...BUILD-A-BEAR CASE STUDY NAME: INSTITUTION; COURSE: PROFESSOR: DATE: From my analysis of the background information provided in the textbook, I would classify Maxine Clark as an ENTP (Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking, and Perceiving) falling under the intuitive type. People of this personality type interact with people, are open to possibilities, analytical and flexible (Nelson & Quick, 2011, pp. 118-119). The interactive nature of her personality is evident in how the business collects customer information to enhance the customer-retailer bond which provides further cross sell opportunities. Her intuitiveness is obvious as she leaves a high level job to pursue her dream career while ignoring critics. Her extraverted component is visible in the ultimate idea of the Build-A-Bear business model; creating an enjoyable customer experience venue while encouraging the parents and children to form a bond with the retailer. Her strategic and tactical business decisions to open multiple company owned stores, franchise stores and other ventures, (Friends2Bmade and Build-A-Dino), highlight the cognitive aspect of her personality. Her tactical genius is revealed by her willingness to expand Build-A-bears awareness by advertising in sporting events such as NASCAR (Scheraga 2006). Even though Build-A-Bear is expanding to a global audience, it is doing so without losing corporate assets. The company owned stores are located in politically stable countries which have a profitable...
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...Build-A-Bear: Build-A-Memory In the late 1990s, it was all about the dot-com. While venture capital poured into the high-tech sector and the stock prices of dot-com startups rose rapidly, the performance of traditional companies paled in comparison. This era seemed like a very bad time to start a chain of brick-and mortar mall stores selling stuffed animals. Indeed, when Maxine Clark founded Build-A-Bear Workshop in 1996, many critics thought that she was making a very poor business decision. But as the company nears the end of its first decade, it has more cheerleaders than naysayers. In 2005, one retail consultancy named Build-A-Bear one of the five hottest retailers. The company hit number 25 on BusinessWeek’s Hot Growth list of fast-expanding small companies. And founder and CEO Maxine Clark won Fast Company’s Customer-Centered Leader Award. How does a small startup company achieve such accolades? THE PRODUCT On paper, it all looks simple. Maxine Clark opened the first company store in 1996. Since then, the company has opened more than 370 stores and has custom-made tens of millions of teddy bears and other stuffed animals. Annual revenues reached $474 million for 2007 and are growing at a steady and predictable 15 percent annually. After going public November of 2004, the company stock price soared 56 percent in just two years. Annual sales per square foot are $600, roughly double the average for U.S. mall stores. In fact, Build-A-Bear Workshops typically earns back almost...
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...ompany Case Notes Build-A-Bear: Build-A-Memory Synopsis This case illustrates the success that Build-A-Bear Workshop has achieved since its founding in 1996. A detailed description is given of the Build-A-Bear retail experience and why it is that both parents and children are drawn to this concept. Personalization, and not just customization, is the driving force. The case also highlights how founder Maxine Clark stays in touch with the customer and the employees. For Clark, management-by-walking-around is more than just a way to supervise operations. It is a way of conducting her own market research. Clark has also embraced the networking capabilities of the Internet as a way of keeping in touch with the customer. Future prospects for Build-A-Bear’s continued success are also discussed. Teaching Objectives The teaching objectives for this case are to: Introduce students to the concept of customer value creation and its central role in marketing. Allow students to analyze Build-A-Bear’s product offering in depth. Introduce the concepts involved in customer relationship management. Introduce the concepts of customer lifetime value and customer equity. Allow students to develop specific recommendations for Build-A-Bear’s future. Discussion Questions Give examples of needs, wants, and demands that Build-A-Bear customers demonstrate, differentiating each of these three concepts. What are the implications of each on Build-A-Bear’s actions? ...
