Gem and jewellery - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 22 Words: 6529 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? Executive Summary Heart and Soul Gem and Jewellery is a well established company in Sri Lanka for the past 15 years. We have been catering to this market successfully and we have a proven track record of our achievement throughout past years. As mentioned above our products are Gem and Jewellery, and we market stones as well as designer jewellery to our target market. Our target market is the high end markets that always look for delicate and unique presence of styles in jewellery as well as in stones. We have been the market leader in Sri Lanka for the past five years and have been very successful in holding our position. In order to expand our business internationally we are now in the process of moving into different countries and exporting Gem and Jewellery. On this basis now we are in the progress of exporting Gem and Jewellery to the US market. Not only exporting but also we are planning to open up our retail outlets in the main suburbs which are well known for our types of products which would be California as well as Los Angeles. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Gem and jewellery" essay for you Create order Thus, the following report will be analysing the US market as well as the feasibility of our products being exported there. The reports analyses various areas including the market analysis, product specifications, pricing, promotions, rules and implications and so on. Introduction Socio-cultural Analysis As early days as well as today market for Gems have a high demand all over the world. Mainly the biggest buyer for Gem stones are United States and European countries. People who are highly rich and moderate income earners coming from Royal Families, Celebrities from Hollywood to Bollywood wear these precious stones for their ultimate satisfaction needs. In USA most ladies wear these expensive stones such as Pearls, Rubies, and Sapphires for uniqueness and for the charming effect that built through these precious stones. Most men and women wear this stones to show there prestige as well as to enhance their public image and to show their wealthiest and the social class. As the social impact of having a Gemstone is remarkable experience and also mentioned as Good luck. A person who receives a wedding ring or the wedding necklace embedded with Diamond stones, on the wedding day she will be the luckiest lady in the whole world. Also another example a mother who receives a birthstone for her little one will be a memorable gift for all mothers of all ages. According to US culture women who are rich and fashionable, they normally dont miss to wear these accessories. Most of the elegant women who are capable of having several kinds of gemstones have the advantage of using variety of stones depending on the occasion. As an example diamonds gives a classy look and posh image for evening gatherings. And Rubies are very precious that gives a charming effect on women. Economic Analysis Gems Jewellery industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Mainly USA is the largest buyer for gems and jewellery. The trends and challenges can influence the gems and jewellery market is in USA. There was a less demand for platinum jewellery in last few years in USA. One of the pluses accruing for the falling U.S. Dollar is the consequent depreciation which results. In this way, the products made in US will become more attractive in the international market. In the same way our gem export will be facing the Dollar shortage. This challenge will have to be circumventing by other ways. Firstly, it is wise to open a Sri Lanka branch in US because it can serve several purposes. Its can supply wholesale or retail or do the advertising of our local product. Sri Lanka branch can be sensitive to the customs, restrictions or variation keep our country in form. Our Sri Lankan Branch in Los Angeles can do so much to outdo the glittering synthetics for the following reasons. Also a future purchases in US on gemstone will be at a higher price. It is true that the entire ruff for the gem stone come to US from outside US has only a few exceptions. The general trend is that foreign stone have a general rising price trend that is keeping pace with the growing, fashions demand of US. The Product Evaluate product as an innovation as it is perceived by the intended market Relative Advantage Most importantly, the consumer must consider the product should have benefits that are superior to other options (Solomon, 2008, p. 653).Sri Lanka is well known as the island of gems, because the brilliant range of gems found in its soil, namely cats eye, spinel, blue, white, star and fancy sapphires, garnet, topaz, moonstones, zircon, , and chrysoberyl. The stones are mining in larger scale in Ratnapura and Elahara areas. Gem cutting ensures maximum yield and the best quality as well as its brings the maximum beauty, rarity, durability, and value of the stones. Compatibility The innovation must be consistent with current needs, values, beliefs, and behaviours. (Solomon, 2008, p. 652).U.S.A people love jewellery and they appreciate it when their jewellery is fashionable. They have different perception towards different stones. Mostly diamond stone is more popular in USA. The Market Describe the market(s) in which the product is to be sold Geographical region(s) Los Angeles is one of the renowned cities of United States of America. The city measures 71km longitudinally and 47km latitudinal. The perimeter of the city is 550km. (The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom, 2010) It is the only major city in the United Statesseparated by a mountain range. Los Angeles in the United States is a most renowned place for Gem Exhibition. The gem collection in Los Angeles is a very prominent place because it has history along several years. The Gem collection has a world-wide in range and boasts particular strengths in different types from California and other such states. (The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom, 2010) The collections are being actively improved principally through purchases with customer preferences. Forms of transportation and communication available in that region The Los Angeles in the United States operate a well form of transportation system for bus lines, as well as subway and light rail lines across Los Angeles City, with a combined daily ridership of 1.7 million. The majority of this (1.4 million) is taken up by the citys bus system, the second busiest city in the country. The subway and light rail combined average the remaining roughly 319,000 boarding per weekday. (Gem Fashion, 2010) Around 12% of Los Angeles commuters ride some form of public transportation, which places Los Angeles fourth among the 10 largest cities in the U.S. for the share of person along the ride using public means of transport. The citys subway system is the ninth busiest in the United States and its light rail system is the countrys third busiest. The city also has a commuter rail system Metro link in the central which links Los Angeles to all neighboring counties as well as many suburbs. Consumer buying habits Product-use patterns The passion with possessing gems is quite universal. Gems haveamusedand attracted for thousands of years. This also has been the gifts and sums of kings and queens and other such rulers. Most vital gems are the most demanding gifts to give or receive. Gems represent as a symbol of devotion and are the powerful approach of saying evermore to a loved one. Due to the hardiness of gems, they can be passed from one generation to another. A gem collecting is quite interesting; unlike purchasing a stockpile or a bond, trading with gems are enjoyable investments to accumulate. (Where are Gemstones found?, 2009) Although gems do not endow with income in the classical pattern, they provide an intuitive incomeexceptional in the collector market. Gems are uncommon, they are limited and findings have become exceedingly rare. Most precious stones are very old and the finest gems are long gone. Most extensive colour gemstone is accomplished withprehistorichand tools, a process by which invention cannot be accelerated to meet demand. (Gem Fashion, 2010) The best way to buy gemstones is to collect when the marketplaces are slowdown and sell when the markets are hot. Gemstones may represent an ideal store-of-value if inflation accelerates.Gemstones are the most determined form of wealth known to man. Gems are extremely convenient; and simply could be obscured and stored. Gems are concealed, convenient, non-detectable asset, and they are tremendous valuable wealth.Gems are anonymous and private; it is easy to store the gems secretly in a bank vault or other such secure place. Product feature preferences Ruby Ruby is a legendary gem because it has a fiery red colour. In close proximity to its colour, it is a most attractive gem due to its solidity, sturdiness, lustre, and rarity. Most of the transparent rubies of large sizes are even rarer than diamonds. The transparent flawless ruby in terms of value is most expensive compared to the other Gems. . (The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom, 2010) Rubies should be Transparent in order to get an expensive value. Diamond Diamond is the mostvaluable Stone. It is well-known for its amazing lustre, hardness and beauty. It is the most valuable gems in the type of gemstone. The most fortunate shape diamond is one that is colourless with a sapphire shade or one, which sprays blue and scarlet rays with no black dots.Diamonds are the solid substance on terrain. (The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom, 2010) They are more brilliant than any other natural gem. Their sparkling fire, durability, and rarity make them the most prized of gems. Diamonds are the mostglistening of true gems. They have a brilliant lustre, and alsoshow signs of dazzling colour flashes known as fire. Blue Sapphire Blue is the foremost colour of the sapphire. Blue is also the favourite colour, for certain people, men and women alike. The colour, strongly relates to the sapphire as it is, with thoughts of compassion and accord, friendship and loyalty: feelings which belong to individuality that show their appeal in the long term. Thus the azure of the sapphire has become a colour which fits as stable and reliable. (The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom, 2010) That is one of the reasons that women prefer in many country wish for a sapphire ring on their engagement. The sapphire represents loyalty, but in the similar time it gives expression to peoples love and desire. Emerald Emeralds are excellent gemstones. In top quality, fine emeralds are still more precious than diamonds. These encompass the most beautiful, most intense and most beaming green that can probably be imagined as emerald green. The name emeralds come from Greek. Innumerable far-fetched stories have fledged up around this splendidgem. The green of the emerald is the colour of being and of the springtime, which comes round again and again. But it has also, for centuries, been the colour of beauty and of constant love. In olden days in Rome, green was the colour of Venus, the goddess of beauty and adore. And in the present day, this colour standstill a special site in many cultures and religions. Green, for