Free College Essays - Self-Revelation in Their Eyes Were Watching God :: free essay writer

Their Eyes Were Watching God   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Self-Revelation    Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, is a novel about one woman’s self-revelation. It began when this woman was a very young girl. At first she was being pushed, then she was being chosen, and finally, she was able to choose. Born a victim of circumstance, Janie, the main character, was subject to her position in life. She was raised to uphold the standards of the early African-American generation. From the beginning, she was taught to be passive and subject to whatever life gave her. As she grew older, she began to realize that she must give in to her desires and not suppress them. Janie was set up for her journey of self-discovery by her grandmother. Nanny set a goal for Janie’s life by saying, â€Å"Ah wanted you to look upon yo’ self. Ah don’t want yo’ feathers always crumpled by folks throwin’ up things in yo’ face.† ***SITE THIS?*** Janie’s grandmother pushed Janie into a marriage, which she considered a â€Å"safe† place for Janie. Though hesitant, Janie agreed to marry Logan Killicks. He was a farmer who married Janie shortly after she completed school. Killicks   was the first antagonist that Janie encountered in the story. He was there for one purpose, to destroy Janie’s new sense of self-awarenes. Logan demanded things of Janie that she did not wish to do and tried to push her into his mold of a perfect wife. Janie did not love Logan, nor did he love her. She did not   know what she wanted, but she was sure   that she did not want Logan Killicks. Joe Starks appeared in Janie’s yard one afternoon. He said the sweet things that Janie wanted to hear. Though Janie hardly knew the man, being young and gullible, she was taken by his words. She took another step in her journey, leaving Logan the next day and travelling to Eatonville with Joe Starks. Aspiring to be the mayor of Eatonville, Joe Starks was a man concerned with little except power. He wanted it, and he was going to use Janie to get it. She wore nice dresses during this marriage because Joe wanted her to stand out from the rest of the town. He used her as an icon of his prosperity and power. He was cruel to Janie and stomped out all of her free will.

Just in Time Concept

Financial AccountingS. Das Income Measurement and Accrual Accounting Recognition and Measurement in Financial Statements DEFINITIONS Revenues:inflows of assets or reductions in liabilities from selling goods and services Expenses:outflows of assets or increases in liabilities used up in generating revenues. Recognitionformal recording of an item in financial statements, in words and numbers Measurementquantify the effects of economic events numbers unit is money – dollars historical cost – recorded for simplicity, verifiability, reliability Current cost-relevant but less reliableOnly an estimate until item is sold Net income= Revenues-Expenses. Incomeamount of resources available for consumption at the end of a period and yet be as well off as it was at the beginning of the period. CASH BASIS Versus ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING So if we DEFINE PERIOD to be lifetime of a firm (which can only be defined for a firm with a finite life) then we are only interested in the earnings of a firm over its lifetime. In that case: a. just wait until the firm dissolves. b. Add up all the cash inflows over its lifetime other than those for sale of own stock. c.Add up the cash outflows over its lifetime other those for stock repurchase or dividends. d. Find the difference between cash inflows and outflows and YOU HAVE NET INCOME. e. THE ABOVE IS ALWAYS TRUE. However, if you DEFINE PERIOD TO BE ANY INTERVAL SMALLER THAN THE LIFE TIME when you wish to get information on earnings as intermediate feedback, then there is the following problem: -transactions may not be complete on a cash to cash basis – because the earnings process is continuous – Period1buy inventory for $5 Period2pay for inventory Period3sell and deliver inventory for $15Period4receive payment from customer. KEY QuestionWhen should revenues and expenses be recognized? One possibility is the cash basis recognize revenues at time of receiving cash and recognize expenses at the time of paying cash. E xample: A toy retailer starts business on January 1, 2000. The retailer Mr. XYZ pays two months rent in advance on his store for $2000. He also purchases and pays for toys worth $35,000. However, during the month of January, he sold no toys. During February, he sells all the toys he has for $45,000 but collects only $5000 of that in cash.He expects the neighborhood children to pay the remaining $40000 in March. JanFebruary Revenues—————– Less: Expenses Cost of toys—————– Rent—————- Total Expense—————- Income—————– Limitations of Cash basis 1. expenses are not aligned in time with the revenue that they produce. 2. recognition of revenue is unduly postponed. A Second possibility is the use of Accrual basis – depends upon when some critical event occurs. What happens to income (accrual basis) using same example? JanFebruary Revenues—————– Less: Expenses Cost of toys—————–Rent—————- Total Expense—————- Income—————– Comparing the Cash And Accrual Bases of Accounting -Basic difference one of timing Recognize Revenue whenRecognize Expense when Cash Basis cash is received cash is paid Accrual Basisrevenue is earned it is incurred Exhibit 4-2 transparency Accrualmatching of expenses with the corresponding revenues OR match resources used (expired assets- expenses)to generate revenue. The accrual concept forces accountants and managers to focus on changes in owner’s equity rather than merely reporting changes to the cash or other assets.The realization concept underlies the decision rules that accountants use in determining when revenues should be recognized and expenses matched to them. The Revenue Recognition Principle Revenue:Increase in Asset Or Decrease in Liability from Delivery of Goods Or Services Realized:Goods Or Services Exchanged for Cash Or Promise of Cash . Earned:Revenue earned when realization is complete or no significant obligations left How are Revenues recorded? †¢At the same time as cash is collected. †¢Before the time cash is collected. †¢After the time cash is collected. Possible Interpretations of Recognition Principle:Percentage of Completion:For long term projects, revenue recognized as stages are completed, based upon proportion of total cost incurred, Franchises: Initial fee recognized as revenue only FAS 45 â€Å"substantial performance† of its obligations B&J 32 Production MethodCommodities – Traded at established price; so revenue recognized when they are produced. Installment Method:opposite of production method: no reasonable basis to estimate collectability, so revenue on sale recognized as cash is collected Continuously:such as rent and interestThe criteria used in accounting to decide the recognition of revenues is : †¢A firms has performed all, or a substantial portion, of the services it expects to provide. †¢The firm has received cash, a receivable, or some other asset whose cash equivalent it can objectively measure. Expense Recognition and the Matching Principle The matching concept relates revenues and expenses so that owner’s equity is neither overstated nor understated at any points in the steam of events that constitutes operations. Expensewhen an Asset Has No Future Benefit i. e. It Is Used Up [Or] a Liability Is Incurred.Matching:Associate Revenues with Costs (expenses) Necessary to Generate them UnexpiredSometimes not done with specific items of product sold, but with period in Assets which they were sold eg. sales clerks' salaries are expensed in the period in which employees worked. Expired Some things never go through asset stage, since benefit is seen to expire as soon Assets as costs expended (purchased) = Period Costs; eg. utilities