the identity of the poets Essays - Sylvia Plath, Guggenheim Fellows

The Identity of the Woman Poet: Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton God, who am I? [?] I sit here without identity: faceless [?] someone believes I am a human being, not a name merely. And these are the only indications that I am a whole person, not merely a knot of nerves, without identity. I?m lost. (Plath, Journals 26) Tasting the Time The identities of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton as female writers were doomed before these two women were even conceived within their mothers? wombs. Society had already carved a mold for these two women?s lives, including the roles of wife, mother, and nurturer. These man-made roles were not a choice of fate, were not a choice of their own; rather, they were a choice and a command spoken from a society that did not allow a woman?s role to move beyond the home. As Freud, an innovative and domineering psychoanalyst during the twentieth century, stated: ?anatomy is destiny? (Freud). Similarly, Plath and Sexton?s female anatomy would be their destinies. Their destinies suffered from a loss of identity created by being women and poets. Plath and Sexton were simply two creative female geniuses thrown into the same poetic category of Confessionalism. They were women writing, making a distinct mark Bienhoff 2 on the poetry scene, resulting in the ultimate: two Pulitzer Prizes (Sexton: 1967; Plath: 1982). They both existed in the same era and even knew each other; their lives collided at a center point: a poetry course at Boston University. They became friendly and regular bar-goers after the course, uniting in conversation about their fascination with death. As Sexton stated in her essay on Plath, ?The Bar Fly Ought to Sing?: ?We talked death with burned-up intensity, both of us drawn to it like moths to an electric light bulb. Sucking on it! [?] We talked death and this was life for us [?]? (No Evil Star 7). Plath and Sexton are further and foremost known for their deaths. They were two women who took life into their own hands and made their own choices about their ends. Plath in 1963 was first to venture off into death, when she swallowed sleeping pills and placed her head in an oven and breathed in the gas, sparing her two children who were sleeping peacefully in a sealed-off room close to their mother?s own doom (Wagner- Martin, ?Two Views?). Sexton was left behind in life and wrote two poems on her friend?s departure into death: ?Sylvia?s Death? and ?Wanting to Die;? as Sexton spoke of in ?Sylvia?s Death?: ?Thief! ? / how did you crawl down alone / into the death I wanted so badly and for so long, / [?] the one we talked of so often each time / we downed three extra dry martinis in Boston? (Complete Poems 126). Yet, Sexton proved that she was not too far behind, following her acquaintance in 1974 when she entered her garage, turned on her car, and slowly went into death that friend she had tried to meet several times before her final end (Wagner-Martin, ?Anne Sexton?). There is another world beyond these cardboard fact similarities of poetry, mental illnesses, and suicides in relation to Plath and Sexton. During their lives, the conservatism and ideals of the nuclear family had been reinforced with the conclusion of Bienhoff 3 World War II. During wartime, women had entered the workforce while the men were absent fighting; however, no one intended women to continue working when the men returned home after winning the war. Instead a woman was expected to return to the home with a relieved and thankful smile planted upon her face. Women were kicked out of the same factories that so desperately needed them during wartime, and they were supposed to be joyous about being demoted or even fired. A woman?s personal fulfillment would not lie within a job, a woman?s personal fulfillment lay within her daily household duties?including the washing and the dusting, the cleaning and the cooking, the slave-like submissive behavior to her husband and the constant conception and birthing of babies. These images of the perfect woman and her unmistakable identity flooded magazines, billboards, and sitcoms on television; they acted as ?woman propaganda.? A woman?s identity was transcribed before she even had time to use her ?useless? brain and choose a path of her own liking. As Naomi Weisstein declared in her article that became a part of the women?s liberation movement when she presented it in 1968, ?Psychology Constructs the Female?: ?A woman has

Free Essays on Madame Du Chatelet

