Exploring Russian Folk Dance - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 16 Words: 4796 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? Introduction 1.1 Background Information Russian people think that the Russian dance is a celebration of their lives. Russian folk dance and folk music discloses the feeling and an expression of spirituality. The visit to Russia is becoming an experience of this new land. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Exploring Russian Folk Dance" essay for you Create order Russia is known as an attractive destination due to the scary size along with an interesting history of Europe. It is considered as an ultimate tourist destination and the country is one third part of European countries with the diverse musical background. Russian dances are full of individual and huge performers (Chitranshi, 2009). Russian dances are the human activities which constitutes all properties about human. Thus Russian dance exists at this land along with their terminology, sayings, proverbs and conversations. In Russia, classical ballet is a ruler. There is no training for the modern dances and also there is no performance space along with some modern schools. Russian folk dance was common among the peasants, commoners and the lower class people living outside the city (earlier than the rule of Peter). The higher class people did not dance but they were getting pleasure from the enjoyable performances of dancing trainers. The major differentiation among social classes within the culture of Russian dance took place as a historical event. That attack had broken the peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s way to live life and it also it changed the progress of Russian dances by stumbling its logical sequences. Russian classical ballet dance is very popular dance all around the world and it remained very popular since the nineteenth century (Chitranshi, 2009). 1.2 Aims and Objectives The researcher here aims to understand the concept of Russian folk dance and the reason for conversion of this into Russian Ballet dance. While the objective of this study is to analyse the concept of folk dance in Russia and various types of Russian dances which are famous in the country. 1.3 Research Questions In order to attain aims and objectives of the research, researcher has designed below stated research questions:- What are the various forms of folk dance in Russia? What is the history attached with Russian folk dance? How did Russian folk dance transformed to Ballet dance? How the dance, as source of entertainment had converted into professional dance? Who are the famous people linked to Russian folk and Ballet dance? 1.4 Russian ballet The actual ballet dance did not invent in Russia but the country has contributed very much for its development and currently Russian ballet has gained popularity all over the world. Various ballet dance performers along with the ballet companies have raised out of Russia and ballet theatres are attracting people in larger number. Ballet came into Russia during 1700s and in 1734, first ballet school was introduced (AlbrÑ–ght DanÑ–Ã Ã‚ µl 2004). After few years, an imperial school of St. Petersburg found first Ballet Company in Russia. It was first dominated by Italian and Russian dances as well as chorographers. In 1800s Russiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Ballet dance incorporated some ideas from folk dancing. The higher class people did not increase and promote the art by supporting some companies. The French choreographer named as Marius Petipa and he was renowned for inventing ballet of Tchaikovsky. Russian ballet took place and observed in new era in the 20th centu ry. It has been identified in previous studies that Michel Fokine (choreographer), Vaslav Nijinksy (dancer), Sergey Diaghilev and Alexandre Benois (designer) set up the ballet company in Russia. At that point of time, superb dancer Anna Pavlova was taking the place. At present Russian ballet is known throughout the world and attracting lots of visitors. There is several ballet companies are operated in Russia such as Kremlin Ballet, Perm ballet and Imperial Russian ballet academy. The well known cities have established their own ballet orchestras and theatres and that are focused by number of supporters. The role of Russian ballet to the classical dances cannot be undervalued. It has been known from past many decades and considered as the indicator of the classical dance. It leads other type of dances. Young girls are becoming ballerinas and their dreams have been powered by the famous Russian dancers. Thus Russian ballet dance has captivated large number of audiences all around the globe. 1.5 Contribution of choreographers 1.5.1 Vaslav Nijinsky This choreographer is renowned as the male dancer of all times and he has also called the god of dance (Parker and Derek, 1988). After the long time of female dominance in the field of ballet, he overtook the ballet dancers of those times such as Pavlova, Karsavina and Kschà Ã‚ µssÑ–nska established superiority in the within the male dance stage in twentieth century. His career in the ballet dance field has ended from past ten years due to his mental disease. But legendary of Nijinsky will continue until the appearance of such type personality who will overtake the ballet generation. Pole became the hero of an imperial Maryinsky theatre just after completing his studies from St. Petersburg school at the age of 18 years. He was the inspiration for the ballets in the western side. Then Fokine invented ballets for Nijinsky and other people like Ravel, Debussy and Stravinsky prepared music for him (AlbrÑ–ght, DanÑ–Ã Ã‚ µl 2004). At the time of First World War, Nijinsky as a Russian citizen was interned in Hungry. Diaghilev got success in getting him out of the country for the purpose to visit North American tour in 1916 and then he choreographed his main part in Till Eulenspiegel. Indicators of dementia praecox became clear for the members of the company and then became sacred of other dancers (Anthony, 2002). The first ballet of Nijinsky named as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Là ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢AprÃÆ' ¨s-mÑ–dÑ– dà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢un Faunà Ã‚ µÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? has become a milestone within the history of ballet Russes of Diaghilev. That ballet was marked near to the period in which Fokine was the biggest dancer. Thus the dancer Nijinsky emerged as a choreographer and his thoughts stimulated the doubts raised by Diaghilev and it ran contradictory to the classical folk dances of Russia. The production of first ballet was totally based some choreographic scores and they were recorded by Nijinsky in his dance entry system. It remained for many years and he became unavailable due to his mental illness for reproducing the work. 1.5.2 Michel Fokine Michel Fokine got training from the Imperial school in St. Petersburg and then he joined Ballet Russes of Diaghilev in 1909. Then he went to United States in the year 1923 where he performed for the American Ballet theatre and Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Fokine considered some artificial as well as random traditions along with the methods and techniques for expressive and natural choreographic styles. This style is known as the recurrent topic in the field of ballet dance. His new ideas and thoughts led the success of the Diaghilev Company. He choreographed so many ballets and Chopiniana that led Balanchine for trying the ballets which became his brand name. The classical ballet dance or folk dance has become unlimited since the days of Fokine and the people thinks that his choreography is old fashioned. So his ballets remained unproductive and suffered from deformation. He was surprised and shocked that it would happen in his career (Michel Fokine, 2011). 1.5.3 Petipa along with the Russian Ballet Marius Petipa was the leading dancer and the choreographer along with the ballet of St. Petersburg in the year 1962. At that time he invented multi- acted ballet for the imperial theatre of Tsar. That ballet gave directions to other ballets and it was considered as classical ballet. In 1869, Petipa took the position of the master of ballet to the Tsarà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s imperial theatre. Then he created so many single and multi act ballets for the presentation on the Russian stages. Then he created and developed Don Quixote type for the ballet in Moscow. He choreographed large number of dances along with numerous types of ballets. 1.6 Russian Ballet Pushkin The present days consider importance of Russian ballet at quite a notable rate. Bolshoi and Maryinsky are among the most renowned companies and training schools for teaching of ballet. These are well known all across the world for their remarkable practices. It is appreciable to note that the tradition of Russia is into existence even in present era. The firmness among dancers and choreographers along with the support by audience has resulting in attainment of this position. However, the past of virile nature represents the main factor for survival of this dance. The ballet of Russia was imported from France though; it admiringly attained its own position in the culture and dance. The dancers and choreographers of Russia considered themselves as equivalent to that of Western countries. However, Alexander Pushkin was the main cause for writing style by Russia. The involvement of this man had resulted in portrayal of characters and story telling by utilizing themes of Russia that fits with the stage and survived for more than two centuries for Russian ballet. Western Europe was the main contributor to Russian ballet dance since the nineteenth century. However, the end of nineteenth century has resulted in formation of Russian ballet dance that differentiates itself from all over the world and become a leader in the arena. Didelot, the person well known as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Russian Balletà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fatherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (Steinberg, 1980), in the year 1816 along with explored Pushkin also termed as talent at local level, Russia started making strides for development of its unique form of ballet dance. There was overlap between the Didelot and Pushkinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s era at St Petersburg for Imperial ballet. In comparison to the ballet dance of Western European countries, ballet dance of Russia lied far behind in the field of art. Talented Didelot along with Pushkin had resulted in foundation of unique dance of Russian ballet. In spite of the reason that these two individuals were not able to see the domination of Russian ballet, but they deserved appreciation for their efforts. The main characteristics for Russian ballet include as follows (Nickles Kalman, 2008):- There is an opposition existing between gender and nationality. Here nationality means the Western European and Russian region. Storyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s location for Russians Music composition of Russians Attitude against nation to reflect work of individuals. Unique dancing steps supported by choreography illustrating special characteristics for Russian dancing. On unfolding the ballet dance of Russia, the efforts by Pushkin in his development is influenced. The composition of music and theatrical efforts had been quite unique in Russia due to the talent of Pushkin. On combining these aspects, there raised