costs, telephone, fuel for vehicles (not asset) Two examples: 1. Expired asset versus 2. Expensing of benefits/ resources that never went through asset stage.A. Depreciation Expense estimated useful life and eventual salvage or resale value Manipulation to increase or decrease income Salvage deducted before calculating periodic expense because it is expected to be recovered and will remain an asset. B. Research ; DevelopmentDell Computer in its 1995 Annual Report list â€Å"Research, development and engineering† of $65,361,00 as operating expense on Income Statement. – an expense is an asset whose usefulness to the company is complete – it is deemed that R;D has no future benefit left hence out right expense without going through asset stage.For an accrual based company, Statement of Cash Flows provides information on Sources and Uses of Cash. Accrual basis necessary because we divide the earning of income, a process that takes place over a period of time, into artificial segments (reporting periods). Example: In the 1995, Income Statement Maytag Corporation had a net loss of $20,476,000. Their Statement of Cash Flows showed an increase in cash equivalents of $30,811,000. Cash provided by operating activities was $319,979,000. How can a company with a net loss have a gain in cash?This is possible if expenses exceeded revenues since Income statement is on accrual basis. It contains revenue amounts that may not have been realized in cash (still in accounts receivable) and expenses that may not have been paid for such as depreciation, and unpaid purchases. Also look for income from continuing operations versus loss due to extraordinary items and disposal of existing business. (As was the case in Maytag 1995) Accrual Accounting and Adjusting Entries: at end of period – Four Types: 1. Deferred Expense: Cash Paid before Expense Is In curredAsset created; as asset expires it becomes an expense, via adjusting entry Entry DuringAsset End of Expense period Cash period Asset eg. * prepaid rent becomes rent expense, a month at a time * Depreciation allocates cost of asset over its useful life – does not measure decline in value ? Based on estimates of salvage value and life of asset ?Periodic expense= [actual cost – est. salvage value]/estimated life ? debit is depreciation expense ?credit is not to asset account, which will always reflect cost, ? but to accumulated depreciation- contra account that is, an asset account with a credit balance 2. Deferred RevenueCash Received before Revenue Is Earned Liability Created Because Goods Or Services Still Owed EntryDuringCashEnd of Liability period Liability period Revenue ?Eg. unearned â€Å"the other company† from deferred expense entries ? for example, The landlord who received the prepaid rent has a deferred revenue ? liability is reduced, revenue inc reased, as time passes ?magazine subscriptions received in advance, earned as magazines mailed 3. Accrued LiabilityExpense incurred before Cash Is PaidOpposite of deferred expense EntryDuring-End of Expense period- period Liability Eg. taxes, payroll, utilities; interest for short term loan paid at maturity with principal 4. Accrued AssetRevenue Earned before Cash Is Received Opposite of deferred revenue EntryDuring-End of Asset period-periodRevenue ?both rent and interest are earned as time goes by, regardless of when cash received ? need adjusting entry if payment is not received. Exhibit 4-5 (text pp. 165) Example: P4-2 REVISITING THE ACCOUNTING CYCLE Steps taken to collect the necessary information to prepare financial statements (Exhibit 4-8) . Collect and Analyze 2. Journalize Events 3. Post to Ledger Accounts(Results in Unadjusted Trial Balance) 4. Journalize and Post adjustments(Results in Adjusted Trial Balance) 5. Prepare Financial Statements 6. Journalize and Post Closing Entries(Results in Post-Closing Trial Balance) 7. Post Closing Trial Balance 8. Optional: Reversing Entries The Closing Process: Two types of accounts:Balance Sheet= real accounts = permanent Income Statement= nominal accounts = temporary (Includes Dividend account) Purpose of closing entries:-Close temporary accounts -transfer net income (loss) to retained earningsProcess of closing: Debit Each Revenue Account: Sum Up a Single Credit to Income Summary. Credit Each Expense Account, Sum Up a Single Debit to Income Summary. Debit Income Summary If It Has a Credit Balance (Company Had Net Income) ORCredit Income Summary If It Has a Debit Balance (Company Had Net Loss) Credit Dividend Account, Debit Retained Earnings Exhibit 4-9 (text pp. 171) Example 1:E4-23. Ben ; Jerry’s Example 2:Let us look at McDonald’s Corporation’s 1998 Statement of Income shown on Page 139 of your text. Notea. Retained Earnings at the beginning and end of 1998 were $12,569 and $13,879. mil lion respectively. b. Total dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders were $239. 5 Use the numbers from the Income Statement to Reconstruct the relevant account balances. Then Close them to Income Summary and from there to Retained Earnings. EXAMPLE P4-10 Post-closing Trial Balance will only contain Balance Sheet accounts.When is a sale a sale? In an article concerning troubled MiniScribe Corporation (The Wall Street Journal September 12, 1989 – MiniScribe’s Investigators Determine That â€Å"Massive Fraud Was Perpetrated†. ) it was stated that â€Å" †¦ he company dramatically increased shipments to three warehouses, booking $56. 4 in sales and gross profit of $5. 4 million. † (Note that the warehouses being shipped to belonged to MiniScribe) The volume of shipments only called attention to the problem – it was not the problem. Problem is it is not Customer’s warehouse but MiniScribe’s – shipping goods to ones? own warehouse is not a sale – but a relocation of inventory – must be an arm’s length transaction.This was one among many violations – MiniScribe was also shipping bricks to an fictitious company, and recording them as sales revenue. 1. Claiming Tomorrow’s Profits Today, Forbes, October 17, 1988, p 78. Case 4-1:Ben ; Jerry’s Revenue Recognition – Initial Franchise Fee Footnote on 147 of text. FASB SFAS 45 allows franchisor to recognize initial franchise fee as revenue only when â€Å"substantial performance† of its obligations and when collection of the fee is reasonably assured. Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes franchise fee as †¦.. when services required by the franchise agreement have been substantially performed†¦. 1. Consistent with SFAS 45.The footnote refers to certain mandatory services that the company promises to perform for the new stores. Performance of these services is the basis for recognizin g the fee as revenue. Note that the footnote specifically uses the wording substantially performed. 2. The company recognizes the franchise fees as revenue in proportion to the stores for which the required services have been substantially performed. 3. Franchise fees are not large relative to net sales in any of the years. Franchise fees are less than 0. 4% of net sales in each of the three years. Unearned Revenue: Realizability Vs.Earned criteria – realized BUT has it been earned?. 1. Case 4-2:Gateway- Revenue Recognition Refer to page 30 of Gateway’s Annual Report, under â€Å"Summary of Significant Accounting Policies† 1. Gateway recognizes revenue from product sales when products are shipped. Revenue from separately priced extended warranty programs is deferred and recognized over the extended warranty period. 2. â€Å"Extended warranty programs† are contracts to service products for a period beyond the original warranty. These contracts are purchase d for an additional amount above the product purchase price. . The revenue from the extended warranties is recognized over the warranty period because it is earned over the entire period, as coverage is provided. 2. Case 4-3: Sears, Roebuck, ; Company – Revenue from Service Contracts. 