http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10152610.stm
Declan Curry explains just what GDP stands for, and why we should care
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Research Theme –
The Recent Recession in the UKIn your research on the recent recession in the UK you should consider:-
Your research should consider the effects of and reaction to the recent recession in the UK in relation to different businesses and industries.You should make reference to your research in your responses to Section A in the examination.
The Recent Recession in the UKIn your research on the recent recession in the UK you should consider:-
- how the recession can create opportunities and threats for businesses and industries-
- the long-term strategies and short-term plans adopted by businesses in the recession-
- factors influencing the strategies businesses adopt in the recession-
- strategies that businesses could have adopted to prepare for the recession-
- the possible impact of the recession on stakeholders and on relationships between businesses and their stakeholders-
- the case for and against different businesses and industries receiving government financial support during a recession.
Your research should consider the effects of and reaction to the recent recession in the UK in relation to different businesses and industries.You should make reference to your research in your responses to Section A in the examination.
Monday, 17 May 2010
Down-Sizing - in a bottle (1L to 850ml) Part 2
I asked Robinsons/Britvic about the downsizing and here is there response:
We have redesigned the Barley Water bottle in an attractive 'heritage' PET format in celebration of Robinsons 75th year at Wimbledon. We have not made any changes to the Barley Water product itself although we are always exploring ways of making our products taste even better than they do already.
As you are aware we have moved from 1L to 850 ml which provides 17 servings per bottle. We have made this change to deliver a uniform serve size across our 'added-value' squash range (which includes Robinsons be Natural & Robinsons Select a new product).
Per litre Robinsons Barley Water has increased in price. This is due to the ever increasing costs of ingredients and manufacturing. Despite these and other cost pressures, we have frozen our manufactures recommended selling price (MRSP) on Barley Water at £1.59. However Britvic is also significantly increasing the promotional investment in Barley Water. This means that the brand will be discounted more often in-store, with price reductions occurring later in the year depending on the retailer.
So they have shrunk the bottle size by 15% and frozen the MRSP, that's a 15% rise in price then! They promise the higher price will subsidise more special offers - no prizes for spotting that these will be later in the year, not near Wimbledon when the PR will be at a maximum.
We have redesigned the Barley Water bottle in an attractive 'heritage' PET format in celebration of Robinsons 75th year at Wimbledon. We have not made any changes to the Barley Water product itself although we are always exploring ways of making our products taste even better than they do already.
As you are aware we have moved from 1L to 850 ml which provides 17 servings per bottle. We have made this change to deliver a uniform serve size across our 'added-value' squash range (which includes Robinsons be Natural & Robinsons Select a new product).
Per litre Robinsons Barley Water has increased in price. This is due to the ever increasing costs of ingredients and manufacturing. Despite these and other cost pressures, we have frozen our manufactures recommended selling price (MRSP) on Barley Water at £1.59. However Britvic is also significantly increasing the promotional investment in Barley Water. This means that the brand will be discounted more often in-store, with price reductions occurring later in the year depending on the retailer.
So they have shrunk the bottle size by 15% and frozen the MRSP, that's a 15% rise in price then! They promise the higher price will subsidise more special offers - no prizes for spotting that these will be later in the year, not near Wimbledon when the PR will be at a maximum.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Down-Sizing - in a bottle (1L to 850ml)
With Wimbledon five weeks away, drinks supplier has chosen an interesting time to shrink the size of their Orange and Lemon Barley Water lines. Quantities have slipped to 850ml. I don't know if the price shrank to 85%, what do you think?
This is not the only drinks supplier to engaging in this cost reducing strategy as Copella have done the same with their line of premium apple juice.
What links Robinson's Barley Water with Copella? The are both attached to PepsiCo, either owned in the case of Copella (via Tropicana) or as a distributing partnership.
What are the cost and environmental implications for smaller pack sizes?
This is not the only drinks supplier to engaging in this cost reducing strategy as Copella have done the same with their line of premium apple juice.
What links Robinson's Barley Water with Copella? The are both attached to PepsiCo, either owned in the case of Copella (via Tropicana) or as a distributing partnership.
What are the cost and environmental implications for smaller pack sizes?
Friday, 14 May 2010
Assessment Activity 2
With reference to the item on the car industry and your own research, to what extent do you believe the degree of competition in the market is the KEY FACTOR determining the startegy adodpted by firms in the recession?
This question is not asking what strategies firms should adopt but, instead what factors influence the strategies they adopt.
Essentially you have to contrast the level and nature of competition experienced, with other factors that are influencial.
What we have looked at so far: -
From paragraph 1
Who the competitors are, where they are, and how they become competive (lower costs with labour plus the competitiveness of their exchange rates).
From paragraph 2
We identified that Europe was a developed market where mostly all those who want cars, and can afford them have them (a saturated market), plants have closed, reference to GM, and its UK subsidiary, Vauxhall.
From Paragraph 4
We looked at disposable incomes in the developing economies of S.E. Asia, as a driver of demand in that area of cars, and how economies of scale could be used, specifically technical economies if plant.
We put each paragraph has been put together as an analytical paragraph with, application appropriate to the context of the material.
Now over to you.
This question is not asking what strategies firms should adopt but, instead what factors influence the strategies they adopt.
Essentially you have to contrast the level and nature of competition experienced, with other factors that are influencial.
What we have looked at so far: -
From paragraph 1
Who the competitors are, where they are, and how they become competive (lower costs with labour plus the competitiveness of their exchange rates).
From paragraph 2
We identified that Europe was a developed market where mostly all those who want cars, and can afford them have them (a saturated market), plants have closed, reference to GM, and its UK subsidiary, Vauxhall.
From Paragraph 4
We looked at disposable incomes in the developing economies of S.E. Asia, as a driver of demand in that area of cars, and how economies of scale could be used, specifically technical economies if plant.
We put each paragraph has been put together as an analytical paragraph with, application appropriate to the context of the material.
Now over to you.
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