@cynthiachiang ‘s business blog on me to we caught my eye. While learning about social entrepreneurship in comm 101, I immediately started thinking about various social enterprises that I had previous knowledge on. One that has always interested me is Craig and Marc Keilburger’s own Me to We foundation. Like Cynthia, I too had the honour to attend We Day and get to experience what Craig and Marc have worked so hard to achieve, but even before we day I was able to hear a speech Craig hosted at rotary a conference. At this conference Craig spoke to a room filled with no more than 100 people and personally told us what it is he does and why. It was awe-inspiring to see a true social enterprise that dedicated to making a positive social and environmental impact, and hearing it from the founder is something i’ll never forget. Marc and Craig both have characteristics that truly define a great entrepreneur, and most notably their faith and dedication to their cause is what allows them to stand out from the crowd. Like Cynthia I too am passionate about what these brothers are doing and eager to see what is to come in the future.

Blog : https://blogs.ubc.ca/cynthiachiang/2013/11/15/me-to-we-a-social-enterprise/

Source : http://www.metowe.com/about-us/our-story/

After reading @christielowe ‘s blog post on instagram introducing advertisements it got me to thinking how it would affect instagram’s users. Instagram has said that they plan on introducing video ads that are ” as natural to instagram as the photos and videos many of you already enjoy from your favourite brands”. Christie has said that she doesn’t believe that the adds will have a great affect on instagrams user base, however I disagree. Facebook has recently begun adding ads into their user’s newsfeed and there has already been backlash against it. Like instagram has proposed to do, Facebook has also attempted to seamlessly merge pictures into their user’s feed in a way that they almost won’t notice, however that hasn’t worked. Many people argue that Facebook is using too much advertising and it’s ruining the original purpose of Facebook, to communicate with friends and not be bombarded by ads. For this reason I don’t think Instagram’s ads will be able to go by unnoticed, and while they may not have a drastic effect on their user base, i do think it will cause some people to think again before using the app.

blog :https://blogs.ubc.ca/christielowe/2013/10/08/instagram-introduces-video-advertisements/

article : http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57605942-93/instagram-photo-video-ads-on-their-way/

image : www.itunes.apple.com

Can a company known for it’s monstrous Slurpee’s and endless amount of hotdogs move into the health food market? Well 7-Eleven is sure trying to. They’ve recently added healthier snacks such as “ dry roasted edamame, trail mix, soy nuts and veggie chips” to their options. While not as healthy as some may expect, it might be a signal for things to come.  This strategy hopes to strip away, or alter 7-Eleven’s negative image. By offering a greater variety of products 7-Eleven hopes to appeal to a greater customer base. This strategy isn’t new, it’s one many other chains criticized for their “ less than healthy options” has started to adapt. Large chains like McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts have began offering healthier options, such as oatmeal, whole-wheat wraps and egg-white sandwiches. With the demand for healthier items constantly increasing, 7-Eleven needs to alter their products in order to keep up with competition. Now the question is will it work? Some may argue that 7-Eleven is eternally a one-stop junk food stop, but I think it could work. Especially with the constant increase for healthier options, consumers may be happy to see healthier snacks lining the walls of 7-Eleven.

Article : http://www.cnbc.com/id/101040160

Image : http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/08/0804_franchise_failures/12.htm

Lately in class we’ve been learning a lot about Finance and buying stocks. For this reason Peter Hodson’s blog “5 qualities to look for in stocks” caught my eye. The buying and selling of stocks is a very risky business, and there’s no such thing as a “ perfect stock”, however, Peter has been able to outline 5 qualities that make some investments better than others. Firstly it’s very important to look at the management/ ownership experience. Say if the CEO has managed to turn around may companies before, it may be good to know when buying stocks. Next Peter highlights the importance of tight control on stocks. If a company you invested in continually keeps selling stocks, that’s probably not a company you want to be involved with. Every new stock they sell is taking a portion of your profit away, and in my eyes that’s not a quality you want in a company. High return on equity is probably one of the most obvious being an investor, and performance in recessions as well. Peter claims that performance in recessions is one of the most important and i definitely agree with this. If a company is able to turn itself around or even increase profits, that’s definitely something to admire. And last is one that doesn’t work for all companies, but is very important to others. If your product is “addictive” it’s going to cause people to desire it more. Also once a product becomes a necessity to many people’s lives, there’s less of a risk of loosing money investing in that stock.  While buying and selling shares may be a risky business, there are definitely key things to take into account before making an investment and I think Peter does a very good job at highlighting them.

