Social Enterprises

As the United Nations progresses and supports thousands of charity organizations and programs consistently and successfully, some may question that”If the United Nations was fully funded why would we need social enterprise”. However, compared to the various global social issues, such as poverty, starving, etc. the singly power of the UN is way too limited.

Social enterprises can be pretty powerful in their area. Like the program in Sauder School of Business, known as Arc Initiative, is an alumni based social enterprise summons support from the graduates and their companies. The resources can vary from country to country and from areas to areas. It uses its strength especially on financing and networking to give substantial help to some money needy places. Cooperating with communities in South Africa, Ethiopia, Columbia, and Rwanda, the Arc contributes to the long-term development of the domestic economy by exchanging their innovating skills. Mature and well-developed social enterprises actually provide better assistance than the UN which usually simply donating money and human resources whereas neglecting the significance to the complicated future development.

arc

The logo of arc initiative, Sauder

Using professional knowledge, prospective point of view, and specialized skills, social enterprises and programs are influential and essential to the long-term progress of the society as what the United Nations does.

Burberry – Be Ready to Win

How time flies! 2014 is approaching to the end, indicating a battle between brands, whether home-based, famous or luxury, is gradually spreading out. In the article “As Romeo Beckham stars in their new ad, how Burberry went from chic to chav to chic again“, it displays the struggling innovation of  Burberry in order to win the rival as well as appeal the consumers’ attention since the last summer fashion week this year. Burberry special festival advert video is released on its homepage website, Youtube, Instagram, etc. almost every social networking tool people are addicted to, and I personally is fascinated and attracted to the “wonderland” the story creates.

Youtube Video — “From London with Love” | Starring Romeo Beckham Episode

Beautiful women and handsome men dance around a set of London town in their flexible yet stylish Burberry macs,” the entire romantic and pretty advert indeed impress its audience. The company wisely take the advantage of the social media, and hence differentiate itself from the cliche luxury brand, being a brand actually bring happiness to the consumers.  Besides, the Romeo Beckham’s participation in the show greatly attract the public whose interests on the Beckhams to know the new stylish Burberry.

1415222526128_wps_38_image001_png

 

Romeo Beckham in Burberry Festival Show — From www.dailymail.co,uk

Fashion industry is highly innovative and competitive. As one of the top luxury British brands, Burberry successfully attract consumers by appealing both the interests of public and media. The sailing raises to 1million pounds in two weeks after the video released.

 

 

It’s not too late to follow the trends — Respond to Soheil’s post

iPhone 6 size comparison — From Youtube

Reading through Soheil’s blog article “Was Apple too Late in big size of iPhone?“, personally I strongly agree with his statement “Apple offers more screen size choices, meaning even more future revenue for Apple”. Besides, due to producing larger size of screen, Apple fills the blanks of market as well as serves consumers better by manufacturing larger size of screen, and it is just on time.

The video above illustrates the differences among the existing iPhone products, and introduces the latest changes made. It can be seen that Apply adopts the ideas of previous big screen mobile phones brands, like Samsung, and Nokia, including high screen resolution, new accessibility assistance specially designed for one-hand control, etc.. Subsequently, it comes up with design that specially for iPhone, like keeping both high quality camera and thin outlooking. It is wise to see the feedback of market, and then make changes to improve its own products.

Furthermore, as what Apple usually did, bringing products that it feels right for markets, it knows the last rivalry between Samsung Note2 and iPhone5s displayed the higher demand for consumers to buy bigger smartphones. As a result, Apple is sensitive enough to answer the market with new “bigger than bigger” iPhone6+.

Reference

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBJzHhbNzbs

Article: https://blogs.ubc.ca/snasseri/2014/11/11/was-apple-too-late-in-producing-big-iphones/

The Hidden Cost of Amazon Same-Day Delivery

QQ20141111-1@2x

A screenshot from Amazon.com Website homepage 

In order to compete with other online retailers, Amazon announced previously this week to provide same-day delivery service in some main cities in North America. The author of the news “Amazon Launches Same-Day Delivery In Toronto And Vancouver” indicates his preference and interests on trying this convenient shipping, whereas, after reading the conditions and terms, I would say it is merely a way to advertise. The constraint time, the expensive shipping fees and the limited supportive area cannot meet most people’s expectation.