development in new arenas. The effect of Pushkin to develop Russian opera finally resulted in improvement of Russian ballet. The ballet is usually dependent on music for most of the countries. However, as per Slominsky (1947) stated that there exists strong relationship between these characteristics. The experiments by Pushkin along with the fresh rhythm had resulted in creation of challenging situation among composers. As per Gerald Abraham, the Russians in this century enjoyed favourable time due to better lyrics in spite of pseudo classicism related to Derzhavin that are related to love poems resulting in new song in Russian for Pushkin (Abraham, 1985). However, this was inspiring to note for the dancers and choreographers. The influence by Pushkin allowed in recognizing ballet of Russian for recognition of unique genera and not the import of talent belonging to different countries. The influence of Pushkin had helped in influencing the Russian ballet dance to be recognized all over the world with own image. The influence of Pushkin and Didelot had resulted in enhancing history of Russia to provide a strong background for artistic power. The involvement of Soviet along with arts had resulted in better improved arts. The companies created in Russia, by imperial decree had gained favour from government to result in better learning experience. This had resulted in giving an opportunity along with the challenge. The support by two companies had further resulted in higher value of material found and helps in improvement of opportunities for research, but shall be well defined to ensure that there is no conflicting situation. Chapter 2- Literature Review 2.1 Soviet Union and Folk Dance The Soviet Union concerns for the study of folk dance as an important arena in addition to drama art and music. However, there was lack of recording that would have helped the dancers to develop their skills (Blacking Kealiinohomoku, 1979). Prior to the revolution, there was no focus laid on folk dance. An individual needs to be aware of choreography, philology in addition to musical folklore (Blacking Kealiinohomoku, 1979). Lack of recording system resulted in not availability of recording for choreography. The history of folk dancing in Soviet has been into existence from the 1920s to 1930s (Blacking Kealiinohomoku, 1979). The composers from Ukraine had been involved in this arena and the country was among those who started this concept of folk dance earliest among Soviet Union. The efforts by cultural groups have resulted in good collection of wide range of roles from all across (Bukland, 2007). After the formulation of Russia, the country was left with two choices: outward choice to follow western tradition, and inward trend to follow their culture and tradition (Schultz, 2000). That had raised the urge to have a thorough plan in such a manner that there exists a good balance between the two. The ballet present at St. Petersburg had been considered as Bolshoi too. The development of Maryinsky theatre at St. Petersburg in 1860s followed by the imperial ballet that performed at new theatre in the year 1889, and the company was named as Maryinsky Ballet Company. Thereafter, the name of ballet at St. Petersburg was changed due to the assassination by Sergei Kirov in the year 1934. Thereafter, Soviet Politburo was favoured for replacement of Josef Stalin. There was the opposition for Kirov, by left opposition party (Treadgold, 1995). Renamed ballet institutions had been compounded due to imperial city for Soviets. The ideology from patrons had acted against Russian ballet, and that raised the concept of training of dancers for demonstrating the Bolshoi Theatre and Maryinsky. The seats were restricted for higher official authorities. The subject however had to face censorship resulting in ballet dance as being quite conservative (Dees, 2004). That acted against the introduction of this form of dance as a professional business. Individuals willing to carry on the operation for their profession had to face this as the major barrier against growth of industry and individuals attached with it. However, there still persisted the importance for all the ballet training centres. Moscow Company was among the famous training centres for the name of step child in the end of 19th century. Talented pool of people gathered at Petersburg however due focus was laid on Maryinsky Theatre. This was the main cause of Petersburg Company leading quite ahead of Bolshoi Company and resulted in its brand value in European context (Bailey Ivanova, 1999). Regulating institutions too became an uneven situation. The Bolshoi Ballet was not as tough to be carried on as compared to Maryinsky Ballet. Therefore, the latter had to make available all the resources along with the support provided by imperial court. Therefore, Bolshoi court enjoyed freedom of art. That was too tough to find out when the ballet dance in Russian context came to be known all around the world. The native dancers had to be well renowned at that instance to bring awareness among the genera. The dancer named as Theophile Gautier at St. Petersburg, belonging to Imperial school had stated that the institution of dance results into remarkable group of soloists, incepting the corps for ballet which was same as for movement speed, precision, and unity. That was the moment of joy for the group to disband the right moment for reforming in quite a unique manner. The movement of those feet in perfect manner with proper match among the group, without any confusing stage were the causes of this success. The laughter and chattering were never there. The pantomime for dumb with no action, had the frame as per Lifar (1954), and his studies. That was the unique form of Russian ballet dance for executing during the mid of 19th century. Additionally, the starting of 1844 was the time when ballet dancers of Russia got trained at their place to start formation in West Europe for applauds. Though the dancers were applauded both at national and international level, non Russian choreographers belonging to different locations had formed the dancing groups. Number of dance historians at those times stated that the ballets of Russia are not too different than those of French ballets for the Northern wind (Lifar, 1954). Additionally, the researcher had pointed that the dancers of Russia get training and learning from outside sources. The choreography training in Russia too was not of good standard. Therefore, the training and development was though noted in the country for Russian folk dance followed by the ballet dance, there still lacks the trainers. In case there would have been good number of trainers in the country, there can be improvement in ballet dancers of Russia. The Russian dancers were one or the other way linked to non native place (Lifar, 1954). The learning from those locations results into convergence among Russians including Pushkin, various choreographers and composers for establishment of Russian ballet. There raises the importance to make an effort to improve the chronological sequence for ballets in Russia. There need to be a strong link between the choreographer, composer and writer. For this purpose, ballet dancers had to be compared with that of western counterparts to compare and contrast relationship between the two. Charles Didelot was among the most famous choreographers in his times and was in link with Pushkin. However, previous ballet dancers too had worked to explore the poems of Pushkin to develop ballet dance. 2.2 Isadora Duncan dance: the revolution of an artist in Russia Isadora Duncan dance is known as revolutionary person of modern type of dances who made the first Russian show or presentation in the year 1905 in St. Petersburg at the Marinsky theatre. That was the time making event that had changed the grand Russian ballet tradition. Serge Diaghileff was the founder of the ballet Russe and he told about Isadora that she have given the permanent shock to classical Russian ballet dance and she had pointed the ways which were followed by them (Netti et al., 1991). Then Isadora returned to Russia for six times in her life time and found inspiration of the Russian workers. It has been revealed in the researches that after several years, the people will make the professional as well as personal journey in the country to bring the gift of American Duncan dance to the Russian people or dancers and also they will find that what would be remained within the art of Isadora in modern St. Petersburg. CEC international partners which is a Russian company and it sponsors for an artistic exchange between Eastern and Central Europe. Isadora established a training school in Moscow by getting invitation from the commissioner of people who made efforts for brining art in front of the people. An ideology of Soviet anti-capitalistic requested to disappointment of Duncan with the millionaires in America who failed to fund the schools in Germany, France and Greece (Lomax, 1959). There was little stability within the training for current dancers outside the world of ballet of the Bolshoi and Kirov. From past so many decades, after the communism, an imitation of modern dance has been seen. It was the work of Martha and Graham and her European contemporaries along with the training in Jazz. The dance of Isadora Duncan has brought together another dancers named as Michelle Vazquez Kickasola (Ivette Sotomayer and Cuban American) are elevated in Miami where the Cuban community acts as anti communist party. There were bothered about the choreography of red tunic dances to the red army songs and that may be disgusting for the people who have reformed themselves in the Russian countries in twenty first century (Hilton, Alison, 1995). It has been viewed that so many people have learned the dance as well music being as the main part for their history. Number of old people from independent states like Uzbekistan and Georgia has lamented the lives of people economically and politically under the communism. 2.3 Ballet dance of Ludwig Minkus Ludwig Minkus was one of the biggest musical composers in the mysteries. He was having powerful posts in the imperial ballet theatres in Russia in the nineteenth century. He was known as an antecedent of Tchaikovsky but he was delicate being as a musician. Despite the obscurity, Minkus can never be forgotten. In early 1990s, the imperfection by Natalia Makarova and Rudolf Nureyev, the name of Minkus began to go outside again. Then Richard prepared the ballet recordings that presented some dumpy passages from the Minkus work and thus it provided surprising and wonderful things. From past so many decades, the words came to know about the music of Minkus and it was the traditional part in Soviet Union. That was linked with the legendary of ballet master, named as Marius Petipa. These works such as La Bayadere and Don Quixote were the two choreographers who carried by some valid protection from eighteenth century to the present day (Corona, 1991). They were presented first time to the pe ople all over the world. To ignore the expression of regret, the ballet was proved as successful. That success was consolidated and now it has been carried out by many companies from the federation of Russia. Thus it has resulted into the transformation of old ballets to new type of ballet. The success of these ballets with other types of ballets has laid within the power of score for bringing the emotions of the people and dance of life. Thus Minkus neither published nor revised but played several arrangements that have become very popular in all over the world. It needs a new life for the people who had given up the hopes of their lives. The musical power and authority of ballet has become surprising for the people. These ballet stories has the real power and human demand in which the choreography attracts the esteem of Balletomanes, attracts music in its regularity, the beauty of the music keeps the attention of many people and it engages everyoneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s heart. Don Quixote is a comedy and known as one of the most touching novels in the world and it is about the beauty among the ordinary things. La Bayadere is a tragedy that keeps an eye on the sorrows of people in case of love with full of passion, unfaithfulness, separation and death. It talks about the two things together shows a satisfying symmetry. The ability of the musician responds to the effectiveness of both the sides such as dark and light of the human being touches the main demand of the drama. The life of Minkus and the compositions of ballets and the works are poorly diagnosed and documented, thus the proper and right investigation is needed for them to explore the historical and critical material. The studies provided the help of George Verdak of Indianapolis and it made the copes of this material from the collected ballet scores. It continued by his inheritor before her death. Some major contributions gave by a professor who made scores of La Bayadere. 