...Classic Knitwear and Guardian Case Analysis Problem Classic Knitwear is a publicly traded company, which operates in the unbranded market segment. It is a manufacturer and distributor of non-fashion casual knitwear. The main business comes in from Wholesalers and Retail Channels. Recently, the company has been able to take advantage of low production costs through their state-of-the-art offshore production facility, established in the Dominican Republic. Due to Classic Knitwear’s moderate cost advantage over other US producers, rival companies such as JamesBrands and FlowerKnit had noticed Classic Knitwear’s model. It would only be a matter of time until these rivals reached similar or better manufacturing efficiencies. Classic Knitwear’s primary short-term objective is reaching and sustaining a gross margin of 20% in 2006. The low gross margin is due to Classic Knitwear’s poor brand recognition, the company needs to focus on innovating their products and raising recognition. To reach this objective and maintain a consistent stock price, Classic Knitwear knows that it needs to communicate compelling plans for margin growth. Through market research, the company found that a licensing agreement with the chemical firm Guardian, a manufacturer of odorless insect repellents, would benefit the reputation and financial stability of the company. In this case, I will calculate the break-even point in order to determine the best solution for Classic Knitwear. Solution Executives...
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...Background & Problem Definitions: Jolson Automotive Hoist is a company produces and manufactures premium, high quality automotive hoists, then sells them to car repair shops and garages. The company is doing well and has an opportunity to grow in the industry, specifically by the possibility of expanding into Europe. Jolson needs to make a decision on which method of expansion would best suit their company. Market & Industry Analysis: There is a level of maturity and competition within this Hoist industry, as it is primarily dominated by the two large US companies, Berne Manufacturing and AHV Lifts. These two companies alone take up 60% of the whole market. The types of lifts made also differed in that of maturity and growth potential, whereby the in-ground lifts and the four-posts were at mature/declining stage, and the scissor lifts were up and coming in terms of growth. Jolson’s direct competitors in this growing market segment of scissor lifts were AHV Lifts and Mete Lift, a small regional company. Customers in this market were specialty shops, new/used car dealers, independent garages, and chains. Jolson mainly targeted those in the specialty shop segment, who dealt with wheel alignment. Extensive personal selling, product features, and brand of hoist all play key role in the purchase of a hoist. Evaluation of Alternatives: These are the alternatives Jolson must decide between. The following alternatives, along with their pros and cons, are as follows: Alternative...
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...market is 10 times larger than the Canadian market. Hoists ranged from $3,000 to $15,000, while Jolson Auto motive’s average retail price was in the upper middle at $10,990 (company received average of $9,210). Scissor lifts account for 4.7% of the total lift market with 2316. 1.) 49,272 hoists sold each year in the U.S., 1054 being sold by Jolson. Based upon the information given, if Jolson sold 1,054 of the 49,272 hoists sold in the U.S., Jolson’s total U.S. sales account for 2.14% of the Hoist Market share in the United States. Using this data, Jolson can see where he ranks in term of total U.S. Market share. 2.) There are 3 channels of distribution varying in market share. Jolson currently uses 3 channels of distribution. One channel is the direct selling, another is using Canadian distributors, and the last channel is U.S. wholesalers. Direct selling accounts for 25% of lift sales, Canadian distributors account for 30%, and U.S. wholesalers account for 45% of Jolson total lift sales. 3.) The Lift market in the U.S. is almost 10 times larger than the size of the Canadian market. The United States has approximately 264 million people, with 146 million registered vehicles on the road. Standard wear and tear items like brakes, tires, and mufflers typically need to be suspended in the air in order to replace. Using this logic, each car could potentially need to be used by a Jolson lift for servicing. The Canadian market has 14 million registered vehicles, indicating that...