example, is the divine colour of Islam. Many of the states of the Arab leagues have green in their streamer as a representation of the unity of their reliance. (The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom, 2010) However this colour has a high status in the Catholic Church too, where green is regarde d as the most natural and the most elemental of therelated colours. There are many more stones which are highly demandable in USA, among which the above are the most vital and well known stones. Shopping habits These are the products that could be purchase to suit your need at any cost. The result array covers every price points, from low to high end. The designs are available at customer preference. Often buyers rely on the expertise of the sellers to pick out the latest patterns available in their stores. Buyers can purchase any expensive product when it comes for occasional seasons. Some buyers buy for their personal and private collections. Most of the Americans prefer expensive stones because they prefer Gems as an asset because investing is worthwhile because they last longer and keeping it would have a very huge demand if the stone is really valuable. (Solomon, 2008) The customers could ask for their own preferences if they do not want to buy the design that is available in the market for higher price. Distribution of the product Retail Outlets The distribution methods which we are going to carry on will consist of retail outlets as well as the use of agencies as the middlemen in the process. As mentioned before we are planning to open our company Palmna Gem and Jewellers in America, in Los Angeles and California which are the highly potential places to market Gem and Jewellery. Thus, well be having typical retail outlets in these two places. For now we are planning to operate one retail outlet in Los Angeles and one in California. (Where are Gemstones found?, 2009) The retail outlet in Los Angeles will be situated in down town which is actually the hub for all gemstones and jewellery outlets. Famous gemstones history lies in Los Angeles such as American Golden Topaz, Bismarck Sapphire Necklace, etc. (History of Famous Gemstones, 2000) Even though the competitors are nearby which might be a challenge for us to market our products, having outlets near them will automatically create the possibility of driving the target market to our outlets since they will anyway come to downtown of Los Angeles for the purchase of Gems and Jewellery. The spots marked in red in the map shows the competitors outlets in Downtown. The next outlet will be in California, which is the second major place which has a very high potential market for Gems and Jewellery. This outlet will be located in San Diego in California. This part of California is well known for tourists attraction. Not only a place filled with tourists but it is also a place where you can find most of the rich and the wealthy people living who is our potential target market. (Gemstones found in California, 1995-2009) Thus, the choice of this place is basically to attract the tourists who visit San Diego and also the rich business men in California. Middlemen involved in sales Since our company is having outlets only in Los Angeles and California, in order to distribute our products to potential customers in other regions of USA, we are planning to have agencies involved in it. The main reason of having these agencies would be to handle operations in other parts of USA. Gems and jewelleries are too risky to be outsourced to external agencies. Thus, we will be having our own internal agencies who will be working in different regions all over USA. They will be part of our employees and will be paid fixed fees on every transaction. Any additional payments will be on the basis of the number of sales they make. These agencies will be in regions such as, Tennessee, Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Arkansas and Nevada. (Current Gemstones in United States, 2005-2009) These are potential places which have gem markets and also gem mines. These agencies will not only be responsible for the distributions in the relevant regions but also will act as Competitor Intelligence (CI) through which our company will keep in track of the competitors acts. Advertising and Promotion Advertising Media In order to promote our gem and jewelleries successfully in the US market, we have planned of various promotional aspects which would enable us to reach the target markets successfully. On that basis, when it comes to advertising in media the following would be our marketing strategies. Pricing Strategy Customary Mark-ups We are in the aim of taking our gem and jewelleries world by storm in the future. We do not have the same level of price mark ups for all our products. But, we do give the guarantee that the stones and jewellery we are selling genuine stones sourced and obtained by our company under the laws and regulations of USA. The reason why we do not have fixed mark-ups for our products is that the gems are exported from Sri Lanka which are truly genuine and are priceless. According to the customer and the value of different stones we keep a mark-up. But normally as all other retailers, the mark-up would be 300% or more. (Internet Forums, 2009) Considering the above factors, we cannot exactly decide the prices of the gemstones yet the values of the stones can be revealed. Approximately the values of the gemstones would be as follows In the above table ND stands for the value not disclosed because it would reveal proprietary information of small number of producers, included in totals. Available Discounts The discounts would vary from stone to stone and from purchase to purchase. Especially bulk purchases by consumers provide them with higher discounts than usual. Yet, the discounts would normally be a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 50% (The most widel traded Gemstones, 2009). Our company discounts will normally range as follows. Compare and contrast your product and the competitions products Direct Competitors When exporting gemstones to USA we are bound to meet many competitors in the market, therefore we need to make sure that the gems and jewelry are up to high standard and with great quality to survive in the industry. The main three direct competitors are, Tiffany co Macys jewelry Zales jewelry Tiffany co. Tiffany co. is known for great jewelry and for good quality for more than 150 years where the diamonds found at tiffanys stores are difficult to be found in other stores unless special orders for that type of quality is made. (Jewellers, 2009) They have many types of diamond jewelry starting form rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and pendants, and also engagement jewelry etc. packaging is done in a variety of ways but tiffanys is mainly famous for the blue box and the white bow which also has a hidden meaning of quality jewelry. Tiffanys also provide a full life time warranty where as if the diamond is not up to standard or as promised in the certificate they accept the jewelry back and provides with a refund of the full purchase price or a replacement with a diamond that meets each of the characteristics warranted. When a stone is cut for brilliance it may also loose size, and as known for brilliance is our measure tiffanys diamonds are cut for beauty not for size. The price range will vary from $1,000.00 to $ 50,000.00 for all the diamond stud jewelry, (Jewellers, 2009)However when purchasing a tiffany diamond the customer gets a brand name which is easily identifiable, Therefore customers mainly pay for the name of the brand not just for the product. Tiffanys promotional strategies are through websites which includes all the details of whats new in store and the respective prices and the outlets available in each city. Brochures, leaflets and billboards and jewelry exhibitions are also part of their promotional campaign to make the customer s more knowledgeable about the fine quality diamonds and jewelry available in store. (Jewellers, 2009) Macys Jewelry Macys has gained its brand equity throughout the years and will be a major competitor to us in the market as they are similar and consist of many gemstones with jewelry, gemstones such as diamond, ruby, sapphire, semi precious gemstones, turquoise, diamonds, cubic zirconium etc. it is known for quality and supplies a variety of jewelry to its customers primarily rings, bracelets, watches, mens jewelry, fashion jewelry, necklaces and pendants etc. The jewelry boxes are packed in many ways with different colours to suit the taste of the customer and different shapes. The price range will vary from $500.00 to $10000.00 based on the customers preference and the gem and jewelry type. (Jewellers, 2009) Like any famous brand mostly the price will be determined according to the brand as mostly the customers will have to pay a higher amount for the brand name. Macys uses different types of advertising and promotional methods to create awareness of whats new in stores and to gain customer loyalty. The promotional strategies are mainly promotional campaigns, billboards, leaflets, brochures, and magazine articles as gem and jewelry is a high end product and too much of publicity will cheapen the image of the product. Promotional campaigns will consist of events such as jewelry exhibitions where it will be easy access for Macys to reach its customers. (Jewellers, 2009) Zales Jewelry As most of the Americans prefer diamonds when wanting to purchase a gemstone Zales jewelry can also be classified as a competitor to us in the gem and jewelry industry. They have been in the industry and had been trusted since 1924 by making fine quality high class diamond stud jewelry which is mainly watchs, bracelets, necklaces and pendants, rings and engagement jewelry etc. (Jewellers, 2009) The brand name is not so prestigious at Zales but they do deliver fine quality diamond jewelry to its loyal customers and furthermore customers have to pay only for the piece of jewelry and not for the brand name as for the other competitors. All the jewelry is packed and given to customers in unique jewelry boxes with different colours mostly to suit customer preference mostly in pink, blue and black at the Zales jewelry store. Distribution is done all around Los Angeles, California (Burbank Town center, Glendale Galleria, Citadel outlet, West Side Pavilion, Fox Side mall, Santa Anita Fashion Park etc.) so that it will be convenient for customers to go to the nearest store and purchase jewelry according to their choice. The prices of diamond stone stud jewelry will be approximately from the range of $400.00 to $8000.00 and more varying according to the jewelry piece. (Jewellers, 2009) Zales jewelers will also conduct exhibitions which are open for any person to come and purchase jewelry according to their preference and taste and the diamond cut quality they require. The promotions they will conduct will be the giving out of brochures, billboards, web site etc. Market Size Expected Industry Sales USA is one of the largest market for Gem and Jewellery with 4% of the global Gems and Jewellery market. The expected industry sales in the domestic market for the year 2010 would be over US$ 10 billion. Apart from this the export market is expected to have a sales level of US$ 17 billion in the year 2010 which is around14% of the USA exports. USA accounts for about 20% of the world