2.4 Partnership with Marius Petipa The rich success of his work of Don Quixote have taken a part as a major step in the career of Minkus and his first appointment at the imperial Russian theatre in St. Petersburg in the year 1872 as the first court composer of ballet (Degh, Linda, 1965). The death of other choreographer named as Pugni led Minkus to take his place. He became responsible for musical devices as well as library in the Bolshoi theatre. Then he was told to compose music for ballet dance for the opera Mlada. It was commissioned by the director of imperial theatre. Then the projects was ended, Minkus revised prolonged his materials after some years for the development of ballet. That was followed by ballet one after another and Minkus appeared at the Maryinsky and Bolshoi theatre and it was all the choreography of Petipa. The researches have revealed that between the year1869 and 1886, Petipa generated only 4-8 ballets without composing any music by Minkus and that was the important partnership of these two a rtists. Chapter 3- Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction The chapter here explores research methodology used to complete this dissertation. Researcher explores the type of study undertaken at this instance and the approach used for analysing results. The researcher also explores the type of data used in the research and the approach used for the dissertation. The researcher has also explored aims and objectives of the research followed by research questions to achieve these. 3.2 Aims and Objectives The researcher here aims to understand the concept of Russian folk dance and the reason for conversion of this into Russian Ballet dance. While the objective of this study is to analyse the concept of folk dance in Russia and various types of Russian dances which are famous in the country. 3.3 Research questions In order to attain aims and objectives of the research, researcher has designed below stated research questions:- What are the various forms of folk dance in Russia? What is the history attached with Russian folk dance? How did Russian folk dance transformed to Ballet dance? How the dance, as source of entertainment had converted into professional dance? Who are the famous people linked to Russian folk and Ballet dance? 3.4 Paradigm for Research For this research, researcher has used interpretative approach for research. Therefore, the interpretations acted as the main source for data analysis. In addition to this, the descriptive nature of approach was used for research purpose. Researcher has made an effort to collect secondary data from various sources to have a clear thought process for the subject under study. The folk dance in Russia, right from its history to present times is analysed. Various famous personalities were also covered in the research to understand the philosophical approach in the country. Although it is preferred by researchers such as Richards Hall (2000) to collect both primary and secondary data while carrying on the research process, secondary data was chosen hereon by the researcher due to complexity attached with primary data collection approach. Collection of primary data would have added too much to the complexity of this project. First of all, researcher had a clear understanding of the research topic to understand all the concepts related with Russian folk dance. This helped in designing clear aims and objectives of the research. Thereafter, secondary data was analysed further to formulate the dissertation sections and integrate them well to ensure the logical flow of discussion. Then researcher had made an effort to attain the aims and objectives of research by answering research questions. This helped in final conclusion to demonstrate the findings. 3. 5 Research Strategy Used The researcher has made use of case study as research strategy by designing of complete research process. This helped in clearly defining research problems that relate with the subject under study. The use of case study helped in gaining solution for the research. This had helped in acting as main cause for decision making stage to attain the aims and objectives of research. Theories related to folk and ballet dance of Russia were discussed to have a sound understanding of the subject under study. Therefore, case study was taken as a favourable approach for determining the research and evaluating it thoroughly (Robert, 2003). This approach helps in analysing results based on the theoretical framework prepared for the research. Case study is used widely as per researchers such as Robert (2003) to analyse the outcomes due to high reliability and consistency associated with the concept. These help in exploratory study of the subject topic using numerous case studies for using the replication process to analyse based on the theory collected (Yin, 1994). The conceptual methods have been explored well through the use of case study method to analyse the results (Yin, 1994). Through case study method, theoretical background of folk dance in Russia would be created to know about the existence of this traditional approach, which had resulted in Ballet dance introduction and the conversion of dance into professional dance. Therefore, case study seems to be the reliable tool for getting results within short span of time. This would also help the researcher to get rid of any sort of biasness due to different beliefs. 3.6 Method to Collect Data For this research purpose, researcher has taken secondary data as the choice. Number of books, and magazines were referred along with journals and various internet sources. These would help in formulation of strong base to carry out research process. The results would be obtained thoroughly through this strategy to attain outcomes.

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1531 Words

The Great Gatsby is a highly symbolic piece of literature, representative of life in America during the early 20th century. In particular, however, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel represents the overall failure of the American Dream in an era seemingly known for its economic prosperity. His main argument is that in the end, the American Dream will always be known as a failure; unattainable to almost all who seek it. Fitzgerald argues that the ideals of the American Dream at the time of the so-called â€Å"Roaring Twenties† and the â€Å"Gilded Age† were more destructive to someone’s overall character than beneficial to their happiness and socioeconomic status. Throughout the course of the novel, the author attempts to uncover the more negative aspects of life in the 1920s and ‘30s, suggesting that dancing flapper girls, luxurious parties, and the growth of the American economy all helped to hide the corruption, cynicism, greed, and dishonesty going on be hind the scenes. The American Dream is what its name suggests—simply a dream—and one that Fitzgerald argues won’t ever come true. Fitzgerald portrays the 1920s as an era not only of decaying social and moral values, but as a time when people recklessly pursued the American Dream; much to no avail. An example of this kind of recklessness can be found by examining the protagonist of the book, Jay Gatsby, who seeks to rekindle his past love life with a woman named Daisy Buchanan. At first, Daisy is portrayed as loyal, innocent, and pure.Show MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. 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Costco Wholesale Club Strategic Plan Essay Sample free essay sample

The retail industry is an highly competitory environment that poses many challenges for Costco Wholesale Corporation and its rivals. Since many of the shops offer the same merchandises. it may sometimes be really difficult for clients to distinguish between retail shops. Even though the economic system is retrieving from a recession. the retail concern is still a mature industry and is bettering really steadily. Costco and its rivals are affected by the same political. economic. societal. and technological factors. such as revenue enhancements. presidential elections. SEC ordinances. the economic province of the state. exchange rates. assorted societal features. such as client age. income and household size. and the growing of e-commerce. All of these external factors have a great influence on how Costco conducts their operations. Costco is a prime leader in the retail industry thanks to their strategic pricing scheme. low cost operating system. and fiscal stableness. Costco is still vulnerable to legion menaces. such as competition. exchange rates fluctuations. increasing labour and health care costs. and high exposure to low growing markets. If Costco is to keep the market portion in the retail industry. they should see the options of offering more client service in their warehouses. increase on-line retail gross revenues. and get other retail shops for enlargement and growing. Finally. if Costco wants to go more competitory and profitable over clip. direction should implement the recommendation of take downing rank costs and spread outing their operations. Firm ProfileCostco Wholesale Corporation is based in Issaquah. Washington and is one of the taking forces in the General Merchandise Stores/Retail Industry. Costco operates an international concatenation of 600 warehouses where merely their rank holders have the privilege to shop. Costco offers high-quality. trade name name ware at well lower monetary values than other retail locations across the Earth. Their warehouses were originally designed to assist little to moderate-sized concern cut down costs in buying for resale and for day-to-day concern usage. but has turned into a primary location to assist all persons with their personal demands. Costco Wholesale Corporation offers one of the largest assortments of merchandises that can be found in one location. Their merchandises range from food markets. electronics. automotive supplies. jewellery. featuring goods. family contraptions. and office equipment. What distinguishes Costco from other retail merchants is that they merely allow members to shop at any of their locations. There are three different rank degrees: Business. Gold Star ( single ) . and Executive rank. Each specific degree entitles clients to assorted privileges. The mission of Costco Wholesale Corporation is â€Å"To continually supply our members with choice goods and services and the lowest possible monetary values. † Costco is able to carry through its mission by their strategic pricing schemes. while offering merchandises in majority that saves their clients money. There is no vision statement for Costco ; nevertheless. through staying by their mission. Costco hopes to stay a leader in the competitory retail industry and go more profitable in the close hereafter. External AnalysisHarmonizing to Mergentonline. com. Costco Wholesale Corporation is ranked the 2nd largest retail shop in the universe. with five-hundred 98 shops worldwide and one-year grosss near to $ 89 billion dollars. Since about two-thirds of the United States gross domestic merchandise comes from retail shops. many consumers are reliant on the merchandises of retail shops for their mundane demands. In order to hold a competitory advantage over other retail shops. Costco needs to distinguish themselves in footings of merchandises and monetary value. When finding what merchandises to sell and at what monetary value. many external factors affect Costco’s strategic program to separate themselves from their competition. From a political point of view. one of the biggest external factors impacting corporations in the retail industry is revenue enhancements. The United States corporate federal income revenue enhancement rate is one of the highest in the universe. in which companies have to pay 35 % in revenue enhancements on income over $ 18. 