Long Term vs. Short Term Focus in Communication Essay

There are pragmatic differences between sales promotion and advertising, which marketers must bear in mind when attempting to communicate with the customers. The same case will apply when marketers attempt to communicate with customer by defining the appropriate media and non-media communications that are aimed at driving customer interest, demand and sale upwards. Brand value does not always increase the sale of the product depending on the price of the product and affordability. Instead, brand value may be more instrumental in customer retention. In the short term, discounts have the potential of increasing product sales, but in the long term, the customers’ perception of the product may be negative or positive as they ponder over why there was a discount. Primary Differences between sales promotion and advertising There are fundamental differences between sales promotion and advertising. Advertising is the form of communication via the diversity of media with the goal of persuading and making people aware of products or services. Advertising is equally a service to the target and consumers to inform them with truthful contents that are ethically generated in order for it to be accepted by the public. Advertisements are clear, truthful, tasteful, precise, original, reputable and ethical communications to the public. (Guideline Marketing, 1998). Sales promotion is the application of incentives to elicit a positive reaction by the consumer. Sales promotion gives the consumer advantages of using the product or service on promotion. Sale promotions are characterised by sponsorship, free gifts and vouchers, public forum of information, exhibited, educative and consultative. Therefore the fundamental difference between and advertisement and sales promotion is the on their acceptability by the consumers. (Guideline Marketing, 1998). Some media and non-media marketing communication that are typically employed to increase customer interest, demand and sales The media marketing communication that are typically employed to increase customer interest demand and sales are digital media, print media, pod casting , narrow casting and broadcasting, posting mails, telephone marketing, among others. (Promotion and integrated marketing communications, 2007) Non media marketing communication that are typically employed to increase customer interest, demand and sales are price discounts, non-media advertising, special offers, sales coupons, product and services sampling, product and service price rebates, competitions and raffles, games, product and service premium offers and counter promotions. (Promotion and integrated marketing communications, 2007) Does brand value always increase with increasing sales of the product? Not always does value always increases with increasing sale of the product. Perhaps it may help in customer retention. But in some instances, it can increase sales because more sales are a sign that the customers are crediting the brand as well as their perceptions to the product. This has implications that more sales are solidifying the brand value as long as the product is being sold for the purpose of brand building. Brand values that have increased sales due to high sale imply that the brand value is attractive. When the sales increase, there are signs that the customers are satisfied and are bound to make references to other over the value of the brand. (Bacak, 2006). How discounts have the potential to affect short term sales and long term brand value. Under a good marketing management, discounts have the potential of positively affective the short term sales and long term brand value depending on the perceptions of the customers on the brand following the discount. The understanding discount strategy is that the sale force is not overwhelmingly profit motivated. Instead, the priority is to create value that customer perceive as satisfactory. Most business would create a discount to enable more consumers interact with the product or service. (Lin & Lin, 2007, p. 1-131). According to Aaker (1991), discounts will provide short term sales competitiveness while customer benefit from the value that will be enhanced in the long term. During the time that a brand is under discount sale force, the consumers are given a chance to identify the product or service with their needs. (Lin & Lin, 2007, p. 1-131). An example of products where price discounts positive short term sales increase and long term brand value is the cosmetics. In this case the higher the discount the higher the sales as long as the brand image is highly placed. Thus as soon as the discount is initiated, the short term sales shoot up and the consumers perception of the brand shift and this may be positive or negative. If negative, the consumer could be expecting even more price discounts in the long term. (Lin & Lin, 2007, p. 130). Conclusion: This marketing communication paper has come out with very important lessons. First, in order to be successful in marketing communication, it is important to understand the fundamental differences between sale promotion and advertising so that the choice of media and non media communication can be rewarding to the marketing plan. Second, the possibility of an increasing brand value to increase sale is hinged on other factors like affordability. Finally, product price discounts have a short term effect of increased sales but a mixed effect on the brand value in the long term. Reference Aaker, D. A. (1991).Managing Brand Equity:Capitalizing on the Value of a Brand Name, NY: The FreePress. Bacak, M. (2006, March 18). The Benefit of Branding: Increase Your Sales and Promote Your Product by Building a Solid Brand. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from http://ezinearticles. com/? The-Benefit-of-Branding:-Increase-Your-Sales-and-Promote-Your-Product-by-Building-a-Solid-Brand&id=163889 Guideline Marketing, (1998). Guidelines for publicity, advertising, practice promotion and allied marketing activities. Retrieved on April 10th, 2009, available at http://www. capelawsoc. law. za/Files%20for%20New%20Website/Guidelines/Advertising%20E. doc Lin, N. & Lin B. , (2007, August). The effects of Brand Image and Products Knowledge on Purchase Intention Moderated by Price Discounts. Journal of International Management Studies. P. 1-131. Promotion and Integrated Marketing Communications, (2007). Marketing communications. Retrieved on April 10th, 2009, available at http://www2. cob. ilstu. edu/jsattaw/MKT%20230/Lectures/Lecture%209%20–%20Promotion%20and%20Integrated%20Marketing%20Communication. ppt

The Beginning of Human Flight

The Wright Brothers were interested in flying since their childhood. Bishop Wright, their father, gave them a toy helicopter when they were young and ever since they have been interested in aviation. The Wright Brothers are famous for their invention of the airplane, or the flying machine as it was called then. The first flight of the plane occurred on December 17, 1903. This was just the turn of the century, yet the Wright Brothers invented something that would last forever. This was in fact the case. This light would spark a race of technology that has taken us from into the air to flying into space. This also launched the aviation and the space age. The airplane is a major role in the world. The plane made traveling overseas easier and quicker. The plane was a useful tool in both of the World Wars. The airplane was a major part of the weapon and attacking strategy for all the countries with this technology. They say the Wright Brothers borrowed ideas of others in order to reach their goal. It doesn’t matter because they accomplished their desire to fly. Today aircraft are truly monsters compared to the Wright Flyer. The invention of the plane changed the world as we know it. It erased miles and brought people closer together, and uniting and diversifying the world as we know it. It went from novel toy for the daring to a tool of destruction. It brings life saving food, medical supplies, and clothing to those in need. It can carry us to any point on the globe and bring us back. The Wright Brothers had a dream and the made it happen. No matter how many times they were told no it wouldn’t work, they kept going and climbing to be he best and to fly. The research on the Wright Brothers was conducted mostly at Joyner Library. Also some of the information was obtained from the Internet. Joyner Library had most all the information on the Wright Brothers there is. Newspaper from the 1903 on microfilm were read to see the first hand accounts from that time. Books were read to get the second hand accounts. The picture from the Internet were very important on creating the exhibit. The exhibit was created by showing the things that evolved and the changes that occurred by the invention of the plane.

