Kent Cars Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Kent Cars Ltd - Essay Example At the outset, a shareholder of a private limited company may find himself helpless and locked into the company. Under this scenario, a shareholder who is unable to exert control within the company becomes vulnerable. By taking advantage of his weak position, the controllers of the company at the expense of the non-controlling shareholder, may wield enormous power and authority in administering the company. (Vries 2010:1). The Articles of Association of a private limited company will always consist of some restrictions on transfer of shares. Normally, provisions in the Articles or Table A empower the directors of a company some limited rights to turn down transfer of shares in case of partly paid-up shares. As in the case of fully paid-up shares, such a restriction will be of technical nature only. As the operation and the management of the majority of small companies is wholly reliance on the prolonged good relations between the members of the company to such a magnitude that such c ompanies are frequently no more than partnerships but disguised with a corporate form. Hence, it is significant for the directors or members of such companies to place severe restrictions upon the transfer of shares as it will be tantamount to change in ownership. These restrictions will generally assume the form of the granting of pre-emption rights in favour of the present members of the company which is similar to the statutory pre-emption rights applicable to allotment of shares. The general procedure for transfer of shares in a private limited company is that any member who wants to dispose off his shares should give a notice first to the company. Such Notice will automatically make the company as the member’s agent for the purpose of first offering of shares to the present or existing members of the company in the ratio to their present shareholding. This connotes, by the proposed transfer of shares, the equilibrium or balance between the existing members of the company is protected, presuming that the members in question will have the opportunity to source the needed capital to acquire such shares offered. The following points should be kept in mind in case of transfer of shares of private limited companies; Great care should be given to make sure that the needed procedure is carefully adhered to in case of a transfer and if transfer of shares are expected or if the directors of a company receive notice from a member of his intention to transfer of shares and in such event, immediate reference is to be made to the conditions provided in the â€Å"AOA† † (Articles of Association of the company)†. The most common source of the tussle between the member who wishes to dispose off his share and the other members or directors of the company pertains to valuation of shares. Normally, the Articles of Association will contain a provision that in such scenario, the valuation of shares shall have to be made either by an independent expert or by the statutory auditor of the company where it is provided so and in cases where parties could arrive at a fair price or valuation. If the offered

Consultancy advice for the supplynetwork and process Essay

Consultancy advice for the supplynetwork and process - Essay Example It therefore recommends the direct delivery of customized orders to clients from Bang & Olufsen's headquarters through a fast and trusted airlifting courier service. Also, it recommends the use of strong and reliable forecasting techniques to ensure that the demand for small and mass produced items are monitored in the various retail outlets around the world and shipments made at the right time to prevent shortages. The consultant also recommends the formation of a Design/Innovation Management unit in Bang & Olufsen to help in the integration of IdeaLab as a emergent as well as a primary/pure innovation unit. This way, IdeaLab can live above the conflicts and become a major player in Bang & Olufsen without going through too much conflicts. Supply Network Design There is the need for the design of a new supply network design. This new design and this new network must focus on customizing and supplying directly to the small niche of customers who account for over 70%. It should also fo cus on improving the shop design system for the large segment of customers who buy single items or in smaller quantities. Large/Customized Buyers The new supply network design must seek to always keep in touch with these customers and get an idea of what they want and prepare their positions to order the right type and volume of stocks to produce from these customers at a short notice. This can be done by using the customer relations management system to communicate regularly with the customers and find out their concerns. Once this kind of information can be ascertained, various units of the customization system can be mobilized to take the right steps even before orders are taken. Based on this forecast system, components can be ordered and delivered in anticipation of demand. In cases where the forecast show longer periods between orders, the plant in Koprivnice and on site should be programmed to be able to put the vital components together in the shortest period of five days so that they can be obtained just when they are needed. The Assembling department should maintain its production period of 1 day to ensure that all order details and quality functions are met so that the reputation of Bang & Olufsen remains intact. However, it is recommended that the use of retail outlets be eliminated from the process. It is ideal that the headquarters in Denmark maintains a direct link with these larger consumers and ship directly to them without using retail outlets. This will reduce the lead time between the consumers and the retail outlets for larger clients. It is also recommended that Bang & Olufsen uses a fast and reliable courier company that has a global reach for shipment of customized goods. An ideal courier company is one that uses airlines to move goods from one point to the other over all the continents. If this arrangement is in place, orders can be taken and assembled in one day and shipped upon arrival at the customer center. This will eliminate the one day waiting period at the customer center and the three days of transit to the retail outlets. This will save the customers a four-day period of waiting! In summary, the following supply network systems must be adopted for large buyers and customized orders: 1. Large orders should be directly sent to the global headquarters as soon as it is made anywhere in the world. 2. The assembling plant must always ensure that components for goods in demand are always in stock and there is a production cycle for that. 3. Shipping should be made directly from the headquarters to customized clients through the use of a global courier with a good reputation of delivery quickly. Smaller/Mass Produced Orders Although Bang & Olufsen head office will try to eliminate

Public bank management Essay Example for Free

