Blackmores - a Strategic Analysis free essay sample

Market growth is increasing due to recent pushes towards complementary healthcare, for instance the work of the Complementary Healthcare Association lobbying the government and surveys undertaken by industry help to spread awareness of complementary healthcare among the aging baby-boomer population. The impact of regulatory bodies. E. g. f the Therapeutics Goods Administration tightens quality constraints, may erode profit margins of smaller firms, lead to push for economies of scale There are low switching costs between brands for consumers, though the Pan Pharmaceuticals debacle highlighted the importance of strong brand equity to maintain customer patronage. Also, if the healthcare products are viewed as commodities, buyers will focus upon price and service as their differentiators. One of the biggest competitors to Blackmores continues to be lower priced alternative complementary medicines.Bio-Organics and Herron are two brands that are competing directly with Blackmores and given their lower price products are sharing much of the market share with Blackmores. We will write a custom essay sample on Blackmores a Strategic Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Additionally, there are added incentives to purchase Guardian products, such as Guardian loyalty cards. These factors help to boost Guardian owned products. Therefore, a possible improvement in the future for Blackmores is to introduce a loyalty scheme that will help retain their customers. The bargaining power of buyers: Bargaining power of buyers is moderate to weak. Many buyers mostly accounting for a small proportion of total sales.The complementary healthcare industry utilizes 3 major distribution channels Chemists, grocery stores and healthcare stores to access a wide range of consumers who generally all purchase relatively low volumes (ASMI, 2006). Blackmores has sought to differentiate its product via a quality focus and some competitors have a cost-focus. This Differentiation strategy helps to develop brand loyalty and is aimed at nullifying the impact of higher prices on consumer demand. No real threat of backward integration – given the diversity of customers.The customers are end-users, so there are no resale issues The absence of any real switching costs favorably influences buyer power, as it allows dissatisfied customers to change readily within the healthcare brands. Again, the focus on brand image and service helps to offset this lack of switching costs. The retail stores and distributors, however, have some bargaining power because they are able to influence the amount of shelf space given to Blackmores. However, Blackmores has a good working relationship with distributors and has a good share of shelf space amongst retail outlets.