1. Under the accrual basis, revenue should be recognized when it is earned, rather than when cash is received. Since the retailer incurs costs to repair damages over the life of the service contract, the revenue from the contract is also earned over the life of the contract. 2. Revenue to be recognized each year: Year 1 Year 2Year 3Sales Revenue Service Contract Total revenue Typically, for service contract you receive cash or payment, for future services, that creates a liability. Thus one has an unearned revenue account. In this particular example, the liability account would contain XXX at the end of year 1 and XX at the end of year 2 reported under current liability as unearned revenue on th e balance sheet. Sears, Roebuck, ; Company 1998 Annual Report Footnotes to Revenue Recognition The Company sells extended service contracts with terms of coverage between 12 and 36 months.Revenue and incremental direct acquisition costs from the sale of these contracts are deferred and amortized over the lives of the contracts. Costs related to servicing the contracts are expensed as incurred. 3. American Airlines: 1996 total revenues of $17,753 million. Balance sheet reported ? Air traffic Liability? of $1,889 million. – unearned revenue (~~11%) from ticket sales. -when retired – Retired when ticket holders are provided transportation. -Refundability a factor -What if carrier cannot provide service due to strike or storm. -When is revenue earned ? – when ticket is bought when passenger boards – when plane takes off – when the round trip is complete. AMERICAN AIRLINES 1998 Annual Report (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) (Note 1) PASSENGE R REVENUES Passenger ticket sales are initially recorded as a component of air traffic liability. Revenue derived from ticket sales is recognized at the time transportation is provided. However, due to various factors, including the complex pricing structure and interline agreements throughout the industry, certain amounts are recognized in revenue using estimates regarding both the timing and the amount of revenue to be ecognized. Actual results could differ from those estimates.In 1998, American showed revenues of $17,449 million and recorded â€Å"Air traffic liability† of $2,163 million on its Balance Sheet. Time Warner Inc. According to Annual Report they publish 26 different magazines. At end of 19985 unearned subscription revenue was $741 million. -included in their is your paid subscription to Time for issues that you have yet to receive. -magazines are sold at different rates depending on how you subscribed and for how long. – how to keep track of when earned. when does the earnings process complete When subscription received – if main source of revenue is advertising. When production is complete and delivery is made. A combination of these two. Note that Time does not have difficulty to keep track since subscription price variations and customer records are all kept by computers – closely monitor the process from payment to through unearned revenue to delivery and revenue earned. Time Warner Inc. 1998 Annual Report (Note 1) The unearned portion of paid subscriptions is deferred until magazines are delivered to subscribers.Upon each delivery, a proportionate share of the gross subscription is included in revenues. E 4-81. AugustCash Subscriptions Received in advance (Unearned Revenue) To record collection of 900 subscriptions Assets =Liabilities+ Owner’s Equity 2. August 31. Unearned revenue Subscription revenue To record subscriptions earned during August. Assets=Liabilities+Owner’s Equity 3. Net income for t he month of August would be under stated / overstated by XXX if the accountant forgot to make the entry to recognize revenue earned. (Self Note: Also see Magazine Subscription case) E 4 -9

Phantom Limb Syndrome - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 903 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/09/11 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? Phantom Limb Syndrome Phantom limb syndrome was first described by Ambroise Pare in 1552. Pare, a French surgeon. Pare noticed this phenomenon in soldiers who felt pain in their amputated limbs. Then in 1871, Mitchell coined the term phantom limb. Phantom limb syndrome is the illusion sensation that a limb still exists after it is lost through an accident or amputation. The causes of phantom limb syndrome is that although the limb is no longer there, the nerve at the site of the amputation continue to send pain signals to the brain thinking the limb is still there. Phantom limb syndrome occurs only in amputees, phantom sensations may also be perceived in people who have survived a stroke and lost function of certain body parts and people who have had a spinal cord injury. However, there are three different descriptions of phantom limb syndrome: phantom limb pain, stump pain, and phantom limb sensations. 1. Phantom limb pain is described as a pain that one feels as if it’s occurring in the amputated limb. 2. Stump pain is a discomfort at the surgery site. 3. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Phantom Limb Syndrome" essay for you Create order Phantom limb sensation is the feeling that the person feels thinking that the missing body part is still there. Medical doctors believe that the pain affects only those who have had a limb amputated. Even though there are some individuals who are born without a limb also experience phantom pain. However, this pain is more common among those who have had a limb surgically removed. As I indicated above, phantom pain can also be experience among people who have had stroke or are paralysis; the pain may appear in an area of the body where there is no feeling. In addition to pain the symptoms of phantom limb that some people experience are sensations such as tingling, cramping, heat, and cold in the portion of the limb that was removed. The area where the limb as been amputated is mild to extreme pain; Phantom limb sensations usually will disappear or increase over time, but when phantom limb pain continues for more than six months, the prognosis for improvement is poor. The onset pain after amputation usually occurs within days or weeks, although it may delay months, or maybe even years. People may feel a variety of sensations from the absent limb; although the limb may feel completely intact regardless of its absence. According to researchers, phantom pain was a psychological thing, and not a physical problem of a person. This was long before modern diagnostic tests existed. They believe that a person begin to feel phantom pain before amputation and is most likely to experience phantom pain even after amputation. The occurrence of phantom limb pain is probable in 50–80% of all amputees. Phantom limb feeling is more common and occurs in all amputees at some point. There is no known connection with age, gender, or which limb is amputated. Studies have shown a decreased numbers of phantom limb syndrome in those who are born without limbs opposed to actual amputees. Phantom limb syndrome is thought to be secondary to the brain, although phantom pain is presumably a result of a response to amputation injury. Phantom limb pain may occur in non amputees with spinal cord damage causing loss of sensation. The brain is responsible for processing the sensations from the missing limb. The treatment for phantom limb is usually determined based on the person’s level of pain, and multiple treatments include relaxation techniques, massage of the amputation area, surgery to remove scar tissue entangling a nerve, physical therapy, medications, including pain relievers, antidepressants, etc. Unfortunately, phantom limb pain is generable intractable and chronic; once it develops it is rarely improved by present medical treatments. Destructive surgical procedures are also of limited use. Because they can be effective for a few months, but the pain always returns, and frequently worsens. The exact cause of phantom limb syndrome is unknown. Presumably, the sensations are due to the brains attempt