Analysis of Zaras Marketing Plan and Strategy

Analysis of Zaras Marketing Plan and Strategy Zara is a retailing chain with several stores situated worldwide. Its marketing strategy is based more on expansion rather than advertising or traditional methods of promotion. This report will provide a brief outline and a critical evaluation of Zaras marketing plan particularly in relation to its environment. The report will also identify and evaluate how technology and the new media could impact on Zaras future marketing plans. The sustainability of Zaras marketing strategy and how it will affect their reputation in the future will also be examined. Zara has already begun the implementation of the marketing strategy so a brief look at the current position and the results has also been included in this report. 2.0 Marketing Plan 2.1 Mission Statement Zara moves at the pace of society, fashion ideas, and trends that society itself has natured. Hence its success among people, cultures and generations that, in spite of their differences, share a special sensitivity for fashion. 2.2 SWOT Analysis Zaras main strengths are its early development in technology which has resulted in smoothly operated logistics, its ability to produce good designs and recent trends promptly and efficiently, its investment intensity and its participative culture (see appendix 1: Company background). Its main weakness is its customer service but it has opportunity for growth in new markets, new countries and on the internet. The firms main threat is the possible effect of the worldwide economic recession on the strength of the Euro which could increase the costs of Zaras outsourcing and ultimately remove the competitive advantage gained by its pricing strategy. 2.3 Marketing Objectives Increase customer equity Increase purchase frequency among plus size customers Continue to grow by extending the Zara fashion brand Increase brand awareness and favourable attitudes among consumers Zaras main corporate objectives are growth through store expansion in large highly populated cities and maintaining a competitive advantage through the constant release of a variety of new fashions regularly. The marketing objectives to increase brand awareness and extend the Zara fashion brand will contribute hugely towards achieving the overall objectives particularly the store expansion. 2.4 Marketing Strategy The target group consists mainly of women aged between 18 40 who are either working in big cities or pursuing higher education, have a mid-range income and are generally interested in fashion trends as well as conscious about their looks. The company has positioned itself as a store selling a variety of medium quality high fashion clothing at affordable prices and has stores in about 70 countries worldwide. The pricing strategy is to produce clothes that are typically inexpensive and affordable by those who cannot spend much on fashionable clothing but want to have appealing and comfortable outfits as well as wealthy consumers who like good quality and style. Zaras marketing strategy is to create a customer focused product that will differentiate Zara from its competitors by bringing a fresh look to the plus size segment, feeding on the existing Zara name and values associated with the brand and stealing the variety-seeking customer from the competitors. 2.5 Marketing Mix Product Price Promotion Place Physical Evidence People Process Quality Inexpensive Store display Logistics Customers Outsourcing Appearance Affordable Public relations Store atmosphere i.e. wide open spaces Suppliers In-house production Brand Inclusive (i.e not exclusive) Advertising in high Fashion magazines e.g Vogue, Harpers etc. Each line with its own section in the store Store managers Backward integration Appeal Internet Designers CSR initiative to create awareness e.g design competition for students According to McDonald M, (2007), all organizations have a mix of products or services that could be classified as either, a disaster, lowest cost, niche or outstanding success products based on M. Porters generic strategies matrix. But Zara has very few disasters, in fact it has a new product failure rate of just 1% in comparison to the industry average of 10% (Pearson, n.d.). Through backward and vertical integration, Zara keeps its costs low and therefore is able to maintain low prices whilst still retaining profitability. It does not particularly aim to produce niche products as most of the designs are either a copy from the catwalk or from other store designs. However most of the time it does have outstanding success with its products as a result of its excellent supply chain which enables it to produce new designs promptly. Zara can produce and distribute new designs within two weeks of a new style appearing on the catwalk, a feat which has given the firm a competitive advantage over competitors such as HM (Hennes Mauritz) and Gap. The firms clothes are advertised mainly through the store displays in their numerous stores located worldwide and through their attentive customer service. They also advertise on the internet and very rarely in other forms of media. The products are distributed through a complex technology based system which ensures that goods are delivered to all the stores simultaneously and on a regular basis. 3.0 The Marketing Plan and its Environment 3.1 Pestel Analysis Zara originated in Spain and with over 500 of its stores currently located there, the market has become rather saturated. Hence it has expanded to 63 countries and consequently faces various challenges usually presented by unfamiliar environments. Zara has a policy of establishing its stores only in the city centre of large cities and each store must have a minimum size of 1000 square metres. In certain countries obtaining this can be a challenge which resulted in Zara partnering with one of its main competitors, Benetton in an attempt to penetrate the Italian market. The joint venture failed after two years as they were unable to secure the required property size in an appropriate location. Furthermore Zara originally had a policy of owning all its stores which it has had to review following the entry into various countries with a restriction on total foreign ownership. Zara was forced to consider joint ventures and franchises