The Link Between Happiness and Health

The Link Between Happiness and Health Happiness Print The Link Between Happiness and Health By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on August 17, 2019 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Lina.alice Photography/Getty Images Happiness and health have been anecdotally linked for quite a while nowâ€"laughter is the best medicine has become a cliche for a reasonâ€"but research backs up what many people have instinctively assumed all along: that happiness and health really are connected, and that ones level of happiness really can impact the level of ones health. The relatively new field of positive psychology is exploring the factors that contribute to emotional resilience, happiness, and health, among other life-affirming topics, and what we now know for certain about these topics can help us all live healthier, more meaningful livesâ€"and reduce stress at the same time. “Experiences that induce positive emotion cause negative emotion to dissipate rapidly. The strengths and virtues…function to buffer against misfortune and against the psychological disorders, and they may be the key to building resilience. The best therapists do not merely heal damage; they help people identify and build their strengths and their virtues,” wrote Martin Seligman, former president of the American Psychological Association and the father of the field of positive psychology, in his book Authentic Happiness. And solid research continues to culminate, supporting this view. Here are a few important studies on happiness and health. Happiness and Longevity A landmark study involving nuns was able to pinpoint health benefits that come with positive emotion. (Nun studies work well because so many other lifestyle variables are uniform, so reported differences can often be narrowed down to a handful of factors, like personality and outlook.) In studying the lives and deaths of the nuns, given clues to their emotional state, researchers were able to make an important discovery about happiness and health-positive emotion is correlated with longevity! Ninety percent of the most cheerful quarter of nuns was alive at the age of eighty-five, whereas only 34% of the least cheerful quarter lived to that age. Similarly, 54% of the most cheerful fourth was alive at age ninety-four, versus 11% of the least cheerful. Happiness and Marriage As if that’s not enough, positive emotion is also linked by research to marital satisfaction. In another astonishing study, researchers were able to examine the cheerfulness of smiles in women’s yearbook photos and predict which ones, on average, would be more likely married, stay married and experience more personal well-being over the next thirty years. (Hint: it was, again, the most cheerful group.) What’s striking about this is that healthy relationships are linked to strong immunity and, thus, overall health and so the ‘upward spiral’ continues. This is a great way that couples can keep each other healthy. Happiness and Optimism Researchers have also found optimists to have longer lives. Optimism is distinct from positive emotion, though the two are related. Rather than just being cheerful, however, optimists tend to see the world in a distinct way: when positive events occur in their lives, they give themselves personal credit, attribute the cause to lasting traits under their control, and see each good event as a sign that more positive events are to come. This specific lens through which they see the world allows them to maintain more of an internal locus of control (a sense of personal control over things), as well as resulting health-promoting behaviors and is associated with many benefits, including longevity: one study found that optimists had a 19% loner lifespan on average. Clearly, happiness and health can be linked by optimism. Benefits of Positive Thinking and Happiness Happiness and Mature Defenses Another factor that’s closely related to positive emotion and optimism is a set of strengths known as ‘mature defenses’. These traits, which are not displayed by everyone, and vary over a lifespan, including altruism, the ability to delay gratification, future-mindedness, and humor. According to a Harvard study that followed a cohort of men through their lives, the mature defenses are closely linked with joy in living, high income and a vigorous old age in men from varied backgrounds. Happiness and Health Happiness researcher Robert Holden conducted a survey and found that 65 out of 100 people would choose happiness over health, but that both were highly valued. Fortunately, we don’t have to choose: happiness and health go hand-in-hand. As Holden stated, “[T]here is no true health without happiness”. There is also ample evidence that unhappinessâ€"depression, anxiety, and stress, for exampleâ€"are also linked to poorer health outcomes. These negative states, if chronic, can dampen immunity and increase inflammation in the body leading to a multitude of diseases and conditions. The principles of positive psychology can combat these negative states, further increasing the likelihood of health. How to Pursue More Happiness and Add Positivity in Your Life

Fries Rebellion of 1799

In 1798, the United States federal government imposed a new tax on houses, land, and slaves. As with most taxes, nobody was very happy to pay for it. Most notably among the unhappy citizens were Pennsylvania Dutch farmers who owned lots of land and houses, but no slaves. Under the leadership of Mr. John Fries, they dropped their plows and picked up their muskets to launch Fries’ Rebellion of 1799, the third tax rebellion in the then-short history of the United States. The Direct House Tax of 1798 In 1798, the United States’ first major foreign policy challenge, the Quasi-War with France, seemed to be heating up. In response, Congress enlarged the Navy and raised a large army. To pay for it, Congress enacted the Direct House Tax in July 1798, imposing $2 million in taxes on real estate and slaves to be apportioned among the states. The Direct House Tax was the first  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  and only  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  such direct federal tax on privately-owned real estate ever imposed. In addition, Congress had recently enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts, which restricted speech determined to be critical of the government and increased the power of the federal executive branch to imprison or deport aliens considered â€Å"dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.