We often get to hear about terms like free trade and protectionism in context of economic policies, but not many of us actually know what these business terms are all about. We don't pay attention to these terms as we believe that we are immune from the effects of these policies. What we don't understand is the fact that even though these policies don't affect us directly, they do affect us indirectly on a long term basis. Simply put, these policies are directed at economic growth and economic growth is closely related with creation of more jobs - something which is beneficial for us. At the end of the day, we are a part of this economic system and we are bound to be affected by the same even if we stay mum. On the contrary, understanding concepts like free trade and its benefits for the economy can help us get a better understanding of financial do and don'ts. Before we move on to see what are the benefits of free trade, let's try to understand what free trade actually means.
What is Free Trade?
In economics, the term 'free trade' refers to a system of trade policy wherein the traders are allowed to function without any interference on the part of the government. This economic concept is typically characterized by trade of goods and services in absence of any taxes, trade barriers or trade distorting policies. While 'trade barrier' refers to any government policy which restricts international trade (including import licenses and trade embargo,) 'trade distorting policies' include taxes, laws or subsidies which give one party an unfair advantage over the other. In a free trade, the traders have free access to market as well as market information and there is free movement of labor and capital in between as well as/or within countries. An area wherein trade barriers are eliminated and trade distorting policies are lowered in a bid to attract new business and foreign investments is known as a 'free trade zone'. Similarly, a group of countries which has formally agreed to eliminate all the trade barriers on most of goods and services which are traded between them is known as a 'free trade area'. While the term free trade zone is quite popular in Europe, similar free trade zones in the United States are referred to as Foreign Trade Zones - an area in the vicinity of a US port which is exempted from Custom restrictions.
Benefits of Free Trade
Everything has its pros and cons, and free trade is no exception. While the advocates of free trade policy are of the opinion that its benefits outweigh its disadvantages with ease, critics of the same don't seem to be impressed by these arguments. Wondering what the benefits of free trade policy are? Given below is a list of benefits of free trade zones in the economy owing to which this trade policy has garnered so much support all over the world.
* The most prominent benefit is perhaps the fact that reducing trade barriers will result in a boost in international trade.
* Other than international trade, free trade also boosts business competition, and such healthy competition will make traders put in more efforts to perform well.
* Other than improving the quality of products, the competition in free trade will also bring down the price of goods and turn out to be beneficial for the consumers.
* For consumers, free trade will also mean freedom of choice as they will have more options to choose from.
* The traders will be benefited by the fact that they will have a larger market at the disposal, owing to which they will be able to sell more goods.
* It gives all the nations a comparative advantage - wherein countries only produce those goods in which they are specialized and export them, while importing other goods from rest of the countries.
* It results in proper allocation of resources - wherein a country with some products in excess can trade the same with products in which they have a deficit.
* Similarly, free trade also triggers efficient production - as producers pitch for effective use of available raw material.
* Free trade will also help in doing away with the protectionist government policies which are believed to be a heaven for corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.
* The economic growth brought about by free trade tends to create more jobs, more jobs result in more expenditure, more expenditure results in more demand and more demand results in more production - which again result in creation of more jobs - in short free trade has the tendency to set the economy rolling.
That was all the information you needed to know about what are the benefits of a free trade zone in the world economy today. On the political front, such trade relationship also helps in bridging the gaps between two nations - which makes it an important tool of globalization. While these benefits of free trade policy are indeed tempting, one can't afford to turn a blind eye towards its disadvantages. Some of the most prominent disadvantages of free trade include structural unemployment as a result of removal of trade barriers, hike in domestic economic instability as a result of dependence on global markets etc. At the end of the day, one has to weigh these advantages and disadvantages of free trade in order to find out which of the two have an edge over the other - and as of today the advantages of free trade seem to overshadow its disadvantages.
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Free Trade Zones in the United States
There seems to be a great deal of confusion in use of business terms such as free trade zones, export processing zones and Foreign Trade Zones - and that turns out to be a major hindrance when you try to compile a list of free trade zones in the US. Basically, you won't find any free trade zones in the United States of America - but you will find a concept which is quite similar to that of a free trade zone which is referred to as a Foreign Trade Zone in the United States. There is a little bit of difference between the two economic concepts, but broadly speaking they serve the same purpose - creating job opportunities and increasing foreign investment while lending a helping hand to international trade. While Foreign Trade Zones are restricted to the United States of America, the concept of free trade zone is common in the developed countries of Europe. In order to understand the intricacies of the entire matter, you need to understand the basics of each of these concepts of economics.
Free Trade Zone
A free trade zone is an area of the country wherein trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas, are exempted and government policies, which distort the trade, are relaxed in order to attract new business and foreign investment in the country. Simply put, it is an area wherein the concept of free trade - international trade free of government interference, is followed owing to the various benefits it has to offer. Some of the most prominent benefits of free trade include boost in international trade, healthy business competition, efficient production, larger markets, etc. A concept closely related to free trade zone, free trade area refers to a type of trade bloc wherein the member countries do away with certain trade barriers and trade distorting policies for each other.
Foreign Trade Zones in the United States
A concept which is by and large native to the United States of America, the Foreign Trade Zone refers to the special geographic area in the vicinity of a US Port wherein commercial merchandise can be handled without being subjected to Customs duties and other ad valorem taxes. Other than storing, the traders can also assemble, package, clean, test, repair or destroy their goods in the Free Trade Zone - without having to pay any tax for the same. This relief lowers the cost of US based operations of the international trade - while creating job opportunities and capital investment in the country. That being said, this tariff relief is only available for those goods which are restricted to US Foreign Trade Zones. If the goods are meant to be imported and sold in the US market, they will be taxed as soon as they are out of these free trade zones in the United States.
In a Foreign Trade Zone in the United States, goods are treated the same way as they would be treated outside the US territorial borders. This allows the traders to land and store their goods here without having to pay the import duties on these goods. These trade zones are under the direct supervision of U.S. Customs Service. The lengthy list of Foreign Trade Zones in the United States of America has more than 250 members - which includes some of the most prominent names such as FTZ No. 83 Huntsville, FTZ No. 98 Birmingham, FTZ No. 75 Phoenix, FTZ No. 174 Pima County (Tucson), FTZ No. 50 Long Beach (Los Angeles/ Long Beach), FTZ No. 3 San Francisco, etc. Other than these 250 odd Foreign Trade Zones, there also exist around 450 450 Special Purpose sub-zones in the United States.
That must have given you a rough idea as to what a US Foreign Trade Zone is and helped you get rid of all your myths about free trade zones in the United States of America. You can yourself avail the facility of the Foreign Trade Zone in the United States. Even though each of these trade zones have some stipulations of their own, by and large all of them follow the same procedure.
Free Trade Zone
A free trade zone is an area of the country wherein trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas, are exempted and government policies, which distort the trade, are relaxed in order to attract new business and foreign investment in the country. Simply put, it is an area wherein the concept of free trade - international trade free of government interference, is followed owing to the various benefits it has to offer. Some of the most prominent benefits of free trade include boost in international trade, healthy business competition, efficient production, larger markets, etc. A concept closely related to free trade zone, free trade area refers to a type of trade bloc wherein the member countries do away with certain trade barriers and trade distorting policies for each other.
Foreign Trade Zones in the United States
A concept which is by and large native to the United States of America, the Foreign Trade Zone refers to the special geographic area in the vicinity of a US Port wherein commercial merchandise can be handled without being subjected to Customs duties and other ad valorem taxes. Other than storing, the traders can also assemble, package, clean, test, repair or destroy their goods in the Free Trade Zone - without having to pay any tax for the same. This relief lowers the cost of US based operations of the international trade - while creating job opportunities and capital investment in the country. That being said, this tariff relief is only available for those goods which are restricted to US Foreign Trade Zones. If the goods are meant to be imported and sold in the US market, they will be taxed as soon as they are out of these free trade zones in the United States.
