Buddhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Buddhism - Essay Example It is normally interpreted as good words, good conduct, and good thoughts. This entails giving, compassion, kindness, love, and delight in other people’s joy and all act of generosity and selflessness. Buddhists also directs themselves via the ethic fields with the knowledge of 6 realms. Rebirth is never guaranteed, and committing to bad behaviors will result to suffering bad rebirth ones in hell, animal realms, or even prate. Clear predictions of suffering and the nature of being in the reals are bound in Buddhist literature, apparently to shock and scare followers to improve their conduct. However, the attitude that befalls Buddhism towards bad deeds is more therapeutically rather than heavily judgmental. No believer can be written off beyond the salvation on the ground that what he has done is depicted to be irretrievably bad, evil, sinful, or wicked. Additionally, there has been no attempt to render or condemn those perceived to be guilty. In some instances, they are seen sympathetically, for they develop a path that could easily be followed, But the Law can never be evitable; we reap what and where we have sown. The above is certainly applicable and correct, yet to some extent it is proper to say that the ethics of Buddhism are rooted in rebirth and Karmas. ... Indeed one can say that without the dimensions of life, the ethics would not be there at all. This is because people would be the end product of interactions between molecules from where the consequences of morals would not flow. Therefore, in this scenario the only benchmark for the ethics would be relative, social, subjectively shifting, and based on the biological survival. Buddhism says a lot of the problems and how to solve them. Buddhism teaches people on the basic noble truth. Meaning there are four true facts and four truths that any person can truly realize. The four are certainly the problems that people face in their daily lives. Therefore, the teachings of Buddhism are directed to enable people to overcome the problems they face in life. The methods are very down to earth and very rational. The teachings show that every problem that one experiences came from a cause. It is imperative to look into one life and see the difficulties that one faces. There is no bid difference between the Buddha and the ordinary person. The difference is dwelled in the mind and the action of someone. It is very crucial to appreciate that the earlier Buddhism aspiration has been the wish to be happy together with other people. Buddhism has so believed that it is pure and eternal desire of everyone in the depth of one’s life. The thought is equally and originally inherent in the Buddha lives and in conventional people alike. Anyone who is awakened and lives according to the teaching of Buddha can attain the Buddhahood status by having profound self-esteem that the Buddha has. It is always tricky to see the Buddhahood principle manifesting in the life of a person but as a deal which is unattainable. Few will believe that when respecting other people, is the proper way for

Marketing cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing cases - Essay Example The main macro-economic factors that influenced the Target’s performance during that period were the economic and social conditions that existed among the consumers. Due to the economic recession in 2008, there was a high unemployment level and an increased inflation, which had a direct connection with the sales outcome of the company. Along with this, the purchasing power of the consumers began to deteriorate due to the decline in the income of the sizable households. With the company’s products being viewed as expensive ones, it further impacted Target’s revenues. However, Walmart showed a far better growth due to its cheaper prices strategy hindering the Target’s upscale products. The Target’s â€Å"pay less† strategy was a risky one as it has to sustain its high-quality. That is, even while coping up with the changing economic conditions and its consumers’ attitude, it needs to focus on quality. However, it has successfully managed to overcome through the recession crisis and have switched towards a hopeful direction with this new strategy. Despite the high unemployment and increased inflation, Target takes an optimistic view in improving its sales through its new launches such as mini-grocery stores and up-and-up. By focusing on its ‘pay less’ part, Target has certainly pursued a best strategy by retaining the quality of its products even while emphasizing on the discount part. Expanding the advertising campaigns before focusing towards lower prices should have been the alternate strategy for Target during their decline in sales and revenue. As the company was keen on offering one stop shopping with lowered prices and improving the store’s infrastructure, it did not have enough time to analyze the consumers’ tendency towards their products, thereby missed formulating effective advertising strategies. Once they found the

The Cases of Hirabayashi and Korematsu v United States Essay Example for Free

The Cases of Hirabayashi and Korematsu v United States Essay The United States, after the fatal attack of the Japanese in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was forced to enter World War II. There were a few of Japanese descent who, due to the immigration that begun since before 1885, were in the mainland America. Many feared what these Japanese-Americans would side on their home country of Japan that would possibly lead to a successful invasion of Japan. The fact that Japan has invaded one after another Pacific island where American forces were based did not help the public opinion of many regarding the Japanese on the United States. As a precautionary measure, President Franklin D. Roosevelt has enacted two executive orders to prevent incidents of subversions and espionage from Japanese-Americans. Two Japanese-Americans were found to be guilty of violating these laws which has ultimately brought their cases to the United States Supreme Court. On February 13, 1942, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which defined military areas in the United States and authorized the removal of Japanese-Americans within these military areas. The Order declared that â€Å"the successful execution of the war requires every possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to national defense-material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities† (United States Supreme Court [USSC], 1944). It also provided assembly centers for those who will ultimately be transferred to evacuation camps. As a result, approximately 120,000 Japanese-Americans were in internment camps (Schaefer, 2008). While the evacuation carried out with little difficulty, there were those who militantly defied the order. The Japanese American Citizens League, an organization founded in 1924, hoped that cooperating with the American decision will lead to sympathetic consideration when the tension subsided. Of those who resisted the order was Toyosaburo Korematsu. Korematsu was a US-born Japanese-American who stayed in San Leandro, California and knowingly violated the Civilian Exclusion Order No. 34—an order based upon the provisions of Executive Order 9066. The Civilian Exclusion Order No. 34, an order issued by the Commanding General of the Western Command, directed that â€Å"all persons of Japanese ancestry should be excluded† from San Leandro, California (USSC, 1944). Korematsu was arrested and was found guilty of the violation. He challenged the constitutionality of the Order and held that it is in violation of the provision in the Fifth Amendment stating that no person shall â€Å"be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. † The question of loyalty was not raised. Furthermore, the evacuees were forced, charged with no crime and could not leave without official approval (Schaefer, 2008). This is crucial in that, as Schaefer explained, the Japanese-Americans that were forced to resettle in evacuation camps were instructed that they were to carry only personal items. â€Å"No provision was made for shipping their household goods† and â€Å"the federal government took a few steps to safeguard their belongings they left behind† (Schaefer, 2008). The Court (1944) decided that the need to protect against espionage from persons of enemy descent, of Japanese descent in Korematsu’s case, far outweighs their rights as provided for by the Fifth Amendment. The Court held that the military authorities were charged with the protection of the American soils. Furthermore, the Civilian Exclusion Order is in accordance to the provisions of the Congressional authority to the military allowing them to identify who should and who should not remain in areas threatened with invasion, espionage or sabotage. The court explained that they have no doubts that most of the evacuees were loyal to the United States. They reasoned that the