333. 333. ( Greenstein. Rogoff. Olsen. A ; Co. . LLP. CPA’s ) Firms in this industry would wish to see corporate revenue enhancement lessening so that the company is able to hold a higher net income. It is unsure if the corporate revenue enhancement rate will increase or diminish ; nevertheless. presidential campaigner Mitt Romney says that he is be aftering on offering a corporate revenue enhancement cut to promote concerns to increase operations in the United States than overseas. The state will merely hold to wait and see if this becomes world. A higher net income could potentially intend more net incomes per portion and more dividends distributed to s tockholders. Not merely are retail companies affected by revenue enhancements in the United States. they are besides affected by export and import revenue enhancements on goods produced and sold throughout the universe. Costco owns a figure of subordinate companies. such as Price Enterprises. Inc. and Shinsegae Department Store Co. which is located in Korea and capable to foreign revenue enhancement rates. Costco. every bit good as its retail rivals. would wish to see a lessening in foreign revenue enhancement rates so that they’re able to bring forth a higher net income from their foreign subordinates. Another political factor that affects retail merchants is presidential elections. Costco needs to pay particular attending at which candidate’s ideals and values interlink with those of Costco. Costco would buttonhole for the campaigner that would assist their concern the most. whether it is revenue enhancement interruptions. credits. deregulating of concern. etc. In the 2008 presidential election. Costco CEO James Sinegal supported Barack Obama with run parts. which seemed a surprise since most Fortune 500 companies support republican campaigners ( retailindustry. about. com ) . SEC ordinances are a concluding political factor. Costco is a publically traded company ; hence. is capable to stricter regulations and ordinances set up by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Stricter regulations and ordinances mean more clip and costs needed to stay by this regulation. which are cumbersome to all houses and ultimately lowers net income. Since the lodging market clang that started in December of 2007. more people are now returning to shop at retail shops. which is bettering the retail sector’s recovery. ( Farfan ) In a hard-pressed economic system. consumers are more cautious about how they spend their money. which is expected to go on due to underemployment and high unemployment rates. Firms in this industry demand to go on to offer their member clients a wide choice of a assortment of merchandises at a low cost. This will pull more clients every bit good as maintain client trueness. Even though the economic system is retrieving. gas monetary values are lifting. This could hold a negative effect for Costco since it operates gas Stationss at legion shops throughout the state. Some clients may be loath to buy gas because they merely do non desire to drive that much anymore or happen cheaper rates someplace else. In add-on. the more money that clients spend on gas at Costco’s the lupus erythematosus they are likely to pass on other shop merchandises. Exchange rates is Another economic factor that has an consequence on Costco. Since Costco has some foreign subordinates. exchange rates are traveling to impact Costco’s net income in a positive or negative manner when it comes clip to set together their fiscal statements. Costco has to interpret their subsidiaries’ foreign currency into dollars and exchange rates tend to fluctuate. which can hold an inauspicious or reverse consequence on net income. A concluding economic factor is involvement and rising prices rates. These two rates have a negative consequence on the industry because if these rates were to increase Costco would hold to increase the monetary values of their merchandises. In add-on to economic factors. societal factors impact the industry. Costco. every bit good as its rivals need to pay attending to four chief features of their clients: Age. client household size. income degrees. and purchasing wonts. Retailers need to cognize the age scope of their clients in order to find what sorts of merchandises to offer. since client age scope varies significantly in retail shops. This will let Costco and other retail merchants to do a determination about how much stock list should be ordered for their shops. The merchandises need to be marketed efficaciously across all age’s in order to appeal to their mark audience. Knowing the household size of retail clients allows retail merchants to place a monetary value scheme for their merchandises. Retailers know that clients with larger households are more prone to seek cost-efficient merchandises to salvage money. while smaller families would be more likely to buy higher-priced merchandises. One of the chief factors that influence the retail concern is consumer income. Income degrees are normally affected by economic conditions and typically the more income a consumer has the more likely they are to pass. Harmonizing to U. S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. consumer disbursement rose 0. 5 per centum this past twelvemonth. ( World Wide Web. ehow. com ) The sum of consumer income affects all retailers’ ability to remain competitory with each other. Last. consumer purchasing wonts can be really dysfunctional for retail merchants. Sometimes consumers will wish a certain merchandises. so when a new one comes along the old merchandise will acquire disbanded. It is critical for success that retail merchants maintain the most voguish. sanely priced merchandises for purchase. The chief technological alteration in this industry is the continued growing of online shopping. every bit good as cyberspace advertisement. Internet shopping has become the retail industry’s most popular tendency and it seems that cyberspace shopping will merely increase over clip ( merchantoline. com ) . Costco maintains a competitory border over other retail shops who do non offer on-line shopping and it a llows them to convey in more gross. Online shopping has wholly revolutionized the manner that retail merchants do concern. Even though the economic system is retrieving from a recession. the retail concern is still a mature industry and is bettering really steadily. The retail industry histories for the 2nd largest consumer sector in the United States. in footings of figure of constitutions and employees. ( merchantonline. com ) Harmonizing to the United States Department of Commerce. gross revenues increased in the first one-fourth of 2011 opposed to 2010. which is supposed to bring forth $ 4. 2 trillion yearly in the United States entirely. ( merchantonline. com ) As a manner to pull more concern and compete with one another. retail merchants are now get downing to offer more price reductions and inducements in their shops. The retail industry can merely make better every bit long as the economic system is bettering. which can increase optimism in the industry. Improved retail conditions means improved fiscal consequences. Investors are puting more in the retail industry and amalgamation and acquisitio n activity increased throughout 2011. The retail industry still maintains their position as the figure one distribution channel in the United States and the outgrowth of the popularity of online shopping will merely let retail merchants to better function the increasing demands of their consumers. The retail industry is a extremely competitory market with legion companies competing for consumer’s concern by offering a assortment of finished merchandises. Costco has many rivals. but no other rival offers a bigger menace than Wal-Mart Stores. Inc. Wal-Mart leads all retail shops in footings of gross with $ 421. 849. 000. 000 yearly ( merchantonline. com ) . which beats Costco by $ 332. 934. 000. 000. Other major rivals of Costco in footings of gross are Target. Sears. Dollar General. Dollar Tree. and eBay. Since online shopping has become more popular. Costco needs to be cognizant of cyberspace companies such as Amazon. com and eBay acquiring more of a market portion in the retail industry. In add-on. Costco needs to be cognizant of other non-store retail merchants as emerging entrants in the retail industry. such as informercials. direct response telecasting advertisement. in-home presentations. peddling machines. e-commerce. and multi-level selling ( Farfan ) . As for a new shop retail merchants emerging. Costco does non necessitate to worry because this is a really difficult barrier to entree and it would hard for another shop retail merchant to distinguish themselves in footings of monetary value and merchandises from the other retail shops. Not merely are rivalry between rivals and the emergent of new entrants forces that form Costco’s strategic program. but Costco besides has to worry about replacements. A replacement for a retail shop would be a food market shops. single gas Stationss. vesture shops. jewellery shops. and electronic shops. All these shops offer many of the same merchandises that Costco offers and at a similar monetary value. Costco has a competitory advantage over many of these other shops because their merchandises can normally all be bought at Costco ; nevertheless. Costco needs to be cognizant of what these shops are making as to what merchandises they offer and at what monetary value in order to keep a competitory advantage. In general. Costco has a supreme advantage in the retail industry compared to its legion rivals. In 2011. Costco was ranked the 3rd largest retail merchant in the United States and 8th largest in the universe. Costco is besides listed as 25th on the Fortune 500. ( costco. com ) The retail industry is booming due to the economic system recovering and the future looks really promising. Costco has an advantage for a higher net income potency in approaching old ages every bit long as they can supply their consumers the best trades that people can happen. Internal AnalysisCostco Wholesale Corporation operates 598 warehouses worldwide in one of the most extremely competitory markets of any industry. In order to keep their success in the retail industry. Costco needs to stay by their mission statement. in which the company plans to continually supply their members with choice goods and services at the lowest possible monetary values. ( Costco. com ) Costco can continue this promise to their consumers by maintaining their members pleased. continuing employee morale. go oning to hold positive relationships with providers. and following Torahs and ordinances. Costco has much strength as a leader in the retail industry and is presented with many chances for growing and farther development ; nevertheless. there are some failings the Costco could better upon and the company is exposed to menaces that could endanger Costco’s future success in the retail industry. Costco has many strong properties that make the company one of the Prime Minister leaders in the retail industry. One of Costco’s strength’s is the company’s merchandise and service choice. Costco offers many national trade name merchandises. every bit good merchandises under its private label Kirkland. ( Datamonitor. 