Brand Management Across Geographic Boundaries and Market Segments Essay Example for Free

Brand Management Across Geographic Boundaries and Market Segments Essay Apples encouragement of differentiation between product designs and its promotion of secrecy around new product launches heightens the Apple mystique. These create the Apple halo effect, where a buyer of one Apple product has a high probability of returning to Apple for other products as well. Apples has emphasized its unique retail stores through design for several of its flagship locations as well as tailoring the retail experience to include product test drives, classes and workshops geared teaching users about its products. With relatively light presence in lower-margin, higher-growth geographic areas, Apple will experience less of its halo effect and reduced product/brand recognition, lowering sales potential. With China and India estimated to make up about 66% of PC market growth through 2010, this could be a significant challenge for Apple. Competition Against the Mac: Apples position is improving in the worldwide PC market; the Mac still represents a small fraction of the overall PC market. Apple enjoys a unique advantage of having something of a niche market without needing to compete directly with Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) and Microsoft (MSFT) operating systems for enterprise endorsement. Against the iPod: Although Apple remains the industry leader in PMPs, the competition is making significant gains. The popularity of flash-based PMPs is problematic for Apple, which has much stronger market presence in hard-drive based (HDD) players. To combat this, Apple may release a new flash-based line of players. Apple in the Living Room Apple’s iPod and iTunes are a powerful combination that fosters a network style of increasing returns. By selling iPods, Apple increases the consumer demand for music from iTunes. By placing more musical choices on iTunes there is more demand for iPods. Apple is shooting for the digital living room of the future. For example, Apple just released a â€Å"boom box† portable version of the iPod. This comes with a remote control. Apple is clearly trying to develop a stronger core competency in the entertainment area. Style at a Premium Apple’s products are trendy and stylish. After Jobs returned in 1997, Apple retained a special designer called Jonathan Ive to differentiate their computers. Ive’s design of the iMac included clear colorful cases that distinguished Apple computers. Apple positions its Macintosh computers as higher quality and higher price. HP, Dell, and other PC manufacturers are pricing many systems. Although the Mac Mini is a base model with few features, it comes in a very small and distinctive package. Apple portrays this computer as â€Å"Small is Beautiful†. (Apple) Likewise, the iPod Shuffle was Apple’s first entry of flash-memory-based portable music players. Apple and the Digital Lifestyle Apple not only dominates the music player market, its iLife suite provides consumers with easy-to-use software for music and video composition. With â€Å"podcast† a household word, Apple’s Garage Band application makes the recording of podcasts and music very easy. Operating Segments Apple breaks its sales into five â€Å"operating segments†. The chart below shows the sales by segment for each year 2002-2005. On a percentage basis, only the retail segment appears to be outperforming the others. Differentiation Apple pioneered the PDA market by introducing the Newton in 1993. Later, Apple introduced the easy-to-use iMac in 1998, and updates following 1998. In 2001, Apple hit another important historical point by launching iTunes. This marked the beginning of Apple’s new strategy of making the Mac the hub for the â€Å"digital lifestyle†. Apple then opened its own stores, in spite of protests by independent. Then Apple introduced the iPod, central to the â€Å"digital lifestyle† strategy. Philip W. Schiller, VP of Worldwide Product Marketing for Apple, stated, â€Å"iPod is going to change the way people listen to music.† He was right. Apple continued their innovative streak with advancements in flat-panel LCDs for desktops in 2002 and improved notebooks in 2003. In 2003, Apple released the iLife package, containing improved versions of iDVD, iMovie, iPhoto, and iTunes. Apple continued its digital lifestyle strategy by launching iTunes Music Store online in 2003, In 2003, Apple released the world’s fastest PC (Mac G5).

Humorous Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride -- Wedding Toasts

Humorous Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride Distinguished guests, those of dubious distinction and those of no distinction, family, relatives, in-laws and outlaws, young and old, friends, friends of friends, freeloaders and hangers-on – let me extend a warm welcome to Meradith and Naren’s wedding reception celebration. Winston Churchill was apparently asked to address a prep school and he got up and said, â€Å"Never, Never, Never give up!† then he sat down. Well you are not going to get away quite as easily as that, but I will try to be brief. There aren’t many people who find themselves in the position I find myself in today. I’m married, 35 and I have two sons, yet I find myself in the role of â€Å"Father of the Bride†, but as I am Meradith’s brother I consider it a great honour and would like to say how proud I am to be giving away my beautiful baby sister today. I know I speak on behalf of my mother and the rest of Meradith’s family when I say how proud we are today to see Meradith looking so beautiful, finally married to Naren. During the time we have known him we have come to realise how special he is to Meradith, and everyone can see how they are made for each other. He is really likable and easy going, and we are happy to welcome him formally into our family. At this point in the proceedings, it is traditional to bring up an embarrassing moment from Meradith’s past or to highlight ... ...uite hard to carry out. You must both realise that marriage isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. Many of us know that everyone faces ups and downs in a life commitment. There is no secret to a happy marriage. You’ll both have to work at it, like many of us. There is no challenge in a marriage that cannot be overcome by the following three, three-word sentences. These are: I was wrong! You were right! I love you! Meradith and Naren, Here’s to the past for all that you’ve learned Here’s to the present for all that you share And here’s to the future for all that you can look forward to together. Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding, and raise your glasses to Meradith and Naren

