Memorial Day Quotes by Ronald Reagan

Fortieth president of the United States, Ronald Reagan was a man of many vocations. Starting his career as a radio broadcaster and then as an actor, Reagan moved on to serve the nation as a soldier. He finally jumped into the political arena to become one of the stalwarts of American politics. Although he started his political career quite late in life, it took him no time to reach the Holy Grail of U.S. politics. In 1980 Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the president of the United States of America. Reagan Was a Good Communicator It is a well-accepted fact that Ronald Reagan was considered to be a good communicator. His speeches inspired millions all over the world. He had the knack of reaching most Americans with his stirring words. His critics dismissed his achievements, claiming that he smooth-talked his way into the White House. But he surprised his critics by serving two full terms as president. Soviet Unions Love-Hate Relationship With Reagan Ronald Reagan spoke regularly about the American values of freedom, liberty, and unity. He espoused these principles in his speeches. Reagan described his vision of a vibrant America, calling it a shining city on a hill. He later clarified his metaphor by saying, In my mind, it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace. Though Reagan was widely criticized for building up the arms race with the Soviet Union, many saw this as a necessary evil to mitigate the Cold War. Reagans gamble paid off when the Soviet Union, encouraged by Americas flexed muscles, chose to pull the nuclear arms race into reverse gear. Reagan expressed his revulsion for war by saying, It is not bombs and rockets but belief and resolve—it is humility before God that is ultimately the source of Americas strength as a nation. Military Climate During Reagans Tenure When Reagan became ​president, he had inherited a disheartened military, which had gone through the ravages of the Vietnam War. Many credit Reagan with bringing the Cold War to an end with his diplomacy and calculated military strategies. He oversaw the dawn of a new era in American politics. Reagan, along with his Russian compatriot, Mikhail Gorbachev, accelerated the peace movement by ending the Cold War. Reagans Famous Words on Memorial Day On many a Memorial Day, Ronald Reagan addressed America (or smaller audiences) with passionate words. Reagan spoke of patriotism, heroism, and freedom in moving words. His impassioned speeches spoke of Americans winning their freedom with the sacrifices and the blood of the martyrs who died defending the nation. Reagan heaped praise on the families of martyrs and veterans. Read some Memorial Day quotes by Ronald Reagan below. If you share his spirit, spread the message of peace on Memorial Day.   May 26, 1983:  I dont have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world. Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982:  The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we—in a less final, less heroic way—be willing to give of ourselves. May 25, 1981:  Today, the United States stands as a beacon of liberty and democratic strength before the community of nations. We are resolved to stand firm against those who would destroy the freedoms we cherish. We are determined to achieve an enduring peace—a peace with liberty and with honor. This determination, this resolve, is the highest tribute we can pay to the many who have fallen in the service of our Nation. Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982: Our goal is peace. We can gain that peace by strengthening our alliances, by speaking candidly about the dangers before us, by assuring potential adversaries of our seriousness, by actively pursuing every chance of honest and fruitful negotiation. May 26, 1983:  We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in time of need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have given their lives that we might be free. Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982:  I cant claim to know the words of all the national anthems in the world, but I dont know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we must all ask. October 27, 1964:  You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our childrens children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done. Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, March 30, 1961:  Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our childrens children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

My Self Free Essays

I believe that multifarious factors make a person an individual who is unique and distinct from others. Most of these factors work their magic early on in a man’s life, consisting of experiences in childhood and adolescence, which shape a person’s philosophy and values in life. I was fortunate to have a childhood that gave me a sense of respect towards my parents and other family members, especially my elders. We will write a custom essay sample on My Self or any similar topic only for you Order Now My childhood and adolescence taught me to treat my family as a sacred thing and give it the importance it deserves. Moreover, I know that our socioeconomic status gave me the proper perspective and drive to aim high in my studies and avoid taking risks. My close relationship with my family also allowed me to become open to forming close and trusting friendships. Thus, my childhood can be generally described as non-traumatic, save for a single car accident that left me a few injuries. Nevertheless, such an experience did not prevent me from studying hard in class, which made adults see me as a smart child who has more than what meets the eyes. My open relationship with my friends and family shaped my disposition as an active and open-minded person, who is always willing to help. I am also generally jovial, ad this helps me get along with others easily. I continue to live by my academic skills I acquired since childhood, and I pride myself in being a fast learner and a good researcher. My view of manhood and sexuality is consistent with my personal philosophy, which is bound by honesty, dignity and resoluteness. Given this personal backdrop, I expect my future life to be bright and full of promises. I will work hard to achieve a happy family life and a successful professional career. Therefore, I will keep on pursuing further studies, careful not to let any kind of obstacle get in my way. I know that my friends and family would be with me every step of the way while I tread the road to personal growth and fulfillment. How to cite My Self, Essay examples

Kath & Mouse Part 2 Essays - Awake, Music Industry,

