Company analysis for Zara

Company analysis for Zara Strengths Zara is a very powerful brand and influential in overseas markets as America, Asia, Europe and Africa (according to article Best Global Brands 2010, 14 Sep 2010).Zara needs 2 weeks to design a new product and to bring in stores by meeting costumers preferences, meantime its competitors need 6-8weeks(chapter11-The strategy of international business). Competitive advantage of Zara is because didnt transfer all production to low cost countries, but kept most of them in Spain and Portugal where wages are lower than Western Europe. With this, it cuts shipping costs, and has more flexibility to answer the consumers demands for new products in quick way because of location than its competitors that have factories in low cost countries. According to a statement by Louis Vuitton Zara is Possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world. The company applied Instant Fashion in order to meet costumers demands by new designs and new trends in manufacturing and distribution, also by keeping prices low. Zara used group of designers instead of individuals in comparison with GAP, HM and others. Zaras stores are company owned, and it is vertically integrated retailer. It does designs, production and distribution by itself and controls everything. In comparison with competitors it doesnt promote its designs via fashion shows, but is delivering they direct to costumers through the stores to understand their need, thats why the company doesnt do advertising (article-the Secret of Zaras Success, Store Magazine, fall 2004). Another advantage is that the company has one of the highest numbers of products in the world that produces annually 11.000 and its key competitors 2000-4000.The company keep low inventory in stock because each new product is supposed to be sold within 10 days, if not is replaced after 2 weeks. By this measure the company keeps low cost of inventory. Every store in Spain is supposed to be visited on average 3 times a year, but Zara 17 times(according to article Zara a Spanish Success Story, CNN, 15 June 2001). Also this year the company will enter Australian market. The company has a core concept in information technology to support its international logistics system and online selling where return and exchange is the same as the store system(Wikipedia). Also in some location people can buy Zara products by IPod, I Phone application. Zara model have more flexibility in production sales, and stock management and its stores managers report back every day to designers in La Coruna for sells which shows a nice coordination between departments in order to meet costumers needs(Zara website). Zara is part of Spanish group Inditex is expanded worldwide in 77 countries with 5000 stores. Net Income was increased by 42% for the first 9 months of 2010 and share price 57.60 euro (Inditex Group). The company has Strong relationship between wholesalers, stores, management and costumers. Also, the use of the highest quality of materials for clothing. Zara revenue for 2009 was 7.071 billion Euros and operating profit is 15% higher than HM and GAP, but working capital is the lowest(Wikipedia). Weaknesses Zara is one of the largest clothing retailers in the world and this can cause its weakness in different parts of business, and is too difficult to control. The company is global but has presence in 77 countries (Wikipedia).Also Zaras greatest advantage lies in  its ability to provide the most interesting cutting-edge items, risk free.  Normally the more cutting edge the design, the greatest the risk. Clothes do not always last long (Zara 2.0- Fashion index.com). Zara has a reputation for new design product development and creativity, but is the risk that their innovation may stumble in future. Costs of doing business with Albanian stores, while the Zara is located in La Coruna Spain. Although ZARA has a successful business model it also have some weaknesses which could limit its scalability and ambitious growth. ZARA constitutes around 80% of Inditex business (8 companies) which means a failure in ZARA can put the whole group at a risk (Inditex group). Advertisement is becoming an important part of the business and it reflects directly to the sales. Zaras in-store advertisement model may not work going forward (Zara). Another weakness for the company in Albanian market is that, most of people are low income and could be difficult for the Zara to keep the growth. Opportunities Merge with Inditex group has created more possibilities to invest in emerging markets (Wikipedia). Zara stores are located in 77 countries and are lot of opportunities to invest and expanding the market as in India and China (Inditex). Albania is a nice opportunity for the company to open stores because people like high fashion brands. New location and stores offer the company opportunities to exploit market development. Grow into new markets/consumer segments Albanian Consumer Taste Albanian consumer view ZARA as fashionable house. If ZARA needs to grow in Albanian it needs to address specifically the Albanian needs and perception of fashion. Threats The biggest threats are its competitors as HM, GAP and Benetton and new entries in market that want to recapitalize their profits in new markets as Albanian.  