All my life I have been very athletic and participated in numerous types of sports including basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, and track; all of which require some sport of spandex-wear. Now, I want to zero in on one garment in particular: spandex pants. Much like a true Vancouverite, I am guilty of wearing yoga pants out without actually going to yoga class. Having owned many pairs of these pants I have seen firsthand as to how the prices of these pants have climbed higher and higher. As of now, most brands are pushing the $80-$100 limit. These brands include Nike, Lululemon, and Under Armour. Much like the LeBron sneakers that have inched closer and closer to the $300 limit, spandex pants have been testing the $100 price for a while now. The reason they have been successful in forcing that price on consumers is because they continue buying them even at ridiculous prices. I, of course, have been victim to these companies because of my brand loyalty to them. I feel that owning their product will not only give me the quality that I have been accustomed to from them, but also give be an ego boost because of the brand name. Companies like these are fully aware of their customer’s loyalty and have wasted no time to use that to their advantage.

sources:

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-lululemons-pants-are-so-expensive-2014-9

“If the United Nations was fully funded why would we need the Arc or social enterprise”?

The UN is an international organization that provides a platform for numerous countries to discuss and resolve world crisis. On the other hand, social enterprises are smaller, less funded, and a more concentrated group of people whose goal is help communities through business methods. One of the most flawed aspect of the UN is that the decisions they make are too heavily influenced by individual nation’s interests. One of the most recent injustices seen in the news has been Russia’s and China’s veto of France’s draft of resolution. Despite the United Nations being fully funded, it is unfortunate that that money cannot be used in the way which will benefit people who suffer from injustices and hardships. The world needs social enterprises such as the Arc Initiative because they have the ability to help the less fortunate without politics in the way. One of the reasons why the Arc Initiative is so beneficial to the people in the countries that it is involved in is because they help build develop business management and leadership in the communities so that they can sustain themselves. Rather than just giving them supplies as aid they are teaching them the business skills that will help them create a long-term economic prosperity.

sources:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27514256

http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/

I have always been on the fence about pursuing entrepreneurship as a career. I use to think that it would be a dream being my own boss, creating my own goals, working on my own hours; but after hearing the Sauder Alumni come in and speak to us my mind has definitely been made. I have come to a conclusion that I would dislike entrepreneurship. Why? Well for starters, one thing I value greatly is stability. Hearing all these stories on how Jennifer Martin, Paul Gill, and Paul Davidescu scraped together enough money to start-up their companies only to hit wall after wall has really showed me that entrepreneurship has absolutely no stable assurance; one second your company may be booming, the next crashing. Now not to be misunderstood, I truly admire the amount of perseverance and determination that these exceptional people have put into their companies. I am just saying that this type of moil is not one which I will find passion in like they have. Another reason why I do not think entrepreneurship is right for me is that I feel I am not creative enough for this line of work. Unlike successful entrepreneurs, I fail to see the finished product before it is produced. I feel that I don’t have the necessary intuition that leads companies to advancement. Having the alumni come in and talk to our class was a genuinely eye-opening experience for me which has helped me advance one step closer to knowing what I want my future career to look like.

sources:

https://www.google.ca/search?q=entrepreneurship&client=firefox-a&hs=RNk&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=lSVfVOCJLMH0iAL__IGAAw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=696#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=GFsm9dTb-WISFM%253A%3BHtALuvPZRI2jPM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-QWzZ_unLU8M%252FU02hpmlu5bI%252FAAAAAAAAA40%252Ff6OXW4lgwfU%252Fs1600%252F%252523entrepreneurfail%252BEarly%252BSigns%252Bof%252BEntrepreneurship.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.entrepreneurfail.com%252F2014%252F04%252Fteachkidsentrepreneurshiptraits.html%3B1024%3B768

I have never been the type to do much online shopping. However, I usually like to do some research on the product I’m buying before I do so. Recently, I have become very absorbed on purchasing new boots and have been doing some browsing online. Now this all ties into Daphne’s article “TMI.” Her article talks about the many ways she protects her privacy as much as possible, one way being installing ad-blocker on all her social media sites, which was when I came to a scary realization. As mentioned before, I have been doing copious amounts of online browsing on shoe sites. For the past week or two every ad that I have come across while scrolling through Facebook, YouTube, and even Thesaurus.com have all been from sites that I have recently browsed through. These ads are so specifically targeted to me that they even have the exact shoe I want plastered all over my laptop screen. My point is not how these advertising tactics are highly effective (which believe me, they are), but how I find it disturbing that companies have the ability to track my every move on their sites and then target me on personal social media sites like Facebook and YouTube. I have always been aware of the insecurities that come along with being online, though it never hit me until now.

