Representations of Gigantism in Art and Architecture Essay

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Individual Statement - Essay Example I had the incredible chance to work at Glorysky Group and Macau Natural Gas, the two of which have given me concentrated preparing just as a significant chance to execute my aptitudes and information from my investigations. I led examine in the worldwide vitality advertise and gathered normal reports with respect to vitality value variance, which I introduced to the group’s official administrators. My examination has furnished my boss with valid data about different themes, running from value instability to foreseen benefits because of variances in worldwide LNG request. Moreover, I was engaged with the arrangement of hazard supporting methodologies to Macau Natural Gas, for the most part on loan costs and trade rates, which are the company’s significant concern. My examination and technique has contributed highly to future financing plans, just as to finding the best market openings. These encounters contribute significantly to my exploration proposition. Moreover, to find out skill in this field, which lies outside my financial aspects educational program, I have tried to increase some extra capabilities progressively pertinent to the field of hazard the executives. For this reason, I examined and passed the Professional Risk Manager (PRMTM ) assignment. To improve aptitudes on the equivalent, I have contemplated and passed the Chartered Financial Analysis Program (CFA), level 1 and the Financial Risk Manager Program (FRM), level 1. These outside examinations are accomplishments that recognize me from different up-and-comers; since a lot of additional time and exertion has been put resources into social affair scholarly information just as work understanding. At first, picking my focal point of research among horticulture and vitality introduced a serious test for me, since these are right now the two most approaching shortage issues concerning financial analysts. I have affirmed, be that as it may, that my advantage is significantly one-sided t owards vitality as opposed to the other option, as I found in the wake of venturing to the far corners of the planet. Moreover, â€Å"Oil on the Brain† by Lisa Margonelli was a genuine motivation for me. She demonstrated that contemplating a subject is past the extent of just perusing content from books and that individual experience is similarly significant. Luckily, I have companions and family members dispersed in different businesses over the globe, and subsequently, I had the option to increase remarkable access to limited mining destinations to investigate the energizing scenes. Specifically, Lisa Margonelli referenced a portion of the scenes in her books; locates that could get anybody stunned and totally dependent. My outing to Alberta a year ago was just the beginning of my excursion. The joint endeavor of Macau Natural Gas and Sinopec will allow me boundless access to different vitality plant locales in Asia, especially Mainland China, which will subsequently be my arrangement during the current year. Moreover, I accept that I have fathomed my shortcoming unequivocally, which makes my movement to graduate examinations fundamental. My significant strategies for estimating value expectations are through econometrics and numerical demonstrating, while at the same time utilizing explicit projects, making it constrained at this point productive. MSc Economics was likewise fundamental to strengthen my econometrics displaying. Moreover, having a superior comprehension in macroeconomics gave me a greater image of the world economy and with refined quantitative abilities. A MSc in Finance then again furnished me with the better

Reflective Learning Essay Samples - Your Guide

Reflective Learning Essay Samples - Your GuideThe reflective learning essay sample is a common format that is being used in order to show how you can convey your ideas in a simple and effective way. This kind of essay is one of the most popular today because it is very effective in communicating your thoughts and ideas to the reader.To make a reflective learning essay, you need to follow the steps mentioned below. You can also use some other interesting and innovative ideas, but they will only be helpful if you do this in a proper manner. Following these steps will help you write a reflection that is not only a reflection of yourself but also one that is free from the emotions and moods that might hinder the flow of the essay.The first step is to get the right pace for writing the essay. This means that you need to slow down when you have something to say and speed up when you have more time to think. Be mindful that writing this kind of essay must be something that you enjoy doing. It must also be something that you feel confident doing. If you are stressed, you won't be able to write a good reflection.The next step is to come up with the title for your reflective learning essay. Make sure that it fits the tone of the content. Choosing a catchy title can help the reader to keep reading without slowing down the flow of the essay.The content is also an important part of the essay. This means that you need to choose topics that are relevant to the topic. Some topics might be too general and it might not fit with the content. When it comes to writing a reflective learning essay, this is one of the main things that you need to remember.When it comes to writing a reflective learning essay, you need to give attention to details. Always write down all the important parts of the subject in a chronological order. And always go through it once again and then add details. Do not be afraid to add lots of details, especially if you have something in mind. Writing a reflecti on must be a long process so don't put it off just because you don't know the details about it.Finally, the final step that you need to remember is to express your creative expression. Make sure that you are writing on topics that you feel comfortable with. By this, you will be able to express yourself without hesitations and doubts. Write down what you want to write down. This will make it easier for you to express your thoughts and ideas.As you can see, the reflective learning essay samples are very simple. They need a little bit of effort and some practice but it will surely pay off. Follow these steps and you will be able to create an excellent reflection.