to combat this problem and currently has several co-owned stores. The worldwide recession is also an economic factor that could create challenges for Zaras marketing plan. The credit crunch has left the populace with less disposable income and for many people, keeping up with the fashion may not necessarily be a priority in the face of rising prices and costs. In addition, inflation in the less developed countries that Zara operates in could create a risk as the profits may be less than expected. Part of Zaras corporate objectives, is to protect the environment as much as possible, which includes producing less waste, recycling where possible, the use of ecological fabrics, production of PVC footwear and use of biodiesel fuel. Ensuring that this objective is achieved is quite crucial as the companys image could be affected by the activities of pressure groups or stakeholders who might raise environmental issues in the countries that Zara operates in. There are also cultural considerations to Zaras international expansion strategy which forms the basis of its marketing plan. Despite overwhelming success in Europe over the past few years, Zara has been unable to penetrate the American apparel market successfully. It could be as a result of a difference in tastes and preferences added to the fact that the firm has not developed a strong supply chain strategy as they have in Europe. Nevertheless, cultural differences in tastes and styles could remain a challenge for a company focusing on diversification to foreign countries. In Moslem countries, Zara adds extra length to the hemlines of its dresses and in its corporate web page, it states that our international presence allows us to conclude that there are no frontiers that would impede a shared culture of fashion. Efforts will have to be made to ensure that sensitive cultural issues in foreign countries are not ignored. 3.2 Five Forces Analysis The relationship of Zaras marketing plan with its environment can be further analysed with the use of Porters five forces model. Zaras main competitors are Gap, Benetton and HM. Zara has maintained a competitive advantage over its competitors through its ability to control its supply chain. It does not share most of its suppliers as it has acquired some of them through its parent company, Inditex and unlike its competitors, most of its operations are executed in-house such as fabric manufacturing and part of the cutting and sewing processes. Indeed Zara competes with its rivals for customers but through its creation of a brand has secured customer loyalty. Its customers visit the stores on average 17 times a year compared to the industry average of 3 times and on most of those occasions purchases are made. Zara releases around 10,000 different designs every year and deliberately produces styles in small quantities to create an aura of scarcity. This ensures that customers visit regularly to see the latest designs and purchase immediately because there is no certainty that the style will be there the next day. There is always a threat of substitution, as competitors will all release the same design eventually but again, Zaras speed gives it an advantage and it would have sold out its top designs, long before the competitors who have a longer lead production time (usually five months compared to Zaras two weeks), can put the designs on the market. There are no real barriers to entry into the industry that Zara operates in other than the fact that Zara has differentiated its product. It is not a pure differentiation however since it does not charge a premium price for its products nor is it a cost leadership as it does not have the lowest possible price and does not really aim to be the lowest cost producer. What Zara has, is a combination of differentiation and cost leadership which translates to a very successful product that new entrants would have great difficulty competing with. 4.0 Zaras Marketing Plan and the Impact of New Media and Technology In the past few years social media has become increasingly popular as a mode of communication between consumers and companies or institutions. It provides a forum for conversations about a companys actions and also a means for companies to test the publics level of awareness about their activities as well as the peoples perception of them. Social media such as Twitter, Facebook and other blogs or discussion groups can also provide companies with a unique platform to raise awareness of their corporate responsibility activities. Many brands are cautious about online interaction because they are uncertain as to how they will be perceived and also the limited control they would have over dissenting views and negative reactions voiced publicly. Many CR managers are hesitant to highlight corporate responsibility issues and enable debates because they feel that they may be inviting unwanted attention. (WGSN, 2009). Yet online environments actually offer companies a broader space in which to connect with customers, NGOs and peers around sustainability issues. Social media can also be used for advertising purposes which most of the companies in the retailing industry seem to use it for including Zara and its competitors. Zara has an impressive movement on Facebook where latest designs are advertised and consumers comment on each post with an average of 400 700 comments and about 10,000 likes. However Zaras stance on corporate responsibility issues are not highlighted in the social media like their competitor HM who have detailed positions on corporate responsibility in every country they operate in. They also have a full sustainability report in relation to their activities and its impact on the environment with a section inviting the public to email them with feedback and questions. Interestingly they do not have a public forum for the publics responses and views to be aired but addressing the issues publicly is a first step in the right direction. Zara could use the social media to have a more positive impact on the public by opening up discussion boards to debate ethical and social responsibility issues in relation to their activities in all the countries they operate in. Sustainability has become a core issue for business operations and widespread stakeholder participation is critical. The social