Reconstruction of African Americans Dbq Essay

New Societies, new people, and new communities usually originate as a result of migration. People decide to move from one place to another for better opportunities, better lives, and new challenges. This remains true for the African American race as well. It has been believed that the original migration took place in 1619 when African Americans arrived to Jamestown, Virginia. However, the first African Americans migrated to the United States almost a century earlier in the 1500’s coming from Mexico and the Caribbean to the Spanish territories of Florida, Texas, and other parts of the South. African-American Migration Experience Though many migrated to the U. S. voluntarily, most African Americans were victims of massive enslavement. War, slave raiding, kidnapping and political religious struggle accounted for the vast majority of Africans deported to the Americas. African Americans were forced into slavery. Many children were kidnapped and sold as slaves. There were those of which who rebelled by refusing to be enslaved that would be expelled from their homes and families then either murdered or forced to be slaves. Slavery developed because the Northern Africans had a monopoly over spices, gold, and other commodities that the Europeans wanted. Europe would send ships back and forth to Africa to trade goods and in the process they were able to grow comfortable with navigating the seas. As a result, Europe was able to develop very good shipbuilding skills that in turn led to the sending of large vessels. That moved the Portuguese to add an additional commodity to their cargo: African men, women, and children. The Portuguese then used African Americans as slaves to work their sugar plantations. Over time English and Dutch ships preyed on the Portugal vessels for slaves, while raiding and looting the African mainland. Slaves were brought to the United States of America during the triangular trade. Ships were built to handle a maximum of 350 people, but Europeans would transport over 800 men, women, and children under some of the harshest conditions. Slaves would be branded, stripped naked during the entire trip, lying down in the midst of filth, all while enduring unbearable heat. All slaves went through frightening, incredibly brutal and dehumanizing experiences. Women and children were raped for the pleasures of the crew. The sick were tossed overboard unto the sea. People who tried to starve themselves to death were forced to eat by the torturing of scolding hot coal pressed onto their bodies. African-American Migration Experience Those who survived the Middle Passage arrived to America only to encounter more grief. They were sent to plantations and farms for agricultural duties. They were used for mining, and placed in towns as servants. In South Carolina and Georgia they grew rice, cotton, and indigo. In Louisiana they slaved over sugarcane plantations. They labored over tobacco farms in Virginia and Maryland. This went on until 1808 when the United States abolished its slave trade from Africa. However, slave trade went on unabated until 1860. In 1898 the boll weevil ate its way through Texas and proceeded to eat its way East across the South. The cotton was destroyed and slaves were thrown off of the land. After WWI there was an economic boom that resulted in the need for agricultural work, but unfortunately most states in the South passed the Jim Crow laws that discriminated against African Americans and led to segregation. African Americans couldn’t attend the same schools as white Americans. They couldn’t use facilities such as restaurants, theaters, hotels, cinemas, and public baths. Public transportation was also segregated and in some states marriage between white and black people. African Americans were at the mercy of landlords, abusive employers, and almost anyone set on depriving them of their rights. This went on until president Franklin D. Roosevelt was forced to issue an executive order mandating the end to racial discrimination. The Fair Employment Practices Committee was created to enforce this mandate, which acted as the launching pad that would bare dividends in the future. Riots erupted in 1943, leading to beatings, deaths, and arrest. African American then resulted to boycotts and sit-ins during the Civil Rights movement. As a result, the Supreme Court reversed the separate but equal doctrine in 1954, ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. There was also the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act that signaled an attack on Jim Crow. The African-American Migration Experience This report reveals the enormous amount of pain, grief, and violence suffered by my ancestors during slavery. I am so appreciative to all those people who marched, boycotted, and endured the pain and suffering so that my children and I could have the freedom to eat in any restaurant, sleep at any hotel, drink water out of any fountain, and go to school to get a good education. I may not be able to relate culturally to the ethnic group that I have written about because I am way too young, but that doesn’t change the fact that I recognize what they fought and stood for and I plan to make sure that my children are taught the history of how African Americans migrated to the United States, and what they went through to get here. References In Motion. The African-American Migration Experience. Retrieved April 9, 2007, from http://www. inmotionaame. org/home. cfm.

Effects of a stronger Euro on the Eurozone Essay

Most countries, in fact all countries in the Euro zone, have adopted a floating exchange rate, which means that the value of the Euro and, thus, the exchange rate are only determined by the demand for and supply of the currency on the foreign exchange market. Therefore, the value of the Euro can fluctuate drastically depending on different factors. At the moment, the Euro is a very strong currency. This has got different effects on the Euro zone, positive as well as negative. On the one hand, a strong Euro and, therefore, a high exchange rate decrease the price of imports into the Euro zone, so that more goods and services can be imported for the same amount of money, as one unit of currency will buy more units of foreign currencies than before, which means that more foreign goods and services can be imported. These imports might include services such as foreign travel, products we can directly consume, such as clothes from China or primary resources which are bought by firms. When producers can buy cheaper resources, their costs of production decrease, which causes prices to decrease, too, as the following diagram shows: Here, the supply curve shifts to the right, due to lower costs of production. This is a shift along the demand curve and therefore, the quantity demanded increases, whereas the price at which the goods and services can be purchased falls. A decrease in prices is – obviously – good for the consumers, as they have to pay less money for the goods they buy, and it is also good for the government because low prices reduce inflationary pressure. However, although the greater amount of imports is good for the consumers, domestic producers might be worse off. With the imports being relatively less expensive than the domestically produced goods and services, competition increases and there might be a fall in the demand for domestically produced goods and services. This could lead to unemployment as the domestic producers, whose profits decrease, can’t afford anymore to keep all these workers. Another consequence of high exchange rates are increased prices of exports for foreign countries. Industries which export price inelastic goods will probably find that they have increased export revenues as the following diagram shows. Here, the quantity demanded decreases from Q1 to Q2, and therefore, the price at which the goods or services are sold increases from P1 to P2. However, the change in price is much bigger than the change in quantity demanded as it is an elastic good. Therefore, the profit increases. However, although these industries have benefits from high exchange rates, most firms don’t produce goods for which demand is inelastic, so that it is difficult for them to sell their goods and services abroad, because their prices are, compared to the prices of producers from other countries, relatively high and they are, therefore, not able to compete with these producers. This means that they make less profits because they sell less, which might cause a further increase in unemployment. If the amount of money flowing out of the economy because of imports increases, and the amount of money flown into the economy because of exports decreases, this would worsen the balance of payments which could, in the worst case, become negative. This would decrease aggregate demand (AD) which is defined as consumption + investment + government spending + (exports – imports). However, although the high export costs will in the short run harm domestic producers, as it threatens their international competitiveness, they will in the long run increase their inflationary discipline. In order to maintain their competitiveness, domestic firms have to lower their costs of production, so that their prices decrease and they export more. In order to lower their costs of production, they have to be more efficient, which will, ideally, eventually result in a more efficient economy overall. This shows, that a strong Euro can have both, positive and negative, consequences on economies. But whether it is considered to be good or bad, very much depends on the kind of economy: A strong Euro doesn’t have the same effect on all countries in the Euro zone. Whereas economies which specialise on exports, such as Germany might not want a too strong Euro, as their international competitiveness might decrease, economies which very much rely on imports might be better off with a strong Euro.

Discussions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussions - Essay Example Newsweek translates Obama’s intention as: "I will go only if we can win; I dont want to be photographed losing." Copenhagen was to have been the most important international conference after Kyoto, because it was expected to produce a treaty updating the targets set during that earlier conference. It will be recalled that the Kyoto Protocol is an international environmental treaty adopted in December of 1997 and which entered into force in February of 2005. The Protocol called for industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% from their 1990 levels. Today, 187 countries have signed and ratified the protocol. Significantly, the only industrialized nation in the world who adamantly refuses to sign the treaty is that country responsible for 36.1% of world emissions – the United States of America. What is one to make of this, except America’s apparent disinterest in the future of the world environment? Certainly, its importance is not lost on the new US President, inasmuch as he made climate change a cornerstone of his campaign platform. From the new President’s actuations and flimsy reasons, it appears this was all lip service, and that in this great country, the welfare of future generations has already lost to political agenda, selfish economic interests, and the desire to avoid being â€Å"photographed losing.† The Presidency of the United States used to stand as a symbol of principled governance in the face of global threats, as the USA used to be a beacon of all that is right and good in a dark, oppressive world. When Obama gets photographed receiving his Nobel prize for nothing in particular, he should remember that recently another American democrat received his Nobel for fighting against global warming. He should also realize that, image-enhancing or not, it is his duty not only as his nation’s

Qualitative research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Qualitative - Research Paper Example In such context, time has come to shed light on different fundamental aspects of qualitative research in order to highlight its importance among business researchers. Hence, in this research paper, the researcher will try to highlight fundamental concept behind qualitative research and also will criticize the research methodology. Conceptual Base Research scholars such as Saunders, Lewis and Thornhil (2007 and 2009), Creswell (2009) and Gray (2009) pointed out that it is very difficult to decipher the meaning of the term â€Å"qualitative research† due to the fact that the meaning of the term relatively varies from stakeholder to stakeholder. Creswell (2009) stated that qualitative research is better for addressing social contextual or philosophical problems while Gray (2009) argued that interpretation of a particular phenomenon can be given by qualitative research. ... Qualitative research is composed of following concepts; Qualitative research deals with experience, opinion of individuals and in most of the cases, these opinions are subjective in nature. Qualitative research never tries to manipulate the occurrence of social phenomenon and research elements are allowed to behave in natural environment. Qualitative research tries to account all the research variables rather trying to collect data from small samples. Qualitative research is used in order to develop new theories which can help individuals to understand the social world hence qualitative research methods are inductive in nature. One to one contact with respondents is primary criteria for data collection in qualitative manner and researcher has to meet each respondent personally in order to conduct interviews, focus group interviews etc. Ontological perspectives of respondents are better served with qualitative research or it can be said that researchers got the chance to know the pers onal thinking of the respondents while doing qualitative research (Bryman & Bell, 2003; Davies, 2007). Condition for Qualitative Research It is evident from the research works of Robson (2011) and Sekaran & Bougie (2009) that selection of qualitative research method depends on the nature of the research problems. A research problem has to posses following criterions in order to be qualified as qualitative research problem. Table 1: Criteria for Selection of Qualitative Research Subjective The research problem can only be understood by going through the personal opinion of each respondent. For example: Role of technology in your life. Holistic The research problem cannot be addressed without considering effect of all the social variables. For example: Role of a

History questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History questions - Assignment Example In response to aggressiveness, British soldiers opened fire upon civilians in order to maintain order. This slaughtering of civilians enraged the colonists. Lastly, the Quartering Act was an order in which the colonists were required to take in soldiers and provide for them. This angered the colonists as this served as a drain on already scarce and expensive resources. The English thought that it was necessary due to the fact that it was a reimbursement for having soldiers to protect the colonists from Indians, other countries. Etc. The Boston Massacre is considered by many to be one of the primary starting points to the start of the Revolutionary War. Evidence and speculation from the time leads many questions to be asked as to far who was the sole instigator in the act. Boston was already in turmoil as tensions were rising between the British and the colonists. Often, the colonists would taunt the soldiers. On this particular incident, it was reported that the taunting had reached an elevated level. In order to disperse the crowd, shots were fired into the air. This translated into turmoil in which the soldiers opened fired on the civilians until both parties retreated. Regardless of the facts, it is the colonists who instigated the attacks. The soldiers were just doing their duty and enforcing the laws. If this were to happen today with a riot facing the police, even if the policies were unfair, the blame would fall on the crowd. The purpose of the preamble of the Declaration of Independence was written in response as to the way the crown was treating the colonists. In essence, it was a dictatorship. As a result, the preamble states that the power, which is wielded by the government, is derived directly from the power, which is given by the people. The understanding that â€Å"all men are created equal† meant only white males in the colonies. At this time, women’s rights were unheard of and blacks were regarded as slaves meaning they were in es sence treated as property. The Declaration of Independence was a justification for why the colonies needed to break away from the corrupt form of government in England. The Virginia and New Jersey plans were created in order to help set up the new form of government, which would govern over the new independent colonies. The Virginia plan was based on the power in the government being based on population. Thus larger states would have more representative power in the government. The smaller states felt that this was not fair; therefore they constructed a system based on equality, one vote per state. The Connecticut Compromise set up a bicameral legislature, using the New Jersey Plan as a template. The Senate would have equal representation given by each state and population would base the House of Representatives. Samuel Slater is known as the father of the American Industrial Revolution. His idea of interchangeable parts allowed industry and the creation of machines to be accelerate d due to the fact that these parts could now be easily replaced and changed in mechanical components. One of the main areas in which Slater had an impact was on the textile industry, in particular the Lowell mills. It combined the textile and weaving process all in the same building, which maximized production and efficiency. Calhoun’s theory of nullification stated that in some instances, a state has the right to refuse to recognize a federal law within its

USING YOUR MANAGER SKILL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

USING YOUR MANAGER SKILL - Essay Example According to the Lanham Act, trademark infringement and any representation which has the possibility of confusing consumers on the origin and the description of the goods is prohibited. The Act provides that there are three distinct elements which have to be established by the plaintiff to warrant an injunction and damages for trademark infringement. The first element to be is that the plaintiff, safe Choices in this case, has a valid claim over the mark and that the mark is registered or capable of being registered. The plaintiff must also show that the defendant used the mark and that the mark was used in commerce and the use in commerce was without the consent of the plaintiff who is the owner of the mark (WIPO, 1997). Finally, the plaintiff has to show that the use of the name has the effect of causing confusion to the consumers, in that it misrepresents on the origin or the manufacturer of the goods and the use in essence creates a relationship between the plaintiff’s pro ducts and the defendant’s products. Safe Choices have to show that they own the trademark that should be easy because Safe Choices already registered that trademark in 2002. The fact that its already registered means that it’s a valid trademark capable of being protected as a plaintiff cannot prevent others from using a name that does not belong to him. Therefore, in this case, Safe choices have to prove that the defendant used the trademark, and the use is an action thing and should not be lightly interpreted to curtail the functions of the defendant. The use in this case is valid, since Simply Green Company printed the name on its packaging materials and used the name to market the packaging materials. The second element to be is that the use was in commerce, and the use in commerce means that the defendant used the plaintiffs name in activities that bring economic

Management Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 5

Management Portfolio - Essay Example The Safety Management System shall include policies and procedures on risk assessment and analysis and provisions for safety audits. The Quality Management section outlines the principles which project managers shall abide by in the conduct of the projects’ execution. Quality management is conducted with a view to aligning operations activities and results with the needs and demands of the customers. Project Management refers to the execution of project plans per site. It involves the internal coordination and workings among the various elements of the project, and coordination between project managers and the immediate environment (the community and local government). Operations Management refers to the coordination among the various projects and liaison between the projects and the firm. It is linked with the Financial and Commercial Management aspects of the project, in that it keeps an eye towards the cost-versus-benefits aspect of the project execution. The project management will embody the regulations of Statutory Instrument 1996 No. 1592, otherwise known as The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, as well as internationally accepted principles of health, safety and welfare management. Pertinent provisions of said Instrument are hereunder adopted, as follows: As a matter of policy, management assumes responsibility for instituting health and safety facilities during the project actualization, and for implementing safety standards over all persons and processes involved in the project. Management expects every employee to comply with safety rules and processes implemented during project execution. In project sites, including ingress thereto and egress therefrom, it shall be ensured that such will be free from potential hazards to any persons, as far as is reasonably practicable. Measures shall be adopted to ensure that no person gains access to any place within the project

Investment Article Critiques (2) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Investment Article Critiques (2) - Essay Example These are Mutual funds with a variant dollar cost averaging. Currently many investors have made the decision to â€Å"go to cash† until the market stabilizes. Many have seen their mutual funds decline anywhere between 25% and 50% over the past years and are gun shy to reinvest at the moment leaving $8.85 trillion dollars in cash (Martin & Tsang, 2009, p. F3). The two approaches are to put all your money in at once at take the risk that it will rise or fall or, as with the variant of dollar cost averaging â€Å"a certain percentage of the investors money is invested each month for the next five or six months.† (2009, p.13) This can help mitigate the all at once method by using the average of the several timed investments to create a better percentage of return overall. However, both require a certain amount of overall risk in this particular market and while dollar cost averaging may help, if the market has not stabilized or bottomed out yet, both methods could still result in short term losses. While cash may still be king for some time yet, the only tried and true method of investment is, â€Å"Don’t Panic† as most down markets have proven the turnaround, if you can wait for it, far outweighs any reinvestment strategies in the long run. As mentioned in the previous article review there is over $8.85 trillion dollars in cash floating around in various accounts like money markets and bank deposit accounts, earning rock bottom interest, many as low as .1% annually. However, as investors see it, it is safe from the market at this time. The current Federal Reserve data states that this is, â€Å"equal to 74 percent of the market value of U.S. companies, the highest ratio since 1990.† (2009, p. F3) Talk about a real stimulus package! Martin and Tsang review several investments that have beaten the odds in 2008 and made money and offer this as the stimulus to investors to qualm

Relevance of integrated transport policies and accessibility Essay

Relevance of integrated transport policies and accessibility strategies in the development of tourism - Essay Example Consequently, there are article key factors for successful holiday and tourism public transport provision. There is need for rethinking transport policy by choosing a demand-oriented approach and realizing the importance of additional accompanying efforts in the areas of marketing, transparency and quality. Focusing on the demand side, with its individual attitudes and likings, leads to a new understanding of traffic preparation by adopting a bottom up, instead of a top down approach. Tourist places consist of a range of products and services, which the tourist guzzles, usually at the point of production. Along with these, transport is often ignored, despite the highly important input it makes to the overall tourism product both as a catalyst, providing access to and from the destination, and as a provider of tourist mobility around the desired area. The contribution of good internal convenience to destination quality and pleasure is progressively more being recognized. However, a lack of clarity regarding the division of responsibility between various destination stakeholders often affects the delivery of quality transport for tourism and leisure purposes. Moreover, there is a lack of detailed research on tourists as users of transport networks, with the result that attempts to furnish for this market may be at best poorly knowledgeable, at worst mistaken. At the same time, it is increasingly obvious that visitor destinations are under pressure to cope with larg e amounts of traffic and overcrowding, in urban areas as well as rural. (Smith, Robinson, 2006) Brighton is a town on the south coast of England and with its neighbor Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. The ancient settlement of Brighthelmston dates before the Domesday Book in 1086 but it emerged as a health resort during the 18th Century and in 1841, it became a desired place for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway. Brighton experienced rapid population growth reaching over 160,000 by 1961. Modern Brighton is stretching along the coast, with a population of around 480,000. 8 million tourists every year visit Brighton. The town also has a substantial business conference industry. Brighton has two universities and a medical school. The arrival of the railway in 1841 brought Brighton within the reach of tourists from London and population growth from around 7,000 in 1801 to over 120,000 by 1901. The Victorian era buildings of many major attractions including the Grand Hotel built in 1864, the West Pier in 1866and the Palace Pier in 1899. (Bullen, 2005) The land area of Brighton increased from 1,640acres(7km) in 1854 to 14,347acres(58km) in 1952, after boundary changes between 1873 and 1952. New housing estates were established in the acquired areas including Moulsecoomb, Bevendean, Coldean and Whitehawk. The major expansion of 1928 also incorporated the villages of Patcham, Ovingdean and Rottingdean, and much council housing was built in parts of Woodingdean after the Second World War. Recently, gentrification of much of Brighton has seen a return of the fashionable image which characterised the growth of the Regency period. Recent housing in the North Laine, has been designed in keeping with the area. In 1997 Brighton and Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove, which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium celebrations

