...QRT 2 E-Business Task 1 Online Business Expansion Proposal Western Governors University This paper received passing marks with no revisions Introduction The Children’s Hour is an upscale fashion boutique specializing in unique women and children’s clothing, accessories, shoes and gifts. It has been in business for 30 years and in 2008, growth prompted a move to a larger location. The store has been very successful without a strong online presence, making online expansion an attractive and low-cost way to increase sales of its already popular merchandise. This online expansion proposal outlines the viability of the boutique market, online competition, marketing strategies, and social media integration. Viability of Product or Service Fashion boutiques, which are typically single store enterprises, have much to gain from online expansion, particularly now, as the following statistics indicate. In the United States in 2013, apparel (not including items such as jewelry and handbags) accounted for 18% of all online retail sales, and that number is expected to grow. Also, the compound annual growth rate for global online retail sales since 2007 is 17% (Ben-Shabat, Moriarty, & Nilforoushan, 2014). The market for luxury items, such as designer clothing and handbags, is directly correlated with the financial stability and confidence of the consumer. With unemployment reaching a 5-year low at the end of 2013, it is expected that consumers in 2014 will increase online spending in...
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...Excess Assessment Approval Form All 5th or beyond attempts are submitted by Senior Program Managers to the Associate Provost for Academic Services Student Name | Ric Johnson | Student ID # | 467966 | Mentor Name | David Moll | Assessment | QRT2 | Assessment Code | QRT Task 1 | STUDENT PORTION OF FORM Student, please complete the sections below related to your attempt request. Please type name and date at end of form after completing your portion. | Do you have all available learning resources (check the course of study for confirmation)? | YES or NO If NO, please explain | Please list the specific textbooks and any other resources you used to prepare for this assessment. | | How did you use the competencies/topics from the coaching reports and/or scoring notes to your preparation for this attempt? | | How have you used the learning communities to gain competence related to this assessment? | | Please use this portion of the form to explain what you have done to prepare to retake/resubmit this assessment including what you have done to prepare for this attempt that you have not done in the past. Be as detailed as possible. | | After completion of your section above, please email this form to your student mentor for approval. COURSE MENTOR PORTION OF FORM Course Mentor, please complete the sections below related to the student’s attempt request. Please type...
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...E-Business, QRT Task 1: Online Business Expansion Raygan Schieving Western Governors University E-Business, QRT Task 1: Online Business Expansion The Candy Makers is a Utah-based business that currently has no online presence. The Candy Makers will be developing a proposal for online business expansion. The proposal will include an assessment of how the business will be viable online, an assessment of current online competition, development of online marketing strategies, and utilization of social media tools to expand The Candy Makers presence online. A1: The Candy Makers offers a wide variety of candy gifts available for online purchase. Market demand is very good for these products because online shoppers buy candy products for many different reasons including, but not limited to, birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, and corporate gift giving. Considering that birthdays occur every day of the year, it stands to reason that consumers could potentially purchase candy gifts at any given time on any given day of the year, making the business functionality “useful, practical, and right for the purpose” of which The Candy Makers intended with their online store (Cambridge University Press, 2013). Moreover, other similar candy companies such as Godiva and See’s Candies have an online presence, which indicates that there is a demand for candy gifts. Expanding The Candy Makers to an online environment could potentially increase...
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...E- Business QRT Task 1 Craig Foreman April 18, 2014 Western Governors University A1. Viability of Product or Service A local business named K9 College is well known in the community for providing expert dog training. Customers can choose to participate in training that ranges from basic obedience to complicated areas such as training assistance animals for the handicapped. The most popular training option available to customers is agility training, a sport in which dogs are trained to compete on an obstacle course and points are awarded for time and accuracy. K9 College has always provided a limited product line. Dog toys, leashes, and grooming supplies are available for purchase in the training facility, but with the increasing popularity of agility training dog owners are asking to purchase the obstacles for practice at home in preparation for agility events. K9 College has started to stock a small inventory of obstacles that can be purchased at the training facility. Dog agility events are increasing in popularity nationwide and K9 College participates in events held in many different venues across the country. Because of their training background, K9 College is invited to present workshops during events to help beginners learn the basics of the sport and give experienced participants an opportunity to hone their skills. With this increasing exposure, K9 College is seeing a steady increase in the amount of traffic visiting their website and Facebook...