Madame du Chatelet In a society where nobility disliked the notion of education for their daughters arose one of the great mathematicians of the eighteenth century, Frenchwoman, Emilie du Chatelet. Born in Paris December 17, 1706, she grew up in a household where the art of courting was the only way one could mold a place in society. During her early childhood, Emilie began to show such promise in the area of academics that soon she was able to convince her father that she needed attention. Provided with a relatively good education for the time, she studied and soon mastered Latin, Italian and English. In spite of her talents in the area of languages, her true love was mathematics. Her study in this area was encouraged by a family friend, M.de Mezieres, who recognized the young lady’s talent. Emilie’s work in mathematics was rarely original or as captivating as that of other female mathematicians but it was substantive. The fact that it was accomplished in the first place is in it self remarkable. Emilie not only refused to give up mathematics but she engaged the best known tutors to help her in her study. She also conquered the heart of Voltaire, one of the most intriguing and brilliant scholars of this time. Some of Emilie’s most significant work came from the period she spent with Voltaire at Cirey-sur-Blaise. For the two scholars this was a safe and quiet haven distant from the turbulence of Paris and court life. As Voltaire notes â€Å"We long employed all our attention and powers upon Leibniz and Newton; Mme du Chatelet attached herself first to Leibniz, and explained one part of his system in a book exceedingly well written, entitled Institutions de physique† (1,p.56). However she soon abandoned the work of Leibniz and applied herself to the discoveries of the great Newton. She was extremely successful in translating his whole book of principals of mathematics into French. She also ... Free Essays on Madame Du Chatelet Free Essays on Madame Du Chatelet Madame du Chatelet In a society where nobility disliked the notion of education for their daughters arose one of the great mathematicians of the eighteenth century, Frenchwoman, Emilie du Chatelet. Born in Paris December 17, 1706, she grew up in a household where the art of courting was the only way one could mold a place in society. During her early childhood, Emilie began to show such promise in the area of academics that soon she was able to convince her father that she needed attention. Provided with a relatively good education for the time, she studied and soon mastered Latin, Italian and English. In spite of her talents in the area of languages, her true love was mathematics. Her study in this area was encouraged by a family friend, M.de Mezieres, who recognized the young lady’s talent. Emilie’s work in mathematics was rarely original or as captivating as that of other female mathematicians but it was substantive. The fact that it was accomplished in the first place is in it self remarkable. Emilie not only refused to give up mathematics but she engaged the best known tutors to help her in her study. She also conquered the heart of Voltaire, one of the most intriguing and brilliant scholars of this time. Some of Emilie’s most significant work came from the period she spent with Voltaire at Cirey-sur-Blaise. For the two scholars this was a safe and quiet haven distant from the turbulence of Paris and court life. As Voltaire notes â€Å"We long employed all our attention and powers upon Leibniz and Newton; Mme du Chatelet attached herself first to Leibniz, and explained one part of his system in a book exceedingly well written, entitled Institutions de physique† (1,p.56). However she soon abandoned the work of Leibniz and applied herself to the discoveries of the great Newton. She was extremely successful in translating his whole book of principals of mathematics into French. She also ...

Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) Research Paper

Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) - Research Paper Example It would contribute in reducing the abuses of insurance industry. According to the government, the bill will give more protection to American nation on health issues. Children will get more health care as compared to past; there will be no limit for the annual health care for people (Healthcare.gov, 2011). Patients will get preventive services without sharing any cost. Government tends to implement the plan in practice from 2014. Despite all the goods that plan seem to bring in the health care of Americans, there are a lot many reservations in the public (Healthcare.gov, 2011). Middle class suffers more as the tax cut from small businesses and insurance policies would help poor or low-income people to buy policies for them. The plan is aimed at reducing the premium of businesspersons running small businesses to help the needy people. Republicans have rejected the law for not having any constitutional authority and have raised voice for repeal (Healthcare.gov, 2011). The Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) is a pending piece of political legislation and its repealing has many reasons behind it. This paper discusses the issue of repeal of the Affordable Care Act in