Dropping the Atomic Bomb Was It Necessary - 1723 Words

Dropping the Atomic Bomb: Was it really necessary? In 1945, the United States with help from Canada, released a new force into unsuspecting Japan which shocked the world. It was the weapon the Manhattan project spent months working on while spending approximately $20 billion. It used up to 12% of America’s electricity during the war even though many people did not know what they were working on. It was a weapon so powerful that many heads of this project feared it would go terribly wrong. It would save many lives and end many others. It was the atomic bomb. This weapon of mass destruction was used on two Japanese cities during World War 2 though it was very controversial. However, with further review, it was completely necessary to drop†¦show more content†¦Without the demonstration of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Truman’s statement would not have been taking as seriously as it was. This would help stop war for the next few decades as no one except the Soviet Union would reach this level of technology for the next few years. Not only did the bomb reduce the casualties in Japan, it also helped intimidate Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union by showing him their military might. When Japan would be defeated, the United States would use the bombs to make sure Soviet Union did not attack them right after. Gertrud Szilard, a head of the Manhattan Project, said according to James Byrnes, secretary of state at that time, â€Å"[he thought] Russia might be more manageable if impressed by American military might† (pg 184). He wanted to tame this so called giant and a demonstration of these bombs was the only way to do that. The Soviet Union was the one of the strongest powers at that time alongside America and it had to be dealt with eventually as the Soviet Union wanted a world filled with communism. This was the opposite of the United States dream of democracy so these two â€Å"super powers† as they were called, would have to clash. The fear created by the atomic bomb would also save many li ves because a war with Russia would end many lives for the United States as well as Canada, since Canada would join and help America. Canada is alsoShow MoreRelatedTruman and Atomic Bombs649 Words   |  3 Pagesthen write an editorial on Harry S Truman’s decision to order the dropping of the atom bomb. HARRY S TRUMAN amp; THE DECISION TO ORDER THE DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB Boom! Boom! Seventy thousands Japanese citizens were perished instantly after the first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Japanese still refused to surrender to Allied forces. On August 9, 1945, with the dropping of the second atomic bomb in Nagasaki, where eighty thousands people were vaporized, JapaneseRead MoreWhy Truman Chose to Drop the Atomic Bomb895 Words   |  4 PagesAmericas decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan was only done to assert our position over the Soviet Union, and Japans surrender was only an extra accomplishment of the attack. During the years 1939 to 1947, numerous conferences were held to discuss diplomatic matters, and the strive towards getting Japan to accept an unconditional surrender. The Japanese had already been weakened, and the military predicted that they would eventually be forced to surrender in a short amount of time. Even theRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb Is Not A Military Necessity1210 Words   |  5 Pagesrevered American generals, Leahy, Macarthur, and Eisenhower, stated the dropping of the atomic bomb â€Å"was not a military necessity.† Japan was already struggling greatly to maintain itself, and they felt that it would fall soon. Leahy even went as far as to say that a continuation of the blockade of Japan and bombings would have been enough to bring Japan to its knees. These generals acknowledged the efficiency of the atomic bomb, but could not reconcile that efficiency to the devastating consequencesRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb : Right Or Wrong1642 Words   |  7 PagesDr. Shedd 11/10/15 Word Count: 1517 The Atomic Bomb: Right or Wrong On August 6th, 1945 the very first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A second atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki a few days later. This was the largest attack a country had ever seen before and there were many different views on whether the bombs were necessary or not. Like any conflict, there were groups that were against dropping the bomb such as the Wall Street Journal and groupsRead MoreAtomic Bomb Necessary Essay912 Words   |  4 PagesThe Atomic Bomb – Was It Necessary? â€Å"In 1957, with the arms race in full swing, the Department of Defense had decided it was just a matter of time before an airplane transporting an atomic bomb would crash on American soil, unleashing a radioactive disaster the likes of which the world had never seem.† On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, killing 20,000 soldiers and 70,000 – 126,000 civilians. On August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killingRead MoreThe Atomic Bombs910 Words   |  4 Pagesthe 20th century, specifically the year 1945, the United States of America had two atomic bombs that the commander and chief, and president at the time, Harry Truman, knew about. President Truman plan was to drop the bombs on two of Japans cities, Hiroshima first and then Nagasaki. Truman’s plans went accordingly, which to this day leads to a very controversial topic on whether or not dropping the atomic bombs was a good or bad thing. There is eviden ce and reasoning to back up both claims, in whichRead MoreThe Atomic Bombs in Japan1373 Words   |  6 PagesOn August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima without any precedent. The explosion viciously destroyed four square miles of the city and killed 90,000 and injured 40,000. (Weber, â€Å"Was Hiroshima Necessary?†) Three days later, a second atomic bomb stroked the city of Nagasaki which killed approximately 37,000 people and injured 43,000 (Weber, â€Å"Was Hiroshima Necessary?†). These actions of the United States still remain controversial today and the UnitedRead MoreHarry S. Truman For Defeating Japan s Barbaric Regime And Ending The Bloodiest War1641 Words   |  7 Pageswhen Harry S. Truman was forced to decide whether or not to drop the atomic bombs on Japan, the moral choice was clear: dropping the bombs was the most viable option available that would end World War II, minimize casualties on both sides of the war, and ensure American victory. Every other option available to Truman would have resulted in a much greater loss for the people of both Japan and the United States. While dropping atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was undeniably an atrocityRead MoreThe Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesThe dropping of the atomic bomb was used to save American lives; the most common excuse as to why President Harry Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. In Major Problems in the History of World War II it has been discussed in the chapter The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II that former President Truman recalled how he learned about the atomic bomb project as well as the public opinion on the Atomic Bomb. I believe that the solution that Truman gave when dropping the Atomic BombRead MoreNecessity of Dropping the Atomic Bomb to End World War II635 Words   |  3 Pagesthat the atomic bomb was necessary to force the Japanese army t o finally surrender and avoid a costly and heavy casualty war with Japan. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. Three days after the initial bombing, another nuclear weapon was dropped on Nagasaki, a main Japanese city. President Truman and Professor Maddox both had the same belief that these bombs were crucial to Japan surrendering in the war. Maddox mentions that Japan was a beaten

Climate Change Is The Single Greatest Threat Facing Our...

