...Ceres Gardening Company Case Study 1. How has the company grown? What is its basic strategy + how has it evolved? What have been the key factors in the company's growth? The growth of the company has been fueled by the market demand growth in organic products. Ceres increased their revenues by over 75% in just five years, while growing profits by over 25% (based on Exhibits 2, 3 & 4). Ceres’s basic strategy started with its founder, Jonathan Wydown, to promote sustainable organic gardens and landscapes to environmentally conscious consumers. Mr. Wydown has been a proponent of soil preservation, biodiversity, and natural fertilizers and pest control. Mr. Wydown was confident that the same principles behind organic farming would eventually apply to home gardens and lawns. Mr. Wydown’ s vision evolved into the creation and development of a market niche of selected certified organic seeds and seedlings for vegetables, culinary herbs, and flowers – bringing the farm to the home per se. This market niche and products became the company’s differentiator and competitive edge. The key factors that drove the company’s growth are: * Market demand and segmentation – Ceres developed a market niche for organic-conscious consumers who are concerned about the environment. Although products are priced at a higher premium, the value from the company’s environmentally conscious go-to-market strategy and segmentation allowed Ceres to develop a loyal consumer community....
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...Should Pluto be a Planet? In 1930 Clyde W. Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona discovered the planet Pluto. After serving 76 long years as the ninth planet in our solar system, Pluto was controversially demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006. This has raised many debates on whether Pluto was categorized unfairly or not. Astronomers from both sides of the debate have legitimite arguments making it tough to decide whether Pluto should be classified as a planet or a dwarf planet. Pluto’s title as a planet was questioned when Mike Brown, Professor of Planetary Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology discovered an object in 2005 that was further out than the orbit of Pluto. The object was also 25% more massive than Pluto. This object was later named Eris. It is located along with Pluto in the Kuiper Belt. There are plenty of other mysterious objects located in the Kuiper Belt that are more or less the same size as Pluto and Eris. This troubled the International Astronomical Union because this meant that there are tens to hundreds of objects that could very soon be known as planets. There are approximately more than 1,000 objects composed of the same icy mixture located in the Kuiper Belt. Many astronomers, scientists, and the International Astronomical Union felt uncomfortable with the fact that there are hundreds of objects in our solar system that have a strong possibility of becoming planets. To avoid the feeling of skepticism the International...
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...Diana Robbins 05/01/2012 Abstract Proserpina was the Roman goddess of Springtime and the goddess of the Underworld. She was born to Ceres and Jupiter. Her plight is directly related to changing of the season. This is due to that abduction of the fair goddess by Pluto the good of the Underworld. Proserpina, the roman goddess associate with the seasons, is probably one of the more interesting stories in Roman mythology. Really you cannot say that any of them are not interesting, but I would have to say that I have taken quite a liking to her particular plight and how it relates the seasons of the earth. Born to the goddess Ceres and the god Jupiter, Proserpina found herself in a world for trouble at the hands of Pluto. The plot does indeed thicken as you find out there were other factors at play in the suffering of Proserpina. What god or goddess gave the order that sealed here fate? What forces were in play in this supernatural game of love and intrigue? Proserpina, or as she was sometimes known Proserpine or to the Greeks Persephone, was born to Ceres, the goddess of agriculture and Jupiter, the god of shy and thunder, two high standing deities. Ceres, also known as the Greek goddess Demeter, was the goddess of agriculture as I said, but also associated with grain crops, motherly love and fertility. Ceres was the only agriculture deity to be listed in the Di Consentes list of twelve deities thought to be greater than the rest. Jupiter, also known...
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...Social Responsibility Strategy for Ladybug Lawn Care LLC Ladybug Lawn Care is a small landscaping company located in Tucson, Arizona. The company is owned by David and Carol Smith; they employ 6 full time people and at least 4 part-time seasonal employees. David does the designing, Carol does the bookkeeping for the business, and they both work in the field with the employees. Ladybug Lawn Care not only maintains existing landscaping but remodels and designs new gardens for its customers. Because the company is located in Southeastern Arizona, they specialize in desert landscaping or Xeriscaping. They also provide their customers full service landscaping options including tropical, green lawns, ponds and fountains. They subcontract jobs beyond their scope such as pools, gazebos, patio, fencing, and gates, to businesses that have the same ethical and environmental beliefs. Environmental Considerations “The environmental dimension of corporate social responsibility refers to business’s impact on the environment. The goal, as a socially responsible company, is to engage in business practices that benefit the environment.” [ (Smith, 2012) ] The area in which the company is located is considered high desert; consequently the region is often in a state of drought. Ladybug owners and staff have made the effort to become knowledgeable in the use of Xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is a term trademarked by the water department of Denver, Colorado (Denver Water). “Xeriscaping...
