Financial Statement Analysis For Blackmore Company Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1504 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? To get an understanding of Blackmore Company financial position, and what need to be done to improve its performance, some financial ratios were calculated. The liquidity ratios calculated include the current, quick asset, cash and working capital ratio. On management of debt, total debt to total asset, debt to equity, long term debt, and time interest earned and cash ratios. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Financial Statement Analysis For Blackmore Company Finance Essay" essay for you Create order The activity ratio include inventory, receivable, total asset and working capital turnover. Profit margin, return on asset and equity ratio were calculated as measure of profitability, were calculated. Finally on market value measures, price earning, market share price to book value ratios together with dividend yield and payout were calculated. The conclusion and recommendations were based on the results of the financial ratio. Introduction Financial ratio is the mathematical relationship between two or more element of a companys financial statement. Ratio analyses are applied in the financial statement to analyze the success, failure and progress of the business. This analysis enables the business owners or manager to know the trends in the business and compare its performance and condition with the average performance of similar business in the same industry (Financial Ratio Analysis, 2010). The external users of the financial ratio include the creditors, suppliers, customers, stockholders and investors. Ratios are classified according to the information they provide. The most frequently used ratios are Liquidity ratio, which provide information about a firms ability to meet its short term obligations. Activity ratios indicate how efficiently the firm utilizes its asset. Financial leverage ratio provides an indication of the long-term solvency of the firm. The success of the firm in generating profit is measured using profitability ratio. Certain problem while using the ratio is comparison between companies or industries can be difficult due to difference in worldwide standards. Although ratios are not meaningful on a standalone basis they are useful when compared with the company historical performance. This historical data do not provide direct looking information, (Financial Ratio, 2010).One cant predict future performance based solely on these ratios since circumstance such as competitive pressure and economic condition can change quickly. Lastly, is that ratio are subject to the limitation of the accounting methods. Different accounting choices may result in different ratio values. Liquidity ratio Liquidity ratio measures the company ability to pay its short term obligation. The greater the coverage of liquid asset to short term obligation the better as it is clear sign that the company can pay its debt in future. Company with low coverage will raise a red flag for investor as it may be a sign that the company will have difficulty meeting its running operation and obligation. Current ratio is one of the best known measures of financial strength and the general accepted ratio is 2:1 Quick ratio a liquidity ratio is one of the best measure of liquidity (Financial ratio analysis, 2010) which concentrate on liquid asset after you have removed inventories .A ratio of 1;1 is considered satisfactory unless majority of this liquid asset is account receivables. In all the 3 years of Blackmore Company the ratio is below the accepted level. If revenue disappear the company could not meet its current obligation Working capital is more of a measure of cash flow than ratio (Financial Ratio Analysis, 2010).The result of this calculation must be positive number. Bankers look at net working capital to determine the company ability to weather financial crisis as loans is tied on this working capital. In the year 2008 the ratio was at its lowest and this shows the company cant survive during financial crisis as it will not raise loan from banks. DEBT MANAGEMENT /SOLVENCY RATIO Solvency ratio indicates the extent to which the business is reliant to debt finance. Total debt ratio, compares company total debt to its asset which is used to gain a general idea as to the amount of leverage being used by the company (Engel, 1996). In the year 2007 55% of total asset was debt financed, 83% in 2008 and in 2009 is expected to be 44%.The high percentage in year 2008 shows high leverage and weak equity position. Debt -equity another measure of a companys leverage compares the company total liabilities to the total shareholders equity. It measures how the suppliers, lenders and creditors have committed to the company versus the shareholders (Penwell, 1994). In the year 2007 they committed 121% what the shareholders had contributed,482% in the year 2008,and it is