Small Businesses Need a Website - 1294 Words

Not all small businesses take advantage of the internet for their work. My father is a small business owner whom doesn’t use a website to support his business. Small business owners such as a handyman need a website to prosper in the year 2014 in the US. Websites are necessary to support current customers, new customers, and the health of the business. My father is a handyman, former painting contractor, whom has been working on his line of work for the last 20 or so years. He truly believes his business does not need the internet to prosper in the current year. My father rarely hires co-workers, but when he does, they tend to be personal friends. My father also thinks that he has enough customers and owning a website for his business will make him too busy and become too stressful for him to handle. My father has been in business for a while and he has his own comfortable pace he has formed through years of work. He says that a website may attract more customers than he can h andle and the stress will shatter him. Not all business owners need a website because they are already comfortable in the place they are in. Although my father says he does not need a website, I am fully aware of the downtime he has during the winter season. A handyman tend to work on things such as plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, painting and plenty other things around a home. Most people do tend to not need any work done during the winter which leaves my father jobless for a while andShow MoreRelatedFederal Business Opportunities1524 Words   |  6 PagesStates government recently demonstrated and reaffirmed its commitment and endeavors of ensuring that minority-owned and small businesses have greater access to contracting opportunities from the federal government. This commitment was demonstrated by the Obama administration through the announcement of a government-wide strategy by Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke and Karen Mills, Small Business Administrator. The plan includ es federal agency procurement officials participating in over 200 events withinRead MoreA Brief Note On The Local Small Businesses876 Words   |  4 Pagesyou ever considered counting how many local small businesses are there in your community? Do you think that business would do way better if it could reach out further through a website? Fact is there are 27 million small businesses on this earth, which means there are several products and services offered, what if these small business had the potential to upscale but the local market wasn’t great enough? Some of the best ran small businesses have websites that has given the business a great deal ofRead MoreA Report Advising Isherwood s Car Company1500 Words   |  6 Pageschange future businesses over the next five years. This report included information of future technology and the impact of businesses in the next five years. Future technologies and the impact on the business Future Technology In the future, advances technology will change everyday life and businesses beyond recognition. Looking ahead to the next 5 or 10 years, there’s no question technology will continue to dramatically alter our basic understanding of how to conduct businesses, our daily lifeRead MoreInternet Marketing - Pass 5 Essay831 Words   |  4 Pagessuccess of a lot of businesses in recent years. In the following assignment I am going to explain how internet marketing has made Tesco’s business more efficient, effective and successful. Efficient; Definition; Efficiency is the comparison of what is actually produced or performed by the business with what can actually be achieved with the same consumption of resources (money, time, labour, etc.). Disintermediation; By removing the distributor or wholesaler businesses like Tesco are â€Å"cuttingRead MoreInternational Compatibility on the Web994 Words   |  4 Pageseconomically sound idea. Small firms and some specific types of companies have absolutely no need to translate their website to other regions or countries. In fact, it might even cost them more money to go through with this internationalization than they would gain from the venture in the long run. In many cases, global expansion is a wonderful thing for a company, but creating an internationally friendly website is far from a requirement for all businesses. Creating and improving a website by adding languagesRead MoreEssay On Listing1022 Words   |  5 PagesBusiness Listing websites With increasing competition, most of the businesses are preferring online route to create brand awareness and to meet their customer needs. Creating a powerful online presence starts with listing business online to high authority business listing sites. It helps in making the presence of your business online. Listing your business gives you more visibility to the business and also heightens the brand awareness of the business amongst the customers. It also assists the searchRead MoreE Commerce Is The Backbone Of Modern Global Markets861 Words   |  4 Pagesindependent business to consumer (B2C) shops with a simple website they use to sell their products. THE IMPACT OF E-COMMERCE LOCALLY As recently as just 15 years ago, the majority of small independent businesses only needed to worry about competitors locally on the other side of town. There were other methods of sale such as telephone, yet it was still time-consuming and difficult at times. Furthermore, it was difficult to get even a small business started as