The Stork And Craddle Shopp Essays - Customer Experience Management

The Stork And Craddle Shopp Introduction Summary of the Present Situation Brad and Sybil, owners of the Stork and Cradle Shop, believe that in order to grows their business they have to advertise or do direct mailings. Yet there is no guarantee that the thousands of dollars you just spent placing ads in newspapers or for the five thousand piece mailing will generate a profitable response. Unless you have a time-tested way to advertise that produces reliable results, you could be wasting limited and valuable resources. Yet many small businesses make the mistake of spending the majority of their time and resources here. While this can be effective method it works best for larger companies who have enough capital to consistently, and over a long period of time buy their customers response. However a small business with limited capital would be better off pursuing more creative marketing techniques to help ensure their success. The Stork and Cradle Shop will have to fly in a different direction this time. Executive Summery The Stork and Cradle is in the business of selling infant clothes and accessories to mothers ages 25 to 35. While this may be true its not really the business they are in from a business owner or a marketing perspective. They are in the business of selling a product, service, and/or an idea. They like so many small businesses must find out what their niche market is and who their customer is. We must also find out were we are on the product life cycle and what we must do to add excitement to that cycle. This will give them a better idea on how to effectively advertise and grow their business on limited funds. Marketing 101/Course of Action Retailing is based on a lot of fixed cost like Rent, initial inventory, phone, phone ad, heat, and labor. So the first step is to increase the unit of Sale. What this means is that they want to make the new and current customer purchase more than they normally would at each visit without scarifying profit margin. They must do this in a manner that will have positive implications so to increase customer satisfaction. The more satisfied a customer is the more likely they are to tell their friends. I call this internal advertising. Internal Advertising is design to towards the most powerful advertising of all-word of mouth. An example of this would be to buy an ink jet printer, scanner, and Transfer paper, heat press for a total cost of 1,500. This will allow you to custom imprint mom precious babys pictures on your existing line of cloths, pillows or almost anything. The uniqueness of this will advertise its self. By making a few phone calls I was able to quickly identify a company called magic touch. They are the ones that make the transfer paper. I called them and ask them if they had any data on the effectiveness of their product and who their main customers are. They said their main customers are Screen printers and office supply stores. They also said their transfer last forever and if it ever fades you can iron it and the colors comes back to brand new condition. This would be a creative marketing technique and would help out the product a lot. Another idea would be to increase the frequency of a sale. If a customer buys once a month then offer them a reason to buy twice a month. Talk to the customer or survey them to find out what will make them come in and buy more often. Customer data is very important and must be used. Upon ringing up a customer find out their name and address. This is not an uncommon practice. This information will help you to find out who your repeat customers are. You can send them information on specials that you may want to offer or new merchandise you may be carrying. Most small business owners I have talked to say word of mouth or referrals is where most of their new customers come from. If referrals are important we must spend time and capital to develop some kind or referral program. An easy way to do this is to

How to Write a Sample Essay Essay?

How to Write a Sample Essay Essay?One of the ways to learn how to write a sample essay is to work through samples from popular writers such as Moby Dick, Shakespeare, and Martin Luther King Jr. A sample essay or sample question could be used as an aid for developing a proper writing style.Students may need to try writing a few sample questions before they have developed a proper way of conducting research and reporting on information and facts. There are several ways to conduct this research, some of which include surfing the Internet, visiting libraries, going to bookstores, and participating in conferences.Students can also attempt to learn how to write a sample essay by looking at the examples from famous writers and examples from schools such as Harvard University. Students should remember that these sample essays are not typical of how everyone writes. So, it is important to note that these examples are not always reflective of the way people who will take an essay test will wri te.Some people assume that they have to use the same example from which to write a sample essay, and then they will want to write the essay from their own point of view. While, it is true that people who write under their own voices are able to use their own points of view to come up with the best essay answers, students must make sure that their responses reflect their own voice and not the voice of the writer.If a student wants to give good answers to sample essay questions, he or she should at least write some paragraphs based on their personal perspective. This method will help them develop an ability to create essays that are powerful and effective.Students can try to develop a style of writing and to develop a well-rounded writing style for the entire sample essay questions and answers from the river and the source. It is important to remember that they should not simply copy what they see or read.Writing sample essay questions and answers from the river and the source will de finitely become an enjoyable process for students. Since it is difficult to find a sample essay for them to work with, they will be able to quickly and easily develop their own.