People Resourcing and Rewards

There are a number of different ways in which psychometric testing can be used by employers in the recruitment process. The importance attached to the recruitment process by employers as well as employees make it extremely important for reliable measures to be put in place to ensure that the recruitment process and therefore the employment process brings forth the best of employees to a company. It is a crucial stage in starting because the kind of employees employed in an organization goes along way to determine the kind of workforce the organization the will have. Psychometric testing refers to a method which is used by employees to select the most suitable applicants to fill existing vacancies. Psychometric tests have been discredited due to the fact that, information gathered from them is not generalizable and therefore they cannot be relied upon in making selections for particular kinds of jobs. Another demerit associated with psychometric tests is that, they are more useful for top positions requiring high skills such as those involving graduates as well as highly qualified candidate. While this is an advantage to the employers seeking to fill vacancies for highly qualified staff. It is however challenging to apply the tests when recruiting for manual vacancies . High costs associated with the psychometric tests have been pointed out as a major impediment to the usability of the psychometric tests. Employers invest quite a large amount of money in order to secure and use psychometric tests. The direct costs involved in the tests include the training that has to be offered to the staff of the company requiring using the tests for recruitment since these are to administer the tests during actual interviews. The other cost involved in the test is that of the annual fees required for employers or companies which would want to use the tests. This is a demerit in that; companies have to invest heavily on the tests. To obtain and use the tests, employers are not only required to subscribe yearly something which can really strain a company’s income. Merits associated with the tests include the fact that, the tests are very objective . Objectivity is a crucial quality for any interview and therefore the fact that, these tests offers that advantage makes them very attractive and suitable for employees. Since subjects may jeopardize any chances of recruiting the best applicants, the objectivity associated with this method makes it very attractive to employers. Usually the common interview methods which traditionally have been used by recruiters have been known to be prone to subjectivity. Therefore objectivity associated with the psychometric tests is seen as a plus by the employers. Reliability is another merit associated with the test. According (EIRR, 2000p. 8-88), psychometric tests are more likely to filter out all unsuitable and unwanted applicants at early stages of the interviews thus saving the employers time and money. This is especially necessary in this era whereby un reputable schools have come up and also the underworld supplies quite a big percentage of fake certificates in circulation today. A good percentage of the fake certificates go unnoticed and undetected. In light of the above challenges, psychometric tests have become the better option for employers in detect ing dishonest applicants. The increasingly common fight for employment as well as gender mainstreaming in the labor market has effectively resulted in a more unbiased ways of recruitment and selection. This coupled with other factors have warranted a more sober approach to the recruitment process. The fact that many states have come up with legislation requiring equal job opportunities for all and without any form of discrimination has further served to ensure that, organizations go for psychometric testing during the staffing process (EIRR, 2000p. 0-90), cites a more professional human resource body as also a factor which can be linked to the increasingly popularity of the psychometric testing. Another merit of psychometric testing is that, they are very good in predicting cognitive ability of candidates something which is very useful for managerial jobs as well as high skilled jobs. Since the psychometric tests measure abilities as well as personal traits and personal attributes of people this makes them ve ry useful when hiring for highly competitive vacancies which attract applicants form well qualified professionals. Psychometric tests are also useful in that they assist employees to land jobs which suit their personalities and therefore are more likely to offer happiness to both employees and employers. This according to (EIRR, 2000p. 80-100), is useful in ensuring that employees perform to their peak hence contributing positively to their organizational growth. Psychometric tests also help employees not to pursue unsuitable careers in which their chances of succeeding in such are limited. Therefore psychometric tests offer employees an opportunity to carry out a self assessment and therefore plan better their career paths. Although the tests are not 100 % reliable they are useful in making sure that, an employee does not recruit employees whore are likely to end up quitting the job after being hired. Finally, psychometric test are useful in preparations to switch careers since such a step can make or break ones career path. Psychometric tests comes in hand to make sure that, people do not miss out on opportunities neither do they waste out of opportunities in pursuit of careers which do not suit them in the first place.

Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wal-Mart - Essay Example In order to achieve this, Wal-Mart has mostly relied upon foreign vendors. â€Å"From the beginning, like other discounters, Walton had bought goods wherever he could get them cheapest, with any other considerations secondary† (Ortega, 1999, p. 205). By doing so, Wal-Mart has partly moved against the interest of America since the local business was affected and more foreigners were involved in the business than Americans, yet Wal-Mart was able to make the profits beyond expectations at the end of the day. Wal-Mart has been conventionally criticized for its supplier base and marketing strategies, though whatever it did worked at least for Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart has actually chosen diversity as a tool to encourage the associates to optimize on their skills (Walmart Corporate, n.d.), yet the emphasis on diversity also provides Wal-Mart with a smart way out with the inclusion of foreign vendors in the Wal-Mart’s

Fashion image class Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Fashion image class - Assignment Example Design isnt characterized singularly by our garments decisions, yet is likewise passed on through the way we convey ourselves, our identities and our perspectives of the world. At its most major (and straight from the word reference), design is basically the predominating style or custom, as in dress or conduct. Thinking about my customer inclination the extent that mould recognition is of concern, my customer needs to turn into a performing artist; it has arrived at my consideration that his wardrobe obliges uncommon. My customer who is called Salem needs to turn into an on-screen character in spite of the fact that according to now he is still a scholar. Considering apparel identity my customer Salim, wardrobe choices enlighten others regarding the mystery craves that we are attempting to cover up. Moreover, Salim is short and thin in that his somatotype is described by, a high temple, retreating jaw, slender shoulders and hips, a limited midsection and midriff and meager arms and legs. An overwhelmingly ectomorphic distinct is long, slim and dainty, and thusly power and quality games are maybe not suitable as their slight form abandons them powerless to wounds (Andre, 12-20). My customer inclines toward dark and dainty clothing types, something that has given challenges while picking inclination of his colors because of the way that there is a constraint. Remembering that he enjoys feasting, voyaging, galleries and listening music, he obliges a wardrobe that is portrayed by big name life and

