Edgar Allan Poe s The Raven - 788 Words

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most successful writers of all time. Twelve of Poe’s works are known for their literary construction. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most famous poems in history and was first published in 1845. This is a poem that many readers may describe as dark, twisted, and even scary can be oddly moving and eye catching. What were the meanings in his masterpiece, and what did Poe want his readers to understand? Poe’s literary work The Raven shows literary elements of symbolism, theme, and imagery. First and foremost, a symbol is an object, person, or place that has meaning in it self. This also stands for something bigger, usually an idea or concept. The raven’s darkness symbolizes death. Death becomes a constant reminder and intruder. The raven also symbolizes the narrator’s memories of Lenore and grief. At the end of the poem the narrator himself even realizes the ravens meaning; when he states the raven will be with him forever because thoughts of Lenore will be forever with him. This can be why the ravens symbol is so dark. Additionally, December is another symbol is Poe’s poem. December is in winter, and nothing lives in the winter. December can symbolize death. â€Å"December is an end of something, and also the anticipation of something new, a change, to happen.† (Hallqvist). Another symbol many readers see is midnight. Midnight is the darkest part of night. The large, shadowy raven arrives at midnight on a dreary evening, and taunts theShow MoreRelatedEdgar Allan Poe s The Raven944 Words   |  4 Pagesto display the evils of humanity. Edgar Allan Poe, American Gothic poet, often wrote unsettling and dark poetry marrying the natural and supernatural in order to demonstrate difficult to grasp human emotions such as grief or depression. Poe’s The Raven is a powerful, yet dark piece of poetry that utilizes rhyme, meter, and symbolism to entertain fans of Gothic literature and completely pull them into the drama of the piece. In the opening stanzas of The Raven, Poe establishes the tone of the poemRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Raven2149 Words   |  9 PagesEdgar Allan Poe is considered one of the greatest literary writers, but he was highly under-appreciated during his time, Poe was constantly looked down upon and suffered a bad reputation due to rumors created by authors who disliked him. Poe was seen as arrogant, mad, and a melancholy man who had no friends and spent his time drinking and using drugs. Poe s success came when The Raven was published in 1845, â€Å"†¦though it made Poe popular in his day, it did not bring him significant financial successRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Raven Essay1642 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven Death. A strong topic, frequently but solemnly discussed. However, when I read Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Raven†, I was immediately captivated by the new angle brought to my attention regarding death. While the topic of death is usually associated with either sympathy or horror, Poe succeeded in portraying a feeling caught between the two; and at the same time bringing forth new feelings I would never thought to consider regarding death. These feelings reflectRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Raven2600 Words   |  11 Pagesone of the world s most difficult forms of art. Many poets live throughout their lives and are never recognized for their achievements in their community. Edgar Allan Poe is one of the world s most renowned poets and wrote mainly in the form of poets and short stories. Some of Poe s most renown poems include The Raven, Annabel Lee. The poem The Raven deals with problems such as insanity and grief and the poem Annabel Lee deals with problems of grief a nd young love. Edgar Allan Poe wrote a lot aboutRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Raven1464 Words   |  6 Pagesstarts† Edgar Allan Poe one of America s best known poet, and author who became mad in the sense of insanity after his wife Virginia died of Tuberculous. This made Poe spiral into a deep depression which he wouldn’t be able to get himself out of because of the loss of his beloved Virginia. Poe had a very difficult, strange life, and a writing style like no one had ever seen before and that is what led him to be one of America’s most famous poets, and author. â€Å"The Raven† is what made Poe the wellRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Raven 1602 Words   |  7 PagesJadon Vanderslice. Ms. Glass English 1213 5 February 2017 Poe Edgar Allan Poe, arguably one of the best poets ever, has wrote many great and deep-meaning poems, such as â€Å"Annabel Lee,† and â€Å"Dream Within a Dream.