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...The Great Show of Minstrelsy The Minstrel Show presented us with a strange, fascinating and awful phenomenon of the twentieth century. It was a genre of music that would make its performers, whether black or white; smear burnt cork on their faces so they would have the appearance of an African American. According to the American Red Star Newspaper, “No matter how dark a person may have been, they still had to apply the black cork to their faces” (Afro). Minstrelsy was a product of its time that brought a new combination of musical individualities together. Minstrel Shows were a combination of singing, moving around, sometimes even dancing, and instrumental music that exemplified the discrimination against African Americans. Minstrel Shows had qualities that were brought into popular music and made its mark as distinctively American. They had an irreverent attitude that cared very little about the well-mannered society. Minstrel Shows were not for children or elders who believed that it is very important to be polite and elegant in everyday life. The singers sang as though they did not know English very well and as if they were uneducated; this was their way of playing out the African American stereotype of being not very smart and not knowing simple etiquette. In “Dixie” it is clear that Dan Emmett sang as if he were a stereotypical uneducated African American, and sang as if he was a poor speaker that did not know English very well. On the contrary, Campbell says, “Minstrel...
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...player, its performance in the industry is commendable. According to its recent financials filed in the last quarter of the year 2014, JMP Group recorded a net profit margin of 4.46%. The industry average for the same period was at 10.6%. A look at the company’s income statement reveals that the net income in the year 2014 was $3.62 million up from the previous $2.75million realised in 2013. Taking into account the total tangible equity figures of the years 2014 and 2013, the firm’s ROTE (the rate of tangible equity) stood at 9.36 which is above the industry average of 9.24. Company Leadership The management and leadership of JMP Group draw a wealth of experience particularly from the financial sector. Joseph A. Jolson serves as JMP Group Chairman and C.E.O. Mr Jolson was previously the Senior Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst at Montgomery Securities in San Francisco for 15 years. He holds a MBA degree with distinction...
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...Chapter 12: Intangible Assets Intangible assets: lack physical substance, are subject to a high degree of uncertainty concerning future benefits. Examples: patents, copyrights, franchises, goodwill, organization costs, trademarks. The same accounting issues relating to plant assets also apply to intangibles. However, by their nature intangibles are often more difficult to identify, value, and estimate a useful life. Intangibles can be categorized according to: - whether they are separately identifiable (examples included patents, trademarks, etc), or inseparable from the firm's other assets (goodwill). - whether they are externally purchased, or developed internally. Accounting for costs related to intangible is governed by APB 17 and FAS 2. In general: - all costs related to external purchases of intangibles are capitalized and amortized as expense over the periods benefitted. - the maximum amortization period is 40 years. - the straight-line method must be used unless some other method can be shown to be more appropriate. - costs related to intangibles that are internally developed are expensed as incurred. Exceptions (which are capitalized) are: external legal fees for successfully defending rights to patents, etc., organizational costs, and R&D expenditures for long-lived assets that have alternative future uses (these assets are capitalized and depreciated, with the depreciation allocated to R&D). Specifically Identifiable...
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...1. Identify the major strategic and ethical issues faced by Colgate in its partnership with Hawley and Hazel. Answer: Colgate made the decision to acquire fifty percent of Hawley and Hazel as a way to quickly get a large share of the Asian market without having to build its own plant. Strategic issues included increased growth, sales activity, and profits. The ethical issue confronting Colgate was that it promoted the brand label “Darkie” toothpaste in foreign markets. The use of Al Jolson to promote the product brand “Darkie” had ethical and legal repercussions for Colgate and Hawley and Hazel. This campaign was widely criticized in the United States, and Colgate was forced to develop a strategy to repair the damage it suffered with consumer perceptions of the product brand “Darkie” toothpaste. Colgate proposed that the brand name be changed to Darlie, Darbie, Hawley, or Dakkie, and that a new logo be developed that included a dark, nondescript silhouette and a well-dressed black man. 2. What do you think Colgate should have done to handle the situation? Answer: I think, Colgate should have been more aware of the implications of the product and its marketing campaign from the start. Once the problem became apparent, Colgate should have moved quickly to make changes to both the product name and the promotional campaign associated with it. 3. Is it possible for Colgate and Hawley and Hazel to change the toothpaste’s advertising without sacrificing consumer...