consumption in Gem and Jewellery and also one of the largest countries in the world known for diamond cutting and polishing. (Current Gemstones in United States, 2005-2009) Expected Company Sales In such a large market our expected sales for the planning year would be US$ 2.3 billion covering both the retail and the exports sales. This would be only around 8% of the industry sales. We are not expecting high sales in the planning year itself since itll be of a great challenge to capture a place in such a huge market. Thus, through our jewellery retail outlets we are planning for a sale of US$ 0.8 billion and through gem stone exports a sale of US$ 1.5 billion. Government participation in the market place Procedure for Export of Gems All Gem Exports should be channelled through the Exports Division of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority. ) Colombo Gem Centre Ratnapura or Gem Export Centre, Air Cargo Village, Air Port- Katunayake. The prospective Exporter should obtain a Gem Dealers License to cover the value of the merchandise to be exported. Exporters who wish to export their Gems should bring their goods to the Export Division N.G.J. A., before 3.00 p.m. on all working days 12.00 noon on Saturdays with eight (08) Copies of Commercial Invoices, which are to be used as follows. Export Manager Original Sri Lanka Customs 2nd Copy NGJA Statistics Division 3rd Copy 4th Copy to be used to make relevant payments to NGJA. Statistics Division (Customs)- 5th Copy 6th to 8th Copies are released to the Exporter. They are used to obtain Insurance Cover, for Airmail/Air Freight purposes, G. S. P. Certificate, Carnet Certificate and a copy to be retained by the exporter. Invoice The items will be examined at the Examination table by N.G.J. A. Gemmologist / valour and Customs Gem Appraiser / Gemmologist in the presence of the Exporter or his / her authorized representative. The sealed parcel is kept back with the N.G. J. A. and four copies of the invoice will be handed over to the exporter duly acknowledged by Export Manager; for the receipt of the parcel. Then the exporter is required to obtain insurance coverage for the parcel and pay the Export Service fee on F. O. B. The Exporter should get the Airway Bill from the respective Air Line Office and get a confirmation of the date and Air line which Air freights the Gem Parcel to the destination. On the day of collecting the parcels, Exporter should come to the NGJA, and particulars of the parcel have to be entered in the Releasing Register before 10.00 a.m. Air Mail parcels are released on all working days. The N.G.J. A. will check all the documents pertaining to the Export and release the parcel to Customs through Exporter enabling them to release the parcel to the Air Line (for Air Freight Parcels). After Customs formalities, are completed parcel (Air Mail) will be kept by Customs till it is released to the Post Office at the NGJA., for which the Exporter must bear the cost of air mail and stamp fees. After having the above mentioned approvals exporter can send the gemstone to the exporter country. Part Two Marketing Plan Executive Summary With the clear idea about the company, the market and the products to be exported which are clearly and specifically mentioned in the Marketing Audit, the following will detail the information about the marketing and sales of our company in USA. This Marketing Plan would focus on the promotional aspects, distribution, price determination and also the estimated budget and the income statement for the year 2010. This analysis would give a very clear idea regarding the process and possibilities of having a successful business in USA. It also highlights the vital aspects and how we are planning to market our product in such a competitive market which is totally different from our country Sri Lanka in ways of Culture, Technology, Economy, Politics and many more. This analysis was carried out with the use of the primary data collected from our company and other companies in Sri Lanka who are similarly exporting to USA. The secondary data collection was done through the internet and the relevant books which gave us ample of information regarding the industry and the market in USA. Thus, we were able to complete the report successfully and were able to put forward a detailed Marketing Plan. Marketing Objectives Product adaptation or modification Core component The market for Gemstone is more or less based on demand and rarity. Most people pay more for variety of gems that are esteemed and that are hard to find. It is moreover easy to get attracted to a certain colour gemstone, and finding usually a synthetic or fake jewel that reflects just as the real thing. Real jewellery with the label natural or genuine would show a little bit about the origins and terminology of types of gems. (Import Inspection, 2007) There are certain categories of gems that are allied with certain rock types. A person should be familiar with rocks; so that it will be easier to value with different types of gems that are common or extremely rare. For example, quartz is somewhat easy and frequently easy to find in nature. Though, gems can only be found in specific and limited environments, thus it is far more costly and valued. Packaging component There is a special packaging for Gemstones in order to sell the product in the market. Higher quality packaging material is used to pack the gemstones. For every purchase of a Gem the customers would be provided with authentic leather jewelry boxes layered with the company logo as a personal keepsake. Additionally, a purchase will arrive enclosed in a special glossy black Box, hand tied with a silver satin ribbon for every purchase. There is a Gift for every purchase .The customers will be impressed with the class, quality and distinctive design. Support services component To support the customers is a great pleasure because it will make the customers know the types of precious gem stones among the vast collection. Gem stones are undoubtedly unique gifts from Mother Nature and it is immensely important to preserve the natural quality and substance of the stone while cutting and designing to make the jewellery. It is important to provide high quality gemstone while preserving the genuine colour, shape and texture of the gem to the customers. Most of the Americans prefer gem stones, especially the Blue Sapphires and Rubies because they are world renowned for their great colour and value. Thus, the customers should be given to select the best gem stones when visiting to the store. Internet Forums, 2009) Promotion Mix Advertising Since the largest category in our advertising budget is likely to be the media costs, it makes sense to have a sound plan to manage that investment. The tool we need is a good media plan which helps us with every aspect of advertising. Advertising media refers to various means of advertising vehicles such as billboards, magazines, newspapers, television, and internet by which promotional messages are communicated to the public. The below mentioned advertising objectives would explain the importance of this particular area. Objectives Raise awareness of the company product by 25% a month, within the clearly identified target market. To implement geographic coverage within the California and New York cities. Communicate about the most precious and rarest gems available and the value for money of obtaining those. Build confidence in the organization and achieve an average of 60% increase in the sales. To be informative and encourage further information search for our product. To create a reputation as the market leader in Gems and therefore increase brand recognition loyalty. Media Mix After understanding the various aspects of each media separately and the advantages and the limitations of each, we can conclude that no single media would be able to reach the target population individually. The advertisers need to prepare an extensive media mix in order to accomplish their objective of maximum reach and frequency. Thus our media mix for this particular campaign will be elaborated separately as follows. (Highlights, 2008) TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT: We chose Television as our media vehicle of broadcasting for the advertisement to be aired out of which especially ABC FOX, since these were considered the most watched TV channels in California and New York. Since most of the people are unaware of the company, we suggest the ads are aired 3 days a week between the time period of 7.00 pm and 10.00 pm during the initial first 4 months. The days have been scheduled as Wednesday, Friday Sunday at a frequency of 3. These time slots were chosen because most of our target consumers gather around TV especially during this time. MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENT: The magazine ads will be published certainly in The New Yorker Diablo, which considered mostly being viewed by our target market. For these ads too, we must maintain a continuity method of scheduling for a period of 4 months and this will appear in the first quarter of the first page of the magazine. The selectivity of the target audience also specified by using the particular magazines and also there will be a reader involvement and acceptance towards the product. Since the selectivity is there, by counting down the circulation number, it could assure the effective number of exposures. LEAFLETS We are hoping to design 2 leaflets to be distributed among different groups of people. Through these 2 leaflets we are going to bring up emotional appeal which we would think will be more effective. The 2 leaflets will be distributed at different locations in the city centers and also near the company location. These may also distributed along with the weekly popular newspapers for the initial 6 moths. Sales Promotions Sales promotion can be identified as a planned and implemented marketing activity that boosts sales of a product or service for a short time. When considering the objectives and strategies of sales promotions, this can be divided into two main categories; pull strategies directed towards consumers and push strategies directing towards trade. However, since Gems are considered as a high-end consumer product we do not think it is advisable to follow sales promotions such as coupons, buy-one-get-one-free, price deals such as discounts because this will cheapen the image of the product. It is understood that the high prices of the Gems alone conveys the quality and up-class of the product. There are a very few sales promotional methods we are able to effectively use. This would include premiums and buying allowances. Objectives The objectives of conducting the sales promotions are as follows: Induce customers to immediately purchase and increase short term sales. Be informative about the rarest Gems available. Target a special market segment Create awareness and encourage the agents to market the precious gems. Premiums In this scenario we have planned to provide a product based offer which is a good quality wrist watch along with the purchase of a gem priced above 10,000 USD. We planned to implement this strategy basically due to the fact that the consumers will be way more satisfied that they really got something very valuable for what they spent. This will be initially given free during the first three months after the launch. Buying Allowances The main objective