Skittles :: essays research papers

Skittles OVERVIEW Skittles is a variety entertainment and dining establishment located in Washington, D.C. . Our mission is to provide our patrons with a unique blend of live entertainment while delivering a top quality dining experience. We will do this by emphasizing service excellence and the highest level of performance in all aspects of our operations and services. Our prominent services include live entertainment, ranging in form from comedy to jazz performances to poetry recitals and others. We also offer lunch, dinner, drinks and dancing to our customers. The restaurant is operated by its several partners who have an equal share in ownership. The partners are Tracy Jackson, James Johnson, Sonja Dawkins, Kevin Brown and Steffi Carr. The restaurant is ideally located on the D.C. waterfront. There it will be easily accessible to a large cross section of consumers and make it possible to provide patrons with a safe and controlled environment. Our establishment brings a relatively new concept to the Districts restaurant industry. What we provide is an everchanging mix of live entertainment to customers while serving all of their drinking and dining needs as well. We are somewhat of a one stop, night on the town, in that we provide not only the drinking and dining needs of person going out but we also provide, in the same location and depending on the night, everything from dancing to live music performances to a night of comedy entertainment. Because of its uniqueness to the marketplace in D.C., Skittles has an excellent opportunity to establish itself and become a force in the restaurant/entertainment community in the District. This is partly because of the limited direct competition the company has to face. Although direct competition is limited, there are several establishments which we feel will pose competition to us in the market. They include Blues Alley, Hogates, H.I. Ribsters, Phillips, Gang Plank, The Wharf, and Club 721. Despite the threats which the competition poses to the restaurant, we are still very confident in the ability of this concept and restaurant to thrive and succeed in the District. SITUATION ANALYSIS We, the owners of Skittles, are very enthusiastic about our chances of success with this new and exciting restaurant concept. Our enthusiasm was bolstered even more by what was revealed to us after performing a situation analysis for the company. The analysis showed that as a company, our strengths and the opportunities that exist, far outweigh our weaknesses and the threats we perceive ourselves having to face. This indicates to us that with hard work and a total team commitment, Skittles will be a definite success. As for the

