Torralba and Ambrona - Lower Paleolithic Sites in Spain

Torralba and Ambrona are two open-air Lower Paleolithic (Acheulean) sites located two kilometers (about 1 mile) apart on the Ambrona River in the Soria region of Spain, 150 km (93 mi) northeast of Madrid, Spain. The sites are at ~1100-1150 meters (3600-3750 feet) above sea level on either side of the Masegar river valley. Both were thought by excavators F. Clark Howell and Leslie Freeman to contain important evidence for 300,000-year-old hunting and butchering of mammoth by Homo erectus—a pretty revolutionary idea for the 1960s. More recent investigations and developing technologies have shown that Torralba and Ambrona do not have identical stratigraphies, and were occupied at least 100,000 years apart. Further, research has rejected much of Howell and Freemans ideas of the site. Although Torralba and Ambrona turned out not at all to be what their primary excavators thought, the importance of the two sites lies in the notion of ancient butchering and how that stimulated the development of techniques to define what evidence would support that type of behavior. Recent research at Ambrona has also supported the North African origin for the Iberian Acheulean during the Middle Pleistocene. Cutmarks and Taphonomy Howell and Freeman believed that the two sites represented the mass killing and butchering of extinct elephants, deer, and cows that took place at the side of a lake approximately 300,000 years ago. Elephants were driven into the marshes by fire, they hypothesized, then dispatched with wooden spears or stones. Acheulean bifaces and other stone tools were then used to batter open the animal skulls; sharp-edged flakes were used to slice meat and disarticulate joints. American archaeologist Lewis Binford, writing about the same time, argued that although the evidence didnt support butchering or killing, it did support scavenging behavior: but even Binford didnt have the technological advances that have dissolved the previous interpretations. Howell based his argument for hunting and butchery on the presence of cutmarks—longitudinal slices evident in the surfaces of the bones. This argument was tested in a seminal article by American archaeologists Pat Shipman and Jennie Rose, whose microscopic investigations first began to define the diagnostic features of cut marks. Shipman and Rose found that there was a very small percentage of genuine cutmarks in the bone assemblages, accounting for less than 1% of the bones they looked at. In 2005, Italian archaeologist Paolo Villa and colleagues described further taphonomic studies of the faunal assemblage from Ambrona and concluded that while bone and stone artifacts show varying degrees of mechanical abrasion, there is no clear evidence of either hunting or butchery. Animal Bone and Tool Assemblages Animal bone from the Lower Complex levels from Ambrona (dated to 311,000-366,000 based on Uranium Series-Electron Spin Resonance U/ESR) are dominated by extinct elephant bone (Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus), deer (Dama cf. dama and Cervus elaphus), horse (Equus caballus torralbae) and cattle (Bos primigenius). Stone tools from both sites are associated with the Acheulean tradition, although there are very few of them. According to Howell and Freemans two sets of excavations, ivory points were found at both sites: Torralbas assemblages included 10 and Ambrona 45, all made from elephant tusks. However, Villa and DErricos 2001 investigations of those points revealed a broad variability in length, width, and stem length, inconsistent with patterned tool production. Based on the presence of eroded surfaces, Villa and DErrico concluded that none of the points are indeed points at all, but rather are natural remnants of elephant tusk breakage. Stratigraphy and Dating A close examination of the assemblages indicates that they were likely disturbed. Torralba assemblages, in particular, appear disturbed, with up to one-third of the bones exhibiting edge-rounding, a characteristic thought to be the result of the erosive effects of having been rolled in water. Both occupations are large in area, but with a low density of artifacts, suggesting that the smaller and lighter elements have been removed, again suggesting dispersal by water, and surely by a combination of displacement, redeposition, and perhaps mixing between adjacent levels. Research at Torralba and Ambrona Torralba was discovered during installation of a railway in 1888 and first excavated by the Marques de Cerralbo in 1907–1911; he also discovered the Ambrona site. The two sites were first systematically excavated by F. Clark Howell and Leslie Freeman in 1961–1963 and again in 1980–1981. A Spanish team led by Santonja and Perez-Gonzalez ran an interdisciplinary research project at Ambrona between 1993–2000, and again between 2013–2015. The most recent excavations at Ambrona have been part of work identifying evidence for an African origin of the Acheulean stone tool industry in the Iberian peninsula between MIS 12-16. Ambronas levels dated to MIS 11 included characteristic Acheulean handaxes and cleavers; other sites supporting an African Acheulean include Gran Dolina and Cuesta de la Bajada among others. This represents, say Santonja and colleagues, evidence of an influx of African hominids across the straits of Gibraltar approximately 660,000-524,000 years ago. Sources Falguà ¨res C, Bahain J-J, Pà ©rez-Gonzà ¡lez A, Mercier N, Santonja M, and Dolo J-M. 2006. The Lower Acheulian site of Ambrona, Soria (Spain): ages derived from a combined ESR/U-series model. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:149–157.Postigo-Mijarra JM, Gà ³mez-Manzaneque F, and Morla C. 2017. Woody macroremains from the Acheulian site of Torralba: Occurrence and palaeoecology of Pinus cf. sylvestris in the Middle Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Comptes Rendus Palevol 16(3):225–234.Shipman P, and Rose J. 1983. Evidence of butchery and hominid activities at Torralba and Ambrona; an evaluation using microscopic techniques. Journal of Archaeological Science 10(5):465–474.Santonja M, Pà ©rez-Gonzà ¡lez A, Panera J, Rubio-Jara S, and Mà ©ndez-Quintas E. 2016. The coexistence of Acheulean and Ancient Middle Palaeolithic techno-complexes in the Middle Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Quaternary International 411(Part B):367-377.Santonja M, Rubio-Ja ra S, Panera J, Sà ¡nchez-Romero L, Tarrià ±o A, and Pà ©rez-Gonzà ¡lez A. 2017. Ambrona revisited: The Acheulean lithic industry in the Lower Stratigraphic Complex. Quaternary International: In press.Villa P, Soto E, Santonja M, Pà ©rez-Gonzà ¡lez A, Mora R, Parcerisas J, and Sesà © C. 2005. New data from Ambrona: closing the hunting versus scavenging debate. Quaternary International 126–128:223–250. doi:

Booker T.Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois Essay - 1184 Words

Since their arrival in North America, Blacks have been abused and oppressed into a state less than human. In an article written by W.E.B. Du Bois he said, â€Å"The sincere and passionate belief that somewhere between men and cattle God created a tertium quid, and called it a negro† (Du Bois). In the late 19th and 20th centuries a strong push for economic and social progress for African-Americans was being made. The prominent leaders of this movement amongst the Black community were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, however they had very differing views on how to achieve this goal (PBS.org). Washington and Du Bois essentially split the Black community into two parties, radical and conservative. Du Bois, the radical, preached for a†¦show more content†¦Washington felt that southern racism had reached such an extraordinary level that immediate social equality for Blacks would do little, instead he preached self help for Blacks, and sought to teach them practical skills at Tuskegee (ushistory.org). Booker urged for Blacks to accept racial discrimination until they had elevated themselves through hard work and material prosperity (PBS.org). Washington received much fame for a speech he presented on September 18, 1895, titled the â€Å"Atlanta Compromise†. In the speech he greatly emphasized the line â€Å"Cast down your bucket where you are†. The line urged Blacks to accept racial discrimination for the time being, until they were able to advance themselves through hard work. Washington held strong to his ideals of a practical education instead of one of a liberal arts standpoint. In an article he wrote titled â€Å"The Awakening of the Negro† he claimed â€Å"The fact that a student goes out into the world conscious of his power to build a house or a wagon, or to make a harness, gives him a certain confidence and moral independence that he would posses without such training† (Washington). Washington supported this theory strongly, but he was smart enough to see why some objected to his ideals. He was aware that an education so focused on industrial training was simply teaching Blacks to perform the same tasks that they were forced to complete well enslaved (Washington). W.E.B. Du Bois never knew slavery first hand. He wasShow MoreRelatedBooker T Washington Vs W. E. B De Dubois Essay1445 Words   |  6 PagesHow can two people that our similar but at the time have different ways of life come together to achieve the same goal?Imagine 30 years after slavery ended you because of the color of your skin are still being mistreated. During the time of Booker and W.E.B the Jim crow law was created to segregate blacks and whites. Because of the segregation blacks had their own society like community only dealing with each other. Blacks were separated from society, they had their own neighborhoods buildings theyRead MoreA Comparison Of Booker T Washington And W. E. De Dubois1532 Words   |  7 PagesHow can two people that our similar but at the time have different ways of life come together to achieve the same goal?Imagine 30 years after slavery ended you because of the color of your skin are still being mistreated. During the time of Booker and W.E.B t he Jim crow law was created to segregate blacks and whites. Because of the segregation blacks had their own society like community only dealing with each other. Blacks were separated from society, they had their own neighborhoods buildings they

Strategies and Implementation Plan for SWOT Analysis

