The strength of only one organization cannot cover all the areas. Even if UN has enough power to help people, can it really solve every problem? Like superman on the screen, it is impossible to expect him to save everyone. However, social enterprise and Arc are different, they totally get involved in the society, discover all the issues, like poverty, illness, children’s health and education and so on, solving them comprehensively and effectively.

Furthermore, social enterprise operates as commercial organizations, which not only help the society but also take into account their own financial problems, in order to guarantee the companies can run continuously. If UN only take the mode of “give and take” and don’t have sustainable financial supports, it would collapse sooner or later.

As a consequence, Arc and social enterprise are necessary and essential, which are much meaningful than just give and take. Some social issues can only be solved in a business way and funds is not the only element to help people. Social enterprise cohere all the society and individuals, that’s why they can achieve the areas where UN cannot achieve.

I found Sharon’s article interesting because I’m a fan about music and it ranks my favorite hobby. Actually, since I just came to Canada for a few months, I hardly ever YouTube channel, and never heard about Spotify before. My feelings and experience of music are more from China.

I used to save money to buy my favorite CD when I was in my childhood, but now I don’t want to buy it although I have enough money for one. Streaming online is so developed that everyone can enjoy whichever song they like, and its convenience makes people not willing to pay for music anymore. Like in Spotify, it is really popular in Europe and America, which has a big amount of users with paid subscriptions. However, more users just enjoy free music, and that is why it cannot show a turn from loss to profit. In the contrary, CD industry suffers more. In 2013, HMV， the world’s largest CD chain claimed bankruptcy，which illustrates a great threat from streaming online.

Most of CD buyers are die-hard music fans, and they buy CDs are more for collecting rather than just listening. For the general music lovers, streaming is a better choice. Although in China, there are lots of free apps for music, some platforms are considering to charge, like we have to pay for a meal. This is long-term beneficial as it makes streaming music industry a stronger revenue stream but also balances CD industry, reducing the negative impact to it. On the other hand, it is also a respect for music, for those artists and producers.

Older workers have been ignored for a long time. There are two main reasons. One is discrimination, people usually think that older workers are in poor health and cannot be qualified, or cannot keep up with the rapidly developing society. Another reason is that younger supervisors are often afraid of managing older employees because these older workers have more experience than they do.

However, the fact is in many countries, ageing is becoming a serious problem. Like in America, older workers are the fastest-growing segment of the workforce and one of the fastest-growing groups in the overall population. We have to admit that older workers are not qualified in all professions. Like doctors, experienced old doctors of traditional Chinese medicine are more trustworthy, while people don’t like old surgeons.

But there is still a huge cohort of healthy individuals in that age group who want and need to work. The current demographics also make this group more important; any employer who wants to engage a skilled, motivated, and disciplined workforce cannot afford to ignore them.

Research also suggests that putting older and young workers together helps both groups perform better. I think we should let older workers stay since they are willing to and capable. If they re-join us, the companies would operate better, the economies of the whole society will be driven as well.

Source：

https://hbr.org/2014/11/engaging-your-older-workers

The recent news said Japanese retailer Muji is coming to Vancouver. Word is that it will open shop here sometime in the next year or so, it is really a surprise to me!

Muji is a Japanese retail company which sells a wide variety of household and consumer goods. The reason why I like it so much is because its unique design philosophy and its design minimalism, emphasizing on recycling, avoidance of waste in production and packaging.

Muji advocates minimalism but has annual sales of ten billion; it has no-logo policy while it enjoys popular support. It seems contradictory, but in fact it represents a business concept. It attaches importance to every consumer, explores consumer demand, to pursuit perfect product. That is why its products are unique designed, simple and practical. For instance, as a student, I really like a highlighter with a transparent partition. Muji brings us convenience from the details, but also long-term durability, no fancy designs and colors, with their own sense of unique design.

Here comes the question, since it has no logo, no spokesperson, no advertising, what makes it that success? Its marketing strategy is to display the details. Placement of each item is very particular, and from the customer coming into the store, satiety commodities bring people a strong visual impact. With all the products in black white or gray, unified and harmonious colors make people feel comfortable, can not help but want to take them home.

Marketing strategy of no-brand, unique brand positioning, minimalist design, purity becomes Muji business sustenance. I am looking forward to Muji coming to Vancouver, and I will be its loyal customer.

Source：

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Shelley+Fralic+Heads+hipsters+Here+comes+Muji/10286770/story.html

My classmate Jonathan’s blog described the potential of a new Chinese cellphone brand: Xiaomi, which is cost-effective and popular among young people. Xiaomi has big screen, nice looking, and the most important, cheap price. This feature makes it standout and able to compete with Samsung and Apple.

Its clear target market and brand image make Xiaomi a good brand effect, and what attracts a huge cohort of consumers is its price, which is the biggest competitive advantage.

The next step is to go global. In the blog, he mentioned that we could open the poor emerging market, as there’s a rapid increasing demand for smartphone, and I agree with him on this point.

However, it is hard to enter the market in Europe and America. Most of my friends in Canada never heard of this brand before. I think we need to reposition its image in order to expand its product to high consumption areas like Vancouver. Xiaomi should let people know it not only has cheap price, but also attach importance to the quality. Image effect is also essential, and if it could enlarge its impact to North America as well as Europe and make more people know its potential, Xiaomi would go global much faster.