Kath & Mouse Part 2 Kath is being even worse to me now that I won the talent contest but at least she isn't getting that much support. After the contest people started to talk to me and all of a sudden I had friends. Kevin is now being even nicer to me and is getting real close so were coming best of buddies. I heard a rumor in our school that Kevin want to be more then friends and is going to ask me out after I sing at Christine's. I felt like nothing would be able to ruin my mood but Kath found a way. Just the day before the dance Kath came up to me and yelled, "I hope you have a good time at Christine's. Oh by the way?Mouse? my brother isn't going because he wants to stay away from you and he knows your going to be there." "Uh huh, well it just so happens that isn't true and we talked just yesterday about the party and what were going to do," I replied grinning. Kath then stormed off with her nose in the air at the sound of these words. After that little incident I avoided Kath the rest of the day and right before I left the school Kevin came up to me. "I'll get my dad to drive us to the party if you don't have a ride," he told me. "Sure pick me up at 7:00, you remember my address right?" I asked. "Yep," he replied. When I got home I started to get ready. I took a warm shower and tried to choose myself a matching selection of clothes. At the end I decided on a tight baby blue tank top and a white mini-skirt. I also started to do my hair. A french twist with a bit of spizazz to it. After that, all I had left to do was my make-up. My mom told me which make-up I should use and how to put it on because I haven't used it before. I put on eyeliner, some rouge, and mascara to help me look even more beautiful. I was totally ready at around 6:30 but I still fiddled with my hair and my skirt a lot until it was 7:00. At 7:05 Kevin came in his dads blue Ford pick-up truck to pick me up. "Goodbye! Pick me up at 1:00," I yelled to my parents. "Let's go!" called Kevin. I jumped into the truck and we made our way to the party. When we got there Kevin's dad told us to have a good time and he drove off. I knocked on the door and Christine answered. She welcomed us by saying, "Hey, come on in." "Thanks," replied Kevin. When we walked in a loud rush of music hit us and I was almost knocked backwards. I was very tense at the party but after a while I got really relaxed and started to talk to people. Before I knew it the party was about to end and Christine just asked me to sing. I chose a beautiful song called "Time of Your Life". After I sang the last note everyone applauded and Kevin came up to me. "Great job Helen. Um, I was wondering if you would go out with me?" he asked embaresly. "Oh Kevin of course I will," I said happily. After that I was in heaven and on top of the world. When my mom picked me up I said, "Goodbye Kevin, see ya tomorrow." The next day it seems that the whole school knew I was going out with Kevin. The only person who didn't look happy about it was Kath. She looked disappointed and furious. I knew she was going to find away to break Kevin and me up. A few days passed and I got a note from Kevin. It read, "You know I've been thinking. Maybe we shouldn't see each other. Actually how about you don't even talk to me." I was very token back, emotionally hurt and just wanted to kill someone. Then a while later I cooled down?I started thinking. What if Kath sent me the note to break Kevin and me up? In fact every time I tried talking to

Strategic and Organisational Analysis of Li Ning Co. Ltd. The WritePass Journal

Strategic and Organisational Analysis of Li Ning Co. Ltd. Introduction Strategic and Organisational Analysis of Li Ning Co. Ltd. Introduction1. Examine the problems associated with Li Ning trying to become a global brand. From a marketing perspective, what do you think Li Ning should do to address those challenges?1.1 The competition with local and international rivals in domestic market1.2 Country of origin (COO) effects and the brand image1.3 The product portfolio and RD 1.4 Price decision1.5 International marketing1.6 Distribution agreements1.7 Culture dimensions   2. Considering the current stage of the internationalization of the company, for a market of your choice, develop a foreign market entry strategy.2.1 The choice criteria for the market chosen2.2 The analysis of market entry strategy 2.3   Key marketing mix activities for initial entry to the US marketReferencesRelated Introduction Li Ning Co. Ltd., one of China’s leading sports-apparel makers was founded from a family business by the well-known Olympic gymnastics gold medallist, Li Ning (Meuer and DiVito, 2010). With the reputation of its founder, the extension of its product range, some influential sponsorships and the success of penetrating second- and third- tier cities in the Chinese market, Li Ning has gained the popularity and high brand awareness in China, also a high market share. However, when the international companies began to value and target at the growing Chinese sportswear market, Li Ning gradually faced an intensified competition from international firm like Nike and Adidas in Chinese market, as well as from few local rivals in terms of the price, such as Anta and Peak. Li Ning firm has made some internationalization efforts in recent years like export activities, building its RD centres abroad and other attempts, but it remains overwhelmingly China focused and all the actions aim to es tablish a global brand in Chinese consumers’ eyes. Besides, those internationalization attempts did not bring any considerable revenue. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the challenges which Li Ning may face in the process of establishing its global brands and put forward the feasible international brand strategy and the foreign market entry strategy by referring to some theories of international marketing. The paper proceeds first by discussing some problems associated with Li Ning trying to be a global brand respectively and rational recommendations will be raised during the discussion. Second, the suggestion about the market choice and a foreign market entry strategy will be illustrated in terms of three aspects: the choice criteria for the entry market, the selection of entry mode and some key marketing communication strategies. 1. Examine the problems associated with Li Ning trying to become a global brand. From a marketing perspective, what do you think Li Ning should do to address those challenges? Facing the fierce competition from international and local rivals, the company reaches an agreement to build its international strategy and its global brand apart from protecting the domestic market. However, Li Ning has to take some potential problems into account in the process of internationalization and seven related considerations will be illustrated in this part. 1.1 The competition with local and international rivals in domestic market It can be seen that some well-known international brand such as Nike and Adidas possess relatively high market revenue in Chinese sportswear industry, as well as Li Ning and Anta, two top domestic brands (appendix 1). As far as Li Ning concerned, how to block international brands and also successfully retain the local market is one of the key points to become a global brand. Looking at the entire Chinese market, Li Ning positions itself as a competitive rival in providing price-quality bargains product and penetrates different levels of Chinese markets through its extensive network