Past Continuous Worksheets for ESL Students

Past Continuous Worksheets for ESL Students The past continuous and continuous forms, in general, are used with action verbs such as talk, drive, play, etc. The  continuous form  is not used with stative verbs such as be, seem, taste, etc. Some  stative verbs  can be used as  action verbs  so there are some exceptions. For example, smell - It smelled good. (stative verb) / He was smelling the roses when she walked by the window  (action verb.)​ Positive Form Subject to be (was, were) present participle (ing form of verb) objects: Jane was typing the letter when he walked into the room.Theyre were discussing the problem at 11. Past Continuous Negative Form Subject to be (was, were) not verb objects Jack wasnt watching TV. He was cooking dinner.We werent wasting time! We were working hard. Past Continuous Question Form (Question Word) to be (was, were) subject present participle (ing form of verb)? What were you doing at seven oclock?Was Jennifer paying attention during the meeting? Past Continuous Usage The past continuous is used to talk about what was happening at a  specific  moment in the past. Alex was knitting a sweater at 10:30 yesterday morning.My friends were waiting for me at nine oclock. The past continuous is also  often used together with the past simple to express what was happening when something important occurred. They were working on the project when she burst into the room.I was thinking about him when the telephone rang. Guess who it was?! Important Time Expressions These time expressions are commonly used with the past continuous to express a  past action  occurring at a specific moment in the past. At/At that Moment At and at that moment refer to a specific point of time in the past. These two expressions are often used with the past continuous. It is more common to use the past simple to speak in general, but if you want to express what was happening at a precise moment of time in the past, use the past continuous. She was having breakfast at 6.45 this morning.We were working on his request at 10 pm.Alan wasnt meeting with Tom at 9. He was meeting with Dennis. When/As When is used with the past simple to express an important event that occurred in the past. The past continuous is used to express what was happening at that moment. They were getting ready when he came home.Alice wasnt thinking when she said that.What were you doing when he asked the question? While While is used with the past continuous to express something that was happening at the same moment in time that something else was occurring. During During is used with a noun or a noun phrase to express an event during which something was happening. I was typing while he was dictating.She wasnt paying attention during the meeting.Jackson was working while she was having a good time. Past Continuous Worksheet 1 Conjugate the verb in parentheses in the past continuous tense. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well. What _____ (you do) when he arrived?She _____ (watch) TV at two oclock.They _____ (not sleep) at five oclock.Peter _____ (work) when I telephoned.Tim _____ (study) German while they were studying French.I _____ (not pay attention) during the presentation._____ (Brian talk) during the lesson?We _____ (not cook) when he walked in the door.Jason _____ (play) the piano at three oclock yesterday afternoon.When _____ (Howard give) the presentation exactly?Andrea _____ (not expect) you to arrive so early!What _____ (you think) when you said that?!_____ (she do) the housework when you telephoned?Carlos _____ (drink) tea when I walked into the room.They _____ (meet) with Smith and Co at exactly 2.35 pm.My cousin _____ (not have) a good time when I arrived.They _____ (discuss) the issue when she telephoned._____ (they work) in the garden when you arrived?She _____ (sleep) so he entered the room softly.They _____ (not take) notes during the presentation, but paying attention to every word. Past Continuous Worksheet 2 Choose the correct time expression used with the past continuous tense. What were you doing (while/during) the meeting?Tim was finishing the report (in/at) five oclock.They were discussing the problem (when/at) I walked into the room.Jackson wasnt listening (while/during) he was explaining the situation.Was Alice paying attention (while/during) the presentation?They were having a quiet breakfast (this/at) morning when he arrived.What were they doing (when/in) that happened?Sheila was playing the piano (while/during) he was working on the computer.I was working at the computer (at/on) seven oclock this morning.Alex wasnt playing golf (this/at) morning. He was working.What were they doing (in/at) four oclock?She was working quietly (when/for) he opened the door.Peter wasnt doing the housework (that/yesterday) morning. He was working in the garden.Where were they sleeping (at/when) he got home last night?Jason was thinking about the problem (when/at) he asked for an answer.Our teacher was explaining math (from/when) he burst into the room with the news. Dilbert was working at the computer (on/at) four oclock this morning!Were they listening (as/at) he asked the question?She wasnt working (when/in) he came into the office.They werent thinking about that (at/when) they made the decision. Answers Worksheet 1 were you doingwas watchingwerent sleepingwas workingwas studyingwasnt paying attentionwas Brian talkingwerent cookingwas playingwas Howard givingwasnt expectingwere you thinkingWas she doingwas drinkingwere meetingwasnt havingwere discussingWere they workingwas sleepingwerent taking Answers Worksheet 2 duringatwhenwhileduringthiswhenwhileatthisatwhenyesterdaywhenwhenwhenataswhenwhen

The Process of Currency Conversion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Process of Currency Conversion - Assignment Example A spot exchange rate is a rate used in an instant currency conversion agreement between two or more parties. Spot exchange is carried out in a spot exchange market, which is part of the foreign exchange market. On the other hand, the forward exchange rate is the rate agreed on today, to convert currencies at a future date specified in the agreement. Company X, based in Saudi Arabia, plans of purchasing equipment from two suppliers. Considering the location of the sellers, the buyer will have to decide on whether to exchange AED for Euros or the pound. The initial amount set for the purchase is AED 50 million. Both the financial manager and the CEO of Company X plans to take advantage of exchange rate fluctuations and, if the opportunity arises, lowers the cost of the purchase. The equipment is quoted to cost â‚ ¬ 1,090,000 and  £ 860,000 in Euro and pounds respectively. In order to make informed choices, exchange rate movements will be observed for five days from 24th to 28th December. On that note, this assignment presents a five-day exchange rate in a table format showing the value of AED 50 million, for each day, in both the currencies (Pounds and Euros). For each of the five days, the cost of the purchase and the impact of the decision are presented. Last, a report that provides justifications that the decision made is favorable to the company also is provided. For the purpose of purchasing the equipment, the currency used for the transaction is Euros. The equipment has been quoted to cost â‚ ¬ 1,090,000. The table 3 below shows the cost of the equipment in AED based on the exchange rates observations presented in table 1 above. Based on table 3 above, the company will spend AED 4,880,867 when purchasing the equipment within the seven day period when the offer is still valid. When comparing the new cost with the planned initial outlay, the company will spend less than anticipated.

