Unilever Case Analysis Essay -- Business Marketing Case Study, solutio

This analysis consists of three parts: External Assessment, Internal Assessment, and Aalysis & Recommendations External Assessment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Unilever’s Path to Growth strategy involves all components of the general environment, two segments that are especially relevant are the global and sociocultural segments. A major strength of the company’s global environment is its geographic diversification of its major product markets. In 2003, Unilever had sales and marketing efforts in 88 different countries. The key is that it gave decision-making power to its managers in different countries so that they could tailor their products to the market’s specific preferences and consumers’ local tastes. Thus, it was the cross-country preferences of consumers that determined what products Unilever would carry. The global segment provides an enormous opportunity for Unilever. The case states that emerging country markets show the greatest potential for sales growth. Major competitors such as Procter & Gamble and Kraft Foods had sales in roughly 140 to 150 different countries in 200 3, and Nestle, Unilever’s main rival, had market penetration in almost every country in the world. If Unilever is able to expand its operations into 50 or more new countries and concentrate its advertising campaign on consumer preferences, it could significantly increase its market share in the global economy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another important piece of Unilever’s general environment is the sociocultural segment. One of the company’s founding values is understanding and improving consumers’ lives. A major strength of Unilever lies in its ability to anticipate consumer trends and demands and then cater to their needs. For example, market research indicated that nutrition was the number one concern in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and that weight was the number three concern. The focus of peoples’ attitudes became living healthier lifestyles. To move with the trend Unilever acquired SlimFast. SlimFast was the U.S. market leader in the weight management and nutritional supplement industry, with a 45% market share. The acquisition seemed promising in the beginning. Approximately 94% of SlimFast’s sales were in North America, which presented a huge opportunity to diversify into foreign markets such as Germany and the United Kingdom. Un fortunately the healthy lifestyle that peop... ...l investment costs. Unilever would likely have to spend millions just to enter a new country. It would have to deal with different governments and laws and regulations as well. If such investments were to go sour, Unilever could find itself with millions or even billions of dollars/euros of fixed costs in an unprofitable country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lastly, Unilever should focus on restructuring SlimFast and turning it into a profitable part of the company. One of Unilever’s major strengths is its ability to acquire and then integrate new firms. Unilever should focus its marketing and R&D departments towards finding products that will satisfy consumer needs. It needs to focus on healthy, low carbohydrate drinks and diet bars to get it back atop the market. At first, success could be measured in terms of whether or not SlimFast once again becomes profitable. If it achieves profitability, then it can measure success based upon market share. Some possible disadvantages would be compromising SlimFast’s values and principals. SlimFast is a company that used only natural ingredients in its products. If the company does not buy in to the new strategy, then the whole restructuring could be a disaster.