In a Foreign Trade Zone in the United States, goods are treated the same way as they would be treated outside the US territorial borders. This allows the traders to land and store their goods here without having to pay the import duties on these goods. These trade zones are under the direct supervision of U.S. Customs Service. The lengthy list of Foreign Trade Zones in the United States of America has more than 250 members - which includes some of the most prominent names such as FTZ No. 83 Huntsville, FTZ No. 98 Birmingham, FTZ No. 75 Phoenix, FTZ No. 174 Pima County (Tucson), FTZ No. 50 Long Beach (Los Angeles/ Long Beach), FTZ No. 3 San Francisco, etc. Other than these 250 odd Foreign Trade Zones, there also exist around 450 450 Special Purpose sub-zones in the United States.
That must have given you a rough idea as to what a US Foreign Trade Zone is and helped you get rid of all your myths about free trade zones in the United States of America. You can yourself avail the facility of the Foreign Trade Zone in the United States. Even though each of these trade zones have some stipulations of their own, by and large all of them follow the same procedure.
Ideas for Trade Show Exhibit Booth Themes
A trade show acts as a medium between companies and consumers. Trade shows are an option for companies to display their products wherein the consumers can interact directly with the company representatives and also handle products displayed. Trade show promotions are an innovative tool used by advertisers to market products for their clients. The responsibility of planning for trade shows and booth themes along with the design and construction of the displays, rests solely with the event planning agencies. Advertisers and event managers need to come up with innovative strategies to promote brands and products to translate into sales for their clients. Thserefore, event managers give utmost importance to the décor of the trade show exhibit booths. This draws interest and attracts crowds, which can even lead to impulsive buying at such trade show displays.
When the competition is tough, it’s the concepts and the themes that matter to promote a company. Here, we shall take a look at themes for trade show exhibit booths and ways to make the trade show more interesting and eye-catching.
Ideas for trade show exhibit booth themes
Before deciding upon the theme, you need to consider the following points:
* Budget of the client
* Total area to be used
* Product(s) to be advertised
* Target group
* The flexibility required in terms of themes and designs (This is useful when the exhibition or trade fair is held in different cities and therefore, would require portable displays.)
Planning for exhibit booth themes will require you to consider many elements to make the booth look as attractive as possible and also establish a connection between the company and the consumer. You can begin by thinking about the logo. A stand-alone board can be a useful addition that displays the logo on the board. The logo can be used creatively and repeatedly in the booth to establish the brand image. You can incorporate the logo on the clothing of the company representatives. The tablecloths placed on the table and the banners used can all display the logo. A logo-based theme will thus help to impress the name of the company on the minds of the viewers.
Color-coding can be used to successfully brand any company or product. Company representatives can wear clothing with colors used in the product or company logo. Similar colored jackets or even shirts are a good way of creating a unity and harmony in design. This can be matched with matching boards and displays in the booth. A simple idea such as balloons can also help to make an exhibit booth look interesting. The colors of the balloons can be chosen accordingly and this is bound to attract visitors.
You can even plan to have international themes for the trade show exhibit booths. This will also depend upon the product to be advertised. You can create a scene of an international location to attract many visitors to the booth. A beautiful set that is based on Italy such as a Venice scene with a gondola will only add to the beauty of the setting and attract visitors to take a look at the product being advertised.
Another option would be to plan an entire theme for the exhibition with innovative structures for the booth. Hollywood is one such popular theme. This can include the lights, posters or cutouts, the red carpet and even the famous Hollywood sidewalk for the flooring. Each booth can then be planned accordingly and can incorporate many such ideas based completely on Hollywood. The booths can include movie set props. Such themes are particularly useful to transform any ordinary area into a beautiful and lavish setting!
Is the product known locally and is competing with well-known brands? Well, then the booths can be given a local flavor in terms of design. If there is a festive occasion, it can be incorporated in the design along with important elements from that particular area. Using slogans in the local language or creating an atmosphere where locals can easily connect and identify with the brand, helps in brand promotion. Using such locally-relevant themes can also help to launch new products and make these acceptable amongst the people.
Trade show exhibit booth themes are thus very important for any company in order to connect with the buyers. Make sure you select an appropriate display to make the booth a complete crowd-puller!
When the competition is tough, it’s the concepts and the themes that matter to promote a company. Here, we shall take a look at themes for trade show exhibit booths and ways to make the trade show more interesting and eye-catching.
Ideas for trade show exhibit booth themes
Before deciding upon the theme, you need to consider the following points:
* Budget of the client
* Total area to be used
* Product(s) to be advertised
* Target group
* The flexibility required in terms of themes and designs (This is useful when the exhibition or trade fair is held in different cities and therefore, would require portable displays.)
Planning for exhibit booth themes will require you to consider many elements to make the booth look as attractive as possible and also establish a connection between the company and the consumer. You can begin by thinking about the logo. A stand-alone board can be a useful addition that displays the logo on the board. The logo can be used creatively and repeatedly in the booth to establish the brand image. You can incorporate the logo on the clothing of the company representatives. The tablecloths placed on the table and the banners used can all display the logo. A logo-based theme will thus help to impress the name of the company on the minds of the viewers.
Color-coding can be used to successfully brand any company or product. Company representatives can wear clothing with colors used in the product or company logo. Similar colored jackets or even shirts are a good way of creating a unity and harmony in design. This can be matched with matching boards and displays in the booth. A simple idea such as balloons can also help to make an exhibit booth look interesting. The colors of the balloons can be chosen accordingly and this is bound to attract visitors.
You can even plan to have international themes for the trade show exhibit booths. This will also depend upon the product to be advertised. You can create a scene of an international location to attract many visitors to the booth. A beautiful set that is based on Italy such as a Venice scene with a gondola will only add to the beauty of the setting and attract visitors to take a look at the product being advertised.
Another option would be to plan an entire theme for the exhibition with innovative structures for the booth. Hollywood is one such popular theme. This can include the lights, posters or cutouts, the red carpet and even the famous Hollywood sidewalk for the flooring. Each booth can then be planned accordingly and can incorporate many such ideas based completely on Hollywood. The booths can include movie set props. Such themes are particularly useful to transform any ordinary area into a beautiful and lavish setting!
Is the product known locally and is competing with well-known brands? Well, then the booths can be given a local flavor in terms of design. If there is a festive occasion, it can be incorporated in the design along with important elements from that particular area. Using slogans in the local language or creating an atmosphere where locals can easily connect and identify with the brand, helps in brand promotion. Using such locally-relevant themes can also help to launch new products and make these acceptable amongst the people.
Trade show exhibit booth themes are thus very important for any company in order to connect with the buyers. Make sure you select an appropriate display to make the booth a complete crowd-puller!
Trade Show Booth Ideas
Trade shows offer a unique opportunity to various organizations to display their products and services to their prospective clients. Trade show promotions are also an opportunity for businesses to make sales and strike profitable deals. But all this is possible only if the visitors to the exhibition are attracted to a company's booth. For ensuring maximum visits to the booth, businesses have to focus on two things i.e. the booths should look professional and at the same time they should promise fun. How? Let's find out by looking at the below given trade show booth ideas.
Creative Trade Show Booth Ideas
Booth Set-Up
The booth set-up should be such that it displays the professionalism of your company. The booth should be well organized and well run at all times. After all, the visitors at the exhibition are your prospective clients so they should form a good opinion of your company. You may read more on importance of branding. Here are some useful trade show booth ideas vis a vis booth layout.
* The trade show booth table should always be covered with a good quality table cloth as it gives out an upmarket, more official appearance.
* Add your company's logo and name at various places in the booth such as the center wall, presentation board (if you have one) and even on the tablecloth of the display table.
* If there are some products to be kept on the trade show display table, make sure that the larger ones are kept at the back and the smaller ones in the front so that all items are visible.
* Include visual presentations to demonstrate your company's products to your customers. Visual displays always appeal to the visitors more.
