Risk Management-Burlington Stores
• Risk of increasing Competition Burlington Stores faced with growing and brutal competition from other competitors in the retail sector, which would impact Burlington’s business and finance for negative side. For example, Burlington Store’s biggest competitor TJ Maxx owned 34% of total off price market share comparing with Burlington Store’s 22% market share for last year. If Burlington did not take actions to narrow the difference between their key competitor, they would possibly been kick out of market soon. Additionally, Burlington’s competitors not only include off price apparel retailers such as TJ Maxx, but also include regular price retailers offer seasonal and holiday discounts, such as Macy’s
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According to the customers’ reviews from consumer affairs website, Burlington’s employees were rated low by customers who stated their employees were not trained well, unprofessional or impolite. Another website made side by side comparison of Burlington Store and Kohl’s and figured out that Burlington store’s customer service staffs were not very helpful. The staff management structure for employees also had troubles. For instance, basic level employees complained about the difficulty of contacting with managers. Burlington acknowledged that if they could not attractive talents in retail industry or trained the employees efficiently, it could adversely affect their business. Thus Burlington stated they would invest significant resources in training and motivating employees to maintain a level of job satisfaction. They tried to increase employee’s satisfaction by create good working environment and satisfied benefits (medical, dental, etc.) for full time employees. Additionally, Burlington identified the key employees and offered them higher salary than industry average level. For instance, Burlington Coat Factory’s retail store mangers’ average salary was $60,687, much higher than the national average salary of retail store managers’ $43,521
From the employees’ perspective; they are managed someone with experience in their same specialty who can effectively understand and review their work. Furthermore, they can move up within organization, which gives a reason for them to be loyal to the job. They also have the opportunity to work with others in their field, which allows for knowledge sharing and learning new skills. From the managers’ perspectives; this would make their jobs easier and makes them able to supervise the individual’s performance of their team members to distribute recognition, rewards and punishments accordingly. This has created an environment that hugely corresponds with Target’s core strategy, differentiation. Many of the shoppers have expressed their satisfaction with the services that provided by Target and more specifically with how friendly the staff
Overall the firm has maintained respectable net profits (Appendix A), only recently increasing its debt to repurchase stock and invest in the new online subscription (BBBY, 2016). A healthy balance between debt, capital, and a new dividend policy. Best Buy in acted a similar tactic, and “while it didn 't work immediately, it eventually helped the company fight back against e-commerce giants” (William, 2016). Bed Bath & Beyond is using a comparable strategy against Amazon and Wal-Mart. If it can successfully compete, while maintaining the 20% image customers have come to expect, invest in this stock today should double with three to five years while repeating increasing dividends that are sure to
Bed Bath and Beyond is currently the largest superstore domestics retailer, although their market share is only 4%. Competitors like Target, Wal-Mart and JC Penney offer a wider variety of merchandise such as apparel and electronics. Since 2002 growth has been a result of acquiring the Christmas Tree Shops and the Harmon Stores. In addition BBBY believes that their product offerings, customer service and advertising program have contributed to the company's financial success.
Starbuck’s, Nordstrom, Boeing, Costco and Wal-Mart have all been chosenas Fortune Magazine “USA 100 Best Companies to Work For” Starbuck’s, Nordstrom, Boeing, Costco and Wal-Mart are leaders in their industry and have been doing business successfully. During the research on their Human Resource Management (HRM), I can see their successes are firmly related to their effective and efficient HRM strategies. There are many factors in common among these five companies’ HRM strategies: devotion to employees’ benefits, employee training, a diversified work environment, promotions and rewards system, friendly and healthy workplace and outsourcing opportunities, Starbuck’s business has been boosting year by year. For many people that have had Starbuck’s coffee, they may notice that Starbuck’s customer service is outstanding. Every customer is treated like a VIP and with high quality service.
Maxx benefits from chaos by picking up the pieces, merchandise at a discount, when other retail stores close, or have overruns, or unexpected changes in demand and in return pass these savings on to their customers who shop for value (Levine-Weinberg, 2016) This is the demand-side benefits of scale when the consumer rather pay less for name brand merchandise than to pay more for the same designer in the department store. The stores that where having difficulty in the retail market left themselves vulnerable by not defending their position and T.J. Maxx proactively attacks this opportunity with its purchasing power and passes the savings to its customers. This proactive process of attacking and defending is what Wee (2016) calls the holistic and balanced perspective of handling competition. Moreover, this business warfare strategy of attacking struggling competitors is called offensive marketing warfare strategy (Grewal, 2014).