expected to be 79% in the year 2009.Long term debt ratio also known as capitalization ratio the debt component of the company capital structure. Blackmore Company has low level of debt ratio expectation in the year 2009 of 11% compared to the result of 25% in the year 2008 and 22% in 2007.Interest coverage ratio is used to determine how easily a company can pay interest expenses on the outstanding debt. The lower the ratio will be an indication of how the company is burdened by debt expense. In 2008 the ratio was 0.96 this raise question on the ability to meet its interest expenses ASSET MANAGEMENT OR ACTIVITY RATIOS Inventory Turnover= Cost of good/Inventory Receivable turnover=Sale/account receivable Total asset turnover=sales/total asset Activity ratio have differing inputs and measures different segment of company overall operation performance. This gives users an insight into the company performance and management during the period. The ratio looks at how the company turns its asset to generate revenue. Fixed asset turnover measures the productivity of a company fixed asset in respect to generating sales. In 2007 it was 9.95 a decrease to 6.42 in 2008 and was expected to be 8.61 in 2009.Inventory turnover which is reported as inventory period is the number of days worth of inventory on hand is calculated by dividing inventory by average daily cost of goods sold. The more time the inventory is turned in a given operating cycle the greater the profit. In the year 2009 it was expected to be 107 days compared to 85 days in 2008 and 91 days in 2007.Receivable turnover is an indication of how quick the firm collect its account receivables. When turnover is high the collection period time will be less. In year 2007 it was 37 days,38 days in 2008 and 46 days in 2009 as the turnover decreased to 8.01 times PROFITABILITY RATIO Profit margin=net income/sales Return on asset=net income/Total asset Return on equity=Net income/total equity The ratio measures the success of the firm at generating profit. Return on asset measures how efficiently profits are being generated from the asset employed in the business compared with the ratio of the firms in similar business (Horne Wachowicz, 1994). In 2007 it was 5.96%Return on equity ratio tell the owner whether or not the effort put into business has been worthwhile. In 2007 it was 13.25% decreased in 2008 and is expected to increase in 2009 to 12.99%. The objectives of the profit margin analysis are to detect consistency in company earnings. Positive profit margin translates into positive investment quality (Financial ratios tutorial, 2010).Blackmore case was inconsistent in that in 2007 it was 2.56% while -2.65% in 2008 and it was expected to be 3.61%. MARKET VALUE MEASURES Divided yield =DPS/MPS Dividend payout =DPS/EPS Price Earnings ratio (P/E) MPS/EPS Market to book ratio = MPS/Book value per share Dividend payout ratio is an indication of how well earnings support the dividend payment (Financial ratios tutorial, 2010). In 2007 it was 25%, 6.87% in 2008 though there was a loss. In 2009 it was expected to be 21.7%Market to book ratio indicate how much shareholders are paying for every $1 asset of the company. In 2007 it was 1.28, 0.46 in 2008 and it was expected to be 1.56 in 2009.the dividend yield in 2008 was high the company made losses during the period, The price earnings ratio was negative in 2008 and it was expected to be 12 in 2009 Recommendation To improve on the liquidity, Blackmore should pay some debt, convert noncurrent asset to current asset, put profit back to business, and increase its current from new equity contribution, loan and other borrowings with maturity of one year. Debt management ratios can be managed by the company repaying its debt or increase its equity contribution. This repayment will improve the capital structure of Blackmore and this will lead to a reduction debt expenses thus an improvement in profitability ratio. On the return to profitability, the shares price in the market will improve thus an improvement in market value measures. Conclusion Blackmore Company performance in 2008 was negative as confirmed by the calculated ratios. Its liquidity in 2008 was average compared to 2007.The company will still pay its short term obligation but it may strain if there is financial crisis. The company was also heavily indebted in 2008 as its total debt to equity was 4.82 and the time interest earned was 0.96 compared to 4.34 in 2007.The cash coverage was also lowest in 2008 compared to4.78 in 2007.The profitability ratio was negative since the company had acquired so much debt thus much cash was used in payment of interest. Activity ratio was okay compared to 2007 since there was no much difference in values calculated. This showed consistency in management of company resources. The market share price of Blackmore Company was low in 2008 due to the negative profit and investors did not prefer it.

Racial Discrimination And Related Treatment Of African...

