BLENZ Coffee case study Essay

BLENZ Company Profile BLENZ Coffee is a Canadian chain of franchise coffee shops. BLENZ was founded in Vancouver in 1992, and has grown to over 82 franchises in six countries. Presently the majority of locations are located in British Columbia, with 35 international stores in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, the Philippines, China and Japan. BLENZ is primarily a coffee shop, but also serves a variety of hot and cold beverages, desserts, and assorted food items such as wraps and sandwiches. BLENZ SWOT Analysis Strengths: Extensive beverage menu Large food and dessert selection compared to competition Free Internet at 41 coffee house locations Talented baristas (coffee-maker, waiters) Quality coffee bean and teas Canadian-ownership Innovative beverage development Large coffee houses Alternative to brand leader Consistency Weaknesses: No clear brand direction No clear values or mission Mixed messaging, too many claims Contradictory aspirations No consistent communication tone, language, manner No consistent communication imagery, typography, design Less consistency across outlets compared to competitors Less focused on experience Unknown company history and background Franchisee-operated Opportunities: Showcase largest menu of most coffee houses Increase awareness of frequent innovative drinks Emphasize talented and award-winning baristas Canadian owned and operated (started in Vancouver) Alternative to global coffee house chains, something different Consistent experience of a chain, with the atmosphere of a local cafe A lot of action at coffee houses Threats Competition from better-known coffee houses Coffee houses with better locations Competing coffee houses companies with higher quality products Competing coffee houses companies with higher perceived quality Competing coffee house companies with higher perceived status Independent coffee houses Chain coffee houses Inexpensive coffee houses Instant coffee or complimentary coffee at work or businesses Cafes with larger menu selection Status in middle ground between brand leader and independent cafes People making coffee and beverages at home There are many reasons for BLENZ Coffee’s success so far; and this comes from their will to have convenient locations for the Customer. Moreover, their products are of the highest quality and their service continues to bring people back. BLENZ’s History BLENZ COFFEE opened its first store in February 1992 on the corner of Robson and Bute Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. The first BLENZ store was to  be a testing ground to ensure that the concept and systems were strong enough to grow and compete with other international chains. The founders of BLENZ COFFEE are Brian Noble, Sarah Moen and Geoffrey Hair, each bringing his own personal strengths and combined bringing a wealth of business experience to BLENZ COFFEE. The success of BLENZ COFFEE’S first store and the founders’ commitment to education and standards made franchising a natural choice. Today BLENZ now has 61 stores in British Columbia and also operates internationally in Japan and the Philippines. BLENZ’s Philosophy BLENZ COFFEE is a premium retailer of hand-crafted coffees, whole leaf teas, Belgian hot chocolate and other innovative and delicious specialty beverages. From the start, the founders of BLENZ COFFEE have always had a passion for quality. This passion is reflected in our commitment to using only authentic, premium ingredients in their beverages. All BLENZ beverages are made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. It is this commitment to serving quality beverages, prepared with care and attention by their highly trained baristas, in a warm and contemporary environment that has fuelled BLENZ COFFEE’S growth from its inception. BLENZ’s Products BLENZ COFFEE are retailers of high quality whole bean coffees, beautiful whole leaf organic teas and premium Belgian chocolate beverages to name but just a few of their product offerings. They are known as experts at authentic preparation methods and handmade beverages. They are not just purveyors of exciting and innovative beverages; they also offer a fabulous selection of baked goods, breakfast, lunch and snacks, among other delicious treats to tempt Customers. BLENZ: How to feel concerned by future They are aware of this fact which is that today’s world could not be more uncertain. Unemployment continues to rise; the stock market continues to fall. BLENZ take control of the future of unemployed valuable people, with their career opportunities. BLENZ: How to feel concerned by Canadian’s lifestyle Even in the face of economic uncertainty, consumers still demand their favourite affordable luxuries like premium coffee and tea. Canada’s coffee market is a $3 Billion Dollar industry. Coffee is still the most popular beverage in Canada – and second only to water, of all beverages consumed among adults 25 and older. And quality teas, are also rapidly gaining in popularity. BLENZ premium coffees and teas are second to none. They give people their chance to seize the opportunity to enjoy their lifestyle and profits with a successful BLENZ COFFEE franchise. BLENZ: How to combine Career Opportunities and Safety Fulfil your long held dream to own your own business, and really be the Boss – without all the trial and error that goes into a new business venture. BLENZ helps you manage the risks and become a leader in your local business community. BLENZ COFFEE shops are known as fun, and fast paced social environments. They’re also a secure training ground for children to gain self-reliance and pride as young entrepreneurs. BLENZ: The will of being everywhere BLENZ has opportunities in both established and new markets they are making available for the first time. You can develop one store. Or you may wish to be considered for an Area Development opportunity to open several stores in a Territory. Typical stores costs range from $225,000 to $400,000, depending on store size. BLENZ: Festival & Events partner Vancouver Film Festival Fringe Festival BLENZ & Harbour Cruises BLENZ & The Beat 94.5FM Matcha Photo Contest

