...Strategic IT Analysis: Vermont Teddy Bear David Lopez 07/07/2014 Info 563 Vermont Teddy Bear (VTB) has adapted to the changes in their industry since their early beginnings. They have been able to find different outlets for their product whether it is web, phone, retail or mail, that still holds true to this day. They operate in many industries such as the plush toys segment, general gifts, clothing apparel, and florist industry. They are able to compete in this market with three main products: toy bears, pajamas, and flowers. They operate in an industry which is highly seasonal and failure to capitalize during peak season would mean lost revenue. The Vermont Teddy Bear product is sold in the playthings industry which is expected to top $80.3 billion by 2012. This product has a high rate of sales during the months of December, February, and May due to the particular holidays that occur in those months. These products are highly customizable which allows it to appeal to more consumers. Sales trends showed that during the peak season most purchases were for adult gifts while the rest of the year were for children. The products are manufactured in Shelburne, Vermont. Another seasonal product for VTB is PajamaGrams which competes in two industries: the general gifts and clothing apparel. Most pajamas are sold through retail outlets such as Macy’s, Target, and Wal-Mart. Unlike the teddy bear brand these products are imported from China and Mexico. The best-selling clothing...
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...Strategic IT Analysis: Vermont Teddy Bear David Lopez 07/07/2014 Info 563 Vermont Teddy Bear (VTB) has adapted to the changes in their industry since their early beginnings. They have been able to find different outlets for their product whether it is web, phone, retail or mail, that still holds true to this day. They operate in many industries such as the plush toys segment, general gifts, clothing apparel, and florist industry. They are able to compete in this market with three main products: toy bears, pajamas, and flowers. They operate in an industry which is highly seasonal and failure to capitalize during peak season would mean lost revenue. The Vermont Teddy Bear product is sold in the playthings industry which is expected to top $80.3 billion by 2012. This product has a high rate of sales during the months of December, February, and May due to the particular holidays that occur in those months. These products are highly customizable which allows it to appeal to more consumers. Sales trends showed that during the peak season most purchases were for adult gifts while the rest of the year were for children. The products are manufactured in Shelburne, Vermont. Another seasonal product for VTB is PajamaGrams which competes in two industries: the general gifts and clothing apparel. Most pajamas are sold through retail outlets such as Macy’s, Target, and Wal-Mart. Unlike the teddy bear brand these products are imported from China and Mexico. The best-selling clothing...
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...Name: Grade: _______________ Date: 09/29/2015 Case #: 3 Case Name: Vermont Teddy Bear 1) How would you describe 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)? VTB relies on gift sales across its three separately managed brands- Teddy Bears, PajamaGrams, and Calyx Flowers. A customer can purchase a stock teddy bear or custom design one by selecting the color and outfit from the menu of options. PajamaGrams competes in both the general gift category and global apparel industry. Calyx Flowers offers high-end flower arrangements for discerning customers who appreciates the long ‘vase life’ that was achieved because the company dealt directly with a small number of flower growers worldwide. Therefore, VTB’s business is highly seasonal. The company makes the most money during Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s day. Although VTB targets both adults and children, most of its revenue comes from adults buying gifts for other adults. Back in the 90’s, the company relied on radio advertisements and toll-free number orders but with the technological advancement, the company is facing challenges to reinvent itself. 2) How strong are VTB's operational capabilities, given their chosen business model? What challenges do they face during so-called "peak experiences"? 3) How strong are VTB's information systems, given their strategic...
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...Vermont Teddy Bear Management information systems – MBA 615 2014 Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Current Situation 3 Business Situation 3 IT situation 3 Problem Statement 4 Proposed solutions and alternatives 4 Overview 4 ERP 6 Supply Chain Management Software 7 CRM 7 Data Warehouse 8 Localized upgrades 8 Comparative study 9 Ideal Infrastructure 10 Recommendations 11 References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13 Executive Summary Vermont Teddy Bears is a private company that specializes in the manufacture of novelty items based on an e-commerce business model. Company management aims to generate new revenue streams through modifications to the retail system and the underlying IT infrastructure. The current IT infrastructure is robust enough and can handle peak times, but is constituted of an amalgamation of off-the-shelf software and home developed middleware with no comprehensive documentation available. The company CIO is studying four plans to upgrade the existing infrastructure, replacing legacy systems with an ERP, implementing a CRM system, implementing an SCM system, and creating a data warehouse for business analytics purposed. Also proposed is a mix and match alternative whereas only the necessary upgrades are done. An ideal model for the VTB IT infrastructure is built and compared against the proposed alternatives. A final recommendation combining 2 alternatives with the objective of upgrading...