According to Merriam Webster, Racism is defined as â€Å"a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race† (Merriam Webster, n.d.). Knowing this, Racism is certainly not particular to the United States of America, As Alex Haley, the author of Roots, told Scott Ross, CBN journalist, in a 1992 interview, â€Å"If you think about it, †¦there is no grouping of people to my knowledge, of any consequence, who have not, at one or another time, been the object of hatred, racism, or who has not had people against them just because they were them† (Ross 2016). Racial discrimination and related treatment of African Americans over the decades may be deeply rooted in American culture. In fact, it can be traced to the Founding Fathers. As history tells us, two of the most famous Founding Fathers owned slaves, and it goes without saying that for one to justify another†™s enslavement—as did wealthy American colonials—that person would have to hold to the belief that the slave is by definition, and inferior being. Our first and third presidents: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were slave owners and their treatment of African Americans is well documented. (Smithsonian, 2015) The dehumanizing way Early Americans treated Africans who were imported as slave labor became universally accepted among the population from the very beginning while still under British rule. In spite of theShow MoreRelatedRacial Discrimination Against African Americans857 Words   |  4 Pagessome legal organizations and communities that related to the racial discrimination issues in America (United States Department of Labor). 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The Communication of Window Displays Free Essays

‘Windows reveal the soul of the store’ (Portas, 1999: 41). Every store has its own concept that characterizes each display, varying from theatre, drama or in the case of Armani Exchange minimalism. Well-dressed windows are undoubtedly, a dynamic form of advertising for products reflecting the stores’ brand image. We will write a custom essay sample on The Communication of Window Displays or any similar topic only for you Order Now This essay seeks to evaluate how A|X Armani Exchange’s window displays communicate to spectators with the use of various resources. Armani Exchange is one of the sub-brands under the parental brand of Giorgio Armani. The use of colour, lighting, props and graphics can capture interest, indicating the foundation of any decent display whose aim is to get people off the street. Windows are used as a selling device promoting products. They also mirror what the store is about, bringing pleasure to the eye. A stores’ window is effectual if it tempts customers who will want and be able to purchase the products offered, conveying quality, style and pricing (Portas, 2007). Moreover, windows can lure someone in a shop due to psychological factors. Brand founders such as Armani and Dior, give their own unique identity on their products and are therefore based on persona. As an online source says ‘Armani Exchange has become one of the most dynamic collections with its own unique identity, as well as an ever-growing base of young customers’ (www.ameinfo.com/192218.html). City life is emitted through its concept of sexy, chic and stalwart garments. Hence, it can be said that quality along with brand loyalty comes before the cost. Windows work on the principle â€Å"first impression is the best impression†, implying that only a few seconds are needed for a display to â€Å"speak† to a passer-by and get him/her inside a store. Portas asserts that ‘visual merchandising is the art and science of silent selling, bringing product, environment and space into one stimulating and engaging display to encourage sale’ (Drapers, O ctober 29: 34). This is shown by the power of Armani Exchange’s logo -with grey background and white letters signifying practicality, neutrality but also timelessness- which is becoming more and more recognisable. Furthermore, Armani Exchange’s target customers are both independent male and female who have their own style, belonging in the age group of 16-35. It is more accessible to the bourgeoisie, who want a taste of the luxurious brand. Given that prices are lower than the rest of the Armani sub-brands, the apparel is more inclusive to the public. This stores’ clientele may work as managers, interns or may even be students living in East London. Additionally, they may go out for a drink, coffee or shopping at least once a week, or read magazines like Vogue. Other stores they visit include Zara and Benetton. What is more CPI is escalating; competition is astonishingly high while consumer spending started to fall as September figures show because of pessimism (www.guardian.co.uk, 2010). As a result, retail sales are expected to fall in the following months, along with a rise in VAT. Armani Exchange windows’ are open-back; implying there is ‘no back wall’ (Morgan: 44). The