Fine art logistics concept is revealed by Innovative third party logistics services. However, fine art logistics concept is quite new topic of current logistics literature and existing resources, acquired knowledge are limited. Furthermore, innovative logistics services, which are provided by third party logistics service providers and their relation with niche market strategy, are not well researched. This study is prepared for making contribution to current logistics literature about fine art logistics and to investigate relation between niche market strategy and innovative third party logistics services. The method used is a qualitative case study at Benice Logistics, a fine art logistics service provider firm, located in Turkey. This study concludes and suggests how, third party logistics service providers should be more innovative for settle new business trend, and how they can create new opportunities and new specialization areas with their innovative services.

Background: The banking industry is a classic service industry where companiesand customers meet and where their interactions take placedaily. There are many reasons why an unsatisfied customer canchange company to a competitor and the customers that are loyalchoose to stay for certain reasons. There is a competition betweenthe commercial banks and niche banks which makes the relationshipwith existing and new customers more essential for thebanks. It is important for banks today to have loyal customers andbuild up long term relationships. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to understand the difference in strategiesof developing loyalty in a traditional bank and a niche bank,based on customer relationship marketing and compare Swedbankto Länsförsäkringar Bank. Method: A qualitative research method has been used in the thesis by aninterview with Kenneth Åberg at Swedbank and with EdinParazik at Länsförsäkringar Bank. We have used secondary datafrom other studies and combined with our own empirical findings. Findings: It has become important to have a customer focus as thecompetition has increased in the banking market. The generalrelationship marketing has become more focused on thecustomer, as more companies value the relationship withtheir customers instead of only focusing on the product orservices. It is equally important for the twoLänsförsäkringar Bank and Swedbank to strive for customersatisfaction and good work environment which encouragesand strengthens the creation of relationships. It appears forus that there are no major differences between LänsförsäkringarBank’s and Swedbank’s strategies in creating loyalty.Both the niche bank and the commercial bank are aware ofhow their organizations are affected by customer relationshipsand they also have customer loyalty as a starting pointto grow more and to get more market shares.

Root symbioses with dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide plant tolerance to environmental stresses. This research answers several fundamental questions about the occurrence of these fungi in roots of prairie grasses. Traditional methods and current molecular techniques were combined in order to: 1) define the role and specificity of DSE in plant tolerance to drought; 2) assess the level of host specificity in DSE; 3) document AMF biodiversity and pattern of root colonization at different soil depths; 4) define the influence of soil depth and plant species on the distribution of DSE and AMF in roots and; 5) reveal how DSE and AMF interact in plant roots.<p> Under controlled conditions, DSE isolates showed host preference in colonizing roots and promoting plant growth. They colonized with more intensity the plant species from which they were isolated [Agropyron cristatum L. or Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch) Nevski subsp. Juncea (Syn: Elymus junceus Fisch)]. Inoculation with five DSE isolates resulted in growth stimulation of the C3 grasses A. cristatum and P. juncea, and growth depression of the C4 grass Bouteloua gracillis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths, under water stress. Plant C concentration suggested that DSE inoculation may have resulted in net C drain from B. gracillis.<p. In the field, soil depth influenced root colonization in A. cristatum, Panicum virgatum L., Nassella viridula Trin and Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve., while AMF diversity was influenced by the interaction between soil depth and host plant species. Molecular analysis of roots serially sampled during one growing season from the A and B soil horizons, in stands of these grasses, revealed spatial and temporal changes in DSE and AMF community composition, and a significant correlation in DSE and AMF community structure.<p> These results suggest that DSE and AMF are adapted to specific environmental conditions and that root occupation by these fungi is a dynamic phenomenon. It is proposed that temporal variation in root occupation by DSE and AMF impacts plant and ecosystem processes at different times during the growing season.

According to the Yearbook of Chemical Industry Statistics of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the total sales of domestic cosmetics market in 2008 was approximately 1,507. 1 billion yen, slightly less than that of 2007. In Japan's mature cosmetics market, however, the sales of anti-aging skin care products has been growing every year. The reasons are the arrival of an aging society and females' increasing emphasis on their appearances. There are over 1,200 cosmetics manufacturers in Japan. The distribution of these companies according to their sizes appears to be M-shaped. The top five¡XSHISEIDO, KAO, Kanebo, Kose, and P&G Japan, have been in heated competition for years, but it does not stop new entrants from joining the battlefield. In the face of fierce competition among the cash-rich giants and the threats of aggressive new entrants, the smaller-scaled companies that lie in between are facing daunting challenges. This study intends to show how such medium-sized companies might come up with a competitive strategy to ensure their survival and profitability. Saishunkan Co. Ltd. is one of those medium-sized cosmetics manufacturers. Saishunkan has modest capital amount of 100 million yen, yet it is able achieve annual sales of over 20 billion yen. The company has unique ways of marketing and sales, clearly targeted customers, products with special ingredients, and a sound market segmentation strategy. This thesis intends to examine, through the case study of Saishunkan, how a smaller-scaled company might compete and survive in a theater filled with cash-rich big companies who enjoy the economy of scale.