Steps on How O Prepare Seminar Workshop Essay Example for Free

Steps on How O Prepare Seminar Workshop Essay Conducting a successful seminar workshop requires a great deal of preparation and confidence. Its important to follow a step-by-step blueprint to successfully conduct workshops, from the preparation stage to the final evaluation. 1. Select your presentation topic based on your expertise and goals and on the needs of your target audience. Research your subject thoroughly. 2. Decide who your audience will be and why they are attending so you can tailor the content to their needs. 3. Choose a presentation format. A workshop is hands-on, with participants who are engaged by doing, building, creating or learning a skill. 4. Establish the length of your presentation based on the amount of material you wish to convey and audience needs. Plan the workshop structure, including how much time will be alloted. Build in enough time for introductions, activities and questions in addition to each learning section. 5. Create an outline for the flow of your presentation. Formulate three or four (no more than six, depending on time available) key learning objectives. Use them as section headings for the main body of content. Include facts, discussions and interactive exercises in your content. Set realistic times for each section. 6. Select visual aids for your presentation. Use interesting, unusual and amusing visual aids to help participants understand and retain information. These might include a slide show or PowerPoint presentation, a flip chart, a video, a demonstration, role play, items pulled from a grab bag, live animals, a game or contest, or even food or beverage, depending on your workshop topic. Ensure that the visual aids are clear and concise, can be seen from any point in the audience and do not contain mistakes or contradict one another. Limit visual aids to an average of about one every 15 minutes. Other sensory aids might be appropriate, depending on your topic. However, one we ll chosen aid is better than sensory overload. If you are giving a demonstration, be sure to allot more time for preparation and equipment. 7. Ask frequent questions to promote discussion among participants, maintain attention and take pressure off yourself. Make the information interesting by using examples, stories and metaphors. 8. Prepare cue cards or notes with bullet points to remind yourself of the content during your delivery and keep it flowing. 9. Practice in advance of the seminar. Ask a friend or colleague to participate in practice sessions and provide constructive feedback. Memorize your introduction to increase your confidence as you get started. Adjust the time and content as required. 10. Maintain clear speech, steady pace and good eye contact throughout. Use appropriate humour to keep the atmosphere enjoyable and informal while also disguising any mistakes. Control your time schedule but also allow some flexibility. TIPS AND WARNINGS IN PREPARING A SEMINAR SYMPULSIOM WORKSHOP * End with a question and answer session for a specific length of time. If there are more questions than time allows, offer to respond later by e-mail or next time. * Give out evaluation forms and make sure you get them back. You wont know how to improve without feedback. * Never read verbatim from a Power Point presentation.

Symptoms Of Sick Building Syndrome Construction Essay

Symptoms Of Sick Building Syndrome Construction Essay SBS stands for Sick Building Syndrome. It covers a mixture of symptoms thought to be generated when a student at school spends time in a particular building. The symptoms range from itchy eyes, skin rashes, and nasal allergy symptoms, to more complicated symptoms such as fatigue, pains, and sensitivity to odours. On the other hand, it may be lead to more serious diseases like cancer and pneumonia. SBS was first identified in the 1970s, and its identification at this time because of the increasing number of electronic equipment and other factors. The term SBS is used when a large number of people occupying a particular building develop symptoms associated with their presence in that building. Later on, the symptoms disappear. In most cases sick building syndrome occurs in office buildings, schools and apartment buildings.   SBS is suspected when the following circumstances are present: Symptoms are temporary and associated with time spent in a particular building or place. Symptoms disappear when the individual is not in the building. Symptoms reappear seasonally (heating, cooling). Symptoms and their severity are different from person to person.   The signs and symptoms of a diagnosable illness are easy to identify and can be directed to specific airborne building contaminants. On the other hand, the cause(s) of symptoms in cases of SBS are often difficult to pin down and in many cases different factors may lead to the situation. When a sick building is identified an investigation should be done. Once the causes are identified, corrective measures must be taken to ensure that any adverse reaction exhibited and cause(s) are isolated to make the area safe for the students and school personnel. The prevalence of sick building syndrome is a problem, but statistics are limited. A World Health Organization (WHO) report from 1984 suggested that up to 30% of new and renovated buildings worldwide may generate excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (1). This high rate may be associated with modern mass produced construction materials that tend to off load gas irritating volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). In a U.S. report on office workers questioned at random, 24% reported air quality problems in their work place, and 20% believed this harmed their ability to do their job effectively (2) (http://www.houseofplants.co.uk). Symptoms of SBS People suffering from SBS present different symptoms, like other conditions such as: Headaches Eye infections and irritations Visual impairment tremors Damage to the central nervous system Running noses and throat irritations Dry coughs Dry, itchy skin and rashes Dizziness and nausea Difficulty in concentrating Fatigue and tiredness Breathing difficulties Pneumonia and chest infections Causes of SBS The mechanism by which a building or anything within the building causes employees to become sick is unknown. Problem areas can be easily identified and curative action taken after an investigation. Causes are listed below: Building design, maintenance Failure of ventilation system Interior design factors Levels of specific pollutants, humidity and temperature Multiple chemicals acting in combination to cause sickness Age of building Type of materials used in building SBS is associated with the presence of certain mechanisms and pollutants. Most of the symptoms appear because of known toxic effects of high levels of certain chemicals. Some symptoms are mainly allergic irritations which could result from various allergens in a building. Other symptoms are suggestive of those really experienced by sufferers of chemical sensitivity and many of the indoor pollutants. Occurs in building with ventilation problems and may occur along with upper respiratory tract infection, Or with direct contact with chemicals, dust and gases. Itchiness, soreness, redness, eye lashes drop and excessive tear production. Headache Tension, prolonged exposure to different irritant substances and long working hours. Pain across the forehead, begins in the back of the head and upper neck as a band-like tightness or pressure and may end with vomiting. Fever Caused by breathing water droplets from humidifiers or from an air filter ventilation system. Or exposure to chemicals that irritate the lungs and cause infection in the lung. Productive cough, aching limbs, headache, tiredness, lethargy and abdominal pain. Skin problems Occurs in exposed areas because of the direct exposure to chemical and different irritant substances like painting materials and products. Rashes, batches, itchy, dry skin and may end with chronic skin inflammation. Stress Physical changes: lack of sleep and new environment. Headaches, digestive disorders, fatigue and lethargy, sleeping disorders, skin disorders and isolation from community. Lung problem Exposure to dust, ventilation problems and chemicals. Cough, breathlessness, may end with lung cancer. Throat Problems Dry mucous membranes, ventilation problems and chemicals. Hoarseness, dry throat pain, recurrent throat infections and chronic Asthma. School Environment Students spend most of their day in the school; its their second house. From that aspect, the school environment should be physically and emotionally safe, well disciplined, and conducive to learning. Safety is an important issue, which may affect the students physically and psychologically from this aspect, and there are important points that should be considered: Structure of the school: School building structures consist of columns, structural walls, beams, floors, and roof structures, which provide their stability. School buildings develop invisible cracks in concrete columns, structural walls, beams and floors. At the beginning, they are not an important issue. With time, the school building moves, creating stresses at joints in materials which ends in small cracks appearing. However, this is the normal process of a structure settling in its foundation. But, with the presence of other factors it makes the issue more serious. The idea is to be able to differentiate. In the event of a major structural problem in a school building, it should be evaluated by a structural engineer, and corrective measures should be made accordingly. Special attention should be made to these aspects: Bending in columns, beams, and roof structure Rotting in wood structural components and floor structure Rusting of metal structural components especially in high humidity weather ROOFING The roof protects the school building from rain, sun, wind, and keeps water from getting into the school building. The waterproofing system should be kept in a proper way. To prevent problems from happening, the roof should be kept in good shape and annually maintained. BUILDING EXTERIOR Using different building materials in school buildings is common nowadays; for example, using fashion blocks in the walls and having exteriors as maintenance free as possible to lower costs. But new school buildings may feature concrete blocks or brick walls even though fashion blocks in some walls are kept. The school buildings exteriors will still need annual maintenance plans to protect the materials. The plan will consider the type and quality of materials used and their current condition. Some school buildings are old, and the exterior may not be quite suitable for a maintenance free plan. The biggest threats to school buildings exteriors are water, sun, wind, and being in areas near the coast. BUILDING INTERIOR The design of the inside of a building is an important issue. Paint maintenance should be paid special attention, because it plays a major roll in preventing the deterioration of the building, and usually cracks are invisible when they start to appear. Also, the paint should be good quality to avoid any irritation reaction. GROUNDS The area around the school is made of concrete, but a pathway may be concrete, brick, stone, asphalt, or even wood. Such materials need good maintenance and must be watched for conditions that may cause major hazards such as slips and falls. Any major hazards should be eliminated through repair, ramping or clearing. Annual checkups and repairs must be done if the condition of the material deteriorates. Classrooms: Healthy classrooms are ones that have adequate ventilation, lighting, an adequate number of students per class, and proper classroom temperature. All previous points which were discussed should be applied properly. Ventilation Proper Ventilation is important to the indoor air quality. Air-conditioning, the type of material used and maintenance also affect indoor air quality in order to optimise performance and prevent students becoming sick. Many factors may affect indoor air quality and contribute to many health problems, the comfort, and the performance of students. Temperature There are many causes of sick building syndrome like uncontrolled temperature (high or low). If there is a wide variation in temperature, it will affect other factors such as the increasing possibility of exposure to fever and throat infections. Therefore, maintaining adequate temperature inside classrooms will allow the students to perform butter. One must make sure that dangerous or offensive fumes are prevented from escaping into the classroom through the heating or cooling system. Humidity Humidity can lead to different problems. It could vary from a simple one to a complicated one. For example, bacteria, fungi, and parasites live in places where humidity is above the normal levels, and they enter the body mainly through the respiratory system, resulting in some kind of respiratory infection. In classrooms, the range of controlled humidity is 40% to 70% in order to increase students effectiveness. The range of relative humidity in warm classrooms should be less than 40%. Therefore, there should be annual checking of controls on a regular basis, and also, checking should cover the cleanliness of equipment for humidifying. Adequate lighting Ensure that there is adequate lighting in the classrooms and whole building to avoid a lot of problems. Surveys by the National Institute of Ophthalmology showed that around 38.8 percent of students at 260 schools in Ho Chi Minh City have refraction problems, short-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism. The ratio in the northern Hai Phong City was 60 percent, while in Hanoi, Da Nang and the central Ha Tinh Province, it ranged from 25 percent to above 30 percent. Doctors attributed the high incidence of weak eyesight to substandard classrooms in terms of size, area and light, as well excessive time spent working with computers Summary To sum up, there are different factors that could affect the school environment, and some of them were discussed above. Some problems can be avoided by early detections and by finding proper solutions to avoid any health problems that arise. If a problem is detected earlier it can be solved during the design step or maybe later in order to maintain a safe school environment. SBS affects productivity, increases the rate of absenteeism, poor concentration and fatigue. It affects the well-being of the students and all school personnel and their performance. All the measures are directed to avoid and reduce the risk factors that affect student health. Task 2 BREEAM BREEAM is a method used internationally to assess a buildings surrounding area. It can be applied to asses both new and old buildings. There are several types of environmental assessment systems in use such as BREEAM, ESRSA, and CEEQUAL. Because it is used in two significant areas of the globe, BRE Global introduced two new geographical schemes that are use by BREEEAM International assessors which are BREEAM Europe and BREEAM Gulf. In addition to these two schemes, the BREEAM In Use and BREEAM Communities schemes are also available for use on international buildings and developments. Since BREEAM is widely used in Europe and as it used in the gulf, the BREEAM Gulf scheme can be used to assess the environmental impacts of any building located in the Gulf region. This will be explained later on in this paper. BREEAM provides designers, planner and others with key factors: It ensures the best environmental practice is included in a building It finds solutions that help to minimise the environmental impact It ensures the use of high standards and regulations It reduces the costs and improves working and living environments It reduces the time needed to finish the work Steps of BREEAM assessment There are two steps in BREEAM which can be used to evaluate the environmental effect secondary to building development: 1. Design Stage (DS) 2. Post-Construction Stage (PCS) Design Stage This step should be done before construction works start. Related information should be available to enable the BREEAM assessor to demonstrate, in a healthy manner, the buildings performance against the reporting and evidential requirements of the technical guidance. The official assessment of DS will be carried out at the detailed design stages. Post-Construction Stage This step starts after construction work has finished. In this step, an evaluation and the BREMM rating are used before building occupation. The post-construction stage is divided into two approaches: 1. A post-construction review of a design-stage assessment 2. A post-construction assessment A post-construction appraisal aims to detect the BREEAM rating achieved at the design stage in accordance with the reporting and evidential requirements of the technical guidance. Where a formal DS assessment has not been carried out and a BREEAM assessment and rating is required, a full PCS assessment can be conducted. BREEAM Gulf BREEAM Gulf has been developed and established in collaboration with a variety of large organisations based in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The purpose of the system is to bring all the new and used building types in the area into use. The available BREEAM system can be used to evaluate, demonstrate and improve the building environment. The system has been developed in the Gulf region to resemble UK BREEAM system categories; it provides special assessment points in relation to environmental impacts associated with construction in the Gulf region. The BREEAM Gulf system The BREEAM system for the Gulf assessment point areas is as below: Materials Waste Water Management Health and Wellbeing Land Use and Ecology Energy Transport Pollution During the assessment phase within each point from the above table, numbers of credits must be assessed to appraise the performance achieved by the development. This set of points is modified to fit the Gulf regions conditions and climate. They are applied to each point to enable the weighted scores to be added together to produce a single overall score for the building. Then, the score is translated into a 1-5 star rating and the highest level of environmental performance will score 5 stars. Unlike BREEAM in the UK which generally looks at building uses separately, a BREEAM assessment in the Gulf evaluates the performance of a whole building taking into account the different uses that are present (e.g. offices, retail, residential etc.). This approach reflects the construction market in the  region where mixed use buildings are the norm. The assessment, therefore, produces a single score for each assessed building based on an area weighted calculation. Differences with BREEAM in the UK The purpose of BREEAM Gulf is to evaluate the construction industry in the region to achieve and maintain higher levels of sustainability. It also aims to identify local contexts and issues, and with this consideration, all of the codes and standards which should be maintained are described in the guidance.   Figure3: factors affecting indoor environment www.yoshino-gypsum.com//sickhouse01.htm Appendixes Case study 1 The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has conducted a study about IAQ (Indoor Air Quality). William Blackstone Elementary School was one of three schools selected to pilot EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Kit and Program in 1999. The school is located in Bostons South End and is one of 120 schools in the Boston Public School System. The school was built in 1975, using the typical design of that time; brick walls, mostly flat roofs, Plexiglas windows, and visible duct work. It has a history of IAQ and health-related problems, specifically high rates of asthma among students. William Blackstone Elementary School was one of three schools selected to pilot EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Kit and Program in 1999. The school nurse noticed that the asthma rate was higher than the national average of two cases per classroom. Staff were also aware of serious problems with water intrusion during heavy rain, stained and collapsed ceiling tiles, peeling p aint and stains on the walls, rust on support beams, and water damage to equipment and furniture. Problem recognition Problems identified by the checklists and walkthrough included the following: An above-average number of asthma cases and illnesses typically associated with indoor air quality problems (headaches, nausea, etc.). Water damage, such as mold and mildew, missing, stained, and broken ceiling tiles, fungal growth on ceiling tiles, and damaged ceiling and wall plaster. Thermal discomfort, such as widely fluctuating temperatures, too high or too low humidity levels, and cold drafts. Ventilation problems, such as poor air circulation and lack of exhaust fans in some bathrooms. Cleanliness problems, such as dust accumulation around the supply vents and surrounding ceiling tiles, infrequent dusting and vacuuming, and pest problems. So, according to the findings, the IAQ team was formed and they established a meeting to list the causes of the problems and find solutions. Improvements The IAQ team implemented some actions to improve the indoor air quality at Blackstone Elementary School. The EPAs IAQ TfS Kit gave the team the leverage it needed to persuade the school district to improve the environmental problems in the school. Once the Superintendent was informed of the schools IAQ issues and the teams recommendations, Blackstone Elementary was placed on a high-priority list for roof repairs and other renovations. A number of improvements have been done, including roof repairs. There is a plan for installing new energy-efficient lighting and new ceiling tiles. Additionally, carpets will be replaced with tiles in the classrooms. The school nurse started to assess students health and document any new asthma cases over the next year to establish a link between the indoor environment and childrens health. Summary The surrounding environment plays a role in students performance and affects their health directly. This means that attention must be given at some point during design stage or later to avoid unwanted risky problems that may affect students health. Some problems can be detected easily like eye infections, but others like asthma will be treated but its effects are lifelong. Poor ventilation, lighting, humidity and temperature all can produce health problems; therefore, good ventilation, adequate lighting, and proper temperature should be maintained. High performance building features should be incorporated into the design process, and school building systems should be commissioned to ensure that they are operating according to design. Case study 2 Mold in schools is getting a lot of attention at local, state and federal levels, the Houston Chronicle reported in 2002. Wide variations in temperatures and humidity levels in South Texas make it difficult to maintain internal atmospheric conditions to minimise the formation of mold or mildew. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo School Districts Memorial High School, three years after it was established, faced a toxic mold problem that reached crisis stage. There were complaints from teachers, staff and students that some staff and students were becoming ill, and as a result students left the school. As with many schools, the indoor air quality at the school was poor because of high ventilation, the high number of students per classroom, high intermittent ventilation loads and carryover from showers in gyms and locker rooms, and long periods where the building was vacant. There was an increase in heat, humidity, moisture, bad ventilation and filtration. The building had reached a saturation point. Leaks from the roof and windows contributed to the problem, and mold growth. Humidity inside the building was as high as 90 percent. Problem recognition Instability of the weather (uncontrolled hot, humidity, moisture) Bad ventilation and filtration Leaks from roof and window Mold growth Solution Cut off the source of moisture and mold removed Fresh air from outside drawn to the building to regulate ventilation Equipment fixed to supply dry air to the building via temporary desiccant dryers Carpets exchanged for tiles Improvements outcome After three months the desiccant dehumidification system dried the building The school is kept at 45 percent relative humidity and 75 °F temp The mold growth is inhibited. Reduced absenteeism rate among students Conclusion Healthy environments in school settings empower students to learn more and increase their effectiveness. It also helps school personnel to meet their goals in teaching and other work. From the above case study it can be seen that any problem in the school environment affects students health and learning ability. The problem can be easily detected by studying the causes and solving them. Many problems can be avoided by: Choosing a good design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning Controlling moisture to prevent mold growth and preventing damage to building materials and systems Maintenance of the roof and windows

