Anybody who accessed their Facebook account this past week probably noticed a strange box at the top of their screen. Upon careful examination, any user would have seen that this box was a plea from Facebook asking for any donations to help stop the spread of Ebola in third world countries. In Nathaniel Mott’s blog for PandoDaily, he explores the importance of this fight and Facebook’s stance in it.

This is an excellent example of a company exhibiting social responsibility. With a social media site as popular as Facebook, there is no better platform to rally people globally. By working with organizations such as Red Cross, and Save the Children, Facebook is showing how Government, NGO’s and corporations can come together to reach a common goal.  It’s also important to highlight that this campaign is effective, because it redirects the public attention to where it needs to be: West Africa.

Mott also makes a good point in stating that although we may be unable to remedy a problem, there is no reason why we cannot do everything in our ability to lesson the burden on others. Many of us get into the mindset that if we can’t fix something, there isn’t a point in trying. With all the funds that Facebook has helped generate, clearly, there is a point.

Image Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/fightebola

We all know how important first impressions are. Even today, I remember my old elementary school classmates as they were ten years ago. I still remember the girl that picked on me, and made fun of my shoes. Regardless of how much they may have changed, it’s hard to alter the cemented image I have of them already. This is the same issue Neysa talks about in her blog, in regards to Burger King’s fries.

While the company tried to reposition their product as healthier with 40% less fat and 30% less calories, as Neysa explained, “it is difficult to change consumers’ perspectives of a brand once it is formed”. The new fries did not produce high profit margins, because those who already frequent fast food restaurants had no reason to to make the switch, and those who don’t frequent fast food restaurants would not be persuaded to, because of the negative perception of unhealthy foods. Society is becoming more health-conscious and it’s taking a toll on several companies.

Kraft has been attempting to re-brand Jell-O for the same reason. Unfortunately, repositioning it as a snack instead of a dessert has had little effect on sales. Society’s view of fries and Jell-O is already too cemented, and no amount of repositioning with make these products profitable once again.

Image Sources:

http://blog.fooducate.com/2009/06/19/inside-the-label-jell-o-strawberry-acai-raspberry-goji-sugar-free-gelatin-with-antioxidants/

http://www.healthassist.net/food/fmd/food-md-full.shtml

The class prep for Social Enterprise and the Arc Initiative has arguably been the most thought-provoking and inspiring. I gained a new perspective on the importance of Social Enterprise, and how it may be more effective than the United Nations.

Social Enterprise has become more appealing to me is because unlike the UN, it is not surrounded by politics, procedures and policies. The UN is such a powerful organization that it’s sometimes inefficient. Decisions take an extensive amount of time, because everyone has their own agenda. For example, it took 30 years for the UN to directly intervene in the Bosnian War. It’s difficult to wait that long to take action, when the issues we see today need to be dealt with now.

This is where Social Enterprise is different. Everyday people can be involved directly in the issues they are passionate about without needing a two-thirds vote. Programs like the Arc Initiative provide a hands-on experience and allow people to witness first-hand the immediate impact of their actions. Most people will never be involved in the UN, but it’s in everyone’s capacity to create social change. Arc and Social Enterprise encourage this way of thinking.

The thing that resonated most with me in the video was that social entrepreneurs don’t have to see to believe. They believe, and then they see. We need Social Enterprise and Arc because of their contagious vision of what the world can be.

Image Sources

http://www.forimpact.org/home

The end of October saw tricks, treats, and exciting news from Starbucks. The company recently announced that they will be launching a delivery service mid-2015, as reported by Vancity Buzz. While this has got many people  thrilled -the coffee-lover in me included- I cannot help but be skeptical. Under no circumstances do I see this being profitable. Here are two scenarios:

Starbucks charges $10 for delivery

While I adore Starbucks, I’m also a broke university student. On the off chance I treat myself to a painful $5 latte, I’m not paying another $10 for delivery. I wouldn’t even utilize the service, and Starbucks wouldn’t make any money off me, or likeminded individuals. For large corporations and bulk orders, of course it would be worth it.

Starbucks offers free delivery

In an ideal world, delivery would be free, with no trade-offs. Unfortunately, this would either cause the company to lose money and is therefore not a plausible option, or it would force them to increase prices, which would infuriate the populace.

Keeping in mind that the goal is to increase profit, free delivery or not, this would not create incentive to buy: either way, I still only need one coffee.

Image Sources:

http://www.thedishh.com/starbucks-will-deliver-to-your-door-get-your-coffee-without-putting-on-your-pants