exclusion of the entire Japanese-American population was brought upon the contention that the disloyal could not be immediately segregated from those who are loyal to the United States. The Court (1944) explained â€Å"that there were members of the group who retained loyalties to Japan,† a fact that â€Å"has been confirmed by investigations made subsequent to the exclusion. † It has been found that â€Å"approximately five thousand American citizens of Japanese ancestry refused to swear unqualified allegiance to the United States and to renounce allegiance to the Japanese Emperor, and several thousand evacuees requested repatriation to Japan† (USSC, 1944). While the Court (1944) held that compulsory exclusion of large groups of citizens from their homes is inconsistent with basic governmental institutions, â€Å"when under conditions of modern warfare our shores are threatened by hostile forces, the power to protect must be commensurate with the threatened danger. † Finally, the Court (1944) explained that â€Å"Korematsu was not excluded from the Military Area because of hostility to him or his race. He was excluded because we are at war with the Japanese Empire, because the properly constituted military authorities feared an invasion of our West Coast and felt constrained to take proper security measures, because they decided that the military urgency of the situation demanded that all citizens of Japanese ancestry be segregated from the West Coast temporarily, and finally, because Congress, reposing its confidence in this time of war in our military leaders-as inevitably it must-determined that they should have the power to do just this† Another case wherein a Japanese-American has challenged the United States government, particularly of its military institution, was the case of Kiyoshi Hirabayashi v United States. This time, the guilty was found to be violating the Act of Congress of March 21, 1942 requiring all persons of Japanese ancestry to be in their place of residence between 8:00pm to 6:00am. The Act was also in accordance to Executive Order 9066. The Court’s ruling was also in favor of the United States. While the Hirabayashi case was earlier decided, it has been greatly overshadowed by the Korematsu case due to the fact that exclusion was more extreme than that of the curfew rule. However, the Supreme Court decision made on the Korematsu case relied and affirmed the decision in the Hirabayahi case. Korematsu and Hirabayashi both challenged the constitutionality of the rules enacted based on Executive Order 9066. They claimed that the rules violated the provisions of the Fifth Amendment stating that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law—a provision that was violated when the military institution has apprehended Korematsu and Hirabayashi and all other Japanese-Americans without questioning and even the indication of treason or disloyalty to the United States government. Unsurprisingly, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the federal government, giving precaution for espionage and sabotage from persons of enemy descent during the time of war as a justification for such rules imposed based on Executive Order 9066. They held that the rules were not insomuch as a racial prejudice against citizens of Japanese ancestry but was necessary for the war efforts to be successful. The Court, however, clarified that the rules based on the Order should only be imposed until such time when the war is over. The Japanese-Americans lost much of their property and were destroyed economically. After World War II, the United States federal government paid $35 million to the Japanese-Americans who were affected to compensate for the loss of property. However, the total loss was estimated to be worth up to $400 million. References Schaefer, R. (2008). â€Å"Japanese Americans. † In Racial and Ethnic Groups 11th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJL Prentice Hall. United States Supreme Court. (1943). Kiyoshi Hirabayashi v United States. 320 US 81. United States Supreme Court. (1944). Toyosaburo Korematsu v United States. 323 US 214.

Zimbabwe Country Economy

Zimbabwe Country Economy Introduction â€Å"Our votes must go together with our guns. After all, any vote we shall have, shall have been the product of the gun. The gun which produces the vote should remain its security officer its guarantor. The peoples votes and the peoples guns are always inseparable twins† Robert Mugabe, 1976 Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. One of the natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls, resides within the ‘Great Zimbabwe. It was once a major tobacco producer but now, in the hands of Robert Mugabe, has become a country with a deteriorating economy and is facing international isolation. This dissertation will analyse Robert Mugabes, the Zimbabwean Presidents, reign over the country and how he transformed from being a populist to a possible dictator. The research is based on the situation in Zimbabwe before the elections, which will be take place in March 2008. In doing so, the developments of the British colonial power in the country will also be highlighted, as many Africans believe it to be at the core of Zimbabwes current problems. Many have argued that his actions and beliefs were the presidents answer to the colonisation suffered by Zimbabwe; whereas others say he is simply retaliating against the views of Ian Smith, the former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia. It can be said that the true reasons for Mugabes descent into dictatorship will never be explicitly clear. Dictatorship in its broadest sense can be defined as a government with a single leader or party that exercises absolute control over all citizens and most aspects of their lives. Dictators of such power are perceived by themselves and their followers as above the law and able to act beyond constitutional constraints. This dissertation will, therefore, also analyse why dictatorship became the chosen method of government for a president, who clearly could have emerged from the 1980s and 1990s as a president who was clever, trusted and perceived by many a reliable leader. The British Colonialism Surrounding countries once perceived Zimbabwe as a breadbasket that could have potentially provided a source of surplus; this was the case until the colonisation had eventually occurred giving way to a vast amount of corruption to take place. The colonisation in Africa took force in the late nineteenth century. The presence of Cecil Rhodes in 1871 made the colonisation process move forward when he arrived during the year that the diamond bearing lodes were discovered. By buying out rivals who shared his views about the diamond industry, he was able to establish a successful career. Soon after, in the 1880s, Rhodes used his once successful tactic to control the gold fields that had been found in Transvaal. By the end of the nineteenth century, Rhodes was in domination of the South African exportation market of gold and diamonds, this was through his two companies: De Beers Consolidated Mines and Gold Fields of South Africa. Having achieved plenty of wealth, he had yet to fulfil his true dream to create an ultimate British Empire stretching down the African continent. Rhodess vision was made into reality when he proposed to incorporate the two companies with terms to allow investments for northern expansion. Soon after, in 1889, the British South Africa Company (BSAC) had been formed, which enabled the British Government to grant a royal charter. The fundamental purpose of such a charter was to allow British rule in central Africa without the involvement of the British Government, excusing them from any new responsibilities and expenses. Rhodes proposed many â€Å"deceiving treaties and concessions in order to develop the colonisation process of the regions land, labour, and precious metal and mineral resources†. Before the arrival of Rhodes and the British rule, there were a number of terriorial parts which were collectively referred under the name of Zambezi, they included Mashonaland, Matabeleland and Barotseland.Whilst expanding his company to the northern line of Zambezi, there was a change of name that came into effect in 1895; the na me Zambezi was officially changed to Rhodesia, after the colonial founder. The end of World War II brought changes in global power relations. The Suez Crisis highlighted Britains weakness and indicated that it was no longer a superpower; it was too weak to fight internationally and therefore could not ignore its dependency on the United States. As a result, Britain had little choice in decolonising, and had faced pressure from the US to withdraw their troops, to allow the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces to take over. It was the ‘Special Relationship, agreed by Roosevelt and Churchill that advocated for rights to be given to people and not states. The example set by the Jamaican Prime Minister; Norman Manley indicated that a black