Multi-Cultural Paper Essay Example for Free

Multi-Cultural Paper Essay Introduction Finding a â€Å"multicultural† experience that brings me out of my comfort zone is something I found difficult. I moved to the city but am a small town girl at heart. I grew up riding a dirt bike, partying in fields, listening to country music, and hosting birthday parties that my friends and I built tree forts at. My first vehicle was a rear-wheel drive manual Chevrolet pick-up truck that I had to put weight in during the winter so I would not slide across the road. I lived on 140 acres of land, and the closest town was 15 minutes away. Since then, I have moved to the city and began, enjoying the convenience of everything like, bringing clothes to the dry cleaners, riding my bike to work, and preferring to lounge by the pool on a summer day, rather than explore like I used to. In college, I studied abroad in Scotland for a semester and had the opportunity to travel around Europe to England, Switzerland, Spain, and France. This experience exposed me to a number of different cultures, currencies, and experiences. It was the highlight of my college experience, but I became extremely homesick after a month and a half and, since then, have had no desire to visit anywhere abroad for longer than a couple of weeks. In addition to being familiar with both the small town and city lifestyles,not many things turn me off or make me uncomfortable. On the other hand, because I come from a small town, there are a few things I am unfamiliar with. I am not as familiar with different races or cultures, the wealth and fashion that comes with living near city suburbs, or the religion of anyone who isn’t Catholic. This is excluding the Europe experience, when I spent most my time in English speaking Scotland. Because of this, I chose three events that would expose me to new things in each one of those categories. Event #1: A Brazilian Carnival The first event took place at the Fine Line Music Cafà © in downtown Minneapolis. Classmate, Sarah Holman and I went to a Brazilian Carnival. I was interested in this sort of event because, in college, I worked at Afton Alps Ski and Snowboard, where they had a Brazilian exchange program and brought a number of Brazilians up for the winter to work. They became the best part of working there most years because they were so much fun and lived life to the fullest during their time in the United States. The event was fun, colorful, active, and something I had never been to before. There were dancers, drummers, people dressed up in costumes, and a band. After the introduction of drummers and dancers, a band began to play. Since we chose to attend on a Sunday afternoon, it was more of a family function but, if we had decided to attend on the Friday or Saturday evening before, I imagine the setting would have become a little wild after a few drinks because the music was so much fun. Instead, kids, parents, and couples were out on the dance floor dancing away innocently. When looking at what I know personally about Brazilians and comparing it to the event, it is clear that they typically like to have a good time. Their music is good, the people are often good looking, and they are extremely passionate about where they come from and their culture. My behaviors will not change in the workplace because of this event but the carnival did confirm the impression I had of Brazilian culture. Event #2: Omaha Fashion Week The second event took place in Omaha, Nebraska, where my youngest sister now lives. Once we found out that she would be walking in two of the shows, on both Friday and Saturday night, my mom, sister, her husband, and my boyfriend and I began planning our trip right away. When planning for the shows, I had no idea what to expect. I have never been to a fashion show, know nothing about fashion and, most importantly, I had no idea what to wear! Going into the first night we had been traveling all day, were hungry, and the guys weren’t around yet to stay at the hotel and babysit so we had to bring my two-year old nephew. One of the things that I am most insecure about is not knowing what to do and, worse, looking like I do not know what to do, in any given situation. To explain, I am always tentative to try new restaurants because I know that each one has a different culture that I may not fit in with. The way they do things, like the way one orders, dresses, and acts, are always altered. This doesn’t mean I avoid the experience but, when deciding to go somewhere new, I always get a nervous feeling with some immediate regret, wishing I had chosen to go somewhere familiar. This is something I am working on because, every time the experience is done, I’m glad it happened and always want to try something else new as soon as possible. This is how I felt going into Omaha Fashion Week. This time, I was more excited to see my sister but, since I was with my mom, sister and a two-year old at an adult event, and since they also had no clue what was going on, I was mortified. The first night felt like a warm-up, and I began to understand the scenery, people, what was happening, and everything else that was going on. There were individuals who were much more casual looking than me, but there also many who were more dressed up. By the end of the night I felt like I could pick out the more important faces by just looking around the crowd. My method probably wasn’t very accurate, but it led to some excellent people watching. The second night was a girl’s night, consisting of my mom, sister, and me. We were able to leave the boys and nephew at the hotel for the evening. Learning from the first night, we showed up right when the event was supposed to begin, which means that we only had to wait half an hour for the show to start, instead of an hour, like the night before. We made sure to get some pictures on the red carpet and relax while enjoying a couple drinks in advance. The challenge for me going into this event was having to go somewhere new, where I had no idea what the culture was going to be like. When looking at the event in a professional context, I was intimidated, going in, by those whom I thought were â€Å"better† than me. Meaning, those who know fashion, have money, status, and the wealthy (not so nice) personalities you see on teenage television shows. I did not encounter any of these stereotypes when at the event. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and not judging, as I would have thought. This makes me think of those who are more successful and intimidating than I in a professional environment. As I have always been taught, treat others as you would like to be treated. This is something I will remember in the workplace for future reference. If I go in treating someone with the respect I would like to get in return, chances are they will treat me with the same respect. I feel that going to this fashion show cemented this lesson for me. I need to not concentrate on my insecurities as much, and, instead focus on treating everyone the same. This event did not confirm the stereotypes I had imagined like everyone being snobby, rich, and over the top. Looking back on the weekend, I think of it as one of the best times I’ve had yet for year 2013, all because I stepped out of my comfort zone. Interview #1 In attempt to deepen the Omaha Fashion Week experience, I interviewed a friend’s sister, Michelle Olson, who is an extremely successful plus size model, living in New York City. Michelle has experienced a much different lifestyle that is very foreign to me; one that I can relate to class and to the multi-cultural experience above. I was able to ask the questions and get the answers below: Michelle Olson Interviewee #1 Michelle Olson Interviewee #1 Q: In class we talked a lot about one’s personal brand. As a model, I assume your personal brand is extremely important and somewhat determines your reputation in the industry. Is this true? Do you have any examples of this you can expand on? A: Personal brand is important in modeling because we have to show our personality somehow with only a few minutes. So its important to just be yourself and wear what you like. A lot of clients are particular about a models personality because they want to show their brand a certain way and target a certain customer. We also cant be too eccentric or too trendy because some clients are just looking for a blank canvas and one that they know their clothes will look good on without being too distracted by the person and their own style. Q: In the business environment one usually has to work hard to advance or know someone to get ahead. Is this true in modeling as well? How do you climb in your industry? A: Eventually a model can [achieve this ] by booking big clients and then having them like you enough to re-book you again. People and clients also tend to take notice, usually if a model books editorials in big magazines. Q: Is it difficult to keep your values in this industry? Is it difficult while keeping a positive image for yourself amongst peers? A: I have been lucky so far in my career in that I have only had good experiences as far as boundaries and my personal values go. Everyone I have worked for have been very respectful and professional. Its important to have an agent that cares about you and will only send you out to legit, professional companies. Q: We also discussed virtual groups/communication in class. Is this a common form of communication in this industry or is it usually easier to do things in person? A: Email is a very important communication tool in my industry. Most of my