2008 ) Costco’s merchandises range from food markets. electronics. contraptions. hardware. etc. In add-on to merchandises. Costco offers a broad scope of services which include offering assorted types of insurance. existent estate and mortgage services. small-business loans. etc. A assortment of merchandises and services available in one topographic point makes it really convenient for consumers to shop at one topographic point to coverage all of their indispensable demands and purchase luxury points. Costco’s handiness of merchandises and service all in one topographic point helps the company serve a really big and differentiated cons umer base. which promotes higher grades of client satisfaction and reduces concern hazard. Another noteworthy strength of Costco is their strategic monetary value positioning scheme. which has led to increased client trueness. Costco maintains a competitory advantage over other retail shops by offering a well low markup of 11 % of their ware. ( Datamonitor. 2011 ) Because of their low markup. Costco has been able to increase rank reclamations of their consumers. Harmonizing to the 2011 Annual Report. Costco increased their entire cardholder population by 6. 000. 000 members from 2010 conveying about a sum of 64. 000. 000 cardholders at their financial twelvemonth terminal. Although members pay one-year fees to shop at Costco. executive member cardholders. who have the highest one-year fee. position is increasing due to Costco’s 2 % rewards plan. This rewards plan offers clients an extra 2 % price reduction on qualified purchases that can be redeemed at Costco warehouses. ( Datamonitor. 2011 ) Costco’s ability to keep a loyal consumer base will enable the comp any to postulate with other retail companies in this extremely competitory market. A 3rd strength of Costco is their low cost operating doctrine. which has resulted in decreased funding costs for the company. Costco has low stock list costs as a consequence of an addition in their stock list turnover ratio. Costco’s stock list turnover ratio is presently at 12. 67 yearss. which is up by. 36 yearss from the old twelvemonth. ( financials. morningstar. com ) This is chiefly an result of Costco’s low pricing scheme. which offers a narrow choice of private and national trade names. and promoting consumers to purchase in majority. all of which has led to an addition in gross revenues volume for the company. Harmonizing to Costco’s 2011 Annual Report. net gross revenues increased by 5. 1 % from 2010. Costco has been able to hold a really sophisticated supply concatenation web from its gross revenues volume and speedy stock list turnover. thereby leting the company to finance their stock list through payment programs with providers instead than holding to utilize some of their on the job capital. Costco is able to reassign their ware cargos from its distribution centre to the legion warehouses across the state and abroad around a 24 hr clip period. which capitalizes on cargo volume and cut downing receiving and storage costs. When the merchandises arrive at the warehouses. Costco is able to cut down labour for managing and carrying the merchandises by runing a self-service installation. where merchandises are displayed to palettes in big measures and stored on racks. A concluding strength of Costco is increasing their gross and assets systematically and bettering upon their debt place. Net Gross saless have increased steadily since 2009. From 2009 to 2010. net gross revenues increased by $ 6. 37 billion and by $ 10. 8 billion from 2010 to 2011. ( Costco Wholesale Annual Report ) This has besides caused net income to increase every bit good. which is presently at $ 1. 46 billion at the terminal of the 2011 financial twelvemonth. All of Costco’s current assets and belongings and equipment increased in value for 2010. where entire assets increased by $ 2. 9 billion. Costco has seen a lessening in their long-run debt place. which decreased by $ 888 million from 2010. This lessening has improved the company’s debt to equity ratio and involvement coverage ratio. Costco’s improved recognition worthiness and gross and plus place enable Costco to be in place for more enlargement undertakings. Even though Costco Wholesale Corporation has much strength. there are some failings within the company that need to be discussed. The first failing within the company is their focal point of operations within the California market. Costco has 429 warehouses in the United States and 119 of those warehouses are in California. Washington. where the corporation is headquartered. is the closest second best with lone 29 shops in the full province. Costco does non even have any locations in Arkansas. Louisiana. Mississippi. Maine. Wyoming. West Virginia. North Dakota. or South Dakota. There are many macro-economic factors that could potentially ache concern for Costco in California. such as increasing province unemployment degrees. increasing nutrient. gas. and energy monetary values. and the worsening lodging market. California is besides susceptible to many natural catastrophes. such as temblors and forest fires. Costco besides faces the hazard of an increasing figure of sweeping nines em erging in the California retail market. All of these economic. environmental. and industry jeopardies could impact Costco’s overall public presentation since California is the company’s primary beginning of gross. Another failing of Costco is their deficiency of presence in Europe other than the United Kingdom. Costco presently operates 22 warehouses throughout England. Scotland. and Wales. There are no other locations throughout Europe. It would look good for Costco to see spread outing into the European continent sing their economic province. Many states within the European Union are fighting economically and since Costco offers merchandises and services at well low monetary values compared to other retail merchants. more people could see shopping at Costco for their indispensable demands. A failing that stands out for Costco is that they merely allow club members to shop at their warehouses. Many people might non desire to shop at Costco entirely because they are required to pay an one-year rank fee. By merely leting club members to shop at their locations. Costco is losing out on a huge sum of gross of people desiring to shop at that place. but can non. Gross saless could be higher than what they are now if Costco would desire to see altering their policy. More gross revenues could take to more enlargement and a greater market portion. Costco has a history of merchandise callbacks and judicial proceeding proceedings that would damage the company’s image. For case. in December of 2007 a provider of Burritos said that their merchandise contained undeclared casein. a milk protein that could take to serious allergic reactions. ( Datamonitor ) Besides. in 2008. Costco had to remember bottles of Samuel Adams beer because of opportunities of the bottles incorporating glass. In the yesteryear. Costco was involved in a figure of category action cases. which accused the company of neglecting to counterbalance decently for overtime work. non supplying repast or remainder interruptions. and unjust publicity chances for female directors. A negative public image by the media could damage the company’s repute. A concluding failing of Costco is that the company’s inability to market good. Costco does non hold a batch of resources in their selling section and normally is merely involved in direct selling for advancing choice ware. ( Datamonitor ) This can ache Costco because if they are non acquiring the right sum of publicity it could ache them by non being able to pull more members. which could set a load on their end of increasing gross systematically. Some chances that Costco is presented with are strong growing and enlargement outlooks in their Asiatic market. a turning demand for private label merchandises. and more chances for on-line retailing. ( These subjects will be cover in the Options section. ) Costco is besides presented with legion menaces. such as their competition. exchange rates fluctuations. increasing labour and health care costs. and high exposure to low growing markets. Costco stacks up really good compared to their competition with increasing gross growing. enlargement chances. and with their on-line retail sector. Costco is a really big company with a batch of fiscal strength and is executing rather good. financially. in one of the most competitory industries in the universe. Costco seems to hold a really good strategic program with the manner they conduct their concern and it shows that their methods are working. Obviously. there are some things that they would wish to better upon. but Costco is presented with many chances that could turn them into an even larger company and a bigger menace to their competition. Fiscal AnalysisFor the fiscal analysis. I compared Costco to Target. which is one of its nearest rivals. 45 pointsMorningstar. com was used to cipher this data| Focal Firm Costco| | Closest CompetitorTarget| | 2011| 2010| 2009| | 2011| 2010| 2009| Current Ratio ( # ) | 1. 14| 1. 16| 1. 11| | 1. 71| 1. 63| 1. 66| Debt/Equity Ratio ( % ) | 1. 23| 1. 20| 1. 19| | 1. 82| 1. 90| 2. 22| Gross Profit Margin ( % ) | 12. 6 % | 12. 8 % | 12. 7 % | | 30. 9 % | 30. 3 % | 32 % | Net Net income Margin ( % ) | 1. 64 % | 1. 67 % | 1. 52 % | | 4. 33 % | 3. 81 % | 3. 41 % | Activity Ratio ( Your pick ) Inventory Turnover| 12. 67| 12. 31| 11. 94| | 6. 31| 6. 57| 1. 55| Gross Growth ( % ) | 14. 07 % | 9. 13 % | -1. 46 % | | 3. 11 % | . 63 % | 2. 50 % | S. G A ; A/Revenue ( % ) | 9. 82 % | 10. 09 % | 10. 21 % | | 19. 99 % | 20. 01 % | 22. 