Friday, May 31, 2019

Amelia Earhart Essay examples -- Aviation Women

Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart had the courage and independence to do anything she wanted to do. This includes crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a rag and sharing her visions for aviation and women. She inspired many, formed the send-off women aviators association, and she tried to fly around the world. That is why I think that Amelia Earhart has made a difference. And as I have said, Amelia Earhart has certainly affected many people. Amelia Earhart inspired many women to follow their ambitions and dreams. She is still a symbol of the power and perseverance of American women. When she first saw an airplane, she wasnt very interested, but as soon as she left the ground at a stunt-flying exhibition, she knew that she had to fly. Six months after her first lesson, she bought a second hand biplane painted bright yellow, and named it Canary. She used this plane to later set the first womens record of rising to an altitude of 14,000 feet. On June 17, 1928, she was asked, along with Wil mer Stultz and Louis Gordon, to fly the Atlantic. She was so thrilled that, later, she formed the first women aviators association. The second reason that I think that Amelia Earhart made a difference is because she formed the first women aviators association called the Ninety-Nines, Inc. The Ninety-Nines is an International Organization of Licensed Women Pilots from 35 countries. Also, the membership was open to all women with a originals license, and the organizations purpose would be...

Thursday, May 30, 2019

The Hundred Years War? Essay -- War England France Papers

The Hundred Years WarThe start of hostilities in 1337 sees the balance of power stacked distinctly in the favor of France. Its existence is large, its lands fertile, and its cities prosperous. A population of over 10 million make it one of, if not the strongest population base in Western Europe, with Paris laying yell to title as perhaps the sole great city in Latin Christendom . In contrast, the population of England totals only a third or a fourth of its adversary, with lands less developed and people less prosperous. Additionally, England still faces challenges from Scotland to the north, and though slightly less perilous in nature, revolts of the Welsh and Irish to the west. The marked remnant in resource base allows French kings to continually field larger armies for the entire duration of the conflict.The defensive nature of the war for France also conveys considerable immanent advantages. Siege weapons have yet to catch up to the fortifications of the day, and larger walle d cities and strongholds are often considered impregnable , requiring attacking armies to resort to the lengthy process of starving bulge a garrison before the city could be relieved. The worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities. Such a process, as in the case of Calais, could pull in ones horns months on end, with a high cost in men and resources which imposed a severe limitation on how much territory could be assaulted, broken, and held in any given amount of time. An army invading a territory as vast as the lands of France, whose landscape is dotted with fortified towns and castles, would be unverbalised pressed to make any permanent inroads without the most tenacious and lengthy of operations.Defending a consolidated position of home territories al... ...t had enjoyed for so long not only vanish, but take root in the minds of their adversary, turning the balance of power so far from their favor as to make the continued postulate in the last years of the war entirely hopeless, carried on only due to the stubborn national pride of an island never willing to concede defeat. BibliographyBurne, Lt-Col. Alfred H. The battle of Crecy War. Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1955. Burne, Lt-Col. Alfred H. The Agincourt War. Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1956.Giles, Lionel (translator). The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Hodder and Stoughton, 1981.Oman, Sir Charles. A History of The Art of War in the Middle Ages, Volume II. Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1924.Perroy, Edouard. The Hundred Years War. Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1959.Thompson, Peter E. (translator). modern-day Chronicles of the Hundred Years War. The Folio Society Ltd, 1966.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Plato on the Existence of Negative Forms Essay -- Plato Philosophy Neg

Plato on the Existence of Negative Forms The question of the origin and nature of evil in the world has preoccupied philosophers throughout history. The ancient philosopher Plato does not directly address this question in his writings, but it can be argued that the logic of his theory of spend a pennys demands the cosmea of varietys that are negative in meaning, such as the evil and the bad. When discussing his theory of imitation, Plato alludes to the principle that whenever there are many things of the same nature, there is one form for that nature. In several passages, Plato makes mention of many negative things. It can be debated, however, whether or not the negative has a positive ontological character of its ingest for which there can be a form. The several senses in which an object can be considered negative must first be distinguished in the lead the texts of Plato can be analyzed. It will be shown that, although Plato makes references in the Republic t o a common nature amongst many negative things, the supposition of a negative form is not in harmony with the hierarchal structure of forms that depends on the good, which is also presented in the Republic. A solution to this problem will be presented and analyzed. In ordinance to understand why it is argued that negative forms must exist according to Platos logic, one must first understand the meaning of form for Plato. Plato thinks that forms are separate and permanent entities that exist apart from the sensible world. Plato thinks that objects in the sensible world imitate a particular form and that form makes them what they are. Plato writes, As you know, we customarily hypothesize a single form in connection with each of the many things to which w... ...rendon Press), 167-9.4 Ross, 168.5 Ross, 168.6 Plato, Statesman, trans. Seth Benardete (Chicage University of Chicago Press, 1986), 262 d.7 Plato, Republic, 491 d 3.8 Plato, Republic, 608 e 3.9 Plato, Repu blic, 609 a 4-7.10 Plato, Republic, 610 b 4-6.11 Plato, Republic, 382 b.12 Plato, Republic, 476 a.13 Plato, Republic, 507 b 10-11.14 Plato, Republic, 509 b 11-c.15 Plato, Republic, 508 c-e.16 Plato, Republic, 508 b ? 509 a 3.17 Plato, Republic, 509 b 7 - 718 Plato, Republic, 379 a 6 - c.19 I.M. Crombie, An Examination of Plato?s Doctrines Plato on Knowledge and Reality (New York The Humanities Press), 283.20 Crombie, 283.21 Crombie, 284.22 Plato, Statesman, 262 d.23 Ross, 169.24 Plato, Republic, 491 d 3.25 Crombie, 284.

Summary of the Bell Jar :: essays research papers

Esther Greenwood, a college student from Massachusetts, traveled to New York to work on a magazine for a month as a guest editor. Esther knows she should be having the time of her life, but she feels interchangeable she is in a living nightmare. The execution of the Rosenbergs worries her, and this is what triggers the bell shock absorber closing in on Esther and covering her view on life. When she goes home, she finds that she is in more of a nightmare. She tries to cut her wrists, but cannot. She tries to hang herself, but cannot find a place to hang the rope. In a desperate act to end her life she takes a large amount of sleeping pills and hides in a crawl space in her basement. But, she survives and awakes in a hospital. She remains disobliging until Philomena Guinea, a wealthy woman who also gave Esther her college scholarship, pays for Esther to go into a private hospital. Esther improves slowly, she also meets Joan, who is a lesbian. When Esther finds out Joans sexuality, she finds Joan to be repulsive. Joan seems to be improving like Esther, but she commits suicide. Esther left the mental hospital in time to start the winter semester at college. She believed that she had regained a grasp on sanity, but knows that the bell jar of her madness could descend again at any time.Esther Greenwood is the protagonist and narrator of The Bell Jar. I find her extremely unique because of her view on life, the bureau that she thinks of people and how life works is very curious. Esther feels as if no one in the world understands her and is very selfish. During most of the book, no matter where Esther goes, she exists in the sinning of her own mind. She seemed trapped inside herself, with no external existence, no matter how new and exciting, nothing could change how she felt.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Symbols and Symbolism in The Mask of the Red Death :: Mask Masque Red Death Essays

Symbolism in The Mask of the ruddy stopping point   Thesis Poe uses symbolism to unfold this entrancing tale of terror.   I. The first symbol in the story is the name of the Prince himself, Prince Prospero.   II. The ebony clock is another major symbol within this tale.   III. The black room is the about prominent symbol in the story but is not clear until the end.   The mood of this story is set as a description of the Red close is laid out for the reader. The Red Death had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or hideous. (Poe 72) This disease left scarlet stains upon it victims skin. Any victim of this disease was completely shunned by his fellow man. The final throws of this Red Death were an agonizing half hour of torment and seizure. Prince Prospero could no longer bear witness to this, so in fear of his life he took himself one thousand of his royal comrades and enough servants for all to a secluded abbey. He was sure the seclusion from the Red Death would save his life. He was wrong   Poe uses his supporting character Prince Prospero, to show the wealth of royalty in this story. This characters speaks of wealth and happiness. Prosperos wealth was so vast that he was advantageously able to support one thousand of his royal comrades, hundreds of servants, and a seemingly endless number of parties. However, it is very ironic that the prince of prosperity was the first to die. He was dispatch by the main character of the story The Red Death itself. I believe this was to show the reader that one can not turn their game to societys problems without feeling the effects. The giant ebony clock screamed with the symbolism of the groups short amount of time left in this world. This clock had an over powering tam-tam every hour. The chime paused its victims with disconcert and trepidation. This sound was so clear, and loud that it was heard by all, and even the most joyous grew pale. In the en d the clock died just as the Red Death had taken its last victim, And the life of the ebony clock went out with that the last of the gay (75).

Symbols and Symbolism in The Mask of the Red Death :: Mask Masque Red Death Essays

Symbolism in The Mask of the bolshy Death   Thesis Poe uses symbolism to unfold this gripping tale of terror.   I. The first symbol in the trading floor is the name of the Prince himself, Prince Prospero.   II. The ebony time is another major symbol within this tale.   III. The black room is the most prominent symbol in the stage but is not clear until the end.   The mood of this story is set as a description of the Red Death is laid out for the reader. The Red Death had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or hideous. (Poe 72) This disease left scarlet stains upon it victims skin. Any victim of this disease was totally shunned by his fellow man. The final throws of this Red Death were an agonizing half hour of torment and seizure. Prince Prospero could no longer bear witness to this, so in fear of his spirit he took himself single metre of his royal comrades and enough servants for all to a secluded abbey. He was sure the seclusion from the Red Death would save his life. He was wrong   Poe uses his supporting(a) character Prince Prospero, to show the wealth of royalty in this story. This characters speaks of wealth and happiness. Prosperos wealth was so vast that he was easily able to support one thousand of his royal comrades, hundreds of servants, and a seemingly endless number of parties. However, it is very ironic that the prince of prosperity was the first to die. He was murdered by the main character of the story The Red Death itself. I believe this was to show the reader that one can not turn their back to societys problems without feeling the effects. The giant ebony clock screamed with the symbolism of the groups short amount of time left in this world. This clock had an over powering chime every hour. The chime paused its victims with disconcert and trepidation. This sound was so clear, and loudly that it was heard by all, and even the most joyous grew pale. In the end the clock died just as the Red Death had taken its last victim, And the life of the ebony clock went out with that the last of the gay (75).

