Strategic Management report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Management report - Essay Example It is this factor alone that has got it 70% of the US market in 2000 and about 50% share of the market outside the US. Over the last 3 years Gillette has been trying to recover its lost glory that it enjoyed for the decade up to 1997. In 1986 its sales were $ 2.8 billion and rose to $ 9.08 billion in 1987. Since then it has hovered around the $ 9 billion and this stagnation has eroded its stock value but fortunately not its market share. Due to its innovative approach to product development which Gillette has maintained for over a century, it retains market leadership in this segment. Gillette has unsuccessfully tried to add to its product portfolio for over 50 year. The redeeming feature has been the Safety Razor sections for men and women. A SWOT analysis of the product also suggests that this core product range is the company’s real strength. The weakness is the quarterly sales strategy of loading sales to retailers. The opportunity lies in improving its sales strategies. There are really no threats to the company from are competition. While the majority of shares is held in public but a sizable stakeholders are employees, both present and retired ones. The single largest share holder is Buffet Warren who holds about 10% of the company stock. They are worried over the declining stock prices especially since 1997 through 2001. The decline has been sharp from a valuation of $ 4.8 billion to $ 1.9 billion. They need a quick turnaround or they fear the company will be a takeover target once again. Historically Gillette has always scored over the competition primarily due to its customer loyalty which has come about due to its innovations in products. This is its main strength even today. It also has a wide distribution base worldwide and its products range from entry level to premium level catering across all segments of customers. It can therefore rely on its R & D to continue to offer strong product lines in this core sector. It

How the Hip Hop Music Culture Spread Into Eastern Countries Essay

How the Hip Hop Music Culture Spread Into Eastern Countries - Essay Example Through the mandatory learning of the modern English language in Eastern countries during the 80s, to the technological revolution, including the accessibility of the internet and television, hip-hop music has been embraced, as well as evolved, within the East, as well as the rest of the world. Hip hop music originated in the United States of America in the 1970s, primarily in the â€Å"Bronx† in the state of New York in New York City (History, 2011). Though America, back then, was a for the most part considered to have a â€Å"white† majority, with many of its most successful business people being â€Å"white†, hip-hop music was actually created primarily by the African-American and Latino-American cultures (History, 2011) who chose to share their hard life and street experiences as a â€Å"minority† in a primarily â€Å"white† society through the use of â€Å"street poetry†, or â€Å"rap† music, if you will. The rhythm, rhyme and out rageous party themes of hip-hop/rap became so overwhelmingly popular that it drew crowds of all races and ages, especially the youth. However, in several of the Eastern countries, the lack of exposure to the genre caused a delay, especially in Europe, of its acceptance and evolution. Once introduced in America; however, it wasn’t long until the business people of America, regardless of the question of morality or immorality of its themes, realized that hip-hop music and the African-American and Latino-American cultures had the power to make music that could be marketed for a horrendous profit. Underground hip-hop artists and various rappers and â€Å"hip hopsters† began recording and distributing music across America. Though hip hop/rap music was not considered mainstream American music, the artists and their investors were making profits off marketing the â€Å"underground† releases.