Rising production cost because of labor and raw materials. As economic crisis is striking back costumers are trended to spend less. Imitation of companys logo by people that do not have permission to use it. Increase in Euro Rate An increase in Euro rate will increase the consumer selling price, consequently Zara will lose price advantage against relative competitors outsourcing in Albanian lek. Zara sales are increasing 25% over the past 5 years it has become one of the worlds fastest growing retailers, and to keep this growth has to invest in emerging markets. Zara strategy is growth through diversification with both horizontal and vertical integration, and brings new fashion (Zara website). The company controls all distribution channels, and invests a lot in Real Estate business in order to buy prime locations for new stores. This risk for Zara because its net cash flow is less than its competitors. Although ZARA has a successful business model it also has some weaknesses which could limit its ambitious growth, Inditex over dependence on ZARA (Wikipedia) Zaras business model is based by bringing new designs models in market every two weeks. For countries like Albania, where people are less fashion forward, it may be a challenge for Zara to sustain its presence. Other threat for the company in Albania is the politic stability that is still fragile because of disagreements between two main political forces. Petrol prices are very expensive in comparison with other countries and will affect the cost of products by increasing their prices. Situational Analysis (TOWS) Weaknesses and Threats (WTH) The weaknesses of Zara is to be part of Inditex group which has 8 companies and means failure of one of them can put Zara at a risk too(Inditex group). The company has to find a strategy in order to overcome weaknesses and developed them into strengths. As you see from the chart the direction shows the strength- opportunity position (so). The strategy is to reduce the competitive threat by developing in market flexible new designs in order to meet costumers preferences on time. Weaknesses Opportunities (WO) Another weakness of Zara is raising production costs in Spain and Portugal with introduction of Euro in 2002. Products became more expensive for export. To overcome this Zara started to invest globally and new mergers in order to keep prices down as its competitors. If Zara enters in Albanian markets, it doesnt have experience with Albanian laws and their culture for clothing but could overcome those barriers by creating franchise with local partners. Strengths Threats (ST) One of the greatest threats to Zara is the continuing an appreciation of the Euro against other currencies this means higher prices for the buyer and less competitive posture. To reduce threats of competition and exchange rate Zara has built factories in North Africa and emerging markets. Economic crisis that started in 2008 and still goes on has obliged costumers to spend less on clothing items, and the company must bring new designs with affordable prices in order to handle this situation. Strengths Opportunities (SO) In order to be a successful retailer Zara has to build on its strengths and to take advantage of opportunities by using its RD. It brings in market each year 11.000 new products more than its competitors and this evident by its growth rate by 25% each year. In order to keep that growth rate Zara is investing its profits to buy new real estate location, technologies and to open new plants in low costs countries. Internal strengths 1) Strong Rd and designers. 2) Strong sales and global network. 3) Efficient products. Internal Weaknesses 1) Strong reliance in Europe. 2) Rising costs in Spain because of Euro. 3) No experience with Albanian laws. External opportunities-O 1) Growing market demands for fashion. 2) Will open new stores in Australia in 2011. 3) Low costs products to cope the competition. SO- Strategies 1) To develop and produce new designs with different prices. 2) To go global by using its RD and capital. 3) Increase efficiency by using new technologies in production. WO- Strategies 1) To develop existing products for different price model. 2) To cope with rising costs in Spain and Portugal by building new plants and stores in emerging markets. 3) To stay in touch with new technologies. Threats-T 1) Exchange rate risk, devaluation of euro in relation to other currencies. 2) Competition from HM, GAP, Benetton act. 3)Economic crisis ST-Strategies 1) To reduce the effect of exchange rate by building plants in countries outside the euro area. 2) Meet competition with advanced designs. 3) Bring new designs in market with lower prices. WT-strategies 1) Overcome weaknesses by making them strengths. 2) Reduce threat of competition by developing flexible product lines. 3) Engage in joint operation with other firms.TOWS Matrix for Zara Marketing Strategy Zara marketing strategy for Albanian market will include the use of targeted print media advertising and direct selling to Tirana and Durres area. The company will also use a website to keep costumers in touch with new designs and to sell products online.  