of carrying out such a trade promotion is to promote the sales in B2B market and to persuade the agents to buy our gems and resell them to end consumers. Buying allowances would be so essential to market our product since our company is entirely new to the US Gem Industry and will be an effective strategy to adopt. Distribution: from origin to destination Port selection We are exporting gems to United States by Airplane. There are two essential factors to be concerned before exporting gems to USA. Those are Security custom Import Duty charges. Due to security reasons gems should be air freighted in small quantities and should avoid exporting through sea freight. The buyer arranges all his own insurance, name of plane for loading and the buyer is also responsible for USA import taxes and duties. When we export gems to US, there should be Export permit airway bill. Packaging Gems boxes are made of Linen and there are different colours and sizes. This will added value to the core product. The display of the package increase their sales .The boxes are made in 100 % cotton and recycled paper board. This indicates the environmentally friendly and the positive image towards the environment. These boxes are thinner as well as stronger but it will cost more than normal packaging. Packaging will vary according to New Year, Christmas, and Valentines Day seasons. So there will be more seasonal demand for creative and new designed packaging that will enhance the value of Gem stones. We also provide custom built and designed packages for special occasions as an example for weddings we provide customer specialized packages, and for valentines Day celebrations we deliver the best quality materials with supplementary gift with every Gem jewellery box. When exporting gems from Sri Lanka to USA all exporters must insert their gem stones in special aluminium tin. Insurance claims Therefore per each gem stone exporter will have to pay Rs.300.00 and the insurance amount will vary according to Value of the Gem stone as insurance fees. Distribution channel Below shows a chart of distribution channels of gems and jewellery in the USA market. Jewellery manufacturer sells to agents/wholesalers and there after the chain will continue where agents/wholesalers will sell to jewellery shops/ departmental stores/mail order suppliers who directly will market the product to the consumer/end user. Import/ Export Agents When choosing an agent a comprehensive research much be done regarding their infrastructure as to whether they are capable of handling proper distribution to get maximum sales. Once a few agents are short listed and scrutinized with very careful analyzing the best agent must be chosen since gems are a very special commodity catering to the up market. The agents should be closely scrutinized in Los Angeles and California to evaluate the market so that wealthy clients will do their purchasing in places the agents deliver goods. (Distribution, 2008) Retailers The final result of the sales would depend upon the ability of the retailers to sell the jewellery to the customer therefore they must be chosen with utmost care. The up market areas should be decided upon to display the jewellery. Los Angeles and California has many wealthy customers and these customers mostly shop in particular areas which have a combination of high fashion clothes shoes and other accessories and the retailers should be found from these areas where they would display the jewellery to the highest enticement. Usually these are shopping complexes and retail jewellery shops are within these complexes. A basic survey should be done about the cliental who visit these areas to decide upon the retailers. (Distribution, 2008) Price Determination Handling charges levied by Export Division for gems Submission of Export documents through a handling agent is a requirement of the Sri Lanka Customs. Without a handling agent, customs would not accept the import or export documents for processing. For every export order as handling fee on Consignment basis 0.70% on the FOB Rupee Value + 15% VAT References Ardenes jewellers. (2008). Retrieved 1 12, 2010, from Platinum: https://www.mygemologist.com/platinum.html Current Gemstones in United States. (2005-2009). Retrieved 12 4, 2009, from Geology.com: https://geology.com/gemstones/natural-gemstones.shtml Distribution. (2008). Retrieved 1 5, 2010, from MARKET NOTE ON GEMS AND JEWELLERY: https://www.indianembassy.it/marketgj.htm Federal Tax Brackets. (2010). Retrieved 1 12, 2010, from https://www.moneychimp.com/features/tax_brackets.htm Gems and jewellers. (2010, 1 18). Retrieved 2010, from The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom: https://www.minerals.net/glossary/terms/l/luster.htm Gemstones. (2010, 1 19). Retrieved 1 2010, from Gem Fashion: https://magazine.gem-fashion.com/quartz.html Gemstones found in California. (1995-2009). Retrieved 12 4, 2009, from California Gemstones: https://www.jewelrymall.com/states/CA.html History of Famous Gemstones. (2000). Retrieved 12 4, 2009, from Sparkle n Dazzle Co.: https://www.sndgems.com/history-of-famous-gemstones.htm Import Inspection. (2007). Retrieved 9 3, 2009, from Sri LankanStandards Institution: https://www.slsi.lk/import-inspection.php Internet Forums. (2009). Retrieved 12 4, 2009, from UseNext: https://www.usenext.com/index.cfm?TD=402063sESR=LykgXk1RUC8qIUVAKVpOWjEkIFs%2BCg%3D%3DSCT=KCFNXl4%2FPzMuLkhYIAo%3D Jewellers. (2009). Retrieved 1 15, 2010, from Globe 7: https://drypen.in/mediaresource/media-mix.html Jewelry Inspired by the Mystery and Power of the Divine. (1991 2010). Retrieved 1 2, 2010, from Peter Stone: https://www.peterstone.com/ Solomon, M. (2008). Consumer behavior: buying, having and being. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. The most widel traded Gemstones. (2009). Retrieved 12 4, 2009, from National Gemstones On-line Brochure: https://www.preciousgemstones.com/brochure.html Where are Gemstones found? (2009). Retrieved 12 4, 2009, from SHG Resources: https://www.shgresources.com/gems/found/

Declining Minority Physicians in California - 2044 Words

Minority care quality in California is rapidly declining because of the shortage of minority physicians in practice. One might wonder why such a problem exists, but differences in cultural and ethnic identities between doctors and patients alter the quality of care because of preexisting stereotypes, health disparities, and linguistic gaps. Minorities in California consist of those other than non-Hispanic whites, and with their growing presence, they are becoming further underrepresented in the medical field. The foundation of this problem is the declining number of minority students attending medical school and the lack of diversity in medical school faculty. With a greater ethnic diversity in the medical field, comes a better quality of†¦show more content†¦Even though programs like affirmative action help incorporate more diversity in employment and education, history still haunts the minorities of today and continues to affect their lives and careers, as evident in the n umber of minorities in the medical field. Medical schools also have their blame in the issues of diversity in the medical field. According to the article Diversity in Academic Medicine No. 1: Case for Minority Faculty Development Today, â€Å"the lack of URM [underrepresented minority] promotion in academic medicine might be the result of bias, specifically the stereotype that minorities are inferior† (Nivet el al. 492). The first step in promoting diversification in the medical field is diversifying medical school faculties and administrations, but with these biases, stereotypes, and ethnic rankings, medical schools aren’t able to establish the range of cultures necessary for minority success in medicine. With fewer minority faculty members being acquired or retained, one leads to the conclusion that racial biases, segregation, and elitism still exist in medical schools, and these faculties continue to pursue the wants and needs of the majority and tend to dismiss th e problem of diversity in the medical field. As mentioned in the article found in the Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, â€Å"In 2006, the percentage of full professors who were white was 84%; the percentage of full professors who were URMs was 4.2%† (Nivet el al. 492). TenuredShow MoreRelatedAtlanta County, Texas Is The Sixth Largest County Essay1605 Words   |  7 PagesInstitute, Baylor Rehabilitation at Northwest Dallas from July 1, 2013-June 30, 2016, took the Dallas County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) published in 2013 and adopted the needs of the community and prioritized them. Health Assessment â€Å"Minority and lower socioeconomic groups disproportionately lack health literacy-the degree to which a person can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions† (The National Academics ofRead MoreEssay about Assisted Suicide Should Be Option1882 Words   |  8 Pagesmuch he loves you and how close you are, you stay an outsider. You are healthy.† This quote makes the point that no one knows exactly what someone with an incurable illness is going through. We are all outsiders. So, who is to say, for example, physician assisted suicide should be illegal? If a person has the constitutional right to live then a person should have the right to choose to die on his own terms. Also, if a person that is terminally ill chooses to opt for assisted suicide, the potentialRead MoreStark Law4961 Words   |  20 PagesSecurity Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395nn), also known as the physician self-referral law, or Sta rk Law, intends to prevent the misappropriation of or over utilization of healthcare that could result from incentivized diagnostic ordering protocols that may be a direct result of financial relationships that could influence healthcare decisions. The law is named for its author, United State Congressman Pete Stark, a Democrat from California, who authored and supported the creation of this piece of legislationRead MoreState Health Policy Analysis8008 Words   |  33 Pagesaccess. Various suggestions on what state health policy should look like will be addressed and a concrete suggestion will be made to ensure the values of an excellent state health policy plan. (The commonwealth fund August 2009) As a result of a declining United States economy many States are being asked to do more with less when it comes to health care. Some States have come up with their own Universal Health plans such as Massachusetts and Washington. Other States are experimenting with federalRead More Affirmative Action Essay4755 Words   |  20 Pagesequality when evaluating college or job applications? The United States has a history of treating minorities, women and immigrants like 2nd-class citizens while favoring affluent white males (Schrag). In 1857, the Scott vs. Sanford decision stated that blacks have â€Å"no rights which the white man is bound to respect† (Davis). However, changes were made in the legal treatment of women and minorities with the 1866 Civil Rights Act that guaranteed every citizen â€Å"the same right to make and enforce contracts†¦asRead MoreCase Analysis : Apria Healthcare2350 Words   |  10 PagesApria Healthcare is a privately owned company that was founded in 1924. There corporate headquarters are located in Lake Forest California. They are the largest provider of home healthcare