Hightower Department Stores: Imported Stuffed Animals
Executive Summary
On the morning of January 17, 1993, before the annual buying trip to Germany for the 1993 Christmas season, the toy buyer for the chain of Hightower Department Stores named Julia Brown was reviewing the performance of some models of stuffed animals tested for sales during 1992. Every time Julia’s on the trip, she would buy some stuffed animals for testing. Fifty was the minimum amount the manufacturers require. Based on Julia’s years of buying experience, the tested result would give Julia a clear estimation about how many new stuffed animals she needed to order. Figure 1 in below shows the timeline of how Julia buys the toys for the company: 1992 January 1993 December 1994 50 of Each Tested for sale: Evaluation Test Results then Order Estimated Number of Bear, Pig, Bear, Pig, & Raccoon & Buy Test Toys for 1994 Christmas & Raccoon for Christmas Season
Figure 1: Timeline of how Julia buys the toys for the company
Decision Problem
During last year, three stuffed animals were tested for sale, including a bear, a pig, and a raccoon. The result shown there were 10 out of 50 bears, 4 out of 50 pigs, and 32 out of 50 raccoons sold. Julia was faced with a decision to make about whether she should import the toys from Germany or but the toys domestically, and if the toys were to be imported, how many of bears, pigs, and raccoons she should buy for the Christmas season of 1993.
Analysis of the Industry and the Company
Looking at the toy business, there was an intensified competition between different companies. The toy departments of department stores are generally less profitable comparing with other departments. Those toy