Abstract
This paper discusses the history and activities of Home Depot. The author also explores the effects of the company's vast growth and expansion, including graphs for clarification. In conclusion, the paper offers recommendations to solve the major current problems that the company faces.
Abstract
Company Profile
Chart 1
Chart 11
Conclusion
Recommendations
References

From the Paper
"In short, Home Depot Inc. is a great enterprise, which needs to take care of some important issues in order to not only maintain growth but also remain in the good books of its customers. In the last few years, many cases of injury at its stores have been reported as people have complained that heavy stuff is usually kept on high shelves and it led to injuries in few cases. Soon Kim filed a case against Home Depot in 1997 after a heavy door was dropped on her head accidentally when an employee tripped over something while retrieving supplies from a high shelf. These complaints must be avoided at all costs in order to retain the trust of the customers."

Tags:business, expansion, policy, strategy

Abstract
This paper focuses on the great packaging company called 'Sonoco'. It is a well-known company, which is listed on the NYSE as SON. This company is been around for 130 years and it is one of the world's largest makers of industrial and consumer packaging products including flexible packaging, composite cans, tubes, cores, cones, and wire and cable reels. 9 pgs. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

Tags:BOOK REPORTS - BOOK REVIEWS, sonoco company profile

Abstract
A study of Dell and its unusual and highly-profitable business strategy which strongly excludes middlemen. Selling direct to the buyer provides not only economic benefits inherent in maintaining virtually no inventory and lower distribution cost, but also allows them to interact directly with their customer. This paper discusses the history of Dell and how Michael Dell came to establish this very successful hardware company. It details several big deals that Dell has made with companies such as IBM and HP which will help them prosper in the future.

From the Paper
"Dell Computer Company has a distinction that separates it from the rest of the companies such as Compaq, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and others in the computer hardware market. Dell does not use middlemen; their business strategy is to sell directly to the end user through a variety of interfaces. Selling direct to the buyer provides not only economic benefits inherent in maintaining virtually no inventory and lower distribution cost, but also allows them to interact directly with their customer. This puts them in the enviable position of being able to profitably extend and grow their business through relationships and contacts made from the first purchase. (Fortune Magazine, December 20, 1999.)"

Tags:Dell, computer, company, IBM, hardware, middlemen, user, direct, selling, business, strategy

Abstract
This paper presents an in-depth profile of Randstad Holding, one of the largest temporary and contract staffing agencies in the world. The paper explores the valuation of this Netherlands-based company and its investment potential. It discusses the company's stock and compares it with the Dow Jones through a chart, further explaining why the company is stable. Additionally, the paper addresses how the global economic situation has affected the company's stock value, particularly noting the impact of unemployment on the staffing industry. The paper also notes the difficulty in establishing the valuation of a large, global company such as Randstad. Next, the paper considers the company's financing strategy and dividend policy. The paper concludes by stating that valuation methods that rely on quantitative methods and calculations as the basis of their decision-making were found to be inadequate in this case, and therefore were not useful when deciding whether of not to purchase Randstad stock.

Outline:

Share Price Performance
Company Valuation
Company Financing
Dividend Policy
Company Objectives and Performance
Conclusions and Recommendations

From the Paper
"Randstad is a large company with exceptionally diverse holdings. This helps to stabilize their stock price. Each sector of the company only accounts for a small percentage of the company assets. Therefore, a loss in one sector of the company does not affect the whole. When viewed in greater detail in comparison with major company news and events, it appears that Randstad does not react unpredictably to negative company news and setbacks. The stock tends to track the major indices without considerable volatility.
"When the stock chart of a particular company makes major moves, one must attempt to discover events that may have triggered the movement, An examination of news and events from the Randstad website does not reveal any single major events that can explain the two major downturns in stock price. One of the key difficulties with this type of analysis is that the reaction by stock price often lags the event by several weeks. No single events were found that could trigger these stock price events on their own.
Unemployment is the key indicator that directly affects the operations of Randstand. Downturns in the economy create a decrease in demand for staffing agencies..."

Tags:investor relations, staffing agencies, stock market, HR consulting, consulting services

Abstract
The theater business in Windsor, Canada is in the midst of significant changes. With the increased competition in the city, theaters have to do much more than assume what customers want, they must thoroughly investigate the exact desires of customers. The paper shows that by using this research effectively, the theaters can better position themselves for a leap into the new millennium. The research problem identified in this study is to determine respondents? attitudes toward the competing movie theaters in Windsor. The responses are categorized for evaluation by gender, age, marital status, income, education and occupation. This breakdown is crucial to analysis, as it allows results to infer characteristics of different market characteristics.

From the Paper
"The comfort level of seating at the Parkway theatre revealed a significant difference among income groups. The lowest value was calculated for those earning less than $20, 000 per year. 10.3% of those respondents' would likely find the seating at the Parkway uncomfortable. Significantly higher are the respondents' earning over $20, 000 per year. Of those earning from $20, 000 to $49, 999, 40.9% would likely find the seating uncomfortable and 41.7% of those earning $50, 000 and over would likely agree that the seating at the Parkway is uncomfortable. Results of this analysis are found in Appendix 16.
In assessing the length of ticket lines by annual income, the significant difference exists respective to Silver City. 20.8% of those earning over $50, 000 annually find the ticket lines long at the Silver City theatre. 24% of those earning under $20, 000 find the ticket lines long at Silver City. Significantly greater were those in the $20, 000 - $49, 999 category, with 45.5% of respondents finding the ticket lines long. The reliable results of this analysis are found in Appendix 16."

