...Urban Outfitters Case Study Part 4: Marketing a Business Shanita Provoid Strayer University Explain why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. The reason Wal-Mart or Sears cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image is because in the case of Wal-Mart it operates on a high volume low profit margin and the only way to do this is to be able to mass produce or have your products mass produced for you or at least buy in bulk, that very philosophy males it impossible to be either trendy to counterculture. Trendy counterculture is about be unique or different going against the norms of society. While Sears prices are higher they still sell massed produced items which they believe will appeal to the general population. To try too enter into a niche market and attempt to compete with a retailer like Urban Outfitters would be financially disastrous for either Sears or Walmart. Could the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters? Explain your answer. I do not believe that the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters because unlike other retailers Urban Outfitters has a history a unique shopping experience and targeting the counterculture, Urban Outfitters cater to the those who see them self on the forefront of fashion. Forward looking research is important; Urban Outfitters has people (fashion hunters) who prowl the products made but in a very small quantity. Urban Outfitters...
Words: 596 - Pages: 3
...promotion, pricing, and distribution). This assignment gives insight into several companies marketing strategies that businesses use to excel in customer service and satisfaction with their product(s) and or services. The study specifically addressed four questions regarding counterculture image, big box stores, exclusivity and the enjoyment of shopping. The study’s hypothesis was that a business must complete an external analysis in order to determine what changes are taking place in their city, county, state, country and around the world that could potentially impact its business? Also, it’s important to find out want and how they make their final purchase decisions. A company must be able to determine their potential, weaknesses, opportunities, and competition. Explain why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. One reason as to why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image is because it would completely go against the general norm. This image normally targets a specific group of people. Wal-mart’s main focus is to help customers save money, which will hopefully result in them living better. Before opening Wal-mart, Sam Walton traveled the country studying everything he could about discount retailing. In his autobiography, Sam said, “If you think about it from the point of view of the customer, you want everything: a wide assortment of quality merchandise; the lowest possible prices;...
Words: 881 - Pages: 4
...Outfitters Continuing Case Study: Marketing a Business Robyn Miller Professor Marietta Lewis Business 100 August 28, 2011 Urban Outfitters Continuing Case Study: Marketing a Business 1. Explain why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. Sears or Wal-Mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image because Wal-Mart, for instance, operates on a high volume low profit margin and Sears operates on a high profit margin. The only way this can be done is to have the products mass produced which make it impossible to be either trendy or counterculture. To be trendy counterculture is to be unique when going against other retailers. Sears on the other hand are higher priced but still mass produced items which they think will appeal to the general public. Neither Sears nor Wal-mart can make the changes that would be needed to adopt the image. If they do, they would risk turning off their existing customer base. Lastly, the extensive product selection does not lend itself to the image. Furthermore, the best either of these could do is create a mini-shop, given the current brand image, the trendy image may be a hard sell for "trendy" customers, that may be the target. 2. Could the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters? Explain your answer. Yes and no. Yes the big box stores can purchase the items that are sold at Urban Outfitters and place the products on the shelves. These stores are trying to modernize themselves...
Words: 833 - Pages: 4
...August 21st, 2011 Professor A. Garabedian 1. Explain why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. Urban Outfitters can be credited for successfully creating a trendy counterculture image. They have been able to do this by targeting specific markets in key areas and locations, offering exclusivity, and promoting a certain lifestyle. Sears and Wal-mart have both established themselves as being highly successful and profitable business chains. However, even though these large chains have established themselves as strong contenders in the retail market Sears and Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. Sears and Wal-mart lack the ability to offer exclusivity and the ability to target specific markets. Both chains are just simply too large. Even though there are Urban Outfitters locations worldwide they still manage to offer a very specific selection of items on a small scale to accommodate the social and socioeconomic demographics of the area in which they are located. You can find a sears or Wal-mart in virtually every state in the U.S. and find the exact same broad range of products. There is really no differentiation, nothing that sets the stores apart. Literally just anyone has the ability to shop in these places and offering such a broad range of products, including groceries, clothing, and electronics attracts a wider range of people. Sears and Wal-mart, unlike Urban Outfitters, are not really even promoting...
