from consuming novelty ? Seek quality ? Traditionally-oriented ? Family-oriented ? Consumers that seek innovation ? Fast-paced lifestyle ? Benefit from consuming novelty ? Seek value for money Behavioural ? High consumer loyalty ? Seek value for money 2. 2 Strategic Group Map The above strategic map illustrates the positioning of the two closest competitors in comparison with OSIM. Judging from the numbers in the map, OSIM has the strongest global presence with more than 1,100 outlets across 31 countries. OSIM also has the most product offerings that can s atisfy the varieties of needs of consumers. Furthermore, OSIM makes use of their advancement in technology to constantly introduce innovative products to the market. This would allow OSIM to attract new customers and retain existing ones.However, OSIM’s products are priced at a much higher level than its competitors. This gives OTO and OGAWA a competitive edge over OSIM. Despite the attractive prices, they have a weaker brand image. This can be clearly seen in an independent survey conducted where OSIM came up as the number 1 brand of healthy lifestyle products in consumers’ minds, ‘most preferred healthy lifestyle brand’ and ‘the most preferred Massage Chair’ across Asia. 9 2. 3 Competitive Strategy Theory Officially launched in 1993, OSIM is the global leader in branded healthy lifestyle products.The company is constantly developing new products that possess innovation technologies, bringing its consumers healthier lifestyle and overall well -being. The two key direct competitors include OTO Bodycare and OGAWA World. Name of Company OSIM Porter Generic Strategy Differentiation OSIM uses Market Positioning Market Leader advanced PRODUCT INNOVATION: OSIM expand its technology such as Osimotion total demand by constantly introducing Technology that distinguishes new products like uSqueeze and uKimono. tself from conventional devices that rely merely on vibration EFFECTIVE PROMOTION: OSIM recently and innovative Warm Air launched the uKimono that is endorsed by Technology to soothe tired International artiste SHE to reach out to muscles and improve blood the younger crowd so as to increase new circulation. users. INCREASE USERS: OSIM reinforced their global leadership position in the healthy lifestyle industry by their geographical expansion into USA, a large homogenous consumer market with about 100 million household, by entering into a definitive merger agreement with Nasdaq-listed Brookestone Inc.This transaction will br ing OSIM to the next level in its growth and opportunities. OGAWA Cost Leadership Market Challenger Like OSIM, OGAWA does not OGAWA adopts the indirect attack on manufacture its own products. OSIM’s high pricing strategy. OGAWA’s This function is to in China being products are being priced much lower but the with similar functionality as compared to to OSIM thus securing the market share of outsourced manufacturer 10 achieve economies of scale. The more price sensitive customers. savings are then translated to the consumers by retailing the products at a much lower price.Despite the low price, quality is being compromised as the country of origin plays an important role. OTO Cost Leadership Market Challenger OTO focuses on providing lower Most products have similar functions and prices to win a larger share of benefits to OSIM, except that they are the market. Integration therapies of and traditional modern-day priced more competitively. With this, OTO is able to try t o fight for a larger market share. technology allows them to offer OTO tries to indirectly attack OSIM’s high quality at low prices. With most of their outlets in weaknesses, its uncompetitive pricing strategy. eartland malls, they ensure Many of OTO outlets are also situated in maximum exposure in their the same locations as OSIM, strongly targeted market and also challenging them for market share. minimize operational expenses due to low rental costs. This ensures that they remain price competitive. 11 2. 4 OSIM’s Competitive Response Competitors OTO Strategies by Competitors Price Low pricing strategy to gain market share Product Combines traditional therapies with modern-day technology OGAWA Price OSIM should employ Attack. the They OSIM Competitive Response Encirclement hould constantly develop firstin-the-market technologies and innovative products, to avoid Adopted penetration pricing price competition. strategy to gain market share. It is interesting to note th at in They can also employ more Malaysia, an OSIM massage celebrity endorsements to chair is priced at RM 14K where increase their credibility, brand a massage chair from OGAWA awareness and gain market with a similar feature only share. retails at RM 6. 7K Product Product fulfils basic function of providing the total well-being and healthy lifestyle. 12 Consulting Assignment 3 DEMAND FORECASTING 3. 1 Forecast Summary Table FORECASTING METHOD SINGLE MOVING AVERAGES CRITERIA P= 2 P= 3 P= 4 P= 5 P= 2 P= 3 P= 4 P= 5 ? = 0. 8 ? = 0. 2 ? = 0. 9 Y= a + bX FORECAST FOR N=9 8,110 7,550 6,963 6,450 8,868 9,970 8,629 9,346 5,292 8,204 8,311 9499 COMPUTED MAD 1,466 1,973 2,490 3,073 507 514 814 413 2,887 1,242 1,121 200 SINGLE MOVING AVERAGES USING ABOSLUTE CHANGE EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING REGRESSION TABLE 3. 1 3. 