In order to be successful as a new Zara store in Albanian market we have to beef up our relationship with corporate headquarters. Also we have to put our franchise in position to provide the highest quality of clothing in Albania market by bringing new brand and new designs. Our marketing strategy is to communicate this to our customers and to build a good relationship with them. Target Markets The potential customers for Zara are: Albanian costumers of Zara products: Market research suggests that there are approximately 50% of populations which are trended by fashion. All products for our franchise that would be able to handle the quantities of Zaras shipments and are in their target market. Inditex group wholesalers: This market serves as a safety for our import business. By maintaining relationships with Spanish wholesalers we have an alternative market with established distribution channels. As Zara moves in Albanian market need to be more aggressive in order to target this audience. Positioning Zara will position as the high end quality fashion distributor in Albanian market. Zara will only sell the highest quality of designs and recognizing that fashion is a commodity.   The company will leverage their competitive edges to achieve the desired positioning (Inditex group). We have established relationships with Zara, and Inditex group, in order to sustain our competitive edge. Our franchise has received affirmation of the demand for their product in the form of requests from Zara for larger product shipments. Our designs will be superior because of the larger average size of the Zara products 11.000 a year and low price and shipping cost will be less because Albanian market is too close from Spain. Strategies The single objective is to position Zara in our market as the premier in fashion field, and to create customer awareness in connection with designs offered, and to build good relationship to costumers in order to have their loyalty. The message that our store seeks to communicate is that our name is synonymous with the highest quality Zara designs available in Albanian market.   This message will be communicated through a variety of methods.   The first method will be the use of printed sales material.   The material will detail all of the different products that Zara sells. Another method of communication is through the development of strategic relationships with buyers and sellers of our (Zara) products.   As we are aware a nice communicative relationships with our clients is essential for our business.   Our franchise will also use advertisements, in TV, radio, newspapers, magazine and Email to increase brand awareness.    The use of the website will allow different people around Albania to view a lot of information regarding Zaras products in our store, their production methods, and other information. Marketing Mix Marketing mix is comprised of the following approaches to pricing and distribution, advertising and promotion and costumers service. The product can be distributed throughout the Tirana and Durres area. Several different methods will be used for advertising and promotions; we will use the same advertising methods as I meant it above. With regard to promotion we will offer as discount price, rebate Zara credit cards and other methods in order to keep loyal customers and to get new ones. Customer service is our priority in order to build good relationship with them.

Animal Farm.The role of Stalinism

The book that I decided to do was Animal Farm. I have read this book once before and it really shows the role of Stalinism. Napoleon, the head pig and the ruler of the farm is most similar to the Russian leader during the Russian Revolution, Joseph Stalin. Napoleon is similar to Stalin in the way that they share most character traits such as intelligence and leadership. Although it seemed in the book that Napoleon never displayed in interest in the strength of Animal Farm itself, instead he was worried more about the power he was able to hold over the farm.Stalin did not start off with power from the start. Joseph Stalin was first appointed to serve on the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party. The Bolsheviks were able to seize power over Russia in 1917 and the Soviet Union came about shortly after. Through the next years Stalin was able to make his way up the party rank. He was promoted to General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922 by the parties’ first leader, Vladi mir Lenin. Having this role allowed him to appoint people that were loyal to him and help him collect information on other members of the party.Once Lenin died in 1924, Stalin outmaneuvered his rivals with his intelligence and soon become the dictator of the Communist Party. The book Animal Farm was published during the same time that Stalin was starting to take over Russia. The farm is taken over by the overworked and mistreated animals. Once they are able to run off the farm owner the main pig, Napoleon is able to use his smarts and leadership to get the other animals to follow his command. Napoleon is best portrayed as Stalin in this book as they both were able to rise up from the bottom by using their cleverness to overcome any of the obstacles in their way.They both were