Should the Morning-After Pill be Available Over-the-Counter? Essay

Should the Morning-After Pill be Available Over-the-Counter? Last Tuesday, advisors to the Food and Drug administration voted to make the "morning-after" pill available over-the-counter (1). The FDA has not yet acted on this recommendation (1). The morning-after pill is the vernacular term for emergency contraception, specifically, two pills with the commercial name, "Plan B", which have the ability to inhibit and, depending on one's perspective, possibly to terminate unwanted pregnancies. The FDA approved the first version of the morning-after pill for prescription use in 1998 (1). The issue today is whether it should be available without a prescription. The morning-after pill is essentially a high dosage of the birth control pill (2). It can contain progesterone, estrogen, or both (2). . It can prevent fertilization in the fallopian tubes by altering sperm and egg transport or by preventing or delaying ovulation, and it can prevent fertilized eggs, or zygotes, from implanting in the uterus by thickening the uterine lining (1). It is not effective if the process of implantation has already begun (5). The morning-after pill is not to be confused with RU-486, the so-called abortion pill, which terminates a zygote implanted in the uterine lining (1). All three mechanisms of the morning-after pill do not necessarily all take place every time it is used and it is impossible to determine which, if any, of them prevented implantation in any successful case (3). One controversial ethical issue surrounding the morning-after pill is whether it is tantamount to abortion. The debate concerns whether pregnancy and life begin with a fertilized egg or with its implantation. If conditions in the uterus are ideal, a zygote will be... ...ommission of the FDA has recommended making the morning-after pill available over-the-counter in the United States as it is in other countries. One can only hope that the FDA will follow suit. Internet Sources: 1) http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/12/16/morning.after.pill/index.html 2) http://www.morningafterpill.org/ 3) http://www.nccbuscc.org/prolife/publicat/lifeinsight/sept98.htm 4) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/286429.stm 5) http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/health-info/womenhlt/planb.html 6)http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/25/earlyshow/contributors/tracysmith/main560355.shtml 7) http://www.citypages.com/databank/24/1179/article11371.asp 8) http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/27/1056683908357.html?oneclick=true 9) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Third Edition. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996.