When people read the news title on the one-day shipment, it seems pretty nice and attractive. However, if one reads the service terms in details, it shows up like only a few communities can get their goods. In Canada, Toronto and Vancouver are the only two metropolises have the option to choose the fastest shipping method, and only downtown area and some famous communities are in their service area. Besides, an ordinary shipment usually costs $3 to $5 each item, but the same-day delivery costs triple of the price, and additional $5 need to be paid for each more item. The shipping cost is even more expensive than some goods.

It is unquestionable that same-day delivery is so favourable for consumers, but it is not mature enough to really meets the actual demand of the public.

Reference:

Photo: http://www.amazon.com/b?node=8729023011

Article: http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/05/amazon-launches-same-day-delivery-in-toronto-and-vancouver/

A Wonderland’s Magic — Wonderful Disney Parks Blog

 

CWS573811-613x920

The castle in Disney Park, Paris

Established in 1923, Walt Disney Company affects several generations of people all around the world. The exclusively official blog site of its amusement parks is booming these days simultaneously, and tells more stories of the company besides its fairy tales. The newly post “Photo Gallery: Disney Castles That Have Been Covered in Real Snow” demonstrates the beautiful sites of distinctive castles of Disney amusement parks from North America to Asia. The pictures within the article really give a sense of connecting the fairy world to reality.  The buildings are not only symbols of wonderland, but also the representation of Disney. mtc102009SMALL

The post effectively demonstrates the beauty of its amusement parks as well as attract countless audience’s preference. For last decades, Disney was criticized as a company had high cost, narrow consumers segments, and relatively low revenue. However, on another hand, Disney indeed is an outstanding organization leading industry entrepreneurship. Like the executives announced in the blog, the activities Disney parks host nowadays are not limited to simply performance and drama show, more and more charity, community, and society events are hold to support issues of children, arts, etc. (Eg. Children’s hospital donation 2014, Grants to Arts Gallery 2014) The blog site hooks the public’s interest and connects the connects the upcoming events with the readers. Communicating with consumers and contributing to the society is as essential as make revenue, and Disney demonstrates a positive example.

Reference:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/11/photo-gallery-disney-castles-that-have-been-covered-in-real-snow/

Is That Really An Ideal Method? — Hydroelectricity vs. Environment

Nowadays, people seek to efficiently use all natural resources to produce value. Hydroelectric Power is seemingly a wonderful way to achieve the goal of reducing cost as well as producing more power. However, from the passage named “The Hidden Cost Of Hydroelectric Power”, it can be seen that the significant effects on the climate and animal species within the area building enormous dam are not eligible.
Dam-photo

The substantial consequences include damaging river ecosystem, destroying villages nearby, and  flooding agriculture lands.  To begin with, the dams dramatically rises the water level and interrupts the flow of the river. As a result, the climate will change due to the larger amount of water, leading to the temperature and humidity vary, so the animal species live around need to struggle the changes for them. Besides, the interruption of water caused the fish species need to migrate and reproduce lost its living habit, and even become extinct. Thirdly, some artificial heritage, like houses with long history, or some momentary buildings near the river would be flooded. Though some of it can be moved, it costs a huge amount of money of the government. For instance, with the construction of Three Gorges Dam in China, over three thousands of residences’ home were destroyed.

In conclusion, hydroelectricity is an efficient resource of producing power, but the latent costs are considerable.

Reference:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/11/04/the-hidden-cost-of-hydroelectric-power/?ss=energy

Money or Nature? First Nations Groups Make the Better Choice

nakazdli-clearcutting-2

 

A area of Nak’al’s territory being deforested— From http://www.amnesty.ca

In the article ‘There will be no pipeline‘  First Nations groups live near Nak’al Koh, including Nak’azdli, strongly argue against the proposition of building a pipeline near their homelands. Actually, reading through this passage, I feel so upset and disappointed on the government and the running institutions of Norther Gateway pipeline. Regardless of the fact that First Nations people came to Canada way before most European nations live in this land now,  Canada is the home for all people with different ancestors, skin color, and religions. All Canadian need to ensure the safety and beauty of nature. In my point of view, First Nations people made the right choice to stop government from taking risk to harm the natural beauty. Though building the pipeline reduce the cost of transporting oil within Canada, and hence millions of dollars of benefits can be made, the potential opportunities to diminish the home for not only First Nations, but also all Canadian and countless animals, insects, and birds, are too risky and considering long-term sustainability and development of the country, nation, and human-beings, to harm the nature and get profit is so unwise and against the business ethic.

