Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Gold is a precious meta Essay Example for Free

Gold is a precious meta Essay Gold is a precious metal and its price since its discovery is usually determined by the open market. However, a bench mark figure is set daily through a procedure referred to as gold fixing and this benchmark figure controls the gold industry thus the prices of gold. This gold fixing procedure was introduced in 1919 and it originated from London where it is still practiced even today. Gold is usually measured using grams and also by troy weights like all other metals considered precious. In the past, gold was being used as currency and this only ended with introduction of paper money. In 1968, the economic conditions which were prevailing led to the formation of a two-tier pricing scheme. Under this format, a standardized currency based on the gold value at that time was allowed to settle all international accounts while gold trade at the private market was being controlled by the market forces. This arrangement however ended in 1975 and gold started operating in a free market. This caused the price of gold to fluctuate with the price rising to $850 per ounce of gold in 1980 to as low as $252 in 1999. The historic prices of gold have been known to fluctuate greatly although a benchmark figure is set to ensure that the price do not exceed the upper and lower limits. Before the collapse of the gold standard in the 1970s, the price of gold was highly influence by the United States dollar since the dollar was pegged on the gold (GOLDPRICE. ORG, Para 1-5). This research paper will evaluate the impacts that the current recession may have on the prices of gold, the differences between government and gold investment, the causes of gold fluctuations as well as the effects that gold fluctuations may have on the present value of money. Impact of recession on gold prices One of the questions which are being frequently asked today is what would happen to the prices of gold as a result of the recession or depression being experienced in United States. A research conducted by the world gold council aimed at comparing gold performance during the recessionary periods. However, it has been established that gold prices are not affected by the global recession. During recessionary periods, the must be losers and winners based on the terms used in evaluating asset performance. Fixed income assets like gold tend to win during such periods while cyclical stocks lose. An analysis on correlation and regression carried out during a recessionary period in the United States showed that there is no possible relationship between the growths of the country’s GDP and the gold price changes. As such, a recession does not impact negatively to the prices of gold. This underpins the role of gold as a diversifying asset especially in times of recession and also outlines the forces that control gold prices. The recession unlike it was widely believed has had positive impact for gold prices despite the decline in the dollar strength (Connell, Para 2-4). Due to the recessionary period being experienced in most parts of the world, more people have turned to gold investment thus making the present value of money to decrease. An increase in gold trading would lead to an increase in the gold prices thus purchasing the same value of gold for more money. This would mean that the value of money would have gone down. On the other hand, a decrease in the volume of gold would lead to and increase in the present value of money (Potter, Para 4-5). Gold investment versus government investment There is a heated debate on what form of investment is more viable and beneficial between gold investment and investing in government securities or bonds. Both of these two investment options have their advantages and disadvantages. Gold investment is recognized as one of the best investment since it offers solid investment. As noted above, gold prices are not adversely affected by the recessionary periods meaning gold can still maintain value of investment even when there are economic crisis in a country. The fact that gold prices are not negatively influenced by recession makes gold investment more attractive than investing in government bonds especially in times of economic crisis (Willink, Para 2). However, gold investment is a risky investment especially for a person who is not an expert in the gold field. Also, some forms of gold can be confiscated by the government in times of war leading to big losses. Government bonds on the other hand amounts to lending to the government which is usually done at a fixed rate of interest. The bonds are considered to be risk free and also repayment is guaranteed. This form of an investment does not yield higher returns to the investor making it less desirable. Due to the improvement of technology and globalization, investing in gold is becoming risky as they are chances of being cheated. Gold is also very costly and the returns may not be good especially due to the form of market in which gold operates. As such, investing in government bonds would be more effective since the risk involved is minimal and returns are guaranteed (Willink, Para 3-6). Causes of gold price fluctuations Gold prices are regulated by the market forces and as such they are subjected to the law of demand and supply which explains the gold prices fluctuations. During inflationary periods, people buy more gold for investment since it is not affected by inflations. This leads to