Words: 1005 - Pages: 5
...Explain why Sears or Wal-Mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image: By definition, counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. This being said, Sears and Wal-Mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image because they are a big box stores. Sears carries everything from electronics to clothes to jewelry. Wal-Mart carries all of that and more; groceries. If you go to a store here in Richmond and then go to a store in Texas, the stores are exactly the same. Once you have been to one Wal-Mart or Sears, you have been to all of them. Wal-Mart and Sears have to maintain the social needs of the population, they can be trendy but it is very minimal. Let’s say I go into Sears and purchase a brand new washer and dryer that just came out with new technology. I would think that I am being trendy because it is brand new and no one will have it, but because Sears is a big box store, I know that every store around the country has this exact same product with plenty of inventory. It is hard for a big box store to be trend because let’s face it; they are called a big box store for a reason; they buy products in bulk at a discounted price and sell them all of the country, wherever their stores may be; the United States or China. Could the big box store sell merchandise...
Words: 1055 - Pages: 5
...URBAN OUTFITTERS STUDY ON MARKETING A BUSINESS Angelena Johnson Professor Kelly BUS 100 November 24, 2010 Through out this report it shall discuss the ways of marketing a business and how marketing will help to make a business grow and flourish. However, client and sales are what make you a success; therefore successful marketing steps must be done. This report shall also discuss the reason why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. As well as discussing if the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters? This report will also identify and discuss reasons why exclusivity is valuable. Lastly this report shall discuss the feed back on Senk saying that shopping is largely entertainment. This report will then conclude these discussions and making them clear of Urban Outfitters study of there marketing process. Introduction “Our success is a direct result of knowing how to market a brand and having the right people representing the brand” (Norman, 2009). Marketing is a key element in the success of any business. Urban Outfitters on the other hand has a marketing strategy that is as unique as the experience it sells. Urban Outfitters is a retailing company with a business portfolio that includes the store brands Anthropologies, Urban Outfitters, and Free People. The difference between Anthropologies from Urban Outfitters target is that they focus on women that are older and Urban Outfitters focus on...
Words: 983 - Pages: 4
...consumers/customers’ interest towards its goods and services. This process involves activities such as research, promotion, selling and distribution. Urban Outfitters, Inc caters to the exclusivity, uniqueness, and distinctiveness of fashion to maintain their customer shopping experience entertaining, while Wal-Mart is considered a big box store. Obtaining an understanding “why” shopping is entertainment and therapeutic to consumers. Explain why Sears or Wal-Mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image? Counterculture is a way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm (Oxford Dictionaries, April 2010). A creation of a counterculture by Wal-Mart or Sears might not succeed because of different reasons that play a huge role in the marketing techniques or tactics used by Urban Outfitters, Inc. Urban Outfitters, Inc. utilizes niche marketing and exclusivity as their main marketing technique or tactic while Wal-Mart and Sears are considered as large scale American department stores located throughout the United States. Unlike Wal-Mart and Sears, Urban Outfitters is exclusively and discretely positioned and targeted to a small niche. Urban Outfitters uses this strategy to ensure its products are scarce to the general population but exclusively available to certain areas that the intended niche’s population can reach. The created scarcity and resultant demand increases...
Words: 1144 - Pages: 5
...University December 1, 2010 Urban Outfitters Continuing Case Study Part 4: Marketing a business Explain why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. Businesses such as Wal-mart or Sears are built around serving the most products to as many customers possible. Let’s start with Wal-mart. In 2010, Wal-mart served customers more than 200 million times a week at more than 8,600 stores around the world. You may recall hearing several mission statements in the many years of Wal-mart business. In early years Mr. Sam Walton was heard “To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people.” This statement has evolved throughout the years into many slogans, but for most part they continue on with the same concepts. “Help people save money so they live better” and “Always low prices” are two more recent examples. Sears mission statement states “To grow our business by providing quality products and services at great value when and where our customers want them, and by building positive, lasting relationships with our customers.” If we look into the meaning of trendy counterculture the layers of the onion begin to peal back and we can get a better understanding of why these two giants are unable to capture that market. Trendy relates to fads and bandwagon type of items. Counterculture refers to the lifestyle and values opposed to those of the normal culture. Countercultural persons are typically very independent...
Words: 1041 - Pages: 5
...Deborah Riley Dr. John H. Carter BUS100 – Spring/2010 May 30, 2010 Question #1 - Explain why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. In my opinion I don’t think that Wal-mart would be able to create a trendy counterculture because it sales clothes at a lower price. Trendy clothes would not be effective for them because the cost associated with trendy clothes would not be profitable. Wal-mart shoppers are looking for a bargain when they go shopping at their stores. Wal-mart is known for their lowering prices on items in their stores called the Roll Back Price. “Wal-Mart said last week that it is stepping up price cuts, although it wouldn't specify how much it is boosting its typical weekly discounts designed to lure customers.” (Anderson, 2010, para 2). They also buy their merchandise in bulk as oppose to small quantities. While Urban Outfitters buy their merchandise in smaller quantities and there items are priced higher which is why they can create a trendy counterculture. When speaking of Sears they are not on the same line as Wal-mart considering they do not offer their customers price cuts such as roll back prices. But they do buy their merchandise in larger quantities then Urban Outfitters. Sears prices are high when compared to Wal-mart but they offer designer labels that are not offered at Wal-mart. But they also mass produce their items and buy in bulk. The items they sell in their...