of distributors, sub-distributors and retail stores, especially in second- and third-tier cities where about 76% of Li Ning’s stores are located (Meuer and DiVito, 2010). However, temporarily leading position may be weakened when global brands gradually shift their focus to less developed regions in China where incomes are rising and consumers’ brand loyalties and shopping preferences have no t been established (Burkitt, 2010). With regard to global sportswear marketers, Nike and Adidas have both aimed at China as their second largest market in the world and put a lot of efforts in first-tier cities of China, like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. They set up their own retail channels like flagship stores or brand centres respectively in Beijing to create strong brand and retail experience (Meuer and DiVito, 2010). With higher brand positioning and name recognition, international brands are more effective in capturing market share in major cities where Li Ning has not paid more attentions. In order to become a global brand, Li Ning realizes that more emphasis should be put on the market of top- tier cities, but the reality is that Li Ning may have to use lower prices to distinguish its brand in this stiff competition with international firms (Burkitt, 2010). Thus, Li Ning needs to rethink its brand positioning both in local and international markets rather than only rely on price-quality bargains and utilize marketing communications to boost its brand awareness which will be discussed in the later paragraph. 1.2 Country of origin (COO) effects and the brand image In the eyes of most Chinese consumers, Li Ning’s brand identity is always associated with its founder, a national sport hero, so it is easier for Chinese consumers to understand and recognize Li Ning’s logo design, ‘flying red flag and initials of its founder’. Taking consumer ethnocentrism into consideration, domestic consumers may have more favourable attitudes to this brand because of the company’s history and culture. ‘Consumer ethnocentrism’ which was introduced by Shimp and Sharma (1987), refers to the consumer prefers domestic goods due to strong nationalistic beliefs and feelings. As the chief executive of Li Ning Co. said, ‘we want people to look at our brand and feel proud that they are part of something- proud of China’s growth’ (Burkitt, 2010). In addition, with the potential growth and importance of younger segments, Li ning has moved its sight towards them However, using consumer ethnocentrism to affect the purchase decision of young urban Chinese may not work, because Javalgi and White (2002, p. 568) summarized that ‘younger, better-educated and high-income consumers seem to be less ethnocentrism to foreign goods and services’, as well as people who are more open to foreign cultures. Besides, country of origin (COO) also has a negative impact on product and brand evaluation among young Chinese consumers. Many Chinese young consumers, especially teenagers, are keen on the American culture and other western cultures, such as freedom, risky spirit and personality, so they are more likely to choose a global brand which originated from western countries. While in the eyes of international consumers, it is hard for them to make any resonance with Li Ning without related cultural background, and they may perceive its logo as being similar or a copy of Nike swoosh. Similarly, think of the effect of COO, international consumers will use COO cues when they meet the unfamiliar brand and the bias against products generally from developing countries, so some country-image stereotypes, such as low price or low quality may hurt Li Ning’s brand image. Thus, in order to weaken the negative COO perception, Li Ning should alter the consumer attitude towards the product and brand through marketing communication and give its brand a unique identity. Thinking of Nike and Adidas, they both have their unique global identities which are created and preserved by variety communications such as advertising, celebrity endorsement and marketing campaigns. Therefore, there is still a big gap between Li Ning and global brands in terms of brand awareness and brand image. In order to attract the younger generation worldwide, Li Ning need to find out and build its unique brand image through redesign a more differentiated brand logo and slogan, strengthen the product range and design, and also create more targeted marketing campaigns. 1.3 The product portfolio and RD Sportswear can be divided into the following categories: professional sportswear, casual sportswear and fashion sportswear (Euromonitor International, 2007) and there are some overlaps among these groups. Based on the statistic from Euromonitor International (appendix2), it is shown that fashion sportswear, which is the hybrid of casual sportswear and fashion wear, is growing more rapidly than other sportswear segments in China market, so the company which can rapidly discover this potential demand and launch the new products will differentiate itself from rivals. Nike and Adidas have experienced substantial growth after they introduced fashion sportswear series, and yet, in this segment Li Ning has left behind other global brands’ steps. Besides, the global sneaker company has also developed new technologies which would be introduced into high end product to differentiate its brand because international consumers believe that global brands usually develop new products and tec hnologies faster than rivals (Holt et al., 2004), such as the Nike Air max 360 (features a foamless mid-sole technology), the Adidas 1 (includes a microprocessor technology)(scribd.com/doc/39006282/Athletic-Footwear-Industry-Analysis accessed 22 April 2011). In short, there is still a long way to go for Li Ning to catch up with those global brands in new product development and the range of product line, especially in new technologies and high end products. Now Li Ning, which established two RD centres abroad, has recognized product research and development as one of important steps to its internationalization strategy. Making full use of that can help Li Ning develop high-end products which can stimulate its starting point for brand positioning, better satisfy customers’ needs for fashion or performance and also upgrade the brand image. It is also recommended that Li Ning could also try to get access to some professional and well-known designers who have rich experience of customers’ preferences and global fashion trends to design its product. 1.4 Price decision On the basis of pricing strategy prototypes (Solberg et al., 2006), Li Ning falls into the global price follower position. Its price decision can be summarized as follows: first, under the same quality but it is much cheaper than international competitors, meanwhile it provides higher quality, but more expensive than local rivals. Second, Li Ning has to lower down the price in domestic market when larger and more experienced global brands have put pressure on it. Third, Li Ning has limited preparedness for its international attempts and set the price slightly cheaper than Nike and Adidas on its direct access to the foreign market (Meuer and DiVito, 2010). Holt et al. (2004) mentioned that international people think it is rationale for global brand to charge premium price if offering more quality and guarantees than others, three opportunity for Li Ning to reduce the pressure from globally branded counterparts and set a better price to increase its profitability are to identify the ni che market or a new segment or to develop a new technology which is difficult for its rivals to imitate (Solberg et al., 2006). 