* Have the booth properly manned by booth personnel and make sure that they keep their conversations with the visitors as interactive as possible. The more the booth personnel are able to get the visitors involved, the more likely it is that they will go in for your company's products.
* If your booth is big in size, keep a separate conference area where the prospective customers can actually sit and talk with the booth personnel.
* Arrange for necessary things such as pens, notepads, paper tissues, water cooler, dustbins at the booth.
* Have enough stock of your company's pamphlets, brochures or booklets which can be handed over to all the visitors to your booth who want information on your company and your products. To keep this paper stuff organized and more visible, a good idea would be to keep it on a display rack.
* The lighting at your booth should be appropriate. So, invest in your own booth lighting, especially around the displays, even if the hall is well lit.
* Arrange for enough booth personnel so that your booth is never left unmanned. Make sure that the booth staff is trained in dealing with people, friendly and co-operative. You may read further on ideas for trade show exhibit booth themes.
Games and Prizes
One of the best trade show booth ideas that attract visitors is to give away prizes. If you incorporate some fun games and in the end guarantee prizes to all the participants, there is no way that exhibition visitors would let pass such an opportunity. An interesting game that will both help in promoting your company's products as well as in getting visitors to your booth is to plan an easy quiz of your company's products and services. Have the information about your company's products put up on a banner. Do not clutter the banner, just include five to six main points. Have a game show kiosk placed in your booth wherein visitors who have read the information, can proceed to take on the quiz. In the end, keep interesting prizes for visitors who answer all the questions correctly. There are many benefits of keeping such game show kiosks. These can be seen from a distance too and so people who have no plans of coming to your booth or knowing about your products, get lured by the fun and the prizes it promises, plus you get to market your company's products to prospective clients.
Free Gifts
People who attend trade shows, always expect to get some free gifts. This makes trade show giveaways a must. Food gifts such as candies and cookies, wrapped in boxes on which the company's logo and contact information is mentioned is a good option as a free gift. Stationery items such as notepads, pens, etc. and gift certificates which can be exchanged in lieu of your company's products and services are some other options for promotional gifts that you can consider.
One of the most popular trade show booth ideas that is fast catching up is to invite a local celebrity to your booth to pull in the crowds. If you have a budget for this, you can use this strategy as well. Trade shows are a chance for an organization to come face to face, interact and connect with one's future customers. So, do not let go off this opportunity and do whatever it takes (even if it means shelling a few extra bucks) to grab it.
Creative Trade Show Booth Ideas
Booth Set-Up
The booth set-up should be such that it displays the professionalism of your company. The booth should be well organized and well run at all times. After all, the visitors at the exhibition are your prospective clients so they should form a good opinion of your company. You may read more on importance of branding. Here are some useful trade show booth ideas vis a vis booth layout.
* The trade show booth table should always be covered with a good quality table cloth as it gives out an upmarket, more official appearance.
* Add your company's logo and name at various places in the booth such as the center wall, presentation board (if you have one) and even on the tablecloth of the display table.
* If there are some products to be kept on the trade show display table, make sure that the larger ones are kept at the back and the smaller ones in the front so that all items are visible.
* Include visual presentations to demonstrate your company's products to your customers. Visual displays always appeal to the visitors more.
* Have the booth properly manned by booth personnel and make sure that they keep their conversations with the visitors as interactive as possible. The more the booth personnel are able to get the visitors involved, the more likely it is that they will go in for your company's products.
* If your booth is big in size, keep a separate conference area where the prospective customers can actually sit and talk with the booth personnel.
* Arrange for necessary things such as pens, notepads, paper tissues, water cooler, dustbins at the booth.
* Have enough stock of your company's pamphlets, brochures or booklets which can be handed over to all the visitors to your booth who want information on your company and your products. To keep this paper stuff organized and more visible, a good idea would be to keep it on a display rack.
* The lighting at your booth should be appropriate. So, invest in your own booth lighting, especially around the displays, even if the hall is well lit.
* Arrange for enough booth personnel so that your booth is never left unmanned. Make sure that the booth staff is trained in dealing with people, friendly and co-operative. You may read further on ideas for trade show exhibit booth themes.
Games and Prizes
One of the best trade show booth ideas that attract visitors is to give away prizes. If you incorporate some fun games and in the end guarantee prizes to all the participants, there is no way that exhibition visitors would let pass such an opportunity. An interesting game that will both help in promoting your company's products as well as in getting visitors to your booth is to plan an easy quiz of your company's products and services. Have the information about your company's products put up on a banner. Do not clutter the banner, just include five to six main points. Have a game show kiosk placed in your booth wherein visitors who have read the information, can proceed to take on the quiz. In the end, keep interesting prizes for visitors who answer all the questions correctly. There are many benefits of keeping such game show kiosks. These can be seen from a distance too and so people who have no plans of coming to your booth or knowing about your products, get lured by the fun and the prizes it promises, plus you get to market your company's products to prospective clients.
Free Gifts
People who attend trade shows, always expect to get some free gifts. This makes trade show giveaways a must. Food gifts such as candies and cookies, wrapped in boxes on which the company's logo and contact information is mentioned is a good option as a free gift. Stationery items such as notepads, pens, etc. and gift certificates which can be exchanged in lieu of your company's products and services are some other options for promotional gifts that you can consider.
One of the most popular trade show booth ideas that is fast catching up is to invite a local celebrity to your booth to pull in the crowds. If you have a budget for this, you can use this strategy as well. Trade shows are a chance for an organization to come face to face, interact and connect with one's future customers. So, do not let go off this opportunity and do whatever it takes (even if it means shelling a few extra bucks) to grab it.
Trade Show Giveaways
The importance of marketing and advertising is escalating owing to the increasing competition and growing economies. Business is all about having the right goods and products and marketing them in the best possible way to increase sales. Marketing is an extensive field, which makes use of several events and ideas to promote a business. Television ads, radio jingles or kiosks and banner ads might be useful but these are all one-way communication channels that do not allow the interaction of the businessmen and the end product users or the retailers and investors for that matter. Interactive events like trade are beneficial for any business since these trade shows allow mutual interactions between the one who sells and the one who would be interested in investing or buying.
About Trade Shows
First of all you need to know about trade shows. A trade show is an exhibition that allows organizations and companies in specific industries to showcase their products and services. While most of these trade shows or expos are open to the public, some only allow company representatives, and members of the press. The trade show is an excellent marketing opportunity and hence companies make a wise investment while participating in such trade shows. The costs incurred during the trade shows include space rental, design and construction of the display at the trade show, telecommunications and networking, travel, accommodation, promotional literature and of course the trade show giveaways.
What are Trade Show Giveaways?
Trade show giveaways are nothing but promotional items or free gifts that are given by a company at the trade show. Trade show gifts are an effective marketing tool that allows companies to promote their new products or spread more information about their existing products and also get a feedback from the customers and fellow traders about the products and services of the company. Companies put in a lot of investment and planning for the trade show giveaways since it is an imperative element of the trade shows.
What are the Benefits of Trade Show Giveaways?
Trade show giveaways are very useful in marketing since they can be used for several purposes. The first use of a trade show giveaway or a trade show gift is spreading information about the product and promoting its use. Second of all if you are using free product samples as trade show giveaways then the people can obviously use the products and provide you their feedback, thus promoting the use of your product. Trade show giveaways can also be a great way to establish or even enhance company’s brand identity. Trade show giveaways help to establish a bond of goodwill and create a positive image of the company amongst the customers and investors. Often when a company is launching a new product or wants to incorporate a big change in its existing product line or services, the trade show giveaways are and excellent options to communicate the changes.
What are the Types of Trade Show Giveaways?
There exist a wide variety of items that can be used as trade show giveaways to promote the business. Starting from the company’s product samples to corporate gifts like pens, pen stands, tote bags or even mints and candies. Here are some of the popular trade show giveaways:
* Gourmet Gifts: Small tins or containers filled with peppermint or candies can be a great trade show giveaway. You just need to make sure you display your logo prominently on the giveaway items. Small mints and candies are generally great but there a lot of options like microwave-popcorn or other snacks.
* Company Products: The best option for a trade show giveaway item is the company’s product samples. Product samplers allow the visitors to use and experience your products and provide you feedback. However the only problem is that not every company will have products or services, which can be sampled out to the audience.
* Stationery Items: Stationery items are handy giveaways that can be imprinted or embossed with your company logo or even some useful information and facts about your company. Diaries, pens, pen stands, paperweights, staplers, notepads are great ideas for trade show giveaways.
* Fun Giveaways: If you are looking for really unique trade show giveaways you have to think out of the box. There exist a wide range of stress buster toys, which can be fun ideas for trade show giveaways. There also exist a lot of intersecting gadgets that are rather inexpensive but will definitely help you stand out.
While Picking out Trade Show Giveaways
While picking out trade show giveaways there are several things that need to be kept in mind. Here are some of the things that need some consideration before selecting trade show giveaways:
* Cost-efficiency is the first thing that you need to keep in mind. Remember that you will have to buy the products in bulk and hence you need to lookout for the best deal. Allot a foxed amount of your marketing budget to the trade show giveaways.
* The next thing that you need to see is analyze whether the product is appropriate for showcasing your brand logo. Using a low quality, cheap product might benefit you but it gives out a wrong message about your brand image. Use cost-effective yet quality products since you will be associating your brand name with that product.
* Check how you can showcase your brand logo on the selected product. Assess the product from point of view of quality as well as aesthetics. Check which product allows you to highlight maximum information about your products.
* Always pick an item that will seem attractive/interesting/useful to the visitors. Pick out gifts that are unique and innovative to grab attention. If a person likes or enjoys the giveaway gift, chances are that she/he will read about your product and give your further feedback; hence picking out the right giveaway is important.
About Trade Shows
First of all you need to know about trade shows. A trade show is an exhibition that allows organizations and companies in specific industries to showcase their products and services. While most of these trade shows or expos are open to the public, some only allow company representatives, and members of the press. The trade show is an excellent marketing opportunity and hence companies make a wise investment while participating in such trade shows. The costs incurred during the trade shows include space rental, design and construction of the display at the trade show, telecommunications and networking, travel, accommodation, promotional literature and of course the trade show giveaways.
What are Trade Show Giveaways?
Trade show giveaways are nothing but promotional items or free gifts that are given by a company at the trade show. Trade show gifts are an effective marketing tool that allows companies to promote their new products or spread more information about their existing products and also get a feedback from the customers and fellow traders about the products and services of the company. Companies put in a lot of investment and planning for the trade show giveaways since it is an imperative element of the trade shows.
What are the Benefits of Trade Show Giveaways?
Trade show giveaways are very useful in marketing since they can be used for several purposes. The first use of a trade show giveaway or a trade show gift is spreading information about the product and promoting its use. Second of all if you are using free product samples as trade show giveaways then the people can obviously use the products and provide you their feedback, thus promoting the use of your product. Trade show giveaways can also be a great way to establish or even enhance company’s brand identity. Trade show giveaways help to establish a bond of goodwill and create a positive image of the company amongst the customers and investors. Often when a company is launching a new product or wants to incorporate a big change in its existing product line or services, the trade show giveaways are and excellent options to communicate the changes.
What are the Types of Trade Show Giveaways?
There exist a wide variety of items that can be used as trade show giveaways to promote the business. Starting from the company’s product samples to corporate gifts like pens, pen stands, tote bags or even mints and candies. Here are some of the popular trade show giveaways:
* Gourmet Gifts: Small tins or containers filled with peppermint or candies can be a great trade show giveaway. You just need to make sure you display your logo prominently on the giveaway items. Small mints and candies are generally great but there a lot of options like microwave-popcorn or other snacks.
* Company Products: The best option for a trade show giveaway item is the company’s product samples. Product samplers allow the visitors to use and experience your products and provide you feedback. However the only problem is that not every company will have products or services, which can be sampled out to the audience.
* Stationery Items: Stationery items are handy giveaways that can be imprinted or embossed with your company logo or even some useful information and facts about your company. Diaries, pens, pen stands, paperweights, staplers, notepads are great ideas for trade show giveaways.
* Fun Giveaways: If you are looking for really unique trade show giveaways you have to think out of the box. There exist a wide range of stress buster toys, which can be fun ideas for trade show giveaways. There also exist a lot of intersecting gadgets that are rather inexpensive but will definitely help you stand out.
While Picking out Trade Show Giveaways
While picking out trade show giveaways there are several things that need to be kept in mind. Here are some of the things that need some consideration before selecting trade show giveaways:
* Cost-efficiency is the first thing that you need to keep in mind. Remember that you will have to buy the products in bulk and hence you need to lookout for the best deal. Allot a foxed amount of your marketing budget to the trade show giveaways.
* The next thing that you need to see is analyze whether the product is appropriate for showcasing your brand logo. Using a low quality, cheap product might benefit you but it gives out a wrong message about your brand image. Use cost-effective yet quality products since you will be associating your brand name with that product.
* Check how you can showcase your brand logo on the selected product. Assess the product from point of view of quality as well as aesthetics. Check which product allows you to highlight maximum information about your products.
* Always pick an item that will seem attractive/interesting/useful to the visitors. Pick out gifts that are unique and innovative to grab attention. If a person likes or enjoys the giveaway gift, chances are that she/he will read about your product and give your further feedback; hence picking out the right giveaway is important.
Monday 11 July 2011
Effects of Industrial Revolution
Revolution, in the simplest terms, means a great change. The industrial revolution was a process that started in the middle of the eighteenth century and introduced many changes in agriculture, method and system of production of goods, transport, mining, and economic policies. All these areas were connected, and changes in one resulted changes in the other. Furthermore, these changes metamorphosed the social equations and relations. The process is said to have begun in the middle of the eighteenth century in England with the mechanization of textile production. However, many believe that this was the culmination of many other processes that had begun almost two hundred years ago. Later, the revolution also spread to other parts of Europe.
Starting Process of the Revolution
Surplus produce in agricultural sector is the basic requirement for sustaining an urban population not engaged in food production. In the eighteenth century, English farmers started using farm implements made from metal, instead of the wooden equipment used earlier. Some other improvements in agricultural knowledge led to elimination of the need to keep land fallow for restoring its fertility. This led to surplus agricultural production. Another change in this sphere was the enclosure movement, wherein small farmers were deprived of the common village lands by the rich farmers. As a result, the labor of these small farmers were available for other industries.
Mechanization of production was another important change. James Hargreaves invented the jenny, which allowed an operator to spin multiple threads at the same time. Next came Arkwright, with his water-powered factory. These inventions led to an exponential increase in the production of textiles. Water power, which had replaced manual and animal power, was later replaced by steam power. Changes were also introduced into the system of production. Earlier, production was scattered. People manufactured textiles in their house, using their own equipment. This was a second line occupation practiced by people in their spare time. The system was known as putting out system, where production was decentralized or given out. This was replaced by the factory system, in which the production was done at one place - the factory. Production equipment was provided by the owners of the factory, and the workers worked at pre-determined salaries. Above all, workers had no rights over the produce which was owned by the factory owner. This led to the development of capitalism - the owner provided the initial money, equipment and location for production. He owned the produce and sold it for a profit.
Surplus production would require an efficient transport system, right from procurement of raw materials to transportation of finished goods. This required the development of road, rail and shipping. The steam engine required coal, and fuel and iron would be required to make rails, railway compartments, ships, etc. As a result, mining of coal and iron also saw many alterations.