[Abstract: Climate change is the single greatest threat facing our planet. Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic Party nomination seekers in the US presidential election 2016, repeatedly urges in his campaign: ‘climate change is real, it is caused by human activity, and it is already causing devastating harm here in the United States and to people all around the world.’ Nonetheless but humans are liable to climate change, and are also affected by it with others. This article will focus on our collective and individual moral obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as our moral obligations to climate change affected poorer countries in order to argue that we have a moral obligation as a whole. The United States, the wealthiest country in the world, contributes far more than its share of greenhouse gases. It is now clear that these emissions have caused serious risks to the world as a whole, particularly the poorest nations. In response to the question ‘Do es an US individual has a moral obligation to impose reasonable curbs on its future greenhouse gas emissions?’ Armstrong and Johnson have advanced a novel and sophisticated argument for the right of individuals to remain stable in their personal emissions. We believe that the general shape of their position is attractive since it (i) grants the individual the right to emit without suggesting that any and all restrictions are permissible; (ii) distinguishes between the relative strength of collective moralShow MoreRelatedClimate Change Is A Multi Dimensional Phenomena Essay1655 Words   |  7 Pagesday to make people’s lives easier, there’s one thing that people tend to forget about: climate change. While many people perceive climate change as simply a â€Å"global† issue, a lot of countries ignore their responsibilities to tackle this fatal crisis. There are quite a number of factors working directly and indirectly behind the ways various countries have different policies in facing this issue, as climate change is a multi-dimensional phenomena. This paper will briefly analyze the political economicRead MoreEssay about Global Warming1260 Words   |  6 PagesGlobal Warming The climate is changing. The earth is warming up, and there is now overwhelming scientific consensus that it is happening, and human-induced. With global warming on the increase and species and their habitats on the decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally are diminishing. Many are agreed that climate change may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various regions, and increasing extremities in weather patternsRead MoreThe Fundamentals Of Globalization On The National Security Strategy 20151632 Words   |  7 Pageswhich, global economic malaise and violet extremism can adversely affect two of the four interests. Those two interests are the security of US citizens and allies, and a strong and prosperous international economy. Violet extremism is by far the greatest challenge of the two. Globalization is an appealing concept that has many various interpretations and definitions. Globalization is the expanding connectivity and interconnectedness between diverse geographic nations to increase the efficiencyRead MoreClimate Change And Its Effects On The Country s Most Densely Populated Cities Essay1638 Words   |  7 PagesAlternatively, climate change poses a series of interrelated challenges of the country’s most densely populated cities. The U.S. is highly urbanized, with about 80% of its population living in cities and metropolitan areas (National Climate Assessment). Cities depend on infrastructure, like water and sewage systems, roads, bridges, and power plants, much of which is aging and in need of repair or replacement. This structure will undergo with multiple changes that will compounded by rising sea levelsRead MoreGlobal Warming and the Effect on Plant Diversity2318 Words   |  10 PagesDepletion of tropical forests is becoming one of the many wor ldwide dilemmas facing our planet. The rapid rate of deforestation is reaching disastrous limits as the demands for resources far exceed supplies. Rainforests provide a home to many species of plants, both known and unknown. Our dependencies on tropical plants are vast ranging from the daily essentials of food and shelter, to cures for cancer and possibly AIDS. As destruction of the rainforest continues, the effects on plants are immenseRead MoreDoes Technology Go the Right Way and Will It Save or Ruin Our Civilization?3650 Words   |  15 Pagestechnology go the right way and will it save or ruin our civilization? Abstract: It is believed that the human race exists on earth about 200,000 years, first originating in Africa, but now they inhabit every continent, with a total population of over 6.5 billion people as of 2007. In addition, with the humans occupying the planet, natural resources extinct, pollution increases, technology grows. In todays fast paced world, technological progress, changes, and advances are happening everyday. OccasionallyRead MoreWorld Bank Essay - How Does Climate Change Affect Us?3424 Words   |  14 Pagesprevent the frightening mass of water flowing, and drowning the city. Everybody was very optimistic, the people thought in general, that we can avoid letting the water ruin our homes, in other words we can prevail against the nature. However, in the row of floods we had every spring, we realized, that nature will not adjust itself to our life, and we have to regret that this cannot work in a long term. After weeks of struggle with the Bodrog, the closest homes to the river were destroyed, everlastinglyRead MoreClimate Change : Environmental Agencies Essay2237 Words   |  9 PagesIssue one: climate change Environmental agencies focus on fossil fuels as the big bad baddy of greenhouse gas emissions leading to global warming, suggesting alternative energy, carpooling, hybrid cars, and biking, but animal agriculture accounts for more carbon dioxide per year than all transportation methods combined. A conservative 2006 study by the United Nations food and agricultural study placed animal agriculture at 7,516 million tons per year or 18% of annual global green house gas emissionsRead MoreDeforestation Regulations Of The Tropics Essay2361 Words   |  10 Pagesrainforest is cut down every single minute. This adds up to about 46-58 thousand square miles per year. 58 thousand square miles of the already narrow belt of tropical forests stretching around the equator. These are forests of amazing diversity and productivity. Forests that may cover only 7% of the land’s surface here on Earth, but harbor more than half of all species and play a massive part in maintaining the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and regulating our climate. Advocates for theRead MoreCap and Trade: One Solution to Climate Change Essay3918 Words   |  16 PagesCap and Trade: One Solution to Climate Change The threat of climate change in recent years is recognized as a real and potentially catastrophic threat to the health and welfare of our planet, as industrialized nations continue to run their economies by burning carbon into the atmosphere. Recently, it has taken on a larger role in our national media, the public, and the government, as the effects of anthropogenic climate change become more evident. In the United States, for example, the year 2007