1.5 International marketing As the increasing level of income and the improving quality of life, the purchase decision among Chinese people less depend on price and functionality, but more on brand image, product design and style (Euromonitor International, 2007). Similarly, the main competition for market share among global brand lies in non-price competitions and the brand loyalty is quite high in this industry, In retrospect to the success of two dominators brands in the sporting goods industry, Nike and Adidas, they have some things in common for their international marketing communication strategy: using extensive marketing campaigns, creative advertising and celebrity endorsements to establish a differentiated brand image (scribd.com/doc/39006282/Athletic-Footwear-Industry-Analysis accessed 22 April 2011). In addition, due to their leading roles in the global market, they have a financial advantage on marketing and advertising expenditures, also on access to endorsement. Even though Li Ning’s canno t compete with them for these marketing resources, it has also sponsored different international sport events and teams, as well as some world well-known sports stars (Meuer and DiVito, 2010). However, those efforts aimed to increase its brand awareness among Chinese consumers rather than international consumers. Facing those difficulties of establishing popularity with brand-conscious consumers, two feasible strategies may help Li Ning create more targeted advertising and marketing campaigns. First, with the growing fashion trend in sportswear, the celebrity in other areas, such as music or film could also produce the similar influence as sports celebrity on younger targets, so using music celebrity endorsement may rejuvenate the brand image and enlarge the potential buying groups which not only includes the sports fans. Second, Li Ning can sponsor some competition like basketball, soccer or running at region level to fit targets’ particular needs. After all, the quality and suitability to the wearer are more convincing than other factors. 1.6 Distribution agreements The management of existing domestic channel distributors and the access to distribution opportunities in global markets constitute another barrier for Li Ning’s internationalization attempts. In terms of the domestic market, Li Ning has took the leading role of establishing a national franchised distribution system in 1993 (http://brand.icxo.com/htmlnews/2008/08/13/1304126_0.htm accessed 26 April 2011) and this entry mode helps its open average 840 stores per year mainly focus on second- and third- tier cities from 2004 to 2008 (Meuer and DiVito, 2010). Second, Li Ning also has its wholly ownership retail stores- 11 flagship stores located in major first- tier cities, but they are only accounts for 7.8% of Li Ning’ total revenues, others generated from sales to franchised distributors ibid. Third, with the rise of e-commerce, Li Ning cooperated with two big online trade platforms, ‘taobao and tanyou’ to launch the online sportswear store in 2008 (http://bra nd.icxo.com/htmlnews/2008/08/13/1304126_0.htm accessed 26 April 2011). This marketing alliance gathers each advantage, and also let Li Ning gain the knowledge about e-channel which has laid a good foundation for setting up its official online store in 2010 and optimizing the new official website ibid. However, the network channel seems be lack of the interaction between customers and products, so the online shop could be better used to disseminate and strengthen its brand image rather than generate revenue. With regard to the global market, the big brand company prefer to select the local distributors with experienced management teams, nationwide distribution abilities and sufficient resources to help them expand its global market rapidly (Frost Sullivan, 2008). Besides, the prominence of a brand among global customers also has an important impact on retailers, so retail stores would be more likely to leave shelf space for the brand which has established a history of good sales (tttp://www.scribd.com/doc/39006282/Athletic-Footwear-Industry-Analysis accessed 22 April 2011). Therefore, the small scale of Li Ning means it has no position to compete with Nike and Adidas in local distributors when entering a new market. Li Ning has to work harder on overcoming the relationships with foreign retailers who may narrow its entry to the foreign market and having its goods seen comparing to its international rivals. Apart from that, franchising and running its own name stores could be considered, both of them can boost company brand presence and are high control of assets, but meanwhile the former one involves complex operation procedure and long time to select and the later relates a high risk and high investment. 1.7 Culture dimensions Hofstede (1994) defined that the category of people which shares the different cultures can be a nation, region , gender culture or age group. Foremost, it is important for Li Ning to assess the cultural differences among regions of China, first-tier cities versus other less developed regions. Consumes in different regions of China have their own distinct characteristics and shopping preferences. Second, ‘power distance’, one of Hofstede’s (1994) national culture differences dimensions, refers to the level of inequality between followers and leaders, should be considered among Chinese young urban consumers who are more fashion demands on sportswear and more brand-consciousness (Frost Sullivan, 2008). In order to display their identity and personal value among their reference groups, they are more likely to spend on global brand. Even one may feel ‘lose face’ if he or she wears with a local brand compared to others who wear the global brand. Thus, if Li Ning not redefines its brand image or just simply pretending to be western, it is unable to compete with those high-ended international brands among Chinese young urban consumers in first-tier cities of China. Additionally, organisation culture management is another factor should not be neglected on Li Ning’s way to be a global brand. The brand culture is derived from the company culture, so the primary task for a strong global brand is to build its unique company culture and transfer the company into a modern management enterprise. Originally, Li Ning grew from a family business which later becomes a big obstacle to the development of the brand. The incoherence between enterprise management mode and its business development urge Li Ning reform the enterprise personnel and recruit professional talents in production, research, marketing and other areas (http://pp.hw01.com/a/1003/10/1210467_2.htm accessed 24 April 2011). Soon afterwards the specialization and standardization of the management help the company experience a rapid growth in business.   