Follow the product - Lamborghini - Thomas

Follow the Product: Lamborghini LP 700-4

The Lamborghini LP 700-4 luxury sport car is one of the amazing cars produced by Lamborghini that guarantee safety but also ensuring the maximum amount of fun and adrenalin.
Lamborghini is a luxury sports car manufacturing brand, which was founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini in Italy. Volkswagen bought Lamborghini in 1998 just like other luxury sport car brands such as Bugatti, the market decreased for luxury sport cars and they had no other choice then to sell their brand to other huge car companies. Lamborghinis headquarter is located in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy enclosed with 831 workers that produce 1711 vehicles annually. Lamborghini started of making tractor like many other sport car brands, Ferruccio Lamborghini then asked Ferrari for help wanting to create proper sport cars for the average road. Ferrari rejected their propose and told Lamborghini he could not know anything about sport cars. Lamborghinis vision became to create the “perfect grand Tourer” (2 seated super sport car) in 1958.
The request for luxury sport cars have increased over the past few years according to http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-autosales.html the request has increased by 2% this year.

The question that many people ask is why buy a super car that you cannot not even use to its full potential and what is the motivation for buying such an expensive and big car. People who ask this question are those who have never driven such a sport car before, the feeling of adrenalin and fear while being amazed with fun is enough to persuade almost everyone to buy such a car. People who buy such a car are rich risk takers that have respect for mechanics and technology.
The main competitors with the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is Ferrari 458, McLaren 650S and the Aston Martin Vanquish. Lamborghini Aventador is in the top 2212 in the Automobile market which is pretty good for a luxury sport car that has a price tag of a half million. Lamborghini has become more famous because of its new models that have been presented in January; the new Lamborghini Huracan attracts many new customers to the brand. Lamborghini also supplies clothing and driving accessories such as gloves, Lamborghini is able to attract even more customers with its clothing collecting because even though you cant afford to buy a luxury car you are still able to wear their clothes and represent their brand on your shirt.
The Lamborghini Aventador is unique and superior when it comes to sport cars, the motor consist of 12 cylinders that pushes you into your chair with a total power of 700 PS.  The 2.1 Tones of pure technology and carbon fibers will accelerate to 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds with a total of 990N. The engines vibrate in the back and roars at everybody you pass with an unforgettable sound. The amount of attention and respect you gain from the general public for driving this particular car is amazing and unforgettable.  From the start up button to the automatic spoiler everything is perfect and done with outstanding quality. During the Aventadors development the people in Sant'Agata Bolognese spend years on developing the perfect and best aerodynamics as a result the Aventador is able to cool it engine even faster and is also able to move through the wind freely.  The fun will never end and the value of the car will be never lost even in year’s time the car will be still at the top with outstanding quality.

DHL - Thomas

Business and Management Blog - DHL

Before I will start to write this Blog I want to thank all the kind people at DHL, especially to our tour guy who organized such a nice day for us and always asked us if we were alright. 

DHL is a PLC (public limited company) and currently the market leader in the logistics industry - "The logistics company for the world." DHL was founded in the year 1993 in Saint Francisco by Dalsey, Hillblom and Lynn. DHL serves more than 220 countries due to the superior and unique transportation systems that is achieved by years of globalization and innovation. Transportation very important for DHL since they would not be able to serve as many countries and Territories. 

DHL transports up to 1,900 tons of deliveries each day with their uncountable trucks und with their 63 planes that fly the express delivery everyday. You can imagine that this will take up an awful lot of energy and fuel which both creates pollution around the world but with DHL "Go Green" Mission they are able to ensure reduced emissions and pollution. DHL owns up to 1000 square meters of solar energy which are installed on the roof of the hangar to ensure maximum sun light expressed to the solar panels. Just the solar panels produce 100,000 kilowatt of solar energy a year and this reduces 3,000 tons of emission a year. Since DHL consists of 2 million square meters they are easily able to collect up to 3,000 rain water per year, which will be used for service such as cleaning. 

DHL is superior at motivating their workers, DHL has an own football team where all employees of the company may take part in. Professional football trainers are hired to ensure top results for the football team, football player may also take part in competitions which are all around the world (this year in Belgium!). If employees do not like to take part in the football team they are encouraged to take part in the cheerleading club which will support the football team on their competitions. DHL outstanding location allows their employees to easily access the company with no problem. Employees are able to access DHL with the S-bahn, bus and with the tram. DHL has organized a price reduction for their workers so they can use public transportation cheaply and therefore also get to work easier and quicker since they do not have to use car or other vehicles. DHL has an own cafeteria that supplies all workers with delicious meals so they do not have to waste their lunch time searching for restaurants. Motivating speeches are spread across the walls in the office to remind the workers why they work here and for what. All offices in DHL are big and open so the workers can talk to their neighbors while doing their work, they can also take a small break and visit their friends since offices are not separated far from each other. DHL is so flexible that even some employees are allowed to choose their own working times as long as they finish their daily work and requirements. This motivates their workers because they can sleep longer and spontaneously come to work, it also builds up trust between the employees and the company which is very important for success. Employees have the choice to work and visit different countries since DHL is located in several different countries, the requirements are that the workers have to organize the trip on their own which can be difficult. 