2 Analysis of Forecasting Methods Judging from the sales figures, a positive linear trend is identified based on the increasing sales of OSIM in the past 8 periods.There are various reas ons that contributed to the growth. Singaporeans are earning a higher income, thus a greater disposable income which translates into a larger purchasing power. This escalation in spending power allows the consumer to purchase OSIM products as a status symbol. Also, due to the nature of Singaporeans being workaholics, there is little time to be engaged in outdoor activities, hence, resulting in a gradual boost of such healthy lifestyle products. Therefore, due to the stable demand, the time series model best suited to this pattern is the least square method.All in all, this method is deemed to be the most effective as it has the lowest computed MAD which reflects its accuracy in the forecasted sale for period 9. Though said so, OSIM should not rely exclusively on the regression method as the model has problems identifying seasonal impacts, and integrating those fluctuations into the forecast. The alternative would be to use the single moving average using absolute change as the deman d of the products are stable and by adopting this method, small random fluctuations are levelled out.It also has the next lowest MAD which implies the accuracy of forecasted sales in comparison with the other models. 13 Consulting Assignment 4 4 FINANCIAL RATIOS 4. 1 Ratio Summary Table OSIM FLAGSHIP STORE GROSS MARGIN PERCENTAGE NET PROFIT PERCENTAGE STOCKTURN RATE TABLE 4. 1 67. 72% 17. 41 2. 75 INDUSTRY AVERAGE 52% 5% 6 4. 2 Ratio Analysis Gross Margin Percentage The gross margin percentage is a measurement of a company's manufacturing and distribution efficiency during the production process. In comparison with the industry average of 52 percent, OSIM generates a much higher gross margin of 67. 2 percent. This indicates that OSIM is more efficient than most of its competitors from the industry. This disparity could be due to the low manufacturing cost that OSIM obtained from its contract manufacturers, thus the high gross margin. Despite the constant introduction of new products , OSIM still managed to attain a high gross margin percentage, thus reflecting the low inventory level which signifies high sales volume. Net Profit Percentage OSIM has a high net profit percentage of 17. 41 percent as compared to the industry average of 5 percent which is at least 3 times more.The figure implies that OSIM has better control over its costs compared to its competitors. This substantial difference is largely attributed to the high sales volume and low operating costs incurred through economies of scale. Stockturn Rate Stockturn rate basically determines the firm’s efficiency in managing inventories. The stockturn rate of 2. 75 times by OSIM is relatively low as compared to the industry average of 6 times. The figure is still reasonably acceptable despite being a far cry from the rivals within the industry as it indicates that the inventories of OSIM were used and then again replaced almost thrice in one year.The reason for the gap could be attributed to OSIMâ⠂¬â„¢s experience in managing the inventory. It reflects OSIM’s ability to forecast its sales accurately for the next period and thus, do not need to worry about stock out situations. The risk of OSIM having a low stockturn rate could contribute to higher 14 holding costs which would eventually result in a low gross margin. However, with reference to the gross margin percentage of OSIM, the company is doing rather well in managing its resources. Also, a lower stockturn rate

Humanities Today Paper Essay

Humanities are branches of knowledge that investigate human beings, their culture, and their self-expression. Distinguished from the physical and biological sciences and, sometimes, from the social sciences, the humanities include the study of languages and literatures, the arts, history, and philosophy. The modern conception of the humanities has roots in the classical Greek paideia, a course in general education dating from the fifth century BC that prepared young men for citizenship. Humanities also draw on Cicero’s humanitas, a program of training for orators set forth in 55 BC. The Renaissance humanists contrasted studia humanitatis (studies of humanity) with studies of the divine; by the 19th century the distinction was instead drawn between the humanities and the sciences (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2006). The humanities are a group of academic subjects united by a commitment to studying aspects of the human condition and a qualitative approach that generally prevents a single paradigm from coming to define any discipline. The humanities are usually distinguished from the social sciences and the natural sciences and include subjects such as the classics, languages, literature, music, philosophy, the performing arts, religion and the visual arts. Other subjects at times included as humanities in some parts of the world include archaeology, area studies, communications, cultural studies and history, although these are often regarded as social sciences elsewhere (Wikipedia, 2006). Humanity in general is the experience of being human. The experience can be visual, audible or by touch. The philosophy of being human is also the aim within the general perception of humanity, thus separating the commonality understanding humanity from the personal experience of being human. The difference between the visualization of humanity and the practical application of humanity is the understanding of the critical observation of what humanity should be versus what humanity is. The larger interpretation deals with the different disciplines of science, medical and even in psychology. I do not believe that anyone can understand that the present situation globally has anything to do with humanity. For example, I do not believe that killing and raping like in Darfur or in other areas like Iraq or Iran has anything