communication with my agents is by email. All my job details are always emailed to me before the job. When I am in New York, I usually have to actually go in and see and talk to the agents in person at least once a week, sometimes more. Castings however are always in person. They are usually just quick little interview type things where you go and meet the client, have them look at your portfolio, and sometimes maybe take a couple pictures and try on some clothes. If you are unable to see them in person then our agents usually just send our portfolio for them to look at. Q: With the perspective of models being stick thin, does this pressure you to be this way? A: Working as a plus size model is another world than working as a straight size (0-6) model. Plus size is usually like a size 12, so we still have to stay around that size. We still eat very healthy and exercise so that we have good skin and feel good, etc. However, most of us are at our natural size, and therefore theres a lot less stress about size. Its great! Q: Are there â€Å"leaders† in your industry? Or are they always changing because your jobs are always changing? What is that like? A: Our agents are like our bosses. They get us our job so its important to have good relationships with them. We have three of them, and they are all cool and friendly so its quite nice! Obtaining this information from Michelle has provided me with interesting insight on a completely different business environment, than of the corporate life I am used to. Event #3: Scientology Church Tour My third event was a tour and question and answer period at the Saint Paul Church of Scientology. I went to this with three classmates, Sarah, Cody, and Andrea. As mentioned at the beginning of this paper, I am not familiar with many different kinds of religion, beside Catholicism. Through Tom Cruise, I have heard a lot of wonderful things about Scientology. I have also heard the opposite about the religion from his ex-wives. From what I was told, saw, and learned, the experience had a positive impact that made me curious and left me wanting to learn more about the religion. The interesting part about the church is that it focuses on the here and now, versus the Christian religion where their beliefs are based on the Bible, which is many centuries old. The self-guided tour consisted of watching videos to obtain information about the religion. There were different categories, so we could watch the topics we were most interested in. After watching a couple of videos, we felt it would be most beneficial to speak to the tour guide and ask questions about her experiences. From her answers, I gathered that Scientologists like to help people. If you are having troubles in your marriage or need help finding where to go in life, you can join counseling groups. If there is a natural disaster in the world, Scientologists will travel to the location and help out where they can. The part that interested me most is their passion to help individuals with any issues that individual might be having. In a book recommended by Andrea that provided an opposite perspective of Scientology, Jenna Miscavige Hill writes about her â€Å"secret life inside scientology and her harrowing escape† (Beyond Belief, Cover). This is something I wish I would have known about before going into the tour because I would have asked questions in regards to this book. In the book, Jenna explains about her life as a member of the Sea Org, the church’s most devoted core group of Scientology. She describes how she was sent away as a child to receive an education in Scientology, the manual labor she was forced to perform, and the coercion she faced from officials. Nothing about children being sent away to Scientology school was brought up or asked about throughout our time at the Church. After reading the 10 Juiciest Bits about Scientology from Jenna’s book, it made me think twice about what I found out while at the church. Hearing both the positive and negative sides of Scientology will not change the way I act in a professional environment because, knowing both sides of the religion will not diminish the respect I have for other’s personal religious choices. I think the main challenge for the Church of Scientology is the extreme difference in viewpoints you can have on the religion. Those who are Scientologist think it’s the most wonderful thing, but those who know about it and have gotten out have nothing good to say about it. Interview #2 The second interview I conducted did not relate to any of my multicultural experiences, but was instead with a coworker, Violet. Violet is from Uganda, Africa, and came to the United States in January 2000 to attend school at the University of Minnesota. Violet’s experience relates to the â€Å"Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story† video watched in class. Violet Interviewee #2 Violet Interviewee #2 Since this was an in person interview, not many structured questions were asked. Instead, there was a lot of back and forth conversation, unlike the interview with Michelle. When explaining her experiences growing up, Violet made a point on how the way she was raised and lived is only one view, and not everyone was able to live the way she did. Violet comes from a very successful family. She explained how she lived a very privileged life, in Uganda, and does not know what poverty is when asked about it. When her family came to Minnesota, they brought their maid with them, which is not common for many when traveling to the States. Violet came on a student visa. Due to the fact that she was from out of the country, she had to pay almost three times more per semester than most students attending the university. This is something her father paid for so, unlike me and many others, she graduated with no student loans. I asked Violet about the manifestation of personal brand of Africa and she explained that it is very different. One in Africa is unable to choose their personal brand. When interviewing for positions, the question is always, â€Å"Whose son or daughter is that?† not â€Å"How smart or qualified are they?† In Uganda, there is a strong British influence, so class and tribal system is what makes you who are you. It is all about whom you know or who you are related to. Violet never professionally worked in Africa, but states that one’s choices are limited regarding what they can decide to grow up to be. You either plan to be a doctor, lawyer, dentist, or anything else with a designate d path. There are few opportunities and many talents are wasted. Marketing or human resource careers aren’t options or even thought about in Africa when choosing an education path. When Violet came to Minnesota to begin school, she had it in her mind that she was going to become a lawyer. Not until she was almost done with her Bachelor’s degree did she begin to realize that becoming a lawyer was maybe something she didn’t actually want to do. She went on to complete her MBA, with the mind set of beginning to work toward a law degree. She is now a Senior Human Resources Recruiter, and sometimes wishes she had received her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Communications, instead of Business, realizing that she was still living in the African career mentality when choosing her education. While people in the US think that an 8% unemployment rate is high, Africa has over 50% unemployment. This is partially because there are not enough businesses to employ everyone. Unlike in the US, there are no government services to help the poor. There is also not as much access to goods like in the US. Not everyone has the convenience to go to stores like Target or Wal-Mart. Lastly, when asked if people treat her different based on what the average American knows about Africans – that they are poor – she admitted that people sometimes do. Some are surprised to learn that she speaks English very well, others reject her when they realize that she is not a suffering African, and the black community does not always accept her as black. She has wondered if she had come over as an African refuge; how things might be different in the way people treat her. The interview with Violet was a further look into what I don’t know about Africa. It gave me knowledge and taught me never to judge based what I see on television or read in books. As Violet made clear at the beginning of our interview, she has only one view point regarding Africa, and not everyone was raised like her. This reminds me to never judge when only hearing one side of the story. This is a lesson that can be brought into the workplace every single day. The two interviews and three multi-cultural experiences opened my eyes to things I would never have known about. I learned about what it was like to attend a fashion show, a different culture, and religion. These experiences changed the way I look at life and the way I approach professional environments. Due to this project, I will search for new experiences that will bring be out of my comfort zone, just like the activities above. References Adichie, Chimamanda, perf. Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story. 2009. Film. March 2013. http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html. Fallon, Kevin. 10 Juiciest Bits From Ex-Scientologist’s Tell-All ‘Beyond Belief’. (2013): n. page. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. Miscavige Hill, Jenna. Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape. 1. 1. Harpercollins, 2013. 404. Print. Nassalo , Violet. Personal Interview. 9 Apr 2013. Olson, Michelle. E-mail Interview. 4 Apr 2013.