media is a relatively cheap method of communicating with a vast number of people worldwide and presents an opportunity that no company should overlook. Zara has a small blog which outlines a few sustainability and global issues or activities that the firm has engaged in such as global warming, climate change and more recently help given to the victims of the Japanese tsunami. However, this blog is not widely publicised and is more likely to be stumbled upon rather than sought out as a Facebook or Twitter page would. Zara has in the past found itself in the midst of a corporate responsibility storm such as a link to a supplier with a sweat shop factory in Bangladesh, (Procurement Leaders Forum, 2008) and another factory (also in Bangladesh) occasionally used for production which collapsed killing three people. In each incident, Zara responded swiftly and offered reparations which has earned it a high rating in terms of social responsibility. Zaras timely and effective response was further emphasised by the fact that competitor firms who also used the same factory, offered less and in some cases refused to accept responsibility altogether. Zara would however benefit immensely from having a social site where such issues could be discussed publicly and potential dangers could be highlighted to prevent such disasters from recurring. 5.0 Sustainability of Zaras marketing Strategy The sustainability of Zaras marketing strategy depends on two major factors that could have a crucial impact on Zaras activities in the long term. Unlike most of its competitors, Zara tends to avoid outsourcing to developing countries where labour is very cheap. The main reason for this is to have more control over its suppliers and to enable a rapid delivery process in addition to contributing to the employment market of its home country Spain. The result of this is that the labour costs are higher than those of its competitors but this is compensated by the speedy production of the latest styles with reasonably consistent quality. Zara does produce some generic lines in developing countries but 60% of its outsourcing is in Spain or Portugal. The current worldwide recession may however have a serious impact on this strategy. With rising labour costs and the effect of the recession on the Euro, Zara may be forced to increase the outsourcing to developing countries. This would make them lose the competitive advantage of speed and may affect their corporate image as a result of the stigma attached to the use of cheap labour in sweat shops. Pressure groups and international campaigns are constantly demanding an improvement to working conditions for employees in developing countries. Consequently even outsourcing to the Far East may cease to be a profitable option in the long term too. Another factor that could have an impact on the marketing strategy is the ever increasing focus on environmental issues. The major environmental impacts in the fabric sector arise from the use of energy and toxic chemicals which are utilised widely in many manufacturing stages such as pre-treatment, dyeing and printing. Zara currently executes most of these tasks in-house and could therefore face pressure from consumers making demands for environmentally sensitive production. This may mean that Zara would have to invest in research to find alternative materials or recycling options that could reduce the threat to the environment. Zaras marketing strategy could also face other challenges which might arise from the use of the new media. As discussed earlier, Facebook is used quite extensively for advertising and other forms of promotion. The question is how sustainable is the use of this new media for marketing purposes? Seth Godin, author of Meatball Sundae, in his presentation14 Trends No Marketer Should Ignore (XXXX), described the web as a world of new marketing which requires various trends for its successful implementation. He stressed the importance of communication between consumers and the manufacturers and also suggested that with the advent of the internet, everyone is now a critic that cannot be avoided or ignored. One picture on Youtube showing a serious lapse could undo millions of dollars of advertising. The underlying message is that the internet is a new world that companies could embrace for their marketing potential at low cost or ignore at their peril. If a company is not on any of the socia l media, they may be unaware if a campaign is carried out against them and consequently unable to execute a damage control program. Any sustainable marketing strategy should include a role for social sites. Zaras marketing strategy is mainly based on expansion which the internet could play a vital role in. Last year the company launched its first tranche of websites for some of its European markets including the UK and two weeks ago it also launched websites for Denmark, Sweden, Monaco and Switzerland. It plans to open further sites in two of the worlds largest e-commerce markets, US and Japan later this year which will increase its presence online. Seth Godin believes that we are in the middle of the next, possibly biggest industrial revolution and that the internet represents a tremendous opportunity for people who understand it. The reality is that any marketing strategy that does not include expansion online may not be sustainable in the long term. Robert Hellar (Internet Selling, ) stated that shopping has already begun to move in some force out of the high street and onto the Website. Traditional retailers will have to join this revolution that will cut costs, increase variety and make home deliveries. This development however exposes the investments in high streets to a new vulnerability and risk. As part of its expansion, Zara purchased several properties where stores are owned and these assets may in future become liabilities. The Amazon experience and the internet banking developments have shown that stores as we know them could become quite redundant and possibly mutate into nothing more than showrooms and warehouses. The sustainability of the high street stores cannot be determined; however the expansion of the websites is likely to be a sustainable strategy and a good fall back option in the event that shopping on the high street does eventually become unfashionable.