to reorganize sensory information following the amputation. The brain must essentially rewire itself to adjust to the body change. Phantom limb pain is considered to be one of the most interested and difficult clinical pain syndromes. Phantom limb syndrome is not always described as painful; however the sensation of the missing limb after amputation is particularly common after surgery. Treatments for individuals with phantom limb pain are few. The treatment may involve the participation of neurologists, pain specialists, physical therapists, neurosurgeons, or rehabilitation specialists. Treatment for phantom limb pain involves the use of medications, nonmedical, electrical, and surgical therapy. For example, to treat the pain, neurologists and pain specialists may prescribe pain medications. To help facilitate and maintain mobility, the physical therapists would give special exercises as well as massages. The neurosurgeons may perform surgery to place electrical nerve stimulators in the spinal cord to help treat the pain. There is no best treatment to cure the symptoms. However, medications such as muscle relaxants, and antidepressants may be tried to ease the pain. Even the use of electrical nerve stimulation, or ultrasound, and acupuncture may be used in helping to reduce pain. Phantom limb pain may lead to the feelings of depression or anxiety. It may lead to death or self-harm. The individual may require psychological help or treatment by a psychiatrist. These those who experience phantom limb syndrome should get involve in social activities or get into support groups to help them relief depression.

The Cyclist Poetry Commentary - 1329 Words

â€Å"The Cyclist† poetry commentary â€Å"The Cyclist† is a poem by Louis MacNeice which romanticizes the fleeting joys of childhood. These joys are emphasised through imagery of summer – be it activities, food, the beach, a bicycle ride, various techniques such as juxtaposition and enjambment are used to evoke fond memories from the reader. MacNeice’s poem is set in the southwest of England, on a hill with a chalk horse carved into it. It is during the height of summer, when the grasshoppers are buzzing and the children are playing outside. The character is a boy or a group of boys, and they are riding bicycles down a hill near to the chalk horse. The structure of the poem is quite disjointed, with only five sentences throughout three stanzas.†¦show more content†¦The wonderfully poetic language assists in the seamless transition from meadow to ocean: the rolling grass hills are likened the boiling waves (heated by the sun), and the pebbles are compared with crabs, scuttering away to escape the bike’s wheel. The â€Å"boys riding their heat-wave† creates a picture of a surfer, â€Å"feet on a narrow plank and hair thrown back†. The narrow plank createsShow MoreRelatedDocumentary Films Have Played an Important Part in Determining the Way We Construct History and Memory. in What Ways D o Documentary Films Dealing with the Holocaust Determine Contemporary Understandings of That Historical Event?2956 Words   |  12 Pagesserved not only to speak their ‘truth of the atrocities but also to document changing paradigms of social thought concerning Holocaust ‘truth. Holocaust History and its documentation: Theodor Adornos famous 1949 injunction that ‘to write poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric is indicative of the initial approaches of documentary to the subject matter. The first documentary footage of the Holocaust was shot as Allied troops entered the camps of Bergen-Belsen and Dachau, but this footage

Essay about Colon and Rectum Cancer - 1630 Words

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 100,000 men and women living in the United States will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013. Statistically, cancers of the colon and rectum are often combined and referred to as colorectal cancer. This addition brings the total to over 140,000 affected individuals with over 50,000 of these diagnoses resulting in death (American cancer society, 2013). Globally, the impact of this disease reached over one million people in 2008 with over 600,000 deaths attributed to colorectal cancer (Dusek, Maluskova, Musik, 2013). Colon cancer is preventable with a healthy diet, exercise, and curable with regular bowel exams. However, signs and symptoms of colon cancer usually do not present until the†¦show more content†¦When these cells become neoplastic they begin to grow into the layers of the colon and beyond as well. This event facilitates contact with capillaries and lymph vessels and cancer cells can then break off and migrate throug h the entire body (McCartney Oberleitner, 2011). The risk of cancer increases with age, and colon cancer is included in this factor with 62 being the most common age at diagnosis (McCartney Oberleitner, 2011). Repeated exposure to carcinogens over time can cause mutations in DNA, especially in highly mitotic epithelial cells, resulting in cancerous growths. An immune response in a young and healthy body would destroy the early formation of cancer cells. Unfortunately, individuals of advanced age suffer a decrease in the capabilities of the immune system. This puts them at a higher risk of dysplastic cells multiplying in the colon. Genetics may induce the coding of certain genes within cells to undergo spontaneous mutations. (Labianca, Nordlinger, Beretta, Brouquet, Cervantes, 2010). This factor produces the cluster of colon cancers seen in families. The risk of an individual getting cancer of the colon increases when immediate family members have received a diagnosis in the past. The rate of occurrence decreases when isolated extended family members develop the disease. However, if several people in one family group such as cousins, aunts and grandparents are diagnosed, the risk for the rest of the members of thatShow MoreRelatedColorectal Cancer And Its Effects On The Digestive System853 Words   |  4 PagesColorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer mainly starts at colon or the rectum. They are common in most of the way like features, but they have different treatment. What is the different between colon cancer and rectum cancer? Colon cancer happens first four to five feet of the large intestine and rectal cancer happens in the last few inches of the large intestine where it is connected to anus. Digestive system in our body Colon and rectum are both located in the digestive system. 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Colon cancer is a potentially, abnormal growth of the colon, a long muscular tube that is a part of pupr digestive system.† Scientist found the earliest person who got cancer who used to lived in the Dakhleh Oasis, which is a country of egypt, during the Ptolemaic period. Colon is an important part of our gastrointestinal tract, which include mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus. These organs connect togetherRead MoreEveryone Knows Cancer Is The Second Leading Killer In The972 Words   |  4 PagesEveryone knows cancer is the second leading killer in the United States. As people, we try our best to adapt when we hear a loved one has cancer. The question, â€Å"Why?† or â€Å"How?† always seems to come across our minds when hearing the diagnosis. Learning these common causes and risk factors may reduc e a person’s chances in getting cancer. 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Marketing Communication Branding and Strategy