Free Essays on Violence In Hip Hop Music

Writing for the Media Violence in Hip Hop Music In September of 1996 Tupac Shakur, one of rap music’s most prolific artist of all times, was gunned down after a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas. In March of 1997, six months after the Tupac incident, another Hip Hop giant, the Notorious B.I.G. was also shot in killed in Los Angeles. The two latest tragic incident include the Big L shooting in Harlem and the Freaky Ty shooting in Queens. Some may use the lifestyles of these four individuals as an excuse for their deaths, being that many of today rap artist have come from the streets. Many were drug dealers and â€Å"gunslingers.† However, what people fail to realize is that these artist had left their â€Å"thuggish† days behind them and pursued a career in Hip Hop. Ironically, both Big L and Freaky Ty were both killed at places that they were trying to escape when entering the rap game, the streets. Big L was shot in his own neighborhood in Harlem, and Freaky Ty was shoot in his home borough of Queens after a local party. Tupac and Biggie was able to escape the streets, therefore, many may say that it was the industry that killed them. It all started when Tupac was shot and robbed in the lobby of a music studio in New York City. He was at the studio to meet with Biggie to work on a song together. After the robbery, Tupac blamed Biggie for conspiring to rob him. This brought on a heated dispute between the two artist’s record companies. Death Row Records, which is headed by Suge Knight, is the Los Angeles based record company that Tupac belonged to. Bad Boy Entertainment is the record label that Biggie is affiliated with and is headed by Puff Daddy in New York. This rivalry quickly became a rivalry between the entire West coast and parts of the East coast, mainly New York City. Consequently, you have an artist recording songs aimed at another artist, then that artist would make a record to answer the first record, a... Free Essays on Violence In Hip Hop Music Free Essays on Violence In Hip Hop Music Writing for the Media Violence in Hip Hop Music In September of 1996 Tupac Shakur, one of rap music’s most prolific artist of all times, was gunned down after a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas. In March of 1997, six months after the Tupac incident, another Hip Hop giant, the Notorious B.I.G. was also shot in killed in Los Angeles. The two latest tragic incident include the Big L shooting in Harlem and the Freaky Ty shooting in Queens. Some may use the lifestyles of these four individuals as an excuse for their deaths, being that many of today rap artist have come from the streets. Many were drug dealers and â€Å"gunslingers.† However, what people fail to realize is that these artist had left their â€Å"thuggish† days behind them and pursued a career in Hip Hop. Ironically, both Big L and Freaky Ty were both killed at places that they were trying to escape when entering the rap game, the streets. Big L was shot in his own neighborhood in Harlem, and Freaky Ty was shoot in his home borough of Queens after a local party. Tupac and Biggie was able to escape the streets, therefore, many may say that it was the industry that killed them. It all started when Tupac was shot and robbed in the lobby of a music studio in New York City. He was at the studio to meet with Biggie to work on a song together. After the robbery, Tupac blamed Biggie for conspiring to rob him. This brought on a heated dispute between the two artist’s record companies. Death Row Records, which is headed by Suge Knight, is the Los Angeles based record company that Tupac belonged to. Bad Boy Entertainment is the record label that Biggie is affiliated with and is headed by Puff Daddy in New York. This rivalry quickly became a rivalry between the entire West coast and parts of the East coast, mainly New York City. Consequently, you have an artist recording songs aimed at another artist, then that artist would make a record to answer the first record, a...