Public bank management Essay 1.Introductions The model of the Five Competitive Forces was developed by Michael E. Porter that becomes an important tool for analysing an organizations industry structure instrategic processes. This model is applicable to the banking industry. Public Bank do compete with the other financial institution in Malaysia, however they also must cooperate with one another in many respects. There is an underlying problem which is the banks in Malaysia are so similar that there is essentially nothing one of them can do that the others cannot easily duplicate 2. Five Forces Analysis a. Threats of new entrants Malaysia has not put a barrier to entry for any financial institution manly banks in Malaysia, thus making it easy for any financial institution to penetrate into the industry. b. Bargaining power of suppliers a bank has three suppliers of its product, money: 1. Its depositors has no bargaining power whatever in reality. If they make time deposits the bank will set the price or interest rate it will pay. 2. The credit market the credit market as a source of supply of the raw material, money, is open to all at all time if they are qualified participants. The source of supply can be argued to be infinite. 3. The central bank The Central bank is effectively the resource of last resort. Apparently, at least for the moment, it will continue to supply liquidity to the banking system in virtually unlimited quantities at very reasonable cost. c. Bargaining power of buyers In the banking industry, customer have has very limited bargaining power. However the customers may option in changing to other banks that they think is offering a better offer than Public Bank. c. Threat of substitute product For the most part there is no real threat of substitute products in the banking industry. However there probably will be continues evolution of  products from paper to electronic in coming years. This is an area of potential competition for whomever banks that choose to use it in their services. d. Rivalry among competitors Generally all banks offer somewhat the same products and services to their customers, thus there is not much differentiation between Public Banks and the other competitors. This is making the competition much higher. Public Bank is actually ranked as the top banks earners in Malaysia in 2009 alongside with Maybank, Bumiputra Commerce, RHB Capital and Hong Leong Bank. 3. Table 1: Method used to identify opportunity and threat for Public Bank using external environment factors and industrial environment factors.(Factors under industry environment are derived from Porters Five Forces). 4. Opportunities 1. Economic growth Malaysia had definitely have been more economically stable and improving, thus financial institution such as Public Bank are needed to aid the overall development of the country. 2. Government policy Encouraging borrowings, loans, investment and consumption demand. 3. Awards and accolades Through recognition, Public Bank can project a positive image to their customers 4. Market share Public Bank has the highest market share for the private sector unit trust business, thus having a larger customer base. 5.  Low switching cost Nowadays it is easy for any customer to switch to other banks with just a click away, making the switching cost to be faster and cheaper, making it easy for the customers to switch to Public Bank. 5. Threats 1. Substitute product/service are available There is a potential competition to whomever banks that choose to upgrade their product and services to cater to their customers need. Maybank for example provide a customer friendly interface through their website www.maybank2u.com, and it became the most visited website in Malaysia. 2.Substitute performance Maybank, Bumiputra Commerce, RHB Capital and Hong Leong Bank are Public Bank competitors and each is recognized for their performance. This will make the competition even higher. 3. Customer switching cost Other than being an opportunity, switching cost can also be a threat for Public Bank as the customers can also easily switch to other financial institution. 4. Government legal barriers There are no barriers that the government put for any legal financial institution to enter in the industry, making any new entrants penetrate into the market share easily. 5. Exit barriers High exit barriers in the industry are making the competition between Public Bank and the other competitors are even higher. 6. Conclusion Porter Five Forces Model are used to identify how the forces affect the attractiveness and profitability of Public Bank, and through this forces, the factors that influence these forces are used in the table 1, to identify Public Bank opportunities and threats. By identifying Public Banks industry environment, the company can improve and sustain their product and services for their customer, ultimately improving their performance.

A Market Entry Proposal Into Japan Marketing Essay

A Market Entry Proposal Into Japan Marketing Essay With more than 16 million members in the United States and Canada, Netflix.com Inc. is the worlds largest online service company for streaming movies and TV-series over the Internet and sending DVDs by mail.    Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in California, Netflix.com operated as an Internet-based unlimited rental subscription service for movies in DVD format. As a simple online DVD rental service, Netflix.com provided same-day shipping with customers receiving their DVDs within two or three days for sale or a rental period of seven days. In February 2010 Netflix.com became the number one ecommerce company for customers satisfaction  [2]  .   Over the past decade, Netflix.com has revolutionized the way of renting movies for people: with few simple clicks, members can stream movies online, watch them via devices on TV or have it the classic way: receive a DVD within one business day and watch it on TV without worrying about due dates and late fees. Company Background The DVD format, introduced into the market in 1997, was able to store a high quality copy of an entire feature film on a single five-inch disc. Even with the risk of not many Americans owning a DVD-Player by that time, Hastings and Randolph could see the potential of the disc replacing the videotape. Taking advantage of the newly introduced DVD and the small size and light weight of the discs, they could ship the DVDs cheaper than VHS-Tapes. After reaching its economics of scale in September 1999, NetFlix introduced the subscription plan for its customers. With a monthly fee of $15.99, customers could rent four DVDs at the same time with the possibility of renting a new one each time they return a title and put themselves on a queue list if a desired DVD was not available. In December 2000, revenue sharing agreements were made with Warner Home Video and Columbia Tri-Star. NetFlix got a better price for large amounts of DVDs in exchange for a percentage of their rental receipts with the movie studios. Soon after, Dreamworks and Artisan signed up as well. After attaining a subscription figure of 500.000 in February 2002, NetFlix went public and sold 5.5 million shares in late May, raising a more than expected amount of $82.5 million fund. In conjunction with its IPO, the company changed the name to Netflix, Inc with a lower case F. As Netflix gained more success and media attention, competition started to form.  [3]   With the constant growing of subscribers, Netflix announced in January 2008 to provide unlimited movie streaming for their more than 7 million members without any additional fee.  [4]  Ã‚  Subscribers could watch unlimited movies or TV Series on their PC. In 2010, Netflix announced partnerships with Funai, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp and Toshiba to provide customers to view their streaming content via a device on TV.  [5]   Netflix announced its expansion to Canada on September 22nd 2010, initially offering its streaming service outside the US. Netflix Canadian members can instantly watch movies and popular shows right on their TVs via Nintendos Wii, Sonys PS3 game console, and coming later this fall, Microsofts Xbox 360, as well as models from Sharp, VIZIO, Haier and Best Buys Insignia brand. Plus, they can instantly watch via Apples iPhone or iPad and on PCs and Macs.  [6]   Market Research Targeting Country and Market Conditions The rationale for exporting is to reach new customers and to use economies of scale. Netflix already has some international experience from when they entered the Canadian market. So we think Netflix is ready for the next step; to go overseas. The main reason for targeting the Japanese market is that Japan is the second biggest film entertainment market in the world after the United States of America  [7]  . What this shows is that there are enough potential customers for the streaming and DVD rental service.    