Tim Hortons Essay

Tim Hortons is an international fast-food restaurant that originated in Canada in 1964 and is mainly popular for its coffee and doughnuts. The company wants to expand its business into Oman, a Middle Eastern country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The country is rich in culture, with a population of about 5 million people, with the majority of its population being Muslims. Oman is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and has a growing economy, which makes it an attractive market for foreign businesses. However, as the director of international trade for Tim Horton’s, it’s my responsibility to understand the cultural differences and customs between Oman and Canada that influence the success of the business.

In Oman, Arabic is the official language and is spoken by the majority of the population (The World Factbook, n.d.). However, English is also widely spoken as a second language (Important Phrases, n.d.). It is also essential for Tim Horton’s to create marketing advertisements, including commercials, billboards, and posters, in both Arabic and English to reach both local and international customers. This will also help avoid misinterpretation or “lost in translation” moments like the infamous KFC billboard incident in China, which was meant to promote their new menu item, “Finger Lickin Good” chicken. However, when translated into Chinese, it came up as “We’ll eat your fingers off.” causing offence and negative publicity (Liu’s Blog, n.d.). Additionally, Tim Horton's should also hire bilingual employees and managers who can fluently speak both English and Arabic to provide quality customer service and effective communication with customers. This will not only help to create a positive image of the company but also improve the customer satisfaction. By considering these language factors, Tim Horton's can successfully expand its business in Oman. Islam is the most widely followed religion in Oman and influences the country's culture and traditions significantly. It's important for businesses to be respectful of people's religious beliefs. This means

Canada, on the other hand, has a monochronic system, which means they place a higher value on punctuality and sticking to schedules. In business meetings in Oman, it's important to build personal relationships and establish trust before doing business. This often involves like small talk at the beginning of meetings. It's also common to serve tea or coffee during meetings, as it is a sign of hospitality (Expat Arrivals, n.d.). When doing business in Oman, it's important to show respect for elders and those in positions of authority (Expat Arrivals, n.d.). This can be done when addressing individuals with the appropriate titles. For example, managers are usually addressed with titles such as "Sheikh" or "Sayyid.". In terms of the traditional structure of businesses in Oman, family-owned businesses are more common, as personal relationships play an important role in business dealings. Business owners often tend to prioritize long-term relationships and trust over short-term profits (n.d., ResearchGate). So to be successful in Oman, Tim Hortons should be aware of these cultural differences and be able to adapt to local customs and