42 % | Based on the fiscal ratios that are calculated above. Target is more liquid. leveraged. and profitable because they have a higher current ratio compared to Costco. a higher debt/equity ratio than Costco. and a higher gross border and net net income per centum than Costco. Costco has better gross growing over the three old ages. They took a minor hit in 2009 due to the recession. but increased their gross dramatically in 2010 and increased it more in 2011. Target has positive growing in all three old ages ; nevertheless. their gross growing fell in 2010 and did non even increase every bit much gross as Costco. Costco has better control of their S. G A ; A over the three old ages. Costco’s is lower than Target’s and they’re able to steadily diminish their S. G A ; A % of gross over the class of three old ages. Target has a better purchase tendency over the three old ages than Costco. Target is somewhat extremely leveraged so Costco ; nevertheless. Target is dimin ishing their Debt/Equity ratio steadily over the three twelvemonth period. while Costco’s Debt/Ratio increases over the three twelvemonth period. Determining whether Costco or Target is financially â€Å"healthier† than the other in the three-year period presents some trouble because both houses are in really stable conditions and are executing in different countries better than the other. Both companies have been around in the retail industry for many old ages and are doing great paces in going leaders in their extremely competitory market. Not to state that one is better than the other. but if I had to pick one over the other in footings of being financially â€Å"healthier† I would hold to travel with Target. When measuring liquidness ratios. Target wins because they have a higher current ratio than Costco in every twelvemonth over the three-year period. This means that Target has the ability to pay off short-run debts more rapidly than Costco. There is more hard currency. hard currency equivalents. and history receivables on-hand than current liabilities. which is a consequence of both companies holding a positive figure for all three old ages for both companies. Both companies are executing good in footings of being able to pay off short-run debts since all their Numberss are greater than one. but Target has the border because their current ratio is a batch higher than Costco’s. Even though Target has a higher Debt/Equity ratio over the three twelvemonth period. as a company. they are doing great paces in significantly diminishing their sum of purchase. On the other manus. Costco’s Debt/Equity ratio is a batch lower than Target’s. but their Debt/Equity ratio is increasing every twelvemonth. I besides think that Target’s higher purchase is non needfully such a bad thing. As shown by their profitableness ratios. Target is executing financially good and holding debt could be a mark of future growing because the company will necessitate money is order to spread out into more markets. unfastened new shops. purchase new assets. engage more employees. advertise more. etc. If Target is able to utilize their debt efficaciously. holding more debt at the minute will profit them more in the long-term so Costco. Besides. by diminishing their Debt/Equity ratio. Target is take downing the sum of involvement that needs to be paid to creditors for the ad option of financess. Costco would really be increasing their involvement disbursal because their debt is increasing. From a profitableness point of view. Target has about an 18 % higher Gross Profit Margin per centum than Costco in all three old ages. Both firms’ Gross Profit Margin remains reasonably stable around the same per centum over the three twelvemonth period. but it is an tremendous advantage for Target to do about 30 % markup on selling their merchandises entirely. Not merely is Target’s Gross Profit Margin per centum higher. but their net net income border per centum is about 3 % higher in each twelvemonth over the three twelvemonth period than Costco. This after-tax income allows Target to hold the possible to pay a batch more dividends to their Stockholders than Costco. which enables Target to accomplish a primary end of any company. which will increase the wealth of their stockholders. A higher net income gives Target an advantage over Costco to pay out more dividends. Costco does hold an advantage over Target in footings of holding a higher Inventory Turnover ratio each twelvemonth. dramatically increasing their gross. particularly in 2010 and 2011. and holding a lower S. G A ; A/Revenue per centum. However. that’s non to state that Target’s Numberss are bad. Costco is better at turning over their stock list throughout every twelvemonth. where the additions can be seen in the additions in gross growing throughout the three twelvemonth period. Costco being able to sell more stock lists will merely increase gross revenues. Target’s stock list turnover ratio is consistent. They were able to hold a 5 % addition in 2010 and remained around the same in 2011 and can ever better upon this figure. Like their stock list turnover ratio. Target’s gross growing per centum is consistent. It’s positive in every twelvemonth over the three twelvemonth period. but doesn’t have the large leaps that Costco did in 2010 and 2011. It’s good to detect that Target’s gross growing wasn’t that affected in 2009 by the recession that hurt many companies in the retail industry. I think that consistence is better in this class and gives Target an advantage in the long-run because it would truly be difficult for Costco to hold dramatic gross growing increases in old ages to come. but it gives Costco the border in the present. While looking at each companies S. G A ; A/Revenue per centum. both companies are doing the right betterments in this class for the ratio decreases systematically each twelvemonth. Costco wins this class because their S. G A ; A/Revenue per centum is a batch lower than Target’s. Target is making good in the fact that it’s diminishing each twelvemonth. but their S. G A ; A/Revenue per centum is merely higher because they have a batch more profitableness than Costco. which means that they’re selling more merchandises as a whole. If there are more merchandises to sell so at that place has to be more administrative disbursals to run their concern. In decision. both companies are so financially â€Å"healthy. † but Target wins in comparing the two companies. As a whole. I thought that Target had more consistence in some classs and merely kick better Numberss in other classs. It’ll decidedly be interesting how their 2012 Numberss compare to the tendencies their holding at the current minute. Options When measuring the external factors that affect the retail industry. Costco’s strengths. failings. chances. and menaces. and Costco’s fiscal state of affairs. there are three chief options that the house has the capableness to implement traveling frontward. The options are offering more client service in their warehouses. increase on-line retail gross revenues. and get other retail shops for enlargement and growing. All of these options are relevant to the issues confronting the retail industry and will enable Costco to hold a greater competitory advantage over other retail shops. The first option that Costco has traveling frontward is to offer more client service to their clients shopping in the warehouses. Costco displays legion merchandises in majority and on palettes in their warehouses and this could function as an incommodiousness to some of their clients. particularly to older clients who might hold problem acquiring to or raising the merchandises. To avoid these sorts of disagreements and supply the maximal sum of client service to their clients. Costco should increase the sum of forces that they have on their warehouse floors. Customer service will non merely be available at the forepart desk of the shop. but it will now be available throughout the warehouse. which will supply clients with the greatest sum of aid and will take to better client satisfaction and beef up client trueness. Costco does hold the right accomplishment set to implement this program because their employees are good qualified and trained to help customer’s demands. They co uld engage more forces in their shops to do this a full or parttime occupation for some employees and it could be implemented in their shops instead rapidly. so clip would non be a factor in this option. The 2nd option that Costco has is to increase the on-line retail gross revenues. Online-retailing is going the industry’s most popular tendency. Harmonizing to Forrester Research. e-commerce gross revenues in the U. S. will maintain turning at a 10 per centum compound one-year growing rate through 2014. It forecasts on-line retail gross revenues in the U. S. will be about $ 250 billion. up from $ 155 billion in 2009. Last twelvemonth. on-line retail gross revenues were up 11 per centum. compared to 2. 5 per centum for all retail gross revenues. ( techcrunch. com ) On the company web site. Costco has done a really good occupation so far at directing clients how to shop online. which makes shopping at Costco really convenient and less clip consuming. However. in order to go a more effectual leader in on-line retailing. Costco has to take a assortment of steps. chiefly publicizing techniques. to increase their market portion on the e-commerce market. This could be done by doing some alterations to their web site. Costco could shift their opt-in offer to hike their opt-ins and construct a bigger list of loyal endorsers. This is possible by garnering customers’ e-mail references and constructing an e-mail list. which allows Costco to regularly maintain in touch with endorsers. construct relationships of trust and trueness. and sell them merchandises or services. ( World Wide Web. enterpriser. com ) Costco could besides add impact to their publicities with hover ads and have different benefits with their headlines. They need to transfuse a sense of urgency in their web site and convince readers they need to purchase now. they need take any mentions to â€Å"buying† from the top crease. and hike their product’s desirableness by adding images. All of these alterations that could be made to the web site will heighten Costco’s credibleness with on-line retailing and increase their market portion of e-commerce gross revenues. These alterations could be made in a timely order to their web site and Costco has adequate money to cover these execution costs. Costco’s 3rd option traveling frontward is to get other retail shops that will take to the company’s enlargement and growing. Costco presently does non hold any shops in Arkansas. Louisiana. Mississippi. Maine. Wyoming. West Virginia. North Dakota. or South Dakota. 148 of their 429 locations are in either California or Washington. Besides. Costco does non hold any kind of European presence besides 22 in the United Kingdom. Costco could hold the option of spread outing to the parts in the United States where they do non hold any warehouses and spread out into Europe by geting other retail ironss or constructing new warehouses. This will finally let Costco to spread out in other markets and turn more profitable as a company. Costco is financially stable to take on this undertaking because of their consistence of increasing their grosss and assets and their current debt place. Costco will hold to take on a batch of debt or publish some more stock to fund for this undertaki ng. but the debt and equity they get will pay off because of the chances that wait. Costco does hold the accomplishment set for this undertaking. but clip will be the lone issue since it takes a long clip to be after and construct a undertaking of this magnitude. Recommendations The two recommendations that direction for Costco Wholesale Corporation should follow are to lower rank costs and spread out their operations in United States and internationally by either geting shops from other retail ironss or constructing new warehouses. If direction were to take to implement one or both of these recommendations. Costco will go more competitory and profitable over clip. These recommendations would non be easy to implement and would take some clip. but it will convey new chances for one the retail industry’s leaders. For the first recommendation. if Costco were to diminish the sum it costs to go a club member there would be an addition figure of persons who would desire to go a club member at Costco. Having to pay an one-year fee merely to shop at a shop may look to a drawback to some people. Since Costco is a sweeping corporation. merely club members are allowed to shop at the shop. There are three degrees of rank: Business. Gold Star ( single ) . and Executive rank. which has either a $ 55 or $ 110 fee. ( costco. com ) Each rank degree entitles each client to the low cost of Costco’s merchandises. with many options to purchase merchandises in majority that saves more money. Even though Costco makes about $ 1. 