† Both putting off a rather dark image and goth-like elements, a way of writing Poe loved best. Mostly known for â€Å"The Raven†, Poe’s Poems all have real deep and mysterious meanings that make people think a bit more to figure it out. The way he expressed terror, the suspense, the heighteningRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Raven1232 Words   |  5 Pages Edgar Allan Poe: The Raven Literature is a very powerful tool that is used to make a huge impact on society or in someone’s perspective. As complex as the world, literature can appear in many forms using unique vernacular that expresses human endeavors. In some cases, social reform is Transcendentalism is an American literary, philosophical movement, promoting the idea of independent progress. The central idea is the optimistic viewpoint of humanity. People, men and women equally, have knowledgeRead MoreAn Analysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Raven1954 Words   |  8 Pagesauthors, Edgar Allan Poe, Anne Bradstreet, and Emily Dickinson, had poems in which they explored the common theme of death. Their unique views on death, as reflected in their poems, tells us of the different ways people looked at death during their respective times. In this essay, I will explore and explain three poems of Edgar Allan Poe, and one from Anne Bradstreet and Emily Dickinson respectively, and then compare the differences between the three authors. In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, he usesRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Raven1366 Words   |  6 PagesThe series of unfortunate events that Edgar Allan Poe experienced in his lifetime are what influenced his writing. His poetry heavily reflects the built-up emotions that he carried within himself. He repeatedly dealt with loss, rejection, and poverty throughout his entire life. When his wife, Virginia, was deathly ill, Poe wrote his poem, â€Å"The Raven†, in which the reader can observe the speaker slowly fall into madness while grieving the death of his love, similar to Poe’s own experiences. Poe’sRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Raven And The Black Cat1225 Words   |  5 Pagesthe father of the modern horror story, Edgar Allan Poe was previously viewed as a drunken failure. Within Poe’s writings much of his own life riddled with guilt, anxiety, alcohol, depression and death shines through resulting in works that appear unrelated yet once dissected prove similar. This is true for Poe’s works â€Å"The Raven† and â€Å"The Black Cat†. Poe’s examples of gothic fiction share the use of the color black and a rapid digression of the narrator s sanity while seemingly unveiling Poe’s internal

Nature Vs. Nurture Debate - 878 Words

When one thinks about child development, are personalities and traits produced by genetics or shaped by the environment? Or, is there a relationship between nature and nurture with regards to child development? The debate continues. While some believe â€Å"nature and nurture work together, others believe they are separate and opposing influences† (McDevitt, 2010). Nature vs Nurture In regards to the nature vs. nurture debate, â€Å"this debate is a major issue in many social science disciplines and is concerned with the influence that biology, genetics, and overall heredity have, along with or in contrast to environmental influences (Groark, McCarthy, Kirk, 2014, page 3.1). Some theorists argue that a person’s behavior is predetermined at birth (nature), while others argue that a person’s environment is crucial during the developmental years (nurture). However, â€Å"today, many development professionals agree that a complex relationship exists between nature and nurture that may lead to a variety of outcomes later in life† (Groark, McCarthy, Kirk, 2014, page 3.1). While there may be a relationship between nature and nurture, there are different influences on child development; such as biological, environmental, societal, and cultural. Child Development Influences Regarding the different influences on child development, first is the biological influence. As defined by a child psychologist on psychologydictionary.org, biological influence is â€Å"anything which affects theShow MoreRelatedNature Vs. Nurture Debate1427 Words   |  6 Pagesparents use authoritarian methods and punishment.