strategic business plan Essay -- essays research papers fc

Lars this is how you create a business plan. First you have to set the vision, goals, and objectives of your business. The most important driver for almost any business plan is return on investment (ROI). Commonly, when someone starts to write a business plan for the first time you need to determine what is your objective? The essential planning elements are identifying your objectives. What you are going to sell to whom, when and how you are going to sell it, how much contribution the sales will produce, what the marketing and selling cost will be, and what will be the ROI. Research would be your next step. Your market research should focus on the information you need, to help you to formulate a strategic plan and make business decisions. Market information potentially covers a vast range of data, from global macro-trends and statistics, to very specific and detailed local or technical information, so it’s important to decide what is actually relevant and necessary to know. However there’s no point spending time researching global statistical economic and demographic data if you are developing a strategy for a relatively small or local business. It would be far more useful to carry out your own primary research about the local target market, buying patterns and preferences, local competitors, their prices and service offerings. First establish or confirm the aims of the business. Then state the objectives of the business unit you are planning to develop. Determine what is the business aiming to do over the next one, three, and five years? Next define your mission statement. All businesses need a mission statement. It announces clearly to your staff, shareholders and customers what you are in business to do. You can involve staff in defining and refining the business’s mission statement, which helps develop a sense of ownership and responsibility. Producing and announcing the mission statement, is also an excellent process for focusing attention on the business’s priorities, and particularly the emphasis on customer service. After your mission statement you must understand and define clearly what you are providing to your customers. This description should normally go beyond your products or services, and must include the way you do business, and what business benefits your customers derive from your products and services, and from doing ... ... and self-actualization needs. Herzberg’s motivating factors are from the best to the least: sense of achievement, earned recognition, interest in the work itself, opportunity for growth, opportunity for advancement, importance of responsibility, peer and group relationships, pay, supervisor’s fairness, company policies and rules, status, job security, supervisor’s friendliness, and working conditions. McGregor’s theory X and Y is that x is when you have to assume the average person doesn’t like work and will avoid it if possible. So you have to put fear and money into the person to motivate them and these people need to be closely supervised because they are not trusted. The Y theory is the total opposite of x. It is when most people like work, so people work towards goals and personal achievement and they have responsibility and can be trusted. The Y theory causes a more relaxed managerial atmosphere in which workers are free to set objectives , be creative, be flexible, and go beyond the goals set by management. Lars I hope I have explained everything to you in good organization and answered all questions you had and look forward to working with you on the next project. strategic business plan Essay -- essays research papers fc Lars this is how you create a business plan. First you have to set the vision, goals, and objectives of your business. The most important driver for almost any business plan is return on investment (ROI). Commonly, when someone starts to write a business plan for the first time you need to determine what is your objective? The essential planning elements are identifying your objectives. What you are going to sell to whom, when and how you are going to sell it, how much contribution the sales will produce, what the marketing and selling cost will be, and what will be the ROI. Research would be your next step. Your market research should focus on the information you need, to help you to formulate a strategic plan and make business decisions. Market information potentially covers a vast range of data, from global macro-trends and statistics, to very specific and detailed local or technical information, so it’s important to decide what is actually relevant and necessary to know. However there’s no point spending time researching global statistical economic and demographic data if you are developing a strategy for a relatively small or local business. It would be far more useful to carry out your own primary research about the local target market, buying patterns and preferences, local competitors, their prices and service offerings. First establish or confirm the aims of the business. Then state the objectives of the business unit you are planning to develop. Determine what is the business aiming to do over the next one, three, and five years? Next define your mission statement. All businesses need a mission statement. It announces clearly to your staff, shareholders and customers what you are in business to do. You can involve staff in defining and refining the business’s mission statement, which helps develop a sense of ownership and responsibility. Producing and announcing the mission statement, is also an excellent process for focusing attention on the business’s priorities, and particularly the emphasis on customer service. After your mission statement you must understand and define clearly what you are providing to your customers. This description should normally go beyond your products or services, and must include the way you do business, and what business benefits your customers derive from your products and services, and from doing ... ... and self-actualization needs. Herzberg’s motivating factors are from the best to the least: sense of achievement, earned recognition, interest in the work itself, opportunity for growth, opportunity for advancement, importance of responsibility, peer and group relationships, pay, supervisor’s fairness, company policies and rules, status, job security, supervisor’s friendliness, and working conditions. McGregor’s theory X and Y is that x is when you have to assume the average person doesn’t like work and will avoid it if possible. So you have to put fear and money into the person to motivate them and these people need to be closely supervised because they are not trusted. The Y theory is the total opposite of x. It is when most people like work, so people work towards goals and personal achievement and they have responsibility and can be trusted. The Y theory causes a more relaxed managerial atmosphere in which workers are free to set objectives , be creative, be flexible, and go beyond the goals set by management. Lars I hope I have explained everything to you in good organization and answered all questions you had and look forward to working with you on the next project.

Interrail Pass Integrated Marketing Communication Plan Essay

The main difference between the EuRail and the InterRail is simply based on the passenger’s country of residency. The EuRail is available to residents of a non-European country and the InterRail is available for European residents only. You can be eligible for the InterRail if you have been a resident in a European country for at least 6 months. EuRail and InterRail Passes are widely known as the best rail passes in Europe, having the ability of flexibility by its large range of options. The main audience in the market for the InterRail are a highly 74% youth, having the highest sales in UK, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Sweden. The InterRail Global Pass, valid for travel in 30 European countries, is still and remains for the 5 year the most popular option among the audience of youth travellers under 26 years old. But within the Global pass, there is dominance for the flexible travel. Due that is in high demand, it is clearly visible that the 10 travel days within 22 days is the most popular product for travellers not wishing to travel everyday of their vacations. One Country pass are Italy and Germany that combined form 62% of the market share. EuRail Group reports an audience of over 248,000 Europeans explored Europe by train. The biggest strength that InterRail has it that is a unique selling product in within the travel market. There is no other kind of pass similar to the InterRail, giving a huge advantage on the market place. Their only competition in a certain way will be the airlines, giving in some cases cheaper tickets or having a faster route. Other mayor strength is they have gathered all of the companies their users are more likely to need in their travels, and create a partnership between them, giving the user benefits and promotions in their services and products. A weakness for the product is that the trains can be highly confusing for the people that have never before use them, making that niche of the audience prefer that actual airplanes. Also there is an speculation in the internet about, the difficulties there are when booking a train with the pass. The Opportunities in within this product will always be to get as much destinations as possible. In within the travel market, the best agency will take you every place you want to go. Creating for InterRail, only a matter of agreements and routes to increase the diversification in the audience and options for the users. A Threat that I found on the market was the airplane because they can travel over seas, giving the advantage in some determined routes takes less time to arrive to the destination rather than the trains, making them look slower and therefore not functional. The Main objectives of the InterRail are to create, manage and target the increasingly comprehensive InterRail passes. Working to generate widespread awareness of the benefits of rail travel for the traveller. One of the Marketing Communication Strategies the product will be using is to emphasis on the brand differentiation with the airplanes. Letting know our audience and market, the benefits of using a train and with that, the InterRail. In here, the plan is to include us and other companies in a generic campaign, fighting for the environment. This would help the market to know, that using a train is more environmental friendly. Current Market Situation When the first InterRail Pass was launched on March 1, 1972 it was managed in conjunction by a large number of train and shipping companies. These companies were starting the business of an overall pass that could unite the traveling experience and save money traveling by train at the same time. In 2001, the EuRail Group was established as an organization dedicated to the marketing and management of the EuRail pass. The EuRail Group is wholly owned