or needs much explanation if that is also humanity and if it is not, what is it? ArtThe art of painting has been said that the painter’s soul speaks within the creation of the painting. For example, Leonardo DaVinci’s painting of Mona Lisa is not proven that Mona Lisa really smiled, yet in the eyes of the soul of Leonardo DaVinci he saw this smile which leads to the conclusion that humanity has a soul which one cannot assume in contrast to an animal. In the style of surrealism, one can make the statement that the soul is talking in a language that only the painter can understand. To finish this topic of art and humanity, it is possible to say that the soul in humanity has many different faces that is only understood by the creator. The harmony or the dis-harmony to be attracted to one or the other like Ruben’s painting versus Picasso’s abstracts indicates that the resonance of the viewer is enchanted or dismayed, thus this only shows the uniqueness of the soul. MusicMusic from the viewpoint of one’s understanding of humanity is the rhythm of life. One would find oneself during the day humming this or that tune. One may not know why but one would be expressing the humming as joy. Theoritically one could ask the question, is music also the expression of the soul and if the answer is yes then why does the symphony entice some people but not all? So often one is confronted with the social expression that many people are gathered to be stimulated by the melody rather than the words. Case and point, when men have get togethers they are singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall which has nothing to do with the harmony or the expression of the soul and yet they are happy. Then the men start to come up with all kinds of variations of the song. If music is the expression of humanity or if humanity is the expression of music, then joy is the same. An opera for someone that likes opera, can be very moving in emotions. An overture can also be very moving. There are many people that like overtures and a cello concert and there are many people that like Christina Aguilera, Leonard Cohen or Johnny Cash. One can see as diverse the music, so diverse is humanity’s perception of it. ArchitectureThe visualization of an architect to create a structure is based upon the landscape and the scenery that can entice the architect to think and then create. It would be interesting to understand a child that creates the architecture in the clouds and tells his or her mother to look at the castle in the sky versus an architect that see’s the scenery and skillfully builds the castle. That would be the different findings. Throughout history, one has seen different styles of architecture like Roman and Gothic. Roman architecture is round and gothic is more triangular. Looking at Baroque, we see straight lines. All those different architectural styles are the expression of humanity and humanity’s evolution. PhilosophyPhilosophy in one’s opinion is the most intriguing part of humanity. To ask a question and to not have an answer or not wanting an answer, that is philosophy. Philosophy is the purest of the interpretation of humanities which means that humanities in action is at it’s best. The progression of thinking. What does it mean when Socrates says, I know that I don’t know or Shakepeare in Hamlet who says to be or not to be. With other words, philosophy represents the capabilities of humanities. LiteratureHumanity and literature go hand-in-hand with the evolution of humans and the different societies. Ancient texts like the Bible and other writings represent the history of humankind as written words where more and more use for communication. As the Bible seems to be the representation of the history of a particular group of people like the Jews, other groups like in the Mesopotamian history became less and less a real representation of history by geographic means. Literature became more poetic. For example the Mesopotamian epic story of Gilgamesh. Throughout the evolution of humankind, technology has changed the socio-economic structure which means from hieroglyphs communicated in clay or stone tablets to the skillfull calligraphy in monasteries and the triumph of the printing press by Gutenberg. Today literature is different because reading a book in the time of internet is almost a sacrilege. In not reading books in the way that it was done in the past, society has almost no time to read complete sentences because literature has also fallen in a trap that unfortunately takes away the thinking which is the hallmark of humanity. Humanity is comprised of many different cultures. Each culture has their own set of rules for humanity. The uniqueness of literature is lost in the complexity of it’s many interpretations. Humanities are about being human. The idea is to draw connections between all the various creative movements and influences that exist in a culture at any given moment, as well as how these movements and influences have influenced what has come later and what we are experiencing now. ReferencesEncyclopedia Britannica Online (2006). Humanities. Retrieved November 2, 2006 fromhttp://www. britannica. com/ebc/article-9367537Fiero, G. (2006). The Humanistic Tradition: The European Renaissance. The Reformationand Global Encounter. Boston, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill. Robinson, J. (2003). What is Humanities? Retrieved on November 5, 2006 fromhttp://fp. uni. edu/robinsoj/Humanities/WHAT%20IS%20HUMANITIES. htmWikipedia the free encyclopedia (n. d. ). Humanities. Retrieved November 1, 2006, fromhttp://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Humanities.