† The nature Vs nurture debate has been around since 1690 created by the philosopher John Locke who believed we as humans do not have natural, inborn ideas; that our minds are a blank page, upon which experience shall write. Nurture is everything and nature is simply nothing. â€Å"Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factorsRead MoreNature Vs Nurture Debate1291 Words   |  6 PagesHow is the nature vs nurture debate related to a consideration of the mental disorder, schizophrenia? INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is categorized by thoughts or experiences that seem abnormal with reality, disorganized speech or behaviour and decreased participation in regular daily activities. Difficulty with memory and concentration are sometimes also present. The two hit hypothesis generally refers to a genetic vulnerability, which is known as the first hit, triggered by something in the environmentRead MoreNature Vs Nurture Debate1343 Words   |  6 Pagescontroversial to psychologist since the phrase was created in 1869 is â€Å"Nature vs Nurture†. Although the debate was started well before then, 1869 was the first time it was tied to the debate. The nature vs nurture debate is over whether you get your behavior from genetics, what you inherited from your biological parents, or if they are learned characteristics, what you learn from the environment and what you get taught. The debate can be traced back to early western philosophy and is still relevantRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Debat e1332 Words   |  6 PagesNature vs Nurture debate is one of the oldest arguments in the history of psychology. The debate is about to know if our personality and talents come from our parent or environment? The coding of genes in each cell in humans determine the different traits that we have, more physical attributes dominance like ear size, eye colour, , height, hair colour and other traits. However, it is still not known whether the more abstract attributes like, intelligence, sexual orientation, personality, preferencesRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Debate1863 Words   |  8 PagesNature vs. Nurture Albert Camus once said, â€Å"Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.† But what makes man what he is? Is it his sheer genetic makeup, or is it the way he was raised? The nature vs. nurture debate has raged on for centuries, but neither side has been able to prove their point indefinitely. Even today we see displays of the contrast between genetics and learned behaviors, in athletics, in intelligence, in behavior, in medical history, and in work ethic. Each personRead MoreThe Debate On Nature Vs Nurture Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pagesdubious history of the debate on nature vs nurture continues to be a controversy, more and more psychologists start to rise from both sides of the argument. The earliest evidence can be traced back to the time of John Locke, who believes that our minds are blank slates and only experience can write override it. Despite the main focus of the issue being how environment transact to influence development, psychologists today cont inue to argue on the issue of nature vs nurture. Intelligence is more ofRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Debate2114 Words   |  9 PagesNature vs. Nurture Albert Camus once said, â€Å"Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.† But what makes man what he is? Is it his sheer genetic makeup, or is it the way he was raised? The nature vs. nurture debate has raged on for centuries, but neither side has been able to prove their point indefinitely. Even today we see displays of the contrast between genetics and learned behaviors, some of which are athletics, intelligence, medical histories, etc. Every person is completelyRead MoreThe Nature Vs. Nurture Debate2673 Words   |  11 Pagesamount of social interaction is going to have a positive benefit, for young kids or any age. One of the most famous debates in Psychology is the Nature vs. Nurture debate, which has been going on since the time of Aristotle. The aspect within this debate comes to the question of; did the aspects of our behavior become because we inherited our characteristics from our parents know as the Nature? The other question leads up to our behavi or of; did we get our characteristics from what we learned from theRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture : The Debate Of Nature Versus Nurture895 Words   |  4 PagesNature vs. Nurture The debate of nature versus nurture has been an ongoing debate for a long time. When applying this argument to education there is no proven winner. The nature side of the coin believes that a person is born the way that they are. This could include intelligence level or personality traits such as being outgoing or shy. The other side of the argument of nurture believes that the type of upbringing that someone has will play a large role in the way they develop. It is thoughtRead MoreThe Debate Of Nature Vs Nurture1364 Words   |  6 PagesThe ongoing debate of Nature vs Nurture is one of the oldest philosophical issues. The nature theory argues that all genes, and hereditary factors, influences an individual in terms of their physical appearance to their personality characteristics (Cherry, 2017). Conversely, the nurture theory argues that all environmental variables impact who individuals are, including early childhood experiences, how individuals were raised, social relations hips, and surrounding culture (Cherry, 2017). However

021456 Free Essays

