DHgate

DHgate WHAT IS DHGATE?The CompanyDHgate is a Chinese ecommerce platform which focuses on business to business sales. The aim of this website is to create a connection between small and mid-sized businesses based in China and potential buyers worldwide. These potential buyers can purchases products manufactured in China from the website directly from the manufacturer. As with other Chinese ecommerce platforms, the website offers detailed customer support through email, telephone and chat services.The name is derived from the word Dunhuang which is a Chinese city in the Gansu province. In ancient times, the city was a strategic location along the Silk Road which connected China the rest of the world. The company draws on this comparison and positions itself as a modern day Silk Road, providing the same connection between China and the rest of the world.The products listed on the website include electronics, sports supplies, clothes, accessories and beauty products among others. The majority o f buyers for the website are located in North America and Europe. HistoryDiane WangThe company was created by Diane Wang in 2004. Wang remains the current CEO of the company. A well-known figure in China, she is often covered by the country’s media. Prior to founding DHgate, she was among the people who created Joyo.com, now Amazon China. During her career she has served as the country marketing director for Cisco Systems China, managing China marketing communications. Her other credentials include Marketing Service Manager and Head of Business Development for Microsoft China for six years.Diana has received the ‘Outstanding Woman of China’ and ‘Outstanding Woman of Beijing’ awards. These are two of the highest accolades received by professional women in China.She began her career as a lecturer at the TsingHua University in Beijing, China. Ambitious for more, she applied for a position in Microsoft China and was selected. Though the corporate culture was a bit of a shock f or her, she managed to stay on and went on to outperform all other sales teams. Though she faced class ceiling when it came to promotions and growth, she persevered and took each new supervisor as an opportunity to learn and grow. It paid off, with a promotion that made her the first professional executive to be promoted in the company from mainland China.After moving to Cisco, she co-founded Joyo.com and led the startup through the internet boom and downturn. The business grew and was eventually acquired by Amazon. In 2004, she created a new ecommerce platform by the name of DHgate. The company had 425 employees as of 2012 with 50 percent of them being female.The CompanyAs of 2011, the company is said to have close to 25 million listings of products from as many as 900,000 suppliers who are Chinese. There are also 4 million buyers registered from as many as 230 different countries. The company’s quick growth landed it on the 2009 Deloitte list for China’s Top 50 Fast Growing En terprises.The company had a strategic relationship with PayPal till 2012. Since then, PayPal is no longer an accepted means of payment on the website. The company works with China Construction Bank to provide a microloan service to those users who have good record on the website. The company also works with UPS and eBay.THE BUSINESS MODELThe website does not charge a membership fee from either buyer or seller. Instead, it charges only a commission as a percentage of successful transaction amounts. This percentage ranges from 3 percent to 10 percent. Though the website remains free for sellers, a special value added services feature called DHfactory has recently been added. Sellers can pay an annual fee to avail this service. The company is set to launch further exclusive services to compete better in the Chinese online wholesale market.Buyers and sellers are required to interact through the website. There is an escrow payment service that protects buyers and a customer service depar tment to help resolve disputes.The company is built to facilitate small and medium sized Chinese enterprises. Average order sizes remain small for this reason. The variety of items listed however, is not affected by the size of the businesses and categories of products include clothes, bags, shoes, sports items, toys, jewelry, electronics, mobile phones, musical instruments, car parts, video games and many more.DifferentiationDHgate differs from other Chinese ecommerce platforms by focusing on only smaller scale manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, the transactions and payments are through the website which offers some degree of trust and reliability for the buyers. The website offers benefits to small suppliers that have thus far been restricted to only larger and more business aware suppliers. These small suppliers are able to get quick and easy access to the global supply chain.LESSONS FROM THE DHGATE FOUNDERThe DHgate founder has overcome odds again and again to become one of the most respected and successful business women in China. Because of her experience with multinationals as well as startups, as well as her entrepreneurial venture, she has a lot to offer to potential entrepreneurs.6 Tips for Achieving Entrepreneurial GoalsDream Big: This is Wang’s number one prerequisite for any entrepreneur. She believes that the road to the fulfillment of any dream is full of adversity and the temptation to give up. If the dream is big enough and the belief in it strong enough, then these difficulties can be overcome and the goal achieved. She says, “The original dream is the foundation that empowers you to stay focused whenever you feel lost.”Make Entrepreneurship a Lifestyle: According to Wang, no one can treat entrepreneurship as a part time endeavor. Instead, it needs to be a lifestyle change and choice which goes on to impact every aspect on your life. She believes that a person needs to be physically and psychologically strong to handle any challe nges that arise. As an employee of a company, one always has the option to leave the job if one is not challenged or happy. But as an entrepreneur, the option to give up or take a break is not available at all.Let go of Comfort Zones: When you are an entrepreneur, there is no chance of being able to stay within your comfort zone. There has to be a constant readiness to play any role that needs to be played and stretch yourself in often unexpected ways. Wang says that she was not always comfortable with public speaking. But when she became the public face of her company she had no choice but to practice, overcome anxiety and become a strong speaker. She says, “Over time, I realized it was an invaluable self-improvement process, and an opportunity to grow with the company.”Don’t Look for Shortcuts: DHgate was created when the value of ecommerce was still not understood or recognized by most people in the country. To overcome this lack of awareness, Wang and her team made dozens of trips on trains, motorcycles and even donkey carts to get across the country and explain the benefits directly to the manufacturers. There is no magic pill and real work needs to be done to achieve success.Find Your Niche: Wang believes that it is important to narrow focus and find a niche to work within. It is not always possible to beat all competitors in all areas. Instead, a niche along with a unique selling point can help differentiate you from competitors and become the biggest fish in your pond.Lean on Others When Needed: Wang emphasizes the importance of staying outwardly focused as well. This includes getting to know people in the field but outside the company and build up a network. This network can then be leveraged to fill any gaps in the business. This can be done through a partnership with people or companies. Experienced investors can be identified and encouraged to invest in the business to help growth. Wang says, “This allows you to remain focused on what you a re good at, and to unleash your potential to create something of significance.”TAKING PRECAUTIONSServices Offered by DHGATEThe website offers three services that can protect buyers from counterfeits or scams.Seller Feedback: This is a rating given to each seller by various buyers. A higher rating means a higher degree of reliability given previous performance. The comments section gives more detail about the ease of doing business, seller attitude, credibility, reliability and support.Escrow Service: The escrow service sees DHgate act as a third party that collects and holds payment till the merchandise is shipped and received. If the buyer accepts the merchandise, then the payment is released by the escrow service.Dispute Process: When any disputes do occur, there is a dispute resolution process that tracks, manages and resolves disputes as quickly as possible with DHgate acting as a neutral and impartial mediator. Scams and SpeculationAs mentioned previously, there is not a lot of information available on this ecommerce platform. Though some of the information that is available is positive and encouraging, there is also a lot of confusion and many bad reviews on different websites. This lack of complete information means that any attempt to do business through DHgate should be undertaken after careful consideration, research and initial orders should be smaller amounts so as to find reliable suppliers for longer term commitments. There is also a danger of counterfeits and badly made items which again means a loss of revenue if investment is made in purchasing them.