Question: Discuss about the Marketing Communicationfor Branding and Strategy. Answer: A set of mechanisms utilized for coordination of the promotional messages which are being delivered or conveyed through one or mediums such as print media, radio, television, direct and personal selling. In simple terms it is a communication process in which the marketers are the senders and the consumers are the receivers and the communication process done by the marketer for creating awareness about the offerings is known as marketing communication. The concept is of very much significant for each and every communication and also for its operational efficiency (Rzemieniak, 2017). The concept is simple aids in ensuring all forms of communications and the conveyed messages are linked whilst ensuring the efforts made by each stakeholder which are aligned as per the changing marketing trends. The below presented report has been focused on the branding and strategy and marketing communication for food industry. Further brand analysis will be carried out on Dominos which is an American m ultinational brand of pizza restaurants and Burger Urge which is a local Australian brand and which is Brisbane based Gourmet Burger chain. The below presented is the brief information about the two selected brands for food industry:- Dominos which is an American multinational and well established brand name in the fast-food sector and is one of the leading brands in the Pizza restaurant chain, the company was a private owned entity before 2004 and after that the company went public and is now traded in New York Stock Exchange. It has its headquarters in at the Domino Farms Office Park Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan, United States, near Ann Arbor, Michigan.The company was founded by brothers Tom and James Monaghan when they purchased a pizza store named Dominicks located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and at that stage they started the business as one-store operations. In 1965, the company was renamed Dominos Pizza (Alden and Nariswari, 2017). The brand offers a diversified range of pizza; the chain also offers other dishes such as pasta, over baked sandwiches, deserts, fried chicken, side dishes and beverages etc. Burger Urge is a private owned entity which has successfully completed its 10 years of completion since their first restaurant. The company is theBrisbanes original gourmet burger kings and for future they are establishing and planning to build a great share in the Australian casual dining sector. From a slow and steady start he Carthew brothers have built Burger Urge into a business with a staff of 240, an annual turnover of $20 million and 11 employees in headquarters, The brand offers a delicious and healthy range of burgers, salads, milkshakes and other beverages, Target Markets As both the companies operate their business activities in the same sector, so the targeted consumers are almost same. Both the organizations are into offering best quality of fast food which provides a great level of satisfaction to the consumers of each and every group (Aaker, 2012). The biggest similarity in both the companies is that both have a diversified range of health and delicious and affordable range of products which can be consumed by each and every group For instance, Dominos pizza and the other offerings of the brand can be enjoyed by individuals from a teen-ager to an adult or an aged one. The products are affordable as they are with an economic range and can be purchased by any individual. Same is with the Burger Urge; the company also offers varied range of healthy burgers and many more offerings at an economical range. There is only one big difference in the target market of both the brands i.e. Dominos is a multinational brand and so it enjoys customers on a globe level, whereas the Burger Urge is a local brand name in Australia and has a limited share of targeted market. Brand Positioning Strategy: It refers to the target consumer which helps in improving the sale of the company and by that name of brand also increases (Janiszewska and Insch, 2012). It provides succour in attaining aims and objectives. Brand positioning of Dominos is divided into three levels which help in maintaining brand image in the market place. Three levels are desirable benefit, product attributes, beliefs or values. They deliver the fresh Pizza to their consumers. The product attribute of Dominos which makes it product unique among its competitors and on the basis of that they are having their own large number of stores which helps in maintaining high quality of standard of Pizza. The next desirable benefits are they are providing the Pizza to their consumers within 30minutes. Brand positioning of Dominos is versatile and it provides the guarantee that they are selling high quality fresh Pizza which is delivered on time with creates a brand image in the market. On the other side, Burger urge is also pro viding better quality products but in taste the product of this company is different. From their competitors they are trying to provide better merchandise. Along with this they are doing short term promotions and selling product by using the price as a comparison point. For attaining the market position, both the business entities can do competitor analysis or competitor positioning analysis. Elements of brand identity of Dominos Pizza are that this company having a logo and it consists of red and blue color (Aaker and Biel, 2013). Along with this logo of the business entity includes the tagline Oh, yes we did. These components together form a strong brand identity of the business organization. This concept also provides a support to the positioning strategies as the all the components together make the goods more presentable and which develops more attraction of the consumers. The brand identity thus supports the positioning strategies an also decreases the efforts of the marketing team. On the other side, Burger Urge making fast food fabulous and also doing proper designed to delight. Along with this the scalable solutions are provided so that they can attain goals and objectives. The elements of brand entity create a sense of awareness and also provide a detailed knowledge of the product. This aids marketing team in putting fewer efforts to promote the goods and servic es. Brand Equity: Dominos Pizza are the second largest pizza selling company in the world and also having the domestic and international franchisees as they are having a large amount of investments. Along with this they are putting efforts by executing proper and appropriate advertising. In the United States, Dominos is the number one pizza delivery business entity. For doing the delivery, they cover the major areas and these are the elements which help in maintaining the brand equity in the marketplace. On the other hand, Burger urge offering additional lunch meals and also some beverages options which helps in leveraging the strength of company (Wheeler, 2013). Along with this they are offering best and qualitative products at a reasonable price to the consumers so as to enhance the brand equity of the company. Brand equity leveraging is done for capturing the new revenue streams. There are various types of brand equity leveraging which are mentioned as follows: Brand extension is the concept in which the organization uses the brand name of tan existing product which is already brand extension and also the established. This builds a new market for the new product for which the company is doing brand extension. This approach also have negative results is the extension is done too far then there will be loss of credibility. Line extension refers to the expansion of a product line. For instance by adding more ingredients and toppings in a specific pizza Dominos can develop line extension. This concept adds variety to the existing products. Touch Points of Target Markets Dominos the teenagers be considered as the target market. On the basis of a survey carried out it has been observed that this is the segment which is on the top in the list of consumption. The individuals from this group have habits of outside eating habits, so it is of very much ease to approach the consumers from this segment. The company can easily target them by developing attracting promotional events and contests, as the teenagers are very much interested in taking part in contests (Shimp. and Andrews, 2012). Moreover the entity should make use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter etc. as the teenagers are from the top users of internet and social media. Also the company should provide fascinating price schemes to attract them. While in case of Burger Urge target market is at very much limited scale a company operates the business activities at local scale. So the entity will have to target the locales but then also need to target the consumers as this is the group which utilizes the products of the company at the largest scale. Here, the firm can make use of social media but should use it at local means. Also local means of promotional tools should be used, such as ads in sports and fashion magazines, pamphlets, high hoardings. The reasonable pricing strategies can be a touch point of the consumers. As per the above analysis the price is the best touch point for the targeted segment for both the companies (Solomon,. 