striptease effect is clear as we can see the internal displays emphasizing the focal point through the space between the mannequins, creating a more intense visual impact, which is representative of the merchandise of the store. A|X shows the garment’s prices at the bottom of the windowpane. Lighting from the ceiling and floor is ambient acting as a catalyst for the area (www.infostore.gr. 2010), as Figure 1 shows: Figure 1: The window shows A|X Armani Exchange’s front window in Regent Str. London, October 19, 2010 Source: Kaisidi, 2010 For autumn/winter 2010, Armani Exchange trails a repetition of dark shades evoking a monochromatic colour scheme exerting sophistication and a clean look, which are pleasing to the eye. Materials like leather and fur with metallic details indicate luxury mixed with a touch of mystery, illustrating an intellectual and confident appearance. However silver and gold details on the garments complement the black shades, making the pieces more youthful. A downside of open windows is that high-priced items showcased can be tampered if somebody wishes to feel the fabric, so they are trickier to dress. Besides that another negative aspect is that windows are not as creative since there are fewer props. Hence there is no story to tell. Silhouettes are simple yet authoritative and influential. Effective windows can ‘seduce’ (Portas, 2007: 54) you to purchase something you did not intend to. Buying even a small item, one satisfies a need, a want to feel more contented and self-confident. Also, what you wear is what defines you, reflecting your personality- as implied by Berger (1972). Windows can sway someone into investing in a garment that will make them enviable and glamorous at the same time. ‘The power to spent money is the power to live’ (Berger, 1972: 143), implying that each person interprets the world differently- the same applies in window displays. Armani Exchange has a very clean approach of â€Å"less is more† by not overloading its windows together with being â€Å"strong and simple† emphasizing the brand’s power (http://ezinearticles.com, 2010). Furthermore, by following the â€Å"fresh is best† principle in accordance with Berger (1972), they renew their displays every week thus regular customers find new stock in every visit. Still though, A|X receives deliveries every 3-4 days so that monotony is avoided. For that reason, if a jacket is received in the middle of the week, it will be put on display on that day. Visual merchandising makes ideas come alive whose purpose is to sell commodities through visualization, as induced by Clements (2010). Armani Exchange wants its customers to experience the brand with the aid of visuals. Particularly the three-dimensional sightline placed parallel with the double doors in the Regent Street shop ‘gives energy’ (Portas, 1999: 102), as shown by the image below. Figure 2: The window portrays a 3D advert for A|X sunglasses in London, October 21, 2010 Source: Kaisidi, 2010 Christmas windows however, ought to be more interesting and intriguing. Armani Exchange Christmas decoration is ruled by special effects lighting and radiation. Oval rings are beaming light that changes colour every few seconds; a different look tried by A|X. The rings are symmetrically placed next to each other, as it is clearly illustrated in the following picture: Figure 3: The window illustrates A|X Christmas dà ©cor in London, November 20, 2010 Source: Kaisidi, 2010 Despite having a sale, windows were not unattained (Portas, 1999), since signage advertising the offers are placed. What is more, it urges spectators to celebrate style with the vinyl on the windows’ glass, exploiting psychological factors to lure in onlookers. After questioning 40 citizens, calculations show that 46% found the displays of A|X attractive, although 8% felt that it did not stand out. The effect of these circles illustrates gravity, communicating with the pavement (Portas, Mary Queen of shops-Blinkz DVD). They work as pause points as they can be seen from afar, making the passers stop and browse the new collection. The aesthetic balance of the store emphasizes how the power of light can visually transform a space. One could argue that the density of the garments in Armani Exchange’s windows is just enough to fill the space available given add-ons such as bags and wallets. This is shown with Figure 4: Figure 4: The window shows A|X latest collection 3 weeks before Christmas in London, December 3, 2010 Source: Kaisidi, 2010 Mannequins are said to be a mighty tool, forming the scene of a display. In A|X, mannequins are golden and headless in order to appeal to a wider audience (Pegler, 2008). The mannequins’ outfits offer a possible wearable suggestion in which one could walk out of the store with having a feeling of fulfilment. Mannequins are front facing, but the passers can observe all the angles, as suggested by Morgan. To conclude, window displays need to clearly define the identity