government could be efficient and work well. This gave rise to the possibility of decolonisation in South Rhodesia. In 1953, the British government came to a compromise by creating the federation of Rhodesia and Nysaland. Rhodesia remained a self-governing colony for several decades but this continued with no African suffrage. The economy of Rhodesia flourished during the federation, and it was assisted by the increase in copper prices globally. However, the economic benefits did not settle the political disputes, especially due to Britain providing other colonies with independence (such as Ghana in 1957). African people, later, got a vote when a ‘B roll was added to the electorate in 1957. Many political parties had formed during the federation in the struggle for an independent Rhodesia. The first leader was Joshua Nkomo, who was the President of the African National Congress, but this was banned soon after. Nkomo then in 1960 founded the National Democratic Party, but this was again condemned a year later. The African leader was very determined and was not staying down. In 1961 he created ZAPU (Zimbabwe African Peoples Union), in which his partners were Ndabaningi Sithole and Robert Mugabe. The political unrest amongst the African majority, with backing from the UN, enforced Rhodesias federal government to introduce a new constitution to allow black representation in the Rhodesian Parliament. However, strong disagreements between the ZAPU leaders over tactics, led to Mugabe and other ZAPU dissidents forming a new nationalist party, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), in August 1963. This new ZANU party were determined to impose tougher policies regarding the settlers in Zimbabwe. The growth in the formation of nationalist parties was something Ian Smith, the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, did not take lightly. In his view, such a freedom of rights would create an immense loss of economic status to the white people. In South Rhodesia, the white people controlled the economy, which included the education system, businesses, and so on. It was difficult for the black people to acquire the skills required to carry out the management of such facilities and therefore created a cycle in which the black people suffered harsh economic conditions, a lower quality of education and were trapped in blue-collar jobs. The introduction of the new constitution created an opportunity for Smith to establish a new party, The Rhodesian Front. As soon as Smith became prime minister in 1964, he had Nkomo and Mugabe arrested. Smiths party was committed to white supremacist policies and offered the promise of an independent Rhodesia, to be governed by the European minority. Having strong white-separatist views, Smith attempted to prevent de-colonisation by rejecting the British proposal for independence in 1964 and instead formed a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965, which was not recognised by London. Soon after, Rhodesia drifted away from both Britain and the Commonwealth, which was followed by the African nationalist parties ZANU and ZAPU taking up arms against the regime. There was also involvement from Nkomos African guerrilla army against the Rhodesian security forces and backing from the South African forces, which came after 1967. The situation was not helped by the unification of Nkomo and Mugabe in 1976, in the formation of a united Patriotic Front. Essentially the reason for this is due to the state of peacekeeping in Africa. If an area in not peaceful, the social conditions fall, and the economy suffers. Due to the structure of African nations, none of the economies are seen to be strong enough to survive independently. As a result of there being a generally accepted view amongst African people that ‘power grows out of the barrel of the gun, many Africans are not aware of how to deal with a failing economic and social structure and therefore have resorted to corruption. This, therefore, indicates that African economies prosper when the nation is at peace but when there is disorder, a civil war is likely to erupt. The conflict against the regime, with such a large force from the African people, gradually turned into a civil war. Having seen the devastation that was occurring in Rhodesia, Smith found it difficult to avoid the need for some sort of concession for the black Africans. His plan of action seemed like it was based on an innocent measure to actually dissolve the conflict, however, he had simply disguised his true intention. Smith negotiated with a moderate African politician, Bishop Abel Muzonewa, leader of UANC (United African National Council). Smith offered to enable multi-racial elections in 1979, but this was only possible if Muzonewa secured the political and economic interests of the white population. With the Patriotic Front banned, Muzonewa won the elections and became Prime Minister of the transitional government. The conflicts continued with strong campaigning by the Patriotic Front and the guerrilla army. They did not settle until the Lancaster House Agreement, held in London, where the independence constitution, the pre-independence arrangements and the end of hostilities were discussed. Present at the meeting were the representatives of the British Government, the Rhodesian administration and the Patriotic Front. At the talk the UDI was overturned and Rhodesia was again reverted back to being a British Colony. In recognition of the need for the views of black Africans in the political arena, elections were organised to take place in February 1980. Robert Mugabe: The Leader In discussing the chosen path of the Zimbabwean Presidents reign, it is interesting to see why he was chosen to run as the leader during the 1980 elections as opposed to Nkomo. The Lancaster House Agreement (1979) highlighted the need for an internal solution to the on-going conflicts within Zimbabwe, which meant that the rivalry between ZANU and ZAPU had to come to an end. With Robert Mugabes movement being the largest, he was able to influence and motivate a larger population within the country, and so gain a larger percentage of votes during an election. Before discussing the political nature of the descent, it is important to establish the ways and means of Mugabe getting to such an authoritative position. Mugabe was a popular and eloquent leader; he was able to gain the attention of his audience quite effectively. It can be said that his audience, being the black Africans, were attracted to his persona, which is the way he presented himself to his audience. Mugabe can also be described as being quite charismatic; he was able to win over his audience by the means of his approach. Being in the limelight he was required to address his audiences in a way that would appeal to them, thus he was able to adapt to the type of listener he was speaking to. There have been many times when Mugabe was seen to be uplifting a rally by getting involved and giving his enthusiastic and loud audience the impression that he was a boisterous and proud man ready to stand up for his country, and then merely a few hours later he could effectively address attendees of a conference in an articulate manner. This is one of the reasons for the growth in his popularity. He was able to speak clearly in a well-structured way, which indicated the weaknesses in Nkomos presentation. As opposed to Mugabe, Nkomo could not speak English, which left him in a weaker position. For example, when having to speak at press conferences Nkomo required a translator, which could have made him appear less confident and not as knowledgeable as Mugabe. Studying in Britain gave Mugabe the chance to become fluent in English, which enabled him to address not only the white community but also the international community. He was a well-read man, with seven university degrees and eleven honorary degrees from six countries. With this background and the capability to also speak several local languages, he was able to appeal to a larger audience. It was not only his method of speaking that made him a popular leader; it was also the content of Mugabes speeches that attracted a vast number of people. His beliefs and ideals matched those of his audience and in presenting himself as a knowledgeable and well-established leader; he was able to convince even those who may not have initially believed that he was able to lead effectively. He was a very organised political leader and was known for his effective structure. This led to the general perception that he was an intellectual speechmaker and a strong bureaucrat. Another part of his persona was that he gave the audience exactly what they saw, in other words, ‘what you see is what you get. Mugabe was not a performer, he did not speak in a rehearsed manner, his speeches where given with little movement but with rigorous force in his voice. When emphasising things, Mugabe spoke loudly, but when dictating he was seen to be speaking slowly with a lower tone of voice. This can be seen