Hydera - 1253 Words

Dissolution of the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization and Customs Service and the creation of separate agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1933 to 2003. Referred to by some as former INS and by others as legacy INS, the agency ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred to three new entities – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as part of a major government reorganization following the†¦show more content†¦The main motive behind creation of CBP was preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States thus preventing attacks such as the 9/11 on US soil. CBP is also responsible in apprehending individuals illegally entering the country as well as those with a criminal record. It is accountable for stemming the flow of illegal drugs and other contraband, protecting United States agricultural and economic interests from harmful pests and diseases, and protecting American busine sses from intellectual property theft. As the worlds first full-service border entity, CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity. The men and women of CBP are responsible for enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws and regulations. On a typical day, CBP welcomes nearly 1 million visitors, screens more than 67,000 cargo containers, arrests more than 1,100 individuals and seizes nearly 6 tons of illicit drugs. Similarly, the investigative and enforcement functions of the INS (including investigations, deportation, and intelligence) were combined with the U.S. Customs investigators to create U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is an American federal

Air Disaster- Creative Writing Essay - 948 Words

Air Disaster- Creative Writing The sight that greeted my eyes was haunting. There were dead bodies as far as the eye could see, but somehow nobody had a scratch on them. The plane was in pieces, scattered all around. As the waves rolled up the beach, more and more bodies were revealed. The sun was burning high in the sky and everyone was beginning to tire out. The cliffs towered down on us; the sand burnt our feet as we trod carefully between the corpses. It was a shock; we hadn’t expected to find anything there, but it appeared that almost everyone who had been on the plane was lying here, on the beach, with us. It was a very strange sight, seeing all these people dead, but somehow not hurt, at†¦show more content†¦You have to get help!† I yelled into the phone. â€Å"Rob, what’s wrong?† he replied. â€Å"You’ve heard about the plane crash?† â€Å"Of course. Who hasn’t?† â€Å"Well, I came down here to get a story, but everyone else left ages ago. I found a girl, she’s getting crushed beneath a bit of the plane. I don’t know what to do; I can’t get her out by myself. Can you get help, please?† â€Å"Okay, first of all Rob, you need to calm down. You panicking is not going to speed things up at all. I will try and get help as soon as possible. How on earth did you get down there? The cliff is much to steep to drive down.† â€Å"Um, I walked, along with everyone else. Is that a problem?† â€Å"Yes. We need to get help down there, and fast. I will call an air ambulance and get them to fly in. Is there any space for a helicopter to land?† â€Å"Not really. The beach is scattered with bodies, there’s not really any space. Can’t we lift her body out?† â€Å"We might be able to. I will get help as soon as possible. Wait there, keep talking to her and make sure she’s not unconscious.† â€Å"Okay, but be quick!† â€Å"I will. Goodbye.† I hung up. I really didn’t want to have this girl’s death on my hands, so I did what Tom had said. I kept talking to her. I asked her what her name was, where she lived, how old she was, what she was doing on the plane. She was called Anna, 14, and she was visiting her grandparents forShow MoreRelatedStatement of Purpose for Reporters and Creative Writers 938 Words   |  4 PagesReporters and creative writers both further the freedoms of people. They give people the chance to read and learn about the world we live in. Reporters and creative writers must be fantastic writers and decent editors. Workers in both of these professions will be editing and revising their own pieces of work. I love writing and being creative in my writing style and spend hours at a time just writing, so these qualities are appealing to me. Though both include literary work, both differ the mostRead MoreJon Krakauer s Thin The Line Between Investigative Journa lism And Gripping And Tense Non Fiction1165 Words   |  5 Pageswith the criminal justice system. 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Poe’s tales of terror in particular epitomize the supremacy of his craft in that each component of his narrative strategy functions to achieve theRead MoreCritical Essay Atonement2556 Words   |  11 Pages1940), and Cecilia was HYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drowned \o Drowned drowned in October of 1940, in the HYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balham_tube_station \l World_War_II \o Balham tube station Balham tube station disaster during HYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz \o The Blitz The Blitz. Briony expresses deep remorse and explains that this novel, to which she gave an ending different from the reality, had been her chance to give her sister and RobbieRead MoreA Blizzard Under Blue Sky - 12539 Words   |  11 PagesPam Houston has taught creative writing at Denison University in Ohio, where she completed her undergraduate studies, and her short stories have appeared in various literary magazines. 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So different from other poets during her century. Essay Example For Students

So different from other poets during her century. Essay The Essence of Emily Delusions Poetically Dickinson published exactly ten out of one thousand and eight hundred poems during her lifetime. Though a poetic genius of her time, Dickinson was suppressed and neglected. However, this in no way bothered Dickinson, she lacked all concern for an audience. The main reason for this being because she was an extremely private person. She wrote mostly for herself, and loved ones. What captures Emily poetry is her emphasis on the topic of emotion and pain, the Influence captured from subjects and events, and her unique style of mechanics. Dickinson is known for the usage of emotion in her poetry. One topic she wrote about was death. Early on in Emily career she was capable of pressing her reflections on the precise moment of death into remarkably concise expressions, stated Porter(67). In many poems, Dickinson doesnt Just talk of death, she personifies it. An example Is the poem Because I could not stop for Death. Dying Is compared to an unexpected ride In a horse-drawn carriage(Daniel 391 Also. Dickinson thought the suffering involved in personal relationships captured the impulse of poetry(Chase 1 91 This dead of pain expressed in the poetry of Dickinson is seen in the poem Heart! We will forget him. In the following stanza:When you have done, pray tell meat I may straight begin! Haste! Lest while youre lagging remember him! Monsoons 5)We can tell that she suffering from the memories of a past lover. Dickinson wants her heart to forget about him, so that her mind may do the same, All her life, Dickinson was never married, but spoke very often of a lover In her poetry. However, attempting to relate any of her love poems to a particular man will always be precarious(Chase 153). Although many of her poems speak of a passion for a man, it may not have necessarily been about her. Dickinson could have been writing about any womans life in a certain occasion. Pre-appointed pain was Dickinson favorite area of feeling, how one chooses it and the consequences of the choice(Adams 464). In Dalton to Dickinson themes, her Influences came from certain subjects and events. One of the subjects that emerged in her writing was religion. Dickinson was involved with Puritanism all her life. She attended the Mount of Holyoke Seminary School, which specialized in Puritanism. However Dickinson attended only one year because she longed for spiritual nourishment, not for the dogmatic belief and tortured conscience(Oodles, Religious Influences. N. P. ). In other words, Dickinson TLD Like to make moral Judgments, Instead she focused on the Limited quality of human action. For example, Nathaniel Hawthorne often described the damage of sin, and what it had upon an individual. Dickinson however was a realist, who was more interested in psychology. She wrote about situations such as, at what point did one reach heaven, and studied views on how grace was given. Mess were written during this time and many believed this is what gave her poetry the tense feeling(Meltzer 44). Dickinson deploys imagery of captivity in the poem I Never Hear the Workspace. In the following lines: I never hear of prisons broad/By soldiers battered down/But I tug childish at my bars Only to fail assassinations 89), Dickinson is identifying herself with a soldier, who is in a sense trapped in the war, as if Hess trapped behind bars. Dickinson allows her imagination to run wild, and this is what attracts many readers. The subject of religion and the event of the Civil War influenced Dickinson poetry tremendously. Dickinson unique styles of mechanics are also what separates her poetry from the rest. Dickinson did not follow the rules of punctuation. She often capitalized random words that were of importance to her. Below are the third and fourth lines from the poem Of nearness to he sundered Things: The Soul has special times-Nine Dimness looks the Oddity-Monsoons 153). If an editor were to look over these lines, the first thing they would alter is the incorrect capitalization of Soul, Dimness, and Oddity. Also, Dickinson used dashes throughout her poetry. This device gained withy and emphasis, stated Dickinson(Meltzer 30). .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 , .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .postImageUrl , .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 , .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993:hover , .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993:visited , .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993:active { border:0!important; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993:active , .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993 .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u071a5ff706ddfebf6760f5ae69370993:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The poets present powerful feelings EssayHowever, the editors did not view it that way. In fact in order to get her work published she was told she needed to change her way of writing(Daniel 377). Dickinson later explained herself to a literary critic. When I try to organize my little force explodes, she told Thomas Higgins(Bloom 56). Every editor she came across had one goal, and it was to make her writings traditionally poetic(Daniel 377). Along with Dickinson incorrect use of punctuation, she was also known for using a variation of literary devices. Slant rhyme(close but not exact rhyming sounds) added great deal of shock toward Dickinson poems. This literary device is shown in the poem The Soul selector own society. In the following lines:level known her from an ample nationhood One-Then close the values of her attentions Stone -(Daniel 378)One and Stone have a slant rhyme. Dickinson also wrote a lot of her poetry using hymn meters. A hymn meter differs from a traditional meter by counting syllables, not feet. Dickinson however took liberties with the meter. She used enjambment the breaking of a line where there is no natural or syntactic pause(Campbell, Common Questions. N. P. ). For example, in the second stanza of I cannot live with you, she writes:The Sexton keeps the key to-putting pour life- His Porcelain -Like a cup- Monsoons 62). If Dickinson were traditionally using hymn meters, she wouldnt have marked the first, third and fourth lines with dashes and their would be no pauses. Dickinson own rules of punctuation and literary devices, is what gave her writing such a personal feeling. Out of the many characteristics in Dickinson poetry, her emphasis on emotional pain, the subjects and events that influenced her, and her unique use of mechanics, is what capture reader. By Just reading a couple of her poems, one could infer She expressed her beliefs, feelings and conflicts in whatever way that she felt, at that very moment. Dickinson wrote a lot about emotional pain, which seemed to follow her, throughout life. Also, she based her themes on subjects and events that affected her, such as religion and war. Her interesting style of writing is also refreshing, seeing that she wrote according to her rules and no ones else. Numerous critics told Dickinson that her writing would not appeal to the popular style back then. However, Emily Dickinson poetry is now greatly appreciated worldwide.

