Creative Writing Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Creative Writing Proposal - Assignment Example Tamara’s grandfather had tried to raise his voice against such fatally dangerous customs and, as a result of it, had been banished from the tribe. I will give background on how he makes it to England and raises Tamara’s father in accordance with the culture of his forefathers but omitting all harmful practices of that culture. Tamara is a typical western teenager with average looks and a few beautiful features, but she is a victim of an identity crises inflicted by the strong pull of two opposite forces; Tamara’s mother and Tamara’s grandfather whose character I shall explain later. I will trace Tamara’s development from a meek girl into a strong woman who decides to build her own identity in face of heavy opposition by her best friend, Agatha, and her mother. Mrs. Odua Brown and the eventual transition she inspires in their respective views. She travels along with Rajab, her lover, and Agatha to Kenya to work on a thesis she decides to write for he r university degree. This is an intentional choice by her as she wants to fulfill her grandfather’s desire of saving the unique culture of their ancestors from the damage some of the customs are inflicting upon it. I will write in some detail the interesting travel stories through Africa that these friends will experience and how they change some of their views and strengthen others. Then she travels back to Birmingham and highlights the plight of her people through a book she writes based on her thesis. Agatha initially tries her best to make Agatha believe that she should try and blend into her environment instead of looking for and showing her ancestor’s, according to her, obsolete way of life. Maasai shave their head in order to show a transition in their lives, and Tamara does the same to show her friends and family that this is who she is and wants to stay. This signifies the start of the transition in her life. Agatha’s character is a soft and understandi ng one, so she accompanies Tamara to Kenya where her views are changed. She is also a loyal friend who does not leave Tamara even when she falls into some serious trouble with the Maasai chief. Mrs. Brown is another such character who opposes Tamara’s choice of Maasai traditional religion and culture but comes around with time, although she is still not strongly satisfied even till the end. Rajab and Youssef are two Muslim brothers who fight a lot amongst themselves but their fights are not of a serious nature. They fight because Youssef keeps motivating Rajab to be a little closer to their religion Islam while Rajab is a free soul who came on earth merely to enjoy and marvel life. The brothers provide comic relief and their conversations provide different perspectives on the perception of religious identity in the west after 9/11. But there is another interesting twist to the story, both secretly love Tamara and have their own unique styles of showing their feelings. Rajab f inds an interesting opportunity to be with Tamara in accompanying her to Kenya but is not motivated by her cause, which is until he experiences the Maasai life firsthand. He helps Tamara significantly in giving awareness to the tribal people. Rajab’s character flourishes into the second strongest character after Tamara. The prejudices people still hold based on ethnicity are highlighted through the lack of help Tamara

HR management challenge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HR management challenge - Essay Example The funds required for the operation of the hospital is obtained from the property taxes on the residents of Dallas. The hospital experiences a huge volume of patients on a regular basis. The hospital beds are laid in the wide hallways. The renovation of the hospital has been proposed by the Dallas County Commissioner’s court by replacement of the old infrastructure with a new 17 storied building in order to provide quality healthcare service that also takes care of patient safety. Real world healthcare human resource management challenge Recently Parkland Memorial Hospital has shown the doors to many of its employees. This has resulted in huge vacancy in the nursing department, which is three times higher than it was a year ago, as per the official figure. More than 400 workers which included registered nurses have left the hospital between November and mid-March. The figure is around 30 per cent more than what was expected. Jim Johnson the new human resource director of the hospital has acknowledged that there is more stress than it had been in the past. Almost all of the workers have left voluntarily, though 101 of them were fired after giving reasons for the same. The reasons which can be stated are tiredness, showing rude behavior to the patients, stealing and unexcused absences. Some of the employees who are underperforming are being made to undergo training to improve their skill. But the problem they are facing is that these employees are choosing to leave voluntarily. The hospital can’t keep the patients happy without keeping the workers happy. They have to motivate the staff. The main problem is the availability of nurses who can leave easily any hospital as they can get a job anywhere. But the main reason of them leaving is that there is an extraordinary amount of workload. To prevent this management have communicated to give retention bonuses to the nurses (JACOBSON, 2012). What has happened thus far and description of the challenge Dr . Thomas Royer who is the interim chief executive officer, have acknowledged that the hospital managers are walking a fine line and taking steps to make necessary changes. They have to put pressure on the employees to improve their performance but at the same time cannot pressurize too much on the employees which will force them to leave the hospital. A registered nurse, who left Parkland, told she was driven by low morale as the rank-and-file workers were blamed for what was wrong in the hospital. They were all treated as incompetent. They were criticized even for the right things they were doing. The employees believed that the main reason the problem was created was due to middle level management. None of the middle level managers were fired. All the blames were put on the employees itself. They left Parkland because they knew what was wrong and nothing was being done to correct it. They felt that the senior level management was not concerned about their issues. Johnson said thou gh the management tried to do their part to help them but it had the opposite effect on the employees. For example if a patient party reported any complaint to the managers regarding employee error which requires a corrective action the employee would feel demoralize by the action taken by them. Morale sunk so low in recent months that the hospital’s pastoral care staff had to begin counseling the employees, not just the patients. The hospital was also struggling to attract new candidates. The present scenario is also affecting their

How Do You Get People to Like You Essay Example for Free

How Do You Get People to Like You Essay Be polite. Be yourself. That way, people like you for who you are. Many of us mistakenly believe that its wrong or conceited, to think we have any good qualities. We may spend a lot of time berating ourselves for our negative qualities, thinking that self criticism is the key to improving our performance. However, a constant focus on our supposed shortcomings can hinder our efforts to make friends with other people. How can we have the confidence to make new friends if we think we dont have much to offer? How can we believe that others could like us if we believe our inner being is flawed? Or if we think we are too boring to interest anyone else? We may wonder what anyone else would see in us if we dont see any good in ourselves. In order for others to be attracted to us, they must be able to easily see our best qualities. If we focus on our good qualities we will have much more confidence that we have something of value to offer in a relationship. If you wish to be socially successful, its important to accept the fact that not everybody is going to like you under all circumstances. Not everyone is going to like the package you come in, especially on first meeting you. Every person has a unique pattern of likes and dislikes which were formed long before they met you. Dont think you have to condemn yourself as a failure if it seems that someone else doesnt like you. If someone seems to dislike you, the reason for that dislike might have little or nothing to do with you. The person who doesnt like you might be fearful, or shallow, or busy or shy. Perhaps you and that person are simply a mismatch for each other at this particular time. Dont take yourself out of the game by deciding that your flaws are bigger than your assets. In fact, some of the very qualities you consider to be flaws may be irresistible to someone else. For all the factors that might cause one person to reject you, there are at least as many factors that will work in your favor with someone else. You might be thirty pounds over your ideal weight, but you may have a wonderful laugh and a huge zest for life. There are many people to whom your extra pounds will literally be invisible. You may drive a shabby car, but you might be a great dancer and a loyal friend. There are people out there looking for loyalty, or fun, or sweetness, or wit, and the package it comes in is not important. If you are worried that you are not beautiful enough to attract friends, keep in mind that not everyone is looking for physical beauty in their friends. You can decide to feel inferior because you dont have much money and you dont drive a nice car. You can believe that this is the reason that you dont have many friends in your life. On the other hand, if you are very wealthy you may be suspicious that everyone is after your money and that nobody really likes you as a person. The point is, you can fixate on just about anything and believe its the reason you do not have friends and cannot make any. Here is an easy way to remind yourself of what your good qualities are: write down a list of your good qualities and review it often. Dont just think in your mind about what your good qualities might be, actually make the effort to write the list. The act of writing helps to reinforce the strength of the ideas in your mind. Dont be embarrassed to give yourself credit for your good points. If you dont have any idea what your good points might be, you might want to ask some of the people you know. When you compile your list of good qualities, be as generous in your praise as your best friend in the whole wide world would be! If you dont have any best friends yet, imagine in your mind a wise and loving friend who knows you truly and appreciates you. What would that person say are your good points? Here are some ideas that might be applicable to you. Feel free to adjust this list for yourself and add to it. My good qualities are: †¢Im kind †¢I never gossip †¢I go out of my way to help others †¢Im good with numbers †¢I have a calm disposition †¢I know a lot about sports You can keep your list with you and read it over every day. Add to it whenever you think of new good qualities you discover in yourself. Be alert for compliments that other people give you. The positive qualities that others see in you can go on your list as well. When you are out there meeting people, frequently remind yourself of all the wonderful qualities you have. Its only a matter of time before you meet other people who will appreciate them too! Learn to relax. Instead of berating yourself for some perceived shortcoming, concentrate on the good qualities you have to offer. Realize that there is an audience for your particular combination of gifts, and go looking for those people who will appreciate them.

