While many people have heard the term “multilevel marketing”, most may not know what the term means and are not aware that the business model is controversial. Multilevel marketing, also known as MLM, sometimes referred to as network marketing or relationship marketing, is a version of direct selling where products are sold and bought through various channels of independent distributors. Many do not want to discuss the messy, unethical, and illegal business practices that may go on in the MLM community. With tactics such as undisclosed earnings and empty promises of effortless riches, MLM corporations enlist a variety of people who are looking for an easy and quick way to make money on the side, such as college students and mothers. While there is some research on the legal and moral issues of MLM — and that of MLM in relation to gender — there is little scholarly research using personal experiences to connect gender to the recruitment practices of MLM businesses. Not only do those at risk of being targeted by MLM deserve to know what warning signs to look for in a company, but victims of this system must have their voices and stories heard. Using surveying as a methodology, this research explores the cautionary signs and unethical recruitment practices of MLM corporations, with a specific emphasis on gender. This paper proves the hypothesis that MLM distributors and recruiters disproportionately target women, with 89% of those approached and 96% of participants in MLM identifying as female.

The purpose of this thesis is gathering research on Kentucky University Men’s Basketball program and the revenue that is generated by the players success. Based on that research, a compensation plan will be created in order to provide the players the financial stability for then they graduate. Having access to this public information in order to see the financial success for the Men’s Basketball program is significant to the thesis in building the plan. In addition, I would like to research how much the university received in revenue for a year that is generated specifically from the Men’s Basketball program festivities. The annual March Madness tournament generates millions of viewers on national television, bringing these prestigious schools to the public eye. With that being said, admission rates also increase due to this tournament, especially if they go into the Sweet Sixteen. Many sports articles such as ESPN will provide me with the information I need to complete my research to develop my thesis. This topic has been heavily debated over the years, and with college basketball athletics becoming a billion-dollar industry, it has attracted a lot of publicity. The main debate is if whether or not the athletes should be compensated for their hard work and dedication to their craft. There has been bills proposed in different states for the “Fair Pay to Play Act,” and there will be research done to see if whether or not that is a good idea and refute the argument by providing information on my compensation plan which is the better option. Many believe that not compensating athletes is wrong. This thesis will agree with that statement, but instead create a different alternative to compensating the players under Fair Pay to Play to provide for these players futures after basketball.

“PAWSitively Fit Club” founded by Samantha Roy, creates a way for our health conscience society to bring their dogs to the gym like you would with kids. This business plan will show the demand for canine/human fitness facilities, identify a target market to market “PAWSitively Fit Club” to. This business plan will analyze the emerging industry of canine/human fitness facilities and explain the “Human Canine Fitness Certification”. It will directly impact the wave of obese dogs and humans by promoting a fun, active lifestyle with a supportive community. The main questions this business plan will answer are: What business is PAWSitively Fit Club in? What service does it provide? Who is the target audience and what do they value? What is the vision and mission for the company? What is the sales and marketing strategy? Who is the competition? How do we find more of the right people? How will it on-board, train and develop the “right people”? Does it have the physical plant and equipment it will need? Do we have the capital we need? Will it generate the profits it needs? How will the business measure its success? What is our exit strategy? What are the short and long-term goals of the business?

Marketing is crucial for the success of any business. The goal of this thesis is to create a 1 year marketing plan for The Zoo in Forest Park, in Springfield, MA. The Zoo in Forest Park is a private non-profit zoo located in the middle of a public park. The Zoo in Forest Park opened 125 years ago and has undergone several large changes throughout their years of operation including downsizing to their current size of 735 acres. The primary change they are attempting to currently undergo is that they would like to change their focus from entertainment to education, rehabilitation, and conservation. The marketing plan will create a strategy for rebranding The Zoo based on a situation analysis, product analysis, and competitive analysis. This plan will be used by The Zoo in Forest Park to update their old marketing materials, host new events and recreate more programs that reflect the new mission of education, conservation and rehabilitation.