an increase in gold demand thus the prices. On the other hand, people sell their gold investment during the boom period making the price of gold to decrease. Demand and supply forces are major contributors to the fluctuation of gold price. Another possible cause of gold price fluctuation is the exploration cost of gold and also the cost involved in developing gold to make the needed products such as jewelry. When exploration and manufacturing cost increase, the price of gold and gold products also increase and vice versa. Fluctuations in the paper currency may also affect or lead to price fluctuation of gold. When paper money loses value or individuals lose faith in a country’s currency, the demand for gold increases leading to price surge (Jackson, Para 1-4). Conclusion Gold trading is one of the oldest forms of trade in the world. In the ancient times, gold was being used as a means of exchange and was used as a standard that was being used in the international markets. During the gold standard, the dollar was pegged on gold and was used to ensure equitability and measurability. However, after the collapse of the gold standard, gold prices were left to be determined by the free market which has led to the fluctuations being experienced in the gold market. Unlike in the past, more people are turning to gold investment mainly due to its resistance to global market fluctuations and economic crisis. However, gold investment is one of the most risky and also lucrative investments as it may lead to huge losses or huge profits. Investing in this market also requires experts due to the complexity and instability of this market. Reference: Connell, Rhona: What does a US recession imply for the gold price? (2008). Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://www. ibtimes. com/articles/20080604/what-does-a-us-recession-imply-for. htm. GOLDPRICE. ORG: Gold Price History. Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://www. goldprice. org/gold-price-history. html. Jackson, Dave: Why Gold Prices Fluctuate. Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://ezinearticles. com/? Why-Gold-Prices-Fluctuateid=720555. Potter, Christopher K. : Gold Money. (2007). Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://news. goldseek. com/GoldSeek/1194370818. php Willink, Andrew: Alternative Investment Round-up. (2008). Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://www. ratecity. com. au/savings-accounts/info/alternative-investment-round-up/.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Chaucer’s Use of Clothing: an Effective Rhetorical Device Essay

Chaucer’s Use of Clothing: an Effective Rhetorical Device In Literature, as in real life, characters are sometimes judged by their appearance. The description of clothing provides detail and comment on those wearing them. Chaucer’s uses of artifice in The Canterbury Tales function as gauges of the social status and economic wealth, and emotional condition of each pilgrim. Artifice effectively provides a badge of humanity, symbolic of each character’s fallibility. Yet clothing simultaneously imposes upon the characters literary stereotypes, which they consequentially adopt. Unable to transcend these ascribed roles, the pilgrims sometimes find themselves bound by literary stereotypes and narrative function, which they tend to fulfill rather than reject. Although Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales transcend a Romantic stereotype, his characters often do not. They find themselves bound to the conventions of Romance, as they are bound by the clothes that define them. Chaucer’s materialistic focus enhances this metaphor and d econstructs the purism of Christianity throughout their physical journey. This aspect of characterization functions to illuminate the meanings inherent in the costumes of the secular pilgrims, revealing the extent of their conformity, through their dress, to 14th century social, political, and religious norms. The General Prologue provides a great deal of information regarding the Knight’s appearance. The Knight entitled by rank to wear the finest of garments and clothes, is dressed in armor that is shabby, rusty, and possibly useless. The fact that he humbly adorns the uncomfortable suit, and even carries his bloodstained sword, indicates the knight’s sense of honor and tradition, but also shows the means by which... ...ce his own disapproval. His criticism is apparent, yet he doesn’t make harsh or subjective judgments. Instead, Chaucer simply describes what each character looks like physically and what they’re doing; and then leaves the reader to question what the character should be, compared to what they are. Chaucer explicitly chose to describe the pilgrims and make them the focal point of the entire pilgrimage, as opposed to the journey itself. Further, the minimal presence of beneficial divine intervention emphasizes the significance of each characters’ decisions (as they apply to their own ascribed roles). Materialistic metaphor functions to convey these roles, and ultimately evaluates each pilgrim. Consequentially, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales provides clarification of his sociological perspective on Romanticism, through the observation of humanity’s adherence to moral norms. Chaucer’s Use of Clothing: an Effective Rhetorical Device Essay Chaucer’s Use of Clothing: an Effective Rhetorical Device In Literature, as in real life, characters are sometimes judged by their appearance. The description of clothing provides