Financial positioning for a brand of clothing - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2185 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? This assignment is based on a financial position of a very good brand of clothing Gap Inc. in this assignment author want to tell that how company operates, what are the financial analyses? In this assignment every thing is given like companies cash flow, balance sheet from last four years and income statement as well. Author also want to tell that why company is going in loss from last four years? What are the accounts need to maintain and at last what we need to do to make profit or to cover up the loos. Introduction Gap Inc. is one of the worlds biggest especially retailers, operating approx 3,100 stores in the U.S.A, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and Japan. We operate four of the most recognized apparel brands in the world -Gap, banana republic, Old Navy, and our newest brand, Piper lime. Organization mission and vision   Gaps mission is stated as: Our purpose? Simply, to make it easy for you to express your personal style throughout your life.    There vision is: Every day, we look for new ways to connect with customers around the world, provide value to our shareholders and make a positive contribution in the communities where we do business.   Main Body Gaps world headquarters are located in San Francisco, product development offices in New York City and distribution operations and offices coordinating outsourcing activities are located throughout the globe. One of the original mottos of the company was Levis for Guys and Gals. The Gap began creating its own private label clothing in 1982 and had stopped carrying other labels altogether by 1991. The name came from the growing differences between children and adults, called the generation gap, which reached its peak with the hippie movement. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Financial positioning for a brand of clothing" essay for you Create order Accounting has been defined as the process of identifying, measuring, recording and communicating economic information to permit informed judgements and economic decisions. The primary purpose of accounting is to help persons make economic decisions. In our society resources must be allocated among and within all kinds of entities. Accounting information provides the basis for making decisions about resource allocation. Accounting information is  financialHYPERLINK https://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_role_does_financial_accounting_play_in_decision_making  HYPERLINK https://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_role_does_financial_accounting_play_in_decision_makinginformation  about economic activities. All economic entities (e.g. businesses, government agencies, families, charitable entities) need such information because it is used for making economic decisions about those business entities. The finance department of a company generates a variety of  financial information  that is helpful in decision making, including: Profit and Loss accounts  providing details of whether the business is making efficient use of financial resources. Balance Sheet information providing details of businesses assets and liabilities, as well as the liquidity of the business. Sales and purchases information setting out particular types of trading and accounts with particular customers and suppliers. Information about the purchase of assets and liabilities. Information about the wages paid out by a business By providing a steady and up-to-date flow of information, a business is able to make appropriate decisions about: how to reduce costs how to increase sales how to raise profitability when to purchase new capital assets the best sources of finance, and duration etc MAIN USERS OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION Owners The owner of a company is a term that only really applies with any meaning to small businesses where the only shareholders are the people at the top of the business, the owner manager. Owner is a slight misnomer because a company, if it is registered as a limited company, is an entity in its own right. The owner just becomes the custodian of it. The owner has strict reporting requirements on what they can do with the business and how they manage its finances. Owners, by the above definition, have an interest in almost all aspects of the company, its profit, sales, expenses, and so on. Shareholders Shareholders are the true owners of any registered business be it a limited company or a public limited company (plc). The shareholders provide one component of the capital needed to create the company and allow it to trade. Shareholders have rights over the finance of the company and, up to a point, the running of the business, although not on a day-to-day basis. Shareholders invest money into companies by buying shares. An investor buys shares, usually, for one of two reasons: Dividend The dividend is to a share what interest is to a loan, a periodic payment for the privilege of has use of the money loaned or invested. So for example if an investor purchases 10,000 1.00 pound shares they are investing 10,000 pounds in the company. In return for this investment they will periodically receive interest payments in the form of dividends. If the dividend is 8% they will receive 800 pounds (8% of 10,000 pounds) Capital growth The other reason for investing in a company is to give it the funds to allow it to grow and become bigger and more profitable. In the longer term this growth should make the initial investment worth more. Managers Managers have the responsibility of make the organisation perform and to achieve the goals it is set. In return they expect security and a monetary return in the form of a salary and whatever perks and performance related rewards that form part of their remuneration package. They have a much greater need for financial information because they are making detailed decisions on a daily basis. Government The government has many different arms and, as such many different needs. A register of all companies is maintained by Companies House. It is to this body that the formal accounts must be submitted every year. Investors Investors are shareholders before they part with their money. As such they are interested in all the things a shareholder is. Employees Employees are seeking security of employment and a return for the work they do. Employees would therefore be looking for indications that the company is doing well enough to continue to trade into the future and is doing well enough to continue to employ them and is able to meet the salary and wages bill each month. If there is any profit or performance related component to the remuneration they will also be interested in the company performance and how close it is to triggering the bonus payments. Customers Customers are the people or organisations that buy products or services from the company. If the customer is using the items purchased as a component of their own product, as a radio manufacturer might buy electronic components from a component manufacturer, continuity of supply and quality at a fair price will be important Mergers and Acquisitions ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Banana Republic-known for casual luxury, with high-quality apparel for men and women and sophisticated seasonal collections of accessories, shoes, personal care products, intimate apparel and gifts for the home. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Old Navy-famous for the best in denim, graphic tees, cargos, Performance Fleece, plus the Old Navy Item of the Week -each and every week, a special item at a special price. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Forth Towne-a unique shopping experience and destination for women. Forth Towne will offer fashionable apparel and accessories. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢In addition, Gap brands include baby Gap, Gap Kids and Gap Maternity. Industrial Organization Contestable Markets Gap began dominating the apparel market as a result of its ability to fill what it perceived as gaps before anyone else could enter. Economies of Scale As an early entrant, Gap was able to take advantage of economies of scale within the industry. Economies of Scope By expanding its market within the apparel industry, Gap was able to reduce its manufacturing costs. Product Differentiation Increased sales have resulted primarily from the Gaps ability to expand into specialty markets, i.e., B Banana Republic, Old Navy, baby Gap, etc. Vertical Integration- Although the Gap began by selling Levis exclusively, its ultimate growth and dominance began once it started to manufacture products under its own label. Vertical integration also allowed Gap to lower transaction costs and reduces supply threats created by Levis. Branding The Gaps multiple brands have become some of the most recognizable labels within the apparel industry. Types of Business Sole proprietors  are unincorporated businesses. They are also called independent contractors, consultants, or freelancers. There are no forms you need to fill out to start this type of business. The only thing you need to do is report your business income and expenses on your Form 1040 Schedule C. This is the easiest form of business to set up, and the easiest to dissolve. (An LLC with only a single shareholder, a so-called single-member LLC, is taxed as a sole proprietor on a Schedule C.) Corporations  are incorporated businesses. Every form of business besides the sole proprietor is considered a separate entity, and this often provides a measure of legal and financial protection for the shareholders. The shareholders of corporations have limited liability protection, and corporations have full discretion over the amount of profits they can distribute or retain. Corporations are presumed to be for-profit entities, and as such they can have an unlimited number of years with losses. Corporations must have at least one shareholder. Partnerships  are unincorporated businesses. Like corporations, partnerships are separate entities from the shareholders. Unlike corporations, partnerships must have at lease one General Partner who assumes unlimited liability for the business. Partnerships must have at least two shareholders. Partnerships distribute all profits and losses to their shareholders without regard for any profits retained by the business for cash flow purposes. https://taxes.about.com/od/taxplanning/a/incorporating_2.htm Financial accounting reports are prepared for the use of external parties such as shareholders and creditors, whereas managerial accounting reports are prepared for managers inside the organization. Emphasis on the Future: Since planning is such an important part of the managers job, managerial accounting has a strong future orientation. In contrast, financial accounting primarily provides summaries of past financial transactions. These summaries may be useful in planning, but only to a point. The future is not simply a reflection of what has happened in the past. Changes are constantly taking place in economic conditions, and so on. All of these changes demand that the managers planning be based in large part on estimates of what will happen rather than on summaries of what has already happened. Relevance of  Data: Financial accounting data are expected to be objective and verifiable. However, for internal use the manager wants information that is relevant even if it is not completely objective or verifiable. By relevant, we mean appropriate for the problem at hand. For example, it is difficult to verify estimated sales volumes for a proposed new store at good Vibrations, Inc., but this is exactly the type of information that is most useful to managers in their decision making. The managerial accounting information system should be flexible enough to provide whatever data are relevant for a particular decision. Segments of an Organization: Financial accounting is primarily concerned with reporting for the company as a whole. By contrast, managerial accounting forces much more on the parts, or segments, of a company. These segments may be product lines, sales territories divisions, departments, or any other categorizations of the companys activities that management finds useful. Financial accounting does require breakdowns of revenues and cost by major segments in external reports, but this is secondary emphasis. In managerial accounting segment reporting is the primary emphasis. Accounting is the means by which information about an enterprise is communicated and, thus, is sometimes called the language of business. Many different users have need for accounting information in order to make important decisions. These users include investors, creditors, management, governmental agencies, labour unions, and others. Because the primary role of accounting information is to provide useful information for decision-making purposes, it is sometimes referred to as a means to an end, with the end being the decision that is helped by the availability of accounting information. The primary objectives of financial accounting are to provide information that is useful in making investment and credit decisions; in assessing the amount, timing, and uncertainty of future cash flows; and in learning about the enterprises economic resources, claims to resources, and changes in claims to resources. Some of the most important characteristics of financial accounting information are it is a means to an end, it is historical in nature, it results from inexact and approximate measures of business activity, and it is based on a general-purpose assumption. Conclusion At the end of the assignment author would like to conclude that according to the data gross and net profit was going down but in the 2008 it was bit up. But if we will talk about the ration which we found at the first of the assignment that is going down because of the liabilities, liabilities are still there but cash is going down. Author would to recommend that by doing more advertisement, to reduce overhead expenses, to reduce the long time liabilities business can grow up.

Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant Essay - 1222 Words

Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant The poem, Thanatopsis, written by William Cullen Bryant, is a wonderful literary work which explores the often controversial questions of death. William Cullen Bryant wrote Thanatopsis when he was seventeen years of age. Thanatopsis was written in blank verse. Within his well written lines Bryant attempts to show the relationship between deaths eternal questions and the ongoing cycle of nature and life. Upon concluding the poem many readers are able to reaffirm their faith of an afterlife, while others are left aimlessly pondering this strange possibility.He uses strong words to describe the feelings and visions one sees when they are in their last hours and even†¦show more content†¦By using this strange metaphor Bryant wishes to suggest his faith in an afterlife. While examining the differences and similarities of death and sleep the reader is left with some very thought provoking questions. The answers to these questions reassure some readers while confusing others. Sleep is a time of rest. It allows preparation for the next day or event, and by relating this definition to death Bryant gives new insight on ones fate after earthly existence. When thoughts of the last bitter hour come like a blight over thy spirit, and sad images of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall, and breathless darkness, and the narrow house, make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart- Go under the open sky, and list to Natures teachings, while from all around- Earth and her waters, and the depths of air- comes a still voice. Bryant is taking what can be considered the stereotype of what death and dying feels like and putting it in some strong words. He continues to say, as he does in the rest of the poem, that ones eternal resting place could never have been thought of as such a wonderful place that one could love so much. In a way he describes it to be a huge couch which when you lay down upon it you just melt in and never feel like getting up, by saying nor couldst thou wish couch moreShow MoreRelatedEssay on Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant842 Words   |  4 Pages The poem â€Å"Thanatopsis† by William Cullen Bryant reveals a very unusual aspect of nature. While most people think of nature as beauty and full of life, Bryant takes a more interesting approach to nature. He exposes a correlation between nature, life, death, and re-birth. Using nature as a foothold, Bryant exercises methods such as tone, setting, and imagery in a very intriguing way while writing â€Å"Thanatopsis.† First, tone is a very important aspect of the poem â€Å"Thanatopsis.† While reading the poemRead MoreDeath in Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant Essay447 Words   |  2 PagesDeath in Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant When people ponder death they wonder about the unknown with trepidation. 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[Preview] In the pieces â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† by Washington Irving, â€Å"Thanatopsis† by William Cullen Bryant, and â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow† by Washington Irving all show strong relations to the traits of Romantic writing. These characteristics include strong imagination, strong feelings, inspiration from folklore and myths, and the divineRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Freedom Of Speech1325 Words   |  6 Pagesoutspoken that they founded a nation on the freedom to believe whatever you want to believe. Most Americans still exhibit this characteristic today. As shown in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by the Reverend Jonathan Edwards, â€Å"Thanatopsis† by William Cullen Bryant, and What is an American? by J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur, Americans are not afraid to share their ideas, no matter what they are.   Ã‚  Ã‚   As an American, Jonathan Edwards felt as though he had the right to express his thoughts when heRead MoreAnalysis Of William Cullen Bryants Thanatopsis979 Words   |  4 Pagesnothing at all. This is true for writers, poets and artists. William Cullen Bryant’s â€Å"Thanatopsis†, Kansas’ â€Å"Dust in the Wind† and Blue Oyster Cult’s â€Å"Don’t Fear the Reaper† they all center their idea death, but approach it differently and conveys their points differently. One glorifies death, one says life is meaningless and the other glorifies life. These three poems center around death, but have very different points in each one. In â€Å"Thanatopsis†, it glorifies death in such a way, convincing the readers