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...Vermont Teddy Bear Name Institution Vermont Teddy Bear Part A The Vermont Teddy Bear Company has a few qualities the CEO can accentuation to help the organization and enhance inspiration. The primary quality is representative preparing and unwaveringness (Wheelen and Hunger, 2004). We realize that the organization's workers are not unionized (Wheelen and Hunger, 2004). The organization additionally does not appear to be stressed over the likelihood of their workers unionizing, demonstrating the representatives are upbeat and substance (Wheelen and Hunger, 2004). This is a great quality for the organization. Upbeat and substance representatives are fundamental to the thriving of the vacationer business that exists in their Vermont production line (Wheelen and Hunger, 2004). Remote access requesting is one more of the organization's qualities. There are progressively three sorts of individuals, the individuals who need to go to the store, the individuals who need to arrange via telephone and the individuals who lean toward the web (Wheelen and Hunger, 2004). Web requesting and the 800 telephone number give quick and helpful access to the organization's items and give clients the choice to utilize which ever strategy is more agreeable for them. Numerous organizations are building up online request models to give comfort to customers, this is crucial to the accomplishment of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company they keep focused of web innovation (Wheelen and Hunger, 2004). The...
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...Case study :The Vermont Teddy Bear Company® 2013 Florine Buteau Shenandoah University 28/02/2013 The Vermont Teddy Bear Company Almost everybody has had a plush bear when they were young. It’s a symbol of tenderness and gentleness. I personally had different bears made in Germany, China, England…with different forms, colors and names. Even if the teddy bear manufacturing is a saturated industry with many competitors, it has not prevented the Vermont teddy Bear Company to launch its own business. The Vermont Teddy Bear company (VTB) was created in 1980 by John Sortino. Currently the company is located in the city of Shelburne (Vermont, USA) and counts 289 employees. Vermont Teddy Bear Company represents a “Business success story,” but how did John Sortino arrive to success by the creation of a simple stuffed bear? After analyzing this company, I have concluded that the VTB Company has numerous opportunities to gain market share. Nevertheless, the VTB Company has had to contend with difficulties that cannot be ignored. 1. Opportunities The main opportunities for the Vermont teddy bear company are the following: * Before its creation, there were almost no teddy bears made in USA and most of these foreign-made bears were not good quality products. John Sortino, the “Vermont teddy bear” founder, noticed this fact while playing with teddy bears with his young son. * In the past, when you wanted to offer a teddy bear, you had to go in a store to buy it and there...
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...My Teddy Bear By Carisa A. Paterson I got my first teddy bear today. My mom and dad got it for me. She is a chocolate brown bear. She feels like a fresh pick peach she is as soft as a soft sheet. She is my best friend in the world, and her name is Mrs. Peach. Hey I am only five what do you take me for I am not that popular at kindergarten. We do everything together and it is so much fun. Such as play outside. We eat together and we love to take mud baths those are the most fun kind of baths. One day my mom told me if you keep that kind of playing with her that is she is going to get all ratty and dirty. I told her so what mom she is my best friend and we must do everything together. She said that we need to put her up so she doesn’t get to much more dirty. I hugged her tighter than ever and said no she is my best friend please do not take her away from me mommy. I’ll miss her very much. I went to bed with her one day and woke up the next morning she was gone. I ran down the stairs crying telling my mom why you took her away after I told you how much she means to me. To my surprise there was Mrs. Peach sitting at the table. She looked like the way she did the first day I got her. My mom had stayed up all night putting new stuffing in her sowing her up and given her a well-deserved bath. That was 89 years ago and she is still my best friend she is also my daughters best friend and my granddaughters best friend and in about five years she will be my great granddaughter’s...