products and services to help maximize the independence of their patients. This includes products and services for home respiratory therapy, medical equipment such as beds, bathroom equipment and wheelchairs, negative pressure wound therapy, home infusion thera py and most recently enteral. They support over 2Read MoreThe Issue of Legalizing Marijuana1918 Words   |  8 Pagessinful decisions and broken lives. Marijuana was seen as a drug with the potential to drive people â€Å"mad† and lead to decisions they would regret later. Its case was also not helped by the fact many of its users were people of poor and disenfranchised minority groups. It was also seen as a â€Å"gateway† drug to the use of harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Gary Cartwright, a news reporter and staff writer for Texas Monthly, states â€Å"Harry Anslinger, the zealous federal narcotics commissioner, suppliedRead MoreResume6916 Words   |  28 Pagesinsurance (Health Insurance Institute, 1980). But few were insured for primary or out-of-hospital care. Of the members of the general population who reported they had pains in the heart, 25 11 1996/Volume 18, Number 2 percent did not see a physician (Andersen and Anderson, 1967). The elderly were particularly hard hit. The classic example of the proposed Medicare beneficiary was the elderly schoolteacher, blameless after a career of work. I am one of your old retired teachers that has beenRead MoreNursing Essay41677 Words   |  167 Pages(Retired), Johnson Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ Leah Devlin, Professor of the Practice, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Raleigh Catherine Dower, Associate Director of Research, Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami David C. Goodman, Professor of Pediatric and of Community and Family Medicine, Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, The Dartmouth InstituteRead MoreHealth Care Analysis8147 Words   |  33 Pagessingle-payer health care system covers about 70% of expenditures, and the Canada Health Act req uires that all insured persons be fully insured, without co-payments or user fees, for all medically necessary hospital and physician care. About 91% of hospital expenditures and 99% of total physician services are financed by the public sector.[20] Ophthalmology and dental services account for a lot of the private expenditures in Canada. In the United States, with its mixed public-private system, 16% or 45 million

What Is Team Leadership Theory - 907 Words

Human beings are social creatures, therefore have an innate desire to be accepted as part of a group, which delivers a sense of safety and security. Once accepted into established groups, intimidation can sway individual attitudes and behavior towards conforming to group norms, resulting in discouraged creativity, and decisions void of critical thinking. Because team-based structures are popular in today’s companies, it is important for managers to understand how to avoid conformity pitfalls. When utilizing team leadership theory, managers can mitigate negative consequences that group conformity instigates, by offering a leadership style that facilitates team member autonomy, creativity, healthy debate, and openness to new ideas. Human beings innately seek community and membership. Myers and Rosenberger (2012) explain that â€Å"humans, as social creatures, look to others for affiliation† (p.14), which corresponds with Over and Carpenter’s (2009) statement that â€Å"human beings are intensely social creatures and, as such, devote significant time and energy to creating and maintaining affiliative bonds with group members† (p.F1). This intrinsic desire for group affiliation, while important in evolutionary human survival, poses concern for today’s leaders who utilize team collaboration to achieve organizational goals. In team settings, it is important for managers to understand human social dynamics, and recognize if group behavior mimicry develops. The human need to belong,Show MoreRelatedLeadership And Leadership Theory Of Leadership1341 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership Application Jesus Cabral Brandman University The author of this paper has been in various leadership positions for over 20 years. Some positions held by the author have been team leader, Operations Manager, General Manager, and Director of Operations. The author has lead teams with various degrees of education and from many cultures. The leadership theories studied during OLCU 400 will assist this leader though experienced to become much more effective and focus on thoseRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Functional Leadership Theory1258 Words   |  6 Pages  There are many theories about leadership. This paper will contain information on one of those theories, functional leadership theory.   This paper will define functional leadership theory and discuss one of the people that helped develop this leadership theory. It will also give some advantages and disadvantages of functional leadership theory.   Ã‚   â€Å"Are good leaders made or born?†, this is an age-old question. People can argue that either can be true.   Good leaders need many qualities to be effectiveRead MoreLeadership Style : Douglas Mcgregor s Theory X767 Words   |  4 Pagescharacteristics of autocratic leadership in terms of the four key characteristics of the theory and the way autocratic leadership can manifest, it’s auspicious to consider the theoretical basis of the leadership style: Douglas McGregor’s Theory X. Theory X Autocratic leadership style closely rests on the assumptions made in Douglas McGregor’s Theory X. The theory explains why people behave the way they do and if they are acting in a particular way, what kind of leadership style would be beneficialRead MoreContingency Leadership Theories and Effective Leadership800 Words   |  4 PagesContingency Leadership Theories and Effective Leadership Contingency leadership theories attempt to define leadership style, the situation, and answer the if-then contingencies. Situational leadership theory is a contingency theory that focuses on followers’ readiness: the extent to which people have the ability and willingness to accomplish a specific task. Path-goal theory states that it is the leader’s job to assist followers in attaining their goals and to provide direction or support neededRead MoreA Proposal on Effective Leadership Approaches830 Words   |  3 PagesFrom: Team leader, special programs department RE: PLAN ON LEADERSHIP OF THE NEW DEPARTMENT With the recent introduction of a new department and my appointment as the team leader of the team that was put up to ensure that the company effectively enters the intended market calls for sound and sober leadership. An effective leader like me is what the team requires so that the company can be able to effectively enter the market as fast as possible. 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Hence, there as many theories on leadershipRead MoreLeadership Theories And Behavior Approaches Of The Service Department Of A Global High Tech Company1578 Words   |  7 Pagesemployee low morale, I was assigned the duty to prepare a research paper that will iron out the different belief on what is right and what is wrong across the board as well as communicate information and solutions as well as provide a foundation of knowledge that will foster team spirit with peers and employees to solve these problems. This report will explore different leadership theories and behavior approaches including Tuckman’s group development model in an effort to share that information withRead MorePractice 3. Management And Employee Cooperation Are Very812 Words   |  4 Pagesis fostered constructed through leadership theories may not work in all environments which are why the managers must use a style that works for the manager and the employee. The style that is used must foster a workplace environment that builds teamwork and build on the management of the team. Three theories of leadership that may be used are transactional, transformation, and contingency. The use of the proper style may be interrelated with team building theories such as Tuckman’s, John Adairs

When Margaret Atwood Published Her Novel, The Handmaid’S

When Margaret Atwood published her novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, in 1998, it was met with a wave of mixed reviews. Dystopic and Utopic novels have always been critiques of the time periods in which they are written. They extrapolate present truths and can provide valuable critiques of the ills that our society faces. Upon publishing of this novel, two main questions were raised. First, Is this an accurate and fair critique of the 1980’s social and political climate? Furthermore, Is Atwood’s story a plausible future that could occur during our lifetimes? Many believed the issues raised were exaggerated and that nothing like Gilead would ever come about in the United States. Others felt that it was a brilliant tool to raise awareness on our†¦show more content†¦Renamed Gilead, American culture is completely restructured. Homosexuality, other religions, abortion, and reading are just a few of the things that are now outlawed. There are public executions and s ecret police, the Eyes, who look for any signs of dissension for Gileadean citizens. The role of women in the society drastically takes a shift with the new regime as well. They are not allowed to own property, money, or work for either one. They are assigned to roles, giving them specific tasks within the society. First there are the Wives, who, as implied are wives of the Commanders, who are the rulers of Gilead and subsequently the only one allowed to marry. The Marthas take the traditional role in the house, cooking, cleaning, and serving in whatever way is necessary of them. Then there are the Handmaids, who hold a special place in Gilead. In the midst of a nuclear epidemic, most women are no longer able to bear children. Those who can are sent from house to house bearing children for the Commanders, in a twisted attempt at restoring the population. If they are unsuccessful, they are marked as an Unwoman and sent to the colonies, where they will most likely die of starvation, d isease, or radiation poisoning. Finally, there are the Aunts, who train and brainwash the Handmaids at reeducation camps. When reading the novel, it can be hard to imagine that all of the characteristics of Gilead were taken from real events in history. As with any pieceShow MoreRelatedThe Life and Achievements of Margaret Eleanor Atwood Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesMargaret Eleanor Atwood, one of the most acclaimed and idolized writers’ to date. Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 18th, 1939 in the Ottawa General Hospital. Two and a half months after the beginning of the Second World War (Atwood). She is a renowned novelist and poet; furthermore writer of short stories, critical studies, screenplays, radio scripts and books for children (Gale). Margaret Atwood is a living inspiration to many writers today. 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Proper Waste Disposal