by the participating railways and shipping companies with key decisions being taken by the board, consisting of eight appointed member railways. In addition, the Group has many benefit partners, including hotels, transport companies, and museums, which offer their services either at a reduced rate or free of charge for rail, pass holders. In 2007 the EuRail group took over the InterRail pass, to give a more commercial focus. The Market of the InterRail has existed since 1972; there have been several changes. The first InterRail ticket was targeted towards backpacking students under the age of 21 travelling around Europe on a limited budget and cost around 118 euros. The age limit for availing of an InterRail holiday increased from 21 to 23 in 1976 and rose to 26 years in 1979. InterRail targets its rail passes to European residents of all ages and budgets. The highest sales originate in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Sweden. Around 74% of InterRail customers are youth, under the age of 26. The proportion of young travellers is higher for the InterRail Global Pass; 79,7% of customers are youth. For the One Country Pass, this proportion is 62,1%.. EuRail Group reports a positive full year of sales for the fifth year running. They had over 248,000 Europeans explored Europe by train. Compared to 2010, the month-to-month sales followed a similar pattern that on 2010. But there were some changes in the months of April and May. These two months were more productive than last year, having a positive sale of 11% for April and 14% growth in May. Also there has been and increase on online sales if InterRail passes, being a 25% amount of the total sales. The InterRail Global Pass, valid for travel in 30 European countries, is still and remains for the 5 year the most popular option among the audience of youth travellers under 26 years old. But within the Global pass, there is dominance for the flexible travel. Due that is in high demand, it is clearly visible that the 10 travel days within 22 days is the most popular product for travellers not wishing to travel everyday of their vacations. In second hand, we have the InterRail one country pass, also having a significant increase of 5. % in sales. The most popular destinations for traveling with the One Country pass are Italy and Germany that combined form 62% of the market share. The Travellers purchasing this pass are interested in visiting one particular country and explore it in depth. The EuroRail Group estimates to see continued growth for the InterRail passes, even with the challenging current European economic state. Mr. de Groot, Managing Director of the EuRail Group said: â€Å"Whilst growth remained modest for the InterRail Global Pass, we still welcomed an additional 5. 00 passengers last year. This reconfirms that InterRail Passes are still an excellent way to explore Europe. We are therefore confident that InterRail sales will continue to grow in the years to come as more and more Europeans discover the real value for money this pass represents† SWOT and Market Analysis In the SWOT analysis we get to describe the strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats that are involved in a business venture. The analysis divides into two many factors, Internal and External. The Internal factors are the strengths and the weakness of the organization. The External factors are the Opportunities and Threats presented by the external environment to the organization. One of the biggest Strengths of the InterRail is that the EuRail Group has total control over the market, as I see it, it`s a Monopoly. I research for a competition pass, another company that was doing something similar, but I found none. This is because the EuRail Group belongs to the most powerful train companies in Europe, leaving no market space for any other company to equal their promotions. Their only competition in a certain way will be the airlines, giving in some cases cheaper tickets or having a faster route. But they make sure their costumers get what there are looking for, and that will be discount and saving money. EuRail Group has many benefit partners, including hotels, transport companies, and museums. This is another strength for the InterRail; they have gathered all of the companies their users are more likely to need in their travels, creating a microenvironment between them. Some benefits InterRail pass holders have are discounted and free ferry travels on various European crossings. An example can be, that the pass holder can travel free in a ferry between Italy and Greece and even can stop off in the Island of Corfu with no charges. Another strength the InterRail pass is the reputation it has in its marketplace. Since I’ve been to Europe in 2009 to travel with pass, every person I know from then, that has a relatively experience in travel in Europe or has been planning to do so in the near future, has the perception that the InterRail pass is the best way to travel, not only to get to know all of Europe in a short amount of time, but also a way to do explore and save money for other things. Another strength that InterRail has compared to airlines is that most of the stations are in the heart of the city, making it easy to move when arriving to your destination. As everything in life, there are strengths and weaknesses. The hard part about describing a weakness in this product is that they are the only product for this market. But there are a few we can talk about. One of the first weaknesses I found when starting to research was that at first, the InterRail was design for young people to get to travel around Europe for a low amount of money. But things have change, since the beginning of the InterRail; the pass has been changing its rules to travel. At first there was only a global pass, an unlimited month, were you can get in any train you want in the determined month you selected. But know, there is a different story. InterRail has now broken into several passes. Creating a new and different way to travel, having more options, because Europe had been divided into areas. However, some young people believe that the new-zoned tickets have destroyed the original InterRail concept, which allowed unlimited travel over a set period. Leaving the impression that the InterRail is to make profits, and not to help the traveler. Another weakness that I discover was the airplanes. As I began to research, general population of the InterRail had some problems with the booking of trains, they said that they didn’t know that some trains needed to be booked in advance or they didn’t know the difference within the ones you have to book or the ones who don’t. Creating an opinion that is safer to go in plane because you have secure you place in the plane when buying your ticket. Another weakness the InterRail has the trains cant leave the tracks, therefore having to create first the route with track to make the journey possible. The External factor of the InterRail are to be consider, these factors determine the position and structure EuRail Group has to market to be well placed in within the market. The opportunities InterRail has in the market are beginning to getting achieved. As you have read, the InterRail only moves within Europe. But what about Morocco, Libya, Iran Saudi Arabia or even better Mexico. The Opportunities in within this product will always be to get as much destinations as possible. In within the travel market, the best agency will take you every place you want to go. Creating for InterRail, only a matter of agreements and routes to increase the diversification in the audience and options for the users. Another Opportunity the InterRail can have, to create another kind of pass called â€Å"The Group†. This pass will have an itinerary and a trip already planed with nticipation, but the user gets to travel all the time with a group of 10 people, creating the experience of getting to know a new country or city with new people. Therefore the InterRail will become something more than just a pass, but the creator of a full experience trip. The Threats to this organization, the EuRail Group, has been and always be the airplane market. Because of that, the airlines become a direct competitor for the InterRail. This other different market basically does the same but has its difference. In the general outcome of airplanes, at first were considered annoying because of the separation between the city and the airport, the check in for the baggage and the long waiting hours to clime the plane. But all of this has given the InterRail some fight. Another advantage of the plane is that they can travel over seas, giving the advantage in some determined routes takes less time to arrive to the destination rather than the trains, making them look slower and therefore not functional. When booking a flight within 3 or more weeks in advance is a threat for the InterRail, because the airlines can assure very low prices. Another threat that came to me researching the airplanes market was the very low prices they can have in some flights. There is a website called lastminute. com, this website has flights opened at the last minute, 3 days before departure in some cases, and are sold at low prices. Another possible threat is the organization of the most powerful bus companies in Europe. Imagine creating the same pass the trains have, but creating a network of buses that could take you every were you want in the continent. Creating a similar but profitable competition for the InterRail a much cheaper way to travel in within Europe. This could be a niche even smaller than the one InterRail actually posses but can be a start, for the pass to be knowledgeable in the market place. As a general market analysis, the InterRail is in great positioning on the travel market. Giving the ability to travel all around Europe for a low cost, providing destination to every corner. The strength of the product makes it an incomparable experience, due to the factor that is an network of companies that have to share the expenses on the railing, and by that case, created an group for that same reason. As for the railing, its part of it weakness because of the fact that a railway route has to be made in order to create the destination, but what about those destination, not much frequent, but get to have a share in the audience options. Will it be profitable to have that destination; will it be profitable to have the railroad made? There is a lot to be discovered in this market but the most intriguing part of all its future are the opportunities they have to become bigger, to expand to different countries to different continents. Also the rapid innovation on train machinery makes the trains arrive faster at their destination and become more profitable an even more environmental friendly. For last, the most direct competitors for the InterRail are the airlines. They can have lower prices for longer destination, creating a disadvantage for the InterRail. Also can be considering the conjunction of the bus owners, having the same effect as the EuRail Group.