as a technique to make the listener really pay attention to every word he is speaking as it is in a lower tone, and it may also at times add a threatening element to the content. The Zimbabwean leader did not use props when speaking; the effectiveness of getting his message across could be said as being his main technique in winning the audience over. In regards to his appearance, many would agree in saying that Mugabe is not physically attractive in an obvious way. Looking at the physical appeal that American leaders, such as Kennedy and Malcolm X may have had over their audiences, Mugabe was not relying on his physical appearance to play a part in his approach. This may be because physical appeal is not seen to hold any significance within the political arena of African society. Mugabe did however use his choice of clothing to signify his intentions. He is normally seen wearing either a military uniform or a civilian suit. When he spoke at conferences in an international arena he could be described as wearing the colours of Zimbabwe, to show his audience that he was the proud leader of his country. However, when speaking locally to the people of his party he was likely to be wearing the colours of ZANU-PF, a party which was formed in 1987 to dissolve hostilities between Nkomo and Mugabe, which are red and black. It is interesting to see that during elections he would normally be seen in neutral colours, this may have been a way of showing that he was not a dictator; someone who only wears military uniform and stands fanatically for his party. Recently, Mugabe has been seen wearing his own creation, the presidential sash. This could be observed as a way of representing himself as being someone distinctly different in the crowd during the elections, and to signify that he is the man with the power. Mugabe was able to show his audience that he was a political animal. He understood that power did not simply arise from nowhere; he knew that he had to work hard in order to persuade the black African people to support him and had to show them that he had what it takes to bring change to Zimbabwe. On the contrary, Nkomo used a very military approach; he resorted to fear as the method of gaining attention and support. Nkomo had the potential to be a good ‘general leader but not an effective political leader. With this in mind, it can be said that in the late 1970s there was the apprehension that Nkomo could become successful in forming his own regime, and therefore the result would be a break up of Zimbabwe. The fear of such an outcome meant that Mugabe would have an upper hand in the 1980 elections, with more support from the African nation. Research carried out by Max Weber and McGregor Burns outlines that there are several ideal-types of political action, which can be seen as being on the ends of a spectrum of possible political practises and political leadership. On one end, politicians can use their power to serve their own interests and therefore loose sight of the true goals of the game. On the other the power politicians have, descends into becoming the core of all their actions and therefore overrides other values and interests. In order to determine which end of the spectrum Mugabe stood on during the merger of the two leaders, the political life of ZANU-PF since its unification needs to be understood, and will be discussed in the next chapter. Robert Mugabe the Political Leader: ZANU, ZAPU Joshua Nkomo Soon after the Lancaster House Agreement, Joshua Nkomo had attempted to contact Robert Mugabe regarding the strategy they would use in the 1980 elections as an integrated party, The Patriotic Front. To Nkomos disappointment Mugabe had decided to stand alone as ZANU. Being granted an equal opportunity to participate in the elections of 1980, as anticipated, Mugabe alone was able to win over the majority of votes. The newly independent nation changed its name from Rhodesia to the historic name of Zimbabwe. This historic victory left Nkomo feeling extremely distressed; the leader of ZAPU felt betrayed and immense anger towards Mugabe; he spoke of Mugabe as being mistaken as the father figure of African nationalism in Rhodesia, when he felt he himself deserved that title. Mugabes ideology can be tested in the observation of the tactics used when constructing a new government. He had offered Nkomo the position of president; this being a fundamentally ceremonial role carried no executive powers. The role would have left Nkomo imprisoned by Mugabe, as there would have been no say on his part. Nkomo, understanding the nature of the role, rejected the offer; he had experienced imprisonment for much of his life and did not warm to the idea of having no right to speak his mind and lead on matters, which were important to him. Eventually, Nkomo settled for the role of Minister of Home Affairs, with control of the police too. The initial decision to exclude Nkomos involvement had caused further tension between the two leaders and with the victory behind him Mugabe became a bigger threat to Nkomo. Although he knew that he alone, as leader of ZANU, could win the elections, Mugabe recognised that Nkomos presence in the new government would help radicalise his force, so Mugabe offered him a place. This can be seen as a political strategy used by Mugabe to ensure that he had ultimate power. Whether or not this was a deliberate way of forming a one-party system in Zimbabwe will be examined below. First it is important to discuss the course Mugabe had undertaken when he came into power after a successful election victory. At the beginning of his time in power, Mugabe started out as a peaceful leader; his policies were calm and were seen to commit to the provisions that protected European political rights. One of Mugabes first moves can be described as introducing Marxist policies to Zimbabwe. These had initially caused immense harm to the economy, but with the changing fashion of the 1990s, there was a move towards a market system. It can be argued that Mugabe had not adopted a wholly Marxist approach to his leadership; rather his principles can be said as being classically socialist. It would have been expected of a Marxist leader to nationalise the farms in Zimbabwe. However, in contrary to this expectation, Mugabe had withdrawn from the idea of doing so in the early days of his leadership. As opposed to the expectation of a communist leader, Mugabe did not disown the farmers as he recognised that they provided the economic basis of the regime, and the country. Mugabes conciliatory approach in his leadership was not enough to drown out the conflict between ZANU and ZAPU. Tribal hostilities between the Shona people and the Ndebele people became a prominent feature of everyday life in Zimbabwe; this was even more so obvious when Mugabe dismissed Nkomo in 1982. However having recognised that their internal conflicts could potentially descend into a power struggle and were providing the leeway for Smith to stir between the two leaders, Nkomo and Mugabe decided to join forces and stop the prospect of Smith gaining ultimate power. It was in 1987 when the two leaders attempted to resolve their differences by merging into one, ZANU-PF, which meant that Zimbabwe became a one-party state. It is important to consider that in parallel to the introduction of the newly integrated party was the change in the constitution, which allowed Mugabe to be granted the role of executive president and Nkomo being named vice president. In essence this combination ga ve both leaders ultimate power over Zimbabwe. The political process of Mugabes descent into dictatorship can be traced back to the shift in forming a one-party state. The emergence of the integration was initially designed as a positive solution. Thus consideration should be placed on whether Mugabes real intention, in 1987, was to gradually turn his government into a dictatorship, or whether he was genuinely presenting a solution based on harmonisation. Did Mugabe no longer see Nkomo as a threat but rather as an ally in the war against the white regime? Or was he simply disguising the fact that he was keeping his friends close, but his enemies closer? Having the desire to be a long-term leader, did Mugabe decide to bring Nkomo in as a strategy to achieve this? The following chapters will answer the questions, which have caused confusion for more than 20 years. Robert Mugabes Political Strategy: Ian Smith, the White Community Robert Mugabes International Status To the surprise of many, including Ian Smith, Robert Mugabe had suggested that the confidence of the white people needed to be maintained in order to build a future for the country. It was a shock to Smith and many other white officials in Africa to grasp Mugabes approach. White people had been taught to hate him and had assumed that his gain in power would have been catastrophic for the country, especially for the white population. Smith had found his experiences of meeting Mugabe after the elections as being surprisingly