The internet speed in Japan is 61 megabits per second, nearly 30 times faster than the broadband speed in the US  [8]  . Therefore the buffering before the customer can watch a movie or program will be short.   This will help satisfy the streaming subscribers expectation to watch the program immediately.    Japan also has a high internet penetration rate of 78%, which is nearly 100 million potential customers for the Netflix on-demand video streaming  [9]  . Paid streaming is not yet well-established in Japan  [10]  . There are a few webpages but they offer streaming for a higher price than Netflix. If the streaming business increases, Netflix has a good chance to be number one in Japan, especially if Netflix is able to bring the good quality service and cheap price to Japan that they offer in the USA.   However, there will be more competition soon; Apple, YouTube and Yahoo announced that they will enter the streaming business, and Netflix should expect more Japanese companies to enter the market as well. The systematic governmental factors can also be valuated as positive. The economy is stable even though Japan is struggling with the deflation of the 1990s. The market segment of video streaming is expected to grow strongly. Japan has a functional legal system and the Japanese law about illegal downloads has changed and was put into effect in January 2010  [11]  . Even though the law is still not very strict, it may be enough to catch those who download and stream illegally, and convert them into legal users as our future customers. The Japanese infrastructure is one of the best in the world. This is positive for the DVD rental service. It would be possible to deliver the DVD quickly like in the USA.   Furthermore, Netflix can expect that the percentage of Japanese households, who have a DVD or Blue Ray player, is higher than in other countries  [12]  . Another reason to invest in Japan is that the new Blue Ray format is growing strongly in Japan.   The market share of Blue Ray recorders exceeded 50 percent for DVD recorders in unit terms  [13]  . So there would be a possibility to benefit from that trend and offer more Blue Ray discs than other established Japanese DVD rental companies. Netflix probably cannot deliver DVDs all over the country, but a strategy could be to start the DVD rental business in just the two centers of Kanto and Kansai. The competition in the DVD market is very high in Japan. There are already some established companies like Posren and Tsatuya discas. These companies offer the same service like Netflix (DVDs by mail). A possibility to enter the market could be to introduce the Netflix service with unlimited DVDs and no due date. Netflix Strategic Options for entering the Japanese market When we considered Netflix entering the Japanese market, we mainly contemplated four options of entry: a greenfield strategy, a joint venture strategy, an acquisition strategy and buying shares of a Japanese company. All those options are called equity modes, i.e. ways of entering a foreign market that involves the use of equity  [14]  . Greenfield Strategy One foreign entry option for Netflix is to establish greenfield operations, i.e. start up the business in Japan from scratch by building storage facilities and offices on its own  [15]  . The greenfield strategy, if successful, gives Netflix a complete control of the business since it is wholly owned by the firm, and with no involvement with other actors, the firm has a good protection of its proprietary technology and know-how  [16]  . It is also a very favorable option if Netflix wishes to coordinate global actions from its U.S. headquarter  [17]  . This is also something that they are familiar since they entered the Canadian market in this way. However the cultural distance between USA and Japan might cause big problems in the Japanese market, especially in the start-up phase. Although appealing, greenfield operations are associated with high development costs, and if Netflix wishes to offer their customers rental DVDs for home delivery it would make them face problems such as locating storage facilities and delivery partners. The high resource commitment would, as in the case of wholly owned subsidiaries, serve as an exit barrier and result in a loss of flexibility  [18]  . This would be a both time-consuming and costly process, which would delay Netflix entry. The industry-based view suggests that a firms performance is a result of the firms actions in response to the industry structure. In this perspective, the intensity of rivalry among competitors (one of Porters five forces) is directly affected by how many competitors there are in the industry. The fewer competitors in an industry, the more unlikely the rivalry explodes into e.g. frequent price wars, since the competitors will be mutually interdependent. If Netflix would have chosen to enter the Japanese market by a greenfield operation, it would obviously increase the rivalry in the industry which would make the business more difficult for the competitors as well as for Netflix itself. This would probably be even more difficult to handle for Netflix than for the other participants due to the heavy investments it already has to manage related to the entry on the market. Furthermore, the central coordination that the greenfield option enables, could be an advantage as well as a disadvantage. Lack of local knowledge in the management or different ideas and priorities might cause fractions between the American part and the foreign located part of the firm.    Entering a foreign market involves many challenges and difficulties to overcome. Netflix needs to have extensive knowledge of the Japanese market dynamics and the consumer behaviour to be able to arrange its business. This knowledge is difficult to acquire without being a part of the market. The greenfield option would probably be a disadvantage to Netflix in terms of market knowledge relative to its competitors. Majority stake in Japanese Company and Joint Ventures If Netflix were to invest in a Japanese company through majority stake, this strategy would enable the Netflix to learn from and take advantage of the firm-specific capabilities that the Japanese firm possesses. The drawback of this strategy is, compared to wholly owned subsidiaries, that Netflix would not have full control of the Japanese subsidiary  [19]  . Overall, the advantages and disadvantages of partially owned subsidiaries like this are the same as for joint ventures. The option of performing a joint venture includes the possibility of sharing risks and profit with a local company. This creates a certain bit of safety against losses if the venture, in this case in Japan, does not prove to be profitable. Furthermore the local company can contribute with knowledge about the market which otherwise might be difficult to get hold of. The downside of joint ventures is that the different cultures and goals of the MNE and local company can cause conflicts and cause difficulties in operational control. These problems in controlling the foreign subsidiary can cause difficulties in global coordination. Acquisition Strategy An acquisition is an example of an equity mode, which results in a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS). This option of entry is a question of purchasing one of the already existing media home entertainment firms. By purchasing an existing firm, Netflix would obviously eliminate one of its competitors in the Japanese market. This consideration alone is appealing since, compared to the greenfield option where a firm is added to the market, Netflix would instead become one of the actors that is already a participant on the market. Establishing a WOS through acquisition could yield the same advantages as the greenfield option (control, protection and coordination abilities), but it also offers a fast entry. By eliminating a competitor, Netflix would not have to deal with costly e.g. marketing activities to