“You run like a girl”, “you throw like a girl”, “ stop crying and be a man”, “man up and grow a pair”. Why is gender used as an insult? There are many other gendered insult words that have been completely normalized in our culture today, but being normalized doesn’t mean it is not sexist. This ad by Always changes the insult “like a girl” to a compliment, and raised awareness of sexism in our society.

“You [insert verb] like a girl!! Photo: Twitter

As mentioned in Queeny Tran’s blog, there are many products that incorporate gender into it. From a marketing perspective, I agree with Queeny that this is a brilliant idea. This allows them to target a specific customer and become profitable, as many gender problems help men/ women gain more confidence. Exploiting these gender products in our culture today is considered normal, so if consumers are demanding it, these products should be produced.

“If I look at men, gay thoughts enter my brain and it’s because of all the men so I just want to look at dogs instead so I don’t feel gay. What if people saw me looking at fully clothed men and thought I was gay?” Photo: Twitter

On the other hand, from a social point of view, I also agree with Queeny that these products don’t need to be separated. They are literally the same product, but with a different packaging. Using gender as a way of marketing is sexist, and our society should be better than imposing gender on products.

Work Cited

Bailey, Luke. “27 Gendered Products That Prove Masculinity Is Incredibly Fragile.” BuzzFeed. N.p., 16 June 2015. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

Shoaff, Morgan. “‘You Throw like a Girl!’ ‘MythBusters’ Puts the Classic Insult to the Test.” Upworthy. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

#27 Stop Using Gendered Insults.” More Women in Skepticism. N.p., 10 Aug. 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Moziah Bridges displays his hand made bow ties. Photo:Memphis Flyer

9-year-old Moziah Bridges-Mo for short- loved dressing sharply. He found a problem when he realized there weren’t any real bowties for kids, only clip-ons. He decided to base his business Mo’s Bows off of this problem, and ended up building himself a $150,000 business. He now has 7 employees including his mom and grandmother, and has been featured on Shark Tank, Vogue, and O Magazine.

Bridges is a social entrepreneur as well because he has created a product that raises funds for charity where “100 percent of the proceeds go to help kids go to summer camp because [he] feel[s] like it’s good to help the community and that’s what [he’s] doing.” The summer camps provide children with a meal and play time.

Moziah Bridges donates $1,600 to the Glenview Summer Camp. Photo: mosbowsmemphis

I admire Bridges for being an inspiring social entrepreneur, and for finding something he’s so passionate about. He’s making a change in the world one bowtie at a time by sending children to summer camp. He’s got it all figured out; he has a wonderful life with business successes, social good, work-school life balance, and sold goals for the future to expand into a business like Ralph Lauren.

Work Cited

Kim, Larry. “This 12-Year-Old CEO Runs a $150,000 Business.” Inc.com. N.p., 15 Sept. 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Lutz, Ashley. “A 12-Year-Old Started A Bow Tie Company That Already Has $150,000 In Sales And 5 Employees.” Business Insider. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Martin, Roger L., and Sally R. Osberg. “How Social Entrepreneurs Make Change Happen.” Harvard Business Review. N.p., 14 Oct. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Murray, Rheana. “Bow Tie Designer, 11, a Hit in Memphis.” NY Daily News. N.p., 7 Aug. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015

Strauss, Karsten. “The 11-Year-Old Fashion Entrepreneur Behind ‘Mo’s Bows'” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

After reading this article by Cheryl Davenport about the weaknesses of TOM’S one for one business model, I still agree and support the one for one business model. I disagree with Davenport’s first critique where TOM’S buy-one-give-one model does not actually solve a social problem. TOM’S aren’t obligated to solve this social problem; they are just contributing by helping. Davenport makes a mistake by saying that “it’s designed to make western consumers feel good.” I agree with James Poulos and I don’t like this ideology as no product was made to make consumers feel bad. They one-to-one model is raising awareness and are actually helping cure the problem.

