Comm101 Paul

Site C is a government proposal that would allow BC Hydro to construct a hydroelectric dam that would flood 83 kilometers near Fort St. John in the Peace River Valley. Due to the growing industries in the area such as oil, gas and mining, the power generated by the dam will create sustainable power to allow these industries to properly function and work. All in all it seems like a perfect opportunity to help growth in BC industry, unless you look at the immediate factors that must be brought into account, such as the First Nations rights. The dam would flood a large amount of farmland and wildlife habitat, which is First Nations land. Also, it would destroy fishing habitats and cultural land in the area that the first nations who live there rely on for food and historical practices. The main reason for this debate is that the energy is not necessary in the area; it would just help make the industries more efficient. Because of this the argument of is preserving land for those who rely on it to live less important than destroying it to build something that is not essential. The First Nations community chiefs in the area both agreed that they will support smaller alternative power projects in areas such as wind and geothermal in order to protect their prized land. With the issue being brought to court, the decision is a matter of will the broader benefits of the proposed project outweigh the adverse effects on the Aboriginal Land. The hydroelectric dam would be a huge step in creating alternative power to increase efficiency in the businesses in the area, but destroying lands that have no alternative is the barrier that the government faces in their proposal.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+Nation+chiefs+stage+Site+showdown/10215965/story.html

Costco is a membership only warehouse that is the second largest retailer in the United States. What draws the customers there is the ability to buy in bulk for cheaper, but most importantly the main reason is for the free samples. In this article, studies show that samples in stores increase business drastically, as people love the feeling of getting something for free. Costco is known for having multiple sample tables throughout its stores to persuade customers to purchase that product. In Costco’s mind, having samples in stores makes shopping more fun for customers, bringing more people to the store for a longer period of time because they enjoy it, which increases their sales. This makes customers loyal to the company, causing them come back and buy more, which is exactly what Costco wants. The psychology behind the free samples is that when people are offered something for free, they feel the need to return the favor by purchasing the product. Another aspect is that if a person tastes a sample of chocolate for example, it acts as a reminder to them of how much they like chocolate, causing them to buy it. It’s an excellent business strategy that shows across all Costco stores, as their success is well recognized through their extensive sales. Even their food court is extremely profitable while being able to offer a hot dog for a $1.50, because of the influx of people. If Costco was not a retail store, it would be the eleventh largest pizza place in the U.S. Through this you can see how many people come to Costco, proving that their business strategy of psychological persuasion is a huge success for their company.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/companies/the-psychology-behind-costcos-free-samples/ar-BB6O0Yu

Yahoo is a worldwide renown internet company that competes with google as a search engine and news feed for many people across the world. Its success has been based upon its news and communication usage by a wide variety of age groups, but has struggled to appeal to the young teenage age group as well as other sites. Due to their recent selling of a portion of their stake in the Alibaba Group, an internet e-commerce corporation, they have a large amount of available money to invest in other companies. To start attracting the younger audience, they have been talking about trying to negotiate a deal with Snapchat, an app that is used to send photos that disappear after time as a way of communication. Being a teenager myself, I use Snapchat on a daily basis to communicate with friends, as it is a fun way to interact with them when im on to go. By settling a deal to invest in the company, Yahoo will have the ability to compete in the online messaging sector making their company more relevant to young consumers. Yahoo has lacked to compete with companies like Facebook in this particular sector, so this investment will help their company rebound and become a large competitor in this area. They have already purchased a company called MessageMe to help in their strategic process to increase its contents offerings. As Snapchat continues to grow by working with musicians by allowing people at a concert to post “snaps” that can be seen by anyone who has the app, Yahoo sees their visions and believes by investing they can help the company generate more revenue. This will boost their growth, and bring them closer to closing the gaps with other online communication companies.

The Apple iWatch is yet another drastic step in growth and innovation for Apple, as it enables the user to connect their devices through something worn on their wrist. Wearing the watch allows for seamless connection with the owners phone, which is paired through Bluetooth allowing quick and easy response to messages and fast access to the web without having to touch the phone. For notifications, the iWatch transmits a soft tap on the wrist to notify a new alert, without annoying beeps or vibrations. The customization aspect allows for the user to choose exactly what they want to see in an instant, simply by swiping the watch face to apps like weather, calendar, and news. The iWatch is a prime example of how Apple is able to make a need out of something that people don’t necessarily must have. People become star struck in the technological advancements Apple continues to offer, and feel the need to have it. This outlines their powerful marketing and innovative abilities through simplistic design and beauty in every product they offer.  This feat of technology for Apple was inspired by the determination to compete with other large electronic companies like Samsung, which has the Gear, which was introduced last September. The gear offers similar technology to the iWatch, along with multiple designs to fit the customers desires like Apple has done. With the release of the iPhone 6 being so successful, the release of their watch will be another huge profitable success throughout the world, as people go crazy for Apple products. With the release date coming within the next six months, Apple has a lot to look forward to in rewarding themselves with yet another step in technological advancement.

http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/apple-iwatch-release-date-news-and-rumours-1131043

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/wearable-tech

http://www.apple.com/watch/overview/