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...QRT 2 E-Business Task 2 Online Business Expansion Proposal for The Children’s Hour Western Governors University Introduction The Children’s Hour is an upscale fashion boutique specializing in unique women and children’s clothing, accessories, shoes and gifts. It has been in business for 30 years and in 2008, growth prompted a move to a larger location. The store has been very successful without a strong online presence, making online expansion an attractive and low-cost way to increase sales of its already popular merchandise. This online expansion proposal outlines a viable storefront solution, strategies for search engine optimization, international considerations, and customer relationship management in the online environment. Storefront Solution A dynamic, easy-to-use storefront is critical for online expansion because it provides the portal through which internet customers will browse and shop at The Children’s Hour. We have selected Quick Shopping Cart by Go Daddy as our e-commerce vendor. They offer a premium plan at an annual cost of $299.88. This plan is beneficial for The Children’s Hour because it allows for an unlimited number of products with up to 10 images per product, and also provides a free domain for hosting the store website with a guaranteed 99.9% uptime (GoDaddy, 2014). This benefits customers by avoiding frustrating technical problems that could cause them to abort a transaction. It also benefits The Children’s Hour because technical problems on...
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...regarding its current business policies and practices. Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………3 1. Company History……………………………………………………..5 1.1 Wal-Mart’s Early History: 1960s to 1970s…………………………….5 1.2 Wal-Mart Expands and Goes International: 1980s to 1990s…………...6 1.3 Attack of the Advocacy Groups: 2000 to present……………………....7 1.4 Repercussions…………………………………………………………...8 2. The Issue: Employee Relations and Workers’ Rights…………………9 3. Opposition…………………………………………………………….10 3.1 Labor Union-Funded Groups…………………………………………...11 3.2 Gender Discrimination………………………………………………….12 3.3 Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price……………………………………..13 4. Wal-Mart’s Response……………………………………………………15 4.1 Response to Labor Union-Backer Groups………………………………...16 4.2 Response to Gender Discrimination Lawsuit……………………………..17 4.3 Response to Greenwald’s Film……………………………………………18 4.4 Wal-Marting Across America: Jim and Laura’s Blog…………………….18 4.5 Corporate Social Responsibility…………………………………………..20 5. Did Wal-Mart Wake Up?..........................................................................21 2 Introduction Starting off with Sam Walton’s idea of low prices in the 1940s, Wal-Mart has since then become the world’s largest public corporation, topping the list of Fortune’s Global 500 for...
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...regarding its current business policies and practices. Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………3 1. Company History……………………………………………………..5 1.1 Wal-Mart’s Early History: 1960s to 1970s…………………………….5 1.2 Wal-Mart Expands and Goes International: 1980s to 1990s…………...6 1.3 Attack of the Advocacy Groups: 2000 to present……………………....7 1.4 Repercussions…………………………………………………………...8 2. The Issue: Employee Relations and Workers’ Rights…………………9 3. Opposition…………………………………………………………….10 3.1 Labor Union-Funded Groups…………………………………………...11 3.2 Gender Discrimination………………………………………………….12 3.3 Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price……………………………………..13 4. Wal-Mart’s Response……………………………………………………15 4.1 Response to Labor Union-Backer Groups………………………………...16 4.2 Response to Gender Discrimination Lawsuit……………………………..17 4.3 Response to Greenwald’s Film……………………………………………18 4.4 Wal-Marting Across America: Jim and Laura’s Blog…………………….18 4.5 Corporate Social Responsibility…………………………………………..20 5. Did Wal-Mart Wake Up?..........................................................................21 2 Introduction Starting off with Sam Walton’s idea of low prices in the 1940s, Wal-Mart has since then become the world’s largest public corporation, topping the list of Fortune’s Global 500 for...