† John Fries Rallies the Pennsylvania Dutch Having enacted the nation’s first state law abolishing slavery in 1780, Pennsylvania had very few slaves in 1798. As a result, the federal Direct House Tax was to be assessed throughout the state based on houses and land, with the taxable value of houses to be determined by the size and number of windows. As federal tax assessors rode through the countryside measuring and counting windows, strong opposition to the tax began to grow. Many people refused to pay, arguing that the tax was not being levied equally in proportion to the state’s population as required by the U.S. Constitution. In February 1799, Pennsylvania auctioneer John Fries organized meetings in Dutch communities in the southeastern part of the state to discuss how to best oppose the tax. Many of the citizens favored simply refusing to pay. When residents of the Milford Township physically threatened federal tax assessors and prevented them from doing their job, the government held a public meeting to explain and justify the tax. Far from being reassured, several protestors (some of them armed and wearing Continental Army uniforms) showed up waving flags and shouting slogans. In the face of the threatening crowd, the government agents canceled the meeting. Fries warned the federal tax assessors to stop doing their assessments and leave Milford. When the assessors refused, Fries led an armed band of residents that eventually forced the assessors to flee the town. Fries’ Rebellion Begins and Ends Encouraged by his success in Milford, Fries organized a militia. Accompanied by a growing band of armed irregular soldiers, they drilled as an army to the accompaniment of drum and fife. In late March of 1799, about 100 of Fries’ troops rode toward Quakertown intent on arresting the federal tax assessors. After reaching Quakertown, the tax rebels succeeded in capturing a number of the assessors. They released the assessors after warning them not to come back to Pennsylvania and demanding that they tell U.S. President John Adams what had happened. As opposition to the House Tax spread through Pennsylvania, federal tax assessors resigned under threats of violence. Assessors in the towns of Northampton and Hamilton asked to resign but were not allowed to do so. The federal government responded by issuing warrants and sending a U.S. Marshal to arrest people in Northampton on charges of tax resistance. The arrests were made largely without incident and continued in other nearby towns until an angry crowd in Millerstown confronted the marshal, demanding that he not arrest a particular citizen. After arresting a handful of other people, the marshal took his prisoners to be held in the town of Bethlehem. Vowing to free the prisoners, two separate groups of armed rebels organized by Fries marched on Bethlehem. However, the federal militia guarding the prisoners turned away the rebels, arresting Fries and other leaders of his failed rebellion. The Rebels Face  Trial For their participation in Fries’ Rebellion, 30 men were placed on trial in federal court. Fries and two of his followers were convicted of treason and sentenced to be hanged. Swayed by his strict interpretation of the Constitution’s often-debated definition of treason, President Adams pardoned Fries and the others convicted of treason. On May 21, 1800, Adams granted general amnesty to all participants in Fries’ rebellion. He stated that the rebels, most of whom spoke German, were â€Å"as ignorant of our language as they were of our laws.† He said that they had been duped by the â€Å"great men† of the Anti-Federalist Party who opposed granting the federal government the power to tax the personal property of the American people. Fries’ Rebellion was the last of three tax revolts staged in the United States during the 18th century. It was preceded by Shays Rebellion from 1786 to 1787 in central and western Massachusetts and the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 in western Pennsylvania. Today, Fries’ Rebellion is commemorated by a state historical marker located in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, where the revolt began. Sources Drexler, Ken (Reference Specialist). Alien and Sedition Acts: Primary Documents in American History. Statutes at Large, 5th Congress, 2nd Session, A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 -1875. Library of Congress, September 13, 2019. Kladky, Ph.D., William P. Continental Army. Washington Library, Center for Digital History, Digital Encyclopedia, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, Mount Vernon, Virginia. Kotowski, Peter. Whiskey Rebellion. Washington Library, Center for Digital History, Digital Encyclopedia, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Trust in Business Is a Means for Greater Business Efficiency

All businesses strive to be effective and efficient. Whilst the hallmark of a capitalist economy is self-interest and competition, cooperation is also necessary in order to further efficiency and productivity. For a business to be successful, the people within need to develop relationships amongst each other as well as outside the organization in order to be able to work with one another. These relationships are a function of trust. Trust is the reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. Therefore building trust is a vital step towards maintaining and promoting business efficiency. However, in terms of business ethics, the sole purpose of the use of trust is to promote business efficiency. Customers and the†¦show more content†¦While loyalty is not easily quantifiable, and thus does not show up in a corporate ledger, it will affect the company’s overall performance.