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...Module Title – Principles of Marketing Module Code - 4BUS1010 Academic Year - 2012/13 Semester - A Module Leader – Caroline Wilson Contents: 1. Contact details for the module leader (and teaching team) Name | Room | Phone extension | E mail address | Drop in & feedback sessions | Caroline Wilson | M230 | | c.wilson4@herts.ac.uk | Mon 10-11 am & Tues 11am -12pm | Hamad Khan | M218 | 2791 | m.khan42@herts.ac.uk | tba | Grace He | M218 | 2791 | p.he1@herts.ac.uk | tba | Neil Brooks | M218 | 2791 | | tba | Jonathan Cahill | M218 | 2791 | | tba | Maria Thomas | M249 | | m.thomas@herts.ac.uk | tba | Sarah Jayne Hill | M218 | 2791 | | | 2. Module aims This initial marketing module, which assumes no prior knowledge of marketing, aims to introduce students to some of the key ideas of marketing and is suitable for both marketing and non-marketing students. It examines the environment within which organisations operate and the role of marketing within the organisation in order for students to be fully able to understand the context within which marketing personnel work, and the different activities which are carried out under the umbrella term of ‘marketing’. Concepts central to an understanding of marketing are considered: 4 P’s (product, price, promotion and place), segmentation, targeting and positioning, services marketing and buyer behaviour. * Develop a basic understanding of the key concepts of marketing; & ...
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...marketing works, but also how it relates to real decisions around the world. This book offers a truly global approach with cases and exhibits from all parts of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East, North and South America. It provides a complete and concentrated overview of the total international marketing planning process, along with many new, up-to-date exhibits and cases, which illustrate the theory by showing practical applications. • Extensive coverage of hot topics such as glocalization, born globals, value creation, value net, celebrity branding, brand piracy, and viral marketing, as well as a comprehensive new section on integrated marketing communication through social networking. • Brand new case studies focus on globally recognized brands and companies operating in a number of countries, including Build-A-Bear Workshop, Hello Kitty, Ralph Lauren and Sony Music Entertainment. • Global Marketing ‘Svend Hollensen writes with real authority and insight having been involved in global marketing both as a manager and academic. His book provides a framework within which managers can develop their own approach to overseas markets, and is illustrated with cases and insights that aid understanding.’ Fifth Edition Global Marketing A decision-oriented approach Svend Hollensen Video cases featuring firms such as Nivea, Reebok, Starbucks, Hasbro...
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...(N01698367) (410 Arizona Ave, Fort Lauderdale FL, 33312) (Home and Work # 561 853-8294) Date of Submission: Sunday June 6, 2016 Title of Assignment: Vermont Teddy Bear case Study Analysis Certification of Authorship: I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance I received in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper. I have also cited any sources from which I used data, ideas or words, either quoted directly or paraphrased. I also certify that this paper was prepared by me specifically for this course. Student’s Signature: Jack Pierre-Louis ****************************** Instructor’s Grade on Assignment: Instructor’s Comments: Strategic challenges at Vermont Teddy Bear Founded in 1981 at the end of a severe economic recession that has affected the majority of the industrialized world, Vermont Teddy started out slow selling its products out of a cart. John Sorinto, the founder saw the potential and the enthusiasm of the public very quickly. Because of his early successes in that enterprise, he decided to make better qualities teddy bears according to Wheelen & Hunger, 2004. The company was so successful during its first fifteen years that management had to decide to change its approach and its business model not only to keep growing but also to stay in business. As researches show, companies can cause...
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...Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.—Leases EXCERPTED WITH PERMISSION FROM CASES IN FINANCIAL REPORTING EIGHTH EDITION ISBN: 978-1-61853-122-3 MICHAEL DRAKE ELLEN ENGEL D. ERIC HIRST MARY LEA MCANALLY © Copyright 2015 by Cambridge Business Publishers, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of the publisher. This document is authorized for use by Hongxia Chai, from 4/29/2015 to 7/31/2015, in the course: AC580: FairfieldMSA - Colvin (Summer 2015), Fairfield University. Any unauthorized use or reproduction of this document is strictly prohibited. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.—Leases Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., (NYSE: BBW), is the leading and only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in 1997, the company and its franchisees currently operate more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR™ space with the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual world, stuffed with fun. Source: Company website. Learning Objectives • Understand the economic incentives of leasing versus buying assets. • Interpret lease footnotes and discussion...
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...Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc.—Leases EXCERPTED WITH PERMISSION FROM CASES IN FINANCIAL REPORTING SEVENTH EDITION ISBN: 978-1-934319-79-6 ELLEN ENGEL D. ERIC HIRST MARY LEA MCANALLY © Copyright 2012 by Cambridge Business Publishers, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of the publisher. This document is authorized for use by Barbara Grein, from 9/19/2011 to 12/10/2011, in the course: ACCT 322: Financial Reporting II - Grein (Fall 2011), Drexel University. Any unauthorized use or reproduction of this document is strictly prohibited. Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc.—Leases Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc., (NYSE: BBW) is the leading and only global company that offers an interactive makeyour-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in 1997, the company and its franchisees currently operate more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR™ space with the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual world, stuffed with fun. Build-A-Bear Workshop. Source: Company Web site. Learning Objectives • Understand the economic incentives of leasing versus buying assets. • Interpret lease footnotes and...