detail. ...ore, Richard Neal, William Pascrell, Gary Peters , Earl Pomeroy , Linda Sanchez, Allyson Schwartz, Ike Skelton, Fortney Stark, John Tanner, Michael Thompson, Dina Titus, Christopher Van Hollen and John Yarmuth (GovTrack.us 2009). The Republicans who sponsored the Affordable Care Act are Virginia Brown-Waite, Walter Jones and Todd Platts (GovTrack.us, 2009). American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, Association of American Medical Colleges, National Association of Community Health Centers, American Osteopathic Association, Catholic Health Association, American Public Health Association, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Doctors for America and National Hispanic Medical Associatio n consider the Affordable Care Act as a revolutionary act that keeps the capability of attending all the problems associated with health care (Foster, 2011). According to the mentioned health care communities, repeal of Affordable Care Act will be depreciative for health care services and will take health care back to its backward form (Foster, 2011). Ostensible Objectives of the Legislation According to the legislature, ObamaCare Act has many ostensible objectives. They are to make certain relaxed admittance to emergency facilities, to make certain that all people are insured under the law, to make employers responsible for their employees for the provision of health care insurance services, to ensure betterment of insurance policies by increasing insurance coverage, to make sure that the premiums of insurance are kept low and to impose tax penalties for people with no health insurance (ACEP, 2010). Hidden Agendas or Objectives to the Proposed Law Democrats and republicans both hav e some

The Fiscal Cliff and the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Fiscal Cliff and the United States - Essay Example The Fiscal Cliff and the United States: A Future Prospectus of What Actions will Precipitate what Reactions Although a firm understanding how these two relate would require a dissertation length piece on both social, governmental, and economic trends, this brief essay will attempt to summarize some of the key concerns related with these implications as well as seeking to understand and quantify the ways in which a given government can seek to maintain the optimal balance of freedom, equality and solidarity in order to proceed within such a difficult economic environment as the current nation is experiencing. With the situation regarding the United States’ â€Å"Fiscal Cliff† as it has been called, the situation is with regards to a host of tax cuts and new austerity measures that are due to go into affect the first of this coming year – if not legislative or executive actions are taken to ally them. The purpose of this piece is not to argue between either fiscally liberal or conservative policies as a panacea to the ills of our current financial travails. However, igno ring the present viewpoints that exist on the topic and attempting to analyze them to find a middle path is equally foolish. Accordingly, the author has chosen to devote some brief space to the political ideologies that the two party system of the United States has necessarily espoused. The primary obstacle towards a greater understanding between the two political parties with regards to austerity, spending, and the national debt is with regards to how the situation should be handled.... Such a sum for the time was an unimaginable one (Hinch, 2012). Aided by nearly a decade of conflict and two wars, the Republican Party lost any and all credence that they had formerly retained with reference to being the party of fiscal responsibility. However, with regards to the individual positions that the political spectrum retains, there can be said to be two. The Democratic Party believes that the best way to find a reasonable solution from such economic difficulties revolve around raising taxes (specifically on the upper middle class and wealthiest citizens). Such an approach has merits; however, speaking economically, it also serves to penalize those job-creators that most directly influence the level of growth and recovery that the nation would experience if such a deadweight loss were not experienced. Similarly, those that support the alternate view to the one listed above claim that any and all budget shortfalls must be remedied by relying on austerity and/or budget cuts to achieve the desired result. Naturally, neither one of these offerings is reasonable due to the fact that it is impossible for our current society to realize the correct levels of freedom, solidarity, and equality that would be necessary to achieve either of these positions. Therefore, it is the recommendation of this author that the ultimate approach would necessarily penalize (tax) all citizens equally; regardless of their economic stature within the economy (Etzioni, 1993). In this way, the government would be able to highly equitable distribute the tax burden among all of its citizens. Additionally, there would no longer be a disincentive for those that made less to attempt to make even more as all citizens would be equitably dealt with in terms of their overall level of