Nutrition Requirements during Pregnancy-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Meeting Nutrition Requirements during Pregnancy. Answer: Meeting Nutrition Requirements during Pregnancy Maintaining a healthy balanced diet is a necessity for a woman during pregnancy not only for her health but also for that of her unborn child. Elements that constitute a balanced diet include vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, water, and mineral salts. Healthy patterns of eating are essential during pregnancy. The primary principle that controls proper nutrition incorporates moderation, balance, and variety. The following essay examines ways to encourage pregnant women to adopt health nutritional habits. The body increases the need for calories during pregnancy. Women need an additional 340 calories when pregnant in the second trimester(Michelle Kominiare Rajan, 2016). The third trimester requires 500 calories more for the mother and her child. Mothers should lean towards foods and beverages that are dense in nutrients(Theillaa, et al., 2017). The womans body needs building blocks for the formation of the child in the womb. Mothers must sample a variety of five food groups including beans, meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Women must resist the urge to take alcohol during pregnancy(Theillaa, et al., 2017). The habit might lead to intellectual, behavioral, and physical wounds damage for the mother and her child. Women on the verge of getting pregnant must desist from taking alcohol lest they lose the ability to conceive. Balanced diet plays an essential role in the maintenance of health for both the mother and her child. Pregnant mothers should carry out proper nutrition habits during pregnancy as it is a crucial time. Proper health and nutrition can have the lifelong right effects on the life of the child. Pregnant women must eat a combination of foods rich in vitamins, proteins and mineral salts and low in calories and fats. Obesity in pregnant women leads to problems at birth. References Michelle Kominiare, Rajan, P. (2016). Nutrition Recommendations in Pregnancy and Lactation. Medical Clinics of North America, 100(6), 1199-1215. Theillaa, M., Michaawi?skic, Jonathan, Eran, C., Marek, I., Pierre, P., et al. (2017). Safety of Home Parenteral Nutrition during Pregnancy. Clinical Nutrition, 36(1), 288-292.

Retailing in the UK Case Study

Executive summary The purpose of this report was to compare the strategies of two retailers with a UK presence (Lidl and Iceland) that compete in the same sector of the UK retail-market, to evaluate the extent of these strategies’ circumstantial appropriateness, and to assess the effectiveness of their practical implementation.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Retailing in the UK: Case Study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The findings, obtained during the course of conducting this report’s consequential phases, suggest that, as of today, there are many discursive prerequisites for British retailers to consider adjusting their marketing strategies to be fully consistent with specifically the ‘low pricing’ method of attracting potential buyers. The report’s conclusions reconfirm the validity of the initially proposed thesis and provide readers with a preliminary insight into what will account for the essence of future-dynamics in the British retail – market. Introduction One of the foremost aspects of a modern living in Britain is the fact that, as time goes on, more and more citizens decide in favor of shopping at supermarkets, associated with the names of world-known wholesale retailers. The reason for this is apparent – even though that the retailers’ marketing practices do come under much of a criticism, due to what is believed accounted for these practices’ counterproductive effects on the communal integrity of British cities, the availability of supermarkets does serve the people’s shopping agenda rather effectively. As Randall and Seth (2011, p. 168) noted, â€Å"Shoppers have voted with their feet – or rather their cars – patronizing the supermarkets and superstores at the expense of other outlets. The vast, gleaming superstores – open seven days a week, some 24 hours a day – are the cl earest possible evidence that consumers are getting what they want†. Thus, there can very few doubts as to the dialectically predetermined objectiveness of the phenomenon of retail-chains continuing to expand.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nevertheless, as of today, there remain a number of discursive issues, concerned with the superstores’ continual functioning, which must be taken into consideration by both: ordinary citizens, who strive to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon in question, and economists/managers, who aspire to increase the extent of their professional adequacy. In my report, I will aim to explore the validity of this suggestion at length, while conducting an analysis of the specifics of marketing strategies/operative philosophy, on the part of two large retailers that currently operate in the UK – namely, Iceland Frozen Foo ds and Lidl Stiftung Co. The retailers’ retail strategy in the light of its competitive environment Ever since the time of Lidl’s entrance into the British retail-market, this German retailer never ceased taking advantage of its ability to provide British consumers with truly competitive (and often unbeatable) prices. This, of course, allows us to identify Lidl, as a retailer that relies specifically upon the deployment of a low pricing strategy, as the foremost mean of maintaining its competitive edge (Bridges, Melewar Otubanjo 2007). Partially, the Lidl’s choice in favor of this particular retail-strategy can be explained by the specifics of the UK ‘oversaturated’ retail-market, which makes it quite impossible for new market-entrants to go about gaining advantage over their long-established competitors in any other way but by reducing prices for the offered goods down to their all-time-minimum. The downside of this retail-strategy’s imple mentation is that it is capable of undermining the extent of the sold goods’ commercial appeal to aesthetically conscious consumers. Even though that, throughout the course of its presence in the British retail – market, Iceland top-officials had revised their conceptualization of a proper retail-strategy a few times, this particular company continues to be strongly associated with the so-called ‘product positioning’ method of attracting potential customers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Retailing in the UK: Case Study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In essence, this method is being concerned with the establishment of objective preconditions