detail and comment on those wearing them. Chaucer’s uses of artifice in The Canterbury Tales function as gauges of the social status and economic wealth, and emotional condition of each pilgrim. Artifice effectively provides a badge of humanity, symbolic of each character’s fallibility. Yet clothing simultaneously imposes upon the characters literary stereotypes, which they consequentially adopt. Unable to transcend these ascribed roles, the pilgrims sometimes find themselves bound by literary stereotypes and narrative function, which they tend to fulfill rather than reject. Although Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales transcend a Romantic stereotype, his characters often do not. They find themselves bound to the conventions of Romance, as they are bound by the clothes that define them. Chaucer’s materialistic focus enhances this metaphor and d econstructs the purism of Christianity throughout their physical journey. This aspect of characterization functions to illuminate the meanings inherent in the costumes of the secular pilgrims, revealing the extent of their conformity, through their dress, to 14th century social, political, and religious norms. The General Prologue provides a great deal of information regarding the Knight’s appearance. The Knight entitled by rank to wear the finest of garments and clothes, is dressed in armor that is shabby, rusty, and possibly useless. The fact that he humbly adorns the uncomfortable suit, and even carries his bloodstained sword, indicates the knight’s sense of honor and tradition, but also shows the means by which... ...ce his own disapproval. His criticism is apparent, yet he doesn’t make harsh or subjective judgments. Instead, Chaucer simply describes what each character looks like physically and what they’re doing; and then leaves the reader to question what the character should be, compared to what they are. Chaucer explicitly chose to describe the pilgrims and make them the focal point of the entire pilgrimage, as opposed to the journey itself. Further, the minimal presence of beneficial divine intervention emphasizes the significance of each characters’ decisions (as they apply to their own ascribed roles). Materialistic metaphor functions to convey these roles, and ultimately evaluates each pilgrim. Consequentially, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales provides clarification of his sociological perspective on Romanticism, through the observation of humanity’s adherence to moral norms.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Lactose Intolerance

An inability to digest lactose and foods containing it is called lactose intolerance (milk intolerance, lactase deficiency or dairy product intolerance). Lactose is the main sugar of Milk and milk products. An enzyme called lactase is found in the interstitial cells of small intestine. Lactase acts on lactose to break down it into simpler forms, glucose and galactose. In simpler forms sugar is easily absorbed from the walls of intestine into the blood arteries. This disease is caused due to the abnormal functioning of digestive system. Due to the deficiency of the enzyme lactase, lactose remains indigestable and hence a person may suffer a discomfort after ingesting milk or dairy product, swelling in the stomach, mild to severe diarrhea, nausea, cramps, or gas problem and bloating. Symptoms may appear immediately or any time after 2 hrs of ingestion of milk or dairy products. Tolerance in a person depends on physiological factors In primary lactase deficiency lactase is produced in too small amount that the person is unaware of this deficiency till he reaches an older age. Secondary lactase deficiency results from injury to the small intestine done due to some other diseases like Crohn’s diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases. Primary lactase deficiency is found to be linked to genetic malfunctioning. Different tests are used by the doctor to identify this deficiency. For example, stool acidity test, hydrogen breath test and lactose tolerance test. There is no specific treatment for this disease. However, symptoms can be monitored and controlled by providing preventive diet. A specific diet lacking lactose is given to the patient in order to avoid occurrence of the symptoms. Using certain medicines and drops for the digestion of lactose helps a lot. The patient may start calcium supplements as an alternative for dairy products. References http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/ Â  

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Issue Of Gun Control - 875 Words

[There should only be three gun per house hold ]: [Subtitle] First I think Molly Ivins is wrong when she say get rid of guns. What she don’t realize there will still be violence in the united states of America gun are not the problem the people that own the gun is the problem. Secondly some people buy gun to fell safe just think about a woman that has three kids and she live on her on what should she go out and buy the protect her family and make sure that they are safe. Third people love gun because guns make people think twice about breaking into there house are bothering the person who own a gun When she say get a knife, Get a Dog, But get rid of guns. Fourth at the same time she should do more research because dog kill people and knife kill people to so I don’t get where she is try to go with that. I just think gun are not the biggest issues violence is the biggest issues because if you take gun always people