[slideshare id=30297007doc=dhgatescam-140122061325-phpapp02]Common ComplaintsSome of the negative customer experiences from DHgate include:Clothes: The most common issue that buyers face when buying clothes from the website are materials, fitting and delivery time. Most reviewers have felt that the items are delivered later than promised, often missing important occasions for which they were orde red. Others have found the items to be ill-fitting even though specific measurements had been provided. Still others found design mismatch from promised items as well as use of inferior quality materials.Electronics: Items are often received in battered conditions and will not work when turned on. Often they turn out to be non-working imitations. Some are sent to be exchanged and the seller disappears without replacing the item.Understanding Complaints: Users often find it difficult to communicate with both suppliers and DHgate employees themselves. DHgate is often accused of siding only with the supplier and not making an effort to understand the nature of the problem.Items Different from Listed Ones: A common complaint is when items delivered are drastically different from those shown on the website. In several such cases, the supplier becomes impossible to reach, does not respond to queries and the payment is released as the item has been delivered according to DHgate escrow rule s.Extremely High Shipping Costs: Some sellers will charge extremely high shipping costs as a way to offset the low prices on offer. It is a good idea to check all shipping charges before finalizing an order.ScamsThe most common scam found listed on the various review websites is when the seller sends an empty envelope to the wrong address deliberately. The item appears as delivered and the escrow service releases payment. In reality, the item is never shipped and never received by the customer.The other type of scam is basic counterfeit products. The supplier claims to sell originals at significantly lower prices than the original. These turn out to be counterfeits almost all the time.DHGATE SUCCESS STORIES © DHgateDHgate is a Chinese ecommerce platform for wholesale items sold by small and medium sized manufacturers and retailers. In this article, we will look at, 1) what is DHgate?, 2) the business model, 3) lessons from the DHgate founder, 4) taking precautions, and 5) DHgate success stories.WHAT IS DHGATE?The CompanyDHgate is a Chinese ecommerce platform which focuses on business to business sales. The aim of this website is to create a connection between small and mid-sized businesses based in China and potential buyers worldwide. These potential buyers can purchases products manufactured in China from the website directly from the manufacturer. As with other Chinese ecommerce platforms, the website offers detailed customer support through email, telephone and chat services.The name is derived from the word Dunhuang which is a Chinese city in the Gansu province. In ancient times, the city was a strategic location along the Silk Road which connected China the rest of the world. The company draws on this comparison and positions itself as a modern day Silk Road, providing the same connection between China and the rest of the world.The products listed on the website include electronics, sports supplies, clothes, accessories and beauty products among others. The majority of buyers for the website are located in North America and Europe. HistoryDiane WangThe company was created by Diane Wang in 2004. Wang remains the current CEO of the company. A well-known figure in China, she is often covered by the country’s media. Prior to founding DHgate, she was among the people who created Joyo.com, now Amazon China. During her career she has served as the country marketing director for Cisco Systems China, managing China marketing communications. Her other credentials include Marketing Service Manager and Head of Business Development for Microsoft China for six years.Diana has received the ‘Outstanding Woman of China’ and ‘Outstanding Woman of Beijing’ awards. T hese are two of the highest accolades received by professional women in China.She began her career as a lecturer at the TsingHua University in Beijing, China. Ambitious for more, she applied for a position in Microsoft China and was selected. Though the corporate culture was a bit of a shock for her, she managed to stay on and went on to outperform all other sales teams. Though she faced class ceiling when it came to promotions and growth, she persevered and took each new supervisor as an opportunity to learn and grow. It paid off, with a promotion that made her the first professional executive to be promoted in the company from mainland China.After moving to Cisco, she co-founded Joyo.com and led the startup through the internet boom and downturn. The business grew and was eventually acquired by Amazon. In 2004, she created a new ecommerce platform by the name of DHgate. The company had 425 employees as of 2012 with 50 percent of them being female.The CompanyAs of 2011, the company is said to have close to 25 million listings of products from as many as 900,000 suppliers who are Chinese. There are also 4 million buyers registered from as many as 230 different countries. The company’s quick growth landed it on the 2009 Deloitte list for China’s Top 50 Fast Growing Enterprises.The company had a strategic relationship with PayPal till 2012. Since then, PayPal is no longer an accepted means of payment on the website. The company works with China Construction Bank to provide a microloan service to those users who have good record on the website. The company also works with UPS and eBay.THE BUSINESS MODELThe website does not charge a membership fee from either buyer or seller. Instead, it charges only a commission as a percentage of successful transaction amounts. This percentage ranges from 3 percent to 10 percent. Though the website remains free for sellers, a special value added services feature called DHfactory has recently been added. Sellers can pay an an nual fee to avail this service. The company is set to launch further exclusive services to compete better in the Chinese online wholesale market.Buyers and sellers are required to interact through the website. There is an escrow payment service that protects buyers and a customer service department to help resolve disputes.The company is built to facilitate small and medium sized Chinese enterprises. Average order sizes remain small for this reason. The variety of items listed however, is not affected by the size of the businesses and categories of products include clothes, bags, shoes, sports items, toys, jewelry, electronics, mobile phones, musical instruments, car parts, video games and many more.DifferentiationDHgate differs from other Chinese ecommerce platforms by focusing on only smaller scale manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, the transactions and payments are through the website which offers some degree of trust and reliability for the buyers. The website offers bene fits to small suppliers that have thus far been restricted to only larger and more business aware suppliers. These small suppliers are able to get quick and easy access to the global supply chain.LESSONS FROM THE DHGATE FOUNDERThe DHgate founder has overcome odds again and again to become one of the most respected and successful business women in China. Because of her experience with multinationals as well as startups, as well as her entrepreneurial venture, she has a lot to offer to potential entrepreneurs.6 Tips for Achieving Entrepreneurial GoalsDream Big: This is Wang’s number one prerequisite for any entrepreneur. She believes that the road to the fulfillment of any dream is full of adversity and the temptation to give up. If the dream is big enough and the belief in it strong enough, then these difficulties can be overcome and the goal achieved. She says, “The original dream is the foundation that empowers you to stay focused whenever you feel lost.”Make Entrepreneurship a Lifestyle: According to Wang, no one can treat entrepreneurship as a part time endeavor. Instead, it needs to be a lifestyle change and choice which goes on to impact every aspect on your life. She believes