Monday, May 27, 2019

Is Eminem Right; Music in Today Society

Is Eminem Right? In the essay Eminem is Right , there is a lot of discussion ab unw pick apart the connect between the music that our teens listen to and the amount of violence and rebellion that is occurring. The teens of like a shot wealthy person enshrined a new generation of music idols who shargon generational signatures in cry after song is to rage close to what not having a nuclear family has d angiotensin converting enzyme to them (Eberstadt 251). Broken homes, family dysfunction, checked out parents and (especially) absent fathers , all have a extensive effect on todays youth and these are the things our generation whistles about and listens to (Eberstadt 251).The songs and problems that these various workman sing about are legitimate problems not only in their baby birdhood, but in the millions of American teens current childhood. Parents are early offended by the lyrics of the singers, because children know when they are from a broken home and they do rebel and ge t upset with their families. Eminem openly sings about his life to make money, but what he sings is true about a lot of teens and he knows this. He targets Baltus 2 them with his songs, because they make those kids feel less alone.Comparing the song Successful by Drake is a great way to show an artist who grew up listening to Eminem and that generation of music. He sings about him rising to the top and how he sings about his family and how he couldnt of gotten where he was if it wasnt for a a couple of(prenominal) things that happened in his life. He sings about his mother running away from home and leaving him and his siblings, but he left something in the car and caught her before she was out of the driveway. He sings that they stood there and cried, because she couldnt handle it without a man in their life.Drake sings that he indeed became the phantom meaning his father. Drake sings about how all his friends are hind end at home, while he became successful. He sings and when I leave I always come office back here, the young rapper that everyone in rap fear, a lot of you all still soundin like last year, the game has changed and Im the mother f***ing cashier(Successful). He then goes on and sings about how the money, cars and clothes dont make him happy, his rapping to others and singing his song is what its about.The chorus for this song is Baltus 3 I want the money, money and the cars, cars And the clothes, the hoes I cipher I estimable want to be, I just want to be successful I just want to be, I just want to be successful I just want to be, I just want to be successful The chorus shows the conflicted side of the artist and that he really wants to sing to relate to his fans. He also sings about how he wants things to go his way but they never seem to. When comparing this song and the many songs that Eminem has wrote they conflict and insure in many ways.All Eminem feels is hate for his mother and his non existing father. He sings about adornment and abuse, but fails to see that not all children who listen to his music feel the akin way that he does. He didnt handle it in the best way and now he is yelling and targeting parents for not even being parents. The song Successful sings about the same problems but not in an angry way or in a way that is leading the youth of today into a violent rage or making them commit crimes against there parents.Even though the music these days is violent and vulgar it shouldnt be the main blame of todays youths misbehaviors and rebellion. Nowadays parents are way to easy Baltus 4 to put blame on anyone but themselves. Yes, music is a big part of todays youth but it can only influence to a certain point, then its up to that child or their parents to decide what they make of the songs. As a parent you teach your children to do right by themselves and you, so really once you let them into the world you just hope that you taught them well, and hope they follow your example.In the song Successf ul there are points in the song where Drake sings that he made his life the way it is, no one else lived the life he did. Eminem sings about abandonment, and being abused, and in return he sings about beating his mom and even in a few songs sighs about beating his ex wife. The constant aggression in his songs is very noticeable, but it doesnt mean that all children or teens that listen to his songs feel that same aggression that he does. The way children act and interact isnt influenced by the music and by the lyrics that many singers sing, its mainly there upbringing.If parents teach their children the right values and the right way of seeing things from someone else point of view, then there children shouldnt feel the need to be aggressive towards there parents. All a child wants, is to make their parents happy and if you praise them for their wide-cut behavior then they will continue the same behavior, but if you only give them attention when they Baltus 5 misbehave, then they may associate bad behavior with praise or attention.This is a bad way to get attention, but like a lot of Eminems songs, parents arent there to give normal amount of praise. Concluding that its more likely that parents cause bad behavior than the songs of popular rappers and singers, only because most children want to be given attention and be included in there parents lives. In arguing the point if Eminem is right or wrong, a lot of good arguments arise and tare down the argument that Eminem is influencing our children to cause havoc and disorderly conduct.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Do the Right Thing: Independent Cinema Essay

Do the Right Thing (1989) is a drama-comedy film crafted by writer-director producer star Spike Lee which delved into issues dealing with Brooklyn existence, racism and bigotry which exist in areas found in metropolitan New York. Tolerance is unremarkably maintained but feelings are always threatening to spill let on the key point of Lees film. Most of the actions take place in Sals Pizzeria, a 25 year-old Italian-American establishment in the African-American community (Do the Right Thing 1989).Sal has two sons, Pino and Vito who were all working with delivery person Mookie. In one of the scenes, Mookie was talking to one of his African-American friend in the pizzeria when the issue of blackness was again brought up. His friend asked Mookie who is his favorite basketball player, actor and musician. Mookie replied caper Johnson, Eddie Murphy and Prince who apparently are all African-Americans by descent (Do the Right Thing 1989). His friend had humorously assumed that Mookie might have preferred to be black in a sense.Mookie responded that the three are not just blacks they are the higher blacks. His friend, who is an African American, was shocked with how Mookie regarded his favorite personalities they do not choke to the ordinary blacks to whom the issue of racism is often addressed however, Mookies categorization of blacks can still be considered as being racist and still not a way to move out from the issue of racism (although Mookie had attempted to ease the degree of insult by bringing up the status of whatever blacks into a higher level).The stimulating theory of double consciousness explores the possibility of how black political culture may change as it moved out of the early phases which attempted to escape from the notion of slavery towards the acquisition of meaningful citizenship in post-emancipated societies (Gilroy, Paul 1993). The categorization of Magic Johnson, Eddie Murphy and Prince as higher blacks is an unmingled response that the pu blic (regardless of descent) is attempting to put a higher regard of what have been considered by history as bearers of the lower status.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Cashier Training manual Essay

AddictionsDo addictions really exist? People constantly expect to say that they be addicted to nicotine, alcohol and do drugss, but there ar continuous debates whether this is just a necessity or a general want. near multitude start using these substances out of depression as they convince themselves that it will make them feel better about themselves and the difficult life their living. However, others nonplus with these substances cod to social surroundings as they feel the need to fit in around the harsh public. This then turns into a habit.There ar 3 main types of addictions psychological, mental and physical. Every case has a different type of addiction and close to are overly exaggerated. After doing some research on addictions, I found that the term addictions has been proven to exist by many different scientists on quite a few websites. However I conceptualize it does exist but more over it depends on the path each human beings mind works as some mint provoke grea ter insecurities than others which cause them to feel the need to necessitate such substances and over use them duration others are mentally strong and take these substances once in a way for entertainment.Once you start experimenting with your bodies system and allowing these chemicals in, you should be strong in your mind to stop whenever but if youre weak and allow your mind to take over, this will stimulate an addiction. As proven by science, physical addictions exist. This has been mentioned by scientists on treatment websites, as many addicts have tried to stay swooning for days and they experience withdrawal symptoms which means the person has developed a physical dependence.Sometimes addicts give up as they puzzle the withdrawal breaker point harder than anything and feel the need to start the usage of drugs again. According to the National Institute of Health the addicts whole life revolves around the drug whether they are harming themselves severely or not. (http//ad vancedpaintreatment.com/types.asp)There are certain drugs which can be physically addicting to certain human beings this is has been proven as an addiction to some degree. But can somedrugs and alcohol can be serious addictions? It is always in the mind of the one using these substances as they are mentally insecure and dependable human minds.In the case of ciggerets it is the nicotine in cigarettes causes the addiction. Nowadays the percentage of smokers have increased, stack have found more reasons to continue smoking, allowing it to become a mental addiction. People may think it helps them focus or fills them up as this is what they want to believe. However, people who say nicotine is a necessity have it in their minds and cause their body to go through this mind set addiction, due to insecurities or depression. Nicotine brings a general sense of fulfillment to these verbalise to be addicts. Smokers need to have the will power to let go of nicotine. Due to the weak mentality of human beings, it has been proven that the majority death toll is due to the tobacco in the nicotine.According to the National Institute of Health Tobacco use killed approximately 100 million people during the 20th century and, if circulating(prenominal) smoking trends continue, the cumulative death toll for this century has been projected to reach 1 billion. (http//drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/health.html) On the other hand, alcohol damages the wit and the way in which the stimulants in the brain work. Many people end up in rehab as they are alcoholics, but then again do those exist? To me alcoholics are just like nicotine addicts it is set in their minds as it brings a sense of joy and serenity. Many sorts of psychological issues cause this. Some people tend to coerce themselves to drink every day, as they feel the need for it due to weak minds as they have no control over their actions and give up on themselves, some with no reason at all.Alcoholics think they physically n eed the alcohol in their systems but truly they are just mentally addicted to it as they lose control over their lifestyle. There are way too many different types of drugs each one has a different assemble but not all of them become physical or mental addictions. Marijuana is a drug and said to be herbal, however it does carry on the way in which your mind works and reacts to certain situations, but not for long. It could never be an addiction to any human being, well thats how I would agnize it as it is just a different way of enjoyment for certain people. But this wouldnt be a necessity to anybody and if theperson calls themselves an addict to this drug it proves that the person cannot accept their life and feels the need for something which cannot be a true addiction. This would be a psychological problem rather than addiction. Then again, drugs such as heroin, cocaine, prescription medications and chemicals, like LSD, MDMA, Ecstasy, etc. are psychologically addictive and can cause serious damages to the body and brain if over used.Many people find it very easy to fall into an addiction with such drugs as their body becomes weak and they feel emotionally attached to these chemicals as they highly affect the stimulants in your brain. They feel a sense of relaxation which they appreciate and then think they need. When these drugs are excessively used they cause hallucinations which affect the human brain to see what is real and what isnt, people who are physically addicted to such drugs lose sense in what reality truly is and do not pull that they arent sober nor in their senses. I believe this is a true addiction which builds up in fragile minds.There have been many people who have recently started to abuse prescription medications without any illnesses. The national institute of health posted that these medications can be addictive as well as poisonous, This has been proven to not only be addictive but also lethal. Commonly abused classes of prescriptio n drugs include painkillers, sedatives, and stimulants. The certain stimulants in the brains of such people cause them to carry on taking these chemicals into their system this is more of a psychological addiction which soon leads to a mental addiction. (http//drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/health.html)In conclusion, I find that addictions do exist to an extent. People, who find themselves in the trap of requiring such substances, should try gaining inner self confidence and face reality rather than depend on drugs, alcohol or nicotine to help them through life. However heavy drugs such as heroin, pharmaceuticals, cocaine and chemicals, when used excessively can cause physical addictions, while alcohol and nicotine are moreover mental and psychological addictions in certain cases and for some people these are just socially used and arent said to be addictions at all as they can face reality with or without them.ReferencesNational Institute Of Health. National Institute On Drug Abu se. What are some effects of specific abused substances? Retrieved November 16th, 2011, from http//drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/health.html Advanced Pain Treatment & Diagnostics Group. Are you tired? Tired of the shame, tired of hiding? Retrieved November 16th, 2011, from http//advancedpaintreatment.com/types.asp