Question: What are the success strategies and Implementation plan for SWOT Analysis? Answer: Success Strategy and Implementation Plan SWOT Analysis For every flower shop, the maintenance of the flowers, to keep the flowers looking beautiful and to keep them fresh for the customers is the most important factor. Therefore, we will also put main focus on these factors, such that many customers can be attracted. SWOT Analysis has been performed below in order to analyze the market position of the Exquisite Skills Floral and also to identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths The internal capacity of Exquisite Skills Floral will provide it strength in order to exist successfully in the competitive market. The target customers of Exquisite Skills Floral are the businessmen and businesswomen and it has been found that the total numbers of the target customers of this business are huge in numbers, it has been noted that about 77 % people are working. Thus, the increased numbers of target customers will act as strength for our business. We will employ best-trained florists in our business and will also provide exotic flowers to our customers. These will also act as the strengths for our business. We will serve various types of products to our target customers i.e. businessmen and businesswomen like custom floral designs and various selections, unique containers and vases, green and flowering house plants and gourmet chocolates. Exquisite Skills Floral will provide and serve all these unique products and services to our customers that are rarely ser ved and provided by other companies in the competitive market. Thus, this will also be considered as the strength of our business. In addition to this, the location of the business in centre of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and its increasing population of 6,812,373 in 2013 will also add strength to our business. Weaknesses Our business does not have much weakness except its size. As our business is in the initial stage, the size of the business is also small and the competition in the market is much high. Therefore, it can be said that to enter into a new market is quite tough for us as there are many other competitors in the similar market. Opportunities The businessmen and businesswomen are the primary targets of our business and our location is in centre of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. This indicates a densely populated area as it has been found that the numbers of population in this area for the year 2013 was 6,812,373 and it has been noted to be increasing with the passage of time. Thus in other words, it can be said that the numbers of our target customers are also increasing. This is an opportunity for us as the businessmen and businesswomen are our target customers. We are going to sell custom floral designs and various selections, unique containers and vases, green and flowering house plants and gourmet chocolates to our customers. All these products are not sold or served by other competitors of the business. Thus, this will also act as an opportunity for our business Exquisite Skills Floral. Threats The opportunities might act as threat for our business, as the popularity of our product might compel the other businesses to serve or produce the similar products and lesser cost might take away the target customers of Exquisite Skills Floral to its competitors. The other weaknesses include the maintenance of the flowers, with the climatic change the flowers should be kept fresh and nonetheless the customers cannot be attracted by the business. This incurs a huge cost and thus the high operation cost of the business will act as a threat. In addition to this, there is also a threat of new entrant in the industry. Our Competitive Edge Exquisite Skills Floral will be totally different from the traditional florists. This difference will be made based on the development of the consumer intimacy. The consumer intimacy is built up on the basis of the personalized relationships, which will save time of the male customers and will also reduce their anxiety that is associated with the buying process of the gift. Our business Exquisite Skills Floral will achieve its goals through the following: Firstly, we will use various modern technologies in order to make the floral purchasing experience easy for the consumers. This will make our business enable in identifying and tracking its consumer base. Secondly, the arrangement of a new fresh flower purchasing experience for the target consumers. Thirdly, we will offer additional self-indulging products. This includes - gourmet chocolates and unique vases and containers. Fourthly, we will offer artistic and exquisite arrangements to our customers. Fifthly, the customer database will be build that will help in identifying contact information and also the preferences like - vases, colors, pets, allergies, frequency, anniversary, birthday, children or spouse and many more. Lastly, we will adopt the proactive consumer service policies for the benefit of the business. This we will do by contacting each of the members of the Frequent Flower Gift Program through e-mail or phone call within 48 hours of the scheduled delivery and also by giving call to the commercial clients. This will be performed after every delivery in order to ensure satisfaction of the customers. Our business Exquisite Skills Floral is not like a traditional florist. Therefore, it will not offer the following as a traditional florist. These