Company Background
"Smith & Hawken is the premier authority in outdoor living, dedicated to providing products distinguished by authenticity, style and above all, fine craftsmanship" (Smith & Hawken, 2007). The channels used by Smith & Hawken include catalog, retail, and the internet. Dave Smith and Paul Hawken started in 1979 as a mail order company, providing a means for the consumer to obtain high-quality garden tools. In 1982, Smith & Hawken's first retail location opened in Mill Valley, California. Today their products are sold at 61 retail stores located in 23 states and through its catalog, Internet site and select high-end independent garden centers (Lee, 2006).
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company acquired Smith & Hawken back in late 2004. With the infusion of new capital, resources, and business strategies have resulted in some significant changes for Smith and Hawken's division. Three new redesigned stores opened in 2006, and a fourth scheduled to open in spring 2007. These new "Renaissance"-style stores showcase an expanded retail space featuring more lifestyle product lines; displayed in natural settings, unlike the sterile metal shelves and concrete floors of the big box retail chains.
Another undertaking introduced in 2006 was a partnership between Target and Smith & Hawken. This joint venture allows Target to sell an exclusive Smith & Hawken's pro...
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In the early 2000’s Lowe’s was rapidly intensifying its presence nationwide. The company carried a varied assortment of home improvement products and catered to the needs of retail as well as commercial business customers. Lowe’s expanded their reach by acquiring a 41-store chain, Eagle Hardware and Garden, and engaging in a strategic alliance with HGTV to obtain a more profound existence in their market (Rouse, 2005). By 2004, Lowe’s operated almost 1,000 stores with plans to continue expansion across the nation (Rouse, 2005). The company has a core competency in helping customers meet their home improvement needs at a low price. In order to use this core competency to gain a competitive advantage, the company has focused on key functional strategies. To continue their success, Lowe’s must specifically focus on marketing, logistics, and human resource management strategies.
Sainsbury’s was founded in 1869 by John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury .It was so successful that further branches were opened in other market streets and by 1882 they produced the first Sainsbury brand product.
J.P. Leggett and C.B. Platt a local entrepreneur from Carthage Missouri started a business partnership in 1883. Leggett was an inventor and Platt was an expert on establishing a manufacturing setup and both patented in 1885 a spiral steel coal beds (Leggett & Platt®,2011). In 1942, Leggett & Platt opens a plant in Kentucky. Harry M. Cornell Jr. became President and started an expansion effort in 1960 and in 1970 Leggett & Platt partners with Armco Steel Corp to construct a wire mill in Carthage. In 1999, the company net earnings reached to 290.5 million by May 2002 Leggett & Platt had evolve from a small regional company into an international Fortune 500 company and establish a contract with Sears (Leggett & Platt®,2011). Roebuck and Co.
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. Lowes was founded in 1921 by L.S. Lowe who opened a hardware store in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, with the business name of being Mr. L.S. Lowe’s North Wilkesboro Hardware. Although, James Lowe, his son took the business over following his death. During the period of the World War II, James Lowe, and his brother-in-law, Carl Buchan, served in the U.S. Army where Lowe’s mother and sister had run the business. In 1943, Buchan had been wounded and discharged from the army where he returned to North Wilkesboro in helping with the operations of Lowe’s hardware store. On one hand,
The two organizations our group explored are Target and Wal-Bazaar. We picked these two organizations since they are prosperous organizations where most Americans shop routinely. Indeed, even with this economy, these organizations find vital approaches to inspire clients to purchase stock. While these two organizations have contrasts, they have likenesses in their correspondence and showcasing styles.
Sainsbury 's acquired a percentage of US based Shaw 's Supermarkets in 1983 and in 1987 completed
Now "Galbraith manages the operation ... Nataline Earnheart runs the store; Ron keeps the quilting machines going, and Al Doan handles the technology side. Another son, Josh Doan produces the tutorials" (Bradley). In May of 2015 the company was planning to increase their number of store fronts (Morris). Also, they renovated another storefront into the "man's land" for the people not interested in the fabric. Many of the shoppers bring their husbands and they go right to this "man's land" (Morris). The family purchased many buildings that were vacant for over half a century and renovated all of them (Hall). In total the company has invested over one million dollars in these renovations (Hall). Missouri Star Quilt Co. has sixteen store fronts in Hamilton (Tupper). All of the buildings started out as fixer upper buildings. The company has a different shop for each theme of fabric (Hall). One store is kids and baby themed, one is petite, and so on (Hall). This makes it easier to find exactly what the shoppers are looking
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Established in New York City in 1858, Macy’s has become one of the nation’s most important fashion retailers in the United States of America and around the world through online shopping. In 2005-2006, Macy’s changed its naming policy. It now has fifteen regional department store chains whereas it previously presented under around 810 stores nationwide (Johnson, 2011: 1). The main reason for this move to a national brand was that the traditional department store industry had a negative impact on the company partly due to the general economic environment. Until the early 2000s, the sales were decreasing and the company was in a mature phase in terms of business life cycle.
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I will be discussing the use of e-commerce in a “brick and click” organisation. Click organisations are E-commerce sites, like Tesco paly.com, Argos, and amazon. The reason why they are called click is because you have to click to interact with the online store. A brick organisation is your store in the high street, like Gamestation M&S. But the Brick Organisation tends to also have an online website so they can be there for customers 24/7, for example Tesco.
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