pleasant, the newly elected leader was described as giving the impression that he was genuine about maintaining the relationship between the white and black community, â€Å"he behaved like a balanced, civilised westerner, the antithesis of a communist gangster I had expected†. Mugabes approach during the earlier period of his reign can be seen as an attempt to build trust. His primary concern at the time was to get the public to believe his public statements when speaking of leaving the past behind and holding no grudges in order to build a better future. Mugabe also managed to impress some of the former senior officials by retaining them in office. There was assurance that he would be working to benefit everyone in Zimbabwe, which would be possible if a level of trust was maintained between the former officials of the Rhodesia era and those of modern Zimbabwe. When Parliament opened, Mugabe and Smith were seen to be walking side by side. This left the white community feeling not only happy to be represented by their own MPs but also comfortable knowing that there was the presence of two other white ministers in government who had been specifically appointed by Mugabe; David Smith, the former Rhodesian Front minister, and Dennis Norman, the former president of the Commercial Farmers Union. This patronage by Mugabe enabled a reduction in the general feeling of depression and nervousness that had resided in the minds of the white community, and also gave the white community confidence in the newly elected government and their new leader. With feelings of trust and confidence in the government, the white farmers were found to eventually become supporters of the new government. For many whites, there were several benefits including economic sanctions, no military call-ups and no restrictions on their leisure pursuits. They also owned most of the commercial farmland, most of the countrys property and wealth, and were still in domination of commerce, industry and banking which meant that they obtained the monopoly of high-level skills. This gave the white community an upper hand in progressing, leaving a high number of black people stuck in a cycle of deprivation with lower standards of education and fewer skills being gained. With the black community having little access to gain skills and progress, it meant that the white community always had a gap to fill in Zimbabwe by occupying the higher posts in the workforce. Despite Mugabes approach to settle differences between the black and the white community there were still reservations on the actual outcome of the newly elected government and its effects on the country and its economy. For some whites, a Marxist black government was not something that they were willing to accept and this lack of confidence led to the steady exodus mainly to South Africa, which remained to be a country of white rule. Most left with the expectation of a deterioration in the standards of education, health, urban services and policing, whereas others were concerned for the job prospects of not only themselves but the effects on the future of their children too. There was also a feeling of dismay at the way the television and radio, which had once served as a source of propaganda for the Rhodesian Front, was now serving ZANU-PF. During the 1980s, as a result of the election outcome, nearly seventeen thousand white people emigrated, that was one tenth of the population. Internationally, Zimbabwe was perceived as acquiring a high status. Mugabe had maintained a close tie with the British with disregard to all past disputes; he believed that the war Zimbabwe fought was against colonialism and imperialism. His message was that Zimbabwe had gained independence so there was no problem with the British people and no need to quarrel. Having a highly regarded reputation, the newly independent country had been made many offers for financial assistance. This gave the government the opportunity to embark on a range of projects that would benefit the education system and healthcare services for everyone. This ‘honeymoon period for the new government was forming a globally reputable mark on Zimbabwe. Mugabe was seen as a leader who was really going to bring change to Zimbabwe by taking it out of the cycle that it was stuck in. This demeanour was illustrated in his intellectual, mature and reasonable outlook along with his sense of fair play. However, it was not long before ministers in Zimbabwe began criticising the white community in their speeches. The confrontations with South Africa officially marked the end of the honeymoon period. With the shock of Mugabes victory at the elections, many South Africans were hoping for a moderate black government but were disappointed to see a Marxist black government in place. It became South Africas primary aim to keep Zimbabwe in a weak and defensive position in order to destabilise it to present neither a security threat nor a stable African state. During 1981, there were several attacks on black ministers; the assassination of prominent South African Nationalist Joe Gqabi (Chief Representative of the African National Congress in Zimbabwe) in July, and the bomb blast at ZANU-PF headquarters in Salisbury during December signified treason against the new government. These attacks began a stream of turmoil, and led to Mugabes declaration of the honeymoon period being over as a result of the inhumane treatment; his views were that â€Å"because of their [the South African people] treason and crimes against humanity in Zimbabwe we could have put before a firing squad, but which we decided to forgive, have hardly repented†, he went on to state that â€Å"South Africa were harming race relations to destroy our unity, to sabotage our economy, and to overthrow the popularly elected government I lead†. The disorder in Zimbabwe worsened with threats from Mugabe that his government would be revising its policy on national reconciliation and would not hold back from taking steps in combating the criminals by giving them harsh punishments. Mugabes speeches not only attacked the white spies and saboteurs, but they gradually extended to the white community as a whole, with particular focus on the wealth they enjoyed. The situation in Zimbabwe began to create a sense of fear in the minds of the white community; a reflection of this was the growth in the exodus. Within the three years of independence, half of the white population had emigrated, which amounted to approximately 100,000 people leaving the country. Being the defender of the â€Å"white tribe†, Ian Smith argued that the government was incompetent and corrupt and that the well being of white Zimbabweans was under attack. During his visits abroad to Britain and the United States, Smith had been found to portray Zimbabwe as a country â€Å"suffering dire straits and heading for a one-party Marxist rule†. On his return, Smith was welcomed with retaliation by the government in the form of intimidation and demoralisation of the white community. Smiths passport had been withdrawn as a result of his apparent political bad manners and hooliganism whilst abroad and his premises were searched vigorously. Having begun his political reign in a peaceful manner, Mugabe can be seen to have later felt betrayed by the behaviour of the white community towards his government. The initial approach he had adopted respected the provisions that were for the benefit of the white Zimbabweans, and gave the impression that he had forgiven them for the treatment the black community had experienced. It can be assumed that he felt hatred towards the white people for betraying his respect for them. Although he was a well educated, calm and seemingly peaceful leader, it is difficult to understand why the once popular and civilised leader had gradually immersed into the notion of dictatorship. The life Mugabe had lived, his experiences and his beliefs, can be said to have influenced his change in governing styles, but the loss of trust in the white community, after gaining independence, poses the question: was Mugabe pushed or did he lead the way down the path towards dictatorship? The Phenomenon of Robert Mugabe Historical experiences indicate that the granting of independence to former colonies have usually provided the foundations for the formation of dictatorship. This is not merely the case for Africa alone, but can be witnessed in former colonies throughout the world. In the case of Southern Rhodesia, Robert Mugabe was the man who indulged into this with no tolerance of any opposition. Cases that show this absolute intolerance of opposition include the Matabeleland genocide in 1983 which put Joshua Nkomo in exile; and the treatment of Edgar Tekere, who stood independently against Mugabe in 1990, and had been intimidated as well as his supporters being beaten leaving his party the Zimbabwe Unity Movement in ruins. The more recent case of Garfield Todd, in the 2002 elections, shows how the leader of ZANU-PF uses intimidation and violence to get his own way.