great leaders and were able to get a lot of followers that had the same beliefs that they did. The author has more than one way that he uses to describe totalitarian power throughout Animal Farm. He first start s off by using Mr. Jones as an example by stating that he runs Manor Farm based on the idea that human power over the animals is the natural order of things. Once the animals heard Old Major give his speech on the chance to have a better life without any humans, the animals decide to rebel and overthrow Mr.Jones. As this revolution happens, Napoleon and the other pigs start to run the newly named, Animal Farm with the declaration that they are all fighting for animals against evil humans. The way that I understand the way totalitarian government is used is that one leader is able to do certain things that are able to persuade people to follow in their beliefs. They are able to use such things as power and smarts to get a person to do such things and anyone that does not will usually have those people killed.Also those who hold power in totalitarian regimes only care about one thing while they rule and that is maintaining power by any means possible. I feel that Orwell was able to de scribe totalitarian in several ways by using the humans as an example then using the animals. Adolf Hitler and Stalin are the two most known totalitarian leaders in Europe. Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party and is to blame for World War II and causing the holocaust which led to the suffering of many nations. The two leaders were both very cruel and strict.The circumstances in which the two leaders were able to take power were very similar because they were able to take advantage of the situation they were in and rise to the top. The method in which they used were a little bit different, as Stalin built his way up the ladder slowly and had to remove anybody that seemed to be a threat whereas Hitler’s road to power was shorter to where he was able to become the only leader in just 19 months. Overall the roads to power for the two were different.Hitler took power by means of election where Stalin had to make his way by outmaneuvering many people. In the book the animal tha t becomes the main leader is the pig, Napoleon. I feel that even though he is modeled as Stalin his rise to power is mostly similar to that of Hitler’s. He is the smartest animal on the farm. By being the smartest he was able to use that ability to get the other animals on his side and believe whatever he said which ultimately led to the animals just accepting him as leader. What I have learned about the totalitarian style of government is that once he leader is able to get to the top he ultimately only cares about one thing and that is staying leader. Such as Stalin was able to outmaneuver people to get to the top and he made sure he appointed people that would be loyal to him from the start so they would not get in his way in the future. Bibliography â€Å"Joseph Stalin. †Ã‚  History. com. A&E  Television  Networks, n. d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. â€Å"Animal Farm: Themes. † LitCharts. com. N. p. , n. d. Web. 8 Dec. 2012 Orwell, George. Animal Farm;. New York: H arcourt, Brace, 1954. Print

Autism Observation Paper Essay

Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. Even though the causes for these abnormalities are unknown, there been a number of possible ways to have autism. For example the mothers diet while being pregnant, digestive track changes, mercury poisoning (which is one of the most well known reasonings), the body’s inability to properly use vitamins and minerals, or vaccine sensitivity. Many parents worry that giving their child a vaccine may lead up to them having autism, and being that a child can seem normal up to eighteen months, parents sometimes would rather wait till the child’s older to give them shots. However it’s important to think of your child’s risks of not having the vaccination. All routine childhood vaccines are available in single-dose forms that do not contain added mercury. Studies have shown that autism effect’s more boys in the world then girls. Some doctors believe’s the increase incidence of autism is from learning new definitions of autism. For example a child that is diagnosed with high-functioning autism today, was probably looked at as odd or strange thirty years ago. Some symptoms parents start to notice around eighteen months is while pretend play, social interactions or verbal or non-verbal communications. Some children appear normal up to age two and then start to regress, lose language and social skills they have gained, which is called regressive autism. Some examples are sensitivity to sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste. Have unusual distress, repeats body movements, or shows unusual attachments to objects. Some symptoms can moderate to severe like communicating with gestures instead of words, cannot start a conversation, speaks slow or not at all or repeats words that they’ve remembered from before. Children with autism usually don’t make friends, shows lack of empathy, may treat people like objects, or is withdrawn. Some act up, have short attention spans, or gets stuck on single topics. A