of a store. A|X ‘serves as the ultimate testimony to the power of the brand’ (Roll, 2010). The visual placement of the store is rather simplistic so people may think it is too plain. Equally, others who are fond of minimalism obtain a positive vibe for the specific windows, which are a compelling representation of the brand ethos. A|X has an identifiable and cohesive commercial image, which triggers the clients’ interest in conjunction with facilitating communication. All in all, Armani Exchange window displays are effective for their target customers, as they communicate their minimalistic message emitting an aesthetic purity of warmth and luxury. According to G.U Journal of Science there has not been significant empirical evidence regarding the effect of window displays on consumers’ shopping attitudes’ (2007: 33). Bibliography http://ezinearticles.com/?Window-Displays-That-Work!id=4390505 How to cite The Communication of Window Displays, Essay examples The Communication of Window Displays Free Essays Retailer:Ted BAker Word Count: 1268 The Communication of Window Displays â€Å"Visual merchandising is an indispensable retail discipline, consisting of a series of practical selling tools that are used to influence what and how much consumers buy† (McKeever, K. 2008). A window display represents the various dynamics used to communicate a message to its target audience. We will write a custom essay sample on The Communication of Window Displays or any similar topic only for you Order Now This essay will analyse the way in which Ted Baker conveys its position in the market and brand identity by effectively portraying quality and attention to detail in its window displays. This essay will then compare the successfulness of two different approaches – â€Å"theme focussed display†, and â€Å"product focussed display† – in enticing Ted Baker’s potential customers. This will develop a conclusion on the effectiveness of Ted Baker’s window displays to act as â€Å"silent sellers† (Levine, P. 2008) and enable customers to relate to the brand. Ted Baker uses elements such as the psychological effect of colour, lighting and appropriately chosen props to enable its customer to interpret its position in the market as an â€Å"upper high street brand†. Figure 1: Use of luxurious colours by Ted Baker ( Source: Vaswani, 2012 In various online customer reviews (yelp. com, zappos. com), the attributes that Ted Baker’s products are associated with are commitment to quality and unwavering attention to detail. Interviews with 30 onlookers regarding the window displays on Regent Street revealed that the use of luxurious colours (browns, rich reds, strong neons) along with the warm yellow lighting are the factors that enabled the customers to interpret the quality of the products to be superior. Additionally, the props used in the Ted Baker windows highlight the attention that is devoted to details at the micro level, not only in the products, but also in the window displays. The importance of using appropriate props is highlighted by Tony Morgan’s (2011, p54) statement, â€Å"Props should be relevant to the merchandise to make the overall idea come to life†. In line with this, Ted Baker used bows and arrows as props to complement their autumn winter â€Å"Survival of the Fittest† collection. These props provide a wild and â€Å"outdoorsy† feel to the window. This proves that there is a deep level of intricacy that has gone into the selection of the props used in the window displays. This supports the upper high street positioning of the brand within the market. All these factors confirm that Ted Baker’s usage of the above elements is effective in conveying its market positioning. A comparison between the effectiveness of a â€Å"theme-focused† and â€Å"product-focused† display will establish whether Ted Baker’s frequent usage of themes in their windows is the right approach to capture the attention of potential customers. For their display in October, Ted Baker had ingeniously used the theory of â€Å"the survival of the fittest† to create a humorous theme in their window supporting their autumn/winter merchandise. Figure 2: Survival of the fittest themed window Source: displayhunter. com, 2012 Charles Darwin (1869, On the origin of species) explained â€Å"survival of the fittest† to be â€Å"the natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. † The message behind the story in the display is that Ted Baker merchandise is the â€Å"fittest† and would transcend the wearer from the ordinary. By labelling their merchandise as the â€Å"fittest† and rather a necessity, the brand teasingly talks about how the upcoming autumn winter weather is going to be a struggle. Interpretations of several passers-by confirm that this theme was making a joke about the â€Å"Great British weather† and the only way to conquest this struggle was to wear Ted Baker’s merchandise. Figure 3: Christmas with Frosty Source: Vaswani,2012 The most recent window display, the