will still find something to replace the gun. The Second Amendment to the Constitution, which concerns the right to bear arms. I believe in the second amendment, but I think they should add information to the second amendment to aloud no more than three guns per household. That should be enough for one household to keep there family safe and out of harm s way. Most Americans may argue against the three gun per household some will say that they need more gun in there house.Many American love the second amendment because it gives them the right to buy as manyShow MoreRelatedGun Issue And Gun Control1401 Words   |  6 PagesUniversity, Gun Politics has been a course I have aspired to take. While many enroll in such a course looking for an escape from the â€Å"collegiate liberal echo chamber† or as an outlet for their conservative agendas, I saw the class as an â€Å"entrance to the dark side.† My views on guns prior to the class were, I would call, polarized yet uninformed. In most of my discussions, I would cite t he Australian 1996 National Firearms Agreement as precedent for how American politicians should approach the gun issueRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control Essay1646 Words   |  7 Pagessomebody who wants to inflict harm on other people to get his or her hands on a gun.† (Simple Minded Gun Control). Gun control is a controversial issue worldwide. The reason why this has attracted so much attention is because not everyone is in favor of gun control and each side brings up excellent points about the issue. Research related to this issue strongly supports the claim that there SHOULD be more gun control laws. Three arguments that prove this position are (1) Incidents like Sandy HookRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1489 Words   |  6 Pagessplit on the issue of gun control. We have seen many violent shootings and innocent people dying because of gun violence. Some Americans believe we need strict gun laws to protect our children and ourselves from these horrific tragedies. Other Am ericans believes it is our rights as Americans to posses’ guns and we are entitled to that right in our constitution. There are also some Americans that are stuck in the middle and can see both sides but recent events have definitely caused this issue to be inRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1031 Words   |  5 Pagesintegrate them in a way that will trigger a new viewpoint on the subject. Gun control is something that should be enforced across the world in order to save lives. In the United States there is a ratio of 88.8 guns per one hundred persons (GunPolicy.org). Those numbers award us with the highest total per capita number in the world. With that amount of firepower there needs to be an efficient way to regulate who exactly can purchase a gun. Since 1791 when the second amendment was ratified there have beenRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1705 Words   |  7 Pagesaway without preface or reason. All someone needs to do is pull the trigger. In today’s world, guns are far too accessible to the people of society. We hear in the news, stories of mass shootings, homicides, and suicides; most of which are caused by the activation of a gun. A hot-button issue, gun control is one of the most debated topics in American politics. Should we, or should we not, be able to own guns? Although it infringes on the Second Amendment that provides the right to bear arms, this amendmentRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control951 Words   |  4 PagesGun control has been a big topic for the past decade in the united states. These debates will rise and fall time in and time out after something horrific happens in the state. Anti-Gun supporters do not realize that it is extremely difficult to regulate something in the states that is a big portion of our economy.Would stricter gun laws change anything? So far statistically It has been proven otherwise one must consider how a citizen would defend themselves when they are faced with terror. How willRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control929 Words   |  4 PagesGun Control Getting arrested yesterday was not the highlight of my week. I was hungry; so I went to Wal-Mart get some charcoal, lighter fluid, and steak. I put the charcoal in the grill and the lighter fluid on the coals. I got a little lighter fluid on my arm, but I didn’t pay it much attention. I lit the match and threw it on the coals. I looked down and my sleeve was on fire. I was waving my arm in the air, trying to put it out. Then here they come the police pulled in and tackled me to theRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe issue of gun is always controversial. Firearm can be used as defending or an assaulting weapon. In United States, firearm increase the rate of homicide, suicide and gun violence, which can harm and murder people. Moreover, taking away people’s gun will not work effectively because the murder and criminal will find another ways to get guns. Also, the black market will appear for the people who cannot get guns from regulated market s. In addition, if regulated guns are banned, murderers may useRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1678 Words   |  7 PagesJanuary 2014 The 2nd Amendment Over the past few years, the issue of gun control has been widely discussed. You surely have heard the phrase, â€Å"Guns don’t kill people, people kill people† uttered and i wholeheartedly support this statement. It is important to treat guns responsibly so they do not end up in the wrong hands. I believe gun control violates our inalienable rights. Another piece of our liberty will surely be taken away if guns are banned, and socialism and totalitarianism will be rightRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1208 Words   |  5 PagesWill Christopherson Traverson English 2 1 March 2017 Gun Control The United States has 88.8 guns per 100 people, or about 270,000,000 guns, which is the highest total and per capita number across the globe. The current public gun control debate in the United States seems to be placed on standby until it is sparked up by a major mass shooting. There were at least 126 mass shootings between January 2000 and July 2014.(pro). Opponents of more gun laws accuse supporters of using a horrific event to further

