These are the 10 fastest growing small businesses right now: (list taken from link below)

1. Oilseed and Grain Farming
2. Building Finishing Contractors
3. Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers
4. Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
5. Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
6. Computer Systems Design and Related Services
7. Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
8. Utility System Construction
9. Specialty Food Stores
10. Foundation, Structure and Building Exterior Contractors

As seen on the above list, many of these businesses are trade based. Many involved basic needs, such as food, shelter, and basic human needs. This could be due to the fact that these goods and services are not affected by the market or economy very much, so it is a stable income source. Moreover though, this shows that no matter how much firms try to advance forward with technology, we will always truly rely on the basics: needs instead of wants. As human moves forward by taking giant steps, there must be a stable foundation of support that can give us our basic needs.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-tools/top-tens/the-10-fastest-growing-small-business-sectors-right-now/article15017144/

From this article in the Globe and Mail, it is noted that small businesses use more social media, and there are many evidences from the multiple surveys. I feel like this fact is very logical, social media is very inexpensive if not a free way to advertise products. Not only is it usable for marketing, it is also very realistic as many people are starting to use social media if not already. This is a more personal and efficient way to communicate with customers as well as reaching more potential costumers; increasing customer relationship and expanding currents and customer base. Small business are unlike larger firms where they can easily focus on one task and be more personal with customers. This also ties with the usage of social media, as the owners may start to merge their already existing social media profile with their new business life, creating much more intimacy with customers.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-marketing/advertising/small-businesses-more-social-media-savvy-survey-says/article15072616/

In this blog post, the author talks about how business in Canada should respect Remembrance Day. While it is noble to publicly express your thankfulness to those that fought for our freedom, some businesses take advantage of this day to make that extra profit. I fully agree in what the author have said, as it is November right now, it is appropriate to show your respect. However, I have also noticed that many social media sites take advantage of public holidays to especially ‘showcase’ its many targeted advertisements. While this is a great marketing technique, it is ethically wrong. If advertisement for Christmas presents appear around the holiday season, it is acceptable and understandable. However, Remembrance day is a day meant for appreciation, respect, and mourning for those that sacrificed themselves for freedom of their country. Businesses should understand this and treat this situation seriously. They should not neglect the ethical problems and only focus on profit making, as any firm is still part of a working, humane society.

http://businessethicsblog.com/2013/11/12/the-ethics-of-businesses-honouring-remembrance-day/

In Shiqi’s blog post, she talked about how and why the French Government is trying to tax caffeinated drinks such as Red Bull and the result from it. I personally think that the French Government should intervene with the current situation and they should be allowed to apply the tax. As a government it should carry out actions that plays to the people’s best interests. If alcohol and tobacco are allowed to be taxed, high caffeinated drinks should be taxed for the same reason: it is a major health risk.

While imposing a tax on Red Bull could potentially damage France’s beverage market, I also believe that it will be beneficial in the long run as it will help the social aspects in the country.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/shiqiwangsauder/2013/11/17/french-parliament-takes-new-swipe-at-energy-drinks-with-tax/

In Tang’s blog, it is clear that Snapchat rejected a multi-billion offer from Facebook. While this offer could seem ‘too good too be true’ for a company that is still reasonably new in the market, Snapchat rejected this offer because they feel that it can make more profit in the future. In my opinion, I fully agree with Snapchat’s decision. As the age of technology and social media develops even more, more young people will be introduced to apps like Snapchat. Its older customers will also continue its usage of unique and quirky social media like Snapchat, being a user myself and seeing the majority of my age group using this product, it just solidifies the fact that Snapchat will be here for the long run. If the company develops the product continuously, Snapchat will gain even a bigger customer base and increase its profit.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/keyu1/2013/11/18/snapchat-founders-reject-huge-offer/