Investigating the Effects of Surface Area on the Rate of Reaction Essay Example for Free

Investigating the Effects of Surface Area on the Rate of Reaction Essay Aim: To study the effects of changing the surface area on the rate of a chemical reaction Hypothesis: This hypothesis is based on the Collision Theory, where in order to react, the two particles involved must: 1. Collide with each other 2. The collision must be energetic enough to overcome the activation energy of the reaction 3. The collision must bring the reactive parts of the molecule into contact the correct way – they must collide with appropriate geometry (the reactive parts) Considering that the surface area of a particle is a factor that mainly affects the collision rate of particles, it would be safe to assume that as the surface area increases, the reaction rate increases. The graph should turn out to be something like this: 1. the reaction is the fastest at the start 2. The reaction is slowing down here 3. No more product is formed Amount of product Time Variables: Variable Factor What is manipulated Dependent Time The time it takes for the reaction to complete depends on the surface area of the compounds being used, because it determines the rate in which the reaction will occur. Independent Volume of the gas collected (H2, CO2) The amount of gas collected for each experiment will depend on the Controlled 1. Mass of Calcium Carbonate (both marble chips and powdered form) 2. Mass of Magnesium (both ribbon and powder) 3. Volume of Hydrochloric Acid 4. Apparatus Used 1. The masses of the substances utilized will remain constantly fixed during the experiment 2. 50 cm3 of HCl will be used for every trial – 550 cm3 in total 3. The apparatus used will remain the same throughout the whole experiment Chemical Reactions: Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2 1. Magnesium ribbon 2. Hydrogen Gas will be the gas collected 1. 3 Trials will take place 1. Mass of Magnesium ribbon in: 1. Trial 1: 0.064 grams 2. Trial 2: 0.063 grams 3. Trial 3: 0.065 grams CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2 1. Marble Chips 2. Carbon Dioxide will be the gas collected 1. 2 Trials will take place 1. Mass of Marble Chips in: 1. Trial 1: 3.998 grams 2. Trial 2: 3.988 grams Na2CO3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O + CO2 1. Sodium Carbonate (Powdered) 2. Carbon Dioxide will be the gas collected 1. 2 Trials will take place 1. Mass of Sodium Carbonate 1. Trial 1: 0.504 grams 2. Trial 2: 0.505 grams Apparatus: 1. Eye-Protection – 1 pair of Safety Glasses 2. 1 pair of Scissors 3. 1 Electronic Scale 4. 1 Conical Flask (100cm3) 5. 1 Single-holed rubber bung and delivery tube to fit conical flask 6. 1 Measuring cylinder (100cm3) 7. Stopwatch Chemicals: 1. 12cm of Magnesium Ribbon 2. 550 cm3 of Hydrochloric Acid 3. Marble Chips 4. Sodium Carbonate (Powdered) Method: 1. Set up apparatus as shown 2. Fill the conical flask with 50cm3 of HCl 3. Insert the end of the syringe into the hole on top of the stopper 4. Add the magnesium ribbon 5. Seal the flask with a rubber stopper as quickly as you can, at the same time have someone else present to start the stop watch once the magnesium ribbon has been added to the hydrochloric acid 6. As the reaction takes place, note down the time it takes for the gas collected to reach a multiple of 5 (i.e. 5mL, 10mL †¦.50,55,60,65 etc) 7. Keep measuring until the reaction has stopped, or you are unable to measure anymore 8. Repeat each experiment 3 times, just to be sure the data collected is accurate 9. At step 4, replace the underlined compound with the next compound after one experiment is completed Conclusion Unfortunately I was unable to create a graph using time as the independent variable, because the lab that I had utilized did not have the equipment available to accurately to record the data if time were to be the independent variable. Another factor that played into my decision was the fact that the smallest calibration of the glass syringe I used was 5 cm3. Since the only visible measurements shown on the syringe were multiples of 5, it would only seem reasonable that I switch around the variables, making time the dependent variable, and the volume collected the independent variable, since I couldn’t exactly measure how much gas would be collected every 5 seconds; otherwise the relationship the graph would depict would be completely incorrect. As you can see on the graphs, the slightly steep slopes show when the reaction is the quickest, as it should be in the beginning. The curve shows the reaction slowing down, but unfortunately