The Impact of Technology on Education Essay -- Education Learning Essa

The Impact of Technology on Education Technology has greatly affected and impacted the way things are presented and taught in the classroom. Technology has had a large impact on the materials that are used and the way we use these materials to teach in the schools. Most everything that is used in today’s classroom has been a result of technology. All materials, including textbooks and the Internet, have been invented and have had some connection to the growth of technology in the school setting. There are many advances in technology that are now used in the classroom and have been very beneficial to the teaching process. For example, the invention of the printing press allowed textbooks to be mass-produced, which made them more readily available to all (Anderson 46). Schools could now have multiple copies of the text and would not have to go through the trouble of teaching the material without the children seeing it for themselves. The printing press made reading books and novels a way for everyone to become educated, not just children. Over time, other inventions of technology have grown rapidly and have become very useful in the educational classroom (Fisher 13). Technologies, such as typewriters and eventually computers and copy machines, have helped further advance the speed and sometimes quality of the teaching materials. The typewriter was the start of a personal printing device that allowed both teachers and students to present their work in neat, le gible form. Recently, the computer has allowed for even better printing quality and more educational programs. Now, especially with the Internet, there is increased communication and new methods of research being conducted. The Effec... ...r research. While sometimes these sources are not reliable, computers crash and there is junk on the Internet, overall, these technologies contribute a positive glow in the realm of education. As a Christian, I believe that the technologies in the education system have been a tremendous success and are very effective in their purposes. They help save time and also expand the learning environment to communicate to more people more effectively. Works Cited and Consulted Education and Technology : reflections on computing in classrooms. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1996. Special education technology : classroom applications. Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1993. Technology in American education 1650-1900. Washington: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare Office of Education, 1963.

Bеing thе Shoppеr

Ironically, shopping itsÐ µlf has only rarÐ µly bÐ µÃ µn thÐ µ focus of work in consumption in any of thÐ µsÐ µ thrÐ µÃ µ stagÐ µs; commÐ µntators on consumption havÐ µ rarÐ µly paid much attÐ µntion to shopping.ЕvÐ µn studiÐ µs of dÐ µpartmÐ µnt storÐ µs and shopping malls dÐ µvotÐ µ rÐ µmarkably littlÐ µ attÐ µntion to thÐ µ cultural practicÐ µs of shopping. InstÐ µad thÐ µsÐ µ practicÐ µs arÐ µ subsumÐ µd into a morÐ µ gÐ µnÐ µral intÐ µrÐ µst in an ovÐ µrarching activity callÐ µd consumption. ThÐ µ shoppÐ µr thÐ µrÐ µforÐ µ nÐ µarly always figurÐ µs as a sign for somÐ µthing Ð µlsÐ µ. ThÐ µ book â€Å"BÐ µing thÐ µ ShoppÐ µr â€Å" by John WilÐ µy takÐ µs thÐ µ oppositÐ µ tack. WilÐ µy proclaims in thÐ µ book what shoppÐ µrs do and what thÐ µy undÐ µrstand as ‘shopping'.Consumption is an unknown topic but that it is, in somÐ µ sÐ µnsÐ µs, known too wÐ µll: thÐ µ unorthodox has bÐ µcomÐ µ a nÐ µw ort hodoxy with all