Reference:

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

Photo: http://www.amnesty.ca/blog/weve-never-had-to-hold-a-ceremony-like-this-before

Why we need to buy flight ticket for my luggages too?

News article: New WestJet and Air Canada fees come with too much baggage, by Mary-Jane Bennett, financial post.com

It is so  WestJet and Air Canada can both charge passengers extra money on their luggages and state they are innocent, and consumers “pushed” them to do so. The biggest cost for an airline is fuel, and as the article states, the passengers’ massive over-heavy luggage costs the too much, and even makes them cannot even sustain their “cheap-cost culture”. I do not debt the enormous cost of a flight, but charging extra fees is not better than simply add the cost to the ticket price. First, as a transportation company, considers about consumers “extra weight” is one of its responsibility. Why don’t they charge people’s ticket by their weight as well? Then thinner people pays less and heavier people pay more. Isn’t that sound fair? The luggage costs too much should not be paid by passengers. Additionally, as long as people need to pay for luggage, they will be willing to take much heavier suitcases than they were taking before. “I’m going to pay the same amount of money. Why don’t I take more?” That is reasonable and this in contrast is just in the opposite of what the airline’s objective to take less luggage each flight.

Why should the young gets better paid?

The original post: Why do the younger workers have low salaries? by Chenchen Wu

 

As an undergraduate student, I am looking for part-time job these days, and relatively low salary is truly a concern of me, and actually frustrate me somehow. Nevertheless, after reading Wu’s points of reasonable low salaries for younger workers, I think the low payment is not caused by external reasons only, on the other hand, this phenomenon is ordinary and usual because of the internal limitations.

To begin with, referring to booming globalization, foreign workers may affect the labour market a lot, but not the higher-educated level. Since international students and domestic students share fairly the education quality, besides, local has better communication basis and cultural backgrounds which directly lead to better employers’ favor. Whereas, it does not imply the employers are willing to pay higher cost. Due to young employees have barely work experience, and know theoretical knowledge better than empirical skills, they do not create enough value to gain better paid.

Besides, the higher education somehow limits the young a lot. Through the last several decades, people start working at increasingly older age. More people like to pursue academic success than practical jobs. Less young do part-time job, and take the heavy burden of study to universities. It is a good thing for individuals personal evaluation, and social future development, while not really beneficial for employers. It does not make sense to pay these ignorant people who only memorize the terminologies in textbook.

So, conclusively, government restricts the immigration has noting to do with improving young’s salaries, nonetheless, it should encourage teenagers to participate more in extracurricular activities including part-time job and volunteering works.

How smart can a smart phone be?

It has been half a month since the new iPhone 6 launched, I am super upset that I cannot buy one even now. “It’s just a phone! How can this be so hard for me to get a phone!” I was even confused. I scanned through news tonight, and all in a swoop, I understand why people are getting so “addicted” to iPhone. “Apple Fans in China Willing to Pay Absurd Amounts for Black Market iPhonesthe news title basically tells the whole story, and definitely I could not beat these professional smugglers.

Regardless of my own harassment, I wonder more about how did Apple successfully appeal customers to be creasy about its products? Although Samsung, Sony, HTC, etc. these smart phone manufacturers are being innovative and competitive simultaneously, Apple created another magic.

First, Apple Inc. knew China market is so significant and previously announced that the first regions launching iPhone includes China mainland, however when Sep. 19 approaches, Chinese people were so disappointing that Apple was a liar, and their desire to purchase an iPone was lifting to an extremely high hill. Subsequently, Apple knew the amass population of Chinese around the world would be affected by their relatives advancing demand as well, so as the result, Chinese in either in North American, Europe, or Australia were being creasy and waited in line for the whole night to just buy one mobile phone. Eventually, the excess demand was even not fulfilled 50%, seemingly few people being successful.

A smart phone needs a smarter company to support it success in competitive market, and Apple seems like the smartest to control consumers’ demand.

Spam prevention powered by Akismet