Vineyards Produces Different Style Of Winesâ€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Vineyards Produces Different Style Of Wines? Answer: Introduction There are number of style and variants of wine with each variant with its own uniqueness. The two key variants of wine are red wine and white wine. It is believed that environmental conditions have a deep impact on wine. The climate and terroir are two variables that strongly influence the production of wine and taste of wine. Across the globe there are various vineyards that produces different style of wines. The main ingredient for the production of any wine is grape and there could be different types of grapes based on the terroir. The objective of this paper is to discuss the impact of terroir on wine styles. This paper would specifically focus on Chablis region. The terroir has an influence on the production of various style of wine. Some experts argue that terroir has a more profound impact on white wine as compared to red wine (Moulard Babin, 2015). Financial paper would discuss the influence of terroir in general without discussing the intricacies of type of wine like white wine and red wine. Analysis The Chablis region is in Burgundy region in France. The climate of this region is cool as compared to other regions where wine is produced. The warmer climates are the perfect for the wine types Chardonnay. Whereas the winter climate of Chablis does not support the production of wines like Chardonnay. The Chardonnay wines are less acidic and less fruity as compared to the wines produced in Chablis. The wine produced in Chablis is known across the world for its finest quality. There are people that like the wine produced in Chablis due to its unique characteristics (Gonzalez Parga-Dans, 2017). There are various manufactures and wine producers in the Chablis region that would modify the grapes to blend it in the wine. The grapevines around the town of Chablis make a dry white wine renowned for the purity of its aroma and taste. In comparison with the white wines from the rest of Burgundy, Chablis wine has typically much less influence of oak. Chone Leeuwen (2017) argued that wine is a global drink and as such there are various standards that define the global production of wine. At the same time, it is important to mention that there are various regional preferences and local variables that affect the production of wine. For the production of wine, the three key variables that together constitute the terroir can be discussed as: Climate: The climate refers to the climate of the environment. Some climates are moist and some are damp. Based on the climatic conditions the wine variety could be different. It is believed that the climate should be consistent for the perfect quality of wine. The frequent changes in the external temperature can have a negative influence on the production of wine (Chone Leeuwen, 2017). Soil: It would be correct to say that soil is one of the most important parameter that affects the production of wine. The soil directly affects the quality of the grapes and likewise the quality of wine is decided (Moulard Babin, 2015). Grape variety: The raw material or the basic ingredients for the production of wine is grape. In most of the cases, the quality of wine is decided by the quality of grapes. Therefore, it would make sense for wine producers and manufactures to get the best quality grapes from the marketing (Moulard Babin, 2015). Knight Klaere (2015) argued that wine is the end result of number of variables. It can be said that wine is the end result of nature and nurture. The concept and the discussion of wine arise in the nature part. However, the nature or the terroir part is directly linked with the nurture part also. The nature or the nurture alone cannot help to produce the excellent quality of wine. Therefore, it is important to mention that manufacturers and wine producers should focus on both the aspects of nature and nurtre. However, terroir remains one of the most intriguing and perplexing challenges in the world of wine today, largely because what terroir encompasses is not universally understood or accepted. It is also believed that different wine producing regions in the world can have their own interpretation of terroir (Knight Klaere, 2015). For example, the definition of terroir for Chablis region could be different than the definition of terroir for any other region in the world. Skinner (2015 argued that the concepts of nature and nurture are difficult but important to understand. The finest quality of wine in the world depends on the presence of perfect climate or nature and adequate nurture. It is suggested that the wine producers and manufactures should also think beyond terroir. In fact, terroir is important but only one part of wine production. For a perfect wine, the manufacturers should think beyond terroir and try to control various internal and external aspects of wine production (Skinner, 2015). Greenspan (2016) argued that the concept of terroir in the wine production is both science and art. There are various theories around the influence of terroir on the production of wine. Some experts suggest that it is purely an art, as nature cannot be controlled. However, some experts suggest that the influence of terroir should be considered as a science as people can manage the production of wine through scientific algorithm and set standards. It is important to mention that there are various set standards in the production of wine that should be followed. There is no body at the global level that set the standards; however, there are various local standards that should be followed (Greenspan, 2016). For example, the region of Chablis has their own standards when it comes to type of raw materials, the temperature, fermentation, etc. These standards are not the hard guidelines that must be followed. However, these standards should be considered as the soft guidelines that should be followed so that wine production is effective. The terroir can have a great influence on the taste and quality of wine. It is also important to mention that the entire concept