NABEEL RASHEED Flat # D-19, Crown Garden Block-4, Scheme-33, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Main University Road, Karachi. Cell # +92 343 2550 599 / +92 300 2580 408 Phn # +92 213 4011 237 E-mail: nabeelrasheed14@gmail. com Career Object: Seeking a career with a future oriented organization, which will provide me the platform for becoming a well? Recognized profession†¦ Ultimately attaining prestige and pride for the organization and myself . We will write a custom essay sample on 021456 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Personal information: Father’s Name Date of Birth Nationality Religion Marital Status NIC # : : : : : : Abdul Rasheed December 14th, 1991 Pakistani Islam Single 42201-8923891-5 Personal Qualifications: Masters Graduation : MBA marketing in process from KASBIT : B. com from Karachi University in 2011. B. S. S. Media Studies, 3 semesters from Bahria University in, 2009. Intermediate: I. Com. , from, Liaquat College of Management Sciences in, 2008. Matriculation: Computer Sciences from, The Kings School in, 2006. Experiences: ? Premiers International: (Feb 2012 till Nov 2012) Premiers is the largest Immigration Company in the entire Middle East with its full fledged processing department in its Head Office in Dubai. Premiers serve applicants from entire Middle East through its Head office in Dubai. With its Head office in Dubai Branch Office in Abu Dhabi Premiers is serving expatriate community in the Middle East and has the honor of processing approximately 1000 cases per year. we have regional offices worldwide i. e: Cyprus, Canada, Abu Dhabi, Karachi, Tehran. Designation: Working as a Senior Customer Service Representative and a Immigration Councilor, from Feb, 2012 till Nov2012. ? Silk Bank LTD: (3 months) Saudi Pak was rebranded as Silk bank Limited on June 1, 2009. Under the new leadership the bank will continue to focus on SME Consumer financing resulting in efforts of increased profitability. Designation: Sales Executive in personal loan department (Running Finance), from Aug, 2011 till Oct, 2011 ? United Bank LTD: (6 weeks) Pakistan’s second largest bank with more than 1300 branches nationwide and internationally in 4 continents, giving services with the glorious history of 52years. Designation: Operational Internee, gave my services in every depart, deal cash counter for 1 week, clearing counter for more than One week and deal as a Customer Service Representative for more than a month and have almost full command on it, in 2011 for 6 weeks. ? Used clothing export Pakistan (Fortune Group Canada): (1 year) This company based upon export of used clothing, soft/hard toys, house hold rummage, and etc from worldwide and sale it to local buyers in Pakistan. Designation: Office Administrator, in 2008 Till year end. ? NabCells (6 years) This company is based on Trading of cell phones nationwide and internationally through internet and other marketing, Established in 2007 Till 2012. Designation: CEO and Founder . ? E-management: (1 year) The organization is based upon event organizing like Concert organizing, Conference organizing, Convocations organizing etc, and specialized in wedding planning, in Co-operation with Mac caterers and decorators. Designation: Owner and Event manager for corporate events and wedding planning, in 2008-2009 Computer skills: ? ? ? ? ? Movie Editing Graphic Designing Flash animation Microsoft Office Windows and hardware assembling expert Hobbies: ? Movie making ? ? ? ? ? Photography Do work-out in Gym Eating out Car racing Travelling Extra skills: Brown belt holder in TAI-KWAONDO (Self-Defence) from, Aero Karate Club Karachi. Can speak British English, Urdu and Kokan Language of India (Puna) References: Will be furnished on request. How to cite 021456, Essay examples

Davidson Motorcycle Artwork Gets Personal †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Davidson Motorcycle Artwork Gets Personal? Answer: Introducation Harley Davidson was founded in 1903 and continues to be a success story even today. Its emphasis on quality product and image marketing has got the firm where it is today. After gaining control from AMF, management commenced just in time manufacturing which implied receiving and making goods as and when they are needed thereby leading to reduced inventory costs. Many competitors challenged Harleys leadership position specifically in the motorcycle segment but in vain. By 1993, the firm acquired Buell Motorcycle Company in order to expand its product offerings. Harleys attempt at diversifying into recreational industry was reversed. As Harleys customer base aged, it introduced V-rod which appealed to the youth. After the growth stages of 1990s, Harleys sales started to decline majorly for two reasons safety and pending recession. How Harley continued to grow is discussed in the questions below. Strategic Position Different brands aim to position themselves