it required such a large initial investmentRead MoreExplore the Ups Website1502 Words   |  7 Pages1. What kind of information and services does the Web site provide for individuals, small businesses, and large businesses? List these services. The UPS website provides information and services regarding billing, shipping, tracking, and business solution for large and small businesses, and individuals. Services for Individuals are: †¢ My UPS and UPS account – This service has features such as billing information, account summary, address book, etc; and can be maintained online by the customerRead MoreResearch Paper On Latest Technology872 Words   |  4 PagesThe Latest Tech Tools Make It Easier for Businesses to Stay Competitive – Here’s How Storage, communication, finance, conferencing and ecommerce solutions make it possible for businesses to flourish and succeed. In this digital space, everyone knows how much of an impact tech tools have created on global businesses. But if there is one place that has benefited the most from tech tools is business world. With mobile apps, cloud computing, great collaboration tools, DIY accounting software, easy taskRead MoreWhat A Favorite Restaurant Or Cafe Is?1242 Words   |  5 PagesMind your Businesses When asked what a favorite restaurant or cafà © is, often the answer is a unique local business. It’s easy to embrace local character. Local businesses do more than just increase home town pride though; they play an important role in stabilizing the community’s economy. Arizona revenue structure experiences extreme variances in comparison to the national general economy. Marshall Vest, an economic research director at the University of Arizona, found that â€Å"Arizona is second only

Education Is A Fundamental System Essay - 1713 Words

Education is understood as a fundamental system, which may be important in one’s personal journey. It is considered to be beneficial because it allows us to gain baseline skills to be able to evolve and succeed in our adolescence. However, many undergo difficulties in achieving these successes due to the misfortunes of being diagnosed with a learning disability.Learning disabilities have been a controversial issue in America for as long as we know. Due to these factors, many individuals are shunned from their communities and are treated as social outcasts. In 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was brought to light in America. This insured equality in the educational needs of all children with disabilities. Despite the reform actions being stressed upon the concern for equal education for children with disabilities, this doesn’t eliminate the persistent injustices constructed by our society. The many social discriminations being imposed upon students with disabilities, regarding their education, is shaping the contrasting academic succession rates they are receiving. There are many different types of learning disabilities that exist today. Many people who misinterpret the true meaning of a learning disability (LD) disregard the obstacles these students are dealing with on a daily basis and the importance of those issues. Normally, most people don’t feel discouraged interacting with students with learning disabilities, due to the social norm indicating thatShow MoreRelatedTodays Education Has Changed Over Time1077 Words   |  5 PagesTodays education has changed in many ways over the years. From the behavior of student’s caused by different parenting skills, how teachers teach their classes as well as student’s ability to use fundamentals, media and technology all play a role in how the world of education has evolved. Robin Lawrence a thirteen year veteran teacher now a curriculum specialist at Bellaire Elemen tary has a good insight into how the educational system has changed over time. Past and present behavior have differedRead MoreTodays Education Has Changed Over Time1161 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Todays education has changed in many ways over the years. From the behavior of student’s caused by different parenting skills, how teachers teach their classes as well as students ability to use fundamentals, media and technology all play a role in how the world of education has evolved. Robin Lawrence a thirteen year veteran teacher now a curriculum specialist at Bellaire Elementary has a good insight into how the educational system has changed over time. Transition: N/A ParagraphRead MoreTodays Education Has Changed Over Time1171 Words   |  5 PagesEducation Rewind Introduction: Todays education has changed in many ways over the years. From the behavior of students caused by different parenting skills, how teachers teach their classes as well as students ability to use fundamentals, media and technology all play a roll in how the world of education has evolved. Robin Lawrence a thirteen years veteran teacher now a curriculum specialist at Bellaire Elementry has a good insight to how the educational system has changed over time. Transition:Read MoreEssay on Foundations of Education1649 Words   |  7 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Among the significant figures in the history of the American Educational System, few have had as much ideological and practical influence as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Horace Mann, John Dewy, and Johann Pestolazzi. Each altered the course of American education to a degree that the developments made during and after the lifetimes of each of these figures are practically manifested