The Body Ritual of the Nacirema Essay Example For Students

The Body Ritual of the Nacirema Essay The Body Ritual of the Nacirema It is human nature to describe ones own culture as the most advanced and most intellectual. Unfortunately, it is also common practice to look down upon the practices of another culture because they are not similar to ones own traditions. The ability to do this can sometimes be a damaging characteristic for society as a whole. Horace Miner realized the implications of egocentric views and wrote a groundbreaking essay to open societys eyes to their biases. We will write a custom essay on The Body Ritual of the Nacirema specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Body Ritual of the Nacirema was written by Horace Miner for shock value. The article describes the rituals of a people which on the surface seem to be barbaric and highly out of date for that time at which the article was written. Some of the rituals described were women voluntarily baking their heads in ovens and visits to a holy-mouth man, which were extremely painful and costly, in order to gain social acceptance from their peers. Another unheard of tradition described in this essay was that of the sick people going to a temple where they had to give very large gi.

Blends in Spelling and Sounds - Special Education

Blends in Spelling and Sounds - Special Education When considering a spelling program and how to best help children learn the sounds of the English language, remember to choose words that help them understand all of the 44 sounds. Part of those 44 sounds include the blends. Blends are 2 or 3 consonants combined to form a distinct sound such as: bl cl, fl, gl, pl, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr, sk, sl, sp, st, sw, spr, cr, str. These common words with blends are good to review and print for young learners. Sound: bl like in blueblue, black, blood, blew, blow, block, blob. Sound: cl like in clapclap, club, clay, cloud, climb, clown, class, close. Sound: fl like in flyflu, fly, flag, flat, flame, flood, flower, floor. Sound: gl like in gladglow, glad, globe, glide, glove, glass. Sound: pl like in playplay, plan, plug, place, plate, plant, plane, plain. Sound: br like in brownbrown, brow, broke, broom, break, brake, brag, bridge. Sound: cr like in crowcry, crow, crab, cried, crash, cross, crown, crack, crumb. Sound: dr like in drawdraw, drink, drum, drop, dress, drank, drove, drive. Sound: fr like in fryfry, from, frog, front, fresh, fruit, Friday, free. Sound: gr like in growgrow, grab, grew, grade, grass, green, grape, grown. Sound: pr like in bluepray, prize, proud, price, proof, print, prove, price. Sound: tr like in treetree, train, trust, trade, track, try, true, truck, trade, treat. Sound: sk like in skysky, skip, ask, skin, skate, skill, skirt, task. Sound: sl like in slipslip, slide, slap, slow, slam, sleep, slept, slipper, slim. Sound: sp like in spotspot, spill, spare, spot, spa, spam, spoke, speak, speed, spoon. Sound: st like in stopstop, stay, stem, star, start, stuff, stood, store, storm, stick. Sound: sw like in swingswing, sweet, sweat, switch, swell, swallow, sweater. Sound: spr like in springspring, spray, sprout, spread, sprout, spree. Sound: scr like in scrapscrap, screw, scrub, screen, scream, scratch, describe. Sound: str like in stringstring, strong, street, stretch, stroke, stripe, strange, struggle.

Statistics Related to Fathers Day

Statistics Related to Fathers Day The history of the Fathers Day in the United States goes back over a century.   In 1909 Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington thought of the idea of Father’s Day. After hearing a Mother’s Day sermon she thought it would be appropriate to also have a day honoring fathers. Her father, in particular, deserved recognition. William Smart, Sonora’s father, was a Civil War veteran, farmer, and widower who had raised six children. The third Sunday of Smart’s birth month of June 1910 was chosen by Spokane as the first Father’s Day. National recognition in the U.S. of Father’s Day took some time. It was not until 1966 when President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation commemorating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day that the holiday was officially recognized nationally. Six years later, in 1972 President Richard M. Nixon signed a law making Father’s Day a permanent fixture of the third week in June. The U.S. Census Bureau collects data on a wide variety of aspects of life in the U.S. They have several statistics relating to fathers. A few of these Fathers Day statistics follow below: Fathers Day Statistics There are approximately 152 million males in the United States. Of these about 46% (70 million) are fathers.About 16% (25 million) of all males in the U.S. had children younger than 18 in 2011.In 2011 there were 1.7 million single fathers. Of these men 5% were widowed, 19% were separated, 31% were never married and 45% were divorced.In 2011 there were approximately 176,000 stay-at-home dads. These were classified as married fathers who had been out of the workforce for over a year, with a wife who works outside the home. Approximately 332,000 children were cared for by these stay-at-home days, or on average, about 1.9 children per dad.In 2010 approximately 17% of all U.S. preschoolers were cared for by their father while mom was at work.As far as a gift goes for dad on Father’s Day, there are a number of options of items to buy and places to purchase a gift. All data is from the most recent year available, 2009:There were 7,708 men’s clothing stores in the U.S. where yo u could buy a tie.There were 15,734 hardware stores in the U.S. where you could buy an assortment of tools. Closely related to this gift category are the 6,897 home stores around the country.There were 21,628 sporting goods stores in the U.S., which stocked popular gifts such as fishing gear and golf clubs. Just over 79 million Americans reported eating at a barbecue in 2010. Due to Father’s Day falling during prime barbecue season, many of these people ate at a barbecue on the third Sunday of June. Happy Fathers Day to all fathers out there.

Ancient history compare and contrast two empires Essay

Ancient history compare and contrast two empires - Essay Example But the contributions of the Mongol empire cannot be underestimated. The empire under Khans flourished well and the popularity and fame of the empire spread far and wide across the empires of the world. The famous traveller, Marco Polo had commented the Mongol empire as prosperous and peaceful. The kingdom was united under the rulers and the military power of the kingdom was immense. The essay tries to compare the contributions of the Roman and Mongol Empire in terms of politics, trade, religion, and social history. Features of Roman Empire: The Roman Empire was considered to be the biggest ancient empire of the world that ruled probably the major parts of the world. The Great Roman Empire had both western and eastern kingdoms. The Western empire came to an end in and around 450 A.D., whereas the Eastern Empire lasted up to the year 1453, when Constantinople, the capital of Eastern Empire, fell in the hands of the Turks. The Roman Empire spread to all sides of the world. The war like nature of the Roman people made Rome a powerful Empire over other nations. They conquered almost all countries to four sides of the nation. The Roman rule in those areas made a permanent landmark of the rule in terms of Roman building and sculptures. In considering the religion of the Roman Empire one can see the slow pace of the Empire from paganism to Christianity. The Romans, just like the Greek had their own gods and there had many temples for the gods in the Empire. Valerie M. Warrior clearly observes; â€Å"The Romans worshiped a wide range of gods† (Warrior 9). The entire Empire had beliefs in the mythic Roman religion. The wars like gods represent the war like nature of the people. At first the Roman rulers were against Christianity and many of them had persecuted the Christians. It was Constantine in A.D. 312 declared Christianity as the official religion of Rome. There after the spread of Christianity was amazing in the kingdom. So the Romans had different religiou s faiths. The politics of the Roman Empire was strong in the beginning and it is the cause for its fall too. Peter V. Jones and Keith C. Sidwel mention that; â€Å"Roman generals in the field regularly resorted to acts of looting, reprisal, massacres, mass deportations, and enslavements† (Jones & Sidwell 25). Rome was ruled by great statesmen like Julius and Octavius Caesars. Democracy was flourished in Rome. The Senate had a predominant role over the rule of the different statesmen. In respect to the trade of the Empire one can find that Rome was a dominant nation of the time. It had trade with many of the Eastern countries. The Romans had a flourishing trade with African countries. When it conquered Egypt there opened a way for trade and commerce with the countries near Egypt. The same is with the nations in Turkey and the Eastern countries. Features of Mongol empire: Apart from the history of the great Roman Empire the Mongol empire was short lived. It lasted for only 200 years. The founder of the Mongol empire, Genghis Khan made it much popular. His grandson named as Kubilai Khan made this popularity far and wide. â€Å"Mongols could build a vast world empire faster than any people before or after them. It is Mongols who united Eurasia in a truly international trading system and encouraged new forms of communication. The Mongols showed the value of

