Percentage Of Total Sales Research Articles

The memory concept behind deep neural network models: An application in time series forecasting in the e-Commerce sector

A good command of computational and statistical tools has proven advantageous when modelling and forecasting time series. According to recent literature, neural networks with long memory (e.g., Short-Term Long Memory) are a promising option in deep learning methods. However, only some works also consider the computational cost of these architectures compared to simpler architectures (e.g., Multilayer Perceptron). This work aims to provide insight into the memory performance of some Deep Neural Network architectures and their computational complexity. Another goal is to evaluate whether choosing more complex architectures with higher computational costs is justified. Error metrics are then used to assess the forecasting models' performance and computational cost. Two-time series related to e-commerce retail sales in the US were selected: (i) sales volume; (ii) e-commerce sales as a percentage of total sales. Although there are changes in data dynamics in both series, other existing characteristics lead to different conclusions. "Long memory" allows for significantly better forecasts in one-time series. In the other time series, this is not the case.

Effect of Leverage Ratio and Ownership Structure on Internationalization of Indian Firms

The paper attempts to find a relation between internationalization of firms & the amount of leverage and ownership stake in the capital structure. 'Ownership' & 'Leverage' have been taken as independent variables for the purpose of this study; and 'Degree of internationalization'- defined as 'the percentage of total sales coming from foreign operation' is taken as the dependent variable for the purpose of this analysis. The multivariate dummy regression was run on the data of 100 firms to determine the nature of relationship between the capital structure and internationalization of firms. Further, t-test was used to find the strength of this relationship. The study found that a significant relationship exists between the degree of internationalization and capital structure. Ownership impacts internationalization, much more that leverage. Also the number of years used in the study was found insignificant to influence the nature of relationship.

Little filtered cigars: US sales, flavours, package sizes and prices

ObjectiveAt least four varieties of little filtered cigars (LFCs) violate the US prohibition on flavoured cigarettes other than menthol. This study characterises the sales of prohibited products and other LFCs...

R&D internationalization, product diversification and international performance for emerging market enterprises: An empirical study on Chinese enterprises

One motivation behind R&D internationalization for emerging market multinationals (EM MNEs) is to expand international markets. This paper analyzes whether the R&D internationalization of EM MNEs contributes to an improvement in international performance measured by foreign sales as a percentage of total sales (FSTS). Using panel data on China's listed companies, this paper introduces more scientific and normative indicators for measuring R&D internationalization in terms of geographic distribution (breadth) and overseas investment (depth). The results reveal an inverted U-shape relationship between R&D internationalization and international performance that is initially positive and eventually becomes negative. Product diversification has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between R&D internationalization breadth and international performance.

An empirical investigation into the internationalisation patterns of UK firms

We conduct an unique longitudinal analysis on internationalisation patterns for a sample of 600 UK firms over a 23-year sample period from 1990 to 2012. We use three measures of multinationality – the classification system for firm-level multinationality of Aggarwal, Berrill, Hutson and Kearney , foreign sales as a percentage of total sales and the number of geographic segments in which material sales occur as disclosed in the firm’s consolidated accounts. Our results show that multinational levels have increased over time. We find little evidence that firms are regional in their sales, but equally few firms are categorised as global. We also find evidence to support de-internationalisation in some sample years. The industrial analysis shows that health care and basic materials are the most international industries, while Financials, Consumer Services and Utilities are the least multinational. Non-services firms are more multinational than services firms.

An Investigation into the Benefits of Investing in Chinese Multinational Companies

We provide a unique longitudinal analysis into firm-level multinationality of Chinese firms between 2002 and 2012 using two measures of multinationality—the Aggarwal, Berrill, Hutson and Kearney (2011, International Business Review, 20, 557–577) system and foreign sales as a percentage of total sales. We find that Chinese firms have low levels of multinationality with most foreign sales in the triad regions of Asia, Europe and North America. We use mean variance spanning tests to investigate the benefits from investing in Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs). We find that Chinese MNCs offer little diversification benefits to domestic investors and firms with greater multinationality levels do not result in greater benefits.