Challenges Faced by Companies While Entering a Foreign Business

10 Important Factors to Consider Before Starting Your Own Business Published on May 10, 2008 by Educate And Learn in Small Business Comments (46)|59 Liked It Certain key factors which need to be addressed before starting your own business. This article describes different factors which need to be kept in mind before starting your own business. It mainly talks about a business from a proprietorship point of view, rather than from a corporate point of view. Thus it is intended for small business. A number of factors are important in order to start a successful business. Here an effort is made to describe some of the key factors.Knowledge/Expertise Any business requires some amount of basic knowledge and experience. The owner needs to be aware about the business he intends to start. Knowledge and expertise about the product or service are keys to a successful business. In case of limited knowledge the owner may not be able to sustain the business and can be fooled by the vendors, suppli ers and competitors. When you ask yourself a question â€Å"What business shall I start? † you need to get a convincing reply about what you intend to do and how you are going to go about it. Read more in Small Business Small Business Survival in a Down Economy Four Easy Ways to Double Your Economic Stimulus Check  » Expert knowledge is especially required if the field of business is a niche field. For instance the construction or software industry would require more knowledge as against a retail business selling a particular brand of clothes or shoes. Market/Demand Once a decision is taken on the business you intend to start, the next step is to explore the demand / market for the product / service. Certain products will only have a domestic market for them whereas others can be successful on an international level.The key question is â€Å"Who are the customers? † A market survey can be conducted to identify the market for the business to be started. If the product / service is expected to be sold locally, the demand for it needs to be assessed. In case an international market is expected then rules and regulations for dealing internationally need to be found out. Total Project Costs It is important to correctly assess the total project cost required to set up and run the business successfully. In a capital intensive business such as starting a manufacturing plant, the start up costs can be very high.You need to identify the total amount which will be spent on the land & building, plant & machinery, furniture and office equipment, vehicles etc. If a business is in the nature of retail you will need to identify the cost of the store and furniture. Amount required for the decoration of the store needs to be assessed. Similarly in case of an office the major cost will be for the furniture and office equipment. An office or firm can be started at a relatively lower cost initially with only the basic requirements. One also needs to take care of th e working capital requirement.This will mainly consist of the inventory which needs to maintained and the credit which is extended to the customers. From this the supplier’s credit is deducted to arrive at the Working Capital Requirement. The Working Capital Requirement can be quite high for certain industries for example inventory will need to be maintained in a garment store. Similarly in case of a grocery shop there is need for huge inventory for which credit may not be given initially by the suppliers. Financing/Capital After identifying the initial costs required for starting the business, the financing pattern will need to be decided.The financing pattern will be mainly by way of capital introduction by the owner and borrowed funds. Depending on how much capital the owner can introduce the balance amount will need to be borrowed. Funds borrowed will be either short term loans or long term loans. The terms and conditions for borrowing funds will need to be studied such a s the cost of borrowing, security required, rate of interest and the repayment terms. The owner will need to approach a number of banks to get information about their terms of lending and draw a comparative analysis to identify which funding is the most beneficial for him.As a thumb rule short term funds should not be utilized for the purchase of fixed assets. Short term funds are mainly used to meet the working capital requirement. The logic is that if short term funds are used to purchase fixed assets how are you going to repay the short term loan if the business has not progressed. Once the financing pattern is identified the owner will need to decide how the money is going to be utilized. Competition Before entering new business, information about market competition needs to be found out.In case a product is a monopoly then the competition will not matter. Otherwise the success of the business will depend upon the demand and supply gap. Thus if there is a huge demand then you ca n enter the business inspite of the market competition. Otherwise you will need to be stronger than the competitors to gain an entry. Normally existing firms will always have an advantage due to the experience they have and because they may be well equipped. The question which needs to be answered is â€Å"What is unique about the product / service which will be offered to survive the market competition†?Information such as who are the competitors, what is their market strategy and what factors are required to compete with them are important. Location Deciding an optimum location for the business is a strategic and an important one. A good location goes a long way in making the business successful. The location needs to be carefully chosen. Some places have advantages over the others. You can save out on taxes, water and electricity costs if you are located in some areas. The raw materials can be easily sourced, the manpower would be easily available and you can save out on t ransportation costs in case of certain locations.Setting up a business in certain location could lead to subsidy and rebates from the Government. In the case of a retail business one needs to be located in a well populated area and one which is easily accessible. Certain niche products / services of different competitors are available at a single location. For example there are software belts having all software companies. Similarly there are gold marts which have different gold vendors and jewelers at a single location. Laws, Rules, & Regulation Setting up a new business would require compliance with various laws & regulations.Each country is governed by separate laws and regulations which require that any new business be registered with certain authorities and meets certain compliance. Thus registration of the name of the company may be required with Ministry of Commerce for instance. Further details need to be provided regarding the workforce and certain deductions may be require d from the staff (such as tax) which would need to be deposited with the respected Government bodies. Awareness is required of such rules and regulations. It is always better to consult a lawyer before setting up a new business in an unknown environment.There are certain accounting / consultancy firms which would have a division giving advise on legal and statutory compliance. In case of lack of expertise it is better to approach a lawyer / accounting / consultancy firms. Non compliance with the statute could lead to huge fines and penalty and hamper the success of a new business. Return on Investment Return on Investment (ROI) is calculated as Net Profit divided by the Investment made. The ROI is low in the initial years and is expected to grow on a year on year basis.The ROI needs to be compared with the return that would be earned from alternative business options available. For instance it could be compared with any other source of income such as money earned from investment in the stock market. Similarly the Return On Capital must be greater than the rate of interest earned from a fixed deposit kept with a bank. Staff/Manpower Any business requires efficient manpower to succeed. The staff needs to be carefully chosen since they are the ones who could make or break the business. The cost of manpower varies depending on the location of the business and thus this needs to be factored well.The business needs to be set up in a location where there is sufficient availability of manpower both skilled as well as unskilled. This remains one of the key criteria’s whether the business is going to be run with a staff of 2 or 2,000. Technology It is always better to invest in the best technology at the time of start up itself. Post investment, monitoring of the technology purchased is required. Technology would include plant & machinery as well as latest office equipment. One should not exclude the software required to monitor the business. Choosing optimum sof tware is a challenging task.A technologically advanced business is expected to perform much better in the longer run. All the above factors are important to start a successful business. Compromising any of these factors could hamper the growth. Starting a business these days is very challenging and an all round knowledge of various factors is required to run a successful one. It is important to make a Project Report on the basis of the above factors before starting a new business. Read more: http://bizcovering. com/small-business/10-important-factors-to-consider-before-starting-your-own-business/#ixzz2O2yGVG1w