8 billion yearly from card rank fees. that figure will increase if Costco were to diminish the monetary values of the rank fees by a little sum because more people would be attracted to a lower monetary value. Costco would be able to go more profitable over clip with implementing th is recommendation because if more people are to go members because of the lessening in rank monetary value so gross will finally increase. For the 2nd recommendation. if Costco were to spread out in the parts of the United States. Europe. and Asia where they do non hold a presence they will be able to increase their market portion. which will take to them holding a greater competitory advantage for other retail merchants and it will let for greater profitableness. Costco can spread out in these countries by either geting other retail shops. such as BJ’s. Aldi. etc. or by constructing new warehouses. Expanding into the provinces of Arkansas. Louisiana. Mississippi. Maine. Wyoming. West Virginia. North Dakota. and South Dakota. every bit good as other countries of the state besides the West seashore give Costco are larger market portion in the United States. Expanding in other countries of Europe outside the United Kingdom will give them a larger European market portion. every bit good as more trade name acknowledgment. Last. Costco has an emerging Asiatic market in the many of the states of Southeast Asia. Costco needs to spread out into the energetic economic systems of China and India. every bit good every bit emerge as a primary retail merchant in Japan. All of these enlargements would take to an addition Asiatic market portion. With the execution of these two recommendations. Costco will see increased consequences of fight and profitableness. Plants Cited Costco. com: Offer Thousands of Items You Want. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. costco. com gt ; . â€Å"Costco Mission Statement and Code of Ethics. † Costco. com: Offer Thousands of Items You Won’t Find in Your Local Costco. Web. 07 Feb. 2012. Costco Wholesale Annual Report 12/12/2011. † Costco. com: Offer Thousands of Items You Won’t Find in Your Local Costco. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. costco. com gt ; . Datamonitor: Costco Wholesale Corporation. Costco Wholesale Corporation SWOT Analysis ( 2008 ) : 1. Business Source Premier. Web. 7 Feb. 2012. Datamonitor: Costco Wholesale Corporation. Costco Wholesale Corporation SWOT Analysis ( 2011 ) : 1. Business Source Premier. Web. 7 Feb. 2012. Farfan. Barbara. â€Å"Retail Industry Information: Overview of Facts. Research. Data A ; Trivia 2011. † Retail Industry – Retail Stores. Gross saless. Management. Selling. Jobs. Companies. Tre nds and Analysis in the U. S. and Global Retail Industry. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //retailindustry. about. com/od/statisticsresearch/p/retailindustry. htm gt ; . Greenstein. Rogoff. Olsen. A ; Co. . LLP. CPA’s. â€Å"Tax Rate Guide for 2010 and 2011 – Corporate and Individual Tax Rate Schedules. † Bay Area CPA Firm. Tax Planning. Accounting. Business Valuations. Fremont. Palo Alto. Danville. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. groco. com/tools/taxrateguide11. aspx gt ; . â€Å"Growth. Profitability. and Financial Ratios for Costco Wholesale Corporation ( COST ) from Morningstar. com. † Welcome to Financials. morningstar. com. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //financials. morningstar. com/ratios/r. hypertext markup language? t=COST gt ; . Oteia. Bruce. â€Å"Social Factors Affecting Retail Business. † EHow. Demand Media. 24 May 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2012.

Morgan Elizabeth PhD. Contemporary I ssues sexual Essays (419 words)

Morgan Elizabeth PhD. "Contemporary I ssues sexual orientation and identity development in emerging adulthood" Am J Psychiatry . March 1985 Elizabeth Morgan is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Psychology and is the current director of the Family Studies Initiative. She received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2008. Dr. Morgan's research focuses on adolescent and young adult sexual and romantic relationship development and sexual orientation. Much of her work emphasizes sexual orientation and sexual identity development, especially among young women and men. With her research mainly targeting college students. Dr. Elizabeth main point in the article is telling the reader that sexual orientation has many stages of identification. What she's trying convey the reader is an open perspective that sexual orientation can come in many different stages of life that young women are most likely to realize their sexual identity at a younger age do the fact women reach a maturity level that's higher than men at a younger age. How D r . Elizabeth Morgan is trying to convey to the reader is by a research that she did in 2010 she gathered a group of men and women form all different types of race, culture, religion and countries and her studies concluded that no matter what a woman would always know their sexual identity at a younger age. The author's qualifications are very o utstanding with her qualification's helping her with the study that she did in 2018 focusing psychology of young men and women. She published this article in Springfield MA in the year 2012 which does not affect her credential's do the fact of her study focusing on the target audience of young adulthood in sexual orientation . Her work contributes and adds a different perspective an d point of view with the nature part of my qu estion that no matter in what religion , culture, and country that women really found what sexual orient ation they are no matter the different variables. Some thing that I have found that comes up the same in many different articles that I read is that fact the men around the world with different cultures and and religion and background men take longer to accept their sexual orientation do the fact that she says in this article that men take away from a father figure more than women take from their mothers and that men growing up being influenced by dad more them women take from their mothers.

Best Summary and Analysis The Great Gatsby

Best Summary and Analysis The Great Gatsby SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Maybe you’ve just finished The Great Gatsby and need some guidance for unpacking its complex themes and symbols. Or maybe it’s been awhile since you last read this novel, so you need a refresher on its plot and characters. Or maybe you’re in the middle of reading it and want to double check that you’re not missing the important stuff. Whatever you need - we’ve got you covered with this comprehensive summary of one of the great American novels of all time! Not only does this complete The Great Gatsby summary provide a detailed synopsis of the plot, but it’ll also give you: capsule descriptions for the book’s major characters, short explanations of most important themes, as well as links to in-depth articles about these and other topics. (Image: Molasz / Wikimedia Commons) Quick Note on Our Citations Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text. The Great GatsbySummary: The Full Plot Our narrator, Nick Carraway, moves to the East Coast to work as a bond trader in Manhattan. He rents a small house in West Egg, a nouveau riche town in Long Island. In East Egg, the next town over, where old money people live, Nick reconnects with his cousin Daisy Buchanan, her husband Tom, and meets their friend Jordan Baker. Tom takes Nick to meet his mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle is married to George Wilson, who runs a gas station in a gross and dirty neighborhood in Queens. Tom, Nick, and Myrtle go to Manhattan, where she hosts a small party that ends with Tom punching her in the face. Nick meets his next-door neighbor, Jay Gatsby, a very rich man who lives in a giant mansion and throws wildly extravagant parties every weekend, and who is a mysterious person no one knows much about. Gatsby takes Nick to lunch and introduces him to his business partner - a gangster named Meyer Wolfshiem. Nick starts a relationship with Jordan. Through her, Nick finds out that Gatsby and Daisy were in love five years ago, and that Gatsby would like to see her again. Nick arranges for Daisy to come over to his house so that Gatsby can â€Å"accidentally† drop by. Daisy and Gatsby start having an affair. Tom and Daisy come to one of Gatsby’s parties. Daisy is disgusted by the ostentatiously vulgar display of wealth, and Tom immediately sees that Gatsby’s money most likely comes from crime. We learn that Gatsby was born intoa poor farming family as James Gatz. He has always been extremely ambitious, creating the Jay Gatsby persona as a way of transforming himself into a successful self-made man - the ideal of the American Dream. Nick, Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and Jordan get together for lunch. At this lunch, Daisy and Gatsby are planning to tell Tom that she is leaving him. Gatsby suddenly feels uncomfortable doing this in Tom’s house, and Daisy suggests going to Manhattan instead. In Manhattan, the five of them get a suite at the Plaza Hotel where many secrets come out. Gatsby reveals that Daisy is in love with him. Tom in turn reveals that Gatsby is a bootlegger, and is probably engaged in other criminal activities as well. Gatsby demands that Daisy renounce Tom entirely, and say that she has never loved him. Daisy can’t bring herself to say this because it isn’t true, crushing Gatsby’s dream and obsession. It’s clear that their relationship is over and that Daisy has chosen to stay with Tom. That evening, Daisy and Gatsby drive home in his car, with Daisy behind the wheel. When they drive by the Wilson gas station, Myrtle runs out to the car because she thinks it’s Tom driving by. Daisy hits and kills her, driving off without stopping. Nick, Jordan, and Tom investigate the accident. Tom tells George Wilson that the car that struck Myrtle belongs to Gatsby, and George decides that Gatsby must also be Myrtle’s lover. That night, Gatsby decides to take the blame for the accident. He is still waiting for Daisy to change her mind and come back to him, but she and Tom skip town the next day. Nick breaks up with Jordan because she is completely unconcerned about Myrtle’s death. Gatsby tells Nick some more of his story. As an officer in the army, he met and fell in love with Daisy, but after a month had to ship out to fight in WWI. Two years later, before he could get home, she married Tom. Gatsby has been obsessed with getting Daisy back since he shipped out to fight five years earlier. The next day, George Wilson shoots and kills Gatsby, and then himself. The police leave the Buchanans and Myrtle’s affair out of the report on the murder-suicide. Nick tries to find people to come to Gatsby’s funeral, but everyone who pretended to be Gatsby’s friend and came to his parties now refuses to come. Even Gatsby’s partner Wolfshiem doesn’t want to go to the funeral. Wolfshiem explains that he first gave Gatsby a job after WWI and that they have