2. Considering the current stage of the internationalization of the company, for a market of your choice, develop a foreign market entry strategy. Li Ning makes many efforts step by step and has gained a little experience in exploring the foreign market and during the period of 2008 Beijing Olympic Game, Li Ning has become a brand widely recognized in the west due to the fact that its founder lighted the Olympic flame wearing Li Ning’s shoes magically (English website). Besides, at the end of June, 2011, Li Ning launched its new logo and English slogan to refresh its global brand image. All those efforts make clear that Li Ning has fully prepared to expand to the foreign market and it is worth learning that all possible entry strategies must share one element which the essential for the success of internationalization, that is, commitment (Yip et al., 2000). Specifically, many aspects of the firm should be committed to the entry market: organization structure, human recourses, marketing mix strategies and market research ibid. The rest of this essay will respectively focus on the choice of which country to enter and the related entry mode and key marketing mix activities. 2.1 The choice criteria for the market chosen Based on Whitelock’s (2002) summary of international market entry method, a comprehensive market entry decision cannot disassociate different approaches from one to another, so the choice criteria for the US market relies on the combination of experience-related, resource-related and competition-related considerations (Madhok, 1996). Experience-related considerations drawn from the Uppsala model will be assessed firstly. This model put an emphasis on a firm’s previous experience and the capabilities acquired from that (Madhok, 1996), also considers the concept of ‘psychic distance’ which refers to firms are suggested to entering the market which is psychically close and they have certain knowledge basis to reduce the uncertainties and risks in the process of internationalization (Whitelock, 2002). According to Hofstede’s (1994) summary of five dimensions of national culture differences, China and the Unite State have a big difference in cultural background, and the extended psychic distance seems more problematic for Li Ning in terms of understanding the American culture and being lack of local customers’ preferences and behaviours. However, if Li Ning enters into some cultural similar market, like some Asian countries, lower brand awareness and risks still exist. Besides, the ne gative effect of a Chinese brand also set a barrier to enter in those psychically close markets. Instead, if Li Ning could have a good performance in the US market, then its status of an international brand will not be questioned; at the same time, some previous efforts made in the US market, such as indirect export activities, the establishment of RD centre and a small retail store, can also bring a lot of feedback and information about the US sportswear industry and the local customers. Second, resources-related considerations mainly focus on the characteristic of the environment and interactive networks in it. From the tables in appendix 3, it is shown that US is the largest globally sportswear market and holds in the top position in the total sportswear expenditure per capita in 2008 (approximately $232.8) which was far more than that in China (approximately $7.4). Moreover, the sportswear expenditure in 2008 represented 0.49% of the US GDP per capita (Chu, 2010). On the other hand, the US sportswear industry seemed to be affected by the global financial crisis and increased by only 0.5% in 2010, but this industry may experience a promising rise after the economic recovery (Frost Sullivan, 2010). As far as the relationship with potential consumers is concerned, the prosperity of a good interaction lies in effective marketing strategies including celebrity endorsement, creative advertising and technological expertise in product design ibid. Similarly, those style- conscious and image-conscious consumers respond will them with more brand-consciousness and stronger brand loyalty. In terms of competition-related considerations, two elements should be addressed: the intensity of competition in the entry market and Li Ning’s strategic brand positioning. Undeniably, the sportswear industry of US market is a relatively mature industry which is dominated by a few large firms, such as Nike and Adidas who have already gained their strong brand image; Nike’s products are considered to be high quality and stylish, while superior performance and professional are associated with Adidas (copy). Additionally, there are some relatively high entries barriers set by them, such as higher brand awareness, unique brand image, and established agreements with big named athletes, celebrities and retailers. They even launch the product for every sector of the market in terms of price and intended purpose (for performance, lifestyle or fashion) ibid. However, some smaller firms which specialize in particular purpose of shoes can also successfully capture particular segm ent in the US market, such as K-Swiss in tennis, Vans in skate and lifestyle shoe ibid. In summary, there are three reasons to support Li Ning enter into the US market: First, previous efforts made and the network built in that market. Second, the big US sportswear market size and the potential market opportunity seem very attractive for Li Ning’s foreign expansion. Third, the success cases of sportswear firms who target at the niche market or design for a particular activity in such a competitive environment also contribute to Li Ning’s entry strategy. 2.2 The analysis of market entry strategy After deciding which market to enter, the firm should concentrate on how to go there, that is the selection of entry mode. Yip et al. (2000, p.15) stated that various entry modes-export strategies, licensing, franchising, joint ventures and others â€Å"differ in the degree of control the firm exerts on foreign operations.