VOA慢速英语2009年-Economics Report - Where Every Day Is
时间：2018-12-01 作者：英语课 分类：VOA慢速英语2009年（十二）月
This is the VOA Special English Economics 1 Report.
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There is a place where Christmas lives all year long. It is called Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The family-owned business calls itself the world's largest Christmas store. The late Wally Bronner started the business in nineteen forty-five.
Wayne Bronner, Wally's son, is president and chief executive 2 of what is now a multi-million dollar corporation. He learned the business from an early age. Some of his best memories are traveling to other countries with his father to find new products for the store.
Goods for sale at Bronner's
Bronner's sells more than fifty thousand holiday products from seventy nations. Half of the products cost less than ten dollars. Wayne Bronner says demand for small objects to hang on Christmas trees has expanded over the years. People put more time, effort and money into decorating their homes with these ornaments 3, lights and religious scenes. Bronner's is famous for its nativity scenes which show the birth of Jesus Christ.
Michigan has the nation's highest unemployment rate. Bronner's has been affected 4 by the recession 5, too. But not in reduced sales.
WAYNE BRONNER: "Even though people are spending less, we're having more people visit here. And as a result we've actually had a sales increase."
Bronner's success is also linked to community cooperation and investment. Frankenmuth is a town of five thousand people in eastern Michigan's farm country. The town was settled by Bavarian Germans in the eighteen hundreds. It has kept its traditions alive in buildings and restaurants.
Bavarian cultural themes and Bronner's huge store bring three million visitors a year. The town is the most popular place for tourists in the state.
Bronner's business is aimed at a single day of the year. But that is not too different from other businesses.
WAYNE BRONNER: "About half of our business is done in the last quarter of the year, in the last three months. And actually when you contrast that with most retailers 6, that follows the same pattern."
Wayne Bronner says the family's long-term planning and willingness to reinvest profits has grown the company into what it is today. Still, it does not hurt to build a business on a holiday celebrated 7 worldwide. Currently 8, about two percent of sales are overseas. But Wayne Bronner sees room for growth, especially through the Internet.
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And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report written by Mario Ritter. I'm Steve Ember.
- He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
- One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。
- A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
- He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。
- The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
- Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
- Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
- A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。
- High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
- Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。
- He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
- The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。