Article/ Image :  http://business.financialpost.com/2013/11/15/5-qualities-to-look-for-in-stocks/

This article analyzes 6 things that make a good entrepreneur, relating back to what we have learned so far about entrepreneurship and innovation.

While there are many things that may make an entrepreneur successful, the author highlights 6 key points that she believes really differentiates the good from the great. The first point is seeks the counsel of others. While some entrepreneurs may succeed by being bull headed and individualist, the more successful tend to be those who seek the advice of those who came ahead of them. This generally means they are smart enough to learn from their predecessors. This leads into the second point; be smart and hire smart people. Entrepreneurs who have a strong team of employees tend to do better than those who fall short. Thirdly seeing the small details sets the great apart from the mediocre. While many entrepreneurs see the big picture, many struggle to immerse themselves in the details. Next holding a positive outlook tends to help along with celebrating the efforts of others. Lastly, which I believe is the most important point, is persevering where others would quit. As we learned in Comm 101, being an entrepreneur is a risky business and you need to be prepared to face failure. While failure may be a hard thing to face it is the key factor that distinguishes the great entrepreneurs from the crowd.  Those with the confidence in their idea and the drive to continue moving will eventually be the ones that become the most successful.

Article : http://www.forbes.com/sites/hollymagister/2013/10/21/6-things-successful-entrepreneurs-always-do/

Picture: http://smartbusinesstrends.com/10-qualities-of-highly-successful-entrepreneurs/

Netflix has revolutionized the entertainment business, however, they are still continually looking for new ways to expand. While many may not see Netflix as having any significant threats from competitors, Amazon has recently become a key player. In the face of competition Netflix has sought deals for more exclusive content. They’ve recently partnered with Marvel to bring 4 of their lesser-known superhero’s to the big screen, and exclusively for Netflix. This deal is set to unfold over multiple years. They have committed to a minimum of 4 13-episode series with a cumulative marvel mini series to combine them all. With this new partnership it places Netflix a step ahead of competition, particularly competition that deals primarily in already released content. Not only are they establishing themselves as a primary source for quality streaming, but also as a source for original content that can’t be seen anywhere else. With Marvel’s successful track record and Netflix’s strong foothold in the entertainment industry, I think this match may turn out to be a match made in heaven for both companies. Combining the fan base of the two companies should be able to produce a significant amount of profit and unlimitedly propel them further ahead of the competition than they already are.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/netflix-orders-4-marvel-tv-shows-mini-series-1.2418867

Stephen Harper’s recent statements on the keystone pipeline have once again placed the controversial cross-border energy proposal on the front page. Stephen claims that he “will not take no for an answer”, on the presidents decision on whether to approve the project or not. With political calculations being the only thing standing in Keystone’s way, it is believed that either way the project is going through, it’s just up to when the president decides to sign off on it. With the every growing demand for oil increasing, it is in the United States best interest to follow through with the project. Stephen Harper said “ if I were an American the last thing I would want to see is Canada selling it’s oil anywhere else”, and with Asia’s constantly growing demand, post-poning or shutting down keystone could very well lead Canada to conduct their business elsewhere. This constant back and forth between Canada and the US has made keystone one of the most contentious issues in current U.S politics. There are many passionate supporters and protesters on both sides of the argument. Personally I see the project as ultimately being a great idea. With the projected “40 000 jobs” it will create in the U.S alone and not to mention how dependent Canada is on the U.S for “97% of it’s energy exports”, it would ultimately be worse to reject the project than to allow it to go through.