† Because trust is a vital part of loyalty, it follows that creating trust amongst employees by treating them respectfully is likely to result in improved company performance and efficiency. This once again provides a quantifiable measure for trust in a capitalist economy. Trust is also dependent upon not lying. Companies that lie about their product are in essence diminishing the trust established among their customers and the community. This can be anything from providing misleading information about their products in advertisements or stating obvious falsehoods . For example, an obvious falsehood would be a deodorant company that claims that the user of the product is likely to attract women as a result of the product itself. Lying is always wrong because it undermines the trust that makes telling the truth useful. If no one could be ‘trusted’, and everyone lied about what they did, the business world would fall apart quickly as a business could not be assured of any one else’s services. A business would not be able to do something as simple as take a loan out of a bank to afford its various activities. This is because banks would not trusting a business to repay the loan as in a capitalist economy paying back a loan would not be in a business’ self interest. Thus in such an environment, all of business comes to aShow MoreRelatedEssay Trust In Business Is A Means For Greater Business Efficiency1860 Words   |  8 Pagesorder to further efficiency and productivity. For a business to be successful, the people within need to develop relationships amongst each other as well as outside the organization in order to be able to work with one another. These relationships are a function of trust. 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Advergames Free Essays

Synopsis Advergames – Advertising into your subconsciousness Disposition This paper investigates how advergames and anti- advergames have made a ground in our culture. I will explore how the anti- advergame movement utilizes the procedural rhetoric in order to create awareness. Furthermore I will come to a conclusion about why or if we need the anti – advergame movement. We will write a custom essay sample on Advergames or any similar topic only for you Order Now What exactly is advergames? Advergames is a great way to reach out to the consumers in a subconscious manner. Advergames are video games which contains advertisement for a product, service, or company. – Advergames are created to fill out a purpose – often to promote the company or one of the products. These games are often distributed freely as the game is a marketing tool. – Advergames can also be less obvious in their advertisement with product placement in the game. The video games is an alternative form of advertising with some advantages: they are cheap, fast, and have an extraordinary peer-to-peer marketing ability. Advertising within a video game allows for more exposures to the product than traditional ads because, according to Ellen Ratchye– Foster, a trend analyst for Fallon, â€Å"anyone who buys these games devotes weeks and weeks to getting through their levels. † This means that the consumer will see the advertisements over and over while they play, thus it may resonate with them. †1 Product placement – â€Å"Product placement in-game-advertising is most commonly found in sports titles and simulation games. For advertisers an add may be displayed multiple times and a game may provide an opportunity to ally a product’s brand image with the image of the game. – Such examples include the use Sobe drink in Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent – While product placement in film and television is fairly common, this type of in-game advertising has only recently become common in games. â€Å"2 1 http://advergamingtoday. blogspot. com/2006/02/just-product-placement. html 2 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Advergaming What is anti – advergames? Anti- advergames are games that challenge players to rethink their relationship with consumption and encourage corporate critique. â€Å"Advertisers, governments and organizations mount huge campaigns to show us what they want us to see, and we want to expose what they’re hiding,† 3 In order to create awareness for the consumer (or more precisely the player) molleindustria. org and others create anti – advergames. The video games satirize big companies and question corporate polices ranging from how cattle are raised (The McDonald’s Videogame) to low pay for workers (Disaffected! . â€Å"I’ve always had a complicated relationship with advertising,† Bogost said. â€Å"It’s everywhere, and it’s becoming more and more parasitic. Yet, because it’s everywhere it has the power to influence people positively as well as negatively. † 4 When attempting to sell games as a persuasive medium, those in the business early on fou nd it useful to refer to this class of games as serious games. Ian Bogost wrote the book †Persuasive games† where he analysed the rhetoric these games used in their attempt to share information. Persuasive games – Ian Bogost †A book about how videogames make arguments: rhetoric, computing, politics, advertising, learning. In Persuasive Games, Ian Bogost explains how companies with the video game as a medium can make arguments and influence players. The games represent how the real and artificial/imagined systems work, and the players are invited to an interaction with the system to form an opinion about them. Bogost analyses the unique functions of rhetoric in software and especially in videogames. He argues that videogames because of their representation of procedurality open a whole new domain for persuasion, a new form for rhetoric. 5 3 http://www. molleindustria. org/node/149 4 http://www. molleindustria. org/node/149 5 http://www. bogost. com/books/persuasive_games. shtml This new form is called â€Å"procedural rhetoric† and is a form of rhetoric that is tied to the core affordances of computers which is running processes an executing a rule-based symbolic manipulation. 