Christmas display, paints a picture of a Christmas party, the guest of honour being a drunken snowman named â€Å"Frosty† in a festive red thong and Santa Clause hat. The visual merchandising team believe that the movement of the snowman captures attention as peoples’ eyes are drawn towards motion. This statement was confirmed by primary research and observation. Out of a sample of 100 people passing by the shop, seven out of ten stopped to look at the window display (A few even took pictures with the snowman in the window) Five out of these seven went into the store. Figure 4: Frosty the snowman Source: Vaswani, 2012 In both these window displays, Ted Baker uses humorous themes to engage its quirky target audience. The window displays act like â€Å"silent sellers† because they successfully convert onlookers into customers by reeling them in. However, in the second week of October, Ted Baker used a more product-focused window to display their collection. The sales assistant at the Regent Street store identified that the merchandise displayed was mainly evening wear that could be worn for occasions like upcoming Christmas parties. The mannequins were placed in repetition, which â€Å"reinforces and strengthens the impression through replication† (Gorman,G. 996 Visual Merchandising and store design workbook, p20). Also the background was a mirror, â€Å"people tend to slow down when they see reflective surfaces† (Underhill, 2002, Why we buy, p76). The window did have these two strengths but interviews with in-store customers established that the display looked â€Å"boring† and â€Å"as if very little thought and effort had been put into it†. A customer also quo ted, â€Å"In comparison to the exciting displays from earlier, this one is a let down†. Figure 5: Ted Baker’s product focused display Source: Vaswani, 2012 The sales assistant at the Regent Street store identified that the merchandise displayed was mainly evening wear that could be worn for occasions like upcoming Christmas parties. The mannequins were placed in repetition, which â€Å"reinforces and strengthens the impression through replication† (Gorman,G. 1996 Visual Merchandising and store design workbook, p20). Also the background was a mirror, â€Å"people tend to slow down when they see reflective surfaces† (Underhill, 2002, Why we buy, p76). The window did have these two strengths but interviews with in-store customers established that the display looked â€Å"boring† and â€Å"as if very little thought and effort had been put into it†. A customer also quoted, â€Å"In comparison to the exciting displays from earlier, this one is a let down†. This means that, the Ted Baker customer expects excitement and an engaging theme in the windows. Also based on the description of the windows by the customers, the reflection of the brand’s personality is key to Ted Baker’s display. Evidently, a product-focused window display is inept in this aspect. â€Å"A stores’ window is effectual if it tempts customers†(Portas, 2007). This statement creates stress on the fact that the window display was ineffectual due to its inability to lure customers. From this comparison, we can conclude that, â€Å"theme-focused† window displays are more effective than â€Å"product-focused† display as they create visual excitement and help the customer relate to the brand. The Ted Baker customer enjoys the portrayal of the brand’s humorous and quirky image through its engaging and impactful themes. In conclusion it can be said that, through its window displays, Ted Baker communicates its position of being an upper high street retailer in the market. For this, it uses to its advantage the psychological effect created by colour and lighting and the appropriate usage and selection of props in its window displays. The windows are a true and effectual representation of the brand’s core values which are- quality and attention to detail. Ted Bakers frequent use of â€Å"theme-focused† window displays is a powerful and efficient approach to draw in their target customers who expect enthusing displays that would make them engrossed and curious. Finally, the strategies and approaches that Ted Baker uses in the creation and execution of its window displays are effective â€Å"silent sellers†. REFERENCE LIST: Darwin, C (1869). On the origin of species. 5th ed. Gorman, G (1996). Visual Merchandising and store design workbook. Ohio: ST Media Group Publisher. p20. Levine, P. (2010). Visual Merchandising: The ‘Silent Salesperson’. [online] Available: http://www. salesandmarketing. com/article/visual-merchandising-silent-salesperson. Last accessed 25th September 2012 McKeever, K. (2008). favourite quotes. Available: http://thevisualmerchandisingblog. ordpress. com/favorite-quotes/. Last accessed 20th September 2012 Morgan, T (2011). Visual Merchandising: Window and in-store displays for retail. 