Friday, December 27, 2019

The True Meaning Of Being Happy - 1012 Words

What is happiness? What does it mean to be happy? Is happiness real? These questions are the most frequently asked questions that most people ask themselves. By definition, being happy is when something is feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. But, what is the true meaning of being happy? Many people view happiness in many different aspects. Pharrell Williams’s song â€Å"Happy† did just that. It tells people that they don’t have to seek hard to be happy. It is within one’s self. Unlike most songs, there is no hidden message. The message is very clear. It is about maintaining a positive state of mind despite how bad and sometimes heartbreaking events in life can be. When you think about the great times in life, everything seems to†¦show more content†¦But Pharrell’s â€Å"Happy† doesn’t fall into that trap. It’s an exuberant song about feeling the possibilities in a pure, natural, and limitless state. Now, letâ₠¬â„¢s take a deeper look into his lyrics. The song’s first lyrics through us in a whirlpool as he begins with â€Å"It might seem crazy what I m about to say. Sunshine she s here, you can take away. I m a hot air balloon, I could go to space. With the air, like I don t care baby by the way.† Pharrell wants the listener to know how he might be crazy but he doesn’t care what you think about him. He’s just going to be weird when it comes to telling you how he feels. Next, the chorus begins with the lines â€Å"Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof, Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth. Clap along if you know what happiness is to you, Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.† Here, Pharrell’s narrator is to remind the listener to continue to be happy no matter what. Also, you have no limits so live it up. What’s happiness if you’re going to experience it with limitations? Now, weâ€℠¢ve reached the second verse. Pharrell continues to give us more tips on staying happy. â€Å"Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah. Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold back, yeah. Well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine, yeah. No offense to you, don’t waste your time. Here’s why.† In these particular lyrics, he wants us to know that he is happy and he doesn’t give aShow MoreRelatedThe Meaning Of My Life Essay1019 Words   |  5 PagesEssay: The meaning of My life At one or three points in my life I’ve question the purpose of life and what my purpose of being here was,or if there even is a true meaning to my life. Everyone has different aspects on what the true meaning of their life is, some may say that the true purpose is to work hard, by setting goals that you should achieve. Honestly, I feel as though this is most of the worlds aspect on life, very seldom does anyone want to do things that makes them truly happy, they doRead MoreThe Problem Of True Happiness1696 Words   |  7 PagesTrue happiness is defined by, having a sense of deep inner well-being, how you fell about a certain situation and experiencing true happiness is a great thing. The reason why true happiness is important in the world of today is because, without true happiness the world would, come unraveled and more crimes and the government might go into a crazy binge where there is no control over what is said, or down on any issue that is put in front of the governm ent like, immigration reform, to make changesRead MoreHappiness By Robert Nozick1500 Words   |  6 PagesNoora Hosheshi Introduction In The Examined Life, philosopher Robert Nozick lists three conceptions of happiness, which he calls the ‘three forms of happiness’ (Nozick, p. 108). The third form of happiness is defined satisfaction with life as a whole--being able to look back on one s life and be satisfied with what one has done/experienced (Nozick, p. 110). He argues it is easy to understand why people long for this type of happiness, as it is pleasurable to experience in itself. This is, if evaluationRead MoreBuddhism Can Be Considered A Strong Response Of Wolf s View Essay977 Words   |  4 Pagesas a strong response of Wolf’s view. The book ‘The Meaning of Life: Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect’ by The Fourteenth Dalai Lama offers a perspective which approaches the problem from a religious point of view. However, he does not focus on the question of the ultimate meaning of human life, rather he gazes at the question of how people seek and maintain meaningful lives. The word ’meaning’ is itself vague, and it has various meanings: motive, intention, indication, cause, effect, explanationRead MoreThe Achievement Habit Book By Bernard Roth Essay1566 Words   |  7 Pagesin the first chapter that nothing has meaning. Where in all reality we have a lot that has meaning to us we just have to find the things that have true meaning to us. Roth mentions in his book ,â€Å"Nothing is what you think it is, you give everything it s meaning.