Friday, May 24, 2019

Observation and Description Essay

1. Explain a learning theory detect in the video.In the field trip, experiential learning was apply by the facilitator. In experiential learning, students are immersed in a real environment and exposed in a real situation. Experiential learning is based on makeivist theory whereby the learners play active roles in assimilating knowledge onto their existing mental framework and make their school learned knowledge to the real world (Henley, 1994). In the video, students work with a professional to investigate and learn about temper at Fermilab.Students employ magnifying lenses and their senses to see, smell, hear, and feel the plants that they were holding. Initi whollyy, students worked in pairs, share their knowledge and make comparison. Then, they worked in groups and write down what they keep up observed. Thus, the learners have applied the knowledge and concepts that they have learned in the classroom about living things to a real environment at Fermilab. Through the exchan ge of knowledge and observations among members of the group, they became active learners and t from each aceers.Experiential learning was formulated by Carl Rogers who claimed that significant learning takes place when the subject matter is relevant to the interest of the learner and when external threats are at a minimum (Dover, 2008 Kearsley, 2008). The teacher must set a positive climate for learning, use learning resources, balance intellectual and emotional component of learning and share feelings and thoughts with the learners (ibid). Learning about nature, the prairie, wetlands and the mutation of sprightliness took place in Fermilab, a natural environment.Before students were taken around Fermilab, the facilitator gave them some rules to follow to protect the environment and everyone in the area. Hence, there was a positive climate for learning, the experience was significant to the students and the external threat to learning was kept at a minimum. b. learn the observed teaching situation in terms of group characteristics, seating arrangement, and any additional criteria necessary to present the setting of the learning environment.The teaching and learning process took place at Fermilab where students observed the plants, brutes and wetlands to determine the diversity of life in the environment. Initially, all students sat on the grass and work in pairs in observing the plants. They were also holding their magnifying lenses as they listened to the instructions of the facilitator. Each pair consists of a boy and a young woman of the same age and grade level. They interacted with their teammates and discussed what they have observed. Then they worked in groups, reflected on what they have observed and shared what they have learned.There were two boys and two girls in each group. c. Describe the observed teacher-to-student interactions. Students were attentive to their teacher. When the facilitator says, I want you to have a bun in the oven at the plant, smell the plant, listen to the plant, shake itsee if it rattles, students who were working in pairs got their magnifying lenses to look closely at the plants and follow the instructions of the teacher. Everyone was engaged in the activities. In early(a) scene, a small group of students were listening attentively to a professional as she speaks about the different environments that they will observe and investigate.She also renderd some rules that they lease to observe to protect the environment and everyone at Fermilab. While the facilitator speaks before the students, there was a female teacher who was standing beside her. d. Describe the observed student-to-student interactions. In the initiatory activity, a buddy system was established whereby students work in pairs while seating on the grass and observing the plants. A boy and a girl were interacting with each other and exchanging knowledge on what they have observed. In another activity, there were four students in each group.They were taking down notes on the plants that they were investigating. As students work in groups, peer teaching was established as groupmates do some discussions and kept their voices low so as not to disrupt the other groups. They were all doing their activities in an orderly manner. Analysis, Exploration, and Reasoning a. Describe the purpose of the observed lesson. The objective of the lesson is to learn about nature and to determine the diversity of life in different environments through active learning and immersion.Through experiential learning, students were able to explore the plants, animals and different environments in Fermilab through the use of their sense of sight, touch, smell, and hearing. The lesson also aimed to provide a hands-on experience on a real or natural environment instead of looking at the pictures, reading about nature and environment and staying in the classroom. The activities gave students the opportunity to work with other students and share their knowledge and observation with other members of the group. The activities also develop the social skills of the students.The activities aimed to foster cooperation as students exigency to follow rules to protect themselves, other people, nature, animals, and the environment. b. Describe a teaching strategy implemented in the observed lesson. Experiential learning is a strategy employ by teachers to incorporate learning theories into lessons. As the students learn about nature and the diversity of life in their field trip, they will be able to construct their own knowledge about the protection of nature from what they have observed and experienced at Fermilab.Through experiential learning, the theory of constructivism can be applied in which learners actively build knowledge and skills, construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current and past knowledge (Bruner, 1990). Students have learned about plants and animal life in the classroom, through their readings or viewing of films or television programs. Now that they have an actual experience of natures life in Fermilab, their knowledge and experience are added to what they have already learned.Hence, they will be able to construct their own ideas on how to protect and care for nature and animals. c. break the teachers possible purpose for implementing a teaching strategy observed in the video. The possible purpose of implementing experiential learning is to make each learner right off involved with nature and the diversity of life in different environments at Fermilab. The activities whereby students work by pairs or by groups and learn from one another will foster retention and comprehension of the subject matter because they learn through meaningful learning and teaching experience.The experiential activities make learners directly experience, discover and appreciate nature and environment through the use of their senses. Experiential learning also allows students to reflect on their e xperience, and generate understanding and transfer of skills and knowledge. d. Describe the level of student engagement with the observed lesson In the video, there was a high level of students engagement in the activities. This was evident in their participation to all the activities as they work in pairs and in groups in sharing their knowledge and observations on the plants that they were investigating.The students were listening and following the instructions of their teacher. When the teacher says, I want you to look at the plants, smell the plants, etc. , students who were working in pairs, got hold of the plants and observed them closely with their magnifying lenses. They were also attentively listening to the professional who was explaining about the environments and the diversity of life that they will examine within the Fermilab and the rules that they need to follow.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Storm Born Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ab appear two days passed before I had exuberant of a dish on consciousness to get step up of bed. I had dim recollections of a commotion outside Aesons stronghold afterward re freeing to my body that night stock-still little more. Shaya had cradled me in her arms. Dorian had yelled for a healer. But best of both, beside me Id shapen Kiyo stir.Now I woke up in unrivaled of Dorians many guest rooms. It was small than his provided as opulently decorated as everything else around there. Id rise to a few seasons before this but simply this instant ensn ar the strength to stay up. Nia, who had hoered by my side the entire time, remained less convinced.You shouldntyou involve to sleep more.I was st commitping off the great chemise theyd regurgitate me in, trading up for my recently laundered clothes. If I sleep any more, Ill be dead, and Ive already scrape too contiguous to that. Wheres Dorian? I need to intercourse to him.Im sure hed come to you, your majesty.I wince d at the title. No. Just take me to him.Despite her protests, her sense of duty couldnt disobey the order. She led me through the maze of corridors where I earned a number of curious looks from the various occupants. Since my initial arrival, Id become sort of a common fixture around here, accepted and ignored. Now masses regarded me with the same frightened curiosity Id first received.Outdoors, we found Dorian in one of the gardens, standing over a small, fluffy track. Muran hovered nearby, and between them, they tried unsuccessfully to coax the dog to lie down and roll over. It merely sat looking at them, tail thumping.Dorian noticed me first, his face breaking into a wide smile. The healers had been at work on him too no trace of the burns remained. Queen Eugenie, lovely to see you out and round.Muran nearly fell all over himself to bow. Y-your majesty.We need to talk, I told Dorian firmly. Alone.I never tire of being alone with you. Nia, take this unreasonable beast a sort wi th you. And take the dog too. He waved them off.Once alone with him, I demanded, What the hell were you thinking?There are so many incidents to which you could be referring, I dont nevertheless turn in where to start.Yes, you do. You do me queen of Aesons kingdom.Your kingdom now, my dear.I paced around in the grass irritably. It was the middle of the day, crisp and sunny. I didnt wishing it. You had no right to do it.Its done. Besides, if I hadnt, whateverbody else major magnate have snatched it up. Would you have similard to see your charming little sister on the throne?That stopped me. Extensive searching had found no trace of Jasmine. She seemed to have gotten away cleanly during the yeshin match.Give it to someone else. There has to be a better choice than Jasmine or me.Give it away? He laughed his wondrous melodic laugh, the one that declared all the world was a joke. The demean recognized you. You dissolvet go back on that. Its yours foreverwell, at least(prenomin al) until you die. Or pass it on to an heir.Great. Here we go again. I might have known youd start pushing that.I did no such thing, butsince you brought it upI stopped pacing and glared at him. Quit it. I dont want to talk closely it. I dont even want to think about it.Some of his humor faded. Maybe you should. Jasmine certainly will be. If she has a son first, all your good intentions wont matter. You say you dont want it, but you knowit could all turn out differently if you beat her to it.It was so alarmingly close to what Storm King had told me in the Underworld that I didnt even know what to say at first. Was this a coincidence? I felt pretty sure that all Id seen there had been an illusion, meant to test my resolve and charter me face my fears.Whats wrong? Dorian asked, seeing my face. There was nothing sly or knowing in his expression, only worry.Nothing. Look, forget about the prophecy for a minute. Go back to the Alder domain thing. If you were so worried about it falli ng into the wrong reach outs, wherefore didnt you precisely seize it for yourself?Why, Eugenie, do you think me so power hungry?Yes. I do. Ive perceive and seen as much. When these kingdoms were formed, you valued more. And you had your chance when Aeson died. He didnt answer, and I pushed on, knowing I was right. But that would have upset a lot of people, wouldnt it? Maiwenn and the opposites might have saturnine against you. But by making me Alder Queenyou got a placeholder. No one can say anything because I defeated Aeson f get offly in battle, and now you have easy access to the same power. You plan to use me and this fucking title to extend your inhibit.You have a very low opinion of me. No wonder youre so upset.Come on. Why else would you have done it?He stared in astonishment. Why, because I love you. He said it as though it was the more or less reasonable thing in the whole world. Like I should have known this already.You barely even know me.Weve known each other a lmost as long as youve known the kitsune, and I daresay you think youre in love with him. Your little foray that night demonstrated as much. By the gods, that was one of the most foolish things Ive ever witnessed. You stopped breathing. I vista you were dead.I heard the catch in his voice, and it really struck me that he just might love me after all. It gave me a strange feeling, one I didnt know how to cope with. Dorian loving a person was almost incomprehensible. I thought of him as loving only his own amusements and ambitions.I do love Kiyo, I said in a low voice. And if we can work it outIm passage to He shrugged, carefree and lax again. It doesnt matter. I dont mind sharing you.You told Aeson you dont share.As a general rule, no and certainly not with the likes of him but I dont think youll give me exclusivity, so I must compromise.There isnt going to be any exclusivity or compromise.So you say. You also said youd never come to my bed in the first place. Or that youd ever use magic. You probably said a dozen other things too. We all saw how those turned out. break short it. Im serious about this.And so am I. Youre a queen now. You control part of this world. Ally with me, and well be the greatest power since your father.I dont want the power or the Alder Land.Its the pricker Land now.I what?The land conformed itself to you. The Alder Land was Aesons domain. Yours is the Thorn Land. Youre the Thorn Queen.The smokethorn, I recalled. If someone tried to force a crown of thorns on me, that was going to be seriously fucked up.Very fitting actually. A tree covered in beauty yet possessing a sagaciously and deadly core.I shook my head. I dont care about metaphors. I dont want to rule this kingdom.He moved into my space, something passionate kindling in those gold-green eyes. So what? You think you can just ignore it? Pretend itll go away? The land conformed itself to your will You cant turn away from that. Its survival depends on you particularly since, for reasons only the gods know, you turned it into a wasteland.I faltered. WellIll get one of those peopleyou know, someone who rules in your placeA regent? Thatll only work for so long. You cant avoid the land. You have to come back and visit it, or it will die. Youre connected now.I didnt want this, Dorian. I felt tired. Maybe getting up hadnt been such a good idea after all. You shouldnt have done it.Well have to agree to disagree on that, but Ill do what I can to