Qatar’s Banking System

1. 0 Subject Area Strategic Management 2. 0 Project Proposal The paper will be an investigation of the major challenges that face Qatar’s banking sector. These problems will be analyzed and their possible solutions identified using strategic management theoretical framework. 3. 1 Background of Qatar’s Banking Sector Qatar’s banking sector has had great growth compared to that or the general Middle East region. Its stability guarded it form the global financial crisis that recently occurred. This is because of the close financial tiers that Qatar has with the Gulf region.However, the aftershocks of this phenomenon affected it to some extent (Kamrava, 2009, p. 411). Generally, Qatar’s banking sector was the most impressive Gulf Cooperation Council markets since the last quarter of the year 2008. Issues of declining customer confidence, liquidity and a coerced reluctance to lend have been the major challenges facing this sector (Qatar Development Bank, 2008, p. 12). Lending restrictions by the Qatar Central Bank, such as a loan-to-deposit ratio of 90 percent, contributes to deepening of these challenges.Islamic banking has been continuing to grow in this region in expense of the conventional banks which now view sharia-compliance as vital move to maintain their profitability. The government and Qatar Investment Authority have been trying to mitigate these problems to improve the overall performance (Qatar National Bank, 2009, p. 67). 3. 2 Aims of the study To identify and analyze the major challenges facing the banking sector of Qatar To determine the possible solutions to this problems using strategic management 3. Motivation for this subject area choice This topic is important for my future career prospects since I intend to invest in Qatar emerging market. I highly believe that the Qatar’s economy has unexploited potential in its banking sector. If exploited, this sector is capable of sending positive external benefits to the general economy increasing the viability of my investment prospects, due to financial availability amongst other efficiencies. 4. 0 Research Question 5. 3 What are the major challenges facing the banking sector of Qatar? . 4 Are these problems from within Qatar’s economy or from the regional / global economy? 5. 5 What are the possible solutions to this problems using strategic management? 5. 6 What are the impacts of solutions proposed to Qatar’s economy at large? 5. 0 Title Addressing challenges facing the banking sector in Qatar through strategic management 6. 0 Methodology The methodology employed for this paper will be both empirical and analytical in nature. In the analytical part, existing literature will be thoroughly scrutinized.After this, a comprehensive list of challenges of Qatar’s banking sector and their possible solutions will be compiled. The empirical part will involve collection of statistical data relating to the banking sector. This informat ion will then be analyzed by use of various statistical techniques. Type of data employed will include literature from other scholars, official statistics, industrial data and company data. This will be gathered from credible sources including libraries, databases, official guides, publications, and companies’ annual reports. . 0 Data collection methods They will include compilation of statistics, desk research, interviews, survey questionnaires and literature case studies. Secondary data will be highly employed since it is easily available and more detailed. Reference Kamrava, M. (2009), â€Å"Royal Factionalism and Political Liberalization in Qatar†, The Middle East Journal, Vol. 63, No. 3 pp. 401-420, Print. Qatar Development Bank, (2008), Annual Report, Print. Qatar National Bank, (2009, May), Qatar Economic Review, Print.

