WestJet, a popular air travel company, is reaching beyond its Canadian borders to a new Irish destination overseas. By adding only one new European destination to their travel list, WestJet is testing out their capacity for international air travel. Only using their smaller Boeing 737-700 planes, which seat 136 passengers, will allow them to experiment with longer and farther travel without incurring massive costs at first. But that will soon change if they continue to fly to far off destinations.

Through creating a SWOT Analysis of WestJet, it is apparent that international flights have the potential for improving business and bringing in new customers. However, the drastically increased costs of expansion and the high possibility of a new influx of European competition would most likely outweigh the benefits gained.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/westjet-goes-trans-atlantic-with-new-dublin-flight/article15455464/

http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/home.shtml;jsessionid=nhp3SJypzXq2NhBlxDb1p2klDQvlQSF06K5vTjnkcxnh9QR9TQWW!827512881

Outrage and anger is splashed across the news as Lululemon faces heat for discriminatory comments they have made regarding what they consider to be their ideal-looking customer. In response to remarks about the lack of quality of the clothing such as that the pants were “too sheer and easily pilled”, chairman and co-founder of Lululemon, Chip Wilson replied that “some women’s bodies just don’t actually work for [the pants]”. He described the problem as “really about the rubbing through the thighs”. Many customers were offended by these comments and felt alienated and hurt.

In the fashion industry, this was undoubtedly not the first time a company had prioritized customers who fit a certain mold or deliberately attempted to rid themselves of consumers who had a different “look” than the brand felt to be representative of them. Another past example is the remarks made by the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch, Mike Jeffries, who openly stated he only wanted to sell to “attractive, cool people” and that some people “just don’t belong in [their] clothes”.

It is predicted that many consumers will begin to switch to other athletic brands such as Nike or Under Armour. Could these comments truly have such a negative impact upon Lululemon sales, or are they simply too solid in their brand position for an event like this to knock them down? I believe that, despite the current anger Lululemon is facing, their clothing and value proposition is too strong to be greatly damaged by this situation, and that with the correct strategy they will easily rebound.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/14/lululemon-alienating-customers_n_4275842.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-business&ir=Canada%20Business

Across Canada, food production and packaging companies are shutting down.  In one significant example, H.J. Heinz Co., is closing its ketchup plant in Leamington, Ontario, among other places, causing hundreds of workers to be laid off and triggering an economic downswing in the small towns in Ontario that were built up around these factories.

In June of this year, Heinz was bought out by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Brazilian hedge fund 3G Capital for $28 billion (U.S.). As a cost-cutting measure, the new owners implemented the closure of these Canadian factories and shifted more production to American companies. This is largely due to the rising costs of exports from Canada, and the ability to find cheaper labour and higher efficiency elsewhere.

While the decrease in costs boosts Heinz’s profit, the negative effects upon the small communities across Canada are devastating. The employees are “heartbroken” about the plant shutting down and their future financial situations. With few other work prospects in the area, many people are going to be contesting for the same jobs. As one woman states “we’re all going fight to serve a shake at McDonald’s”. This situation raises some ethical questions, as families are being forced to uproot their lives in order to find work again.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/heinz-to-close-ontario-plant-cut-800-jobs/article15442338/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/heinz-closes-leamington-plant-740-people-out-of-work-1.2426608

http://www.fastcompany.com/3019158/leadership-now/can-business-solve-poverty

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bj-gallagher/mal-warwick-and-paul-polak_b_4019605.html

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1320612/sutherlands-passion-solve-problem-poverty

In a world dominated by massive corporations and an overwhelming global struggle for the dollar, it can be difficult to see the bright side of the seemingly destructive world of business. Now, don’t get me wrong, one cannot deny the corruption and social turmoil inevitably caused by our First World obsession with wealth and power. But, what if I said that business could in fact be the solution to the immense humanitarian problems it has caused. Could business actually solve poverty?

Across the globe, there are hundreds of inspired individuals who believe so and are working towards that very goal. Through hands-on teaching, numerous NGO’s, and the support of businesses around the world, people living in underdeveloped countries are being given opportunities to better their own lives and their communities. Families, including women, are being taught how to become involved in and start their own small businesses. This stimulates the local, national, and global economies and empowers people to break the cycle of poverty. Businesses like these create jobs for others in the community and “catalyze long-term economic growth,” yielding both “social and environmental benefits.”