Market Equilibration Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market Equilibration - Research Paper Example The point that balances the compensation packages for the benefit of both the demand and supply sides typically refers to a state of equilibrium. It is important to note from the outset that equilibrium is just but a pedagogical device (Boyes & Melvin, 2012, p. 57). The reality is that markets [free markets inclusive] are always in the process of working, and that there are no static equilibrium prices and/or quantities as suggested in theory. Nonetheless, the process always tends towards an equilibrium point. The market equilibrating process in a free market works exclusively through the forces of demand and supply. Thus, no group of buyers or sellers holds a domineering influence in setting market prices. Accordingly, all consumers are considered rational decision makers with parallel objectives of maximizing their utility, and that demand accurately measures the quantity that buyers would be willing and able to acquire at a unit price (Gandolfi, Gandolfi & Barash, 2002, p. 17). Simply put, demand is majorly influenced by lower pricing; such that, any increase in the price of a commodity in a free market structure lowers the number of people (buyers) willing to buy the product; an inverse relationship that sums up the law of demand. Apart from commodity prices, other factors such as income, prices of substitute goods as well as tastes and preferences among others that occasionally come into play not only to alter quantity demanded, but shift the demand curve altogether (Boyes & Melvin, 2012, p. 59). A sample shift in demand curve due to a decrease in income is shown in the diagram below. While buyers/consumers try to maximize their utility by pulling prices downwards, sellers (businesses/firms) endeavor to maximize profit through an upwards price pulling effect. In other words, suppliers strive to make available goods and services in amounts that best help them get the highest

Great Expectations Essay Example for Free

Great Expectations Essay How does Charles Dickens create effective images of people and places in chapters 1 and 8 of Great Expectations? Great Expectations is a novel that is recognised as a classic. This particular Charles Dickens enchanting tale is based on the life of a young boy in the Victorian times named Pip. He is both the main character and narrator of the novel. In the chapters one and eight we meet Pip as well as his older sister and his sisters husband Joe. We also meet Magwitch an escaped convict. These characters are representing the lower class of the Victorian society. I believe this novel is about the fact lower class people may find it harder to push boundaries and achieve big thing. Dickens, I think, is trying to show just how wrong this is that people with lower social status are expected to stay lower class. Other Characters we meet in the novel are Estella the beautiful young adopted daughter of Mrs Havisham an eccentric, and possibly a quite mad but importantly rich old woman. I think it is no coincidence that Dickens shows these two upper class figures to be bitter and not accepting and at times quite stubborn. This highlights the idea that Victorian society is socially rigid. It is not based on who or what you are but instead about your heritage and your riches. Dickens uses this novel to demonstrate that people lower class are more than capable to easily slot into the life of riches and perhaps too easily. So the opening chapter starts with Pip he is in the process of analysing his parents and brothers gravestones in desperation for any knowledge of his heritage. This sense of desperation allows the readers to feel pity towards Pip. This is a great example of how effortlessly Dickens is able to control the emotions of his audience. Also the fact pip was visiting the grave alone may show how lonely Pip is without his parents and he may almost feel anger towards them for abandoning him with his rather unfeeling and regiment sister. She was often inclined to beat him regularly. Dickens starts by describing the graveyard as a dark flat wilderness. This allows the reader to point an image of a quite scary desolate place and perhaps quite intimidating. Dickens then quickly moves on to describe Pip as a small bundle of shivers. This again allows the reader to point an image but this time of a minute vulnerable child possibly quite haunted at the situation. This contrast seems to exaggerate the timid Pip allows the feelings of sorrow towards him to increase. Dickens then introduces us to quite threatening Magwitch who opening words were Keep still, you little devil or Ill cut your throat. This instantly makes the reader assume he is dangerous and threatening. As Pip explains he had a great iron on his leg it becomes quite clear he is a convict. This begins to make reader worry for Pip because we are not enlightened as to why he is a criminal. As Magwitch threatens Pip he takes it extremely seriously this helps to enhance three important characteristics of Pip the first that he is extremely scared shows he is very vulnerable and the second is the fact that he replies sir shows he has been brought up with manners. This again contradicts negative views of lower class people in Victorian times. Also the fact he worked out this man could possibly be dangerous showed Pip to be sharp and quick to react. Certain phrases like Who dye live with makes it clear that Magwitch is from a lower class background. Although after this negativity the reader cannot help but feel pity towards Magwitch and this because you can imagine how difficult it must have been. Dickens shows this in such lines as A man with no hat, and broken shoes. This is Dickens demonstrating his use of description to encourage emotions and reactions. The first chapter is set in a desolate church yard near the marsh land. Dickens descriptions such as This bleak place overgrown and raw afternoon towards evening contribute to the ever growing dark and oppressive atmosphere. This kind of description also help to redeem the understandably scared Pip but they almost make him seem more pathetic and helpless. If for example Dickens had decided to set the scene in a pleasant grave yard on a sunny day it would withdraw the sense of suspense amongst readers. Satis house is introduced to us in chapter 8 as well as the characters Estella and Mrs Havisham. Estella explains to Pip that Satis means enough this was because the designer of the house assumed whoever had this house would be satisfied and need nothing more. This extra information seems to contrast the first impression given to be by Pip where he is describing it as old brick and dismal. This allows the reader to ask questions about why such a great house now appears to be in ruins. The description of Satis house continues in this manner. He also mentions windows were barred and cemented. This makes the house seem daunting. Dickens also makes you acknowledge the houses former glory by saying there were no pigeons in the dove cot, no horses in the stable, no pigs in the sty, no mat in the stone house, no smells of grains and beer in the copper vat. However this line also illustrates how far from it is former glory. This leaves the reader to assume the owner has given up.

Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams :: The Glass Menagerie Essays

In his drama, The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses symbolism in order to develop multi-faceted characters and to display the recurring themes of the play. These various symbols appear throughout the entire piece, and they are usually disguised as objects or imagery. They allow the reader to know the characters’ personalities, and their true inside characteristics. These symbols also add to the major themes, which develop as the play gains momentum. In the drama, symbols play the most important role. One of the most recurring symbols is the glass menagerie itself. It consists of glass animals frozen in form and it is housed at the Wingfield’s apartment. The glass menagerie has a high amount of meaning for all of the characters in this play. â€Å"Ultimately, the glass menagerie is symbolic of all their shattered dreams, failing to fulfill their transcendent aspirations, the Wingfields find themselves confined to a wasteland reality, their dreams become a ‘heap of broken images’'; (Thompson 15). Just as the menagerie itself is frozen in time, the Wingfields are also. They are restricted to the one way of living that they have practiced as time had passed, so they do not know how to break free of that confinement. All the characters as a whole have tried to escape the harsh reality, but in every case they manage to fail, and in turn shatter their dreams like glass. This continuing struggle is a large part of the major theme of The Glass Menagerie. Just as the glass menagerie represents all of the characters as a whole, it also represents each character individually. â€Å"Though the glass menagerie is most directly relevant to Laura, all four characters have sublimated their animal drives into esthetics. Laura has her glass animals, Tom his movies and poems, Amanda her jonquil-filled memories distorted into hopes, and Jim his baritone cliches of progress'; (Cohn 101). Though Amanda blames her children alone for relying on false illusions, she too carries this fault. Although it is obvious that the glass menagerie represents Laura because of her frailty, Tom, Amanda, and even Jim are exemplified too. They all concentrate their powers in illusions, only in different ways. More specifically, the glass menagerie unravels the character of Laura and lets the reader into her true personality. The glass menagerie â€Å"embodies the fragility of Laura’s world, her search for beauty; it registers sensitively changes in lighting and stands in vivid contrast to the harshness of the outer world which can (and does) shatter so easily'; (Stein 110-111).

1. Analyse Three Themes in the Novel Maru, Showing How These Themes Are Portrayed, How They Are Effective and How They Support Each Other as the Plot Progresses.