Terrorism: Causes, Effects and Prevention Strategies

Terrorism: Causes, Effects and Prevention Strategies In the last quarter of the century, there is a dramatic change in most of the terrorist activities, as they are well-planned, with a purpose to accomplish a precise identifiable and seemingly attainable political goal. In the past, most of the terrorist activities involved incidents like high-jacking an aircraft or the taking of a hostage following which certain demands were made. Their aim was usually to release their friends, or group leaders from prisons. Terrorism in the last few decades has taken a more violent and destructive turn, and quite often the demands are not made. Terrorism today is an act which is sudden, unprovoked, sheer brutal attack on innocent civilians killing several people in a crowded market or a gathering. Most of there terrorist attacks have had a political objective, which have now become rather diffused since the 9/11 attack. It now seems that the idea is to create fear and panic, and primarily to get publicity through the television news and print media According to several orthodox cultures, the terrorists resorted to this particular type of extremism as the only way for accomplishing political change. Also it appears to be interconnected to globalization and the increased impact of the United States and other Western countries. This has added to the resentments of the people of that part of the world. Thus it is the larger developments, changes in the international political structure, and expansion of globalization throughout the world that explains this trend in terrorism. The sixty years of suffering of the Palestinians and their unsuccessful efforts to get an independent state is one of the major reasons for the unrest in the Muslim World. The recent siege (412 Palestinian children perished between the 27th of December 2008 and the 18th of January 2009 as a result of the bombings and atrocities carried out by the Israeli Occupying Forces The end year of 2009 inevitably This markeds the First Year Memorial of Operation Cast Lead, when almost 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians were killed during the course of a brutal military operation carried out by Israeli authorities. Thousands more were wounded or displaced. 412 Palestinian children perished between the 27th of December 2008 and the 18th of January 2009. These children were killed as a result of the bombings and atrocities carried out by the Israeli Occupying Forces) affected the Palestinian social fabric completely. As the trauma grows with every violent incursion into Palestinian communities; hatred and tendency of revenge also increases among them. During the Gulf War, and more recently in Afghanistan, the terrorist groups often resort to psychological warfare because its the only tactic they have available to them. They dont have M-16s, and we have M-16s. They dont have the mighty military power that we have, and they only have access to things like kidnapping, says Haroun, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. (cited in Warner, 2005).1 In reality these terrorist attacks does not harm the enemy physically very much, as few people could be killed in an attack. But the repercussions are tremendous from the psychological point of view. Ordinary people viewing the terrorist attack in person or watching it on television, gets anxious, terrified, and often develop a sense of foreboding fear, which in turn may lead to demoralization in the entire society. Psychological Terror Whatever is their modus operandi, terrorists share very similar aims. Alexander and Klein (2006)[1] concisely identified the aims of terrorism as follows: To create pervasive fear, anxiety and panic To generate a collective and individual sense of helplessness, vulnerability and hopelessness To demonstratereveal the incompetenceineffectiveness and/or inabilityincapability of the authorities to provide security and protectionsafety against such opponents And provoke the establishment into errors or over-reactions which will disaffect the general public or specific influential bodies. The last point is essentially vital as observed by the widespread concerns as for example the shooting of an innocent man by the Metropolitan Police in London sometime ago (as a result of consequent to the wrong information that he was a suicide bomber); the incarceration of terrorist suspects in high security prisons of Guantanamo Bay and Belmarsh; and the introduction of repressive legislation. Moreno (2003)[2] has persuasively proven how easy it is in a democratic society to subordinate hard-earned civil liberties to the need to introduce counter-terrorist legislation. The terrorist attacks provide harsh reminders that in todays world, one does not know what news may come next on television or other news media. Particularly disturbing television images of horrific incidents can trigger the innate startle response no matter how close or far away from home the event happened. Historically, every military clash has led to psychological warfare in some form in one way or another as th e enemy aims to break the morale of their opponent. Due to progress in technology; the popularity of the internet; and increase of news coverage, the rules of engagement in this type of psychological battle have changed. Whether it is a substantial attack or a single dreadful act, the effects of psychological warfare are not restricted to the physical damage it produces. Instead, the intent of these attacks is to instillinstil a sense of fear that is much greater than the actual threat itself. According to Professor Richard Bulliet of Columbia University: There are various ways to have your impact. You can have your impact by the magnitude of what you do, by the symbolic character of target, or the horrific quality of what you do to a single person. Interestingly the way media covers the event in fact determines the effect on the people. For instance, according to Bulliet, the Iranian hostage predicament, in 1979, which though lasted for 444 days, was infact actually one of the most harmless of (word harmless) criticalthings events that occurredhappened in the Middle East in the last 25 years. All the U.S. hostages were released ultimately unscathed., butHowever this hostage event remains a psychological scarblemish for manyseveral Americans who watched powerlessly, each evenings newscast, they counted days the hostages were being held in custody. The terrorists often take advantage of images of a group of masked individuals coercing and intimidating exerting total power over their captives to sendconvey the message that the act is a collective demonstrationdisplay of the groups power rather than an individual criminal act. You dont have the notion that a certain person has taken a hostage. Its an image of group power, and the force becomes generalized rather than personalized. The randomness and the ubiquity of the threat give the impression of vastly greater capacities. (cited in Warner, 2005).[3] Remote Repercussions of Terrorist Attacks When a horrific event occurs, it is natural to feel disturbed, even if the act occurred thousands of miles away. The human reaction is to put oneself in the situation because as normal human beings, people have the capacity to empathize. And consequently these people may develop similar psychological symptoms. Witnessing an act of psychological terror can also disrupt our belief system, says Charles Figley, PhD, director of the Florida State University Traumatology Institute. (cited in Warner, 2005).[4] We walk around, psychologically, in a bubble, and that bubble represents our belief system and values. Most often we assume incorrectly that other people have the same values and social niceties as we do. When that is violated or challenged, the first response is usually an effort to protect our beliefs and, in other words, to deny that it actually happened. When A s soon as confronted with proof of terror, such as pictures of atrocities, Figley says there are a few different waysdifferent ways in which people typically react: They perceive perpetrators to be inhumane. Become fearful as they perceive they are living in a callous and unsafe world because the graph bar of inhumanityhumanity has been lowered even further. Believe that its only a fleeting incident which could be easily explained away or deconstructed by precise things that have taken place, such as if we hadnt done this, then that would not have happened. Its uncomfortable believing that the world is less safe, so we have to imagine or construct a scenario that will allow us to feel more safe again and resist change, says Figley. There is an interesting and strange symbiotic relationship between terrorism and the media. Bruce Hoffman, the director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, in his book Inside Terrorism has written a clear summary of some of the major historical trends in international terrorism. He makes careful distinctions between the motivations that drive political (or ethno-nationalist) terrorism and religious terrorism, and he explains also shows why the rise of religious terrorism, coupled with the increased availability of weapons of mass destruction, may foretellpredict an eraepoch of even greater violence. In the past, Hoffman argues, the main goal of the terrorist was not to kill and destroy, but to attract media attention to his cause in the hope of initiating reform. For the religious terrorist, however, violence is first and foremost a sacred act or divine duty executed in direct response to some theological demand or imperative religious terrorists see themselves not as components of a system worth preserving but as outsiders, seeking fundamental changes in the existing order. (Hoffman, 2006).