in today’s educational environment. In some cases, as with Franklin, much ofRead MoreMusic Education And Its Impact On Education Essay1500 Words   |  6 PagesAs you can see, music and dance are very influential in the culture of Brazil. Therefore, music education is also important in the lives of the Brazilian people. Children are exposed to music from an early age through family and community. Unfortunately, music education is not highly regarded in the school system. The amount of music education differs greatly by school and teachers. Most public schools do not have a special music teacher or department. In order to be well educated in music a studentRead MoreThe Right Of Education Act ( Rte ) Essay1471 Words   |  6 PagesRight to Education Act (RTE) came into action on 1st April, 2010 has made free and compulsory education a fundamental right of every child in the 6 to 14 age group. Now our India has joined the group of those countries who provide for a constitutional right to free and compulsory education to its children. The RTE Act mandates that â€Å"every child of the age of six to fourteen years shall have a right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education.† AsRead MoreA Brief History of Education in Norway1464 Words   |  6 Pageswhen it comes to education regardless of their social status, gender, and special needs (Education in Norway 5). Knowing how the education in Norway develop ed is a great way to get a sense of how this phenomenon of personal investment relates to the benefits and disadvantages that society has had in this particular time. During the mid 1700s, Norway had only a few people that were able to read and write, but most were illiterate. Because of the Church, Norway passed its Education Act in 1739, whichRead MoreImproving School Education System Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagesreap the benefits. Free education is one major benefit that not many other countries provide for their citizens. While it is only a privilege to many, but in the States, people have the right to be educated. However, free education cannot be translated to success for all. For those motivated ones who cherish the privilege to be educated are those who climb up the success ladders later in life. For a certain majority of students in the States, our current educational system may not seem to serveRead MoreThe Right to Education Essay577 Words   |  3 PagesEducation is a elemental human right and essential for all other human rights. It is a powerful tool by which socially and economically marginalized children and adults can lift themselves out of poverty. It also consists of the right to freedom of education. Freedom of education is the right given to human beings to have access to the education of their preference without any constrictions. Right to education is a human right recognized by the United Nations. It includes the entire compulsion toRead MoreThe Gender Conflict in School Essay800 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout history, education has taken the face of men. Specifically, our existence has been ruled, quite dominantly, by men. Males have ruled as kings, conquered continents, and killed the meat necessary for our survival. Women, on the other hand, have performed the cleaning, cooking, and sewing; only recently, in the past 100 years, have women gained equal academic rights as men and have become incorporated in our education systems. This shift in the perspective of women has benefitted not only

Marketing Research Report for Canadian Energy Drink Free Essays

string(84) " promotions are done to build a relationship of the brand with the target customer\." Marketing Research Report Good4U Drinks co. Exporting Beaver Buzz Product Line to India Prepared for ¬: Richard Debanks, Director of Marketing, GOOD4USports Nutrition 15621 Marine Drive White Rock, British Columbia V4B 1E1Canada Email:rdebanks@gd4u. com Prepared by: Hot Point Marketing DepeshMohindra, Ankush Sharma, Gautam Sharma CONTENTS 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Research Report for Canadian Energy Drink or any similar topic only for you Order Now Richard Debanks Hot Point Marketing Director of Marketing 80 Rouge River Drive GOOD4USports Nutrition Toronto, Ontario 15621 Marine Drive, White rock, Canada British Columbia , Canada M1B 6K3 V4B 1E1 Dear Mr. Richard Debanks, Hot Point Marketing is a team of Marketing Management students at Centennial College who are determined to achieve and succeed. Our team boasts a diverse background in experience. With our collective skills we seek to provide GOOD4UDrinks co. with the opportunity to launch their product line of Beaver Buzz energy drinks in India. Attached is a copy of our marketing research report which explains how we have evaluated the business opportunities for the company in India and also the methodologies and sources we have used.. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance and thank you for taking the time to read our report . We are indebted to you for helping us apply our knowledge and skills. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours Respectfully, Depesh Mohindra Director of Hot Point Marketing? EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The market of energy drinks in India has witnessed an increase of about 50% from 2006-2011 crossing the Rs 600 crore ($109 million CAD) in 2011. Beaver Buzz Canada as a new entrant in the energy drink market can gain a significant market share in the market due to its unique flavours and product line of energy drinks. The market is dominated by Red Bull, and other energy drinks brand like Monster, Cloud9, Full throttle and XXX. This research report explains in detail the business opportunity for Beaver Buzz Canada in the Indian energy drink market. and also explains how the product should be marketed in order to gain a significant market share and increase the sales volume. It contains information on present market situation, marketing objectives of the product and also the marketing actions to be taken to achieve the marketing objectives. The document also explains about the various methodologies used to conduct the research and how data was interpreted from the various sources. ? INTRODUCTION (Beaver Buzz Canada) Good4u Drinks co. was established in 2001 in Vancouver, British Columbia by Andrew Drayson and Richard DeBanks (nutrition). They are known for making sports nutrition drinks which include drinks for endurance, recovery, calorie burning and relaxation and also Beaver Buzz product line of energy drinks (overview). Beaver Buzz was created by Good4u Drinks co. in 2005 as a purely Canadian energy drink that Canadians will be extremely pleased to call as their own. Beaver Buzz became an instant hit after its launch in the Canadian market to such an extent that the Americans also started to demand for their product, so the company started selling the product via internet to the Americans initially and the company launched the product line later on in August 2009 in the United States (Buzz B. ). The Buzz Beaver product line is also available in the UK by the name of Bulldog Buzz (Buzz W. t. ). Buzz Beaver is devoted to efficiency in all its efforts, from the tiniest details, to the greatest venture. Above all, the company is devoted to provide the customers with the best beverages on the planet. Buzz B. ) BUSINESS OPPURTUNITY (Energy drink market in India) Energy drinks contain legal stimulants, vitamins and minerals, including caffeine, guarana and taurine, various types of ginseng, malt dextrin, carnitine, creatine monohydrate and ginkgo biloba. Some contain high levels of glucose and glucose. This category typically included caffeinated drinks which are used for boosting energy. Currently the market of energy drinks in India is lead by two major firms namely Red Bull and Cloud 9. Beaver Buzz can break the ice in this market by introducing its unique energy drink line of products. Flavours Saskatoon Berry, Black current, Citrus, Core energy, Green tea and pink grapefruit can make the brand famous in the country as they are new. Also their energy shot version which is a small black bottle of 60 ml can help them capture a significant market share (Buzz B. ). According to marketing research company Datamonitor Plc, the market for energy drinks in India was estimated at Rs 600 crore($109 million CAD) in the year 2011, still at a young age when compared to carbonated beverages, which was valued at Rs 7000 crore($1. 27 billion CAD). Between 2006 and 2011, the market of energy drinks in India has grown constantly at a rate of 50%. Contrary to that the growth of carbonated drinks experienced a decrease by 0. 5% during the same period. With an increase in number of modern retail stores the energy drinks market is expected to reach Rs 1100 crores ($197 million CAD) by the end of 2012. This decrease in the market of carbonated drinks and a high rate of growth in the energy drink market can be linked to the change in perception of the Indian youth towards carbonated drinks. The industry foresees a huge potential for energy drinks. The segment of energy drinks is one of the fastest growing segment in the ready to drink category, reason being the youth centric population of India and also growing number of urban areas. The energy drink market till a year back was dominated by Red Bull and Cloud9. Sales started to pick up with the entry of recognized players such as Pepsi, Amway and the latest entry of Coca Cola and GTT proves the market potential of the energy drink industry in India. The market players in this category are adopting different styles of unique marketing strategies like distributing free samples at schools and colleges before launching their products. They also sponsor big events like sporting events and fashion shows to attract youth. These promotions are done to build a relationship of the brand with the target customer. You read "Marketing Research Report for Canadian Energy Drink" in category "Essay examples" This is a part of marketing communication strategy. The major brands in the energy drink market are Red bull, SJ XXX, Burn, Sobe, Power Horse, Amway and Rock star. The market share for the following brands is determined by the following pie chart. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Demand trends in the energy drink market (Consumer Behaviour) It has been observed that most of the energy drink users in India drink it because of the energy it provides. Basically a majority of students consume energy drinks because it gives them energy and due to the high concentration of caffeine in the energy drinks it allows them to stay up all night and because of this they are able to study better. They are motivated by the self esteem and stats that good grades provide them with. The students are sensitive to the price of the energy drinks as the energy drinks are priced higher when compared to carbonated beverages, if the energy drinks were priced lower the consumption of the students is bound to increase. There are also certain types of energy drink consumers in the country who believe that energy drinks are superior to carbonated beverages and therefore they should be sold at a premium price. These people also believe that by drinking premium priced energy drinks they can impress others as not everyone can afford these products on regular basis. So, these people look towards maintaining a status by consuming energy drinks. There are some other important customers of the target segment also like people who like to party hard and stay awake all night. They tend to use energy drinks because they want to stay awake throughout the night. They consider waking up for the whole night very important as they want to enjoy with their friends. It’s the sense of belongingness to the group that these type of consumers value. They are not sensitive to the price of the product as they do not use the product very frequently; they use it only for the purpose of staying awake throughout the night, so price of the product does not matter to them. One of the most interesting group of consumers has been those who have started using energy drinks as a substitute for alcohol. This is because they are not comfortable consuming alcohol anymore. These consumers feel that it is difficult not consuming anything or consuming carbonated beverages in front of people who are consuming alcohol. Segmentation of the target market The map below shows various factors taken into consideration while doing segmentation Based on the above factors the following three segments were identified College students- The age of the college students range from the ones who are teenagers to those who are post graduates. This segment sees a variety of constituent individuals like energy, power of purchasing, preferences, shifting attitude towards alcoholic beverages. These types of people have adopted snacks as alternative to regular meals because of the tight schedule that they have. Energy drinks are viewed as something above carbonated beverages but not alcohol, hence a tradition among this group. Moreover, because they have to study late at nights, energy drinks are becoming popular among them (India`s youth). Working Professionals- These people represent the young working population of India. These people are mainly the employees of MNCs and BPOs. They consume energy drinks when they go to pubs and bars on weekends to relax after a long week of work. They also consume energy drinks when they are working on certain occasions like when they are suffering from stress and fatigue. An energy drink at this time works as a energy booster for them and hence becomes an obvious choice for them (India`s youth). Socialites/Party Animals- These are the people who par regular visit to pubs, parties and discotheques. Therefore, energy drink consumption is normal for these people. Moreover, energy drink act as an alternative to alcoholic beverages for these king of people. Also, they are in a habit of mixing energy drinks with alcohol to serve their purpose (India`s youth). Evaluation of major brands Red Bull Energy Drink Red Bull is only functional in the energy drink segment of the beverages market. The product is an example of functional drink. The functional foods are those kinds of food that respond to consumer preferences in terms of well-being and performance. Some of the major multinational soft drink companies are trying to enter this segment of functional drinks in the country because the traditional market of soft drinks is approaching a maturity stage and the rate of growth is minimal. For these multinationals, new functional drinks offer opportunities for a new business growth. Red Bull- Positioning General positioning strategy The brand is positioned as something that energizes body and mind. It was also intended that Red Bull be drunk whenever consumers needed a lift, whether it was morning, noon or night. This broader type of positioning was developed to increase growth into a variety of market segments. Their advertising strategy didn’t specify any particular consumption occasions, which further helped them to elastically position themselves in the market. Pricing strategy Red Bull set the price of it product at least 10% higher than any of its competitors in the segment. This means they used product philosophy to position themselves into the market. The 250ml can of Red Bull is 300% more expensive than the traditional soft drinks in terms of per ounce. Market Share The brand has managed to maintain at least 60% of the market share in this category since its launch. XXX Energy Drink This Brand currently comes in two different forms namely – REJUVE and NICOFIX. NICOFIX contains NPR which is used to reduce the nicotine urge. This is useful for people who are trying to leave cigarettes. REJUVE is a new type of energy drink which is specially designed to suite Indian taste buds. It is made to energize the mind and the body and also to enhance the immunity system of the body, in turn, increasing the stamina of the body. Its 250 ml bottle I priced at Rs 75. Monster Energy Drink It is depicted by a logo of three claws; it is distributed by Hansen Natural Corporation, Corona California. It includes ingredients like guarana, caffeine and glucose and is designed to artificially stimulate energy in the body. Although it is not widely advertised in the media still it receives a large amount of recognition from the sponsorships that it provides to the various sporting events around