in various different segments, however the most fundamental positioning distinction comes from price (Association for consumer research, 2016). Harley has been unique by not following the low cost strategy like all its competitors hence Harleys positioning is extremely critical to its success especially given that image marketing is their strongest suits. They aim to fulfill the dreams of personal freedom. Even its vision indicates the companys focus on overall development of all its stakeholders. The vision statement also focusses on international success which makes its expansion plans evident. Harleys mission is to bring exceptional service to its clients and thereby gaining their continued loyalty. Harleys customers are fiercely loyal. And this is also one of the most distinguishing features of the brand. It believes it delivering people an experience and not just a motorcycle (Harley Davidson, 2017). Its strategies also clearly indicate Harleys intention of selling motorcycles as a lifestyle and not just as a mode of transportation (Advertising Age, 2013). Harley continues to differentiate itself by focusing on the experience and not the intricacies of the bike. Harleys CMO mentioned that Harley has an engine and wheels and it runs on road, but that is where its similarities with respect to its competitors ends (Forbes, 2013). Harley has focused solely on heavy weight motorcycles and continues to ensure its products are different from competitors (Business Insider, 2016). In the aim to sell an experience, Harley makes sure that it hires employees that customers can relate to. Their sales employees and store workers are bikers and dressed in biker jackets. Their knowledge about various bikes and its technicalities are in accordance with the Harley store atmosphere. Harley-Davidsons Corporate Governance. Corporate governance is the very essence of business (Forbes, 2015). Harley Davidson takes immense pride in its excellent measures taken to achieve efficient levels of corporate governance. Governance basically implies the art the managing any entity. It envelops leadership roles, management styles, company policies, procedures, organizational structures and employee conduct (Business Line, 2017). Harleys company policies are transparent and leave no room for discrepancy. Harleys board of directors come from a range of industries with decades of experience (Harley Davidson, 2017). Harley even has a corporate governance committee in place that ensures that the companys policies are in place and implemented continuously. The firms mission, vision, values and objectives are crisp and clear and adhered to sincerely. Strengths and weaknesses Cult brand: Harley Davidson has positioned itself in the niche segment of high cc cruiser bikes and transformed itself as a cult brand. This is also because of the sense of ownership and along with that a sense of belongingness to the Harley family that its customers feel. Harley merchandises like jackets, caps, bottles, key chains make sure of bringing a feeling of similarity among its owners. HOG: Harley owners groups are organized across the world. They meet often, discuss experiences, and travel together. They conduct rallies and other events there by making people feel like a part of a group (Harley Owners group, 2017). These passionate owners used these rallies as a killer sales tool (Cult branding, 2011). Harley bikes were made available to people at these rallies so they can get a firsthand experience of riding this beast. Feedbacks were taken from these test riders by Harley employees and changes were accordingly made to bikes. High customer pull: Harleys distinguished promotional strategies and branding has helped the brand gain a huge customer base. Harley comes up with various campaigns and these promotional ideas help consumers connect more with the brand by increasing awareness. Its Live your legend campaign gained a high TOMA score (Top of the mind awareness) and increased demand by $70 million in 2016 (Advertising age, 2016) Loyal customer base: Harleys customers are fiercely loyal owing to its image marketing and targeting a niche segment. Also, Harley is the only brand that provides its consumers with an option to customize their bikes via an online portal. This attracts bike enthusiasts and they remain loyal to the brand as they do not find this facility with any other competitor. As rightly said, such a high level of loyalty is achieved not just by a great service delivery but by willingness to invest in individual customers needs (Inc., 2013). Customization: Harley Davidson gives its customers the luxury of customizing their bikes as per their needs. This can be done on an online tool where people can design their bikes and see it come to life (Harley Davidson, 2017). This gives consumers a sense of individuality and ownership with their bike. The emotional quotient attached with