First of all, I would like to thank my wonderful parents whose support has inspired me greatly in making a willful choice in doing my best. I appreciate the skills that they have imparted to me to upon doing this research and their editing of my work has been of great help. Also, I would like to thank the library of Trinity College for being a good source of books which had aided me in writing the main body of this research. We will write a custom essay sample on Proper Waste Disposal or any similar topic only for you Order Now Very special thanks to my fellow classmates who have been readers to my research paper and who have pointed out my mistakes. I would like to thank them for exchanging ideas with me and for helping me deal with the arduous publishing process of paper. I doubt that I won’t be able to express my appreciation to them fully, but I owe them all my gratitude. I would also like to acknowledge my friends for being the ones who have motivated me to develop focus, as well as self-confidence. Without their support and understanding, I would not have accomplished this research paper. Lastly, I must acknowledge my beloved teacher, Ms. Nancy Ramos, for being the greatest help I would ever need in this research. Without her skills and assistance in writing this, I won’t be able to finish this research. And without her, this research wouldn’t have been made possible. Abstract Improper ways of disposing are common nowadays. Therefore, researches about proper waste disposal and waste management are of great interest. This study shows how the collection, transport, processing, recycling, and monitoring of waste materials can be as important as can be. Its immediate objective is to inform the readers, the community, and the society about how properly disposing of our waste materials can change lives. To come up with a research output, some books were used as a good source of materials and some people who worked for the government’s waste management had been interviewed. Also, observation of wastes all around Metro Manila had been done for a good source of evidence of whether or not people dispose of their wastes properly. As a result, the knowledge of waste disposal will be imparted not just to any special figure or anyone who works for the government management, but also to any citizen, may it be a student or a teacher, or a parent or a child, just like you. I, therefore, conclude that it is important and beneficial for everyone to know how to dispose their wastes properly to contribute to the improvement of our Mother Nature. Hopefully, this research may be of good use to better understand how our wastes affect our atmosphere greatly. IntroductionIn the early pre-industrial times, wastes compose of ashes from fires, woods, bones, bodies, and vegetable wastes. They are disposed of underground to serve as compost and contribute to the soil’s improvement. But only small amounts of ash, broken tools, and pottery were excavated by the archeological digs. Everything was repaired and reused and populations were smaller before. The change from nomadic hunter-gatherer to farmer meant that wastes could no longer be left behind. Because waste could no longer be left behind, it had become a big issue. Reusing and recycling became an everyday routine since the industrial revolution, wherein materials became more available than labor. There was a reuse system of bronze scrap operation 4000 years ago in Europe where they discovered that composting started in China. Reusing and recycling is widely recognized in the form of salvage, the usual tradition until the Rag-and-Bone men. Conventionally, salvaged materials included leather, feathers, and textiles. Feeding vegetable wastes to farm animals is also considered as a form of recycling, and as well as using green wastes as fertilizers. Soon after, some activities for improvements were done such as the melting down and re-casting of gold, the salvaging of timber, etc. But as the populations in cities had increased, the space for disposal had decreased. And because of that, societies had developed waste disposal systems. Proper waste disposal reduces the impact of waste into the atmosphere by observing the proper methods of disposing of. Because improper disposal of our wastes imposes cost on others, waste disposal has been a big political issue. Dirty disposal methods such as dumping are big problems nowadays. Though the easiest among any method, it creates health risks for the public. Waste disposal was not always observed and monitored properly; therefore, everyone must comply with the methods used in order to achieve environmental advantages. Achieving this awareness in proper waste disposal is important to lessen the waste we dispose of improperly. Discussion Waste disposal is either disposing our wastes in the water, on land or anywhere. Waste is usually managed where it can prevent the releasing of pollutants in our environment. Before disposing of our wastes, it is a must that they may be classified according to its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. By classifying them according to consistency is the major way of classification; whether it is liquid waste, solid waste, or sludge. Liquid wastes must be less than 1% solid. On the other hand, solid wastes must contain less than 70% water. Sludge is another classification of waste materials; being somewhere in between a liquid and a solid. It must contain 3 and 25% solid and the rest is made up of water. Hazardous and Non-hazardous Wastes One must also know how to differentiate the waste between hazardous and non-hazardous. Hazardous wastes are possible threats to public health and the environment. To certify that the waste is really hazardous, one must observe the following factors attributed by the waste material: ignitability, reactivity, corrosivity, and toxicity. It is said to be ignitable when a waste contains liquid with a flashpoint of less than 60o C or 140o F. The waste is also ignitable if it is a solid that burns spontaneously, flammable compressed, an oxidizer, and a material with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) flammability hazard rating of 3 or 4. But if the material tends to be unstable at normal temperatures and pressures, it is a hazardous waste that is classified as a reactive. Examples of this are explosives and cyanide or sulfuric bearing wastes. (â€Å"Waste Types† p.1) A corrosive substance, on the other hand, is a substance that will permanently damage another substance or surface whenever it comes in contact with it. To people, it can cause damage to the eyes, the skin, and tissues under the skin. Inhaling corrosive substances can also damage the respiratory gastrointestinal tracts. Lastly, hazardous wastes can be considered as toxic wastes. Toxic wastes are poisonous. They spread easily and can contaminate bodies of water. These wastes can pose a long-term risk to the public health and environment. In disposing of hazardous wastes, bear in mind those we should recover and dispose of waste without endangering human health and harming our environment.If factors of hazardous materials were not determined, it must then be a non-hazardous waste. Non-hazardous wastes do not pose any threats to the public health and environment. They can be in the form of sewage wastes, cesspool wastes, food industry wastes, vehicle wash, drain cleanings, etc. Solid and Liquid Wastes When disposing of liquid wastes, there are certain ways in order to prevent pollutants to the storm drain systems. These include the Erosion Control, Sediment Control, Tracking Control, Wind Erosion Control, Non-stormwater Management Control, and lastly, the Waste Management and Materials Pollution Control. Practicing effective erosion control can help in the prevention of water pollution and soil pollution. Sediment control is designed to keep eroded soil in a construction site, so as to not let any nearby bodies of water to wash it off. This is done to reduce water pollution. Lastly, wind erosion is the control wherein water or any dust palliatives is applied to lessen dust created by construction sites. (â€Å"Liquid Waste Management† pp. 1-4) Landfills However, when solid wastes are being disposed, they are usually thrown in landfills. Pavoni, Heer Jr.Hagerty (1975) defines landfills as: Landfilling of solid wastes is a method of waste disposal which has been practiced since very early times. As a general rule, it is still one of the most economical waste disposal techniques in current use. It is often referred to as the only final solid waste disposal method since, unlike incineration or composting, it is not a processing operation which yields a residue or end product which requires disposal. The wastes deposited in a sanitary landfill are considered to be ultimately ‘eliminated’; the landfill is their ultimate destination. Because of this, landfilling of solid waste material is in some ways a very undesirable procedure; many potentially useful materials which could be recycled are buried in the earth and lost. Disposing of waste materials in landfills is commonly done by waste management. This involves the burying of wastes in abandoned places such as quarries, mining voids, and borrow pits. It is a must for landfills to be properly arranged in order to prevent the scattering of garbage everywhere, the growing of undesired vermin, and as well as the multiplication of the growth of liquid leachate. And even though we get certain benefits from the usage of landfills and though it had been a helpful place for waste burial, it was proven that landfills may contaminate drinking water. Also, the byproduct of landfills is gas. And these organic wastes break down anaerobically. The produced gas may develop foul odors, may kill a high percentage of vegetations and crops, and lastly, the most trivial of all, it may be a greenhouse gas. (â€Å"Landfill† p. 2) Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse gases are gases that happen to be the reason of the so-called greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases generally clouds the earth and keep it about 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would be without these gases present in the earth. They are generally known as warmers of our world. There are many compounds in the earth that act as greenhouse gases. These gases allow sunlight (relative shortwave energy) to reach the earth’s surface without hindrance. As this energy produced heats the surface, longer wave energy is reradiated to the atmosphere. (â€Å"Greenhouse Effect† p. 1) The greenhouse effect usually occurs brought by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide. But some gases are man-made which includes the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), perfluorocarbon (PFC), and the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Concentrations of these gases had risen due to different activities done by man. As the population of human and the reliance upon fossil fuels had increased, the release of these gases had also increased. Though carbon dioxide reacts naturally with the atmosphere, but because of the obstruction of man in the carbon cycle by burning, mining, etc, we move carbon from solid to its gaseous state, leaving the earth with atmospheric concentrations. â€Å"Greenhouse Effect† p. 1) The production of carbon dioxide is achieved from the terrestrial biosphere. But as mentioned, human activities had intervened in the natural cycle of carbon production through the burning of coal, oil, natural gas, and wood. Carbon dioxide is the first greenhouse gas which had increased in atmospheric concentration. Earlier industrial revolution concentrations were