for consumers to think of the ‘perceived value’ of the acquired goods and services in a particularly high regard. A thoroughly illustrative example of how Iceland proceeds with securing its niche in the country’s market of f rozen foods is the company’s 1999 decision to switch to selling only organically grown and non-genetically modified fruits/vegetables (Wilson 1999). Given the fact that, as of today, only a few of the Iceland’s food-retailing competitors offer consumers the option of buying ‘healthy’ foods, the company’s currently deployed niche-based competing strategy appears methodologically appropriate. The overall sector’s position As of 2009, the Lidl’s share in the UK grocery-market accounted for 2.4%. Even though that this share appears rather neglectful, it nevertheless continues to increase slowly but steadily (by approximately 0.4% per year). The number of the company’s currently operative stores in the UK is 580 (Randall Seth 2011). In its turn, this provides many economists with a rationale to refer to Lidl in terms of a ‘second tier retail chain’ – the company’s sector-positioning implies its marginal in fluence on the qualitative dynamics within the overall retail-sector of the British economy. Nevertheless, an ongoing economic recession creates objective prerequisites for the Lidl’s share in the concerned industry to continue increasing, as the company’s currently deployed marketing strategy appears thoroughly consistent with the process of more and more British shoppers preferring to buy ‘no-frills’ grocery-items, as the mean to obtain the best value for their money. With 810 stores currently operating across the UK, the Iceland’s share in the country’s grocery-retail market is estimated (as of 2010) to account for approximately 8% (Jones 2010).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nevertheless, even though that the company continues to apply much of an effort into trying to expand this share, there is only so much it can achieve, in this respect. This is because, as it was mentioned earlier, Iceland targets specifically the ‘perceived value’- conscious consumers, the number of which is likely to be reduced in the near future. In its turn, this explains why, as of recently, Iceland top-officials have been trying to increase the extent of their company’s commercial competitiveness primarily by the mean of laying off ‘excessive’ employees (Blackhurst 2010). The retailers’ strategies for dealing with the environment Nowadays, it is being estimated that close to 50% of non-recyclable materials (primarily packaging items), sent to landfills in Britain on an annual basis, come from supermarkets (Facts and figures 2012). Therefore, when it comes to assessing the extent of a particular retailer’s environmental friendlines s, it is important to do it in regards to what account for the deployed packaging-policies. Given the fact that Lidl is known for its practice of utilizing as little packaging material, as possible (as one of the methods of maintaining its operative efficacy), one may conclude that this reflects the concerned retail-chain’s adherence to the principles of environmentalism. This, however, is far from being the case, because Lidl makes a deliberate point in utilizing the most cost-effective packaging. In its turn, this presupposes this packaging being weighty and substantially non-recyclable. According to the survey, conducted by the British Market Research Bureau in 2009, â€Å"Lidl had the lowest proportion of packaging that could be easily recycled, at 58 per cent. Its packaging (of typical 29 goods) weighed 782.5g (1lb 11.5oz), the second highest (after Waitrose)† (Poulter 2009, p. 33). Another factor, which contributes to the Lidl’s socially constructed image of a somewhat environmentally arrogant company, is the aura of secrecy that surrounds it. For example, Lidl top-executives are not being required to report to the shareholders the qualitative specifics of the company’s currently deployed PR/marketing strategies (Wiesmann 2008). This, of course, creates a hypothetical possibility for Lidl managers to adopt a light attitude towards the company’s potentially environment-damaging practices. Finally, the Lidl’s practice of selling goods in huge warehouse-like stores is being capable of negatively affecting the environment, as well. This is because by building these stores across the UK, Lidl inevitably alters the natural landscapes that surround the construction-sites. An essential part of the Iceland products’ perceptual appeal is that fact that this company never ceased positioning itself as a nature-friendly commercial enterprise. Therefore, there is indeed a strong rationale for the company to continue inv esting in making its operations thoroughly observant of the WARP’s (Waste and Resources Action Programme) provisions. The validity of this statement can be well illustrated in regards to the fact that in 2010, Iceland obtained the Carbon Trust Standard, due to having reduced the total amount of its CO2 emissions by 2%, over the course of 3 years. This came as a direct result of the company’s continual commitment towards making its commercial operations ever more energy-efficient. As it was noted on the company’s web site, â€Å"During 2011 Iceland invested in excess of  £3 million in energy saving projects including Voltage Optimization and High Efficiency lighting†¦ Our 70 new stores opened during 2009/10†¦ are achieving energy consumption 10-15% below our estate average† (Corporate responsibility 2012, para. 32). In addition, Iceland is known for its rather aggressive policies, aimed to reduce the amount of packaging-waste it generates. For example, ever since 2011, the company’s stores in Wales started to charge customers 5p for every plastic bag, which immediately resulted in the reduction of these bags’ usage by 77%. Thus, when compared to what it is being the case with Lidl, Iceland can indeed be referred to as being much more environmentally-friendly. The retailers’ strategies for dealing with the competition they face The way in which Lidl deals with competitors in the UK is being concerned with the exploitation of the operational deficiencies of a classical retail-philosophy, associated with the names of UK-based largest retailers. According to this philosophy’s provisions, the consumers’ purchasing choices are being defined by the sensation of a brand-loyalty, on their part. Given the fact that the majority of Britons is assumed to do their grocery shopping once per week, most UK-based retailers strive to make sure that, once in their stores, customers are being given an oppor tunity to choose from at least 10-15 different brands of the same line of a particular product. Consequently, this drives the price for every offered item up, due to the associated storage-costs. Lidl, however, deploys an entirely different retail-philosophy, while offering severely limited but low-priced lines of the same product, which allows this retailer to maintain a high profitability of its commercial operations. The competitive strategy, deployed by Lidl, has also been concerned with providing customer with quality-wise incentives to do their grocery shopping on the company’s premises. This has been achieved by the mean of striking deals with long established brand-name producers to supply Lidl stores with often poorly packaged but still good-quality products, which are being sold under pretentiously sounding but essentially fictitious brand-names, such as Ombra, Del Rivo, Sainte Etienne, etc. (Blythman 2008). Because, as of today, Lidl continues to expand in the UK, the company’s earlier outlined competitive strategy can indeed be defined thoroughly effective. The foremost elements of the Iceland’s currently deployed competitive strategy can be outlined as follows: 1. Providing ‘clear-cut’ prices. In order to attract more buyers, Iceland has implemented a price-setting reform, concerned with ‘rounding’ prices for the offered items, which in turn resulted in increasing the commercial appeal of the products in question. 