Effects of Industrial Revolution
The working conditions in mines were horrible, to say the least. Furthermore, women and children were employed as they could be paid lower wages than adult male workers. Child laborers possessed another advantage - they could easily crawl through the narrow passages in mines. The situation in factories was not very different. The workers could not bargain for better conditions and payments, as there was an abundant supply of workers available in the form of displaced peasants and farmers. If one would protest, he would be fired - and there was always someone else ready to replace him. Also, the capitalists were becoming richer by the day. Using their wealth, they were influencing the policies and laws of the government. This influence was naturally harmful to the labor class. This led to the organization of labor unions, and subsequently to the development of the concept of socialism. The migration of such a huge population to cities resulted in the overcrowding of cities and development of slums. The pace of urbanization quickened to unprecedented levels. The migration also broke the social ties the worker (i.e. the former peasant or farmer) was used to in villages. This, along with the deplorable living conditions, caused many other problems like alcoholism, illicit relationships, loneliness, etc. This degraded the quality of life to such an extent that it was said: "the shortest route out of Manchester is a glass of whiskey".
The capitalists emerged from the hitherto middle class. The industrial revolution was an expression of their strength. Their power increased in leaps and bounds. They had the funds to influence the government. They acquired a stranglehold over politics which continues till date. Other customs like the importance of punctuality and taking appointments before meeting people, also started during this age.
The greatest changes of the effects due to the industrial revolution were visible all over the world. A capitalist had two main requirements for making windfall profits. One was cheap supply of raw materials, and the other was a ready market. Both of these were available in colonies. This led to the colonization of many lands in Asia, Africa and South America. The economies of the colonies were comprehensively subordinated to the mother nation. This resulted in a scramble for colonies amongst the great powers of that age. Although England was the strongest power; France, Holland, Portugal, Denmark, and later, Germany and Italy also entered the race. This race led to imperialism, culminating in the two World Wars. English exports were creating problems for the industrial development of other powers. To control this, tariffs were imposed on British goods, leading to tariff barriers. As a result of colonization, events in one part of the world started influencing events in other parts of the world as well. This is the simplest description of globalization.
The revolution also affected many other areas. For one, there was the problems of urbanization during the industrial revolution. There was a lot of migration of the work force to the urban areas. The population distribution everywhere didn't remain equal, like it was before. This lead to the many problems we face even today, like pollution, space crunch, family division, child labor, etc. On the other hand, on a positive note, there were quite a few important inventions of the industrial revolution. Things like the locomotive, steam engine, cotton gin, and many more, were all a result of the revolution. Many of the inventions are in use even today, and many others paved the way for different other technological advancements that we get to enjoy in today's world.
The origin of many modern phenomena and problems can be traced back to the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution was primarily the economic dimension of the change from the middle age to the modern age. This subject, hence, makes valuable study material for anyone attempting to study the modern times.
Starting Process of the Revolution
Surplus produce in agricultural sector is the basic requirement for sustaining an urban population not engaged in food production. In the eighteenth century, English farmers started using farm implements made from metal, instead of the wooden equipment used earlier. Some other improvements in agricultural knowledge led to elimination of the need to keep land fallow for restoring its fertility. This led to surplus agricultural production. Another change in this sphere was the enclosure movement, wherein small farmers were deprived of the common village lands by the rich farmers. As a result, the labor of these small farmers were available for other industries.
Mechanization of production was another important change. James Hargreaves invented the jenny, which allowed an operator to spin multiple threads at the same time. Next came Arkwright, with his water-powered factory. These inventions led to an exponential increase in the production of textiles. Water power, which had replaced manual and animal power, was later replaced by steam power. Changes were also introduced into the system of production. Earlier, production was scattered. People manufactured textiles in their house, using their own equipment. This was a second line occupation practiced by people in their spare time. The system was known as putting out system, where production was decentralized or given out. This was replaced by the factory system, in which the production was done at one place - the factory. Production equipment was provided by the owners of the factory, and the workers worked at pre-determined salaries. Above all, workers had no rights over the produce which was owned by the factory owner. This led to the development of capitalism - the owner provided the initial money, equipment and location for production. He owned the produce and sold it for a profit.
Surplus production would require an efficient transport system, right from procurement of raw materials to transportation of finished goods. This required the development of road, rail and shipping. The steam engine required coal, and fuel and iron would be required to make rails, railway compartments, ships, etc. As a result, mining of coal and iron also saw many alterations.
Effects of Industrial Revolution
The working conditions in mines were horrible, to say the least. Furthermore, women and children were employed as they could be paid lower wages than adult male workers. Child laborers possessed another advantage - they could easily crawl through the narrow passages in mines. The situation in factories was not very different. The workers could not bargain for better conditions and payments, as there was an abundant supply of workers available in the form of displaced peasants and farmers. If one would protest, he would be fired - and there was always someone else ready to replace him. Also, the capitalists were becoming richer by the day. Using their wealth, they were influencing the policies and laws of the government. This influence was naturally harmful to the labor class. This led to the organization of labor unions, and subsequently to the development of the concept of socialism. The migration of such a huge population to cities resulted in the overcrowding of cities and development of slums. The pace of urbanization quickened to unprecedented levels. The migration also broke the social ties the worker (i.e. the former peasant or farmer) was used to in villages. This, along with the deplorable living conditions, caused many other problems like alcoholism, illicit relationships, loneliness, etc. This degraded the quality of life to such an extent that it was said: "the shortest route out of Manchester is a glass of whiskey".
The capitalists emerged from the hitherto middle class. The industrial revolution was an expression of their strength. Their power increased in leaps and bounds. They had the funds to influence the government. They acquired a stranglehold over politics which continues till date. Other customs like the importance of punctuality and taking appointments before meeting people, also started during this age.
The greatest changes of the effects due to the industrial revolution were visible all over the world. A capitalist had two main requirements for making windfall profits. One was cheap supply of raw materials, and the other was a ready market. Both of these were available in colonies. This led to the colonization of many lands in Asia, Africa and South America. The economies of the colonies were comprehensively subordinated to the mother nation. This resulted in a scramble for colonies amongst the great powers of that age. Although England was the strongest power; France, Holland, Portugal, Denmark, and later, Germany and Italy also entered the race. This race led to imperialism, culminating in the two World Wars. English exports were creating problems for the industrial development of other powers. To control this, tariffs were imposed on British goods, leading to tariff barriers. As a result of colonization, events in one part of the world started influencing events in other parts of the world as well. This is the simplest description of globalization.
The revolution also affected many other areas. For one, there was the problems of urbanization during the industrial revolution. There was a lot of migration of the work force to the urban areas. The population distribution everywhere didn't remain equal, like it was before. This lead to the many problems we face even today, like pollution, space crunch, family division, child labor, etc. On the other hand, on a positive note, there were quite a few important inventions of the industrial revolution. Things like the locomotive, steam engine, cotton gin, and many more, were all a result of the revolution. Many of the inventions are in use even today, and many others paved the way for different other technological advancements that we get to enjoy in today's world.
The origin of many modern phenomena and problems can be traced back to the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution was primarily the economic dimension of the change from the middle age to the modern age. This subject, hence, makes valuable study material for anyone attempting to study the modern times.
History of Industrial Design
The art of enhancing the look and value of products, Industrial Design started developing in the 20th century. During the later half of the nineteenth century, the consumer goods industry grew rapidly which necessitated the creation of designer goods, owing to the competition in the market. Consumers were ready to spend more on luxury goods and lush interior decorations for homes. In those times, industrial design wasn't a well-defined professional activity. The craftsmen and artists were engaged in industrial designing activities by industrialists, who promoted the development of prototypes for their products.
Industrial Design History
The bulk of industrial designing during the 1920s was carried out in the field of automobiles, electrical appliances and the new inventions. The engineers though, invented useful items for the public, but lacked the creativity needed to enhance the look of these products. Trained artists from different art schools, were hired for the creation of commercial art, in order to facilitate the designing of industrial products.
The Great Depression of 1929, proved an opportunity in disguise for industrial designers to display their skills. Frederick W. Taylor, a mechanical engineer by profession, played an important role in improving industrial efficiency during this period.