make amends. Take Shaya. Shed make an excellent regent. And Ill give you Rurik and Nia and any other servants you seem to like reasonably well.I dont really like Rurik.No, but hell be as loyal as that dog I just had. More so, actually, considering what an unreasonable little bastard it was. Rurik will sift through whats left of Aesons oppose and keep only those wholl support you.You mean who support Storm King.Its the best I can do, he said with a shrug. You may take it or not. And youll still have to fill other posit ions yourself. Nia will do nicely for a lady-in-waiting, but shes not quite up to being a seneschal. Youll need one of those. And a herald too.He spoke like he was reciting things I needed to pick up at the grocery store. Oh, God. Im trapped in the fucking Chronicles of Narnia.Im sure that would be an amusing reference, if I understood it. For now, I can do no more. Im giving up some of my favorites for you. The rest is in your hands. There was a smile on his face, but his eyes were serious. No matter what you think of me and my motivations, I swear to you I wouldnt have had you seize Aesons land if I didnt think you were worthy. Theres power burning inside of you, Eugenie. I meant it when I said youd surpass us all.I shook my head and turned away, unavailing to hear this. Im leaving now. I really dont want to see you again. Nothing personal. Well, yeah, actually it is. I started walking toward the door.What about your magic lessons?I froze. What about them?Dont you want to continu e them?I slowly turned around. I have some control now. Not great control, but enough to keep me from doing something stupid.And thats good enough for you? He took a few steps toward me. You killed one of this worlds greatest magic users with a novices control of water. Imagine when you master it and the other elements.No. Im not going to. I dont need to.I thought you liked the way it made you feel.The ghostly memory of power flared up in my mind, and I swallowed, willing it to go away. I shook my head at him. Goodbye, Dorian.I started to turn again, but he caught my shoulder and pulled me into a caress. He deserved to be slapped, but the kiss was exquisite, just like all his kisses. And feeling him against me reminded me of our night together, how hed brought me to a wildness I didnt think myself capable of.Thats the last time youre going to kiss me, I warned when it ended.He smiled knowingly, and in his eyes, I could see his own memories of that night. So you say.I left him and returned to my own world.Kiyo found me a few days later, as Id know he would. Id been out running errands and came home to see him sitting on my doorstep, in human form. He wore a white cotton shirt, tucked neatly into khakis. The black hair was brushed away from his face, and his dark eyes were as smoky and sensual as ever. He looked good and healthy. Like Dorian, hed enjoyed the benefits of gentry heal magic. In fact, Kiyo had received the very best Maiwenn had tended him during his recovery.Come on in, I said, unlocking the door.He entered wordlessly, following and waiting as I put away my keys and purse. I offered him iced tea and then sat down with him on the couch, wanting to say so much and not knowing where to start.You look better than the last time I saw you, I finally said. His teeth flashed in a lovely smile. Wouldnt take much.I looked away. Maiwenn did a good job.I felt his hand reach out and turn my face toward him. Those fingers held the same warmth I remembered, t he same electric tingle.The way I hear it, it was more you than her.I didnt do so much.He tsked me. Honesty, Eugenie.All right, it was bad. Really bad. But Id do it again.Youre a crazy, wonderful woman. I cant repay what you did.I started. Theres nothing to repay. Why on universe would you think that?Because I didnt deserve it. Not after the way No. Forget it. II shouldnt have freaked out over it. Not over something that happened before you even met me. What I didnt add was that I could suddenly empathize with how dangerous certain bits of information could be to a relationship. Like, say, revealing how a gentry king had initiated you into sexual bondage.I still should have told you.Yeah, I conceded, you should have. But its done. I can live with it.His arm had snaked around me in that subtle way he had. What are you saying?You know what Im saying. Theres too much between usIm not ready to give that up yet.The arm pulled me closer, and there was a slight tremble in his voice when he spoke. Oh, God, Eugenie. Ive missed you so much. Youre like a part of me.I know.We held each other for a muteness moment, and then I heard him say in carefully measured tones, I hear youre a queen now.Thats what they say.How do you feel about that? lend oneself your imagination.Dorian had no right to do that. There was a growl in Kiyos voice.Youre preaching to the choir here. I already had that argument with him. He doesnt see it as wrong. He thinks I should keep progressing in magic too.The hand stroking my face stopped moving. He pulled away slightly so he could look me in the eyes. Thats an even worse idea. You arent going to, are you? I mean, you got what you needed from him, right?Right.He visibly relaxed, again touching my cheek with a sensual languor. Well get you through the queen thing. I wont let anything happen to you.There you go again with the macho protectiveness thing. Who brought who back from the dead?Fair point.I gave voice to something Id wondered about for a while now. Howhow did you know when I was at Aesons anyway? Did you really stake out his place and wait for me?His eyes ruffled with seductive mischief. Moving his hands to my back, he let his fingers trace the still-healing scars from where hed scratched me. Theres no place you can go that I cant recover you.I groaned. Id forgotten about that. Those damned things are going to heal one of these days.Ill make more.We leaned into a kiss, and like that, things were solved between us. We didnt need many words to get across how we felt. Maybe thats how it is with someone you really love, someone youre connected to. That wasnt to say we didnt have reams of communication to hash through in the future, not if we were going to attempt some sort of relationship. But for now, the kiss conveyed enough. It was an exchange of heat, an exchange of love, and it felt like coming home.Ive still got to make amends, he told me, his lips only a fraction of an column inch from mine, no matter how mag nanimous youre feeling. You know, the usual. Chocolate. Flowers.Whatever. I dont need the covert signs to know you want to have sex with me. There are plenty of more self-explanatory ones.Like what?Like your hand on my breast.No. This is still subtle. He pulled my body to his, melding us together. Now, when my mouth is there, then youll know Youre such a freak. sexual urge got us into this mess. I dont know that its healthy to rely on it to fix everything.Only one way to find out.Queenly authority or no, I didnt do a very good job of protesting. And when he pushed me down on the couch, I didnt do a very good job of protesting that we should go to the sleeping accommodation. Fortunately, Tim never came home, so I didnt shock his sensibilities again.Whatever words hed withheld in our conversation came out as Kiyo made love to me, telling me he wanted me, would love me forever, and would do anything in the world for me. They were the sort of promises all people make when theyre fall ing in love, but that didnt make them any less powerful. I floated on them long after he left that evening, awash in emotion and contentment and residual lust.I was getting dressed in my bedroom when a voice behind me said Hes a mistake, you know. So is the Oak King. Youre better off without either of them.I jumped and spun around angrily on Volusian. Dont stalker up on me like that Christ. Were you watching me out there? What is it with you Otherworldly types and your fetishes? Exhibitionists and bondage and voyeurism. Good grief.His red eyes regarded me levelly as I finished draw on my shirt. I was not joking, mistress.About Dorian and Kiyo? Whats the matter with them? Well, Dorians kind of obvious, but Kiyos all right.He shook his head. Hardly. He is a fox, and part of him thinks like one. He regards you as his mate, and that is a dangerous thing. He and Dorian are both zealots in their way. They sit at different ends of the spectrum, perhaps, but both are fixed in their belief s. Each will have his own agenda for you even the kitsune, whose views you tend to agree with. They will each try to dominate you and make you think it was your idea.For one uneasy moment, I thought about how sex had been with each man. Aggressive. Controlling. Id had small pieces of control, but in the end, I had always been pushed to introduction, a submission I welcomed. There was only the one night with Kiyo the night Id woken up in the afterglow of remembered power that I had truly been the dominant one.You would do better to find someone milder and more malleable. Someone less ambitious.I considered his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe. Men without ambition are boring.And that attitude, mistress, is why the females of your kind continue to struggle for equality. And why they continue to fail.I sat on the bed and clasped my hands in front of me. I didnt accuse you. Was that all you came to tell me, Dr. Love?No. I came to tell you that you need to visit your kingdom sooner rather than later. The people are nervous and restless. You are their queen, and that means something, no matter how much you detest it. Your people need to see a strong monarch right away.I was hoping to put that off. My people, huh?I wouldnt recommend it. Not unless you want a casualty on your hands.So should I appoint you as one of my advisers now?You may do anything you like. As for me, I tend to share Finns view. If I cannot rip you apart yet and must be enslaved to someone, I would rather it be to someone more important than a human shaman.Id been teasing him, but my feelings sobered at the thought of Finn and poor Nandi. Youre the last man standing, Volusian. Who would have seen that coming?I did, mistress. The incredulous look on his face resembled Dorians when hed told me he loved me. There was never any question. They were inferior.I laughed. I never thought Id say this, but after everything thats happened, youre the only normal thing I can rely on.He didnt reply.Go back to the Otherworld and stay with Shaya. Tell her Ill be there soon. Only cross over if theres a message I need to hear.As the Thorn Queen wishes.Oh, be quiet.I spoke the banishing words and sent him on. After that, I stretched out on my bed and tried to assess my life so far. I was still a shaman, one of the most powerful around if the stories were true. I possessed human means of working and controlling magic, using it to fight and banish anything nasty that slipped into this plane. But I was also gentry, the daughter of one of the Otherworlds biggest tyrants, and I could supposedly be the one to bring about a flagitious prophecy provided my woman-child sister didnt do it first. I was dating a guy who could turn into a fox and who might very well turn on me if I ever got pregnant. I had the love of a king who could tie damned good knots and wanted my help to take over his world and my own. someway Id developed the power to call storms and blow up people. Id been to the land of death and returned. And finally, I was a queen the Thorn Queen, which didnt merely sound flattering. Why couldnt I have been the Violet Queen or something? Why trees and not flowers? There was no accounting for Otherworldly tastes.I needed tequila and Def Leppard right away.I walked out to the kitchen, hoping to uncover one or the other but found neither. Instead, I settled for water from a large glass pitcher we kept chilled in the refrigerator. I poured a cup for myself and then set to refilling the pitcher while my mind spun.Why had everything turned so confusing lately? I didnt want any of this. I just wanted Kiyo and the occasional exorcism. Love and a way to pay the mortgage. That was it. I didnt need all this Otherworldly web or the gentry and their games. They offered me nothing. I didnt want anything from any of them.Angrily, I slammed the faucet off and turned toward the refrigerator. I didnt realize how wet my fingers were until the glass pitcher slipped from my hands. E verything after that happened in the space of a heartbeat. The pitcher fell. It hit. It shattered. Without thinking, my senses reached out and seized the water, ordering it to stay where it was. There was nothing to be done for the glass Yet, it didnt move. The shards hung frozen in midair, just like the water, suspended in the pattern created from the impact. I stared, dumbstruck, until a faint breeze brushed my skin and I realized the fragments trembled slightly. Cautiously, I reached out to that air with my mind and felt its answering resonance. Stretching further, I could sense the currents of power running from me to the space around the glass. The air shifted there as its molecules fought to keep the pieces from falling. Somehow, without even knowing how, Id made the air obey me, just as I had the water.Only this was a lot more difficult. I gradually became aware of exactly how I affected the air molecules, and the longer I did it, the harder it was. The pieces of glass felt l ike bricks, their weight heavy on my senses as I kept memory them up. With a casual thought, I sent the water away to my sink. Forcing all of my attention to the glass gave me a little more strength, but I knew my control would give out soon. Still, I held on. I suddenly wanted to dominate the air, understand how it worked and what I needed to do to command it.Imagine when you master it and the other elements.As I connected to the air, I felt that burning, glorious feeling start to run through me. It still had yet to ever come close to the levels in the dream-memory, but the surge I felt now was stronger and sweeter than anything else Id felt from controlling water alone.Tim walked in just then, freezing midstep when he saw me. Eugenie? die beat at my muscles, and sweat broke out along my brow. The glass would fall any moment now, and when it did, the magical high would disappear. I fought as long as I could, but when the glass started to shake violently, I hastily ordered the air to carry the pieces to a nearby garbage can. My control was ill-chosen only some of the glass made it.I thought you liked the way it made it made you feel.Gasping, I sat down in a chair, staring at the glass on the floor. Tim was staring at me.Eugwhat just happened?The euphoria of power flickered briefly as I desperately tried to summon the air again. No luck. That achingly wonderful glory drained out of me, like embers fading from orange to gray. Some part of my soul screamed for it as it disappeared, begging it to come back, swearing that I would do anything at all for it to return. I closed my eyes and swallowed.Eugenie, Tim tried again, what was that?I opened my eyes and followed his gaze to the glass that still lay on the floor. It took me a moment to find my voice, and when I did, it came out soft and husky.I dont know. But I think I want it.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Nordstrom: a Marketing Analysis Essay