2. Advertising its adherence to the principles of a ‘healthy living’. In today’s British grocery-market, Iceland positions itself as the only UK-based retailer that provides consumers with an option to buy non-genetically modified food-items for comparatively low prices. This is expected to result in both: strengthening the measure of the committed buyers’ brand-loyalty and providing potential customers with rationale-based incentives to shop at Iceland. 3. Offeri ng customers ‘free delivery’ services. As of today, it remains an institutionalized practice in many Iceland stores to qualify customers, who have spent more than  £25, for a ‘free delivery’ service. Partially, this explains why Iceland appears to be particularly popular with elderly customers (Finne Sivonen 2008). Target market(s), competitive positioning Given the fact that, as it was mentioned earlier, it is specifically the Lidl’s ability to offer competitive prices on its products in stock, which allows this company to make profits, there can be few doubts as to what kind of customers this particular retail-chain targets. These customers can be generally identified as ‘price-sensitive’. To be more specific, Lidl is being especially popular with recently arrived immigrants from the Third World and from Eastern European countries, as well as with currently unemployed British native-born citizens (Garvey 2002). Because, due to an o ngoing economic recession and due to the policy of ‘multiculturalism’ continuing to enjoy an official status in Britain, the number of consumers, potentially pre-inclined to prefer shopping at Lidl is going to increase, it provides this Germany-based retail-chain with a strategic advantage over its competitors. This also explains why, as of today, Lidl is continuing to expand the range of its operations in the UK. Even though that during the course of recent years, Iceland top-executives have been declaring that the company’s main operative objective is to provide ordinary Britons with an opportunity to buy high-quality foods at low prices, the majority of people who do their grocery-shopping at Iceland are far from being deemed ‘ordinary’. This is because they overwhelmingly consist of the representatives of an upper middle-class, who can afford leading ‘healthy lifestyles’, in the first place. Hence, their willingness to pay extra for the ‘perceived value’ of ‘chemicals-free’ grocery-items, sold in Iceland. As O’Sullivan (2000, p.11) noted, â€Å"The organic sector is growing, but the differences between organic and conventional prices remain marked – though many consumers seem willing to pay based on perceived quality of product and the ‘production environment’†. Because the retailer’s marketing strategy proceeds with exploiting the motifs of ‘healthiness’, the actual manner in which this company targets consumers will continue to remain observant of what happened to be the specifics of their class-affiliation. Evaluation of the retailers’ implementation There are a number of objective reasons to believe that Lidl did succeed rather splendidly, while implementing its competitive strategy. The validity of this statement can be well illustrated in regards to the fact that, as of today, this retail-chain continues to expand its p resence across the UK. Moreover, Lidl also managed to assure a steady increase of its operational effectiveness, which in turn created prerequisites for the company’s share in the UK grocery-market to continue growing. For example, throughout the three initial months of 2011, â€Å"Lidl’s share (in grocery-market) rose from 2.2pc to 2.4pc, up by 9.1pc.† (Hall 2011, p. 4). Apparently, Lidl managers, in charge of running the business in the UK, were able to adequately identify the economic significance of today’s socio-political and demographic dynamics in this country, and to take a practical advantage of the obtained insight. Therefore, even though that Lidl continues to be referred to in terms of a ‘marginal retail-operator’, it appears being only the matter of time, before it will begin posing an acute competitive threat to the UK-based largest retailers, such as Tesco, Waitrose and MS. Before Iceland initial founder Malcolm Walker took ove r the company back in 2005, this retail-chain was rapidly losing its competitive edge. Partially, this had to do with the fact that, prior to the economic recession of 2009-2010, more and more Britons deemed the very idea of consuming frozen foods quite unappealing. To make things worse, through the years 1999-2005, Iceland officials were applying a resource-consuming effort to popularize the practice of ‘online shopping’ among the company’s committed customers, which undermined the extent of this retail-chain’s even further, as the concept of ‘online shopping’ is being discursively inconsistent with the concept of ‘grocery shopping’. Nevertheless, since the time when Walker started to take an active part in managing the company, Iceland was able to ‘get back on the horse’. According to Best (2012, p. 3), â€Å"The future looks bright for Iceland. The retailer†¦ has a record share of the country’s grocery market†¦ with sales increasing at a double-digit rate†. In part, this can be explained by the fact that, ever since 2005, Iceland PR-specialists were applying a great effort into trying to convince potential customers that, while shopping at Iceland, they would be able to enjoy a number of different ‘price-cut’ deals. Range of merchandise As it was mentioned earlier, the very philosophy of Lidl commercial transactions presupposes a limited range of the merchandise it offers. It is now being estimated that the average number of product-lines, found in the company’s stores, rarely over exceeds 1.600 (Butler 2008). As of today, 80% of products sold at Lidl consist of different grocery-items that can be stored for lengthy periods of time, such as peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, frozen pizzas, salad dressings, etc. Most of these items come in large packages, which create a certain inconvenience for those customers that come