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...1) The first thing which Mr. Weed is forgetting is that every business involves some kind of risk. He has been taking all the precautions he can to protect his customers and community. Business cannot be held responsible for all other general things or natural accidents. Also, this division has been making as much profit as all other divisions combined. They can use a portion of this profit for some kind of pesticides awareness campaign to educate their customers before and after the treatment of lawn to protect them. Mr. Weed should also realize that he is helping the community by giving jobs to all those people who work for the division. Also, if people start doing all these things at home without proper training they might end up getting hurt, so Mr. Weed is just helping them by protecting them from getting hurt. 2) If Mr. Weed thinks that he is doing something wrong then he should definitely close the division because it’s just going to give him stress and tension. This might give him health related issues and nothing can be more important than one’s health. He might even have sleepless nights which might affect his other divisions in turn because he won’t be able to focus on his work. They might also have more court cases in the future which might cost them more than what their profit is so it’s better to close the division before it incurs a loss. It can also have a negative effect on the reputation for other divisions. To improve the overall company profits they can come...
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...It has been a trending ever since that in every town or village there must be a chieftain or representative. This representative would be the spokesperson for the villagers. He is in-charge to upkeep the peace and order of the village. He is the one responsible for the development and common good of the town. This is a practice in which everyone looks up to - someone that could be their voice. Homeowners' associations, or HOAs, are formal legal entities created to maintain common areas; they have the authority to enforce deed restrictions. ( By Judy Hedding. About.com Guide). What Ms. Hedding is trying to tell is that whatever these HOAs implement are the ideas that create a common good for the homeowners. But how important it is to have a HOA? Well, let’s try to think of a place where there are no rules or no restrictions that govern the people. This might be place where independence grow or practiced. It might be a place where laws of the neighboring city will be broken or might be an insult because they might see the practices uncivilized and misleading to their protected children. What is the effect of HOA's absence? Perhaps, there will be chaos and/or there will be a development of miscommunication. It might lead to disruption of every person's thinking. The development of a villager's childhood starts from his community. Thus, the upbringing of the...
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...The Calla Lily The calla lily has been a personal favorite of gardeners and florists for many years. Originally from Africa, the calla lily has endured many different name changes. Specifically, the flower draws its origins from the tropical area from South Africa to Malawi. In the United States, the calla lily is grown all over. However, the flower is grown as an annual up north because of the threat of frost. From a nomenclature perspective, the calla lily is a bit of a paradox as it is neither a calla nor a lily. Although grown for many generations prior, Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus took credit for the discovery and, incorrectly, classified the plant to be a calla lily; advances in botanical sciences would later create a more stringent requirement for the calla genus, which would, unfortunately, leave the calla lily behind. The calla lily is a member of the Zantedeschia genus, aptly named after famed botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi. Eventually, the calla lily emigrated from southern Africa and made its way to Europe. The earliest report of a calla lily in Europe was a painting of the Royal Garden in Paris dated 1664. Whilst in Europe, the calla lily became somewhat of a fan favorite as it was very easy to grow and could be cultivated to bloom year round in Southern Europe. Additionally, the flower can survive a long time after being cut, providing for long-lasting arrangements. With the demise of monarchies across...
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...Roof Gardens: Advantages and Potential Problems By Johnny Johnson June 23, 2013 Roof gardens, which have been in existence for thousands of years, are growing more popular as people realize the significant benefits they offer. People living in urban areas, apartments, or residences with small gardening spaces, are no longer limited to the confines of their environment. Spaces that were sparse with greenery are now able to be converted into roof gardens that offer more than just a beautiful and relaxing environment. Energy Savings Because they use much less space than typical gardens, roof gardens not only offer privacy but also “absorb a lot of energy by being on top of a structure. They provide natural noise and thermal heat insulation, thereby cutting down on utility bills.” (Dickinson 2008) Additionally, roof gardens also provide habitats for wildlife. Thus, what was once deemed good for the eye is also now good for the environment. Feasibility of Converting Flat Roofed Buildings to Gardens There are many options for the placement of a roof garden including wood-frame structures. However, the primary guiding principal is that roof gardens should be built on structures that are strong enough to support them. “Roof gardens are more ideally suited to steel-frame and reinforced-concrete structures, on which strong support platforms can be provided as reasonable cost.” (Osmundson 1999, 14) Weaker structures or structures that require additional support be added, can be...