a self-customized bike is high and this helps in gaining customer loyalty. Weaknesses High cost of exporting: Outside US, Harley Davidson has only one manufacturing unit in India and one assembling plant in Brazil. Recently it announced the plan to make an assembling plant in Thailand as well to cater to Asia Pacific clients. But even then the number of Harley facilities outside of US is very less and this makes the price of exporting to other countries relatively higher. Even though they seek a cut in import duties with various countries, nothing substantial has been accomplished yet (Deccan Chronicle, 2014). Over dependence on the US market: As mentioned above their lack of manufacturing units in other countries make Harley focus more on the US market. This creates a very high dependency on one particular market as more than 65% of the revenue comes from the United States of America (The Britton, 2017) Limited suppliers: Harley suppliers go through a strenuous selection process in order to maintain the Harley standard. This is why Harley has very few suppliers especially outside of US and in the long run depending on such few suppliers increases dependency and may even lead to delivery delay and customer dissatisfaction. Opportunities and Threats Asian and European markets: Harley has a very strong hold in the US market but with time it must be noticed that the demand in the developing Asian and European markets is consistently on a rise and there are almost no other players especially in high cc cruiser bikes segment. This makes for a very attractive opportunity for Harley. Lower CC bikes: Harley Davidson has kept its focus completely on high cc and heavy weight bikes but Harley can immensely increase its customer base by introducing low cc heavy weight bikes as the demand and market for these bikes is much higher. Especially now that Harley is focusing on targeting a younger clientele, this is a definite opportunity to expand base. Women and young riders: Harley can put advertising to efficient use and encourage women and younger riders into biking. In 2006, women accounted for 12% of total bike sales across the globe. At present, demand for motorcycles among women is at an all time high (JS Online, 2016). This is a growing number and it marks a golden opportunity to introduce these budding riders into the Harley cult club. YouTube partnerships: Recently there is an emerging trend of bikers uploading their travel experience videos on YouTube. So much so that YouTube has become a better travel influencer than Instagram (Business Standard, 2017). These v-loggers have a huge fan base and it helps them earn money as the viewership for their videos is very high. Harley can associate with these bikers and provide them with Harley merchandises. These bikers also organize meet-ups with their fans in the different cities they travel and Harley Davidson can partner by offering their venue. This would also increase the footfall at the store and hence higher sales. Threats Approach: given the market scenario, consumer needs are consistently changing. This is the time to understand those needs and bring in efforts to fulfil them. Being myopic can significantly hurt Harley sales. Another factor is that at the moment 65% of the revenue comes from US and such a high level of dependency can cause internal distress. Substitutes: Based out of US Harley must keep in mind that a stronger economy means more competitive threats (Forbes, 2012). There are many emerging players in the market who are offering heavyweight motorcycles at a lesser price like Royal Enfield, KTM, Triumph motorcycles etc. Harleys most endangering substitutes are Yamaha VMax, Suzuki Intruder, Ducati Divel, Ducati Multistrada and Suzuki Hayabusa. Strategic factors Increasing age of customers: As the case elaborates that a lot of Harley sales were conducted in the late 1990s. This means most of them are over 50 years of age, mostly male and mostly white (The guardian, 2016). Rider over the age of 40 account for 40% of the fatalities caused by bike accidents. This becomes a major issue as increasing number of accidents by Harley Davidson bikes is sure to impact its brand image. Also almost all Harleys competitors are focussing on targeting a younger generation and it is high time Harley begins to capture that market. Increasing number of substitutes: Harley Davidson is no more a solo player in the heavy weight bike segment. Motorcycle companies like Royal Enfield, Suzuki and Triumph are slowly gaining markets with their heavy weigh bikes at a lower price strategy. Harleys target customers belong to the high income segment but substitutes offering low price goods is sure to eat away from Harleys market share. Need more manufacturing units: Lack of manufacturing units in different countries makes the cost of exporting really high and time consuming. Secondly it somewhat reduces the trust