Mobile messaging start-up Snapchat rejected an acquisition offer from Facebook Inc that would have valued the company at $3 billion or more, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Wednesday.

Snapchat, which allows consumers to send smartphone photos which automatically disappear after a few seconds, has proven popular among teenage users but it is mainly popular in North American and some European countries. Maybe accepting the offer from Facebook is a good choice because the competition in tech industry is so intense that thousands of apps have already been forgotten and mobile software is not sustainable. And both Facebook and Snapchat are witnessing a decline in daily use in teenagers. So a combination between these two social apps can enhance respective qualities and bring another peak in market share.

On the other hand, Snapchat should also try to duplicate the success the of one chatting application called Wechat, which is a popular chatting software in China. It allows users to chat without costing any annual fees and its users can subscribe to many brands like Starbucks and Nike. No annual fees helps it elevate its reputation and popularity among people at different ages, and the increasing number of users makes more brands willing to have contracts with it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/snapchat-rejects-facebook-s-3b-buyout-offer-report-1.2426180

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/technology/rejecting-billions-snapchat-expects-a-better-offer.html?_r=0

Last week, an artificial egg product called beyond eggs went on sale. Aside from being cheaper and more humane than real eggs, Beyond Eggs attempts to solve the problem of sustainable protein.  Beyond Eggs is made of ingredients like peas, beans, sunflower lecithin and canola. It is meant to replace traditional eggs in every type of existing food – whether it be cakes, cookies or mayo.

Compared to traditional eggs, owing to the fact that no chicken involved in the process, could artificial eggs be accepted as future food? As artificial eggs are 19% cheaper and have a longer shelf life, they should be perfect substitutes for eggs. As its cheaper price, there will be hardly any baker refuses to use it. In addition, as artificial eggs are produced in the laboratory, influence from climate and disease can be minimized. Moreover, different ingredient can be used to satisfy different people, such as vegetarian and those who are allergic to eggs.

However, the selling of artificial eggs may not be as smooth as we think. After all, artificial eggs can trigger mental blocks when eating. People tend to take artificial eggs as  genetically modified food and refuse to take it. Although the ingredient used to produce artificial eggs are from plants, but no clinical data ca be found to support their edibility.

http://www.finedininglovers.com/blog/points-of-view/artificial-vegan-egg-beyond-eggs/

http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/silicon-valleys-fake-eggs-are-better-than-the-real-thing

An online shopping website called Taobao run by Aribaba, whose CEO is Jack Ma, created a record at Nov 11, also known as China’s Single Day. China’s Single’s Day shopping blowout was the biggest online shopping event in history and this year brought in 35 billion yuan ($5.75 billion) in sales. The one-day event, which has drawn comparisons to America’s Black Friday shopping extravaganza and all online products are sold at 50% off.

As e-shopping is one of the benefits brought from the advent of the Internet, many people get profit from it. Everyone can be a owner of an online store. In addition, online store significantly decrease the fixed cost, such as rental cost and some  incidental fees. Moreover, another fact that can cause great effect on traditional retail store is that online store can get easy access to customers’ preference. As long as owners analyse the data or records, they can easily get the information about what customers are really interested in.

On the other hand, the development of online business also triggers the development of physical distribution. Because of the absence of physical stores, importance of distribution is now being valued gradually. And thanks to its progress, more posts can be provided, which can alleviate unemployment issue.

www.ibtimes.com/chinas-singles-day-nov-11-shopping-extravaganza-overwhelms-postal-workers-photos-1466530

http://multichannelmerchant.com/crosschannel/chinas-singles-day-breaks-world-record-5-7-billion-sales-13112013/#_

Microsoft opens store in Burnaby’s Metrotown, first in British Columbia, third in Canada.

I was excited to witness the opening of new Microsoft store at Metrotown, but I was also shocked to know this is the third retail store in Canada. As Apple develops so rapidly this years, it seems that Apple will outpace Microsoft in the future. And this new store is a duplicate of Apple retail store.

As Apple’s main rival, Microsoft fails to have as many physical products as Apple does. Despite the fact that new Iphone and new system do not bring much surprising innovations, Apple does update its electronic products frequently. But as far as I know, compared to Apple’s new IOS7, Iphone and Macbook, the current products of Microsoft are just Surface and Windows 8 system. So in order to maintain and grow Microsoft’s share of market, it must increase its input into technological development.

On the other hand, Microsoft should pay more attention to products’ appearance. Because people’s usual impression on Microsoft is mature and conservative. In order to absorb more young and modern people, Microsoft should consider changing its traditional design.

http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/11/06/microsoft-opens-store-in-burnabys-metrotown-first-store-in-british-columbia-third-in-canada/

http://www.straight.com/blogra/522886/microsoft-store-open-metropolis-metrotown-kelly-clarkson-concert

The Vancouver billionaire who founded clothing label Lululemon Athletica is raising eyebrows for suggesting that the company’s popular yoga pants aren’t appropriate for “some women’s bodies.”When Chip Wilson was asked about recently-reported problems with pilling in the fabric of the pants, he responded by suggesting the problems are not a quality issue, but more about the way that women are wearing the pants.