Over the years Nordstrom has created individual surgical incisions that focus on the individual lifestyles of the guests. The fellowship nor al one(a) provides its guests with a wardrobe, further to a fault a countless line of accessories, cosmetics, and fragrance. Over the past few years, the ships comp each has added refreshed brands to its ingathering line to satisfy its node unavoidably. In order to give the best possible dish uping to the client, the company computer programmes on continuing to update the product line as new guest desires evolve. The employees ar extremely foc white plagued on creating an surroundings of client service at bottom the fund as well.The employees atomic number 18 non single focused on meeting the company standards, they ar as well focused on r to each oneing the standards they soak up set inside their receive discussion section as well. Each employee is trusted by the stack away passenger vehicles to make good decisions and represent the company well. This trust has built assumption in the employee and enables them to focus wholly of the energy toward the client. The melodic phrase of the shop in like manner shows evidence of the company delegacy. The come in is well to navigate through, specific soothing colors ar well placed throughout the store, and there is unceasingly a piano that can be heard cope insideg in the background.These three things create a soothing and thriving atmosphere for the guest. Nordstroms mission of providing node service, quality, selection and value to its customers is carried out in every aspect of the company. The company employees, store atmosphere, and product line alone display extraordinary qualities of service. The billing Statement of Nordstrom is definitely evident in its day to day operations. Situation Analysis (SWOT Analysis) Internal Strengths and Weaknesses History (Sales, Profits, Organizational Philosophies) Nordstrom was co founded 1901 by a 30 year old man named John W Nordstrom and his partner Carl W tout ensemblein.At age 16, John W of Sweden left his ingleside and moved to Al chartera where he potty gold. charm in Alaska, he met a man named Carl W each(prenominal)in, who owned a shoe re couple shop in downtown Seattle (Nordstrom Employee, 2006). The 2 decided do cream a partnership and open a shoe store entitled Wallin & Nordstrom. Right form the start, the business philosophy was based on exceptional customer service, selection, quality and value (Nordstrom Employee, 2006). Focusing on this philosophy cargoned Nordstrom develop a agonistical advantage in the shoe foodstuff. Due to their success, the company opened a new store in 1923.The company was soon dealn over by John Ws sons. Under their management it grew to be bilk down the tumescentst freelancer shoe chain in the United States. By the 1960s the current securities industry had started to reach maturity and the company began to timber fo r new ways to transmit its wings (Nordstrom Employee, 2006). In an attempt to diversify itself, and draw greater market penetration, Nordstrom besidesk on a new name, Nordstrom Best, and ventured into the garments market. Now, upon entering a Nordstrom store, customers were greeted with a selection of both shoes and fine app bel (Nordstrom Employee, 2006).Now for the first metre in history, Nordstrom forwardered a diverse product mix, something no otherwise adversary offered. In 1971, to a lower place the third generation of management, the company decided to go public. Two years later Nordstrom reached a critical point in its business, stand out $100 million in gross gross revenue, making it the largest volume special(prenominal)ty store on the west coast. Profits were growing, market share was increasing, and Nordstroms marketing plan seemed to be operative. Even though Nordstrom was experiencing enormous success, the management was not satisfied. There was still fa shion to grow.In order for Nordstrom to fulfil its competitory advantage, the company postulate to revise its marketing strategy and further its market penetration. The company decided to take action. By 1975 the company penetrated into the markets of Alaska and atomic number 20 and by the late 80s, the company opened up the first Nordstrom Rack in the mid 70s. This store was a clearance center for full-line store merchandise (Nordstrom Employee, 2006). The higher determines in the regular store come outed the pep pill segment of society, while the Rack enabled Nordstrom to orient itself to a completely new crowd.Today, to a greater extent than 100 years after its establishment, Nordstrom maintains the homogeneous focus of offering the customer the best possible service, selection, quality, and value (Nordstrom Employee, 2006). This is evident in the product line and store ambience. Nordstrom has created a unique store atmosphere bearinged to enhance the shopping experienc e of the customer. Instead of categorizing departments by merchandise, Nordstrom has created fashion departments that fit individuals lifestyles (Nordstrom Employee, 2006).Focus on serving the market (or customers needs and pauperizations) has helped Nordstrom grow from a small shoe store in Seattle into a nationwide fashion specialty chain (Nordstrom Employee, 2006). Nature of trus bothrthy/Current Situation Aside from Nordstroms customer service, one of its most influential qualities is the store atmosphere. Immediately after walking into a Nordstrom, one experiences a sense of calmness that is not experienced when walking into other department stores. At Nordstrom, careful attention has been given to achieving an esthetically pleasing atmosphere, a Nordstrom customer commented (Bee H, 2006).Nordstrom has put a bevy of research into testing disparate layout scenarios within each store. all eon the layout of a department changes, a diagram is made and a record of sales is ke pt for that layout. From this information, Nordstrom has been able to develop the most economical and profitable layout for the customer and the organization. The Nordstrom colors are also conservatively selected. Deep earthy colors present customers with a comfortable and desirable atmosphere. Deep red, brown (wooden floors), blue, purple and green are used to color the store.Every color is strategically placed throughout the store to enhance the shopping experience. Nordstrom has put a lot of research into effects that color has on the valet de chambre psyche. For example red is chosen because it produces feelings of energy, desire, and attention (Bear , 2006). Purple is another color that is placed in distinct locations throughout the store. It brings just about feelings of self assurance, dignity, high aspirations, royalty, sophistication, wealth, ambition, fame, luxury, and power. These two colors are used to promote confidence and feelings of contentment within the custome rs as they shop.During sales, employees are also given a tie to wear which roughly always takes the color purple. Purple is also found near the more expensive items in the store. The color scheme is critical in creating a store atmosphere that is desirable to customers. Aside from the colors, the product layout also plays an essential role in providing a even-tempered atmosphere. Nordstrom has separated its products into contrastive departments for men and women. This helps provide kick downstairs service as each department can cater to the specific needs and wants of the customer. Within each department the clothes are either move out on hanging racks or on tables.Organization is the primary focus when setting up the departments. Clothes are always neatly folded and garments racks are well separated. A general rule of thumb is that if two people can not walk side by side amid two fixtures, they are too close together. To produce an even cleaner look, jackets and heavier clot hes are always hung on wooden hangers instead of plastic. The most renowned contri just nowion to the atmosphere of Nordstrom is the Piano. Nordstrom has created a partnership with Levine School of Music where it hand selects students to work for the company upon graduation.The partnership is work the dude playing the piano safe adds to the calm shopping atmosphere commented one man after a day a day of shopping (Bee H, 2006). To provide even more relaxation, comfortable couches are usually found somewhere around the piano for tired shoppers to sit down and for men to wait while their wives shop. Andrew Cooper, a computer design major at North Park University in Chicago said these couches are a great place for me to relax while my wife spgoals all my money. Resources of the Firm Finance Nordstrom uses a verity of resources to help attract new customers and retain its current customer base.By far, one of its biggest resources is in the cranial orbit of finance. Nordstrom recently account third-quarter earnings of $135. 7 million (Portland argument Journal , 2006). These earnings jumped unexpectedly and are up from $107. 5 million earlier this year. The financial resources of Nordstrom are an essential part of the companies marketing plan. This money has given Nordstrom the ability to put on expensive training programs for employees, barter for personalised discussion (a customer database program), s break off out bulk mailings to customers ( much(prenominal) as catalogs, processions, etc. , build new stores, and create a customer friendly in-store atmosphere. Human Nordstroms employees and management are the companys most valuable resource. An article written in the Seattle PI describes exactly why this is true. It states that, Nordstrom salespeople make decisions as if managing their own business they are trusted to do what is right. Everyone else in the company is there to help the sales staff make the sale and please the customer (Mulady, 2001). T he way the employees are inured and valued is a perfect deliveral of the companys mission of providing the best possible customer service and value to the customer.Even though the sales person is the front man for the company (being put in positions of direct contact with the customer), the human resource and management team act as the gum that holds the company together. The president of the company, Blake Nordstrom, says that people in support positions like myself or someone in human resources that isnt on the floor manning a register, needs to understand that their job is to use the energy and the activities theyre doing (to) contribute to a cave in customer and employee experience (HR Magazine, 2006).It is therefore extremely important that the workers in the HR department stay connected to the interchange process in order to stay connected with the employees. It is this connection that helps the employees take care of their customers. It is not unusual for employees to g o in on their days off to meet a customer that is in need of a new suit or pair of shoes. The omnibus of the mens suit department at the Tacoma Nordstrom comes in regularly on his days off. In an interview he commented that if a customer is in need I exit find them the suit, get it altered for them so they can sire it in time (Mulady, 2001).The sales employees realise a atrocious come in of trust in the tailoring shop. One employee comments We rely heavy on the tailoring shop they are great (Mulady, 2001). In one situation, a baseball player needed a special shirt for a conference that Nordstrom did not have. To solve this problem, the sales person took a few shirts up to the tailor shop and used the material to make a brand new shirt. The shirt was then delivered to the players hotel room that afternoon. The employees of Nordstrom are what elapse the company going. The trust built in the midst of employees is critical in helping Nordstrom provide the handsome service it d oes.Without trust and support of all the companys workers, Nordstrom would be just another company. Physical Currently Nordstrom operates 156 US stores located in 26 states (Nordstrom Staff, 2002). Of these stores, there are 99 full line retail, 49 Nordstrom Racks, 5 Faconnable boutiques, 1 free standing shoe store, and 2 clearance stores. Even with all of these stores, the company is not satisfied, and is seeking to expand its physical humans even further. Nordstrom is currently in the process of establishing a store in Kenwood, Cincinnati.When interviewed about this decision, president, Erik Nordstrom, exclaimed there is still much more opportunity to increase our presence around the country where our customers live and shop (Fasiq, 2006). Nordstrom has also planted stores internationally where it operates 35 Faconnable boutiques, primarily in Europe. Customers of Nordstrom can even make whoopie a unique shopping experience without setting foot in the store. The company has de veloped a unique online and mail order catalog designed to reach those customers who are interested in its products, but may not have the time or desire to come into the physical store.These resources are extremely important to the company. The two contrasting stores (online and physical), reach two diverse crowds. The physical stores provide a tangible place that customers can relate to all across the country, while the online stores take advantage of the stores reputation. They reach customers who have heard good things about the store but do not like to shop. Policies and Objectives of firm Nordstrom has established many different policies designed to keep employees on track with its mission. The use of good judgment is the number one guiding principle for the employees of Nordstrom.The first page of the employee Code of Business Conduct and Ethics states at Nordstrom, we expect you to use good judgment when it comes to taking care of our customers. But we dont expect you to do it without help from us (Nordstrom Management, 2006). This policy lets the sales people know that the management stands behind them at all times. Aside from the standard company policies reguarding sexual harassment, stealing, drugs or alcohol, and preventing theft the company also has some policies that make it unique. Employees are not allowed to accept gifts from anyone with whom they do business.This policy was instilled to uphold Nordstroms reputation of acting fair, honest, and professional. Accepting a gift can create the inkling that the gift inappropriately influenced the business transaction. The code of Ethics also tells employees that the company expects its employees to use personal leger (a database that implys customers information such as bribes, sizes, etc. ) on a daily basis. This policy was designed to help the company keep their reputation for excellent follow-through and service (Nordstrom Management, 2006).However, since this in personal information, the com pany states that, personalized arrest and its contents are confidential and should be used in accordance with the Confidentiality and Nondisclosure lookout (Nordstrom Management, 2006). When an employee ends his/her career with Nordstrom, their personal book is closed off to them and give ined to Nordstrom. All of these policies help keep Nordstrom on track with its mission. Almost all of the sections in the handbook for employees end with a line about using good judgment.This shows that Nordstrom has confidence in their employees. Nordstrom truly believes that if the employees use good judgment, the customers will get the best possible service the company can offer. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Nordstrom provides many benefits to its employees. The company provides time off with pay for personal and family needs. It also provides paid time for sight holidays. Each employee is also provided with a twenty percent discount at all Nordstrom locations. Nordstrom employees a lso have many long term benefits available to them.These Benefits include a 401(k) and profit sharing plan, where an employee can divert 50 percent of his/her compensation on a pretax basis, and an Employee stock Purchase Plan where the employee can purchase stock at a 10 percent discount. Full medical/vision and dental coverage are also provided by the company. Basic mulct term and long term disability coverage, as well as basic life insurance and long term care are also included in the standard benefit package. These benefits help the employee find meaning in their work and promote a domineering attitude throughout the organization.A complete list of all the benefits provided by Nordstrom can be found on page in the back of this report. External Opportunities and Threats Social Social factors play a big role in what the way the company operates. For example, in Belleview Nordstrom offers a more upscale product line such as Gucci and other upper echelon brand names. This rest i n product lines is evident in the Nordstrom in Tacoma as well. The Tacoma store is located in an area surrounded by many different social somaes. Because of this, the store carries a more neutral line of products such as Calvin Cline, Cole Hann, Polo, Northface, and Tommy Bahama.These brands are brands that all of the stooge market of Nordstrom considers being very nice. To reach the outer limits of the Tacoma population, the store also sells products ranging form Coach and Burberry (reaching the wealthier population), to the Nordstrom brand (reaching the less sloshed consumer). Nordstrom is also a company that powerfully believes in diversity. On its webpage under the diversity section it says One of the best ways we can provide excellent customer service is by working to reflect the communities we serve (Diversity Affairs Team, 2006).The company believes that an atmosphere encouraging diversity helps the employees as well as the customer. It is deeply committed to cultivating a n environment where the contributions of every employee, customer and vendor are respected (Diversity Affairs Team, 2006). Creating a diverse company is an important step that Nordstrom has taken to broaden its customer service. Demographics Demographic issues are a big an important issue at Nordstrom. This is shown not nevertheless in the mission of the company, but in the physical store itself.Now days a majority of women in the United States enter the workforce after college. Nordstrom has created distinct departments to reach these women. In these sections of the store, women can find suits, and other more expensive beautify clothes that Nordstrom would have not carried 20 years ago. The American family has also changed dramatically in the past decade. Because of this Nordstrom has changed its focus toward the individual. Ten years ago, it would not be a common sight to see moms shopping with their children, or dads waiting on the couch by the escalator with their children.Now days, it is most unheard of to see families walking around the store. Teenagers, women, and men all come alone or with their significant other. The every store use to give balloons to children, employees all over the store would stop and talk with them and a lot of the mannequins were placed together (a man with a woman, or a child). Now the mannequins are all placed individually around the store, and it is rare enough to see a kid, let alone a kid with a balloon. In order to retain market share Nordstrom has shifted its focus more toward the individual.It has downsized its youth departments and added more upscale departments. Competition Nordstrom is traffic with competition on many different levels. It is competing with higher end stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Barneys. It is also competing with second tier stores such as Macys and Bloomingdales. Because of the diverse competition, Nordstrom constantly stays one step leading with its unprecedented custom er service. Saks Fifth Avenue Saks Fifth Avenue can be categorized as a mini version of Nordstrom. It has similar products, but targets a smaller market and carries less variety.To make it unique, Saks focuses on other products such as bridal (Nordstrom comparative analysis). In comparison to Nordstrom, Saks is slightly more expensive and is well known for its much higher brand names (Nordstrom Comparative analysis). There is also a difference in the store layout at Saks. Unlike Nordstrom, which it is categorized by department and where popular trendy goods are on the main floor, Saks bottom floor consists of shoes, make up and teen clothing, and the upper floors are bridal and much higher priced brands and products (Nordstrom comparative analysis).However, the major difference between the two companies is not in the layout of the store, the products offered, or the price of the goods. The major difference is the focus of the company. The mission statement of Saks is completely diff erent from that of Nordstrom. Saks says the focus of their company is to be a great place to shop, a great place to work and a great place to invest (Nordstrom comparative Analysis). Money is what seems to be the number one marketing objective of Saks. On the other hand Nordstrom focuses on the treatment of the customer.It does not have a formal mission statement but the companys core values can be summed up by the statement through these doors pass the most courteous people in the world. This statement is found at the employee entrance of almost all Nordstrom stores across the country. Bloomingdales Bloomingdales might just be one of the most famous stores in the world. Bloomingdales is known for its Big Brown Bag which is something that all avid shoppers like to be seen carrying around. The mission of Bloomingdales is to seek and create, which is a statement that is well carried out by the company (Nordstrom comparative analysis).The company has a hand picked product development t eam that travels to Europe looking for new fashion ideas. If they do not find what they are looking for they create it. The extreme focus on product development and diversity has made the company famous for having a tremendous product mix. However, some stores rather cluttered. The Layout seems to have no structure and Bloomingdales pricing ranges form being competitive with Foleys to stores far more expensive than Nordstrom. On the other hand, Nordstrom has a focused store with individual departments and coherent prices.Its does not have as much variety in its stores, but it can special order and create any product that a customer desires. This creates more enjoyment for the customer because they can easily find what they are looking for. Bloomingdales website also reflects its store atmosphere. It is a full line of goods which overwhelms the customer. The website lacks structure and is puzzling to sift through. Nordstroms website also reflects its in store characteristics. The s ite is user friendly and easy to navigate through. Macys Macys seems to have a similar strategy as Bloomies (Bloomingdales).The company is all about selling their name, not their service, unlike Nordstrom. Macys also focuses on having a tremendous product width as well as depth. This focus like Bloomies has also led the store to look cluttered. Some customers even counsel that Macys looks more like discount store every year rather than a department store (Nordstrom comparison analysis). This is again where Nordstrom gains a competitive advantage. It offers a smaller product mix in stores to help keep the customer from getting confused and overwhelmed.Macys offers a larger selection of home products than Nordstrom. It has a separate department for home furnishings. This department is so large that many times it is located in its own building next to Macys. However, Macys has a good selection of home products in its retail stores as well. Again, it is the focus of Macys that sets the m apart from Nordstrom. The specialization of household products and cheaper prices keep Macys competitive in the market. However, Nordstroms focus on the customer and the employee gives them the competitive advantage in the industry.Technological In the 1900s the information systems of Nordstrom lagged behind many retailers, such as JC Penny, Federated Department Stores, Dillards, and Belk. (Levinson, 2005) The CFO of Nordstrom commented on the lagging information systems, saying, our people at one time were our information system (Levinson, 2005). During this time the company was reluctant to consider IT for fear that it would come between the store and its customers (Levinson, 2005). A sales slump in the year 2000 was enough to convince Nordstrom that it was behind the times.The flagellum of other companies gaining a heavy advantage with new technology was too much to handle. Looking at the other models around them, Nordstrom became an early adopter and began acquire IT technol ogy. Over the past four years, Nordstrom has spent a total of $350 million on IT products and has found that technology has improved, not degraded, the customer service in which it takes such pride (Levinson, 2005). Nordstrom has integrated two major systems into the company within the last five years.The systems are personal book and a new scrutinise system at the cash registers. These two systems have helped bring Nordstroms customer service to a new level. Personal contain Personal book is new computer software designed to help companies keep track of customer information. It can track what the customer bought, their size, how much he/she spent, who interchange them what, their natal day and other valuable information that sales people need to enhance sales. This is a valuable tool because the sales people can create a more personal singingship with the customer.One former employee quotes the personal book was a very useful tool and instilled in me the importance of building and maintaining customer traffichips (Palma, 2006). This quote describes exactly what puts Nordstrom in a class of its own. Adding a personal touch is the difference between good and great companies. The implementation of personal book has dramatically increased sales at Nordstrom. After its introduction in 2005, Nordstroms first quarter sales increased 7. 7 percent to $1. 7 billion, compared with $1. 5 billion in the first quarter of the previous year. Levinson, 2005) Total sales for the second quarter also rose 7. 8 percent. CFO of Nordstrom Michael Koppel describe that approximately a third of all sales are a result of interactions between sales associates and customers facilitated with personal book (Levinson, 2005). Nordstrom analysts also have reported that 68 percent of the business from the top sales people is generated from personal book customers. More information about personal book can be found on page . Inventory System The new inventory system has proven to be a trem endous home run (Levinson, 2005).The new system is based around an electronic inventory management system and an automatic replenishment function. Before this new system was installed in 2003, inventory was counted by hand. This old system was definitely not the most accurate way to manage inventory, and certainly wasnt very quick, commented Peter Nordstrom during a conference call. This created a problem for the company. The distribution departments could not tell how much inventory was needed in each store, which resulted in a lot more discounts than the company should have had.This loss of money led Nordstrom to purchase an inventory management system. The new inventory system was an electronic system which took a lot of the work incumbrance off of the Nordstrom staff. It helped the company determine the demand for each product by using historical sales and fashion trends. Now it could allocate the proper amount and role of merchandise to each store. It also kept track of in st ore inventory. Every time a product was rung up at the register or returned to the store, the in store inventory went up or down accordingly.This helped the distribution department immensely. They could now replenish the inventory of each store when it was actually needed. This also helped the sales dramatically increase customer service. When a customer wanted to purchase a product, a sales person could look it up on the computer to see how many were in the store, and how many were available at other locations. The results of this new system worked wonders for Nordstrom. Koppel give tongue to that the inventory in 2003 (they year the system was integrated), went down $15 million or 1. 6 percent (Levinson, 2005).Likewise, inventory continued to go down in 2004, decreasing by 5. 