http://business.financialpost.com/2013/09/26/stephen-harper-wont-take-no-for-an-answer-from-u-s-on-keystone-xl-pipeline/?__lsa=894b-882b

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/26/stephen-harper-keystone-pipeline_n_3998099.html

Electric vehicles have been on the rise recently, however there is fear that after a recent Tesla fire that those numbers may dwindle. In Kent, Seattle a Model S sedan’s lithium- ion battery went ablaze after a 3-inch hole was punched in the metal plating.  A worry is that not only will this event scare off Telsa buyers, but electric car buyers all together.

Since the beginning of the year Tesla stocks have surged to exceed expectations. Drawing in almost all customers interested in green technology. For this reason I don’t believe the event will have too harsh of an impact on Tesla’s stocks. With the increased interest in green technologies rising, along with the current rate of increase of Tesla’s stocks, I don’t see the fire as having a big effect. Even if so I don’t see it drastically affecting the electric car industry as a whole. As well, the vehicle in the midst of the accident managed to safely direct the driver off the road and out of the vehicle. While Tesla is greatly against situations like this happening, and stress how uncommon they are, it’s an added relief knowing that if an event like this does occur the cars are prepared. The “green” car market shouldn’t fear a overwhelming backlash due to this incident.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2013/10/tesla-motors

http://jacobfoxx.com/2013/08/23/tesla-model-s-glimpse-future/

After decades of campaigns, tax increases and restrictions, aimed to deglamorize smoking, a new electronic cigarette sparks fears that it could cause the unhealthy habit to once again increase in popularity.

While smoking has continued to fall in numbers, the newfound trend “vaping” is rising. Vaping allows users to get a kick of nicotine with out the harmful products found in cigarettes. While some are against the trend, claiming it could re-glamorize smoking, many, including myself see it as a positive, as it is helping drive users away from it’s harmful alternative. You also have to give the company credit for their innovation. They have encouraged a cutback in cigarette sales, and given regular cigarette users a safer way to get that “hit of nicotine” that drives regular smokers them to buy another pack. They have also been embarking on new opportunities and broadening the audience to which they currently appeal. By offering various flavors, strengths of dosage, and increasing their distribution to convenient stores and gas stations, it has allowed their product to gain credibility in a market that is currently dominated by regular cigarettes, nicotine patches and nicotine gum.  While I don’t necessarily encourage the use of nicotine products, particularly for younger users, I do find it as a much-improved alternative to classic cigarettes and the rate at which the company has been expanding is something to be admired.

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21586867-regulators-wrestle-e-smokes-tobacco-industry-changing-fast-kodak-moment

As fair trade cosmetics continue to grow substantially in today’s market, there is one major company that has been focusing on sustainability for years.  Lush has proudly been a promoter of fresh, natural ingredients since the 1990’s and currently encourages ethical buying, anti-animal testing, ethical campaigns and charitable giving’s.

Lush’s many “vegan”, “organic” and “vegetarian” products have been driving consumers to their stores for decades. It is this push by consumers to be green that is changing the way companies are choosing to present themselves. Many other companies have been adopting a “green” vision and this could pose as a problem for Lush. Large companies like The Body Shop that too base their products from an ethical stand point have proven to be growing competition. But what makes Lush stand out from the crowd? Many see it as “fresher” and “trendier” than competition. Others choose it because of its eye for detail. While other “green” companies sell their products in plastic bottles and containers, Lush ensures to wrap their products in paper, or even fabric to be more sustainable. It’s these little things that set them apart from their competition. They continue to differentiate themselves from the market by successfully offering an array of choices while still being fun, quirky and staying true to their ethical mission statement.

http://www.retail-week.com/knowledge-bank/analysis-overseas-success-for-beauty-retailer-lush/5043965.article

http://jacobfoxx.com/2013/08/23/tesla-model-s-glimpse-future/

http://sgvegan.wordpress.com/category/lush/