Thursday, November 28, 2019

Fiji Water A comprehensive analysis

Executive summary The main idea behind entrepreneurship is the production of goods and services that perform well in their respective markets, thus creating opportunities for optimum financial gains for the entrepreneurs. However, the development of such products and services requires the fulfilment of certain specific conditions to ensure that the goods or services gain acceptance in the market coupled with developing and remaining relevant even as trends in the market change.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Fiji Water: A comprehensive analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As exciting as the launching of such products and services may be, the process of ensuring that they get to the intended consumers while elevating profit levels is not without its challenges. This paper looks at an example of these aspects through a case study regarding Fiji Water and its manufacturing company. The paper is analytical in nature and it displays some of the aspects that make the product unique and relevant in the market, some of the challenges that the product’s company encounters, how the company has dealt with the challenges in the past, as well as challenges that it currently faces, and possible solutions to its presenting problems. It also provides a possible contingency plan in case such solutions do not prove fruitful. Fiji Water: Situational assessment Fiji Water is a bottled water brand from Fiji that sells artesian water containing silica, which is a mineral renowned for its anti-aging and rejuvenation properties. Although the product’s launch market was Fiji, it has gained international acclamation through its distribution to other countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Due to such widespread recognition, the products market is vast and dynamic, thus enabling more sales and reaching consumers than the company had earlier anticipated. Although this ele ment has positive implications regarding financial gain, the vastness of the market also means that the product faces competition from numerous other companies selling similar products. Bottled water is an alternative product, as opposed to supplementary products such as most fast foods that accompany the consumption of soft drinks. As such, Fiji water faces competition from various local brands that sell similar products in different countries. For instance, in the United States, the brand goes against local brands such as Ice Mountain, Deer Park, Arrowhead, and Poland Spring. In addition, the brand’s classification in the same category as soft drinks puts it in the same pool as renowned brands such as Coca Cola and PepsiCo, both of which have an established clientele worldwide. These two companies are part of the few in the world that enjoy a form of monopoly in the soft drinks department. Such monopoly has created a challenge for Fiji Water to curve a niche in the market a nd become relevant.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Certain attributes of the product have enabled it to stand out thus giving it a competitive edge against others in its category. First, the quality of Fiji water has enabled it to gain and maintain approval from consumers and distributors alike. Unlike most other mineral water brands, Fiji water contains light mineralisation and its artesian quality gives it a clean crisp taste that enables consumers to feel the purity of the product. In addition, unlike most other brands that are bottled at cold mountainous regions, Fiji Water comes from a tropical region, thus giving it a sense of exotic luxury, which is refreshing for the consumers. Good quality ensures that consumers repurchase a product in the future and market it to other potential customers through the word of mouth. Secondly, the uniqueness of its packaging ens ures that consumers are in a position to distinguish the product from others on sight when shopping for bottled water. When the company introduced its brand, especially in the American market, the majority of other brands of bottled water were bottled with paper labels bearing conservative colours. In order to ensure that people shopping for bottled water would immediately spot Fiji water, the packaging company, Fiji Water LLC, packaged the product in square bottles with brightly coloured labels bearing three-dimensional graphics that were stylishly attractive and easy on the eyes. This bold move ensured that people noticed the product first as retailers lined it up with other brands on shelves in supermarkets and convenience stores and that they would easily recognise it when going for future purchases. The marketing and strategy for the product also set it apart from the rest of the brands. For instance, in the United States, the product was distributed to wholesale as well as ret ail stores in strategic cities such as Los Angeles and Miami. In order to reach a wider market, the company supplied the product to big strategic outlets as well as small retail outlets such as drug stores and gas stations, thus ensuring a wide reach and more objective response. In 2005, the brand had distribution in over 400 Cole’s supermarkets. The bottles also bore a series of unique phrases that created awareness about the product’s origin and quality, such as â€Å"bottled in Fiji† and â€Å"what ecosystem is your water†. The trend with regard to consumption of bottled water is that people perceive it as a â€Å"cool† or â€Å"trendy† drink. People have made it â€Å"fashionable† to drink bottled water, hence giving it a sense of prestige and luxury. The marketing team for Fiji Water took advantage of this concept in the pricing by ensuring that the price range is suitable enough to fall into the same category with products from beverage giants such as Coca Cola and PepsiCo, yet low enough to provide an affordable alternative for such other high quality brands. Research shows that consumers would rather pay extra for a good quality product than buy a cheap bad quality product.