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...Running head: A LITERARY EXPLICATION ON THE POEM "A GIRL'S A Literary Explication on the Poem "A Girl's Garden" by Robert Frost Galen College of Nursing A Literary Explication on the Poem "A Girl's Garden" by Robert Frost Even people who are not a connoisseur of poetry are familiar with Robert Frost and his works. Even though he was a very complex man who kept to himself he excelled in poetry. He found success in poetry that few poets are able to achieve. He lived from 1874-1963. Living most of his life in the New England area, his poems reflects the New England life style and ways of thinking. The poem “A Girl’s Garden” was written in 1916 by Frost. (Meyer, 2008, pg. 1118-1136). The narrator in this poem is unknown. It is told in first person reflecting on a neighbor that tells the same story to all the new people that she meets. A sweet poem with many thoughts and values hid away in the stanza makes the reader reflect on their childhood and experiences of achieving independence. Although the little girl in the poem thought she was starting on an adventure that was fun and exciting, her father was truly teaching her a lesson of independence and hard work. As child, many children venture into doing large projects without thinking about all the hard work that is put into the end product. This is much like the young girl in the poem that decides that she wants to grow her own garden. Without batting an eye her father finds her a small piece of land to place...
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...care of a plant is a good example of that. Initially the social norms that judge whether a habit is good and bad is decided by society, and Durkheim showed how even when we think we are free from the control of society, we are still controlled by it. While people are controlled by society, plants are completely at the will of humans. Plants follow in the strife people faced during the Great Depression when some people were put in positions that make it hard to survive. Still much has changed since the Great Depression for both people and plants, as both societal pressures and technological advances has greatly changed our world. One example of this was the application of harmful pesticides like DDT which greatly harmed the environment. Gardening is a good habit, but it can also be the catalyst for much greater thought. ...
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...clutter weeds in yards, sidewalks, gardens, etc… The machine is popularly used in landscapes or private homes. There is a plenty of weed trimmers available in today’s marketplace. They vary greatly into different categories, including types, shapes, features, prices and more. This is the reason why finding the best weed trimmer is an essential task. It takes our honor to tell you efficient ways for buying a weed trimmer. Keep on reading and consider important factors that affect your buying decisions. Benefits of a weed trimmer An advanced weed trimmer has powerful strength in removing tough weeds. Most of weed trimmers nowadays are designed in such a modern way that brings the surprising comfort to users. If you find it hard to deal with gardening jobs, this machine is a right investment. It allows excellent cutting performance within quick time. Another big plus of the trimmer is that it offers a variety of types, prices, etc…for you to easily choose from. Image 1 Ways to buy a weed trimmer There are numerous factors for you to consider when purchasing a weed trimmer. Think carefully before giving your best choice. Image 2 Types Top 3 popular types of the weed trimmer include gasoline, electric and battery. Each of them has specific features to be suitable for different types of customers. The first option is plug-in electric weed trimmer. Working based on electricity, it is an ideal suggestion for small lawns and yards. Most of electric types are light-weight and silent in use...
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...1. Assess the Spectrum organization and each of the markets in which the company operates. What are the key elements from each industry about which Falconi should be concerned? Over the years, with help from a number of acquisitions, Spectrum in 2005 had become a leading supplier of consumer batteries, lawn and garden care products, specialty pet supplies, and shaving and grooming products. In the battery market, North American consumers of household batteries sought convenience and quality when purchasing batteries and tended to gravitate towards the brand names they knew and trusted, with Duracell and Energizer dominating the market. These two firms were leaders in this market because of their ability to adapt to consumer needs and to merge with other consumer goods companies to create brand portfolios, thus gaining negotiating power with retailers, which was the most traditional channel. Of these retailers, mass merchandisers, home and garden centers and niche electronic stores accounted for 60% of sales. The growth within this segment has become relatively flat, at only 1-2% annually. The overall battery market in Canada was estimated to be 300million. The market for household batteries was highly seasonal, with the large majority of sales occurring during the months leading up to and following Christmas sales of electronics. The shaving and grooming industry was dominated by a select group of companies selling electric shavers and accessories, electric grooming...