Treament for the elderly alcoholic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Treament for the elderly alcoholic - Assignment Example The focus was on the goals and purposes of treatment of elderly alcoholics and how the services he offered could be accessed. We also discussed a variety of crisis situations followed by a question answer session. The outcome of an hour long interview is enumerated as under in detail. Dr. Cowan emphasized that the problem with alcoholism among the elderly is that it plays into a number of other conditions that a patient has. Alcoholism tends to weaken the immune system of an elderly at such a rapid pace that he gets less time to recover. Assessment is a serious problem, he noted, in part because of the ways in which prescription medication can mask it. This is backed up by the literature (Miller, 2010, p. 318). He described the purpose of treating elderly alcoholics is to get them into a treatment program. â€Å"Often times these kinds of patients don't come in to see me. Mostly one of the children decides that enough is enough and it is time for this person to seek treatment. Bigge st thing that one should have to fight alcoholism is the will. If you don't want to get better, you never will.† He emphasized that another goal of treatment is to involve family members as they provide the key support network for elderly people. He identified this as the main way that the services would be accessed: the patients would be brought in by relatives. Media both print and electronic are also being used by people to curtail alcoholism. Family physicians also guide elderly alcoholic patients to visit a classified health professional. Nevertheless, he said, as with all addiction, there is a great deal of resistance. As a doctor, I have to recognize that and do my best to make the process easier. The goal is to leave the person better off than before. He spent some time talking about the importance of the subject. â€Å"There are studies that show alcoholism among the elderly is very prevalent. It is hidden from view in part because elderly people are hidden from view . Part of the problem is that alcoholism can be confused with any number of other health issues. That is not a reason to step away from the study of this disease. If anything, it is a reason to renew our interest. Any time we see a group in society that is falling through the tracks we need to do everything we can to help them. The elderly are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol for a lot of different reasons and their biochemistry has changed with age. That is an interesting issue which I devote a fair amount of study to. The whole ageing process is fascinating. We're all going to end up there one day, so we should know as much as we can.† Looking at alcohol treatment is important, he said, because there is an indication that the amount of abuse is increasing. Some studies indicate that this is the case (Sirvin and Malamut, 2008, p. 515). Finally, we talked about crisis situations that are compelling people to seek help. Deteriorating health because of alcoholism is a ma jor reason that finally makes a patient to seek treatment. Physiatrists, when consulted by individuals also led them to sea a doctor. Self determination to get rid of the abuses and live a better life also made few people to visit a professional. Relatives also motivated to habitual elderly patients to fight the alcoholism. I found Dr. Cowan to be a very knowledgeable and sincere practitioner. The process and the goals that he described made sense to me. It was fascinating to hear

Gendering Childhood Essay Example for Free

Gendering Childhood Essay Toy stores are places where the gender of different children is being shaped – be it femininity, masculinity or gender-neutrality – according to the current ideas of society and culture about gender. It is therefore evident that toy stores are actually catalysts to the ongoing ideas about a certain kind of gender. In terms of gender-neutral toys, toy stores can be seen as a channel for interaction or equality between the sexes, although this is only seen some of the toys intended for toddlers and teens, and the toys that are digital/computer-based such as educational toys and consoles. In most toy stores, there are clear divisions and may even be separated and placed on opposite ends of the store. There are also sections where it is not clear whether or not the intention is for either gender. The toy stores are also divided depending on the age of those who are going to buy them. Usually, the age is progressive as one goes deeper into the store from the most simple of dolls and balls for one-year olds to the complex digital, computerized toys that can span from the age of seven and up. Looking at the store itself, the general theme of a certain section can actually point to whether or not the section is intended for boys, girls or neither gender. It is seen in many ways including the color scheme of the section, the featured toys and, sometimes, even the salespersons manning the section. However, the toy stores aren’t explicit in their customers in terms of labeling a section either for boys or for girls. Most of the signs in the sections are only implicit in the themes that they take. Gender neutral sections are often filled with toys that are educational and electronic gadgets. Also, gender neutral sections often have neutral colors such as white and silver as opposed to the gendered colors of pink and blue. They are also often seen in the middle of the gendered section. In terms of packaging, some of the toys are explicit in their intended customers by showing either boys or girls playing with the toys they are selling printed on the boxes. Gender neutral toys are often printed with both a girl and a boy on the cover, cooperating or looking very intrigued as they play or tinker with the toys. Other gender-neutral toys have neither child involved but only a feature of the product without any action that denotes the culture’s (in this case, America’s) notion of femininity or masculinity. The colors are neutral – often just a white background – and does not feature any actions that could be seen as either soft (feminine) or hard (masculine). A gendered toy’s packaging, on the other hand, has an implicit message conveyed on the box. Action, competition, adrenaline, and the macho effect are often portrayed in the boxes of boys’ toys in the boys’ section. On the girls’ section, flowers, happy homes, cute and sexy themes seem to dominate the shelves; often, older themes of make-up and fashion are being made as toys, as if pushing for girls to be women at a younger age. Going further into the connection of age and gendered toys, there seems to be a pattern concerning gendering them with respect to age. This is not to say, however, that other toys that don’t fall into these two categories are not gender neutral. There are also toys, most belonging to sports, which are gender-neutral. Toddlers usually have gender neutral toys intended for two things. The first involves amusement in the form of dolls and other soft items that they can chew on, throw, fall on and hit without causing them any harm or danger. Some of these toys may be gendered but many of them are not. The second is to educate them. These educational toys are completely gender-neutral as toy-makers consider the minds of either sex of the children as capable of processing basic information that they should learn, such as knowing what a cow is and what sounds they make. And since toys are not exactly limited to children, some toys that can have adults as audiences as well, such as game consoles and sports-oriented toys, are gender-neutral and are only gendered when it comes to the accessories and other things that they append to these toys. Some examples include the game cartridges. Because of gendering of the majority of toys in the formative years of the child, the idea of femininity and masculinity are instilled in society in an ongoing cycle. The current society’s ideal of masculinity are seen instilled in children in the early stages, dictating and instilling ideas on how girls and boys should be and how they should grow up to be. This forces them to conform to society’s current ideas of them aside from possible biological and other external influences that dictate children from their earliest years. Although gender preference may change in the later years, the influence of toys given to children – even if it is â€Å"feminine† toys given to boys – is a factor in how these children grow up to be.

