Aaron Lattimer's Blog

The great Allen Yuan of Commerce 101-103, once proposed a perspective comment in our class discussion. Posing the accountability of the government in Canada to defend and save Canadian based companies, one in particular.

BlackBerry, during its startup, was projected to be a certain success. They were the ultimate business phone for all people of different shapes, sizes and occupational backgrounds.

In his blog, Farewell Blackberry Patents, Allen Yuan describes how foreign investment resulted in the release of patents and restrictions the were now no longer under the management of Blackberry. This was the first turning stone for future events to unfold.

Blackberry went from being the ultimate and most desirable business phone, to scrap parts. With competitors like Apple and their iPhone, competing to dominate all cell phone markets, Blackberry could not advance in the times and their innovation flopped.

The only thing that Blackberry seemed to keep their necks above the rising water of closure was the exclusiveness of BBM (Blackberry Messenger).

Well that security was tossed out the window of Blackberry’s head office and into the hands of smartphone and android companies, as the patent was sold to foreign investors as stated in Allen’s blog, Allen’s Angle. As of a few short weeks ago, BBM became available for free to anyone with a smartphone and an email.

The question is, can I have your BBM pin code?

I was inspired to reach out, beyond my limits of purely website and newspaper analysis. Instead, I took the initiative to contact and learn from the founder of a small entrepreneurial company, Direct Sports Apparel.

Direct Sports Apparel, or more commonly known as DSA, was Founded by Katie O’Connor and her father Kevin in 2010. Due to uncertainty of reliable hockey outfitters at reasonable cost, the team of two realized that there was an opportunity to create a one stop shop for teams and players and offer a comprehensive process that was easy and had high quality affordable clothing. The journey began with supporting local hockey teams throughout Ontario. Soon, however, Katie realized and seized a major opportunity by expanding the business to incorporate not only sports teams but also companies and events who wanted their logo on clothing.

Picture from right to left: Kevin O’Connor (Co-founder) and Katie O’Connor (Co-founder)

In an email, I asked Katie to explain the strengths of DSA, as well as explain the opportunities and projections she sees for her small company in ten years.

DSA always aims to bring the highest level of customer service to each client. Doing so by generating communication that is on a personal level, in order to appropriately guide the customer through a simple step by step process. Instead of having customers scroll through hundreds of options online,  DSA will ask each client what their specific needs are and suggest items from their large network of brand name suppliers. Creativity is a major strength that Katie offers to her company. She believes that inspiration is in every aspect of the world and that imagination and creativity can exist in this market, to distinguish a team or company.

DSA looks for absolute simplicity for the customer, in order to make the process quick, efficient and easy. No more collecting order forms and money. They take care of it all.

The company has a wide range of athletes from both local and national levels, as well as organizational employees, who not only model their clothing, but also market and are spokesmen and women for the company and the product they trust.

DSA projects a major growth through their ability to be customizable and creative for sports teams uniforms and training gear at the local, national, and even international level as they are now having products worn by athletes at world championship events.

A quote taken from Katie this past weekend about her company in the next decade, “In 10 years, I see DSA being a major player in not only the rowing market but other elite sports such as cycling , running and canoeing in Canada. I think the same models and values we have now can be applied into any of these markets. I also see DSA being prevalent in US and European markets in these sports with sales reps throughout both areas.”

DSA is changing the face of team apparel, by not only raising the standards, but exceeding them to new limits.

For more information check out DSA’s website: http://www.directsportsapparel.com/

And follow them on twitter @DSA_inc

And on facebook @https://www.facebook.com/Direct.Sports.Apparel

Picture from right to left: Graham Schenck (Lightweight Senior National Rowing Team), Katie O’Connor (Co-Founder), Mark Russell Henry (Lightweight Senior National Rowing Team)

David K. Williams is a life long entrepreneur whose company has made the dramatic switch of critical employee credentials to focus more towards the basic standards found in world class athletes. He has led by example influencing companies to follow suit.

The main point he stresses is the competitive spirit found within an athletes character. However, it is not standing in the champion circle where people discover themselves and express their true being. It is during the darkest moments in their lives, where what the athlete is truly made of becomes evident and is unleashed to the world.

The question in jeopardy, “Why you should fill your company with athletes?” has been fulfilled through this extensive list of seven:

1) Athletes never quit

2) They possess an iron will to win

3) They understand that, “what’s in it for me” is a self-defeating question

4) They see the good in themselves and others

5) Athletes are scrappy 

6) They push through the pain until they hit their stride

7) They leave their comfort zone

Today, I am seventeen years young. I aspire to be considered on the caliber of a world class athlete. My sport is rowing. A sport that does not look to score goals, but a sport that defines the meaning of team work.