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...The garden was overgrown now but it had once been full of life, dearly loved and carefully tended to. Young lovers met there. It was an oasis in the middle of the city. The intoxicating smell of the roses and lavender that grew in this beloved garden covered up the smells of dirty streets and car exhaust. Chris Lemmon was the garden’s caretaker. It had been his job to mulch in the spring, trimming the trees and bushes so new buds could emerge and in the fall he collected the dead and withered leaves and branches that had been disregarded by various plants and trees. He loved the rhythm of the seasons that his job revolved around. His family had taken care of this place for 3 generations. The powerful McAlester family had once owned the property, but feeling intruded on by the various members of plebeian society that found their way into the garden, they decided to give the land to their neighbor, who was Chris’ grandfather. Having done that they retreated farther into the upper branches of society. So high they could not be bothered with small details like garden maintenance. Chris had gone to the garden with his grandfather as a small child and there was taught how to properly care for wild things. The lavender that grew profusely on the small hill behind the washed out wooden bench. The ivy that covered that walls and entangled itself in the power lines above. He even learned to take care of the birds that would find themselves trapped in the little garden shed that was...
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...The obvious people to ask are Thames Water, who have just announced a hosepipe and sprinkler ban on their eight million customers from April 3. But they are unsympathetic. "Alan Titchmarsh says it doesn't matter if your garden goes brown, it will soon perk up when it rains," says a spokeswoman. But since the hosepipe ban has been introduced because of a shortage of rain, this argument seems a little circuitous. The brown-is-beautiful spokeswoman also refers me to the advice section of Thames Water's website, which is full of warnings on the evil of power showers but of less value to distressed gardeners. Adam Pasco, editor of BBC Gardeners' World magazine, is of more help. He says gardeners shouldn't panic - their gardens need not be Saharan wastelands. His call to arms is a decisive one, with no ifs but plenty of butts. "Lots of rain falls," he explains, "but we just give it back to water companies through our drains and then pay for them to send it back to us. We should collect it instead." He says consumers fail to value water and the current drought is a "wake-up call" that will lead us to adopt a more conservationist approach, with metering, recycling and under-patio reservoirs all on the agenda. As we probably can't build an under-patio reservoir by July, he offers a few short-term expedients. Use "grey" water - bathwater and washing up water - on the garden, as long as it doesn't contain large quantities of detergents. Mulch your flowerbeds by covering the soil with...
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...| 2011 | | Marketing PlanPrinciples of MarketingCasey Pate | Sunshine Lawn Care | This is a fictional Marketing Plan for Principles of Marketing 3113. | Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary 1 1.1 Goals 2 1.2 Mission 2 1.3 Keys to Success 2 2.0 Company Summary 3 2.1 Company Ownership 3 2.2 Start-up Summary 3 3.0 Services 4 4.0 Market Analysis Summary 4 4.1 Market Segmentation 4 4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy 5 4.3 Service Business Analysis 5 4.4 Competition and Buying Patterns 5 5.0 Strategy and Implementation Summary 6 5.1 Competitive Edge 6 5.2 Marketing Strategy 6 5.3 Sales Strategy 6 5.4 Sales Forecast 7 6.0 Milestones 9 7.0 Management Summary 10 7.1 Personnel Plan 10 1.0 Executive Summary Sunshine Lawn Care is a residential lawn care service targeting homes within the Washington County area which the owners cannot care for well on their own. Many families in Washington County who have chosen to buy homes are unprepared for the level of care such lawns require, and end up with small gardens near the house, weeds and overgrown yards further away. Lastly, white-collar families will be targeted instead of blue collar families as the blue collar families are more likely to do the lawn themselves. Sunshine Lawn Care will start out as a partnership, owned jointly and equally by Casey and Nicholas Pate. For the last five years, Nicholas has worked as head landscaper at a local landscaping company. With this experience...
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