[5] In this context Hoffman does not choose sides, he refers to in this framework, pointing to the bombings of the World Trade Center ,and Oklahoma City and the Tokyo,to the Sarin nerve gas attacks, in Tokyo in order to demonstrate that radicalsfundamentalists of any religious denomination are capable of extreme acts of terrorism. Terrorism is an aggressive-hostile action which is mainly intended to harm and terrify civilians, in order to promote a particular aim, or with an the idea, which may be social political or other. The terrorist attacks, are now gaining major importance than wars in the news headlines worldwide Terrorism and its Effects on Mental Health Whether its a massive attack or a single dreadfulhorrific act, the effects of psychological warfare are not restrictedlimited to the physical damage inflicted. Infact the primary objectivestead, the goal of these attacks is to inculcate a sense of fear whichthat is much greater than the actual threat itself. Therefore, the impact of psychological terror depends largely on how the acts are revealedpublicized and interpreted. Typical reactions to major trauma on the individuals and communities are well-documented but the literature on the individual reactions to terrorist incidents is scarce. Most of the reactions at the initial phase following trauma are normal reactions and only few individuals display florid psychopathology. (Alexander and Klein, 2006).[6] Normal individual reactions to a terrorist attack are: Emotional Reactions : shock, numbness, denial , fear, anxiety , helplessness, hopelessness. Cognitive dysfunctions as disorientation, confusion ,intrusive thoughts, images, memories ,hypervigilance (i.e. increased sense of risk),impaired concentration and memory. Changes in social interaction, like withdrawal ,irritability ,loss of trust and faith , avoidant behaviour (i.e. of any reminders of the event). Physical reactions as autonomic hyperarousal , ,loss of energy. insomnia Autonomic hyper-arousal, insomnia, loss of energy. Emotional shock, numbness, denial, fear, anxiety helplessness, hopelessness. Cognitive disorientation, confusion, intrusive thoughts, images, memories.Hyper-vigilance, impaired concentration and memory. Social withdrawal, irritability, loss of trust and faith, avoidant behaviour (i.e. of any reminders of the event). These normal reactions comprise most of the core symptoms of PTSD, i.e. intrusive experiences, hyper-arousal and avoidant behaviour, as defined in the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (ICD-10; WHO, 1992).[7] For a formal diagnosis of PTSD, such symptoms must be experienced for at least a few weeks. (The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-IV] also necessitatesrequires that such symptoms mustto be present for one month. (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).[8] In addition the impact on individuals, terrorism has mass psychogenic impacts. Mass psychogenic illness has been defined as: The rapid spread of illness signs and symptoms affecting members of a cohesive group, originating from a nervous system disturbance involving excitation, loss or alteration of function whereby physical complaints that are exhibited unconsciously have no corresponding organic aetiology. (Bartholomew Wessely, 2002). [9] As regards community reactions, they may present with distinct features. Tyhurst provides a three phase model of community response. (Tyhurst, 1951).[10] In Phase I, most individuals are liable to be stunned, numbed or even in denial. Denial was the commonly reported reaction among the office staff of Capital Hill, Washington DC following the anthrax scare in 2001. It took some time for the affectees to realize they might have been exposed to a toxic substance. North et al., 2005).[11] Widespread panic is not a typical reaction (though widely depicted in disaster films, etc.). Approximately 10 per cent of victims are likely to panic, and this reaction is most likely when victims believe they are trapped and feel helpless. Durodie Wessely, 2002).[12] In the 1987 Kings Cross underground fire most passengers did not panic; on the contrary, they sought out the usual methods of entry and exit. (Donald Canter, 1992).[13] Similar personal reactions were observedgiven after the London terrorist incidents of July 2005. Hence the civil contingency planning clearly should not be based on ill-informed assumptions about human behaviour. Even in extreme situations human behaviour can be rational, altruistic, and even heroic. In Phase II which is the Recoil Phase, individuals seek to make sense of what has happened. They seek reunion with their common sources of support, e.g. families, friends and colleagues. Even makeshift groups may develop as individuals seek understanding and mutual support. During this period, the community develops a sense of order and control, and the concerned relief authorities can do a lot much to facilitate this step towards recovery.. Phase III, the Recovery Phase is characterized by alternating episodes of adjustment and relapse and there may be some obvious examples of resilience and positive outcomes. Further comprehensive research studies must be A lot of research still needs to be done in order to understand how communities cope with chronic exposure to threat and adversity, but Jones and his colleagues have reassessed the social effects of air raids in Great Britain during the Second World War. They indicate a high level of civilian resilience developed during that period. (Jones et al., 2004).[14] Similarly, law enforcement authorities have commented on the apparently low level of violence-related psychopathology reported in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Clinical data is still not enough to identify It is unclear, as to what are the protective factors in these circumstances. Extensive denial, social cohesiveness, a united front against a common enemy or some other as yet undetermined influences could be termed as protective factors. Mental Health Studies Mental health research studies are conducted worldwide to explore the effects of terrorism both on the individuals and the community. Whereas some emphasize the psycho-pathological effects of terror (Galea, Ahern, Resnick et al., 2002),[15] others focus on the human suffering, which is not identical to psychiatric morbidity (Wessely 2003),[16] and on community and cultural factors that enable people to endure the stressful event (Hobfoll, 2003).[17] This conflict between two distinct approaches (Wessely, 2003) ishas yet to be bridged. Any horrific event can affect people directly or indirectly even if they are not the targets. Hence the target of the interventions is not the individual victim only, but all the people more indirectly affected by the incidence. An impartial approach may be suitable. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines for action during emergencies which seem to support such a stand (WHO, 2003).[18] Experiencing or witnessing a violent attack does not necessarily mean that the individual will inevitably develop psychiatric morbidity (Curran, and Miller, 2001).[19] After the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, it was observed that: In the aftermath of terrorist attacks, many Americans regarded their distress as a normal reaction rather than a disorder needing [psychiatric] care. (Drus and Marcus, 2004).[20] Presently available data suggest that it takes more than the agent (e.g., threat to life) to lead to psychopathology. Indeed, the role of the environment is of significance, as a part of the epidemiological triangle that has been discarded by a greater focus on host-related factors (e.g., gender or age of the victim). ) A study on adults have recognized a group of factors, including religious beliefs, ideological commitment and social capital, that have protected communities which were highly exposed to terrorist attacks (like the loss of dear ones, physical injuries and property damage etc). Ideology and religion may be used as a healing power, but also as a weapon. This is especially true in the [Middle East] region. (Solomon, and Laufer (2005);[21] Shalev et al.; Shalev,[22] Tuval-Mashiach Hadar, 2004; Kaplan et al.; Kaplan,[23] Matar, Kamin, et al., 2005; Billig, Kohn, and Levav, 2004).