Premium Essay

Ann Taylor Case Analysis

In:

Submitted By biggunron
Words 4663
Pages 19
Table of Contents
Major Problems or Issues…………………………………………………………Page 2
A. Organizational Purpose, Objective, and Current Strategy…………………………..…...Page 3
ANALYSIS
B. SWOT Analysis…………………..………………………………………………………Page 3
C. Competitive Analysis………………………………………………………………….…Page 5
D. Financial Analysis…..……………………………………………………………………Page 7
E. Implementation Issues/Problems………………………………………………………..Page 10
F. Evaluation/Control Procedures……………………………………………………….…Page 14
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS /ISSUES………………………………Page 15
RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION/JUSTIFICATION…………………………..Page 17
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN………………………………….…………………………..Page 18

MAJOR PROBLEMS OR ISSUES
Ann Taylor (NYSE ticker = ANN) was founded in 1954 based upon the corporate mantra of providing professional, yet fashion conscious, business women access to quality, yet affordable, attire. During the last fifty-four years Ann Taylor has become very well known for its offerings, especially “the classic basic black dress and women’s power suit”, and has maintained itself as a leader and innovator within the specialty retail sector. Ann Taylor’s strategic management has maintained its comparative advantage by successfully and accurately predicting client fashion preferences and meeting these preferences through three, diversified, retail divisions (AT, LOFT and FACTORY). The instigation of each division was an effort to meet the broader specialty retail challenge that accompany changing consumer demographics, buyer habits and apparel expectations associated with the professional environment, while also maintaining brand longevity and product differentiation. Nevertheless, efforts to meet changing consumer preferences have resulted in the potential issue of minimizing Ann Taylor’s signature brand (AT Division) and cannibalization from other company offerings, especially from the more casual focused LOFT

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Ann Taylor Case Study

... | |Strategic Management 21705 | |Summer 2014/2015 | | | | | |Individual Report on the | |Ann Taylor Case Analysis | |Survival in Speciality Retail | | | |[pic] | | | |...

Words: 3261 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Ann Taylor Case Study

...ASSIGNMENT: CASE 1 TITLE/ CASE Ann Taylor OVERVIEW Ann Taylor was founded in 1954 as a wardrobe home for busy, socially upscale women by Robert Liebeskind.   Its first stand-alone clothing store was started in New Haven, Connecticut.   Ann Taylor was never a real person; it was a brand identity or a personality within the retail clothing industry. Kay Krill, the current president/CEO, has been the leader of the company since 2004 and has faced many issues and challenges with the ANN legacy as a women’s specialty clothing retailer. PROBLEM The 2008 economic downturn had a profound effect on the retail industry as a whole.   One industry group estimated that over 6,000 retail stores had closed in 2008 which was a 25% increase from the previous year.   Macroeconomic conditions were worsening and the entire retail environment was threatened by less consumer demand.   • Also, Ann Taylor was a women’s specialty retailing store which engaged in retailing a specific line of women’s clothing.   This single product focus includes a high risk for the company, because any loss in sales could not be recovered in another product area.    • Ann Taylor over the course of a few years had many different store concepts underneath the one defining Ann Taylor brand.   At one point in its history the company had five separate store concepts.   Cannibalization between the brands was disrupting overall sales volume.   There was too much going on at the same time and analysts...

Words: 1526 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Ann Taylor International Management Analysis

...Ann Taylor Stores Corporation International Management Project Management 4900 – International Management and Globalization Executive Summary As an opportunity to apply concepts of international management, the following analysis evaluates issues and provides recommendations for the Ann Taylor Corporation. The retail apparel industry as a whole has rapid business cycles because fashion and consumer tastes changing constantly. The already fiercely competition for market share is amplified by the declining economy. Like many apparel companies, Ann Taylor creates the designs and outsources the manufacturing process. Ann Taylor sells women’s apparel and accessories and targets affluent career-minded women. One of the company’s strengths is brand equity. Every aspect of the Ann Taylor brand supports corporate social responsibility. Any association with a supplier or manufacturer that doesn’t support CSR and environmental sustainability will tarnish the Ann Taylor brand and risk losing brand loyal customers. With dependency on over 150 suppliers around the globe, communication and culture awareness is required of all Ann Taylor management. Lack of culture understanding will put business partnerships at risk. Although Ann Taylor doesn’t have ownership rights in China, understanding what drives and motivates Chinese workers will help Ann Taylor management collaborating more effectively with the managers of the outsourced manufacturing located in China. The need for strategic...

