Gillette Essay Example for Free

Gillette Essay Case Analysis for Gillette: Product and Marketing Innovation 9/11/2012 Abstract Gillette is seeking means to retain dominance in market share they have lead for the last century. Along with sustaining market share Gillette has continued focus on expanding worldwide into less saturated markets. In this analysis multiple alternatives will be explored in order to make a recommendation on steps that would favor Gillette’s organization in meeting their aspirations. Situation Analysis Product quality and efficient marketing are the core value propositions that set the pace for Gillette’s success. With continued innovation in both product development and marketing strategies Gillette has been able to retain a commanding worldwide market share in a highly competitive, but mature, razor and blade market. Strong market share allowed Gillette to sustain profits even through economic droughts in recent years. On the flip side, Gillette’s innovation success also posed challenges. In order to maintain their market share, a dependency on continuous product improvement formed over time. Now Gillette will need to determine how to balance investment in research and development along with other areas of the organization. At times their own innovation of new product lines impacted their leading product lines in the market. During the 1990s Gillette found themselves cannibalizing their own successful products when trying to out due the competition. Even though internal competition shifted sales from one product line to another, Gillette’s sales were able to re-coop development costs. Expanding market share around the world also revealed challenges with varying religious and culture beliefs. Western influences have started to generate growth with European woman as younger generations watch American movies and television that depict women with sleek underarms and legs. Gillette’s latest innovation, the Fusion 5(+1) blade, was back in 2006. Since then Schick, Gillette’s leading competitor has not responded with their own break through. Gillette should be wondering what Schick might do next. Problem As the market Gillette has lead for so long became mature, their growth ultimately declined due to market saturation and increase competition. Fluctuations occurred only when newer, more innovative products were introduced. This put more pressure on development advancements and marketing tactics. Many analysts believe that Gillette and Schick, leaders in razors and blades, have reached the end of meaningful product innovation [1]. In 2006 when the Fusion 5(+1) blade was introduced, it exploded off the shelves. Gillette sold more than 4 billion Fusion razors with in the first two months. The Fusion’s initial success was quickly fleeting as sales reports showed that razors were outselling the cartridge refills. This was very concerning to Gillette as it is well-known that razor manufacturers earn most of their profits from refills, not the initial razor purchase. Critics also questioned why five blades were needed to get the best shave when Gillette had touted its three-bladed Mach3 as †the best a man can get. † â€Å"Consumer reports conclude that there were no additional performance benefits provided by the five-bladed Fusion, especially when compared to the Mach3† [1 pg391]. Economic recession also impacted sales as Gillette’s products went up in price due to a need to re-coop development costs. How can Gillette continue to maintain or grow market share in a mature market and keep future strategies aligned with customer wants? Alternatives Continue product line and marketing without major change. No additional research and development costs would need to be spent, which in return reduces the need to raise prices for maintaining their profit margin. However the risk looming would be competitor innovation impacting current market share. Schick may produce a new innovative product that would sway consumers from purchasing Gillette’s products. As stated in the case Gillette must find new ways to innovatively out-produce or out-market the competition. Investing in research and development to create new product line or enhance current products adds considerable expenses. Development costs will need to be re-cooped. This will keep competitors in check, but will be challenging to keep pricing competitive. Compliment current leading product lines that keep consumers happy. Promoting Christmas, Father’s day and Mother’s day gift grooming kits that meets more of the consumer’s needs will also introduce consumers to other product lines Gillette has to offer. Focus marketing potential growth opportunities globally by challenging resistance in product awareness and interests. As a Gillette razor consumer, I have encountered an inconvenience that I think can be solved and build customer loyalty. I’ve been using Mach 3 razors for over fifteen years, and when purchasing refills I have found it difficult to find blades that are compatible with the razor handle that I own. Thinking out of the box, what if Gillette were to make razor handles that are compatible with any of Gillette’s product line of refills? This would then provide consumers the freedom to purchase from a variety of Gillette’s product lines without having to spend extra money on a handle that works with the particular product refill. Owning a Gillette universal handle would also encourage customers to stay with Gillette refills as converting to another brand would cost more with the initial required handle purchase. Implementation From the case I would assume Gillette will continue to â€Å"innovatively out-produce or out-market the competition† [1]. I believe moving forward with developing a universal handle with Gillette refills would accomplish this. This would require investment into developing a new handle and rollout of the product. Here is an approximate timeline to complete.