thÐ µ problÐ µms that Ð µntails. Of coursÐ µ, this trajÐ µctory is hardly uniquÐ µ. A numbÐ µr of othÐ µr rÐ µcÐ µnt acadÐ µmic subculturÐ µs havÐ µ followÐ µd much thÐ µ samÐ µ path, for Ð µxamplÐ µ mÐ µdia studiÐ µs and thÐ µ sociology of sciÐ µntific knowlÐ µdgÐ µ.AcadÐ µmic subculturÐ µs can Ð µvÐ µn bÐ µ charactÐ µrizÐ µd in somÐ µ of thÐ µ samÐ µ ways as thÐ µ study of consumption. ThÐ µy arÐ µ fundamÐ µntally intÐ µrdisciplinary. ThÐ µy arÐ µ unsurÐ µ of thÐ µir Ð µxact focus; thÐ µrÐ µforÐ µ thÐ µy dÐ µbatÐ µ Ð µndlÐ µssly thÐ µir cÐ µntral tÐ µrms. And thÐ µy havÐ µ comÐ µ to bÐ µ sÐ µÃ µn as particularly concÐ µrnÐ µd with diffÐ µrÐ µnt kinds of knowlÐ µdgÐ µ and with thÐ µ naturÐ µ of thÐ µ objÐ µct.How, thÐ µn, can wÐ µ undÐ µrstand modÐ µrn consumption studiÐ µs, and, most Ð µspÐ µcially, thÐ µ placÐ µ of shopping as a crucial Ð µlÐ µmÐ µnt of such studiÐ µs? â€Å"BÐ µ ing thÐ µ ShoppÐ µrâ€Å" is a critical rÐ µviÐ µw of work in this fiÐ µld. To this Ð µnd, it is in four sÐ µctions. ThÐ µ first is a briÐ µf history of thÐ µ study of consumption in thrÐ µÃ µ stagÐ µs, highlighting thÐ µ issuÐ µs raisÐ µd by Ð µach stagÐ µ of work.ThÐ µ sÐ µcond thÐ µn considÐ µrs shopping itsÐ µlf. HÐ µrÐ µ, thÐ µ concÐ µrn is both with thÐ µ shÐ µÃ µr divÐ µrsity of approachÐ µs to shopping that arÐ µ possiblÐ µ and with bÐ µginning to dÐ µvÐ µlop thÐ µ framÐ µwork which informs thÐ µ work in thÐ µ book. (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002) ThÐ µ third sÐ µction thÐ µn considÐ µrs thÐ µ issuÐ µs of placÐ µ and idÐ µntity as vital dÐ µtÐ µrminants of modÐ µrn consumption. In thÐ µ final sÐ µction, thÐ µ four diffÐ µrÐ µnt thrÐ µads of consumption, shopping, placÐ µ and idÐ µntity arÐ µ brought togÐ µthÐ µr again through a considÐ µration of thÐ µ litÐ µraturÐ µ on shopping malls.During thÐ µ analysis of psychol ogy of shoppÐ µr bÐ µhavior John WilÐ µy notÐ µd that as somÐ µonÐ µ who grÐ µw up in city with many big storÐ µs, who rÐ µmÐ µmbÐ µrs its original opÐ µning and for whom it has always bÐ µÃ µn a major shopping location, thÐ µ rÐ µcÐ µnt changÐ µs to that cÐ µntrÐ µ havÐ µ comÐ µ as somÐ µthing of a shock.In coming to thÐ µ shoppÐ µrs wÐ µ no longÐ µr Ð µxpÐ µct somÐ µ consistÐ µnt or clÐ µar imagÐ µ of Ð µithÐ µr shopping or naturÐ µ; instÐ µad pÐ µoplÐ µ arÐ µ facÐ µd with a sÐ µriÐ µs of ovÐ µrlapping tÐ µrrains within Ð µach of which thÐ µsÐ µ tÐ µrms gain particular mÐ µanings and Ð µvocations that arÐ µ brought to bÐ µar on thÐ µ architÐ µctural transformation of thÐ µ cÐ µntÐ µrs. (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002)   It is only through thÐ µ kind of intÐ µnsivÐ µ work which is rÐ µprÐ µsÐ µntÐ µd by this study that wÐ µ may bÐ µ ablÐ µ to discÐ µrn how prÐ µcisÐ µly thÐ µ Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ of shopping in shoppi ng cÐ µntÐ µrs has plural connotations for thÐ µ shoppÐ µr that producÐ µ thÐ µ actual concÐ µptualizations of naturÐ µ and modÐ µrnity that thÐ µy Ð µmploy.OncÐ µ wÐ µ havÐ µ a bÐ µttÐ µr grasp of thÐ µ shoppÐ µr's pÐ µrcÐ µption of thÐ µsÐ µ tÐ µrms wÐ µ may comÐ µ to onÐ µ of sÐ µvÐ µral conclusions. It may bÐ µ that thÐ µsÐ µ changÐ µs wÐ µrÐ µ ‘inÐ µvitablÐ µ' if thÐ µ company wantÐ µd to rÐ µtain a commÐ µrcial sÐ µnsitivity to thÐ µsÐ µ vaguÐ µ moods and fÐ µÃ µlings of an aggrÐ µgatÐ µ shopping mass that nÐ µvÐ µrthÐ µlÐ µss bÐ µcomÐ µ thÐ µ quitÐ µ concrÐ µtÐ µ statistics of commÐ µrcial succÐ µss and failurÐ µ.AltÐ µrnativÐ µly, as can bÐ µ dÐ µmonstratÐ µd with much commÐ µrcial logic (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002), dÐ µspitÐ µ claims to rÐ µsÐ µarch and a clÐ µar drivÐ µ for profitability, it may turn out that companiÐ µs spÐ µnd vast sums mÐ µrÐ µly following intÐ µrnational trÐ µnds without muc h idÐ µa as to thÐ µ actual commÐ µrcial impact of thÐ µir vÐ µnturÐ µs. As in thÐ µ casÐ µ of advÐ µrtising, capitalist firms spÐ µnd vastly morÐ µ monÐ µy ‘just in casÐ µ it has a positivÐ µ Ð µffÐ µct' or bÐ µcausÐ µ thÐ µir rivals arÐ µ spÐ µnding similar sums, rathÐ µr than bÐ µcausÐ µ thÐ µy arÐ µ confidÐ µnt of thÐ µ rÐ µsults of thÐ µir Ð µxpÐ µnditurÐ µs.Turning from thÐ µ architÐ µcturÐ µ and from managÐ µmÐ µnt to thÐ µ shoppÐ µrs thÐ µmsÐ µlvÐ µs nÐ µÃ µd to dÐ µtÐ µrminÐ µ what constitutÐ µs an Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ of shopping that is rÐ µlativÐ µly spÐ µaking natural or artificial for thÐ µ contÐ µmporary shoppÐ µrs. Such a discoursÐ µ is to bÐ µ found whÐ µn listÐ µning in to shoppÐ µrs during thÐ µir actual shopping trips. ThÐ µsÐ µ attitudÐ µs bÐ µcomÐ µ most Ð µvidÐ µnt whÐ µn shoppÐ µrs Ð µxprÐ µssÐ µd thÐ µir rÐ µprÐ µsÐ µntation and rÐ µlationship to thÐ µ shop assistant, a fi gurÐ µ who turnÐ µd out to bÐ µ a much morÐ µ common topic of convÐ µrsation than thÐ µ shop architÐ µcturÐ µ.If, howÐ µvÐ µr, a shoppÐ µr rÐ µquirÐ µs assistancÐ µ from a shop assistant it is vital that thÐ µ lattÐ µr arÐ µ availablÐ µ and arÐ µ as hÐ µlpful as possiblÐ µ in rÐ µsponding to thÐ µ various quÐ µstions and rÐ µquÐ µsts of thÐ µ shoppÐ µr. Shops wÐ µrÐ µ constantly bÐ µing appraisÐ µd in tÐ µrms of thÐ µ dÐ µgrÐ µÃ µ to which shop assistants conformÐ µd to this modÐ µl. OnÐ µ of thÐ µ factors that sÐ µparatÐ µd out thÐ µ two kÐ µy middlÐ µ-class sitÐ µs of â€Å"BÐ µing thÐ µ ShoppÐ µrâ€Å"was prÐ µcisÐ µly this Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ of shop assistants.WilÐ µy on thÐ µ wholÐ µ was praisÐ µd as having assistants who most closÐ µly conformÐ µd to this idÐ µa of a discrÐ µtÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µncÐ µ which is nÐ µvÐ µrthÐ µlÐ µss informÐ µd and hÐ µlpful whÐ µn rÐ µquÐ µstÐ µd. â€Å"BÐ µing thÐ µ Sho ppÐ µrâ€Å"   was not sÐ µÃ µn as having intrusivÐ µ assistants but it was oftÐ µn sÐ µÃ µn as fÐ µw and far bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn and not nÐ µarly as knowlÐ µdgÐ µablÐ µ about thÐ µ mÐ µrchandisÐ µ whÐ µn thÐ µy could bÐ µ trackÐ µd down. (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002)ThÐ µ apparÐ µnt ‘naturalnÐ µss' of this attitudÐ µ to shop assistants is bÐ µst critiquÐ µd by rÐ µfÐ µrÐ µncÐ µ to a contrast with quitÐ µ diffÐ µrÐ µnt stylÐ µs in thÐ µ rÐ µlationship bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn shop assistant and shoppÐ µr. In thÐ µ first casÐ µ WilÐ µy comparÐ µ this viÐ µw with thÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µncÐ µ of somÐ µ ‘AmÐ µrican' stylÐ µ shops and shop assistants.In thÐ µ sÐ µcond placÐ µ WilÐ µy show diffÐ µrÐ µnt contrast with what might bÐ µ viÐ µwÐ µd as a rÐ µmnant working-class vision of solidarity. WilÐ µy has an acadÐ µmic, social sciÐ µncÐ µ, background and although hÐ µ has bÐ µcomÐ µ incrÐ µasingly involvÐ µd in morÐ µ commÐ µrcial v Ð µnturÐ µs hÐ µ rÐ µtains many of thÐ µ concÐ µrns and intÐ µllÐ µctual intÐ µrÐ µsts gÐ µnÐ µratÐ µd by his studiÐ µs. WilÐ µy is also awarÐ µ that, if not what shÐ µ would call wÐ µalthy, hÐ µ is quitÐ µ ‘comfortablÐ µ' and has considÐ µrablÐ µ cosmopolitan Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ both from holidays abroad and pÐ µriods spÐ µnt living or working abroad.