Streamlining
It was an important principle applied in the production of various goods. Basically a concept derived from the science of aerodynamics, streamlining was extensively used in the designing of products such as automobiles, radio, washing machines, etc. The overall effect of streamlining the product designs was so much, that the demand of consumer products increased heavily.
The profession of industrial designing was institutionalized owing to the surge in demand for industrial designers. The institutions, like the American Designers Institute and the Society of Industrial Designers, were established in the years 1938 and 1944 respectively. The two institutions were merged in 1965 to form the Industrial Designers Society of America.
High Modernism
The idea of 'high modernism' governed the industrial design sector between the 1930s and 1960s. Three types of design 'frameworks' or ideas were brought to light by The Museum of Modern Art in America. These three ideas were the 'machine art', 'organic design' and 'good design'. The machine art signified abstract designing while good design was considered to be of reformist ideology. Organic design was the term used for eco-friendly designs.
Those refugees who had escaped Nazism and were associated with Bauhaus, a design school in Germany, which brought new ideas to industrial designing in America. The establishment of the Aspen Design Conference for policy makers and businessmen was the result of the changes in the industrial design sector. The concept of high modernism was also popularized by Mr. George Nelson through a journal called the 'Industrial Design'.
Mr. J. Gordon Lippincott brought forth an idea which promoted the use of designs only for the sake of profits. Harley Earl's styling techniques greatly influenced the appearance of products such as gas pumps, carports and even items such as coffee tables and sectional sofas. The scientific progress in the mid-19th century too had an influence on the designing techniques, which reflected in the form of amoeboid shapes in Georgian architecture.
The competitive markets of the 1980s and 1990s brought about a fundamental change in the field of industrial designing. Earlier, during the 1930s, the challenge before designers was to enhance the look of Machine Age products. However, in the '80s, the situation had changed a lot. The designers were expected to add value to the highly sophisticated hardware and software. The designers in this period, played an important role in deciding the corporate strategies for industries. Thus, from the inception of the concept of industrial designing in the 1900s till date, the field of Industrial Design has undergone a sea change.
Industrial Design History
The bulk of industrial designing during the 1920s was carried out in the field of automobiles, electrical appliances and the new inventions. The engineers though, invented useful items for the public, but lacked the creativity needed to enhance the look of these products. Trained artists from different art schools, were hired for the creation of commercial art, in order to facilitate the designing of industrial products.
The Great Depression of 1929, proved an opportunity in disguise for industrial designers to display their skills. Frederick W. Taylor, a mechanical engineer by profession, played an important role in improving industrial efficiency during this period.
Streamlining
It was an important principle applied in the production of various goods. Basically a concept derived from the science of aerodynamics, streamlining was extensively used in the designing of products such as automobiles, radio, washing machines, etc. The overall effect of streamlining the product designs was so much, that the demand of consumer products increased heavily.
The profession of industrial designing was institutionalized owing to the surge in demand for industrial designers. The institutions, like the American Designers Institute and the Society of Industrial Designers, were established in the years 1938 and 1944 respectively. The two institutions were merged in 1965 to form the Industrial Designers Society of America.
High Modernism
The idea of 'high modernism' governed the industrial design sector between the 1930s and 1960s. Three types of design 'frameworks' or ideas were brought to light by The Museum of Modern Art in America. These three ideas were the 'machine art', 'organic design' and 'good design'. The machine art signified abstract designing while good design was considered to be of reformist ideology. Organic design was the term used for eco-friendly designs.
Those refugees who had escaped Nazism and were associated with Bauhaus, a design school in Germany, which brought new ideas to industrial designing in America. The establishment of the Aspen Design Conference for policy makers and businessmen was the result of the changes in the industrial design sector. The concept of high modernism was also popularized by Mr. George Nelson through a journal called the 'Industrial Design'.
Mr. J. Gordon Lippincott brought forth an idea which promoted the use of designs only for the sake of profits. Harley Earl's styling techniques greatly influenced the appearance of products such as gas pumps, carports and even items such as coffee tables and sectional sofas. The scientific progress in the mid-19th century too had an influence on the designing techniques, which reflected in the form of amoeboid shapes in Georgian architecture.
The competitive markets of the 1980s and 1990s brought about a fundamental change in the field of industrial designing. Earlier, during the 1930s, the challenge before designers was to enhance the look of Machine Age products. However, in the '80s, the situation had changed a lot. The designers were expected to add value to the highly sophisticated hardware and software. The designers in this period, played an important role in deciding the corporate strategies for industries. Thus, from the inception of the concept of industrial designing in the 1900s till date, the field of Industrial Design has undergone a sea change.
Urbanization During the Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution in 19th century, which led to the mass production of goods, resulted in decreased costs of these manufactured goods and improved living conditions for the people, due to the affordable consumer goods. When the living conditions of the people began to improve and there was also a huge requirement of people for various jobs at the factories, there started a mass migration of people, from the rural areas to the cities. This mass migration of people to the cities, is what is referred to as urbanization during the industrial revolution. How this urbanization affected the society, lets try to understand.
Effects of Urbanization During the Industrial Revolution
Harmful to the Environment
To work in factories during the industrial revolution, lots of migrants shifted to the cities. They began to live along with the natural citizens of the city, leading to lots of air and water pollution, caused by the tremendous rise in population.
Class Divide
New social classes emerged due to urbanization during the industrial revolution. The entrepreneurs as well as the business people gained enormous wealth due to industrialization. This led to a class divide, where the workers in the factories became the have-nots and the factory owners, with their huge wealth became the haves.
Low Standard of Living
Because of the large scale immigration during industrial revolution, people who had shifted to the cities, found it very difficult to adjust in the depersonalized city environment. Most of the people were used to staying and working on their own farms, where basic necessities of life, such as water and food, were easily accessible. In the cities, however, due to the unprecedented growth in population, even something as simple as water needs of the people were not met, due to the growing population. Urbanization during the industrial revolution, put a lot of pressure on the economic as well as the governmental systems, which could not handle this rise in population, thus, inconveniencing the people in the process.
Change in Family Structure
Urbanization and industrialization caused a lot of changes in the family structures as well. Men began to work in factories and their wages were comparatively higher than those of women. Children were seen as a source of low cost labor. Due to industrialization, men received the status of a "bread winner" of the family, while middle class women were encouraged to stay at home to look after the children. Reade more on child labor.
Catalyst for Socialist Revolution
Due to urbanization, people who followed different cultures and traditions came together to live in the cities. With time, these cultural values which defined these people, became to fade. The people started feeling a need to associate themselves with something they could identify themselves with. It was this need of people working in factories, which was taken advantage of by the trade unions. Due to the industrialization, people were working in low paying, long hours jobs, and their entire being was at the mercy of the factory owners. Impersonalized city environment, combined with this dehumanizing working atmosphere and the well apparent class divide, were all in a way responsible for the socialist revolutions, all around the world.
Urbanization during the industrial revolution, though had many ill effects on the lives of the people who lived or shifted to cities during that period, yet it had many positive outcomes too. It was due to this large scale immigration of people to the cities that forced the governments to device such policies, that would take care of the people. Governments initiative to take interest in the development works, modernization of the infrastructure opening of schools, providing proper sanitation, health and water facilities, can be all attributed to the large scale urbanization that took place during the industrial revolution.
Effects of Urbanization During the Industrial Revolution
Harmful to the Environment
To work in factories during the industrial revolution, lots of migrants shifted to the cities. They began to live along with the natural citizens of the city, leading to lots of air and water pollution, caused by the tremendous rise in population.
Class Divide
New social classes emerged due to urbanization during the industrial revolution. The entrepreneurs as well as the business people gained enormous wealth due to industrialization. This led to a class divide, where the workers in the factories became the have-nots and the factory owners, with their huge wealth became the haves.