Marriage :: essays research papers

Marriage Relationships In marriage realtionships we expected to learn a number of things including the comprimises couple must make with respect to such things as careers, finances, and children. Our initial impressions were that couples must be willing to make these sacrifices in order to have a long and fulfilling relationship with their spouse. In our discussion on pre-marital sex we both agreed that it was fine as long as it was done responsibly, meaning with the use of contraceptives. We stressed contraceptives because we felt that it was important not only to protect against pregnancy but as well as sexually transmitted diseases. We did however experience one conflict. Laura felt that love and serious committment should play a major role in whether or not a couple should have sex prior to marriage. I on the other hand was a little "looser" on the subject. I felt that it should mean something but that there was too much emphazes being placed on serious committment. On the subject of contraception anf family planning we had no disagreements. We felt that before having children we must first be able to establish ourselves financially. So once our respective careers were settled upon we could then plan when we would have children. However, until we did decide to have children we agreed that contraception would be used. The discussion we had on which topics which couples should agree upon was filled with lots of disagreements. We agreed that couples should agree on topics such as issues concerning the children, and major career decisions. We began to disagree on the issues of finances and the distribution of housework. I felt that I should handle all the money as well as do my share of the housework. Laura however, felt that she should be in charge of the money and that I should do all the housework. In the end we weren't able to settle on anything but we realized that it was important for married couple to agree on these topics because they are majo r decisions that affect both equally. The time we spent together was on our lunches and we discussed different aspects for marriage.

Personal Data Protection

Personal data (2012, Online) means â€Å"data relating to a living individual who is or can be identified either from the data or from the data in conjunction with other information that is in, or is likely to come into, the possession of the data controller†. The Data Protection Act 1988 – 2003 guarantee individuals right to protection their personal data and explain duties of Data Controllers. This act apply to organizations that uphold information on individuals which can contain telephone number, address, account details, nationality, religion, physical or mental health and/or other sensitive information.The Data Protection Commissioner has approved a personal data security breach Code of Practice to help organisations to react appropriately when they become aware of breaches of security personal information they maintain. The Data Controllers are required to: †¢ collect and process information fairly †¢ keep them only in one or more specified and legal pu rposes †¢ use information for the purposes for which their were collected †¢ keep them safe and secure keep them accurate, complete and up-to-date †¢ not stored them longer than is necessary Every person may obtain a copy of their entire personal data by written request to any organization or individual who holds personal information, unless the Government instructs the Data Controller to withhold the information, data subject also has a right to correct any inaccurate information or, in some cases, such information can be completely removed.The Code of Practice does not apply to providers of publicly available electronic communications networks or services. Providers of publicly available electronic communications networks or services are required to have a security policy, ensure that personal data can only be used by authorised personnel for specified purposes and protect personal data against unlawful use or access.