† (Roth 18) When reading Roth’s chapter where he states nothing has meaning, it kind of bothered me at first him saying nothing has meaning, because I could think of so much that has a lot of meaning to me! The more I read into the chapterRead MoreThe Path Of Happiness. . â€Å"Folks Are Usually About As Happy1359 Words   |  6 Pages The Path of Happiness â€Å"Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be†, exclaimed Abraham Lincoln in Goodreads.com. Happiness is defined in many ways that not a single person can give a true definition of. People have been searching the true meaning of happiness, but in reality there are no actual definitions. Happiness is all around, a person just needs to find their path to what makes them truly happy. On the website Goodreads.com, Dalai Lama XIV states,† Happiness is notRead MoreThe Abstract Of Figurative Language Essay1674 Words   |  7 Pagesopposes enactive theory, so does modernism oppose postmodernism. The question is: Which is more accurate? To this question, I turn to poetry. Poetry (and other forms of art) are able to take words that are pragmatically nonsense and create a sense of meaning out of them. Of course, I am making sweeping generalizations of poetry, and not all poems are pragmatic nonsense so I must clarify. When I speak of poetry and art, I am speaking specifically about the figurative language used within them--languageRead MoreHappiness Essay982 Words   |  4 Pagesare blessed. Happiness is acquired through competence and prosperity. It is a reward to all who flourish in life. Those born into poverty and anguish are more likely to be miserable than happy. It is highly necessary for a happy person to have material or external goods. Contrary to popul ar belief, one cannot be happy solely due to their existence. External factors like wealth, material goods, and people are instruments of happiness. This means that these goods bring a person happiness. A person cannotRead MoreThe Song If I Die Young 976 Words   |  4 Pagesallusions, symbolism, and a extremely deep meaning behind the text. The first comparison of the story and the song has to be the ending of someone’s life. In the song, the quote â€Å"the sharp knife of a short life† can be presented as the death of someone young. That quote can be compared to Snow White when she wasn’t pronounced dead but asleep in the fairy tale. Both characters in the story and the song can be considered young. Both have that comparison of being young and be a part of some type of endingRead MoreThe Meaning of Life826 Words   |  3 PagesThe meaning of Life? What is the true meaning of your existence in life? What’s the purpose of having life? I researched many peoples view on life and many of them said life was a beautiful thing, and they’re very happy to live their life. Some said they really don’t know why their living or what they are living for. Some didn’t even care at all because they knew they would eventually meet death soon or later, kind of similar to the character named Meursault in the book â€Å"The

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Cloud Of Unknowing By J. Alfred Prufrock Essay

A parallel novel, The Cloud of Unknowing, was anonymously written in the fourteenth-century about the journey of transitioning from a secular life to a God centered life. It begins with the writer addressing the reader in a fatherly manner- this way, the reader is able to connect with the writer even when the journey gets rough. The author states the journey to know God is contemplative, through giving up all previous understandings of God and traveling through a â€Å"cloud of unknowing† to obtain a oneness with God. The author also notes that the journey will not be easy and that frustration can happen, but that frustration should be channeled into focus as greater understanding will come as the frustration ends. The hard part of this journey, according to the author, is in having a desire or willingness to work over time to come to oneness with God. In â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† the main character of the poem, Prufrock, expresses the theme of isolation and introduces the reader to his sense of feeling isolated because of how he thinks he is perceived by others. Prufrock’s search to end his isolation is shown by the conversational monologue that he carries out as he searches for a way to connect with other people. Prufrock’s isolation is shown through both an epigraph from Dante and multiple types of imagery spread throughout the poem such as music, sex, and nature. The epigraph used for the poem is from Dante’s Inferno canto XXVII. These short few lines

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Market Position of Booktopia Private Limited