that a person needs to be physically and psychologically strong to handle any challenges that arise. As an employee of a company, one always has the option to leave the job if one is not challenged or happy. But as an entrepreneur, the option to give up or take a break is not available at all.Let go of Comfort Zones: When you are an entrepreneur, there is no chance of being able to stay within your comfort zone. There has to be a constant readiness to play any role that needs to be played and stretch yourself in often unexpected ways. Wang says that she was not always comfortable with public speaking. But when she became the public face of her company she had no choice but to practice, overcome anxiety and become a strong speaker. She says, “Over time, I realized it was an i nvaluable self-improvement process, and an opportunity to grow with the company.”Don’t Look for Shortcuts: DHgate was created when the value of ecommerce was still not understood or recognized by most people in the country. To overcome this lack of awareness, Wang and her team made dozens of trips on trains, motorcycles and even donkey carts to get across the country and explain the benefits directly to the manufacturers. There is no magic pill and real work needs to be done to achieve success.Find Your Niche: Wang believes that it is important to narrow focus and find a niche to work within. It is not always possible to beat all competitors in all areas. Instead, a niche along with a unique selling point can help differentiate you from competitors and become the biggest fish in your pond.Lean on Others When Needed: Wang emphasizes the importance of staying outwardly focused as well. This includes getting to know people in the field but outside the company and build up a network . This network can then be leveraged to fill any gaps in the business. This can be done through a partnership with people or companies. Experienced investors can be identified and encouraged to invest in the business to help growth. Wang says, “This allows you to remain focused on what you are good at, and to unleash your potential to create something of significance.”TAKING PRECAUTIONSServices Offered by DHGATEThe website offers three services that can protect buyers from counterfeits or scams.Seller Feedback: This is a rating given to each seller by various buyers. A higher rating means a higher degree of reliability given previous performance. The comments section gives more detail about the ease of doing business, seller attitude, credibility, reliability and support.Escrow Service: The escrow service sees DHgate act as a third party that collects and holds payment till the merchandise is shipped and received. If the buyer accepts the merchandise, then the payment is release d by the escrow service.Dispute Process: When any disputes do occur, there is a dispute resolution process that tracks, manages and resolves disputes as quickly as possible with DHgate acting as a neutral and impartial mediator. Scams and SpeculationAs mentioned previously, there is not a lot of information available on this ecommerce platform. Though some of the information that is available is positive and encouraging, there is also a lot of confusion and many bad reviews on different websites. This lack of complete information means that any attempt to do business through DHgate should be undertaken after careful consideration, research and initial orders should be smaller amounts so as to find reliable suppliers for longer term commitments. There is also a danger of counterfeits and badly made items which again means a loss of revenue if investment is made in purchasing them.[slideshare id=30297007doc=dhgatescam-140122061325-phpapp02]Common ComplaintsSome of the negative custome r experiences from DHgate include:Clothes: The most common issue that buyers face when buying clothes from the website are materials, fitting and delivery time. Most reviewers have felt that the items are delivered later than promised, often missing important occasions for which they were ordered. Others have found the items to be ill-fitting even though specific measurements had been provided. Still others found design mismatch from promised items as well as use of inferior quality materials.Electronics: Items are often received in battered conditions and will not work when turned on. Often they turn out to be non-working imitations. Some are sent to be exchanged and the seller disappears without replacing the item.Understanding Complaints: Users often find it difficult to communicate with both suppliers and DHgate employees themselves. DHgate is often accused of siding only with the supplier and not making an effort to understand the nature of the problem.Items Different from List ed Ones: A common complaint is when items delivered are drastically different from those shown on the website. In several such cases, the supplier becomes impossible to reach, does not respond to queries and the payment is released as the item has been delivered according to DHgate escrow rules.Extremely High Shipping Costs: Some sellers will charge extremely high shipping costs as a way to offset the low prices on offer. It is a good idea to check all shipping charges before finalizing an order.ScamsThe most common scam found listed on the various review websites is when the seller sends an empty envelope to the wrong address deliberately. The item appears as delivered and the escrow service releases payment. In reality, the item is never shipped and never received by the customer.The other type of scam is basic counterfeit products. The supplier claims to sell originals at significantly lower prices than the original. These turn out to be counterfeits almost all the time.DHGATE SU CCESS STORIESAccording to the DHgate founder, there are many success stories from sellers who have used the platform to break barriers and achieve success. She mentions a young Chinese woman from a poor background who sold clothes through the website and eventually made enough money to move to Paris and study fashion design. There are also many stories of middle-aged women with children who have left home, who have built up businesses by selling products from home.However, because of the predominantly small scale nature of Chinese sellers that list on DHgate, there is very little direct information available about these sellers and their success stories. Instead, there are many stories of people or other small businesses in different parts of the world who buy from these Chinese sellers and successfully run their own businesses based on these products. Some of these stories include:William Daniel â€" USAWilliam began by scoping out several websites for products and prices before dec iding to try out DHgate with a small electronics purchase. It was delivered on time and he was able to sell it for a profit. He continued to purchase from DHgate and sell onwards eventually growing his business enough to hire employees and continue to grow. He suggests researching the marketplace thoroughly before deciding to buy. He also suggests checking out the seller completely through ratings and conversations over email, chat or phone before establishing any relationship. If all else fails, he counts on the DHgate escrow service and the customer service team for support.Martin Flynn â€" USAMartin uses DHgate to purchase cell phone related items and accessories to sell via his own online retail business. He now relies on DHgate as his only source of supply. He finds their prices extremely competitive and is happy with reliability of service.Carlucho Sabal â€" USASabal runs a small company that conducts business in Venezuela. The company was unable to raise the substantial funds required to import products in bulk via a container from China. They decided to go small instead and purchase from different wholesale websites online. Through some of these, the items received were either damaged or got lost in transit. At this point they discovered DHgate. There were some initial issues before they understood and started making use of the seller feedback system. Once this was sorted out, Sabal’s company was in a position to select reliable sellers and slowly grow their own business.Timur Hassan â€" UKTimur heard about DHgate and after preliminary research, decided to give the service a try. He created an online store and started listing items that he purchased from DHgate. After experimenting for two months, he decided to establish a relationship with one of the sellers. This seller was reliable and shipped sealed, good quality products as listed on the website. Shipping was quick and any damaged items were replaced easily. He is especially happy with the DHgat e escrow service which holds the buyer’s money until the item is delivered. He manages to resolve any issues with support from the DHgate live chat service.Image credit: DHgate.