Illicit Cigarette Trade in Five South American Countries: A Gap Analysis for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

Because of its nature, it is very hard to measure illicit tobacco trade in any product. In the case of Latin American countries, there is scant information on the magnitude and characteristics of this cigarette trade. The goal of this article is to provide estimates on the evolution of the illicit cigarette trade in five South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Gap analysis estimates for cigarette tax evasion/avoidance (a comparison on the evolution of the difference between registered cigarette sales and measured population consumption) are developed for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Nationally representative surveys, conducted regularly, are used to measure population consumption. Confidence intervals constructed by bootstrapping sample estimates are generated to statistically evaluate the evolution of the gap. Illicit cigarette trade has increased as a percentage of total sales in Brazil in recent years. In the case of Argentina, after a relative decrease between 2005 and 2009, it seems to have stabilized. There is no statistical evidence to argue that there has been an increase of illicit cigarette trade in Chile, Colombia, and Peru, despite substantial price increases in Chile and tax increase in both Colombia and Peru. Using simple statistical methods, it is possible to assess the trend in illicit tobacco trade over time to better inform policy makers. Getting reliable and regular population consumption surveys can also help to track illicit tobacco trade. Claims by tobacco industry of a positive association between price/tax changes and illicit trade are unsubstantiated. Evolution of illicit cigarette trade in five Latin American countries shows different trajectories, not in line with tobacco industry estimates, which highlight the importance of producing solid, independent estimates. There are inexpensive methodologies that can provide estimates of the evolution of the relative importance of illicit trade and can be used to inform policy makers.

An Empirical Investigation into the Internationalisation Patterns of UK Firms

We conduct a unique longitudinal analysis on the patterns of internationalization for a sample of 600 UK firms over a 23 year sample period from 1990 to 2012. We use three measures of multinationality – the classification system for firm-level multinationality of Aggarwal, Berrill, Hutson and Kearney (2011), foreign sales as a percentage of total sales and the number of geographic segments in which material sales occur as disclosed in the firm’s consolidated accounts. Our results show that multinational levels have increased over time. We find little evidence that firms are regional in their sales but equally few firms are categorised as global. We also find some evidence to support the de-internationalisation of firms. The industrial analysis shows that Health Care and Basic Materials are the most international industries, while Financials, Consumer Services and Utilities are the least multinational. We show that non-services firms are more multinational than services firms, in every year and using all three measures of internationalization.

Evolving corporate sustainable development: a case study of Mysore Paper Mills Limited

In 1987, the World Commission on Economic Development (WCED) popularized the term “sustainable development” in its well-cited report, Our Common Future. According to this report, sustainable development is defined as “the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The WCED asserted that sustainable development required simultaneous adoption of environmental, economical, and equity principles. Bansal (Strategic Management Journal, 26(3), 197–218, 2005) has conducted a study of Canadian firms in the oil and gas, mining, and forestry industries from 1986 to 1995. The study found that both resources based and institutional factors influence corporate sustainable development. This paper studied the corporate sustainable development of Mysore Paper Mills Ltd. from 1995 to 2011 using the same model. The study found that independent variables with significant impact on environmental integrity and overall sustainability were fines, penalties, court cases (total) involved by the company, and log of total assets. On economic prosperity, the independent variable with significant impact is log of total assets. For social equity, the independent variable with significant impact is foreign sales as percentage of total sales, number of fines/penalties/court cases (total), number of fines/penalties/court cases (environmental), log(total assets), and return on equity.

PS06 Finding the Missing Units: Identifying Under-Reporting of Alcohol Consumption in England

BackgroundAlcohol sales coverage (reported consumption as a percentage of total sales) is typically 40–60%. This study explores how accidental under-estimation of alcohol in drinks poured at home might contribute to...

Innovation strategy, firm survival and relocation: The case of Hong Kong-owned manufacturing in Guangdong Province, China

Based on a survey adapted from the Fourth European Community Innovation Survey (CIS-4), this study finds that, in the changing manufacturing environment of Guangdong Province in China, Hong Kong-owned businesses that generate a higher share in new product sales as a percentage of total sales or engage in R&D or collaborative innovation activities in China are more likely to survive and remain in Guangdong. The study fills a gap in the literature by investigating the effects of innovation on the survival and relocation of Hong Kong-owned manufacturing firms in Guangdong. The results support policy initiatives that strengthen collaborative ties among key innovation system actors.

Point-of-Purchase Nutrition Information Influences Food-Purchasing Behaviors of College Students: A Pilot Study

The goal of point-of-purchase (POP) nutrition information is to help consumers make informed, healthful choices. Despite limited evaluation, these population-based approaches are being advocated to replace traditional, more expensive, individual behavior-change strategies. Few studies have examined the effect of POP information on buying patterns of college students, a group with high obesity rates and poor eating habits. This quasi-experimental pilot project sought to determine whether the “Eat Smart” POP program affected food-purchasing habits of multiethnic college students shopping at an on-campus convenience store. Baseline sales data of foods in the cereal, soup, cracker, and bread categories were collected for 6 weeks during Fall 2008. After Winter break, a few food items within each of these food categories were labeled as healthful using a “Fuel Your Life” shelf tag, and sales data were then collected for 5 weeks. In each of the four food categories, nontagged foods were available at the identical price as tagged items. Following intervention, there were increased sales of tagged items (measured as a percentage of total sales) in the cereal, soup, and cracker categories, while sales of bread decreased. Although none of these changes were statistically significant, the intervention resulted in a 3.6%±1.6% ( P=0.082) increase in the percentage of sales from tagged items. Thus, providing POP nutrition information in a college campus convenience store may promote healthful food choices. A longer study examining the effect of POP on sales of items in other food categories is warranted.