Question: Discuss about the Report for Market Position of Booktopia Private Limited. Answer: Introduction Background Booktopia Pty Ltd has seen a downward trend in sales. The company is looking for market trend and digital innovation route to change the position of the company in the market (The Booktopian, 2016). Purpose of Report This report was prepared to evaluate the declining sales of Booktopias books and to look for new digital innovation ideas to augment the sales figure. The report also discusses the current state of the Booktopia and its existing concerns. Suggestions are included for digital innovations/ technology options which may help the company to achieve its target sales. Scope of Report The report is restricted to a discussion of the declining sale of books in Booktopia website. The report includes a market analysis which consists of current market scenario, industry trend, and analysis. Options for digital innovation are explored to increase sales. A suitable value proposition is added in the report. Market Analysis Current market scenario Online book purchasing has revolutionized the manner of reading as the user can buy books from the various online bookstores (Chang, et al., 2016). There has been huge growth in e-commerce and online book market in last few years. As people prefer e-books which can be accessed from anywhere anytime (Yang, et al., 2010). Booktopia has combined new technologies with old technologies, financial and social technology to create flexible and secure online bookstore (The Booktopian, 2016). As per The Booktopian, (2016) Booktopia Pty Ltd runs an online bookstore in Australia. It sells through its online portal books, CDs, DVDs, eBooks, calendars, and several products to Australia citizens, schools, businesses, libraries, universities and government departments. The company is making more than $85 million a year. The online bookstore Booktopia was voted as the Australia's favourite bookshop in a poll conducted by the Australia Booksellers Association (The Booktopian, 2016). The online bookstore is most sought after for book purchasing and when an online bookstore offers the products as per the needs of the customer, it is widely preferred. The Booktopia has become most used online book store in Australia to purchase books online. The company has accommodated the technology and support system to assist the customer via dedicated customer helpline number (Chang, et al., 2016). The rapid growth of sales of books under the Booktopia website has stagnated. The company was the given priority by customers over Amazon as the company offers books at least price. The company is a member of the Australian Booksellers Association (Booksellers.org.au, 2016). Industry Trends and analysis Online bookstores have undergone rapid growth in the last five years. Consumers use to prefer e-commerce transactions more and enjoying online books via delivery (Chang, et al., 2016). According to Gray, (2013) the transformation from bricks-and-mortar retailers to online bookstore have converted into revenue growth for these online retailers like the Booktopia. The decline of traditional book retailers due to parallel import restrictions and regional and overseas online competition has forced many consumers to buy from industry operators (Carrico, 2015). Industry revenue of online bookstore is forecast to grow by a compound annual 14.7 percent over the five years through 2015-16, to reach $115.7 million in 2020-21 (Chang, et al., 2016). As the current trend showing a drop in sales and analysis shows a declining trend in sales. It was found out in the analysis that younger customer segment in the age group of 18 years old to 30 years old which is placing less and fewer orders using the Booktopia (The Booktopian, 2016). The company wants to increase its revenue in the next five years and to become geographically located with an increase in revenue by 20 percent year by year. The current technology used by the company is not enough to fuel the fire of growth company needs to expand (Chen and Cheng, 2012). The company is looking for digital technology and new concepts to further augment the sales to raise revenue and increase its long-term goals. Digital Innovation and Trends As per the view of Gray, (2013)many big brands, retailers and all e-commerce business use the internet as selling and advertising platform in the recent era. Now the sales channel of marketing has become double-digit growth indicators (Yang, et al., 2010). It has become the most useful medium for sales purpose (Carrico, 2015). However, this digital innovation and its growth increase sales revenue of any business. Consumers like to gather information about new products or services every day. They have become time conscious and prefer browsing internet (Carrico, 2015). People are now covered with a digital world that fills with new products, services, and digital innovations. Digital innovation is the latest buzz phrase (Chen and Cheng, 2012). Digital innovation means to carry out of innovative combinations of components- digital and physical for producing novel products. The basic definition of digital innovation is turning paper records into electronic records (Gray, 2013). This change requires data collection, processing, and analysis of the data. After digital media, digital innovation is the next iteration. Digital Innovation is the important source to make consumers life easier, more productive and more enjoyable (Chang, et al., 2016). Many companies recognize that the online marketing or the digital marketing is moving rapidly to the mainstream business. Over the past two decades, the way of shopping has evolved rapidly. People now can shop with clicks (Gray, 2013). Digital innovation makes the consumers more digitally savvy. Speed and sophistication are on the rise for innovative digitization. It lets the social platform to drive the world. Productivity and efficiency rise for digital innovation in recent trends (Yang, et al., 2010). In order to understand the