However, in order to maintain and grow Lululemon’s business and its popularity, the fact that the body size changes with age should be taken into consideration. As customers age, it is really hard for them to keep slim or “appropriate” size. And as for the company, if it just caters to slim and “appropriate-sized” customers, it tends to bear a great quantity of loss because the elder generation is sharing a large share of market now. In addition, nobody is able to predict how the future will develop, so it is important to enlarge young market and sustain old customers simultaneously because a manager should think of the worst situation that the firm will become unpopular with the young in the future.

As consumers change,only the companies that notice the change and implement different strategies are the ones that are able to keep living in the market.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/lululemon-founder-says-yoga-pants-don-t-work-with-some-women-s-bodies-1.1532005#ixzz2kam5rMo8

(Reuters) – China opened a new free trade zone in Shanghai on Sunday in what has been hailed as potentially the boldest reform in decades, and gave fresh details on plans to liberalize regulations governing finance, investment and trade in the area.

It is Obvious that this plan will elevate trade in the east part of China into a new level and also allow Shanghai to develop world-leading financial and economic trades, which means Shanghai may exceed Hong Kong and become the largest Free-trade zone in China.In addition,for the Chinese and foreign banks in Shanghai, the regulations tend to be eased, which helps a more free trade to be developed in China. Furthermore, international trade could potentially reduce funding costs for Chinese firms and expose them to a more-opportunities but also a more-competition environment. This will provide Chinese banks and domestic corporations more trades and clients. For the citizens, what really attract them is that Shanghai will turn to be a shopping paradise after Hong Kong and they can get rid of the difficult procedure of Permit.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/29/us-china-ftz-idUSBRE98S02K20130929

The S-1 said that Twitter has 215 million monthly active users but is not yet profitable. During the first six months of 2013 the company pulled in $253.6 million in revenue, but its net loss increased by 41 percent to $69.3 million. And The company is hoping to raise $1 billion during the IPO, which could value the company at $15 billion.But Twitter is also facing much trouble, among which ramping up global ad sales, fighting spam, and boosting engagement among users in the United States are the main. In addition, Twitter’s business competitors, like Facebook, is also threatening its profits.

As a large part of Twitter’s revenue is from ads, such raising can improve Twitter’s popularity and attract more people. And as mobile devices are becoming a kind of necessity in our daily life, revenue from ads in electronic devices can also make positive benefit to Twitter. Moreover, database which is collected by Twitter is also a large resource. According to different favors analysed from what people posted, Twitter can make specific marketing targets. I think in this way, Twitter can make more profits and hold more market shares in this competitive market.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/3/4792166/twitter-ipo-initial-public-offering

The U.S government has partially shut down after midnight of October, 1st, 2013 because Congress failed to pass the expenditure budget for, which makes up to 800,000 federal workers faced life without a paycheck. As it is the first shutdown in nearly 18 years, the main reason of this is that both the House and Senate refuse to pass the budget and health care reform.

The economic influence of such event not only effect the US nation, but also the whole world.  The economic growth will decrease by 1.2%. In addition, the gold price already dropped 3% on the first day of the shutdown and it is expected to continue to go down.On the other hand, tourist industry has been impacted greatly because of this. As the day of shutdown if exactly at the National Day of China, thousands of tourists from China failed to visit all the places which they previously expected to go. Moreover, the shutdown also has negative influence on domestic economy. It is obvious that those federal workers who are facing employment tend to reduce their daily expense, which, in return, can not bring positive incentive to economy.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/01/politics/government-shutdown/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-government-shutdown-security-services-stretched-thin-1.1875644

Apple launched its new productions, Iphone 5S and 5C, on the 20th of September and all the loyal fans were crazy about how to be the first one getting the new iphone. However, just weeks later, Blackberry is on the verge of bankrupcy and in talks with Cisco Systems Inc., Google Inc. and SAP AG about selling them all or parts of itself.

Why Apple can exceed Blackberry? Hunger marketing and technological innovation.  Apple reduces the production of iPhone 5S and even stop producing iphone 5 any more in order to create an illusion that there is a shortage of supply. From what  I learned in the  microeconomics, shortage of the products will increase the price of the products. On the other hand, Apple refresh its productions frequently, which make customers keeping purchase new things. Moreover, technological innovation also attracts customers’ eyes. Pursuit of new life and new experience makes people keep trying new devices. Although, it seems impossible to reverse the fact that Blackberry is suffering from selling itself, if the Blackberry can improve its marketing process and show more creation in its productions, it can definitely compete with Apple in the same market.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blackberry-in-sale-talks-with-cisco-google-sap-sources/article14713669/

As a social activity, business is supposed to maximize the the profits of stakeholders because stakeholders, who found the corporations, hope to gain maximum return on their previous investments. In the process of making profits, as the business activities of corporations are connected with suppliers,  customers and their employees, it is essential for companies to act within the law.

Reported in Business Ethics,  as the largest retailer, Walmart blacklisted some manufacturers which are reported for their safety problems and labor violations last month. Regardless of the legitimacy of such announcement, the action of Walmart merely protect its own reputation. In order to maintain the status among customers, Walmart’s unilateral action hindered the profits of its suppliers, though many customers tend to believe that Walmart protects the rights of  Bangladesh laborers.

The real business ethics that  Walmart should follow is to improve working conditions in Bangladesh and security of workers. Only in this way, can Walmart establish and maintain a good connection with its both suppliers and customers.

In conclusion, when making business activities, managers and employers should not only apply their own ethical standards, but also act within the law and protect the rights of suppliers,  buyers and their employees, because responsible behaviors are important to  business success.