首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
•Read the article below about Smithson’s, a British department store, and the questions on the opposite page. •For each question
•Read the article below about Smithson’s, a British department store, and the questions on the opposite page. •For each question
admin
2010-01-22
61
问题
•Read the article below about Smithson’s, a British department store, and the questions on the opposite page.
•For each question 13-18, mark one letter(A, B, C or D)on your Answer Sheet for the answer you choose.
Department Store Magic
For most of the 20th century Smithson’s was one of Britain’s most successful department stores, but by the mid-1990s, it had become dull. Still profitable, thanks largely to a series of successful advertising campaigns, but decidedly boring. The famous were careful not to be seen there, and its sales staff didn’t seem to have changed since the store opened in 1908. Worst of all, its customers were buying fewer and fewer of its own brand products, the major part of its business, and showing a preference for more fashionable brands.
But now all the has changed, thanks to Rowena Baker, who became Smithson’s first woman Chief Executive three years ago. Since then, while most major retailers in Britain have been losing money, Smithson’s profits have been rising steadily. When Baker started, a lot of improvements had just been make to the building, without having any effect on sales, and she took the bold decision to invite one of Europe’s most exciting interior designers to develop the fashion area, the heart of the store. This very quickly led to rising sales, even before the goods on display were changed. And as sales grew, so did profits.
Baker had ambitious plans for the store from the start, ’We’re playing a big game, to prove we’re up there with the leaders in our sector, and we have to make sure people get that message. Smithson’s had fallen behind the competition. It provide a traditional service targeted at middle-aged, middle-income customers, who’d been shopping there for years, and the customer base was gradually contracting. Our idea is to sell such an exciting variety of goods that everyone will want to come in, whether they plan to spend a little or a lot. ’Baker’s vision for the store is clear, but achieving it is far from simple. At first, many employees resisted her improvements because they just wouldn’t be persuaded that there was anything wrong with the way they’d always done things, even if they accepted that the store had to overtake its competitors. It took many long meetings, involving the entire workforce, to win their support. It helped when they realised that Baker was a very different kind of manager from the ones they had known.
Baker’s staff policies contained more surprises. The uniform that had hardly changed since day one has now disappeared. Moreover, teenagers now get young shop assistants, and staff in the sports departments are themselves sports fans in trainers. As Baker explains, ’How can you see jeans if you’re wearing a black suit? Smithson’s has a new identity, and this needs to be made clear to the customers. ’She’s also given every sales assistant responsibility for ensuring customer satisfaction, even if it means occasionally breaking company rules in the hope company profits.
Rowena Baker is proving successful, but the City’s big investors haven’t been persuaded. According to retail analyst, John Matthews, ’Money had already been invested in refurbishment of the store and in fact that led to the boost in sales. She took the credit, but hadn’t done anything to achieve it. And in my view the company’s shareholders are not convinced. The fact is that unless she opens several more stores pretty soon, Smithson’s profits will start to fall because turnover at the existing store will inevitably start to decline.
What problem does John Matthews think Smithson’s is facing?
选项
A、More money needs to be invested in the present store.
B、The company’s profits will only continue to rise if it expands.
C、The refurbishment of the store is proving unpopular with customers.
D、Smithson’s shareholders expect a quick return on their investments.
答案
B
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/GdsO777K
本试题收录于:
BEC中级阅读题库BEC商务英语分类
0
BEC中级阅读
BEC商务英语
相关试题推荐
•Readthearticlebelowaboutthefunctionsofmoney.•ChoosethebestwordtofilleachgapfromA,B,CorD.•ForeachQue
•Readthearticlebelowaboutthefunctionsofmoney.•ChoosethebestwordtofilleachgapfromA,B,CorD.•ForeachQue
•Readthearticlebelowaboutthefunctionsofmoney.•ChoosethebestwordtofilleachgapfromA,B,CorD.•ForeachQue
•ReadthefollowingarticleaboutthefourPsofthemarketingmixandthequestionsthatfollow.•ForeachQuestion15-20,ma
•Readthetextbelowaboutcommunicatingingroups.•Inmostofthelines41—52thereisoneextraword.Itiseithergrammatica
•Readthetextbelowaboutcommunicatingingroups.•Inmostofthelines41—52thereisoneextraword.Itiseithergrammatica
•Readthetextbelowaboutcommunicatingingroups.•Inmostofthelines41—52thereisoneextraword.Itiseithergrammatica
•Readthetextbelowaboutcommunicatingingroups.•Inmostofthelines41—52thereisoneextraword.Itiseithergrammatica
•Readthetextbelowaboutcommunicatingingroups.•Inmostofthelines41—52thereisoneextraword.Itiseithergrammatica
Readthetextbelowfromareportaboutsalesfigures.Inmostlines(41-52),thereisoneextraword.Iteitherisgrammatically
随机试题
简述见索即付保证的概念和特点。
解决方案分析的步骤有
在单因素方差分析中,以下正确的一项是
男,20岁。3年前无明显诱因渐起孤僻少语,不愿参加集体活动,甚至与父母也很少交流,上课时注意力不集中,成绩下降。个人生活懒于料理。该患者最适宜做的检查是()
依据《建设工程质量管理条例》规定,在实行监理的工程,项目监理机构要对( )进行约束和协调,以使建设主体各尽其责。
借款人不能按期归还贷款时,应当在贷款到期日之前,向银行申请()。
根据我国监管当局要求,商业银行并表和未并表的杠杆率均不得低于()。
某夜,丁某埋伏在路边准备进行抢劫,后发现来人是本单位同事,遂收起匕首,与同事打完招呼后回家睡觉,丁某的行为是()。
Themostobviouspurposeofadvertisingistoinformtheconsumerofavailableproductsorservices.Thesecond【C1】______istos
Notalldecisionsarealike.Noriseverydecisionmadeinthesamemanner.Althoughsomeactionsyouundertakederivetheirbas
最新回复
(
0
)