...breeding and good manners . He was an active listener as opposed to a passive listerner, and sincerely interacted with the conversation as opposed to being more concerned about what he was going to say next. Furthermore, anyone with whom I can carry on a dialogue about football (a topic I know very little about) and enjoy it must be a master communicator, or at least an engaging one. (My mom could not believe that I discussed football with him for a considerable length of time and wasn't bored.) Very few people make it to my list of those I really would love to meet someday, but after this exchange especially, he's on that list, and maybe our paths will cross at some point. But for now, I am content to know that I get to watch him on the Hallmark Channel tonight (October 8) in Autumn in the Vineyard as well as several more upcoming roles in the near future. So don't forget to tune in tonight to see one of Hallmark's (really, TV in general) most brilliant up and coming stars who is a true gentleman at heart--very much a lost art amongst today's generation and the world of entertainment in general. Be sure that you follow him at all the links below because maybe he will be cast in one of those dream roles in the near future, and I have no doubt that his followers will be the first to know. Oh, and he does post a lot about one of his other...
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...Company’s corporate headquarters Crayola has called Easton, Pennsylvania its home since the early 1900s. Today, the company’s world headquarters and major manufacturing facilities are located there. The location is: 1100 Church Lane Easton, Pennsylvania 18044-0431 They also have manufacturing facilities in: • Bathlehem, Pennsylvania • Mexico City, Mexico And International Sales and Marketing Facilities in: • Canada • Engalnd • Australia • France • Mexico • Italy • Spain 3) Parent company In 1984, Crayola became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards and has since played the lead role in Hallmark’s personal development strategies. 4) Subsidiaries Since Crayola is owned by Hallmark Cards, the subsidiaries listed below are Hallmark’s. a. Crayola LLC Founded in 1903 and acquired by Hallmark in 1984. The headquarters are in Easton, PA. Its major products/brands are: Crayola art products, Silly Putty, Portfolio Series art materials, Crayola...
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...culture helps human create a different country in the world. The different society structure plays an important part in the education system. In China, all those who can enter the University have received an elite education and before enrollment they have devoted themselves to hard studying. Therefore, they are good at getting high marks on mathematics, psychics and so on. However, they are lack of chances to practice skills in real world thus having no social experiences. In that case, after graduation, most students find it difficult to find a satisfactory job though many of them get a job through the relationship net. While in America, the education system pays more attention to social skills than to marks .Students have developed the ability to be independence in life and work. After university, they show great capability of thinking, innovation and creation which make them keep pace with the modern world. They are competent for the challenging work and can gain a good job in America with ease. There is a huge gap on education between America and China, but we can’t say which one is right or wrong, ‘cause each of the education system is based on the different backgrounds, American education should be following the American’s culture, meanwhile, Chinese education has to follow Chinese culture. A good education model for China is very important to the learning process, and also is very hard. But the most...
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...China China remained very isolated, so its ability to learn was limited. This intellectual heritage stressed the basic harmony of nature: Every feature is balanced by an opposite, every yin by a yang. According to this philosophy, an individual should find a way, called Dao, to relate to this harmony. Patterns in Classical China China has maintained the clearest links to its classical past. Already a pattern was set in motion that lasted until the early part of the 20th century. Dynasties would start rule, develop strong political institutions, and encourage an active economy. But afterwards, the dynasty would grow weaker and tax revenues declined, while social divisions increased in the larger society. As one dynasty went down, another emerged and repeated the pattern. * Three dynasties covered the centuries of classical China: Zhou, Qin, and Han. Zhou The Zhou dynasty lasted from 1029 to 258 b.c.e. The dynasty only until about 700 b.c.e. flourished. They replaced the Shang rulers. It was then declined by political infrastructure and frequent invasions by nomadic people from border regions. * Government was not very powerful. * Rulers didn’t have the means to control their territories directly. * In exchange for land, supporters were supposed to provide the government with troops and tax revenues. * Extended territory by taking over the Yangtze river valley. (Middle Kingdom) * Wheat grew in the North and rice in the Southpopulation growth...