child with autism can’t exactly go through a day like a normal child, but with help from others, they can definitely try to. They are very smart children, just may have a harder time understanding and doing things. For my site visit, I visited an after school program call â€Å"The Ymywaha† which is owned privately. In the classroom I visited the children were twos and threes. There were about fifteen kids in the class including two autistic boys around three years old. There was one main teacher, and assistant teacher and a helper for the two boys. I visited this class from three-thirty pm to around four-forty five pm. When I arrived the children were coming in from playing on the playground. They came in washed their hands and got ready to sit and talk about the butterflies they were growing in class. At this point, their butterflies were still in cacoons. Not only did they have butterflies in the classroom they had baby chicks. The children were well behaved and cooperated with the teachers. Except for one little boy, he was one that is autistic. When the teacher gathered the children to talk about their butterflies, he wanted to play with the baby chicks. He turned around ignored the class and stared at the baby chicks. A little long after, he picked up one of the chicks and held on to it really tight. His helper asked him to put the chick back, but he refused, she asked again and he refused, She then explained that they are talking about the butterflies right now and after then were done then he can play with the baby chicks. He dropped the chick and ran out the classroom. The helper teacher ran after him and spoke to him out in the hall. He walked back in calmly and sat with his other children. When I asked, I was told he was very rebellious. Quickly he got involved with the butterflies and forgot about wanting to play with the baby chicks. Meanwhile the other little boy with autism in the same class was more withdrawn from everyone. He was very quite and didn’t say or want to do much. He didn’t really interact with the other children. When I asked about him, the teachers explained that he doesn’t speak very well, but he’s very smart. It would take him a while to get things done but he does a great job. During the day at daycare he had speech classes to help his development in language. I enjoyed my visit. It taught me not one but, about two types of autism and helped me understand it a little better. I got to witness an autistic child act-up and see how a teacher would handle that child. I also enjoy the children in the class. I couldn’t believe how smart those little people are.

Essay about Sylvia Plath - 1185 Words

Sylvia Plath This line is from Sylvia Plaths poem Lady Lazarus, one of many that helped make her an icon of modern American poetry. They have an eerie, prophetic quality, seeming to foreshadow the tragic death of this young writer. Understanding Sylvia Plaths words require a closer look at both her life and a few of her works. Though critics have described her writing as governed by negative vitalism, her distinct individuality has made her a conversation piece among those familiar with her. (Pollitt 338) However, it is not negative vitalism that controls her writing, but simply her approach to dealing with her feelings. She writes from her experiences, she writes from her soul. Sylvia Plaths poems reflect the†¦show more content†¦In the summer of 1953, she hid herself in a hole in her cellar after overdosing on sleeping pills but was found and saved. After a hospitalization, she was given electroshock treatments and psychotherapy and released to go back to school for a successful last year. She won many prizes and publications and even a scholarship to the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge she met Ted Hughes, an English poet who later became her husband in 1956. They moved to Boston a year later and Plath became an instructor at Smith. After a series of failed attempts to publish poetry books, the couple moved back to England where they had their children, Freida and Nicholas. However, Plaths medical problems and miscarriage left her distraught. Finally, her book of poetry, The Colossus and Other Poems (1960) was accepted and published by William Heinemann Limited. Also, she received a Eugene F. Faxton Fellowship to complete the novel she had begun about her nervous breakdown called The Belljar, Which happened to be published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas, due to Plaths insecurities. (Magnusson 1170) Unfortunately, her marriage was deteriorating, and her husband was having an affair. She and Ted separated in 1962. During the time between her separation and her suicide in 1963, she was extremely depressed and often ill from the cold and draughty apartment where she and her children lived. With no telephone and frozen pipes, herShow MoreRelatedSylvia Plath836 Words   |  4 Pages Sylvia Plath is said to be one the most prodigious, yet interesting, confessional poets of her time. She was an extremely vital poet of the post-World War II time period and expressed her feelings towards her father and husband through her poetry. Plath’s mental illness had a dramatic influence upon her work in which she demonstrated the