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...regarding its current business policies and practices. Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………3 1. Company History……………………………………………………..5 1.1 Wal-Mart’s Early History: 1960s to 1970s…………………………….5 1.2 Wal-Mart Expands and Goes International: 1980s to 1990s…………...6 1.3 Attack of the Advocacy Groups: 2000 to present……………………....7 1.4 Repercussions…………………………………………………………...8 2. The Issue: Employee Relations and Workers’ Rights…………………9 3. Opposition…………………………………………………………….10 3.1 Labor Union-Funded Groups…………………………………………...11 3.2 Gender Discrimination………………………………………………….12 3.3 Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price……………………………………..13 4. Wal-Mart’s Response……………………………………………………15 4.1 Response to Labor Union-Backer Groups………………………………...16 4.2 Response to Gender Discrimination Lawsuit……………………………..17 4.3 Response to Greenwald’s Film……………………………………………18 4.4 Wal-Marting Across America: Jim and Laura’s Blog…………………….18 4.5 Corporate Social Responsibility…………………………………………..20 5. Did Wal-Mart Wake Up?..........................................................................21 2 Introduction Starting off with Sam Walton’s idea of low prices in the 1940s, Wal-Mart has since then become the world’s largest public corporation, topping the list of Fortune’s Global 500 for...
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...QRT TASK 1 Robyn Rollins-Root Western Governors University QRT TASK 1 A1. Viability of Product or Service Jordan Valley Medical Center is a 185 bed community hospital located in West Jordan, Utah. This modern medical center is equipped with the latest technology to provide comprehensive health care. In addition to the in-patient units, Jordan Valley provides many outpatient services including: Physical Therapy, Breast Care, Outpatient Lab and Radiology services, as well as Wound Care and Sleep Disorder Clinics. These successful outpatient services allow patients the opportunity to receive medical care that, in the past, would have required hospitalization. Jordan Valley also provides an Outpatient Respiratory Clinic specifically for patients with Respiratory Syncytial Virus, an illness generally referred to as RSV. RSV is a very common virus that most people have been exposed to within the first two years of life. It is spread by mouth or nasal secretions and is extremely contagious. When the virus strikes adults or older children, the symptoms are similar to a common cold. However, when the virus occurs in young children or infants it becomes much more serious, usually requiring medical intervention including breathing treatments. Previously, this need would require the child be admitted to the hospital to receive these treatments. With the implementation of the outpatient RSV Clinic, patients are able to stay at home with their parents and return...
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...E-Business QRT Task 1 A1 Viability of Product or Service At present, the company I have chosen to work with which I will refer to as the Embroidery Company has a weak online presence. The company is run by a woman who has moved several times following her husband as his job has moved him several times. At present, her customer base is from Seattle, WA, Mesa, NM and Fort Wayne, IN. She works out of her home. Her daughter built her a website which has not efficiently functioned for her. It is important for Mrs. A to move forward and expand online for several reasons. First, she presently has local customers who are no longer local and want to continue doing business with her. “Your existing customer base can migrate to your online operation (if it’s their preference), while processes like fulfilment are already defined” (Eley & Tilley, 2009). For ease of business practice, she needs to have an attractive, highly functioning website which takes payment for products at time of ordering. While conversing on the phone with her loyal customers, they can be looking at images that assist them to make a purchasing decision. Then the customer can transition to independent online order choice, ordering and payment. Since one of the key weaknesses of her company is that she may have to up and move abruptly, moving online will give her the stability that is lacking. In order for her company to bring in more income, it is imperative that she expand her...