Independent Executive Agencies of US Government

Independent Executive Agencies of US Government Independent executive agencies of the U.S. federal government are those that, while technically part of the executive branch, are self-governed and not directly controlled by the President. Among other duties, these independent agencies and commissions are responsible for the vitally important federal rulemaking process. In general, independent agencies are tasked with administering laws and federal regulations that apply to specific areas such as the environment, social security, homeland security, education, and veteran affairs. Responsibilities and the Chain of Command Expected to be experts in the areas they manage, most independent agencies are headed by a presidentially-appointed board or commission, while a few, such as the EPA, are headed by a single presidentially-appointed administrator or director. Falling within the executive branch of government, independent agencies are overseen by Congress, but operate with more autonomy than federal agencies headed by Cabinet members such as the Departments of State or Treasury which must report directly to the president. While independent agencies do not answer directly to the president, their department heads are appointed by the president, with the approval of the Senate. However, unlike the department heads of executive branch agencies, such as those making up the president’s Cabinet, who can be removed simply because of their political party affiliation, heads of independent executive agencies may be removed only in cases of poor performance or unethical activities. In addition, the organizational structure independent executive agencies allows them to create their own rules and performance standards, deal with conflicts, and discipline employees who violate agency regulations.  Ã‚   Creation of Independent Executive Agencies For the first 73 years of its history, the young American republic operated with only four government agencies: the Departments of War, State, Navy, and Treasury, and the Office of the Attorney General. As more territories gained statehood and the nation’s population grew, the people’s demand for more services and protections from the government grew as well. Facing these new government responsibilities, Congress created the Department of the Interior in 1849, the Department of Justice in 1870, and the Post Office Department (now the U.S. Postal Service) in 1872. The end of the Civil War in 1865 ushered in a tremendous growth of business and industry in America. Seeing a need to ensure fair and ethical competition and control fees, Congress began creating independent economic regulatory agencies or â€Å"commissions.† The first of these, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), was created in 1887 to regulate the railroad (and later the trucking) industries to ensure fair rates and competition and to prevent rate discrimination. Farmers and merchants had complained to lawmakers that railroads were charging them exorbitant fees to carry their goods to market.   Congress eventually abolished the ICC in 1995, dividing its powers and duties among new, more tightly defined commissions. Modern independent regulatory commissions patterned after the ICC include the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Independent Executive Agencies Today Today, independent executive regulatory agencies and commissions are responsible for creating the many federal regulations intended to enforce the laws passed by Congress. For example, the Federal Trade Commission creates regulations to implement and enforce a wide variety of consumer protection laws such as the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, the Truth in Lending Act, and the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act. Most independent regulatory agencies have the authority to conduct investigations, impose fines or other civil penalties, and otherwise, limit the activities of parties proven to be in violation of federal regulations. For example, the Federal Trade Commission often halts deceptive advertising practices and forces business to issue refunds to consumers. Their general independence from politically motivated interference or influence gives the regulatory agencies the flexibility to respond rapidly to complex cases of abusive activities. What Sets Independent Executive Agencies Apart? Independent agencies differ from the other executive branch departments and agencies mainly in their makeup, function, and the degree to which they are controlled by the president. Unlike most executive branch agencies which are overseen by a single secretary, administrator, or director appointed by the president, independent agencies are usually controlled by a commission or board made up of from five to seven people who share power equally. While the commission or board members are appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate, they typically serve staggered terms, often lasting longer than a four-year presidential term. As a result, the same president will rarely get to appoint all of the commissioners of any given independent agency. In addition, federal statutes limit the president’s authority to remove commissioners to cases of incapacity, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or â€Å"other good cause.† Commissioners of independent agencies cannot be removed based simply on their political party affiliation. In fact, most independent agencies are required by law to have a  bipartisan membership of their commissions or boards, thus preventing the president from filling vacancies exclusively with members of their own political party. In contrast, the president has the power remove the individual secretaries, administrators, or directors of the regular executive agencies at will and without showing cause. Under Article 1, Section 6, Clause 2 of the Constitution, members of Congress cannot serve on the commissions or boards of independent agencies during their terms in office. Agency Examples A few examples of hundreds of independent executive federal agencies not already mentioned include: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The CIA provides intelligence regarding potential threats to national security to the president and senior U.S. policymakers.Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from a vast array of consumer products.Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board: Oversees the nuclear weapons complex operated by the U.S. Department of Energy.Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.Federal Election Commission (FEC): Administers and enforces the campaign finance laws in the United States.Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Administers the national flood insurance and disaster relief programs. Works with first responders to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all forms of hazards.Federal Reserve Board of Governors: Functions as the central bank of the United States. The Federal Reserve System (the â€Å"FED†) oversees the nation’s monetary and credit policy and works ensure the safety and stability of the nation’s banking and financial system.

Using Via E-commerce to Increase Success for Wingate Systems Working Research Paper

Using Via E-commerce to Increase Success for Wingate Systems Working - Research Paper Example For traditional relationship marketing to work as it should in any organization, all other business parameters also need to be in place. Recently, this has been identified in a forward-looking model as a "holistic, dynamic and dialectical" model. (Chang, 2004) Not surprisingly, this model was developed in an Asian developing economy context. The author noted that local firms in developing countries need to be creative in developing e-business strategies because they are operating in under-developed e-business environments. It that is true for relationship marketing success in developing countries, it should, therefore, be even more valuable to mature organizations operating in mature business environments. Despite the dot-com failures of the recent past, few would doubt that e-business is a main driver of the new and future economy globally. It is also safe to assume that relationship marketing began its development when bricks-and-mortar businesses were able to operate without a substantial Internet presence. Then, it was 'relationship' marketing, and depended on such things as 'personal bankers,' and 'personal shoppers,' and arguably, within each organization that had added the relationship marketing function, it was viewed as a 'must have' but with little relative impact on the bottom line. However, three things entered the business arena that made it paramount for relationship marketing to become both continuous (CRM) and integrated into the business structures. Those three things were the development of digital technologies, the importance of intellectual property, and "customer supremacy," defined as customization of product/service and reduced cycle time. (Chang, 2004)