6 Procedural rhetoric is the practice of authoring arguments through processes. Computer games are interesting in this regard because they are some of the most complex processes that exist. †Covering both commercial and non-commercial games from the earliest arcade games through contemporaty titles, I look at three areas in which videogame persuasion has already taken form and shows considerable potential: politics, advertising, and education. The book reflects both theoretical and game-design goals. †7 The McDonald’s Videogame example McDonald’s video game is a good example of procedural rhetoric. The game was designed to persuade you that McDonald’s business model is corrupt. The McDonald’s Videogame mounts a procedural rhetoric about the necessity of corruption in the global fast food business, and the overwhelming temptation of greed, which leads to more corruption. In order to succeed in the longterm, the player must use growth hormones, he must coerce banana republics, and he must mount PR and lobbying campaigns. â⠂¬ 8 The game makes a procedural argument about the inherent problems in the fast food industry, particularly the necessity of overstepping environmental and health-related boundaries. Critical Play – Mary Flanagan While Ian Bogost’s procedural rhetoric explore the expressive processes in video games, Mary Flanagan examines the theories of critical play which considers how designing a play space in a 6 7 8 9 http://www. bogost. com/books/persuasive_games. shtml http://www. bogost. com/books/persuasive_games. shtml The Rhetoric of video games, Ian Bogost p. 127 The Rhetoric of video games, Ian Bogost p. 127 video game can be a kind of social activism. Definition of critical Play To Flanagan, critical play â€Å"means to create or occupy play environments and activities that represent one or more questions about aspects of human life,†10 and â€Å"is characterized by a careful examination of social, cultural, political, or even personal themes that function as alternates to popular play spaces. [†¦] Thus the goal in theorizing a critical game-design paradigm is as much about the creative person’s interest in critiquing the status quo as it is about using play for such a phase change†11. The connection that this process has with social activism is that the games that people play and how they play those games change in response to culture. The doll example A simple example of critical play in a natural setting is playing with dolls. They are often used to enforce gender roles and stereotypes, many young girls today and in the early days of the doll industry would use dolls to break down social roles. Violent fantasies, macabre funerals, and other forms of changing the way play worked with dolls provides a striking example of critical play in its natural form. 2 10 Critical Play: Radical game design, Mary Flanagan, p 6 11 Critical Play: Radical game design, Mary Flanagan, p 6 12 http://www. popmatters. com/pm/post/128966-mary-flanagans-critical-play Anti – advergames Ian Bogost is one of the founding fathers of anti- advergames and in his book Persuasive Games he describes how procedural rhetoric can be used to understand the problems in our culture. â€Å"Disa ffected! Does not purport to proceduralize a solution to Kinko’s customer service or labour issues. But its procedural rhetoric of incompetence does underscore the problem of disaffection in contemporary culture, on both sides of the counter. We’re dissatisfied or unwilling to support structures of authority, but we do scarcely little about it. We go to work at lousy jobs with poor benefits and ill treatment. We shrug off poor customer service and bad products, assuming that nothing can be done and ignoring the reasons why workers might feel disenfranchised in the first place. We take for granted that we can’t reach people in authority. These problems extend far beyond copy stores. Disaffected has, like the McDonald’s video game, no solution to how we change the problem. The game attempts instead to inform and educate the users by using the procedural rhetoric, showing how the organisation/world through processes affect everyone. The question is, does anti – advergames really have the effekt that Bogost and other gamedesigners think it does? Its a question with more than one side. On one hand people do get a better understanding of the structure and the core of the message but how is that different form any other campaign? On the other hand we already know that Billion dollar companies may be a little rough around the edges and that morally the best thing (in a perfect world) would be to avoid the products and companies altogether. So why do we need anti – advergames to inform us about the dangers? The point is to create awareness. There arent any (easy) solution to the problems so the next best thing is to make people aware of how the system works so that we dont stand idly by. This does not mean that the anti- advergames are created in a belief that the user, by playing the video game, is fully enlightened on completion of the game. Often the player already has insight in how the system works as the people who aren’t interested in the critique wont be interested in the game either. None the less designers like Ian Bogost and Paolo Pedercini (molleindustria. org) feel their work will have some effect. At the very least, they contend, players might start thinking about corporations in new ways. The games, Pedercini said, â€Å"can make people ask some questions, and for instance read a book or consider that there are a lot of motivations to change their lifestyles. â€Å"13 Brad Scott, director of digital branding at Landor Associates has an other opinion: â€Å"I don’t know that they would have that negative effect on the brand,† Scott said. â€Å"You can almost use it as, ‘Boy, we’ve become such an icon as a brand that we’re being mimicked by video games. † 14 I cant say which statement I think is correct but I think that advergames are a great way of advertising. There is an enormous amount of people who play video games, â€Å"according to the Interactive Digital Software Association, as many as 60% of Americans over age 6 play them. Putting that statistic together with the number of people using the internet, you have a phenomenal am ount of people you can market to. â€Å"15 This great area of potential would of course be a great place for marketing, both commercial and non-commercial. It would be a waste not to utilize it especially if the people aren’t as offended or as immune as to other of the more traditional methods of advertising. 