include: Weddings Floral services especially for weddings are considered as a special area of traditional florist. In order to maintain its focus on the objectives of the Frequent Flower Gift program, Exquisite Skills Floral might select in order to refer the potential clients of wedding to the other competitors of the area. Teleflora wire services or FTD The recreation of the arrangements as defined by other competitors also limits creativity. Funerals The florists provide services for funerals. It is counted as a special area for the traditional florists. In order to remain highlighted on the objectives of the Frequent Flower Gift Program, Exquisite Skills Floral might select in order to refer the potential clients of funerals to the other competitors of the particular region. Balloons and stuffed animals The traditional florists also sell balloons and stuffed animals as they provide services for weddings. Wide Delivery Services Exquisite Skills Floral will cater its services only in the centre of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. However, the other competitors of the business will serve throughout the city, workers and residents. Website Plan Exquisite Skills Floral considers the website of the business as a dynamic tool for marketing that helps in sales and also direct e-mail marketing. Thus the aim of the business is to develop a useful website which will give information regarding arrangements, new product lines and plans for the business. This website will also help in communicating the news of company in order to develop and maintain good public relations with the people of online community. Marketing Strategy The businessmen and businesswomen who generally work in the centre of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area will trust on Exquisite Skills Floral and thus it will emphasize the services of the business in order to keep love and romance alive. Tactics We will make people giving flowers to their loved ones as it is an effortless and automatic process. We will make the process of purchasing flower easy and it will provide an easy and fun experience. We will shift the purchasing responsibility of the flowers from the women to men. We will make the flowers a habit to the people by encouraging them to take the flowers at home on a regular interval of time that is routinely and not for only some special purposes. Programs The main programs that will be organized by the business Exquisite Skills Floral in order to earn more customers include We will maintain good public relations. We will arrange for advertisement as by advertising through various media, the business can prosper. The business will arrange for co-marketing efforts We will directly mail or send postcards to the customers in order to keep a good relation with them. We will e-mail our targeted and potential customers on a routine basis in order to keep a good and close contact. We will use proper marketing materials for brand recognizing. We will develop our own website and will make it attractive in order to attract more new customers and also to retain the existing customers. Overall Strategy It is a common thought that there are not many florists across the country rather there are many florists who are of similar type. It has been found that a florist who has a well defined niche market for business can easily flourish. Therefore, the marketing strategy of our business Exquisite Skills Floral includes development of independent and specialized niche business which centers on the programs of the Frequent Flower Gift and characterizes the quality products, outstanding personalized consumer service and custom designs. Marketing Objectives Exquisite Skills Floral requires establishment of a reputation as automatic and simple way in order to purchase foster romance and flowers with the loved ones, particularly with the affluent men who are busy in their work life. A specific and measurable objective involves initiation of the marketing efforts. It will have a minimum of 25 male customers in the program of the Frequent Flower Gift at the time of the opening of the stores. Exquisite Skills Floral will develop itself as a creative source for the office tenants and the retail in the centre of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area which requires weekly arrangements of flower. The specific and measurable goals of our business are to have six offices that will be signed up for deliveries on a weekly basis. It is an expectation that we will get these orders of weekly delivery by the time of the opening of the store. Exquisite Skills Floral has to develop brand recognition in order to attract the customers. Positioning Exquisite Skills Floral will offer an upscale program of Frequent Flower Gift having a target to meet the demands of the featuring custom, affluent businessmen and businesswomen, personalized service and high-quality floral arrangements. In addition to this, we have planned to develop a unique shopping experience. For this we have decided to design a floral gallery that will be located at the centre of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Marketing Mix Exquisite Skills Floral has planned to serve the businessmen and businesswomen who work in the centre