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...Fred (Buller & Schuler, 2003). Major Issues The major issue is this case is Reed’s inability to motivate Fred, which inevitably led to the dismal of a long-time loyal employee. The major issues associated with this motivation problem include Reed’s unsuccessful leadership attempt, the de-motivating factors of the appraisal system, and the violation of the psychological contract. Reed’s Unsuccessful Leadership Attempt One major issue is Reed’s unsuccessful attempt at leading Fred. One could describes Reed’s leadership style as a directive leadership behavior of the path-goal theory that one typically uses with a new employee or a transactional leadership style that is used by many sales persons according to Dubinsky, Yammarino, Jolson, and Spanger (2001). “Sales managers generally employ transactional leadership behavior which can “induce adequate attitudinal and behavioral responses in employees, transformational leadership has found to engender even higher results” (Dubinsky et al., 2001, p. 17). Reed’s leadership style could have been described as transactional as he identified and clarified Fred’s job task and then communicated to Fred how to go about being successful at executing his job task (Buller & Schuler, 2003; Dubinsky et al., 2001). This was apparent when he went through Fred’s computer files to determine the large volume drug...
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...Louis Armstrong was in the business and busting out hit after hit. Also Al Jolson, another famous Jazz Singer, was dominating the jazz game as well and he was also appearing in other programs on the radio. Many people got wealthy off of the rampant crime. It seemed like such a bad thing, but it was helping more people achieve the American dream. Even though there was already old money like in the Great Gatsby, a lot of people earned their spot in new money through the labor of running speakeasies and bootlegging. A popular method of making alcohol was bathtub gin. In 1925, when The Great Gatsby was published, the chaos of the 1920s had already set in. It was possible that F. Scott Fitzgerald might have based Gatsby on an actual person from the 20s. There definitely were many people in the book that could have been...
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...over 31 years before Jim Reed was appointed general sales manager over the South Jersey sales district. Upon Jim Reed’s arrival he implemented several changes to try to increase sales and motivate staff. Jim Reed was unsuccessful at motivating Fred. Fred Maiorino was later terminated after countless unsuccessful attempts were made to motivate him. After analyzing the situation Jim Reed lacked the management skills needed to motivate Fred a successful employee of over 31 years. Jim Reed’s unsuccessful leadership attempt and a failed appraisal system were factors in the demise of Fred Maiorino. Jim Reed’s leadership can be described as directive leadership which is typically used with new employees according to Dubinsky, Yammarino, Jolson and Spanger (1995). Jim felt the need to micro-manage Fred as he attempted to tell Fred how to accomplish his goals and increase his sales. The appraisal system was a failed attempt in motivating Fred. Fred was accustomed to excelling at a certain level in which he failed to do under Jim Reed. When one does not excel or meet certain expectations with an appraisal system he or she will not be awarded merit raises or bonuses. This can be and was demeaning for Fred. In an appraisal system an employee is rated and given feedback on his or her deficits. The feedback should be constructive criticism that should help the employee improve upon his or her duties. The different motivation efforts were not sufficient to assist Fred in raising...
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... In 1910, the richest studio, The Motion Pictures Patents Company, standardized the technological guts of filmmaking; their exclusive patents essentially locked others out of the market. Warner Bros. gambled that talkies would be popular with viewers, by offering the first bit of synchronized speech in The Jazz Singer. Studios now had a proof that "talkies" would make them money. But the financial investment this kind of filmmaking would require, from new camera equipment to new projection facilities, made the studios initially hesitant to invest. When vaudeville singing star Al Jolson introduced a tune with, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You ain't heard nothing yet," audiences shrieked in delight. From that moment on, there didn't seem to be any going back to the days of silent film. [pic] American Film Institute Movie poster from The Jazz Singer (1927), starring Al Jolson. Footage of Charles Lindbergh's departure for Paris in 1927- when audiences heard Lindbergh's words and...