the curve continues. This is because the reaction is still taking place. I was unable to record the rest of the data because the measuring tools that were available weren’t able to record to such a high degree. In some cases though, like in the powdered sodium carbonate experiment, the reaction began so quickly that I wasn’t able to record the time in most cases, so I just stuck with those that I had managed to note down. In other cases, there were so many distractions in the lab that it was difficult to remain focused. My classmates kept removing some if the items that I was using. The idea was to see how the rate of reaction changed when the surface area of a substance was increased. Initially, my plan was to react magnesium ribbon and magnesium powder with 1 mole of Hydrochloric acid; so I could compare and contrast how the surface area of the substance affected the rate of reaction. I had planned to keep everything about the two substances the same. Its element, mass, the amount of Hydrochloric acid I was going to react with it; the only thing different would be its surface area. Unfortunately the Lab didn’t have any available. So I decided to do the same experiment to Calcium Carbonate, this time using marble chips and powdered calcium carbonate. To my dismay I found that the powdered calcium carbonate wasn’t reacting at all. So I had to change it to sodium carbonate. There is skepticism about using different elements, seeing as they have different orders of reactivity. These factors, including the concentration of the acid used, could also affect the rate of reaction. However, the same acid concentration was used for all experiments, in all trials; so we can dismiss that. However, sodium is much higher up the reactivity series than calcium, which is higher up the reactivity series than magnesium. This is the problem with this experiment; the elements positions in the reactivity series could have really altered the rate of reaction. However, the experiments still prove that when the surface area of a substance is increased, the rate of reaction increases as well. This happens because, when two substances react only the surface particles of the substances can come into direct contact with the reactant particles. Increasing a substance’s surface area, like turning big solid chunks of calcium carbonate into powder, leaves more solid particles available to react. The more particles available to react at one time, the faster the rate of the reaction. Like this: Only atoms on the surface can react If you break the substance down, more atoms are exposed and ready to react. Evaluation Considering the lack of material available, I think I was able to manage the experiment fairly enough to produce results. However, I am not pleased with the factors that may or may not have affected my results, and the circumstances in which I had to switch my variables around. Therefore I would like to state a few things I would like to alter, if ever I got the change to do this experiment again. 1. Apparatus 1. Next time, instead of using a stopwatch, I would like to use a digital device, like a laptop for example, that was somehow connected to the glass syringe, which was programmed to record the volume of the gas collected every 5 seconds. This time the graph would turn out the way it should be. 2. Instead of using a measuring cylinder, I would replace it with a burette, as it takes more accurate measurements of liquids. 1. Chemicals Used 1. I would try and used the same element next time; the only difference would be the surface area. For example, if I used magnesium, to study the effects of surface area on the rate of reaction, I would only you magnesium ribbon and magnesium powder. Studying different elements with different reactivity’s would dismiss any data already collected because an element’s position on the reactivity series may also determine the rate of reaction. Use the same element. 1. Amount of People involved in the experiment 1. If I had to do the experiment again, with the same apparatus, I think I would like to have 3 people participating in the collection of data. 1 person would be watching the syringe rise and call out to record whenever it rose, the 2nd person would time it, and the 3rd person would record it. This time, the data may be even more accurate, because no one is taking their eye off the experiment, like I was doing during my experiment just to record data. I feel that altering these aspects of the experiment would increase the level of accuracy, as to get more substantial data to calculate the order of reaction. Unfortunately with the data I have so far, I am unable to derive the concentrations of the substances I had utilized in my experiment. However, as the objective was to investigate whether or not different surface areas affected the rate of the reaction, I think that I have produced enough data to support my theory.