Herbal Tea Essay Example

Herbal Tea Essay Example Herbal Tea Essay Herbal Tea Essay The questionnaire was conducted outside a local newsagents. People were randomly selected as they left the shop. A lot of people refused to complete the questionnaire. It took 45 mins for all 10 questionnaires to be completed. I feel the results signify a lot in the marketing of Herbal Tea.  The analysis of the questionnaires shows that no one under the age of 15 took part in the questionnaire. I feel this is may-be due to the fact that they would have been attending school. It should not make much difference to the promotion of the Herbal Tea as I think the market would not be directed to under 15s. I think under 15s would not buy herbal tea, although maybe it should have been wise to conduct the questionnaire at non-school hours, so as to prove that most under 15s would not be interested in Herbal Tea. The questionnaire shows that 6 people were female and 4 were male. I feel that this is so because more females were willing to complete the questionnaire than men were. If the questionnaire were conducted with using half female and half males, maybe the results would have been slightly different and more efficient for the marketing of Herbal Tea.  Seven out of 10 people said they drink coffee/tea regularly. This question was asked in order to find out what percentage of the market drinks tea/coffee, in order to aim the promotion at these individuals who already drink hot drinks for relaxation or taste. 8 out of 10 people have previously drank herbal tea, this shows that when marketing herbal tea, the majority of consumers will have already tried herbal tea, therefor we wish to aim the market at promoting herbal tea in a unique and new means, so as to encourage the people whom have previously tried it to convert to Elderberry flavour, and to convince them of trying this new flavour which is unlike the herbal tea, which they have previously tried and have abandoned. Question five was a very vital question in the marketing of Elderberry Herbal Tea. 8 out of 10 people did like the taste of the tea. This is a good amount for the successful promotion, and selling of Elderberry Herbal Tea. 8 out of 10 people is 80% which is a very satisfactory amount but we must promote ElderBerry Tea and look into adding more/less flavours in order to satisfy the 20% of people whom did not like the taste and try to have 100% of people liking the taste. Question six was all so one of the most important questions, as ElderBerry tea will be marketed to those whom already drink tea/coffee and to try convince them to change to the more natural alternative of ElderBerry Herbal Tea. 6 out of 10 people said that they would convert to ElderBerry tea after tasting. This too is also a good total. It is 60% again we must use promotion and advertisement to increase this percentage. 4 out of 10 people were aware of the medical benefits which is good, because the marketing of the product is designed to inform all consumers about the medical benefits of herbal tea, which they have not previously know.  6 out of 10 people would buy a box of 12 sachets of herbal tea for 50p-2.00, 3 would pay 3.00 and one person designed their own amount on the questionnaire, which was 10.00. This is quite unsatisfactory result in the marketing of ElderBerry Tea. It shows that people are not willing to pay a lot for 12 sachets. This would create quite a problem for the producers, as it is necessary to earn a good profit with the implementation of Elderberry Herbal Tea on to the market.  8 out of 10 people were unaware of ElderBerry Herbal Tea prior to the tasting. This shows that there is already a market for ElderBerry Tea, although I feel that this market maybe abroad and not in Ireland, as I recall two participants being British. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS It can be concluded that the introduction of Elder Berry Herbal Tea, would be of benefit and of profit making to the co-op. The co-op are progressing and are quite successful at present therefore they have can afford to advance to the next level of their businesses by introducing a new product. The research conducted has proved that the Elder Berry herbal tea will be quite a successful product because of the growing demand of herbal tea from consumers. The Product of Elder Berry is by far the most obvious ingredient to use, because of its medical benefits, colds and flu relief and unique and rich taste. Herbal medicine and teas have become most popular with the consumer, and is growing each day, so the elderberry tea would be introduced to a demanding market.  Elderberry Tea is a quick and alternative cure for colds, flu and illnesses. It has been tested and has proven to relieve symptoms faster than Lemsip(tm) and Beechams(tm).