The Sick Rose - 1224 Words

Interpretation of â€Å"The Sick Rose† William Blake’s â€Å"The Sick Rose† is not easily interpreted at first glance. One must look at the deeper meaning behind the figurative symbols that Blake uses to uncover the essence of the poem. In the poem â€Å"The Sick Rose† the rose symbolizes a mentally unstable woman due to her abusive and controlling relationship with a man. This is demonstrated by the use of figurative language (symbolism and imagery in particular), the speaker’s tone, and the two illustrations presented. Blake portrayed the meaning behind the symbol â€Å"the rose† by using figurative language throughout the poem. To understand what the rose is symbolizing one must look at the other figurative symbols that are presented in the poem to†¦show more content†¦Blake exemplifies this by writing â€Å"And his dark secret love† (line 7). The notion that is being created is that the love the man had for the woman was immoral, and that the affection was more of an obsession then love. The man Blake speaks of is controlling and obsessive over this woman and it is affecting her negatively. When Blake uses the word â€Å"secret† in referring to the love the man has, it shows how the abuse between the two is almost like a secret because you cannot see the abuse. This is because the abuse is not physical. The abuse is towards the women is hurting her mentally and emotionally. In copy A this demonstrates how it is considered secretive because you can see the woman inside the rose on the ground but you cannot see a worm wrapped around her like you can in copy Y. It could also make reference to how to woman does not even know she is being harmed. In the last line of the poem Blake writes, â€Å" Does thy life destroy† (line 8). This line creates a negative connotation associated with the relationship of the worm and rose. The line tells the readers that the man is essentially ruining the woman’s life. Both examples of the speaker ’s tone help create the idea of the abusive aspect. The differences between the two copies of the poem makes subtle details stick out prominently to the readers. This helps to create emphasis on certain aspects of the poem. When looking at copy A, the figures of women on the top branchesShow MoreRelatedThe Sick Rose Essay1010 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Sick Rose† and Dorothy Parker’s â€Å"One Perfect Rose† both have titles suggesting the connotations associated with a rose. However, the poem’s actual references are reversed in meaning, they also have a deception of romanticism in their titles. They are two poems about love, with the rose as a symbol. While â€Å"One Perfect Rose† initially seems to talk about a happy love due to its title, the poem takes up a cynical tone as the lover questions why she is always receiving roses. â€Å"The Sick Rose,† onRead MoreEssay on William Blakes The Sick Rose635 Words   |  3 PagesBlak es The Sick Rose The sick rose is a very ambiguous poem and open to several interpretations, Blake uses lots of imagery and effective metaphors. My first impression of the poem was that it?s very negative and includes elements of destruction revenge and perhaps even murder. I think the poems about two lovers, one of which cheated on their partner and the other wants revenge. The poem is very contradictory, this is shown in the first line O Rose, thou art sick. A rose usuallyRead MoreThe Sick Rose vs. London: a Poetic Comparison1225 Words   |  5 PagesThe Sick Rose vs. London: A poetic Comparison William Blake was a renowned poet whose works continue to be recognized long after his death. 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The Sick Rose is a very decent example of which the poemsRead MoreComparing The Sick Rose, My Pretty Rose Tree, and The Lily Essay908 Words   |  4 PagesComparing The Sick Rose, My Pretty Rose Tree, and The Lily William Blake was born in London on November 28, 1757, to James, a hosier, and Catherine Blake. Two of his six siblings died in infancy. From early childhood, Blake spoke of having visions—at four he saw God put his head to the window†. Since then Blake’s vision was based on the idea of cosmology and that’s where he got his framework of images and ideas. Blake takes traditional images and presents them in a fresh Read More Analysis of The Sick Rose Written by William Blake Essay661 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of The Sick Rose Written by William Blake. O rose, thou art sick! The invisible worm That flies in the night, In the howling storm, Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy, And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy. In this essay, I chose to write a bout â€Å"The Sick Rose†, which is a short poem written by William Blake, focusing on the metaphorical language and the symbolism used in it. Though this poem is difficult, I like its deeper meaning and the symbolism. I thinkRead MoreAnalysis Of John Keats And The Sick Rose By William Wordsworth837 Words   |  4 Pagestwo works that we have read. Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats and The Sick Rose by William Wordsworth: I. Introduction of Romanticism a. Features of Romanticism II. How these features embody the written works of Romanticism exemplified by Bright Star and The Sick Rose a. Ode to a Nightingale i. How it embodies a love of nature, imagination and emotional extremes, and individualism (human rights/rebellion) b. The Sick Rose i. How it embodies a love of nature, imagination and emotional extremesRead MoreThe Act of Sex: Is It Worth the Consequences? in William Blakes Poem, The Sick Rose1402 Words   |  6 Pages There is a women gasping for her life while trying to escape from a rose in both of the illustrations that are set for one, individual poem. Most roses represent positively-themed symbolism depending on their colour. For example, the universal symbol for a red rose is love. In relation, the two colours used in each of the pictures are deep red/crimson and white, which are not typical rose colour choices. The deep red rose is used in the original illustration of the poem and it symbolizes unconsciousRead MoreSurprised by Joy and William Blake’s poem, The Sick Rose Highlight the Pain Love Can Create725 Words   |  3 PagesWilliam Wordsworth’s poem titled â€Å"Surprised by Joy† and William Blake’s poem, â€Å"The Sick Rose† employs a range of poetic techniques to highlight the pain that love can create. On the other hand, John Clare’s poem titled â€Å"First Love† and Robert Burns’s poem, â€Å"A Red, Red Rose† contrastingly explore the theme of love as a positive to be celebrated. William Wordsworth’s poem titled â€Å"Surprised by Joy† is a sonnet which uses simile, personification, metaphor, emotive language and a question to highlightRead MoreEssay Blakes Use Symbolism1243 Words   |  5 Pagesdesire and attraction. Similar gendering is seen in the Experience poem â€Å"The Sick Rose.† Like the blossom, the rose is at the center of the poem even though the action involves a more active being interacting with it. The only verb in the poem attached to the rose is in the first line where the speaker proclaims, â€Å"O Rose thou art sick† (1). All of the other action is done by â€Å"The invisible worm† that is eating the rose (2). While the birds in â€Å"The Blossom† are meant to be read as masculine because