Natural Mosquito Repellents

When I was pregnant, I wanted to avoid using toxic chemical insect repellents, yet the mosquitoes seemed to find me tastier than ever. My solution at that time was to wear what I called my DEET sheet, which was an old cotton sheet that had been sprayed with S.C. Johnsons Off! Deep Woods formula. While this was highly effective, it wasnt practical for use around kids, so I did research into safer, natural mosquito repellents. I learned that many so-called natural mosquito repellents dont repel mosquitoes (e.g., ultrasonic electronic devices), but some are backed by reputable research and really work. Key Takeaways The two ways to repel mosquitoes are to attract them away from you or to repel them directly.Mosquitoes are often repelled by plant essential oils, especially lemon eucalyptus oil.Even the best repellent may be compromised by a reaction with sunscreen, dilution in water, absorption into the skin, or evaporation into the air. Its important to re-apply repellent to maintain its effectiveness. Mosquitoes have complex methods of detecting hosts and different types of mosquitoes react to different stimuli. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk, but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day. You can avoid being bitten by making sure you arent attracting mosquitoes, using attractants to lure mosquitoes elsewhere, using a repellent, and avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent. Mosquito Attractants Use this list of items and activities that attract mosquitoes as a list of things to avoid or that can be used as bait to lure mosquitoes away from you. Dark ClothingMany mosquitoes use vision to locate hosts from a distance. Dark clothes and foliage are initial attractants.Carbon DioxideYou give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide.Lactic AcidYou release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods (e.g., salty foods, high-potassium foods).Floral or Fruity FragrancesIn addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.Skin TemperatureThe exact temperature depends on the type of mosquito. Many mosquitoes are attracted to the slightly cooler temperatures of the extremities.MoistureMosquitoes are attracted by perspiration because of the chemicals it contains and also because it increases the humidity around your body. Even small amounts of water (e.g., moist plants or mud puddles) will draw mosquitoes. Standing water also a llows mosquitoes to reproduce.Blood TypePerson with type O blood are more attractive to mosquitoes than those with A, B, or AB blood. This blood type is rare, but if you have a friend or family member with type O blood, mosquitoes (and the Red Cross) like them better than they like you. Natural Mosquito Repellents Its very easy to make your own natural mosquito repellent. These natural products will effectively repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours) and higher concentrations than DEET. Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. As you can see, natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils. Citronella OilLemon Eucalyptus OilCinnamon OilCastor OilRosemary OilLemongrass OilCedar OilPeppermint OilClove OilGeranium OilCatnip OilTobaccoNeem OilBirch Tree BarkPossibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic Another plant-derived substance, pyrethrum, is an insecticide. Pyrethrum comes from the flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. Things that Lower Repellent Effectiveness Despite your best efforts, you may be unintentionally sabotaging your repellents effectiveness. Mosquito repellent doesnt play nicely with: Many SunscreensDilution From Rain, Perspiration, or SwimmingAbsorption Into the SkinEvaporation From Wind or High Temperatures Keep in mind that natural does not automatically imply safe. Many people are sensitive to plant oils. Some natural insect repellents are actually toxic. Therefore, although natural repellents provide an alternative to synthetic chemicals, please remember to follow the manufacturers instructions when using these products. Source M. S. Fradin; J. F. Day (2002). Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents against Mosquito Bites. N Engl J Med. 347 (1): 13–18. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa011699

Essay on Morals in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales - 741 Words

Morals in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales When Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, he had certain morals in mind. Chaucer usually dealt with one of the seven ?deadly? sins as well. The humorous Miller?s Tale is no exception. The Story is about a carpenter who marries a young beautiful woman who is much younger than him. The moral of the story is revealed in the second paragraph, when Chaucer, through the voice of the miller, notes of the carpenter, ?Being ignorant, he did not know of Cato?s advice that a man should marry a woman similar to him?. He goes on to say, ?Men should wed their contemporaries, for youth and age are often at odds?. Through his tale, Chaucer will demonstrate the truth in this moral. The carpenter is†¦show more content†¦The other was a parish clerk at the church named Absalom. The lust is the key issue here. It is one of the seven deadly sins and the one dealt with in this story. The other men lust after the carpenter?s wife and it brings trouble. In keeping with the moral of simil ar age marrying similar age, the young and flirtatious wife decides to have an affair with Nicholas. This illustrates how foolish the old carpenter was to think he could keep tabs on a young beauty like his wife. So Nicholas comes up with a plan to trick the carpenter and allow him to sleep with his wife. Nicholas tells the carpenter that a great flood is coming, and that to save his wife and himself (as well as