of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Therefore, the marketing efforts of the business will mainly highlight on the targeting customers and as a promotional program of giveaway and a by-product of deliveries, we have planned to secure the commercial accounts. The overall approach of the marketing of this business is to create brand awareness by public relations, targeted advertising and a website. This helps in generating leads by the efforts of co-marketing with e-mail or traditional direct mail, events and select venues. Reasons for Purchasing from Exquisite Skills Floral by businesspersons To reduce forgetting regarding anniversaries, birthdays and any other special dates. To promote romance with floral gifts for spouse. To spend more time with the loved ones and also to reduce the timing for shopping for their loved ones. The process is convenient and also easy. The service is personalized. We provide unique floral arrangements and quality flowers. The delivery is free of cost. The gourmet chocolate is available in addition to the flowers. Sales Strategy We will implement both the direct and indirect sales strategies in order to run our business Exquisite Skills Floral successfully and efficiently. Direct Sales It has been noted that in present days more than 90 % of the people of the country state word-of-mouth as best source of information and ideas. In the country, the word-of-mouth is considered as the most important method of communication that advertises about the services and the products of the company and also adds more value to the business. Exquisite Skills Floral plans to perform direct sales by offering a unique and high level of personalized service to the target customers to build loyalty and finally the word-of-mouth will work as referrals to their colleagues. Exquisite Skills Floral will gather and maintain the database of all its customers, their name, e-mail addresses, residential addresses and preferences. This will help in e-mailing or direct mailing and also to develop customer loyalty among them. Exquisite Skills Floral has also intended to offer 24 * 7 services to all its customers in order to maintain customer loyalty and retention. These services will include retur n or exchange policies and also free delivery of the ordered flowers. Indirect Sales Exquisite Skills Floral can obtain the opportunity of establishing a referral service and also to get partnered with several essential florists who can serve these services. Thus, we will gather a flat percentage of every referral sale along with amount payable at end of every month. Key Implementation Milestones The scheduled milestones that will be implemented with time are as follows: Exquisite Skills Floral Milestones Task Description Start Date Planned Finish Date Date Completed Assigned To Deliverable Budget Cost to Implement Value to Company Priority Days to Finish Bank loan application 12/25/16 12/31/25 1/24/17 Ralph County, city business license $500 $500 $500 1.000 30 Apply for licenses 7/9/16 7/14/16 8/8/16 Frank Bank loan $200 $300 $150,000 3.000 30 Contract with builder for leasehold buildout 8/12/16 9/31/2016 12/10/16 Cindy Lease $500 $1,000 $63,000 2.000 120 Negotiate lease 10/12/16 10/22/16 11/11/16 Chris Renovated leasehold $25,000 $30,000 $30,000 4.000 30 Purchase computers, software 10/12/16 10/30/16 11/1/16 Julie Functioning network $20,000 $30,000 $30,000 5.000 20 Task Budgetary Summary Tasks Total Percent on Budget Percent Value to Cost Budget $46,200.00 Cost to Implement $61,800.00 133.77% Value to Company $273,500.00 442.56% Task Completion Status Total assigned tasks 5 Total completed tasks 5 Percent completed 100.00% Company Resources Our People The forecast regarding the human resource specifies the recruitment of the candidates who are already related with the business purposes. The particular business has to keep it in mind that according to the expertise and experience of the people, candidates should be employed. The required workforce for the business is as follows: Types of Staffs Requirement in Year 1 Requirement in Year 2 Store in-charge 4 6 Accountant 1 2 Sales Persons 5 8 Payroll Summary Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Direct Cost of Labor $219,525 $427,955 $636,385 Payroll Operating Expense $947,525 $947,525 $947,525 Total Payroll Expense $1,167,050 $1,375,480 $1,583,910 Business Structure Exquisite Skills Floral will be organized in three primary functional areas design, sales and administrative. We have already assigned the jobs as per the experience and designation. Nevertheless, we have decided to help each other in different departments as per necessity. The owner spontaneously checks the development plans of this business and cooperates in development of products and services. She also suggests for the betterment of the business. It is expected to have a continuous growth in salary of the employees as this plan will become successful and will also be profitable. Start-up Capital The start-up funds required for this floral business is $ 140,000. The owner of the business i.e. Ms. Anderson will invest $ 50,000 from her savings and remaining $ 90,000 will be invested by her close friend as well as sports bar owner Marcus Holt. The lease amount for the shop per month is estimated to be $2500 and there is an option