Born from a white mother and a black father, Bessie Head grew up in the early stages of Apartheid South Africa. In Maru she reflects upon her own experiences of love, loneliness and prejudice. Prejudice spreads as one discriminates against another and creates false images. Love contradicts loneliness, which diminishes as the plot progresses. Prejudice affects love and promotes loneliness. Initially one may assume that prejudice is only between different races. However, Bessie Head displays tribal prejudice through, â€Å"the expressions of disgust on the faces of the Batswana nurses as they wash the dead woman’s body for burial† (page 9-10).The nurses are reluctant to wash the dead woman’s body because she was Masarwa. Masarwas are considered as, â€Å"a low and filthy nation† (page 8), because they have decided to sustain their ancestral ways of life and customs. They have thus been pushed to the margin of society, â€Å"owned as slaves† (page 19), by the authoritative and affluent chiefs of the community. Being associated with Masarwa would infer that one stoops down to their level. For this reason, Moleka’s love for Margaret is suppressed. He loves her but is not keen to sacrifice his status for her.By, â€Å"[sharing] his plate of food and fork with one† (page 51), he wishes to show the community that Masarwa are equal to Batswana and eradicate the belief that they are non-human. Moleka attempts to terminate prejudice immediately. He does not understand that, â€Å"prejudice is like the skin of a snake. It has to be removed bit by bit† (age 48). This metaphor illustrates to the reader that change occurs over a long period of time. According to Moleka, this plate sharing becomes a symbol for the emancipation of the Masarwas and qualifies Margaret to be his equal.Moleka is a hypocrite because he wants to change other people’s attitudes towards Masarwa but he is not willing to walk down the aisle w ith Margaret. His prejudicial demeanours compel him to quash his feelings towards her. This shows that love does not always have the power to overcome prejudice. In addition, Margaret is lonely. Similar to Bessie Head, Margaret feels lost because she is unaware of where she belongs. Born a Masarwa but raised by an English woman,she is, â€Å"unable to fit into a definition of something as narrow as a tribe or race or nation† (page 11).Knowing which culture or group one belongs to defines a person. People discriminate against her because they do not know what she is. Margaret has no one to relate to. Nobody understands her. She lives in a village with magnitudes of people but in her heart she is alone. This is only until she encounters Moleka and experiences a, â€Å"bang! † (page 26), in her heart. This onomatopoeia is significant in Margaret’s life because it symbolises the beginning of her journey. She has always lived as a recluse but from this point onwards she instigates a presence that cannot be ignored.For the first time, she feels important because, â€Å"She [is] really no longer lonely† (page 26). Her relationship with Dikeledi is the closest Margaret comes to friendship. During her school career, Margaret is a brilliant, yet lonely student. The other students mock her by saying phrases such as, â€Å"you are just a bushman† (page 13). Prejudice, in this case causes loneliness. Bessie Head displays this throughout the novel. In Dilepe, Masarwa are slaves. When the news about Margaret being Masarwa spreads, she is ostracised by society because she is supposed to be a slave.Moreover, Maru’s marriage to Margaret appears to overcome her solitude. However, she still feels lonely due to the fact that she is not married to her first love, Moleka. She agrees to marry Maru because it is the only, â€Å"alternative to the living death into which she [has] so unexpectedly fallen† (page 120). Maru waits for the pe rfect moment, when Margaret loses her only companion and her first and only ‘love’, to propose marriage to her so that he appears to be her best option. He becomes her redeemer. Bessie Head uses the oxymoron, â€Å"living death† (page 120), to emphasize the severity of the situation Margaret finds herself in.It is so dreadful that it may be considered as fatal. She thinks that it is her decision to agree to marry Maru. Maru makes, â€Å"people do everything he [says] they [will]† (page 67). This brings into question whether he really loves Margaret or if he weds her in his attempt to conquer prejudice towards Masarwa. Maru realises that overcoming prejudice is a process that requires cautious planning. Furthermore, after the marriage between Maru and Margaret takes place, â€Å"a door silently [opens] on the small dark airless room in which their souls had been shut for a long time† (page 122).This metaphor describes the change that occurs as Maru h ad expected. The Masarwas are slowly being freed from the oppression that they have been subjected to. Bessie Head uses imagery, â€Å"small dark airless† (page 122), to give the reader an understanding of how the Masarwa suffer because of the Batswana. Love, loneliness and prejudice carry out a significant role in Margaret’s life. Bessie Head uses these three themes to demonstrate to the reader that in order to triumph one has to work hard and be strong.Margaret’s, â€Å"single abrupt tear from one eye† (page 18), shows that she, too, is human. Even though she is trained not to exhibit emotions her body unexpectedly displays her at moments when she is overwhelmed sensations that she does not understand nor come across before. In conclusion, where there is real love there is loneliness because and prejudice is one of the major entities that bring about loneliness in the novel. If there was no prejudice, there would have been fewer problems for everybody i n the town. Love is the source of happiness. 1. Analyse Three Themes in the Novel Maru, Showing How These Themes Are Portrayed, How They Are Effective and How They Support Each Other as the Plot Progresses. Born from a white mother and a black father, Bessie Head grew up in the early stages of Apartheid South Africa. In Maru she reflects upon her own experiences of love, loneliness and prejudice. Prejudice spreads as one discriminates against another and creates false images. Love contradicts loneliness, which diminishes as the plot progresses. Prejudice affects love and promotes loneliness. Initially one may assume that prejudice is only between different races. However, Bessie Head displays tribal prejudice through, â€Å"the expressions of disgust on the faces of the Batswana nurses as they wash the dead woman’s body for burial† (page 9-10).The nurses are reluctant to wash the dead woman’s body because she was Masarwa. Masarwas are considered as, â€Å"a low and filthy nation† (page 8), because they have decided to sustain their ancestral ways of life and customs. They have thus been pushed to the margin of society, â€Å"owned as slaves† (page 19), by the authoritative and affluent chiefs of the community. Being associated with Masarwa would infer that one stoops down to their level. For this reason, Moleka’s love for Margaret is suppressed. He loves her but is not keen to sacrifice his status for her.By, â€Å"[sharing] his plate of food and fork with one† (page 51), he wishes to show the community that Masarwa are equal to Batswana and eradicate the belief that they are non-human. Moleka attempts to terminate prejudice immediately. He does not understand that, â€Å"prejudice is like the skin of a snake. It has to be removed bit by bit† (age 48). This metaphor illustrates to the reader that change occurs over a long period of time. According to Moleka, this plate sharing becomes a symbol for the emancipation of the Masarwas and qualifies Margaret to be his equal.Moleka is a hypocrite because he wants to change other people’s attitudes towards Masarwa but he is not willing to walk down the aisle w ith Margaret. His prejudicial demeanours compel him to quash his feelings towards her. This shows that love does not always have the power to overcome prejudice. In addition, Margaret is lonely. Similar to Bessie Head, Margaret feels lost because she is unaware of where she belongs. Born a Masarwa but raised by an English woman,she is, â€Å"unable to fit into a definition of something as narrow as a tribe or race or nation† (page 11).Knowing which culture or group one belongs to defines a person. People discriminate against her because they do not know what she is. Margaret has no one to relate to. Nobody understands her. She lives in a village with magnitudes of people but in her heart she is alone. This is only until she encounters Moleka and experiences a, â€Å"bang! † (page 26), in her heart. This onomatopoeia is significant in Margaret’s life because it symbolises the beginning of her journey. She has always lived as a recluse but from this point onwards she instigates a presence that cannot be ignored.For the first time, she feels important because, â€Å"She [is] really no longer lonely† (page 26). Her relationship with Dikeledi is the closest Margaret comes to friendship. During her school career, Margaret is a brilliant, yet lonely student. The other students mock her by saying phrases such as, â€Å"you are just a bushman† (page 13). Prejudice, in this case causes loneliness. Bessie Head displays this throughout the novel. In Dilepe, Masarwa are slaves. When the news about Margaret being Masarwa spreads, she is ostracised by society because she is supposed to be a slave.Moreover, Maru’s marriage to Margaret appears to overcome her solitude. However, she still feels lonely due to the fact that she is not married to her first love, Moleka. She agrees to marry Maru because it is the only, â€Å"alternative to the living death into which she [has] so unexpectedly fallen† (page 120). Maru waits for the pe rfect moment, when Margaret loses her only companion and her first and only ‘love’, to propose marriage to her so that he appears to be her best option. He becomes her redeemer. Bessie Head uses the oxymoron, â€Å"living death† (page 120), to emphasize the severity of the situation Margaret finds herself in.It is so dreadful that it may be considered as fatal. She thinks that it is her decision to agree to marry Maru. Maru makes, â€Å"people do everything he [says] they [will]† (page 67). This brings into question whether he really loves Margaret or if he weds her in his attempt to conquer prejudice towards Masarwa. Maru realises that overcoming prejudice is a process that requires cautious planning. Furthermore, after the marriage between Maru and Margaret takes place, â€Å"a door silently [opens] on the small dark airless room in which their souls had been shut for a long time† (page 122).This metaphor describes the change that occurs as Maru h ad expected. The Masarwas are slowly being freed from the oppression that they have been subjected to. Bessie Head uses imagery, â€Å"small dark airless† (page 122), to give the reader an understanding of how the Masarwa suffer because of the Batswana. Love, loneliness and prejudice carry out a significant role in Margaret’s life. Bessie Head uses these three themes to demonstrate to the reader that in order to triumph one has to work hard and be strong.Margaret’s, â€Å"single abrupt tear from one eye† (page 18), shows that she, too, is human. Even though she is trained not to exhibit emotions her body unexpectedly displays her at moments when she is overwhelmed sensations that she does not understand nor come across before. In conclusion, where there is real love there is loneliness because and prejudice is one of the major entities that bring about loneliness in the novel. If there was no prejudice, there would have been fewer problems for everybody i n the town. Love is the source of happiness.