What It Tkes to Be an Successful College Student

What Does It Take To Be A Successful College Student? By: Vera Ioveino-Swett Some might say good grades and attending class is what it takes; however success is roe than just good grades and attendance. Success within life, education, or within anything we do comes through hard work and dedication. In our lifetimes we all have learned from our experiences as well as our education; success is one’s desire to become a better them, in addition to committing themselves to the path/journey which take them to their success of dreams and goals, something I like to call our finish line.We hold the key to succeed in our hands, as well as whether we succeed or fail lies and depends on us. Becoming a successful college student can be challenging at times and very frustrating. Many students attend college not fully knowing what it takes to be successful within their education, as well as that journey. Students who might have been an ‘A’ student in high school come to then fin d themselves just sot stressed and struggling with the challenges academically in college. Here are some strategies that will help you to achieve becoming the most successful student you can be.These are tips in which I follow, as well as only work for you as long as you dedicate yourself to them, and achieve what it is out of your education and life journey you seek. (If you can see it, you can achieve it). Strategies for College Success Strategy #1 – never be afraid to seek out help if and when you really need it. Strategy #2 – Create/develop a strategy plan that works within your learning style and preferences; in addition that will keep you focused and motivated. What might work for one, might not for another. Everyone is different. Strategy #3 – Make and set S. M. A. R.T Goals for yourself to ensure you reach what you would like to gain and achieve out of your term, semester, calluses, etc. They can consist of long-term, short-term or both. However, donâ₠¬â„¢t make too many because it can become overwhelming, and distract you from achieving any or beginning them. You should also write your goals out on paper as well or on a sticky note so it is not just in your mind. This way seeing your goals in front of you on paper daily, will help you in becoming successful in accomplishing what it is you want to achieve. This can also help you not forget that you made a goal list.You can even reward yourself after each goal you accomplished/achieved to keep you motivated on knocking out the next one. It also helps develop goal-setting habits that will contribute to success within your life. Strategy #4 – Manage your time. Having good time- management, is key for success in college, but also adds a plus within your personal life as well as career. You can make a To Do List each day either for the week, month or both to help assist you remain, and stay on track. You also may want to after creating this list to find and delete/reduce your b iggest time-wasters.Example – Instead of having a quick study session: create a 1 hour bock time to study that gives you 5-10 min breaks. Another would be – examine how much time you need for each class. So for let’s say an 3 credit hour class, you would want to give yourself around 6 hours of outside time each week; instead of trying to do it all at the last minute You will also gain a plus in this as well by remembering material effectively and longer. Another thing is to make sure to say NO to those who keep you away from your studies as well as activities like Facebook, or X-box, etc.Strategy #5 – Make sure to attend class as scheduled. Attending Seminar’s/class as scheduled will ensure you succeed in your classes because your professor can go over questions you may have as well as will go over material that just learning from your textbook doesn’t cut it or ensure remembering material or clarifying it. Being a part of an active class ca n also have you gain access to classmate’s questions or concerns which may be on a homework assignment or quiz in which your professor will go over and even may provide the answer to, or steps to how the answer is reached which is always a plus.Strategy #6 – Take notes. One way you may want to take notes is within a way that is systematic and becomes beneficial for exams, projects quizzes, etc. make sure to always date, and place the name of the class, Unit, Chapter, as well as titles and subtitles in your notes that are being discussed, and shown. Write down terms, definition’s, key points, examples, graphs, and diagrams; this will come in handy for review on/for tests, quizzes, projects, and studying later on. Do not write word from word as I do.Summarize discussions your professor is explaining in your own words except for terms and items mentioned above. Strategy #7 – READ! READ! READ! Make sure to preview the chapter rubrics, projects, assignments, e tc. beforehand. It’s the same as when you preview a movie or a video game before purchasing it. This way you can get an idea of what the chapter, etc. will focus on. Then read the Introduction, and learning objectives in the chapter. This will give you a purpose to what you will achieve. One thing I found easier is to read a section first then go back to highlight the material.This will not just help with looing your spot, but also help to consume the material from your STM to your LTM since you will be reciting the material again as you highlight. You can then read out loud, important points, ideas, etc. , to ensure you understand the material and even have a family member or friend test you. Strategy #8 – Preparing for your Midterms/Finals. You are being prepared for your big tests from the very start of the first day of class. So everything from there on is to prepare you for what’s to come.First day I would open and copy the rubrics to Midterm, Final, exams then view each of them. One to two weeks before exams, consolidate all your notes (textbooks, seminar, discussions etc. ), review, and even place your rough draft threw the Writing Center for suggestions, and advice on grammar, formatting, citations, and sentence structure. The Writing Center pap0er review is a great way to ensure success for your finals, midterms, projects, as well as all written papers. When it comes to your tests/finals/midterms, make sure to always be prepared.Read all instructions and follow each one according to your professor’s rubrics. Don’t spend a lot of time on one question, you can always come back to it later on, and remember to always stay calm, though some anxiety is completely normal. Have Fun! Being organized, focused, and determined as you find your strategy plan, will bring you 100% success within and along your educational journey. Here’s a quote I live by and that helped me to get here today: In order to succeed you must fai l, so that you know what not to do next time. – Anthony J. D’Angelo-