Tags:Silver, City, Sound, System, Famous, Players

Abstract
This three-page paper is a business overview of Canadian Tire, which is a unique network of businesses that operate under a single umbrella corporation. From its beginning, the company has attempted to reach the Canadian public using innovative marketing and by providing services that their customers demand. Canadian Tire is a fixture in the Canadian marketplace, reaching the majority of the adult Canadian population in one capacity or another.

From the Paper
Canadian Tire: A Company Profile The Canadian Tire Corporation, Ltd. was founded in 1922. Although the original focus of the company was, as the name suggests, on tires, the current organization is self-described as "a growing network of interrelated businesses, engaged in retail, financial services and petroleum" (Canadian Tire "Business Overview"). The corporation employs 48,000 people in over 1000 locations throughout five divisions: Canadian Tire Retail, PartSource (auto parts), Canadian Tire Financial Services, Canadian Tire Petroleum, and Mark's Work Wearhouse (unisex business casual apparel). Since its inception, the company has developed a unique place

Tags:canadian, ontario, automobile

Abstract
This paper discusses Toyota Motor Company from a marketing perspective. An overview of Toyota is offered as way of establishing a background on the company and its industry. The paper also offers a competitive profile of the automotive industry and examines Toyota's marketing operations from the perspective of price, product, promotion and place or distribution.

From the Paper
"Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures and distributes motor vehicles in all major markets around the world and is one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world (Global, 2004). Its product line consists of mini transportation vehicles designed for the Asian region to large transportation trucks. Like many of its competitors Toyota maintains a series of business operations, primarily financial related, around its core automotive business. These consist of financial services related to automotive financing, vehicle insurance services and credit card services. However, Toyota is also involved to varying degrees in telecommunications, industrial equipment, prefabricated housing, as well as leisure boating products. Toyota's headquarters is in Aichi, Japan. Its fiscal year ending in March 2005 was reported to be $172,749m which represented an increase of 13.6% over the previous year's revenues (Positioned, 2004.)"

Tags:toyota, marketing, prius

Abstract
This paper states that Home Depot has never had a major financial slump and has increased number of stores, net sales and profits at a steady pace. The author points out through SWOT and Pro Forma forecasting that the company shows little sign of slowing in the near future. Many graphs and figures are included.

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Company Overview
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
The Unique Position
Economic Relationships The National Economy
The Company
Pro Forma Income Statement Statement Defined
Conclusions and Recommendations
References

Figure Index

From the Paper
"Home Depot is the leader in home improvement retailers by a margin of nearly $30 billion dollars in sales (Home Depot, Financial Information; Lowes, Investor Relations). They continue to expand, and in 25 years have never had a significant slump. According to the 10 Year Summary, the company has not had any interest expense in 5 years. This provides a strong base for continuing operations and expanding into the future."

Tags:sales, profits, pro, forma, expand, foreign, swot, threats, position, stock

Abstract
The paper relates that consumer attitudes towards a retailer can be established through a variety of attributes. The paper looks how in terms of consumer attitudes towards Wal-Mart, positive and negative attitudes towards the company are arrived at through a variety of channels. The paper discusses the research that indicates that consumers are inundated with information on the firm which has little to do with its actual retailing of consumer product goods (CPGs) such as its treatment of employees (Bianco). The paper discusses how consumers may read about this directly or are exposed to the news vicariously through word-of-mouth and then go on to assume that Wal-Mart treats it employees poorly and is therefore a "bad" company. Furthermore, the paper notes that some consumers may perceive the firm as much more than a retailer but as a powerful economic force that somehow affects much more than just what products they purchase.

From the Paper
"Consumer attitudes towards a retailer can be established through a variety of attributes. In terms of consumer attitudes towards Wal-Mart, positive and negative attitudes towards the company are arrived at through a variety of channels. As the research indicates, consumers are inundated with information on the firm which has little to do with its actual retailing of consumer product goods (CPGs) such as its treatment of employees (Bianco). Consumers may read about this directly or are exposed to the news vicariously through word-of-mouth and then go on to assume..."

Tags:consumer, behavior, labels

Abstract
This paper presents a research study that measures the intention to purchase of sponsored product after watching a television program sponsored by MasterCard in Singapore. It ascertains the effectiveness of television sponsorship in Singapore, by predicting the intentions to purchase of sponsor's product or utilize sponsor's services using a modified version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Overall, the purpose of the study is to uncover the major influences on the decision to purchase a sponsor's product. Effectiveness of sponsorship has been measured in this thesis using the theory of planned behavior Both, theory of planned behavior and social identity are used to determine whether social identity adds explanatory value to the theory of planned behavior for sponsors.

Outline:
Introduction
Literature Review
methodology
Results and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The seventh question explored the relationship between intention to purchase and social identity (family). Question eight explores the relationship between social identity (friends) and intention to purchase. The answers of the respondents have been summarized in Table 8.1. Eighty Five (85) respondents asserted that it is "extremely likely" that for them to purchase a Master Card after watching the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) show sponsored by them is extremely important because of the support they have got from their friends. "

Tags:branding, company profile influenced to purchase consumer attitudes