Since DHL is such a big company with 315,000 workers it is very difficult to motivate every single worker but the workers motivate each other by treating everyone as a friend, this is very rare nowadays and this is why DHL is such a unique and successful company. My tour-guide told me that the workers are like a small family that help and look out for each other, this is very important in huge companies with a lot of stress. 

There are seasonal gifts for every employee from sponsors such as football shirts or chocolate at Christmas or easter, this keeps the workers interested and eager to come everyday to see what there will be today. At special occasions DHL rents amusement parks to celebrate with their employees and thank them for their hard work and dedication. DHL is open for improvements, there are mail boxes where workers can write improvement ideas to DHL so DHL is able to improve the working environment for everyone. 

Security is very important at DHL since it is also an airport, there are safety instructions on every machine and in every hall. We had to wear special shoes and jackets and we had to go through regular security checks at the airport. 

DHL is in cooperation with Deutsche Post, this is why DHL has changed it color from white to yellow, which is the color of the Deutsche Post. The cooperation allows both companies to deliver easier and faster which is better for both customers and workers. DHL and The Deutsche Post have agreement that all the flyers (letters and small packages) will be delivered by the Deutsche Post while DHL takes care of the other packages such as express packages and big heavy packages that cannot be delivered by the Deutsche Post. 

DHL has provided a quiet room which is accessible to all workers, this room allows people to eat, sleep or study. The room is supplied with sound reducing material which is very important since DHL is such a big and loud company, this room reduces the stress of the daily workers. 

All workers at DHL speak in the same way with each other, employees do not have to talk in a polite and respectful way to their bosses which eliminates the though of the boss being better than everyone else, it

shows equality which will motivate the workers. 

I think DHL is very good organized and structured company with nice and understanding people running it, it was very hard for me to even find an ethical problem because DHL is such an ethical company. I enjoyed my both days there and I am looking forward to visit the company again.

Thomas Godts

 

Tom - McDonalds marketing strategies

Business Blog

Thomas Godts

2^nd February 2015

 

McDonald's sales slump

Sales at McDonalds have decreased for the first time in 12 years. Don Thompson, (president of McDonalds) will be replaced by the new executive president Steve Easterbrook who has all the pressure to safe the Fast Food company that is getting replaced by new companies such as Shake Shack and Chipotle who treat their employees well and also serve good quality food. The average percentage of 19-21 year old visiting McDonalds has decreased by 13% in the last years, meanwhile other leading fast food companies sales has increase significantly in the past years. Wealthy customers rather to visit restaurants that treat their employees fairly and also serve good quality food rather than going to McDonalds that has had a lot of scandals including bad quality food and unfair wages.

Similar problems were recorded in the past already, 2003 McDonalds made a huge loss but the chief executive Jim Canatalupo said “The world has changed. Our customers have changed. We have to change, too.”  Canatalupo was able to rescue his company due to his significant management strategies.

McDonalds it loosing its customers because of the low choice menu, there is no variety for customer to choose is frankly always the same.

McDonalds is focusing on a different customer base, people with low income/budget and people that do not really care about the food quality. McDonalds is launching a new cheap Asian salad that also attracts customers that want to become healthy or want to try something new. McDonalds is looking forwards to their new president and all the ideas he has set up, they are looking forward to launch new products that customers have never seen before. Due to the scandals that occurred last summer in china, McDonalds certainly has to concentrate on the reputation of the food quality. McDonalds is thinking about doing market research in their restaurants asking what the customer’s wants and needs are. McDonalds are loosing their customer to Burger King (competitive fast food restaurant) partly because of their wide menu choice and because of good reputation is has towards their employees. McDonalds is ready to change the salaries and the treatment of their employees to gain a good reputation. This is a big change for the employees of McDonalds since they are now able to afford better quality food and therefore live healthier. McDonalds is therefore also globalizing their employee’s lives. McDonalds is starting to market to different age groups with different demographics this will make a change for the company since their have to change their menu and style of restaurant. McDonalds innovative strategies of serving new products will help the company to gain their customers back.