Affluenza essays

Affluenza essays Affluenza is defined as the need to purchase more in order to gain status and happiness. America has five percent of the world's population and we consume thirty times as much as other countries. Our obsession with material goods has progressed to the point where advertisers will target children in order to make a sale. We are controlled by our obsessions with "stuff" so much that it has become a high priority in our society. Affluenza has been attributed to overwork, personal stress, the erosion of family and community, skyrocketing debt, and the growing gap between rich and poor. The never ending chase for the "American Dream" has cost our society more than just money. There has been a great decline in the value of family over the past century. Family has become more of who you live with and has decreased as the backbone of society. Now, more than ever, it seems as if money has become the backbone of society. The value of a person, or life, has been measured by money. The more one owns, the higher the status of that individual. Many believe that the bigger the house, the fancier the car, and the more extravagant their clothes are will affect their level of happiness. This is not the case, however. Many people who are extremely wealthy can never seem to find happiness. Americans as a whole were the happiest in 1957, and the number of people who claim to be happy has been declining ever since . Even though we consume more, we find it harder to reach the goal we are searching for. Americans consume three times as much as the rest of the world. Since 1950, we have used more resources than the total used before that date. We depend on other countries for natural resources because ours have begun to run low. Fifty percent of our oil is imported from other countries. The United States had ten percent of the world's supply of oil, now it has five percent. We are consuming more and recycling less. Common sense woul...