Eurozone Debt Crisis - What are your predictions on how this crisis Essay

Eurozone Debt Crisis - What are your predictions on how this crisis will develop in the second half of 2011 and what impact will - Essay Example Soon after this optimistic representation of the future global economy, Greece made headlines, where the investors started asking if it would be ever possible for the country to â€Å"pay off the ?259 billion in government debt it currently owes’ (Khan, ibid). Soon Ireland and Portugal followed suit, while predictions show bad signs for Spain and Italy (Lucas, Find Safe European Stocks out of Unsafe Europe , April 2011). Thus, we find that Euro has taken a deep battering from the start of the new decade, with widespread fears that this economic crises may lead to the break-up of the Eurozone. Discussion In recent news published, we find that it presents gloomy figures, â€Å"The Eurozone crisis has gone from bad to worse as debt contagion threatens to engulf Italy. With analysts predicting that Britain could lose as much as ?43 billion should the Italian economy fold, Chancellor George Osborne called on his Eurozone colleagues to take "decisive action" before the situation g ets any worse. He also warned that Britain was "not immune" from the crisis† (Clarkson, Q&A: How will the latest eurozone crisis affect the UK? 2011). Thus, we find that the economic recovery has again hit a critical roadblock, where the economist Peter Spencer on 18th July 2011 stated, "The risks to the world economy and the Eurozone are plain to see, starting with the Greek default, threatening a domino effect on Portugal and Ireland, followed perhaps by Spain and Italy"(cited in, skynewsHD, July 2011). In review by the Ernst & Young group, we find that the predictions are not very optimistic for the second half of the year. In this report, it is stated that the economic forecasts show every indication of an increasing â€Å"EU sovereign debt crisis† (Ernst & Young Eurozone Forecast, 2011, 4). The review also shows that it is almost impossible to avoid the non-payment of the debt incurred by the Greece government. Similarly it would be also impossible to frame an econ omic restructuring, and in probability the country would require another bailout loan. However the review further adds that â€Å"a restructuring nor a bailout are in themselves likely to provide lasting solutions and restructuring would almost certainly carry in its wake the necessity of similar exercises for Ireland and Portugal. An additional uncertainty is whether debt restructuring comes via an orderly or disorderly process. If it is the latter, the risk of contagion to other countries increases and the Eurozone’s reasonably healthy growth prospects for 2011 and 2012 are likely to be extinguished. In fact, the economy would go backward† (ibid). Fig 1: The table below shows GDP growth rates for the European Union and select individual countries. Here we find that the 2011 and 2012 growth predictions vary from 4-5% for countries like Turkey and Poland, and an average of 1-2% for the PIIGS countries at the other end (Source: Lucas, 2011). The graph shows a picture wh ere we find that majority of the countries perform badly (economically) in 2011, with indications of a slightly better show in

Protest Against Slavery In New England Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Protest Against Slavery In New England - Essay Example If one man raises his voice, then others will follow and this can create a strong protest against slavery which can bring freedom to people chained to injustice. The quote further asserts that struggle has mighty power and fight against slavery is an inevitable want and people must in some way protest against this. Without fighting there is no way out to come out of slavery. The people who practice slavery must be made realize the ill effects of this practice and should also be made understood the value of freedom and human rights. This quote is very useful one as it awakens the dull mind of people of New England and States as people are remaining ignorant and unaware of the injustice happening in their country. The quote is in many ways alerting the common men that fighting is not an easy action and can have many negative consequences. This quote is a warning and precautionary message to the people about what they should anticipate. People here are not only awakened but also are giv en guidance towards the reaction of the protest. It is highly appreciable of the quote that it projects facts about the real scenario of a fight against slavery. Slavery is indeed an evil which eats into the infrastructure of a society. Slavery upholds racism, disrespect, and cruelty in a society. So as the quote suggests it is highly necessary to fight against slavery. The quote claims that if people rise to fight against the slavery, then the union of the country may break up and this should not be the concern of the people.

Analysis of The Quote by Ellie Wiesel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of The Quote by Ellie Wiesel - Essay Example It is not only about violence, murder, and terror. All these negative causes are not so numerous in our lives. On the other side, people are more inclined to be lazy, greedy and, finally, indifferent to each other, in particular, and to the environment, on the whole. Needless to say, indifferent people are helpless in loving somebody. It is impossible for them, as they feel free to neglect the virtues of the moral and right attitude toward each other. Hence, indifference gives birth to a host of negative feelings where hatred and cruelty are at the core. Among the rest of the quotes by Ellie Wiesel, the aforementioned highlights the roots of the human tragedy today as it was in the past. In other words, seeing indifference in one’s actions and attitudes toward a person or the mankind, there is no way other than the redemption. Redemption from everything one dreamed about and thought of in a sweet memory. Day by day, this feeling would likely grow up until one loses the temper and does harm to the environment where he/she lives. The consequences may simply overgrow into a collapse of living in mutual understanding of peace. What is more, Wiesel is right when she strikes out the concept of â€Å"hate† as lower in the meaning compared to the concept of â€Å"indifference.† It is natural to anyone to get rid of any haunting prejudices about the negative meaning of indifference just because it is an ability to make a change. No one is likely to pinpoint the threat of indifference able to ruin lives of people in need. An abrupt halt of passion and desire to help and to keep up with those in need is like a heart failure for a serious patient, so to speak. Thus, indifference is a hidden trick of the devil on his way toward total destruction of morale and humane as the pivotal virtues of the societal life.   

Environmental and strategic analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Environmental and strategic analysis - Essay Example This is due to its low cost strategy. Like any other company, when the management makes decisions it has to be guided by different factors that directly or indirectly affect the company. All organisations are affected by external and internal factors and like any other company, Ryanair is not left behind. It is advisable for the airline to use the PEST analysis to view its policy making strategies thus look at how the company is performing to ensure that it does not lose market. Such analyses will ensure that the management is able to keep, ignore and adapt strategies to make the company more competitive and unique (West, 2007). The paper will examine Ryanair airline by using Porter’s 5 forces and McKenzie 7s framework. To understand how Ryanair Airline has been able to survive to the resent times it is advisable to use Porter’s 5 forces analysis to critically examine its strategies. The strategy and its concepts came from Michael Porter. The 5 forces were derived from Industrial Organisation economics which generally helps a company to know its intensity in competition moreover show what attracted the company to join the market. It should be noted that the amount of profit is what attracts the company to the market whereas unattractiveness is simply the implementations of poor strategies that lead to a loss. According to the forces, when a company approaches pure competition it means that it is becoming unattractive. According to Porter such implementations are referred to as micro environment which are within the company and they do affect how a company is able to reach its customers. Customer service provision is what brings about profit in the company (McGahan, 2004, pp. 203-205). The st ages of the framework are discussed below step by step. According to the strategy, a company can decide to offer products or services that will act as substitutes to change the demand of its customers. The