Business Plan For Opening A Family Shopping Complex Marketing Essay

Business Plan For Opening A Family Shopping Complex Marketing Essay INTRODUCTION Retailing is the set of business activities that adds value to the products and services sold to consumers for their personal or family use. A Retailer is the final distribution channel that links manufacturers to consumers. A Retailer performs following functions to create value for its product and services:- Providing an assortment of products and services Breaking bulk Holding inventory Providing service ABOUT THE STATE-UTTAR PRADESH Uttar Pradesh is a state located in the northern part of India, with a population over 190 million people; it is Indias most populous state and worlds most populous sub-national entity. With an area of 93,933 sq.mt ENVIRONMENT We can say that Environment consist of the entire solid, liquid, tangible and intangible thing around us. Environment also consists of areas and components that are strongly influenced by humans or it can be said that there are many factors of Environment that influence the decisions of humans. If we talk about Business Environment than our point of thinking will totally be different from the above mentioned definitions because Business Environment focus on the following matters:- understand the working of the economic system and its relationship with the business sector, analyze the impact of the changing policy regimes on business and anticipate the policy changes that are likely to occur or should occur in view of the national and international developments Environment also consists of SWOT analysis of the organization which represents the different factors that can affect the working conditions and rules and regulations of the organization. SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTHS:- demographic favor rising disposable income increase in number of people in earner category urbanization shopping convenience low labor cost of skilled ones WEAKNESSES:- Policy related issues: lack of industry status for retail numerous license, permits and registration requirements Limited consumer insight: lack of detailed region specific customer data less data on spending pattern Inadequate human resources: lack of trained personnel at all level stringent employment and industry laws fragment approach to human resources Taxation hurdle: inconsistent octroi and entry tax structure vat and multiple taxation issues large grey market presence OPPORTUNITIES:- Potential for investment Location advantage Sectors with high growth potential Fastest growing formats Rural retail Wholesale trading Falling real estate cost THREATS:- Political issues Social issues Inflation Nostalgia Lack of differentiation among the malls that are coming Poor inventory turns and stock availability measures CULTURE Culture refers to the traditions, norms, ethics and values prevailing in the society. Culture is a very important factor that a retailer should always keep in mind while fulfilling the needs and demands of consumers so that a customer can be fully satisfied from his/her purchase. LOCATION STRATEGY There are three things which are most important in retailing and those are- location, location, and location. Location is typically the prime consideration in a customers store choice decision. For example, when choosing where you are going to have your car washed, you usually pick the location closest to your home or work. Most consumers similarly shop at the supermarkets closest to them. Location decisions have strategic importance because they can be used to develop a sustainable competitive advantage. Location decisions are risky. Typically, when retailers select a location, they either make a substantial investment to buy and develop the real estate or commit to a long-term lease with developers. Location Strategy used by Familys Choice Shopping Complex The location strategy used by Familys Choice is very beneficial to it as the place is near to Taj Mahal, which has an advantage that every year a good number of tourists came to visit Taj Mahal and they can gain a good number of customers for their products. Mostly the tourists are very eager to buy different products at reasonable prices specially when they came only for visit, relaxation and nothing else, so Familys Choice will be best suited to them. This complex also consists of cafà © so people can also enjoy some delicious things during their visit and shopping. VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT A vision is a statement of any business which is short, clear and very inspiring. It represents what a business target and what it wants to achieve in the future. Vision statement is just like an image that a business must have some goals before setting that how it going to achieve all those goals. A Mission is a statement which represents that what is the purpose of the organization? And to create a sense of belongingness among employees so that they can be motivated and perform their duties with more responsibility. A mission statement should be short and clear about the goals and priorities of the organization VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT OF FAMILYS CHOICE SHOPPING COMPLEX VISION To become one of the most strongest leader in the Uttar Pradesh in the family products and services segment MISSION To provide best goods and services with full guarantee Selling products at reasonable prices Provide online shopping facility Offer high quality products at low prices Strive to become the best retailer in the whole India within 5-6 years PRODUCTS AND SERVICES PRODUCTS OFFERED BY FAMILYS CHOICE Household Products like:- Eatables Soaps Bed sheets and pillow covers House cleaning products Utensils Other products:- Toys Goods needed for daily use by men Goods needed for daily use by women Shoes Lingerie and hosiery Perfect seasonal clothes Cosmetics and perfumes Food and drink SERVICES OFFERED BY FAMILYS CHOICE Organizing your assets Reviewing asset allocations and insurance Strategizing your financial, retirement, tax, and estate plans Offering a plan to simplify, consolidate, and integrate every aspect of your financial future. MARKETING PLAN A Marketing Plan is a written document that details the necessary actions to achieve one or more marketing objectives. It can be for a product or service, a brand, or a product line. A marketing plan covers between one and five years. A marketing plan may be the part of an overall business plan. If u wants that your marketing plan should be strong than your marketing strategy should also be a strong one. A Retail Market Strategy consists of following points:- The Retailers target market The format the Retailer plans to use to satisfy the target markets needs The basis upon which the retailer plans to build a sustainable competitive advantage For the growth of my Familys Choice in future, I will focus on the following strategies:- MARKET PENETRATION:- A market penetration growth opportunity involves realizing growth by directing efforts toward existing customers using the retailers present retail format. And in my Familys Choice shopping complex, to meet this Market Penetration strategy, I will try to fully satisfy the existing needs of the customers by providing them goods and services of their choice and I will also go for charging reasonable prices so that more customers can be attracted towards Familys Choice. MARKET EXPANSION:- A Market Expansion Growth Opportunity involves using the existing retail format in new market segments. Familys choice is going to mainly target the household material for the ease of housewives and in order to expand its market, it will also provide goods required by kids and also the things which are commonly used by the men so that they can also buy some goods of their choice while coming with their wives for shopping. FORMAT DEVELOPMENT:- A retail format growth opportunity is an opportunity in which a retailer develops a new retail format-a format with different retail mix-for the same target market. In order to develop its format Familys Choice will also go for selling its products online and decided to create a website- www.familychoice.com so that people can get the products of their choice by sitting at home and to order the products on internet there