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...RUNNING HEAD: THE SHOP THAT CARES The Shop That Cares: A Marketing Plan for ATR Enterprises Western Governor’s University QRT: Task 1 October 31, 2012 I. Executive Summary 6 II. The Challenge 6 III. Situation Analysis 6 a. Company Analysis 6 b. Customer Analysis 7 c. Competitor Analysis 8 i. Competitor’s Chart App. A d. Collaborators 9 e. Climate 9 i. PEST Analysis App. B ii. SWOT Analysis App. C IV. Market Segmentation 9 a. Segment 1 9 b. Segment 2 9 c. Segment 3 10 d. Segment 4 10 V. Alternative Marketing Strategies 10 VI. Online Marketing Strategy 10 a. Search Engine Optimization 10 b. Web Analytics Plan 11 c. Social Media 11 d. Maintaining Online Customer Satisfaction 12 e. E-Commerce Solutions 13 f. Sitemap App. D g. Website Mock-ups App. E h. Web Development and Maintenance Budget 13 VII. International Consideration 15 VIII. Marketing...
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...QRT Task 1 Business Proposal Frilly creations is a unique children’s boutique that specializes in children’s and women’s clothing. It has been in business for 17 years and in 2009, its tremendous growth enabled them to be able to move to a larger location. They have managed to continue to be very successful even without having a strong online presence. However, because of this, it makes an online expansion seem to be an attractive and low-cost way to increase their sales even more so. This online expansion business proposal outlines the viability of the children’s clothing market, including, but not limited to online competition issues, marketing strategies that can overcome these issues, and even how the use of social media can help to increase their profitability. 1) Boutiques which specialize in children’s clothing, as well as women’s clothing are in most instances single stores. Because of this, a lot of times they have a lot to gain from expanding their business into the online phase. In 2013, in the United States clothing accounted for roughly 18% of all online sales. This number includes men, women, and children but also undoubtedly continue to grow because people will continue to shop online because it is more convenient, not to mention sometimes even cheaper because of the promos that are given. It is said that the annual growth rate for online retail sales since 2007 is 19% (Ben-Shabet, Moriarty, & Nilforoushen, 2014). And undoubtedly, convenience is a big...
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...QRT Task 1 Company name: Christian Heating and Cooling (CHC) A1. Viability of product or service Customers need a business with the knowledge and expertise to install and service air conditioning systems. The company will work on all systems to include commercial and residential customers. Our expertise will lie in refrigeration (medium and low temp), air conditioning, and heating. We are launching this website for several reasons. This will allow us to more effectively communicate with our current and potential customers. It will also allow us to more effectively compete with our competitors, while allowing us to gather information through surveys, questionnaires, and emails. Lastly, we can offer our customers another means of payment for services, making us that much more accessible to our customers. A2. Current Online Competitor Summers Plumbing, Heating and Cooling (http://summersphc.com/) Slogan: “The difference is our service.” Online presence Online tool for scheduling appointments Simple Website Informational Easy to navigate Same theme used throughout Impersonal No slogan Promotions buried and links hard to find Social media links below the fold Broad Ripple Service Experts (Formerly Broad Ripple Heating) (http://www.serviceexperts.com/Locations/IN/Broad_Ripple_Service_Experts_Indianapolis_IN_46220.aspx) Name Change Online scheduling tool More complicated website Not cluttered Promotion “on the fold” and on a scrolling...
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...University QRT Task 1 04/07/13 Part A: Developing an online business expansion proposal. 1. Viability of product or service A. What is the business case for going online: In today’s society there is such a demand for coffee, not only in the United States, but worldwide. One highly increasing trend is the desire for specialty coffee. At Blue Mountain Coffee, they are right on track to meeting the growing consumer’s needs. They offer a wide line of specialty coffee made from the finest coffee beans. It appears that the Market and Sales potential for their specialty product line is vary vast. Consumers' purchase of gourmet coffee (specialty and premium) is increasing, according to the National Coffee Association, with over 40% of coffee consumed being gourmet. They currently are using a sales force to sell their coffee to a variety of wholesale locations, and have been very successful. Many customers already are loyal to their brand, and are even loyal to their coffee. With the desire to grow their business, they will need to make their company even more visible and easily accessible. By putting Blue Mountain Coffee online they will be able to achieve this task. B. Why does it make sense to go online: There are many types of businesses that currently have online exposure, and have found great success. Creating a website to sell Blue Mountain Coffee’s superior product line would be an endearing, but certainly a rewarding task. By putting their...
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