The Renaissance and Why Its Important Essays -- essays research papers

Q: What was the Renaissance and why was it important? The Renaissance was a radical and comprehensive change of thinking and lifestyle that took place in European culture during the 15th and 16th centuries. The Renaissance was the reformation of many old ideas and the formation of many new, this brought many changes to Europe such as the birth of vital subjects, such as mathematics, geometry, and algebra. As well as sciences such as chemistry and astronomy which led to technological advancements. In my essay I will explain how the flourishing culture helped to inspire new developments in art, clashing views in the Church and religion and the concept of multiculturalism which helped to inspire teaching and learning?s of a broader range subjects. Renaissance artists sought to create art and sculptures that expressed themselves on a deep and emotional level, they created art forms consistent with the appearance of the natural world and with their experience of human personality and behaviour. Renaissance artists considered perspective, or the differences in the way things look when they are close to something or far away. The artists painted in a way that showed these differences. As a result, their paintings seem to have depth and meaning. During the 15th and 16th century artists concentrated mainly on the theme of life after death. This was the result of artists who became increasingly liberated from their guilds to pursue individual carers. Renaissance artists were usually of high prominence in the modern day society. Many were hired by rich patrons to paint in their household of either family or religious themes along their walls. The idea that you hired famous artists to paint for you meant that you and your family were. .. ...h and learn off each other spread all over Europe. Thus, making Toledo a significant element in the innovation of Universities and learning during the period of the Renaissance and the modern day world. In conclusion the Renaissance is an important and significant part of life today as many concepts of learning and teaching, art and religion all contribute to modern day society. The Renaissance saw a dramatic change in people?s thinking and expressions. People felt free to think for themselves for once, rather then how they were meant to think. For example, Artists felt unconstrained to draw and paint the honesty and realism in religion. The public thought for themselves and freed themselves from the church in order to express humanism in society. Cultures and backgrounds came together to teach and learn of each other, oblivious to their race or religion.

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Essay

The topic that I have conducted research on involves underage alcohol consumption and various levels of academic achievement. More specifically, my goal is to conceptualize the increasing amounts of underage alcohol abuse by observing the affects effects that it has on individual’s GPA. Data obtained from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests that four out of five college students consume alcohol. Of the students that consume alcohol, approximately fifty percent engage in binge drinking (NIAAA 2012). In consideration of the location where the study was conducted (University of New Hampshire), it seemed appropriate to pursue a topic that would potentially correlate with alcohol consumption. Past studies have attempted to address the issue of alcohol consumption and it’s affects effects on academic achievement, yet none have constricted the independent variable to a specific age rage. Returning back to data gathered from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, information was derived that suggested about seventy percent of minors have had at least one alcoholic beverage by the age of eighteen. In accordance with this finding, it was also recorded that although minors drink less often than adults, they do however tend to binge drink more often during an average drinking episode (NIAAA 2012). The objective of the present study is to better grasp an understanding of underage alcohol consumption and academic achievement. With the focus of the age group being confined to individuals less than twenty one years of age, new findings will be generated. The reduction of underage alcohol consumption is an extremely prevalent topic that many policy implementers and law enforcement agencies are faced with. Hopefully results from this study can establish a causal relationship that will aid professionals in dealing with this dilemma not only at the University of New Hampshire, but at universities across the nation. A plethora of studies have been conducted to observe the many negative effects that come from alcohol consumption. For those that are unaware, alcohol is a powerful depressant that ultimately slows down your thinking and time of reaction (CTC 2013). Also, alcohol consumption can act as a precursor to things such as brain damage, heart disease, liver damage, ulcers and various types of cancer (CTC 2013). Many individuals have been presented with similar facts, but they continue to drink alcohol. At the college level, many of the individuals that are consuming alcohol are under the legal age. Policy makers and law enforcement have been faced with this dilemma for an ongoing period of time. In attempts to control for alcohol consumption, many studies have been conducted to pinpoint the main causes. In a study conducted by Labrie et al. (2010), family history of alcohol abuse and its effects on college student’s alcohol abuse were researched. Findings suggest that family history has a correlation with college student’s personal use making them more prone to abuse (mostly males) (Labrie et al. 2010). With this finding however, minimal policy implications are suggested except for parental monitoring of socialization. In a study conducted by Rasul et al. (2011), the current drinking age is tested. Researchers were curious if a deduction in the current drinking age would have a successful attempt in diminishing heavy episodic drinking periods amongst college students. Findings imply that only in the rare case of high alcohol availability, and low levels of law enforcement, would the reduction of the drinking age have a small positive effect. With the full understanding of the prevalence of alcohol consumption in college in general, the question is posed of the effect that it has on academic performance. There is a brief existence of literature that focuses directly on this topic. In a study conducted by Singleton (2007), he examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and academic performance while controlling for key background factors. When SAT scores and class ranks were controlled, a significant relationship for alcohol consumption and academic performance was observed (Singleton 2007). In a similar study conducted by Singleton and Wolfson (2009), they attempted to observe relationships between alcohol intake, sleep and academic performance. Main findings suggest that the most significant predictor of academic performance was sleep schedule. However, the association that high alcohol intake would result in poor sleep schedule ultimately effecting your academic achievement was established (Singleton and Wolfs on 2009). Although past studies have observed alcohol consumption and its effects on academic achievement, none of them control for age. In the present study, the collegiate population that illegally consumes alcohol is examined. Findings will hopefully suggest that illegal alcohol consumption has a negative effect on academic achievement. If so, I will provide some policy implications that will help address and potentially minimize underage alcohol consumption. * Null Hypothesis: underage alcohol consumption has no affect effect on individual academic achievement. * Alternative Hypothesis: underage alcohol consumption will have a negative effect on academic achievement. To gather the data necessary to study alcohol consumption and its effects on academic achievement, two survey questions were contributed to a general survey composed by the spring 2013 methods of social research class at the University of New Hampshire. Our study was conducted in various classrooms at the University of New Hampshire using the method of convenience sampling. This non-probability sampling method will produce un-representative results. However, considering our limits of time and money, this sampling procedure was deemed the most rational. Professor Rebecca Glauber contacted five sociology professors teaching large discovery courses during the spring semester. These teachers agreed to let students in the methods of social research course field a survey to their students. No compensation was received by the participants. In the middle of April, three to four students in the methods of social research course attended the classes of these professors. During that time, the students stood in front of the class room and read a verbal recruitment statement. Upon completion of the statement, students handed out the surveys to all participants in the classroom. If the students agree to participate, they will anonymously fill out the survey. If at any time an individual felt uncomfortable and wished to remove their consent, that survey was destroyed. After completion, students placed their surveys in a box at the front of the room. Minimal risk is present in our study. On the survey, questions involving illegal substance use were present. This could potentially be considered a criminal liability, but since the survey was completed anonymously that factor is ruled out and the participants were protected. Also, questions involving states of mental health were present which could potentially have negative psychological effects on participants. There is no direct benefit to the participants of the study. However, results of this survey helped individuals in the methods of social research class obtain useful information that helped them draw conclusions that otherwise would not have been possible. In this particular study, no physical harm, and minimal psychological harm to the participants was present. In addition, the assurance of anonymity will help establish the goal of the benefits outweighing the risks. The variables used for this particular study were alcohol consumption and academic achievement. The independent variable, alcohol consumption, was (conceptually) theoretically defined by measuring the amount of alcoholic beverages that are consumed in an average drinking episode. The question used to address this variable was, â€Å"During an average drinking episode, about how many alcoholic drinks do you consume?† There were five mutually exclusive and exhaustive answers for participants to select from. (this sounds like it could be plagiarism so maybe change that sentence.) The dependent variable, academic achievement, was conceptually defined by measuring students GPA’s. The question used to address this variable was, â€Å"What is your overall grade point average (GPA)?† Once again, there were five mutually exclusive and exhaustive answers for participants to select from.