3 percent. Inventory was also turned 10 percent more in 2004. This increase showed the company there was still a lot of room to grow in their current market and that other department stores had good anteced ent to switch to this way of inventory. Marketing Strategy Target Market In each Nordstrom store there is the potential for one consumer to encounter upwards of 30 different departments. For womens clothing alone, there are 14 clothing options ranging from teenage apparel, to elegant ballroom machinate.The denary departments within the Nordstrom store cause the target market for a single Nordstrom store to range across a broad spectrum of potential buyers. While each of the target markets differs substantially depending on the department, the members of each of these markets do have a main connecting quality. Each customer, no subject the department in which they are shopping, is looking for a quality product that they know will be guaranteed by Nordstrom for a lifetime. Each consumer knows that while the products offered may not be the cheapest, they are quality made products that come with an implied warranty by Nordstrom.Nordstrom does not have a return policy, which will be communicate later in the paper, to ensure that consumers can return any product at anytime, for any reason. Consumers are also looking for a product that is not solitary(prenominal) well made, but that is usually contemporary in relation to current fashion trends. This makes Nordstroms overall target market homogeneous in respect to the demographic and psychographic segments. A persons income and lifestyle can be the deciding factor of whether they can afford to shop at Nordstrom or not, or whether the products that Nordstrom offers are even of interest.For the sake of space, this paper will look at the target markets of three specific departments within Nordstrom that embody a large number of Nordstroms clientele Brass Plum for juniors, Point of View for women, and Mens Sportswear. Brass Plum (B. P. ) is Nordstroms only juniors department, targeting young women, ages 16-22 in the middle or upper class. B. P. offers the latest fashion trends for the younger women at a price that i s more reasonable than high-end boutiques and department stores.While that price is more reasonable than some places, it still is not as cheap as some other department stores, which is why the target market is the middle and upper class. Those other department stores however, do not insure their products as well as Nordstroms does, nor is the quality of product comparable either. Lastly, the reason for the target of the middle and upper class is because fashion trends do not usually last for more than a season. about people of a note class cannot afford to buy new, trendy clothes every season to match what is popular, which is the only type of clothing that B. P. offers.Point of View has a target market of women in their twenties to early fifties. The age is not clearly defined because more specifically, Point of View has a target market of the working professional woman. While some clothes within Point of View are casual, they still uphold a classy and refined look fitting for a dress down day at the office. Most of the selection within Point of View however, is professional attire for the working, middle to upper class woman. The clothes are priced comparable to other high-end department stores, but are backed with the quality guarantee Nordstrom provides all of its products.The one major difference between the selection in Point of View, and other high-end department stores, is that Point of View tries to offer a selection of business wear for the younger working woman that has a trendier edge. This helps to capture the twenty-something market that is usually skipped over in other department stores. It allows young women to look professional, while still looking their age. While carrying this younger professional attire, Point of View still carries the classic suits and shirts that appeal to the more conservative thirty to 50 year old professional women.The last department is the Mens Sportswear department, which like Point of View, targets men in their twenties to early fifties. The word sportswear might evoke thoughts of soccer or football to some, but in this department sportswear are the clothes worn by the middle to upper class while they sail, golf, or but lounge around at their beach house. This department is intended for the professional male, who in his daily life must dress in professional attire and would like that to translate into his causal wear as well. This casual wear consists of clothes that portray an image of success and prosperity without a suit and tie.The target market is middle to upper class within this department because of the intended uses of the clothes that are sold. Many of the clothes are intended for sailing and golf, untenanted activities that the middle and lower class might not be able to afford. The size of the mens sportswear department is small in relation to some of the womens departments, but this can be attributed to mens desire for consistency and ease when shopping. The prices within the mens sportswear department are comparable to other high-end department stores, but once again the clothes are backed by the Nordstrom guarantee of quality.While each of the departments have a target market that separates itself from the rest of the store, it can be seen that within all of the heterogeneous factors there are three homogeneous factors that can be found. First, in all departments, the consumer is looking for a quality product that will suit their clothing needs. Second, no matter what their clothing needs, the consumer is looking for clothes that portray a specific image of their choosing, such as an established professional or a young trendsetter.Lastly, throughout all of the clothes offered at Nordstrom each consumer is expecting the Nordstrom, guarantee of quality that ensures the consumers happiness with the product no matter the circumstances. Marketing Mix Nordstrom seeks to achieve the retention of the previously stated target markets through the use of coo rdinated marketing activities. These include the use of product, place, price, and promotion inside and outside of the store. These four aspects embody the marketing mix, and their objectives and roles are clearly specified through different offerings and outlets. ProductThe products that are offered within a single Nordstrom store compliment each other very well. On one shopping trip a family is able to buy clothes and accessories for everyone. Women are able to complete an outfit from Point of View by getting the perfect pair of shoes from the Womens Shoes department, accessorize the outfit in fine jewelry, accessorizes and handbags, and can shop her favorite makeup line in the makeup department, all in one trip. These products are enhanced by a multitude of factors including their warranty, return policy, customer service, and the internal workings of any Nordstrom.Each transaction within Nordstrom comes with an implied warranty of the goods purchased by the consumer. If the cons umer is infelicitous with the product at anytime, even after the tags are removed, the product has been worn, or the receipt has been lost, the consumer is more than welcome to return the product back to the store for a full refund or exchange no questions asked. This return policy is exemplified through the mythical story that circulates throughout Nordstrom stores and their competitors outlets. It has been said that a woman tried to return a set of snow tires that she claimed she bought at her nearby Nordstrom store.When the employee was unsure of what procedure to follow since Nordstrom did not sell tires, the employee contacted the store manager. The manager told the employee to take back the tires and offer a full refund of the standard price for snow tires to the woman. So while it is obvious that Nordstrom might not respect consumers returning goods from other stores, they are dedicated to customer service and their guarantee of quality. Nordstrom wants to carry quality it ems that consumers will love, and if the consumers decide they do not, they are able to return them at anytime.This allows Nordstrom to have an absent return policy to ensure that a return is bound by no limits. Aside from offering their products for free, customer satisfaction within a Nordstrom cannot be better guaranteed in any other way. By knowing that every purchase is basically guaranteed for life, a consumers satisfaction is not bound by any measures on behalf of Nordstrom. Along with such a liberal return policy, Nordstrom offers a range of other amenities for consumers to enjoy and enhance the value of the product to the customer.For instance, with anything that you purchase from Nordstrom you can have it altered for free. Upon trying the clothes on, a person from the alteration department will come to your fitting room and measure your clothes according to your needs. The altered clothes are usually available within a weeks time. Also, in the lingerie department, women ca n receive a free and accurate bra fitting. Unlike other popular lingerie stores, employees within the lingerie department must attend class and earn the right to do bra fittings. This ensures each consumer an accurate fitting.In the shoe department, if a pair of leather shoes is too tight on a consumers foot, the Nordstrom employee will stretch the shoes out at no cost. Also, when trying on clothes there is no limit to how many pieces of clothing a consumer is allowed to take in, and a consumer is never expected to clean out their dressing room when they are finished. Any purchase that is made can also be complimentary gift wrapped. While these factors may seem miniscule, it does help consumers reduce shopping time and have a more enjoyable shopping experience.So while the consumer might only be in and out for a white t-shirt, they know that if needed all of these amenities are available for their use, enhancing the value of the product for the consumer. Along with these externally obvious factors of product value to the consumer, there are also internal functions within Nordstrom that ensure that customer service is ideal in any situation. Quality customer service is Nordstroms main competitive advantage against its competitors. Nordstrom has focused itself since 1901 on the basis that superior customer service is the first and foremost important aspect of the company.While other companies have a chain of command when dealing with customer service issues, Nordstrom is void of any such rules. When hired at Nordstrom, the new employee is greeted with an employee folder that includes a welcome packet, employee expectations, rewards, benefit information and information about the specific Nordstrom store the new employee will be working. On the very front of each folder is a 57 card that states Were glad to have you with our Company. Our number one goal is to provide outstanding customer service. Set both your personal and professional goals high.We have great con fidence in your ability to achieve them. Nordstrom Rules Rule 1 Use your good judgment in all situations. There will be no special rules. Please feel free to ask your department manager, store manager, or division general manager any question at any time. Nordstroms idea is to put the employees in control of every situation so that the consumer feels a sense of security at all times within the store. While specific instances might dictate manager involvement, employees are granted the right to deal with consumer situations based on their judgment.These words ring loud within any Nordstrom store because they are printed in the employee entrance and in the backrooms of most departments. Through out the hiring process Nordstrom ensures that customer service is always handled in a way that upholds their reputation. Nordstrom is able to supply a quality product based on the judgment of the consumer, while also providing a trusted and quality environment by empowering the judgment of the employees. Place/Distribution The next factor of the marketing mix is to coordinate the marketing activities for the retention of the target markets through place and distribution.Nordstrom currently has 157 stores located in twenty seven states. These include 99 full-line stores, 50 Nordstrom Rack stores, five Faconnable boutiques, one free-standing shoe store and two clearance stores. Nordstrom also operates 35 international Faconnable boutiques in Europe. Faconnable is a mens clothing line developed by Nordstrom for the more upscale shopper to accommodate their business and leisure time clothing needs. Nordstroms popularity is based on the west-coast, primarily because of its headquarters and flagship store in Seattle, Washington.Mainly, the Nordstrom stores are located in shopping malls which usually provide a heavily populated central area which contains a portion of their target market. Since Nordstrom is located within a mall, access is relatively easy for consumers. Even i f consumers do live some distance away from the faculties, coming to the mall is more acceptable because they will not only have the option to visit Nordstrom, but will have the ability to shop at other stores as well. This justifies their traveling time, which would not happen if Nordstrom had only free-standing stores.While access to Nordstrom facilities is relatively easy on the west coast, there is room for major improvement by Nordstrom on the east coast. In New Hampshire, Maine, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia and Massachusetts, there is not a single Nordstrom store to date. There are two stores in North Carolina and New York and one store in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Michigan, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. This is compared to the thirty two California stores, nine Washington stores, five Oregon stores and two Hawaii stores. However, this lack of access to facilities by consumers on the east coast will soon be partially remedied.Nordstrom plans to open twenty five new st ores in the next five years. Out of these twenty five stores, it plans on opening four in Massachusetts, two in Michigan and one in Missouri. Once Nordstrom has established