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...com/essay-on/Build-a-Bear-Build-a-Memory/51296 1. 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? Answer: Why children like staffed animals? Why children like Teddy bear over other staffed animal? The answer of the above two question will give you the answer “what is the needs and wants of Build-A-Bear customers?” as well. First of all, children like to play. They always wish to play with those animals and superheroes that they see in the Television screen and other media especially in cartoons. As Build-A-Bear’s customers are almost children, their need is to play. Now, come to the second question, it focuses of a specific toy renowned as “Teddy Bear”. If you think deeply about the question, you will surely find something irrelevant. You may question, who have told you that all the children throughout the world like Teddy bear? Yes you are right, and the difference between needs and wants is embedded into your question. Most of the children of western country like Teddy bear, but from our perspective as an inhabitant of a third world country, the situation is much different. The reason behind it is want – the form of human needs shaped by culture, habits and individual personality. As children of western countries are familiar with the animal teddy bear physically their want is to play with the animal and that’s why Teddy bear is a renowned...
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...Drtduxfy.d,ljk/’;fyux,ldryujy * * Assessing The Goal Of Sports Products, Inc. Case Study September 24, 2012 John Rapa Assessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc. case study Introduction Sports Products Inc. is a large producer of boating... Premium * Assessing The Goals Of Sports Products Inc Assessing the Goals of Sports Products, Inc. Case Study Paper What should the management of Sports Products, Inc., pursue as its overriding goal? Why What... Premium * Case Analysis: Assessing The Goal Of Sports Products, Inc. Case Analysis: Assessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc. Submitted by: Group 1 Acebedo, Gladys Bandiola, Penuel Bautista, Jherwienne Cruz... Premium * Assessing The Goals Of Sports Products, Inc. Assessing the Goals of Sports Products, Inc. Assessing the Goals of Sports Products, Inc. Establishing and monitoring goals of any organization can be a... Premium * Assessing The Goal Of Sports Products, Inc. Maples University of Phoenix Finance for Decision Making FIN/419 Thomas Ster November 19, 2012 Assessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc. Loren Seguara... Premium * Assessing The Goal Of Sports Product the firms stock price is falling. The management of Sports Products, Inc. should pursue its overriding goal by understanding the objectives needed for the firms... Premium * Assesing The Goal Of Sports Products, Inc specific recommendations would you offer the firm? Ans: From the information available in the case study, we...
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...Today poverty remains one of the biggest issues in the world. A child dies of hunger every five seconds and millions of people are suffering from starvation. In his solution to world poverty, Professor Peter Singer proposes that those who have money to buy luxurious goods ought to spend it instead on other peoples’ necessities; no money should be spent on fancy clothes or cars, new television sets, etc. This solution both has its positive and negative aspects. Its positive aspect is Singer’s pictured outcome of his plan—that more lives of starving children would be saved, and its negative aspects lie in the plan’s unsound premises and possible consequences. Although I appreciate Singer’s altruistic pursuit, the solution is far too unrealistic to be put into effect. The idea of the Singer Solution is indeed benevolent, that is, if it is within one’s ability, one should help those in need as much as possible. Singer presents moral issue by raising the concern that innocent beings are dying from hunger around the world, while people from developed countries are pouring money into luxuries simply for pleasure. It could be argued that those people value superficial substances over lives of children. Thus, they fail to live up to their moral obligations. Furthermore, the money donated to charitable agencies could make a life-or-death difference to children in need. Since about 80 percent of the world’s population lives on less than two dollars a day, even a donation considered small...
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...neighbor. I could smell a mix of the familiar waft of her Chanel N°5 perfume and the gentle but evident odor of her watercolors, but I couldn’t pick out any flowery smells. I looked at the painting, which was nearly complete, and saw her penciled signature at the bottom. It read “B.E. Cartwright” in beautiful printing. The “B.E.” stood for Barbara Eileen, although everyone called her Bobby. I moved back over to where I had been sitting, in front of the lightweight set of drawers that I was using as a hospital-on-wheels for my stuffed animals and dolls. Before settling down to her painting, Granny had cleared out the drawers for me and helped me wrap my little animals in the dry washcloths that I used as bandages and slings. I cradled my teddy bear, who suffered from a broken leg, in my arms and sang it a lullaby. My dulcet tones clashed somewhat with the Christmas carols that Granny had playing on her little portable boom box. She looked up from her painting, not to tell me to stop singing, but to ask how long I thought that Teddy’s recovery would take. I answered that he was looking a lot better and would be able to leave the hospital soon. After expressing her...