Nicholas), he needed to prepare large tubs with supplies and stash them on the roof. Nicholas then proposed that the three of them get on the roof with their vessels on the night of the great flood so they could be saved. The carpenter prepared the tubs as Nicholas had suggested. On the night of the ?flood?, the three of them get on the roof as planned. The Carpenter falls asleep, and then Nicholas and the carpenter?s wife sneak down into the bedroom and make love. Later that night, Absalom comes to the window and tries to woo the carpenter?s wife by proclaiming his undying love for her. The carpenter?s wife tells him to go away, but he is relentless. Finally, she concedes to give him a ?kiss?. She tellsShow MoreRelatedChildrens Versions of The Cantebury Tales1465 Words   |  6 PagesBeing a work filled with an unprecedented â€Å"wealth of fascinating characters†, Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales has been translated and retold in many versions over the years (Cohen 7-8). Unavoidably translations and retelling require choices made by writers and editors of how to represent things and what to include, which can easily change aspects of the original story. The most difficult retellings may be versions written for children as writers not only have to deal with modernizing the languageRead MoreAnalysis Of The General Prologue To The Canterbury Tales Essays1044 Words   |  5 Pagesthe lowest order was involved in this practice. Geoffrey Chaucer, one of the most important writers in English literature, was the author of The Canterbury Tales, an elaborate poem about the religious pilgrimage of twenty nine people to Canterbury. In the General Prologue Chaucer introduces each individual along for the journey. Through The Canterbury Tales, we discover the hypocrisy and virtues Chaucer narrates in his characters and can appreciate the nuances in this superior piece of literatureRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales : An Analysis Of Medieval Life By Geoffrey Chaucer939 Words   |  4 PagesCanterbury Tales: An Analysis of Medieval Life by Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales is strongly considered one of the greatest works in medieval literature. An admirer of Chaucer, and the author of Chaucer and the Fifteenth Century, H.S. Bennett describes Chaucer’s unique style as, â€Å"No detail was too small for him to observe, and from it he could frequently draw, or suggest, conclusions which would have escaped many.† While The Canterbury Tales was originally intended to be an epic poemRead MoreEssay on Chaucers The Canterbury Tales927 Words   |  4 PagesChaucers The Canterbury Tales In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer comments on moral corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. He criticizes many high-ranking members of the Church and describes a lack of morality in medieval society; yet in the â€Å"Retraction,† Chaucer recants much of his work and pledges to be true to Christianity. Seemingly opposite views exist within the â€Å"Retraction† and The Canterbury Tales. However, this contradiction does not weaken Chaucer’s social commentary.Read MoreThe English Church Exposed in Canterbury Tales Essay1113 Words   |  5 Pagesvanish because of multiple reasons. And Geoffrey Chaucer’s greatest work, the Canterbury Tales, can be a good evidence of the profligacy and immorality of the England Church at that time. In this magnificent piece of English literature, Chaucer expresses both his disappointment and admiration for the England Church through many different Church pilgrims form high social class to common people. By his desc ription about the living qualities and moral standards of the various Church people, we can seeRead MoreEssay on Chaucers: The Pardoners Corruption Tale866 Words   |  4 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales bursts its way into the literary world, and quickly made its mark as one of the early English masterpieces. Its poetic verses often disguised the disdain that Chaucer possessed for the hypocritical behaviors that were (and in many ways still are) present with the religious leaders. Throughout this lyrical writing, Chaucer tackles the opulent monk, the corrupt friar, and the flirtatious nun. However, the Pardoner is one of Geoffrey Chaucers more difficult charactersRead More Passive Women in Chaucers Canterbury Tales? Essay1466 Words   |  6 PagesPassive Women in Chaucers Canterbury Tales? One argument that reigns supreme when considering Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is whether or not there is an element of anti-feminism within the text. One thread that goes along with this is whether or not the women of The Canterbury Tales are passive within the tales told. This essay will explore the idea that the women found within the tales told by the pilgrims (The Knight’s Tale, The Miller’s Tale and The Wife of Bath’s Tale to name a few) areRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Essay1115 Words   |  5 Pages The Canterbury Tales is a set of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the fourteenth century. The stories were told by a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral, in hopes to see a shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. To make time go by the host recommended each pilgrim tell a tale. The tale that each character gives, reveals that person’s background and life. Some pilgrims matched their stereotype of that time but m ost do not. The Prioress, Madame Eglentyne, and Wife of Bath, Allison, areRead MoreAnalysis Of Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales 1161 Words   |  5 Pagesmade to an original source are very potent cues as to authorial intention. In composing The Canterbury Tales, there is a broad diversity of tales told by a wide range of narrators. This indicates that Chaucer likely used a