introduce themselves to the market and convince potential customers to choose them. Furthermore, if Netflix chooses to acquire a partner that has a similar business model it would make the transition to the Japanese market smoother. An option is also to acquire a competitor that focuses on rental DVDs only and not online, with this they would receive knowledge about the Japanese customer, get access to existing customers, acquire already functioning storage facilities and delivery services and use their knowledge in streaming to start up a similar homepage in Japan. By purchasing a Japanese competitor Netflix might be able to avoid some vital obstacles of entrance, e.g. parts of the liability of foreignness. Since the Japanese firm is already a known Japanese firm which the inhabitants are familiar with, Netflix may not be perceived, by the Japanese customers, as a foreign firm. The acquisition also gives Netflix needed and desired knowledge about the Japanese market and consumer behaviour. Our recommendation Foreign entry decisions should be based on several strategic considerations including Porters five forces. Our analysis of Netflix entry options into the Japanese market is the acquisition of a pure DVD rental company for the DVD rental service and complement this with a Greenfield strategy for the online streaming service. Although this strategy is costly, it has the most favourable impact on the market structure and dynamics. Netflix would get hold of a delivery spots in attractive locations and take advantage of already established relationships, storage facilities and perhaps most important, they would get a knowledge about the Japanese consumer. Since, Netflix already is a late entrant in the DVD rental market, it is important for the firm to carry out a fast and extensive entry in order to show its competitors and market as a whole that it is committed to its venture. Marketing Decisions Falling under the umbrella of E-commerce and operating as a business-to-consumer (B2C) company Netflix had to develop unique marketing strategies in order to become successful in the American market. The core marketing strategy at Netflix in fact, the company strategy overall is to provide a great customer experience. We dont want our customers liking the service; we really want them loving it.  [20]  Being an E-commerce company Netflix uses marketing and advertising methods such as intense online banner ads, television commercials, and ads before the start of movie trailers during the pre-show time in theaters. Netflix executives claim that While our paid channels such as television and direct response vehicles like direct mail, online banners and search engines like Google and yahoo work extremely hard for us, word-of-mouth is our best channel. Its a combination of costing the least and performing the best. You cant over-invest in it.  [21]  Ã‚  Historically consumers i n the Japanese market are known to be very critical and selective. They demand superior quality, premium customer service, and top of the line after sales service even when they purchase second tier products. Netflix can use this to their advantage with their overall business competency and must make their capabilities aware to consumers as they market their service in Japan. The incredible ease and convenience of renting movies online and having them delivered to your home or even being able to stream and watch them online from your computer anywhere is universal in its appeal. Netflix aims to make enjoying movies easy and to put the joy back into watching them. Netflix even applies the strategy of marketing to the emotions of its consumers and can do the same in the Japanese Market. The Netflix logo and trademark incorporates the color red and when the company sends rental movies to consumers home they arrive in red disc sleeves. The color red embodies the red carpet and curtains in a movie theater. Red is a wonderful color to evoke the emotional response around movies and the color red is extremely important in Japanese culture. The color is seen in the Japanese Flag representing the sun and is synonymous with certain ancient deities and symbolism in Japanese Buddhism and Japanese Shintoism.  [22]  Ã‚   The Four Ps   Product, Price, Promotion and Place are extremely important for marketing in terms of Netflix entering the Japanese Market. Netflix already has a unique product and service but there are current competitors who offer similar services in the Market. Netflix could aim at niche markets if they wish to try out the Japanese market before full direct investment. Another strategy would be to team with a current player in the market to build the brand awareness for Netflix. An acquisition would allow Netflix to learn about the market and gain the necessary valuable information for long term growth of the company in a foreign market. Netflix has always been a low price and high quality option for people wishing to rent movies on high frequency levels. Netflix offers the promotion of a free one-month trial for consumers and pricing options start at low as $8 equipped with ability to stream TV shows and movies online and also one DVD at a time sent to your door. It would not be hard or expe nsive for Netflix to establish web servers and domains online in Japan to introduce themselves to Japanese consumers. The rapid growth and technological advancements of the Japanese market will allow Netflix to have advanced and unique distribution channels. Currently in America subscribers of Netflix can also stream and download movies on popular Japanese video game consoles such as the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation 3. In Japan many people purchase theses devices and if Netflix can successfully enter and navigate the waters of the Japanese market they can easily incorporate the video console channel into their overall distribution channels because of the already well established relationship in the US market.    stream_plus_dvd Promotion In order to make a successful Japanese market entrance, effective advertisement is crucial. We now suggest the strategy with following the steps of objective setting, resource about the market idiosyncrasies, message decision, and media decisions. The familiarity of the brand Netflix in Japan is yet trivial. So we suggest setting the objective in the short and long term, respectively. Considering that foreigners are more aware of the brand than Japanese customers and that Netflix stores outnumbering movie resource which are less accessible in traditional Japanese movie rentals, we set the short term perspective target to be the foreign residents in Japan. According to the 2009 report by Japans National Statistical Office, the number of registered foreigners doubled in 10 years. Taken a closer look, the number of Philippines and Americans, the two English-speaking nationalities, could be our major target.   So a niche strategy could be to enter the movie streaming market, with focus on movies in English with Spanish and Japanese subtitles to get a customer basis and then to expand the Netflix business to Japanese movies and programs. So Netflix could first use the same English webpage like in the United States and Canada, bef ore introducing a Japanese page. An important step would be to sign contracts with Japanese movie studios, in order to get the right to have Japanese movies in the collection.   Since the English-speaking customers are the ones who are familiar with the brand name Netflix, in addition to spending the budget on running the traditional advertisements (television, newspapers and such), we could use the Word of Mouth strategy. The 2009 report and Newsjapan mention additional information that the occupation of the foreigners, specifically the Americans and the British, are mostly businessman registered in the big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, or related to the United States Forces Japan in Okinawa.  [23]  Ã‚  For the residents in Tokyo and Osaka, we should spread the words by getting cooperation with the Registry and the famous Japanese language center where foreigners mostly go to study Japanese in relatively cheap price, called Volunteer Japanese Class. In Okinawa, we can use the local English newspaper and run the commercial in the US army network. The Japanese market is in the top three in the world. Among the advanced countries, Japan has the least gap in spending habits and house incomes nationally, which means that most of the Japanese consumers can afford recreational services. Japanese customers have tendencies to be exceptionally aware of the name of the brand. More expensive it is, more likely they will favor it.  [24]   Since Netflixs previous advertisement in the US were online banners, we should consider the fact the accessibility to the Internet in Japan recently proved to be 64%, ranking 16th in the world.  [25]  Ã‚  Based on these facts, we should accentuate the partnership Netflix has with Panasonic and Toshiba making the brand even more recognized. As for deciding the media, we should use both the internet banner and the newspaper, including TV commercials. According to the Dae hyung Jong, KOTRA Regional manager in Nagoya, reports that the TV commercial expense has increased 12% compared to last year, when the Internet commercial expense remained steady yet, but expected to rise in the near future.  [26]   Most of the marketing budget should be spent on printing newspaper flyers, since the number of subscribers of newspapers in Japan is high. Among the five top nationwide distributed papers, the best suggestion would be the Sankei newspaper. Although it ranks fifth, the subscribers of Sankei are considered to be the frontiers in the Japanese consumer market. Their income level is considered quite high and the Sankei have the highest circulation rate in Osaka, where most of the foreigners are populated. It will be the best choice for Netflix, being able to aim both targets.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusion A Netflix move to Japan could prove to be very successful if the company is able to establish its brand image and build its brand awareness in the japan market in a fairly quick time. We have concluded that this can be done if Netflix is able to acquire existing firms in order to use their distributions channels to reach customers and enhance its overall market presence. The effort to focus on various niche markets in Japan will also greatly aid Netflix in this transition.   Superior promotion strategies such as a one-month free trail and one free movie rental with the purchase of a video game aimed at console players in hopes that in the near future they will use our service to stream movies to their video games will support its efforts. Even with its various avenues for marking and advertising such as, promotions, television commercials, and internet adds, Netflix greatest advertising tool will be word of mouth. The word of mouth advertising will be derived from Netflix superior customer service and after sales service. These are a must for obtaing success in a rough Japan market.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   References

Nazi Germany(1919-1938) :: Papers

Nazi Germany(1919-1938) Summary [IMAGE]The rise of Nazi Germany was the capstone of the inter-war period, and led to the outbreak of World War II, shattering the tenuous peace. The Nazi regime's progress was paralleled by the life of its leader, Adolf Hitler. Born in a small town in Austria, Hitler dreamed of being an artist. Unable to demonstrate sufficient artistic skill for entrance into the art academy in Vienna, he did odd jobs and developed an interest in politics. In 1914, Hitler joined the German army, and earned the iron cross for bravery as a message-carrier. He was immensely disturbed by the German defeat in World War I, and blamed the loss on the socialists and Jews, who he said had surrendered the nation. [IMAGE]In 1920, Hitler seized control in the German Workers Party, changing its name to the National Socialist German Workers Party, called the Nazi Party for short. On November 9, 1923, Hitler and World War I hero General Ludendorf attempted a small revolution known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler had jumped onto a beer hall table and proclaimed the current Weimar government overthrown. He and Ludendorf led their supporters into the street, and were promptly arrested. Hitler spent two years in prison, where he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which outlined his future policies, centered on the theory of Aryan superiority and Jewish inferiority. [IMAGE]Released in 1925, Hitler honed his oratorical skills and worked for the advancement of the Nazi party. Such advancement was slow in coming through the years 1925 to 1929, a fairly stable period in Europe. However, as the world became mired in depression and unemployment rose, so did support for the Nazi Party, which promised employment and a return to glory for the nation. In 1932 the Nazis won 37.3 percent of the popular vote and occupied 230 seats in the German Reichstag. There was little stability in the German government at this time, and seeking a solution to this instability, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler chancellor on January 30, 1933.

Concealed Weapons :: essays research papers

Concealed Weapons, Concealed Risk Do you feel safer sitting next to someone carrying a gun? / Many people say no to that question,/ for many valid reasons. Carrying Concealed weapons have nothing to do with your dad or uncle owning many firearms. / This issue relates solely on allowing individuals to carry these weapons/ almost anywhere in the community:/ including football games,/ restaurants,/ stores,/school buildings/ and other many other places where firearms should strictly be prohibited./ There are 7 states in the nation including Missouri/ that does not let any private citizens carry these weapons. Most people who have permits to carry concealed weapons in their proper states are people who are not law enforcement officials/and have limited training and undergo less testing than even the most basic police recruit./ Even law-abiding citizens/ with the best intentions/ do not know how hard it is to use a gun in successful self-defense. Even highly trained police officers often lose control of their weapons; /acc ording to the National Institute of Justice/ an average of 16% of police officers killed in the line of fire/ are killed by a fellow officers bullet. Yet, they are lead to believe/ that if given a dangerous situation/ they will use the weapon with the proper safety and care that law enforcers will. You cannot ignore the fact that out of the thirty-four thousand and forty firearm deaths in 1998,/ only 212 were justifiable homicides out of self defense /by private citizens with firearms. The gun lobby claims that only law-abiding citizens get permits/. According to statistics this is false./ A recent study done by the Violence Policy Center/ demonstrated that in the first six months on 1997, /the weapon related offense rate among Texas concealed weapon license holders/ were more than twice as high as that general population of Texas. / We know that concealed weapon holders are committing crimes/ as a matter of fact/ 946 crimes were committed by Texan Concealed Weapon holders/ in the f irst 6 months of 1997. The full story on this has not yet been told because the Gun Lobby prohibits public accessibility to the lists of concealed weapon permit holders. (www.handguncontrol.com/facts) The carrying of concealed weapons were prohibited/ or severely limited in most states/ prior to the mid-1990s./ Then here comes the National Rifle Association,/ pleading that ordinary people carrying hidden handguns will reduce the nation’s crime rate./ Their first year of this new campaign they were fairly successful,/ and many states changed their laws to allow the widespread carrying of concealed weapons.

