Claudia Law's Blog

Using iPhone apps are all the rage now. Following the Apple slogan “There’s an app for that.”, companies and normal citizens can now use sustainability apps to track and manage the amount of energy that they use. More importantly, they can use this to cut down their costs – whether it is for companies expenses or cutting back on monthly utility bills.

These apps display information that track down your household’s energy usage. Some even include detailed outlines of how to cut costs, whether through turning lights off, do less loads of laundry or washing less dishes.

Check out the UFO Power Center. It is shaped like a UFO (hence, the name UFO) but it’s actually a four-outlet power strip that measures the energy use of your household appliances. It also eliminates stand-by power and helps save electricity!

Whether you are truly interested in “going green” or looking to save some money, these apps are user-friendly, easy to use and beneficial to keeping expenses low. They also help with the aspect of  “environmental sustainability” part of the definition of sustainability!

When I was young, I always loved watching commercials. Growing older, I started to hate them. They were annoying, long and boring – they began to grow repetitive.

But the one commercial that I still remember is one that gives me chills and shivers even when I rewatch it. It reflects the mission of the non-profit organization, MADD, that created it – “To stop impaired driving and to support the victims of this violent crime”.

A lot of the times, TV commercials are meant to advertise and attract consumers to buy the product or service related to their company. I think the most successful commercials are ones that send out messages that touches that emotional chord.

Growing old and death is something that is inevitable for everybody. This insurance company has come up with a series of commercials that brought me to tears watching it. It’s 3 minutes long commercial but trust me, it is definitely worth watching.

These two commercials are examples of marketing that I cannot refuse to watch. Perhaps I’m just a bit emotional when it comes to these topics – but wouldn’t you agree that these commercials are definitely more than just simple “in-between-the-show-breaks-let’s-go-grab-a-quick-snack” advertisement?

According to QuickMBA, a company that I consider to be entrepreneurial is HankyPanky. What exactly is HankyPanky? A lingerie company.

• up and running since 1977
• hit $1 million dollars in profit after 4 years: amount of wealth creation/speed of wealth creation – according to entrepreneur.com
• and finally, innovation; not a lot of lingerie companies have ventured into creating something like HankyPanky’s trademark World’s Most Comfortable Thong and survive

Schumpeter’s View of Entrepreneurship places an emphasis on new products, new production methods, new markets and new forms of organization.

HankyPanky has innovated new products. Their line of World’s Most Comfortable thongs has been a one hit wonder, as well as, the lingerie for sleepwear, wedding, and even collegiates. New production methods would include the fact that they use manufacture in US, saving time, fuel, and shipping costs, also allowing for quality control. New markets definitely include the online market (buying through their website), as well as their key selling point: comfort.

All in all, HankyPanky is not just a small business. They are an entrepreneurial company that continues to influence trends in lingerie and sleepwear and one that approves of sustainability.

For more, check out their website!

The world is CONSTANTLY evolving, improving and advancing through technology. As Chelsia mentioned, many parts of the world have begun incorporating technology into daily lives; these advancements take making life easier to a whole new level.

On the other hand, we have to think about security and privacy issues. A point must be made as to how secure and safe the information and transactions would be.

Imagine if someone stole your phone? What if they were able to steal your password from the previous confirmations through the same phone? Technology advancements certainly make life easier but we must also remember the security issues that can come along with such advancements.

Here’s a simple example to drive my point home: power outage. Whenever this happens at my house, I’m so lost… I get so scared because I am so dependent. Be honest with yourself, are you like me?  That is the reason why I’m quite on the fence with this one – I love the new and fancy technology but worry about the security issues that may come with it.

But… in the meantime, we can just imagine living in the world like the video below! (I think it’s AMAZING) Enjoy!

There are many discussions about China being the “next upcoming economic superpower” of the world. Over the past decade, China has grown financially and politically, leaving behind the empirical and close-minded approach of operating business.

According to Asia Times Online, “China’s new open door policies has spurred foreign direct investment in the country, creating still more jobs and linking the Chinese economy with international markets.”

Alice Lyman Miller defines a superpower as “a country that has the capacity to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world… and attain the status of global hegemony.”

A simple example would be to look at large companies that outsource manufacturing in China – Apple, Wal-mart, GE. These companies provide a major support for the new bursts of economic growth in China, not only through outsourcing manufacturing, but also investing within the country.

In comparison, China is currently “not burdened”. It is in fact “buying off Europe’s debt, just as it buys ours (States)”.

According to International Monetary Fund, China is indeed becoming the next superpower. Predicted year? 2016 – less than 5 years away from now.

The world’s spotlight is changing; and China is will become the next star.