Japanese Economy Essay example -- essays papers

Japanese Economy The Japanese economy is the second largest in the world, behind only the American economy. As such, its decade long downward slide has many lessons the American economy can learn from. The difference between the economies is one of degree, not type. Our own economy has been faltering of late, bringing fear of recession. The Japanese have been on that road for over ten years, and of late have been making aggressive moves towards a restructuring. This paper will look at the types of reforms planned in the Japanese economy, and more importantly if these reforms will be enough to pull a modern economy from the doldrums. The current state of the Japanese economy has much to do with a failure to adjust. In post-WWII Japan the country's economy experienced a "bubble economy". This era of high growth is very similar to that which the American economy experienced after WWII. A booming population and a new focus on industry were mostly responsible for the unprecedented growth in both countries. In the mid-1980's, Japan's central bank reduced prime interest rates in response to what was then considered a moderate slowing. This lowering wasn't enough to give the economy a chance at sustained growth, as it wasn't combined with robust reform. Japanese banks took advantage of the low rates, and began taking on massive debt. The slowdown never truly stopped, though there were quarters of greater growth. Though the economy grew by one percent on average, the combination of out of control debt and little population growth led the economy down a path of ever slowing growth. Today this debt, coupled with dis trust of banks by depositors, has held back even the most well though out and well intentioned reform. Simply put, no restructuring can lead to real gains if the banks continue to fall behind on debt payments. In April, the normally optimistic Central Bank of Japan issued a report downgrading its forecast for the Japanese economy, the third straight month it has done so. This was also the first report since September 1995 that the admitted that the economy is in a state of deflation. Deflation is the lowering of prices, and leads to lower corporate profits across the board. Deflation has a crippling effect on an economy, and demands an immediate and strong response. The report attributed this most recent downturn to lower industria... ...k governor, Masaru Hayami, said growth has come to a standstill because of slowing exports. Worried about the stagnant economy, the Bank of Japan moved to push interest rates to zero last month. It decided to keep such monetary policy unchanged at a meeting Friday. Exports have long been the driving force behind Japan's economic growth. But the cooling U.S. economy has dampened demand for Japanese exports. Japan unveiled an emergency package earlier this month that set a two-year deadline for major banks to dispose of their riskiest bad loans estimated at $104 billion. The non-performing loans -- a leftover from the collapse of Japan's easy-lending conditions of the late 1980s and early 1990s -- have crippled the nation's economy. The April report pointed to five key areas of the economy that remain troubled -- industrial output, corporate profitability, business sentiment, employment and housing construction. Late last year, Japan set a target of 1.7 percent growth for fiscal 2001 through the end of next March. But some economists believe the forecast is too optimistic. For the fiscal year ended last month, the government has set a target of 1.2 percent growth.