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...Vermont Teddy Bear Report 1) How would you describe Vermont Teddy Bear (VTB)’s business model (the products and services it sells, target market/s to whom it sells them, the value proposition it offers, and its financial model)? Vermont Teddy Bear (VTB) has been found by John Sortino in 1981. This company has served as a gift delivery service with three main product lines: Bears (plush toys), PajamaGrams (apparel), and Calyx Flowers (gifts). All gift orders are made via four different channels (retail store, mail, phone, web order), each channel supported by different software. First, VTB’s customers design bears by selecting the colors and outfits from a menu of options. All bears are produced on the Shelburne campus; fabrics and raw materials are purchased from vendors worldwide. Second, VTB offers low-cost pajamas. Most pajamas are sold through department stores, mass merchandisers, and other outlets. Third, Calyx Flowers offers high-end floral arrangements for discerning customers who appreciated the long ‘vase life’. It purchases directly from growers and coordinates with shippers such as UPS to ensure that highly perishable fresh cut flowers would be refrigerated and given special care en route. The main target market of VTB is men between the ages of 20 to 64 buying for wives or girlfriends as a gift, many at the last moment. 2) How strong are VTB’s operational capabilities, given their chosen business...
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...1.0 INTRODUCTION In this case, it’s depicts the changing from a current system of ATLAM company which is a wholly owned organization of MICT Berhad to a new accounting system that called SAP.The purpose of the establishment of AkademiTeknikalLaut Malaysia (ATLAM) is to trainand prepare Malaysian for maritime industry. Pre-2000, ATLAM relied on customized single-user system bought from a vendor where the academy’s desktop computers (PCs) were solely used to enter accounting entries which is very poor state and far behind its other compatriots in Europe and Japan in term of IT infrastructure. However, improvements has been done in Information Technology since it has been privatized by MICT Berhad and ATLAM had overhauled its Information Technology (IT) in year 2000.gain The system had not been functioned to produce financial statement. After knowing the weakness, ATLAM has two alternatives which is ACCPAC and Petra’s group-wide SAP. ATLAM has been asked to upgrade its accounting system with the Petra group-wide SAP system. Zulkifli as ATLAM’s finance manager need to critically assess the risks associated with the decision on whether to or not to implement SAP in ATLAM. Zulkifli has arranged a meeting to discuss the new system upgrade. He had invited Sani (Project Manager), Gopal (User Project Manager), Lim (User Representative) and Kamal (Functional Analyst) to discuss about implementing SAP in ATLAM. As it shown in the case, the first meeting have not come to a mutual...
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...Cases These are the most important materials on which to focus your attention. They are not written to “speed-read”; in fact, you need to read them very carefully. A case is not a story, but rather a description of a situation in which an actual decision-maker faced some difficult choices. Your task is to put yourself into that situation and decide what you would do. Most of the cases will be outside your realm of industry experience, so you will need the background information to get familiar enough with the situation to feel ready to make decisions. As you have likely observed after reading the book on Learning with Cases, cases are written so that you get a pretty good idea of what your task is in the first paragraph or two of the case and then again in the last paragraph or two. I always read those first and I suggest you do too – just to see what the case is about. Then I suggest you look through the case quickly to see what kind of information is available to you – by quickly I mean a 5 minute scan of the whole thing. By this point you should know what faces you; for example, a decision about whether to enter a new market or whether to give a bank loan, etc. The next step I suggest is to read the case thoroughly. If you’re reading your case on your laptop or tablet, you’ll want to highlight certain sections. If you choose to print your case, feel free to mark it up. Underline or highlight key information that may help you make a decision. Write notes in the margins...