2nd ed. London: Laurence King Publications. p54. Portas, M (2007). favourite quotes. Available: http://thevisualmerchandisingblog. wordpress. com/favorite-quotes/ [online] Last accessed 20th September 2012 Underhill, P (2 002). Why we buy. New York: Simon and Schuster. p76. http://www. yelp. com/biz/ted-baker-london-new-york (2012) [online] last accessed 27th September 2012 http://www. zappos. com/ted-baker (2009) [online] last assessed 27th September 2012 REFERENCE LIST FOR IMAGES: Vaswani, D. (2012) Figure 1:Use of luxurious colours by Ted Baker [Photograph]. Regent Street Store Figure 2:Survival of the fittest themed window(2012) [online image]. Available at: http://displayhunter. blogspot. co. uk/2012/11/ted-baker-hunting-game. html [Accessed 23rd November 2012] Vaswani, D. (2012) Figure 3:Christmas with Frosty [Photograph]. Regent Street Store Vaswani, D. (2012) Figure 4:Frosty the Snowman [Photograph]. Regent Street Store Vaswani, D. (2012) Figure 5:Ted Baker’s product focused display [Photograph]. Regent Street Store BIBLIOGRAPHY: Cabezas, C (2010). Design Techniques for window dressing: Ideaspropias Editorial Danzinger, P (2002) Why people buy things they don’t need New York: Paramount Market Publishing Din, Rassheid (2000) New Retail London: Conron Octopus Limited Eszter Czibok. (2012). The window- a reflection of our desires. Available: http://workinginthewindow. wordpress. com/tag/window-display/. Last accessed 2nd November 2012 Gardner, A (2000) The 30 second seduction California: Seal Press http://fre23media. blogspot. co. uk/2010/11/window-displays-original-communication. html. 2010). Window displays: the original communication tool. Available: http://fre23media. blogspot. co. uk/2010/11/window-displays-original-communication. html. Last accessed 3rd November 2012 Holly Bastow-Shoop . (1991). Visual Merchandising: A guide for small retailers. Available: http://ncrcrd. msu. edu/uploads/files/133/NCRCRD-rrd155-print. pdf. Last accessed 11th October Kaisa Leinonen. (2010). Autumn/Winte r 2010 Trend Report: Mirrors as Display Props. Available: http://thewindowdisplayblog. com/2010/11/01/autumnwinter-2010-trend-report-mirrors-as-display-props/. Last accessed 11th October Marie, S. (2006). A History of Visual Merchandising in Retail Stores. Available: http://sarahmarie1. hubpages. com/hub/A-History-of-Visual-Merchandising-in-Retail-Stores. Last accessed 9th October 2012 Messaris, P (1997) Visual Persuasion- The Role of Images London: Sage Publications Sturken, M , Cartwright, L (2000) Practices of Looking- An introduction Oxford: Oxford University Press Sussen Madden Understand visual merchandising for a small business. Available: http://www. retailtraining. ie/pdf/Unit-259. pdf. Last accessed 3rd October 2012 How to cite The Communication of Window Displays, Essay examples

The Hunger Games Character Essay free essay sample

The character that I felt strongly about from Suzanne Collins’ hit novel â€Å"The Hunger Games† was Katniss Everdeen, a rebellious and out-going teen who takes her sister’s place as tribute in the 74th annual Hunger Games. Throughout the novel, she displays important values that made me feel strongly about her. These include, her caring nature for others, Competitive attitude and her determined mind. Katniss Everdeen (the main character) is a teenage girl who lives in an impoverished coal-mining region in the country of Panem. She showed no fear when she took her sister’s place as tribute as she knew that she had made the morally correct decision. After her father sadly perished in a tragic mining explosion, she learned to fill her father’s shoes as her mother was in no state to support her family. It was Katniss’s strong-willed mindset that got her and her family through those though times. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hunger Games Character Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Although she continually displays her traits throughout the novel, she does learn some new values that aid her whilst in the Hunger Games arena. She becomes tactically aware and learns not to trust people as she is in a kill or be killed environment. The main value that made me feel strongly about Katniss was her determination to get things done. Growing up in harsh conditions, â€Å"where you can starve to death in safety† taught Katniss to rebel against the rules in order for the survival of herself and her family. With no father and very little income from her mother, there would be numerous nights where her family would have to go to sleep with an empty stomach. Fortunately, Katniss, an experienced Archer could hunt game to either sell or eat. She was the wax that kept her family’s candle of life burning. It was slow-going at first, but I was determined to feed us. I stole eggs from nests, caught fish in nets, sometimes managed to shoot a squirrel or rabbit for stew†¦I kept us alive†. In her modest self, she would say that she is ‘average’ at archery, however she is truly outstanding. â€Å" She’s excellent,† says Peeta. â€Å"My father buys her squirrels. He always comment