Euro Disney Essay

Introduccion The Walt Disney Company, is an American multinational corporation located in Burbank, California. It is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Disney was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney and established itself as a leader in the American animation industry. Disney has created new divisions of the company in order to market more mature content than it typically associates with its flagship family-oriented brands. The company is best known for the products of its film studio, the Walt Disney Studios, and today one of the largest and best-known studios in Hollywood. Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, A+E Networks, LifeTime and ABC Family; publishing, merchandising, and theatre divisions; and owns and licenses 14 theme parks around the world. It also has a successful music division. The company has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since May 6, 1991. An early and well-known cartoon creation of the company, Mickey Mouse, is the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company. Focused on Euro Disney: Euro Disney S.C.A. is the company that owns and operates Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallà ©e, France. 39.78% of shares are held by The Walt Disney Company, 10% by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed and 50.22% by other  shareholders. The stock is traded on the Euronext Paris exchange. Disneyland Paris comprises Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disney Village, and seven on-site Disney Hotels. Val d’Europe is a new residential and shopping development. Another seven hotels/residences have been built not  far from the two Disney theme parks on land held under Euro Disney SCA’s lease, including properties from companies such as Holiday Inn, Kyriad, MyTravel and Radisson Hotels. The Resort is a result of an agreement signed on 24 March 1987 between The Walt Disney Company and the French Authorities for the development of a new tourist destination, and construction began within a year. Since opening on 12 April 1992, the Resort has created more than 30,000 jobs (both directly and indirectly) in the region to the east of Paris. Today it is the n umber one tourist destination in Europe with 14.5 million visits recorded for Financial Year. Offers/Suggestions: There are many companys which offers many packs for families. Below some examples. Esayjet: Esayjet offers the best prices on Paris Disney Area deals and get away on a Paris Disney Area holiday for less. easyJet Holidays has a fantastic range of prices and offers with a selection of easyJet flights and Paris Disney Area hotels available. http://holidays.easyjet.com/france/paris/paris-disney-area-holidays.htm Thomson: Thomson gives you the opportunity to cutomize your trip: – Accommodation in a Disney Hotel including breakfast – Tickets for both Disney Parks for each day – Access to Free Fastpass service for every member of your party: Cut down the queuing time at the most popular attractions – Extra Magic Hours: Get access to the Disneyland Park up to 2 hours before regular Park opening! http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/features/disneyland-paris.html Hotels inside the Amusement Park: There are many opptions for accomodation indide the park. In total there are 14 hotels. Some examples as follows: Disney’s Newport Bay Club: At Disney’s Newport Bay Club, enjoy all the style and charm of the late 19th Century New England seaside, right on the waters of Lake Disney. Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe: Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe offers you a taste of the monumental landscapes of America’s South West, along the legendary Route 66. Disneyland Hotel: If you you asked for the best. Disneyland Hotel offers the ultimate in Disney quality, service, hospitality and location! It’s right at the entrance to Disneyland Park. Location: Euro Disney is located in France (Paris). France is the largest country in Western Europe and the third-largest in Europe as a whole. It possesses the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world. France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military, and political influence in Europe and around the world. France is a developed country,possessing the world’s fifth-largest and Europe’s second-largest economy. Questions A: 1) What did Disney do wrong in its planning for Euro Disney? EuroDisney made different financial ​​strategic mistakes .Taking into account the studies predicting the good economic panporama The growth would be very fast, which means good benefits for the region. But the reality was very different, It means the prediction was wrong. Maybe the will need to made two or more financial Studies befote taking a desition. Another of his errors was the European habits which had changed. From the American experience the highest assitance would be on friday’s, the opposite occurred. The company had difficulties planning the number of workers for those days. Another operational errors was the computers of the hotels. EuroDisney was based on that customers spent several days in the park. The reality was very different, customers arrived very early in the morning to spend the day in the park and get to the rooms at night to leaving the next day. Queues to pay dragged on the grounds that there was only one computer. They had to install several computers addicionales to reduce queues. 2)What recommendations would you make to Disney to deal with the problems of Euro Disney? EuroDisney uses Other Strategies to Solve the Problem of the Situation Name change to Eurodisney Disneyland Paris, so well adapted to European tastes and give a disastrous change in customer care. Through the emphasis of recognizing Paris, executives capitalize on the proximity of the park to the French capital. Keeping costs and increase revenues decreased 8.6% of its labor potential. In response to criticism of high ticket prices and hotels EuroDisney decided to introduce offers and new prices for hotels in low Seaton Disney company changed its marketing philosophy to attract customers from other countries such as Israel and Africa. Instead of offering the park as a holiday destination 3)What lessons can we learn from Disney’s problems with Euro Disney? Misunderstand food habits and customs of Europeans. They learned that for foreign market, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive study of the  customs in that country which they did not do. These results obtained in human resources can help l from this process and this be applicable everywhere in the world. The food market must require a study of economics, rights, culture, climatology, interests, customs, lifestyle, geography, work habits etc.. Questions B: 1.How should the park differentiate itself from the competitive treta posed by the growing number of European amsusement Parks? The main and most important reason is that it is the only amusement park in Europe related to Disney. In my point of view it would be important to provide prices, packs, etc. for children under 7 years, for example, for birthdays, facilitate price, queues etc†¦ Finally renovation, uptades or new attractions design quite often. 2. What target marketing strategy should be pursued in the face of the changing competitive environment? A marketing strategy that positions Euro Disney as a affordable, fully equipped and multicultural park rather than just an American import. This can be done through the following: Implementing more aspects of European culture and less American culture. Signs and ads should be multilingual Food and drinks should be fitting for European tastes. Characters and casts should be more presentable to French culture in specific and European in general. Euro Disney is for Europe and not a form of an Americanized location in Europe. 3. What branding-strategy decisions are relevant? When it comes to the branding strategy, the image of Disney as a brand needs to be maintained as an amusing and incredible experience for everyone. However, again it should be directed in a way to fit the European perceptions of Amusement parks and not the American style. Plus the brand should have the attribute of being the worlds best amusement park provider by displaying the success it has in the U.S.A and in Japan. Meaning that you can have the thrill and experience that Disney as an organization offers you but in Europe. 4. What can be done to make better use of underutilized resources (such as the Hotels) while increasing the profitability of well-patronized facilities? On the short term the most sensible idea is to have a well-fit price for the current economic situation in Europe. Disney Europe can offer packages and promotions for visitors based on the seasonality and demands of the European consumers. A combination of promotional packages can help boost the number of visitors who will find it more appealing to go to Euro Disney rather than any other park because it has a combination of facilities at a reasonable price. Conclution Disney wanted to Americanize European customs. That mistake led to the executives to build an amusement park of your dreams, but following a American model and thus strictly different from physical reality, financial and cultural center of Europe and France. To enter the European market, should make a more detailed study based on research into every applicable aspect of the economy, laws, culture, climate, interests, customs, habits in lifestyle, geography, work habits, among others. This case demonstrates the importance of taking into account the Consumer Comportamientodel when making decisions about new products or paraextender existing products to new markets. It is vitally importanciatener into account social factors such as habits, culture, customs, language,  demographics, socioeconomic status, etc.. What to darsecuenta of which is the best way to reach that market.

Canadian International School and Asia Essay

There are certain things in life that are taken for granted. Some people would feel contented with what they have, while others would have a bigger yearning to become someone. Sometimes, what we yearn for in life becomes the very core of our existence, making us hardworking and persevering. My high school was spent in Asia, where I was exposed to numerous realities. I graduated from the Canadian International School and Asia, and I must say that I was provided with the necessary knowledge in order to become prepared for the real world. Eventually, I was given the opportunity to study at the NAME OF UNIVERSITY. The short time I spent there was enough for me to become equipped with the necessary knowledge that would allow me to follow my dreams. However, I believe that I would be able to spread my wings further if I studied at the NAME OF UNIVERSITY in Vancouver, Canada. For this, I am showing my interest in taking up NAME OF DEGREE from your university. Studying at the NAME OF UNVIERSITY would not come as a challenge, for I have been previously exposed to the Canadian way of teaching. In this regard, I would not have much difficulty adjusting to the culture, and instead become more proficient in class. I would become more comfortable with my environment, at the same time be able to express myself further in the best possible way that I can. As mentioned earlier, it is my belief that your university would become one of my keystones in achieving my goals in life. Although some would opt to think that the success of an individual is not based on the school, I beg to disagree. Some of the important factors to be learned in life are based on the foundation that institutions have inculcated in their students. Since I have been a product of a Canadian institution in high school, I wish to strengthen my knowledge and beliefs further with your help. Life is always about taking risks – these are the choices that we make in order to fulfill our dreams.