† Several recommendations on that will be given then. First, Li Ning has adopted a few entry modes to test the US market previously, including indirectly exporting its products to the American market at the beginning of the 1990s, building a small RD centres in Portland in 2008 and more recently establishing its first US retail stores in Portland (case) and the purpose of doing that is to acquire some local resources and experience to better understanding the US market. Because of the fierce competition in the US sportswear industry, great control on channels, high brand presence and local expertise should be Li Ning’s priority to select the entry mode, so the suitable entry strategy could be the combination of direct export through both company owned overseas facilities and some local well-known retailers, such as Footlocker, Finish Line, and franchising. Meanwhile, those entry modes involve relatively moderate control and investment in marketing channel activities by the parent firm (Goodnow and Hansz, 1972), as well as certain risks. Besides, the United States market which shows a greater equality among society level and has a more stable cultural environment could be an advantage to pursue an entry strategy involving greater control and investment in marketing channel activity. Second, the image and positioning of distributors or partners is a very important criterion. Based on Arnold’s (2000) seven rules of international distribution, it is not necessary to look for the best distributor who has already served major customers with similar product line. The choice of partners should regard the distributor with an image or strategy which is in line with the brand image Li Ning wants to maintain. For example, if Li Ning decides to position itself as mid- to high-end sportswear marketer in the US market, it should not choose any discounted retailer or other partners who may lower Li Ning’s brand image and may cooperate with some retailers who specialize in stocking goods with high price point and the newest trends. Third, the e-commerce of the United State is well developed, but online stores are only used by few shoes retailers and sportswear makers, so it is too early to evaluate its effects. However, making full use of the e-commerce can make up Li Ning’s limited access to local distributors and sports celebrities, and this business model is cost-saving and low risky. However, choosing the right entry mode is only the necessary condition due to the possibility of country-specific problems and contingency. In order to enhance the possibility of successfully entering a new market, some cultural dimensions between China and Unite State cannot be neglected. First, according to Hofstede’s (1994) summary of dimensions of national culture differences, China (20) and Unite State (91) lie in the two extreme sides of the individualism dimension which indicate China is a society with collectivist culture and strong relationships among members, families and groups, while the population of the United State are more individualistic and self-reliant attitudes and relatively loose bonds with others ibid. This difference may result in consumers’ various responds to promotion strategies. Word of mouth and reference groups seem more effective among Chinese consumers. Second, similarly, the comparison in power distance dimension also displays a big gap. There is a high level of inequality of power and wealth within the Chinese society that means consumers more prefer to choose the brand which is desired by many people or can represent their social status and high standard of living; however the United States shows a greater equality among society level and has a more stable cultural environment. Thus, an in-depth research about the real reason for US consumers’ brand loyalty needs to be conducted, whether the unique brand image, celebrity effects or the product design. 2.3   Key marketing mix activities for initial entry to the US market The related products and marketing mix activities should meet the common needs of local customers, so before achieving the US market, the firm should identify the US sportswear market segment and decide its product and brand positioning. Li Ning does not have clear targeted segmentation in China and the brand positioning is also very vague, but compared with other rivals in domestic market, Li Ning’ brand tends to focus on mass to mid-end markets both in sports footwear and apparel and the price also set in the middle level (Chu, 2010). Next, some specific suggestions will be given in the following aspects: product portfolio, brand positioning, price decision and the marketing communication strategy. First, sports products can be designed for various sports areas. Li Ning positions itself as the global brand for running and badminton because of the fact that Adidas covered football area and Nike firmly held the basketball area worldwide (case). Linked to the condition in the US market, running footwear has been experiencing the biggest growth and its sales accounts for 25% of total athletic shoe sales (copy). Thus, the running product is suggested to be the focused product category for Li Ning. Then according to the consumer-specific usage with the running product, consumers can be divided into three segments: performance-orientated, causal-orientated and fashion-orientated customers; and this division can also be used in the domestic market. Another point cannot be ignored is the unity of product size system with the target region must be implemented because normally foreign people have larger-size feet. Li Ning has experienced the consequence of this defect by closing its Maast richt store in Netherlands (Meuer and DiVito, 2010). Actually, Li Ning has learned from the former lesson and remodelled the size of its product with the same method which Nike and Adidas have used. Regarding the brand positioning, Li Ning needs a strategic brand positioning to break out the US market. Li Ning has currently developed a big multi-brand family in domestic market including the well-known Li Ning brand, the French top outdoor brand- AIGLE, the international leading brand in badminton and pingpang- Hongshuangxi and a hypermarket brand advocated fast fashion- ZDO. In order to avoid foreign consumers linking the low price to the brand and lower the brand image, it is better to only establish and launch the high-end brand in the US market at first. Thinking of the price decision of the US market, Nike, such a big global brand, also launches low price product to reach all areas of the market (copy), so it is risky to compete with them in the US market by adopting a low price strategy. To be a global price follower is more appropriate for Li Ning to first enter the US market, so Li Ning need to obtain some formal marketing research about market intensity information and the average retail price of the US market from local agencies and rivals’ company reports, then picks up the leading competitor based on the product positioning and set the price which closely follows its rival’s price of similar product. Furthermore, the price decision should always be in line with the brand positioning. As Nagle and Holden (1995) claimed, price can be used as a competitive tool only when the company seeks more advantages by offering a less expensive product but with same values than its competitors. Thus, overall middle to high pri ce brackets should be applied in the US market due to the high brand positioning of Li Ning’s product. Finally, referring to the marketing communication strategy, creative advertising, celebrity endorsement and sponsoring events all play an important role in helping the company build a good brand image and gain the popularity in the US market. On one hand, the design of local advertising is very important. Li Ning can cooperate with some local professional agencies specialize in branding and advertising