The effects of physical activity and exercise on primary school Essay

The effects of physical activity and exercise on primary school childrens academic performance - Essay Example Children in primary schools confront health problems and the present concern in the commonness of childhood obesity has turn out to be one of the most pressing concerns in the Western world today, particularly in the United States. The effects of physical activity and physical education as such on the body can stimulate different parts of the brain, have positive effects on academic performance, and direct children towards a lifestyle that it physically fit and healthy. This kind of education in a sense is balanced since all three dimensions, namely, cognitive, emotional and psychomotor are developed, and one dimension does not take primacy over another. In relation to this, there is a twofold objective to this paper. The first objective is to review related literature on the effect of physical activity or physical education in primary schools to children’s academic performance. And second objective is to present strategies and concepts that specialist in physical education can put into practice with classroom teachers to introduce short sessions of physical activity and exercise into the school day to enhance physical education. Even though several classroom teachers believe physical activity and physical education is not that important, dedicated professionals in physical education, in opposite to the myth, can be effective in helping them acknowledge the significant contribution of physical activity and exercise in achieving and maintaining good health and improving academic performance. Studies examining findings from roughly 50,000 students between the 1960s and 2006 have investigated the relationship between physical activity and academic performance. A number of those studies discovered that consistent participation in physical activity is related with enhanced academic performance. Eight health

Compare the structure and activities of a public sector or not for Assignment

Compare the structure and activities of a public sector or not for profit organisation with a similar organisation in the privat - Assignment Example INTRODUCTION Private sector and public sector organizations differ in the way they are managed and operated. The way they are structured helps to facilitate goal achievement. This report compares the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) with Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac). Reserve Bank of Australia RBA is Australia’s central bank. The objectives of the Bank are set out in its policies – ensuring that the monetary and banking policies are advantageous to the people of Australia (Reserve Bank of Australia 3). In so doing the policies of the bank are designed to ensure stability of Australia’s currency, facilitate full employment; and contribute to economic prosperity and welfare of the Australian people. RBA has a Governor and Deputy Governor as well as a number of boards, committees, groups and departments. They all have their relevant functions which facilitate the proper management of the Bank. The structure of the organization is shown in the organization cha rt in Appendix 1. The Boards include the Reserve Bank Board and the Payments System Board. The Reserve Bank Board has responsibility for monetary and banking related polices while the Payments Systems Board is responsible for polices relating to the payments system. The Governor is the Chairman for both Boards with the Deputy Governor as Deputy Chairman for the Reserve Bank Board. The committees of RBA include the Executive Committee; the Audit Committee; the Remuneration Committee; and the Risk Management Committee. The forum for discussions among heads of functional departments and the Governor and Deputy Governor is provided by the executive committee. The audit committee is chaired by a non-executive board and this should help facilitate the level of independence that is required of members of this committee. The Remuneration Committee is also a committee of the Reserve Bank Board and is drawn from the non-executive members of that Board. The Risk Management Committee is chaired by the Deputy Governor and its responsibility is that of identifying and managing those risks that are not policy related, across the bank. The Groups consists of the Banking and Payments Group; the Corporate Services; the Currency; the Economic; the Financial Markets; and the Financial System Groups. All of these groups have one or more departments that fall under their remit. They provide a range of services for institution. The Banking and Payments Group consists of two departments – the Banking Department and the Payments Settlements Department. The function of the Banking Department includes the provision of a special range of banking and registry services to the departments of the Australian Government, overseas central banks and official institutions. The Payments and Settlements Department on the other hand has the responsibility of settling high valued payments and inter-bank obligations which result ‘from the conduct of Exchange Settlement Accounts andâ€℠¢ the RBA’s own trading activities. Other responsibilities of the Bank and Settlement Department include the operations of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS) which is Australia’s real time gross settlement (RTGS) system. RBA’s Corporate Services Group consists of the Facilities Management Department; the Financial Administration Department; and the Systems and Technology Department (Reserve Bank of

Ethanol As An Alternative To Gasoline Essay Example for Free

Ethanol As An Alternative To Gasoline Essay Ethanol has lately been considered as a promising alternative to gasoline as fuels for automobiles. According to researchers, ethanol may be employed as fuel through the process of reformation, which involves the breakage of a water molecule to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases (Hill et al. , 2006). The hydrogen gas that results from this chemical reaction is employed as source of energy. Carbon dioxide is also generated as a by-product of the chemical reaction. It has been estimated that approximately 1 ounce of carbon dioxide gas is emitted from 4 ounces of hydrogen produced from ethanol. One advantage of using ethanol as fuel for automobiles is that there is ease in the transport of fuel instead of the previous candidate alternative of using solar power to run automobiles. In the case of solar-based automobiles, the accessibility of energy for fuel an automobile will be limited by the presence of sunlight, from which solar power is generated. Another advantage is that the conversion of ethanol to hydrogen is approximately 70 to 80% in energy efficiency, which is the same in terms of the energy efficiency using gasoline. Ethanol is also much cheaper than gasoline hence the switch from using gasoline to ethanol is advantageous. Ethanol also enhances the performance of the engine of an automobile. There is also less smoke emissions when ethanol is employed as fuel to automobiles. One disadvantage in using ethanol as an alternative to gasoline is that only a number of car brands design vehicles that carry engine that can utilize ethanol as fuel. There is still a need in creating more car models that are specialized to consume ethanol as fuel. In addition, the engines of ethanol-using vehicles are smaller in volumes hence there is still a need to produce engines that can take in larger volumes of ethanol.