of wine can go bad if the terroir is not used to provide a controlled environment. Conclusion The above paper discusses the influence of terroir on wine style. The above paper discusses the impact in general and the paper also discusses the influence for the Chablis region. With the above discussion it can be said that there are various internal and external factors that the wine producers and manufacturers should consider while deciding the types of wine that they want to produce. The above paper also discusses the concept of nature and nurture with respect to wine production. It would be correct to say that focus should be comprehensive on both the aspects of nature and nurture so that excellent variety of wine could be produced. As a bottom-line, it would be correct to say that the terroir should be adjusted so that a controlled environment can be developed for the production of wine. The controlled environment would ensure that wine of tastes the same. It would also ensure that a level of standardization is maintained when the wine is produced. References Chone, X., Van Leeuwen, C., Chery, P. H., Ribreau-Gayon, P. (2017). Terroir influence on water status and nitrogen status of non-irrigated Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera). Vegetative development, must and wine composition (example of a Medoc top estate vineyard, Saint Julien area, Bordeaux, 1997).South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture,22(1), 8-15. Gonzalez, P. A., Parga-Dans, E., Vzquez, A. M. (2017). The political economy of wine: How terroir and intra-sector dynamics affect land use in Spain.Land Use Policy,66, 288-292. Greenspan, M. (2016). Terroir and other myths of winegrowing: Mark Matthews generates some controversy.Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker, (632), 36. Knight, S., Klaere, S., Fedrizzi, B., Goddard, M. R. (2015). Regional microbial signatures positively correlate with differential wine phenotypes: evidence for a microbial aspect to terroir.Scientific reports,5. Moulard, J., Babin, B. J., Griffin, M. (2015). How aspects of a wines place affect consumers authenticity perceptions and purchase intentions: The role of country of origin and technical terroir.International Journal of Wine Business Research,27(1), 61-78. Skinner, W. W. (2015).Fermenting place: wine production and terroir in McLaren Vale, South Australia(Doctoral dissertation).

The Punic Wars Was A Series Of Three Wars Fought Between Rome And Cart

The Punic Wars was a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage for a period of 118 years. Rome, one of the sides of these wars, was a immense empire whose influence covered much of the known world at the time. Carthage, the other player in the Punic Wars, was a city state on the North Coast of Africa which had partial control over Sicily before wars and whose location was ideal for trading ground in the Mediterranean. The first war (264-241 BC) started because a conflict between two different city states on the island of Sicily, Messana and Syracuse, had been going on and eventually both Rome and Carthage stepped in. During their intervention, Carthage began to control more and more of the island of Sicily. So because of Carthage's expanding influence of Sicily, many Romans felt that Carthage's authority in Sicily threatened them and their trading. Romans attacked and quickly gained Sicily back in their control. However, because of Rome's lack of a navy they could not push Carthage back any farther. Rome soon built a navy. After C. Duilius won the first Roman sea battle of the Punic Wars, Rome dominated the sea winning all but one sea battle for the rest of the First Punic War. With Rome's authority on land and at sea, Carthage surrendered after the Roman victory at the Aegates Islands in 241 BC. The peace lasted for twenty-three years before Carthage's resentfulness in losing the first war brought them into a second. The centerstone of the Second Punic War was one man, Hannibal, and his reign on ?one of the great decisive wars of history.?1 Hannibal in 218 BC crosses the Alps into the Po Valley with an elephant baggage train. He got the aid of the Guals, a people who were conquered by the Romans. Hannibal rolled through northern Italy winning every battle along the way. Meanwhile the Romans had control of the Mediterranean Sea and stopped reinforcements from Spain. Scipio, a Roman general, drove the Carthaginian forces back to Spain and then went to North Africa. Hannibal returned to Africa to face Scipio where he was beaten by Scipio at Zama in 202 BC. After this devastating loss, the Carthaginians surrendered, lost important islands, and had to pay large sums of money to Rome. Rome also reduced the Carthage navy to ten ships. The Second Punic War was over in 201 BC. In the third and final war Rome showed its despise and hatred for Carthage. Rome came up with a plan to start a third war where they could destroy Carthage. Rome had Misnissa, king of Numidia, entice Carthage into attacking Numidia. Carthage fell into the trap attacking Misnissa in 149 BC. War was declared and Rome quickly defeated Carthage, though they did fight Rome off for three years. Any remaining Carthaginians were made slaves and Rome burned the city. Thus, with that victory three years after the last war began, and one hundred and eighteen years after the first began, Carthage's grasp in the ?known world? was over for good.