[24] All the research data today gives hope that, by advancing research on the mental health effects of war-related activities will be conducive to the development of new techniques to counter the psycho-social aftermath of wars and other such traumatic events., Ppsychiatrists worldwide are joining the call by WHO member states to devise means to restore the psycho-pathological damage sustained by victimized populations. The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) has been active in the recent Gaza Massacre,by giving an official statement. (See Mario Maj. statement in Chapter 1V -Wars in the Muslim World1).[25] Nonetheless On the other hand, psychiatrists could play other roles even at the risk of raising idealistic initiatives which cynics might like to dismiss. There are several possibilities open for psychiatrists who, by the nature of their profession can, besides promoting health, support peace rather than war. Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals from countries in conflict could engage in alliance in a number of activities (e.g., teaching, exchange of experiences in program development and services, communication), while they are actively, tenaciously and continuously supported by WPA. Most importantly, psychiatrists must endeavour to make their societies even more ardently aware that in armed confrontations no one is a winner but that everyone is a victim. The model of collaboration in the Balkans, where mental health is a bridge to reconciliation within the framework of the Stability Pact, is a concrete example of what could be achieved when a unifying language is spoken, and when such an effort is reinforced by dedicated support from sources that are not part of the conflict. Terrorism is a paradox—a topicalcontemporary, high-profile subject with clear relevance to the real-world today relevance, yetNevertheless with limited authentic and desperate shortage of research data available es in the area. Therefield there is an urgent need to encourage the younger researchers to take a keen n interest in continuing maintaining research activities .y in the area. Psycho-Social Effects of Terrorism on the Muslim World While nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer, nothing is more difficult than to understand him. (Mikhailovich Dostovsky) The Muslim World has endured a succession of terrorist attacks in the last decade and faced the war against terrorism with endurance and resilience. The countries most affected were Iraq, Gaza, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and particularly the FATA region in Pakistan which has been labelled as the centre of terrorist training. Pakistan also became the first line of defense in this War on Terror. The most distressing aspect of this war is the amount of destruction, damage and killing of innocent civilians of these regions. Ironically the damage done following the declaration of this war is to a large extent much greater than the loss which resulted due to the actual terrorist incident of 9/11 in New York. The Muslims worldwide have confronted the worst degree of terrorism from the powers who claim to bring peace and justice in the world. It is logical and justifiable to control and battle against those who are involved in such degrading and inhumane acts of terrorism, however, some contemplation is necessary to remodel unreasonable and illogical methods or strategies chosen to fight this terrorism. The international media has been a major partner in this war against terrorism and played a key role in portraying religious extremism in Islam as the major cause of present-day terrorism. But this is untrue since Islam is primarily a religion of peace, love and harmony. Unfortunately, clerics who have limited knowledge of the teachings and values of the Islam have misguided some people for their vested interests. The misinterpretation of the teachings of Islam by irresponsible clerics has led to fanaticism. Islam is the most practical religion of the world. As narrated by Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi:[26] The concept of human rights in Islam is based on two important principles: dignity of human beings and justice. Islam emphasizes that all human beings are honoured by Allah subhanahu wa taala. Allah wants all human beings to live in peace and harmony and for this reason He wants us to establish justice in this world. Without justice there is no dignity and without dignity and justice there cannot be any peace. There are several passages in the Holy Quran verifying the above narration: If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God (Allah) hath revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers. (Holy Quran 5:44). o ye who believe! Stand out firmly for God (Allah), as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear God (Allah). For God (Allah) is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Holy Quran 5:8). Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without justification. Violating this rule is equivalent to killing all of humanity: if anyone slew a person — unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land — it would be as if he slew the whole people. (Quran 5:32). Hence the Holy Quran advocates that death of a single human being is a death of humanity. At present it is vital to understand that words terrorism and war against terrorism apparently seems to be propaganda against Islam and Muslims. Such perceptions against Islam and the Muslims have taken a toll on the social, psychological and emotional well-being of Muslims in different parts of the world. (Zafar, 2007).[27] Psycho-Social Impacts of Gaza Conflict: On 31 January 2008, the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) organized a Conference on Effects of Siege on Life and Mental Health of Palestinians in Gaza Strip. Taysir Diab, Clinical Psychiatrist and Supervisor at GCMHP, talked about the mental impacts of the siege based on GCMHPs experience. He stated that there It is not one, but were a group of bio-psycho social factors that which caused mental illness. Diab of these factors under the siege on Gaza; and that the and its psychological, physical and social impacts of these factors were clinically identifiable. The siege, he said, had a direct effect on the appearance of new psychiatricmental cases and the relapse of old ones. There are personal differences on the physical and psychological levels; there are protective factors such as religion, patriotism, norms and values, as well as social support. All these factors along with others contributed in the protection of individuals. and the development of new mental illnesses in the Palestinian people. According to Diab, a vast majority of the Palestinian populations were suffering from symptoms of psychiatricmental disorders. He pointed out that the clients of GCMHPs Community Centers suffered from various psychological problems, including panic, insecurity feelings of insecurity, easily provoked aggressiveness, anger, easily provoked, psychosomatic disorders, depression, frustration, low morale, fear, poor concentration, lack of belonging or affiliation, lack of confidence in self and others, emotional numbness,numbness, and PTSD symptoms., various physical complaint, Oobsessiveon-Ccompulsive Disorders were common, and there was a definite rise in illness relapses.rise in illness relapses. Diab further mentioned that the siege affected the vulnerable groups, in particular children who suffer increasingly from fear, panic, and at times apathylack the feeling of risks, tendency of sadness and insecurity feelings of insecurity., as well as Bbed-wetting and stutteringstuttering, was also a common presentation. He also pointed that the siege affected the mental health professionals in term of increasing their mental stresspressures and state of frustration, avoidance, nervousness, and professional burn-out. Furthermore, Ahmad Abu Tawahina, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Director General of GCMHP, statedmentioned that the major aimplan behind the siege imposed by Israel wasis to implantinstil panic and fear among the Palestinians citizens. He said: We, as Palestinians, must never live a frustrating and despairing life and have to get rid of the negative impacts of siege since life goes on, and the professionals must exert all efforts in order to help people cope with the difficult situations. Twahina also stated that it was vital that Palestinians should not drown in terror and fear since most of the above mentioned symptoms are natural reactions to a madcrazy reality. He also addressed the concept of victimof victim psychology and commented on the importance of offering the mental services for people who suffer from frequent depressions, and increasing concerns. According to him the mental suffering affects everybody but at different levels, and that theere is depression, anxiety, tension, and despair is prevalent at the entirewhole community levels. In his work paper, . Samir Zaqout, a psychologist at GCMHP, discussedtalked about the social changes resulting from the siege. He statedadded that: the siege started in 1948 when Israeli Occupation practiced siege policy in an attempt to deny the Palestinians their identity: The siege is doubled as it is imposed by Israel and the international community since they didnt allow the Palestinians to practice their rights in a democratic way. Further, Zaqout pointed that the siege affected the Palestinian social fabric and domestic relations as hatred and tendency of revenge increased among the Palestinians. It also affected the moral values and accepting the other as well as increasing inter and intra familial disputes and conflicts. Summing up the proceedings of the Conference Eyad el Sarraj pointed to the significance of highlighting such statistics and showing the direct impacts of the siege on the citizens. He stressed on the importance of the accuracy and avoiding exaggeration in stating any statistics. Sarraj focused on the victim psychology. He said: Since we, as Palestinians, shouldnt adopt the role of victim, and exaggerate in blaming others and defaming ourselves. Our priority should be national reconciliation and unity and supporting the Palestinian resiliency so as to achieve our legitimate rights, endorsed by international conventions. Concluding the conference the mental health experts reiterated that it was crucial that the siege must end and professionals must undertake their roles in the field of education and mental health. This would be the first step in to bring some semblance of normality to the lives of the Gaza Community. This step was vital, in order to enable them to cope with negative consequences of the siege and minimize the resultant burdens. Moreover, it was agreed to work on the promotion of mental resilience programs for ending the siege and developing coping strategies to counter the negative mental health consequences. It was agreed that the Palestinian people are steadfast and live with dignity, and should not bend or despair and take matters positively and effectively in order to resist all schemes aiming at weakening Palestinian social fabric, and to achieve the Palestinian rights in freedom, independence and establishing the Palestinian state. Further, the attendants emphasized the importance of working, as specialists in various fields, on influencing the decision makers in the Palestinian society and acquaint them with the destructive impacts of the siege at all levels, especially the mental health of the future Palestinian generations. The physical and mental health needs of sufferers of Gaza are extremely challenging to address, particularly the psychological and emotional crises. During the last Israeli military strike in the period from December 2008 to January 2009, approximately 1380 Palestinians were killed, of whom 431 were children and 112 women. (United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (2009). At least 5380 people were injured, including 1872 children and 800 women. In these improvised settings within health facilities such as maternity wards and operating theatres were transformed into trauma units. The consequences must be drastic in terms of maternal and child morbidity and mortality because 3500 deliveries were expected to have taken place during the twenty-three days of military operations. Findings from a recent UNFPA assessment indicate that, during that period there was an increased number of miscarriages in pregnant women (Shifa, Al Aqsa, Naser, Rafah), and an increased neonatal mortality in Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. (UNFPA, (2009). According to World Health Organization (WHO), only the rough estimates show that during the last Gaza crisis 25000 to 50000 people underwent severe mental stress and need some form of psychological intervention to address long-term effects. Women, separated children, elderly people, and people with prior physical or mental disabilities are at high risk of severe emotional distress than others. The restoration of normal socioeconomic conditions, secure living

Reaching Beyond Pen and Paper :: Essays Papers

Reaching Beyond Pen and Paper Learning in school is always a given. When students are taught a subject they are eventually tested on the information learned. Most teachers use tests, handouts or papers as methods of evaluating how much a student has learned in their course. With the development of technology and the increasing amount of internet access that most classrooms have, teachers are now thinking outside the box and coming up with new ways to assess their students. Creating web pages and using online tools such as Blackboard are some of the ways teachers can have students present information they have learned. These methods are being used more often as technology grows. Though these alternative ways of assessments seem to benefit teachers, they benefit students as well. Allowing students to be more creative when completing assignments ensures their enjoyment and likelihood to do better. In 1994 Duke University’s Department of Biochemical Engineering initiated its first use of infrared (IR) networking. The classroom became completely wireless without a physical alteration to the room. Each student had to purchase a PowerBook to be able to participate in the classroom discussions and projects. The professor also had a PowerBook with a program called Timbuktu installed on it, which allowed him to access any students computer screen and project the information seen onto a screen that the whole class could see. The program also allowed the teacher complete control of the students keyboard and trackball. Through use of the IR network, the class could work on group projects more easily because they would be working though one computer. The system opened more opportunities for students to learn information effectively. For example, if a student had a problem or question about the information being learned in the class, they would simply raise their hand, the teacher would select the name from a menu bar, and instantly the whole class would see the student’s computer screen projected on the big screen. With the whole class being able to see the problem or question an individual had, they could all collaboratively help or learn from the problem. The teacher could address the question to the class and the students could help each other out. The IR network system allowed the classroom to become completely paperless. Without the hassle of handouts, research papers, and paper tests, the professor could concentrate on the information being learned by his students.

Canadian Alternative Theater Essay examples -- Richard III 3 William S

My Kingdom For a Canadian Alternative Theatre: The Richard III That Never Was Of all the parts she played in her brief time as an actress during the late 1960s, the part my mother remembers most fondly is one she never got to perform – the role of Richard III’s hump in Theatre Passe Muraille’s production of Richard III. The production was conceived of more than twenty years before I was born, and I’ve never seen video recordings, photographs, or even a review of the piece. In fact, the play was cancelled for financial reasons before it was ever performed. Despite this, for me, my mother’s role in the 1969 vision of Richard III represents a fascinating, and humorous, moment in which Shakespeare and my own Canadian history come together. More than this, the failed production, rehearsed at the Theatre Passe Muraille during the early days of Toronto’s experimental theatre scene, is representative of a significant change in attitude toward Shakespeare, towards Britain, and towards what a â€Å"Canadian Shakespeare† or even a â€Å"Canadian theatre† meant and could mean. In 1969, the Theatre Passe Muraille was based in the Church of the Holy Trinity – a traditionally liberal church tucked between the towers of the Eaton centre in the heart of downtown Toronto. Twenty-five years later, when I was eight, I would go to the same church for a summer camp offered by a non-profit arts organization run by my mother, who had long since given up acting. I would play theatre games on the same courtyard stones. In 1969, however, my mother and the forty-odd members of the Theatre Passe 2 Muraille had just moved in, and the church was just becoming one of the most important centres for alternative theatre in Canada. The Theatre Passe... ...inst an idea of â€Å"The Bard† as the ultimate symbol of British, and therefore legitimate, culture. As my mother said, â€Å"you want to free yourself from your colonial roots, and the way to do that is to do contemporary, immediate theatre.† The Theatre Passe Muraille adaptation was not an attempt to embrace the canonic Shakespeare as a symbol of imperial culture, but an attempt to express something immediate and Canadian using England’s greatest writer. 6 Works Cited Johnston, Denis W. Up the Mainstream: The Rise of Toronto’s Alternative Theatres, 1968-1975. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1991. Daniel Fischlin and Mark Fortier. â€Å"General Introduction.† Adaptations of Shakespeare. Eds. Daniel Fischlin and Mark Fortier. London: Routledge, 2000. 1-22. Press Release. Theatre Passe Muraille. 1969. Shakespeare, William. Richard III. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2000.

