...A case study on Marks and Spencer which includes: The company at present, Background of the Study, Case Background, Problem, SWOT Analysis, Alternative Courses of Action, Recommendation, Conclusion. A Case Study on Marks and Spencer The Company at Present Marks and Spencer has over 450 stores located throughout the UK, this includes the largest store at Marble Arch, London. In addition, the Company has 150 stores worldwide, including over 130 franchise businesses, operating in 30 countries. Background of the Company * Marks and Spencer (M&S) of Britain (often referred to as Marks & Sparks by locals) is a general retailer that sells clothes, gifts, home furnishings, and foods under the St. Michael trademark in the UK, Europe, the Americas and Far East. * The company also operates financial services segment, which accounted for about 3% of the company’s 1998 profits (Dow Jones Industrial 1999) * Marks & Spencer started as a stall in 1884 by Michael Marks in the Leads market using an L5 loan from a wholesaler * Its philosophy is to sell durable merchandise at a moderate price. It has merchandise made to its specifications. * By 1901, the company acquired 35 Outlets as well as a new partner, Tom Spencer * By 1949 all the company’s stores carried mostly private label (St. Michael) products produced by British suppliers (De Nardi-Cole 1998). Case Background * Britain has often been called a country of shopkeepers, and Marks & Spencer...
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...IBUS%3100%–%TEXTBOOK%NOTES% CHAPTER%1%–%GLOBALIZATION% WHAT%IS%GLOBALIZATION?% • Globalization:+ shift% towards% a% more% integrated% and% independent% world% economy% –% away% from% distinct% national% economic%units,%towards%one%huge%global%market% Merging%of%historically%distinct%and%separate%national%markets%into%one%huge%global%marketplace% Argument%–%tastes/preferences%of%consumers%in%different%nations%beginning%to%converge%to%some%global%norm%% Standardized%products%such%as%CocaTCola,%McDonald’s%and%iPods%help%create%a%global%market%% Significant%differences%still%exist%between%national%markets%along%many%dimensions,%i.e.%tastes/preferences,%distribution% channels,%value%and%business%systems,%and%legal%regulation% Most%global%markets%–%markets%for%industrial%goods%and%materials%that%serve%universal%need% Sourcing%of%goods/services%from%locations%around%the%globe%to%take%advantage%of%national%differences%in%cost%and%quality% of%factors%of%production%+ Aim%is%to%lower%overall%cost%structure%of%an%entity%and/or%improve%quality/functionality%of%product%offering%+ Impediments% to% global% production% include% –% formal/informal% barriers% to% trade,% barriers% to% foreign% direct% investment,% transportation%costs,%and%issues%associated%with%economic%+%political%risk+ Regulation,%management,%and%policing%of%global%marketplace%necessary%as%markets%globalize%further% General+Agreement+on+Tariffs+and+Trade+(GATT):+international%treaty%that%committed%signatories%to%lower%barriers%...
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