wide variety of sources. The alterations made by Chaucer to the source material for the Clerk’s Tale, including Boccaccio’s Decameron X, or â€Å"The Story of Griselda,† indicate Chaucer’s motive to examine issues such as marriage as was found in Renaissance Italy, and to exploreRead More Character Rank In Society in The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer888 Words   |  4 PagesThe Canterbury Tales can be understood as a Chaucerian satire according many readers. Chaucer sets out to deliberately upset the social order present at that time and to mock the faults present in the characters. Although he baffles about the complexity of the characters, Chaucer also praises and condemns characters for their unique qualities. Chaucer further gives us feedback of what actions the characters are taking in their lives. Many of the pilgrims are headed off to Canterbury, to worship

Managerial Role free essay sample

Even though the employees are the prime workers in any organisations managers have to manage their employees and even he has to manage the external atmosphere at and around the organisation to run the organisation in an admirable path and their by achieving the predetermined goals. Here I would like to present the manager’s job in an organisation with an example of an interview and with my research work. I took an interview from a manager of software Solutions Company a small scale information technology based company in Australia. hile interviewing him we come across some of the important qualities of a manager According to him a manager should have a good academic qualifications like a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in any of the administrative fields, unless and until if a manager have a good academics he may not be able to solve academic problems in his company. He should also have good communicative skills and interactive skills, marketing ability, managing the customers and a good personality. R. W. Griffin defines manager as a person who first of all is responsible for realization of management process. In particular manager is â€Å"the person, that makes plans and decisions, organizes, supervises and controls human, finance and information resources† (Griffin 2000). I totally agree to the above statements as they said a manager should have a good academic qualification and he even should have a good personality to operate all the above mentioned functions. Unless a manager possesses them he/she can’t keep his company in a better position. He also stated that he has to interact with many people in his day to day life as his company is an IT based company deals with the problems in the technological aspects in hardware and software. He should have proper capability to face many new customers in his day to day life and to a lot his employees for the solution of the customers’ problem. He should attend the customer in his own office or at other private places in favour of customers’ flexibility. He has to take care of his employees, the resources he is utilizing, the marketing staff, more important the customers who are their bread and butter. Doing this he has to keep an eye on the technical advances in his field and on his competitors. So here I understand that managers’ job is much crucial job in any company and he has to be in up-to-date at things that are happening at and around his company. Many managers attain success by coordinating his/her employee effect, in turn obtaining success to the organisation. He states that in his list of people he has to interact in his everyday life the customers are his prime concern because they the main source of the companies’ income unless a customer satisfied with the employees work, he would not pay the amount. So in this relation I came to know that there exists a mutual benefit relationship between the customer and the company hence it is a good example for reciprocal relationship. â€Å"The needs to better understand customer behaviour and the interest of many managers to focus on those customers who can deliver long-term profits have changed how marketers view the world† (Russell S. Winer). The author says that consumers can change the performance of a market and the running style of an organisation hence a good manager should always keep his eye on such type of consumers. Next comes his employees, a good manager should maintain a good interaction with his employees. According to him â€Å"a good manager should look after their employees and he should be their well-wisher†. He says that a good interaction between a manager and his employees builds up a positive energy in the workplace results in better performance of the employee leading to success of the employee as well as the company. He even said that he will help his employees in various ways like allotting them regular and flexible working hours, monitoring their work, giving feedback whenever necessary and solving their issues regarding their work and in their lives. This shows there exists a reciprocal relationship with in them. He said that he has only 4 regular employees working currently with him and hires others whenever necessary. According to Katuria. M in his article named â€Å"three ways to built successful employee manager relationship† he stated that â€Å"the only relationship more important to an organisation than the ustomer-company relationship is the manager- employee relationship and according to the exit interview the no. 1 reason people leave their job is because of their improper relationship with the manager†. Going through all the above conversation I totally agree to both of them and I strictly believe in good manager- employee relationship which aids in success of the com pany and its employees. â€Å"An organisation grows and evolves new positions are added, senior managers have to find a way to tie all these departments together. Coordination