Clothing and Boutique Business

http://www. geo-slope. com/res/price%20list. pdf A boutique is a small retail store which focuses on selling unique items, or items targeted at a niche market. Boutiques are established to sell a wide range of things, although products like clothing, food, or jewelry are common offerings. Many people associate boutiques with elite, special products, and they may pay a premium for goods purchased in a boutique. Many resort towns and areas which cater to wealthy populations have a high concentration of boutiques in their shopping districts. At one point, any small shop was considered a boutique, and most stores were in fact boutiques since merchants usually focused on a single product, like fabric, produce, fish, and so on. The word is French in origin, and derived from the Old French word botica, for apothecary. Around the 1950s, people starting referring to specialized, elite fashion shops as â€Å"boutiques. † This meaning of the word quickly obscured previous usages, and spread to include any highly specialized or fashionable store. Many people think of a boutique as a standalone shop with a single owner. However, some high-end shopping chains actually own multiple boutiques; these stores may be scattered in wealthy areas all over the world. Chain boutiques sell specialized products and target a very specific market, just like their standalone counterparts. These stores may have very well marketed and recognized brands; Tiffany's is a good example of a boutique with international branches, with its distinctive little blue boxes and their contents being prized and coveted objects for some people. Types of Boutiques and their Classification A boutique store is a small retail shop that specializes in merchandise for a particular market segment. These department stores focus on fashionable products such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, and other miscellaneous items. Boutique stores are uniquely positioned to serve a well-defined category of consumers, and are equipped to cater to these niches and themes. As you can see below, there are many different niches that boutique stores can specialize in, and a diverse range of markets to choose from. Boutiques can be classified by their demographic target: Maternity Boutiques Some very successful boutiques target expecting mothers and the unique set of challenges that pregnancy brings to women; one of these challenges is to have clothing that is both stylish and comfortable. Given the dynamic nature of expectancy, dress sizes and how they are managed are extremely important to future moms who want dresses that they can use through the lifecycle of their pregnancy. Boutiques for Children A common way to segment a market is through targeting those of a particular age. If you love kids, then a boutique store for toddlers is calling for you. A boutique for children would carry children clothing, but may also contain toys and games. You can further define this category for just: †¢ Baby: An example is Baby Gap †¢ Toddler: Gap Kids for toddlers is in this category †¢ Pre-teens Casual Teen Boutiques Teenagers are a volatile bunch, and their casual boutiques are a reflection of this. These retail shops can cater to the â€Å"skater† crowd as PacSun does with grungier clothing and pointier jewelry. In contrast, they may cater to the â€Å"sporty† teens like Foot Locker does with sweat pants, shorts, and jerseys. Casual College Boutiques Another strong market is the college crowd seeking casual wear. Examples of such stores are American Eagle, Hollister, and Old Navy. Jeans and t-shirts dominate the shelves of these boutiques, along with the occasional accessories rack. Business Casual Boutiques Retailers like Banana Republic, Gap, and Club Monaco fit this category. Business casual boutiques mainly consist of dress shirts, polo shirts, and dress pants. Accessories that you might find in these stores are belts, cuff links, and ties. Boutiques for Women These might be the most common type of boutiques, and they specialize in the clothing and style needs of women; within this classification there are such specialities as Lingerine with the most known example being Victoria's Secret. Within this type of boutique you will also find boutiques for Mature Women that cater to their specific needs. Boutiques for Mature Men These boutique stores are the Tommy Bahamas that look great on the Pierce Brosnans and George Clooneys. They specialize in casual wear like polo shirts, shorts and sweaters, but also sell sunglasses, watches, and fragrances. These shops are a blend between professional and completely casual, resulting in a fashion line that accommodates men who are near or in retirement. Boutiques by Lifestyle and Theme Boutique stores can also be target markets that go beyond age and function. Thematic boutiques exist that sell tourist souvenirs or religious items. Boutiques can also cater to pets or special occasions like parties or bar mitzvahs. Examples of these lifestyle and thematic boutiques are: Beach Lifestlyle: An example is PacSun, which also caters to the extreme sport crowd Sports Boutiques: Such as Soccer Baseball, Football, or Lacrosse Gothic: Gothic boutiques carry specialized items that target the gothic lifestyle, are usually found in partying sites of town. Music Lifestyle: Rap, Reggaeton and Reggae fans have special dressing needs that boutiques answer. Pet Boutiques: Who said pets didn’t deserve to be stylish? As people devote more time to their pets, they also feel the need for a little style on their pet’s life. Pet sweaters are very popular in parts of the country that are subjected to hard winters. Touristic place Boutiques: A touristic place without a boutique which sells typical items is not as touristic as it should be. Patriotic and festivity date: People like to dress for occasions, and boutiques that cater in a timely matter to these occasions usually become successful. Religious: Think of the religious items and religious dates that are popular with each religion A boutique business is one that is always success and profitable as people need clothes to wear to work, parties at home and dress up. Starting a boutique is as professional as any other business whether you design your own line of clothes or stock some other designers’ clothes. If you are fond of designing clothes, have a creative mind and can design clothes that people love, it is a very profitable business to start. As a boutique owner you get to choose the products you will stock and set the prices and open your doors to eager customers who want to buy your latest creations and show them off. To start your boutique business, you need to be aware of the fashion sense, have a creative streak that enables you to match colors and fabrics together to design heavenly creations and also a substantial sum of money to invest in a shop, clothes and advertising. Read out articles for more information on how to start your own boutique business for a rewarding and satisfying career. Steps to starting a boutique business How to make your boutique a success How to run a profitable boutique business Establishing your boutique business Important factors for opening a boutique business From sportswear to beachwear, t-shorts to lingerie, shoes and sandals to causal dresses and evening wear, there is a large variety that you can offer in your boutique. You can also offer matching accessories like bangles and earning to match with the dresses and attract more clients. From clothes for women to men and children to teenagers, there is a large market you can work on for a successful boutique business. Starting a boutique business is a solid venture with constant demand for new clothing and apparels also there. Boutiques are very in these days and people value the personalized service and attention they receive, the cozy ambience and the unique products they get even if they are at slightly higher prices. You really don’t have to be a fashion designer to start your boutique business, you can sign up with some clothing line that provides you good quality readymade clothes to sell or you can design your own clothes and get them stitched by tailors to sell. You can also make clothes on order on customers’ demand. You can pursue your dreams and become a boutique owner by designing clothes or getting them designed exclusively for your shop and sell them with your brand name. It is very easy to become a part of the lucrative growing fashion industry with your creative designed line of clothes that are trendy, comfortable and durable. While you will not become country’s biggest chain of clothes, yet you will be able to earn a decent living for with a fulfilling lifestyle with a successful boutique business. Steps to Starting a Boutique Business Starting a boutique business is an exciting and fun experience and take planning, a good eye for fashion and ability to talk well. These days owning a boutique is probably one of the easiest businesses to start and makes you a part of the lucrative and even thriving and growing fashion industry. The demand and need of both online and offline boutiques is on the rise and makes it a very selling trade. You can start your own boutique and become a business owner by selling clothing such as evening gowns, formal and casual wear for men and women and even children. People love buying clothes that fit them as if they were custom designed for them. From a small town to a big city, boutiques are a popular place to buy clothes from. Regardless of your education and experience, you can start a boutique business, offer exclusive services to customers and earn a rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle. Fashion boutiques