13 http://www. molleindustria. org/node/149 14 http://www. molleindustria. org/node/149 15 http://advergamingtoday. blogspot. com/2006/02/just-product-placement. html 7 Digital Kultur Conclusion Advergames are becoming more and more popular as the availability to the internet increases. The video game is like any other media being used to the benefit of the marketing industry and why not? The anti – advergame movement with Ian Bogost criticise the marketing industry for being omnipresent and overpowering in its behaviour but is itself a game that has an agenda. Despite all, the anti – advergames are needed. The goal is not to come up with a solution, but to create awareness, and that is exactly what they do. We have an anti advertising forum in any other media, why not in the video games? 8 http://advergamingtoday. blogspot. com/2006/02/just-product-placement. html http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Advergaming http://www. molleindustria. rg/node/149 http://www. bogost. com/books/persuasive_games. shtml http://www. popmatters. com/pm/post/128966-mary-flanagans-critical-play http://www. molleindustria. org/node/149 Texts Ian Bogost, ‘The Rhetoric of video games, in The Ecology of Games: Connecting Youth, Games, and Learning, Cambridge, MIT Press, 2008 Ian Bogost, ‘Procedural Rhetoric’ [extract], in Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames, Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, 2007 Mary Flanagan, ‘Introduction to Critical Play’, in Critical Play: Radical Game Design, Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press 2009 9 How to cite Advergames, Papers

Loius Voiton Experiental Marketing

Introduction In the past, marketers have designed persuasive and informative advertising messages which they strategically place in various media with the hope of catching the attention of intended audience. Marketers hope that the messages will convince consumers and result in behavioral change that will benefit their brands. However due to a proliferation of advertising messages and media platforms it is no longer certain that advertising is achieving its objectives any more.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Loius Voiton Experiental Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Customers are being bombarded with many advertising messages than they cannot even remember from numerous media such as billboards, TV ads, web based advertising, mobile phone advertising besides the traditional media such as radio and print. The modern customers who are more informed now than the past views advertising as intrusive, insensi tive and at times respect, quite often such advertising messages are being ignored; this is referred as media clutter by marketing professionals. It is because of such Ads that free TV and radio channels are popular today that has also made US government enact laws barring unsolicited telemarketing calls. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of experiential marketing concepts of ‘in store’ merchandising, in growing sales, strengthening brand position and delivering endless value and satisfaction to customers. The company in this study is Louis Vuitton which manufactures and sells high end fashion and luggage items. Experiential marketing is the opposite of inappropriate, opportunistic and disrespectful advertising. It is a concept that seeks to create fresh lasting connection between brands and consumers in the market place through innovative marketing strategies and campaigns that dazzle consumers’ senses, touch their heart and stimulate their minds positively (Schmitt, 1999). Experiential marketing uses credible voices, sensory experiences and respects consumers in its tactics and strategies (Lenderman, 2006). Unlike traditional advertising which bombards helpless customers with endless base advertising, experiential marketing seeks to create direct, positive and meaningful connections between brands and consumer on one to one basis (Pine and Gilmore, 1999). Because it is respectful, sophisticated, viral and unique method that connects consumers and brands, it gives marketers a distinctive competitive advantage in a crowded market place. It also avoids wasteful spending associated with traditional advertising because it ensures intended audiences get the message (Schmitt, 1999). Due to its unique nature experiential marketing require more resources than conventional advertising, if well planned and executed, the outcomes justify the additional budget.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More But Companies must be willing to create positive experience for their customers during each encounter. It is these positive experiences that encourage repeat buying, facilitates cross selling of products and services, create loyal customers, generate word of mouth sales. This leads to higher turnover, lower cost of operations and higher profitability in the long term (LSAglobal.com) Company/Product Profile Louis Vuitton is a French fashion house that was founded in 1854 in Paris and its products have for a long time been the symbols of prestige and wealth. The company started out as a luggage bag maker and specialized in making lightweight, airtight and comfortable bags. Today, in addition to luggage carriers, it also makes luxury trunks, leather goods; ready to wear shoes, books, accessories and jewelry. The company is present in most major countries worldwide. Company’s Marketing Mix Product: The Company’s product consists of high end bags, trunks and accessories made from leather or canvas. Louis Vuitton’s product range include high quality leather bags and trunks, shoes, leather bound books, accessories, jewelry and watches (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). The products are all hand crafted and use the high quality of inputs such as leather, wood and metals and all products bear the unique Louis Vuitton logo which according to brand analyst is among the 34 most valuable brands in the world (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). Place: Louis Vuitton products are sold in exclusively owned company shops. These shops are found in high end departmental stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom Rack, Lord and Taylor as well as in upscale shopping districts all over the world (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). All Louis Vuitton shops are staffed with the Company’s staff and employees. Before 1980’s the company allowed limited sales through independen t retailers but since then it has taken full control over