Jimmy Carter - 39th President of the United States

Jimmy Carter - 39th President of the United States Jimmy Carters Childhood and Education: James Earl Carter was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia. He grew up in Archery, Georgia. His father was a local public official. Jimmy grew up working in the fields to help bring in money. He attended public schools in Plains, Georgia. After high school, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology before being accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943 from which he graduated in 1946. Family Ties: Carter was the son of  James Earl Carter, Sr., a farmer and public official and Bessie Lillian Gordy, a Peace Corps volunteer. He had two sisters, Gloria and Ruth, and a brother, Billy. On  July 7, 1946, Carter married  Eleanor Rosalynn Smith. She was his sister Ruths best friend. Together they had three sons and one daughter. His daughter, Amy, was a child while Carter was in the White House. Military Service: Carter joined the navy from 1946-53. He began as an ensign. He attended submarine school and was stationed aboard the submarine Pomfret. He was then placed in 1950 on an anti-sub submarine. He then went on to study nuclear physics and was chosen to serve as an engineering officer on one of the first atomic submarines. He resigned from the navy in 1953 upon the death of his father. Career Before the Presidency: After leaving the military in 1953, he returned to Plains, Georgia to help on the farm upon his fathers death. He expanded the peanut business to the point of making him very wealthy. Carter served in the Georgia State Senate from 1963-67. In 1971, Carter became the governor of Georgia. In 1976, he was the dark horse candidate for president. The campaign centered around Fords pardon of Nixon. Carter won by a narrow margin with 50% of the vote and 297 out of 538 electoral votes. Becoming the President: Carter declared his candidacy for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination in 1974. He ran with the idea of restoring trust after the debacle of Watergate. He was opposed by Republican President Gerald Ford. The vote was very close with Carter winning 50% of the popular vote and 297 out of 538 electoral votes. Events and Accomplishments of Jimmy Carters Presidency: On Carters first day in office, he issued a pardon for all those who dodged the draft in the  Vietnam War  era. He did not pardon deserters, however. Nonetheless, his actions were offensive to many veterans.   Energy was a huge issue during Carters administration. With the  Three Mile Island  incident, stricter regulations on Nuclear Energy plants were required. Further, the  Department of Energy  was created. Much of Carters time as president was spent dealing with diplomatic issues. In 1978,  President Carter  invited Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to Camp David for peace talks. This led to a formal peace treaty in 1979. In 1979, diplomatic relations were formally established between China and the U.S. On November 4, 1979, the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran was seized and 60 Americans were taken hostage. 52 of the hostages were held for more than a year. Carter suspended oil imports from Iran and the UN Security Council called for the release of the hostages. He imposed economic sanctions. He also attempted in 1980 to rescue the hostages. However, three helicopters malfunctioned and they were unable to follow through with the rescue. Eventually, the Ayatollah Khomeini agreed to release the hostages in exchange for unfreezing Iranian assets in the U.S. They were not released, however, until Reagan was president. The hostage crisis was part of the reason that Carter did not win reelection. Post-Presidential Period: Carter left the presidency on January 20, 1981 after losing to Ronald Reagan. He retired to Plains, Georgia. He became an important figure in Habitat for Humanity. Carter has been involved in diplomatic endeavors including helping forge an agreement with North Korea. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Historical Significance: Carter was president at a time when energy issues came to the forefront. During his time, the Department of Energy was created. Further, the Three Mile Island incident showed possible problems inherent in relying on nuclear energy. Carter is also important for his part in the Middle East peace process with the Camp David Accords in 1972.