in the minds of consumer by increasing service delivery time. Although, opening manufacturing units is a tedious and expensive investment to make, but given Harleys increasing brand awareness, it is about time to make a rational change in the operational structure of the firm. Recession: The case that we are referring to, is dated before 2008 and hence the recession is yet pending. This black hole in the American economy is sure to affect Harley Davidson as well by reducing peoples buying power and hence demand for high end motorcycles. Strategies must be carefully built to tackle such macro-economic scenarios as and when they arise. Core competencies Core competencies are skills that the organization is best at. Core competence is the collective learning in the organization, especially the capacity to coordinate diverse production skills and integrate streams of technologies (Harvard Business Review, 1990). These competent abilities may or may not give the firm an advantage over its competitors. Harley Davidsons core competency lies in its positioning strategies and customer management. Harley positions its bikes in the most differentiating and innovative manner leading to customer loyalty. Harley does not sell motorcycles for transportation but rather as a status symbol. It symbolises leisure, freedom and a strong personality. Harley owners groups organize various events and rallies where all proud owners of Harley participate. This gives the brand a cult status. Harley celebrates birthdays of all its customers by inviting them to a nearby Harley Davidson outlet and sometimes gifts them merchandise. They make the customer feel like they are a part of the family leading to a passionate customer base and loyalty. Distinctive competency Distinctive competencies of a firm include those abilities that a firm does better and differently from its competitors. Harleys distinctive competencies lie with its niche targeting and customer relationship management. Harley targets high income groups of people and sells them heavy weight high CC cruiser. This differentiates Harley from its competitors who do not have a strong hold on this segment of technology and hence consumer base. Being a part of a niche market segment always makes customers feel special. Harleys customer loyalty is one of its biggest assets and that is completely owed to image marketing done brilliantly done by the team. Harley markets its motorcycles are a symbol of freedom, independence, strength, ready to take challenges and immense force. Anyone who associates with these qualities immediately gets driven towards Harley. Harley sells a lifestyle, an image and a reputation, not just a bike. And this is what makes it different and even superior to its competing counterparts. Customization of motorcycles is one of Harleys most special services. Harley provides its customers with an online portal where they can design their own Harley and see it come to life on delivery. This makes customers associate more with the brand as the emotional quotient associated with a customized bike is very high (USA Today, 2017). Strategies to increase sales Build manufacturing units: As discussed before, Harley Davidson has just one manufacturing outside US which is in India and one assembling unit in Brazil. This leads to high cost of exports and also impacts delivery. In order to overcome this, Harley recently announced to build an assembling unit in Thailand which will be a knock down facility to serve its Asia pacific customers (Fox Business, 2017). Building more manufacturing units in exporting countries is the next recommended step for Harley Davidson and this is sure bring an increased customer base. Marketing focused on women and young riders will inspire them to enter the motorcycle segment. This will benefit Harley Davidson sales as no other firm is targeting them at the moment and the share of motorcycles purchased by women is much lesser as compared to their male counterparts. Harley must also target young riders as firstly, brand loyalty will be much higher as Harley will be introducing them to the world of motorcycle. The emotion behind the first bike can surely be banked upon. And secondly, Harleys customers who bought their bikes in 1990s have reached a risky age and may affect Harleys brand image if the number of accidents increase. Academy to teach motorcycling: Harley Davidsons riding academy is its initiative towards teaching biking to youngsters. This has been a major strategic decision that is expected to raise sales. By the end of this year they aim to train 65000 motorcyclists across the country. This will ensure a certain loyalty from this set of prospective clients (JS Online, 2016). Social Media: According to the global digital snapshot over 40% of the worlds population are active social media users (Web Pro News, 2017). YouTube channel partners are a fad and Harley must take