2014). By adapting economy pricing strategy both the companies can easily attain more and more consumers from the targeted segment. Keeping a moderate price of the products and this can be done by both the entities by making reduction in the promotional and production costs. This will help both the organizations to attract more and more consumers. Buying Path of Consumers The concept is a very much complicated process and has been segmented in 5 stages which are as follows:- This is the first most steps in the decision path. A decision to buy anything cannot be made without the recognition of the need (Jones. 2014). The need can be recognized by the internal stimuli such as thirst or hunger and external stimuli i.e. ads and promotions. Now after recognition the consumer will carry out a research over the recognition of the need an will try to reach at a solution. In this search the consumer will make efforts to search internal and external environments (Goldsmith, 2016). The next step in the decision path is that the consumer will make extra efforts to find for alternatives which can be more economical and relevant. Alternative can be considered as the factor which is capable of influencing the decision making process of consumer. Purchase decision is the stage at which the consumer finally makes the decision of buying is made and the product is bought for utilization. The next step is post purchase behavior, in which the consumer makes a comparison of the product with his previous expectations (Nazir and et al, 2012). This has to be considered one of the most critical stage as it has the greatest effect on the decision making of the consumer for the future. If the features of the products are not as per the expectations then it can make a change in the decision making process. Conclusion From the above carried out analysis it can be inferred that branding an developing plans an strategies are the top vital tasks for establishing the product in a market. The analysis has been carried out on the products of Dominos which is an international brand and Burger Urge which is a local brand. Further target markets for both the organizations have been analyzed and also differences have also been mentioned. References Rzemieniak, M., 2017. Marketing communication problemsA case study of agricultural exhibitions. Alden, D.L. and Nariswari, A., 2017. Brand Positioning Strategies During Global Expansion: Managerial Perspectives from Emerging Market Firms. InThe Customer is NOT Always Right? Marketing Orientationsin a Dynamic Business World(pp. 527-530). Springer, Cham. Aaker, D.A., 2012.Building strong brands. Simon and Schuster. Janiszewska, K. and Insch, A., 2012. The strategic importance of brand positioning in the place brand concept: elements, structure and application capabilities.Journal of International Studies Vol,5(1). Aaker, D.A. and Biel, A., 2013.Brand equity advertising: advertising's role in building strong brands. Psychology Press. Wheeler, A., 2013.Designing brand identity(Vol. 3, pp. 1-40). John Wiley Sons, Inc.. Saravanakumar, M. and SuganthaLakshmi, T., 2012. Social media marketing.Life Science Journal,9(4), pp.4444-4451. Shimp, T.A. and Andrews, J.C., 2012.Advertising promotion and other aspects of integrated marketing communications. Cengage Learning. Solomon, M.R., 2014.Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being(Vol. 10). Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Goldsmith, E.B., 2016.Consumer economics: Issues and behaviors. Routledge. Nazir, S., Tayyab, A., Sajid, A., Rashid, H.U. and Javed, I., 2012. How online shopping is affecting consumers buying behavior in Pakistan.International Journal of Computer Science Issues,9(3), pp.486-495. Jones, s, 2014, The six stages of buying process and how to market them, Assessed on 5th April, https://www.business2community.com/consumer-marketing/six-stages-consumer-buying-process-market-0811565#hlev8exwtoyxTUfg.97.

Sneakers War free essay sample

Marketing Management SNEAKER WARS 2007 Nike never lacks for boldness. The Beaverton sneaker goliath recently offered the German National Soccer Federation $778 million to sponsor its national soccer team for 10 years in an audacious move to rattle its German rival adidas and long-time sponsor of the German team. Nikes new chief executive, Mark Parker, upped the boldness quotient again on Feb. 6, when he outlined an ambitious plan to grow revenues by $8 billion in five years. In his first major initiative since inheriting the top spot (Chief Executive) in January, 2006, Parker explained to investors at Nikes annual analyst conference how the company aims to grow to $23 billion in global revenue by 2011. The comprehensive long-term strategy calls for reshaping the management structure; redefining Nikes relationship with its fast-changing, digitally driven consumer; and adding 100 new company stores worldwide in three years. Were fundamentally changing the way we organize the company, Parker said. Nike is as hungry and as driven as weve ever been before and becoming more focused and more competitive. While analysts and investors applauded much of Nikes new strategy, some questioned whether the company could actually do it. After all, revenues would need to rise 53% over five years, or average about 9% a year, to reach the target of $23 billion. Its going to be challenging to achieve $8 billion in new sales without turning around slumping sales in Europe, Japan, and the U. S. basketball market a crucial $3 billion to $3. billion market segment. I think its going to be tough for them, said John Shanley, financial analyst for Susquehanna Financial. Basketball, for example, is shrinking in terms of sales. They have 96% of the market share in the $100 or more price point. How do you get high single-digit growth when you already have more than 96% of the market? Nike executives fell short in offering specific details to some of these questions and focused more on painting a broa der picture of the new strategy. They stressed a multi-pronged approach that includes reorganizing the Nike brand into six main athletic divisions running, basketball, soccer, womens fitness, mens training, and sport culture that are expected to generate 75% of the brands growth. The company had previously divided the brand into three segments: footwear, apparel, and equipment. Growth is also expected to come from emerging markets and potential acquisitions. But Nike Brand President Charlie Denson said the company can reach the $23 billion target without new acquisitions. As for new markets, China is expected to become Nikes second biggest market behind the U. S. , potentially chalking up $1 billion in sales. Nike is building a strategy for growth across China that will foster new connections with Chinese youth, a market share plan designed to reap benefits far beyond the Beijing Olympics next year, top executives said last week. By tapping into swelling consumerism, label consciousness and new social freedoms among Chinas youth, Nike hopes to cement and expand its current position as