Kumbh Mela

The sea of humanity that the mela resembles is surreal and spiritual. When friends and well-wishers learnt that my wife and I were going to the Mahakumbh mela for Mauni Amavasya, they were aghast. Some shuddered at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with 30 million of the great unwashed. Others warned of how polluted and carcinogenic the once-pristine Ganga has become. A few were mortified that we would be staying in tents on the riverbank with no access to room service or a flat-screen TV. Some wondered why I, as a non-Hindu, wanted to visit the Mahakumbh at all.Everyone wished us well but confessed to being glad they weren't undertaking the expedition to Allahabad. I, too, was initially apprehensive about embarking on this mega pilgrimage, afraid, perhaps, of the unknown. The logistics of getting to Prayag were daunting. The trains were overflowing and the nearest airports were located several hours away. We decided to fly into Lucknow and then drove a harrowing six-and-a-half hours through â€Å"rururban† UP to finally reach the Sangam around midnight. Our tent, with an adjacent toilet, was basic but comfortable. An unseasonal downpour had, however, turned the chalky riverbank into a slushy mess.Mauni Amavasya is considered the most auspicious day during the Mahakumbh to undertake the Shahi Snan. Pilgrims were converging by the tens of thousands and the state administration had locked down vehicular entry into the city. Our neighbours, city slickers like us, had to walk 13 kilometres from the outskirts of Allahabad to reach the tent complex as their car wasn't allowed to proceed. At night, the temperature plummets and in the absence of heaters, we snuggled in a sleeping bag and used a blanket overlay to keep warm in our flimsy tent. The next morning, we were woken up at 4 am by a cacophony of loudspeakers, competing to be heard.Bhajans and pravachans from rival akhadas blared at full volume. Shouting above this din was a public announcement for family members who had been separated at the Kumbh. A female voice, mimicking a cow, lowed â€Å"Maa† instead of a moo, and exhorted pilgrims to join the campaign to end cow slaughter. A medicine man on a megaphone advertised a book for a hundred rupees that provides a remedy for all ailments known to mankind. Forget about doctors, he shrieked at the top of his voice, simply sit at home and cure yourself of either insomnia or impotence.We groggily stepped out and were stunned by the sight of an entire township of tents that stretched endlessly along both banks of the mighty Ganga. This was the proverbial sea of humanity one had heard about, and it was staggering to witness the sheer scale of this congregation. Walking with millions of believers chanting har har Gange to the Sangam at 4. 30 am was both a surreal and spiritual experience. Naked Naga babas, brandishing swords and trishuls, charged into the river exalting Lord Shiva, who had tamed his wilful daughter by trapping her in his matted locks.Men, women and children were unmindful of stripping before strangers as they undertook the sacred dip in freezing waters. The entire ritual was conducted without any jostling, shoving or disturbance. The faithful converged with reverence and behaved impeccably. Any fear of crowds and claustrophobia melted away and all you felt was oneness with your fellow man. It was, therefore, ironic and all the more tragic that the same evening the stampede at the Allahabad Railway Station left 36 people dead. Today is the last day of the Shahi Snans and we should all perhaps whisper a prayer that it passes without incident.

