Should Green Zebra expand to Seattle

by | Feb 10, 2025 | Analysis

⁠ ⁠What is your recommendation – should Green Zebra expand to Seattle (3 or more new stores) or Portland

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Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Based on the information provided, Seattle appears to be the stronger recommendation for Green Zebra’s expansion, although further research is always advisable. Here’s a breakdown of why, followed by some caveats:

Arguments for Seattle:

  • Larger Market: Seattle has a significantly larger population than Portland, offering a broader potential customer base. This translates to greater potential sales volume and market share.
  • Higher Income Levels: Seattle’s higher median income suggests residents have more disposable income to spend on specialty groceries like those offered by Green Zebra. This is crucial for a business model that likely relies on higher-margin items.

Based on the information provided, Seattle appears to be the stronger recommendation for Green Zebra’s expansion, although further research is always advisable. Here’s a breakdown of why, followed by some caveats:

Arguments for Seattle:

  • Larger Market: Seattle has a significantly larger population than Portland, offering a broader potential customer base. This translates to greater potential sales volume and market share.
  • Higher Income Levels: Seattle’s higher median income suggests residents have more disposable income to spend on specialty groceries like those offered by Green Zebra. This is crucial for a business model that likely relies on higher-margin items.
  • Tech-Savvy Population:

    Seattle’s strong tech industry and generally tech-savvy population aligns well with trends in online ordering, delivery, and digital marketing, which Green Zebra likely utilizes. 1  

    1. Technology – Economic Development | seattle.gov
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    www.seattle.gov

  • Existing Brand Awareness (Potentially): If Green Zebra has any existing online presence or brand recognition in Seattle (even if it’s just from online sales or mentions), this can give them a head start compared to a completely new market.
  • Less Saturated Market (Potentially): While both cities have a strong presence of grocery stores, it’s possible that Seattle’s market, despite being larger, is less saturated with direct competitors offering the exact same niche as Green Zebra. This requires further investigation.

Arguments for Portland (and why they are weaker):

  • Similar Demographics: Portland’s demographics are likely more similar to Green Zebra’s existing market, which could make it easier to tailor their offerings. However, this is less important given that Seattle likely has a large enough segment of the population that matches Green Zebra’s target market.
  • Established Local Food Scene: Portland’s vibrant food scene could be a positive, but it also means more competition. Green Zebra would need to work harder to stand out.

Caveats and Further Research:

  • Competition: A thorough competitive analysis is essential for both cities. Green Zebra needs to understand the existing grocery landscape, including both direct competitors (other specialty/natural food stores) and indirect competitors (traditional grocery chains).
  • Real Estate Costs: The cost of leasing or buying suitable retail space is a critical factor. Real estate prices can vary significantly within each city. Green Zebra needs to find locations that are both accessible to their target market and financially viable.
  • Logistics and Distribution: Setting up supply chains and distribution networks is crucial. Green Zebra needs to assess the feasibility and cost of getting their products to stores in each city.
  • Local Regulations: Understanding local business regulations, permitting processes, and labor laws is essential.
  • Market Research: Conducting targeted market research in both cities is highly recommended. This will help Green Zebra understand consumer preferences, identify potential customer segments, and refine their marketing strategy.

In summary: While Seattle appears to be the more promising market based on the limited information, a comprehensive analysis covering the caveats mentioned above is necessary before making a final decision. It’s possible that a deeper dive into the competitive landscape, real estate costs, or other factors could shift the balance towards Portland.

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