Marco Polo Worships the Great Khan

Traveling from Cathay to Tinju, there is not a single page in The Travels of Marco Polo where he does not mention the Great Khan.   Whether this is a positive or a negative, the power of the Great Khan is routinely emphasized and the leader is repeatedly discussed in terms of his ability as a ruler.   . A great deal of the reason for this is that when one looks at a different culture and its history, there is a tacit avoidance of providing judgment on the way the militarism of a culture may conduct itself. Through his travels in China, Marco Polo depicts the Great Khan as a powerful, benevolent, and ambitious leader of East Asia. It is easy to see that the Great Khan had great power throughout most of China.   In chapter 4 of The Travels, Polo describes various visits to different locations in northern and southwestern China.   He states clearly that â€Å"Tibet belongs to the Great Khan, as do all the other kingdoms and provinces and regions described in this book, except only the provinces mentioned at the beginning of our book which belong to the son of Arghun† (174). In chapter 5, all places that Polo visits use the Great Khan’s paper currency and the people remain subjects of the Great Khan.   In his description of the journey from Ho-Kein-fu through Kein-ning-fu, the idea that stands out   is that â€Å"people are idolaters, subjects to the Great Khan and using paper money† because such a brief and generalized statement provides significant insight into the overriding themes of the Great Khan’s motivations. (211). However, in different areas under Khan’s rule, a unique monetary system was used.   For example, Kaindu had very unique hard currency: â€Å"They have gold in bars and weight it out by saggi; and it is valued according to its weight.   But they have no coined money bearing a stamp† (176). Ironically, in some instances, salt was used as short change currency. Traders in Tibet made an immense profit, because they could use the salt in food as well as for buying the necessities of life.   In the cities they used fragments of salt blocks in cooking and spent the unbroken blocks. However, regardless of the fact that Kaindu did not use the Great Khan’s money, the Great Khan’s influence remained strongly evident within these providences.   Kaindu was subject to the Great Khan and it was in an area known to have an abundance of pearls.   Regardless the Great Khan would not let anyone harvest pearls because he believed harvesting too many pearls would eliminate their scarcity and lead to a significant devaluation. Thus, â€Å"The Great Khan, when he has a mind, has pearls taken from it for his own use only; but no one else may take them on pain of death† (175) There was also a mountain there with a plentiful supply of turquoise which produced very fine gems but the Great Khan would not allow them to be taken except at his bidding. This would seem to indicate that the Great Khan’s brash exterior hid a very insecure interior. That is, he seemed to desire wealth and treasure as a way of propping up his own image. Allowing greater access to wealth and precious metals was, perhaps, something the Great Khan feared because it would chip away at his ‘loftiness’. (175). Marco Polo also conveys the notion that the Great Khan maintained a sense of benevolence that tempered his displays of power.   In particular, Polo’s story about Litan emphasizes this benevolence.   Tandinfu was a very large city and once a great kingdom, but the Great Khan had conquered it through force of arms.   In 1272, the Great Khan had appointed one of his barons, Litan Sangon, to hold this city and province.   However, Litan planned a monstrous act of disloyalty when he and his followers rebelled against the Great Khan in a stunning display of disobedience.   When the Great Khan discovered this, he sent his militia to confront them. When Litan was defeated, the Great Khan pardoned those who served under Litan forgave them for their trespasses and indiscretions.   Those who were pardoned never afterward displaced any disloyalty towards their great leader.   This story reflects the Great Khan’s benevolence because, unlike other leaders who would respond ruthlessly to opposition, The Great Khan instead made them into the most loyal subjects by bestowing a pardon to them. It is clear the Kubilai Khan was exceptionally ambitious and this is what made him so powerful and played a great part in allowing him to conquer most of Asia.   Polo’s description of the conquest of Manzi evokes the ambitiousness of the Great Khan.   After conquering many cities and countries, Kubilai was still not satisfied and continued the expansion of his territory. He attempted to conquer the great province of Manzi, a wealthy territory.   The king of Manzi had discovered through astrology that he could not lose his kingdom except at the hands of a man with a hundred eyes.   In response,   Bayan Chincsan, known as â€Å"Bayan Hundred-eyes,† was sent into Manzi by order of the Great Khan.   Bayan succeeded and Kubilai finally conquered Manzi. This clearly demonstrates the Great Khan’s desire to expand his power base from all fronts. Perhaps, in a way, it depicts over ambition as opposed to logistical, military expansion. Ultimately, this type of imperialism would later lead to Khan’s eventually overextension and downfall. From Marco Polo’s descriptions of the influence of the Great Khan throughout most of China, it appears that he was a powerful sovereign whose impression on history still resonates to this very day.   However, Marco Polo’s presentation of the Great Khan drafts an image of the Great Khan as the only leader who could rule and dominate the world Although Marco Polo’s explanation that many cities he visited were ruled by the Great Khan is true, to the reader it seems like he venerated Kubilai Khan above all others. Perhaps Marco Polo was in such awe of Khan, he sought to see him as a great leader as opposed to a destructive, predatory imperialist and from this, an idealized version of history was cr