Tag: Business & Business English

Businesses You Could Start From Your Garage

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this article, we will explore five businesses you could start right from the comfort of your own home garage. From automotive repair to e-commerce, these ideas could be the inspiration you need to start your own successful business.

So roll up your sleeves, dust off your tools, and get ready to be inspired by the article below.

https://www.lifehack.org/526277/5-businesses-you-could-start-from-your-garage

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “up and running” mean, “When that equipment has issues, they are willing to spend a significant amount to get everything up and running smoothly.” Use it in another sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the term “know-how” in the sentence, “This is a simple job that requires very little tools and very little know-how.”? Explain your understanding and use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “upfront money” mean, “People can choose what background they want and no one will be the wiser. This takes a little more upfront money.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the article suggest identifying potential businesses to start from a garage?
  2. What do you think are some challenges and advantages of starting a business from a garage?
  3. How do you think starting a business from a garage can impact the community or neighborhood where the garage is located?
  4. Can you think of any successful businesses that started in a garage? What made them successful?
  5. Do you want to start a business in a garage? Why or why not? If so, what idea do you have in mind?

The Economics of IKEA 

B2 – Upper Intermediate

IKEA is the world’s largest furniture retailer with a unique business model. They have designed a minimalist flat-pack furniture and customers have to assemble it. One of the secrets of IKEA’s success has been identified as “The IKEA Effect”. It simply states that when you help build something, you are more attached to it.

Watch the video to learn more and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what is The IKEA Effect? What do you think of it?
  2. Do you agree that people tend to love an item more when they have put effort into creating it? Explain.
  3. Is flat-packing an effective retail strategy? Why or why not?
  4. How do you feel about IKEA? Share some of your shopping experiences.
  5. What things have you built on your own and are attached to?

The Dark Secret of Oreos

C1 – Advanced

To this day, Oreo is one of the most famous cookie snacks ever to exist and for good reason. The day it was created, people immediately fell in love with it.

However, with success comes copycats; trying to take advantage of how famous these creations are. The same happens to Oreos as well, which is not surprising at all.

The good name of Oreo, however, is what makes every copy fail in comparison to the “original”.

But what if I told you that Oreo wasn’t the original and is in fact, a copycat!

You wouldn’t believe me, would you?

Well, how about we take a look at this video and figure it out for ourselves, then?

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Hydrox should be more famous than Oreo? Why or why not?
  2. With this revelation, do you think you’d try Hydrox? If you’ve already, what do you think of this Oreo competition?
  3. In your opinion, do you think Hydrox is being done dirty by the company that owns Oreos?
  4. Will Hydrox eventually rise again, one day? What is your stance on this situation.

Tobacco Company CEO on Cigarette Bans

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Isn’t it a bit ironic to hear the chief executive of a tobacco company speaking against the very product that they sell? Philip Morris International CEO Jacek Olczak has said that cigarettes should be banned and that he can see his company ending decades of selling cigarettes.

Read the article about Olczak’s statements on cigarette bans and smoke-free world.

https://www.businessinsider.com/philip-morris-international-ceo-said-cigarettes-should-be-banned-2021-7

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about Olczak’s statements against cigarettes, given that he is the CEO of a tobacco company?
  2. “We can see the world without cigarettes”. Do you think this is possible or not? Why?
  3. Imagine a world where cigarettes were obsolete. What would it be like?
  4. What do you think about Philip Morris International’s plans to buy Vectura Group, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures asthma inhalers?
  5. What are your thoughts on some tobacco companies of trying to position themselves as anti-smoking while still selling tobacco products?

Amazon Go – the First Automated Store

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nobody likes waiting forever in queues at checkout counters. Long queues cause shopper exhaustion, decrease customer service experience, and may even result in shopping cart abandonment.

In the U.S, a new store was opened featuring the world’s most advanced shopping technology. It uses a combination of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and data gathered from multiple sensors. You walk in, pick out what you want, and walk out. Amazon calls it a ‘just walk out’ shopping experience.

Let’s read the article below to know more about how Amazon Go works.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/business-economy/amazon-go-first-automated-store.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Amazon Go?
  2. What details make the Amazon Go store different from a traditional grocery store?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of shopping technology?
  4. Do you prefer online shopping or shopping in stores?
  5. Why is the competition among convenience stores so tough?
  6. How could going shopping be made a better experience?

Why Start-ups Succeed

C1 – Advanced

Becoming your own boss is what a lot of people aspire for. Having a nine-to-five job just isn’t good enough and is very exhausting and could be unfulfilling for some at times. As more and more people want to stick a toe in the water, the rise of start-ups occurred. But is sheer motivation all that it takes for start-up success?

Watch the video about the single biggest reason start-ups succeed.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the five factors in company success according to the speaker? Do you agree with all of them?
  2. In your own opinion, what makes a company succeed?
  3. Can you give other small start-ups from your country that became successful? How about those that failed?
  4. As a consumer, what new businesses do you think you are likely to patronize?

Airlines Sell Too Many Tickets

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Airlines usually sell more tickets than what the aircraft can accommodate predicting that there will be enough seats for those who have showed up. But what if there isn’t? It can be very upsetting to be bumped off a flight whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

Watch the video explaining why airlines sell too many tickets.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do airlines profit from overbooking?
  2. Do you agree that overbooking is unethical?
  3. Have you ever been bumped off a flight? Were you compensated highly by the airlines company?
  4. Are you aware of the major rights of an air passenger?

Spanish Taxi Drivers Became Millionaires

B2 – Upper Intermediate

This story of success of two Spanish cab drivers who became successful and very wealthy begins with a lot of hardships. There’s the economic crisis, the need to change their line of work, the arrival of ride-hailing apps, among others.

Read about how two Spanish taxi drivers turned themselves into millionaires with a brilliant business idea. 

https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2021-07-13/the-spanish-taxi-drivers-who-became-millionaires-without-leaving-the-house.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on how they started their business and what do you think of their business idea?
  2. What do you think about businesses being done entirely online? Do you think it will become more common in the near future?
  3. In your own experience/observation, how has technology changed the way businesses are set up?
  4. What are some products that you wish are more easily available in your country?
  5. Was there ever a time when you considered changing your line of work? Share about that moment.

Airlines Suffer Pandemic-Driven Losses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Perhaps one of the most hard-hit industries during the pandemic is the aviation sector. With traveling immediately getting banned in many countries, the world saw airlines struggle to stay afloat amidst pandemic-driven losses.

Read the article about how airlines cut costs to aid in pandemic recovery.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-united-arlns-results-idUSKBN29P2SN

Discussion Questions:

  1. What things has United Airlines done in order to manage through all their losses?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of furloughs?
  3. What are your thoughts on travel bans during the pandemic?
  4. International traveling is arguably one sector hardest hit by the pandemic and the one likely to be the slowest to recover. Do you agree or disagree? Elaborate. 
  5. Did your company have to employ cost-cutting measures during the pandemic? What were they?

Influencing Across Cultures

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Culture is defined as a set of shared values, goals, attitudes, and practices that characterize an organization. It is a key component in business and how well people influence others is beneficial in the success of a business.

Let’s learn a few patterns which are useful for those who are working across cultures.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/influencing-across-cultures-felicity-menzies

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the things to consider when trying to influence people who come from different cultural backgrounds?
  2. Which influencing techniques will work best when you are working with people from other cultures?
  3. How do you influence people ? Talk about an experience where you had to persuade people to accept your point of view.
  4. Does your job require a lot of influencing skills?
  5. How can we improve our influencing skills?