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...Sharon Bellingeri English III: 1 Mrs. Sledden 25, May 2011 Sounds of a Nation The loud, ringing sound of a trumpet’s blare, the fresh rhythm of guitars, and the clear crisp voices uplifted in song; these were just a few of the common sounds that could be heard during the 1920s. The Jazz Age incorporated more than just jazz, with blues booming, ballads and ragtime filling the air, and show tunes enrapturing audiences on and off the stage, the 1920s were alive with all kinds of music. The 1920s brought significant changes to music in America with new musicians, styles, and innovations, all of which would influence music around the world for years to come. Jazz music was a significant source of music in the 1920s, a style which originated in New Orleans and had spread throughout the country by the 1920s. Large cities such as Chicago, and New York City become epicenters for jazz music. People of all backgrounds embraced the music which would become synonymous with the time period becoming known as the Jazz Age, named by author F. Scott Fitzgerald (Bruccoli ix). Jazz music was characterized mainly by syncopation and improvisation along with techniques to alter the sound of instruments such as mutes and slides, and the overall swing feel of the music (Tyle). An abundance of jazz musicians became well known for their various techniques, styles, and the instruments they played. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential jazz Bellingeri 2 musicians of the 1920s. Hailing...
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...Summary Fred Maiorino specialized in promoting asthmatics products at Schering-Plough Corporation. He worked for 35 years. He was the top-ranked sales representatives in the district with Serious of successful assignments, primary in the areas of eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. The District sales Manager Reed implemented new system replaced the sales quota system used before. This system measures quantitatively objective and quality aspect. Fred got low performance evaluation using this new system, therefore his boss Reed tried to motivate him to increase his performance by providing him medical journals to improve his sales and setting a realistic goals to be achieved. On July 15, 1991 Fred had been fired by his boss Jim Reed for not performing up to company standards, not meeting company sales goals and excessive tardiness. Fred position was replaced by a 24 years-old Eric Adeson. Fred believes that the new evaluation and motivation system was unfair against the company senior sales representatives and his age was the real reasons for the firing, because he refused the Retirement Program offered by Reed and since then he starts collecting evidences against his performance and work. Analysis This dilemma has two different dimensions: employee who served 35 years perspective and manager perspective. Fred has a proud history as a salesperson for the company and he is satisfied with that. He used to perform upon sales quota system which is simple system and achievable...
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...A Brief History of Music in Film Going to the movies is one of America’s top favorite pass times; and no movie-going experience would be complete without the accompanying sound tracks. The music in movies often heightens the suspense and deepens the drama. The right background music can make us fall in love with a character, be terrified of the villain, or even adore an unlikely hero. Starting with Silent films and continuing until today, music has been an important part in the movie industry. In the beginning, movies had no sound and eventually the studios figured out they needed something for their movies to be more entertaining. Very quickly they figured out music would supplement and go along well with the action on the screen. Music has always been able to affect people emotionally, so it made a perfect accompaniment for movies. In the early theaters, pianos quickly became a well-recognized fixture. Organs quickly followed and music became a permanent part of the movie-going experience. At first, it was up to musicians to choose what music they would play during the films; but the music still didn’t have a true designated purpose, other than used as filler. Eventually the studios began producing music for the musicians that was more suitable for the film. The music became more and more specialized based on what the studio wanted, until music was specifically written for each film. In fact, Charlie Chaplin composed his own music for some of his films...
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...1920s Fashion: Style in The Jazz Age 1920s fashion was the perfect blend between style and function. Beautiful clothes that allowed women to move. Even 90 years after The Roaring Twenties ended, almost everyone still recognizes the style: * Cloche Hats * Flapper Dresses * Famous Fashion Designers * Elegant Art Deco Inspired Evening Wear * High Heeled Shoes * Simple Costume & More Complex Jewelry * Men's Fashion (suits and sportswear) * Art Deco Fashion Louise Brooks Wearing the Top Fashion of the 1920s History of 1920s Fashion Fashion is shaped and influenced by the society and events which surround it. Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. -Coco Chanel 1920s fashion is still famous because it was a huge shift from the previous era. Society changed quickly after World War 1: customs, technology, manufacturing all rocketed into the 20th century. Society was speeding up, airplanes were taking people across the country in a matter of hours rather than a matter of weeks, automobiles could travel between several states in an evening. Young Women Dressed in Typical '20s Fashion 1920s fashion reflects society's rapid movement and change. No longer were women willing to trade their mobility for the old stodgy customs of the Victorian era. Old-fashioned torture devices like the corset and the crinoline no longer served a purpose for...
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