would be free home delivery. DIVERSIFICATION:- A diversification growth opportunity is an opportunity in which a retailer introduces a new retail format directed towards a market segment thats not currently served by the retailer. In order to diversify the existing business of Familys Choice is planning to open its one more complex in any other state after it will successfully accepted by the people of Uttar Pradesh. MARKETING MIX Marketing Mix consists of the four components or FOUR Ps. PRODUCT:- A tangible object or an intangible service that is produced or manufactured on a large scale with a specific volume of units. PRICE:- A price is the amount that a customer is supposed to pay for a product. PLACE:- Place represents the location where a product can be purchased. It is often referred to as a distribution channel. PROMOTION:- It represents all the communications that a marketer may use in the marketplace. MARKETING MIX OF FAMILYS CHOICE PRODUCT:- Household Equipments like, Utensils, Flowerpots, plastic chairs, buckets, and goods of daily use like, soaps, toothpastes, eatables, harpics, and house cleaning products. For kids Familys Choice is going to offer products like, toys, clothes, protein diets etc. For men it is going to offer goods of their daily requirements PRICE:- Familys Choice is going to sell at reasonable prices and also going to offer discounts on certain products so that more number of people can be attracted and customers also feel more satisfied after paying the amount for their products than any other retail store. PLACE:- The location where Familys Choice is going to open is AGRA (Uttar Pradesh), and the place is near Taj Mahal. This place is selected because Taj Mahal is one of the big hub of people and tourists and it has been analysed that people can enjoy their shopping while they came to visit Taj Mahal and even tourists from outside Uttar Pradesh will also be attracted at this location. PROMOTION:- There are different channels to promote your products and services. Familys Choice is going to promote about its products and services through Newspapers, TV, Radio and Magazines so that more and more people can know about this newly open shopping complex. OPERATIONAL PLAN An Operational Plan is a subset of strategic work plan. It describes short-term ways of achieving goals and explains how, or what portion of, a strategic plan will put into operation during a given operational period, in the case of commercial application, a fiscal year or another budgetary term. An Operational Plan should consist of following things:- Clear objectives Activities to be delivered Quality standards Desired outcomes Staffing and resource equipments Implementation timetables A process of monitoring progress OPERATIONAL PLAN OF FAMILYS CHOICE FOCUS ON THE UTTAR PRADESH:- The first element of our organization is to focus on the Uttar Pradeshs customers, with a mission to provide good quality products at reasonable prices to all. We will provide products of different brands but mainly we focus on our own brands. We will focus on using highly innovative strategies to make our products more competitive and also to maintain direct relationship with suppliers. IMPROVED SEGMENTATION OF HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS:- Familys Choice will concentrate first on gaining the loyalty of core customers, who prefer good household products at reasonable prices. We will focus on the needs of all those women who are very conscious to collect good and different variety of products at their homes. We have planned to gain the confidence of customers in the quality and fit of its household products. DEVELOP HIGH GROWTH AREA OF HOUSE AND BEAUTY:- The home business is growing strongly, with home furnishings and gifts the fastest growing product areas. We have palnned to mostly focus on both these areas as they offer promising opportunities for development and can be expanded at fast track. ACCELERATE STORE RENEWAL PROGRAMMES:- Firstly Familys Choice shopping complex will entirely focus on this newly opened retail store so that a different and good image can be maintained in the minds of the customers and after 3-4 years of opening we will plan to go for more stores under low cost. We will also try to open our retail stores in other states of the country. IMPROVE THE SUPPLY CHAIN:- After the Familys Choice will successfully established in the market, we will try to see substantial benefits from the reconfiguration of the supply base, so that the primary margins in the household segment can be increased. And our main priority would be to eliminate duplication and increase transparency. We will also try to establish closer working relations with the supply partners. FINANCIAL PLAN A financial plan can be a budget, a plan for spending and saving future income. This plan allocates the future income to various types of expenses, such as rent or utilities, and also reserves some income for short-term and long-term savings. A financial plan can also be an investment plan, which allocates savings to various assets or projects expected to produce future income, such as a new business or product line, shares in the existing business, or real estate. A financial plan can refer to the three primary financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement) created within a business plan. OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF FINANCIAL PLAN 1.FINANCIAL:- In financial plan, mostly people discuss about the profit margins of past, present and future but the main consideration is on Return on Investment (ROI). It refers to take a decision that how you are going to invest your money so that you can get maximum returns. 2. SOCIETAL: Societal objectives are related to broader issues about providing benefits to society-making the worlds better place to live. It also include offering people unique merchandise, such as environmental sensitive products, providing an innovative service to improve personal health, such as weight reduction programs, or sponsoring community events. PERSONAL: Every business has their own important personal objectives, including self-gratification, status, and respect. For example, the owner/operator of a book store may find it rewarding to interact with others who like reading and authors that visit the store for book-signing promotions. FINANCIAL PLAN OF FAMILYS CHIOCE SHOPPING COMPLEX Mainly Familys Choice shopping complex will financially focus on building a customer relationship with clients in order to better understand the clients dreams. Familys Choice financial helps you PLAN by simplifying the demands of managing your wealth in order to enable you to devote time to your family, your personal endeavors, and your business. Familys Choice will include the following costs and expenses that are going to incur:- Business registration fees Business licensing and permits Starting inventory Rent deposits Down payments on property Down payments on equipments Utility set up fees Familys Choice is going to incur following operating costs:- Salaries Rent or mortgage payments Telecommunications Raw materials Storage Distribution Promotion Loan payments Office supplies Maintenance BALANCE SHEET OF FAMILYS CHOICE SHOPPING COMPLEX (in crores) Liabilities Amount Assets Amount Called up share capital 716.9 Fixed Assets Share premium A/C 375.6 Land Building 2,735.5 Revaluation Reserve 445.6 Fit out, fixtures, fittings Capital redemption 2.6 and equipments 1,722.9 Profit Loss 3,094.7 Assets in the course of Interests 15.6 construction 522.8 Creditors 2,438 Investments 58.3 Current Assets Stock 1,335 Investments 260.0 Cash at bank 301.1 Cash in hand 154.4 TOTAL 7,089 TOTAL 7,089 INCOME STATEMENT OF FAMILYS CHOICE SHOPPING COMPLEX (in crores) Particulars Amount Revenue 9,062.1 Operating Profits 870.7 Finance Income 50.0 Finance Costs (214.5) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 706.2 Analysed between:- Before property disposals and exceptional items 604.4 Profit on property disposal 6.4 Exceptional costs (135.9) Exceptional pension credit 231.3 Income tax expense (199.4) Profit for the year 506.8 Attributable to:- Equity shareholders of the company 508.0 Minority interests (1.2) TOTAL 506.8 7Ps ANALYSIS OF FAMILYS CHOICE SHOPPING COMPLEX PRODUCT:- Familys Choice