The issue of global poverty is one that is very close to my own heart. My experiences of the tragedies of poverty and the impact it can have on communities and entire countries is something I will always carry with me. However, I believe in the power of business to make the world a better place, not worse. I believe in people. I know the stereotype of the corporate world: ruthless and power-hungry, profit being the only thing that matters; but I know that it is the business people – the innovators and creators, the visionaries and leaders – that will change the world. As the fortuitous residents of the developed world, I believe we have a responsibility to share the wealth and to use our prosperity to help others. As the young new generation of business people, of visionaries and leaders, I know we have a responsibility do better than the generations before us. So, yes, I believe that business actually can solve poverty and I intend to be a part of that solution.

http://www.businessinsider.com/carrie-marketing-stunt-pranks-people-2013-10

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/07/carrie-prank_n_4059363.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/viral-video-unleashes-carrie-coffee-shop-155157580.html

The movie adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling classic “Carrie” is set to release mid-October 2013 just as Halloween lurks around the corner. But in a time flooded with horror movies and things that go bump in the night, how would yet another thriller stand out from the crowd? The New York-based viral video marketing company, Thinkmodo, had a unique idea. As a company known for their innovative marketing schemes – such as a video portraying a man hacking the Times’ Square television screens to promote the movie “Limitless” and flying people-shaped remote-controlled airplanes over the Hudson River to promote a superhero movie “Chronicle” – it was obvious something unbelievable was about to happen in New York City.

This time around, Thinkmodo pulled off a stunt in a coffee shop in Manhattan that left customers shocked and terrified, exactly what the movie “Carrie” is meant to accomplish. In a shop filled with unsuspecting patrons, a woman wreaked havoc with her apparent telekinetic power; throwing a man into a wall, ripping books and pictures off the walls, and sending tables flying. In the words of Thinkmodo co-founder Michael Krivicka: “we basically scared the living hell out of people.”

While some might not see the point of a prank like this due to its lack of direct advertising for the movie, it is in fact a truly genius marketing campaign. With a movie about the horrors of telekinesis on the verge of release, what better way to entice an audience than to give them a first-hand experience? Thinkmodo’s innovative approach to marketing gives them an edge above their competition who only use the traditional forms of advertising. They bring the magic of movies to life and let real people experience it for themselves, a technique that inevitably generates interest in the film. If this level of originality continues, Thinkmodo could soon be leading the charge in the marketing industry.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-27/why-anglo-american-walked-away-from-the-pebble-mine-gold-deposit#r=most popular

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/18/us-mining-alaska-pebble-idUSBRE98H03H20130918

The Pebble Gold Mine is growing to be a source of great dispute in the southern Alaskan Peninsula. One of the world’s largest mining companies, Anglo American, had invested six years and $541 million into Pebble through a partnership with Northern Dynasty Minerals to develop the site. Despite this, Anglo American unexpectedly pulled out of the project last week, foregoing more than half a billion dollars of their shareholders’ money and leaving Northern Dynasty to continue on alone.

And the reason for Anglo American’s sudden departure? Chief executive officer, Mark Cutifani, explained that it is an attempt to “prioritize capital to projects with the highest value and lowest risks”. With the risks for the Pebble Mine increasing daily it is apparent why Anglo American might have decided to pull out.

The opponents of the mining project are vast and varied; fishermen, First Nations Peoples, large corporations, environmentalists, and political entities. Pebble Mine has the capacity to cause immense effects on numerous industries and peoples in the area. Most prevalent among of them is the salmon fisheries in Alaska’s Bristol Bay. Almost “half of the world’s sockeye salmon spawn in the watersheds downstream from the mine site”, creating a high potential for damage to both the fishing industry and the environment in that area. Due to this, Pebble Mine is at risk of being shut down by the Environmental Protection Agency. Perhaps Anglo American recognized this possibility and jumped ship when they had the chance.

So the question is: is it worth it to dig at the Pebble Mine or is the controversy too much for the payoff at the end? The mine would generate direct employment for at least 915 people in Alaska over its first 25 years of production, and indirectly support about another 2,000 jobs in the state. The economy would be stimulated by an increase in gold availability, positively affecting many other industries due to the mass usage of gold in almost all electronics and technologies produced today. However, it might also destroy Alaskan ecosystems in the area and negatively impact the fishing industry.

It is difficult to weigh the pros and cons of going ahead with the mine from an objective point of view. And from a company’s perspective it is almost always profit that trumps the decision making process. However, Anglo American obviously sees something in Pebble Mine that they don’t want to be a part of.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fed38a0a-d4d5-11e2-b4d7-00144feab7de.html#axzz2eeCLYJk4

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/anz-and-macquarie-have-been-named-in-singapore-rate-rigging-scandal-2013-6

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323734304578545110537362372.html

Global scandals involving rate-rigging in banks are being thrust into the spotlight. In Singapore, it has recently been revealed that 20 banks and 133 traders attempted to manipulate key benchmarks in order to make a profit on the resulting derivatives. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has been brought to action regarding the information that has come to light. The banks involved have been ordered to set aside large deposits ranging from $79.8 million (US) to $957 million (US) depending on the extent of the allegations. The deposits will be refunded only if the banks have resolved the issues in management and leadership that allowed this situation to take place.

“The traders’ conduct reflected a lack of professional ethics,” the MAS stated, referring to the morals that outline the rules of the business world. But often it seems that many are willing to cross the line if the pay-off is big enough. How far are you willing to go to make a profit? What will you do to get that promotion? For the traders partaking in the rate-rigging scandal, it seems they believed the trade-off of extra profit for a little falsification was worth it. However, the heavy consequences they are facing now tells a different story.