which may maximize their local resources, knowledge and experience to better deliver the brand message. On the other hand, although the excellent performance on 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has vigorously promoting Li Ning’s brand to the whole world, owing to those global brand’s unbeatable economies of scale and scope as well as financial advantages in their home market, Li Ning has to make use of some specific local collaboration or sponsorship to promote its products, such as the athletics competition at regional or national level, the NBA basketball competition, some lo cal running community. References Arnold, D. (2000), â€Å"Seven Rules of International Distribution†, Harvard Business Review, Vol. (Nov-Dec), pp. 131 – 137. Burkitt, L., â€Å"Li Ning takes on Nike, Adidas†, The Wall Street Journal, Index 18, September 29, 2010. Hofstede, G. (1994), â€Å"The Business of International Business is Culture†, International Business Review, Vol. 3(1), pp. 1-14. Holt, D.B., Quelch, J.A. and Taylor, E.L. (2004) â€Å"How Global Brands Compete†, Harvard Business Review, September, pp. 68 – 75. Javalgi, R.G. and White, D.S. (2002), â€Å"Strategic Challenges for the Marketing of Services Internationally†, International Marketing Review, Vol. 19, pp. 563-582. Meuer, J. and DiVito, L. (2010), â€Å"A Grand Entrance? Li Ning’s Emergence as a Global, Chinese Brand†. RSM Case Development Centre, www.ecch.com Solberg, C.A. (2008), â€Å"Product Complexity and Cultural Distance Effects on Managing International Distributor Relationships: A Contingency Approach†, Journal of International Marketing, Vol. 16. (3) Whitelock, Y. (2002), â€Å"Theories of Internationalization and Their Impact on Market Entry†, International Marketing Review, Vol. 19(4), pp. 342-347. Yip, G.S., Biscarri, J.G. and Monti. J.A. (2000), â€Å"The role of the Internationalisation Process in the Performance of Newly Internationalising Firms†, Journal of International Marketing, Vol. 8(3), pp. 10-35. Online Sources Chinese No.1 Sportswear Brand- Li Ning’s World [online]. 10 March 2010. Available from http://pp.hw01.com/a/1003/10/1210467_2.htm [accessed on 24 April 2011] Economics of Management and Strategy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, Athletic Footwear- Industry Analysis [online]. 01 May 2006, Available from scribd.com/doc/39006282/Athletic-Footwear-Industry-Analysis [accessed on 22 April 2011] Euromonitor International. Industry Overview [online]. 2007. Available from guococap.com/marketSensor/IPO_Prospectuses/01368/E113.pdf [accessed on 20 April 2011] Frost Sullivan. Industry Overview [online].   26 May 2008. Available from hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/20080526/03813_342257/E112.pdf [accessed on 20 April 2011] Frost Sullivan. Industry Overview [online]. 01 Feb 2010. Available from http://pg.jrj.com.cn/acc/HK_DISC/stock_NT/2010/02/01/00953_000934073_9.pdf [accessed on 20 April 2011] The History and Development of Li Ning’s Brand [online]. 13 August 2008. Available from http://brand.icxo.com/htmlnews/2008/08/13/1304126_0.htm [accessed on 26 April 2011] Li Ning New Logo, New Slogan, New Image [online]. 01 July 2010. Available yoger.com.cn/info.asp?infoID=6486 [Accessed on 28 April 2011]

French Angelfish Facts

French Angelfish Facts French angelfish are part of class Osteichthyes and live in coral reefs in the Western Atlantic, from the Bahamas to Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico. Their scientific name, Pomacanthus paru, comes from the Greek words for cover (poma) and spine (akantha) due to their protruding spines. French angelfish are very curious, territorial, and often travel in pairs. Fast Facts Scientific Name: Pomacanthus paruCommon Names: French angelfish, french angel, angelfishOrder: PerciformesBasic Animal Group: FishDistinguishing Characteristics: Black scales with yellow rims in adults and black scales with yellow vertical bands in juvenilesSize: 10 to 16 inchesWeight: UnknownLife Span: Up to 10 yearsDiet: Sponges, algae, soft corals, ectoparasitesHabitat: Coral reefs in tropical coastal watersPopulation: StableConservation Status: Least ConcernFun Fact: Young French angelfish form symbiotic relationships with bigger fish. They remove parasites from other fish species and receive protection in return. Description French angelfish have thin bodies with protruding lower jaws, small mouths, and comb-like teeth. They have black scales with a bright yellow rim, and their eyes have yellow at the outer portion of the iris. Juveniles have a dark brown or black body with vertical yellow bands. As they mature, the scales begin to develop yellow rims, while the rest of the body remains black. French Angelfish, Pomacanthus paru, in Chichiriviche de la Costa, Venezuela, Caribbean Sea. Humberto Ramirez / Getty Images These fish commonly swim at depths of 15 feet, traveling in pairs in coral reefs near sponges. They are strongly territorial and will fight with neighboring pairs over areas. Due to their small bodies, French angelfish are able to swim into narrow cracks between corals to hunt and hide from predators. They swim by rowing their pectoral fins, and their long tail fins allow them to turn quickly. Habitat and Distribution French angelfish occur in coral reefs, rocky bottoms, grassy flats, and other places that provide coverage in tropical coastal waters. They have been found in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Florida down to Brazil. They also appear in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and occasionally off the coast of New York. French angelfish can survive a wide variety of environments due to their salinity tolerance. Diet and Behavior Juvenile French Angelfish cleaning the tail of a Bar Jack underwater off the Yucatan peninsula. Alphotographic / Getty Images Adult angelfish’s diet mostly consists of sponges and algae. Many sponges have a V-shaped pattern due to French angelfish bites. They also eat cnidarians including zoantharians and gorgonians, as well as other aquatic invertebrate animals such as bryozoans and tunicates. Young angelfish eat algae, detritus, and ectoparasites cleaned off other fish. In reef ecosystems, young French angelfish set up â€Å"cleaning stations† for a variety of fish clients as a way for them to control parasites. They do so by touching the body of fish clients with their pelvic fins to remove parasites. This specialized function rivals other cleaners like gobies and shrimp. Client fish include jacks, morays, surgeonfish, and snappers, among many others. Adults form pairs, staying with their mate for life. These pairs search the corals for food during the day and hide from predators at night in cracks in the reefs. Despite being very territorial, adult French angelfish have been known to be very curious towards divers. Reproduction and Offspring French angelfish reach sexual maturity when they are around 3 years of age and about 10 inches long. Spawning occurs from April to September. They are nest non-guarders and reproduce in pairs via external fertilization. Unlike other fish that spawn in