of expansion of the lease amount after every 6 months afterward. Financial Statements Statement of Operations Exquisite Skills Floral Statement of Operations 2016 2017 2018 Revenue Sales 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 Cost of Goods Sold Direct Cost Direct cost of materials 100,000 100,000 100,000 Direct cost of labor 100,000 100,000 100,000 Freight 100,000 100,000 100,000 Inventory Adjustments 100,000 100,000 100,000 Purchase Returns And Allowances 100,000 100,000 100,000 Cost of Sales $500,000 $500,000 $500,000 Gross Margin $3,500,000 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 Operating Expenses Advertising Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Auto Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Bad Debt Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Bank Charges 50,000 50,000 50,000 Commission Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Insurance General 50,000 50,000 50,000 Interest Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 License Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Interest Payments 4,644 7,044 10,243 Maintenance Expense Meals And Entertainment 50,000 50,000 50,000 Office Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Payroll Expense $1,167,050 1,375,480 1,583,910 Postage 50,000 50,000 50,000 Printing 50,000 50,000 50,000 Professional Fees 50,000 50,000 50,000 Rent 50,000 50,000 50,000 Repairs Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Shipping Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Supplies Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Taxes Federal Income Tax 5,000 5,000 5,000 State Income Tax 5,000 5,000 5,000 Sales Tax 5,000 5,000 5,000 Other Tax 5,000 5,000 5,000 Utilities Expense 50,000 50,000 50,000 Depreciation and Amortization Expense 6,764 6,764 6,764 Other 50,000 50,000 50,000 Other 50,000 50,000 50,000 Total Operating Expenses 2,198,458 2,409,288 2,620,918 Income From Operations $1,301,542 $1,090,712 $879,082 Non Operating Income Item 1 100,000 100,000 100,000 Item 2 100,000 100,000 100,000 Item 3 100,000 100,000 100,000 Total Non-Operation Income $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 Net Income (Loss) $1,601,542 $1,390,712 $1,179,082 EBITDA $1,378,306 $1,167,476 $955,846 Balance Sheet Exquisite Skills Floral Balance Sheet Start Up 2016 2017 2018 Assets Current assets: Cash 94,000 2,899,356 5,677,312 8,432,068 Accounts Receivable Inventories Pre-paid Expenses Other short-term investments Other 1 Other 2 Other 3 Total current assets $94,000 $2,899,356 $5,677,312 $8,432,068 Other Non-Current Assets Property, Plant and Equipment 122,000 122,000 122,000 122,000 Other 1 Other 2 Other 3 Less Accumulated Depreciation 6,764 13,528 20,292 Total other assets $122,000 $115,236 $108,472 $101,708 Total assets $216,000 $3,014,591 $5,785,783 $8,533,776 Liabilities and owner's equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable Other 1 Other 2 Other 3 Total current liabilities $0 $0 $0 $0 Non current liabilities: Long term debt 120,000 200,000 255,000 290,000 Other 1 Other 2 Other 3 Total non-current liabilities $120,000 $200,000 $255,000 $290,000 Total Liabilities $120,000 $200,000 $255,000 $290,000 Shareholder's equity: Common stock, no par value Paid In Capital 120,000 120,000 120,000 120,000 Retained earnings (24,000) 2,694,591 5,410,783 8,123,776 Other 1 Other 2 Other 3 Total owner's equity $96,000 $2,814,591 $5,530,783 $8,243,776 Total liabilities and owner's equity $216,000 $3,014,591 $5,785,783 $8,533,776 Balanced Balanced Balanced Balanced - - - - Statement of Cash Flows Exquisite Skills Floral Statement of Cash Flows 2016 2017 2018 Beginning Cash Balance $94,000 $2,899,356 $5,677,312 Cash Received Cash from Operations 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 Cash from Non-operations 300,000 300,000 300,000 New Current Borrowing New Long-term Liabilities 100,000 100,000 100,000 Sale of Other Current Assets Sale of Long-term Assets Other Total cash received 4,400,000 4,400,000 4,400,000 Breakeven Analysis Exquisite Skills Floral Breakeven Analysis Units Sold Net Revenue Total Operating Expense Variable Cost Total Cost Total Profit 0 $0 $1,081,609 $0 $1,081,609 -$1,081,609 8,000 $800,000 $1,081,609 $50,000 $1,131,609 -$331,609 16,000 $1,600,000 $1,081,609 $100,000 $1,181,609 $418,391 24,000 $2,400,000 $1,081,609 $150,000 $1,231,609 $1,168,391 32,000 $3,200,000 $1,081,609 $200,000 $1,281,609 $1,918,391 40,000 $4,000,000 $1,081,609 $250,000 $1,331,609 $2,668,391 48,000 $4,800,000 $1,081,609 $300,000 $1,381,609 $3,418,391 56,000 $5,600,000 $1,081,609 $350,000 $1,431,609 $4,168,391 64,000 $6,400,000 $1,081,609 $400,000 $1,481,609 $4,918,391 72,000 $7,200,000 $1,081,609 $450,000 $1,531,609 $5,668,391 80,000 $8,000,000 $1,081,609 $500,000 $1,581,609 $6,418,391 Image 4 Key Ratios Exquisite Skills Floral Financial Ratios and other Indicators 2016 2017 2018 Ratios Acid Test 0 0 0 Current Debt to Total Assets 6.90% 4.49% 3.44% Current Liabilities to Total Liabilities 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Debt to Equity 7.11% 4.61% 3.52% Net Worth $2,814,591 $5,530,783 $8,243,776 Return on Equity 85.93% 43.69% 29.27% Sales to Net Worth 142.12% 72.32% 48.52% Total Assets to Sales 75.36% 144.64% 213.34% Working Capital $2,899,356 $5,677,312 $8,432,068 Balance