Plastics Recycling Business Plan

Plastics Recycling Business Plan Executive Summary Recently, the growing utilization of plastics are specifically used domestic purpose and produced from industrial and consumer applications and need Students Paper: and need to combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products for our general consumer applications, combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products. One of our general purposes. One of the quickest increasing Students Paper: quickest increasing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant where located fastest growing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in where Students Paper: plant where located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). To be and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial ). To be honest, Students Paper: be honest, Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated and utilize almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division and any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase the entire product or Canada). Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated, and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers, who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase all of the product produced entire product produced. MANAGEMENT Ben Braddock, President who has experienced since 30-years of history and related with Students Paper: related with encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. Moreover, he of experience encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. He has . Moreover, he has founded great Students Paper: founded great ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. In his personal founded successful ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire his personal life, Students Paper: personal life, Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with almost over manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with over 20 almost Students Paper: with almost over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY Moreover, after Engineer with over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY After a Moreover, after a four month grow- Students Paper: month grow-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also looking an month start-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also seeking an looking Students Paper: also looking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. Then, these also seeking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. These funds . Then, Students Paper: operations. Then, these funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for create of begin operations. These funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for the set up create Students Paper: for create of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in first year set up of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in firstyyear, $31 first Students Paper: in first year, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million. Gross margin in firstyyear, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million.y Gross . Gross margin of 35% or more in first Students Paper: in first year, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profit of in firstyyear, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profityof 13 profit of 13% in year one, then exceeding 20% Students Paper: exceeding 20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a generally manufacturing then exceedingy20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a manufacturing company generally Students Paper: a generally manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods. We intend is a manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods.yWe intend . We intend to make enough profit to generate a significant Students Paper: a significant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products. We will generate aysignificant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products.yWe will . We Students Paper: products. We will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply of post-consumer products.yWe will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply ofypost-consumerybottles post-consumer bottles Students Paper: consumer bottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing Contractual arrangements ofypost-consumerybottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing -yyContractual arrangementsyfor Contractual arrangements for Students Paper: arrangements for the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience. 1.4 Potential yyContractual arrangementsyfor the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience.http://www . Students Paper: specific experience. 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low cost post 934697d142204abeb7020c6e32f2e18d.png 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low costypost-consumer cost Students Paper: low cost post-consumer PET bottles (feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturers of PET bottlesy(feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturersyof PET manufacturers Students Paper: U.S. manufacturers of PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identify markets U.S. manufacturersyof PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identifyymarkets for identify markets for the Companys products. Their Students Paper: products. Their expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production. The location may products.yTheir expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production.y The Students Paper: initial production. The location may not be near enough to markets The markets that have production.y The location may not be near enough to markets Theymarkets that Students Paper: The markets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S., which will markets Theymarkets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S.,ywhich will , which will provide a distinct advantage Students Paper: distinct advantage to the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attract top distinct advantageyto the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attractytop managementy attract top Students Paper: attract top management The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable venture provides attractytop managementy The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable ventureyprovides for venture provides Students Paper: venture provides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and return nearly favorable ventureyprovides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and returnynearly all return nearly all of the process water Students Paper: process water to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility. Company Summary The the processywater to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility.yyyy Want Summary Students Paper: Company Summary The Company will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. Recycling Division Using a Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a Using a patented process, Students Paper: patented process, the Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States; we have Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 ; we have chosen this region because Students Paper: region because all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada, despite western the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial , despite western states favorable recycling attitudes among consumers. Its initial annual Students Paper: initial annual capacity will be 46 million pounds and it will utilize bottle feed Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock from Students Paper: stock from California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200,000,000 pounds collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million 200,000,000 pounds per year. The Company will become totally vertically integrated, and use all or Students Paper: all or almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus material produced will and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake produced will be sold to outside companies. Packaging Division We will create a plant (actual facilities to be shared with the Recycling Division) to manufacture extruded plastic roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping, employing state-of-the-art technology developed to utilize recycled PET resin. The extruded sheet will be primarily sold to thermoformers who will convert it into high visibility packaging, as well as laminators and fabricators. The strapping will be sold to commercial users for use as package or pallet strapping. The Company currently has commitments from customers to purchase all of the initial production capacity. Excess flake will be sold to outside customers. 2.1 Company Ownership Replay Plastics is owned by the initial founders, B. Braddock, S. McGuire and C. Smith, who are the proposed three executives of the operating entity. The plan was conceived and developed by these individuals, with the intent to apply their extensive experience and contacts in the industry to building a successful profitable corporation. 2.1.1 Potential Conflict Our COO, Mr. Sam McGuire, the inventor and patent holder of the recycling process to be used by the Company, is a principal in Company A of Chicago, IL. For many years, Company has designed, manufactured and assembled plastic recycling equipment, and has given us quotes on meeting our needs in this area. After a thorough investigation, Replay has found that Company A is able to source or supply the required equipment at considerably lower cost than any other company from which a quote was available. Mr. McGuire has disclosed that Company A has included a smaller than normal margin in their quote on goods they will manufacture, to cover overhead, contingency and profit which might result in a small benefit to him. They have agreed to source all of the equipment possible with no added margin. Replay has concluded that the savings available outweigh any other consideration and that we will purchase the cleaning and refining equipment from Company A. 2.2 Start-up Summary Our start-up expenses are budgeted at $210,000, which is mostly for on-site contractor services during facility preparation. $50,000 has been set aside for legal and accounting, $25,000 for special consulting that may be required during start up and $50,000 each for local engineering and lab equipment and supplies. $30,000 has been set aside as a contingency for the start up period. Our largest Start-up Requirement is the building of the recycling and extrusion facility. Its final value at completion is listed below as a long-term asset of $3,620,000 (excluding expensed items like consultants and engineering listed above). Aside from the building itself, we need $25,000 in machinery and fixtures, $500,000 of inventory (plastic bottle feed stock) and cash to cover us through the initial year. Start-up Funding Start-up Expenses to Fund $210,000 Start-up Assets to Fund $4,790,000 Total Funding Required $5,000,000 Assets Non-cash Assets from Start-up $4,145,000 Cash Requirements from Start-up $645,000 Additional Cash Raised $0 Cash Balance on Starting Date $645,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Liabilities and Capital Liabilities Current Borrowing $0 Long-term Liabilities $800,000 Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $0 Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0 Total Liabilities $800,000 Capital Planned Investment Founders $1,500,000 Investor $2,700,000 Additional Investment Requirement $0 Total Planned Investment $4,200,000 Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) ($210,000) Total Capital $3,990,000 Total Capital and Liabilities $4,790,000 Total Funding $5,000,000 Start-up Requirements Start-up Expenses Legal Accounting $50,000 Stationery etc. $5,000 Consultants $25,000 Lab Equipment $50,000 Local Engineering $50,000 Misc Start up $30,000 Other $0 Total Start-up Expenses $210,000 Start-up Assets Cash Required $645,000 Start-up Inventory $500,000 Other Current Assets $25,000 Long-term Assets $3,620,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Total Requirements $5,000,000 Products Replay Plastics will utilize two processes in the same facility to produce: Cleaned and recycled plastic PET flake (RPET), recovered from post-consumer beverage bottles and manufacturing waste produced by its sheet customers Extruded roll stock sheet PET. Extruded PET high-strength strapping for securing large packages or pallet loads; each using 100% RPET produced in-house 3.1 Product Description Roll stock sheet will be sold to custom thermoformers primarily to be used to produce high-visibility packaging. It will also be sold to manufacturers of laminates and fabricated plastic products. High strength PET packaging strapping is used to secure packages or pallets in such industries as lumber milling and corrugated and other paper production. Both products will be extruded from post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The recycling programs in California, Washington and Oregon collect in excess of 200,000,000 pounds of PET bottles per annum. Replay initial capacity will be 46,000,000 pounds. Using a patented process, Replay will clean and refine the PET material from the post-consumer bottle stock and post-industrial manufacturing waste. The PET flake resin produced will be extruded into roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping. Although the Company expects to convert all of its bottle feed stock into extruded products, any surplus flake will be sold to outside manufacturers. 