In this generation, the better question to ask is who doesn’t use Facebook? One statistic that I found interesting and mind blowing at the same time is that “more than 7 million apps and websites are integrated with Facebook”.

As Kevin mentioned in his blog, “it is the most widely used social networking service and thus, provides access to an extremely large market.” In the statistics that Facebook has provided, the “average user is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events”. Wild guess as to how many of these groups, events or community pages are advertisements to users? I would bet around 80%.

I personally think that Facebook is not just a social networking site anymore. It has become a useful advertisement tool just like Groupon. For myself, I go on Facebook minimum 15 times a day. (Yes, it is pretty sad). Among those 15 times, I could be exposed to hundreds of thousands of advertisements. And unlike MySpace or Xanga, Facebook has yet to go out of the trend.

Companies and businesses are now beginning to realize how simple and most importantly free, these tools are. A couple of clicks and TADA free advertisement. Power of the Internet. Now like if you agree! 🙂

Majority of British-Columbians have crossed the border to go on day trips or simply for shopping sprees. Recently, my parents have been going down to the States for more than pure enjoyment.

They have discovered clothing prices are greatly reduced than those in BC. Groceries are also the same. Just a simple example one carton of eggs at Target. In comparison to the Real Canadian Superstore, we can buy double the amount of eggs for the same price at Target.

The driving distance down to Target is longer than the 5 minute drive to Superstore, but it’s not a wonder why my parents are willing to spend the time and efforts. We can save up to hundreds of dollars in comparison to the grocery shopping that we would do in BC. Let’s NOT forget the fact that US doesn’t have the HST.

Here’s another simple example: sky rocketing gas prices. But at Point Roberts (a 45 minute drive starting from Richmond), savings left and right, even without Petro-Points!  And the best part? LESS TAX!

So if consumers are willing to make trip then BC should really consider why. Perhaps, just perhaps, this would help change the economy of BC? Just a thought.

In this article about Groupon, it describes it as one of the fastest growing companies, ever. Even Google was rejected by this tech-start up business!

Groupon began the trend of online daily deals. It currently has 40 million subscribers, deals in 35 countries and 335 cities. Users log on and buy up to 75% off deals from usual prices. Deals worth $500 can be reduced to $150. What is there not to like?

So why are businesses so willing to reduce their profits off of their products and services? Why give consumers such a discounted deal? Most importantly, why give Groupon 50% of the already reduced profit?

Simple – free advertisement. If customers like what they get from that product, there is no doubt that they would return for more! Even at the regular price. So it’s a win-win situation for consumers, businesses and Groupon. Especially Groupon.

But with such fantastic responses, there is bound to be competitors. Following closely behind Groupon is LivingSocial. My personal favourite is CakeDeals.

For now, Groupon is able to still stay on top because they were the first to begin the wave of daily deals. Because of that, they are still able to maintain the top spot in the daily deals market.

As with everything else, brand is a word that many people see differently.

According to the American Marketing Association, brand is defined as “name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s good or service as distinct from those of other sellers.

But in my opinion, brand can be defined as a status symbol for those who want to fit within a community of people – a simple cry for “I want to fit in”.

Here is a perfect example of my definition of brand:

Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM

Exactly how much the above cost? A hefty price of $870.

Why do we need a bag that costs us $870? The answer is quite simple – for security and comfort and most importantly, status. These “necessities” women are buying is simply a wish to belong in a brand community. This is called a want to belong. I must admit, I personally also wish to want this bag for myself.

Think about this: in exchange for one LV Neverfull GM bag, how much of the usual necessities can you get? Think about WHY you want it in the first place. It’ll be interesting to watch and evaluate your need versus your want.

This is Bernard Madoff. Does he look like a man you can trust?
Think again.
In December 2008, Bernard Madoff pled guilty to defrauding investors in the amount of over $50 billion. He was former Chairman of NASDAQ stock exchange and had also been a trusted and influential man in the financial business. Using his company, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, Madoff was able to persuade many people, organizations and companies to invest with him. And in turn, all were greatly affected when it turned out to be a Ponzi Scheme¹, one that is now known as the largest on record for over at least two decades.

The main business ethical concern in this investment fraud is betrayal. Bernie Madoff had abused the most important characteristic in business – trust. Investing takes lots of courage, and even more trust. Most of the time, those who wish to make a profit take a great leap by investing their hard-earned money with people they barely know. So what do common citizens looking for a way to make profit outside of normal working hours do? They find investors with a sterling reputation; a reputation unlike one which Bernie Madoff had, and just hope that they had placed their trust in the correct person.

For those who are interested, here is the original article.

¹ Definition of Ponzi Scheme