Consumer benefits and drawbacks of shopping online

Consumer benefits and drawbacks of shopping online In the following essay I attend to track the recent growth on the web/e-retail sales and analyse, compare and critique the consumer benefits and drawbacks of shopping online compared to conventional store from the perspective of consumer behaviour, brand marketing and the application of the seven Cs of retailing. The business of e-retail has been defined as the sale of goods and services via Internet or the other electronic channels for personal or household use by consumers (Dennis 2002). The explosive growth of the Internet has revolutionised many aspects of daily life (Routledge, 2000). Since the development of the Internet in the early 90s and its relevance in e-commerce the Internet has allowed effective new communications channels, easy access, flexibility and the potential to upload a huge amount of information to a global audience. Online shopping has evolved with the growth of technology. Online shopping has had a dramatic impact and become very popular, however it still carters to middle and upper class. A significant feature in consumer attitude towards non-store shopping is exposure to technology, since it has been established that amplified exposure to technology increases the probability of developing favourable attitudes towards new shopping channels (Bigne, Enrique.2005). Growth of the web The occurrence of the Internet has already had a remarkable impact on society, there are more people online than at any other point in history and online retailers have seen tremendous increase in their online earning potential. PricewaterhouseCoopers predict that by 2014 the UK entertainment and media business will be worth an estimate  £56 billion (video on nile week 4 uk entertainment media). The rapid growth of the Web and Web development has been the result of many innovative advances in Web technology, Feather calls this the webolution. Everyday more and more people are integrating the internet into their daily lives due to the flexible opportunities on offer. Feather forecasts that a vast rapid growth on the Internet will concur over the next ten years transforming all aspects of society. Feather argues that half of North America will be living a web lifestyle in which they will also be connected to the internet and be able to control their homes, automobiles, work and lesse n the need to commute to a remote work site. Developed countries that have been offering e-commerce have shown impressive improvement in their respective economies (Javalgi et al., 2005) however the Gulf Area seem to be struggling to keep up with the western world. While consumers from the western world take for granted Internet banking and Internet shopping the Arab world are struggling due to major obstacles mainly poor infrastructure, under investment and slow connection speed. Another major concern that is contributing to their lack of slow growth is the insufficient and compelling amount of content in Arabic; only 0.2% of websites are in Arabic. However the Gulf area presents a huge potential market with over 30million web users but organisations feel its an expensive process to translate. On the other hand the new deregulation has allowed competition to enter, before only one ISP company was available to the masses but now with an increase of ISP companies they have started to push the limit on service. This new competition has driven down prices because the Internet has become more accessible and affordable for users. Video(nile of BBC Middle East Business Report: Internet Growth in the Middle East video on nile week 4) The huge growth area though, is in mobile internet access (appendix). Mobile Commerce has been defined as follows: Mobile Commerce is any transaction, involving the transfer of ownership or rights to use goods and services, which is initiated and/or completed by using mobile access to computer-mediated networks with the help of an electronic device (Tiwari, R.; Buse, S. (2007) Mobile is literally how consumers live in todays worldwide society and businesses have already seen this change in the way consumers connect to the internet. Businesses have realised the new trend and due to the improvement on browsing on smart phones this is set to increase rapidly. (Ebay appendix) Customer benefits and drawbacks To most consumers important attributes of online shopping are convenience and accessibility (Wolfinbarger and Gilly, 2001). Online shopping is becoming more and more popular each year as consumers take advantage of the convenience, wide variety of products and low prices available when shopping online. Over the years the Internet has become a great source for bargain hunters for good reason, there are many great buys online with price comparison companies that help consumers find the best prices, shipping and tax advantages, and the convenience of not having to leave home. However sometimes the deal that looks like a bargain may fall short of what has been advertised. Being able to walk into a physical store and able to see, feel, try, easily ask questions and compare different products side by side with ease makes for a strong case to why brick and mortar shopping is more of an engaging experience. One major benefit of brick and mortar shopping is its organisation. Its straight-forward layout allows consumers to easily locate the right department and the right products effortlessly. Online sites offer similar organisations layouts by providing search capabilities and well designed websites with easy navigations. Another factor could be the relationship between attitudes of attractiveness of alternatives. The consumer although might have a positive attitude toward online shopping, lead by the strong attractiveness of the brick-and-mortar alternative. Therefore, he will choose to shop offline, despite his positive attitude toward shopping on the Internet. Online stores recommend certain products over others, while all websites offer descriptions for each product, it may not always be the best thing because the descriptions can be either too general or too detailed, making it difficult to compare two or more products on their features. A negative aspect of shopping online is the communication dissatisfaction because consumers miss that face to face link, not having an informed person available to provide an immediate answer. However