Business Plan & Product

| ‘November 2012| | | | | | | | | | | | BUSINESS PLAN & PRODUCTSCertificate IV in Business: TAFE Sydney Institute| Teacher: Henry Forte Teacher: Henry Forte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SWASTI ARIANI| BUSINESS PLAN & PRODUCTS 1. BUSINESS PROFILE 2. 1 Business Activity Retail fashion is through times has gone through so many rapid changes with constant demand for new clothing products created by fashion designers.However in a clothing line business, the specifications and descriptions of the designs and clothes are so general that they can fit more than one costume, which actually are quite different in nature from each other and this is solely dependent on the taste of people. We look this fact as a good opportunity to set up a fashion line especially in Sydney where the women and girls have the sexiness angle covered. The proposed business will be a fashion line. This proposed business is a start-up retail of uptown fashion line that reflects edgy but glamorou s style.The apparel is designed with individual sophistication with a modern spin. Targeted for women and girls, the brand includes styles such as Tops, Dresses, Pants, Shirts, Skirts, Jackets and accessories with a glamorous touch. While our initial goal is to open one boutique, expansion plans include potentially franchising our retail store and/or building a well-recognized brand name. In turn, we would hope to penetrate a sizable portion of the online retail market. 2. 2 Ownership Structure The business will be operated as a partnership with Swasti Ariani and Richard D. Kitts as co-owners of fashion line.The proprietors have chosen to operate as a partnership to gain benefits by combining their different skills and financial resources. And both are agreed to hold equal shares of ownership in the company. 2. 3 Business Name The business will trade under registered name of â€Å"Gritty Glam†. 2. 4 Business Location Gritty Glam fashion line will be located at 471 Kent St, Sy dney. Our company is a retail establishment selling fashionable women's clothing. Our business operates within the retail industry and is classified under Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Class 4251 – Clothing Retailing.The gorgeous area includes numerous restaurants, an art gallery, coffee shop, candy store and a picturesque park in the town square. We have signed a one-year lease for a 120 square meters building. Also we have signed a one-year lease for Stitching Unit Building for warehouse ; production. Working with the property owner Interior Design consultant, we have secured a $4,000 to beautify the facade of the building to include painting, signage and a new awning. Only slight internal renovations will be required – such as the installation of dressing rooms and decorative items.When considering the addition of wall mounts for merchandise, multi-level clothing displays as well as creative floor planning, this facility is l arge enough to support future growth. Additionally, we will be able to conduct all aspects of our business from this location. This includes deliveries and shipments, inventory management and administrative duties such as finance, buying and marketing 2. 5 Entry Strategy The business will be started up as a new operation. The reason for starting up as a new business is because we believe there are few uptown fashion lines that reflect edgy but glamorous styles in Sydney.Gritty Glam fashion line recognizes the importance of marketing. And to that end, we plan to promote our retail business with an ambitious, targeted marketing campaign, which will include a grand opening event, local media coverage, print advertising and a direct-mail campaign. Our goal is to keep our marketing budget to no more than 3% of our gross annual sales, and we will partner with some Rising new-comers Band and artist in Entertainment Industry to endorse them in events as often as possible. 2. 6 Legal Require ments The legal requirements to operate the business are: . Business name registration with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission(ASIC) b. Home business use permit from the local council c. Registration for GST with the Australian Taxation Office d. Registration for Australian Business Number (ABN) with Australian taxation office (ATO). e. Business account with Commonwealth Bank Legal requirements will continue to be met during the course of operation. 2. 7 Business Objectives Gritty Glam line aim is to offer a great quality of clothes for women and girls that have an edgy but classy personal style.Gritty glam store will cater women and girls in Sydney area, and position ourselves as a boutique store servicing in particular market specifically in range of age 18 – 30 yet affordable for their pocket. Our objectives in set up Gritty glam line are: a. Become only store with unique styles currently not found in Sydney b. Strong competitive advantage on quality and pricing c. Committed to make a positive impact on our customers through Monthly Online updates. d. To receive a 30% profit margin within the first year 2. Environment and Workplace Health ; Safety (WHS) We responsible to ensure the workplace are safety for all staffs and customers. Some of our responsibilities to support this are by: a. Provide training for all staffs, including warehouse staffs (Stitching Unit, Ironing Unit ; Merchandising) also Store staffs on how to use machines, materials, process ; how to report incidents. b. Provide regular evacuation training for staff so they understand emergency procedures, including evacuation instructions, assembly point locations and use of fire alarms and equipment. c.Provide Fire Extinguishers in both store building ; stitching unit building. 2. 9 Financial aspects Gritty Glam fashion line requires $149,950 to launch successfully. We've already raised $70,000 through personal investments of the co-owners. We are currently seeking addit ional funding from outside angel investors and business loan. Start-up funds will be used store interior design, inventory (fabrics, accessories), stitching machines, and operating expenses such as rent & business registration. Our company will earn revenue from our customers' purchases of our products.Gritty Glam’s first-year income statement (see appendix) illustrates a profit margin of at least 35%, with a net income of $71,543 per annum – before taxes. We project our annual profits to reach $200,000 by year three. Our company will generate revenue from the retail sale of clothing and other accessories. First year sales are projected at $81 63,860, and we expect sales to surpass $1. 6 million by the end of year three. We will achieve month-to-month profitability within the first year. Our business will collect immediate payment from customers, so our cash flow statement will be substantially similar to our income statement.Our cash flow statement clearly demonstrate s our ability to cover all bills 2. 10 Monitoring To monitor our business, co-owners will directly handle day to day business at store and at the warehouse. As a retail establishment, Gritty Glam store will conduct business seven days a week from 9 am. to 7 pm. During the holiday seasons and during special events, store hours will be extended. In addition to the two full-time co-owners, two part-time employees will be hired to serve customers during those seasons. Our company will secure fabrics and accessories local manufacturer ; international manufacture located in Indonesia.We'll also have access to Fabrics Elsegood, which is the largest wholesale textiles and fabrics in Australia. Additionally, we will work closely with our regional sales representative, endorse rising new comer artist & band on events as often as possible. We will also attend relevant pre-season fashion trade shows. To control costs, track inventory and manage stock levels, an inventory control system will be set in place. This will include the standard bar code with its related equipment and software. Staff will conduct annual inventory audits and hire outside auditors when necessary.Accounting & Finance matters will be maintained using MYOB software. 2. MARKETING STRATEGY Gritty Glam fashion line will solely focusing on sell an edgy glamorous clothing product for young and women. We will closely follow generational fashion trends as well as our own customers purchasing preferences. Moreover, we will tailor our inventory to meet the needs of our special clientele. Our main staples are tops, dresses, jackets, Skirts, Shorts, and pants, but we will also offer some accessories such as belts, scarves, and hats. Profits will be earned via the sale of our products.Our pricing structure will utilize a value-based pricing structure, which measures the value of our products to our customers such as easy access, quality, customer service and styles flattering to our target consumer. End of season sales, holiday and overstock sales, multi-buy savings and promotional coupons will be implemented at strategic intervals. 2. 1. SWOT ANALYSIS We have identified the opportunities, challenges for the business in the next two years as following: Strengths * Experience and understanding of the fashion industry for women and girls Unique shopping experience with exceptional customer service * Great downtown location * Large and growing consumer base * Competitive prices with a special & made from good quality fabrics * Provide products tailored to all shapes and sizes of women Weaknesses * New line, could be unrecognized by customers at the first time * Must follow the fashion trends & changes all the times * Original ideas of design Opportunities * Outstanding shopping experience by customers will lead to repeat business * Expand the business into others apparel for example, Men’s Apparels, Shoes & bags. * Establish online store Endorse rising new comers artist will rise brand public awareness Threats * High Competitions, New retail shops that may or may not open in the future * Ideas/products copy by another competitors * Lower prices given by competitors 2. 2. INDUSTRY CONDITIONS Direct observation shows Sydney fashion retailer is dominated by megastores such as MYERS, DAVID JONES, ZARA, etc. Even the product prices offered by those multinational company is higher than other small company & the quality is sometimes not worth the price, but for the sake of brand image people don’t mind to spent lot of money shop on that place.Brand Awareness is the main important in promoting Gritty Glam fashion line. Market growth is in an upward motion, despite some of the latest economic downturns Statistics analysis reported by ABS show negative trends on clothing Industry. However, this business will always exist and will always be high on demand. By make a good promotion and marketing strategy, Gritty Glam fashion line will be able to compete with multinatio nal retailer as mentioned above because the retail fashion industry is a solid business with ever-changing styles and ever-present consumer demands. . 3. PROMOTIONS Gritty Glam will follow an aggressive yet creative promotional plan but keep the marketing budget no more than 5% of our gross annual sales. This will allow us to focus directly on our target customer. Below are some promotions strategies we will do; a. Select Magazines that most read by women and girls to promote our product, b. Partner with top 10 most view by women and young TV programs to endorse the actress as often as possible. These strategic partnerships will allow us to piggyback on publicity for local events. c.Social Media, to keep our customers aware with our new arrival products & our promo programs d. Participate in fashion exhibitions events to promote our products and sell in the same time. e. Print out brochures and distributed throughout every houses/apartments in particular areas by Direct mail strateg y every 4 months/ new seasons. Manage a direct mail program that will focus on our top 50% customers spotlighting any in-house sales and promotions f. Spot radio advertisements on two local FM radio stations that most heard by women and girls. . Posting sale flyers on community bulletin boards. 2. 4. STRATEGIES Since Co-owners have marketing backgrounds and recognize the significance of effective marketing. We expect our strategy to draw consumers into Gritty Glam from the very beginning. Strategies we will propose are: a. Hire a local Public Relation firm to help us develop and implement a strategic marketing plan and guide our publicity efforts in a cost-effective manner. b. Offer a 100 day return/exchange policy to build trust with our customers and maintain retention and loyalty. c.Hold a drawing for a $50 shopping spree and fashion consultation. Entry collection will start at the grand opening and continue throughout the week. Names and contact information will be utilized for follow up marketing initiatives. d. Give 10% discounts for birthday member who shopping at Gritty Glam store. Finally, marketing opportunities will be continually utilized as we expand our business and our consumer numbers grow. 2. 5. COSTS See Appendix 2. 6. RESOURCES Gritty Glam fashion line is a small business and therefore requires a simple organizational structure.Swasti Ariani & Richard D. Kitts will act as Co-Owners. Richard D. Kitts will manage the day-to-day operations including supervising staff, maintaining inventory and bookkeeping. He will be helped by one Part time Accounting Staff, Swasti Ariani will oversee the merchandise buying for the store as well as maintain a keen awareness of trends within the industry. Swasti Ariani will also work with public relations firm to ensure superior marketing plans are in place and implemented.Gritty glam will employ 1 designer, 2 pattern Makers & 2 Dress Makers that will be directly supervised by Swasti, a Store manager & 3 part-ti me associates. These positions are still vacant. Our sales associates will be paid an hourly wage, plus commission. Bonuses will be provided with each year of service following an annual review to encourage employee retention. All decisions are made in-line with the company objectives. Employee tasks are delegated based upon their level of expertise, creativity, strengths and weaknesses. Resources| Quantity| Who to consult|Designer| 1| Fashion School career centre or Job Agency| Store Manager| 1| Friends| Associate| 3| Advertise on Job Seeker Website| Accountant-Part time| 1| Advertise on Job Seeker Website| Pattern Maker| 2| Fashion School career centre| Dress Maker| 2| Fashion School career centre| Press/Iron man/Finishing| 1| Advertise on Job Seeker Website| Total| 11| -| REFERENCES 1. Writing your plan for small business success. Ian Birt. Prentice Hall. 2007 2. Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification – http://www. abs. gov. au/ausstats/[email  pro tected] nsf/0/D23C85FE73B2A765CA25711F00146EF3? pendocument 3. Business & Industry Portal – http://www. business. qld. gov. au/business/employing/employee-rights-awards-entitlements/personal-safety-workplace 4. Clothing Retailing in Australia: Market Research Report – http://www. ibisworld. com. au/industry/default. aspx? indid=407 5. Australian Bureau Statistics. Analysis by industry – http://www. abs. gov. au/ausstats/[email  protected] nsf/Latestproducts/8501. 0Main%20Features3Sep%202012? opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=8501. 