Why incentive plans cannot work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why incentive plans cannot work - Essay Example We will be summarizing the main points of the article below. The article by Kohn (1993) questions the assumption that rewards or incentives can do no good for the performance of employees. The article is not accepting the basic psychological assumption that underlines any incentive plan, and an explanation is given as to why incentive plans cannot work. The system of giving rewards to employees is criticized because of the ill founded assumptions. Implementation of incentive plans have been criticized previously but the philosophy behind rewards and incentives was not questioned. The empirical evidence against reward is seen as a problem with implementation rather than that of philosophy of incentive plans. The argument given forward by the article is that rewards and incentive plans only yield temporary compliance of employees. Incentives, according to the article, do not increase the productivity or working potential of a person for a longer period of time. Rather rewards only force employees to comply with the organizational needs on a temporary basis. This effect is not at all a long term thing, and the world seems to be oblivious of the fact because of the limited research work on incentives. Studies on incentives and rewards are many but they seem to put forward the basic psychological relationship between reward and work. For many decades now this assumption has not been challenged in studies. This is why people have failed to realize that reward and incentive plans only breed temporary compliance. Rewards and inventive plans are known for changing the attitudes of people towards something but the author contends that the effect of reward is not different than that of punishment. The effect of reward only temporary changes behavior and as soon as the effect of reward fades away, the behavior reverts back. This means that there is not intrinsic change in a person’s belief or attitude due