China Department Stores Essays

China Department Stores Essays China Department Stores Essay China Department Stores Essay China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 Department stores in China, 2009 IN THIS ISSUE : I. Overview II. Operation modes of department stores in China III. Developments of market players IV. Challenges V. Recent developments VI. Conclusion 10 11 19 6 2 4 Overview Department stores in China have enjoyed many years of boom, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 30% between 2003 and 2008. Sales momentum for department stores has deteriorated towards the end of 2008 as consumer cut back on discretionary and luxury spending; but there are recent signs of picking-up growth. Operation modes of department stores in China Department stores operators in China generate revenue from 1) commissions on concessionaire sales, 2) merchandise direct sales, 3) rental income from store tenants, and 4) management fee etc. Commissions from concessionaire sales are the predominant source of income. Developments of market players The competitive landscape for department stores in China is highly fragmented with no significant market leader. Foreign players tend to have wider national footprints and they mainly target the country’s high-income class. Domestic department stores operators mainly focus on regional markets. Challenges Department stores operators in China are often said to be acting like landlords – renting floor space to concessionaires or tenants and paying little attention to differentiation and brand management. Undifferentiated players have resorted to price competition to boost sales, hurting companies’ same-store-sales growth and eroding their margins. Other formats such as specialty stores and retail cannibalization are posing great challenges to department stores. Recent developments Lower-tier cities are the expansion focus. Department store operators focus on upgrading and differentiation. There is growing attention to transform merchandising practices. Export-oriented manufacturers pay growing attention to domestic market brings new potential for department store operators to expand merchandise mix. Department stores operators are grasping attention in the capital market. Many department stores operators have embarked on real estate strategies. Some department stores have explored the â€Å"click-and-mortar† model. Government encourages department stores players to enhance service levels and improve operation environment through awarding players with quality services. Li Fung Research Centre 13/F, LiFung Centre 2 On Ping Street Shatin, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2635 5563 Fax: (852) 2635 1598 E-mail: [emailprotected] com lifunggroup. com/ Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 Department stores in China, 2009 Department stores have long been one of the major retailing channels in China; they are the chief distribution channel for discretionary consumption items such as branded apparel, cosmetics, jewelry and watches, etc. In the eyes of many Chinese consumers, shopping in department stores represent quality lifestyle and status. For years, many consumer brands have viewed department stores as their top-of-choice in building their recognition in China. As Chinese consumers become growingly affluent, department stores in China has enjoyed years of rapid development in recent years. However, growth momentum of China’s department stores sales has slowed towards the end of 2008; dampened consumer spirits amid global financial crisis, increasingly fierce competition and immature management mindsets all pose challenges to China’s department stores operators. These have prompted department stores operators in China to evolve to stay competitive. Over the past few months in 2009, as China’s economy begins to demonstrate stabilized growth, sales momentum of department stores has picked up again. We believe, long-term prospect for department store sector in China is rosy, as consumption plays a bigger role in the Chinese economy. I. Overview Department stores1 have been one of the most important retail channels in China with an established history longer than other retailing channels such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores and shopping malls. They are an important sales channel for discretionary consumption items such as branded apparel, jewelry, cosmetics and watches, etc, many of them targeting the country’s higher-income groups. Thanks to the increasing affluence and urbanization, department stores in China have enjoyed many years of boom. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), the total sales value of department stores was 180. 1 billion yuan in 2007; the 2008 full-year sales value is yet released but the China Chain Store and Franchise Association (CCFA) and Deloitte estimate the value to reach 219. billion yuan, representing a compound annual growth rate of 30% between 2003 and 2008 (see Exhibit 1). Exhibit 1: Total sales value of department stores, 2003 2008 * Estimated value by Deloitte Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China, China Chain Store and Franchise Association and Deloitte 1 Department stores are stores with sales area between 6,000 and 20,000 m2, usually multi-stor ey, selling wide range of merchandises with emphasis on clothing and accessories, footwear, cosmetics, household items and home appliances etc. Special counters and open shelves are the chief sales formats. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 2 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 However, department store sector has witnessed some challenges over the past year. Amid the global financial crisis, retail sales growth in China has decelerated towards the end of 2008 and sales of discretionary items are more negatively impacted. According to the CCFA, discretionary and luxury retailers were under greater pressure than previous years. Sales momentum for department stores has deteriorated as consumers cut back on discretionary and luxury spending. Exhibit 2 demonstrates the key statistics of different format retailers. As shall be seen, daily transactions for department stores have registered negative growth of 5. 2% in 2008; the decline is the second biggest among other formats. Average ticket consumption also recorded slow growth of only 1. 5% in 2008. In 1Q09, according to CCFA and Deloitte, both sales revenue and profit for department stores was down by about 5% yoy. Exhibit 2: Key statistics of different format retailers, 2008 Sales revenue (million Retail format Hypermarkets Supermarkets Department stores Convenience stores Home electronics retailers Pharmacies 501. 64 37. 06 2. 0 7. 1 729 1,724 -7. 8 -3. 8 1,901. 0 48. 2 2. 3 1. 3 10. 8 23. 1. 0 -0. 7 yuan) 212. 90 72. 42 883. 97 4. 73 yoy growth (%) 12. 4 11. 3 11. 1 12. 3 Number of Daily transactions 10,059 4,554 10,839 758 yoy growth (%) 1. 0 6. 5 -5. 2 -2. 7 Average ticket consumption (yuan) 58. 1 43. 6 226. 4 16. 2 yoy growth (%) 11. 6 4. 5 1. 5 11. 1 Gross margin (%) 12. 9 12. 9 14. 1 16. 4 yoy growth (%) 0. 3 0. 9 0. 3 0. 0 Source: Ch ina Chain Store and Franchise Association and Deloitte The China Commerce Association for General Merchandise (CCAGM) conducted a research study on 60 major department stores operators in China; in 2008, average sales revenue of major department stores operators in China was up by 15. % yoy to 183. 74 billion yuan; the growth was lower than that of 2007 (17. 8%). 86. 7% of the department stores recorded sales growth in 2008. The CCAGM also surveyed 205 of its member enterprises earlier and Exhibit 3 demonstrates some sales statistics of its member enterprises in the department store sector. Exhibit 3: Performance of the 205 membership enterprises of CCAGM, 2002-2007 2007 Sales income growth (% yoy) Sales margin (%) Sales margin growth (% yoy) 17. 8 8. 5 21. 7 2006 13. 7 8. 4 19. 5 2005 18. 0 7. 4 10. 1 2004 12. 7 8. 9. 9 2003 42. 9 7. 7 26. 0 2002 10. 8 8. 2 4. 1 Source: China Commerce Association for General Merchandise (CCAGM) Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 3 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 Despite poorer sales performance at the end of last year, growth momentum of department stores in China is showing some recent signs of picking up. With huge government initiatives to boost domestic consumption, the total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 15. 0% in the first half of 2009, according to the NBS. Consumer confidence in China is picking up as well. Department stores in China have undoubtedly benefited from China’s resilient retail sales growth; experts believe that growth in second half of 2009 will be even stronger. II. Operation modes of department stores in China Compared with many department stores operators in developed economies, which pay huge attention to differentiation and brand-building, department stores operators in China are often said to be acting like landlords – renting their floor space to concessionaires or tenants and paying little attention o differentiation. Department stores operators in China generate revenue from 1) commissions on concessionaire sales, 2) merchandise direct sales, 3) rental income from store tenants, and 4) management fee etc; and commissions from concessionaire sales are the predominant source of income. For instance, more than 70% of the revenue of Hong Kong-listed department stores operators such as Intime Department S tore ( (see Exhibit 4). Exhibit 4: Revenue breakdown of department store operations from selected companies, 2008 New World Intime Commissions from concessionaire sales Sale of goods direct sale Rental income Management fee income from the operation of department stores Source: Financial reports from respective companies ) and Golden Eagle Department Store ( ), come from the commissions on concessionaire sales Golden Eagle 71. 64% 26. 79% 1. 51% 0. 07% Department Store 68. 30% 15. 07% 5. 51% 11. 11% Parkson 56. 78% 37. 93% 4. 33% 0. 95% 70. 02% 23. 41% 4. 93% 1. 64% Concessionaire sales Under concessionaire arrangements, concessionaires are permitted to establish sales counters in designated areas with their own sales personnel and sell their branded merchandise. Department stores charge concessionaires a turnover commission, usually at a percentage of their total sales proceeds (see Exhibit 5). Usually there is a minimum commission based on the minimum turnover target, regardless of whether such target is achieved. Sales amount received from the concessionaire sales is first collected by the department store and later paid to the concessionaires after deducting relevant expenses, fees and commissions. Average payment settlement period ( ) for department stores is 45-60 days, while some can last for 90 days, according to Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). For some smaller brands, payment settlement with department stores operators can pose cash flow pressure. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 4 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 Exhibit 5: Average commission rate for different categories in department stores Product Category Clothes, shoes and leather goods Jewelry Gold Cosmetics Source: Hong Kong Trade Development Council Commission rate (Department Store: Concessionaire) 30:70 15:85 8:92 25:75 Generally, concessionaires are responsible for employing their own staff, but department stores operators often devise sets of detailed guidelines and rules of conduct in relation to the employment, assessment and training of the staff. Structured induction and training programs are offered to new recruits and staff in new stores in order to ensure service quality of department stores. Concessionaire arrangement allows department stores operators to lower inventory risk, as in the case of merchandise direct sales and the development of own store brands would involve. Merchandise direct sales Under direct sales arrangements, department stores purchase merchandise from suppliers and resell them in stores (e. g. merchandise at supermarket and home appliance sections). Those items are usually standardized with higher brand recognition, which are easier for operators to manage. Rental income from store tenants Some department stores also lease designated areas to operators of businesses that are complementary to the shopping experience at department stores, including restaurants, pharmacies and beauty salons etc. in order to offer onsumers an â€Å"one-stop shopping† experience. Fierce competition for floor space in department stores in China According to HKTDC, department stores operators usually require concessionaires to pay an average annual guarantee fee of 30,000 yuan to 80,000 yuan as the minimum entrance fee. There are many other miscellaneous fees to gain a place in department stores, which include advertising fee, promotion fee and ma nagement fee, etc. Concessionaires may also be requested to pay for renovation or move to other locations according to policies of department stores. Typically, brands with good market reputation and proven sales track record would have higher chance to secure a place in department stores. For brands that are new to China or lesser known in the market, entry is more difficult. One chief reason behind the so-called landlord phenomena is fierce competition for sales space in China; as brands rush to build their prominence, many department stores operators in China have little incentives to differentiate from competitors. The concessionaire agreements and supply agreements are typically reviewed every year. Department stores have right to terminate a concessionaire arrangement if the concessionaire does not perform well (e. g. , fail to meet its pre-agreed sales target for three consecutive months); thus department stores operators have lower risks in securing their income. Indeed, some consider differentiation, say nurturing their own store brands, costly and would not wish to take the risks such as bearing inventories. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 5 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 III. Developments of market players The CCFA has released the ranking of â€Å"the top 100 retail chain operators in 2008† (the Top 100s) earlier this year. Among the Top 100s, there are 23 enterprises chiefly operating the department store format. With a 10% increase in number of stores, their sales value was up by 21% yoy in 2008. Selected enterprises are listed in Exhibit 6. Exhibit 6: Selected department stores operators among the Top 100s in China, 2008 Ranking among the Top 100s 3 5 11 Enterprise Bailian Group Co. , Ltd. Dalian Dashang Group Co. , Ltd. Chongqing Commerce (Group) Ltd. f which: ChongQing Department Store Co. , Ltd. : 14 15 20 Hefei Department Store Group Co. , Ltd. Shandong Commercial Group Corporation ( Limited 21 23 27 28 Wuhan Zhongbai Group Co. , Ltd. Liqun Group Shareholding Co. , Ltd. Changchun Eurasia Group Co. , Ltd. Beijing Wangfujing Department Store (Group) Co. , Ltd. 30 Parkson Retail Group Ltd. 10,691 18. 7 40 -2. 4 14,240 13,869 12,130 12,000** 25. 1 13. 3 21. 3 13. 2 630 866 1 8 17 10. 5 3. 1 63. 6 6. 3 ) 14,800** 5. 7 33 6. 5 New World Department Store China 19,400 18,716 23. 8 34. 8 125 164 26. 3 69. Chinese Mainland Chinese Mainland Hong Kong Chinese Mainland Chinese Mainland Chinese Mainland Chinese Mainland Malaysia Sales value* (million yuan) 94,329 62,555 26,255 8,236 yoy growth (%) 8. 3 24. 6 18. 4 18. 3 Number of stores* 6,418 150 294 115 yoy growth (%) -0. 6 3. 4 11. 8 16. 2 Place of origin Chinese Mainland Chinese Mainland Chinese Mainland Chinese Mainland * Value includes other formats of the department store operators ** Estimated value Source: China Chain Store and Franchise Association (CCFA) Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 6 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 The competitive landscape for department stores in China is highly fragmented with no significant market leader. For example, the Dalian Dashang Group ( ), a very strong department store player in northern China with 52 department stores in China in 2008, accounted for less than 1% of the total number of department stores in China, according to Euromonitor. In China, many department stores do not operate as chains but as single-store independents. Chain operation for department stores is not as popular as other retail formats such as supermarkets and hypermarkets. Indeed, many layers are active in restricted localities only. Foreign players tend to have wider national footprints; targeting the country’s high income class China approved the setting up of the first department store by foreign enterprises in 1992. Shanghai No. 1 Yaohan ( ) from Japan was the first foreign player setting foot in China. Over the past decade, foreign players have been expanding ag gressively in China. With better management expertise, most foreign department stores target China’s higher-income consumers. Today, a number of them have already developed an extensive national network. Different from most domestic counterparts, foreign players tend to have wider national footprints. Exhibit 7 demonstrates the store network of selected foreign players. Today, a number of foreign department stores operators have built their market recognition in China and are battling locals for market share. Hong Kong-based New World Department Store is an example. Having a national coverage of 17 cities, the operator has pursued the expansion strategies of â€Å"multiple presences in a single city† and â€Å"radiation cities† in order to dig deeper into the market. Today the department store operator has built their recognition successfully in cities such as Shenyang and Wuhan. The rationale behind such strategy is to build a critical mass in these cities so that it could expand its influence more easily. This also paves the way for the operator’s further expansion into nearby cities or provinces. Exhibit 7: Store locations of selected foreign department stores operators in China, as of July 2009 Department stores operators Parkson Retail Group Ltd. Place of origin Malaysia Store locations Anshan, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guiyang, Harbin, Hefei, Kuming, Mianyang, Nanchang, Nanning, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shantou, Shenyang, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Urmuqi, Wuxi, Xi’an, Yangzhou, Yantai, Yueyang, Zhengzhou, Zunyi New World Department Store China Ltd. Hong Kong Anshan, Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Harbin, Kunming, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shenyang, Taizhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi Aeon Group Far Eastern Group Isetan Co. Ltd Japan Taiwan Japan Beijing, Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Yantai, Zhongshan, Zhuhai Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Shanghai, Tianjin Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 7 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 Department stores operators Ito Yokado Lippo Group The Store Corp. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Lotte Group Lifestyle International Holdings Ltd. Source: Company websites Place of origi n Japan Indonesia Malaysia Taiwan Korea Hong Kong Store locations Beijing, Chengdu Tianjin, Chengdu Jiaxing Beijing Beijing Shanghai The global financial turmoil has brought unprecedented challenges to consumer markets in many developed economies; while some foreign operators are becoming more conservative in their respective capital expenditure (for instance, Barneys New York Inc has shelved plans for expansion in Beijing), some others with stronger capital strength are accelerating expansion in emerging markets such as China to counter the depression in their home markets. For instance, the UK-based Marks Spencer has made its debut in China by opening a flagship store in Shanghai in October 2008. The Store Corp. ), one of the largest department stores operators in Malaysia, also announced their ) planned to invest US$42. 3 million to expansion plan in China. Japanese department store giant Takashimaya ( launch its first store in Shanghai in 2012. Domestic department stores operators mainly focus on regional markets With stronger local knowledge and connections as well as longer history, domestic operators tend to have stronger footholds in their respective cities of origin (see Exhibit 8). For instance, Dalian Dashang ( Eurasia ( ) and Changchun ) are very successful regional big names in northeast China. Besides, the fact that many domestic layers have already occupied prime locations gives them natural advantage. Nonetheless, when compared to their foreign counterparts, domestic enterprises tend to be more reluctant to expand to other regions, partly due to concerns over regional differences in consumer culture. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 8 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 Exhibit 8: Department store locations of selected domestic department stores operators in China, as of July 2009 Company Intime Department Store (Group), Co. , Ltd. Golden Eagle Retail Group Ltd. Beijing Wangfujing Department Store (Group) Co. Ltd. Store locations Beijing, Ezhou, Hangzhou, Jinhua, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Xi’an, Xiangfan, Xianning, Zhoushan Huaian, Kunmin g, Nanjing, Nantong, Suzhou, Taizhou, Yancheng, Yangzhou, Xi’an, Xuzhou Baotou, Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hohhot, Kunming, Luoyang, Nanning, Taiyuan, Urumqi, Wuhan, Xining, Xuzhou Dalian Dashang Group Co. , Ltd. Dalian and 4 other cities in Liaoning, Daqing and 3 other cities in Heilongjiang, Yanji in Jilin, Kaifeng and 3 others cities in Henan, Chengdu and Zigong in Sichuan, Qingdao Maoye International Holdings Ltd. Beijing Xidan Department Store Co. , Ltd. Fujian Dongbai Group Co. , Ltd. Changchun Eurasia Group Co. , Ltd. Hangzhou Jiebai Group Co. , Ltd. Chengshang Group Co. , Ltd. Shandong Yinzuo Co. , Ltd. Hefei Department Store Group Co. , Ltd. Zhongnan Commercial (Group) Co. , Ltd. Wuhan Zhongbai Group Co. , Ltd. Guangzhou Friendship Group Co. , Ltd. Guangzhou Grandbuy Co. , Ltd. Source: Company websites Chongqing, Shenzhen, Wuxi, Zhuhai Beijing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xining, Urmuqi Fuzhou Changchun Hangzhou Chengdu, Mianyang Dongying, Jinan, Zibo Bengbu, Bozhou, Hefei, Huainan, Huangshan, Lu’an, Tong Ling Wuhan Wuhan Guangzhou, Nanning Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Zhanjiang, Hengyang Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 9 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 A number of domestic players have received huge local government support with their state-owned background. For instance, Nanning Department Store Co. , Ltd. ( ) and Guangzhou Grandbuy are both state-owned. There have been sayings that state-owned department stores are often run less efficiently; these years, though, some have strived hard to improve their operations. For instance, Guangzhou Grandbuy has adopted the Stockholder Rights Plan in 2008, hoping to increase management’s incentives. Indeed, some industry experts believe that a number of state-owned department stores would find themselves hard to survive if they do not upgrade themselves. IV. Challenges As mentioned, department stores in China have witnessed some challenges over the past year. Besides macroeconomic slowdown, there are some other factors hindering the growth of department stores in China. First of which is that many department store players in China have immature operation and management mindsets. Due to the huge market demand of department store floor space in China, many operators have been quite passive in their operation strategy and do not feel the need to differentiate from the rest. Unlike in some developed markets, where many department stores operators have paid huge attention to brand management, such as through unique product assortment and developing private labels to enhance shopping experiences, department stores in China are often said to be acting like â€Å"landlords†. Commission and rental income are the major revenue sources for many. Few department stores have focused on differentiation and brand building. Besides, heavy initial capital outlays, lack of experience in sourcing, long nurturing period for own store brands are also common concerns. In recent years, many department stores in China have frequently reviewed and reshuffled their merchandise portfolio to improve their income. However, the problem of having highly similar brand and tenant mix is still very common. The fact that the market is crowded with a large number of undifferentiated players has made many resorted to price competition to boost sales, especially during more difficult times. Last year, many players have held aggressive promotional activities (e. g. buy-200-get-100 campaigns, anniversary sales events, issuing coupons) to attract footfalls. Discount-driven promotions are hurting companies’ same-store-sales growth and eroding their margins. On the other hand, competition from other format retailers is not to be ignored. According to the NBS, the share of department stores has dropped from 14% in 2003 to 10. 