Important Steps to Marketing Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Important Steps to Marketing Success - Essay Example One possibility is renting a billboard that presents a continuing storyline as a traveler goes from one billboard to another, ultimately looking forward to the next billboard and the next part of the story; i.e. Burma Shave from 1925-1963 ("Billboards, 2006), and when the dairy business was in a slump, the GOT MILK logo was used in billboards, magazines, and on television. In the meantime, the product logo becomes familiar. The cost of this type of advertising, however, might be prohibitive. Display signs that encourage the public to search you out might be a less expensive option, but these sales methods also call for a design package that might make it worthwhile to spend a little extra for a well-known designer. After all, if a designer is well-known, he or she must know how to sell an idea. Marketing also could be accomplished with print flyers or broadcast ads by creating a powerful design that demands attention and by developing a mailing list for distribution. Once you have a design, you can create your own flyers. In advertising one thing leads to another. Advertising calls for sales promotion, which requires public relations. Public relations becomes part of personal selling, and the bottom line is direct marketing. How does one marketing decision actually suggest the next step For instance, let us say your company is selling a gadget guaranteed to outperform a similar product. You have registered your trademark, which includes a highly visible logo. In the age of computers a mouse is no longer a small animal; it is an object designed to move you around on the computer screen. Logitech is a highly visible name in the mouse market. But what if you have a voice-activated mouse pointer that reads the information on the screen without having to use a mouse The logo could be a lightning bolt, and the name of the pointer program could be the "Wizard"--shades of Harry Potter. The simpler the logo, the more successful it could be. Look at Nike. Nothing is simpler or more recognizable than the little boomerang. Whatever name you choose for your product, it should connect to your company name. Your particular Wizard is not the only voice-activated pointer program in the marketplace. It is therefore important to bring your company to the attention of the public. There are several ways to make your company name recognizable. One way is to connect to a charity. What if you donated several copies of your new program to a charity such as The Braille Institute This would be followed up with a press release, announcing your gift (Krotz, 2006). Not only would this be of interest to other charities, it might be a useful product for people who have arthritis or are disabled and can't use a regular mouse. If you have a reliable product and customers realize it, word of mouth can do a lot for sales. In this high-tech age, online selling is a necessary activity. Your company should have a website that is easy to navigate. In fact, it should have a voice-activated link in keeping with your new product. As a tie-in to your website, you might set up a booth at a trade show that will allow prospective buyers to try your products. Make sure you have

What started the Credit Crunch and what are the effects of it in the Essay

What started the Credit Crunch and what are the effects of it in the UK - Essay Example This describes the financial situation that forms the foundational basis for this study, the subprime mortgage meltdown in the United States that hit the global stage in the Summer of 2007, which accelerated into what is also termed as the credit crunch. In equating the ramifications of the preceding, the United States will serve as the starting point for the foregoing, tracing how the credit crunch became a global phenomenon, then honing in on how this all has and is impacting the UK economy. The financial services sector is often a little understood arena owing to the complexities of how it operates within the context of international economic activity and the variables of the global market. The intricate nature of the ties between differing regions, and how they interact upon one another represents a complex set of macro and micro economic aspects within which this crisis developed and impacted every corner of the globe. In hindsight, the causes of the credit crisis are understood as were the warnings from economists and banking officials as to the potential ramifications of new types of derivative instruments whose long term effects were not understood, and not tested with regard to varied market and economic scenarios. In that instance, the checks and balances of the market failed, leading to wide spread ramifications. The unique nature of the credit crunch make this an engaging study in that this history making event makes the first major failing of markets since th e Great Depression, and serves as a wake up call for the excesses of the past that we are paying for in the present. This study of â€Å"What started the credit crunch and what effects has it been having on the UK economy† represents a series of broad ramification as well as inputs. In order to equate the preceding, it is necessary to delve deeply