s on how her arrows never pierce the body. She hits every one in the eye. † Her determination also helps her survive inside the Games arena. Once the rules of The Games were changed, the best tactic was teamwork. Unfortunately, Peeta, the other District 12 tribute, was badly injured. However, the Gamemakers placed one item in which each District needed the most, and District 12’s was an antidote for Peeta. Peeta held Katniss back as it was an extremely risky and dangerous procedure. Katniss was determined to heal Peeta, so she set out for the item aware of the danger that will follow. â€Å"Without hesitation, I sprint for the table. I can sense the emergence of danger before I see it. † She wasn’t going to let anyone stand in her way. These acts of determination inspired me to try my best in everything I do. By witnessing her actions, I have gained useful values, which I can apply in different aspects of life, whether it is out on the sports field or in the classroom. Determination is a key value that is demonstrated very convincingly by Katniss, that is why I felt strongly about her. Another key value that Katniss expressed in The Hunger Games that made me feel strongly about her was her caring nature for others. I believe that this is her strongest value because she is kind and cares for everyone, however, mostly her sister. A prime example of her caring for her sister is when she takes her place as tribute. She does this, as she knows that Prim has no chance of winning and surviving. â€Å"I volunteer, I volunteer as tribute† were the words she said as she placed her younger sister into the safety of the crowd. As a result of this brave action, she is given respect from the crowd, when they raise three fingers to their lips. Another example of her caring nature that made me feel strongly about her was when she laid flowers on Rue when she died in The Games. Rue became Katniss’s companion after Rue saved Katniss from getting attacked by tracker-jackers, a more lethal type of wasp designed by the Gamemakers. It is apparent that Katniss cared for Rue even though they were from different districts, because Katniss sang a song to Rue who was in the last stages of her life. Katniss shows her true inner self by expressing her emotions she even lets out tears. â€Å" For a moment, I sit there, watching my tears drip down on her face†. It is the caring Katniss that really inspires me. I wish I could bring myself to sacrifice yourself for someone else, when you know that you are putting your life on the line, and I’m sure many people would also be unable to do that as well. Her caring nature links back to her determination. Her goal is to look after her younger sister through the times that she is legible as tribute for The Hunger Games. She cares about her sister’s safety and will do anything that is possible to look after her. This value is very creditable but is also hard to master. Seeing Katniss display this quality makes her a role model that many people, who have read the novel, including myself, aspire to be like her. Katniss Everdeen also shows her competitive attitude. This made me feel strongly about her as I could relate it to things that I do myself, such as sport. However, she is competitive to stay alive in the Games and competitive to survive in her district. She has to be competitive In order to survive in not only The Hunger Games event itself but also back home in District 12. She is lucky that there is only a minority that dares to going hunting in the woods, but she needs to have the cleanest kill so that the baker will buy her squirrels instead of another person’s kill. â€Å"He always comments on how her arrows never pierce the body†. From a very young age, Katniss has developed her competitive nature because she has had to scavenge for food, especially after her father’s death. He always comments on how her arrows never pierce the body†. She is also competitive during the games, when see is standing in the starting circles and see is eyeing the equipment up. â€Å" I’m fast. I can sprint faster than any of the girls in our school† â€Å" I know I can get it, I know I can reach it first† . This competitive attitude was a quality that kept Katniss alive during The Hunger Games. I felt strongly about Katniss because of this quality as I could also identify myself with this quality. In most things I take part in, I will try and win, whether it be in a race, or a school test. However, Katniss’s competitiveness is much more serious as her life is on the line, and if she does not succeed with whatever she does, it is most likely that she will die. In conclusion, I felt strongly about Katniss Everdeen as she is a prime example of what the all round person should be like, Determined, competitive and caring. I am sure many people would agree that she has inspired the reader to take risks in their lives and adapt these three qualities into their own lives. And â€Å"may the odds be ever in your favour! †