There is constant requirement to embrace the commitment to the crew, to never let them down, and to always push yourself to the limit. To make the man behind you better by sending a clear and strong signal so he can read and follow. To make the man in front of you the best, by motivating and providing energy when he becomes fatigued and most of all supporting him. Ultimately, it is truly an incredible sight to witness the unbridled sense of power when all eight rowers can capture the magical and illusive synchronicity as one perfect unit. It has been an incredible, rewarding experience to serve as a Senior Lightweight Captain of my crew. Leading this them on and off the race course, winning some races and loosing many battles. This has allowed me to discover their absolute limit, and has defined my character.

There are athletes and mathletes, equally talented to the degree of their own field of work. However, the business world is changing and the Sauder School of Business has been one of the first establishments to emphasize the roundness of a persons character. There is no longer a major emphasis on grades, but a shift of sorts towards defining the person down to their finest traits.

I readily connect with the mission statement from the Sauder Business school, which challenges each of us to see a world of potential, and open the world to become a business leader to put forth change and develop industry and ultimately witness success in our world.

It is not the person who can calculate the distance to the door, but the one who can take the fear of failure and transform it into a competitive drive.  To never stop at the challenges of a closed door, but to open it with aspirations of influencing a new world.

It was a sunny morning November 7th 2013. Wall Street was awaiting the heightened anticipation of the most recent talked about IPO (Initial Public Offering) Twitter. It wasn’t just a sunny morning for those who had invested in the company, but it was glorious and peaceful for the owners. CEO Dick Costolo and Chief Financial Officer Mike Gupta of Twitter can breathe a little easier, and for now, can sleep easy.

The initial public offering of $1.8 billion for Twitter on thursday morning, translated in to starting share price of $26. However, it did not sit for long, leaping and bounding almost reaching the landmark of $50, just to fall short and rest at the end of the sunny day at a price of $46. As of today the market valuation is now around $27 billion.

Twitter seems to be having brighter days compared to its counterpart Facebook, who had a troubled IPO last year that faltered, danced, played games and finally began to appropriately climb in value. Twitter has made history as being the largest IPO in the US technology market ever.

Chris Sorensen’s business blog in MacLeans raises awareness that every sunny day must come to end, as fog and clouds roll in. Even though Twitter showed a fast-growing sales proposition, the company is at the root of facing significant challenges. He first draws evidence to the companies financial history….non-existent. Twitter has never made a profit in its seven years of existence. Mr. Sorensen describes to his readers about the size of Twitter being a mere fraction to its competition, Facebook. Finally, the clouds seem to settle on the restriction of Twitter being unable to place ads, due to the fact that “Tweeters” more often than not “tweet” on their mobile devices that have smaller screen sizes, that constrict space for profitable advertisements.

Will the bright days be consumed by clouds of challenges that could result in a decrease in stock value for Twitter? Or could there be a possible rainbow at the end of the storm?

Only time will tell…

By the year 2020, coal will surpass Oil as the number one fuel in the world. The history of fuel almost seems to be running on a cyclical theory of existence, as the major populous of the world will be looking to expand their industries at a minimal cost.

Western society will continue to use oil as the number one fuel and will watch tankers upon tankers filled with coal be exported to foreign lands. The shores of China and India will be over run with shipments of coal, majority of which will be from British Columbia, Canada.

Global consumption of coal is expected to skyrocket 25% by 2020, this is equivalent to 4.5 billion tons of oil. The ongoing North American boom of natural gas discoveries and availability does not financially compete with a continuous thirst and desire for cheap fuel by Asian powerhouses, who look to power their economy in a inexpensive way.

China alone consumes more coal than the rest of the world combined. At a numerical estimate of 75%, China will increase world coal consumption according to statistics. Between 2012 and 2020, there is an evident usage of coal fired power throughout half of China. Coal levels throughout the world will remain constant, there is only a spark of demand in China, Japan, South Korea and India, as all the countries cultures, economies and means of industrial growth search for a comparative advantage in the use of coal in their country.

But what does this mean for western society?

SIMPLE!

The province of British Columbia will generate massive exporting profits. In 2012 alone, the four top steel producing countries of China, Japan, South Korea and India saw the British Columbian Coal Industry generate revenues exceeding $3.2 billion. This potential boost in coal demand from these asian countries, sees this number one export be worth $5.7 billion a year.