Music Appreciation - 961 Words

Music Appreciation Radio Report Instead of attending a concert and writing a concert report, I decided to do the radio report. On April 24, 2007, I listened to the station WWOZ 90.7 FM from seven to eight p.m. It was hosted by Jivin Jean and Neal. The theme of that session was the 50s Rhythm and Blues. Because the Jazz Fest is approaching, they decided to feature some of the artists that would be performing. In which they varied from Percy Sledge to the Fister Sisters. The first song that they played was no other than, Jazz Fest in New Orleans by the Fister Sisters. The lead vocalist of the group was basically singing about the Jazz Fest. The lyrics of the song featured a lot of history about New Orleans night†¦show more content†¦The next song was Golden Eagles Indian Red. It began with an Indian chant with other Indians pledging in the background. They were saying how they were the Indians of the Nation. It had a live feeling to it because you could hear the tambourines, Indian drums, and the Indians yelling in the background. Charlie Millers Piano Night 2003 featured only a piano and a saxophone. It was very boring and off tempo to me. It didnt have a melody or much of a beat that you could follow. It was just thrown together. Check Mr. Popeye by Eddie Bo was very outdoorsy to me. It had a live music fest type mood to me. The man was singing about meeting up with Popeye and telling him to check his spinach. The song didnt make much sense to me, but I enjoyed it. I liked Sea Cruise by Johnny Rivers a lot. The man was singing/begging to take a girl on a sea cruise. It reminded me of the movie Cry Baby a little, which is one of my favorites. I enjoyed doing the radio report, but Id rather do a concert report. It was difficult trying to keep up with the names of the songs when they would announce it. At a concert I would be given a program to follow. But my overall experience with itShow MoreRelatedI Have A Deep Appreciation Of Music856 Words   |  4 Pagesme t o truly use the skills I have learned in my music classes to develop a deeper appreciation of music. Yang’s demeanor as a pianist, his talent, and his attention to detail allowed him to transform Chopin’s piece into a piece all his own. I have a deep appreciation for Chopin, but I had never been able to see his pieces performed live before I came to Dickinson. The classes I have taken at Dickinson helped give me the language to interpret music, analyze performances, and finally understand whyRead MoreMusic Appreciation Of The New York Philharmonic1422 Words   |  6 Pages The paper at hand is a music appreciation of The New York Philharmonic’s performance of Gustav Holst’s The Planets at Avery Fisher Hall, New York, on 7th July 2013 at 3:00 p.m. This tenth season of Summertime Classics, presented by The New York Philharmonic, features Bramwell Tovey, who has been the host as well as the conductor of this series since its commencement in 2004 (Gilbert, 2 013, p.1). Tovey, a Grammy-winning conductor is renowned all around the world as a highly versatile musician dueRead MoreMusic Appreciation: The Impact of Music on Mood949 Words   |  4 Pagesinvestment in music derives from its ability to convey emotions(Gebauer, Kringelbach and Vuust 2012.) Studies have implied that music can elicit basic emotions such as happiness (Gebauer, Kringelbach and Vuust 2012.) Music with a fast tempo and major mode are considered and reacted to as happy music, while music with slow tempo and minor mode are deemed sad(Gebauer, Kringelbach and Vuust 2012.) This effect was shown through fMRI imaging while listening to different genres of music and participantRead Moreconcert report MUSIC APPRECIATION2347 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿Rosalie Baker Music 120 Online #2745 November 30, 2014 On November 20, 2014, I had an opportunity to watch a concert entitled â€Å"Autumn Winds† at Colburn School in Downtown Los Angeles. It was part of a monthly concert series â€Å"Rush Hour Concerts at Colburn† hosted by Gibson Dunn. Gibson Dunn is a prominent law firm whose active involvement in the community expands to all various arenas of the society through their leadership and services. Rush Hour Concert is held monthly at Thayer Hall in ColburnRead MoreUnit 4 Study Guide Music Appreciation1249 Words   |  5 Pagesthe universal source of knowledge and truth. 3. What was the preferred texture of classical composers? Homophony 4. What is absolute music? Instrumental music based on abstract principles of music theory and form. 5. What are some characteristics of rhythm in Classical music? Very define and regular. 6. What are some characteristics of melody in Classical music? Short and clearly defined musical phrases with two or more contrasting themes. 7. How do classic composers handle dynamic changes? ItRead MoreThe Modern Mentality Regarding the View of Art1008 Words   |  5 Pagesput into trying to create art? Today, art has become such a general term. The onslaught of commercialism, hyper-stimulation, and modernization has caused people to lose an appreciation for art held by our forefathers, an appreciation that is caused by and affects much more than simply the way we view art, an appreciation that we need to re- In days past, art was considered something much different. The scope for art was narrower, and so the connotation that something qualified as artRead MoreEssay on Why Music Education Is Being Cut1454 Words   |  6 PagesWhy Music Education Is Being Cut Many schools around the country are cutting their music program because of budget cuts in their counties. The arts for some reason are always the first to be cut; apparently the school doesn’t think they are essential to their students learning. Schools try to focus on the more important academic classes because of the high testing standards they must now meet. (Nesoff 2003) This is not just happening in poor school districts it is happening in large districtsRead MoreBand Nerds versus Underdeveloped Brains700 Words   |  3 Pagesmost importantly, can taking a music class not only benefit your life in the band hall, but out of it as well? The ACT and SAT are tests we take usually as an upperclassman in high school. According to the Texas Music Education Association, the average SAT score for those who take it is 1,465 The National Report of the SAT Test Takers published by the Princeton Board of Education states, â€Å"Students with coursework/experience in music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT: TheyRead MoreMy Most Positive Memories Of Music1737 Words   |  7 PagesMusic by: Anthony salcone One of my most positive memories I have is of when I was about six years old. I was sitting in the basement of my house with my dad, who was playing a song on his 80’s stereo system. It was an old record album song by the â€Å"Doors†. I remember how every note felt, so loud and clear, every beat, and the sound flowed through me. As I listened, I picked up my toy airplane and moved it around in the sky, â€Å"flying† it to the music. I feel like lots of people tend to remember badRead More Music in Education1081 Words   |  5 Pages Why Music Is Important To Having A Complete Education nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;With school budget cuts, and no music instruments, more and more people are beginning to realize the benefits of having music in education. Providing music as part of education helps develop intelligence that leads to greater success in school and in life. Everyone from VH1 Save The Music to The National Association For Music Education agree that, â€Å"Every student in the nation should have an education in the arts

Disney Version Of The Cinderella Movie - 912 Words

Ever since childhood I have always loved the fairy tail of Cinderella. Ever since the original disney version of the cinderella movie created in the 1950s, many modern versions of the movie have been made. I have watched every remake ever made of this movie. One of my all time favorite modern remakes of this movie is called â€Å"Another Cinderella Story†. Although the story line of the movie remains the same many aspects of the movie change as well in order to make the movie unique. The original version of the disney cinderella movie is about a girl who s father remarries after her mothers death. Soon after being married he died, leaving cinderella with her evil step mother and two step sisters. Cinderella step mother forced her to become the servant of their house. In the movie Another Cinderella Story the beginning story line starts off the same. However, the disney version of cinderella is a animated cartoon version with many fantasies and unrealistic talking mice and fair y god mothers. In the modern version of the cinderella movie â€Å"Another Cinderella Story† the movie is made with real actors. Something else that changes from the cartoon version of cinderella to the modern version is the name of the actors. â€Å"Cinderella† is Mary in the modern take of another cinderella story and â€Å"The Prince† is Joey. Unlike in the original cinderella movie, the movie another cinderella story