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...Travis A.Ellis Eng. 2101 Professor Lynne Thorner Screening Response: Spielzeugland: Toyland 7 April 2012 Camera Techniques Editing The film uses a great combination of cross cutting and flashback as a mechanic to tell a story, this was used thought-out the majority of the movie. The director uses abrupt jumps to alternate between the past, present, and future. The director divulges enough information to advance the story, but keeps the spectator on their toes, guessing the boys whereabouts. When observing the film it threw me off a bit, for example when the viewer was to think Heinrich was gone, when he couldn’t be found in his room, but it was really David Mrs. Meissner was searching. The cross cutting was seamlessly used during this act of the film. They had shown repeated shots of Mrs. Meissner running or Mrs. Meissner with Nazi officers. Framing The film has one scene, where Heinrich unintentionally meets Mr. Silberstein in the stairway in considerably pain, possibly by fanatic Nazis, and is bleeding on his forehead. He tells Heinrich another 'secret': he claims that he has been struggling with a rhino outside the building. The picture generally relies on close up shots to show the emotion and turmoil in the scene. One of the close up shots has the camera zoom in on the youngster's hands playing the piano. It indicates the course of time from childhood to adulthood. One long shot was shown, when the Mrs. Meissner was running down the staircases to show...
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...Executive Summary Burt’s Bee’s, a company that specializes in bee waxed-based natural skin care products and handmade crafts was founded in 1984 by Roxanne Quimby and Burt Shavitz. Quimby’s ambition to make a steady income at that time was fulfilled when she met Shavitz, a beekeeper in Maine. Her talent and passion to start a business paved path to the birth of Burt’s Bee’s. It is interesting to notice how Roxanne and the co-founder Burt Shavitz started the concept of natural skin care products just for the extra income and then went on to make it their core product of the company. During the first year she was able to make sales of $81,000. Burt’s Bee’s first big break came in 1989 when their teddy bear candle was noticed at an up-scale Manhattan boutique’s store. By 1993 Burt’s Bee’s had nation-wide sales of $3 million. Another interesting factor of the company is its use of natural products. The founders prove to be efficient business people since they saw the need of the customers and delivered the product demanded by them. As the company witnessed growth, Maine as Burt’s Bee’s business location proved undesirable because of high transportation costs involved, high payroll taxes and lack of expertise in the area. Quimby knew there was a lot of potential in Burt’s Bee’s business and to liberate it to grow she decided to move to North Carolina. Quimby knew that by staying in Maine Burt’s Bee’s could not grow beyond $3 million in sales. North Carolina proved promising as...
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...revamping current product, and constantly innovate to stay on top of the game Make the Brrd more appealing to kids and slightly more to advanced consumers, which require significantly less resources. Make new generation Brrrd that speaks different languages, such as Japanese, Spanish, German, Korean, and others. If Chinese speaking Brrrd could become popular, maybe other languages speaking Brrrd will as well. Explore new capabilities, add new features, or even get into the Elementary School market, and make people who already bought one see the benefit in getting the new one. (Like the iPhone.) Expand the current market and explore potential customers by corporating with other brands and toy/cartoon figures, such as Barbie, Teddy bear and Minions. Develop a paid APP for the customers who want to learn a language but don’t like or use a toy, such as business men. 4. Develop cross-functional product Allocate the bulk of her budget towards developing other devices that can use the same basic technology as the Brrd. Her ideas for connected home devices are on...
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...to pre-school), early school age days, high school age, and why you came to WINGS and what you want in your future life. You should reveal enough about yourself to make your presentation interesting. I will give you a handout to help you. You will type your paper according to the above instructions and present your speech from notes. I will have your paper in my hands during your speech. Be careful not to read from your notes. You must appear to be speaking to your audience from memory as much as possible. Your typed paper should be about two pages in length, and your speech should be three to five minutes long. *You must also bring two or three things that represent your life. These can be literal or symbolic. Ex: Your first teddy bear (literal) Ex: An umbrella (Symbolic) representing a time when you were caught in the rain. Use the following plan sheet to help you in your preparation. Assignment One Instructions and Plan Sheet This paper is all about you. You are really more interesting to other people than you may think you are. Writing about your life should be easy if you don’t worry about it too much. Just let your thoughts flow. After all, it’s a topic you know better than anyone else. Each paragraph should be at least fifty words long. That is a minimum length. You might want to make your paper longer for a better grade. All About Me is a good title or make up your own. 1stParagraph: Birth and Early Years Tell about your parents...
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