websites now provide independent reviews by customers who have brought each product and display their own personal opinion which in the long run is beneficial to consumers because it helps strengthen their decision on whether or not to purchase a product. Other advantages and disadvantages for shopping online include: (see appendix) Perspective of consumer behaviour Retailers and researchers have been aware that shopping is not just a matter of acquiring tangible products but also about experience, enjoyment and entertainment. In the e-shopping context, experience and enjoyment originate from consumers interactions with an e-retail site. Factors can influence a consumers decision when shopping online, these include the following: Image: Traditional retailers with strong images have long been making the running in e-retail. According to Kimber (2001) instore and online shopper loyalty are linked. Image is the significant perception from the eyes of the consumer to build up their overall evaluation or rating, in such a way to guide their decision making process. Consumers are more likely to buy from a store that they consider to have a positive image e.g. price, brand or customer service. For example Tesco is recognised as having a positive image both instore and online, being the UK grocery market leader in both channels and the worlds largest e-grocer. Social: One social interaction is reference groups. These are groups that serve as a point of reference for an individual. They are perceived as credible and powerful can change consumers attitude and behaviour (see table1 appendix major consumer reference group pg332). When having doubts about obtaining accurate information about products or services, consumers are more likely to communicate with like-minded people who can be important motivators that influence decisions. Consumer related reference groups include the following: (see appendix book page 334) Opinion leadership unofficially influence the actions or attitudes of consumers who may be opinion seekers or purely opinion recipients. Opinion leaders are highly credible sources of information because their intentions are perceived as being in the best interest of the opinion recipient because unlike commercial endorsers, opinion leaders do not actually represent the interests of one company and receive no compensation for their advice. Comparisons of opinion leaders and receivers (appendix pg 506) Product characteristics: Consumers decisions whether or not to shop online are also influenced by the variety of products or services available. In essence some product categories are more suitable for online shopping than other categories, the lack of physical contact and assistance in shopping on the Internet is one factor that influences this suitability. Kare Silver (2001) created the electronic shopping test to measure a product to calculate the chances that it will be purchased online. Three factors affected the potential sell for products: Product Characteristics Familiarity and Confidence Consumer Attributes More information + example of electronic shopping test (appendix) Brand marketing Brands are ever more important on the internet with further competitors due to the global presences; brands are the link to maintaining the relationship between e-retailers and consumers. Consumers have a variety of choices and are more liable to choose e-retailers they know who represent value and are trustworthy. Brand elements are the point of contact between the brand and consumer which is intended to mirror the wanted look and feel of the brand and what it represents. For the brand to succeed all elements must be implemented correctly, however branding a company as something they do not represent is worse than no branding at all because it raises consumer expectations about the quality of what they will receive. Lindstorm (2001) dictates both trust and interactivity are the main factors when shopping online. Consumers perception of e-brands are driven by their total experience on the website, making trust a significant long-term barrier because there is no personal interaction buying on the internet offers potential risks e.g. security transactions. E-retailers can interact and build trust with consumers in a number of ways (appendix model of e-branding pg 176). E-retail mix assists e-retailers to achieve designated objectives. Prices and advertising remain a key element but online e-retailers benefit from using banner ads, pop ups and affiliate marketing. Difference forms of retail mix and e-retail mix (appendix) Loyalty marketing strategies, including communication and two-way dialog, rewards, effective customer service and service loyalty schemes and are an important aspect of brand building (Cuthbertson and Bridson, 2006). One way Adidas use the e-mix effectively is to allow consumers to create accounts to make their shopping experience easier. They offer exclusive deals/discounts on products, able to keep track of orders and personalised homepage when signed in makes consumers feel the brand are paying great attention to their needs, help build and maintain a relationship.

Personal Financial Management Essay

1. You need to hire a receptionist that will be handling cash. What steps would you take to make sure you hire the right person? Inquire about previous cash handling experience, ask about their personal financial management, how they handle their personal finances. 2. Why should you teach your employees the importance of personal financial management? What are some creative ways of doing this? How employees handle their income reflects their work performance, if someone is having financial issues it will most likely cause them to be stressed at the work place. It is important to teach employees how to handle their finances so the overall performance of the company is not affected. Some ways to do this is by having workshops, company meetings, games, or a company lunch. Any setting where a financial manger could come in and answer any questions an employee might have as to how to manage their finances better. 3. What specific steps can you take to improve your spending habits? Some ways I could improve my spending habits would be to assist my want versus need. I can admit that at times I do unnecessary spending. I should make a budget of how much I spend and how much I earn and try to be fugal in my spending habits.