offer a wide range of products which range from apparels, food products, households products, toys and products of daily use of men. We have planned to most of the products of big brands only at reasonable prices. PRICE:- The tag line is ek baar auoge toh aur kahin nahi jaoge. Familys Choice will work on the model of economies of scale and the pricing objective is to get Maximum Market Share and it will use the following techniques:- Value Pricing:- Familys Choice promises consumers the lowest available without coupon clipping, waiting for discount promotions, or comparison shopping. Promotional Pricing:- Family Choice have decided to offer financing at low interest rates. The concept of psychological discounting (Rs.99, Rs. 49 etc.) is used as promotional tool. It will also cater on Special Event Pricing (close to Diwali and Durge Pooja etc.). Differentiated Pricing:- Time Pricing i.e., difference in rate based on peak and non-peak hours or days of shopping is also a pricing technique used in Indian retail, which is aggressively used by Familys Choice Shopping Complex. PLACE: Familys Choice is going to locate in AGRA (Uttar Pradesh) and after some years of establishing will also try to make its presence in the other big cities of India. PROMOTION: Familys Choice has planned to provide many new and innovative cross-sell and up-sell strategies in Indian retail market. The various promotion techniques that Familys Choice is going to use are start with your best savings, buy 1 get 1 free, and your own shopping complex etc. PEOPLE: People are the key assets for any organization. The salient features of the staff of Familys choice are: Well trained staff, the staff that Familys Choice is going to employ is well-suited for modern retail. Well dressed staff improves the overall appearance of store. Employees are motivated to think out-of-the-box. Retail sector is in growth stage, so staff is empowered to take innovative steps. PROCESS: The goods dispatch and purchasing area has certain salient features which include:- Multiple counters with trolleys to carry the items purchased. Proper display/posters of the place like (DAL, SOAP etc.) Also thinking to start with home delivery counters PHYSICAL EVIDENCE: It is going to deal with the final deliverable or the display of the written facts. This includes the system that we are going to follow and also the availabilities. ADVERTISING STARATEGIES OF FAMILYS CHOICE Tag-Line: Familys Choice is going to use its tag-line as the key components of advertising. The tag-lines are going to be modified according to the demographic profile of customers. These catch phrases appeared on hoardings and newspapers in every city to make the people more aware about it. The catch line includes- ek baar auoge toh kahin nahi jaoge. Print Ads: Familys Choice newspaper advertisements are present just before launch of any new scheme. This creates a different image about big the Familys Choice in the minds of the people. TV Ads: Familys Choice spends alots of money in brand building exercise. Familys Choice commercials are shown on various channels in India. Road-side Advertisements: Familys Choice bill-boards are displayed on prime locations in various cities as a brand building exercise. Radio Ads: This technique is used in different cities. Now-a-days it is replaced by advertisements on FM channels. This informs customers about all the new happenings at Familys Choice. Brand Endorsement by Celebrity: Familys Choice will always be associated with celebrities for advertising and marketing of its brand name. STORE FORMATS OF FAMILYS CHOICE CORE STORES: Familys Choice core stores typically feature a selection of the companys household ranges and a Familys Choice Food hall. The range of products sold and the space given to it depends on the stores location and customer demographic. Most core store feature a food hall. Familys Choice also planned to sell a limited range of other brands, such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, without reducing the number of Familys Choice goods they sold. HOSPITALITY: In the coming years when Familys Choice will expand its business, the stores will also feature some part of hospitality offering, usually in the form of Familys Choice cafà ©. The cafà © offering typically include coffees and teas, pastries, toasted sandwiches, soups and cakes. The company will also try to open Espresso Bar in some stores, which specialized in drinks only. HOME STORES: Already Familys Choice will mainly focus on the household products but we have also planned new dedicated stores for home furnishings to be launched soon. OUTLET STORES: Familys Choice has a strong idea about outlet stores and their growth expansion plans for the future. The outlet division decided to offer at least 30% discount from their original prices on their own products.

My Antonia Essay: Theme of Separation -- My Antonia Essays

Theme of Separation in My Antonia    My Antonia, by Willa Cather, is a book tracing the story of a young man, Jim Burden, and his relationship with a young woman, Antonia Shimerda. Jim narrates the entire story in first person, relating accounts and memories of his childhood with Antonia. He traces his journey to the Nebraska where he and Antonia meet and grow up. Jim looks back on all of his childhood scenes with Antonia with nearly heartbreaking nostalgia. My Antonia, is a book that makes many parallels to the sadness and frailty, but also the quiet beauty in life, and leaves the reader with a sense of profound sorrow. One of the main ways Cather is able to invoke these emotions in the reader is through the ongoing theme of separation. Willa Cather develops her theme of separation through death, the changing seasons, characters leaving and the process of growing apart.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cather sets the tone of the story at the very beginning; a young Jim Burden's parents have died leaving him to go to Nebraska to live with his grandparents. Right from the start Cather plants the seeds of abandonment, with the finality of death, in Jim's life. When he arrives in Nebraska he is very numb to life, but he is soon caught up in daily life on his grandparents' farm. He is blissfully happy when he first meets Antonia. They become great friends and share numerous adventures. Cather uses brief, beautifully descriptive and nostalgic recollections of situations and feelings to increase the pain and sadness of the separations that she places throughout the book. An excellent example of this is the way Cather builds up to Mr. Shimerda's suicide.      Mrs. Cath... ...      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mrs. Cather's carefully drawn parallels in the story that build up to Antonia and Jim's separation was a truly effective method of pointing out its tragedy. However she also used other tools, such as imagery and short anecdotes to further convey her message. All together these elements, plus a good story and plot make My Antonia an excellent all around book, worthy of being called a classic.    Professors Comments: Underline titles of novels. Using quotes from the book would strengthen your paper. Quotes prove to the reader that you have a valid argument. You discuss imagery in your paper to prove certain points about the separation theme. Direct quotes would have been useful.   You attempt to discuss parallelism only on one occasion. This discussion should be expanded.

Defender of the Faith Theme Essays -- Defender of the Faith

Defender of the Faith Theme Theme in â€Å"Defender of the Faith† can be interpreted in many varying ways, some of which are life-long lessons and others to the relation between faith and the individual. Throughout much of the story, Nathan Marx is lost between his role as a sergeant, Jew and human being. The relationship between the church, state and individual is a well-known concept. The three must be independent of each other and this story explores what happens when the three are forced together. His religion starts the whole process of the three intertwining. As his grandmother said, â€Å"Mercy overrides justice.† The quote reflects Marx’s human side, where feelings dominate over duty. I think the theme warns about faith interfering with government and vice versa, with the single ...