Christmas vs Thanksgiving Essay

Christmas is one of the most incredible times of the year; snow on the ground, a warm fire in the living room, and twinkly lights around every turn. When I was young, I loved Christmas. Toys and treats had me in a daze for almost a week straight. I was a typical kid, and my focus during any holiday was, â€Å"What do I get? Who brought me presents? †. I never realized the true meaning of why we have holidays, other than presents, until I was seventeen years old. As I’ve started to see my family less and my co-workers more, I understand that the true meaning of holidays in general, is to spend time with our loved ones. Taking my new found wisdom into account, my opinion of the â€Å"best holiday of the year† has changed from Christmas to Thanksgiving. My views, including favorite holiday, have changed because my focus on what’s important has matured. Christmas is a kid’s favorite holidays for really only one reason: presents. We live in a society where materialistic things outweigh almost anything else. We would do almost anything to get the new iPhone, and we have an annual â€Å"buy as much as you can† day, also known as Black Friday. Christmas, unfortunately, has gone away from its religious origins and has been turned into the most expensive holiday of the year. Although I am sitting here trashing Christmas, I do still enjoy the snow and the decorations; who doesn’t? Snow sets the stage for Santa, and decorations make it all the merrier. Twinkling lights accompany almost every roof and dance in the cold winter gusts. The weather and feel of Christmas couldn’t be more perfect for the holiday; cold keeps us in the house and makes the fire feel all the more wonderful, while sugary treats and presents make our tummies and shelves feel good. Unfortunately for Christmas, my love for the day has diminished. I have grown up to see how selfish our society is during this time of year and now different we treat the holiday than it is actually supposed to be. Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, not to celebrate about the new camera we just got. Christmas was a wonderful holiday for me when I was younger; I’m sad to have grown up and seen how selfish we really are during this â€Å"giving† time of year. Turkeys and football and family, oh my! Thanksgiving has won my vote for â€Å"favorite holiday†. A genuinely preserved time of year that hasn’t taken on (as much of) the commercial business as Christmas has. Thanksgiving was originally celebrated to give thanks and to remember the Pilgrims that arrived to this country, right? That’s what I’ve been taught in school, so let’s hope that’s correct. Looking at the meaning of Thanksgiving in 2013, it looks to have kept the same purpose. A typical Thanksgiving day for my family starts with a light breakfast– if any– a hefty Thanksgiving day linner (lunch and dinner), and then a nap on the couch while watching the big football game. During Thanksgiving dinner, my family talks about what we’re thankful for, and, since we’re all history geeks, we talk about how hard the Pilgrims had it back then. Almost every family gets together with as many relatives as they can corral in, and simply enjoys being together. Many families play a game of backyard football, cook dinner, and enjoy TV shows together. On thanksgiving, unless Grandma and Grandpa surprise you, no presents are given or received. The focus is not taken away from the meaning of the holiday by annoying songs about kissing under the mistletoe or wanting teeth for Christmas, nor is it taken away by excessive gift giving. No longer am I obsessed with Malibu Barbie or the Justin Bieber Christmas CD, I have overcome the materialistic plague that haunts our society. I enjoy the down time with my grandparents, I cherish the time I have with my siblings outside playing in the leaves, and I appreciate the humbling day to bring me back to reality and to tell my irrational teenage mind that I actually have an incredibly good life. You will probably never hear someone say â€Å"Thanksgiving is overrated† because it is not. Thanksgiving is one of those Holidays that creep up on people towards the end of November because it isn’t as publicized as Christmas. People love Thanksgiving because it’s that holiday where it’s okay to be in comfy clothes, it’s okay to eat a ton and pass out on the couch, and it’s encouraged to be with family. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because my view on what’s important has changed drastically; I now believe that family is more important than the iPhone 5s. Holidays are to be enjoyed by everyone, and should not be taken for granted. Many things change from the time we are seven to the time we are seventeen; hopefully one of the most dramatic changes are the things that we value. Yes, Christmas and Barbie had my heart at one point in my life, and I would have considered anyone a foe who spoke out against my beloved presents; however, it’s nice to see that I now am mature enough to say that all I want for Christmas is for my family to be together. Going off to college in less than a year, I no longer take family time for granted, and I don’t think I ever will again. We live in such a material world and it makes me sad to see Christmas, a truly beautiful holiday, turned into a greedy and expensive time of year. Until my views mature more, Thanksgiving will be my favorite holiday.

The Governess s Lack Of Social Experience Essay - 1404 Words

The Governess’s lack of social experience leads her to perceive sex in a skewed light. The twenty-year-old protagonist of The Turn of the Screw by Henry James has been put in charge of the schooling and supervision of two young children after the death of their former Governess. Flora and Miles, the niece and nephew of a rich bachelor have been put into the custody of their uncle. Their uncle, ill-equipped to raise them on his own, delegates his newfound responsibilities to a variety of servants who live with the children at one of his estates, Bly. After just two interviews with the Uncle, the Governess was given her position and took on the responsibilities of raising two children with very little support. The ill experienced Governess falls in love with the children’s uncle and is overtaken by her desires for him. Her sexual immaturity bars her from properly registering her feelings, causing Freudian principles to encompass her desires. The Governess’s immaturity is a foundation for her lack of sexual understanding. The Governess was essentially ripped from her childhood. She was a young woman who was never given the chance to explore all sides of her identity, especially her sexuality. This is a woman was torn away from all that she knew, and placed in a situation where she would have to dig deep within herself to find and channel motherly qualities, qualities she was never given the opportunity to develop. The Governess was placed in a social structure where herShow MoreRelatedA Marxist Approach to Jane Eyre1034 Words   |  5 Pageswritten. What does the text tell us about contemporary social classes and how does it reflect classism? Jane Eyre depicts the strict, hierarchical class system in England that required everyone to maintain carefully circumscribed class positions. 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