refers to the quality of collaboration across the departments. It is required whether there is a functional, divisional or term structure†. (Draft 2012) this statement explains the most responsible duty of a manager in a growing company. It tells us that in a rapidly growing company the managers play a important role that is he has to do division and interlinking the departments there by forming more and more stronger work unit which helps them in solving more complex problems. When dealing with the suppliers he gave me the information that he is connected to many suppliers in his place and even in the Melbourne. As the company is based on the problems and solutions coming in the information technology, they have to be provided with plenty of resources. They need various types of computer spare parts, softwares and many advanced features which were been provided to them by many suppling companies. Even they dealings with vast companies like Harvey Norman etc. He explained me the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining such large groups of suppliers. Ha stated that trust is the main factor that works between suppliers and the company administrator. Many transactions run based on the trust philosophy only. Unless they trust a supplier and use their products they can’t run the company in some situations. I support this statement that trust is the main part of the business. I can state that trust should exist not only between a supplier and the management but also at all the levels in the business sector that is it should be in between the consumer-organisation-supplier. â€Å"Supplier Relationship Management is an all-inclusive approach to managing the affairs and interactions with the organizations that supply your company with goods and services. This includes communications, business practices, negotiations, methodologies and software that are used to establish and maintain a relationship with a supplier. Benefits include lower costs, higher quality, better forecasting and less tension between the two entities that result in a win-win relationship† (Bucki. j). The author explains us that for any company the supplier management relation should be in such a way that there is a benefit from both the sides and the tools were developed to reduce the work related problems between the supplier and the managers in the company who look after all these raw materials. I totally believe with the above discussions because unless there is an adequate amount of raw materials for a company they cannot reach the level of customer satisfaction which is their main goal and the supplier also has to be loyal to the company and supply the raw materials in time there by maintaining a mutual benefit relationship between them. The next I am going to discuss the other important environmental factor the labour market. In this case as the manager already stated that he hires the employees whenever he needs, in explanation to this he gave me the information that when his regular staff are not sufficient to complete a task which was assigned to them he hires some of the software professionals from the employment centres for a shorter period of time and assigns them to work with his regular employees. Without strategic planning it is unlikely that any organisation will be able to meet successfully numerous challenges that face them† (Bryson. j. m). This shows that planning and organisation is the main crucial duties of a manager. Manager has to plan the project prior to its start and distribute the work to his employees accordingly. If a manager fails to perform this step in his level he/she may not be able to reach the target level and fails in leading the organisation and its staff. Finally for an organisation to run in the way of profits and to sustain in this present competitive word the manager has to look after many types of environmental factors some of them which are prime concerned are discussed above the other factors which influence the organisation are Technology, Natural, Sociocultural, Economic, Legal, Political, International (all of these come under external environment) and Culture management. (Draft, R. L) in my opinion manager should have the capability in controlling all these environmental factors. This company having limited employees and being a small scale company the external environmental factors may not have such a great influence. Among them only the technology has a powerful impact because it is purely a software solution company so the employees and the manager should beware of the changing trends in the technology and should be in up to date daily. Recommendations: Keeping in mind the whole interview and with my research I would like to recommend some changes this organisation should implement for better progress they are 1. Increase the employee work ratio. 2. Use of the labour market for hiring the employees should be stopped because the information in the company regarding the projects and codes should be within the company. 3. Instead of hiring the employees from the outside try to increase the regular employees which helping him in planning the work and confidentiality 4. Being a software company I think he should organise some conferences such that his employee will get more latest technical skills 5. As the work hours were longer during the day he has to create work life balance to his employees and for him he. 6. Customer satisfaction should be increased to transform this to a large scale company. Conclusion: Finally I conclude that the environmental factors influence on any organisation is very much crucial and the managerial staff any company should keep an eye on it in order to run the organisation in an admirable way. Various people who are in close relation to the organisation should work together for the mutual benefit of the organisation as well as them.