are hip, cutting edge and fresh and can sell anything from children clothing to maternity wear and even men’s fashion. Here are some steps on starting a successful and thriving boutique business. Step 1 First of all, decide on what type of boutique you want to open. From accessories to vacation wear, sportswear to formal or casual clothing to consignment clothing there is a wide variety of things you can sell. You can also sell specialty clothing such as evening gowns or maternity wear. It is important to decide what kind of clothing items you want to sell as it will become your signature and you will be known by the type of clothing you sell. Step 2 When starting a business especially one such as a boutique, it is necessary to get a business licenses. Check out with your local city or county department and ask them about any other requirements for opening a business. You will need to pick up a business name and complete all the necessary paperwork such as opening and account and getting a tax number before you can start. Step 3 You will need to find a nice place to open your boutique. You will need a storefront that has good street visibility and easy access so that customers can find and reach you easily or see the clothes in the window when passing by. A boutique doesn’t need to have very big space and it can have any arrangement or setting you want. However, having a good location is very important for a good business. Find a space that is attractive, located in a clean and respectable area and caters to the type of people who are likely to buy from you. Step 4 Find suppliers who will supply you with the clothing you need for your boutique. Go to trade shows and join organizations to get a list of suppliers who will provide you with the kind of products you want to sell in your shop. You can also contact suppliers who can make clothes according to the designs or styles you give them. While it might be an expensive and lengthy process, it will ensure that you sell clothes that are exclusively your designs and customers will be getting designed clothing. All these steps are very important and play a very crucial role in starting your boutique business. Running a boutique is fun and exciting if you enjoy your work, love fashion and advising others on what to buy that will suit them. With a good clothing line, excelling customer service and communication skills and good location, you can start a boutique business very successfully. How to Make Your Boutique a Success People who are fashion conscious and want to be recognized for their special way of dressing prefer buying their clothes from boutiques that sell something superior and different both in design and quality. Boutiques sell clothes that have their own personality, style and flare and which becomes very popular and trendy. If you are a boutique owner, it is important to sell not only just fashionable clothing but clothing that is at the same tie trendy, comfortable and speaks of class and design. Only these traits can make your boutique business a successful and profitable one. Starting a boutique business needs more than matching shoes with a dress or finding the right belt to go with the purse; it needs the perfect blend of colors and ideas that can make even two odd things look good and make them popular. To make your boutique a success, it is necessary to be well versed in fashion, choosing the best things to sell and an eye for details to help customers select the best thing to suit them. Here are some tips to managing and making a boutique a success. Tips for a Successful Boutique Decide on the type of items that you will sell in your boutique. It is necessary to determine what will be the highlights of your store such as hats, flashy tops or sunglasses. This is something where your personal style as a boutique owner must shine to give a distinctive aura and individual touch to the business. It is important to serve clothes that are at the same time individuals, will look good on everyone and leave a lasting impression others. Customers will only buy your clothes if they are comfortable, look good on them and offer them a chance to look different from others. If you provide all these things, you will definitely have a successful boutique. It is now necessary to have both online as well as offline stores to sell your clothes. While in the past, only a brick and mortar location served well, the rise in buying and selling products and services online has increased the need for an online store and more and more customers are now moving to buying clothes online. Get a website that is attractive, easy to navigate and offers the complete range of variety that you sell. A successful boutique has to remain in the good books of the government by paying all the taxes on time and maintaining a good reputation. Get a tax id number as it will allow you to track expanses paid for employees and remain in compliance with federal government rules. It doesn’t leave a good impression if your boutique name is associated for evading taxes and not following government policies. You will have to carry on schemes and advertising campaigns that keep you in the limelight and attract customers to your boutique to make it a success. From having a great opening event and inviting celebrities to wear your creations, there are many ways to attract attention and make sure people visit your shop regularly. You can also hold a fashion show, a charity function or a barbecue annually to make sure you draw crowds and bring attention to your boutique. This goes a long way in making a business successful and memorable. It is important to be customer oriented and serve customers the best way possible to make them come again. The main goal of having a boutique is to focus on the customers and keep them satisfied with your clothes. Be passionate about your clothes, serve them the best way, offer them great prices and you will see them coming back for more. You can start your boutique business on a small scale if you don’t have much to invest. Start on a scale that is equal to availability of funds or apply for a small loan and expand the business once it gets established and start making customers. Hard work, customer satisfaction and selling good clothing will go a long way in making your boutique a success and profit. How to Run a Profitable Boutique Business How to Make Your Boutique a Success, tips for a successful boutique, offering the best clothing to customers, pay government taxes Running a boutique business is as professional as any other business. From getting the best products to sell to effective marketing campaigns and from a good business plan to serving customers the best way, there is a lot needed to run a profitable boutique. Tips to Run a Profitable Business Here are a few tips to help you run a profitable boutique business: Sell Quality Clothing – The clothes and accessories that you sell should be cost effective. Even if they are expensive, the customers should feel that the clothes you sell are worth their money with the comfortable fitting, trendy designs and styles and their durability. This is one thing that will make your boutique business profitable even if you are a bit expensive than your competitors. Sell at Good Price – While quality is something that surpasses even the cost of products, make sure the cost of your clothing is inline or has an edge over your competitors. Too expensive clothing will only be affordable by rich people and it is important to create your market in all circles so it is better to sell at a good price that gives you a nice profit and customers a chance to wear boutique wear. Excellent Customer Services – Offering excelling customer services is very important as it can make or break a client. A customer might come back next time just because you gave them your full attention and advised them on what would suit them best. Customers prefer going to friendly shops where they are served with a smile. It is necessary to select and train your staff in offering best customer service for customer satisfaction and a profitable business. Offer Seasonal Stock – Every season has its own market and people buy clothes according to the seasons and fashions. Identity them and stock your boutique accordingly for a profitable business. Vacations and festival seasons mean more sales such as summers, Christmas and winters. Make sure you are adequately equipped with proper clothing to for the seasons and fashions to satisfy customers. Avoid Over Stocking – While it is best to be prepared with the seasonal stock to make good sales, it is very important to avoid over stocking as excessive stock means imminent loss. Estimate your future sales from past records and buy your stock accordingly. Proper amount of stock is very essential for the smooth and profitable running of a boutique. Along with all these above mentioned tips to help you run a profitable business, effective and targeted marketing campaign is absolutely necessary for running a boutique business. Plan your advertising to meet the requirements of your potential clients to attract them and offer them great deals they cannot resist. Professional account maintenance will help you to cover the financial aspects of making your business profitable and help you expand the business wisely. Proper account handling plays a very crucial role in avoiding financial pitfalls and ensures a profitable business. From buying stock to paying your employees and setting aside money for rent are not included in the profit. Profit is they left over amount of money that you get after covering all expenditures and it can vary depending upon how you sell your clothes, how you serve the clients and