distribution of its products. It is thought that the threat of counterfeit products entering its distribution network is the cause of this strategy. Exclusive shops also enable the company to control pricing and deliver highest quality of service. The architecture of its store has been described by the company as guided by the passion to shape each store into a unique space. This indicates clearly the intention of the company to create unique and enduring customer experience in its stores. The company has stores in all the major cities of the world from Asia to Europe, Oceania, Africa, North America and South America (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). According to the company the biggest and best designed shop is found on the Champs Elysees in Paris whereas the most luxurious shop is found in London (Louisvuitton.com, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Loius Voiton Experiental Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Price: The prices of all Louis Vuitton products reflect the luxurious high end positioning of the brand. Louis Vuitton brands are symbol of prestige and wealth and are targeted at the very rich market segment and the prices of its products augment the brand image and positioning. Promotion: Louis Vuitton uses carefully selected celebrities to market its products. These celebrities include Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Mikhail Gorbachev, Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, and Catherine Deneuve (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). The appearance of powerful and highly successful personality associates the Company’s product with success, wealth and power. Finally, the company uses billboard advertising in selected cosmopolitan cities. The company advertises in high end fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Instyle and Harper’s Bazaar and has also adapted recent developments in information technology by using Twitter, Google, YouTube, internet newsletters and web based fashion magazines such as Style.com (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). The company also has produced a well designed infomercial that is called ‘Where will life take you’ (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). This is a 90 seconds commercial that promote the company and its products; the film is part of the experiential marketing concept and uses themes, color, sound and visual schemes that stimulate the thoughts and emotions of consumers. The company operates in an industry with intense rivalry. Its main rivals include Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Sergio Rossi, Bottega Venneta, Boucheron, Dolce and Gabbana, Prada and Armani amongst others (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). Positioning A review of the above stated marketing mix, clearly indicate that the company positions itself at the high end of fashion market. Its products are made of high quality materials, are handmade to personal specifications, are exclusive in nature and ar e distributed from selected locations (Louisvuitton.com, 2011). In fact the high price tag matches the products’ position Customers Expectations According to fashion experts, the fashion industry is divided into five distinct segments, haute couture, luxury, affordable luxury, mainstream and discount (Wikinvest.com, ). Haute couture is the most expensive and exclusive; it comprises of a handful of companies which provide custom made products for the world most wealthiest and powerful individuals. According to an industry report, Givenchy a brand that is owned by Louis Vuitton is among the few brands that belong in this segment (Wikinvest.com, 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The luxury segment ranks slightly below the haute couture in terms of quality and price and targets the wealthy segment of the market. This is the segment that most Louis Vuitton products belong to. Affordable luxury targets aspiration customers who are not rich enough to buy luxury brands but will accept lower priced brands. This segment is also susceptible to counterfeit luxury brands. Mainstream brands are said to be good products that substitute exclusivity for popularity, while discount brands on the other hand cater to low income market segments (Wikinvest.com, 2011). The profile of Louis Vuitton customers would be successful, wealthy and powerful individuals, who seek unique, well designed stylish and exclusive products made using high quality inputs and the price matches the buyers’ abilities. The stores location are also appropriately positioned and designed with the ambience necessary to attract customers. Task: to analyze a store experiential in depth and develop r ecommendations to optimize the possible concept. The aim of this task is to establish if the experiential retail concept meet the expectations of its target customers and whether the perceptions of the consumers have on the positioning of a brand when they visit a store corresponds to the position which had been set for the brand. It also aims to determine if the adoption of experiential concept for the stores has any positive influence on sales and what behaviors or attitudes expressed by consumers justify the continuation of the experiential concept in branding. There are two approaches that can be used to determine the profile of the customers for purposes of this study; one through direct interview or through observation, interview could be either written or verbal. Considering the sensitivity of individuals in this segment and their status in the society, rich and powerful individuals, it was considered imprudent and intrusive to interview them. So the study relied on secondary information that they provided during purchases. This information included credit card details and information provided in warranty documents amongst others. From this information it is possible to establish the location of the buyer, occupation, income, age group, nationality, race, religion, gender amongst other important variables. This information was matched against the purchases made to establish trends, tastes and preferences. Close observation of the buyer’s behavior revealed that most customers were tourists and holiday makers who have time to shop and money to