the leading athletic footwear and apparel brand in the worlds most populous country, currently the companys fourth-largest market. With about $600 million in current annual sales, Nike believes China has the potential to be the companys second-largest market behind the United States with revenue of $1 billion within five years. The company estimates some 50 million Chinese youth play basketball. We think our opportunity there is to connect more deeply with local culture, Parker said, explaining Nikes overall China strategy. Parker said Nike will create products and retail and digital experiences designed to resonate with wired, hip and willing-to-spend Chinese youth living in different cities and regions. Ultimately, thats going to be our best foundation for growth going forward, Parker said. China is a prime component in the global Nike puzzle that will help push total sales for the Beaverton, Oregon-based company toward a target of $23 billion by 2011. Nike also views India, whose population growth rate is rising faster than China’s and Russia as potential $1 billion markets. Although the budget for Nik es 2008 Beijing Olympics strategy has not yet been planned, Nike Brand President Charlie Denson said that commitment would be major. But, Denson said, We are looking beyond Beijing. A recent Just Do It campaign that aired on Chinese television featured a young woman basketball player and a young male skateboarder who spoke of their lives and dreams through sports. A popular Internet-based advertising campaign that followed the television advertisements encouraged teenagers to send in their own stories. While soccer and basketball are the most popular sports among Chinese youth, Nike also sees a huge market for its sports culture footwear and apparel lines that capture the allure of sports without the performance aspects. Trevor Edwards, Nikes vice president of global brand and category management, explained that Nike is trying to encourage Chinese youth to find their individual voice. The Just Do It campaign and others, Edwards said, communicated that we were a brand about opportunity; we were a brand about hope. Nike sponsors 22 out of 28 Chinese sports federations. While the best-known Chinese athlete in the United States, basketball centre Yao Ming, is signed with Reebok, a division of Adidas AG , popular Chinese hurdler and Olympic gold medallist Liu Xiang is a Nike athlete. Even though much of Nikes marketing campaign in China is based on youth individuality, Nike wants to make sure their footwear fits the millions. To that end, Nikes engineers and physiologists back at their headquarters have been collecting data about Chinese feet. But the company will not say whether specific footwear lines will be launched for China. Nikes India business has grown 40% since last year thanks in part to its efforts in cricket. Nike executives also said they plan to invest aggressively in other potential billion-dollar markets such as Russia and Brazil. Back in the USA, Nikes efforts to add new retail stores and elevate its partnership with existing retailers is a big part of its new strategy. This effort comes at a time of sluggish sales from some of its biggest retailers mall-based chains Foot Locker (FL) and Finish Line (FINL). Nike executives said the company plans to grow its direct-to-retail business to 15% of total sales, or $3. 5 billion, from 12% today. The segment includes its own stores, factory outlets, and an e-commerce division, which executives expect to see a significant increase in revenues over the next five years. For the planned retail investment, Nike will increase capital spending to $475 million annually, up from just under $400 million, Nike said. Gary DeStefano, president of Nikes global operations, stressed its retail goal is to make Nike a better retail partner: This is not about Nike vs. the retailers, he said. This is a partnership. We believe this could be a growth strategy. But probably Nikes boldest bet is on the consumer. In the eyes of Parker, this new and evolving digitally driven consumer is reshaping the retailing landscape. The power is now in the onsumers hands, and Parker believes Nike and other consumer brand companies need to adjust to the new market dynamics. Consumers have never held as much power as they do today, Parker said. And clearly the power has shifted to consumers. Nikes Denson said this fundamental shift can be captured in the way the company studies its consumer profiles. In the past, managers used to consider 18- and 22-year-olds as part of the same demo graphic target. Now he says they are treated as separate and distinct markets when it comes to age, interests, and tastes. We spent the last 30 years trying to bundle things, and now its almost the reverse and we have to un-bundle things, Denson said, explaining Nikes new efforts to tailor products to individual consumers. Despite these fundamental changes in how Nike approaches its customers and its reshaped management structure, some things never change. Nike remains its audacious self and competitive juices still run strong. It still has goals to dominate markets where it is not already No. 1, and it’s redoubling efforts to unseat rival Adidas as the worlds top supplier of soccer shoes and apparel. Its recent bid to sponsor the German national team is part of its 2010 goal to dominant the football brand, said Nike marketing vice-president Trevor Edwards. We believe its time to create separation. This is not a game of chicken. Some things never change. Adidas expects growth overseas, particularly in Asia, to push sales at its Reebok division to US$5 billion ($7. 42 billion) over the next three to five years, up from US$3 billion, adidas chief Herbert Hainer said yesterday. The worlds second-largest sporting goods maker after Nike also said it expected to cut costs including at Reebok, which it acquired last year by about 87 million euros ($1. 6 billion) this year. That will more than offset integration costs, resulting in an overall cost savings of about 10 to 20 million euros, Hainer said. For the Reebok brand, the main growth driver will be Asia and to a certain extent Europe as well. Key markets like Germany and France are underdeveloped, as is Russia. Emerging markets have a huge potential and we will grow in the US, but by far not at the pace of Asia. Much of that growth will come toward the latter part of that period with the brand expecting only modest revenue growth, said Paul Harrington, president and CEO of the Reebok brand. Adidas, the German based sporting goods giant, bought Reebok in a US$3. 8 billion deal, looking to complement its strength in Europe with a major US brand that had greater strength in the fashion segment. But the Reebo k brand has been a drag on Adidass performance thus far. In November 2006, the German company lowered its 2007 profit growth forecast to 15 per cent from 20 per cent, citing trouble at Reebok. Adidas shares have slid almost 14 per cent since the Reebok takeover closed on January 31, 2006. Rival Nikes shares have risen about 24 per cent over that time. Reeboks sales have been lagging in the United States and the United Kingdom, though adidas plans a big expansion for the brand in Asia, including about 3200 stores in China, India and Russia by 2010. It is to open 200 stores in China and 90 in Russia this year. The brand is also eyeing an expansion in Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe. In Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland and Spain, where the brand is still sold by third-party distributors, the company is working to buy out those contracts, but some may have to run their course through to 2012. At present, about 40 per cent of the Reebok brands sales come from North America and 40 per cent from Europe. Part of what makes the expansion outside the United States so appealing is that profit margins tend to be higher in the rest of the world, Hainer said. You have much higher quantity on the US