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...interests, which lie with China and Asia, and traditional ties with the America. General Peter Leahy warns of US-China collision FORMER Australian army chief Peter Leahy has urged Australia to tread warily in expanding its military ties with the US to ensure they do not "lead to increased tension and even conflict" with China. [pic] the Australian, 12 April, 2012 Warning against becoming "caught" between the US as its security guarantor and China as its economic underwriter, Professor Leahy has welcomed Australia's decision to play host to US marines, but noted that "too much of a good thing" could put unnecessary pressure on China. His comments, in an opinion piece in today's edition of The Australian, came as the China Daily state-owned newspaper hit out at Australia's expanding links with the US, warning they could spark a collapse of trust and endanger Sino-Australian economic ties. In a strongly worded editorial, the newspaper yesterday also warned that the Gillard government's decision last month to ban Chinese communications giant Huawei from bidding for work in the $36 billion National Broadband Network had created the perception in Beijing that Australia wanted to obstruct Chinese companies. But, as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted her nation wanted close and peaceful relations with Beijing, Julia Gillard rejected the Chinese newspaper's suggestion that Australian foreign policy was aimed at containing China. "Australia's clear and...
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...the supplier. A temporary suite was suited at the old residence place in order to operate the business. After the buildings were completed in 1992, the business was moved to the original place which are located at No.20 & 21,&.26 Main Bazaar in Surabaya, Indonesia. Due to the development of Company, the PT Hartono Batik Surabaya has been open another 4 branches which is located at Kuta (Bali), Jogjakarta, Pontianak and Ujung Padang( Sulawesi).The business has steadily grown throughout the 4 generations and thus it resulted in the spread out of its production facilities which also doubles up as its distribution centers. Year 2014 will be the 59 year anniversary of PT Hartono Batik Surabaya. The business will enter the markets in China and the Middle East (Dubai, UAE) in future. The vision of the company is "putting the beauty of batik into every home and office around the world". Product Description PT Hartono Batik Surabaya is a company specializes in a wide spectrum of batik products ranging from batik paintings, batik accessories, batik soft furnishing to batik apparel. The batik product such as sarong, songket, men shirt, pareos, cratdan dress, unisex shirt , scarves, batik tie,...
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...Chapter three Governmental and legal systems CHINA COMPLICATED RIS, BIG OPPORTUNITIES During its thirty years of communist rule, China prohibited foreign investment and restricted foreign trade. Then, China enacted the Law on Joint Ventures using Chinese and Foreign Investment in 1978. China’s subsequent transformation has been fueled by a landslide of foreign investments made in response to the country’s market potential, market performance, improved infrastructure, enormous resources, and strategic position. Frustrating this process, however, have been the politics of China’s elaborate bureaucracy, as well as its ill-defined legal system and pervasive corruption. Historically China has relied upon “the rule of man” and the belief that legal rights are derived from the power of the individual. Upon joining the WTO, China agreed to continue to reform its business environment and to move toward transparent, rules based, enforcement-oriented standards. But the business reality is far from the WTO obligations specifically in the continued controversy over the protection of intellectual property. Chinese enterprises are themselves becoming global investors, both by acquiring foreign firms and investing in foreign lands. INTRODUCTION For a multinational enterprise to succeed in countries with different political and legal environments, its management must carefully analyze the fit between its corporate policies and the political and legal conditions of each particular nation...
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...corporate business tool. Iconix Brand Group licenses their brands and do not manufacture products, which allows other companies to manufacture products that use its brands. “Iconix’s operating margin is over 60% and managed to grow sales at 24% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years” (A Great Investment in High Margin Apparel, 2013). Wal-Mart accounts for 17% of Iconix sales with a strong store base of over 4000 US stores; Target and Kohl’s accounts for 7% of sales. The United States is the largest market for Iconix and it accounts for 75% of sales and Japan at 10% is considered its second largest market. Iconix is hoping to drive sales over long-term with their joint ventures in international markets such as Iconix China, Iconix Latin America, Iconix Europe (A Great Investment in High Margin Apparel, 2013). Iconix makes sure that 80% of Americans know about the brand before they purchase it. They make sure that the brands they acquire have a great licensing business in place. Their brand Peanuts is their largest license and they sell insurance with Met Life and...