However, business ethics should be on the mind of many coal producing companies. Is this increase of the use of dirty fuel beneficial for countries who already have environmental problems causing deaths of its own populous?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2458631/Coal-surpass-oil-key-fuel-global-economy-2020-despite-government-efforts-reduce-carbon-emissions.html

The United States government may be shutdown; however, the US Navy continues to make a splash on technological advances for sea adventures, protection and whatever else billions of dollars can purchase.

$3.5 billion dollars, is apparent pocket change for the US Navy, as the creation and development of the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) vessel has now peaked into its third year of building maintenance, and is projected to be fully functional and furnished by early 2015.

The ship began its translation from Bath Iron Works’ land-level construction facility to a floating dry dock last week. Once the dry dock was flooded, the excitement began.

The ship is still yet to become fully operational, but what is under the ships unique tumblehome hull is what truly makes this ship the iPhone 6 of Navel Battleships.

The story begins with an all-electric integrated power system, that pumps electric waves to start the party with a bang, as the Advanced Gun System become fully active. The driver of such a party barge is equipped with a married couple of harmonized engines who are accompanied with a child emergency engine that completes the family of Rolls Royce Marine Trent gas motors. The arrival of said party isn’t one directed by random fire, wait and explosive personalities. Oh no, this party stretches 63-nautical miles North, South, East and West, practically designed to fire rocket-powered missiles and destroy anything stronger than and or equal to the power of love.

Did I forget that mention that this “tumblehome” hull avoids enemy radar and acts a form of armour that has the ability to absorb advanced weaponry strikes from more than 100 miles offshore. The final beauty factor of this stealthy cat like ship is its all-electric drive system that keeps her purring quietly like a tiger on the prowl.

Spending $3.5 billion on a ship to add to the largest Navy in the world, rather than towards more important things in the world like poverty, starvation, and unemployment already found in the United States, does not seem to be on high priority for the US government.

I sure as hell hope that this vessel can cure cancer.

WHAT MAKES YOU ITCH?

Well, on a personal level, for me, that is rowing. And for all people a like, you will or have already reached that moment in our life where you question what you would like to do with our lives. Unfortunately, humanity has become educated and raised in a society were tangibles have consumed our very being. Minds have become corrupt and clouded in today’s world of capitalism.

In our society and many others worldwide, this idea of money has set humanity to forget a great gift of life. Happiness. Money cannot buy you happiness, even to what the critiques argue. The great modern philosopher Alan Watts presents us all with a question.

“What would we like to do with our lives if money were no object?”

What if money was no object?

When sincerely asked what we would like to do with our lives, there is this variety of answers. Alan Watts emphasizes to his students and enthusiasts that what we want to do with our lives must remain independent from a monetary value. People may want to be: writers, poets, painters, rowers, or maybe we would like to ride horses in the countryside. Alan Watt philosophizes that it is better to live a short life doing things that we love, rather than a long life spent in a miserable way. And after all, if we truly like what we are doing with our life, then we will become masters of our own domain.

I was inspired by the alumni, who spoke to the commerce classes during the Alumni Introductions from class 13 on October 22, 2013. A common theme from all of our presenters were that they differed occupations of monetary value to pursue their own personal dreams. A lesson taught to them by our very own Professor Jeff Kroeker, who told his students to not go for the job with the largest pay cheque, but the one that would offer the most satisfaction for the rest of their life.

Just a few short days ago, Interbrand, a corporate identity and brand consulting company, released its Best Global Brand Reports. The results and ranking of the brands come as no surprise; however, being the best is all in the game.

The name of the game is . . . brand naming. For thirteen years, “its the real thing” reined as king of all brands. Coca-Cola’s simple, yet persuasive brand name dominated not only its market, but it was the poster child of the marketing community.

Coca-Cola “Its the Real Thing”

The question now prosed is, “who killed the king, and who is now in control?”

The answer is easy, Apple. The 2013 report values Apple Inc. as the new marketing King. The analysis begins by stating that every so often, a brand comes a long, that changes lives with its product. Nevertheless, the key strength and power that the brand poses as an affect on the global community, its that the companies attitude, ideology and beliefs are recognized by the name and emblem of the company.

Apple Ad – “Simplicity is Key”

The executive, Joseph V. Tripodi, executive vice president and chief marketing and commercial leadership officer of Coca-Cola, spoke about this years ranking: “Of course, we would like to remain on top of the list forever. That said, we are honoured to continue to be included among such an esteemed group of global brands, and we congratulate Apple (No. 1) and Google (No. 2), both valued partners of ours.”