Low Standard of Living
Because of the large scale immigration during industrial revolution, people who had shifted to the cities, found it very difficult to adjust in the depersonalized city environment. Most of the people were used to staying and working on their own farms, where basic necessities of life, such as water and food, were easily accessible. In the cities, however, due to the unprecedented growth in population, even something as simple as water needs of the people were not met, due to the growing population. Urbanization during the industrial revolution, put a lot of pressure on the economic as well as the governmental systems, which could not handle this rise in population, thus, inconveniencing the people in the process.
Change in Family Structure
Urbanization and industrialization caused a lot of changes in the family structures as well. Men began to work in factories and their wages were comparatively higher than those of women. Children were seen as a source of low cost labor. Due to industrialization, men received the status of a "bread winner" of the family, while middle class women were encouraged to stay at home to look after the children. Reade more on child labor.
Catalyst for Socialist Revolution
Due to urbanization, people who followed different cultures and traditions came together to live in the cities. With time, these cultural values which defined these people, became to fade. The people started feeling a need to associate themselves with something they could identify themselves with. It was this need of people working in factories, which was taken advantage of by the trade unions. Due to the industrialization, people were working in low paying, long hours jobs, and their entire being was at the mercy of the factory owners. Impersonalized city environment, combined with this dehumanizing working atmosphere and the well apparent class divide, were all in a way responsible for the socialist revolutions, all around the world.
Urbanization during the industrial revolution, though had many ill effects on the lives of the people who lived or shifted to cities during that period, yet it had many positive outcomes too. It was due to this large scale immigration of people to the cities that forced the governments to device such policies, that would take care of the people. Governments initiative to take interest in the development works, modernization of the infrastructure opening of schools, providing proper sanitation, health and water facilities, can be all attributed to the large scale urbanization that took place during the industrial revolution.
Romanticism: Characteristics of Romanticism
Romanticism is a movement that emerged as a reaction against Neoclassicism, the age preceding the Romantic movement. The Neoclassical age was also called the 'The age of Enlightenment', which emphasized on reason and logic. The Romantic period wanted to break away from the traditions and conventions that were dear to the Neoclassical age and make way for individuality and experimentation. The Romantic movement is said to have emerged in Germany, which soon spread to England as well as France, however, the main source of inspiration for Romanticism came from the events and ideologies of the French Revolution. Other than this, even the industrial revolution which began during the same period is also said to be responsible for the development of Romanticism. Though Romantic elements were found in art and literature since several centuries, it was the publication of 'Lyrical Ballads' by Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798 that marked the beginning of the Romantic period. To understand Romanticism better, it is very important to learn about the Romanticism characteristics. Read more on importance of literature.
Characteristics of Romanticism
As literature was the first to be influenced by the ideas and ideologies of Romanticism before spreading to art and music, the characteristics of romanticism in literature are the same for other art forms too. Therefore, let us look at some of the Romanticism characteristics which influenced all the artistic fields of that period.
Love of Nature: The Romantics greatly emphasized on the importance of nature, and one of the main characteristics of Romanticism in poetry is the beauty of nature found in the country life. This was mainly because the industrial revolution had taken man from the peaceful country life towards the city life, transforming man's natural order. Nature was not only appreciated for its physical beauty by the Romantics, but also for its ability to help the urban man find his true identity.
Emotions v/s Rationality: Unlike the Neoclassical age which focused on rationality and intellect, Romanticism placed human emotions, feelings, instinct and intuition above everything else. While the poets in the former era adhered to the rules and regulations while selecting a subject and writing about it, the Romantic writers trusted their emotions and feelings to create poetry. This belief can be confirmed from the definition of poetry by William Wordsworth, where he says that "poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings". The emphasis on emotions was also spread to music created in the Romantic period, and was seen in the compositions made by great musicians like Weber, Beethoven, Schumann, etc.
Artist, the Creator: As the Romantic period emphasized on emotions, the position or role of the artist or the poet also gained supremacy. In the earlier times, the artist was seen as a person who imitated the external world through his art. However, Romanticism reverted this belief. The poet or artist was seen as a creator of a piece of work which reflected his individuality and inner mind. It was also for the first time that the poems written in the first person were being accepted, as the poetic persona became one with the voice of the poet.
Nationalism: The Romantics borrowed heavily from the folklore and the popular art. During the earlier periods, literature and art were considered to belong to the high class educated people, and the country folks were not considered fit to enjoy them. Also, the language used in these works were highly poetic, which was totally different from that which was spoken by people. However, Romanticism changed all this. Their works were influenced from the ballads and folklore that were created by the masses or the common people, rather than from the literary works that were popular. Apart from poetry, adopting from the folklore and ballads is also one of the very important characteristics of Romanticism in music. As the Romantics became interested and focused on developing the folklore, culture, language, customs and traditions of their own country, they developed a sense of Nationalism which reflected in their works. Also, the language used in Romantic poems were simple which was usually used in everyday life.
Exoticism: Along with Nationalism, the Romantics even developed the love of the exotic. Hence, in many of the literary as well as artistic works of that period, the far off and mysterious locations were depicted. Though this was completely opposite from the ideal of Nationalism, they never clashed with each other. The reason for this is that just like the exotic locations, the people did not know about the folklore of their places before, and so they seemed to be as vague as the far away places. Exoticism is also one of the most prominent characteristics of Romanticism in art, along with sentimentality and spirituality.
Supernatural: Another characteristic of Romanticism is the belief in the supernatural. The Romantics were interested in the supernatural and included it in their works. This fascination for the mysterious and the unreal also lead to the development of the Gothic romance which became popular during this period. Supernatural elements can be seen in Coleridge's, 'Kubla Khan' and in Keats' poem 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci'.
As no Romantic writer or artist followed any kind of rules or regulations, it is actually a little difficult to define the Romanticism characteristics accurately. Nevertheless, these are some of the characteristics of Romanticism that reflect in the works of that period. Though many writers and critics have said that Romanticism is irrational, one thing that cannot be denied is that it attempted to portray the world, especially human nature in a new light.
Characteristics of Romanticism
As literature was the first to be influenced by the ideas and ideologies of Romanticism before spreading to art and music, the characteristics of romanticism in literature are the same for other art forms too. Therefore, let us look at some of the Romanticism characteristics which influenced all the artistic fields of that period.
Love of Nature: The Romantics greatly emphasized on the importance of nature, and one of the main characteristics of Romanticism in poetry is the beauty of nature found in the country life. This was mainly because the industrial revolution had taken man from the peaceful country life towards the city life, transforming man's natural order. Nature was not only appreciated for its physical beauty by the Romantics, but also for its ability to help the urban man find his true identity.
Emotions v/s Rationality: Unlike the Neoclassical age which focused on rationality and intellect, Romanticism placed human emotions, feelings, instinct and intuition above everything else. While the poets in the former era adhered to the rules and regulations while selecting a subject and writing about it, the Romantic writers trusted their emotions and feelings to create poetry. This belief can be confirmed from the definition of poetry by William Wordsworth, where he says that "poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings". The emphasis on emotions was also spread to music created in the Romantic period, and was seen in the compositions made by great musicians like Weber, Beethoven, Schumann, etc.
Artist, the Creator: As the Romantic period emphasized on emotions, the position or role of the artist or the poet also gained supremacy. In the earlier times, the artist was seen as a person who imitated the external world through his art. However, Romanticism reverted this belief. The poet or artist was seen as a creator of a piece of work which reflected his individuality and inner mind. It was also for the first time that the poems written in the first person were being accepted, as the poetic persona became one with the voice of the poet.
Nationalism: The Romantics borrowed heavily from the folklore and the popular art. During the earlier periods, literature and art were considered to belong to the high class educated people, and the country folks were not considered fit to enjoy them. Also, the language used in these works were highly poetic, which was totally different from that which was spoken by people. However, Romanticism changed all this. Their works were influenced from the ballads and folklore that were created by the masses or the common people, rather than from the literary works that were popular. Apart from poetry, adopting from the folklore and ballads is also one of the very important characteristics of Romanticism in music. As the Romantics became interested and focused on developing the folklore, culture, language, customs and traditions of their own country, they developed a sense of Nationalism which reflected in their works. Also, the language used in Romantic poems were simple which was usually used in everyday life.