Tina Webber Essays - Culture, Language, Language Acquisition

Tina Webber Essays - Culture, Language, Language Acquisition Tina Webber Professor Clancy English 122 13 October , 2016 Mother Tongue Amy Tan I think the main point Amy Tan is trying to make in "A Mother's Tongue" is that words are more than just words. S ometimes you have to look behind them and read in between to understand the true meaning. For example, her mother did not speak perfect English, but the points and ideas she was trying to get across are what really were important. Not all people who speak the English language speak it the same way. A language can be subdivided into any number of dialects which each vary in some way from the parent English language. Mother Tongue, is an article based on the power of language. W ithout standard language skills, one is identified as an outsider, often wrongly perceived and unfairly discriminated against. After reading Mother Tongue, my belief of not judging or putting someone down because of the way they speak is stronger than ever. I am reminded of those times , growing up, when others would say something bad about my friends just because they couldn't express their thoughts and feelings due to their limited language skills. I had many foreign born friends growing up, and I became their interpreter at times, as I understood the words they were trying to say when others did not. Using simple English; the author wants to share a message with those who don't speak the language well, the message being "their point of view is still important". Identification with and acceptance in a community is not the only result of language acquisition. Chiefly, she distinguishes between the simple form of English she speaks with her family and the more complex version of the language she uses in her personal life. "You should know that my mother' s expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands. She reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker, reads Shirley MacLaine' s book s with easeall kinds of things I can't begin to understand. " Though there was a time when Tan was embarrassed by her mother's English, she now sees things from a different perspective. She writes, "my mother's English is perfectly clear. It's my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world" (Tan, 21). It is also clear that Tan's own mother helped her understand English in a different, unique way, and that is the language she uses today. Blocking out the critics, she knew it was important when her mother approved her book by saying "So easy to read" Language is many things: the arrangement of words in a particular order, uttered in a certain way, denoting a certain meaning; it is a political instrument which evokes images and motion. At its most fundamental, however, language is quite simply the expression of self and the ability to share that expression with others. The language that she once perceived as inferior, sub-standard, or broken, she now views as intimate, special, and representative of her mother's beautiful and insightful expression of herself and view of the world, which Mrs. Tan, in turn, taught her da ughter. Her point is well taken. Do we not all speak our own different English's, calling upon them as the occasion and audience direct? Certainly, the language I call upon in a meeting with the president of the company I work for differs from the language that I use with my colleagues, which is different from the language I speak with my friends or family, which differs from the language I use with my nephews. It may be a matter of word choice or intonation or slang or content or purpose, but each is a different part of myself and my world. The learning of one's mother tongue will provide an individual the right to study their culture and will also preserve family bonds and lessen cultural conflicts between generations. In the short story, "Mother Tongue", Amy Tan takes apart the different ways English is used