Christmas Trends, Demographics, Spending and Waste

Christmas Trends, Demographics, Spending and Waste Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays by people all over the world, but what are the particularities of it in the United States? Who is celebrating it? How are they doing it? How much are they spending? And how might social differences shape our experience of this holiday? Lets dive in. The Cross-Religion and Secular Popularity of Christmas According to Pew Research Centers December 2013 survey about Christmas, we know that the vast majority of people in the U.S. celebrate the holiday. The survey confirms what most of us know: Christmas is both a religious and a secular holiday. Unsurprisingly, about 96 percent of Christians celebrate  Christmas, as do a whopping 87 percent of people who are not religious. What may surprise you is that people of other faiths do too. According to Pew, 76 percent of Asian-American Buddhists, 73 percent of Hindus, and 32 percent of Jews celebrate Christmas. News reports indicate that some Muslims also celebrate the holiday. Interestingly, the Pew survey found that Christmas is more likely to be a religious holiday for older generations.  While just over a third  of people ages 18-29 celebrate Christmas religiously, 66 percent of those 65 and older do so. For many Millennials, Christmas is a cultural, rather than a religious, holiday. Popular Christmas Traditions and Trends According to the 2014 National Retail Federations (NRF) survey of planned activities for Christmas Day, the most common things we do are visit with family and friends, open gifts, cook a holiday meal, and sit on our bums and watch television. Pews 2013 survey shows that more than half of us will attend church on Christmas Eve or Day, and the organizations 2014 survey shows that eating holiday foods is the activity that we most look forward to, after visiting with family and friends. Leading up to the holiday, the Pew survey found that  the majority of American adults- 65 percent- will send holiday cards, though older adults are more likely than younger adults to do so, and 79 percent of us will put up a Christmas tree, which is slightly more common among higher income earners. Though hurtling through airports at top foot-speed is a popular trope of Christmas movies, in fact, just 5-6 percent of us travel long-distance by air for the holiday, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. While long-distance travel  increases by 23 percent at Christmas time, most of that travel is by car. Similarly, though images of carolers punctuate holiday films, just 16 percent of us join in the activity, according to Pews 2013 survey Studies also show that we are getting engaged, conceiving children, and deciding to get divorced more so on Christmas than during any other time of  the year. How Gender, Age, and Religion Shape Our Christmas Experiences Interestingly, a 2014 survey by Pew found that religious affiliation, gender,  marital status, and age have an impact on the extent to which people look forward to the  common ways of celebrating Christmas. Those who regularly attend religious services are more enthusiastic on average about Christmas activities than are those who attend less often, or not at all. The only activity that escapes this rule? Americans universally look forward to eating holiday foods. In terms of gender, the survey found that, with the exception of visiting with family and friends, women look forward to the holiday traditions and activities more than men. While the Pew survey did not establish a reason for why this is the case, existing social science suggests that it could be because women spend more time than men do shopping and visiting with or taking care of family members in the context of their everyday lives. Its possible that mundane and taxing chores are more appealing to women when they are surrounded by the Christmas glow. Men, however, find themselves in the position of having to do things that they are not normally expected to do, and so they dont look forward to these events as much as women do. Echoing the fact that Christmas is less of a religious holiday for Millennials than it is for older generations, the 2014 Pew survey results indicate an overall generational shift in how we celebrate the holiday. Americans over the age of 65 are more likely than others to look forward to hearing Christmas music and attending religious services, while those in the younger generations are more likely to look forward to eating holiday foods, exchanging gifts, and decorating their homes. And while the majority of all generations do these things, Millennials are the most likely to buy gifts for others, and the least likely to send Christmas cards (though still a majority do it). ChristmasSpending: Big Picture, Averages, and Trends More than  $665  billion is the amount the NRF forecasts  Americans will spend during November and December 2016- an increase of 3.6 percent over the previous year. So, where will all that money go? Most of it, on average $589, will go  to gifts, out of a total $796 that the average person will spend. The rest will be spent on  holiday items including candy and food (about $100), decorations (about $50), greeting cards and postage, and flowers and potted plants. As part of that decorative budget, we can expect Americans to collectively  spend more than $2.2 billion on about 40 million Christmas trees in 2016 (67 percent real, 33 percent fake), according to  data from the National Christmas Tree Association. In terms of gift-giving plans, the NRF survey shows American adults intend to buy and give the following: Clothing or accessories (61%)Gift cards or certificates (56%)Media items (books, music, videos, games, etc.) (44%)Toys (42%)Food or candy (31%)Consumer electronics (30%)Personal care or beauty items (25%)Jewelry (21%)Home decor or furnishings (20%)Cash (20%)Sporting goods or leisure items (17%) The plans adults have for gifts for children reveal the stronghold that gender stereotypes still have in American culture. The top five toys that people plan to buy for boys include Lego sets, cars and trucks, video games, Hot Wheels, and Star Wars items. For girls, they plan to buy Barbie items, dolls, Shopkins, Hatchimals, and Lego sets. Given that the average person intends to spend nearly $600 on gifts, its not surprising that nearly half of all American adults feel that exchanging gifts leaves them stretched thin financially (according to Pews 2014 survey). More than a third of us feel stressed out by our countrys gift-giving culture, and nearly a quarter of us believe that it is wasteful. The Environmental Impact Have you ever thought about the environmental impact of all this Christmas cheer? The Environmental Protection Agency reports that household waste increases by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, which results in an additional 1 million tons per week going to landfills. Gift wrapping and shopping bags amount  to a whopping  4 million tons  of Christmas-related trash. Then theres all the cards, ribbons, product packaging, and trees too. Though we think of it as a time of togetherness, Christmas is also a time of massive waste. When one considers this and the financial and emotional stress of consumerist gift-giving, perhaps a change of tradition is in order?