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Fiji Water: A comprehensive analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the marketing and distribution of a product, it is important to consider the regulatory framework that governments apply in various countries in order to facilitate the estimation of profitability. For instance, it is important to research on taxation policies and ensure that they favour the company before embarking on a business in a given country. Some countries impose high importation duties in order to facilitate local production of certain products while others keep the taxes affordable to encourage importation and facilitate reduction in prices on sp ecific products in a country. In instances where the import duty is high, the determinant factor would be the demand for the product, thus laying the basis on whether the sale of the product in such a country offsets the costs incurred during importation. For instance, during the early years of production of Fiji Water in Fiji, the government of Fiji, upon realisation of the impact the company had on the economy, decided to raise its taxes on exportation of bottled water in order to gain from the venture. However, due to the influence that the company had and the high employment rates it had created in the country, the company managed to counter the policy by threatening to lay off most of its labour force, which was essentially comprised of local inhabitants from areas surrounding the bottling plant. This move would cause mass unemployment and create the possibility of protests as people ranked the company as one of the most well paying institutions in the country. It is also impor tant to assess the norms in a country in order to evaluate the acceptance of the product and its consequent profitability. For instance, after a successful entry into the Australian market, Fiji Water tried to make entry into the United Kingdom. However, the company faced opposition from environmentalists and conservationists because of the distance that the water would travel to reach the people and the damage this element would have on the environment. Britain is one of the countries with the highest quality tap water in the world and thus environmentalists and conservationists thought it illogical to transport drinking water from Fiji to Britain when people could simply drink tap water. They also thought it unnecessary to go through such trouble when there was already a product from France, which was much nearer and thus provided a â€Å"cleaner â€Å"option that served the same purpose as Fiji Water. The aspect of provision of alternatives and variety, which had provided for a cceptance of the product into the market in other countries, did not seem to apply to the conservative British society as conservation of the environment through the production of least possible amounts of carbon emissions took centre stage as part of the society’s norms.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The introduction of Fiji Water into the British market sparked controversy and created scrutiny of the product and the company’s operations worldwide. It also sparked protests against bottled water, terming it as an unnecessary evil. The main concern was the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere during transportation and production of the products throughout the world and the general effects that such emissions have on the environment, such as the escalation of global warming. SWOT Analysis In determining the viability of a product for future success, it is crucial to perform an analysis of the product’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Strengths One of Fiji Water’s strengths is the uniqueness of the product when compared to similar products in the market. Most bottled water products come from mountainous regions and undergo high levels of mineralisation, a factor that has a great impact on the taste of the water. Fiji Water undergoes natural filtration by volcanic rocks for 450 years and it contains silica (a mineral with rejuvenating and anti-aging properties), thus requiring very light mineralisation. Therefore, the water has a crisp clean taste that is appealing to consumers and contributing to the establishment of a more permanent market. Secondly, the pricing of the product ensures affordability by most people in the countries that the company distributes the product. This aspect ensures that Fiji Water is a household product with all the qualities of a luxury brand. The wide distribution of the product is also another notable strength as it ensures for a bigger market and more profitability. Weaknesses The product has a few weaknesses, and one such weakness is the location of the bottling company. This aspect is important as it determines accessibility of the product and the expenditure spent on transportation. Although profit margins make up for transportation inconvenience, development of infrastructure in the area would make it cheaper to transport the product by road. Another weakness is the involvement of various other companies in the production and distribution process that makes it vulnerable to lags in decision-making. Opportunities The Company is expanding into other countries hence new opportunities, including the possibility of expansion into untapped markets such as Asia and Africa. As global trends keep evolving, they create opportunities for access into other markets. Advancements in technology also provide opportunities for the water company to tap into markets worldwide through Internet marketing. Threats The operation of the company and the product face two main threats, viz. the uproar that environmentalists and conservationists create regarding carbon emissions from the bottling and transportation processes and the sustainability of the water source. The most crucial concern of the two is the sustainability of the source considering the area of the source and the amount of water harvested for distribution. Problem statement The primary problem exhibited in the case study is the effect that the protests by environmentalists and conservationists have on the productivity and profitability of the company. A rise in boycotts for bottled water products would mean a decrease in consumption and unnecessary expenditures leading to massive losses. Alternatives The company can employ several alternatives in the mediation of the primary problem. Expansion into rising untapped markets in Asia and Africa The sale of bottled water to companies in different countries so that the buying companies can offset transportation costs Strategic expansion and concentration on specialised markets The use of the Internet in marketing Evaluation The criterion for measurement of success for the alternative methods depends largely on reduction in expenditure and increase in profitability. The company should use as little money as possible in expenses wh ile gaining as much as possible from the sale of the