characteristics of digital innovation of recent trends, it is important to know how digital technology differs from previous technologies (Carrico, 2015). Chen and Cheng (2012) have explained that new digital innovation has three unique characteristics: (1) the programmability, (2) the homogenization of data, and (3) the self-referential nature of digital technology The programmability- Digital innovation includes programmability as a digital device is reprogrammable. It can separate the semiotic functional logic of the digital device from the physical embodiment that executes it. The homogenization of data- Digital innovation provides homogenization of data. The self-referential nature of digital technology- The meaning of self-reference is that digital innovation requires the use of digital technology. The recent trends in digital innovation include many new things. Many e-commerce business organization use Snapchat as their advertising platforms. Marketing automation software is used to send mass emails in recent trends (Chang, et al., 2016). There are many mobile-friendly apps that are helpful in digital marketing. Value Proposition Value proposition serves as the base for all the marketing efforts of the company and defines what makes the company different and unique from its competitors. The value proposition of the company should include: Assurance to solve a specific problem or achieve a particular goal Clear description of how the prospective customer will benefit from using your products and services Identifies visible results customers can expect due to using your services Enables the company to offer must-have services and create tempting marketing messages Demonstrates the company lucidly its target customers, what they are looking for and where competitors fall short Carrico (2015) has defined Value proposition solves the problem of a customer or satisfies his needs. Each value proposition includes a selected range of products or services that serve the requirement of a particular customer segment. In this manner, the value proposition is a bundle, or an aggregation, of benefits which a company offers to its customers (Yang, et al., 2010). As the value proposition requires the Booktopia includes in a bundle of benefits, not just one thing. The value proposition of the Booktopia includes: Fast and easy service Cheap delivery charges Huge discount and coupons Gracious return policy Good customer service with full customer helpline Full availability of all types of books, e-books, CDs and DVDs Most trusted online bookstore in Australia Recommendation Following Chen and Cheng, (2012) it can be recommended that Booktopia need to follow certain key aspects to increase the target sales and company growth of the company. In the digitization era, customers become the powerful part of the business (Chang, et al., 2016).The company believes in online reviews. The company should use video reviews or reviews containing product image can work (Yang, et al., 2010). The company can use feedback programs to increase the volume of feedback which is submitted by the customers. The company can introduce sponsored products list as this can make the products to be displayed below search results (Carrico, 2015). The company should give discounts on products if the buyer buys in a bulk. Conclusion The report has analysed the Booktopia declining sales and digital innovation technology to increase revenue. The purpose of this report has been fulfilled by searching new digital innovation technology and providing a clear discussion of how the sales of the company in the young customer market will increase. Digital innovation has unique characteristics of the programmability, the homogenization of data and the self-referential nature of digital technology (Chen and Cheng, 2012). Building a suitable value proposition is very significant for the growth of the company. Booktopia value proposition is prepared in such a manner the target customer will be attracted towards the online bookstore. Fast and easy service with cheaper delivery charges and gracious return policy will be given a warm welcome by the customers. The company can include Snapshot as other e-commerce businesses are using for their advertising platforms. Recommendations such as video reviews and products reviews are given to lure young customer market. Discount on bulk purchase is one of the techniques to attract youth consumer segment. References blog.Booktopia.com.au, 2016. The Booktopian - Booktopia Blog. [Online] Available at: https://blog.Booktopia.com.au/ [Accessed 24 August 2016]. Booksellers.org.au, 2016. About ABA - Australian Booksellers Association. [Online] Available at: https://www.booksellers.org.au/about-aba [Accessed 24 August 2016]. Carrico, S., 2015. Online Book Selling at the Smathers Library Bookstore. Library Resources Technical Services, 49(4), pp. 276-283. Chang, J., Lee, M. Wang, T., 2016. Integrating a semantic-based retrieval agent into case-based reasoning systems: A case study of an online bookstore. Computers in Industry, 78(2), pp. 29-42. Chen, C. Cheng, C., 2012. How online and offline behavior processes affect each other: customer behavior in a cyber-enhanced bookstore. Quality Quantity, 47(5), pp. 2539-2555. Gray, D., 2013. Out of the Box and Into the Bookstore: Non-Traditional Use of the Bookstore. Against the Grain, 15(3), pp. 56-94. Yang, J., Zielinski, A. Cheng, L., 2010. Purchasing college textbook from online e-bookstore: an empirical study. IJMIE, 3(2), pp. 162-174.