sources:

https://blogs.ubc.ca/daphnetse/2014/09/25/tmi/

https://www.google.ca/search?q=online+stalking&client=firefox-a&hs=IWl&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3vBXVLXkFMa0oQTql4LgDQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=696#rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&tbm=isch&q=audience+targeting+ads&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=jhBDpW3RvBQdcM%253A%3BkDzk_myiujCjUM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdmdejavu.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F07%252Faudience-targeting-dreamstime_s_9711375.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdmdejavu.wordpress.com%252F%3B800%3B636

TOMS has not only been notably recognized as a trendy shoe company, but also in the business world as a corporate socially responsible company. As most people are aware TOMS has a One for One® program which Regi describes in her TOMS article, “Building a Business for Making a Better World.” Upon further research I found out that TOMS not only has a program which gives back to poor communities, but that their shoes are made of sustainable and vegan materials such as natural hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester. TOMS has perfectly demonstrated and satisfied all the points of creating shared value. First, they have proven to the rest of the market that being sustainable from creating the shoe box down to the sole can be highly profitable. Second, TOMS thinks heavily about how their future decision can positively impact the less fortunate; this includes generating more ways they can assist communities, prevent slavery and human trafficking, and ensure corporate responsibility standards are upheld. Last of all, TOMS has shown that their unique One for One® program and use of sustainable materials has created an edge for them in the footwear industry. As a former TOMS-enthusiast myself, I admired the company more than the shoes itself. Part of the reason why I fell in love with the company was not only because the slip-ons were comfy yet fashionably acceptable, but because I knew that I was somehow helping another child in the world by indirectly providing them with a new pair of shoes as well. With every purchase, customers are happy knowing that they can look good while doing good.

sources:

http://www.toms.com/corporate-responsibility#corporateResponsibility

https://blogs.ubc.ca/gomm/2014/10/30/building-a-business-for-making-a-better-world/

https://www.google.ca/search?q=toms+corporate+social+responsibility&client=firefox-a&hs=iRb&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=669&bih=674&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=6o9YVLffGOT1igKJxoCYAg&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=EVGIGI72kBOGrM%253A%3BzKJRjb5-Xqx8_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fboringdevelopment.files.wordpress.com%252F2014%252F01%252Ftoms-giving-1-e1389056651682.jpg%253Fw%253D634%2526h%253D421%2526crop%253D1%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fboringdevelopment.com%252Ftag%252Fcsr-gone-bad%252F%3B634%3B421

By now, every person on the street is aware of the growing epidemic of Ebola. People have been on high alert ever since the first few cases of Ebola have sprouted in the United States and it has caused distress in travel stocks. With every new case found in the United States the decrease becomes more and more significant for the travel industry. Companies such as United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Airlines, and Carnival are among the group which have encountered the most substantial drops in their stocks. I feel that these people who are selling their stocks out of irrational fear. The main concern here is that Ebola will cause a decrease in demand for travel companies which could eventually result in a serious capital loss. People may be overreacting due to a similar outbreak in 2002 when SARS erupted and restricted air travel; however Ebola and SARS are two very different sicknesses. Ebola is contracted through bodily fluids and is not airborne meaning it is harder to contract and safe to travel. Investors may be trying to cut their losses by selling their stocks; however the travel industry will inevitably bounce back in the near future because sicknesses are only temporary and regular volumes of travelling will certainly resume. With the Christmas travel season coming up so soon I think the investors are overreacting by selling their shares so soon without seeing the impact it will have on the upcoming holiday season.

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/15/us-usa-airlines-stocks-idUSKCN0I429U20141015

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2014/10/01/stocks-sink-on-ebola-fears-and-mixed-economic-data/

First Nations view stewardship as a responsibility to respect and protect resources in return for using them. First Nations people have a very deep spiritual connection with nature and do not believe in exploiting their values for money. During my time in a BC First Nations Course in grade 12 I learned that First Nations highly value the relationship that they have with nature. Not only is it used to sustain their needs such as food and transportation, but it is a part of who they are as a culture. This is disappointing information for companies such as Enbridge who intend on building their high risk pipeline through traditional territory. I feel like companies such as Enbridge do not understand to a full extent as to how important nature is to them. Quoting Lillian in the article, “Our elders have always said you cannot eat money.” These companies need alter their business models so that it is not so much focused on the money that they can offer to these First Nations groups, but the environmental benefits that this pipeline could potentially offer. If Enbridge cannot come up reasons as to how pipelines, such as the Northern Gateway pipeline, can directly benefit the First Nations then they need to offer an incentive to them. Enbridge should offer their assistance to First Nations groups to help them resolve problems such as helping them create a sustainable way of providing clean drinking water to their communities.