Words: 1646 - Pages: 7
...Case Study: Marketing a Business 1. Explain why Sears or Wall-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. Sears and Wal-Mart do not solely devote time to the fashion business. They sell clothes because it is a necessity everyone has and to make money. That is their main goal. In doing so, they are like a high school teenager. They see a fashion trend in the magazine or in their case, big corporation see what the leading fashion industries are buying and follow suit. Then they mass produce that look, using cheap materials and most of the time the craftsmanship is poor. People interested in being trendy want to make a statement about who they are and are out and be different. The clothes sold at Sears and Wal-Mart is available to everyone and is not in any way unique. 2. Could the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters? Explain your answer. Wal-Mart and Sears are unable to sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters because they mass produce there items and the clothes are often poorly made with low end quality material. They focus more on quantity instead of quality to meet the highest profitability. Urban Outfitters sell their merchandise for a higher price and sell a smaller amount of items to turn a profit; Sears and Wal-Mart must sell a significant amount more to make the same profitability. Also, Urban Outfitters makes sure they have the current trends, Sears and Wal-Mart stores are just behind the curve when it...
Words: 612 - Pages: 3
...URBAN OUTFITTERS CASE STUDY 1 Urban Outfitters Case Study: Marketing a Business Bus105 March 7, 2010 URBAN OUTFITTERS CONTINUING CASE STUDY: 2 Urban Outfitters have created an image and market like no other. Urban outfitters has exceeded the normal niche size companies; they have hundreds of stores worldwide. Explain why Sears and Wal-Mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. In order to have a counterculture image, a company must cater to the culture and lifestyle of those people, especially among the young, who reject or oppose the dominant values and behavior of society. Most stores that have a counterculture image sell exclusive items. Wal-Mart and Sears are huge retail stores; they carry an abundance of each item and cater to everyone. If they became a counterculture image store, they would exclude too many people and risk having to close stores in certain areas. Could the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters? Explain your answer. It wouldn’t be a wise decision for the big box stores (Wal-Mart, Target, JC Penney’s, etc...), to sell items identical to Urban Outfitters. Urban Outfitters originally catered to colleges and university students, and they choose store locations near those places. Most of these big box stores adjust to their changing market and are located on or near major highways. Even if...
Words: 573 - Pages: 3
...Marketing a Business 1. Explain why Sears or Wal-Mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. Wal-mart and Sears in large part created the idea and foundation for the thinking of bigger is better. How can they try and cater to the little man or sub-culture when they are the very corporation that killed the little man. The basic principles of a sub-culture are to go against the “norm”, and Wal-mart is one of the largest examples of the corporation normalcy. Therefore, the reasons above would be by answer to why they cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image. 2. Could the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters? Explain your answer. Of course they do in my opinion! Big box stores always take a look at what the market around them is selling best and most of (the trends), anything from clothing to kid’s toys or apparel or even house hold items. The big box store creates a cheaper, less quality product that they mass produce for less. For example, the latest fad for children even young adults is “silly bandz” (rubber bracelets that pop back to their original shape when you take them off, they have animal shaped ones, Disney themes, etc..). Now you see them everywhere but they are called something slightly different from the original brand and are most likely made of cheaper rubber as well and sell for less. Thus in my opinion how the big box stores cater to the “middle to lower class”, why pay more for a “brand name”...
Words: 816 - Pages: 4
...Begin Reading Table of Contents Photos Newsletters Copyright Page In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights. For Isabella and Calista Stone When you are eighty years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. —Jeff Bezos, commencement speech at Princeton University, May 30, 2010 Prologue In the early 1970s, an industrious advertising executive named Julie Ray became fascinated with an unconventional public-school program for gifted children in Houston, Texas. Her son was among the first students enrolled in what would later be called the Vanguard program, which stoked creativity and independence in its students and nurtured expansive, outside-the-box thinking. Ray grew so enamored with the curriculum and the community of enthusiastic teachers and parents that she set out to research similar schools around the state with an eye toward writing a book about...
Words: 120163 - Pages: 481