3.2 Competitive Comparison While quality and delivery are important factors to our potential clients, price is most often the determining factor in a buying decision. Good-quality packaging products manufactured from recycled (less expensive) resins, as close as practical to the end customers operations, will be most competitive and achieve a significant market share. These factors have helped to determine the business parameters of Replay Plastics. 3.3 Sourcing In excess of 200,000,000 pounds of post-consumer PET beverage bottles are collected and available as feed stock for manufacturers who can re-process this material into commercial products. The Company has excellent relations with the firms and associations that collect and distribute these materials and has been assured that its requirements will be available for the foreseeable future. The Company has entered negotiations with a California based source of post-consumer bottles and is confident that sufficient volumes are available on a contract basis from this source to satisfy its requirements. In addition, the Company intends to purchase production waste from its sheet customers and blend it into its feed stock. Currently, the majority of the post-consumer PET bottles collected in California, Oregon and Washington are exported to China. The Chinese have absorbed the amounts surplus to the use in North America. Their interest has kept the industry in the position of being able to maintain a steady price range for this bottle stock. A significant percentage of all sales of such bottle stock are managed by Plastics Recycling Corporation of California (PRCC), an industry funded marketing agency which operates similarly to a co-operative. They accept bids from potential buyers on behalf of the firms which act as consolidators, which accumulate stocks from the smaller, individual bottle-recycling depots. Some amount of the available stocks are regularly bought by recyclers in eastern North America who focus on the carpet manufacturers who use RPET resin in their process, but the high cost of transport from the western U.S. makes eastern sources more desirable. Replay has a good relationship with Company B, one of the larger consolidators in California. Company B has indicated a desire to contract to supply Replay with all of its raw material needs. They prefer to deal with a local consumer such as Replay, rather than the uncertainty and extra preparation requirements of the export market. There are other sources of post-consumer feed stock known to Replay, and we are confident that we will have sufficient materials available for our production needs. 3.4 Technology Sam McGuire, a key member of our Management team, is one of the original innovators of cleaning and refining technology for post-consumer PET, and we will be utilizing his patented process in our recycling facility. Sam has worked in the establishment and operation of facilities employing similar technologies over the last several years. On the manufacturing side, Management has been an integral part of the advancement of industry practices over the last twenty years or so, and includes in their knowledge base most, if not all, of the state-of-the-art available equipment and manufacturing techniques. Students Paper: manufacturing techniques. Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor. Major users http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm 8 y Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor.y Major . Students Paper: industrys favor. Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm favor.y Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling.y Recycled Students Paper: growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin. Supply of http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm recycling.y Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin.ySupply of . Supply of recycled PET is in excess of 800 million pounds per year. This figure is expected to grow, reaching over 1 billion pounds during the next few years. Students Paper: few years. The plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing. Of the http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm years.yThe plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing.yOf the . Students Paper: is increasing. Of the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm increasing.yOf the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources.yOf the Students Paper: just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yOf the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources.yPlastics, after Students Paper: recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding. Plastic containers are http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yPlastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding.yPlastic containers Students Paper: expanding. Plastic containers are being collected at the curb for recycling in nearly 500 communities, representing more than 4 million households. U.S. demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm expanding.yP Plastics Recycling Business Plan Plastics Recycling Business Plan Executive Summary Recently, the growing utilization of plastics are specifically used domestic purpose and produced from industrial and consumer applications and need Students Paper: and need to combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products for our general consumer applications, combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products. One of our general purposes. One of the quickest increasing Students Paper: quickest increasing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant where located fastest growing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in where Students Paper: plant where located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). To be and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial ). To be honest, Students Paper: be honest, Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated and utilize almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division and any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase the entire product or Canada). Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated, and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers, who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase all of the product produced entire product produced. MANAGEMENT Ben Braddock, President who has experienced since 30-years of history and related with Students Paper: related with encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. Moreover, he of experience encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. He has . Moreover, he has founded great Students Paper: founded great ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. In his personal founded successful ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire his personal life, Students Paper: personal life, Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with almost over manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with over 20 almost Students Paper: with almost over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY Moreover, after Engineer with over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY After a Moreover, after a four month grow- Students Paper: month grow-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also looking an month start-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also seeking an looking Students Paper: also looking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. Then, these also seeking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. These funds . Then, Students Paper: operations. Then, these funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for create of begin operations. These funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for the set up create Students Paper: for create of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in first year set up of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in firstyyear, $31 first Students Paper: in first year, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million. Gross margin in firstyyear, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million.y Gross . Gross margin of 35% or more in first Students Paper: in first year, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profit of in firstyyear, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profityof 13 profit of 13% in year one, then exceeding 20% Students Paper: exceeding 20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a generally manufacturing then exceedingy20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a manufacturing company generally Students Paper: a generally manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods. We intend is a manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods.yWe intend . We intend to make enough profit to generate a significant Students Paper: a significant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products. We will generate aysignificant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products.yWe will . We Students Paper: products. We will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply of post-consumer products.yWe will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply ofypost-consumerybottles post-consumer bottles Students Paper: consumer bottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing Contractual arrangements ofypost-consumerybottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing -yyContractual arrangementsyfor Contractual arrangements for Students Paper: arrangements for the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience. 1.4 Potential yyContractual arrangementsyfor the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience.http://www . Students Paper: specific experience. 