Words: 4213 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Ann Taylor Internal Analysis

...Ann Taylor (based on an earlier version of the case) 1. Consider the performance of A nn Taylor. How well is the present strategy working? Ann Taylor compared to the industry: I n fiscal year 2005, Ann Taylor was number six in the Women’s Wear Daily’s top twenty of the publicly traded retailers specializing in women 's wear. ANN maintained this position from the previou s fiscal year 2004. Ann Taylor compared to key rivals: Several retailers that target the same or similar demographic of the 35-year old woman include Talbots, Chico's, and Coldwater Creek. Talbots maintained its number seven position with $1.81 billion in sales, and a seven percent increase in volume over the previou s year. Coldwater Creek also maintained its number 18 position with $780 million in sales and a staggering 32 percent increase in volume. Chico's moved up three positions from number nine to 12, also with a 32 percent increase in volume, and $1.4 billion in sales. ANN saw a 12 percent increase in volume over the previou s year and had sales of $2.07 billion. ANN is maintaining its position in the standings, but with a 32 percent growth rate, Chico's may be an even greater threat to ANN in the years to come. Ann Taylor's past performance: Ann Taylor has seen some up years and some down years, but overall seems to be growing each year. In fiscal year 2002, the company as a whole (Ann Taylor and LOFT) experienced a negative sales percentage of 3.9%, but in 2003, they achieved...

Words: 3263 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Ann Taylor: Survival in Specialty Retail

...The CASE Journal Volume 5, Issue 2 (Spring 2009) Ann Taylor: Survival in Specialty Retail Pauline Assenza Manhattanville College Alan B. Eisner Lubin School of Business, Pace University Jerome C. Kuperman Minnesota State University Moorhead In the summer of 2008, headlines announced that the declining economy was generating a “wave of retail closures” among many well-known companies, including Home Depot, Pier 1 Imports, Zales, Gap, Talbots, Lane Bryant, and Ann Taylor. The Chief Executive of J.C. Penney’s called the 2008 situation “the most unpredictable environment in his 39-year retail career”. i One industry group forecasted that nearly 6,000 retail stores would close in 2008, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. A representative from the National Retail Federation (NRF) suggested that these businesses should “look at where they’re underperforming and how can they change their operations so that they have a little bit more power in another area, or a little bit more growth potential.” ii Kay Krill, President and CEO of Ann Taylor Stores Corporation (ANN), was already considering this advice. Krill had been appointed President of ANN in late 2004, and succeeded to President/CEO in late 2005 when J. Patrick Spainhour retired after eight years as CEO. At that time, there had been concern among commentators and customers that the Ann Taylor look was getting “stodgy”, and the question was how to “reestablish Ann Taylor as the preeminent brand...

Words: 11348 - Pages: 46

Premium Essay

Anne Aylor Case Solution (Audit)

...7 Planning Materiality C a s es inc lu de d in t his Se ction 7.1 Anne Aylor, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Determination of Planning Materiality and Tolerable Misstatement O t he r c ase s t h at discuss topics rel ated to this section 5.6 Sarbox Scooter, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Scoping and Evaluation Judgments in the Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting 12.1 EyeMax Corporation . . . Evaluation of Audit Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 12.2 Auto Parts, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379 Considering Materiality When Evaluating Accounting Policies and Footnote Disclosures Instructor Resource Manual — Do Not Copy or Redistribute Instructor Resource Manual — Do Not Copy or Redistribute Anne Aylor, Inc. C a s e 7.1 Determination of Planning Materiality and Tolerable Misstatement Mark S. Beasley · Frank A. Buckless · Steven M. Glover · Douglas F. Prawitt Ins tr uc t ional O b je c t ive s [1] To provide experience with establishing planning materiality. [2] To provide experience with establishing tolerable misstatement for individual financial statement accounts. [3] To illustrate factors considered when establishing planning materiality...

Words: 1971 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Sdg Dg

...Essays, Term Papers & Book Notes Essays Book Notes AP Notes Citation Generator More Case Analysis Of Ann Taylor Survival In Specialty Retail Essays and Term Papers Search Advanced Search Documents 1 - 20 of 1000 Book Review of Business Policy and Strategy: an Action Guide Book Review of Business Policy and Strategy: An Action Guide Submitted in partial fulfillment of B.S. in Business Administration Century University, New Mexico Grade = 95% {A} Business Policy and Strategy: An Action Guide, by Robert Murdick, R. Carl Moor and Richar Premium 4514 Words 19 Pages Burger King and Its Advertising Campaigns Burger King and Its Advertising Campaigns Burger King is a reliable burger company which has had its ups and downs. In 1974, it came out with a slogan of "Have it your way" and at this time it also had a 4 % market share. Burger King's idea was to have the customer have their burger done their w Premium 1694 Words 7 Pages Foreign Aid Foreign Aid There are two words that many politicians like to shy away , and those two words are, "foreign aid." Taking a firm stand on either side of this topic is usually side stepped by decision makers. Their opinions are usually based on a case by case analysis. This extremely controv Premium 1773 Words 8 Pages Rainforest Cafe, Inc: Outline to Rainforest Cafe Research Report Rainforest Cafe, Inc: Outline to Rainforest Cafe Research...