The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Fourteen

White owl†¦ hunting bird†¦ hunter†¦ tiger. Playing with you like a cat with a mouse. Like a cat†¦ a great cat†¦ a kitten. A white kitten. Death is in the house. And the kitten, the kitten had run from Damon. Not out of fear, but out of the fear of being discovered. Like when it had stood on Margaret's chest and wailed at the sight of Elena outside the window. Elena moaned and almost surfaced from unconsciousness, but the gray fog dragged her back under before she could open her eyes. Her thoughts seethed around her again. Poisoned love†¦ Stefan, it hated you before it hated Elena†¦ White and gold†¦ something white†¦ something white under the tree†¦ This time, when she struggled to open her eyes, she succeeded. And even before she could focus in the dim and shifting light, she knew. She finally knew. The figure in the trailing white dress turned from the candle she was lighting, and Elena saw what might have been her own face on its shoulders. But it was a subtly distorted face, pale and beautiful as an ice sculpture, but wrong. It was like the endless reflections of herself Elena had seen in her dream of the hall of mirrors. Twisted and hungry, and mocking. â€Å"Hello, Katherine,† she whispered. Katherine smiled, a sly and predatory smile. â€Å"You're not as stupid as I thought,† she said. Her voice was light and sweet-silvery, Elena thought. Like her eyelashes. There were silvery lights in her dress when she moved, too. But her hair was gold, almost as pale a gold as Elena's own. Her eyes were like the kitten's eyes: round and jewel blue. At her throat she wore a necklace with a stone of the same vivid color. Elena's own throat was sore, as if she had been screaming. It felt dry as well. When she turned her head slowly to the side, even that little motion hurt. Stefan was beside her, slumped forward, bound by his arms to the wrought-iron pickets of the gate. His head sagged against his chest, but what she could see of his face was deathly white. His throat was torn, and blood had dripped onto his collar and dried. Elena turned back to Katherine so quickly that her head spun. â€Å"Why? Why did you do that?† Katherine smiled, showing pointed white teeth. â€Å"Because I love him,† she said in a childish singsong. â€Å"Don't you love him, too?† It was only then that Elena fully realized why she couldn't move, and why her arms hurt. She was tied up like Stefan, lashed securely to the closed gate. A painful turning of her head to the other side revealed Damon. â€Å"Which one do you like better?† Katherine asked, in an intimate, confiding tone. â€Å"You can tell me. Which one do you think is best?† Elena looked at her, sickened. â€Å"Katherine,† she whispered. â€Å"Please. Please listen to me†¦ â€Å"Tell me. Go on.† Those jewel blue eyes filled Elena's vision as Katherine leaned in close, her lips almost touching Elena's. â€Å"I think they're both fun. Do you like fun, Elena?† Revolted, Elena shut her eyes and turned her face away. If only her head would stop spinning. Katherine stepped back with a clear laugh. â€Å"I know, it's so hard to choose.† She did a little pirouette, and Elena saw that what she had vaguely taken for the train to Katherine's dress was Katherine's hair. It flowed like molten gold down her back to spill over the floor, trailing behind her. â€Å"It all depends on your taste,† Katherine continued, doing a few graceful dance steps and ending up in front of Damon. She looked over at Elena impishly. â€Å"But then I have such a sweet tooth.† She grasped Damon by the hair, and, yanking his head up, sank her teeth into his neck. â€Å"No! Don't do that; don't hurt him any more†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena tried to surge forward, but she was tied too tightly. The gate was solid iron, set in stone, and the ropes were sturdy. Katherine was making animal sounds, gnawing and chewing at the flesh, and Damon moaned even in unconsciousness. Elena saw his body jerk reflexively with pain. â€Å"Please stop; oh, please stop-â€Å" Katherine lifted her head. Blood was running down her chin. â€Å"But I'm hungry and he's so good,† she said. She reared back and struck again, and Damon's body spasmed. Elena cried out. I was like that, she thought. In the beginning, that first night in the woods, I was like that. I hurt Stefan like that, I wanted to kill him†¦ Darkness swept up around her, and she gave in to it gratefully. Alaric's car skewed on a patch of ice as it reached the school, and Meredith almost ran into it. She and Matt jumped out of her car, leaving the doors open. Ahead, Alaric and Bonnie did the same. â€Å"What about the rest of the town?† Meredith shouted, running toward them. The wind was rising, and her face burned with frost. â€Å"Just Elena's family-Aunt Judith and Margaret,† Bonnie cried. Her voice was shrill and frightened, but there was a look of concentration in her eyes. She leaned her head back as if trying to remember something, and said, â€Å"Yes, that's it. They're the other ones the dogs will be after. Make them go somewhere-like the cellar. Keep them there!† â€Å"I'll do it. You three take the dance!† Bonnie turned to run after Alaric. Meredith raced back to her car. â€Å"Go back in! Get everybody inside and shut the doors!† he yelled at the sheriff's officers. But there wasn't time. He reached the cafeteria just as the first lurking shape in the darkness did. One officer went down without a sound or a chance to fire his gun. Another was quicker, and a gunshot rang out, amplified by the concrete courtyard. Students screamed and began to run away from it, into the parking lot. Alaric went after them, yelling, trying to herd them back. Other shapes came out of the darkness, from between parked cars, from all sides. Panic ensued. Alaric kept shouting, kept trying to gather the terrified students toward the building. Out here they were easy prey. In the courtyard, Bonnie turned to Matt. â€Å"We need fire!† she said. Matt darted into the cafeteria and came out with a box half-full of dance programs. He threw it to the ground, groping in his pockets for one of the matches they'd used to light the candle before. The paper caught and burned brightly. It formed an island of safety. Matt continued to wave people into the cafeteria doors behind it. Bonnie plunged inside, to find a scene just as riotous as outside. She looked around for someone in authority but couldn't see any adults, only panicked kids. Then the red and green crepe paper decorations caught her eye. The noise was thunderous; even a shout couldn't be heard in here. Struggling past the people trying to get out, she made it to the far side of the room. Caroline was there, looking pale without her summer tan, and wearing the snow queen tiara. Bonnie towed her to the microphone. â€Å"You're good at talking. Tell them to get inside and stay in! Tell them to start taking down the decorations. We need anything that'll burn-wood chairs, stuff in garbage cans, anything. Tell them it's our only chance!