Whole Foods - 1021 Words

Whole Foods Market in 2010 Core Values and Strategy Wilmington University Name: Whitney Newman Date 1/13/13 Overview: Provide a brief overview of the company. Include such details as its history, present day situation, and any other pertinent information you think is helpful in understanding the company (points 5) * Whole Foods Market was founded in 1980 working with natural and healthy foods in Austin, Texas; it’s one of the world’s largest of natural and organic foods supermarkets. In 2009, the sales total $8 billion and had 289 stores in the U.S. The Whole Foods Market plans to come up with strategies to help improve the company but to do so understanding the core values plays a major role in the company’s planning. The†¦show more content†¦2. Is Whole Foods’ strategy well matched to market conditions in the food retailing industry (one of the criteria for a winning strategy discussed in Chapter 1)? (points 10) * Yes, Whole Foods’ strategy is well matched to the market conditions. Their product line strategy is focused on providing natural, o rganic, and gourmet food and nonfood items to their customers. Whole Foods is recognized by the USDA as being a Certified Organic grocer by Quality Assurance International. This means that all their products are grown organically; the products are grown without the usage of pesticides, fertilizers, bioengineered, growth hormones, or antibiotics. 3. Do you think John Mackey has a good strategic vision for Whole Foods? Why or why not? What do you like/dislike about the company’s mission/vision â€Å"Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet† that is set forth in case Exhibit 1? Do the mission/vision and the core values underlying it (case Exhibit 3) really matter at this company or are they just nice words and cosmetic window dressing? Explain. (points 20) * Yes I do believe that John Mackey has a great strategic vision. Now that the organic food market is a fast growing market in which he had gotten into this market segment at the right time and knew what he had visions on doing. What I like about the company’s mission/vision statement â€Å"Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet† is because its all about a healthier world. EspeciallyShow MoreRelatedWhole Foods : The Whole Food Markets Essay1369 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Whole Food Markets† Week #6 If you were to ask people if they enjoy going to work on Monday, I am sure most of them would give you a funny look, and say â€Å"No†. Americans dislike of their jobs is very evident. To see the magnitude of this just look on social media. On Fridays, there are vast amounts of thank god it’s Friday (TGIF) memes indicating how happy they are that they are done with work for the week. Many American simply do not enjoy working. However, a select few actually do. 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Communist Party And Anti Corruption - 1158 Words

On April 17, 1989, thousands of student protesters flooded Tiananmen Square, Beijing, to mourn Hu Yaobang’s death. Yaobang was the former General Secretary of the Communist Party and also served as a symbol of political reform and anti-corruption. The students asked the government to end corruption and to give political and economic reform. Demonstrations spread to different cities, with workers joining in. They complained about money and housing issues. The spread of the demonstrations concerned Party leaders, who thought there was going to be rebellion from the protesters. Li Peng, who ranked second in the Party, believed that they should â€Å"nip it in the bud,† while Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang thought that Yaobang’s memorial†¦show more content†¦All this does is help demonstrations spread. At this point, foreign coverage of the demonstrations is commonplace, but Party members cannot agree on how to handle the situation. With students going back to their classes, the protesters didn’t have any real leadership. Different factions did different things. Tension arose in the Communist Party while preparing for Soviet Party Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev’s trip to Beijing. Xiaoping wanted to solve the protester situation peacefully, but at the same time, he wanted them out of the Square for Gorbachev’s arrival. However, this would not be the case. On May 13, over 100 students in Tiananmen Square started a hunger strike in hopes for talks with the leaders of the Communist Party, knowing Gorbachev would arrive shortly. On May 15, Gorbachev arrived in Beijing. He was there for the first ever Sino-Soviet summit since 1959, 30 years prior. Unfortunately for him, the strike made plans for him welcomed in the Square be canceled. By the day after he arrived, there were at least 3,000 people that joined the strike, which was humiliating to Gorbachev. While this was happening, Zhao and Peng kept their respective stances; Zhao believed they should listen to the people and make reforms, while Peng maintained that the protesters were no good and that they were aiming to overthrow the Party. Xiaoping ignored

Dabur Brand Revie Free Essays

The brand name Dabur is derived from the words ‘Da’ for ‘Daktar’ or ‘Doctor’ and ‘bur’ from Burman. From those humble beginnings, the company has grown into India’s leading manufacturer of consumer healthcare, personal care and food products. Over its 125 years of existence, the Dabur brand has stood for goodness through a natural lifestyle. We will write a custom essay sample on Dabur Brand Revie or any similar topic only for you Order Now An umbrella name for a variety of products, ranging from hair care to honey, Dabur has consistently ranked among India’s top brands. Its brands are built on the foundation of trust that a Dabur offering will never cause anyone slightest of harm. The trust levels that this brand enjoys are phenomenally high. Dabur had a turnover of approximately US$ 750 Million (Rs. 3390. 9 Crore FY 09-10) ;amp; Market Capitalisation of over US$ 3. 5 Billion (Rs 15500 Crore), Ner income of : (INR) 425 Crore (2008-09)with brands like Dabur Amla, Dabur Chyawanprash, Vatika, Hajmola and Real. The company has kept an eye on new generations of customers with a range of products that cater to a modern lifestyle, while managing not to alienate earlier generations of loyal customers. The company’s growth rate rose from 10% to 40% Dabur Foods, a subsidiary of Dabur India is expecting to grow at 25%. Its brands of juices, namely, Real and Active, together make it the market leader in the Fruit Juice Category Value: Mass market value For money The brand trunaround† why? Overall slow down in FMCG Stiff competition To target young india – largest consumer Modernize old brand equity-â€Å" intangible asset† Dabur also has reinvented the mother logo Enter new category; innovate offerings Repositioning as FMCG company Moved away from Umbrella branding strategy Retaining Dabur as corporate brand identity Dabur’s New Brand Architecture 5 Power Brands Umbrella brand for juice and other foods; aimed at p market consumer Product to be launched is Lemon Juice: Branded fruit beverage market in India is estimated to be worth Rs. 1,200 crore (nectars, drinks and juices combined) The fruit drink market Juice accounts 30%,Nectar:10%, Fruit drinks:60% COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS Pepsi co: Nimbooz has grown 29% Coca Cola : Minute Maid Nimbu Fresh- pulp based drink Parle : LMN this has grown 30% Market size of Lemon Juice in India in Organized sector: The unpackaged nimbu paani market in India is very large; to put it in perspective, it is twice the size of the total carbonated soft drinks industry. India’s Parle Agro, the name behind the LMN brand which launched a year ago, has outperformed the market growing 30 per cent. Of the 600m-case juice market, lemon juice drinks have a 44 per cent share. According to an industry report 120bn litres of beverages are consumed annually in India with 55 per cent of sales of Indian soft drinks during the summer months of March to May, and companies are keen to maximise growth in this season. If next year’s summer is as hot as this one, a nimbu paani drink or three will definitely be in order Target market: 1) Primary and secondary market SEC A and SEC B * Recreational * Fitness * Health Lifestyle * Sports Primary Market: * Teens – More experimental * Youth – Experimental and more buying power Working People who travels a lot * Secondary Market Secondary market: Travel Industry – Airlines, Railways and Local Transport Systems ,Recreational – Movie Theatres, Malls, Amusement Parks, school, collages, hotels, restaurants Market Segmentation: * Metropolitan Cities, major cities of the states, and towns. * Density of Area: Urban, Semi-urban, Rural. Climate: Tropical * Age – 8 and above * Users perceive Lemon juice as a healthy drink. * Users drink fruit juice as a refreshing alternative to carbonated drinks. Users willingly spend on products related to health and lifestyle. Users enjoy Lemon juice not only as a means of healthy life, but as an intrinsically enjoyable Marketing strategy of Dabur: Dabur should reinforce the authentic â€Å"homemade† taste through aggressive marketing campaigns and have tried to appeal to the increasingly health-conscious Indian consumer by making them without artificial ingredients. Product Type: lomon Juice Features: Lemon Juice is a 100 percent Lemon juice which will be produced and marketed by the Dabur ltd. Brand Name: Lemon Juice Product Life Cycle: Our product lie in introduction period Low sales * High costs per customer * Negative profits * Innovator customers * Few competitors Objective: to create awareness and trial * Offer a basic product * Price at cost-plus * Selective distribution * Awareness – dealers and early adopters * Induce trial via heavy sales promotion * Place Distribution Channel Product location availability Modes of transportation * Pricing Provide Lucrative discounts, deals and schemes Adopt sales oriented objective Have one price policy Price@ 8 Rs/ 200Ml * Promotion Promotional Tactics Provide free samples in the market for the brand awareness Advertising: To our target audience by using the message showing a glass full of Lemon juice â€Å"Drink this much every day â€Å" Tie up promotional strategy with: PVR, In film advertising Hero Honda: Hero Honda Motors Limited, based in Delhi, India is a joint venture between the Hero Group of India and Honda of Japan[2][3] It has been referred to as the world’s biggest manufacturer of 2-wheeled motorized vehicles since 2001, when it produced 1. 3 million motorbikes in a single year. During the fiscal year 2008-09, the company has sold 3. 28 million bikes and the net profit of the company stood at Rs. 1281. 7 crore, up 32% from the previous fiscal year. verification needed][3] Hero Honda has been the largest two wheeler company in the world for nine consecutive years. The company had a market share of 41. 35% in the year 2008-2009 and over a 25 year span it has crossed the 15 million unit milestone. Hero Honda sells more two wheelers than the second, third and fourth placed two-wheeler companies put together. [4] The company’s most popular model is the Hero Honda Splendor, which is the world’s largest-selling motorcycle, selling more than one million units per year Hero† is the brand name used by the Munjal brothers for their flagship company Hero Cycles Ltd. A joint venture between the Hero Group and Honda Motor Company was established in 1984 as the Hero Honda company,India. During the 1980s, the company introduced motorcycles that were popular in India for their fuel economy and low cost. A popular advertising campaign based on the slogan ‘Fill it – Shut it – Forget it’ that emphasised the motorcycle’s fuel efficiency helped the company grow at a double-digit pace since inception. Hero Honda has three manufacturing facilities based at Dharuhera and Gurgaon in Haryana and at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. These plants together are capable of churning out 3. 9 million bikes per year. [citation needed] Hero Honda’s has a large sales and service network with over 3,000 dealerships and service points across India. Hero Honda’s customer loyalty program,[clarification needed] the Hero Honda Passport Program, claims to be one of the largest programs of its kind in the world with over 3 million members Launch of New Prodcut: Honda Cart: A three Wheeler Cart will be a . 75 ton truck in the commercial vehicle segment which is dominated by large trucks. It can be called India’s next generation mini truck . The sub one ton loads were transported by the three wheeler goods carriers. Although the quality and performance of these three wheelers are less than desirable there was still huge demand for these vehicles. It is this market where TATA Ace is the only leading competitor . It is the transportation at the † last mile† market that Ace has captured. Honda Cart will have all the qualities of a winner. It will be cute, the engine would be good interms of mileage and performance, the comfort factor can very much there and more over it is a Truck and not an Auto. Priced competitively at 2. 00 lakh to 2. 20 lakh, which is below Ace is a value proposition that no one can refuse. The brand will launched at a point where there was a need for transportation of good speedily and conveniently and in a cost effective manner. Need for the Honda Cart: Honda Cart will be cost-effective means for local transport of small cargo in the long run. Previously, customers had to incur additional charges by renting vehicles with a much larger payload for small cargo movements. Due to pradhan mantri gramin sadak yojana , Road onnectivity is expected to greatly improve in rural areas ?It is envisaged that higher tonnages vehicles will be not allowed in cities ?In both the cases, all last mile distributing will be covered by large vehicles ?The exciting production in this category is cumbersome , coupled with safety, pollution ;amp; comfort etc.. issues Market Research : To understand the potential customer better. It found that there were two types of customers fo r Honda Cart : cost sensitive customers, and others who valued return on investment (ROI). The company targeted ROI customers who were willing to pay a higher price but wanted low operating costs. Comparative analysis :The Honda Cart would provide excellent economy with oil change required only for every 10,000 km when compared to three wheelers which required it for every 2,500 km. Evne TATA ACE required at every 9,000KM. The vehicle traveled at a top speed of 70 km per hour and had a mileage of 20 km per liter with a high payload capacity in compare to TATA ACE which has speed of 65 km per hour and 18km per liter as mileage. This enabled the owners to make more trips in less time. Bajaj Auto, Force Motors, Eicher, Piaggio and Ashok Leyland are very much on their way to entering the one-ton four-wheeler space. † The official further added, â€Å"Players like Eicher and Swaraj Mazda, which are already present in the 1. 5-ton truck space, will now shift their focus to one ton. † Product: Honda Cart. PLC- Entry stage. Brand Name: Honda Cart Price: 2. 00Lakh-2. 20Lakhs Place : Tier II and III cities. Rural and semi urban. Promotion: The company could offer a range of additional accessories such as vehicle protection system, music systems and even Ganesha idols. Apart from the hygiene quality Honda will also look at the aspects of delight and value enhancers * Giving one Honda cart in free in large villages and in big town give one Honda cart per free per 5 km sq feet area to goods carrier * Reduce pollutants as compared to 3 wheeler from 21 % to 40% Market scenario: TATA ACE has captured 65% of the small commercial vechile segment Target Segment: The target segment are those who want to upgrade from these three wheelers and one who carry/ upload tons of goods How to cite Dabur Brand Revie, Papers

Thalassemia Bangladesh Perspecti free essay sample

What is Thalassemia? Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which parents pass the genes for disorder on to their children. It reduces reproduction of red blood cells in human body. In thalassemia patient, the genes that control globin production are mutated or deleted. As a result, formation of the corresponding globin chains is trimmed down and an abnormal hemoglobin ratio is enhanced. This abnormal ratio leads to a decreased synthesis of hemoglobin and expression of thalassemia. Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University explained, â€Å"If one among 23 pairs of chromosomes of one’s body is affected by Alpha or Beta chain mutation, one may become victim of Thalassemia. If both the chromosomes of a pair are affected, chance is 25 percent that the person will be victim of this lethal disease. † Thalassemia causes mutation in the DNA of cells that make hemoglobin, the substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. We will write a custom essay sample on Thalassemia: Bangladesh Perspecti or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The mutations thus disrupt the normal production of hemoglobin and cause low hemoglobin levels and a high rate of red blood cell destruction, causing anemia. Due to anemia, the blood does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues, leaving one fatigued. Epidemiology Generally, thalassemia is prevalent in the people living in humid climate zones where malaria was endemic in the past or still exists. Since thalassemia acts as an antidote to malaria because of the blood cells easy degradation, it got epidemic in those regions. Thalassemia was first detected among Mediterranean inhabitants. In fact, this geographical association is responsible for its naming: Thalassa is Greek for the sea, Haema is Greek for blood. In Europe, the highest concentrations of the disease are found in Greece, coastal regions of Turkey, Southern Italy and the lower Po valley. The major Mediterranean islands (except the Balearics) such as Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, Corsica, Cyprus, and Crete are heavily affected in particular. High rate of thalassemia is also seen among other Mediterranean people, as well as those in the vicinity of the Mediterranean, including people from West Asia and North Africa. Far from the Mediterranean, South Asians are also affected. The Maldives has the highest incidence of Thalassemia in the world with a carrier rate of 18% of the population. Likewise, lots of people from Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan are also believed to be thalassemia carriers. Descendants of people from Latin America and Mediterranean countries are other notable thalassemia carriers. Furthermore, a very low prevalence has been reported from people in Northern Europe (0. 1%) and Africa (0. 