The Wizard of Oz-Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

The Wizard of Oz-Beyond the Yellow Brick Road â€Å"Toto, I have a feeling were not in Kansas anymore,† claims Dorothy Gale as she explores her new world of lively color in the Land of Oz. The film The Wizard of Oz, adapted from L. Frank Baums childrens book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, released in movie theaters in 1939 and nominated for an Oscar Award for Best Cinematography and Color (The Internet Movie Database).The famous musical tells a story of a young girl Dorothy who gets lost in the Land of Oz and travels long and far to the Emerald City. At the Emerald City, she finds the Wizard of Oz, who she hopes will help her get back home to Kansas. On her journey she befriends the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion; at the same time, she must also avoid the Wicked Witch of the West who tries to take Dorothys enchanted ruby slippers. The Wizard of Oz has a unique characteristic in that it was one of the first films to include Technicolor (The Internet Movie Database). Transitioning into colored films became an imp ortant event in film history. The movie industry now had the technology capable of filming in sound and color, which dynamically influences a movie. The Wizard of Oz contains many colorful items that play key roles in the film: the yellow brick road, Dorothys ruby slippers, and the Emerald City. One might find it intriguing to learn that since the idea of Technicolor has been applied, certain colors symbolize important ideas. Although many viewers enjoy watching The Wizard of Oz and may think nothing more of it but as a mere fairy tale classic, the use of Technicolor conveyed many aspects about American history in the early 1900s including racial issues, economic issues, and political issues. Colors were used as a technique to represent social classes or certain races. Once Dorothy steps out of her house after the twister, she stares in awe at the vibrant colors of Munchkinland. These colors help the audience to determine the protagonist and antagonists. For instance, the Wicked Witch of the West and her Winkies, the guardians of the castle, have green skin, unlike those who appear to be human like Dorothy. The differences in color tie to the â€Å"public discourse on race in 1900† (Ritter 173). These references to racial disputes reflected the times in the early 1900s, or post Civil War. While recovering from the Civil War, many former African American slaves struggled to continue living their lives now that Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation has been established. They had the opportunity to find jobs, but still had difficulty merging with the white community. Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900 and incorporated racial (social) issues at that certain point in time in order to point out that there existed a segregated culture. Historians refer to the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century as the Gilded Age, an era which featured concerns about social change (190).The movie depicts the differences among the groups of characters and displays how they do not cooperate well together. Another example of utilizing color to express a change in social class is coloring the Emerald City. As Dorothy and her friends trot along the yellow brick road, the film captures the Emerald Citys elegant, resplendent towers from afar; the city itself has magnificent structures radiant in green splendor. Baum associates the people of the Emerald City as well as the Wizard of Oz with the color â€Å"wealthy green . . . [as] . . . selfish, st ingy, and false,† (184) which in the end, the Wizard proves to be when he does not keep his promise to help Dorothy and her newfound friends. The reference to green does not indicate that a certain race is selfish; rather, it exemplifies the idea that at this time in history, serious turmoil existed between different cultures and races. Overall, color orientation enables the audience to understand relationships among the characters. The film also uses Technicolor to recognize the economic crisis occurring during the late nineteenth century, referred to as the Gilded Age and during Americas Great Depression. In the beginning and end of the motion picture, Dorothy is back home in Kansas, where the setting is set in a bronze, sepia color, unlike the Land of Oz, containing all the colors of the rainbow. The overall look of Kansas is â€Å"bleak. . . [including] . . . the house, people, and prairie . . .[which] . . . are all ‘dull and gray† (177). The dramatic contrast in colors between Kansas and the Land of Oz shows how dismal and depressed the residents of Kansas felt while suffering from the poor economy; this represents the dismay many farmers experienced in the United States during the early 1900s. In the film, Dorothy comes from Kansas, where there reside clusters of independent farmers. Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, the â€Å"cusp between the decline of Populism and producer ism and the rise of consumerism and corporate liberalism† (198). At this time, many farmers created labor movements due to devastating droughts (198). In 1939, â€Å"Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer brought the Oz tale to screen in vivid color . . . [while] . . . the nation was recuperating from the depression and preparing itself for the challenge of World War II† (199). Color made an impact on the audience in that it inspired them to regain hope that â€Å"[America] would emerge, as Dorothy did, stronger for the difficulties they faced and overcame† (199). In the movie, transitioning from black and white to bright colors allows the audience to relate to Dorothy. The black and white setting represents America during the Great Depression. When Dorothy, representing the common people, is in the Land of Oz, she overcomes her obstacles, which represents America overcoming World War II. The use of color gives off a sense of optimism for the audience about the troubles that lay ahead. Many noticeable items in the movie play a key role in Dorothys journey, but also correspond to important political ideas. In fact, â€Å"The economic and political tumult of the 1880s and 1890s was reflected in competing cultural understandings of American society† (198). Glinda, the Witch of the North, explains to Dorothy that the Wizard of Oz can help her find her way home to Kansas. In order to reach the Wizard of Oz, she must follow the yellow brick road that leads her to the Emerald City, found in the center of the Land of Oz. The yellow brick road symbolizes the gold standard, the current form of currency (Rockoff 746). Many financial reformers â€Å"criticized the gold standard and the National Banking System [. . .] for favoring industrial over agricultural development† (191). Many have analyzed both the movie and book and have interpreted it as a monetary allegory about Populists (Hansen 254). Dorothy represents the Populist Party, while the yellow brick road that leads to the Emerald City signifies Washington, D.C., â€Å"controlled by the ‘Money Power and gold traders† (Ritter 194). Even though the yellow brick road shows Dorothy the way to the Wizard, she still does not find her solution of returning home when she arrives. Very much like a moment in history, this event correlates to the decline of the Populists who cried out to government in dire need for help with crops and farmland. For example, a group of â€Å"unemployed men, suffering under the economic depression of the 1890s, [. . .] marched from Ohio to Washington to demand work and relief, but [. . .] were dispersed rather than rewarded† (183). Dorothys journey and this small group of men are alike in that both parties sought for help, but never initially received any. In t he Emerald City, the significance of the color green relates to greenbacks, or paper money, which many people of the United States referred to as â€Å"a form of false value† (184). This color coding can also relate back to the Wizard. The Wizard of Oz provides important historical references that took place in the United States of America. The movie allows us to escape from reality and discover somewhere over the rainbow a fantasy dreamland where adventure and excitement await us. The magic of The Wizard of Oz has an indelible memory to all ages, throughout the ages. As one of the most notable films in pop culture, the motion picture has obtained many outstanding awards thanks to an unforgettable cast and crew. Not only does the film remain a Hollywood classic, but it serves as historical documentation. As technology has progressed throughout time, the film has used the latest advances of Technicolor to produce a meaningful piece of artwork embedded with racial, economic, and political references. No matter what type of audience views the movie, each individual can relate to the idea that despite ongoing conflicts, â€Å"theres no place like home.†