† She added, as Caroline stared at her, frightened and uncomprehending: â€Å"You've got the crown on now-so do something with it!† She didn't wait to see Caroline obey. She plunged again into the furor of the room. A moment later she heard Caroline's voice, first hesitant and then urgent, on the loudspeakers. It was dead quiet when Elena opened her eyes again. At the hoarse whisper, she tried to focus and found herself looking into pain-filled green eyes. â€Å"Stefan,† she said. She leaned toward him yearningly, wishing she could move. It didn't make sense, but she felt that if they could only hold each other it wouldn't be so bad. There was a childish laugh. Elena didn't turn toward it, but Stefan did. Elena saw his reaction, saw the sequence of expressions passing across his face almost too quickly to identify. Blank shock, disbelief, dawning joy-and then horror. A horror that finally turned his eyes blind and opaque. â€Å"Katherine,† he said. â€Å"But that's impossible. It can't be. You're dead†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena said, but he didn't respond. Katherine put a hand in front of her mouth and giggled behind it. â€Å"You wake up, too,† she said, looking on the other side of Elena. Elena felt a surge of Power. After a moment Damon's head lifted slowly, and he blinked. There was no astonishment in his face. He leaned his head back, eyes wearily narrowed, and looked for a minute or so at his captor. Then he smiled, a faint and painful smile, but recognizable. â€Å"Our sweet little white kitten,† he whispered. â€Å"I should have known.† â€Å"You didn't know, though, did you?† Katherine said, as eager as a child playing a game. â€Å"Even you didn't guess. I fooled everyone.† She laughed again. â€Å"It was so much fun, watching you while you were watching Stefan, and neither of you knew I was there. I even scratched you once!† Hooking her fingers into claws, she mimicked a kitten's slash. â€Å"At Elena's house. Yes, I remember,† Damon said slowly. He didn't seem so much angry as vaguely, whimsically amused. â€Å"Well, you're certainly a hunter. The lady and the tiger, as it were.† â€Å"And I put Stefan in that well,† Katherine bragged. â€Å"I saw you two fighting; I liked that. I followed Stefan to the edge of the woods, and then-† She clapped her cupped hands together, like someone catching a moth. Opening them slowly, she peered down into them as if she really had something there, and giggled secretly. â€Å"I was going to keep him to play with,† she confided. Then her lower lip thrust out and she looked at Elena balefully. â€Å"But you took him. That was mean, Elena. You shouldn't have done that.† The dreadful childish slyness was gone from her face, and for a moment Elena glimpsed the searing hatred of a woman. â€Å"Greedy girls get punished,† Katherine said, moving toward her, â€Å"and you're a greedy girl.† Distracted, Katherine stepped back. She looked surprised, then flattered. â€Å"Well-if you really want me to,† she said. She hugged her elbows with her hands and pirouetted again, her golden hair twisting on the floor. â€Å"No,† she said gleefully, turning back and pointing at them. â€Å"You guess. You guess and I'll tell you ‘right' or ‘wrong.' Go on! Elena swallowed, casting a covert glance at Stefan. She didn't see the point of stalling Katherine; it was all going to come out the same in the end. But some instinct told her to hang on to life as long as she could. â€Å"You attacked Vickie,† she said, carefully. Her own voice sounded winded to her ears, but she was positive now. â€Å"The girl in the ruined church that night.† â€Å"Good! Yes,† Katherine cried. She made another kitten swipe with clawed fingers. â€Å"Well, after all, she was in my church,† she added reasonably. â€Å"And what she and that boy were doing-well! You don't do that in church. So, I scratched her!† Katherine drew out the word, demonstrating, like somebody telling a story to a young child. â€Å"And†¦ I licked the blood up!† She licked pale pink lips with her tongue. Then she pointed at Stefan. â€Å"Next guess!† â€Å"You've been hounding her ever since,† Stefan said. He wasn't playing the game; he was making a sickened observation. â€Å"Yes, we're done with that! Go on to something else,† Katherine said sharply. But then she fiddled with the buttons at the neck of her dress, her fingers twinkling. And Elena thought of Vickie, with her startled-fawn eyes, undressing in the cafeteria in front of everyone. â€Å"I made her do silly things.† Katherine laughed. â€Å"She was fun to play with.† Elena's arms were numb and cramped. She realized that she was reflexively straining against the ropes, so offended by Katherine's words that she couldn't hold still. She made herself stop, trying instead to lean back and get a little feeling into her deadened hands. What she was going to do if she got free she didn't know, but she had to try. â€Å"Next guess,† Katherine was saying dangerously. â€Å"Why do you say it's your church?† Damon asked. His voice was still distantly amused, as if none of this affected him at all. â€Å"What about Honoria Fell?† â€Å"Oh, that old spook!† Katherine said maliciously. She peered around behind Elena, her mouth pursed, her eyes glaring. Elena realized for the first time that they were facing the entrance to the crypt, with the ransacked tomb behind them. Maybe Honoria would help them†¦ But then she remembered that quiet, fading voice. This is the only help I can give you. And she knew that no further aid would come. As if she'd read Elena's thoughts, Katherine was saying, â€Å"She can't do anything. She's just a pack of old bones.† The graceful hands made gestures as if Katherine were breaking those bones. â€Å"All she can do is talk, and lots of times I stopped you from hearing her.† Katherine's expression was dark again, and Elena felt an acid twinge of fear. â€Å"Yes! That was funny. You all came running out of the house and started moaning and crying†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Katherine evoked the scene in pantomime: the little dog lying in front of Bonnie's house, the girls rushing out to find his body. â€Å"He tasted bad, but it was worth it. I followed Damon there when he was a crow. I used to follow him a lot. If I wanted I could have grabbed that crow, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She made a sharp wringing motion. Bonnie's dream, thought Elena, icy revelation sweeping over her. She didn't even realize she'd spoken aloud until she saw Stefan and Katherine looking at her. â€Å"Bonnie dreamed about you,† she whispered. â€Å"But she thought it was me. She told me that she saw me standing under a tree with the wind blowing. And she was afraid of me. She said I looked different, pale but almost glowing. And a crow flew by and I grabbed it and wrung its neck.