is based on music and dance. Mary is a dancer and Joey is a popular singer and dancer. Towards theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Disney s Fairy Tales 847 Words   |  4 Pages only adults read the tales. In the 1950s, Walt Disney created a non-violent version of the classic Grimm fairytale, Cinderella. Walt Disney’s cinematic version is more accessible to a wider audience than the Grimm tale because Disney removed most of the violence and simplified the tale while maintaining the original story. In order to reach a wider audience, Disney’s first strategy was to remove the violence from the story for the film. Disney movies are made precisely for young children, so theyRead MoreComparing Fairy Tales And The Disney Version Of Cinderella1269 Words   |  6 Pagescultural, ethical, social and moral values popular in the contemporary society. Changes and similarities, which can be found in the popular fairy tale Cinderella by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, version of 1812 and the Disney version of Cinderella (2015), can help to realize the changes in cultures and historical epochs. Cinderella by Grimm and its Disney version has the same plot and same main characters. Minor details are changed in the written fairy tale and its popular adaption but these changes can helpRead MoreComparing The Film Cinderella And Charles Perraults Interpretation Of Cinderella834 Words   |  4 Pagesfairytale films lack an element of imagination. Cinderella, for example, is a tale that exists in both the written and visual mediums. The tale as written by Charles Perrault, named â€Å"The Little Glass Slipper,† provides room for imaginative visual interpretation from his words. An interpretation that movies do not allow. In both the film version and Perrault’s written version, for instance, the audience receives the image of the glass slipper. The written version allows the audience to imagine the glassRead MoreDifferences Between Disney And Grimms Cinderella701 Words   |  3 PagesBetween Disney and Grimms Cinderella There are many different versions of the classic story, Cinderella. Grimm’s version was just as wonderful, but had more twisted moments than Disney’s story. Both stories are about a girl who overcomes the cruelty of her evil stepmother and stepsisters and ends up living happily ever after. Although, there are many differences, there are three that stand out. The three main differences are, the father died in disneys version but did not die in Gimms version, thereRead MoreCinderell Disney Vs. Grimm1557 Words   |  7 PagesCinderella: Disney Vs. Grimm A beautiful young girl, leaves her two step sisters and her stepmother whom treated her poorly, marries a young prince, and she lives happily ever after. The fairytale of Cinderella has been one of the most told bedtime stories of all time. Most people can say they associate the story of Cinderella with the 1950 version of Walt Disney. Many people are oblivious of the many versions of this fantasy tale. The original fairytale of Cinderella, by the Brother’s Grimm, wasRead MoreDisney s Adaptation Of Cinderella962 Words   |  4 PagesWalt Disney’s adaptation of â€Å"Cinderella† is one of the sweetest and most popular Disney stories. However, the original story of â€Å"Cinderella†, written by the Grimm Brothers’, is anything but sweet. The Grimm Brothers’ story focuses on a child that is abused and neglected by her family. Besides the abuse, this fairy tale is extremely brutal and gory. The Grimm Brothers’ also made this story exc eptionally complicated, especially for the young children it was written for. Because this story containedRead MoreFairy Tales Are Imaginary And Magical Short Stories1535 Words   |  7 PagesDisney has always been a good childhood friend for most of children. When talking about Disney, kids will remember about The Happiest Place on Earth, where they get to spend their time with princesses, taking photos with their favorite Disney characters, and sometimes they can even dress like one. Or the kids will think about their favorite movies that they watch with their parents such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White, etc. and dream that someday they will have the everlasting loveRead MoreCinderella Compare and Contrast Essay809 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Grimm version and the Disney version of Cinderella, however the Grimm version definitely exemplifies the theme more effectively than the Disney version does. The Grimm version and the Disney version of Cinderella both include punishment to the stepsisters for how they treated Cinderella and they both exemplify the theme. For example, in both versions, the stepsisters do not get to what they want,which is to marry the prince and for Cinderella not to be happy. The Disney version kept it thisRead MoreEssay on cinderella1579 Words   |  7 Pages Cinderella: Once Upon A Time The story of Cinderella has appealed to a number of audiences since its earliest dated version in A.D. 850. Even with the extensive selection of fairy tales in existence, quot;Cinderellaquot; is undoubtedly the best known in the world, with over 700 versions of this story available. However, this popularity is not limited strictly to literature, for the Cinderella theme is also seen in many movie productions. Two movies, Walt Disneys Cinderella and Andy TennantsRead MoreRags to Riches1447 Words   |  6 Pagesacross the world. Cinderella may be the most popular story of a troubled young girl that there has ever been. There are certain themes throughout the story that seem to make it as popular as it is. Some of these ideas include deception, disguise, images, and power. However depending on the version of the tale some are easier to unveil than others. One of the ways that the story Cinderella has come to American culture is through the Disneys nineteen fifty animated version. The movie was based closely

The Civil Rights Act Of 1964 - 1689 Words

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended state and local laws that involved segregation, prohibiting legal discrimination based on ethnicity, color, race, sex, and religion. Now, after much time has passed, people can pose the question: how prominent is segregation in today’s society? In particular, Chicago, the third largest city in the United States, poses interesting dynamics concerning this question. For one, the city consistently has high crime and murder rates in specific areas, while other parts of the city show low rates in comparison. One researcher Richard Reeves states, Even in a country marked by high levels of segregation, Chicago stands out (qtd. in Luhby). Therefore, many would agree that laws prohibiting segregation didn’t necessarily get rid of it. These laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, did not bring together different groups of people, and most certainly haven’t prevented segregation regarding other facets of life, areas not so easily defin ed by the law. Segregation and the problems it creates, further leads to unfair disadvantages placed on members of certain communities. Here, through the examination of numerous texts and social dynamics, various aspects of segregation in Chicago will be explored to argue how segregation is still a dominant and troubling part of Chicago, and how it has drastic consequences. In Chicago, the quantitative evidence of crime rates and other statistics are important in displaying the extent of racial segregation inShow MoreRelatedCivil Rights Act of 19641840 Words   |  8 PagesBefore the Civil Rights Act of 1964, segregation in the United States was commonly practiced in many of the Southern and Border States. This segregation while supposed to be separate but equal, was hardly that. Blacks in the South were discriminated against repeatedly while laws did nothing to protect their individual rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ridded the nation of this legal segregation and cleared a path towards equality and integration. The passage of this Act, while forever alteringRead More Civil Rights Act of 1964 Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pages The Civil Rights Act of 1964 resulted from one of the most controversial House and Senate debates in history. It was also the biggest piece of civil rights legislation ever passed. The bill actually evolved from previous civil rights bills in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. The bill passed through both houses finally on July 2, 1964 and was signed into law at 6:55 P.M. EST by President Lyndon Johnson. The act was originally drawn up in 1962 under President Kennedy before his assassinationRead MoreEssay on Civil Rights Act of 19646131 Words   |  25 PagesThe Civil Rights Act of 1964 Danielle Endler Human Resources 4050, Spring 2013 Semester Professor David Penkrot May 3, 2013 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is considered by some to be one of the most important laws in American history. (The Most Important Cases, Speeches, Laws Documents in American History) This Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964 and it is a â€Å"comprehensive federal statute aimed at reducing discrimination in public accommodations and employmentRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 1964879 Words   |  4 PagesPresident John F. Kennedy s New Frontier programs, Johnson wanted to expand civil rights and wage war on poverty. More than fifty years later, the effects of the Great Society on American life can still be felt. Civil rights fell under the scope of Johnson s Great Society programs. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law that ended discrimination in the US at all levels of government. Without the Civil Rights Act of 1964, blacks and other people of color would not have the opportunity to runRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 1964925 Words   |  4 PagesAmericans and even immigrants are afforded their basic civil rights based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The act, which was signed into law on July 2, 1964, declared all discrimination for any reason based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin will be deemed illegal in the United States (National Park Service, n.d.). When the act was enacted, people had to become more open minded; more accepting to the various cultures and backgrounds of individuals. Understanding that concept leadsRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 1964848 Words   |  4 PagesVII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, followed by a brief description of person al experiences involving discrimination, and concluding with a reflection as to how the American workforce is protected by law. The writing will cover any ethically related issues, personal thoughts and ideas, and illustrations of how the law pertains directly to personal events, as well as provide direct links to any and all reference material covered under the purpose of this writing. Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964 TheRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 19641702 Words   |  7 Pagessubject to, and the subject of, discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 originally did not include gender in the bill’s wording. Were it not for a backhanded comment made in jest by a backward congressman, women would not have been afforded equal rights protection in employment (Freeman, 1991; 2004). President Harry Truman inaugurated the legal Civil Rights Movement. Though people of color had long been yearning and fighting for their rights, President Truman began this legal process nationallyRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 19641106 Words   |  5 Pages†(Cassanello). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the most influential event in the Civil Rights Movement because it paved way for ending discrimination and segregation, and giving more rights to African- Americans. During the Civil Rights Movement African- Americans were fighting to get their rights that were being taken away from them little by little. Starting in 1955 and going well into the late 1960’s early 1970’s, African- Americans started to protest against discriminatory laws and acts such as JimRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 1964880 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween conflicting viewpoints are still being faced by Americans today. (Tiona/Claire) Equality for African Americans has made remarkable progress since the approval of the Civil Rights Act, but discrimination continues. A significant step towards racial equality was the Civil Rights Act of 1964, proposed by John F. Kennedy. This act brought an end to segregation in public facilities such as buses, restaurants, hotels, and places of entertainment. It also banned employment discrimination on the termsRead MoreThe Civil Right Act Of 19641072 Words   |  5 PagesTitle VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964, and both under the Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact. Dunlap feels that he has been discriminated during the interview process. The district court concluded that TVAs subjective hiring process permitted racial bias against the plaintiff and other black job applicants. Tennessee Valley Authorities was found guilty of discrimination against the plaintiff. The Title Vii of the Civil Right Act of 1964 enforces the constitutional right to vote, to confer

Marketing Plan For Oxfam Shop

Question: Discuss about the Marketing Plan For Oxfam Shop. Answer: Product Brief Product Description Hand Carved Marble Vase Haat Black Hand carved marble vase has been intricately carved by the Indian workers to create an elegant and classy floral marble vase. Natural stone has been used for carving the figure and then painted with floral pattern. The artisans of India have created the picture using the original works of India called as art of jali. Jali is a traditional art of India which consists of open carving and painting work and was one of the renowned arts during the medieval period of India. After the painting work is complete the stone are kept in direct sunlight and moonlight. The marble soaks the energy of sun and moon to recharge itself. This makes the work more durable. The vase has been designed for the purpose of home dcor and a show piece item. It can also be used as a flower pot in the home. Why this Product In spite of being one of the growing economies of the world, India is going through employment crisis. India has 56 percent labor-force to population ratio which is very low when compared to the 64 percent which is the ratio for the entire world. India is counted among the countries with the lowest female labor force participation rate. Most of the workers are self employed in the country and lack resources and support. Approximately eighteen percent of the workforce is casual labor, consistently looking for job opportunities on daily basis to support their households (Sharma, 2014). India is a country with rich heritage and culture which has been preserved within the small villages and towns of India. The skilled workers are engaged into artefact work of brass, handicrafts, marble, wood, pottery and other traditional works. India is known for its handicraft work which is distributed all across the world (Business Standard, 2016). The product would provide support to the unemployed population of India by giving them an opportunity of engaging in permanent work. The people no longer would have to look for daily basis job and would get an opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity outside India. The product would work towards the welfare of the poor people by creating permanent job opportunities to create better social lives. This would help Oxfam to achieve its goals and objective to create long lasting solutions and eradicate poverty. Further, the product would attract the target audience in Australia because of its antique and unique features. Product Key Features Hand carved marble vase is an antique product carved by Indian artisans. Its floral pattern is a reflection of rich Indian culture and tradition. Jali art has been used to create the floral pattern on the vase to give an elegant look. Its print and design reminds of the rich Indian culture and tradition which gets back to the medieval period. It is a symbol that represents the intricacy of art work that existed during the Mughal Empire in India. Marble vase has preserved the culture of India through its intricate design and hand carving work. Vase can be used as a home dcor item and a flower pot. Further, a booklet would also be provided to give an overview of history of Indian culture and tradition so that the customer understands the value of the antique piece. Objective Smart Rule SMART is a marketing methodology to create a layout for a campaign with specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timed objectives (Reece, Tasner, Davila, Epstein, Shelton, Light and Kiddon, 2013). SMART Goal: To launch hand carved marble vase and increase the sales of vase by 20 percent in the next financial year of Oxfam Shop. The above goal is specific with the figure of 20 percent, can be measured by next financial year, realistic and achievable within a years time period. One year plan Marketing plan would help to develop a target market, unique selling proposition, pricing and positioning strategy and a distribution plan. Target Market The product is designed for middle class consumers which comprises of 66 percent of the Australian population (Powell, 2016). Females, Boomers in transition and professional youngsters would be the target market for the product. Middle Aged Females: The ladies who are between the ages 35-50 would be the primary target market for the product (Mplans, 2016). They are settled with their families and contribute to the decoration and designing of the home. These ladies are socially active and prefer to shop with their groups. They would contribute to the major sales revenues. Boomers in Transition: This market segments ranges between the ages 50 to 65. These are the people who are changing their houses which could be due to retirement or going through some other