13 Electric Vehicle Conversion Companies

13 Electric Vehicle Conversion Companies Fuel is expensive, but one way to eliminate stops at the pricey pump is to go electric. An electric vehicle (EV) conversion is a procedure that involves modifying a petroleum fuel-powered vehicle into an all-electric vehicle. If your commuting needs and lifestyle are such that you can go electric with one or more of your vehicles, here’s a list of companies to get you started. Depending upon where you’re located, there may or may not be one of these companies within a reasonable distance. If youre not within driving distance, choose a company on this list that will sell you the parts for a DIY conversion, or hire a reliable mechanic to do the hard work for you.   Companies That Offer DIY Conversion Kits Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd.  CEV was established in 1991 to convert internal combustion engine vehicles to electric power- including heavy-duty diesel truck conversions for the airline industry. In addition to selling conversion kits for many vehicles, they offer components for modifications and offer custom-build options. Their customers include governments, industrial companies, and private individuals. Conversion Companies Clean Ride Electric Vehicles  Located in Minnesota, this company restores and electrifies classic VW beetles from top to bottom. They replace the internal combustion engine and fuel system with an electric motor and 6 12-volt lead acid batteries and upgrade standard components. These all-electric VWs offer a 20- to 30-mile range with a top speed of 50 mph.EVPorsche.com  Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Los Angeles, CA, this company can convert any vehicle to all-electric power but specializes in Porsche sports car conversions due to their dependability, lightweight design, and engineering. They offer a wide variety of battery, range and model configurations to meet driving styles and needs. Speeds for their EVs: 0-60 in about 5 seconds or even faster with 2 motors and series to parallel switching.Eco-conversions  This company specializes in converting regular gas burning cars into clean electric machines- they have zeroed in on luxury vehicles with their benchmark, the BMW 8-Series, aiming to â€Å"shatter the image of the traditional electric car.† They recently partnered with eVionyx, an American company that has developed superior charging nickel-zinc batteries. Electric Vehicle Systems – Based in New Underwood, SD, this company offers complete repair services for all-electric vehicles, using the latest technology. According to their website, most repairs of a two-wheel electric scooters run $45. Call them to learn more.Electro Automotive – Located in Felton, CA, Electro Automotive was founded in 1979 as a single source for quality conversion components. According to their website, Electro Automotive â€Å"believes in electric vehicles built to live in the real world.† They are all about EVs that are simple in design, easy-to-use, reliable, affordable and practical.Electric Vehicles of America (EVA) - EVA provides free detailed calculations for specific all-electric applications, from industrial, on-road electric car or truck, off-road EV or boat. They also offer free technical papers on safety, batteries and conversion details, in addition to system design, supplier data and drawings, installation manuals and videos. Lo cated in New Hampshire.EV-Blue/Electric Blue – Based in Kansas, this company will convert any gasoline burner to electric- you supply the vehicle, they do the conversion. Their basic option includes a 144V battery and charger for $11,000. AC, heat and power steering are extra. Call or email for additional details. EV Source LLC - Located in Logan, UT, this company provides high-quality electric vehicle components to the high performance, high voltage EV conversion market. From speed controllers, fuses and breakers to assembling your own conversion kit, they know how to help you go all-electric.Green Motors Inc.  - Based in northern Arizona, Green Motors converts standard vehicles to electric power, in addition to servicing, maintaining and refurbishing all types of electric vehicles. They offer service support for the DIYer, plus sales of parts. Visit their products page for a current list of available vehicles.Metric Mind Corporation  - Based in Oregon, Metric Mind Engineering (MME) is an international company that supplies high end AC drive systems and other EV components. According to their website, MME is a single source of all the main electronic hardware necessary to complete an EV conversion.†REVOLT Custom Electric Vehicles LLC  - This company provides design, building and m aintenance services for electrical vehicle conversions in the Austin, TX area. Wilderness Electric Vehicles  - Located in Utah, this company specializes in electric car conversions. You supply the vehicle- they provide the conversion in 3 to 4 months. They also offer a variety of kits to convert to electric. Call or email for additional details.