the country. METHODOLOGY Data collection from secondary resources A significant number of secondary resources were available about the energy drink segment were available on the internet. We have also taken references from the various marketing research reports on the energy drink industry to evaluate the most essential features required to formulate the plan of action. This provides us with a basic knowledge of the features that play a significant role in the selection of an energy drink. Data collection from primary resources Data collection from primary resources can be done by interviewing various segments of people in depth to know the criteria to select an energy drink. We can use an online spread sheet to interview various people of various demographic profiles. Our objective of the exploratory research is to find the questions that need to be included in the questionnaire for descriptive research. Descriptive Research We have prepared a comprehensive questionnaire using the inputs of exploratory research. The soft copies of the surveys can be mailed various sections of the people. Also hard copies can be distributed to people who do not have email ids. The questionnaire was prepared for collecting primary source of data for the research. The questions were designed to do a study of marketing mix, segmentation and target market. The questions can help us to know their perceptions and awareness about energy drinks. DATA ANALYSIS The secondary data taken from the internet was mostly used to conduct this research report. This data was used as the required funding for the primary data collection methods was not available. But still we have mentioned about the method in the methodology that we will use if funding was available for primary data collection. The data used for the research was derived from various marketing research reports found on the internet. and also some government sites on which we searched about business implications. The results found on the internet were analysed and cross referenced and then only they were included in the research. BUSINESS IMPLICATIONS Legal and political factors: In India, under PFA act 1954 no standards are there for energy drinks. Under the PFA rules 1955 the max limit of caffeine were reduced to 145ppm from 200ppm on recommendation by central committee on food standards. For inspection food safety and standard authority established a proficient team to gather scientific literature and global positioning on usage of non carbonated and caffeine beverages and labelling and acclaim the limit under food regulations of caffeine in energy drinks. The team was supposed to recommend if there were any risk for using the energy drinks. The report determines that there was only addictive property in the chemical used but not in the caffeine. Caffeinated drinks up to 200 ppm are added as a flavouring agent but above 200 ppm it is an efficient component. The performance of caffeine at 320 ppm needs to be determined long with justified reason for solving a cut-off restricts at 320ppm. Economic Factors: Economic factor influences the power of purchasing of promising customer and cost of capital of a firm. In macro-economic the examples of factors are as follows: exchange rates, inflation rate, interest rates, economic growth. The last reported inflation rate in Indi a in June 2010 was 13. 73 percent. The economic system is not much designed and extensive variations among declares and areas within declares are there due to which we might have to create distinguished promotional strategies. Social-cultural factors: The Indians are conscious about health and wants to be away from diseases of heart and digestive system, obesity, bone, pain in joints, anxiety and depression, lack of stamina and sleeplessness, etc. Indian consumers are more concerned about ingredients and health benefits; to make product choice Indians confirms the nutritional information. Therefore health claims are demanded for food and beverages. Technological Factors: The technological factors can lower limitations to access, reduce the minimum effective development levels and impact freelancing decisions. Technological factors comprehend: R and D activity, rate of technology change, technology incentives automation. CONCLUSION To conclude this proposal our team Hot Point Marketing would like to say that the energy drink market in India is worth$109 million dollars and there are only 4 major brands in the whole country so there is large scope for Brands like Beaver Buzz who have differentiated themselves from brands like red bull in Canada and still generate a gross income of around 600, 000 dollars a month, which means they are capable of doing the same in India. So, it will be beneficial for Beaver Buzz Canada to launch its product line of Beaver Buzz energy drinks in India as the Indian energy drink market is growing at a rate of 40% every year and red bull owns 70% of the market share. Works Cited Buzz, B. (n. d. ). Beaver Buzz Energy. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www. beaverbuzz. com/about-beaverbuzz. htm Buzz, W. t. (n. d. ). Bulldog Buzz. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www. bulldogbuzz. co. uk/ Health, P. (n. d. ). Public health. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www. publichealthgreybruce. on. ca/home/publications/Board/BOH_Resolutions/2011/GBHU%20BOH%20Motion%202011-16,%20Energy%20Drinks. pdf India`s youth. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 30, 2012, from financialexpress: http://www. financialexpress. com/news/twothird-of-indias-youth-find-drinking-unacceptable/484312 nutrition, G. s. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www. gd4u. com/aboutus. htm overview, P. (n. d. ). Retrieved november 11, 2012, from http://www. gd4u. com/products. htm How to cite Marketing Research Report for Canadian Energy Drink, Essays