With a humble history, Coca-Cola acknowledged its defeat and applauded to the new King of the marketing community, Apple Incorporated.

The world is changing. Technology has influenced the lives of many around the world. Simplicity still attracts the human psyche. Originality was Coca-Cola’s niche. From their simple ‘can/bottle’ design and marketing scheme, they laid the standard for future companies.

Nevertheless, Apple easily reached the standards of a simple marketing proposition and product, then took the power of a brand name to a whole new limit. Their points of parity may be similar to fellow competitors in the market; however, their points of difference and value proposition exceeded their competitors.

How long will Apple remain on top? 1 year? 13 years? Eternally?

Only the balance of time and human desires will testify to proclaim a new king.

For the Interbrand: Best Global Brand Report – http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/2013/Best-Global-Brands-2013.aspx

When the environmentalists are away from their human – tree relationship, they are cooking up: environmental protests, anti-big business schemes and preparing pipeline blockades. However, my analysts conveys Greenpeace, the environmental organization that is among the fierce opponents of Keystone XL pipeline, falling asleep at the helm and loosing track of the Albertan Oil Sands distribution.

The compact florescent lightbulbs began to flicker, as a push for the Keystone XL pipeline came to mexican standoff between the Canadian Federal Government and Greenpeace. In the back lands of Alberta, a new business strategy by Nexen Inc. took to the rails.

My fellow business associate, Brandon Kothe, recently blogged about the Keystone XL pipeline and its five year proposal standoff,  https://blogs.ubc.ca/brandonkothe/2013/09/27/recent-news-surrounding-keystone-xl/. His words dictate the political views on the pipeline, as well as the perspective of the populous both in Canada and the United States.

Nevertheless, as my fellow pro-business, oil enthusiasts and stockholders, wait eagerly for an approval, Nexen Inc. has already put one foot in the door and is now taking the bitumen, crude oil, into production to be refined and sold.

Every day, some 65 truckloads of this crude oil roll into the warehouses of Canexus Corp. The thick Albertan Bitumen is transferred into enthusiastic CN railway cars. In the second quarter alone, 14 500 barrels of oil were being processed per day. Canexus is investing $225-million and has hired an workforce of 400 Canadians to develop some 160-acres into a provincial distribution centre for the crude oil.

Nexen and CN Railway have devised a business strategy to distribute the oil as they wait for the pipeline to be approved. A Nexen spokesman informally exclaimed to The New York times: “Listen up folks: if the pipeline isn’t built, the oil will still make it to market. It will simply travel by different means. Shelving Keystone won’t make an iota of difference to the environment, other than possible increasing the risks.”

Nothing that has been stated here is illegal by any means. It’s Greenpeace that have fallen asleep, awoken from a dream and are now in a nightmare of a predicament, and have refused to acknowledge the obvious.

75, 500 deadweight tons, made a high-risk journey through the Arctic Northwest Passage, resulting in a major exportation strategical gain. The Nordic Orion, is a Japanese constructed ship that departed in early September from the Canadian Pacific Port of Vancouver, carrying coking coal from a Canadian based company, and will be delivered to a Finland steel producer.

The Arctic Northwest Passage is an alternate route to the usual and highly, cargo ship, populated Panama Canal. With rising concerns and controversy surrounding human affect of Global Warming, sparks a positive potential gateway for shipping routes from the western shores of North America to foreign shores.

This new potential passage, “is more than 1,000 nautical miles shorter than the traditional shipping route through the Panama Canal and will save time, fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emission, but even more importantly increase the amount of cargo per transit 25 percent”, stated spokesmen of Nordic Bulk Carries.

The Danish operator of the Nordic Orion, stated that the route saved $80, 000 worth of fuel, and was able to add 15, 000 tons of coal, because of the no depths limit that the Northwest Passage offers.

However, this new discovery does not come without high-risks. During extreme winter months, the passage will cease to exist, in addition to stray icebergs may lead to blocked paths and potential damage to ships hull. However, ships with strengthened hulls with ability to cope with floating ice, will burn less fossil fuels and will shorten the journey by 1,000 nautical miles.

Maritime analysts have stated in reports that this new passage will develop a greater trading opportunity, as the Arctic will account for more than a quarter of the cargo traffic between Europe and Asia by 2030. In the end, the large volume of cargo being transported through the Arctic is still 10 years away.

Even though mankind has been credited for majority of greenhouse gases and increasing Global Warming effects, the end result of such, have led to a reduced carbon dioxide emissions way of commercial transportation.