market, but much more value, higher profit margins on the European or Asian market. Adidas plans to reposition its Reebok brand to target athletics apparel consumers who value individuality, with a goal of broadening beyond an urban youth target audience and re-emphasizing Reeboks roots as an athletics performance brand. The strategy comes as Germany-based adidas ramps up its investment in Reebok a year after acquiring the brand and then seeing Reebok sales fall into a slump. The revised brand strategy builds off the edgy I am what I am campaign Reebok adopted four years ago by embracing hip-hop culture and youth-oriented entertainment alongside its traditional athletics performance market. The new strategy will maintain the I am what I am theme in many of Reeboks advertisements. But it also will position Reebok as an American-inspired global brand that celebrates individuality in sport and life, according to Adidas. Reebok President and Chief Executive Paul Harrington said the brand will gently shift emphasis toward suburban consumers of all ages without abandoning the urban youth targeted by I am what I am. Reebok also will try to reconnect with consumers who value athletic performance over fashion. While I am what I am wont go by the wayside, It may not be as loud as it was when we first launched it, Harrington said in an interview at Reeboks Canton headquarters, where he was joined by Adidas CEO and Chairman Herbert Hainer. The street-influenced I am what I am campaign helped Reebok connect with youth by featuring endorsers such as rappers 50 Cent and Jay-Z. But some industry analysts said the campaign risked alienating customers who prize performance over fashion and marked too sharp a departure for a brand that gained traction pitching aerobics shoes to women in the 1980s. Were not going to move totally away from music, but were going to reach for a broader audience, Harrington said. Adidas hopes Reebok will double its U. S. business and narrow Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike Inc. s market leadership. But adidas said in November last year (2006) that sales of Reebok-branded shoes and other apparel fell 7 percent in the first nine months of last year, compared with the same peri od in 2005. Adidas also conceded that Reeboks profit growth this year would fall short of initial expectations, and it said it intended to increase Reebok investment this year. Among other things, Reebok has been hurt by a recent decline in the once-hot market for retro-styled sneakers that mimic styles from the 80s a trend that Reebok helped drive, said John Horan, publisher of Sport Goods Intelligence, a Glen Mills, Pennsylvania-based industry newsletter. Since Adidas completed the Reebok deal in January 2006, analysts have speculated as to how the one-time athletics sneaker and apparel rivals would position the two separately managed brands to avoid competing against one another in the same market niches. The strategy announced Thursday will be launched with two Reebok campaigns this year. The first is a Run Easy campaign beginning this spring emphasizing the fun and joy of running, rather than its blood, sweat and tears aspect and winning. Reebok plans to launch a broader campaign in August targeting a variety of athletes as well as lifestyle apparel consumers around the theme Best On/Best Off suggesting that Reebok products offer the best in apparel both on and off the playing field. New products Reebok plans to introduce this year include a running shoe created especially for women, a new Allen Iverson model basketball shoe, and an apparel collection endorsed by actress Scarlett Johansson. Andrew Rohm, a former Reebok marketing employee and now an assistant professor of marketing at North-eastern University, said the revised strategy reflects an attempt by Reebok to create a new niche to complement the Adidas brand, whose traditional strength has been in athletic performance, especially soccer. I think it may be a reflection of looking less at sheer sales volume, and more in terms of owning a unique space, and becoming more of a niche player than they have tried to be in the past, Rohm said. Reeboks Harrington said the revised marketing strategy will help position the brand for a comeback. It really positions us for growth in the back end of 2007, he said. Puma, the maker of athletic shoes, shirts and other sporting goods, said its fourth-quarter profit fell 26 percent as it tries to broaden its product base and expand into new regions. But the company, the worlds third-biggest maker of sports apparel behind Nike Inc. and adidas AG, said it expected sales and earnings in 2007 to increase in the higher single-digit figure range, largely on demand for its licensed products. Overall, we are very pleased with 2006 and our start to (the latest restructuring phase), as we set some ambitious targets and are on track or ahead on all accounts, Chief Executive Jochen Zeitz said in a statement. But more important than the past is the future and weve put ourselves in a solid early position to deliver on our objectives. Puma earned euro32. 8 million (US$43 million) in the last three months of 2006, down from euro44. 1 million in the same quarter of 2005. Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had expected a profit of euro34 million (US$44. 6 million). Sales rose 38 percent to euro480 million (US$629. 7 million) from euro349. 2 million a year ago, still less than the euro492 million (US$645. 4 million) analysts had predicted. For the year, Puma earned euro263. 2 million (US$345. 3 million), down nearly 8 percent from euro285. 8 million in 2005, just below analysts estimates of euro264 million (US$346. million). Sales rose 33 percent to euro2. 37 billion (US$3. 11 billion) from euro1. 78 billion in 2005, just under estimates of euro2. 38 billion (US$3. 12 billion). The sales increase was led, in part, by better-than-expected demand for its shirts and helped by the afterglow of the 2006 soccer World Cup, in which Puma sponsored the champion Italy. It is also a key supplier to many African teams. Since Zeitz was named CEO and chairman of the company in 1993, Puma has returned to profitability and increased sales and expanded its research and development, marketing and branding programs. Its latest restructuring effort is aimed at expanding the companys reputation as a maker of lifestyle brands clothes, shoes and accessories, such as eyeglasses and expand in more regions and categories. For the year, Puma posted strong sales in North and South America, with sales reaching euro724. 1 million (US$949. 95 million), up 51. 8 percent from 2005. In Asia and the Pacific, sales more than tripled to euro486. 5 million (US$638. 24 million). In Europe, the Middle East and Africa sale increased 5. 1 percent to euro1. 15 billion (US$1. 51 billion). The companys backlog of orders a key indicator for future sales performance was at euro1. 12 billion (US$1. 47 billion) at the end of 2006, up 4. 7 percent from euro1. 07 billion in 2005. Shares of Herzogenaurach-based Puma were up nearly 2 percent after the results were released but fell back more than half a percent to euro288. 01 (US$377. 84) in Frankfurt trading. References: Business Week Online Can Nike Do It? By Stanley Holmes 7 February 2007 Reuters News Nike striving to be brand about hope in China By Alexandria Sage 12 February 2007 New Zealand Herald Reebok to race in Europe and Asia 3 February 2007 Associated Press Newswires Adidas shifting Reeboks brand identity By MARK JEWELL 2 February 2007 Associated Press Newswires Athletic apparel maker Puma says 4th-quarter profit drops 26 percent By MATT MOORE 19 February 2007 Questions 1. Conduct a SWOT analysis of the key players in the sneaker industry and critically analyse their influence within the industry and the market. (25 marks) 2. Evaluate all significant trends in the environment and assess what impact each is likely to have on the sneaker industry. (25 marks) (Total = 50 marks)