TOMS having a one to one model, where they give away a pair of shoes to children in need for each shoes purchased. Photo: shoesvbuy

Although I agree with the one-for-one model, I believe it should be altered to create more shared value. More research should be conducted, as each business should have a different one-for-one model on how their business can aid the economy without causing more harm.

TOMS has also thrived with their one for one system addressing clean water, sight, and other issues. They took the critique and realized their business model is not effective and changed it. The company now value finding long-term solutions and are building a self-sustaining community, instead of short-term benefits of profits for themselves.

Work Cited

“Creating Shared Value.” Harvard Business Review. N.p., 01 Jan. 2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

Davenport, Cheryl. “The Broken”Buy-One, Give-One” Model: 3 Ways To Save Toms Shoes.” Co.Exist. N.p., 10 Apr. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

Poulos, James. “Toms Shoes: A Doomed Vanity Project?” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

“The One-for-one Business Model: Avoiding Unintended Consequences.” Knowledge@Wharton. N.p., 16 Feb. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

Upon learning about entrepreneurship and start-ups in class, I discovered an online lingerie start-up called Adore Me. This company wants a big bite out of Victoria’s Secret’s 35% market share. I believe it is possible for Adore Me, since they utilize strong strategies and offer more than what Victoria’s Secret can.

Adore Me is a fast fashion retailer- with a new collection every month. Photo: Logopond

Adore Me is an online lingerie retailer based in New York. They sell everything that Victoria’s Secret sells, from bras to sleepwear, but for a cheaper price. The company differentiates itself with they its unique value propositions, such as providing a boarder range of sizes, better quality, more comfortable, and fast fashion. They use a direct business model since they are online; therefore they have better customer satisfaction, faster products, and a lower level of inventory. They are also vertically integrated, as their employees have direct contact with the suppliers and customers.

Adore Me has an online style quiz to recommend you collection that best suits your personality. Photo: Adore Me

Everything mentioned above made me believe that Adore Me will continue to grow and possibly exceed Victoria’s Secret one day. Especially after learning about Zappo’s, visual CV, and other e-commerce companies, I believe e-commerce companies will slowly take over the market and surpass storefront companies, as they are so much more convenient and efficient.

Work Cited

Harrington, Cora. “You Get What You Pay For: An Adore Me Lingerie Review.” Lingerie Addict. N.p., 20 June 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2015

Lutz, Ashley. “How Victoria’s Secret Will Continue To Crush The Competition.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 8 Sept. 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

Schlossberg, Mallory. “This Company Determined to Kill Victoria’s Secret Is Becoming a Major Force in the Lingerie Market.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 10 Oct. 2015. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

Shontell, Alyson. “Man Raises $8.5 Million For Victoria’s Secret Killer, AdoreMe, Which Sells Half-Price Lingerie.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 9 July 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

“Adore Me – The New Face of Lingerie.” Adore Me. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

Companies lowering prices to get more customers. Photo: Simplysavvyliving

Whenever I walk into a retail store, the first thing they say to me is always “Our whole store is 50% off today”, or “ Those shirts are buy one get one free”, and etc. Companies understand that customers only care about price, so the companies often lower prices to stay competitive. Although they get more sales when they lower the price, they are still less profitable than before.

In a blog post by Ian Altman, he suggested three steps so the customers can appreciate value more than price. These three steps are to not focus on the price, recognize the value, and find impact together. I agree with these points, as price isn’t the only reason why a product should be better than their competitors. I believe a company should just use their point of difference to set them apart from their points of parity, such as having better customer service. A company should also recognizes it’s strengths and embrace it. Make the product stand out among the other competitors.

According to Ian, the results are a lot better, and the sale price will have more to do with profit than revenue. Similarly to the saying quantity over quality, I think it should be value over price.

Work Cited

Altman, Ian. “What To Do When Customers Only Care About Price.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

“The Best Way to Win Business on Value Not Price.” Grow My Revenue. N.p., 28 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Roughly eight years ago, my brother and I would count the numbers of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Coach, on the streets in Hong Kong. We would get to approximately 20 Louis Vuitton in an hour. We played this game again a year ago, but we could only got less than 20 in a day. The demand for this luxury has declined a lot in China ever since social media has bloomed.