the open, French angelfish mate exclusively with their partner. The male and female will travel to the surface where they release both eggs and sperm into the water. The eggs are only 0.04 inches in diameter and hatch 15 to 20 hours after fertilization. These eggs develop in plankton beds until they can travel down to the coral reef. A hawksbill sea turtle feeds on a sponge while two french angelfish look on. Shot at the dive site Tormentos in Cozumel, Mexico. Brent Durand / Getty Images Conservation Status French angelfish are designated as Least Concern as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The organization found the population of French angelfish to be stable because the current collection for aquarium trade does not impact the global population. French Angelfish and Humans French angelfish are economically important because juveniles are collected using nets to sell to aquariums and are reared in captivity. Due to their high tolerance to environmental changes, disease resistance, and their curious personalities, French angelfish make ideal aquarium fish. Additionally, they are fished for food locally in some countries like Singapore and Thailand, although there have been reports of ciguatera poisoning. This type of poisoning is caused by eating fish that contain ciguatera toxins. Sources French Angelfish. Oceana, https://oceana.org/marine-life/ocean-fishes/french-angelfish.French Angelfish Facts And Information. Seaworld, https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/bony-fish/french-angelfish/.French Angelfishes. Marinebio, https://marinebio.org/species/french-angelfishes/pomacanthus-paru/.Kilarski, Stacey. Pomacanthus Paru (French Angelfish). Animal Diversity Web, 2014, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pomacanthus_paru/.Pomacanthus Paru. Florida Museum, 2017, https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/pomacanthus-paru/.Pyle, R., Myers, R., Rocha, L.A. Craig, M.T. 2010. â€Å"Pomacanthus paru.† The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2010, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165898/6160204.

Whole Foods case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Whole Foods - Case Study Example Tri-component model which is expressed through sequence cognitive-affective-conative can be utelised by Whole Foods Market towards this effect. This denotes that Whole Foods Market should first engage in informing the potential customers of the importance of the organic food and then work towards lowering the prices. This can be achieved by packaging its foods into different sizes that would enable such customers afford to buy. When this is done, the feeling of affordability will be created to the customers and they will be eventually buy Whole Foods Market foods. At the end, customers would buy the recommended products and succeeed in weakening any misconception that bar them from buying the products. In fact, when a few of them get the experience of the products, they would recommend the products to other customers. However, this has to be accompanied by other complementing strategies. The company should produce high quality products and offer good customer service. Customers are c onsidered to be rational in consumption. Therefore, they tend to purchase from stores that meet their current needs. If Whole Foods Market is unable to meet different customer needs, there is a high possibility of the customers would shift to other companies offering similar products. For Whole Foods Market to be able to change some of the negative attitude of customers that bars them from buying the organic food, the company should concentrate on changing the motivation function. This can be achieved by offering cheap organic foods that would negate the customers’ misconception that organic foods are expensive. Additionally, this can be done strategically by focusing on the group that has such misconceptions with the intent of proving that Whole Foods Market foods are of high quality and affordable to all. Additionally, if the customers have a different belief that seems to

North Indian American Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

North Indian American - Research Paper Example Democratically these nations like the recognized nations of the world are also declared to possess their own constitutional rights (Minahan, 2002, pp.20-23). History of the North Indian Americans The number of North American Indians in the region of North America is found to be declining in rapid manner from the past periods. With the formation of the first European colonies in Jamestown and Plymouth the number of American Indians residing in the region ranged for about two millions. With the arrival of the colonial people from European countries the American Indians were forced to intrude further into further interior regions of the country. The North American Indians were a bunch of great hunters who used to hunt on wild buffaloes and wolves. Hunting activities of the North American tribes were mainly done on horsebacks to render due efficiency (Joint Economic Committee, 230-245). These Indians used to dig holes in the ground to put their valuables and objects of hunt or interest a nd covered them fully in order to conceal such from others. Further the skin of the hunted buffaloes was used as clothing materials for women and men. Among the most popular tribes of the North American Indians the Seneca tribe holds a significant position. ... Verbal context spoken among North American Indians contained of specific sounds, which were closely observed by the European colonialists who fist developed contacts with these people. The European people started recording the sounds and alphabets spoken to form a new branch of linguistics to be researched upon. In the middle part of the nineteenth century the study of North Indian American languages was catered to a great extent to be both comprehended and written which helped to earn due clarity. (Sturtevant, 17-18; Murthy and Kamath, 26). The North American Indians also communicated amongst themselves on the basis of sign languages. These people used several gestures and body languages to communicate amongst themselves. Thus the North American tribes can also be held to be the significant contributors of modern sign languages. The practice of sign languages among the North American people earned such significance that it was observed more as a ‘lingua franca’ amongst them. However due to lack of patronage of such and recognition of it in purely primitive note they were relegated in back quarters (Davis, 17). Religion of the North American Indians The religious practices of the North American Indians are featured by simplicity carrying only some doctrines and some specific ceremonial events. North American Indians regard the ‘Great Spirit’ as their highest deity. The tribal people render their every success and failure at the feet of this supreme deity and regard their deity as the infinite power. Further these people also have created an inferior deity to which they regard all the misfortunes of their lives. The North