14% in 2007. Specialty stores, in particular, are posing great challenges to department stores as they offer brand owners more flexibility in operations – e. . , brand owners can have more say in product ranges and offerings, store layout designs, thus can better deliver their brand message across. Indeed, Chinese consumers also growingly favor specialty stores as they usually deliver more unique shopping experiences and offer better service levels. Last but not least, many department stores operators have embarked on rapid expansion over t he past years; retail cannibalization has hurt many retailers’ profit margins. Competition is the fiercest in the eastern coastal regions. As a result, many have slowed down their store expansion and put more focus on enhancing same store sales performance, say revamping old stores. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 10 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 V. Recent developments 1. Lower-tier cities as the expansion focus In view of fierce competition in first-tier cities, many department stores are eyeing the opportunities in China’s lower-tier cities. Indeed, according to AT Kearney, middle class population in China’s second- and third-tier cities will account for 75% of the country’s total in 2017. Although consumers in lower-tier cities are currently much less affluent than those in first-tier cities, their consumption power is growing fast. In view of this, many department stores operators are viewing lower-tier cities as their major expansion focus. For example, Dashang Group has opened new department stores in Kaifeng, Xinyang and Xinxiang in 2008, all of which are lower-tier cities in Henan province; Guangzhou Grandbuy also planned to expand into lower-tier cities including Jieyang and Huizhou in Guangdong province and Chengdu in Sichuan province during 2009. Nonetheless, China is known to be a heterogeneous marketplace and adaptation to local tastes is the key for success. There are already many regional players with strongholds in local markets and have already occupied stores in better locations, making new entries challenging. For instance, Intime Department Store, a successful player in Hangzhou, faced fierce competition with local players when expanding into both Beijing and Wuhan. Beijing Wangfujing Department Store ( ) also quitted Nanning in 2008 after three years of operation. . Department stores operators focus on upgrading and differentiation The department store sector in China is crowded with many undifferentiated players. Today, a growing number of department stores operators are beginning to reinvent themselves in order to differentiate from rivals. Some department stores now adjust merchandise mix more frequently at each local store by monitoring consumer preferences, consumption patterns, spending power and level of comp etition. Some others also seek to â€Å"rebrand† to target specific segments. For example, New World Department Store has embarked on a new dual-concept stores initiative to â€Å"rebrand† its stores to â€Å"Fashion Gallery† or â€Å"Living Gallery† stores. â€Å"Fashion Gallery† focuses on the concept of â€Å"mix-and-match† with the introduction of exclusive private label brands and trendy products; while â€Å"Living Gallery† will introduce more leisure elements with 30% of gross floor area dedicated to dining and leisure services. On the other hand, some operators have upgraded their shop floors to attract more established brands. This is particularly true for the lower floors of the department stores; many operators hope to ride the consumer upgrade trend in China and attract more luxury brands to take up their space has been rising. Many department stores operators have also strived hard to improve customer loyalty, say, expanding VIP customer base. Some have collaborated with banks to issue co-branded credit cards. Credit card co-launched by New World Department Stores and Bank of Communications Co. , Ltd is a case in point. Holders of VIP membership cards and cobranded credit cards can enjoy discounts with their purchases. VIP customers can also accumulate gift points and exchange for selected merchandise in stores. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 11 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 3. Growing attention to transform merchandising practices As Chinese consumers become more sophisticated, more and more are looking for unique shopping experience. There is growing attention for department stores operators to improve merchandise mix and assortment such as through launching private label brands or increase direct merchandising. For example, Intime Department Store has collaborated with Shenzhen Espresso ( ) to exclusively launch its Justin Time female fashion brand in 2007. The entry of Marks Spencer in 2008 also introduces Chinese consumers the concept of buying private label products. Some department stores operators in China, such as Vans Department Store ( ), are learning from their foreign counterparts and have started training their own merchandisers to bring consumers more exciting merchandise portfolio. However, the nurture period, capital outlays, and inventory risks are still some major concerns. It is believed that more and more department stores operators will experiment with new merchandising practices, but the transformation will be gradual. 4. Export-oriented manufacturers pay growing attention to domestic market brings new potential for department stores operators to expand merchandise mix As China’s exports shrink amid global economic woes, the domestic market is winning the attention of many exportoriented manufacturers. For the first time ever, China’s largest trade exhibition Canton Fair, which traditionally targets only overseas buyers, held a session targeting domestic retailers in end-April this year. Department stores operators in China such as Beijing Wangfujing Department Store and Dalian Dashang Group attended the fair. The made-to-export products, which are usually with higher quality as they need to comply with western quality standards, are reportedly to be very wellreceived. Many believe that domestic demand for these products would be huge. However, the road to tap the domestic potential is not easy. To enjoy autonomy in domestic sales, enterprises engaging in processing/ assembly operations and compensatory trade (TFPs) have to transform their registrations into foreigninvested enterprises (FIEs). In early March, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) vowed to simplify and speed up the transformation process for troubled Mainland-based Hong Kong TFPs who want to sell their products to domestic buyers. Guangdong province also took a similar initiative earlier. In August 2008, the Guangdong government issued a set of guidelines for the on-site transformation of TFPs into FIEs without production stoppage. The Guangdong government would also provide financial support in the transformation process. It is hoped that, by making the procedure of transforming TFPs into FIEs simpler and more transparent, particularly in Guangdong, policies restrictions will no longer be a barrier to domestic sales. Apart from regulatory issues, many export-oriented manufacturers are still hesitant with domestic sales: the order volume is much smaller in size and it takes longer time and is more difficult for them to collect money from domestic buyers. It also takes time and money for them to familiarize with and develop their domestic sales channels and build their market recognition. Last but not least, manufacturers have to customize their products to meet Chinese consumers’ tastes. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group 12 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 Nonetheless, as China’s consumer market expands, we believe more and more manufacturers will engage in domestic sales. This would have important implications for China’s department stores operators, i. e. , the operators can have more choices in merchandize sourcing; and this may accelerate the transformation of their merchandising practices as well. 5. Department stores operators grasping attention in the capital market China’s department stores operators have received huge investors’ interests in recent years. Riding the tide of investors’ interests in mainland consumption-related stocks, a number of department store players have sought public listings over the past few years. Exhibit 9 demonstrates some of the recent listing activities. Exhibit 9: Selected recent IPOs of department stores operators in China Company Your-Mart Co. , Ltd. Newhuadu Industrial Group Co. , Ltd. Better Life Commercial Chain Share Co. , Ltd Maoye International Holdings Ltd. Guangzhou Grandbuy Co. , Ltd. Times Ltd New World Department Store Ltd. Jiahua Stores Holdings Ltd. Intime Department Store (Group) Co. , Ltd. Source: Li Fung Research Centre, newspaper articles Date of listing 2009/7/17 2008/7/31 2008/6/19 2008/5/5 2007/11/22 2007/7/16 2007/7/12 2007/5/21 2007/3/20 Place Shenzhen Shenzhen Shenzhen Hong Kong Shenzhen Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong Besides, many department stores operators in China view mergers and acquisitions (MAs) as a means to expand their market presence quickly, especially into places they are less familiar with. MAs offer them a fast route to acquire local knowledge and connections. Some recent MAs in the sector include Dalian Dashang’s acquisition of Zhenghong International Department Store ( Store ( the future. Li Fung Research Centre Member of the Li Fung Group ) and Xuchang Hongbao Department Store ( ) in Henan in 2008; the acquisitions of Qinhuangdao Jindu Department Store ( ) and Mianyang Xingda Department Store ( ), Taiyuan Liuxiang Department ) by Maoye International Holdings ( ) in 2008. As China’s department store sector is highly fragmented, we expect the waves of MAs to continue in 13 China Distribution Trading Issue 61 July 2009 6. Department stores operators embarking on real estate strategies Over the past years, there has been stiff competition for prime retail locations in China. To secure retail sites and better control rental expenditure, growing numbers of department stores have embarked on their own real estate strategies. In order to speed up its expansion in China, some department stores operators have sought to collaborate with property developers. For instance, Guangzhou Grandbuy ( ) has partnered with RF Properties ( ) for its entry in Chengdu; Grandbuy would be the anchor tenant in the RF Tianhui Mall ( Mall) in the city. Nonetheless, it is observed that some property developers have used department stores to promote their residential projects, without paying enough attention to the profitability of the stores. Some department stores operators have also taken their own initiatives to transform into shopping malls by incorporating different kinds of retail formats in their floor areas. On the other hand, some department stores operators such as Beijing Hualian Department Store ( benefit from the long-term land appreciation. ) in China have actively considered increasing the number of self-owned properties to control rental expenditure and hopefully 7. Department stores operator exploring the â€Å"click-and-mortar† model Online retailing has been one of the major bright spots in China’s retail sector in recent years. Attracted by the huge online traffic flow, some department stores operators have explored the opportunity online by developing their own shopping websites. For instance, Marui Department Store ( ) from Japan has recently announced the cooperation with Alipay, China’s online payment platform giant. Consumers purchasing on Marui’s Chinese website can now pay via Alipay. The Dashang Group, on the other hand, has committed itself to building a business website which boasts 12 product categories and 500 subclasses of goods. Nonetheless, the â€Å"click-and-mortar† model is yet mature in the department store sector in China. Browse rate is low for many department stores websites. Many operators have yet generated much revenue, let alone profit from the online platforms. For instance, online sales revenue accounted for only 5% of Shuangan Department Store ( Beijing Wangfujing Department Store (Group), since the launch of its online platform ( instance, some online platforms have displayed inconsistent information with the offline stores. ) of the ) in 2007. Besides, some consumers have also expressed dissatisfaction with the websites launched by department stores operators; for 8. Government encourages department store players to enhance service levels and improve operation environment The MOFCOM issued the Circular on the Classification and Grading the Retail Enterprises ( 2008 ) in 2008.

Golden Notebook Essays

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