A secretary walking out of Louis Vuitton after purchasing a bag. Photo: businessinsider

According to many customers, Louis Vuitton is too typical and can be seen everywhere. Everyone has it and it doesn’t seem like a luxury anymore. Louis Vuitton is now referred to the “brand for secretaries”, and many customers moved onto more expensive brands to leave this ordinary brand.

Louis Vuitton is now trying to expand worldwide to protect its “exclusive image”, according to the chief executive. They will start diversifying its business and immerse in restaurants and catering to attract young customers. Personally, I don’t understand why they would expand to restaurants and catering, as I don’t see how a brand that sells high quality bags can correlate to a restaurant. I believe they should reconsider their business plan and marketing strategies to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology. Instead of letting social media decline the demand of this luxury, they should use social media as an advantage and help them increase demand for this luxury.

Work Cited

“As China Luxury Sales Drop, LVMH Turns To New Target Demographic To Boost Business.” International Business Times. N.p., 06 July 2015. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.

Cox, John Woodrow. “Louis Vuitton and Gucci’s Nightmares Come True: Wealthy Shoppers Don’t Want Flashy Logos Anymore.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.

“LVMH Sales Slow in Hong Kong as Chinese Demand Drops Globally.” South China Morning Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.

“Louis Vuitton Slows Expansion to Protect Image.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.

Less than a year ago, I read an article by the Global News  about raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Among with many others, I wanted this raise. As a Vancouverite, the costs of living in Vancouver are incredibly high, which makes it difficult for many of the minimum wage workers to make a living.

A campaign for the BC Federation of Labour. Photo: fightfor15bc

On the other hand, thinking from a company’s point of view, I disagree with the increase of the minimum wage. Although many companies think that their employees deserve more than minimum wage, they can’t afford it financially. Companies would have to fire workers or reduce their hours as outlined in Isabella Yuan’s blog. This raise would hurt teenagers the most, since they would be laid off first. As a teenager, I would rather work $10.45 than to not have a job. Also to make up for the increased wages, companies would have to increase their price of their products. With every 10% increase on wages, there is a 25% decrease in sales of the products. Overall, I believe that raising the minimum wage to $15 will not only better match the cost of living, but it could also hurt job creation; therefore I would rather minimum wage stay the same.

Employees wanting the minimum wage to increase to $15/hour, but after taxes, the wage still barely matches the cost of living. Photo: Columbia University

Work Cited

Edition, The Early. “Minimum Wage Increases Are ‘supercharging’ Economy, Says U.S. Multimillionaire – British Columbia – CBC News.” CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 23 June 2015. Web. 03 Oct. 2015.

Gollom, Mark. “Why the Minimum Wage ‘Fight for $15’ May Be the Wrong Battle.” CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 03 Aug. 2015. Web. 03 Oct. 2015.

“Minimum Wage Rises in 5 Provinces Today.” CBCnews. N.p., 01 Oct. 2015. Web. 03 Oct. 2015.

“Raise Minimum Wage in B.C. to $15 an Hour: B.C. Labour.” Global News Raise Minimum Wage in BC to 15 an Hour BC Labour. N.p., 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 03 Oct. 2015.

“The Day After $15: New Minimum Wage Would Bring Nightmare Scenario to Canada, Critics Say.” Financial Post The Day After 15 New Minimum Wage Would Bring Nightmare Scenario to Canada Criticssay Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2015.

Wal-Mart recently cut 450 jobs at its headquarters in Arkansas, hoping to reorganize their management structure. According to the Chief Executive Doug McMillion, they want a “more nimble organization” and they are “pulling back in some areas and investing in others”.