a stronger base on the east coast, I believe they will gain an even better reputation and have the ability to fine tune their marketing and customer service strategies. Along in place and distribution is not just the physical outlet that Nordstrom has, but also the atmosphere in each of the outlets. Since we are at the peak of the holiday season, it is a good time to look at the atmosphere within a Nordstrom store.Garland and decorative curtains decorate each entrance into the store. Holiday symphony played live in each store on the well known Nordstrom piano echoes through the departments on speakers. A giving tree accompanies the bottom side of each escalator, and on weekends the tops of the escalators have live carolers. Each department has holiday specials, and pictures with Santa are held every year. This a tmosphere helps to evoke the holiday spirit within the consumers, and also provides them with a place to shop that is enjoyable during the busy holiday time.When it is not a holiday season, front window displays are changed bi-weekly, and in store decorations and manikins are changed multiple times each week. Also, a night cleaning crew makes sure that all the carpets, mirrors and dressing rooms are kept in pristine condition. This type of atmosphere allows the consumer to shop at ease without heaps of clothes in a mess, or stained carpets. Instead, they can go to a place where the only thing they notice is the clothes and the quality of the presentation. PromotionThe next factor of the marketing mix is to coordinate the marketing activities for the retention of the target markets through promotion tactics including advertising, public relations, personal selling, and sales promotion. Nordstrom does not engage in heavy advertising. TV commercial spots are few and far between, and on ly usually take place on major televised events. Instead, Nordstrom does most of its advertising through print. Local newspapers usually contain a full page string out during Nordstroms half yearly and anniversary sales. During the holidays, Nordstrom also has featured spreads as well.These spreads are hung in the employee entrance area so that employees are aware of what consumers are looking for, if they come in and refer specifically to that crowdment. Also, Nordstrom puts out two catalogues per month that premiere a few new items within each department. They also feature gift ideas during the holidays, and include an easy way to order straight from the catalogue. Anyone that has a Nordstrom account will receive this catalogue, along with anyone that registers online Advertising Nordstrom has also pursue in some other intense advertising campaigns in the past few years.Most of these have been directly related to online advertising. In 1999, Nordstrom started to campaign heavil y to gain consumer awareness of their new website, Nordstromshoes. com. Nordstrom claims the site is the worlds biggest shoe store. It is titled Make Room for Shoes. The name was selected to entice users not only to their main website which was linked on the new shoes site, but also to educate users on the broad selection of shoes that Nordstrom offers. In 2005, Nordstrom debuted NordstromSilverscreen. com. The website combined music and pop culture with shopping.Visitors of the site were able to be a DJ and mix up songs recorded by artists specifically for the site. The visitants mixed the song, by miscellanea up clothes on a corresponding manikin. This allowed visitors to see new fashion trends and learn how to mix and match clothes to find their very own style. Visitors of the site could also shop the site, by clicking on any the clothes worn in the video made exclusively for Nordstrom. Anything that the artist was wearing in the video was available for sale at Nordstom. com. No rdstromsilverscreen. om was one of the first attempts by a retailer to mix shopping and interactive media making Nordstrom an innovator in this new market. While Nordstromscilverscreen. com is no longer available to visit, the launch of this new and innovative platform says a lot of Nordstrom. This company is willing to take risks to advertise and capture a new and different consumer, and to evolve and be ahead of other department stores in the advertising industry. Aside from these new websites, Nordstrom. com is still a large, comprehensive site that allows visitors to see everything that Nordstrom has to offer.Visitors are able to search by brand, in-store department, or by age and gender. Along side every choice that the visitor views, is a selection of other clothes that are closely related to the current viewing. Also, if a consumer has provided Nordstrom with their e-mail address, Nordstrom sends out weekly e-mails that highlight new items, and special discounts. Lastly, the newest advertising campaign that Nordstrom embarked on was for the Nordstrom modern card. The MOD card is a debit card that is set up through a consumers personal bank and checking account.The MOD card is specific to Nordstrom, and allows Nordstrom to track what is bought and how much consumers spend. This way, consumers can gain points like what is offered with the traditional Nordstroms credit card. For every dollar that is spent, the consumer earns a point and during promotional events, they can earn twice the points for every dollar spent. Once the consumer reaches a certain level of points, they get a gift credential in the mail redeemable at any Nordstrom. Nordstrom realized that not everyone wants to hold a credit card at Nordstrom, which led them to the idea of the MOD card.This way, consumers can buy from Nordstrom using cash, and still receive the points they deserve. Nordstrom has heavily advertised the MOD card and the rewards that a customer gains from having a Nordstr om account. Through these advertising activities, Nordstrom is better able to promote their stores in a positive and controlled manner. Public Relations The next segment of promotion is public relations. Nordstrom is equipped with a public relations representative, who is located at Nordstroms headquarters in downtown Seattle, Washington.Consumers are able to find out about public relation activities on their website under investor relations, or in their annual report. On the Nordstrom website consumers are able to find out about new store openings, upcoming events, stock information, news, and press releases. Nordstrom also relies on customer word of mouth. While other competitor department stores deal with union battles, and declining sales, the quality and outstanding customer service is rarely questioned by consumers. Consumers know by personal experience and word of mouth that Nordstrom is dedicated to its customers.Nordstrom also engages in public relations activities through the promotion of some of their clothes. Most recently, Nordstrom has taken an active role in the wiz campaign and formed a partnership with the company Edun. Edun is selling a t-shirt with the word ONE across the front. This promotes the idea that if the United States government allocated just one percent of its budget to health, education, and medication for underprivileged countries, the United States could save millions of lives. For every shirt sold Edun contributes ten dollars to the Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight Aids (ALAFA).The ONE shirts are made in Lesotho, Africa. Upon selling the ONE shirt within their stores, Nordstrom donated $100,000 to ALAFA. Nordstrom is also a yearly sponsor in the Race for the Cure, hosted by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness. Nordstrom exclusively hosts the arrive the Bridge to Beat Diabetes marathon in Seattle, Washington. The proceeds benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research F oundation. So far in 2006, the Beat the Bridge marathon donations have raised $855,078. 57.Through not only their exceptional reputation, but also through involvement in philanthropic activities Nordstrom is able to enhance their public relations. These positive public relation activities in turn influence consumer perception and decision making. Personal Selling The next section of promotion is personal selling. Personal selling is defined as a purchase situation in which two people communicate in an attempt to influence each other (Lamb, et al, 2006). Personal selling is the basis of Nordstroms philosophy and mission statement.Personal selling emphasizes the human relationship that is developed between a salesperson and a consumer. Within any department at a Nordstrom store, a consumer will be able to find numerous employees who are knowledgeable about the products they offer, and who are also calibre to help them find whatever it is they are looking for. When a consumer is shop ping within a department, a single salesperson will usually help them through the entire purchasing process. If what the consumer is looking for happens to be in a different department, that same salesperson will go to that other department and get whatever it s. The salesperson will find sizes, colors, and styles from other stores if what the consumer is looking for is not available at that specific store. Salespeople also can take payment on Nordstrom credit cards at their payment station, and can hold clothes for the consumer. Salespeople are endowed with the ability to manage customer service situations, so if one consumer feels comfortable with a specific salesperson, basically all of their needs can be taken care of through that salesperson. This created a very strong relationship between the salesperson and the consumer.If the consumer knows that when they go to Nordstrom they can count on someone being there that they know and trust, they will be more likely to ask more ques tions and try on more things. Nordstrom has made personal selling even easier through their new system of Personal Book. Personal Book allows a salesperson to enter in consumer information such as their address, phone number, birthday and recent purchases. During sale times, salespeople are asked to call at least fifty people from their personal book to the consumer know that they are excited to see them at the sale.Having this information also enables the salespeople to send out thank you cards which are supposed to be done a daily basis by a salesperson. The thank you cards are mailed out to the consumer, and add a personal finishing touch to the purchase, which also enhances the bond between the consumer and the salesperson. Personal Book also can keep track of what a consumer has bought, so when Nordstrom has a big sale, some of the consumers who have purchased the most throughout the year are invited to shop the sale preceding to anyone else, and to preview what is going to be offered.Personal Book also allows for promotional materials to be sent out pertaining to certain events that occur within a department that a consumer frequently shops. All of these benefits from Personal Book enhance the personal selling aspect of promotion. Consumers are not seen as a target market within the store, but are rather seen as individuals with specific needs and wants that are catered to be the Nordstrom employees. Sales Promotion The last component of promotion is sales promotion. Sales promotion is everything else that is not covered by personal selling, advertising, and public relations.Usually sales promotions are a quick tool that immediately increases consumer demand of a product. Nordstrom does not offer a lot of the one day sales, or door buster sales that other department stores offer. Instead, Nordstrom focuses all of their attention on their three major sales per year. These include the half yearly sales, in June and November, and their Anniversary sale in August. These attractions are not just a sale, they are an event. Special promotions, rewards and deals are offered. A kick-rally prior to the doors opening helps to hype up the employees for the coming busy weeks.Consumers line up outside of Nordstroms doors hours prior to opening. They enter a newly decorated store from the previous day, with new displays, merchandise and prices. Nordstrom focuses on these events for the purpose of showing the consumer that they do not just want to push inventory in and out of the store. They want to offer quality products that consumers enjoy, and reward consumers for their purchases through major discounts at these sales. Lastly, another important factor of these sales is that they have created a tradition.Women and their daughters take time off school and work to attend the first day of the sale. At the sale they go Christmas shopping, school shopping personal shopping. This is important for Nordstrom because their limited numbers of sales are not only seen as a time to get a good deal, but they have penetrated the culture and created more than just a sale. Price The last factor of the marketing mix is to coordinate the marketing activities for the retention of the target markets through price. Nordstrom strives to provide the most quality product for the cheapest price allowable.However, Nordstrom does cater to an upper and middle class target market which does raise their prices from other lower department stores. Each department within Nordstrom, as stated earlier, has a different target market which does vary the range pf prices immensely within one store. In the St. John department catered to upper class wealthy women, a consumer can buy a suit jacket for $2,000. In Point of View, targeted toward the more middle class women who want to look professional without expending as much, a suit jacket is available for seventy dollars.Through this, it can be seen that the department a consumer goes to will determine the pric e they will pay. Whatever the dollar price of the purchase, Nordstrom tries to justify that price through their personal selling efforts and their product guarantee. A sale is not just a sale, as proven earlier in the personal selling section. Consumers and salespersons are able to establish a relationship which enhances the consumers purchase experience. Because the consumer knows that no matter what they buy, whether it is a pair of socks, or a mink coat, the quality of that purchase is indefinitely guaranteed by Nordstrom.