Sources:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nations-water-problems-shameful-1.2759675

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

https://www.google.ca/search?q=northern+gateway+pipeline&client=firefox-a&hs=rx1&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yh0yVLnRII-pogTdyYHwAg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=696#rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&tbm=isch&q=bc+first+nations+and+northern+gateway&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=3tbxZJ9v50JWnM%253A%3B0bX8CjVYlvKPFM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwarriorpublications.files.wordpress.com%252F2013%252F08%252Fyinka-dene-no-pipelines-banner-april-2011.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwarriorpublications.wordpress.com%252F2014%252F04%252F11%252Fb-c-first-nation-along-pipeline-route-officially-rejects-northern-gateway-plan%252F%3B720%3B540

For some time now I have been on the look-out for a new phone to replace the unreliable one that I still, unfortunately, own. As new smartphones are being rapidly released I am shocked by the new innovative features and specs that set each phone apart from one another. However, I am even more blown-away by the price tags that come along them. This all ties into a conversation I had with a friend a few weeks back. He had recently come across a new smartphone company called ONEPLUS whose smartphones range from $299 to $349. He started explaining how ONEPLUS launched their phone on an invite-only system. As I did my research on the company it reminded of Tesla’s direct sales approach. ONEPLUS, much like Tesla, does not have advertisements or contracts with phone service providers. At first glance it seems suicidal that this company is trying to make a name for themselves in the smartphone market, which is already over packed with existing companies, through a direct sales approach. However, this company has really let their product do the talking. On almost every smartphone/gadget blog that I have visited every single one of them have been raving about the phone and comparing it to phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 (whose price is double the ONEPLUS ONE). I think ONEPLUS has done an exceptional job in exciting both the smartphone junkies and the average smartphone users and I am excited to see the company has to offer next.

Sources:

http://oneplus.net/one

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/snapdragon/2014/05/16/qa-pete-lau-oneplus-launch-one

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnePlus#cite_note-7

https://www.google.ca/search?q=oneplus+one&client=firefox-a&hs=RWg&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1366&bih=696&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=IxIyVM6uCYjpigKbp4CYCg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=MgxnDGVo2crooM%253A%3BQUaXLk3OBHGe1M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.engadget.com%252Fimg%252Fproducts%252F508%252Fawce%252Fawce-800.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.engadget.com%252Fproducts%252Foneplus%252Fone%252F%3B800%3B600

In recent years, I have noticed that every couple months I’ll hear on the news another recall of some big brand name car. Recently, General Motors has been under fire for their Chevrolet Cobalt which was suffering from numerous faults including unexpected stalling, unresponsive airbags, and loss of power-assisted brakes. This makes me wonder, how was GM not aware of these life-endangering flaws? Turns out, the company was fully aware of their defective cars. In fact, they have known the root cause of these problems for a decade now. Which begs the question, why are cars being recalled almost 10 years later? GM’s reason for their lack of initiative to fix these problems during production was simple. They did it to save money. However, the money they saved was not worth the lives of 13 people who died due to GM’s ignorance. In my opinion, I felt that General Motors thought if they kept pushing back the agenda of fixing their faulty cars the problems would eventually disappear. I don’t think they had anticipated for lives to be lost due to their unethical way of thinking nor were they prepared for the financial backlash as a result of their poorly made decisions. In the end, their plan on cutting corners to save some money ended up costing them over 2.5 billion dollars just on recalling their cars. It is alarming to know that companies are willing to sell their unreliable products to consumers while withholding crucial information just to make a profit.

sources:

http://money.cnn.com/infographic/pf/autos/gm-recall-timeline/

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-auto-regulator-may-have-ignored-deadly-problems-in-recalled-gm-cars-expert-says-2014-3

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140705/OEM11/307079958/just-how-much-will-recall-storm-cost-gm

While many of us may assume that child labour has long been exterminated in North America that, unfortunately, is not the case. In the US, tobacco farming has been using children as their main source of labour for generations. Children are working long hours in tobacco fields where conditions are hazardous to their health due to the lack of laws in place to protect them. When parents and employers of the children are questioned as to why they feel child labour is acceptable their reasons are that they themselves were raised on a tobacco farm as a child as well and that their households are struggling financially. It is alarming that parents’ and employers’ visions have been clouded with tradition to push for their children to work in such harmful environments. That reason alone amplifies the dire need to have laws put in place to protect a part of the population that can’t stand up for themselves. However, it has been disappointing to see the US’s inadequate involvement and effort that is being put into helping protect the adolescent. In 2012, the Labor Department withdrew their proposal to regulate child labour in the agricultural industry due to politics. This has once again left children vulnerable in the most dangerous field of work for their age group.

The following video interviews children about their working conditions on the tobacco farms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-8TBceaO5Q