Lenovo actively considered a bid for Blackberry and showed its interest. However the Canadian government interfered telling Blackberry it will not allow a Chinese company to take over due to security reasons. Blackberry was commonly used by the general public, business professionals and government officials. Due to its past popularity, it offered a secure network and during the last two months, the Canadian government made it clear that it does not want China to obtain these private and secure information. The government says that Canada is open to foreign investment, but not at the cost of compromising national security. While being bought by Lenovo could be a good opportunity for Blackberry, it does still need to oblige the government’s regulations. So this brings in the question: how much should the government really interfere with businesses and the free market?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/lenovo-considered-a-bid-for-blackberry-but-ottawa-wouldnt-accept-chinese-takeover/article15256976/

In Japan’s two largest retailers: uniqlo and 7-eleven, more luxury items are now being introduced to the customers. Cashmere clothing and gourmet ice cream are known to be pricey and extravagant, but they are now showing up in these basic and conventional stores. The companies hope to expand their targeted customers and lift profit margins in hope that the shoppers would splurge once in a while. Even though these products are luxury items, they are still being sold at a fraction of the price they would usually be sold at in department stores. However, these items can also cause an increase in tax, possibly even decreasing the demand for them. Also, the companies are losing their cost leadership strategy yet not exactly embracing the differentiation strategy either, possibly causing a loss of loyal customer. So will these convenient type stores gain a bigger profit from these new items or will they lose it due to the reasons listed above? Only time will give the most accurate feedback now while we await the reactions of the household.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/06/us-japan-fastretailing-idUSBRE9950H620131006

Image from: http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20131006&t=2&i=800548931&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=300&r=CBRE9951O5N00

In our modern society, more and more people are beginning to use smartphones. They are our communication device, access to social media, work tool, and entertainment center. However, what if you are not the only one that can see what is happening on that brightly lit screen? Phone providers all have access to your phone, so that includes what you search up on a daily basis, your location setting, and they even have a good estimate on when you go to sleep. Creepy enough? Nope, apparently many private information are sold to other major companies so they have an easier time advertising their product;  according to the users personal interests and habits, they choose ads that are most relate-able to the user.

As a smartphone user myself, I was well aware of this phenomenon just like many other users. Yet, I still choose to give up part of my privacy for the useful little device that I am constantly holding, but, when does losing enough privacy becomes too much? When does a company’s profit motive becomes socially unacceptable? … I guess the answer lies somewhere around never. As long as the household is willing to put up with the high opportunity cost; and even if they are not, the market will always be unjust and immoral.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/technology/selling-secrets-of-phone-users-to-advertisers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

Major company like Amazon is increasing their hiring rate around the holiday season, saying that these worker’s temporary role will be converted into actual positions even after the holiday season. While hiring rate increase around the holiday season is normal due to increased customer demand, it is odd that these temporary roles will be converted into full time positions. Could it be that companies like Amazons are using this saying as an trigger for more volunteers for those empty temporary positions around the holiday season? If it is so, it would be unethical on a business level, as it is abusing the trust of some of the stakeholders. However, it is also more possible that Amazon’s decision is truly based on the fact there is an employee shortage, both for the holiday season and regular production times.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/amazon-hiring-40-more-seasonal-workers-this-year-1.1874469

While two third of the world’s oil and mining companies are under transparency laws, many companies are still rotting in corruption.

Equatorial Guinea has explored billions of dollars of oil since the 1990’s, yet it has one of the highest poverty rate in the world. The president would often ‘sell’ the oil to privatized oil companies that are actually owned by himself, by doing so, laundering billions that should have benefited the nation. Moreover, these are all done with the support of many large banks and oil & gas companies.

I feel that actions like this is extremely unethical, both on a business and political stand point. While privatizing a national resource like oil, it decreases the general standard of living, as there are no funds for education, health care, or even basic necessities like food and water. There are less job opportunities for the citizens due to a monopolization of the entire oil & gas market in the country. Both these factors causes poverty across the country, all while the son of the president is enjoying his expensive sport-cars. I personally believe that the president’s action is morally wrong, he is suppose to represent and protect his country, yet he can put his citizens through suffrage just to obtain excessive personal gain. Thus, corruption: the lack of business ethics at its worst.

http://www.ted.com/talks/charmian_gooch_meet_global_corruption_s_hidden_players.html