A nonprofit organization (NPO), is defined as a business “not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making a profit” (merriamwebster.com). However, to pursue the goal of benefiting society, a nonprofit must have enough funds in order to further their mission. Nonprofits rely heavily on government funding, outside donations, and fundraising to get what they need, but the amount received by an organization fluctuates year to year which makes budgeting and accounting difficult. This thesis will work to evaluate the financial and business processes of the not-for-profit organization called Partners in Development located in Ipswich Massachusetts. Partners in Development is a recognized 501(c)(3) organization that sends teams of volunteers to Haiti, Guatemala, Peru, and the Mississippi Delta to build homes, and provide medical care and clean water to those in need. Based off of extensive research in the not-for-profit sector as well as an interview with the organization’s President; this thesis will identify and explain the business and financial practices of this organization that result in its success, and serve as an example for those wishing to pursue their lifelong dream of helping others.

As a young adult finalizing his Bachelor’s Degree, it is important to overcome the limitations of poor time-management skills in order to prioritize one’s best performance. In this case study, I analyze the results of strategically reassessing one’s personal time-management skills through the usage of accessible task management tools alongside the development of a time-budgeting discipline. This study describes the development of this process from a rough initial adoption of software-based time-management tools to the creation of an app prototype whose purpose is to encourage time-management. This prototype is structured with proper user experience (UX) in mind while maintaining compliance with guidelines to fulfill its core feature integrity. The ongoing development of this prototype is sectioned into a sequence of design that is representative of key components of understanding time-management, and its potential if harnessed correctly within an everyday workflow. t to overcome the limitations of poor time-management skills in order to prioritize one’s best performance. In this case study, I analyze the results of strategically reassessing one’s personal time-management skills through the usage of accessible task management tools alongside the development of a time-budgeting discipline. The final results of this prototype development are represented in various graphical mockups that showcase the user experience of the application, how the prototype is compliant with self-imposed design rules, and the impacts that developing this prototype has had on personal time-management skills.

Professional cuddling is an emerging business that has attracted media attention from major news sources. However there is little research on professional cuddling or its industry. A twenty-seven question survey designed to research potential stigmas, market, and opinions was distributed through social media and email. Based on preliminary results there is a market and interest for professional cuddling. Both the opinions and stigmas regarding professional cuddling are mixed. Through the presentation of the study and subsequent business plan, the business world will gain the knowledge of this burgeoning field and its feasibility. The world of business will also potentially gain a new company and new jobs.

The proposed business model for the Tender Love and Care Yoga Studio (TLC) was developed as a part of an Honors Thesis by the author, Cameryn Tierno. TLC strives to provide its students with accessible yoga classes that are relaxing and rejuvenating. TLC’s staff and environment fosters relaxation and acceptance, while also offering practical stress-relieving techniques that are beneficial to all. The report presents the various methodologies and tools used for developing the business model and states the individual development plan for Cameryn Tierno as a yoga instructor and business woman before embarking on the journey of becoming a business owner. The report is concluded with Cameryn’s personal reflection of her experience completing this project.

Numerous studies have been conducted over the years to find out exactly what factors play a primary role in determining the academic success of student-athletes in college. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a survey on existing writings and literature pertaining to this relationship. Using secondary data from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and various academic journals, this paper examines the factors and conditions that affect academic performance as well as their level of impact. One would generally expect that participation in collegiate athletics would lead to better academic performance because the organized regimen of the competitive season may carry over into the student-athlete’s academic life. However, research findings show that this is not always the case. Studies have shown that student-athletes participating in a high-profile sport with high time demands such as basketball and football are found to perform better academically in the off-season despite taking fewer courses during the season. Although the NCAA reported that graduation rates of Division I student-athletes had gone up considerably over the last 15 years, a closer look at the report indicates that the rates differ based on other factors. Based on the literature, factors that may impact academic performance are high school GPA, type of sport, race, gender, and university ranking on U.S. News’ “Best Colleges.”

As a young woman who wears makeup, I notice new makeup trends in society. I see what the popular look is, and I understand the inspiration behind that look. Trends in makeup seem to be changing at rapid speeds, with new styles and ideas appearing every few weeks. Style icons are changing weekly, with focus moving from Angelina Jolie to Kylie Jenner. With trends changing to quickly, there must be a psychology behind it. The marketing major in me wants to discover why these trends are changing so rapidly. Are makeup consumers influencing these changes? Are advertisers influencing these changes? Are advertisers going too far with the advertising of makeup and cosmetics?