transition in their lives. The females are again the decision makers for the household and decoration. Professional youngsters: They are the couples between the ages 25 to 35 preparing for their houses. They look forward to decorate their home to start their new lives (Mplans, 2016). The plan is to target the mass market share to drive huge sales of the product and achieve economies of scale to provide a fair price to the Indian workers. Unique Selling Proposition The products unique selling proposition is that it is hand carved by the artisans and preserves the traditional values of India. The hand carved marble vase is an antique piece which is not available at any outlet in Australia. Pricing and Positioning Strategy Pricing strategy play a great role in generating sales revenue for a product. Pricing helps to position the product in the minds of the people (Lavinsky, 2013). Consumers perceive the value of the product from the price of product. Economy pricing strategy would be used to target the middle class consumer. Since the cost price of the product would be low, therefore, economy pricing strategy would be suitable to drive huge sales. A right pricing strategy would help to position the product in the minds of consumers. Economical pricing strategy would to target the mass market to increase the sales of the product. Distribution Plan The product would be available online on the Oxfam Shop and at the stores of Oxfam in Australia. Environmental Analysis Industry The market industry has been forecasted to grow by 4.2 percent during the tenure 2015 to 2020 (Pre Newswire, 2016). The reason for growth has been justified by the growing market of real estate industry. The people have become conscious regarding the usage of products and are more inclined towards eco-friendly products to reduce the environmental impact. The changing lifestyle and the rising income of consumers have been forecasted as the reason for future growth. Competitors Oxfam faces major competition from the online retailers such as Amazon, eBay, Hive and other online portals (E Marketer, 2015). Further, the international retail chains are also a competition for Oxfam Shop because they provide the goods at the lowest prices and operate on very low margins. Customer Profile The customers of Oxfam Shop are those who look forward for products at an economical price. They are very price sensitive and generally belong to low income segment. They look for the most economical products and are attracted by the discounts and promotional offers (Oxfam Australia, 2014). Current Strategies Oxfam organization thrives towards reducing the poverty of the world by providing them job opportunities to the workers of developing countries. Oxfam conducts programs and events to influence the minds of the people. Oxfam influences the public through humanitarian appeals for which it receives great response (Oxfam Australia, 2014). Opportunities and Strengths Oxfam has defined its vision and goals very clearly due to which consumers is inclined towards the brand (Oxfam Australia, 2014). It has established a strong network across the globe by creating strong relationship with the suppliers. It provides all the day to day needs of the people through its stores and online web portal. Oxfam has a huge scope to expand its network across the globe through advertising, creating suppliers and opening the stores. Strategy Formulation Customers Segmentation Segmentation is the process of grouping individuals who have similar attributes and characteristics. It helps to understand the needs and requirements of the market and then catering a different product for each market segment as per their requirements. Every customer has a different need based on his income, interest, age and needs. Therefore, a single product or service would not attract every customer. The customers are divided on the basis of demography of country, geographic location of customer, behavior and psychographic. Segmenting the customers based on these four variables helps a company to understand its target customer and then design a product accordingly (Kotler, 2012). Now the product could have various segments based on these four variables. Australian population would have same geographic location. Customers behavior and psychographic varies from low income level to high income level and age group of the consumers. Targeting Retail industry has grown to be very wide and people have different tastes for products which are influenced by their income, interest and group. The countrys population has increased by 1.4 percent in the year 2016 and has around 66 percent of the population as middle class (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). Middle class population looks for economical product in the market for their home dcor. Now in order to achieve huge sales of the product, middle class segment is selected who are price sensitive. This segment looks forward to receive value for their money and do not wish to invest huge amount of money on their lifestyle. Within a middle class segment, there are people with different ages, behavior, psychology and location. Here, the geographical location is Australia, therefore, geographical segmentation is not required. Further, customers behavior and psychology is influenced by their age group because the people around always have an impact on the opinions of the customer, for instance, people maintain their standards of living according to their colleagues and friends. Therefore, middle class segment can be further categorized into three sub-categories based on the age group of people. Middle aged females, boomers in transition and professional youngsters are the three categories for further division. The targets segment is further categorized as primary and secondary target market. Middle Aged Females: The ladies who are between the ages 35-50 would be the primary target market for the product (Mplans, 2016). Primary target market drives the major sales for the product. Boomers in Transition: This market segments ranges between the ages 50 to 65. These are the people who are changing their houses which could be due to retirement or going through some other transition in their lives. This is the secondary target market and contributes towards extra income of the product. Professional youngsters: They are the couples between the ages 25 to 35 preparing for their houses (Mplans, 2016). This is again the secondary target market. The plan is to target the mass market share to drive huge sales of the product and achieve economies of scale to provide a fair price to the Indian workers. Positioning Positioning is influencing the minds of the consumers by creating an image of the product in their minds as compared to its competitors (Kotler and Armstrong, 2014). Product can be positioned through its price, application, quality which would be its unique selling proposition. Unique selling proposition of the product is that it represents the art work of the medieval period in India. It is hand carved by the Indian artisans, which would connect the customer with the India values and tradition. Marketing Mix Product A right product is required to satisfy the needs and requirements of the consumers (Kotler and Armstrong, 2014). Hand carved marble vase is a unique product which can be used by every Australian for the household purpose. Promotion Product promotion would be carried out through out stores display on occasions and festivals when customers are looking forward to buy something for their home dcor. Apart from that, initial discount offers could also be introduced such as combo offer wherein customer would save money by purchasing 2 or more products together. Social network website such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and others provide a great platform for promoting products through direct customer reach. Price Price is an important component to drive sales for a product. Price builds a perception of the brand and product in the minds of consumer (Kotler and Armstrong, 2014). The price of the product would economical to increase the sales revenue and achieve economies of scale. Place The product would be made available at the nearby stores of Oxfam Shop and a consumer can also purchase the product online from the Oxfam website. Conclusion The report has successfully created a marketing plan for the Oxfam Shop. Hand carved marble vase has been introduced as a new product in the Australian market. The products unique selling proposition is that it represents the art work of medieval period of India and has been created by the artisans who have been suffering through poverty. Economical pricing strategy has been used to target mass market share and achieve economies of scale. Promotions would be carried out through out store marketing and social media network. Further, the report has analyzed the market industry trend to grow by 4.2 percent during 2015 to 2020. References Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2016). Australian Demographic Statistics, Jun 2016. 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