advantage of this and target a large mass of youth. Many bikers have active YouTube pages with high number of followers. Harley Davidson can tie up with them and take advantage of their fan base alongside with promoting their own products. Focus on international markets: As discusses earlier, 65% of Harleys revenue comes from its US market. This high level of dependency and lack of diversification in the consumer segment is rather unsafe (Fortune, 2012). Any macro factors affecting the economy of America will directly impact the companys performance. Harley Davidson must strategies and increase its focus on international soil by building manufacturing units and service stations in other countries. This will lead to efficient service delivery and an increased base of customers. Image of a bike rider Bike riders are often associated with strength and a risk taking aptitude. They symbolize rawness, speed and power. They are filled with pride and responsibility. They seem fearless and extremely passionate about travel. They are strong willed and living on the edge and their life is filled with enthusiasm and energy. The biker image portrayed above is surely a huge help to Harley Davidsons image as the brand reflects all the same values. The high CC of Harley bikes shows speed, power. The heavy exterior symbolises strength and robustness. The HOG members signify passion and pride. This is exactly what Harley Davidson has banked upon. This image marketing by the brand has led to aggressively loyal customers and a very high emotional quotient attached with the purchase of the bike. Impact of competition Like every other brand, sales are bound to get impacted with the presence of higher competition. Also despite the presence of other brands offering lower prices for heavy weight high CC bikes, Harley Davidson consciously made the decision of protecting their iconic brand image by not engaging in discounting activities. However, Harley continues to hold the highest market share in unites states of over 65% which is expected to grow by 2-2.5% annually (Forbes, 2014). Polaris has been Harleys biggest competitor with its sales growing 23% year over year which is more than Harley and this is surely a matter of grave concern (Forbes, 2016). Loyal Customers Harley Davidson customers loyalty is world renowned and often a reason for envy among other brands. This is predominantly because of three factors which are Harleys greatest competencies. First being image marketing, second being their customer relationship management and third being their product differentiation. Image marketing helps its customer associate with a certain image every time they own or ride a Harley Davidson bike. Customer often wish to continue being associated with this image and hence remain loyal to the brand. They like the perception that they leave in peoples minds when they are owning a Harley Davidson bike. Customer relationship management of Harley is done in the manner that the customer feels like a part of a family. HOG events and rallies are conducted often where all the Harley owners get together. They all have shared passions and personality traits that they relate with and hence they have made a cult and continue to be loyal towards it. Product differentiation has occurred mainly because of the absence of too many competitors in the niche segment of high cc heavy motorcycles. Styling of the bike, its exteriors, high engine power are factors which are not easily available with other brands. Hence customers are loyal towards Harley Davidson. Impact of changing demographics Changing demographics are a major opportunity in the form of increasing potential clients for Harley Davidson. Women are increasingly gaining interest in and ability to ride bikes. This is a potential market for Harley bikes as they can invest in marketing strategies to target this segment of the society. People are now beginning to ride their first bikes at an early age and also peoples inclination towards healthy living has got people above the age of 50 also to ride bikes. In fact old rider clubs are getting formed where senior citizens of the country meet and travel together. However Harley must continue to cater to its current customer base who are above 50 years of age as Americans over 50 control 77% of the total net worth in the country. And across the country 39% of the motorcycles are owned by people aging between 51 and 69 (JS Online, 2015). Harley must invest wisely in the marketing of these segments as they are still niche and any kind of association with bikes at this stage with ensure a continued relationship. References: Advertising age, 2013, Harley Davidson CMO: We arent an auto brand, https://www.adageindia.in/marketing/cmo-strategy/harley-davidson-cmo-we-arent-an-auto-brand/articleshow/45807295.cms, viewed on 16 September, 2017. 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