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low cost post 934697d142204abeb7020c6e32f2e18d.png 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low costypost-consumer cost Students Paper: low cost post-consumer PET bottles (feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturers of PET bottlesy(feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturersyof PET manufacturers Students Paper: U.S. manufacturers of PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identify markets U.S. manufacturersyof PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identifyymarkets for identify markets for the Companys products. Their Students Paper: products. Their expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production. The location may products.yTheir expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production.y The Students Paper: initial production. The location may not be near enough to markets The markets that have production.y The location may not be near enough to markets Theymarkets that Students Paper: The markets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S., which will markets Theymarkets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S.,ywhich will , which will provide a distinct advantage Students Paper: distinct advantage to the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attract top distinct advantageyto the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attractytop managementy attract top Students Paper: attract top management The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable venture provides attractytop managementy The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable ventureyprovides for venture provides Students Paper: venture provides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and return nearly favorable ventureyprovides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and returnynearly all return nearly all of the process water Students Paper: process water to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility. Company Summary The the processywater to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility.yyyy Want Summary Students Paper: Company Summary The Company will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. Recycling Division Using a Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a Using a patented process, Students Paper: patented process, the Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States; we have Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 ; we have chosen this region because Students Paper: region because all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada, despite western the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial , despite western states favorable recycling attitudes among consumers. Its initial annual Students Paper: initial annual capacity will be 46 million pounds and it will utilize bottle feed Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock from Students Paper: stock from California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200,000,000 pounds collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million 200,000,000 pounds per year. The Company will become totally vertically integrated, and use all or Students Paper: all or almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus material produced will and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake produced will be sold to outside companies. Packaging Division We will create a plant (actual facilities to be shared with the Recycling Division) to manufacture extruded plastic roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping, employing state-of-the-art technology developed to utilize recycled PET resin. The extruded sheet will be primarily sold to thermoformers who will convert it into high visibility packaging, as well as laminators and fabricators. The strapping will be sold to commercial users for use as package or pallet strapping. The Company currently has commitments from customers to purchase all of the initial production capacity. Excess flake will be sold to outside customers. 2.1 Company Ownership Replay Plastics is owned by the initial founders, B. Braddock, S. McGuire and C. Smith, who are the proposed three executives of the operating entity. The plan was conceived and developed by these individuals, with the intent to apply their extensive experience and contacts in the industry to building a successful profitable corporation. 2.1.1 Potential Conflict Our COO, Mr. Sam McGuire, the inventor and patent holder of the recycling process to be used by the Company, is a principal in Company A of Chicago, IL. For many years, Company has designed, manufactured and assembled plastic recycling equipment, and has given us quotes on meeting our needs in this area. After a thorough investigation, Replay has found that Company A is able to source or supply the required equipment at considerably lower cost than any other company from which a quote was available. Mr. McGuire has disclosed that Company A has included a smaller than normal margin in their quote on goods they will manufacture, to cover overhead, contingency and profit which might result in a small benefit to him. They have agreed to source all of the equipment possible with no added margin. Replay has concluded that the savings available outweigh any other consideration and that we will purchase the cleaning and refining equipment from Company A. 2.2 Start-up Summary Our start-up expenses are budgeted at $210,000, which is mostly for on-site contractor services during facility preparation. $50,000 has been set aside for legal and accounting, $25,000 for special consulting that may be required during start up and $50,000 each for local engineering and lab equipment and supplies. $30,000 has been set aside as a contingency for the start up period. Our largest Start-up Requirement is the building of the recycling and extrusion facility. Its final value at completion is listed below as a long-term asset of $3,620,000 (excluding expensed items like consultants and engineering listed above). Aside from the building itself, we need $25,000 in machinery and fixtures, $500,000 of inventory (plastic bottle feed stock) and cash to cover us through the initial year. Start-up Funding Start-up Expenses to Fund $210,000 Start-up Assets to Fund $4,790,000 Total Funding Required $5,000,000 Assets Non-cash Assets from Start-up $4,145,000 Cash Requirements from Start-up $645,000 Additional Cash Raised $0 Cash Balance on Starting Date $645,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Liabilities and Capital Liabilities Current Borrowing $0 Long-term Liabilities $800,000 Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $0 Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0 Total Liabilities $800,000 Capital Planned Investment Founders $1,500,000 Investor $2,700,000 Additional Investment Requirement $0 Total Planned Investment $4,200,000 Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) ($210,000) Total Capital $3,990,000 Total Capital and Liabilities $4,790,000 Total Funding $5,000,000 Start-up Requirements Start-up Expenses Legal Accounting $50,000 Stationery etc. $5,000 Consultants $25,000 Lab Equipment $50,000 Local Engineering $50,000 Misc Start up $30,000 Other $0 Total Start-up Expenses $210,000 Start-up Assets Cash Required $645,000 Start-up Inventory $500,000 Other Current Assets $25,000 Long-term Assets $3,620,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Total Requirements $5,000,000 Products Replay Plastics will utilize two processes in the same facility to produce: Cleaned and recycled plastic PET flake (RPET), recovered from post-consumer beverage bottles and manufacturing waste produced by its sheet customers Extruded roll stock sheet PET. Extruded PET high-strength strapping for securing large packages or pallet loads; each using 100% RPET produced in-house 3.1 Product Description Roll stock sheet will be sold to custom thermoformers primarily to be used to produce high-visibility packaging. It will also be sold to manufacturers of laminates and fabricated plastic products. High strength PET packaging strapping is used to secure packages or pallets in such industries as lumber milling and corrugated and other paper production. Both products will be extruded from post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The recycling programs in California, Washington and Oregon collect in excess of 200,000,000 pounds of PET bottles per annum. Replay initial capacity will be 46,000,000 pounds. Using a patented process, Replay will clean and refine the PET material from the post-consumer bottle stock and post-industrial manufacturing waste. The PET flake resin produced will be extruded into roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping. Although the Company expects to convert all of its bottle feed stock into extruded products, any surplus flake will be sold to outside manufacturers. 3.2 Competitive Comparison While quality and delivery are important factors to our potential clients, price is most often the determining factor in a buying decision. Good-quality packaging products manufactured from recycled (less expensive) resins, as close as practical to the end customers operations, will be most competitive and achieve a significant market share. These factors have helped to determine the business parameters of Replay Plastics. 3.3 Sourcing In excess of 200,000,000 pounds of post-consumer PET beverage bottles are collected and available as feed stock for manufacturers who can re-process this material into commercial products. The Company has excellent relations with the firms and associations that collect and distribute these materials and has been assured that its requirements will be available for the foreseeable future. The Company has entered negotiations with a California based source of post-consumer bottles and is confident that sufficient volumes are available on a contract basis from this source to satisfy its requirements. In addition, the Company intends to purchase production waste from its sheet customers and blend it into its feed stock. Currently, the majority of the post-consumer PET bottles collected in California, Oregon and Washington are exported to China. The Chinese have absorbed the amounts surplus to the use in North America. Their interest has kept the industry in the position of being able to maintain a steady price range for this bottle stock. A significant percentage of all sales of such bottle stock are managed by Plastics Recycling Corporation of California (PRCC), an industry funded marketing agency which operates similarly to a co-operative. They accept bids from potential buyers on behalf of the firms which act as consolidators, which accumulate stocks from the smaller, individual bottle-recycling depots. Some amount of the available stocks are regularly bought by recyclers in eastern North America who focus on the carpet manufacturers who use RPET resin in their process, but the high cost of transport from the western U.S. makes eastern sources more desirable. Replay has a good relationship with Company B, one of the larger consolidators in California. Company B has indicated a desire to contract to supply Replay with all of its raw material needs. They prefer to deal with a local consumer such as Replay, rather than the uncertainty and extra preparation requirements of the export market. There are other sources of post-consumer feed stock known to Replay, and we are confident that we will have sufficient materials available for our production needs. 3.4 Technology Sam McGuire, a key member of our Management team, is one of the original innovators of cleaning and refining technology for post-consumer PET, and we will be utilizing his patented process in our recycling facility. Sam has worked in the establishment and operation of facilities employing similar technologies over the last several years. On the manufacturing side, Management has been an integral part of the advancement of industry practices over the last twenty years or so, and includes in their knowledge base most, if not all, of the state-of-the-art available equipment and manufacturing techniques. Students Paper: manufacturing techniques. Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor. Major users http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm 8 y Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor.y Major . Students Paper: industrys favor. Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm favor.y Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling.y Recycled Students Paper: growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin. Supply of http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm recycling.y Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin.ySupply of . Supply of recycled PET is in excess of 800 million pounds per year. This figure is expected to grow, reaching over 1 billion pounds during the next few years. Students Paper: few years. The plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing. Of the http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm years.yThe plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing.yOf the . Students Paper: is increasing. Of the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm increasing.yOf the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources.yOf the Students Paper: just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yOf the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources.yPlastics, after Students Paper: recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding. Plastic containers are http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yPlastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding.yPlastic containers Students Paper: expanding. Plastic containers are being collected at the curb for recycling in nearly 500 communities, representing more than 4 million households. U.S. demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm expanding.yP