steady and stable at 280ppm. But nowadays, there are at around 380ppm, increased by 30%. Atmospheric concentration has fluctuated due to the extent of landmass and vegetation from the northern hemisphere.A great drawdown of carbon dioxide happens in the spring and summer season in the northern hemisphere as plants convert carbon dioxide. Then, it would again be released during the fall and winter when plants undergo decomposition. (â€Å"Greenhouse Effect† p. 2) Incineration But aside from disposing our waste materials through landfills, incineration is also commonly used. Pavoni, et al. , (1975) states that: Incineration is a controlled combustion process for reducing solid, liquid, or gaseous combustible wastes primarily to carbon dioxide, other gases, and a relatively noncombustible residue. The residue is usually deposited in an accompanying landfill (generally located in a distant spot) after recovery of any valuable materials. The carbon dioxide and other gases generated through the combustion process are released to the atmosphere. Incineration is known to be the second oldest form of waste disposal. And until the present time, it is still practiced. Certainly, the discovery of fire had brought to men different kinds of advantages. From the advantages, the fire obtained led to primal incineration as a disposal practice. Until the present time, men relied greatly upon waste fire.Most of them ignored the consequences of burning wastes. But, established communities can no longer ignore this open burning because rather significant production of air pollutants is related to uncontrolled burning. (â€Å"Incineration† p. 2) For several years, incineration of wastes consisted of open burning in pits. The use of fire wagon was once an innovation during the early industrial times. The wagon was pulled by a horse through medieval towns so people in the cities can just toss their wastes in it through upper story windows onto this moving bonfire.People’s interest on this brilliant innovation grew. And so, in the late 1950s, a proposal of enclosed mobile incinerator was approved. The incinerator was to be used for the reduction of domestic and demolition wastes in a number of districts. Two American engineers, Hering and Greely, have explained the historical developments of incinerators. (Pavoni, et al. p. 59) Certain arguments about the usage of incinerators had been done, although it does contribute to the reducing of wastes. It had been a controversial method of waste disposal due to certain issues such as gaseous pollutants, etc. Incineration is very common in some countries like Japan, wherein their lands are very scarce. Because of that, they need not too much area of landfills. Waste-to-energy (WtE) or Energy-from-waste (EfW) are widely used terms for facilities that burn wastes in furnace to make, produce, or generate heat, steam, and/or electricity. Combustions in incinerators are not always perfect and highly recommended because there had been concerns about micro-pollutants in gaseous emissions from incinerator stacks. But aside from the facts argued about, this method produces heat that can be used as energy.(Pavoni, et al. . 162) Innovations in Disposal Although traditional methods of disposal are used (composting, sanitary landfills, and incineration), they are not fully practiced without following the three R’s, also known as the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle method. Inadequate markets for compost have practically stopped composting as a feasible disposal technique. Also, the volume reduction provided by incineration necessitates the need of a larger landfill for residue disposal. The sanitary landfill method is also weighed down by an increasing scarcity of adequate land areas. (â€Å"Innovations in Disposal† p.224) Accordingly, there is a need for an upgrade in such methods or other innovations to develop proper waste disposal. Innovative disposal methods are as follows: aside from the widely known three Rs method, proposals have included both new methods of disposal; medium-temperature and high-temperature incineration. According to Pavoni, et al. (1975), â€Å"A new development in incineration, the so-called ‘high-temperature incineration’ process, consists of combustion and fusion of wastes at temperatures between 3000 and 3300o F, which is 1200 to 1500 o F higher than combustion temperatures in conventional incinerators. However, medium temperature incineration will most likely to be available. Older community solid waste incinerators are medium temperature incinerators and the use of these facilities is encouraged as a short-term measure, rather than less safe options, such as inadequate discharge to a landfill. Waste Management Hierarchy Waste hierarchy refers to the widely known Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle method, which classify waste management according to their appeal in terms of minimizing our wastes. The aim of waste hierarchy is to encourage citizens to generate a minimum amount of waste.Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is the strategy made to support the addition of all costs associated with products throughout the life cycle into market prices. This simply means that manufacturers are required to be responsible and hold account for their products. (â€Å"Waste Managing Concepts† p. 6) Lastly, the Polluter pays principle is states that any pollutant party shall pay for the impact damage caused to the environment. With regard to waste management, they are required to pay for the appropriate disposal of waste. (â€Å"Waste Managing Concepts† p.6) Conclusion The best way of disposing our wastes properly may vary in different techniques, may even cause pollution, and may even recover materials and energy. Preferably, the so-called Incineration method is the best way for hazardous wastes, organic wastes, and combustible miscellaneous wastes. By doing so, ashes can be used as nutrients, too. Not only can we dispose through the use of incineration, but we can also classify our wastes by their kinds: biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Recyclables should be reused intact if possible, processed on board if that is cost-effective, or compacted and shipped to recycling plants on land otherwise.Also, recycling has many advantages in our environment. It uses less energy while causing less pollution and it reduces the waste disposed in landfills. In the 18th century, the disposal of waste wasn’t always monitored. However, since then, our trash has become more complicated. We have many different types of wastes and it is a must that they may be disposed properly to prevent contaminating our environment. Nowadays, our natural sources have become scarcer and scarcer. That is why, putting the three R’s into action is the most efficient and forward-thinking approach to waste. And so, one must learn the proper ways of disposing of and pass it on from generations to generations. How to cite Proper Waste Disposal, Papers

Willy Loman, Tragic Hero or Selfish Individual free essay sample

Willy Loman, the protagonist in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, is often referred to as a tragic hero who is forced to commit suicide to valiantly save his family from the â€Å"elusive† American Dream. The majority of critics give readers the impression that Willy was a selfless man that worked himself to death in order to support his family and ensure their success and happiness. He is portrayed as a hard worker with a life full of tribulations and challenges. However, his hard work never seemed to pay off and instead he found himself living the American nightmare. Unfortunately his true character and image is constantly being distorted and readers constantly fall into the trap of believing Willy Loman is a tragic hero, whom deserves nothing less than respect and sympathy. However, after complete understanding of the play one realizes that Willy Loman brought all his misfortunes upon himself due to his warped mindset about success, his dedication in acquiring the approval of others, and his tunnel vision that was only directed towards money and wealth. We will write a custom essay sample on Willy Loman, Tragic Hero or Selfish Individual? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Critic Bert Cardullo summarizes this whole play by claiming, â€Å"What is left in this play is neither a critique of the business world nor an adult vision of something different and better. Rather, it’s the story of a man (granting he was sane) who failed as a salesman and father, and made things worse by refusing to admit those failures, which he knew to be true,† (Cardullo 9). Not only did Willy Loman refuse to admit his constant failings, he also abruptly ends his own life at the end of the play, which should not grant him the title and status of tragic hero, instead Willy should be considered a selfish and arrogant salesman who’s constant failings lead him to commit suicide in order to escape from his dead end life. Critics across the world agree on very few issues when it comes to analyzing literature. However, critics were able to come to a common consensus in defining a tragic hero. All tragic heroes have common characteristics such as wisdom, a flaw or error, recognition that their own actions is leading down the wrong path, and a reversal of fortune. When comparing Willy Loman to the common archetype of the tragic hero he does not come close to fitting the mold all critics agree upon. Through his actions and business endeavors only realizes that Willy Loman lacks any type of wisdom. His constant failures also show that he refuses to recognize the action’s he has taken have been the wrong ones and therefore his difficulties were self inflicted. As the play begins Willy Loman appears to be a salesman hit hard by America’s capitalistic society, which leaves him with most of his unsold merchandise at the end of the day and a family that he is unable to provide for. The fact that he must travel hours on end to attempt a sales deal, and go through many inconveniences to keep his commission-based job, and still have to borrow money from his successful neighbor, portrays Willy as a man who has no luck and is in a desperate state. However, as the story progresses Willy Loman displays a great deal of stubbornness and an irrational understanding of success. His only concern in life is to achieve the elusive American Dream. Unfortunately, â€Å"in a country with an every-man-a-king theology the delusion of royalty is a powerful drug, a dangerous dream. And Miller argued that the fall, on waking up, can be fatal, can meet the demands of tragedy,†(Corliss). The reader realizes early on that Willy did not truly understand what the American Dream meant and that he was headed down the wrong road. Willy is in this position of desperation because he acts like he is working hard to support his family when in reality he is only consumed with acquiring wealth and status. During one of Willy’s flashbacks he says, â€Å"Bernard can get the best marks in school, yunderstand, but when he gets out in the business world, yunderstand, you are going to be five times ahead of him†¦Be liked and you will never want,† (Miller 935). Willy is advocating that education is a waste of time. He attempts to convince his son that high marks in school may seem nice for the time being, however in the business world they mean nothing. Willy Loman is an