Maine’s Commercial Lobster Industry Essay Example For Students

Maine’s Commercial Lobster Industry Essay Scientists predict a major population crash of Maine lobsters in the near future, due to over-harvesting, increasing demand, and a lack of successful regulatory measures reflecting such factors. The attempt to introduce various policy measures creating more limited access to the resource has been largely ineffective due to the unique ecological, economic, and social characteristics of the state. Further complicating the issue is the matter of thriving lobster populations during recent years when other marine wildlife populations are experiencing severe losses along the same region of the eastern seaboard. This paper examines the conflict between lobster fishermen, scientists, and policy makers regarding attempts to work toward a more sustainable lobster fishing industry. Introduction The issue of Maine lobster fishing is an ideal case illustrating the challenge of the tragedy of the commons, since the lobsters belong to no one until caught. They have been harvested commercially in New England (the birthplace of the nation’s fisheries) since the 1800’s. At that time, they were so plentiful they could be caught by hand or, with less hazard (because the average lobster was so large), with a gaff, a pole with a large hook stuck in the end (Formisano, 13). Since the early 19th century, the industry adopted more efficient techniques (such as the use of lobster pots, or traps, and boats that could carry lobsters over longer distances) to capture more lobsters faster. This led to a significant population decline by the late 1800’s, prompting the first lobster regulation (prohibiting the harvesting of egg-bearing females). Lobster populations remained relatively stable through the mid-1900’s, and for reasons not quite understood by researchers, lobster populations seem to have increased over the last 30 years. Technology has improved so lobstermen now harvest even larger numbers of lobster through the use of hydraulic lifts, and radar technology. At the same time, more lobster fishermen have entered the industry, and the overall demand for Maine lobster has increased. According to The Lobster Conservation Society website, The lobster fishery is the most valuable fishery on the Atlantic coast of both the U.S. and Canada. Curre ntly, Maine provides at least 50% of the yearly U.S. lobster supply, a $107 million industry. Recently, there have been both state and federal government attempts to avert potential disaster by introducing various regulations to sustain the fishery. However, lobster fishermen mostly disagree with the scientists, and indicate government interaction is neither welcome, nor needed. Even if lobstermen did agree, they still have an incentive to harvest as much of this common-property resource as possible before someone else does. The lack of effective policy regarding the lobster fishery could potentially lead to the commercial extinction of lobsters, having serious economic and social consequences for Maine lobster fishermen. Point of View: Fishing Industry Insiders Even with unpleasant, and dangerous working conditions, traditional lobstermen welcome their way of life. Boats and (informal) territories are often handed down from generation to generation. The Maine Lobster Promotion Council website states †¦most lobster harvesters agree they would choose no other career. The call of the Maine coast is simply too strong. For the typical lobster harvester, lobstering is not about a profit margin so much as it is about the preservation of family, a tradition, independence, or even a town. The lobstermen have long recognized that the survival of their livelihood depends on sound resource management. For this reason, they have been instrumental in the development of (and mostly eager to comply with) state regulations requiring:  · That egg-bearing females be marked with a V-notch on the tail and returned;  · That lobsters meet minimum/maximum size requirements (to allow lobsters to reach mature age, and provide strong breeding stock); and,  · Dragging for lobster by trawling (dragging nets along the bottom) is illegal (in state waters, 3 miles from shore, where most lobsters are harvested). Lobstermen must use traps that have to be hauled in one at a time by the harvester, as they have less impact on the ocean floor environment. The entire industry must operate with a level of trust, and usually it works well. There is a powerful and tangible sense of community among the Maine lobster industry. They ferociously protect their own natural resource, and do not tolerate those who operate outside an unspoken code of ethics. (Maine Lobster Promotion Council website). Two recent developments in fishing industry have greatly impacted Maine’s lobster industry. 