0&issue=Sep%202012&num=&view= APPENDIX – FINANCIAL PLAN Business Plan & Product | ‘November 2012| | | | | | | | | | | | BUSINESS PLAN & PRODUCTSCertificate IV in Business: TAFE Sydney Institute| Teacher: Henry Forte Teacher: Henry Forte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SWASTI ARIANI| BUSINESS PLAN & PRODUCTS 1. BUSINESS PROFILE 2. 1 Business Activity Retail fashion is through times has gone through so many rapid changes with constant demand for new clothing products created by fashion designers.However in a clothing line business, the specifications and descriptions of the designs and clothes are so general that they can fit more than one costume, which actually are quite different in nature from each other and this is solely dependent on the taste of people. We look this fact as a good opportunity to set up a fashion line especially in Sydney where the women and girls have the sexiness angle covered. The proposed business will be a fashion line. This proposed business is a start-up retail of uptown fashion line that reflects edgy but glamorou s style.The apparel is designed with individual sophistication with a modern spin. Targeted for women and girls, the brand includes styles such as Tops, Dresses, Pants, Shirts, Skirts, Jackets and accessories with a glamorous touch. While our initial goal is to open one boutique, expansion plans include potentially franchising our retail store and/or building a well-recognized brand name. In turn, we would hope to penetrate a sizable portion of the online retail market. 2. 2 Ownership Structure The business will be operated as a partnership with Swasti Ariani and Richard D. Kitts as co-owners of fashion line.The proprietors have chosen to operate as a partnership to gain benefits by combining their different skills and financial resources. And both are agreed to hold equal shares of ownership in the company. 2. 3 Business Name The business will trade under registered name of â€Å"Gritty Glam†. 2. 4 Business Location Gritty Glam fashion line will be located at 471 Kent St, Sy dney. Our company is a retail establishment selling fashionable women's clothing. Our business operates within the retail industry and is classified under Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Class 4251 – Clothing Retailing.The gorgeous area includes numerous restaurants, an art gallery, coffee shop, candy store and a picturesque park in the town square. We have signed a one-year lease for a 120 square meters building. Also we have signed a one-year lease for Stitching Unit Building for warehouse ; production. Working with the property owner Interior Design consultant, we have secured a $4,000 to beautify the facade of the building to include painting, signage and a new awning. Only slight internal renovations will be required – such as the installation of dressing rooms and decorative items.When considering the addition of wall mounts for merchandise, multi-level clothing displays as well as creative floor planning, this facility is l arge enough to support future growth. Additionally, we will be able to conduct all aspects of our business from this location. This includes deliveries and shipments, inventory management and administrative duties such as finance, buying and marketing 2. 5 Entry Strategy The business will be started up as a new operation. The reason for starting up as a new business is because we believe there are few uptown fashion lines that reflect edgy but glamorous styles in Sydney.Gritty Glam fashion line recognizes the importance of marketing. And to that end, we plan to promote our retail business with an ambitious, targeted marketing campaign, which will include a grand opening event, local media coverage, print advertising and a direct-mail campaign. Our goal is to keep our marketing budget to no more than 3% of our gross annual sales, and we will partner with some Rising new-comers Band and artist in Entertainment Industry to endorse them in events as often as possible. 2. 6 Legal Require ments The legal requirements to operate the business are: . Business name registration with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission(ASIC) b. Home business use permit from the local council c. Registration for GST with the Australian Taxation Office d. Registration for Australian Business Number (ABN) with Australian taxation office (ATO). e. Business account with Commonwealth Bank Legal requirements will continue to be met during the course of operation. 2. 7 Business Objectives Gritty Glam line aim is to offer a great quality of clothes for women and girls that have an edgy but classy personal style.Gritty glam store will cater women and girls in Sydney area, and position ourselves as a boutique store servicing in particular market specifically in range of age 18 – 30 yet affordable for their pocket. Our objectives in set up Gritty glam line are: a. Become only store with unique styles currently not found in Sydney b. Strong competitive advantage on quality and pricing c. Committed to make a positive impact on our customers through Monthly Online updates. d. To receive a 30% profit margin within the first year 2. Environment and Workplace Health ; Safety (WHS) We responsible to ensure the workplace are safety for all staffs and customers. Some of our responsibilities to support this are by: a. Provide training for all staffs, including warehouse staffs (Stitching Unit, Ironing Unit ; Merchandising) also Store staffs on how to use machines, materials, process ; how to report incidents. b. Provide regular evacuation training for staff so they understand emergency procedures, including evacuation instructions, assembly point locations and use of fire alarms and equipment. c.Provide Fire Extinguishers in both store building ; stitching unit building. 2. 9 Financial aspects Gritty Glam fashion line requires $149,950 to launch successfully. We've already raised $70,000 through personal investments of the co-owners. We are currently seeking addit ional funding from outside angel investors and business loan. Start-up funds will be used store interior design, inventory (fabrics, accessories), stitching machines, and operating expenses such as rent & business registration. Our company will earn revenue from our customers' purchases of our products.Gritty Glam’s first-year income statement (see appendix) illustrates a profit margin of at least 35%, with a net income of $71,543 per annum – before taxes. We project our annual profits to reach $200,000 by year three. Our company will generate revenue from the retail sale of clothing and other accessories. First year sales are projected at $81 63,860, and we expect sales to surpass $1. 6 million by the end of year three. We will achieve month-to-month profitability within the first year. Our business will collect immediate payment from customers, so our cash flow statement will be substantially similar to our income statement.Our cash flow statement clearly demonstrate s our ability to cover all bills 2. 10 Monitoring To monitor our business, co-owners will directly handle day to day business at store and at the warehouse. As a retail establishment, Gritty Glam store will conduct business seven days a week from 9 am. to 7 pm. During the holiday seasons and during special events, store hours will be extended. In addition to the two full-time co-owners, two part-time employees will be hired to serve customers during those seasons. Our company will secure fabrics and accessories local manufacturer ; international manufacture located in Indonesia.We'll also have access to Fabrics Elsegood, which is the largest wholesale textiles and fabrics in Australia. Additionally, we will work closely with our regional sales representative, endorse rising new comer artist & band on events as often as possible. We will also attend relevant pre-season fashion trade shows. To control costs, track inventory and manage stock levels, an inventory control system will be set in place. This will include the standard bar code with its related equipment and software. Staff will conduct annual inventory audits and hire outside auditors when necessary.Accounting & Finance matters will be maintained using MYOB software. 2. MARKETING STRATEGY Gritty Glam fashion line will solely focusing on sell an edgy glamorous clothing product for young and women. We will closely follow generational fashion trends as well as our own customers purchasing preferences. Moreover, we will tailor our inventory to meet the needs of our special clientele. Our main staples are tops, dresses, jackets, Skirts, Shorts, and pants, but we will also offer some accessories such as belts, scarves, and hats. Profits will be earned via the sale of our products.Our pricing structure will utilize a value-based pricing structure, which measures the value of our products to our customers such as easy access, quality, customer service and styles flattering to our target consumer. End of season sales, holiday and overstock sales, multi-buy savings and promotional coupons will be implemented at strategic intervals. 2. 1. SWOT ANALYSIS We have identified the opportunities, challenges for the business in the next two years as following: Strengths * Experience and understanding of the fashion industry for women and girls Unique shopping experience with exceptional customer service * Great downtown location * Large and growing consumer base * Competitive prices with a special & made from good quality fabrics * Provide products tailored to all shapes and sizes of women Weaknesses * New line, could be unrecognized by customers at the first time * Must follow the fashion trends & changes all the times * Original ideas of design Opportunities * Outstanding shopping experience by customers will lead to repeat business * Expand the business into others apparel for example, Men’s Apparels, Shoes & bags. * Establish online store Endorse rising new comers artist will rise brand public awareness Threats * High Competitions, New retail shops that may or may not open in the future * Ideas/products copy by another competitors * Lower prices given by competitors 2. 2. INDUSTRY CONDITIONS Direct observation shows Sydney fashion retailer is dominated by megastores such as MYERS, DAVID JONES, ZARA, etc. Even the product prices offered by those multinational company is higher than other small company & the quality is sometimes not worth the price, but for the sake of brand image people don’t mind to spent lot of money shop on that place.Brand Awareness is the main important in promoting Gritty Glam fashion line. Market growth is in an upward motion, despite some of the latest economic downturns Statistics analysis reported by ABS show negative trends on clothing Industry. However, this business will always exist and will always be high on demand. By make a good promotion and marketing strategy, Gritty Glam fashion line will be able to compete with multinatio nal retailer as mentioned above because the retail fashion industry is a solid business with ever-changing styles and ever-present consumer demands. . 3. PROMOTIONS Gritty Glam will follow an aggressive yet creative promotional plan but keep the marketing budget no more than 5% of our gross annual sales. This will allow us to focus directly on our target customer. Below are some promotions strategies we will do; a. Select Magazines that most read by women and girls to promote our product, b. Partner with top 10 most view by women and young TV programs to endorse the actress as often as possible. These strategic partnerships will allow us to piggyback on publicity for local events. c.Social Media, to keep our customers aware with our new arrival products & our promo programs d. Participate in fashion exhibitions events to promote our products and sell in the same time. e. Print out brochures and distributed throughout every houses/apartments in particular areas by Direct mail strateg y every 4 months/ new seasons. Manage a direct mail program that will focus on our top 50% customers spotlighting any in-house sales and promotions f. Spot radio advertisements on two local FM radio stations that most heard by women and girls. . Posting sale flyers on community bulletin boards. 2. 4. STRATEGIES Since Co-owners have marketing backgrounds and recognize the significance of effective marketing. We expect our strategy to draw consumers into Gritty Glam from the very beginning. Strategies we will propose are: a. Hire a local Public Relation firm to help us develop and implement a strategic marketing plan and guide our publicity efforts in a cost-effective manner. b. Offer a 100 day return/exchange policy to build trust with our customers and maintain retention and loyalty. c.Hold a drawing for a $50 shopping spree and fashion consultation. Entry collection will start at the grand opening and continue throughout the week. Names and contact information will be utilized for follow up marketing initiatives. d. Give 10% discounts for birthday member who shopping at Gritty Glam store. Finally, marketing opportunities will be continually utilized as we expand our business and our consumer numbers grow. 2. 5. COSTS See Appendix 2. 6. RESOURCES Gritty Glam fashion line is a small business and therefore requires a simple organizational structure.Swasti Ariani & Richard D. Kitts will act as Co-Owners. Richard D. Kitts will manage the day-to-day operations including supervising staff, maintaining inventory and bookkeeping. He will be helped by one Part time Accounting Staff, Swasti Ariani will oversee the merchandise buying for the store as well as maintain a keen awareness of trends within the industry. Swasti Ariani will also work with public relations firm to ensure superior marketing plans are in place and implemented.Gritty glam will employ 1 designer, 2 pattern Makers & 2 Dress Makers that will be directly supervised by Swasti, a Store manager & 3 part-ti me associates. These positions are still vacant. Our sales associates will be paid an hourly wage, plus commission. Bonuses will be provided with each year of service following an annual review to encourage employee retention. All decisions are made in-line with the company objectives. Employee tasks are delegated based upon their level of expertise, creativity, strengths and weaknesses. Resources| Quantity| Who to consult|Designer| 1| Fashion School career centre or Job Agency| Store Manager| 1| Friends| Associate| 3| Advertise on Job Seeker Website| Accountant-Part time| 1| Advertise on Job Seeker Website| Pattern Maker| 2| Fashion School career centre| Dress Maker| 2| Fashion School career centre| Press/Iron man/Finishing| 1| Advertise on Job Seeker Website| Total| 11| -| REFERENCES 1. Writing your plan for small business success. Ian Birt. Prentice Hall. 2007 2. Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification – http://www. abs. gov. au/ausstats/[email  pro tected] nsf/0/D23C85FE73B2A765CA25711F00146EF3? pendocument 3. Business & Industry Portal – http://www. business. qld. gov. au/business/employing/employee-rights-awards-entitlements/personal-safety-workplace 4. Clothing Retailing in Australia: Market Research Report – http://www. ibisworld. com. au/industry/default. aspx? indid=407 5. Australian Bureau Statistics. Analysis by industry – http://www. abs. gov. au/ausstats/[email  protected] nsf/Latestproducts/8501. 0Main%20Features3Sep%202012? opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=8501. 0&issue=Sep%202012&num=&view= APPENDIX – FINANCIAL PLAN