An email sent to the employees of Wal-Mart by the CEO regarding the layoff. Photo: fortune

My analysis shows that Wal-Mart lost a quarter of its value in stock. Wal-Mart wants to shift their plan to adapt to customer demand, so they laid people off for the extra funds instead of having to pay the legacy cost and their wages. I agree with Wal-Mart’s decision because the world is changing everyday, and they need to constantly update their strategic plan to keep up with the constant changing behaviour of customers. They need to invest in appropriate funds that will benefit their company and keep up with their competition. I also agree with Rita McGrath‘s belief that Wal-Mart should build and exploit many transient competitive advantages at once, in order to stay ahead. Although I think what Wal-Mart did will benefit their company, I don’t think it is good for the workers, since they are leaving so many people unemployed. Any layoffs will disturb the consumer-goods companies, especially a layoff this big. Overall, Wal-Mart is trying to have more funds and constantly change their strategic plan to keep up with the ever-changing world, and I see nothing wrong with their plan to change.

Work Cited

“Walmart CEO Tells Staff 450 Job Cuts Aim to Make Are to Become More.” Fortune Walmart CEO Tells Staff 450 Job Cuts Aim to Make Are to Become More Nimble Retailer Comments. N.p., 02 Oct. 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

“Wal-Mart Preparing to Cut Hundreds of Headquarters Jobs This Week.” WSJ. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

“Wal-Mart to Cut Hundreds of Jobs at Headquarters: Sources.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

“Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.” : NYSE:WMT Quotes & News – Google Finance. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

“Wal-Mart to Cut 450 Jobs at Headquarters.” CNBC. N.p., 02 Oct. 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

Shark fin soup has always been a delicacy in Asia as a symbol of wealth. Since the 1970s, sharks were on the verge of being extinct. Finning is the unethical practice of cutting off the shark’s fin then throwing the rest of the living body back into the ocean. The sharks die a slow and painful death by drowning, starving to death, or eaten alive by other predators. The fins are then dried and sold in markets to restaurants and individuals.

A shark being finned alive. Photo: Common Sense Canadians

Although the sales of shark fin dropped by 70% over the past few years, sharks are still endangered. According to The Guardian, Shark fin traders are complaining that sales are decreasing and prices are falling. One trader said, “Shark fin is a dying business”. Among with many others, I think shark fin should be a dead business. Although this will put all the traders out of business, it is better for the world and this species that existed before dinosaurs. There is no ethical way to kill animals, but endangered animals shouldn’t be killed at all. I participated in the stop shark finning campaign and stopped eating shark fin soup. Quoting the International Union for Conservation of Nature, I hope “sharks will become commercially extinct rather than actually extinct”.

A Finned Shark left to drown or get eaten by other predators. Photo: Animal Welfare Institute

Work Cited

“Sales of Shark Fin in China Drop by up to 70%.” The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.

“”Shark Finning – Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.” Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.

“The Reality of Shark Finning.” Shark Friends. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.

“Top Nations Killing & Finning Sharks.” Shark Stewards. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.

Coloured powder catching on fire. Photo: hdtv

It was suppose to be a fun night out, partying with friends at a water park. The night was filled with music, flashing lights, special effects and color powder. Nobody expected this horrible fire to happen, injuring almost 500 people. The fire was caused by an accidental explosion of the color powder sprayed over the crowd, which was ignited by the special effects on the stage. Hospitals in the area had to cope with the high number of burn patients from the disaster.

The company that supplied three tons of color powder to the event organiser, Color Play Asia, clearly labeled the packaging saying that the material is flammable. The president of the company also said that “the powder shouldn’t be used in closed spaces or under high temperatures or else a dust explosion could occur”.

The victims of the event waiting for help. Photo: mirror

Color Play Asia only cared about their profit. They ensured that the party would be fun and exciting to attract the customers, but didn’t consider the safety of the customers. The company has the social responsibility of the community, and not preform unethical actions that can endanger the community. I think the event organizers should be charged for jeopardizing the lives of others. I think all events should go through a safety check before the event actually occurs, and all companies should read warning labels of other products. Companies should also put better warnings to reduce the chance of accidents happening.

Sources

“Taiwan Formosa Water Park Explosion Injures Hundreds – BBC News.” BBC News. N.p., 28 June 2015. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.

“Taiwan Water Park Explosion Injures Nearly 500 People.” The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.