1. The collapse of commercially profitable fish (such as cod) has resulted in total bans, or extreme limits on the types and amount of fish caught in the U.S. and Canada. Fishermen often try to avoid a total loss on their assets, and often shift to lobster fishing. This has been an especially attractive option for fishermen since lobster populations seem to be thriving, and there is high demand for them. 2. A mysterious disease killing lobsters in Long Island Sound has meant there is now increased demand in other areas. New York is considered the third largest provider of lobsters behind Maine and Massachusetts. Catcher In The Rye Symbolism EssayAs the GAO findings indicated, one serious flaw of the buy-back program was the lack of forethought regarding new fishing entrants, or participants who might simply switch to a new type of fishing (lobster). The program has potential to become successful, but further incentives must be provided in the form of counselling, job training, and penalties for re-entry. This is a very expensive option that is subsidized by taxpayers across the nation, for a small number of people, and would probably find little support in the general public. Aquaculture is another one possible option that should be seriously considered by fishermen and policymakers in Maine. Until now, it has been largely limited to fresh water fish in high demand such as catfish, tilapia, and Atlantic salmon. It is not likely to be a feasible option to raise lobster this way, due to their migratory, bottom dwelling nature (and since little is known about these habits anyway). However, encouraging fishermen who might otherwise shift to lobstering to choose this option instead (with alternative fish) would certainly relieve some of the current and expected future burden on the industry. Maine officials could also tighten permit procedures to limit, or temporarily halt, new entrants until better policy can be developed. Researchers and policy makers might try to work more closely with lobster fishermen. A participatory approach to policy making will help lobstermen understand that both researchers and policy makers are working on their behalf. By working with the lobstermen, policy makers and researchers also gain a better understanding of what the direct and indirect effects their decisions will have on them. Building trust among the lobstermen is imperative for successful policy making. Conclusion Recent phenomena such as the demand for low-fat protein, and widely publicized occurrences of foot-and-mouth and mad cow diseases will likely lead to an increased demand of alternative protein sources that can be found in seafood. This will only place further pressure on the fishing industries to meet demand, thus further incentive for new entrants, and increased pressure for various government institutions to take action. Without proper forethought, the overfishing will occur, and commercial fishermen (including lobster fishermen) will continue the pattern, once again shifting to the next species. Future policy initiatives regarding this issue should be developed from a multidisciplinary study of matters that consider (not limited to) state, national, and international politics, scientific data, economical incentives, environmental issues, and local culture. Compromises will have to be made, and no matter what, there will be losers. Hopefully, steps will be taken to prevent the lobster from becoming the loser, and with it, a culture that has become a symbol for the State of Maine. Resources Arnold, David. Fishermen: Georges Bank Closure to Bring Overcrowding Elsewhere. The Boston Globe 9 Dec. 1994: 40 Bell, Frederick W. Technological Externalities and Common Property Resources: An Empirical Study of the U.S. Northern Lobster Fishery. The Journal of Political Economy 80.1 (Jan./Feb. 1972): 148-158. Bombardieri, Marcella. Lobster Shift Popular Crustaceans are Maine Biologist’s Lifework. The Boston Globe 10 Aug. 2000: B1 Daley, Beth. Abundance of Lobsters Baffles Biologists. The Boston Globe 29 Nov. 2000: A1. Daly, Christopher B. Fishermen Beached as Harvest Dries Up; Rules Imposed to Let Atlantic Restock Itself. The Washington Post 31 Mar. 1994: A3\ Ellis, Sam. Deep Affection: Nouveau Riche Hooked on Hardy Lobster Boats. The Boston Globe 30 July 2000: A1 Formisano, Ron. The Great Lobster War. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 1997. Fritz, Mark. New Mesh of Rules Seeks to Cut Appetite for Fishing. The Los Angeles Times 11 June 1998: 1 Higgins, A.J. Fishermen, Caught in Economic Trap, Accept Risks. The Boston Globe 19 Nov. 2000: F18 Higgins, Margot. Severe Lobster Decline Forecast for New England. Environmental News Network, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News 25 Jan. 2001 Johnson, Ronald N., and Gary D. Libecap. Contracting Problems and Regulation; The Case of the Fishery. The American Economic Review 72:5 (Dec. 1992) 1005-1022. Langer, Paul. U.S. to Buy Out Some Fishermen to Reduce Number of Boats. The Boston Globe 4 Mar. 1995: 14 Larabee, John, and Richard Price. Tide of Troubles has Fish Industry Reeling/ Crisis Caused by Pollution, Development, Over-Fishing. USA Today 10 Mar. 1994: 9A Libby, Sam. Trying to Save the Lobster Population. The New York Times 23 Jan. 1994: 6 McQuaid, John. Seafood for Thought. The Times-Picayune 24 Mar. 1996: A38 Nifong, Christina. Plan for Preserving Lobster Population Stirs Storm in Maine. 5 June 1996: 4 Schneider, Jan. The Gulf of Maine Case: The Nature of an Equitable Result. American Journal of International Law 79:3 (July 1985): 539-577. U.S. General Accounting Office. Commercial Fisheries: Entry of Fishermen Limits Benefits of Buyback Programs. Washington: Government Printing Office, 2000. Woodard, Colin. A Run on the Banks: How Factory Fishing Decimated Newfoundland Cod. E Magazine Mar/Apr 2001: