Abstract
This paper considers the current situation at Gulf Distributors in terms of IS and IT and makes recommendations for improving the business processes. It includes an executive summary and SWOT analysis.

From the Paper
"A successful family-run company "Gulf Distributors" is in a unique position to use technology to advance its already successful business strategy. The company deals with a variety of customers and ..."

Tags:Gulf Distributors, IS, IT, SWOT analysis, business strategies

Abstract
This is a case study of McKesson Corporation, a drug and health and beauty aid wholesale distributor. Emphasis is placed on how wholesale distributors (WDs) operate and how they remain competitive in this specific industry.

From the Paper
"According to an essay published on the Industry Canada website, wholesale distributors are companies primarily engaged in wholesaling merchandise and providing related logistics marketing and support services. The wholesaling process is generally an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise; many wholesalers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in large quantities to retailers and business and institutional clients. Some wholesalers, and in particular those that supply non-consumer capital goods, sell merchandise in single units to final users. Wholesale distributors (WDs) generally operate from warehouse or office locations..."

Tags:McKesson, case study, WD, added value, distributor, retailers, buying power, drug, health and beauty aids

Abstract
This paper is a case study involving a potential acquisition candidate for a US based distributor of electronic components. It examines the methodologies used in determining the purchase price, and the challenges in properly valuing an acquisition.

From the Paper
"Lester Electronics is a publicly traded company run by Bernard Lester. Shang-wa Electronics is a manufacturing company managed by John Lin. Transnational Electronics Corporation is a publicly traded company interested in acquisitions. Avril is a multinational company interested in acquiring companies it considers important to its strategy of diversification. Transnational Electronics (TE) recognizes a growing demand for specialty capacitors such as those manufactured by Shang-wa, and has expressed interest in acquiring this company. If this happens, Lester Electronics believes that the long-standing business partnership between Lester..."

Tags:Acquisitions come due diligence, purchase price, corporations, mergers, stock, debt, leverage, ratio analysis, common stock, generally accepted accounting principle

Abstract
This paper gives a concise analysis of EU Sports, a company that develops sports related software for video game systems, personal computers, and the Internet. The paper begins with a general background of the company's products and history. The five sections that follow provide specific information about different aspects of the company's operation. In particular, the author discusses the company's largest markets. Also mentioned are the goals of EA's Human Resources department and continuing education for employees.

EA Sports' Suppliers
EA Sports Distribution
EA Sports Marketing
Research & Development and Information Technology Development
Human Resources and Management

From the Paper
"EA Sports develops software games from popular sports around the world. Take for example, in the US, EA Sports has the NFL and called it with its very unique name of "Madden NFL Football." EA Sports Cricket was developed for the popular sport of cricket for all the fans in Australia and England. New game releases such as Tiger Woods PGA Tour and NFL Head Coach are coming soon. To be able to use the players' names and team logos, EA Sports must first of all gain the rights to use them. EA Sports must pay license fees to the NFL, AFL, NCAA, NBA, and players' organizations."

Tags:video games, software, human resources, marketing

Abstract
This paper first explains that restructuring is perceived negatively by employees because of the changes it must make; however, in today's business environment, change is necessary for organizational survival. Next, the author explores the effectiveness of U.S. Foodservice in establishing a learning organization that enables employees to learn required new behaviors and attitudes during periods of change. The paper concludes that this company was not a learning organization or a good change manager, but rather it created issues of poor trust, employee turnover, damaged morale and negative company culture.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Restructuring
Reasons for Change Resistance
Learning Organizations
Change Management
Implementing Change
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Most theories of organizational change originated from the landmark work of social psychologist Kurt Lewin. According to Kinicki (2009) Lewin developed a three stage model of planned change which explained how to initiate, manage, and stabilize the change process. Lewin's change model; change involves moving from one static state to another static status via a three-stage process of managing change: unfreezing, changing and re-freezing. Kurt Lewin's change model recognizes that people like the safety, comfort and feeling of control within their environment."

Tags:motivation, turnover, morale, empathy, training

Abstract
This paper examines the concept of parallel imports, sometimes also referred to as "Grey Marketing," the sale of branded merchandise distinguished only by their sale through unauthorized channels by intermediaries other than the trademark owner. It provides examples of how the concept works and describes how parallel importing is a fact of life in the business of exporting products to countries outside the principal market area of the manufacturer.

Outline
What are Parallel Imports?
How Important are they in World Trade?
Arguments Supporting Parallel Imports
Arguments Opposing Parallel Imports
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Myers (1999) observes that, in the main, grey marketers are generally brokers who buy goods in an alternative market where there is a price advantage, either from a manufacturer or an authorized dealer, and import them into a country where prevailing prices are higher. There are as many forms of grey marketing as there are distribution channels, and they all share the same characteristics, and generally have the same results, which are "reduced or cannibalized sales for the manufacturer in countries where prices are higher, and jeopardized relationships with authorized distributors who possess contractual rights for their markets" (Myers, 1999, 15). "

Tags:grey, marketing, merchandise, export, market

Abstract
This paper explains that the Unilever brands are trusted everywhere around the world; 150 million times a day, someone somewhere chooses a Unilever product. This paper points out that, at the heart of the corporate purpose, which guides Unilever in its approach to doing business, is the drive to serve consumers in a unique and effective way by (1) working with suppliers who have values similar to Unilever and work to the same standards, (2) utilizing its wealth of knowledge and international expertise to the service of local consumers as a truly multi-local multinational and (3) improving the environmental efficiency of manufacturing operations, products and services to produce the same product with less energy, fewer materials and less waste. The paper relates that Unilever wants to increase their use of the Internet to improve their brand communication marketing and on-line selling and to simplify business-to-business transactions throughout the supply chain. Charts and Illustrations.

Table of Contents
Preamble
About Unilever
Introduction
Overview of Legal Structure
History
About Lever Brothers
About Margarine Unie
Unilever Vietnam
Motto and Purpose
Motto: To Add Vitality to Life
Purpose: To Serve Consumers in a Unique and Effective Way
Logo and Products
Unilever's New Identity
Product Ranges
Food Products
Savory and Dressings
Spreads and Cooking Products
Beverages
Ice Cream and Frozen Foods
Home and Personal Care (HPC) Products
In Personal Care
In Hair Care
In Skin Cleansing
In Home Care
Facts and Figures of Some Key Brands
Knorr Brand
Comfort
Sunsilk
Performance
Current Performance
Strategy:"Path to Growth"
Sales Figure
2nd Quarter, Year 2005
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Increasing Competition from Other Companies
The Core Brands are in a Weak State
Restructuring the Organization
Spending Much More on Advertising
E-Commerce

From the Paper
"William Hesketh Lever, the son of a shop keeper, started selling 'Sunlight' soap - the world's first packaged, branded laundry soap - to the workers in the North of England in 1884. Five years later he was manufacturing soap at his own factory in 'Port Sunlight' near Liverpool. Fewer than half Lever's employees and their families were housed in the so-called model village he built for them at Port Sunlight. Mr Lever established a reputation as a social reformer, championing a shorter work day, savings plans, libraries and health benefits. By 1911 Lever Brothers was producing one third of the UK's soap. But in 1917, he decided to diversify into foods. He bought fish, ice cream and canned foods businesses. In 1930, he chose Margarine Unie as a merger partner. The Dutch company had grown through mergers with other margarine companies in the 1920s."

Tags:swot, brands, competition, e-commerce, financials

Abstract
This paper is an overview of the reciprocal agreement between Food Stuffs New Zealand, Ltd. and The Supermaket Chain of grocery stores in the United States to distribute their products in the United States. The paper presents a brief history of U.S. imports into New Zealand, including recent discussions to decrease tariffs on goods imported from the United States. The author discusses New Zealand's culture and how this will help determine the target market for the American goods. The structure of the agreement, including shipping details, terms of payment, length of the contract and the method of transport are also presented in detail. The paper concludes with a discussion of how similarities in the strict regulations for import of any food products into both countries will enable a smooth execution of the terms of the agreement between these two entities.

From the Paper
"The terms of payment will be Net 30. This will allow all difference to be reconciled before shipment of the next allotment. Payment can be by company check included with the shipment, or sent separately with a copy of the invoice attached. Adjustments will be made on the next billing cycle. Both parties agreed that payment will be in US Dollars and that adjustments in pricing will reflect fluctuations in exchange rate. It was agreed that fluctuations in exchange rate of less than 5% would not be counted as a reason to re-negotiate or adjust pricing.
The food that we will ship will be of the non-perishable type due to the lengthy transport time involved. It has been agreed that both import shipments from New Zealand and export shipments from the United States will be via cargo ship in order to save costs. The New Zealand shipment will take a certain amount of hold space and weight; the reciprocal shipment will occupy the same hold space and weight. The trip one way will take approximately four weeks."

Tags:supermarket, chain, american, foodstuffs, tariffs, market, trade

Abstract
This report and debate was written as an English project. It focuses on why, as consumers, we place the blame for cigarette smoking solely on the distributors. This paper is meant as a defense for the Tobacco Industry. If you feel it would be helpful to learn more statistical information on smoking as well as a comparison between the arguments, it is provided in this report. Links are also provided so that you may find additional information directly from the organizations.

Tags:environment, cancer, debate, industry, lung, smoking, tobacco

Abstract
MLM is a process of selling goods or services through distributors. MLM plans typically promise that a person who signs on as a distributor will receive commissions both for that person?s own sales of the company?s products and for the sales made by additional people recruited by that person to become distributors for the company. This paper proposes a research method to measure the job satifaction of the more than seven million persons in the United States who work as MLM distributors.

From the Paper
"Simply surveying MLM distributors to ask them what they think of the MLM companies with which they are affiliated is not sufficient. What is required is an objective measurement of MLM distributor perceptions of MLM companies. The most effective approach to such a task is to frame the problem as a human resources management issue. As a human resources management issue, MLM distributor perceptions of the practices, procedures, and processes of MLM companies can be assessed objectively within the context of distributor job satisfaction. Low levels of job satisfaction have been established as the strongest indicator of a person's likelihood of terminating a relationship with an employing organization. With respect to MLM companies, distributors are not going to be dissatisfied and they are not going to terminate their relationships with the companies if they, indeed, are becoming a rich as Croesus or even if they are earning an annual income well above the national average. If distributors are dissatisfied by the MLM companies, however, this situation may be inferred to be an objective reflection of both the relative ineffectiveness of the MLM approach to product sales and distribution, as the ethical character of the practices, procedures, and processes of MLM companies. To confirm such a probability, it is first necessary to compare the perceptions of MLM distributors toward MLM companies with the perceptions of sales personnel in traditional marketing venues toward their marketing organizations. Further, it is necessary to examine in greater detail any underlying factors in the MLM environment that may offer additional insights into MLM distributor dissatisfaction."

Tags:sales, comission, distributor, personnel, employee