Lowe’s tries to foster collaboration and strength in a variety of methods; many are through leadership training tracks and supporting employees and their families. During times economic uncertainty, it is important that individuals know that they an organization that cares and supports them. In a comprehensive report released by Lowes, the company detailed improvements Lowe’s achieved in important focus areas, including the health, safety and engagement of employees, the company’s advancement towards its 2020 goals and its partnership with suppliers to maintain the highest ethical standards and improve the products it sells (Lowe’s Companies, 2015a). According to Lowe’s Companies (2015a), “For the first time in Lowe’s annual Employee Opinion Survey, all of its U.S. stores, distribution centers and customer support centers all reached the company’s benchmark engagement goal of 65 percent, indicating a highly engaged and satisfied staff” (para 4).. “Career Bliss recognized Lowe’s as one of the 10 happiest retailers to work for in 2014” (Lowe’s Companies, 2015, para 5). To keep an organization running efficiently and effectively, you need a good customer base; you cannot achieve this without helpful, courteous and willing employees. Lowe’s understand that to keep up in the industry, they need to ensure they employees are taken care of
First, when shopping, a big factor that will impact a customer 's experience is the customer service. Whether it’s from a simple “hello”, or an employee going out
Overall employees of AT&T view the company as a great place to work. Interviews were held with the following company employees: Gary Cohen, a Retail Sales Assistant Manager, Jeremy Macwan, a Retail Sales Consultant, and Andrew Ramirez, also a Retail Sales Consultant. The company has found there are strengths and weaknesses of being retail store employees in AT&T’s company owned locations.
The framework that will compare Publix Super Markets and its competitors is the Five Forces Model of Competition. The five aspects that will be discussed are the threat of new entrants into the market, the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat of substitute products and rivalry among competing firms. Striving for the optimal position in each of these categories has given Publix Super Markets the reputation it has pride towards earning. It is important to every compa...
Few companies create such controversy as Walmart has done with its approach to maintaining low costs for everyday items. People either love Walmart because of this approach to keeping prices down or hate it due to the effects it has on the economy. There are a lot of arguments surrounding the minimum wage and employee rights at Walmart. There seems to always be a news article about some employee protest about the wages or how they are treated. Walmart is viewed as an enormous firm that does not take care of its employees because of its minimum wage, treatment of its employees, and how it deals with lawsuits.
In 2016, Bed Bath & Beyond had the largest market share of any home goods retailer in the country with over ten billion dollars in sales (Statista, 2017). The next closest in sales was Ikea with just under seven billion in sales (Statista, 2017). Bed Bath & Beyond appears to be thriving in some areas; they have an efficient store set-up, a variety of products that appeal to their multiple target markets, and the supplier network to keep up with any fluctuation in demand (Zacks Equity Research, 2017). However, there is a multitude of options that Bed Bath & Beyond can use to improve their sales. For example, they could begin by assessing their products and inventory since the economies of the countries that Bed Bath & Beyond has stores in are
Nordstrom possesses a distinct and reputable image that effectively differentiates them from their competitors. Nordstrom is known throughout the retail sector as the leader in customer service. Nordstrom regards their customers as extended family and treats them as such. In addition, Nordstrom utilizes devoted sales associates for serving customers in an array of fashions. They possess the most liberal return policy that is highly regarded among customers. Also, sales associates will call in orders for merchandize not on hand free of charge. Recently, Nordstrom has
In the Grocery industry today there are 4 major companies that dominate the United States market share; Kroger, Safeway, Super value and Publix. With the competitive advantage of being the largest stores in the industry these retail giants should have competition at a minimum and should be thriving (Farfan, US Largest Retail Supermarkets - Complete List). The application of Porter’s Five Forces that influence an industry shows that these retailers do have many advantages but being vulnerable in even one of the areas can make a significant difference in market share and profitability.
Preliminary Starbucks – one of the fastest growing companies in the US and in the world - has built its position on the market by connecting with its customers, and creating a “third place” beside home and work, where people can relax and enjoy themselves. It was the motto of Starbucks’ owner Howard Schultz and, mostly thanks to his philosophy, the company has become the biggest coffee drink retailer in the world. However, within the new customer satisfaction report, there are shown some concerns, that the company has lost the connection with customers and it must be taken some steps to help Starbucks to go back on the right path regarding customer satisfaction. I will briefly summarize and examine issues facing Starbucks. Starting from there, I will pick the most important issue and study it from different positions.
While growing up, I realized the benefits a person has when they personally own their own business. You can make your own schedule, personally control your finances, and essentially have complete control of your business Of course upon this realization; I came to the conclusion that I was going to be my own boss. I have always taken pride in how I present myself including how I dress. The limitless nature of fashion and its versatility has always intrigued me. One empowering aspect of clothing that is so fascinating is how it enables people to express themselves. Because of these interests, I have come to the conclusion that I wish to own a fashion boutique. In order to pursuit the path of becoming a fashion boutique owner, it is essential that I obtain a degree in business management, evaluate my own skills that make me ideal for the job, and