Exoticism: Along with Nationalism, the Romantics even developed the love of the exotic. Hence, in many of the literary as well as artistic works of that period, the far off and mysterious locations were depicted. Though this was completely opposite from the ideal of Nationalism, they never clashed with each other. The reason for this is that just like the exotic locations, the people did not know about the folklore of their places before, and so they seemed to be as vague as the far away places. Exoticism is also one of the most prominent characteristics of Romanticism in art, along with sentimentality and spirituality.
Supernatural: Another characteristic of Romanticism is the belief in the supernatural. The Romantics were interested in the supernatural and included it in their works. This fascination for the mysterious and the unreal also lead to the development of the Gothic romance which became popular during this period. Supernatural elements can be seen in Coleridge's, 'Kubla Khan' and in Keats' poem 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci'.
As no Romantic writer or artist followed any kind of rules or regulations, it is actually a little difficult to define the Romanticism characteristics accurately. Nevertheless, these are some of the characteristics of Romanticism that reflect in the works of that period. Though many writers and critics have said that Romanticism is irrational, one thing that cannot be denied is that it attempted to portray the world, especially human nature in a new light.
Industrial Revolution Inventions
As the name suggests the industrial revolution, played a major role in modernization of the world. The era of whole-scale industrial liberalization has played a significant role in the scientific advancement of the world. This advancement changed mankind within a time span of just 3 centuries. It all began with the advancement of the liberal thoughts of mankind after the Renaissance, which eventually led to the industrial revolution inventions. Timeline of these inventions span over the 18th and 19th centuries. Often the entire time period is divided into the first industrial revolution and second industrial revolution. The inventions of the industrial revolution have been discussed in the following paragraphs.
Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
If we go on to make a list of industrial revolution inventions, then it is bound to be mammoth. Hence to make matters simpler, a description of three industrial revolution inventions that actually started off the race for riches through industrial processes has been included. In some cases more than one person can be credited to be the person behind the invention and the promotion of technology. So here goes.
* Steam Engine: Issac Newton proved the many laws of motion and energy and people pondered for a long time over two enslave motion and energy. James Watt was successful in making the steam engine that would successfully operate mine pumps and then the rail roads. Another notable promoter of the steam engine was Thomas Newcomen.
* Iron Founding: As the ever booming industry needed several parts and machines, the forgers and iron men came up with iron fondling machines. Coke replaced charcoal in smelting and potting, stamping and puddling processes replaced come older conventions. Henry Cort is credited to be the inventor of the famous puddling furnace.
* Textiles: The textile industry was a very well paying and important industry of the European economy. Water Frame of Richard Arkwright, James Hargreaves's Spinning Jenny and Samuel Crompton's Spinning Mule are 3 important inventions of the textile sectors.
Apart from the aforementioned inventions, there are some landmark industrial revolution inventions that changed the world. Such inventions have been divided according to the continents.
Industrial Revolution Inventions in Europe
If we consider the investors from Europe, then we have James Watt and Thomas Newcomen who worked on the steam engine. Then we have Henry Cort who worked in the field of iron founding. Turning to the field of communications we have Samuel Thomas von Sömmerring, a German scientists who built one of the first electronic telegraphs in 1809. If travel much further through a few decades then we have Cyrus West Field, headed Atlantic Telegraph Company which laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. Turning to electricity, Nikola Tesla is a name that must be certainly mentioned, whose contribution in early 20th century to commercial electricity powered the industry. Alexander Graham Bell should not be forgotten as he is the father of communications. A very very, important invention was the diesel engine of Rudolf Diesel. Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss scientist designed one of the earliest internal combustion engines in 1807. The father of modern science awards, the Nobel Prize, Sir Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist invented the Dynamite in 1867.
Moving on across the Atlantic…
Industrial Revolution Inventions in America
It was not just the Europeans who contributed their inventions. There are some substantial number of landmark inventions of the industrial revolutions, that were contributed by American inventors. Eli Whitney, Jr. a pioneer in textile developments, invented the cotton gin in 1793. Robert Fulton a pioneer of naval transport, invented the steam boat and the first submarine. Samuel Morse pioneered the communication sector with Bell when he invented the single wire telegraph and the, still in use, Morse code. Elias Howe gave tailors and housewives a great comfort with his effective sewing machine. Out of all other inventions, this one is probably the most complex one and also the smallest, by the virtue of size. The design of sewing machine was further promoted by Isaac Singer. Scientific legend, Thomas Edison was the inventor of 3 technologies, bulb, phonograph and motion picture camera. Wright brothers who gave man wings, will always carry the credit of flight. Henry Ford is a must mention because of his assembly line technique, which drives the speed of industry even today.
These industrial revolution inventions have shaped the world in which we live today. There many names and inventions that should have been mentioned, the world owes a lot to them.
Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
If we go on to make a list of industrial revolution inventions, then it is bound to be mammoth. Hence to make matters simpler, a description of three industrial revolution inventions that actually started off the race for riches through industrial processes has been included. In some cases more than one person can be credited to be the person behind the invention and the promotion of technology. So here goes.
* Steam Engine: Issac Newton proved the many laws of motion and energy and people pondered for a long time over two enslave motion and energy. James Watt was successful in making the steam engine that would successfully operate mine pumps and then the rail roads. Another notable promoter of the steam engine was Thomas Newcomen.
* Iron Founding: As the ever booming industry needed several parts and machines, the forgers and iron men came up with iron fondling machines. Coke replaced charcoal in smelting and potting, stamping and puddling processes replaced come older conventions. Henry Cort is credited to be the inventor of the famous puddling furnace.
* Textiles: The textile industry was a very well paying and important industry of the European economy. Water Frame of Richard Arkwright, James Hargreaves's Spinning Jenny and Samuel Crompton's Spinning Mule are 3 important inventions of the textile sectors.
Apart from the aforementioned inventions, there are some landmark industrial revolution inventions that changed the world. Such inventions have been divided according to the continents.
Industrial Revolution Inventions in Europe
If we consider the investors from Europe, then we have James Watt and Thomas Newcomen who worked on the steam engine. Then we have Henry Cort who worked in the field of iron founding. Turning to the field of communications we have Samuel Thomas von Sömmerring, a German scientists who built one of the first electronic telegraphs in 1809. If travel much further through a few decades then we have Cyrus West Field, headed Atlantic Telegraph Company which laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. Turning to electricity, Nikola Tesla is a name that must be certainly mentioned, whose contribution in early 20th century to commercial electricity powered the industry. Alexander Graham Bell should not be forgotten as he is the father of communications. A very very, important invention was the diesel engine of Rudolf Diesel. Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss scientist designed one of the earliest internal combustion engines in 1807. The father of modern science awards, the Nobel Prize, Sir Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist invented the Dynamite in 1867.
Moving on across the Atlantic…
Industrial Revolution Inventions in America
It was not just the Europeans who contributed their inventions. There are some substantial number of landmark inventions of the industrial revolutions, that were contributed by American inventors. Eli Whitney, Jr. a pioneer in textile developments, invented the cotton gin in 1793. Robert Fulton a pioneer of naval transport, invented the steam boat and the first submarine. Samuel Morse pioneered the communication sector with Bell when he invented the single wire telegraph and the, still in use, Morse code. Elias Howe gave tailors and housewives a great comfort with his effective sewing machine. Out of all other inventions, this one is probably the most complex one and also the smallest, by the virtue of size. The design of sewing machine was further promoted by Isaac Singer. Scientific legend, Thomas Edison was the inventor of 3 technologies, bulb, phonograph and motion picture camera. Wright brothers who gave man wings, will always carry the credit of flight. Henry Ford is a must mention because of his assembly line technique, which drives the speed of industry even today.
These industrial revolution inventions have shaped the world in which we live today. There many names and inventions that should have been mentioned, the world owes a lot to them.
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