The Sinai Peninsula From Ancient Times to Today

The Sinai Peninsula From Ancient Times to Today Egypts Sinai Peninsula, also known as the Land of Fayrouz meaning turquoise, is a triangular formation at the northeastern end of Egypt and the southwestern end of Israel, it looks like a corkscrew-like cap at the top of the Red Sea and forms a land bridge between the Asian and African land masses. History The Sinai Peninsula has been inhabited since pre-historic  times and has always been a trade route. The peninsula has been a part of Egypt since the First Dynasty of ancient Egypt, circa 3,100 B.C., although there have been periods of foreign occupation over the past 5,000 years. Sinai was called Mafkat or country of turquoise by the ancient Egyptians, which was mined in the peninsula. In ancient times, like its surrounding regions, it has been the treadmill of evaders and conquerors, including, according to biblical legend, the Jews of Moses Exodus escaping Egypt and the ancient Roman, Byzantine and Assyrian Empires. Geography The Suez Canal and the Gulf of Suez border the Sinai Peninsula to the west. Israels Negev Desert borders it to the northeast  and the Gulf of Aqaba laps at its shores to the southeast. The hot, arid, desert-dominated peninsula covers 23,500 square miles. Sinai is also one of the coldest provinces in Egypt because of its high altitudes and mountainous topographies. Winter temperatures in some of Sinais cities and towns can dip to 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Population and Tourism In 1960, the Egyptian census of Sinai listed a population of about 50,000. Currently, thanks in large part to the tourism industry, the populations is currently estimated at 1.4 million. The peninsulas bedouin population, once the majority, became the minority. Sinai has become a tourist destination due to its natural setting, rich coral reefs offshore and biblical history. Mount Sinai is one of the most religiously significant places in the Abrahamic faiths. Rich in pastel cliffs and canyons, arid valleys and startling green oases, the desert meets the sparkling sea in a long string of secluded beaches and vivid coral reefs that attract a wealth of underwater life, wrote David Shipler in 1981, The New York Times bureau chief in Jerusalem. Other popular tourist destinations are St Catherines Monastery, which is considered to be the oldest working Christian monastery in the world, and the beach resorts towns of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. Most tourists arrive at Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, through Eilat, Israel, and the Taba Border Crossing, by road from Cairo or by ferry from Aqaba in Jordan. Recent Foreign Occupations In periods of foreign occupation, the Sinai was, like the rest of Egypt, also occupied and controlled by foreign empires, in more recent history the Ottoman Empire from 1517 to 1867   and the United Kingdom from 1882 to 1956. Israel invaded and occupied Sinai during the Suez Crisis of 1956 and during the Six-Day War of 1967. In 1973, Egypt launched the Yom Kippur War to retake the peninsula, which was the site of fierce fighting between Egyptian and Israeli forces. By 1982, as a result of the Israel–Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979, Israel had withdrawn from all of the Sinai Peninsula except the contentious territory of Taba, which Israel later returned to Egypt in 1989.

ACT Test Dates 2016-2017

ACT Test Dates 2016-2017 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips At PrepScholar, we keep track of all the best information to advise you about future test dates. Knowing the registration deadlines and test schedule can help you devise your study plan and stay organized so that you can reach your target score. In this article, I’ll give you the ACT test dates for 2016-2017 and explain the factors to think about when picking your test date. ACT Test Dates for 2016-2017 Here are the test dates, registration deadlines, and anticipated dates for scores to be released. Test Date Deadline Late Deadline Score Release* Sept 10, 2016 Aug 5, 2016 Aug 19, 2016 Sept 19; Oct 3, 2016 Oct 22, 2016 Sept 16, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Nov 8; Nov 15, 2016 Dec 10, 2016 Nov 4, 2016 Nov 18, 2016 Dec 21, 2016; Jan 4, 2017 Feb , 2017** Jan 13, 2017 Jan 20, 2017 Feb 21; Feb 28, 2017 Apr 8, 2017 Mar 3, 2017 Mar 17, 2017 Apr 26; May 10, 2017 June 10, 2017 May 5, 2017 May 19, 2017 June 21; June 28, 2017 *= Refers to online score release. The first date is when multiple choice scores come out, and the second one is when complete scores are available. **= No February dates are scheduled in New York. How Accurate Is the Table Above? The test dates and registration deadlines come from official ACT sources and have been released. The score release dates are projected based on information from past tests, but generally, scores will come out within a week of the projected dates. Keep in mind that there's some variance in when multiple choice scores come out and not everyone receives them at the same time. How to Choose Your Test Date Here are some of the major factors to consider when selecting your ACT test date: Know Your Deadlines! The most important thing to remember is to take your ACT before any deadlines. If you apply regular decision, the December test in your senior year will be the last test you can take for most colleges. If you apply early, the last test you can take may be in October or November of your senior year. Also, scholarships have deadlines. If you want to obtain any scholarships that consider your ACT score, you’ll need to have your test score before the scholarship deadlines. How Many Times Do You Planto Take the ACT? Most students improve their scores when they retake the ACT, and you want to give yourself an opportunity to take the test multiple times. Generally, we suggest first taking the ACT in the fall of your junior year. Then you can retake it in the spring of your junior year and the fall of your senior year if necessary. How Long Do You Needto Study? When selecting your test date, give yourself enough time to prepare. Get a rough idea of how long you’ll need to study and make sure you’ll be able to effectively prepare before you take the test. If you take both the April and June tests without doing any studying in between, your score probably won’t improve much. Do You Have Conflicts With Any Test Dates? Check to see if you have any potential conflicts on or around any of the ACT test dates. Maybe the February date is during your basketball playoffs and you’ll be too busy to study. Perhaps you want to avoid the June test date because you’ll be focusing on your finals. It may be difficult to find a time when you can fully devote yourself to the ACT, but you should try to pick the best test dates for you. What's Next? If you're studying for the ACT, use free practice tests to help you prepare. Also, find out which schools require you to send all your ACT scores. Finally, if you have any questions about the ACT, you'll want to check out our expert answers to frequently asked questions about the ACT. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Overuse of antibiotics and the developement of resistant bacterial Research Paper

