Author Archives: Jaclyn C

the “people -power” …

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After reviewing Joanna’s blog on the current issue, Occupy Wall Street movement, I truly believe her point of view that this movement is an “absurd and foolish” protest. Although this movement is raising awareness of the huge distance between wealthy and poor, but the protest is seemingly emphasized on their personal situation rather than the public as a whole.

 

Joanna raised a really good point where these protestors are “a certain type of individuals” because in many situations, they have participated in previous protests merely for their “interest”. They do have their strong perspective on such hierarchy in society; however, can government accept this change?

 

Globally, the occupy wall street has ‘attacked’ many countries, but their strategy seems useless, and this week, governments are kicking them out of the crown land, forcing them to allocate their movement elsewhere.

 

In my opinion, this movement is a waste of time, money and energy. How much can they really get out of this? A less corrupted world? This fact is unchangeable, the world is ALREADY corrupted because of greed, this is a human nature. Even if government intervenes, it can’t put a law against people who wants to maximize their profit or utility.

 

True or not?

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“Every firm is a profit-maximizer” 

After the class on social entrepreneurs, I searched up more about the enterprise on Kiva. In one of their blogs, it talks about how they are honoured by Oprah that it is one of the top things to do in 2010. Well, Kiva loans simple money to potential entrepreneurs who does not have enough money themselves to start a business. This gives everyone an opportunity to  gain an income to survive. Learning that many social entrepreneurs uses the innovative, opportunistic qualities of an entrepreneur to make social change by applying business principles to impact the society all while making profit. They benefit the lives of individuals by achieving social change, yet still  make profits.

Then, I thought about the causes of the current financial crisis, which in summary can be attributed to the inexorable pursuit of profits from banks and investment firms. The profits from these firms did not create wealth, which opposes Friedman’s argument, “only social responsibility of a business is to pursue profits” to the constraint of legal and ethical conduct. However, in many cases, earning profits often encourages ethical and legal standards of business to be broken.

In my past blog, Coke, similar to many companies nowadays is currently undergoing a change in its marketing scheme. Coke is following the trend by taking on more social responsibilities in helping WWF. With many years simply to make profit from consumers, many companies are considering about the world. They are still making profit, but at the same time benefiting the world as well. These changes in ideologies also show the emerging social entrepreneurs, their willingness of firms to circumnavigate the law and ethical practices.

HoW?!

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Although the Euro crisis is miles away, but the impact is just less than a meter away. The correlation between each country in the financial world is closely related, merely because banks and countries borrow from each other.

“How would the crisis in Europe affect us?” As our class speaker asked.

Just as the crisis right now, “with the European Central Bank still refusing to act as a lender of last resort, contagion in Europe’s bond market threatens to engulf the eurozone’s largest economies.” Euro just slid to its lowest in five weeks against the dollar, effecting the world economy. The world stock market just dropped again after the worsening of European debt threatening the US. Stocks are suddenly selling off quickly, but less buyers are buying in, fearing the Euro affecting US’ top banks. Fear emerges from each corner of the world, traders are slowing down their trades, causing the market to slow down. Not just in the stock market, but locally in retails, food industry consumers are also slowing their money output. Their income is lowered, their purchasing power is lowered, companies receive less income, all cause a decrease in stock exchange. This then fears the banks in Europe since the money is trading in too slow to recover itself. Then, its crisis continues and this turns into a loop.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-16/euro-touches-5-week-low-as-debt-crisis-dims-economic-outlook.html

Iphone is worth more than the phone itself!

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Are technologies going to be even more efficient in the future?

We don’t need to find changes to match the amount on that till!

 

Just today, Canadians can now purchase Starbucks with just a scan on the iphone rather than constantly finding

changes or updating that My Starbucks Card. Starbucks announced the new

app for Apple Iphones today, where customers can easily handle purchases by preloading an account with credit card. My Starbucks Reward cards and all the other old functions are still available with the scan.