what methods you use to make your boutique business a profitable and successful one. Establishing Your Boutique Business Establishing a boutique needs lots of planning and preparation from selection of a great line of clothing to be sold to finding a great storefront that will attract customers and profit margins to be earned. However, only selling trendy and stylish clothes or having the best location for your shop is something that will not work every time. How to Establish Your Boutique Business the Right Way First of all, make your boutique as inviting and cozy as possible. Remember, it is a deviation from store or supermarket clothing so it has to look personal and give a very inviting look to the customers where the feel comfortable in choosing their clothing. Decorate your boutique and give it a distinct theme or feel that will set it apart from other shops. Make your boutique memorable by adding special little touches to personalize the store and merchandise and to give customers a unique shopping experience. Windows play a very crucial role in advertising and promoting your shop and your line of clothing. It is necessary to put out and display your special items in the windows to entice customers as before entering the shop, every customer takes a look at the window and if they like what they see, they will definitely come inside. Try new variations on clothing to satisfy every customer. You don’t have to stock everything in large quantities but it is best to try everything out and see customers’ response. This way you will be able to judge what sells most and make more profits based on this calculation. Purchase your merchandise from a variety of places such as fashion markets, local designers and even eBay or garage sales. You will find some wonderful items in the most unusual places that customers are going to love. In some cases, creating a specialty store makes it easier to target your marketing campaign such as men’s clothing or sportswear or maternity wear. This limits your clientele to a certain section of society and you can target them only. However, it doesn’t work all the time and in most of the cases, business owners prefer having a large variety to cater to different clients. It is very important to listen to customers’ feedback and try to fulfill their needs. It will help you two ways. First of all, it will give them the feeling that you care and they will come to your boutique for more, secondly, it will increase your profits and your clientele once people come to know about the personalized services you offer. Marketing your boutique is the best way to make it known and popular among customers. Put ads in local newspapers, yellow pages and whatever you can afford. You can also offer special sales or discounts and you will see people flocking to get a look at what you are selling. All these tips to establish your boutique are meant to guide you in making your business a success. However, don’t expect immediate profits as it will take some time to establish your business, earn customers trust and start making money. Explore your options and see what you can do to set your boutique business apart from others to make it a profitable and thriving venture. Important Factors for Opening a Boutique Business Breaking into and succeeding as a boutique owner, running a boutique and selling fashion clothing is a demanding but also a rewarding business. You can pursue your dream of owning a boutique and sell beautiful clothes to women, men, children and even teenagers and become a part of lucrative fashion industry There are all sorts of fashion boutiques ranging from selling everyday items to haute couture evening gowns. It is for you to decide what you want to specialize in and make your mark in. However, whichever form of boutique you choose to start, you will have to work hard, pay attention to and plan meticulously to make your place in the market and beat your competition. From expensive and designer label to low cost items with high turn around, you can start the kind of boutique business you can run successfully. There are numerous important factors that play a very crucial role in opening and running a boutique successfully and help to make it a big name. There are numerous things to do before you can even open your doors to the customers. This article discusses some of the most important factors that can help you open and run a boutique business. Money for Investment The most important factors that play a very vital role in opening a boutique is money for investment. Renting a place, buying stock, decoration of the shop and advertising it, all need substantial amount of money. You will either need to come up with lots of money or need credit. Loans and grants are another way to arrange for money to open your boutique. Calculate how much money you will need for investing into the business before applying for it. Deciding on the Type of Boutique There are many types of boutique from men’s wear to women wear and children wear to specialty boutiques that sell sportswear, maternity wear or evening wear. You will have to decide which type of boutique you want to open. You can also specialize in second hand clothing, wedding or formal wear, clothing accessories or something completely different. Find out your competition and choose a genre that is not very common so you can make your place in the market easily. Go for something that makes your stand apart from the crowd and get noticed. Finding the Right Manufactures and Suppliers Another important factor that can help to open and run a boutique is finding the right manufactures and suppliers who will supply clothing for your boutique. The best way to find them is to search online or attend trade shows and select the best ones. It is necessary to talk to different suppliers and check their merchandise and decide on their cost before actually signing up with them. It is important to ensure that the clothes you are getting are of superior quality, durable and look good as your reputation as a boutique owner depends on them. Advertising and Marketing Advertising and marketing is something that starts even before the store is opened. Put up banners on the shop announcing what you are going to do, give ads in the newspapers, organize a small show or offer discounts on first few days of openings. These are all effective and valuable advertising and marketing tips that help to promote a business and help it get noticed. Opening and running a boutique is as professional as any other business and need careful planning and preparation before you open your doors to the customers. It is important to give due consideration to all the factors that are necessary and play a crucial role in setting up and running a business to make sure your boutique venture becomes successful and gets good returns on investment. Managing A Boutique Business Running your own Boutique Business can be undermined by the very simplest of problems: your ability to manage! Having the product, resource and cash to start a Boutique Business is important but without an ability to get the best from those around you, and of course yourself. then you may be looking at a failure; a costly failure. If you are a business owner and you accept your weaknesses then it is very simply to plan a simpler way for you to manage your Boutique Business. A business plan will help you set out exactly what you need from your customers our suppliers your financiers your staff, and most importantly, you! The first thing a great manager understands is that people are impossible to manage! To try and take a hands-on approach to every single aspect of managing a Boutique Business is impossible; the key to a great business is that it will run without hands-on management. Your systems should run your business; you should write your Boutique Business Plan to clearly set out how you want your business to run. The type of customers you are looking for and how you want to present your xyz business to them. The suppliers you need to help you and how you want those relationships to work. The right level of long-term secure finance and how you will return their money and what they can expect by way of information from you. A clear set of instructions for your staff. A very clear set of instructions to yourself. Great businesses do not rely on people having to make decisions every minute of every day; they are built with a clear system so that everyone knows what is expected. Great Boutique Businesses have a great Boutique Business Plan. The following are several common mistakes that decrease the effectiveness of your management: Depending on unqualified friends or family in key management positions. Assuming that previous success in other industries applies to your current industry. Presenting a â€Å"one-man-team† management philosophy. We all know that it is difficult to wear every hat and successfully run and grow a company. Attempting to attract top managers without sharing ownership. Failing to ensure every person that comes into contact with your Boutique company knows exactly what your business does! Imagine this scenario: You are a private investor searching for that next exciting investment opportunity. A business plan lands on your desk, right next to the sixteen others you have received recently and are in the process of reviewing. Half of the plans present solid business concepts. Some of the plans seem to offer exceptional long-term growth possibilities. But in your opinion, only two of the plans present management teams capable of turning ideas into reality. As you consider your investment options, you eventually eliminate all the business plans except for those with the strong management teams.