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...Excelsior College Coca-Cola M5A2 Aleksander Laskowski BUS 435 International Business Prof. Irwin Nathanson 09 June, 2013 Introduction Coca-Cola was founded in 1886 and has just celebrated its 127th anniversary. The Atlanta based multinational corporation is an American icon, employing 71,000 employees in 200 different nations. The company is a perfect example of success in capitalizing on foreign growth, with over 70 percent of case volume being in foreign markets. To reach the iconic status, Coca-Cola has gone through multiple organizational changes in strategy and in structure. Roberto Goizueta changing strategy from localization to globalization, and its benefits In 1981 when Roberto Goizueta became the CEO of Coca-Cola, he decided to change the strategy of the company from one focused on localization to a more standardized, global one. The strategy was changed in order to save on costs, which are considerably higher when using a localization plan, compared to a globalization approach. When a product becomes standardized, its production becomes much cheaper, rather than a customized item under a localization strategy. By cutting the cost Coca-Cola could aggressively price their products in international markets to gain market share, and increase consumption which was at low levels of 10-15 percent compared to that of the U.S. (Hill, 2013). Yet another benefit of a globalization approach is the centralization of decision making, which allows the firm to see...
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...Search Lesson Store Buy Video Exercise Store Powerpoint Home Crayola SWOT - Crayola (Binney & Smith), a subsidiary of Hallmark, Inc. Corporate History Crayola Manufacturing is a 120 year old company that makes safe, dependable art supplies for children. Because most consumers have never heard of Binney & Smith, the Crayola maker changed its name in 2007 to reflect its brand name. Crayola has many different lines of products; as well as services, which vary from just crayons and markers. They produce 3 billion crayons a year, plus craft and character licensed activities. This SWOT analysis is about Crayola. Crayola began as Binney & Smith back in 1885 when Joseph Binney partnered with his son and nephew. Binney and Smith sold their first Crayola crayons in 1903, when a box of eight cost only a nickel. The small business began in New York and moved to Easton, Pennsylvania (where they remain today), producing the dustless chalk. In 1958 the Crayola 64-crayon box, which included 16 new colors and a built-in sharpener, made its debut on the "Captain Kangaroo Show." This Crayola box "became part of the collective history and experiences of generations of Americans, and a symbol of the color and fun of childhood." Crayola estimates that the average U.S. child wears down 730 crayons by age ten. And, in the same spirit, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History placed an actual 1958 Crayola 64-crayon box and an assortment of 20th century Crayola advertising...
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...Good Strategy –Bad Strategy Video Note Taking Questions Use the following questions to take notes while watching the video. 1. What does the author say the “core of strategy” is? The core of strategy is to focus on how to achieve goals. 2.What is a “kernel”? What is it composed of? Kernel is a good strategy; it’s the central of the strategy growth. It is composed of guiding policy, diagnosis, coherence action. 3.What is wrong with the statement “Bad strategy is the absence of good strategy.”? Bad strategy is not the absence of strategy, it’s an active force, a mistaken belief, and how we think strategically and how to create strategies. 4.What are the hallmarks of a good strategy? Of a bad strategy? 1. Bad strategy is a too high expected goal; 2. It’s fluff, it’s vaporous concept. Bad strategy is like an ostrich put its head under the ground. 5.What does the story of David & Goliath indicate? 6.What is the power/the lesson to be learned from the Andy Marshall story? 7.What is “bad strategy”? Bad strategy is not the absence of strategy, it’s an active force, a mistaken belief, and how we think strategically and how to create strategies. 8.What are “blue sky” objectives? Why are they bad for strategy? 9.Why does bad strategy flourish? 10.What is the “kernel”? Explain the three elements. It is composed of guiding policy, diagnose, coherence action. Guiding policy is how we solve the problems. Good strategy would try to find diagnosis...
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...dedicated marketing strategy, but the function was performed by three separate groups with little coordination. In the words of Chistine Day everybody had to perform marketing as part of their job. This meant that they weren’t strategic in their approach and while they were hugely successful over the next decade, by 2002 there were some widening gaps between Starbucks vision and their market survey results. Christine Day realized they had failed in terms of “customer intimacy”; their customer base had changed, yet they hadn’t realized this. Additionally their service level had fallen, with a concurrent increase in the technical and rigorous demands of the barista’s job. The entry strategy into China similarly positioned Starbucks as an elite and ubiquitous brand. In the east and particularly in China, status is an integral part of the culture. Starbucks positioning would therefore appeal to the burgeoning masses of young well educated and affluent class of Chinese society. This market segment had growing purchasing power and an incessant appetite for western brands and status symbols of prosperity and a glorious western lifestyle. They engaged in global market adaptation by customizing their product offerings to cater to local preferences. Additionally they had to demonstrate a greater commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in order to build trust in the new Chinese community, and the menu as well as...
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...devices. The worldwide mobile phone market grew 12.8 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2011 (3Q11), as smartphone growth declined in key mature markets. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped 393.7 million units in the third quarter, compared to 348.9 million units in the third quarter of 2010. However, the 12.8 percent growth was higher than IDC's forecast of 9.3 percent for the quarter and stronger than the 9.8 percent growth in the second quarter 2011. Nokia reversed a global market share on a sequential basis last quarter thanks to stronger feature phone sales in key regions as well as the clearing of inventory backlogs in traditional strongholds, namely China and Europe, which led to a sharp year-over-year shipment and share decline last quarter. The company noted Nokia's smartphone fortunes could improve in quarters to come now that it has introduced the Nokia Lumia devices, powered by Windows Phone 7, to markets where its brand is still relatively strong and in areas where the company has lost share over the past two years. Apple gained share and posted the third-highest growth rate of any top five vendor but dropped to the number five position globally. Global iPhone shipments declined sequentially during the same quarter that company founder Steve Jobs handed the CEO reins to Tim Cook. The decline happened as Apple readied itself for the 4S launch, which many waited for. “Apple's ability...
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...Dell saw its annual revenues jump by US$5 billion to US$36 billion, made US$2.8 billion in operating profit, and gained 2.3 per cent in global market share. By this time Dell had gained, and held for five years, the position of market-share leader. However, during the mid to late 2000s, Dell’s position in the global PC market began to change. In 2005 it lost its market-share lead to one of its main rivals, Hewlett-Packard. By 2008–9, Dell’s second-place PC ranking came under threat from the Taiwanese computer maker Acer. In 2003, Acer had ranked seventh in PC sales around the world, but by 2008–9 Acer’s share of the global market had risen to 11.8 per cent, just behind Dell with 13.7 per cent and HP still on top with 19.6 per cent. The hallmarks of Dell’s early success in the PC market were direct selling and build-to-order manufacturing, underpinned by supply chain and inventory efficiencies. Dell’s cost structure was the lowest in the industry. Dell grew quickly by giving customers exactly what they wanted at a price that no other competitor could match at the time. While Dell outsourced some operations—for example, component production and express shipping—it assembled its computers in its own manufacturing plants. In addition to its four...
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...higher price. The strongest competitive advantage is a strategy that that cannot be imitated by other companies”. One of these sources of completive advantage for a company or country is Labor cost. Hiring and training better people than the competitor can become an immeasurable competitive advantage for a company. A company's employees are often overlooked, but should be given careful consideration. This human resource-based advantage is difficult for a competitor to imitate because the source of the advantage may not be very apparent to an outsider. If the company can achieve this and still keep its cost down, it will have a competitive advantage over its rival. Citing the China price, Publisher weekly states, “Dreaded by competitors, the China price has become the lowest price possible, the hallmark of China's incredibly cheap, ubiquitous manufacturers”. UC Berkeley in its study, Living Wage Policy and Wal-Mart states, and another important question to address is how a $10 per hour minimum wage would impact consumer prices charged by Wal-Mart. It is not necessarily the case that Wal-Mart would pass on the total cost of a wage increase to its shoppers through higher prices. Part of the cost could be absorbed through accepting a lower profit margin; leveling or reducing management salaries and bonuses; and through improved labor productivity due to increased effort, lower turnover, and lower absenteeism. To the degree that Wal-Mart's...
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