to Lidl to purchase a limited number of goods. Given the fact that, as time went on, this Germany-based retailer was becoming increasingly popular with more and more British shoppers, Lidl executives are now planning to expand the retailer’s merchandise-range to include electronics, furniture and homeware accessories. The very name Iceland Frozen Foods implies that the company that bears it specializes in selling frozen food-items. This, however, does not have much of an effect on the extensive number of product-lines, featured in the company’s stores, which often runs as high as 15.000-20.000 (Wright McCrea 2008). Among the most popular food-items, sold by the company, can be named: broiled free-range chickens, frozen meats, fruits, vegetables and fishes. Iceland also provides customers with an extensive variety of frozen meals, ice-creams and ‘roast from frozen’ food-items. Packages of most of the earlier mentioned products feature ‘GMO-free’ labels. Because, just as it is being the case with Lidl, in recent years Iceland was able to increase the extent of its operational effectiveness, the company’s officials now consider expanding the range of the featured product-lines, so that it would include non-food items. Pricing The foremost feature of how Lidl sets prices for its retailed products is that it strives to encourage customers to think of them in terms of being not simply thoroughly affordable, but rather ridiculously cheap. In her article, Stacey (2006, p. 1) provides us with an insight into what were the Lidl’s prices for some of its stocked food-items in 2006, â€Å"Buy: the pesto, which Good Housekeeping voted the best, 99p olives stuffed with cream cheese, 99p black-olive breadsticks and 69p the hot smoked-salmon fillets†. In fact, recent years saw a number of public controversies, concerned with what some people consider the counterproductive effects of the Lidl’s low prices on the British societyà ¢â‚¬â„¢s overall well-being, because by being offered irresistible deals on the vine and beer, customers are being tempted to indulge in an excessive alcohol-consumption. Yet, the deployment of a low-pricing policy, on the part of Lidl, is exactly what allows this retailer to continue gaining a competitive advantage over the rest of UK-based retail-chains. When compared to what it is being the case with the Lidl’s prices for the most popular product-lines, the Iceland’s prices for the same lines of products appear somewhat higher. However, they can still be referred to as being thoroughly competitive. As it can be seen on the company’s web site, while shopping at Iceland, people can buy 4 100% Beef Quarter Pounders for  £2 ( £4.40 per kg), 10 Thick Pork Sausages for  £1 ( £2.00 per kg), 4 Chicken Mushroom Individual Pies for  £1.50 ( £2.64 per kg), etc. (Meat 2012, para.1). Iceland also offers a number of money-saving promotions. For example, one ca n easily sign up for the  £10 Bingo Card, while being consequently qualified to pay with this card for  £30 worth of groceries. Thus, it can be well concluded that Iceland top-managers are being thoroughly aware of the importance of providing customers with ‘cost-cutting’ incentives to shop in the company’s stores. Given the fact that, in full accordance with Walker’s recommendations, Iceland started to pay a closer attention to the promotion of ‘money-saving deals’, it appears that the percentage of the company’s loyal ‘perceived value’- conscious customers will decrease. Customer communications One of the reasons why Lidl is continuing to enjoy a considerable success in the UK retail-market is that its operating costs are being reduced down to a minimum. An integral part of how this retailer is able to ensure this is its deployed policy of limiting the staff as much, as possible. This, of course, presupposes that the company’s approach towards maintaining good relations with customers cannot be referred thoroughly adequate, by definition. What also adds to the issue is the fact that there have been a number of Media-covered scandals, concerned with Lidl subjecting its employees to an unfair treatment, which negatively affected the company’s overall public image (Chesworth 2008). Nevertheless, Lidl still applies a fair effort into maintaining the integrity of its PR-policies. For example, for a number of years Lidl has been collaborating with CLIC Sargent, which rise charities to help children with cancer. Lidl also provides its loyal customers with an opportunity to receive weekly e-newsletters, which is supposed to help them to increase the money-wise effectiveness of their shopping trips even further. Despite the fact, as it was pointed out earlier, Iceland is now focusing more into providing customers with specifically monetary incentives to shop in the company’s stores; it nevertheless continues to invest a considerable effort into ensuring its speedy responsiveness to the buyers’ wishes, comments and suggestions. For example, while shopping at Iceland, customers are being encouraged to fill out questionnaires, which contain questions as to what they consider the indications of a particular store’s operative inadequateness. Iceland also signed a partnership with the Government, while proclaiming to remain committed to the pledges of â€Å"Removing artificial trans fats†¦ tackling under-age alcohol sales†¦ promoting physical activity guidelines† (Corporate responsibility 2012, para. 32). Among other implemented measures towards increasing the strength of the company’s appeal, as a socially-responsible commercial organization, can be named: the establishment of the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation in 2010 and the company’s 2011 pledge to provide financial contributions to the Walking With The Wounded F oundation, which is supposed to improve the living standards of former British soldiers, who sustained physical injuries, while on the line of duty. Service offering As of today, Lidl provide customers with three services, worthy of being mentioned. The first one is the so-called ‘money-back guarantee’ service. According to the information, available on the company’s web site, Lidle guarantees customers that they will be fully reimbursed for purchasing faulty non-food items within the matter of 28 days, after the concerned purchase took place. Second – customers are being promised that the staff-members will never refuse to provide them with the full information, regarding a particular food or non-food product, sold on the company’s premises. Moreover, customers are being also promised that, in case they fail to locate a particular sought-for product, while in one of the Lidl’s stores, the concerned store will promptly restock its shelves wit h this product. Third – the company’s web site now features informational videos about the Lidl’s most popular products. This is expected to help customers to make proper purchasing-choices. Even though that the earlier mentioned services, provided by Lidl, can indeed be deemed rather helpful, it can hardly escape just about anyone’s attention that they (with the