Point-of-Purchase Nutrition Information Influences Food-Purchasing Behaviors of College Students: A Pilot Study

The goal of point-of-purchase (POP) nutrition information is to help consumers make informed, healthful choices. Despite limited evaluation, these population-based approaches are being advocated to replace traditional, more expensive, individual behavior-change strategies. Few studies have examined the effect of POP information on buying patterns of college students, a group with high obesity rates and poor eating habits. This quasi-experimental pilot project sought to determine whether the “Eat Smart” POP program affected food-purchasing habits of multiethnic college students shopping at an on-campus convenience store. Baseline sales data of foods in the cereal, soup, cracker, and bread categories were collected for 6 weeks during Fall 2008. After Winter break, a few food items within each of these food categories were labeled as healthful using a “Fuel Your Life” shelf tag, and sales data were then collected for 5 weeks. In each of the four food categories, nontagged foods were available at the identical price as tagged items. Following intervention, there were increased sales of tagged items (measured as a percentage of total sales) in the cereal, soup, and cracker categories, while sales of bread decreased. Although none of these changes were statistically significant, the intervention resulted in a 3.6%±1.6% ( P=0.082) increase in the percentage of sales from tagged items. Thus, providing POP nutrition information in a college campus convenience store may promote healthful food choices. A longer study examining the effect of POP on sales of items in other food categories is warranted.

Regional Structural Change in Production and Marketing Practices for the Nursery and Greenhouse Industry: 1988–2003

Abstract The U.S. nursery and greenhouse industry has undergone major changes to production and marketing practices from 1988 to 2003. Using data from national surveys that have been partially funded by HRI, we examine the regional structural changes that have occurred during this period with emphasis on sales, advertising expenditures, and computer usage. Results indicate that a structural shift has occurred for several management decisions, with other decisions experiencing only regional shifts. Key results are that marketing and advertising expenses comprise an increasing percent of total sales, with advertising mediums experiencing varying levels of change. Transaction methods have experienced various types of changes with more in-person sales in the Northern region, less in-person sales in the Southern region, and no changes for the Western region. In contrast, telephone orders have decreased in the Northern region and increased in the Southern region, while all regions experienced lower trade show sales. There has also been a move away from wholesale toward retail sales, with repeat customers continuing to represent a large share of sales. Computer usage, as expected, has experienced a considerable increase due to every-day task usage.

Intangible assets and future growth: evidence from Japan

PurposeThe corporate governance should look at the investment on intangible assets (ITAs) from two angles: its influence on future growth and the influence of other factors on ITA. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is first, to empirically investigate the relationship between investment on ITAs and future growth in the manufacturing sector earnings and second, to examine the effect of various variables on the level of investments on ITA in this sector.Design/methodology/approachBased on data of 384 Japanese listed manufacturing companies founded before 2001, four regression models were developed and estimated using ordinary least squares. In part, this study extends the work of Singh and Faircloth, which examined the relationship between research and development (R&D) expenditure and corporate leverage, by taking into account the other ITAs and other factors. The dependent variable used in the first model was the corporate growth and explanatory variables are changes in the ITAs (ΔITA), whilst in the other models, total investments on ITA (and changes in the investments on ITAs) against the company's size, sector, age, financial status, dividends, cash flow, and growth are regressed. Both logs and lags were used with the model's variables.FindingsThe results showed that the mean of total investment on ITA increased heavily (85 percent) between 2001 and 2005. However, ITA represents, on average, only about 1.2 percent of total assets and 1.3 percent of total sales. Regression results suggest that investment on ITA forecasts around 15 percent of the variation in a company's future growth. The company's size, segment, financial status, dividends, cash flow and growth are significant variables which predict nearly half of the variation in the investments on ITA. The inclusion of two lags of the appropriate variables in the model provides better results and the adjusted R2 increased significantly to reach, on average, 0.60.Originality/valueIn the internet era, companies have become heavily involved in larger investments on ITAs (intellectual capital). Since the research in the area of ITAs is undersized and much of it was directed towards R&D, this study contributes to this area of study showing how can investments on ITA in the manufacturing sector be an important element for future growth which concerns corporate governance.

