节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-04-30
难易度:High
关键字:supply chain, reliant, complementary, commute
We've been enjoying a conversation between Ben and his Uncle Bob.
And of course, one thing we learned about a business location is that you want
it to be around the right types of people.
And earlier in today's lesson, we learned about needing to consider your brand
image.
You want to think about how people view your business when you are choosing a
location.
It's also important to think about your supply chain and are you reliant on
other companies.
You want to be able to have face-to-face meetings with important people.
Right now it's time for us to continue this conversation.
(Music).
Location, Location, Location.
I guess I should also think about competition.
Good idea.
You may be able to pick a location that is near complementary companies rather
than those that will compete with you directly.
Anything else?
Yes. Happy employees.
What?
You should choose a place that gives you access to talented employees and
doesn't require them to make long commutes.
That's good advice, Uncle Bob.
Thanks.
I'll have to think about those things.
I'm happy to help, Ben.
(Music).
There certainly are many things to think about when choosing a location.
And Ben says here:
I guess I should also think about competition.
Competition, that's something that you should think about or consider.
What is competition, of course?
Well, it's any company that is doing something similar to the company that you
are doing.
So that is your competition.
That's right.
So he should avoid choosing a location where other businesses are making apps
for their customers.
If his location is too close to his competitors, he might lose business.
So Uncle Bob thinks this is a good idea.
He says: Good idea.
You may be able to pick a location that is near complementary companies rather
than those that will compete with you directly.
Oh. So I should choose a location near complementary companies.
Now if something is complementary, that means it's helpful.
It complements you.
It adds something good to whatever else you're doing.
And this is a word from our World Bank today.
That's right, complementary.
So if maybe you have a company or a restaurant that sells meals for lunch or
dinner,
a complementary company or a complementary restaurant might sell desserts or
just drinks.
They're not competing with you.
It's a complementary restaurant.
What else might be complementary?
Well, in your example, both businesses were able to benefit from what the other
business was doing.
And that's very important when something is complementary.
Both businesses are able to succeed, and they don't take away from one another's
customers.
That's right.
You also might call that a win-win situation.
You're not losing to each other.
You're helping each other.
It's a win-win situation.
So who continues this conversation?
Uh, well, Uncle Bob just said don't get a company... or don't go close to a
company that will compete with you directly... Ben.
Oh, yes.
Anything else?
Oh, right, a very short line.
Uncle Bob says:
Yes. Happy employees.
Oh, happy employees.
I guess that would be pretty important with your business, but Ben says: What?
Well, you should choose a place that gives you access to talented employees and
doesn't require them to make long commutes.
Well, I think that does make a lot of sense, Uncle Bob.
You do want to have happy employees.
And you want talented employees - so people working for you that are very
skilled at what they are doing.
We also see a word here at the end of this sentence: commutes.
You don't want your employees to have to make a long commute to work.
Tell us about that word a little bit, Gabe.
Well, yeah, that's right.
A commute, or your commute is how you get from one place to another.
Especially talking about work or your career, your commute is maybe the distance
that you have to travel and maybe how you travel.
That is your commute.
And it's true, some people have a long commute.
They have to drive in their car for maybe close to an hour to get to and from
work.
That's right.
And we talk about commutes when you go from one location to... another on a
regular basis,
not just once in a while but something that you do pretty much every day.
So going to work, going to school, the way that you get to those places each day
would be your commute.
I know when I was working in the U.S., I had a two-hour commute on the bus from
where I was staying to the office I was working at.
Wow! Carolyn, I am very glad you're not there anymore.
I'm glad you're here.
It's a little less of a commute.
Well, friends, this word "commute" is a noun.
And there's another noun kind of like it.
It's the person who has to do that commute.
That's a commuter.
Maybe you have an employee or a co-worker who lives far away, he would be a
commuter.
He commutes to work every day.
That's right.
And you don't have to drive yourself when you commute.
If you have a long commute, it could be on the bus or on the train.
That was how I was able to get to work before.
I commuted on public transportation.