spend. It is these classes of people who are likely to be found in shopping districts on regular days. They also have time to browse because purchases involving high end products require time to compare products, prices and arrive at a decision. For such customers a quiet and relaxed environment that reflects the holiday atmosphere is the best; as such they shop items to reward themselves or for gift items to take back home. In addition, weekend shoppers and season shoppers during Christmas period and other festive seasons consist of people who seek gift items or particular items that they require. These shoppers are often driven by purpose and they are likely to spend less time in the shop and will not consider strictly the prices indicated. Such customers require knowledgeable sales staff who can provide them with personalized attention and services that they desire. Positioning The positioning of the brand is reflected in the location it chooses for its shops and their atmosphere. These two aspects reinforce the high end, luxurious and exclusive characteristic of the brand and its target customers. The experience of customers within the shop and in its neighborhood is such that they feel totally rewarded by the shopping activity. For this reason the company carefully selects the location where its stores are located; they therefore ensure that the location is at high end shopping dis trict or inside high end specialty stores. The location of the store within such location is also important since the company tries as much as possible, to locate their store on the ground floor of shopping malls for easy accessibility and in a location that is clearly visible for all who visit the malls. The ‘in store’ experience is the moment of truth for experiential marketing; to achieve this multi sensorial stimulators are used. These include store design, layout ambience, controlled lighting, selected and controlled music, use of color and color concepts, choice of material used to construct the store, the use of space. An observation of the store (see appendix, pictures attached) which indicates that the store is well designed, the product displayed in well laid out stands, the windows are bright and shiny for maximum view from outside and the material used is high quality woods and bright metal that denotes quality. The materials used to decorate the store are m ostly plush and dark in color which connotes power and wealth. The store uses soft, controlled and directed lighting (see attached pictures) to ensure that products are well illuminated. The use of lighting is to makes products bright and attractive. The store also makes use of colored neon lights to create special effects which add to the customer’s experience. Products are well labeled (see pictures) to strengthen the brand image and reinforce exclusivity. The company extensive use of the brown color which is the predominant color in its products and stores communicates to customers the image of reliability, elegance, sophistication, orderliness, simplicity and friendliness (Gemstonegifts.com). Brown color can also be associated with naturalness and wholesomeness. Impact of Experiential Marketing Concepts The adoption of experiential marketing results in better consumer interaction with the company and its brands. This positive interaction at the moment of truth creates a l ong lasting impression in the mind of consumers and makes first purchases to be superfluous thereby encouraging repeat buying. It encourages consumers to buy other products offered by the company in another product category, for example a satisfied Louis Vuitton bag customer may wish to try its Givenchy line of perfumes and accessories. Experiential marketing therefore creates loyalty and these customers are likely to give good testimonies to other prospective buyers leading to referral purchases and word of mouth advertising. Experiential marketing is the true sense of marketing because it seeks to create lasting experiences between customers and brand through enhanced customer satisfaction. Customers are expected to react to experiential marketing through responses to the company’s marketing activities, buy more of the company’s product and talk more positively about the company. Conclusion Traditionally, marketers have relied on advertising messages to communicate t heir products and services to consumers. However due to a proliferation of brands, the media space is cluttered with firms seeking to capture the attention of customers. This is not easy because customers are more informed and are looking for more value than ever before. Experiential marketing is a new mindset in marketing that unlike conventional marketing seeks to create fresh connection between customers and the brand using unique ways. This is because of its unique nature that promotes customer satisfaction, increase sales and brand loyalty. Good experiential marketing require time, money and good planning to develop and implement as demonstrated in the above study on Louis Vuitton. References Bernd, H, Schmitt. 1999. Experiential Marketing: How to Get Customers to Sense,  Feel, Think, Act and Relate to Your Companies Brands. New York: Free Press. Gemstonesgifts.com. 2011. The Meaning of Color: Brown. Web. James Heskett. 2002. Are We Entering an Era of European Management Lead ership?  Web. Lenderman, Max. 2006. Experience the Message: How Experiential Marketing is  changing the Brand World. New York: Basic Books. Louisvuitton.com. 2011. Products: Luxury Leather goods and products. Web. Lsaglobal.com. 2011. Creating a High Performance Environment. Web. Lsaglobal.com. 2011. Customer Service, Satisfaction Loyalty Training. Web. Pine, J. B. Gilmore, J.H. 1999. The Experience Economy, Work is theatre and  Every Business is a Stage. Boston, MA: Harvard. Wikinvest.com. 2011. Fashion. Web. This essay on Loius Voiton Experiental Marketing was written and submitted by user Mara Madden to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Linking Verbs and Action Verbs