Use risk perception and risk communication perspective to evaluate the Essay

Use risk perception and risk communication perspective to evaluate the disaster management policy-making process - Essay Example Use risk perception and risk communication perspective to evaluate the disaster management policy-making process The earth has been found to be the only life-supporting planet for now. At least even if humans can live on other planets, it is the earth we all live on now.So if we are talking about keeping the earth intact and productive, then we should be thinking of ways of reducing; if not stopping disasters from occurring. The Assam Government Disaster Management Policy (2010) explains that â€Å"disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, and destruction and devastation to life and property.† Sadly, the source continues to note that â€Å"the damage caused by disasters is immeasurable and varies with the geographical location, climate and the type of the earth surface/degree of vulnerability.† This explanation alone reechoes a very scaring situation whereby the fight against disaster must be embraced with all seriousness and urgency. Speaking of the need to fight disasters, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Disaster Man agement is quoted in World Confederation of Physical Therapy (2011) as pointing to disaster management as the most effective way of fighting disaster; explaining that â€Å"disaster management is the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.† ... At the evaluation stage of policy making, policy makers are offered the opportunity to critically scrutinize the feasibility, achievability, effectiveness and usefulness of any given policy. Having noted this, it is important to appreciate the fact that for disaster management evaluation to go on successfully without any setbacks, there are a number of factors that need to be put in place and a number of mechanisms that need to be used by facilitators. Two of these factors and mechanisms are risk perception and risk communication perspective. These two elements come in best when utilized will ensure that the eventual implementation of disaster management policies achieve their needed results. To this end, this essay seeks to explore the use of risk perception and risk communication perspective to evaluate a given disaster management policy-making process. Literature Review Overview of disaster management policy making process and its importance Policy making process takes place day i n and out in different quarters of organizational set ups. Even at the national level, there are several policy making processes that take place day in and out. Policy making processes are necessitated when the need to have policies in place arise. Sycamnias (2008) states that â€Å"according to a dictionary definition, policy is "any course of action followed primarily because it is expedient or advantages in a material sense."† Without any question, disaster management is such an important phenomenon that it needs a whole policy formulation to get it underway. As part of the importance of taking disaster management through the policy making process, taking disaster

Bio-statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bio-statistics - Essay Example It can be either additive or subtractive. In case of additive procedure, the significant predictive variables are included in the regression model one after another. In case of subtractive approach all the expected variables are included in the model and then those which do not show statistically significant association with the predicted variable are dropped from the equation. In univariate analyses each variable is analysed separately for its statistics like mean, median, mode, standard deviation, range, skewness etc. Association on the other hand comes by looking at trend between two variables. If values of two variables show a tandem movement, then there exists significant association between the two variables. Though it looks very similar to correlation, it is completely different as in case of association, there may not be any causal relationship between two variables, which is there in case of correlation. What has been stated in the quoted sentence is that univariate analysis resulted in significant association between ‘allogeneic transfusion’ and ‘older age’; ‘allogeneic transfusion’ and ‘female sex’; ‘allogeneic transfusion’ and ‘hip procedure’ and so on. It means that instances of allogeneic transfusion were more in older people, females and so on. But it does not necessarily mean that this relationship was causal as well, it may be or may not be. g) ‘Revision hip’ was associated with the highest probability of transfusion as ‘Risk ratio’ is highest for this procedure. This means that those going for â€Å"Revision hip’ are at the greatest risk for allogeneic transfusion than those going for other procedures. h) The older person (aged 77) is at greater risk of requiring a transfusion after operation than the younger one. This comes from the fact that the multivariate regression model throws up risk ratio of 1.77 for those aged from 70 – 80 as compared to that of those aged below 70.

Procurement and Inventory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Procurement and Inventory Management - Essay Example Better working practices are never achieved because Sound Electric Limited lacks a clear policy document or procedures of operations which touches on contracting and purchasing.There is poor record keeping technique such that it is always hard for the company management employees to retrieve updated data along with more current entire company’s level of stock. It is also hard for the auditors to retrieve the same data a thing that will result in improper auditing thus creating room for theft in the company. The resultant effect is the failure in closely controlling the company’s working capital thus failing to monitor correctly the true business progress. The whole system lacks accountability due to the fact that stock control and purchasing performance are not very well monitored making the staff determine their own precedence thus unbalanced cost considerations a thing that can greatly contribute to the failure of the company. Invoices are settled without a delivery p roof or even a certification as to whether the items received are the actual quantities reflected in the invoice. The company has been greatly undermined by the suppliers who feel that Sound Electric Ltd has poor specifications. There is lack competition when it comes to purchasing, requires no confirmation as to the obligations met by the contractors, does not negotiate for the price reduction, the company’s contracts fail to have conditions attached and lacks important knowledge about the contractor’s financial capability.