As the Financial Post states in this news article, Ford is about to change the pickup truck game by introducing its all new 2015 F-150. Ford’s point of difference in this year’s model is the use of aluminum instead of steel on the exterior of the vehicle, making it about 750 lbs lighter than the steel version of the truck. Pickup trucks account for 60% of overall sales so this could be a game-changer for the company. This new truck even contains multiple parts that are made in Canada! Over the past year, Ford sales have only risen by 0.6% as opposed to Chrystler sales rising by 10%. It is projected that Ford sales are soon to rise with the release of the new F-150, as many people have been holding off buying their new trucks until this version is released.

Ford is using innovative technology and recyclable parts to create a more fuel efficient, stronger, and lighter truck that will be available in Canada before the end of this year.  The truck is sure to be a hit in Canada where trucks are as (if not more) popular than cars.

Phil Rozek’s business blog “Local Visibility Systems” gives local businesses tips and tricks on how to have a higher ranking on google. In his latest post “10 Reasons to get a Google Business View Photo Shoot”, Mr. Rozek lists 10 reasons why businesses should hire Google to professionally photograph their business and post the photos on the internet for customers to see. The reasons behind getting this photo shoot done include encouraging customers to click on their link, having professionally quality photos of your business to use for any purpose (portfolios, websites, etc), and of course, a higher Google ranking. 

Each Local Visibility Systems blog post has a new insight to share about how to prevail in the Google world, which leads to a more successful business as a whole. Intuitively, people click on the first links that appear on a google search, and the more people are clicking on the link to your business, the more customers will be gained! Phil Rozek makes a living helping small businesses grow through a simple business blog, and I believe that more small business owners should be taking advantage of what Local Visibility Systems has to offer!

The United Nations is an organization that promotes world peace, security, and friendly relationships among its 193 member states. The organization focuses on improving the lives of poor people, conquering diseases and illiteracy, and encouraging nations to work together. The Arc Initiative works to make connections which facilitate a genuine exchange of knowledge and business skills between Sauder students and business people in various locations around the world.

We would still need the Arc Initiative and other social enterprise programs if the United Nations was fully funded because of the differences between the two organizations. Where the UN is focused more on world peace and solving problems on a very large scale, Arc focuses on specific organizations in specific areas of the world developing a two-way knowledge exchange. I believe that the Arc initiative would still be necessary because of the mutual beneficiality that the program provides. Not only do the business people in rural areas benefit from the first-world business techniques that Sauder students, professors, and alumni can provide, they can also share business knowledge from their society which could potentially help the economies of both countries. Both nations benefit from this initiative and strong relationships are built along the way.

As Rene posted in her blog “Sound’s Like a Fair Trade“, Starbucks has recently announced that they will be selling fair trade espresso beans in all university campus locations across Canada. Using fair trade coffee beans means better working conditions for coffee producers in developing countries and promotes global sustainability.

Deciding to convert to fair trade espresso would have been an expensive decision for Starbucks, but consumers are willing to pay the extra little bit. By buying from Starbucks consumers are now empowering farmers and developing the business skills that they need to compete in the global coffee market.

Starbucks is a huge international company with a big customer base and making this small change will promote ethical behaviour in the entire coffee industry. It will also promote awareness of the many unfair coffee farming practices taking place around the world, and hopefully persuade other coffee companies to follow in Starbucks’ footsteps.