Technologically Advanced Modern World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Technologically Advanced Modern World - Essay Example One such element is the image of women in the media. The image of women is distorted and misrepresented in visual media and hence, it has become a matter of concern for the society. This fact has been brought in open by feminists. In her UNESCO-funded study, Margaret Gallagher (1979) has raised her concern regarding the distorted image of women in media, as according to her, â€Å"media are potentially powerful agents of socialization and social change-presenting models, conferring status, suggesting appropriate behaviors, encouraging stereotypes† etc (Byerly & Ross 17). Hence, by repeatedly representing women as weak, irrational and ‘object’ for sexual pleasure, the media has damaged their image. Also, as far as the image of women in movies is concerned, the most disturbing image is the image of ‘monstrous-feminine’ in the horror movies. Feminists have observed that in horror movies, it is not the ‘females’ who are represented as a †˜monsters,’ but it is their femininity and the sexuality which is shown as horrifying and hence, monstrous (Byerly & Ross 21). This shows that it is the ‘male mind’ which tries to degrade the femininity through monstrous representation of females in horror movies. However, the theory that best helps people in understanding the representation of femininity and female sexuality as monstrous, is the theory of psychoanalysis, as it not only reveals the social structure that leads to it, but also the roots of misrepresentation of femininity as monstrous, that lies deep in the unconscious of male human beings. Image of Women In Movies Although there have been many changes in the technology and media, the image of women in the media has remained quite unchanged. Women have always been represented in cinema as weaker sex. The reason behind no change in the image of women in cinema is the unconscious aspects of the male mind, and the ideological concept of cinema, which are usually dominated by ‘males’ in the society (Mulvey 58). The unconscious aspect of the male dominated society, which considers women as nothing but an ‘object’ of desire or a weaker sex, is reflected in the female characters in the movies. Hence, cinema has become a mirror of the patriarchal system in the society. According to British film theorist and feminist Laura Mulvey, Hollywood has maintained its entertainment value by manipulating the mage of the women in cinema to please men’s visual desire of seeing women as sex object (Mulvey 59). Sadly, women are not only shown as an object of visual pleasure, but are also portrayed as human beings who are dependent on men for their social and personal status. The character and the role of woman is usually designed in such a way that she not only satisfies the unconscious sexual desire of men but at the same time, fits into the order of male dominated society. The dominant patriarchal order is woven i n the erotic representation of women in cinema (Mulvey 59). However, what is more disturbing than the image of women as weaker sex is the monstrous image of women shown in the movies. The reason behind this lies in the unconscious fears that are harboured by male human minds and hence, can be explained with the aid of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis Explains Monstrous-Feminine Since ancient times, women have suffered secondary status and inferior treatment at the hands of men in the societies. Men treat women in ill

How Local Merchants Can Work Together to Slow the Money in Ashland Essay

How Local Merchants Can Work Together to Slow the Money in Ashland - Essay Example This will circulate the money within the boundaries of Ashland and the profits generated by the local businesses would benefit the economy as a whole in terms of business expansions and growth. The merchants have started their businesses in Ashland for the convenience of residency they have in Ashland. They had put in their finances in different businesses like food, clothing etc. to make all necessary products available in the market for the people. For a success in business, Ashland’s entrepreneurs need to invest wisely in the business that has more demand and less supply. The reputation of businesses and awareness about ‘slow money’ ideas to develop the economy of Ashland is necessary to attract more local consumers. The local economy, with the help of proper marketing of the products, services and awareness about local circularization of money to improve the economy, would grow. The local merchants support each other as they have maintained good relationships between them. They may work together to improve the social and economic conditions of Ashland and reduce the crime rates, disputes and poverty that prevail