Non Alcoholic Carbonated Drinks Essay Example

Non Alcoholic Carbonated Drinks Essay According to AC Nielsen, beverages dominate the list of fastest growing food and beverages categories in the global market place. While water (still and carbonated) was the leading food and beverages product, carbonated beverages experienced 6% of growth rate (2000-2001). Soft drinks consumption worldwide is growing by around 5% a year, according Global Soft drinks 2002. Averagely, the market grew by 5% 6% per year. The zeniths 2002 global soft drinks report indicates that carbonates are the biggest soft drinks sector with 45% of global volume. Besides that, the report also shows that North America is the largest soft drinks market with a 27% volume share in 2001 and the fastest growing countries were Asia, East Europe and the Middle East. Zenith Research Director, Gary Roethenbaugh commented that the highly populous and rapidly emerging markets, such as China and India, consumption in Asia is projected to overtake that of North America in 2006. The overall sustainable growth of soft drinks in the beverages market provides marketer and manufacturer of non alcoholic carbonated soft drinks tremendous opportunity as well as challenges to realize the full potential of the market. To capitalize on the opportunities of the growing market, successful marketers concentrate effort to learn more about their consumers. Most of the time, marketers focus mainly on understanding the consumer decision making process, however, the internal and external influences that affect the overall decision making is also equally important. Consumer Decision Making Process Although consumers of a particular group may be similar in appearance and speaks the same language, that does not always mean they have the same product needs, preference and shopping behaviour. Therefore marketers need to develop a deeper understanding of the psychological, personal, social and culture of the consumers. These are the characteristic that influences the consumers response towards the marketing stimuli which will then affect the consumer decision making process. We will write a custom essay sample on Non Alcoholic Carbonated Drinks specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Non Alcoholic Carbonated Drinks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Non Alcoholic Carbonated Drinks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Most marketing and consumer behaviour books suggest that consumers go through a five-stage decision making process in any purchase. Based on the diagram illustrated in Diagram 1, it is important that marketers consider the whole buying process rather than just the purchase decision as it may be too late for a business to influence the choice made. In most cases, customers pass through all stages in every purchase, however, in more routine purchases, for example toothpaste, household cleaning detergents, customers often skip or reverse some of the stages. For example, a student buying his/her favourite soft drink would recognize the need, in this case thirst and go right to the purchase decision, skipping info search and evaluation. Cultural Factor Country of origins, cultural heritage, language and recent histories, all influences beverage consumption. Successful marketers use these factors to drive decisions about product assortment and marketing in order to appeal to the target market. Culture is the most basic cause of a wants and behaviour. Growing up children learn basic values, perception and wants from the family and other important groups. Marketers of non alcoholic carbonated beverages should always spot cultural shift which might point to a new product that might be wanted by customers or to increase demand. For example, the cultural shift in Malaysia towards greater concern about health and fitness has provided an opportunity to Coca-Cola Light. During the Coca-Cola Light in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Reiner Becker, Country Manger of Coca-Cola Malaysia, said that Coca-Cola Light is intended to be a great-tasting light beverage for consumers currently drink other beverages such as water, tea and juices. (www.prdomain.com/companies/c/coke/news_release.html) Malaysian consumers told us they want to treat themselves, yet they also want to take care of themselves, said Becker. Coca-Cola Light was developed to address this trend. Its got great taste, no calories and imagery that appeals to people who treat themselves as priority. Each culture contains sub cultures, which are groups of people with share values. Sub-cultures can include nationalities, religions, racial groups, or groups of people sharing the same geographical location. Sometimes a sub-culture will create a substantial and distinctive market segment of its own. For example, the youth culture has quite distinct values and buying characteristics from the much older generation. Pepsi uses celebrities like Siti Nurhaliza in Malaysia and F4 in Taiwan for its advertisements to influence the younger generations attitude. Social Factor A consumers buying behaviour is also influenced by social factors, such as the groups to which the customer belongs and social status. Coca-Cola has segmented its consumer into 4 groups which consists of the fashionable brand conscious consumer, average consumers, peer pressure consumers and coke addicts. Based on the 4 segments, the fashionable brand conscious consumer and peer pressure consumers clearly sets the example of group influenced purchased decision. The fashionable brand conscious consumers are generally in their twenties, who are universities students or make up the working class, drive fast cars (or would like to), they socialize with friends, go to parties and dance clubs. They are carefree and are freestyle. When they buy Coca-cola, they buy image, they buy fashionable drink that exudes coolness. On the other