probable exception of the second one) require very little ‘human involvement’, on the staff-members’ part. In light of what appears to be the scope of customer-oriented services, provided by Lidl, the scope of the same services, offered by Iceland, can be best referred to as being rather extensive. It is not only that the most enthusiastic buyers are being offered to take advantage of a free-delivery service, mentioned earlier, but they also qualify for a number of ‘secondary’ in-store services. For example, customers are being welcomed to discuss their intended a pproaches to dieting with nutritionists, hired by Iceland on a full-time basis. Customers are being also guaranteed to be given full nutritional information about the product of their interest, upon request. Just as it is being the case with Lidl, Iceland long ago enacted the policy of reimbursing customers for the purchased products, in case these products fail to meet their buyers’ quality-expectations. It is needless to mention, of course, that the availability of these services in the superstores, operated by Iceland, does contribute rather immensely to the upholding of the company’s customer-friendly image. Location After having entered the British retail-market in 1994, Lidl pursued with the aggressive expansion-policy, which explains why, as of today, the company’s stores can be found in just about every part of Britain. The largest ones are located in Livingston, Middleborough, Leeds, Nuneaton, Coventry, Bletchley, Slough, Dorchester and London. As a gen eral rule, the geographic location of Lidl stores is being referred to as such that reflects the mangers’ awareness of the fact that it is specifically the representatives of Britain’s socially underprivileged populations, who would be naturally inclined to shop at Lidl more than the representatives of this country’s other social groups. Hence, the company’s tendency to locate its stores, as close to what are being commonly referred to as poverty-stricken multicultural ‘ghettoes’, as possible (Kirkup et al. 2004). In the geographical sense of this word, the locations of Iceland stores appear to be spatially resembling those of Lidl. That is, these stores can be found all over the country. The largest of them are located in Inverness, Dumfries, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Manchester, Sheffield, Leicester and London. Even though that, during the course of the eighties and nineties, the majority of the Iceland’s customers were assumed to hav e been the representatives of a middle-class, it nowadays represents a rather challenging task to positively identify the particulars of the Iceland-loyal shoppers’ class-affiliation. Partially, this can be explained by the fact that, even though Iceland continues to take pride in its commitment to selling ‘healthy’ foods, the prices it charges nevertheless remain thoroughly competitive. As Hall (2008, p. 4) noted, â€Å"Iceland sells cheap, frozen food to working mothers from uncluttered shops. There are no bells, whistles, or whizzy marketing campaigns†. Therefore, there can be very little sense in assigning any discursive significance to the specifics of the company stores’ spatial distribution on the map. Store ambience, layout and communication The foremost aesthetic characteristic of Lidl stores, the average size of which ranges from 830 sq m to 1,700 sq m (Rhodes 2012), is that there is very little aesthetic appeal to them. In essence, most L idl stores resemble huge cardboard boxes – this impression is being strengthened even further by the fact that these ‘boxes’ feature very few windows. Apparently, the very appearance of Lidl outlets emanates the ‘no frills’ marketing philosophy, deployed by this Germany-based retailer. Unfortunately, the internal layout of Lidl stores matches an essentially tasteless design of many of the company’s newly built shopping centers. In his article, Jamieson (2007, p. 26) provides us with a rather humorous account of his experience of visiting one of Lidl hypermarkets in Edinburgh, â€Å"Merchandising (at Lidl)†¦ appears to be the work of a tortured genius on an absinthe binge. The first aisle contains giant crates, each of which is a tombola of unexpected items including child car seats†¦ Between the doormats, lampshades and cheap running shoes is a stack of Carlsberg lager†¦ Giant fluorescent signs divide everything into two broad categories: ‘CHEAP!’ and ‘CHEAPER!’†. Moreover, it appears a commonplace practice in many Lidl stores to have a person periodically yelling out commands to the staff-members (over the loudspeakers) with a heavy Pakistani accent, which makes one’s shopping experience at Lidl even uncannier. As compared to what it is being the case with the architectural design of Lidl stores, the architectural design of Iceland retail-outlets appears much more aesthetically pleasing. The validity of this suggestion can be well illustrated in regards to the fact that the majority of the company’s stores feature a plenty of wide enough windows, which eliminates even a slight possibility for some shoppers to grow claustrophobic, while inside (Hare, Kirk Lang 2001). This alone suggests that, unlike what it happened to be the case with many Lidl stores (which should be referred to as the de facto warehouses), Iceland stores do live up to the title. These stor es’ internal layout also appears to be well thought-through, as the spatial locations of every isle, dedicated to a particular line of product, do make a perfectly logical sense. The system of in-store communication deserves to be praised, as well, because it does enable both: customers and employees, to have a good mental grasp on what is going on in the store. Conclusions Given the discursive implications of the data, obtained during the course of conducting this study’s consequential phases, we can come up with the following set of conclusions, as to what this data actually signifies: The euro-centric notion of a ‘customer loyalty’ can no longer serve as a conceptual premise for designing different retail-strategies. The apparent success of the Lidl retail-chain in Britain substantiates the legitimacy of this suggestion. There are a number of objective preconditions for more and more British retailers to choose in favor of implementing the specifically ‘low pricing’ marketing strategy. The qualitative essence of today’s socio-economic and demographic dynamics within the British society, implies that the people’s purchasing choices can no longer be discussed outside of what happened to be the particulars of their ethno-cultural/class affiliation. 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Wiesmann, G 2008, ‘Cautious times help German chains’, Financial Times, 13 December, p. 18. Wilson, B 1999, ‘Frozen pleas’, New Statesman, vol. 128 no. 4460, pp. 50-51. Wright, S McCrea, D 2008, Handbook of organic and fair trade food marketing, Wiley, Chichester. This report on Retailing in the UK: Case Study was written and submitted by user F1rebrand to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.