emotionally stunted father that refuses to act his age and is setting the worst of precedents for his two sons (Thompson). How can a man with such a mindset be given the honor and title of tragic hero? All archetypes for tragic heroes mention wisdom early on the list of characteristics. If Willy had a bit of wisdom he would emphasize the importance of his children’s education. Rather he explains that success and happiness come from the approval of others. Although his job is clearly heading in the wrong direction, he does not press pause and try to turn his situation around. Instead he dedicates his time and effort to other minuscule causes such as seeking approval of his counterparts. Willy is a salesman with high goals and expectations. It is common knowledge that success and achievement of goals is due to a definitive plan and determination. As a salesman Willy must understand that his success will only come from making sales. Rather than spending time he will never get back trying to seek approval, he must spend that time reaching out to new potential clientele and trying to convince them to buy his product. Unfortunately, at this point in the play, Willy has reached the age of senior citizenship and the reader realizes that he spent countless time running after a dream with the wrong game plan. Instead of focusing all his efforts on making sales and finding new clientele, he spent a large portion of his time with people who would not benefit him and chasing after selfish causes. He was completely blinded by the opportunity of achieving high status. He did not realize that status would take away from the success and advancement of his business. One would think that with age comes wisdom. Willy has been working in sales for as long as he can remember yet he was never able to recognize that his actions were taking him through a cycle of failure. He is not able to understand that success comes with hard work and dedication. At this point Willy is at a dead end. He refuses to actually put some work and effort into his business endeavors. He is at a point where everything that lay before him was composed of difficulties, trials, and tribulations. He led himself into a state of extreme poverty and he was relying on the financial support of his neighbor to provide for his family. Unfortunately, Willy had too much pride to speak to his family about the situation he has put himself into. He felt that eventually he would be able to work his way back up the ladder, however he was digging himself into a deeper hole with each new day. With all these difficulties the reader is compelled to feel sympathy for this helpless character which is a characteristic of a tragic hero; however he did not deserve an ounce of sympathy because a true tragic hero’s fate is much greater than what he truly deserves. Willy Loman’s fate was self inflicted. He had so many debts and a dead end job because he did not work. He would go on business trips and make a social hour out of it. His fate and situation was fully deserved. Another clear flaw in Willy’s character was he was given an opportunity to redeem himself, erase his past, and turn his life around. His neighbor Charlie, offered Willy a job. Charlie explained to him, â€Å"You can make fifteen dollars a week. And I wont send you on the road,† (Miller 969). For a man in desperation, this would seem to be an offer sent down from the heavens. However in the case of Willy, this offer was an insult and a direct shot at the little pride he was able to build over the years. Ultimately he rejected the job offer out of arrogance. Willy, who felt life should hand him amazing opportunities rejected a job that would make all his difficulties disappear. A tragic hero is known to make many mistakes along his journey. However, eventually they have an awakening and attempt to make a genuine change. Willy was handed the situation where he can make a genuine change and he selfishly denied it so people would not think of him as a lesser man; Willy fails to realize that people do not even bother to think of him as a man. Critics constantly argue that Willy Loman was left in a situation with no hope. They argue that Willy’s main concern was to keep his family happy and fully supported. Contrary to popular belief, he was a selfish and arrogant person who only cared for status and wealth. Had Willy been concerned about the state of his family and their survival, he would have jumped at the opportunity for a new job. He would not have thought twice about it and he would have accepted on the spot. This job could have turned everything around for him and his family. He was always explaining that he was worn out and, â€Å"tired to the death,†(Miller 924). It was apparent that he was no longer in shape to travel anymore, however he denied a job offer that gave him everything he desperately longed for, leaving one to question his true intentions. Was Willy truly concerned with the well being of his family? As Willy’s life passes him by, he misses the most important aspects of it. He is not able to realize that he has something many men long for. He has a wife, Linda, who is not concerned with the amount money he makes. She says â€Å"I don’t say he’s a great man. Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He’s not the finest character that ever lived.†(Miller 948). However even after all these shortcomings, she makes it clear that her love for him will only grow stronger with each new day. He also has two sons, yet he always ignores them and has a bad relationship with them. He does not even attempt to reconcile with his sons. His son Biff resents him because he found out that his father was having affairs with other women while he travelled. His son Happy has never been put in the spotlight, or given any attention even though he is the most successful one regardless of his position of â€Å"assistant to the assistant manager.† Willy tries to convince himself that his family is the most important aspect in life, however he never truly tries to be there for them both physically and financially. All these problems cannot be blamed on capitalistic America. Instead there is no one to blame but Willy himself. He was not interested in the well being of his family; if he was, he would connect with his sons and he would rebuild his relationship with them. Willy’s actions are contradictory to the dream he so desperately appears to be chasing. He is having troubles maintaining stability within his home and therefore uses his business as an outlet to get away. He hits the road pretending to make sales when in reality he is after an unclear dream, status and pleasure. Willy brings all these problems upon himself causing his own hopelessness. Eventually all these problems begin to cause regret and denial in Willy. Instead of accepting the job offer from his neighbor he begins to think of other ways to get his family back on their feet. He realizes that he has no choice but to kill himself. He felt that he was, was worth more dead than alive (Miller). Willy was so pompous, he would rather end his life and provide his family with his insurance policy instead of taking a hit to his pride and admitting his wrongs. He did not want to be judged by others and therefore he rejected a perfect job opportunity, although nobody would judge a man that was trying to make a genuine change for the wellbeing of his family. He convinced himself that the only resort would be killing himself. He thought his suicide would show him in a more positive light and would allow him to pay off his debts, causing others to consider him a righteous and respectable man. He was willing to take his own life for the sake of some recognition, which he never received after he was gone. Arthur Miller put Willy Loman in such a situation because, â€Å"He was grieving for mankind, for man’s inability to connect with his fellow man, maybe for the need to dream. Miller saw the American Dream as a kind of curse, for it led us to mistake ambition for destiny, and to suffer the inevitable slump and crumble when reality makes mock of the dream† (Corliss). This play is not supposed to instill sympathy in the reader, proving that Willy was not created to be a tragic hero. Instead, he is supposed to be used as an example of how not to go about achieving your dreams and goals. One critic goes on to claim that Miller’s true intentions were to, â€Å"identify the sins of the father, of all the fathers who grabbed for too much, who didnt care enough,† (Corliss). Willy made mistakes which are human and acceptable, however he was given multiple chances to redeem himself and he rejected them out of arrogance. A person in despair should not be embarrassed to seek assistance and should accept advice from the wise people that surround him. People need to learn to connect and work with each other. Embarrassment and pride, similar to Willy’s case, will only lead to downfall. Critic Bert Cardullo summarizes the end of Willy by stating, â€Å"In fact, he [Willy] kills himself for money. Because he confuses materialistic success with worthiness for love,†(Cardullo 9). In conclusion, Willy Loman’s pride and delusions led him to commit suicide. Willy did not die the death of a hero he died the death of a man who was too full of himself. His actions would have been understandable if he was cornered and had absolutely no other choice to financially support his family. However, one opportunity after the other was thrown in his direction to redeem himself and his precious pride caused him to reject them. He felt his suicide would make all his problems disappear and bring his family happiness. A hero does everything in his power to fight until the end, yet Willy saw no hope and therefore saw no reason to continue living. Willy left his wife grieving over his grave, questioning why he would leave his family and causing them to endure all this pain. His entire life was based on working towards the American Dream and achieving the approval of others, but we see how far that got him when no one attends his funeral. Willy Loman did not truly desire the American Dream. He was in the pursuit of a warped version of success. He spent countless hours and business trips seeking the approval of others and sexual pleasures. His death and journey were not one of a tragic hero. Willy never admitted to his flaws and never attempted to turn things around. Simply put he was a selfish and self consumed individual. When he realized how deep the hole he dug himself into became, he arrogantly ended his life as an escape. He did not think twice about what he was leaving behind. Willy only cared for wealth and status, and when he realized he would never attain either, he no longer found a purpose for his life. Critic, Bert Cardullo, proves this point in his journal entry in the Columbia Journal of American studies by writing: â€Å"In fact, he kills himself for money. Because he confuses materialistic success with a worthiness for love,† (Cardullo). Willy’s perception of status and wealth being the epitome of success blinded him from the true purpose of life and the true American Dream. Such a character is an ill to society that does not deserve the honor to be classified as a tragic hero. â€Å"Willy Loman is an aging and mediocre salesman who will not grow up, but who will instead remain an impulsive and â€Å"mercurial† boy groping ineffectually for success in a world that pays him no heed,† (Thompson 245).