Comparing Functionism, Marxism, and Social Action Theory Essay

Sociology is generally made up of three paradigms: Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic interactionism. A paradigm is a set of assumptions that shape and underlie explanations of why society is the way it is (Early Stratification Theory, internet 2003). Functional Theory is often traced from Durkheim, Parsons and Merton. Functionalists believe in shared norms and values, which are influenced by the Family, Education, church and employment. It sees society as a shaper of people rather than people shaping society. The functionalist says we need social order in which to survive normally. Roles are also important to the functionalist for example the roles in marriage. The functionalist believe we as humans look at the roles played around us, for example, our parents and then we copy them. We think the pattern of life that we see is a natural one. We learn roles from our family thus the son is expected to take the role/job of his father as is the daughter expected to cook and clean akin to her mother. The role of the family is to socialise its new members and teaches them the norms and values essential to the social life, working together to make society work as a whole. The church's role according to the functionalist, plays a major role in holding society together by endowing it's agreed values and beliefs with sacredness and, through rituals, eter Worsley 1970 pg 475) Harmony, common consent, unity, unanimity and agreement are common words used by the functionalist. If we all agree to peace and goodwill, have respect for each other and stick together and follow the guidelines set down for us by our an... ...me, although I understand we need the basis of structures and economics but we also need to be able to make up our own minds and direct our own actions. BIBLIOGRAPHY Berger, P. and Kellner, H. (1981) Sociology reinterpreted. U.K. Pelican books. Class: An Introduction (internet) Available from: http://www.sociologyonline.co.uk/soc essays/class.htm accessed 29.10.03 Early Stratification Theory (internet) Available from: http://www.wise.virginia.edu/p_withen/reviews/ST/STRev/revSTO4earlystratth.html accessed 29.10.03 Weber, M. (1999) (internet) available from: http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/S30f99.htm accessed on 29.10.03 Worsley, P. (ED) (1970) The New Introducing Sociology Penguin books Middlesex impressing them upon society's members and renewing and reinforcing their attachment to them. (P

Handguns in Households with Children Essay -- essays research papers

Handguns in Households with Children   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Guns in America are a problem as bad as the drug problem: 43% of households that have children have handguns in them; 10 children die every day from handguns, approximately one every 2  ½ hours. That is the same of a classroom of children every two days. Parents do not realize that children get the physical capacity to reach and discharge a firearm long before the ability to understand the potential consequences of these actions. Parents who insist on keeping guns in the home should be urged strongly to store their firearms unloaded and locked in a secure place. Actions like these will reduce the probability of children being killed by a firearm. The presence of handguns in households with children frequently leads to fatal accidents, suicides, and murders.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The majority of handguns kept in homes are NOT kept safely locked up, simply because people are stupid enough to believe that they need to be able to access that gun as fast as possible in case of emergency. These people keep their guns in bedside drawers, closets, under mattresses. Most of the children who are involved in fatal accidents are older children. In 1999, the most recent year which data are available, 34 children under the age of 5 died in gun accidents. Among children aged 5-9, there were 56 fatal gun accidents; and among children aged 10-14, 146 fatal accidents. For instance, on July 21, 1999, in Lakepark, Florida, a 6-year-old boy fatally shot his 5-year-old brother Corey Andrew Wilson, as the boys played with a shotgun they found under a bed in their grandparent’s bedroom. The best way to reduce gun risks is to remove guns from home. Candamo 2   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Children suicide has truly become a problem of outbreak proportions in America that must be addressed from every direction. As numerous studies have shown, children use guns in roughly two out of every three-suicide attempt, and handguns are used in 70% of these. In 1998 alone, 1200 youth in America committed suicide with a gun, the same of one every seven hours. Children suicide attempts are usually impulsive acts, and the easier it is to carry out. Using a firearm in a suicide attempt drastically increases the likelihood that the attempt will be fatal. Simply having a gun in the home actually increases the chances of suic... ...ban or recall hundreds of products that cause injury or death to very small numbers of children, yet they will not pass laws making guns safer because of the NRA. Maybe people may not be able to fight the NRA on the national level, but there are many cities and states that have already taken one step forward. Such a small number, however, is not enough to convince the politicians that they don’t need the NRA’s money or votes. The children need their help.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, despite the guidelines regarding safe firearm storage in homes with children, a study reports less than half of gun-owning parents store their firearms safely. Many parents underestimate the risk of leaving their children in the home with an unlocked and loaded firearm. The gap between awareness and reality is particularly great for gun-owning parents. More gun-owning parents trust their children with a loaded gun and believe that their young child can tell the difference between a toy gun and a real gun. And in many cases they will not be able to tell the difference. So to have handguns in homes around children will sooner or later produce fatal accidents, suicides, and even murders.