9%), with those in North Africa having the highest frequency. Types of Thalassemia Normal hemoglobin, known as hemoglobin A, has four protein chains – two Alpha globins and two Beta globins. The two major types of thalassemia, Alpha and Beta, are named after defects in these protein chains. Both Alpha and Beta thalassemias include the following two forms: * Thalassemia major * Thalassemia minor Thalassemia major occurs as a result of inheritance of defective gene from both parents, while thalassemia minor occurs if the defective gene is received from only one parent. Persons with the minor form of the disorder are carriers of the disease and usually do not have symptoms. Alpha Thalassemia Four genes (two from each of the parents) are involved in making the Alpha hemoglobin chain. Alpha thalassemia trait occurs if one or two of the four genes are deleted or mutated. Four possible cases of Alpha thalassemia can be observed. * One mutated gene: There will be no signs or symptoms of thalassemia. However, there is always a risk of passing this disease to the predecessors. * Two mutated genes: It may cause mild anemia. This condition is called Alpha thalassemia minor. * Three mutated genes: Signs and symptoms will be moderate to severe. This condition is also called hemoglobin H disease. * Four mutated genes: This condition is called Alpha thalassemia major or hydrops fetalis. It usually causes a fetus to die before delivery or a newborn to die shortly after birth. Beta Thalassemia Two genes (one from each parent) are needed to make enough Beta globin protein chains. Beta thalassemia occurs if one or both genes are altered. The severity of Beta thalassemia depends on the amount of affected genes. Two possible cases of Alpha thalassemia can be observed. * One mutated ene: Signs and symptoms will be mild. This condition is called Beta thalassemia minor. * Two mutated genes: Moderate to severe anemia will be experienced. This condition is called Beta thalassemia major or Cooleys anemia. Babies born with two defective Beta hemoglobin genes usually are healthy at birth, but develop signs and symptoms within the first two years of life. Risk Factors Family history and ancestry are the two risk factors for thalassemia. Fam ily History: Thalassemias are inherited. They are passed from parents to children through the genes. If you have a family history of thalassemia, you may have an increased risk of the condition. Ancestry: Thalassemia occurs most often in people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, South Asian and North African ethnicity. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of thalassemia include: * Fatigue. * Weakness. * Shortness of breath. * Pale appearance. * Irritability. * Yellow discoloration of skin (jaundice). * Facial bone deformities. * Slow growth. * Abdominal swelling. * Dark urine. The signs and symptoms depend on the type and severity of thalassemia. Some babies show signs and symptoms at birth, while others may develop signs or symptoms during the first two years of life. People with one affected hemoglobin gene usually do not experience any thalassemia symptom. Complications Possible complications of thalassemia include: * Iron overload: People with thalassemia can get too much iron in their bodies, either from the disease itself or from frequent blood transfusions, which can damage the heart, liver and endocrine system. * Infection: People with thalassemia have an increased risk of infection, especially if spleen is removed. In cases of severe thalassemia, the following complications may occur: * Bone deformities: Thalassemia may expand bone marrow, which causes the bones to widen. This often results in abnormal bone structure, especially in the face and skull. Bone marrow expansion also makes bones thin and brittle, increasing the chance of broken bones. * Enlarged spleen: The spleen helps the body to fight infection and filter unwanted material, such as old or damaged blood cells. Thalassemia is often accompanied by the destruction of a large number of red blood cells, making the spleen work harder than normal, causing it to enlarge. It can aggravate anemia and reduce the life span of transfused red blood cells. If the spleen grows too big, it may need to be removed. * Slowed growth rates: Anemia can cause a childs growth to slow. Puberty also may be delayed in children with thalassemia. * Heart problems: Heart problems, such as congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms, may be associated with severe thalassemia. Diagnosis Doctors diagnose thalassemia using blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and special hemoglobin tests. CBC provides information about the amount of hemoglobin and different blood cells in a sample of blood. A thalassemia patient has fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin than normal in blood. * Hemoglobin tests measure the types of hemoglobin in a blood sample. One, who has thalassemia, has problems with the Alpha or Beta globin protein chains of hemoglobin. Doctors also test the amount of iron in the blood to find out whether the anemia is due to iron deficie ncy or thalassemia. Iron-deficiency anemia occurs if the body doesnt have enough iron to make hemoglobin. However, thalassemia induced anemia occurs because of the problem with either the alpha globin or beta globin chain of hemoglobin, not because of lack of iron. Since thalassemia is passed from generation to generation through genes, family genetic studies can also help to diagnose the disorder. These studies involve taking a family medical history and doing blood tests on family members. The tests will show whether any family members have missing or altered hemoglobin genes. Once identified, the risk of passing the disorder to a specific predecessor can be determined. If you and your spouse – both are thalassemia carriers, you should consider prenatal testing whenever you are expecting a baby. Prenatal testing involves taking a sample of amniotic fluid or tissue from the placenta (Amniotic fluid is the fluid in the sac surrounding a growing embryo and placenta is the organ that attaches the umbilical cord to the mothers womb). Tests will reveal if your baby will have thalassemia or not and if yes, how severe it may be. â€Å"If prenatal diagnosis shows that the baby would be victim of this lethal disease, abortion of the baby may require to be done†, Dr. Mamun Ahmed suggested. Treatment Treatment varies with the type and the severity of the disease. Treatment for mild thalassemia: Occasionally, a blood transfusion may be needed, particularly after a surgery or after having a baby. Treatment for moderate to severe thalassemia: Treatments for moderate to severe thalassemia may include: * Stem cell or bone marrow transplant: It is used to treat severe thalassemia in some particular cases. Prior to a stem cell transplant, very high doses of drugs or radiation to destroy the diseased bone marrow are applied. Then infusions of stem cells are received from a compatible donor. However, this treatment is undertaken in most severe cases when there is a well-matched donor available – usually a sibling, because these procedures have serious risks, including death. Nevertheless, very high cost of the treatment has kept this procedure limited only to a handful of patients. * Frequent blood transfusions: Frequent blood transfusions are often required, possibly every few weeks. Over the time, blood transfusions cause a buildup of iron in the blood, which can damage heart, liver and other organs. To help the body get rid of the extra iron, medications are required. Iron overload is the single most expensive part of the blood transfusion dependant treatment of thalassemia. Most common therapy for iron chelation is subcutaneous injection of ‘deferrioxamine’, commonly known as ‘desferal’, with a micro pump over a period of 10 to 12 hours. Ideally the injection needs to be taken every day. But, for practical reasons it is administered 5 or 6 days a week. The therapy is painful and very expensive. ‘Deferiprone’ is a cheaper alternate to ‘desferal’ and it is taken orally. However, its unfortunate severe side effects make it the second choice for iron chelation therapy. * Splenectomy: It is another form of treatment. When the spleen becomes too active and starts destroying red blood cells, transfusion becomes less effective with time being. Then it may become necessary to take the spleen out. This operation is called splenectomy. Prevention All forms of thalassemia are transmitted only through hereditary. It is a severe and incurable disease so emphasis must shift from treatment of the affected child to prevention of such births in future. Living with Thalassemia With the advancements in medical science and technology, survival and quality of life have improved for thalassemia affected people. Living with thalassemia can be challenging, but several approaches can help you cope. If you are a thalassemia carrier, be sure to: * Avoid excess iron. Unless your doctor recommends it, dont take vitamins or other supplements that contain iron. * Eat a healthy balanced diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D to boost your energy and keep your bones healthy. Your doctor may also recommend you to take a folic acid supplement to help your body make new red blood cells. Avoid infections. Protect yourself from infections with frequent hand-washing and by avoiding ailing people. This is especially important if you have your spleen removed. * Follow your treatment plan. * Get ongoing medical care. * Seek help and support. Thalassemia in Bangladesh Bangladesh is one of the most thalassemia prone countries of the world. It is a matter of grief that there is no definite data regarding the carrier status of hereditary hemoglobin disorder, existing in Bangladesh. No screening program had ever been taken in any population group. In 2002, a World Health Organization (WHO) report concerning Bangladesh estimated that about 3 percent of the total population was carrying Beta thalassemia while 4 percent were carriers of abnormal hemoglobin E (HbE). Hence, there were about 3. 