FACTORS INFLUENCING CONSUMERS' LIKELIHOOD OF PURCHASING SPECIALTY FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCTS ON-LINE: RESULTS OF CONSUMER REVIEWS OF 12 SELECTED SITES

A total of twelve companies marketing specialty food and drink products on the World Wide Web were identified for this study. Four each marketed coffee, salsa, and seafood. Over a three week period, 163 respondents completed a total of 973 site evaluations. While respondents preferred to purchase products from a retail store, the majority identified at least one product from the sites which they would likely purchase on-line in the next six months. Respondents who regularly purchase one of the products monthly or more often were significantly more likely to make an on-line purchase in the future than those who purchase the product less frequently. Respondents who rated the overall appeal of a company's WWW site as good or excellent were nearly six times as likely to say that they would be likely to purchase the product on-line than those who rated the site as fair or poor. While no single site characteristic stood out relative to the others as having a major influence on increasing the likelihood of making an on-line purchase, insufficient company and/or product information reduced consumers' willingness to purchase on-line and by mail order.Consumer/Household Economics,

USING THE WWW FOR RETAIL FOOD SALES: DISCUSSION AND DEMONSTRATION

Agribusiness, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

CATALOG SPECIALTY FOOD BUYERS' COMPUTER USAGE AND PURCHASING ACTIVITY: A CASE STUDY

Specialty food aficionados, who use the Internet to gather information or place orders, resemble those who rely on mail order catalogs, except for being younger. Both groups are well- educated, wealthy, and frequent specialty food buyers. Among those studied, nearly all of the Internet users have considered shopping by catalog, half had used the Internet in the previous six months, and about 10 percent had actually purchased specialty food or beverages online. While preferring traditional retail shopping, this group views catalog and online shopping as substitutes. When choosing to shop via either of these options, product quality and uniqueness are most important; shipping costs and price are least important. These conclusions are based on a survey that builds on previous research which examined Internet users who visit food-related sites on the World Wide Web. It found a strong correlation between catalog and online purchasing activity. This paper reports the findings of a follow-up survey targeted at random samples of individuals on four specialty food companies' mailing lists. The survey identifies the demographics and purchasing activity of specialty food catalog shoppers and compares them to the population of Internet users who visit food-related Web sites. It examines catalog shoppers' use of the Internet and online shopping, and compares the relative importance of a variety of factors in the decisions to buy online and by catalog.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Marketing,

Why Labor Unions Have Grown Reluctant To Use the “S” Word. Global, High-Tech Economy Makes Striking Riskier As Membership Declines. A Sense of Shared Purpose, 1999

Newspaper article about strikes and the role of unions in strikes, The Wall Street Journal. Vol. 104, No. 118, December 16, 1999

Using an Open Software System (Sakai) to Develop Student Portfolios

E-portfolios are digital collections of artifacts that represent the achievements and reflections of individuals. They offer a unique view into student learning and allow educators and external accreditors to assess student progress towards established standards as well as reviewing their program’s performance in supporting that progress. Students benefit from assembling their e-portfolios through the process of reviewing their own work with a critical eye, choosing pieces of their work that best represent their abilities, and reflecting on the transformative nature of their University experience, both in class and through extra-curricular, service learning, internships and international activities. An e-portfolio provides a holistic view of a student’s personal growth and abilities that will serve them well in their career search or graduate school application. The challenge for an institution is to provide this learning and assessment resource in an accessible and affordable vehicle that is manageable for both faculty and students. Roger Williams University has crafted a strategy to utilize the Sakai open source course management system with its integrated e-portfolio tool set and a linked website to provide both e-portfolios and program assessment. This strategy will also be employed to propose a virtual accreditation of a professional program that will serve as a model throughout the University and the broader higher education community

Social Movements and Social Policies: Political Challenges Under Austerity In The UK

The economic crisis of 2007/2008 presented a challenge to the welfare state in the UK, and, more widely, across Europe. It also presented a challenge to many citizens, who were on the receiving end of the austerity agenda, and subsequent tightening of welfare spending. If nothing else, the financial crisis demonstrated the hegemony of economic theories prominent in neoliberal capitalism. As many academics and commentators have identified, however, the current period of instability is indicative of a systemic crisis. In addition to this analysis, the crisis also exposed the intricate and opaque links between western governments and the financial sector. During and after the crisis an eruption of activity in civil society galvanised many that had been directly affected by either the crisis itself – through loss of employment – or by the subsequent austerity measures imposed. This paper aims to examine the current crisis affecting the welfare state in the UK, and social policy more broadly, and, begins to suggest how social movements are seeking to challenge the dominant discourses surrounding austerity politics. The paper will suggest some reasons as to why traditional forms of resistance and organisation – such as the mobilisations of the trade union movement – have largely been unsuccessful in challenging such narratives. The paper will conclude by considering the shift from trade unionism in the UK to post-crisis social movements, and where an anti-austerity movement more broadly might develop further in pursuit of defending the principles of social welfare, and, ultimately, the welfare state

“Climate Refugees”—A Useful Concept?

Book review essay of: Behrman, Simon, and Avidan Kent, eds. 2018. “Climate Refugees”: Beyond the Legal Impasse? New York: Routledge. Miller, Todd. 2017. Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, and Homeland Security. San Francisco, CA: City Lights. Wennersten, John R., and Denise Robbins. 2017. Rising Tides: Climate Refugees in the Twenty-First Century. Bloomington: Indiana University Press