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...RUNNING HEAD: CASE 1, FACEBOOK VS. TWITTER Unit 3, Facebook vs. Twitter Case Study Analysis Kaplan University School of Business and Management MT460 Management Policy and Strategy Author: Jennifer Sikes Professor: Dr. Sokol Date: July 25, 2011 Introduction Facebook is a social networking website launched in February 2004. Facebook has gained in, as Sarah Lacy calls it, “some made-up social media war”, on its’ at one time rivalries: MySpace and LinkedIn. However, Twitter, another, very similar, social networking site, was started in 2006, and has forced Facebook onto a collision course. Synopsis of the Situation The Facebook vs. Twitter case concerns the two similar social networking websites, and Facebook facing the upcoming threat by Twitter. The case presents similarities between Facebook and Twitter, as well as the advantages of each. Key Issues Issues identified in the Facebook vs. Twitter case, regarded Twitter’s advantageous characteristics: its so-called asynchronous nature and stellar search technology (Lacy, 2009). Another issue involves Facebook marketing Twitter, in a sense. Define the Problem The problem concluded from this case is Facebook’s burden to bear. Facebook does not permit one-way relationships with individuals. Nor does Facebook offer the capability of tracking real-time information. Facebook is threatened with losing users to a less acquainted, social networking website. Alternative Solutions The...
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...Commentary Template for Southwest Airlines Case (Week 3) Your Name: Ari Kaplan Your Section Letter: MGSC6204 51494 SEC 17 Name of Student Whose Work You are Reviewing: Meghan Russell Instructions: Your course facilitator will assign you to review another student’s Case Study Questions. The purpose of this exercise is two-fold. First, you have the opportunity to build on your own understanding of the Southwest Airlines Case and its relevance to MGSC6204 by studying the analysis of a fellow student. Second, this assignment allows you to contribute to the growth of colleague by constructively building upon his/her work to further explore issues of relevance to the class. Remember to employ as applicable the writing approach prescribed in the syllabus (i.e. brief, focused answers employing bulleted lists and tables as appropriate) to present your point of view. Also bear in mind that thoughtful questions to the author (your fellow student) and examples drawn from your own work experiences can be as useful as additional narrative commentary on the author’s own words. Questions to be Completed: |Comment Question #1: Is your colleague’s assessment of Southwest’s IT adoption strategy complete/correct? What would you add? | |Commentator Response: | |Meghan touched upon all 3 of the key innovations noted in the article that occurred 1980’s...
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...LOCKHEED TRI STAR CASE STUDY 10/18/2010 Group #8 Case Write-Up Lockheed Tri Star Case Study EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Although highly regarded by the military, Lockheed sought to move into the lucrative civilian commercial aviation sector and compete with Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Airbus. Lockheed began design and testing in 1966 on their entry, the “Tri Star”, which boasted a range of over 6,000 miles with nearly 400 passengers and speeds of close to 600 mph. They had already invested nearly $900 million in development costs. Carried by state of the art Rolls Royce turbofan engines, the L-1011 was by all accounts, a technological winner and might be the company’s ticket back to solvency. The summer of 1971 found the once formidable company on the brink of disaster. Despite the nearly a $1 billion in sunk costs, Lockheed was in need of $250 million more to bring the plane to market, but its bankers would not commit without federal loan guarantees. Spokespersons for Lockheed claimed before Congress that the Tri-Star program was economically sound and that their problem was mere liquidity crisis. However, opposition to the guarantee focused on estimated break-even sales – the number of jets that would need to be sold for total revenue to cover all accumulated costs. This case illustrates the importance of NPV analysis in capital budgeting. We examined the decision to invest in the Tri-Star project by forecasting the cash flow associated with the project...
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...Beech-Nut case is primarily a case testing the behavioral ethics and decision processes of key stakeholders in the crisis. This case primarily gives an overview on different roles of the key players and their outlook toward the adulteration speculation. I would like to briefly introduce the key characters, their responsibilities, and issues faced by them in their communication strategy, all of which in the wake of the crisis formed a basis for a crucial decision-making by the CEO. Peter Anderson Role: President and CEO Responsibilities: As the newly appointed CEO of Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation Anderson was responsible for the following * Turning the loss making Beech-Nut into a profitable company * Increasing the market share of Beech-Nut * To supply healthy products rich in nutrition in the market which met Nestlé’s product standards * To undertake changes in the operational and marketing activities of the company which directly influenced the profitability of the company Ethical issues those faced by Anderson while addressing his role are listed as follows * The most important dilemma Anderson was facing during the speculative adulteration crisis situation was whether Beech-Nut Corp needs to join PAI in a lawsuit against Universal Juice Company who were the suppliers of apple juice concentrate to Beech-Nut * Whether Beech-Nut needed to continue selling its apple juice products from the finished inventory which was around 700,000 cases of the juices...
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