Well, we don't have to go very far to see Steve and Ken in the Information
Cloud.
Location, location, location.
We repeat it three times for a reason.
Because it's really, really, really important.
It is.
In fact, it's real estate's number one rule.
A house's value depends on its location.
Of course, things that make a location good are somewhat subjective because
everyone has different tastes and needs.
But here are a few things that are pretty common.
OK. For many home buyers, especially young couples,
a good location is a home located in a good school district because they'll want
their kids to have a good education.
Naturally.
Next on the list: living near public transportation or as close to work as
possible.
Right.
It's worth paying extra for a house that's near a subway station if it could
save you from being stuck in traffic two hours today.
Of course, the things that make a location bad are easier to agree on, like a
rundown neighborhood with a high crime rate.
Or living next to railroad tracks, freeways, a busy airport or a nuclear power
plant.
These dangerous and noisy locations leave little chance to enjoy any peace and
quiet.
(Chinese).
Thank you, gentlemen.
Well, we're enjoying this conversation with Uncle Bob and Ben.
And Uncle Bob has had some pretty good advice.
So I think, Ben, you still have a line!
I do, I do.
He says: That's good advice, Uncle Bob. Thanks.
I'll have to think about those things.
All right.
He's going to consider these things that Uncle Bob has been talking about.
What did Uncle Bob say?
Well, he was talking about the brand image.
Carolyn, what's something else today that Uncle Bob was advising Ben about?
Well, he also told him that he needs to think about his supply chain and
everything that he is reliant on in order to run his business well.
And there was one more thing there, Gabe.
That's right.
Picking a location near complementary companies and not just companies that you
directly compete with.
So Uncle Bob does have some good advice.
And so his last line here is... : I'm happy to help, Ben.
Well, we are very glad that you are happy to help, Uncle Bob, especially since
you've given such great advice today talking about commuting and happy
employees,
and so many other things you need to think of when you're choosing your
location.
Well, now it is time for us to enjoy a review skit.
And then we'll learn something with Michelle in the Language Lab.
She's happy to help.
She is.
Hello, Uncle Bob.
Hello, Ben.
How are you?
I'm fine.
How is Sandy?
She's fine, too.
And how's the business?
It's fine.
We're thinking about moving to a new office.
Whoa! That's great.
We're looking at a bunch of locations.
Ooh. Remember, the location can make or break a business.
It shouldn't be too hard to find a good spot.
Well, choose a location based on accessibility.
That makes sense.
And find a place near the right kind of people.
People that are interested in our products?
Exactly.
Oh, and don't forget about your brand image.
Right. I'll pick a location that is consistent with a good company image.
Right. And remember your supply chain.
Oh, we don't really have a supply chain.
Well, you are still reliant on other companies.
So we need a location that makes face-to-face meetings convenient.
Yes. And a place near complementary companies.
Rather than companies that compete.
Yes, that's right.
Any other advice?
Sure. Happy employees.
Choose a location near talented employees.
Oh. So they don't have long commutes.
That's right, Ben.
Oh. Hey, you should move your office to my neighborhood.
Yeah. Then I can always get good advice.
Yes.
For free.
Ha... I heard that.
(Chinese).
And we have to go back to our teachers now.
The past two days we've been listening to a conversation between Ben and his
Uncle Bob on the importance of choosing a good location for your business.
And there was a lot of great advice given, but I wonder are there other things
that location is really important for.
Do you need to choose a good location when thinking about other things in your
life?
Gabe, can you think of something where location is very important?
Well, I think that governments have a responsibility to put things in good
locations.
Where should the school go?
Where is the hospital?
Or maybe where is a good place for a park so lots of people can go there?
These are interesting things that a government or the... the city needs to think
about when they're planning the location of things within the city.
That's right.
So this isn't just important to a business owner but to governments and to
people who want to buy a house as well.
Location is important.
Well, we're very glad that you were able to join us today on Studio Classroom.
And we will see you again next time.
Right here.
Bye-bye.
See you.