Sheet Cash $2,899,356 $5,677,312 $8,432,068 Total Current Assets $2,899,356 $5,677,312 $8,432,068 Other Non-current assets $115,236 $108,472 $101,708 Total Assets $3,014,591 $5,785,783 $8,533,776 Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Accounts Payable $0 $0 $0 Non-current Liabilities $200,000 $255,000 $290,000 Total Liabilities $200,000 $255,000 $290,000 Statement of Operations Sales $4,000,000 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 Cost of Sales $500,000 $500,000 $500,000 Gross Margin $3,500,000 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 Operating Expense $1,081,409 $1,083,808 $1,087,007 Advertising Expenses $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 Total Payroll Expense $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 Income From Operations $2,418,591 $2,416,192 $2,412,993 Net Income (loss) $2,718,591 $2,716,192 $2,712,993 EBITDA $2,495,356 $2,492,956 $2,489,757 Important Assumptions Exquisite Skills Floral Assumptions Market Share Assumptions and Sources What percent of market share will you convert to business in year 1, 2, 3 70% What is a conservative, moderate and aggressive estimate of the market share you will convert in year 1, 2, 3 40%, 55%, 70% What is the logical, statistical basis for the estimate of market share conversion revenues earned from the business Sales Assumptions and Sources What is the percent growth rate for yr 1,2,3 etc 10%, 20%, 30% How many customer sales per month 12,000 How many customers are repeat customers 55% Average annual sales volume per customer 60 What is the average revenue per customer per sale $65 What percent of your sales will be for 'house accounts' belonging to large regular customers. What kind of terms will the have 30% What sales, use or excise tax rate applies to your sales 10 Other Property Plant and Equipment Equipment Assumptions and Sources What is included in the 'standard' equipment for each class of employee: Desk, chair, side chair, file cabinet, table, other furniture 1000 Automobile, auto insurance, gas card, mileage allowance 10000 What equipment will you purchase Computer, laptop, software, desk phone, cell phone, email account, printer, fax, scanner 20000 Tools, devices, test equipment, other 12000 Cash register, barcode scanners, merchant account input devices 15000 How much equipment is necessary in relation to increasing sales $75,000 Other Inventory Assumptions and Sources What is your estimated inventory turn rate 10% How many different items will be stocked 10 What is the estimated stock replenishment time 24 hour Capital Equipment 22000 How much capital equipment is necessary to produce 3 years sales volume $65,000 How many years will you use to depreciate this equipment 5 What is the installation and facilities preparation cost for the equipment 6 Other Facilities Assumptions and Sources How many square feet per dollar volume of sales is necessary for the business 100 How many square feet for 'operations, production' 500 How many square feet for ' sales, customer interaction' 500 Will the facilities be leased or purchased leased Who will guarantee the lease owner Other Employees and staff Assumptions and Sources How many salespeople per $$unit of sales 5 How many support people per number of salespeople 4 What is the annual salary for each employee class 15000 Personnel agency fees 12000 Other Expenses Assumptions and Sources Legal fees 500 Accounting fees 8000 Business formation fees and expenses $15,000 Audit Fees when using investor funds 9500 Brokerage Fee to raise capital 5000 Licenses $1,000 Travel expense $2,560 Required professional memberships. $500 Which expenses will the founders have to personally guarantee loan and lease amount Other Cash Flow Assumptions and Sources Interest payment on investment capital 12% Will there be sufficient cash on hand until the cash flow is positive yes Other Event Industry Assumptions and Sources How many customer events per year, month, week 12000 p.m. How many customers per event 6000 How much will these events increase your 'normal' estimate for sales 45%

Scarlet Letter Analysis free essay sample

Kelsey Federspill Scarlet Letter Literary Analysis R5 12. 2. 12 Over Coming Guilt Remorse is a feeling experienced after committing an act that produces a sense of guilt. A life lesson can be learned in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, about the theme of guilt. Everyone experiences guilt when they commit a sin or human frailty but the way one handles the feelings of guilt is different. Guilt is expressed in three main ways: ignoring or hiding the sin and letting the guilt build up on the inside, blaming others for the sin and wanting revenge for the way the person feels, and embracing the sin committed and not releasing the guilt. The different ways guilt is experienced determines the way it is punished: by others or no one at all. But punishment for the sin doesnt always affect the amount of guilt felt by one. Hawthorne uses symbolism and irony to demonstrate that guilt should not take over one’s life, rather it should be a lesson learned of embracement, forgiveness, and acceptance. We will write a custom essay sample on Scarlet Letter Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In The Scarlet Letter, the character Hester Prynne is well