hand, the peer pressure consumers tend to be the late majority teenagers who purchase Coca-cola because their friends do it or they do not want to appear daggy purchasing a Sarsi or Sprite. They are less likely to request for Sprite or Sarsi instead of a Coca-Cola when purchasing a value meal at McDonalds for fear of dagginess. (www.coke.com) In a group, several individuals may interact to influence the purchase decision. The typical roles of an individual are initiator, influencer, decider, buyer and user. In the case of carbonated beverages, because it is a low involvement product, most of the time its target consumers could play all the roles at the same time. Motivation Most often, we human mislead ourselves when we attempt to explain our behaviour in our desire to act as retinal human beings. Sometimes we do not want to admit or even realise the real reason for our behaviour because it is, more often that not, irrational. Relating this back to marketing, it is clear that a brand or organisation has both an identity and a personality. When consumers are asked the reason why they buy a brand they will respond rationally and often describe the brands identity, such as the objective or explicit characteristics observed by the conscious thinking brain which are easily verbalised. However, a brand also has a personality, intangible traits that differentiate it from its competitors which we experience but cannot easily verbalise. For example, most consumers initially cite taste as the reason why they consume a certain brand of cola soft drinks. However, during a blind taste test conducted by Pepsi to challenge Coca-Cola drinkers, most loyal consumers could not differentiate their favourite brand. The truth is that these consumers are motivated by a group cohesion, equality and bonding towards the brand. Changes in Asia Pacific The family unit is usually considered to be the most important buying organisation in society. It has been researched extensively. Marketers are particularly interested in the roles and relative influence of the husband, wife and children on the purchase of a large variety of products and services. There is evidence that the traditional husband-wife buying roles are changing. Almost everywhere in the world, the wife is traditionally the main buyer for the family, especially in the areas of food, household products and clothing. However, with increasing numbers of women in full-time work the traditional roles are reversing. Besides, children also play an important role in influencing the buying decision making. In relation to this, and as consumers lifestyles is becoming increasingly demanding, the non alcoholic carbonated industry has become more competitive. Manufacturers are introducing new carbonated drinks such as additional of flavours and attractive packaging to capture market share. For example, Pepsi has introduce the Pepsi Blue, a blueberry flavour drink in addition to its typical cola and diet cola drink, provides consumers additional choices and varieties. The shopping and purchasing habits of consumers are also changing. People are working longer hours than before and as mentioned, many married woman with kids are also working. Todays shoppers want convenience of longer opening and trading hours and Sunday opening which most of the supermarkets and convenience store are doing nowadays. However, the implication for these retailers to work hard in order to maintain customer loyalty made marketers of carbonated drinks to work even harder because more shopping trips means shopper have more opportunity to be disloyal to a brand. Besides, consumers purchasing habits now emphasize on value, convenience and variety. Furthermore, with the advancement in technology, consumers especially the younger generation are buying soft drinks through SMS. Manufacturers who are not adopting this trend are losing opportunity. For example, Coca-Cola drinkers in Singapore are able to order Coca-Cola through sending SMS from their mobile phone and the mechanism work as a vending machine too. With the recent September 11th case, many Muslims countries have conducted boycotts towards American brands. As such, brand like Coca-Cola has been affected in these Muslims countries. As mentioned, cultural shifts towards greater concern in health and fitness may affect the demand for carbonated beverages because the increasing promotion of other health beverages such as cultured milk and traditional drinks creates greater competition. The speed of these changes has created increased pressure on manufacturers and marketers. The challenge for the carbonated drinks marketer is to understand its affect on demand for their products. Everyday, consumers around the world make decision on whether to buy or not to buy a product or brand or opt for that of a competitor. Some are decides when and where to shop. A marketers advertising, direct marketing, merchandising, packaging and point of sale materials affects all these decisions, as are shoppers own motivations and feelings about the shopping occasion and experience. Thus, the promotional mix needs to be changed to attract consumers and maintain their loyalty towards their product. Understanding human needs is critical for effective targeting marketing. However, these needs are not always detectable. The underlying motivations that most of the time marketers are not fully aware of helps maximise the potential of the brand if identified. Conclusion Understanding the changing needs of consumers and effective strategic marketing is critical to stay ahead. It is also important to understand brand relationship by exploring core needs of consumers and how consumers relate to the personality of a brand. For both manufacturers and retailers of carbonated beverages, success and failure is often a result of effective utilisation of market information to meet consumer needs and hence drive sales and profit.