Words: 1227 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Aacr

...Task 2 1. Understanding motor controls / Stephen L. Herman. Category of works | Main Entry & Heading | Added Entry & Heading | Rules | Works of single personal authorship | Herman, Stephen L. | i. Title. | Entry: 21.4Heading: | 2. An introduction to equity derivatives: theory and practice / Saebastien Bossu & Philippe Henrotte Category of works | Main Entry & Heading | Added Entry & Heading | Rules | Shared responsibility with two person | Bossu, Saebastien. | i. Henrotte, Philippe. ii. Title. | Entry: 21.6BHeading: 22.5 | 3. Strategic marketing / Todd A. Mooradian, Kurt Matzler, Lawrence Kick Category of works | Main Entry & Heading | Added Entry & Heading | Rules | Shared responsibility with three person | Mooradian, Todd A. | i. Matzler, Kurt. ii. Kick Lawrence. iii. Title. | Entry: 21.30AHeading:21.6 | 4. Management the essentials / Stephen Robbins, Steve Mariotti, Caroline Glackin. And Naresh K. Roshan Category of works | Main Entry & Heading | Added Entry & Heading | Rules | Shared responsibility with four person | Robbins, Stephen. | i. Mariotti, Steve. ii. Glackin, Caroline. iii. Roshan, Naresh K. iv. Title. | Entry:21.6C2Heading: | 5. Advertising & IMC: principles & practice / Sandra Moriarty and Nancy Mitchell; edited by William Wells Category of works | Main Entry & Heading | Added Entry & Heading | Rules | Mixed responsibility | Mariarty, Sandra. | i. Mitchell...

Words: 2097 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Artificial Neural Network for Biomedical Purpose

...ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS METHODOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS Edited by Kenji Suzuki Artificial Neural Networks - Methodological Advances and Biomedical Applications Edited by Kenji Suzuki Published by InTech Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Copyright © 2011 InTech All chapters are Open Access articles distributed under the Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike Attribution 3.0 license, which permits to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt the work in any medium, so long as the original work is properly cited. After this work has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in the published articles. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained in the book. Publishing Process Manager Ivana Lorkovic Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic Cover Designer Martina Sirotic Image Copyright Bruce Rolff, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock.com First published March, 2011 Printed in...

Words: 43079 - Pages: 173

Premium Essay

United States of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, V. Monte Dale Thompson, Defendant-Appellant

...Case 1 25 F.3d 1558: United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Monte Dale Thompson, Defendant-appellant Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia Parties to the case: F. Robert Raley, Macon, GA, for appellant and Edgar Ennis, U.S. Atty., Dixie A. Morrow, Asst. U.S. Atty., Macon, GA, for appellee. Facts: Thompson did stipulate to the fact that he had pawned and possessed numerous firearms. He also did specify that he signed the transaction records which were wrongly mentioned in the previous conviction of an offense when he did pawn the firearms. In sequence to this conviction, Thompson, based on the entrapment by estoppel, filed a motion for the judgment to have an alternate trial when judge refused to allow the presentation. Also “R1:59-2. Thompson further stipulated that all of the firearms he possessed were shipped or transported in interstate commerce prior to his possession. R1:59-1.” The case was convicted in the Superior court of Clayton in Georgia the time when Thompson did possess the firearms of armed robbery. Prior to the case, he was working for federal and local law enforcement agencies an informant (undercover). Thompson was very much involved with such activities thus was feeling very pertinent to the law enforcement community. Analysis: The arguments made by Thompson; as he thought he would not be prosecuted for crimes he would commit except murder. He made this fact on the basis of oral grant the AUSA gave him in...

Words: 1722 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Automation

...automated. Automation plays an increasingly important role in the global economy and in daily experience. Engineers strive to combine automated devices with mathematical and organizational tools to create complex systems for a rapidly expanding range of applications and human activities. Many roles for humans in industrial processes presently lie beyond the scope of automation. Human-level pattern recognition, language recognition, and language production ability are well beyond the capabilities of modern mechanical and computer systems. Tasks requiring subjective assessment or synthesis of complex sensory data, such as scents and sounds, as well as high-level tasks such as strategic planning, currently require human expertise. In many cases, the use of humans is more cost-effective than mechanical approaches even where automation of industrial tasks is possible.Specialized hardened computers, referred to as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), are...