Most of the patterns of distribution channel of eggs traditional industry are through the middlemen. Therefore the distribution channel classifies multiple-steps distribution channel system. The price relationship between producers and sales works out by the middlemen for a long time and consequently cause many different viewpoints and conflicts about the price decision. In spite of the middlemen realize and tacitly agree the system of price establishment is not reasonable. They still can not change the actuality because it goes all the year round. Up to now, the producers and sales can not create a win-win situation. The change of marketing channels will reform structures of the production, sales and price forms. Therefore this study takes the home delivery as main body for the eggs marketing channels research, and adopts in-depth interview method to get data and information. At the same time this study penetrates the marketing strategy of egg industry , the business developments and characteristics of home deliveries. This study proceeds to interview the above information as SWOT analysis. To find out the feasibility of eggs home delivery and the point of strategy and problems. Finally, this study would offer some solution aspects and suggestions. The results showed that from the viewpoint of return, the possible pattern of eggs home delivery could create producers much mighty possibilities and big changes by a series of ways to make difference. It means that this study adopts the niche market to be the strategy of market segment and finds the target market and proper marketing mix, the package variation, functional egg developments, confidence-building with home deliveries and regulated contract of products quality. So that producers could develop the private channels and private label brand to change the price-decision system to reach the sustainable development.

In light of the niche theory, the study aims to understand the competition among the four telecommunication services, including fixed network telecom, second generation telecom service, third generation telecom service and internet phone in the taiwan market. In this study, we put emphasis on the gratification of the telecom user, because the more gratification the telecom get, the more competition it have. The findings suggest that there are eight factors about the gratification of the telecom consumer, including functional, affection, information-seeking, fashion, uitility, entertainment and pricing structure. In addition , there is strong competition between the fixed network telecom, second generation telecom service, third generation telecom service and internet phone. Four telecom services are good at different factors, therefore, new telecom services would not form competitive displacement for fixed network telecom. Thus, we argue that four telecom services satisfy different consumers needs, and they will survive in different segmentations of telecom market service.

Large 3C distributers showed in Taiwan in 1992s. Since more and more large 3C distributers set stores across Taiwan, their economies of scale lead the whole 3C-channel market become ¡§the big is always the big and the small.¡¨ Many companies that do not have competencies have gone out the market. However, in this market, many outstanding small-middle 3C distributors are not affected, and have good performance. This fact reflects that these small-middle 3C distributors have some core competencies that can not be replaced by large 3C distributers. The business models and strategies of these small-middle 3C distributers are the main issues of this study. Considering the consistency and extensiveness of subjects in the 3C industry, this study selected three large 3C distributers as research subjects. Firstly, second-hand data was collected, and interviews with managers of the three distributers were also conducted. Then, five outstanding small and middle distributers were interviewed to compare their business modes and strategies with the three large 3C distributers. Based on these data, it is helpful to understand core competencies and advantages of small and middle distributers. The results show that although large 3C distributers have their main advantages, they do not do well in the development of niche markets, efficient responsiveness of environment changes, and kindly attitude to consumers. If small and middle enterprises can clearly understand their weakness, avid to directly fight with large 3C distributers, expand their potential advantages, and keep close with customers, they also could have living space and will be difficult be replaced.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

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The Sibling Niche Differentiation Model (Sulloway, 1996) suggests that an individual’s birth order acting as a proxy for within-family environmental factors like age, size and strength relative to ones siblings influences the strategies used to gain resources and minimize sibling conflict. Recent within-family birth order research (for example Paulhus, Trapnell and Chen, 1999; Healey & Ellis, 2007) has found a systematic effect of birth order on personality, with firstborn siblings found to be more conscientious and secondborn siblings more open to experience. However, an examination of birth-order effects by independent raters, has been lacking in the birth order literature. Furthermore no prior examination comparing the type of stimulus material used to elicit participant responses has been conducted. Study 1 (N = 203) sought to replicate previous birth order findings for the two Big-5 traits Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience, while also testing an alternative explanation (hypo-masculinization hypothesis) for observed birth-order differences (Beer & Horn, 2000). Study 2 compared the efficacy of four different types of stimulus material (rankings, ratings, independent ratings and real-world scenarios) in observing birth order effects (combined N = 544), while also testing novel predictions about the saliency and generalisability of birth-order effects on personality outside the context of the family. General support was found for the Sibling Niche Differentiation Model across studies and across stimulus materials, but limited support was found for the nature of within family personality differences between siblings extending to contexts outside the family environment.