product. Analysis of alternatives The main advantage of expanding into upcoming markets is that the cost of marketing is reasonable and people are more open to trying out new products. The most crucial disadvantage for this alternative is the unpredictability of the market. It is difficult to establish the trends in consumption in such markets. The advantage of selling the product to companies straight from the source is that it saves money in expenditure previously applicable to transportation. It also cuts out some of the blame that was the focus of upraise against the product in Britain. Strategic expansion means that the company should focus on just a few markets that have the greatest potential for growth and profitability. Although this option curtails wide distribution, it promotes smart distribution creating a few reliable markets for the product. Internet sales would reduce advertisement costs greatly while making up for the loss created by the strategic expansion formula. Recommendations The most recommendable option among the alternatives would be strategic expansion, as it ensures that the company remains profitable while eliminating unnecessary costs in advertisement and efforts for wide distribution. It also creates a more reliable market for the product, thus reducing the negative variables in evolving market trends. Action plan The company should concentrate on selling the product more in countries that are most receptive and indicate higher sales as this ensures profitability and sustainability for the company. The use of research would be vital in the establishment of such markets before the initiation of the implementation process. Contingency plan In case the recommended plan does not prove viable, the company would benefit from the exploration of the other alternatives in the analysis as they all aim at the same objectives, viz. reducing expenditure and increasing profitability. This case study on Fiji Water: A comprehensive analysis was written and submitted by user Jazmin Sutton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Job Cuts in the U.S. Postal Service

The Job Cuts in the U.S. Postal Service Chapter One The article written by Lisa Rein discusses the expected job cuts in the U.S. Postal Service; in particular, the author reports that approximately 7,500 jobs are going to be eliminated in the near future (Rein unpaged).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Job Cuts in the U.S. Postal Service specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To a great extent, this policy is aimed at reducing the administrative costs of the government; nevertheless, the representatives of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) argue that these reductions will result in numerous delays in mail delivery (Rein unpaged). Moreover, according to the finding of PRC, the government will not be able to achieve the expected savings (Rein unpaged). On the whole, this initiative can pose a significant threat to the infrastructure of the country (Rein unpaged). This article is closely related to the several the concepts discussed in Chapter One of the te xtbook; in this case, special attention should be paid to government corporations and regulatory commissions that perform different functions and interact with one another; for example, the Postal Service can be a government corporation that serves the needs of the population. In turn, regulatory commissions like the PRC are supposed to control and monitor different economic relations within the country. The situation described by Lisa Rein illustrates the conflict between these agencies of the government. Chapter Two Another important event that should be discussed is the intention of the U.S. Supreme Court to review the federal policies regarding same-sex marriage; this issue is closely examined in the article by Adam Liptak. According to the author, the U.S. Supreme Court may review and even reject the legal definition of marriage as a union of a man and a woman; the judges may exclude the notion of gender from this definition (Liptak unpaged). Adam Liptak emphasizes the idea tha t nowadays the decisions regarding the status of same-sex marriages are taken by the governments of separate states of the country; in contrast, a new definition of marriage can legitimize the wedlock of same-sex couples and the consent of state governments may not be required. These are the main implication of this case, but at this point it is too early to speak the changes in the legislation of the United States, but this legal debate indicates at a dramatic shift in the public opinion.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This event is linked to one of the concepts mentioned in the Chapter Two of the textbook, namely the division of the government into three branches. They have to perform different tasks such as the development of laws, the enforcement of these legal acts and their interpretation. The actions of the Supreme Court indicate that judicial and legislativ e branches of the government can interact with one another in effort to change the laws of the country. Chapter Three The recent presidential campaign and the struggle between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have attracted much attention of the press; in his article, Sean Sullivan examines the disagreement between these politicians regarding such an issue as the redistribution of wealth (Sullivan unpaged). In particular, Sean Sullivan refers to the words of Barack Obama who said that the government should ensure every citizen of the United States should have equal opportunities (Sullivan unpaged). In part, this goal can be achieved through the redistribution of wealth (Sullivan unpaged). Mitt Romney responded to this argument by saying that such an approach could undermine the core values of the country, for example, the right to property and income (Sullivan unpaged). The events described by the author are closely tied to the ideas explored in our readings, for example, the classic an d modern dilemmas of the government discussed in the Chapter Three. The redistribution of wealth is related to the modern dilemma, namely the need to promote equality in the society and the need to ensure the individual freedom of citizens. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney represent two different to the solution of this dilemma; Obama places emphasis on equality while, Romney stresses the individual freedom of citizen and their right to property (Sullivan unpaged). Therefore, the concepts discussed in the readings have significant implications for modern-day politics. Chapter Four The article written by Phillip Rucker describes the attempts of the Republican Party to reduce the role of the trade unions in Michigan (Rucker unpaged). In particular, the author focuses on the so-called right-to-work laws according to which employees are not obliged to join the union and pay any fees to these organizations (Rucker unpaged). One can say that this legislation can almost entirely exclude trade unions from the negotiations between workers and private businesses; overall, this change is more likely to benefit the employers who can dictate their terms to employees (Rucker unpaged). The critics of right-to-work laws believe that these legal changes can undermine the rights of workers; more importantly, this policy can deprive the Republican Party of its influence in Michigan for a very long time (Rucker unpaged). This article is closely related to the issues covered in the textbook; in this case, special attention should be paid to the role of interest groups that can attract the attention of policy-makers to certain problems or issues and promote legal specific changes. The situation described in the article illustrates the conflict between several interests groups, namely the employers and trade unions; in this case, they have very different goals and priorities that do not coincide with one another.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Job Cuts in the U.S. Postal Service specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chapter Five In his article, Sean Sullivan discusses the recent disagreement between Democrats and Republicans; in particular, the politicians debate such issues as spending cuts and tax increases (Entitlement debate, unpaged). According to the author, the Republicans oppose to the increased taxes for the wealthiest citizens of the United States; in contrast, Democrats believe that this policy is necessary to fund governmental programs such as Medicare (Entitlement debate, unpaged). In the opinion of the Republican politicians, such strategies are more likely to harm middle-class people, rather than benefit them (Entitlement debate, unpaged). In turn, Democrats believe that this strategy is not likely to reduce the income of many residents. On the whole, this debate is closely tied to the questions discussed in Chapter 5, for example, such concepts as pluralism and majoritarianism. Thi s disagreement illustrates the principles of pluralism that stresses the needs of different groups. It seems that pluralism ensures that the needs of particular groups are not disregarded by policy-makers who should remember that their decisions can have far-reaching implications for a great number of people. In contrast, majoritarianism in the Congress can result in the situation when there is no debate or discussion among legislators. This is one the main dangers that politician should avoid when discussing legal or social problems. Liptak, Adam. â€Å"Justices to Hear Two Challenges on Gay Marriage.† The New York  Times, 7 Dec. 2012. Web. nytimes.com/2012/12/08/us/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-two-cases-on-gay-marriage.html. Rein, Lisa. â€Å"U.S. Postal Service announces sweeping job cuts, district office closures.† The Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2011. Web. http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-03-24/politics/35207861_1_postal-regulatory-commission-postal-servic e-service-cuts. Rucker, Phillip. â€Å"In Michigan, heart of organized labor, Republicans push to limit union power.† The Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. washingtonpost.com/politics/in-michigan-heart-of-organized-labor-republicans-push-to-limit-union-power/2012/12/07/a9583a2a-4098-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html. Sullivan, Sean. ‘Romney draws attention to Obama ‘redistribution’ remark from 1998.’ The Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2012. Web. washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/09/18/romney-draws-attention-to-obama-redistribution-remark-from-1998/ .Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More -. ‘Entitlement debate sparks disagreement along party lines.’ The  Washington Post, 9 Dec. Web. washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/12/09/democrats-republicans-divided-over-entitlements/

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Public Health and the Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Public Health and the Law - Essay Example There are laws associated with motor vehicle safety at both the federal and state level. At the federal level, The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act that was enacted in 1966 in the United States empower the federal government to set and administer safety standards for road traffic safety and motor vehicles (Evans, 2004). This law was set up to curb the increasing number of motor vehicle crashes and the associated injuries and fatalities on the road. At the State (Florida) level, the laws associated with motor vehicle safety are: Florida Lemon Laws; Seat Belt Laws; Double Traffic Fines; Florida DMV Privacy; Clearing up a Traffic Ticket; and School Zone Speed Limits (Evans, 2004). The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles regulates all the motor vehicles and all the laws that apply to them. These types of laws are legislative because they were enacted by the legislature or other governing bodies. As legislations, these laws main purposes include: regulatio n, sanctioning, proscribing, declaring, authorization, or restricting particular acts or events (Keller & Associates, 2010). The federal and state laws described in this paper relate greatly with the public health services. It has emerged that the motor vehicle safety are related to specific public health concerns. These concerns include: high risk populations that include Alcohol-impaired drivers who account for about 39 percent of all traffic deaths, young drivers and passengers, and pedestrians; and occupant- protection systems which are aimed at promoting motor vehicle and public health safety. Since motor vehicle safety is a public health concern, its laws relate to the public health services (Evans, 2004). These laws play fundamental role in health promotion, wellness and prevention. They ensure stricter law enforcement; create awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving. Also, they facilitate