been partners in many illegal activities together. Gatsby’s father comes to the funeral from Minnesota. He shows Nick a self-improvement plan that Gatsby had written for himself as a boy. Disillusioned with his time on the East coast, Nick decides to return to his home in the Midwest. Other Ways to Study the Plot of The Great Gatsby See what happens when in actual chronological order and without flashbacks in our Great Gatsby timeline. Read our individualThe Great Gatsby chapter summariesfor more in-depth details about plot, important quotes and character beats, and how the novel’s major themes get reflected: Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Learn the significance behind the novel’s title, itsbeginning, and its ending. List of the Major Characters in The Great Gatsby Click on each character's name to read an in-depth article analyzing their place in the novel. Nick Carraway - our narrator, but not the book’s main character. Coming East from the Midwest to learn the bond business, Nick is horrified by the materialism and superficiality he finds in Manhattan and Long Island. He ends up admiring Gatsby as a hopeful dreamer and despising the rest of the people he encounters. Jay Gatsby - a self-made man who is driven by his love for, and obsession with, Daisy Buchanan. Born a poor farmer, Gatsby becomes materially successful through crime and spends the novel trying to recreate the perfect love he and Daisy had five years before. When she cannot renounce her marriage, Gatsby’s dream is crushed. Daisy Buchanan - a very rich young woman who is trapped in a dysfunctional marriage and oppressed by her meaningless life. Daisy has an affair with Gatsby, but is ultimately unwilling to say that she has been as obsessed with him as he has with her, and goes back to her unsatisfying, but also less demanding, relationship with her husband, Tom. Tom Buchanan - Daisy’s very rich, adulterous, bullying, racist husband. Tom is having a physically abusiveaffair with Myrtle Wilson. He investigates Gatsby and reveals some measure of his criminal involvement, demonstrating to Daisy that Gatsby isn’t someone she should run off with. After Daisy runs over Myrtle Wilson, Tom makes up with Daisyand they skip town together. Jordan Baker - a professional golfer who has a relationship with Nick. At first, Jordan is attractive because of her jaded, cynical attitude, but then Nick slowly sees that her inveterate lying and her complete lack of concern for other people are deal breakers. Myrtle Wilson - the somewhat vulgar wife of a car mechanic who is unhappy in her marriage. Myrtle is having an affair with Tom, whom she likes for his rugged and brutal masculinity and for his money. Daisy runs Myrtle over, killing herin agruesome and shocking way. George Wilson - Myrtle’s browbeaten, weak, and working class husband. George is enraged when he finds out about Myrtle’s affair, and then that rage is transformed into unhinged madness when Myrtle is killed. George kills Gatsby and himself in the murder-suicide that seems to erase Gatsby and his lasting impact on the world entirely. Other Ways to Study Great Gatsby Characters Need a refresher on all the other people in this book? Check out our overview of the charactersor dive deeper with our detailed character analyses. Get some help for tackling the common assignment of comparing and contrasting the novel’s characters. Start gathering relevant character quotesto beef up your essay assignments with evidence from the text. List of the Major Themes in The Great Gatsby Get a broadoverview of the novel’s themes, or click on each theme to read a detailed individual analysis. Money and Materialism- the novel is fascinated by how people make their money, what they can and can’t buy with it, and how the pursuit of wealth shapes the decisions people make and the paths their lives follow. In the novel, is it possible to be happy without a lot of money? Is it possible to be happy with it? Society and Class- the novel can also be read as a clash between the old money set and the nouveau riche strivers and wannabes that are trying to either become them or replace them. If the novel ends with the strivers and the poor being killed off and the old money literally getting away with murder, who wins this class battle? The American Dream- does the novel endorse or mock the dream of the rags-to-riches success story, the ideal of the self-made man? Is Gatsby a successful example of what’s possible through hard work and dedication, or a sham whose crime and death demonstrate that the American Dream is a work of fiction? Love, Desire, and Relationships- most of the major characters are driven by either love or sexual desire, but none of these connections prove lasting or stable. Is the novel saying that these are destructive forces, or is just that these characters use and feel them in the wrong way? Death and Failure - a tone of sadness and elegy (an elegy is a song of sadness for the dead) suffuses the book, as Nick looks back at a summer that ended with three violent deaths and the defeat of one man’s delusional dream. Areambition and overreach doomed to this level of epic failure, orare theyexamples of the way we sweep the past under the rug when looking to the future? Morality and Ethics - despite the fact that most of the characters in this novel cheat on their significant others, one is an accidental killer, one is an actual criminal, and one a murderer, at the end of the novel no one is punished either by the law or by public censure. Is there a way to fix the lawless, amoral, Wild East that this book describes, or does the replacement of God with a figure from a billboard mean that this is a permanent state of affairs? The Mutability of Identity - the key to answering the title’s implied questions (What makes Gatsby great? Is Gatsby great?) is whether it is possible to change oneself for good, or whether past history and experiences leave their marks forever. Gatsby wants to have it both ways: to change himself from James Gatz into a glamorous figure, but also to recapitulate and preserve in amber a moment from his past with Daisy. Does he fail because it’s impossible to change? Because it’s impossible to repeat the past? Or both? Other Ways to Study Great Gatsby Themes Often, themes are represented by the a novel's symbols. Check out our overview of the main symbols in The Great Gatsby, or click on an individual symbol for a deeper exploration of its meaning and relevance: The green light at the end of Daisy's dock The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg The valley of ashes Themes are also often reinforced by recurring motifs. Delve into a guide to the way motifs color and enrich this work. The Bottom Line Our guide toThe Great Gatsbyoffers a variety of ways to study the novel's: plot characters themes symbols motifs Use our analysis, gathered quotations, and description for help with homework assignments, tests, and essays on this novel. What’s Next? More Great Gatsby Analysis and Study Guides! Understand how the book is put together by looking at its genre, narrator, andsetting. Learn the background of and context for the novel in our explanations of the history of the composition of the bookand the biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Get a sense of how the novel has been adapted by reading about its many film versions. Hammer out the nitty gritty basics of the novel’s hardest vocab words. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Artist vs. Artisan

Artist vs. Artisan Artist vs. Artisan Artist vs. Artisan By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between an artist and an artisan? This unnecessarily sensitive question is equivalent to the issue of what constitutes art and what is designated as craft. In both cases, the former word essentially refers to the making of tangible or intangible products as an expression of creativity and imagination for purely aesthetic reasons. An artisan, meanwhile, though spurred by the same impulses, produces crafts, which, though they may be acquired only for decoration, are designed to be practical. Therefore, though some tension between artist and artisan between producers of art and designers of crafts may exist because of a perceived differential in their relative cultural status, the technical definitions are just that: precise distinctions not in quality or artistic achievement but in function. The word for the creator of art is the gender-neutral term artist. (The French form of the word, artiste, came to apply more broadly to creative professionals, especially performers, though it also has a pejorative sense of â€Å"pretentious artist.†) By extension, one talented in any endeavor even a con artist may earn the term. By contrast, makers of crafts have gender-specific labels craftsman and craftswoman but though craftsperson is the natural neutral term, many such practitioners prefer to be called artisans. (The Latin ancestor of this term is artire, which means â€Å"to instruct in the arts.†) Other words that ultimately derive from the Latin word ars (â€Å"art†) include artifact, which comes from the Italian word artifatto and ultimately from the Latin terms arte and factum (meaning â€Å"thing made†), originally having primarily an archaeological sense but now referring to anything left behind or remaining, and artifice, which originally meant workmanship but, from a secondary sense of â€Å"cunning,† came to refer to deceit or trickery. (However, artificer remains a synonym for artisan, although it can also refer to one who contrives or makes things or ideas.) Artificial, the adjectival form of artifice, broadly refers to anything not produced in nature. Artful once referred exclusively to artistic skill but later primarily came to mean â€Å"dexterous, wily†; in that sense, the term is best known in the moniker of the Artful Dodger, an adroit young pickpocket in Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist. The antonym, artless, likewise was originally a reference to a lack of talent but now usually refers to clumsiness in word or deed. Arty and artsy both describe artists, but the terms have developed a pejorative sense of pretension, and artsy is hyphenated in combination with craftsy and, worse, fartsy, to refer to someone with such airs, or a creation of theirs. Art is used in combination with other terms to denote subgenres with serious artistic ambitions (â€Å"art film,† â€Å"art rock†) as well as artistic movements, as in â€Å"art deco,† a truncation of the French phrase art dà ©coratif (â€Å"decorative art†), and art nouveau (â€Å"new art†); the first letter of each word in these phrases is often capitalized, especially when associated with other initial-capped designations. Another movement, named arts and crafts, is usually initial-capped to distinguish it from generic references. The liberal arts are the academic subjects also known as the humanities. The term liberal stems from the idea that knowledge of these subjects and the attendant skills are necessary for free people to know in order to be productive members of society. From the phrase â€Å"liberal arts† comes the designations for mastery of coursework known as the bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees (truncated, alternatively as â€Å"bachelor’s degree,† or bachelor’s, and â€Å"master’s degree,† or master’s). These terms have no specific relation to art itself, though study and/or practice of art may be a component of the coursework. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Religious Terms You Should KnowRunning Amok or Running Amuck?10 Humorous, Derisive, or Slang Synonyms for â€Å"Leader† or â€Å"Official†