The Nak’azdli, a First Nations group, has expressed deep concern regarding the possibility of the oil pipeline development with Enbridge.  Enbridge’s current planned route for the pipeline would near the Nak’al Koh River, a river most important to the Nak’azdli for both food and cultural purposes.  The community has observed decreasing amounts of sockeye salmon and Nechako white sturgeon in the river and fear that a possible leak in the pipeline could further disrupt the wildlife and habitat in the region.

However, Enbridge has disclosed the chances of leakage here.  With the very slim chance that the pipeline may provide harm, and the fact that Enbridge has ensured they intend on taking the proper precautions to minimize the possibility of any negative outcome, Enbridge has convinced 40% of the First Nations affected by this potential development in B.C. that this is a risk worth taking.  Enbridge has signed deals with these communities allowing the First Nations to take financial stake in the pipeline.

Enbridge has appeared to go about this disagreement in an ethical way, ensuring the safety of these communities and discussing the development and benefits with the First Nations.  This development, seemingly impossible and highly unlikely as of now, could very well happen in the near future should Enbridge research another possible and less destructive route on further explore opportunities for the transportation of oil.

Source:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/There+will+pipeline/10122968/story.html

As of September 2014, L’Oreal will be shifting its advertisement strategy, stated by Natalie Mortimer in her article.  As a well established cosmetic company, L’Oreal no longer feels the need to focus on product and content-led advertising.  Instead, L’Oreal will be focusing on creating an emotional connection with its consumers to attract consumers to the company’s products.

In doing so, L’Oreal is taking on a differentiation strategy.  L’Oreal attracts consumers of various age groups with both products made for children and adults.  The company also offers products for both genders.   This is an example of a broad, industry wide target scope.  Furthermore, with L’Oreal’s large range of prices, from affordable student prices to higher prices in the company’s more luxurious end of its products, L’Oreal does not fit into Porter’s cost leadership strategy, but instead, L’Oreal is taking on a differentiation strategy.

I believe that this new strategy will prove to be effective over time based off of similar previous marketing strategies such as the Body Shop’s “nature’s way” campaign.

Source:

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/09/11/l-oreal-shifts-ad-strategy-focus-emotion-over-product

http://www.totalbeauty.com/search#loreal~7~1

Apple’s newest feature, Apply Pay, is set to launch this month.  It allows owners of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and eventually those who have an Apple Watch to make payments with their Apple devices electronically.  Although a clearly well established company, Apply may have many problems breaking in this new technology.  As stated in Edward Baig’s article here, changing current consumer behavior such as, using tangible means of purchasing through cash and card payments, is “daunting”.  Likewise, I can see that the launch of this new Apply feature can pose many problems in the future.  Stolen phones could lead to financial crises which in turn could cause consumers to see this feature to have too high of a risk, and Apple should consider that although this may maximize efficiency, this feature weakens consumer purchasing power, making it less attractive in the eyes of a consumer (ie: we feel more power and significance when purchasing through a tangible payment such as, cash or card).  Apple Pay needs to set itself apart from similar payment methods such as, Paypal, to better their chances of a successful launch.  Apple should conjure up a software to make Apple Pay available to all Apple users, this will increase sales through more exposure.  Apple should also ensure expert financial security as this is undoubtedly on everyone’s mind.  Unless Apple Pay meets these two criteria, I fail to see any possibility of Apple Pay to be one of Apple’s successful features.

To learn more, click here.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2014/10/03/will-apple-pay-succeed/16535925/