Essay on A Tale Of Two Cities Best Or Worst Of Times

In the novel quot;A Tale of Two Citiesquot; Charles Dickens describes quot;the best of times [and] the worst of timesquot; (1) of the characters. France and England struggle through political confusion, which is one of the most disturbing periods of history. On the other hand, for the characters of the novel, these are the times of rebirth and revival. The author conveys the dual nature of this epoch by contrasting representations of light and dark, chaos and stability, doom and hope with the use of setting, characterization, foreshadowing, symbolism, and plot set up. The novel opens in the troubled year of 1775, with a comparison of England and pre-Revolutionary France. It conveys the sense of doom and chaos. Both countries go†¦show more content†¦Manette, his being quot;recalled to life.quot; (6) After eighteen years of imprisonment, he finds his daughter, and Lucie Manette finds her father who has been dead for her. Lucie Manette promises to him that they will quot;go to England to be at peace and at restquot; (40). Despite the social and political disorder, these are the times of hope for Lucie Manette and her father. The twofold nature of the novel, both light and dark, hope and doom, is reflected in foreshadowing and symbolism. The spilling of red wine is a premonition of blood to be shed in the Revolution. quot;All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink he wine.quot; (24) There will be people in the Revolution who will, figuratively, drink the blood like the wine. Another foreboding of the long and hard road of the Revolution is the image of the mail that goes up the hill along the difficult and dangerous Dover road. No travelers who venture on it are secure. quot;If any one of [the passengers] had the hardihood to propose another walk in the mist and darkness, he would have put himself in a fair way of getting shot instantly by a highwayman.quot; (5) In the mist of the night road, there is the air of distrust and separateness. quot;The guard suspected the passengers, the passengers suspected one another and the guard, they all susp ectedShow MoreRelatedA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pagescritical acclaim, A Tale of Two Cities occupies a central place in the cannon of Charles Dickens’ work. A Tale of Two Cities, published in serial form starting on April 30, 1859, is a historical fiction novel. A dominant theme in this historical novel is the duality found in many of Dickens’ characters. Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is somewhat autobiographical; emphasizes the key elements of theme, plot, and character; and has received extensive criticism. A Tale of Two Cities is told in three partsRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens1420 Words   |  6 Pagesviolent period of history – the best of times and the worst of times. The violence enacted by the citizens of French on their fellow countrymen set a gruesome scene in the cities and country sides of France. Charles Dickens uses a palate of storm, wine, and blood imagery in A Tale of Two Cities to paint exactly how tremendously brutal this period of time was. Dickens use of storm imagery throughout his novel illustrates to the reader the tremulous, fierce, and explosive time period in which the courseRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities And The French Revolution1006 Words   |  5 PagesA Tale of Two Cities was a story about sacrifice and revenge before and during revolutionary France. Charles Dickens thought that if things did not change, then a violent revolution in England, similar to the French Revolution, was possible or in the future. 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With the use of imageryRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1591 Words   |  7 PagesA Tale of Two Cities, the 1859 classic written by Charle s Dickens, tells the story of two men who look similar, but have different characters, begins with the famous verbiage, â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we hadRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities: The Victorian Era and the Abandonment of Spirituality865 Words   |  4 PagesJoshua Wohlgemuth A Tale of Two Cities: The Victorian Era and the Abandonment of Spirituality Throughout the early to mid 19th Century, a new and cultural age took hold of Europe, specifically Great Britain with the commencing of the Victorian Era. Marked by impressive achievements such as the Industrial Revolution, La Belle Epoque, and the beginnings of an urban middle class, this era was also plagued with child labor, poor hygiene, prostitution, the constant class distinctions, and a bloody revolutionRead MoreSymbolism of Alcohol in A Tale of Two Cities721 Words   |  3 Pages intrigue, suspense, and horror in A Tale of Two Cities. The theme of liquor establishes the lingering effect that an appalling event is going to transpire due to foreshadowing. Wine is used both as sustenance and as a symbol of blood. Throughout A Tale of Two Cities wine is paralleled to blood in order to portray the reason why the peasants started an uprising against the elite of the French government to gain equality and fairness. In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses alcohol to underscoreRead MoreThe Worst Hard Time By Timothy Egan1079 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to Egan, â€Å"Never let the kids see you sweat† (2006, p.1). The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan was announced as â€Å"a classical disaster tale† by the New York Times. This book was written to inform everyone about the untold story of those who survived the American Dust Bowl. The story documents how the darkest years of the Great Depression affected the economy and the people’s living environment as well. Egan’s book explains the importance of the Great Depression. Within this theme, Egan explores