6 millions carriers of Beta thalassemia and 4. 8 millions carriers of HbE. It also stated that Beta thalassemia and abnormal HbE affected birth per thousand were 0. 106 and 3. 0 respectively. In 2004, Dhaka Shishu Hospital conducted a preliminary study to identify carrier state among the school children. The study revealed that 4. 1 and 6. percent children were carrier of Beta thalassemia HbE respectively. In tribal school children, the prevalence of the HbE trait was 41. 1 percent, while that of Beta thalassemia was 4. 2 percent. The study also concluded that the expected births of Beta thalassemia affected children were about 1,040 per year, with a further 6,443 HbE affected births. Thus more than 7,000 children are born with thalassemia ea ch year in Bangladesh. Thalassemia Treatment in Bangladesh Dhaka Shishu Hospital was the pioneer in establishing a separate specialized center for care and treatment of thalassemic children. This center now has 17 beds for giving transfusion to thalassemic children. It provides free treatment to poor thalassemic children providing them with free blood and ‘desferal’ on  requirement basis. The center has its own blood bank ensuring safe blood and laboratory for diagnosing thalassemia and also other investigations relevant to this disease. There are two genetic counselors for giving advice to carriers and parents of thalassemic children. This center has also doing research work on thalassemia and has published many papers in local journals. In 2004, another specialized thalassemia treatment centre named Bangladesh Thalassemia Hospital, established by Bangladesh Thalassemia Society, launched their journey. It has developed facilities to serve 30 patients at a time. With foreign assistance, it has established a blood bank, equipped with modern instruments, for preservation of blood. It also has a diagnostic unit as well as a unit for iron chelation therapy. ASHA Thalassemia Center, founded by Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation in May 2008, is another addition to the existing thalassemia treatment facilities. It consists of 8 beds with capacity of giving 16 transfusions a day in two sifts. There are 5 employees for this center including a doctor and a nurse. The patients get day care blood transfusion, iron chelation, medical consultation and counseling plus essential laboratory tests here. In August 2009 Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the then chairman of Grameen Health Care Trust and Cure2Children Foundation of Italy   signed an memorandum of understanding to establish a bone marrow   transplantation centre for thalassemia in Bangladesh. A committee of Grameen Health Care Trust, Cure2Children, thalassemia associations and local rofessionals prepared an action plan to perform feasibility study with the first transplant within the first half of 2010 and a plan to cure all uses of Thalassemia by 2025. Conclusion With global improvement in prevention and treatment of childhood diseases to prevent mortality from malnutrition, diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, thalassemia wil l become a major issue in developing countries like Bangladesh in this millennium. All over the world efforts are being made to prevent the birth of thalassemic child and to improve the quality of the patient’s life. Thalassemia needs to be recognized, as an important health issue in this country and steps need to be taken to control the birth of thalassemic children. The following steps to be recommended: * Social awareness: It is of prime importance to create awareness about thalassemia to the general population by holding seminars, workshops and writing articles in the daily newspapers, broadcasting in television and radio. Thalassemia day is observed on 8 May all over the world. On this day various activities has to be arranged and media should play a vital role here for dissemination of information and recent advancements about thalassemia. The government must also take steps to create awareness among the rural populations by involving thana health complexes and other different local organizations. Apropos, it is a matter of sorrow that no other city in Bangladesh other than Dhaka has facilities for the diagnosis of thalassemia. * Population screening: Due to huge population, it is reasonable to select a cohort for screening e. g. pregnant women. They are usually accessible to the health system and information on reproductive risk is of immediate relevance to them. Screening of close relatives of some of the affected children also is insisted. * Genetic counseling: Thalassemia carriers and parents having a thalassemic child should be facilitated with genetic counseling. It should be non directive and the counselor’s main role is to provide people at risk with full information, give them time for consideration and support them in making decisions. * Prenatal diagnosis: It is a well established procedure in developed countries. There is need for religious and legal scrutiny of prenatal diagnosis and therapeutic abortion in our society. ve

Free Essays on Battle Of Gettysburg

THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG The Battle of Gettysburg was a crucial battle that changed the outcome of the Civil War due to the decisions made by the generals of both the Union Army and the Confederate Army. The Gettysburg Address given by President Lincoln continues to remind us of the outstanding military achievements and devastating human sacrifice our country suffered due to this battle and the Civil War. Gettysburg did not turn out to be just another clichà © of battles and wars; just because you have won a battle doesn’t mean that you have won the war. Gettysburg turned out to be the largest and most important battle that signified a beginning of the end of the Confederate States of America. Orchestrated by generals and won by the brave men who spilled their blood in order to defend an idea conceived under a new nations declaration of equality and freedom (Axelrod 197). The events that led up to the bloodiest battle of the Civil War transpired in the month previous when after the death of Confederate General â€Å"Stonewall† Jackson, General Robert E. Lee Commander of the Army of Northern Virginian reorganized his army into three Army Corps under Generals Longstreet, Ewell, and A.P. Hill with a Calvary division under J.E.B. Stuarts total strength was about 75,000. The Northern Federalist consisted of about 95,000 strong under General Joseph â€Å"Fighting Joe† Hooker who commanded the Federal Army of the Potomac. General Hooker’s defect as a commanding officer became apparent when Confederate General Lee with fewer than half the men, outmaneuvered him and caused a Union retreat. On June 13th Confederate General Ewell’s corps appeared at Winchester and proceeded on the 14th and 15th to attacked the 9,000 strong Union garrison at Winchester and defeated it taking valuable war materials and inflicting heavy losses for the Union. On 25th June General Lee agreed to General Stuart’s plan to take three brigades of Calvary acro... Free Essays on Battle Of Gettysburg Free Essays on Battle Of Gettysburg THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG The Battle of Gettysburg was a crucial battle that changed the outcome of the Civil War due to the decisions made by the generals of both the Union Army and the Confederate Army. The Gettysburg Address given by President Lincoln continues to remind us of the outstanding military achievements and devastating human sacrifice our country suffered due to this battle and the Civil War. Gettysburg did not turn out to be just another clichà © of battles and wars; just because you have won a battle doesn’t mean that you have won the war. Gettysburg turned out to be the largest and most important battle that signified a beginning of the end of the Confederate States of America. Orchestrated by generals and won by the brave men who spilled their blood in order to defend an idea conceived under a new nations declaration of equality and freedom (Axelrod 197). The events that led up to the bloodiest battle of the Civil War transpired in the month previous when after the death of Confederate General â€Å"Stonewall† Jackson, General Robert E. Lee Commander of the Army of Northern Virginian reorganized his army into three Army Corps under Generals Longstreet, Ewell, and A.P. Hill with a Calvary division under J.E.B. Stuarts total strength was about 75,000. The Northern Federalist consisted of about 95,000 strong under General Joseph â€Å"Fighting Joe† Hooker who commanded the Federal Army of the Potomac. General Hooker’s defect as a commanding officer became apparent when Confederate General Lee with fewer than half the men, outmaneuvered him and caused a Union retreat. On June 13th Confederate General Ewell’s corps appeared at Winchester and proceeded on the 14th and 15th to attacked the 9,000 strong Union garrison at Winchester and defeated it taking valuable war materials and inflicting heavy losses for the Union. On 25th June General Lee agreed to General Stuart’s plan to take three brigades of Calvary acro...

Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution There has been a murder in 1950s England. Miss Emily French, a woman approaching age 60, was found dead in her house on Friday October the 14th. Her housekeeper was away that evening and Miss Emilys   only other friend, Leonard Vole, was the last person to see her alive. The murder occurred at approximately 9:30 at night. Leonard Vole insists he was at his own home at that time, however the housekeeper, Janet Mackenzie, says she heard him speaking with Miss Emily French at 9:25 when Janet briefly returned home to pick up a sewing pattern. Leonard Vole has retained the services of a solicitor, Mr. Mayhew, and barrister, Sir Wilfred Robarts, QC. Leonard Vole is an extremely likeable man with a story that could either be 1.) the most believable tale of a nice man down on his luck who made friends with an older woman or 2.) the perfect set-up for the chance to inherit close to a million pounds. When Miss Emily French’s last will and testament names Leonard as the sole beneficiary of her estate, it seems Leonard will be found guilty. Only Leonard’s wife, Romaine, has a chance of persuading the jury of Leonard’s innocence. But Romaine has a few secrets and a hidden agenda of her own and she isn’t sharing the details with anyone. Production Details Setting: Sir Wilfred Robart’s offices, English Courtroom Time: 1950s Cast Size: This play can accommodate 13 actors with numerous non-speaking small roles as the jury and courtroom attendants. Male Characters: 8 Female Characters: 5 Characters that could be played by either males or females: 0 Content Issues:  Stabbing Roles Carter is Sir Wilfred’s clerk. He is an older gentleman who prides himself on keeping good time and good order of his boss’s offices. Greta is Sir Wilfred’s typist. She is described as â€Å"adenoidal† and flighty. She is easily distracted by the people who come into the office, especially if she has read about them in the newspaper. Sir Wilfred Robarts, QC is the well-respected barrister on Leonard Vole’s case. He prides himself on reading people and their intentions perfectly the first time he meets them. He is knowledgeable and puts genuine effort into each case he tries. Mr. Mayhew is the solicitor on Leonard Vole’s case. He assists Sir Wilfred in office work and provides another pair of eyes and ears to examine the evidence and consider strategies. His knowledge and opinions are invaluable assets for the case. Leonard Vole appears to be the all-around good-natured sort of man one would enjoy befriending. He has dreams and aspirations that will not come to fruition in his current financial situation, but he is not a complainer. He has the ability to endear himself to anyone, especially to women. Romaine is Leonard’s wife. Their marriage is not technically legal, as she is still married (on paper) to a man from her native Germany. Although Leonard insists that Romaine loves him and is devoted to him, she is a difficult woman to read. She has her own agenda and is skeptical that anyone will be able to help her. Mr. Myers, QC is the prosecuting barrister. He and Sir Wilfred, who often find themselves opposite one other in court, have a contentious relationship and. Both manage to keep civil tongues and behave when they appear in front of the judge, but their mutual animosity is evident. Mr. Justice Wainwright is the judge in Leonard Vole’s case. He is fair and handles the barristers and witnesses with a firm hand. He is not above inserting his opinion or telling a story if need be. Janet Mackenzie was Miss Emily French’s housekeeper and companion for twenty years. She has an unyielding personality. She is not charmed by Leonard Vole and has a very dim opinion of him as a person. Other Smaller Roles and Non-speaking Roles Inspector Hearne Plain Clothes Detective Third Juror Second Juror Foreman of the Jury Court Usher Clerk of the Court Alderman Judge’s Clerk Court Stenographer Warder Barristers (6) Policeman Dr. Wyatt Mr. Clegg The Other Woman Production Notes Set. The two must-have sets for Witness for the Prosecution are Sir Wilfred’s office and the courtroom. For this show – no minimalistic approaches. The sets ought to be built and dressed according to resemble a formal barrister’s office and courtroom of the time period. Costumes must be period specific and of note are the traditional wigs and robes worn in British courtrooms by the barristers, judges, and solicitors. Because the time span of the play is six weeks, some actors will need several costume changes. The playwright provides a specific note on doubling up the roles actors may play in order for smaller casts to still achieve the â€Å"spectacle† of the courtroom. She offers a template for the roles that may be reduced or be cast by the using the same actor. This template is available in the script offered from Samuel French. However, Christie stresses that the same actress that plays Greta should not play the role of â€Å"The Other Woman.† Even though the two characters never appear onstage at the same time, Christie does not want the audience to think that it is part of the plot and that Greta is in fact The Other Woman. Christie goes on to offer suggestions that â€Å"local amateurs† be used to fill out the courtroom scene or even that the audience be invited to sit on the stage. Playwright Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976) is beloved and renowned mystery writer from England. She is best known for her novels and such characters as Miss Marple, Hercule Pirot, and Tommy and Tuppence. Her stories focus on mysteries and murder; where the truth is found in the details and the characters are never who they first appear to be. Her play Mousetrap claims the title of longest running play with a production history that spans over 60 years. Agatha Christie is so prolific and popular that only Shakespeare and the Bible have only outsold her works. Samuel French holds the production rights for Witness for the Prosecution.