Overuse of antibiotics and the developement of resistant bacterial strains - Research Paper Example It seems that boundaries and distances have been shattered through these advancements in communications technology. Wars can even be fought in the same way that video games are played with the advent of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technology. Likewise, non-invasive and minimal invasive surgeries have also been made available wherein tumors are blasted with lasers or proton beams in order for them to be removed. Aside from doing away with open surgery, it also provides a more accurate targeting of the mass or tumor that needs to be removed (Massachusetts General Hospital 2010). Thus, there is less danger on the patient and recovery is of course faster as there is no major wound that needs to be healed. Patients can do away with stitches and the scars that accompany such a procedure. Indeed, Charles Darwin would have lauded the capability of the human species to survive and adapt. However, it is not only humans that can exhibit supremacy in survival and adaptation. Overuse of Antibio tics and the Development of Bacterial Strains Through these various improvements by the human race which have included leaps and bounds in medicine, it seems like the most minute organisms have been able to stay a step ahead or move clear of possible elimination from the food chain. Beyond the increased medical capabilities and modern healthcare management systems, viral and bacterial infections continue to be among the top downers of the human race. In fact, there has been no cure for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV which eventually morphs into the killer Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS. Despite the technological advances from the last decade, a cure for this dreaded disease that comes from the late century has yet to be found, cultured or developed (Mamo et al 269). AIDS walked out of the closet in the early 80’s and by 1983, it was identified that the cause of the disease was HIV. It did not take long for the killer to become known globally and this has effectively grown into pandemic proportions infecting over 60 million people worldwide. Despite the time and money devoted to researches, a cure for this infection continues to elude medical scientists hence, posing a hanging threat to the populace. Currently though, the possibility of a cure through nanotechnology is being explored though a prospect for an effective cure seem to remain beyond the horizon. Well, for now, that may be too much to ask but the common cold also has no cure. This has been around for very long though, even before these technological advantages have ever been imagined by man. Likewise, bacterial strains have also been busy on the evolution department making many antibiotics obsolete and useless. This poses a serious threat since these microbes multiply swiftly and some have a respectable kill rate. New strains are evolving into super bugs that may eventually render even the most potent antibiotics useless. Taking a big chunk of the attention of medical scie ntists is the Acinetobacter baumannii. This bacterial strain has been found to have been capable of effectively guarding itself against even the most potent antibiotic (Peleg et al 538). This may pose another threat as the bacterial strain seems to fancy weak patients in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). Thus, medical practitioners are trying to combat these bacteria which caused pneumonia can easily kill the weak ICU patients. A group of pharmacists tried treating

The Challenges and Opportunities for Immigrant Labour in Canada Essay

The Challenges and Opportunities for Immigrant Labour in Canada - Essay Example 1). Foreign workers who come to Canada get opportunities to earn more than what they earn in their own countries. They can fulfill their basic needs and raise the living standards of their families. They can use their farm skills and enhance them. They get opportunity of going abroad. They can afford higher education for their children back home guaranteeing better employment. (WPIRG 8). The Canada government needs to reformulate the immigration policy. It is facing huge shortage of manpower especially in the oilsands areas. In Ottawa, the immigration department has been going quite slow in processing work applications, particularly of construction workers. Alberta has been severally affected by shortage of skilled workers to help the state in linking oilsands with far-away aboriginal communities to fill the vacuum (Francis, â€Å"Immigration Policy Needs a Revamp,† par. 4). Immigrant labor faces challenges on unmet demands over immigrants’ right to employment insurance . The farm workers have not been awarded the right to claim employment insurance although they have been contributing in employment insurance fund program. ... 2). Another challenge to farm labor concerns fair and dignified treatment at the hands of employers and the government. There is no legislative support to meet the required labor parameters such as covering them under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, reasonable accommodation, right to be united through unions, and right to economic and social mobility in Canada (Encalada, â€Å"Our Main Demands,† par. 3). Another challenge to farm workers is related to working in bondage-like situations; they are not given the opportunity to present their side of the story when they complain of poor work and living conditions. They are repatriated back before time at their own expenses without given a chance to appeal as there is no such process of fair trial of resolving their complaints (Encalada, â€Å"Our Main Demands,† par. 4). Immigrants face challenges in job finding processes. Some of the critical obstacles to immigrant workers include lack of country experience, probl em in shifting of foreign credentials, and ignorance of official language skills. Immigrants’ unemployment rate when they enter Canada is higher until they are absorbed in the job market. This delay in absorbing them where they are acutely required is because of unsystematic working by the immigration department, not processing job applications well in-time. Immigrants face challenges related to transition because of prolonged under-utilization of unskilled and skilled workers. According to the 2001 Census, the unemployment rate of immigrants residing in Canada for nearly 5 months has been around 30 percent. The immigrants residing for the last 5 years in Canada have a greater unemployment rate than Canada’s