Words: 3283 - Pages: 14

Free Essay

Ann-Based Short-Term Load Forecasting in Bogotá

...( ANN-based Short-Term Load Forecasting in Bogotá Joaquin E. Mejia and Maria E. Correal. Abstract--This paper proposes four different models for an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based on short term load forecasting. Historical load data from Bogotá from 2000 to 2007 is used for testing, showing the good performance of the different methods. Index Terms—ANN, Articial network, Short term load forecasting. Introduction During the last years the energetic markets in the world have been evolving from great monopolistic companies vertically integrated to new non-regulated systems, where competence has become an essential factor in the energetic distribution system. In the current model the resources optimization has turned into the competing companies’ economical advantage. Energy unlike the majority of products characterizes for not being storable, creating the need for the most possibly accurate demand forecasts, since that allows doing an adequate planning in the generation systems. It is possible to estimate the necessary reserves and the flow levels, in the same way it is possible to increase the energetic system’s security and generally they allow doing an adequate management of the power system. Several forecast techniques have been used in the case of short term energetic demand, among which they are included time series, Kalman filters, exponential smoothing and pattern recognition, among others. These models have obtained adequate results, but it is...

Words: 5834 - Pages: 24

Premium Essay

Sustainability Mangement

...such as Carroll’s four part model of CSR and stakeholder analysis. It has become a vital concern for the firms like shell to conduct CSR activities as they have to operate in an environment where they have to be economically viable as well as conforming to the legal laws, rights and obligations of the society. Not only the corporate social responsibility but also the stakeholder’s satisfaction can influence a great deal in the firm’s success. So, the stakeholder’s theory means a lot to the firms. Stakeholders can be internal as well as external. For applying those approaches, shell has to consider several analysis like cost benefit, life cycle analysis, environmental impact analysis, stakeholder matrix , segmentation analysis and so on. Finally, the company will get findings of taking one approaches as per the analysis to implement for being sustainable. * Contents Executive Summary 1 1 Introduction 3 2 For effective management of sustainability, these two approaches can be considered by the Shell Group as prescribed. The approaches are 4 2.1 Carroll’s four part model of CSR and Sustainability 4 2.1.1 Economic responsibilities 5 2.1.2 Legal responsibilities 5 2.1.3 Ethical responsibilities 5 2.1.4 Philanthropic responsibilitites 5 2.1.5 Criticism 6 2.2 Stakeholder theory 6 2.2.2 Criticism 8 3 Analysis for the application of chosen approaches for sustainable management 9 3.1 Analysis for Carroll’s four part of CSR...

Words: 4511 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Feminist

...Bryant-45099 Part I.qxd 10/18/2006 7:42 PM Page 36 5 FEMINIST METHODOLOGIES AND EPISTEMOLOGY ANDREA DOUCET Carleton University, Canada NATASHA S. MAUTHNER University of Aberdeen, Scotland O ver the past 10 years of teaching courses on research methods and feminist approaches to methodologies and epistemologies, a recurring question from our students concerns the distinctiveness of feminist approaches to methods, methodologies, and epistemologies. This key question is posed in different ways: Is there a specifically feminist method? Are there feminist methodologies and epistemologies, or simply feminist approaches to these? Given diversity and debates in feminist theory, how can there be a consensus on what constitutes “feminist” methodologies and epistemologies? Answers to these questions are far from straightforward given the continually evolving nature of feminist reflections on the methodological and epistemological dimensions and dilemmas of research. This chapter on feminist methodologies and epistemologies attempts to address these questions by tracing historical developments in this area, by considering what may be unique about feminist epistemologies and feminist methodologies, by reviewing some of sociology’s key contributions to this area of scholarship and by highlighting some key emergent trends. The chapter begins with a brief overview of the theoretical and historical development of feminist epistemologies, followed by a similar overview...

Words: 12047 - Pages: 49

Premium Essay

Advertising and Consumer Culture

...communication and provides a historical perspective on advertising's role in the emergence and perpetuation of “consumer culture.” The course examines the strategies employed to promote the circulation of goods as well as the impact of advertising on the creation of new habits and expectations in everyday life. Required Course Texts: Juliet Schor and D.B. Holt (eds), The Consumer Society Reader Joseph Turow and Mathew Mcallister, The Advertising and Consumer Culture Reader *Additional PDFs posted on Blackboard Assignments and Grade Distribution: Participation, Reading Quizzes, and any In-Class Assignments 10% Essay One: Ad Analysis 15% Midterm Exam 20% Essay Two: Branding 25% Final Exam 30% Essay One: Ad Analysis This short essay (500-800 words; 12 point font, double spaced) will offer an analysis of a single print advertisement of your choice. You must situate your discussion of the ad within a historical context (what are some historical trends that set the stage for this form of commercial text?). You must then identify the central trope or strategy being used and explain its rhetorical function. A strong essay will begin to suggest what is meaningful about the advertisement: does it suggest a notable change in how consumers are being “hailed,” does it target a specific audience in a way that might be culturally significant, etc.? Though this is not a “research” paper, you are expected to engage the class texts and dialogue...

Words: 1235 - Pages: 5