Linking Verbs and Action Verbs Linking Verbs and Action Verbs Linking Verbs and Action Verbs By Mark Nichol Verbs are divided into two functional categories: copular verbs and action verbs. This post discusses their differences. Copular, or linking, verbs, which express a situation or a state rather than an action or a process (and thus are among the class of verbs called stative verbs), consist of several types of verbs. The basic ones are forms of the verb phrase â€Å"to be†: am, are, be, being, is, was, were, and been. However, become, get, grow, turn, and similar terms, and their tense forms (for example, became and â€Å"will become†), also perform this function, as do those in two other small groups. First, there are the words such as appears and seems, and second, there are what are called the sensory verbs, referring to impressions based on the five senses: feels, looks, smells, sounds, and tastes. (These, of course, also have their tense forms, such as appeared and â€Å"will feel.†) The default for use of copular verbs is that each clause has only one, as in â€Å"I am here, and you are there.† Some languages allow a zero copula omission of a copular verb but in American English, this is an informal usage recommended only in colloquial dialogue, as when one character drops the copular verb when asking another character something such as â€Å"Where you going?† The double copula (for example, â€Å"What it is, is a disaster†) is also common in casual speech but is also discouraged in most writing; such constructions are organized that way for emphasis, but in formal prose, the sentiment is easily expressed more concisely: â€Å"It is a disaster.† A variation of the copular verb is the copular prepositional verb, which includes a verb and a preposition, as in â€Å"feels like† and â€Å"gets into.† Action verbs, by contrast, are the ones that actually describe an accomplishment, achievement, or activity. Accomplishment verbs describe the result of an effort, as in â€Å"He solved the problem just in time.† Achievement verbs describe an instantaneous action, as in â€Å"I saw the dog.† (Although one can continue to see a dog, the initial occurrence the transition from not seeing the dog to seeing it takes place in an instant.) An activity can be definite in duration (â€Å"I walked while I waited for him to get ready†) or indefinite (â€Å"I walked along the road.†) One significant difference in sentence constructions that feature a copular verb and those that include an action verb is the part of speech that might follow the verb. If an action verb is modified, the modifier is an adverb (â€Å"She sifted carefully through the pile of documents†), while a copular verb is followed by an adjective (â€Å"I was careful as I sifted through the pile of documents†). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar 101 category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 English Grammar Rules You Should KnowList of 50 Great Word Games for Kids and AdultsPeople vs. Persons

Montague-Capulet Feud in Romeo and Juliet

Montague-Capulet Feud in Romeo and Juliet In Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, two noble families are at war with each other, a state of affairs which ultimately dooms the young lovers. Romeo is of House Montague and Juliet is a Capulet. We never learn the origin of the feud between the two families, but it pervades the play from the very first scene when servants from each house get into a fight. All of the major events in Romeo and Juliet are driven by the Montague-Capulet dispute. But after the tragic death of their children at the end of the play, both families agree to bury their grievances and acknowledge their losses. Via their tragic deaths, Romeo and Juliet resolve the long-standing conflict between their respective families, but unfortunately, do not live to enjoy the peace. But who’s who in the Montague-Capulet feud? The following list divides the play’s characters by family: House of Montague The House of Montague includes these key players: Montague.  Father to Romeo and married to Lady Montague, he’s concerned about his son at the start of the play and asks Benvolio to help him figure out what’s bothering Romeo.Lady Montague.  Romeo’s mother is less of a presence in the play than Juliet’s mother, but in the few scenes we see her, she appears to love her son deeply. When Romeo is banished, she dies of grief.Romeo. The son, and heir of the Montague house, Romeo is 16 years old and falls in and out of â€Å"love† easily, until meeting Juliet. He kills Tybalt after Tybalt kills Romeo’s friend Mercutio.Benvolio. He is  Montague’s nephew and Romeo’s cousin. Benvolio tries to be a good influence on Romeo, persuading him to forget about the erstwhile Rosaline. He mainly acts as a peacemaker and friend to Romeo.Balthasar.  Romeo’s serving man unintentionally tells Romeo of Juliet’s â€Å"death† (In fact, she’s taken poison to appear dead ). House of Capulet Lord Capulet. Juliet’s father is the family patriarch and tries to control his daughter by arranging a marriage to Paris. When she refuses, he calls her terrible names and threatens to throw her out: Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch!I tell thee what: get thee to church o Thursday,Or never after look me in the faceAnd you be mine, Ill give you to my friend;And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets! Lady Capulet. Juliet’s mother, while more understanding of her daughter is almost as angered by Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris as Lord Capulet is. She dismisses Juliet outright: Talk not to me, for Ill not speak a word; do as thou wilt, for I am done with thee.Juliet Capulet. At age 13, Juliet is about to be married to Paris and is deeply unhappy about it. But everything changes when she meets Romeo, despite his being from the rival Montague family. The two fall in love and are secretly married, but end up killing themselves when each believes the other to be dead.Juliet’s Nurse. She is more of a mother figure to Juliet than Lady Capulet and knows the young woman better than anyone else in her family. The Nurse’s sense of humor lends some much-needed levity to the play. She’s the only one who helps Juliet in her quest to be with Romeo, even though she doesn’t fully understand the intensity of Juliet’s feelings.Tybalt. Lady Capuletâ₠¬â„¢s nephew and Juliet’s cousin is the main antagonist of Romeo and Juliet, owing to his deep hatred of the Montagues. Short-tempered and vindictive, Tybalt is quick to draw his sword in anger. His killing is a pivotal moment in the play.