An Unfortunate and Avoidable Component of American Pharmacy: Tobacco

An Unfortunate and Avoidable Component of American Pharmacy: Tobacco

Analysis of Manufacturing Costs in Pharmaceutical Companies

In the pharmaceutical industry, costs attributed to manufacturing are a major part of a company’s total expenses. In this paper, trends in various expense and income categories of pharmaceutical companies have been analyzed with particular emphasis on manufacturing costs to gain an insight into their relationships and how they may differ among types of pharmaceutical companies such as brand name, generics, and biotechs. The study includes data published in the annual reports of leading pharmaceutical companies from 1994 to 2005. Twenty-two pharmaceutical companies were selected based on the annual revenues. The set was further divided into three groups: brand names, generics, and biotechs. The analysis shows that, between 1994 and 2005, manufacturing costs (as a percentage of total sales) are different for the three groups of companies listed above. Additionally, each group of companies differs in how savings are leveraged strategically. The data on brand-name pharmaceutical companies also indicate that there is a strong correlation between the reduction of the cost of goods sold (COGS) and the increase in R&D expenditure. This suggests the validity of Vernon’s theory that for brand-name companies, a reduction in COGS will likely have a positive impact on investments in R&D, presumably resulting in much needed innovations and future health benefits for the society.

The Impact of Advertising in the U.S. Sweet Confection Market

ABSTRACT This article presents the structure of the market for sweet confections in the period 1996 to 2000. The sales of 100 brands, representing 78 percent of total sales, in food, drug, and mass merchandiser retail outlets, were analyzed for the effects of advertising and other independent variables. Sales, advertising, volume, and all commodity volume increased positively. The sales shares of the four product categories—cough drops, breathmints, hard candy, and chewing gum—shifted materially in the period. The absolute advertising levels differed significantly between categories. Regression analysis showed that advertising and volume strongly determined the changes in sales, without influencing prices. The differences in the regression coefficients of advertising and volume between the categories were highly significant ( p

NEW STRATEGIES IN RETAIL THROUGH ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Retail companies on the Croatian market are confronted with fierce competition, forcing them to find new forms of distribution channels. The development of information technology and broadly available access to Internet has created preconditions for new distribution channels. Multichannel marketing offers customers more than one option for buying something - for example, they can buy the same product on a Web site as well as in retail stores. The fact that more than 38% Croatian citizens are using Internet has set up conditions for creating a new retail distribution channel on Croatian market too. According to these presumptions, the level of presence of Internet retailing on Croatian Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market in total sales was explored, using examples of market leaders in Croatian market. Observed and analysed were Konzum and Tisak Internet shops. Konzum is a national groceries chain retailer and Tisak is a national kiosk chain retailer, active in newspapers market. They both hold over 30 percent of their respective markets, which enables them to influence the total markets. The presumption states that the new distribution channel increases the overall sales revenues and it does not avert the demand away from existing distribution channels. After a brief description of main retail strategies, Internet penetration and using habits, as well as Croatian FMCG market overview, several demographic elements and Konzum web shop consumer preferences were described. It was found that 45 percent of items sold in web-shop are from middle segment, 34 percent from higher middle segment and 11 percent are premium items. This composition showed that online customers come from higher buying power segments, usually have little time for FMCG shopping, appreciate the Internet channel and at the same time prefer higher middle and premium items and are willing to pay more fore top quality merchandise. Descriptive statistics analysis was used to examine Internet and total sales in Konzum and Tisak, for the 2005 – 2007 period, at a quarter level. Absolute values of Internet sales were found to be very low, barely 0, 09 percent of total sales in 2007 quarter 4. Due to that fact, planned formal statistical tests were not conducted. Introduction of Internet channel did not contribute to total sales by sales realized online. Its main contribution is in enhanced promotion of the extensive store network, Konzum private label (K plus) and in attracting customers from other retailers. Also, Internet is used to support Konzum and Tisak expansion into Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Monte Negro markets, as there is minimum language barrier. In primarily graphic data analysis, several interested trends were noticed. The most interesting one was increase in Internet sales chain index for each observed period in which total sales decreased. In time, Internet channels in Konzum and Tisak will become more important, but more likely in support activities than in online sales realization.

'TOP 50' CORRECTION

IN THE BEGINNING , it was easy. The first global Top 50 ranking that C&EN compiled appeared on Nov. 5,1990. There were six columns in the table: rank, company, chemical sales, chemical sales as a percentage of total sales, chemical operating profits, and chemical operating profit margin. One column of text accompanied the table. Over the years, that basic rubric has expanded and become more complicated, but the process of compiling the rankings has remained the same. Some of the data included in C&EN's tables are provided by Alexander H. Tullo, a senior editor in C&EN's Northeast News Bureau, who compiles the top U.S. chemical company rankings every May. Jean-Francois Tremblay, head of the Hong Kong Bureau, provides data for companies in Asia. I compile the relevant data on European, Middle Eastern, and South African firms. Tremblay and I each construct a file of our companies' data in their national currencies. ...