hatred she had for her father specifically. The poem â€Å"Daddy† is an easily applicable example. Within this piece of work, Plath uses direct references to howRead More`` Daddy `` By Sylvia Plath1013 Words   |  5 Pages In Sylvia Plath’s poem, â€Å"Daddy†, she shows her emotions for her father, Otto Plath. Sylvia Plath lost her father at eight years old when she still had much love for him (Famous People â€Å"Biography†). After a number of years, hatred is built up inside of Sylvia towards her father. When her father first died, she loved him and she grieved over her father’s death. After years of confusion, she eventually decided and wrote, â€Å"Daddy, Daddy, you bastard, I’m through† (Line 80). In â€Å"Daddy† by Sylvia PlathRead MoreEssay On Sylvia Plath1607 Words   |  7 Pageshas to offer. Sylvia Plath was a confessional poet, using her personal experiences and very real situations to give â€Å"negative† emotions the artistic charm and characteristics traditionally saved for â€Å"positive† emotions. Her father died in her eighth year of life, and although this event tormented her until her own death, time went on. She married Ted Hughes, the two of them encouraging each other’s careers as much as they could, but still there was tension between them. It was when Plath learnt of her Read MoreBiography of Sylvia Plath942 Words   |  4 Pagestwentieth century, Sylvia Plath was highly esteemed by fans and fellow writers alike. Sylvia Plath’s parents, Aurelia Schober and Otto Plath, had met when Aurelia became Otto’s student at Boston University. Otto was a biology professor with an infatuation with bees; he had even published a book titled Bumblebees and their ways. Otto and Aurelia married in January of 1932, and by October of the same year Aurelia gave birth in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts to a daughter, Sylvia. Sylvia spent her childhoodRead More Sylvia Plath Essay2106 Words   |  9 Pages Sylvia Plath was a gifted writer, poet and verbal artist whose personal anguish and torment visibly manifested itself in her work. Much of her angst stems from her warped relationship with her father. Other factors that influenced her works were her strained views of human sexuality, her sado-masochistic tendencies, self-hatred and her traditional upbringing. She was labeled as a confessional poet and biographical and historical material is absolutely necessary to understand her work. SylivaRead More Sylvia Plath Essay1700 Words   |  7 Pages Sylvia Plath was a troubled writer to say the least, not only did she endure the loss of her father a young age but she later on â€Å"attempted suicide at her home and was hospitalized, where she underwent psychiatric treatment† for her depression (Dunn). Writing primarily as a poet, she only ever wrote a single novel, The Bell Jar. This fictional autobiography â€Å"[chronicles] the circumstances of her mental collapse and subsequent suicide attempt† but from the viewpoint of the fictional protagonistRead MoreThe Life Of Sylvia Plath Essay1313 Words   |  6 PagesThe Life of Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plath was a very dedicated author who lived from 1932-1963. She is best known for her poetry. Plath started writing and was a published poet at a very young age. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Plath’s first poem was published when she was eight years old. â€Å"Plath’s poems explore her own mental anguish, her troubled marriage to fellow poet Ted Hughes, her unresolved conflicts with her parents, and her own vision of herself†(Poetry Foundation). Plath was a devotedRead MoreBiography of Sylvia Plath1452 Words   |  6 PagesCritical Analysis Sylvia Plath, a great American author, focuses mostly on actual experiences. Plath’s poetry displays feelings and emotions. Plath had the ability to transform everyday happenings into poems or diary entries. Plath had a passion for poetry and her work was valued. She was inspired by novelists and her own skills. Her poetry was also very important to readers and critics. Sylvia Plath’s work shows change throughout her lifetime, relates to feelings and emotions, and focuses on dayRead MoreThe Poetry of Sylvia Plath734 Words   |  3 PagesSylvia Plaths poetry roots from her harsh life long battle with heart break, death, and depression. It is clear by her work, that life was a daily struggle for this poet. In the research of her poetry, i found one poem in particular that really interested me. My main focus was the poem Mirror. The narrator of this poem is a wall mirror. At first glance, the mirror appears to be human, based off of its qualities and descriptions. The m irror has the ability to recognize things, such as the smallRead MoreMirror by Sylvia Plath817 Words   |  3 PagesSylvia Plaths poem, Mirror,† represents the disturbed self of the woman, The mirror signifies the unsympathetic male view of a woman and what is socially expected of her: having a flawless beauty and perpetual youth. As the persona ages over the years, the mirror maliciously reflects the alterations in her appearance. Age becomes the persona’s flaw and inadequacy and consequently her foundation of anxiety and alarm. The mirror projects what is thought of the woman as she grows older. It claims