† Bile was rising in Elena's throat, and she gulped it down. â€Å"But it was you,† she said. Katherine looked delighted, as if Elena had somehow proved her point. â€Å"People dream about me a lot,† she said smugly. â€Å"Your aunt-she's dreamed about me. I tell her it was her fault you died. She thinks it's you telling her.† â€Å"Oh, God†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I wish you had died,† Katherine went on, her face turning spiteful. â€Å"You should have died. I kept you in the river long enough. But you were such a tramp, getting blood from both of them, that you came back. Oh, well.† She gave a furtive smile. â€Å"Now I can play with you longer. I lost my temper that day, because I saw Stefan had given you my ring. My ring!† Her voice rose. â€Å"Mine, that I left for them to remember me by. And he gave it to you. That was when I knew I wasn't just going to play with him. I had to kill him.† Stefan's eyes were stricken, confounded. â€Å"But I thought you were dead,† he said. â€Å"You were dead, five hundred years ago. Katherine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Oh, that was the first time I fooled you,† Katherine said, but there was no glee in her tone now. It was sullen. â€Å"I arranged it all with Gudren, my maid. The two of you wouldn't accept my choice,† she burst out, looking from Stefan to Damon angrily. â€Å"I wanted us all to be happy; I loved you. I loved you both. But that wasn't good enough for you.† Katherine's face had changed again, and Elena saw in it the hurt child of five centuries ago. That must have been what Katherine looked like, then, she thought wonderingly. The wide blue eyes were actually filling with tears. â€Å"I wanted you to love each other.† Katherine went on, sounding bewildered, â€Å"but you wouldn't. And I felt awful. I thought if you thought I'd died, that you would love each other. And I knew I had to go away, anyway, before Papa started to suspect what I was. â€Å"But then†-Katherine's face twisted in grief-â€Å"you did everything all wrong. You were supposed to be sorry, and cry, and comfort each other. I did it for you. But instead you ran and got swords. Why did you do that?† It was a cry from the heart. â€Å"Why didn't you take my gift? You treated it like garbage. I told you in the note that I wanted you to be reconciled with each other. But you didn't listen and you got swords. You killed each other. Why did you do it?† Tears were slipping down Katherine's cheeks, and Stefan's face was wet, too. â€Å"We were stupid,† he said, as caught up in the memory of the past as she was. â€Å"We blamed each other for your death, and we were so stupid†¦ Katherine, listen to me. It was my fault; I was the one who attacked first. And I've been sorry-you don't know how sorry I've been ever since. You don't know how many times I've thought about it and wished there was something I could do to change it. I'd have given anything to take it back-anything. I killed my brother†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His voice cracked, and tears spilled from his eyes. Elena, her heart breaking with grief, turned helplessly to Damon and saw that he wasn't even aware of her. The look of amusement was gone, and his eyes were fixed on Stefan in utter concentration, riveted. â€Å"Katherine, please listen to me,† Stefan said shakily, regaining his voice. â€Å"We've all hurt one another enough. Please let us go now. Or keep me, if you want, but let them leave. I'm the one that's to blame. Keep me, and I'll do whatever you want†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Katherine's jewel-like eyes were liquid and impossibly blue, filled with an endless sorrow. Elena didn't dare to breathe, afraid to break the spell as the slender girl moved toward Stefan, her face softened and yearning. But then the ice inside Katherine crept out again, freezing the tears on her cheeks. â€Å"You should have thought of that a long time ago,† she said. â€Å"I might have listened to you then. I was sorry you'd killed each other at first. I ran away, without even Gudren, back to my home. But then I didn't have anything, not even a new dress, and I was hungry and cold. I might have starved if Klaus hadn't found me.† Klaus. Through her dismay, Elena remembered something Stefan had told her. Klaus was the man who'd made Katherine a vampire, the man the villagers said was evil. â€Å"Klaus taught me the truth,† Katherine said. â€Å"He showed me how the world really is. You have to be strong, and take the things you want. You have to think only of yourself. And I'm the strongest of all now. I am. You know how I got that way?† She answered the question without even waiting for them to respond. â€Å"Lives. So many lives. Humans and vampires, and they're all inside me now. I killed Klaus after a century or two. He was surprised. He didn't know how much I'd learned. â€Å"I brought you here, both of you. I put the thought in your mind, Stefan, the way you put thoughts into a human's. I guided you to this place. And then I made sure Damon followed you. Elena was here. I think she must be related to me somehow; she looks like me. I knew you'd see her and feel guilty. But you weren't supposed to fall in love with her!† The resentfulness in Katherine's voice gave way to fury again. â€Å"You weren't supposed to forget me! You weren't supposed to give her my ring!† â€Å"Katherine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Katherine swept on. â€Å"Oh, you made me so angry. And now I'm going to make you sorry, really sorry. I know who I hate most now, and it's you, Stefan. Because I loved you best.† She seemed to regain control of herself, wiping the last traces of tears from her face and drawing herself up with exaggerated dignity. â€Å"I don't hate Damon as much,† she said. â€Å"I might even let him live.† Her eyes narrowed, and then widened with an idea. â€Å"Listen, Damon,† she said secretly. â€Å"You're not as stupid as Stefan is. You know the way things really are. I've heard you say it. I've seen things you've done.† She leaned forward. â€Å"I've been lonely since Klaus died. You could keep me company. All you have to do is say you love me best. Then after I kill them we'll go away. You can even kill the girl if you want. I'd let you. What do you think?† Oh, God, thought Elena, sickened again. Damon's eyes were on Katherine's wide blue ones; he seemed to be searching her face. And the whimsical amusement was back in his expression. Oh, God, no, Elena thought. Please, no†¦ Slowly, Damon smiled.