Money is not measured by the changes and bills in your wallet, but the untouchable money on the phone! This new culture is emerging into this new world. Sooner or later, wallets will not be required, but purchases will be done just with a phone!

brown bears, black bears, and the WHITE POLAR BEARS

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TOMS shoes ‘ creator Blake Mycoskie, created this social enterprise in 2006 to donate shoes to children in third world countries. Many social entrepreneurs are emerging, hte business world trending to the sustainability of the world. In Sammie’s blogabout Toms, she talks about the three dimensions of sustainability, Economically, Environmentally and Socially are well allocated in their missions. Moreover, it becomes a marketing tactic, to “pull at consumers’ heart strings”.

the new icon for coke

Like many social entrepreneurs, companies are also  trending to the help the world rather than solely profiting from consumers.These cute white polar bears are saved by coca-cola company (coke)! After decades of utilizing Polar Bears as their image,  coke is finally emerging a more visible plan in donating more funds to World Wildlife Fund! They are changing all the red cans to white by visually announcing to

consumers that purchasing coke is equivalent to doing a good cause. Similar to many other companies (like Toms, pepsi and etc) turning their heads into building a sense of social responsibility. Such change is definitely not a problem for these charities but very appreciated.  Even WWF acknowledges the need of charity based foundations partnering up with  private corporations in order to presume their researches and sustainability projects. Despite knowing these companies are smartly using this friendly image to approach consumers.


 

 

 

 

 

another post for iphone 4s

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“Your time on this earth is limited, don’t live someone else’s life, live by your vision.”
– Steve Jobs, 1955 – 2011

 

This phone has been receiving thousands of pre-orders. People buy this, maybe not because of the phone itself but many for the reason of Steve Jobs. However, have anyone thought about Apple seems to have known his death is arriving; thus, this improved, perfected iphone 4s is as if dedicated to Jobs.

An iphone “4” Steve.

Not that Apple can’t make that iphone 5, but the iphone 4s, is in memory of Steve Jobs.  They wouldn’t want to bring out the iphone 5 to destroy the market of iphone 4, Steve Jobs’ last invention.

Sharing Cars

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Carsharing seems as if a childish word to be seen on a GM or Ford news. However, when I give the article a closer look, this idea of “carsharing” is very unique!

There is a program in San Francisco and Boston called RelayRides that allows people to rent another persons car for a certain time limit they are willing to pay. This of course depends on the type of car you need, how long you’ll need it, and how many miles you put on the car.

Carsharing actually becomes very popular and gives many people who doesnt use their car as often to make some money, people who doesn own a car to drive around and etc. However, carsharing may sound like a car rental store, but really, this gives customers an opportunity to make money themselves.

iStrategy

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These few days, with the news of a new launch iphone 4s as well as the death of Steve Jobs have been the headlines of almost every newspaper.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, facebook statuses updated spontaneously as soon as the phone was out in the market. These updates include constant bashing about this phone, for instance, the appearance has not improved, the system is nothing really new except adding this android tech for notifications, a voice control, enhancement in cameras…many new features for iphone but old for current brands of smart phones.

Despite all the disappointments from many people, I personally thought this is a very impressive strategy. Not only does Apple creates this huge hating discussion about its phone, at the same time they also generates consumers to further investigate into their dual core A5 chip and features of the phone. Moreover, by releasing 4s rather than 5 may disappoint many customers; however, if they releases the 5, they will simply destroyed their iphone 4 market which began just a year ago. At this moment, they can lower to a more public oriented prices for iphone4 and throw in a 4s with a system advancement with a higher price. This obviously attracts old apple users, but also new customers because the lowering price of iphone 4 will become more affordable.

Apple always have i’s within consumers, creating these istrategies!

BACK in trend!

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Back in trend, this fall, Chunky Heels, Buckle Detailed Heels, Playform Wedges, Reptile Printed Heels and Laced up heel boots are the must buy shoe ware. However, how often do we buy for comforting or with a utilities?  Not very often. How often do we buy foot ware merely based on the style? Somewhat. Though, how often do we buy for the trend and brand name? ALL the time! 

 

This article simple introduces the 5 different types of ladies’ foot ware at a low cost trending in the fall. However, when I took a closer look at the description of each pair, I realized there is always a bold or italic or underscore of “the brand”. Simply because these two brands both targets different social classes by securing their brand name in consumer’s minds, Aldo – known for very nice and affordable footwear while Marc Jacobs – known for the designer and trendy. The two companies have already claimed a position in the minds. However, when I first saw the pictures in the articles, my first incentive was – how can people even walk in these, and they look so dull. However, “A brand’s name is perhaps the most important factor affecting the perception of it!” (Ries & Trout 1981).

 

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/the-top-trends-in-fall-shoes.html