known for the scarlet letter that she was forced to wear. Prynne embraced the punishment of the scarlet letter and used the punishment in a unique way, â€Å"On the breast of her gown in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A† (37). The letter ‘A’ represented the sin of adultery that Prynne had committed. The community choose this form of punishment for Prynne to make her feel guilty for the act of adultery she committed and used it as an example to the rest of the community. As Prynne egresses from prison Hawthorne describes the scene, â€Å"the scene was not without a mixture of awe, such as must always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame in a fellow-creature† (39). Prynne chooses to embrace the scarlet letter rather than let the feeling of guilt take over her life because she desired to set a good example for her daughter, Pearl. She was able to embrace her sin and the scarlet letter because she was working to set an example for her daughter. It was ironic how the community tried to force guilt on to Prynne, but in return she embraced the punishment in full stride and even used it to purify herself, â€Å"Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and her should be the scene of her punishment; and so, perchance, the torture of her daily shame would at length purge her soul, and work out another purity than that which she had lost; more saint-like, because the result of martyrdom† (55). When the town people saw Prynne as she exited the prison, people said, â€Å"thus she will be a living sermon against sin† (44). The town people would always be reminded of her sin. Prynne did not let the guilt of her sin produce a major impact on her life. Rather she accepted her transgression and learned the importance of not letting her past mistakes and guilt negatively affect her future. Rosebushes are full of beauty but pain can be inflicted on someone who tries to hold it due to the rosebush’s sharp thorns. When Hawthorne depicts the town he describes the rosebush on the side of the prison, â€Å"but, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rosebush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of nature could pity and be kind to him† (33). The rosebush symbolizes forgiveness from guilt throughout The Scarlet Letter. Pearl, Prynne’s daughter, was visiting the governor’s hall with her mother one day to deliver a pair of embroider gloves Prynne had made. While at the governor’s house, Pearl saw a rosebush and reacted in an unusual way, â€Å"Pearl, seeing the rosebushes, began to cry for a red rose, and would not be pacified,† (73). Pearl responded with this meltdown because she wanted forgiveness for her mother and for her father, Reverend Dimmesdale, to be accepted by the community. Pearl felt guilty but blamed it on others. She was seeking revenge on the townspeople for the way they made her mother feel. The irony of the rosebush is how it hurt Prynne, Pearl, and Dimmesdale, like the thorns on a rosebush when touched. In the end the family moved out of their community attempting to not let the mistakes of the past take over their present lives. Ultimately, they choose a fresh start. Pearl was a product of Prynne’s sin of adultery. Pearl’s birth was very humiliating for Prynne; nevertheless Pearl still meant the world to Prynne. Pearl’s name even has significance, â€Å"but she names the infant ‘Pearl,’ as being of great price, purchased with all she had, her mother’s only treasure† (61). The biblical allusion to the pearl is referred to in Matthew 13 about a parable of a man who gave up everything for a pearl of great price. Prynne gave up everything she had for her daughter. She even dresses Pearl in the best clothes, while she dresses very poorly. To Prynne, Pearl was a symbol of strength and overcoming obstacles. Prynne said, â€Å"I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this [the scarlet letter],† (76). Prynne is a great example and life lesson to Pearl of how to accept the mistakes made in the past and not let the shame define oneself. Prynne uses Pearl to show how tough a young child can be. On the other hand, the town viewed Pearl as the devil child: evil. The town discussed Pearl as, â€Å"an imp of evil, emblem and product of sin,† (64) and, â€Å"poor little Pearl was a demon offspring,† (68). Pearl herself is truly a symbol of ignorance and hope. Hawthorne described an occurrence of Pearl talking to Mr. Wilson, a pastor, â€Å"after putting her finger in her mouth, with many ungracious refusals to answer good Mr. Wilson’s question, the child finally announced that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the rosebush of wild roses, that grew by the prison,† (76). Pearl believed she was created for good and had an optimistic attitude on life. She did not let guilt become an emotion known in her. Pearl did not let the past effect her future. In conclusion, life lessons were learned about embracement, forgiveness, and acceptance from guilt with the use of symbolism and irony from Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter. The different ways guilt can be handled was demonstrated in The Scarlet Letter, but not letting guilt take over one’s life was key. Moving on and learning from a sin or human frailty is significant and something everyone can learn from.