Category: Uncategorized

Elvis & Kresse is a business built by two entrepreneurs, Kresse Wesling and James Henrit, after Kresse got inspired from a fire hose. Incorporating both sustainability and social missions, they have become social entrepreneurs managing to recycle unused and unwanted waste.

Starting off with a damaged fire hose from the London Fire Brigade, Kresse, along with her optimistic and determined ideas, made a start selling belts from these waste materials. Their mission on expanding initiated after discovering that bags were better product ideas. Pursuing their goal with success, their effective efforts impressed a factory in Romania launching their first bags in 2008. 

Yet, the financial crisis hit them from behind. These entrepreneurs made a loss in their first year, but managed to keep optimistic and determined. Their efforts payed back: Elvis & Kresse’s turnover increased by almost 15 times in the second year.

Not only have these entrepreneurs managed to expand to 10 countries in the lapse of 3 years, but they have focused upon sustainability and social issues, saving 150 tonnes of waste from landfill and donating 50% of their profit to projects and charities related to the waste that they collect.

“At Elvis & Kresse we have 2 additional measures of success; how much waste we are able to divert from landfill and how much money we are able to give back to our charities, of which all 3 have equal importance to us.” – http://www.fire-hose.co.uk/AboutUs/Donations.html

Bibliography:

http://www.fire-hose.co.uk/AboutUs/Donations.html

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e2502f3e-ee9d-11e0-9a9a-00144feab49a.html#axzz1eZALuu1r

As goals, ideas, actions, ways of thinking and perception varies between people, so do taste. But how do companies satisfy all the distinct tastes between consumers? The answer is, they don’t. Instead, you choose who to target, you choose whom to sell. You position your brand.

However, what does this consist on? It basically sums up to where you want your brand to sit in your marketplace against your competitors.

How about targeting the middle?

It’s not butter, and it’s not margarine. It’s Clover. Deciding on targeting a whole new segment, Clover has integrated elements of both margarine and butter. With less fat than butter, but still with the same taste, they proposed a whole new idea of ‘butter’. 

If you like the taste of butter, but prefer the benefits of margarine, why not consume in the middle? Why not consume Clover? “It’s great in the middle”

Not only has their motto “Quality never goes out of style” made them number one in jeans category, but looking behind the scenes in Levi Strauss & Co. we’ll know why.

Levi’s has had major corporate social responsibilities, working on all three aspects: economic, environmental and social. Initiatives such as helping improve the lives of workers in factories around the world, taking a day off work to volunteer at non-profit organizations and their most recent, reducing their environmental impact and improving lives of cotton farmers, makes this company stand out from all the rest.

Being able to focus on the three aspects of CSR makes this a ‘green company’, a very good example of sustainability. Not only does Levi’s have jeans for all shapes and sizes, but looking behind the scenes, it focuses on becoming sustainable.

Now, before paying cheap prices for a pair of jeans, why not support this company and they’ll guarantee that quality never goes out of style.

As a response to 35$ Tablet Computer Launched, I may disagree with the fact that DataWind, with it’s new AAKASH Tablet will have the same response as Tata. Contrary to this, I feel Aaakash will help boost India’s electronic market, which is currently valued at $40 billion.

Aakash will make technology accessible to diverse sections of society, allowing opportunities for people who could never afford a computer. Attractive benefits include: Google’s Android Platform, Wi-Fi connectivity and cloud storage. I actually find this product to be appealing for the targeted consumers: low-income Indian society.

Sure, the tablet will be attractive for consumers. Yet, what happens behind the scenes?

Starting off with very cheap manufacturing wages per hour, India has low-cost skilled workers. Additionally, it counts with duty-free imports. This immediately reduces the company’s costs. Bonus for the company.

But what happens to the workers? They have to deal with low wages. Is the Aakash tablet also targeted to them?

Off course, we all want to get the best deals in clothing. Yes, we want to get the highest quality for the lowest price. But who actually thinks where the cheap price is coming from? How can brands afford to sell at such lower prices?

Many brands have had scandals with maquiladoras, including GAP, Levi’s, Old Navy, Puma… but not all have solved their problems. Although Ocean Sky has made some progress, abusive treatment has been reported. According to Maquila Solidarity Update, a worker gains wages that almost cover one quarter of a family’s basic needs. Previous studies have revealed workers gaining $6 (U.S) daily.

Duty-free and tariff-free materials are being imported to be manufactured, and then re-exported to be sold. Yet, workers are being abused. As consumers pay the lowest prices, the workers are the ones really paying for it.

So, before wanting to buy the cheapest prices, why not think on how the production is being processed?

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