Retail Marketing Strategy Chapter 5 Retail Marketing Strategy

Retailing Strategy Human Resource Management Chapter 9 Retail Locations Chapters 7,8 Retail Market Strategy Chapter 5 Financial Strategy Chapter 6 Information and Distribution Systems Chapter 10 Customer Relationship Management Chapter 11

“Strategy” Is Over Used Retailers Talk About A Lot of Different “Strategies” Sales Strategy Advertising Strategy Merchandise Strategy Location Strategy Strategy Is Not Just Another Term for A Management Decision

Strategic vs. Tactical Decisions Strategic Tactical Direction Implementation Strategy statement Annual plan Broad Specific, detailed Unstructured Structured Problem solving Problem solving Creativity Analytical External focus Internal focus Irregular Regular Long-term Short-term Difficult to evaluate Easy to evaluate Note: Success Comes for Having a Good Strategy and Executing It Well

Elements in Retail Strategy Target Market Customer Needs Retail Format Method for Satisfying Needs Bases for Building Sustainable Competitive Advantage Defending Position Against Competitors © image100 Ltd

Analyzing McDonalds’ Retail Strategy What Is McDonalds’: -Target market? -Retail offering (format)? -Bases for competitive advantage? The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc./John Flournoy, photographer What Threats Might McDonald’s Face in the Future?

Examples of Retail Strategies Starbucks Kohls Restoration Hardware Ukrop’s What is the target market, retail offering, and source of competitive advantage for each retailer?

Chico’s Strategy Target Market Woman 35 to 55 Who Want Comfortable, Casual, But Stylish Apparel Retail Format Specialty Apparel Stores in Malls and Strip Centers Selling Private Label, Coordinated Outfits Bases for Building Sustainable Competitive Advantage Unique Merchandise Sized 0,1,2,3

Strategy for Looking for a Job Determine Your Target Market Area of Country Type of Company Type of Position Assess and Exploit Your Competitive Advantage Unique Skills, Experience, Knowledge Photodisc/Punchstock

Why Does a Retailer Need to Focus on a Specific Target Market Why Does a Retailer Need to Focus on a Specific Target Market? Why Not Sell to Everyone?

Retail Market Opportunities for Women’s Apparel

Criteria For Selecting A Target Market Attractiveness -- Large, Growing, Little Competition More Profits Consistent with Your Competitive Advantages Rim Light/PhotoLink/Getty Images

Can A Retailer Develop a Sustainable Competitive Advantage by: Building a Store at the Best Location? Deciding to Sell Some Hot Merchandise? Increasing Your Level of Advertising? Attracting Better Sales Associates by Paying Higher Wages? Providing Better Customer Service? Dropping the Price of Your Merchandise? PhotoLink/Getty Images

How to Develop a Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Internal and External Bases for Competitive Advantage Retail Firm Low Cost Large Size Efficient Distribution, Operations Unique Knowledge Loyal Employees Sources of Capital Vendors, Suppliers Customers

Sources of Competitive Advantage More Sustainable Location Customer Loyalty Customer Service Exclusive Merchandise Low Cost Supply Chain Management Information Systems Buying Power with Vendors Committed Employees Less Sustainable Better Computers More Employees More Merchandise Greater Assortments Lower Prices More Advertising More Promotions Cleaner Stores

Loyalty What does loyalty mean? Is It the same as liking a store? …Going to the store frequently? Digital Vision / Getty Images

How Retailers Build Loyalty Develop a strong brand for the store or the store brands Develop clear precise positioning strategies Create an emotional attachment with customers through loyalty programs Royalty-Free/CORBIS

Approaches for Building Customer Loyalty Unique Positioning Customer Service Information About Customers (Database) Unique Merchandise Location

Example of Positioning

Creating Store Loyalty Mental and Emotional Attachments Elements in a Strong Brand Top of the Mind Awareness Associations with Brand/Store Name Methods Used to Develop a Strong Brand Massive Exposure Symbols to Reinforce Image Consistent Positioning Creating Strong Associations Limited Brand Extensions

Distribution and Info Systems Flow of Information By decreasing costs here, there is more money available to invest in: Vendor Distribution Center -Better services -Increase in breadth and depth -Decrease in prices Store StockTrek/Getty Images

Private Labels Sears’ Kenmore -- appliances Rob Melnychuk/Getty Images Sears’ Kenmore -- appliances Federated’s Inc. – fine apparel Kmart’s Martha Stewart -- home JCPenney’s Arizona -- jeans Jules Frazier/Getty Images Jacobs Stock Photography/Getty Images

Vendor Relationships Low Cost - Efficiency Through Coordination Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Collaborative Planning and Forecasting to Reduce Inventory and Distribution Costs Exclusive Sale of Desirable Brands Special Treatment Early Delivery of New Styles Shipment of Scare Merchandise

High Quality Customer Service Difficult to Achieve People Are Not Machines -- Inconsistent Retail Sales Associates At Bottom of Labor Pool Goes Beyond Hiring Good People at High Wages and Training Them -- Organizational Culture

Critical Tradeoff In Developing Strategic Advantage Focus Leads to Developing A Competitive Advantage But Focus Reduces Flexibility Low Cost, Consistent Image, Vendor Relationships Reduces Flexibility Similar to Dating and Marriage – Commitment to a Relationship (Vendor) Reduces Flexibility

Growth Opportunities Market Penetration Market Expansion Retail Format Development Diversification Related vs. Unrelated Ryan McVay/Getty Images

Growth Opportunities

Market Penetration Attract customers from target market – Walgreens “on every corner” Get current customer to visit store more often or buy on each visit Cross Selling – sales associates in one department sell complimentary merchandise from other departments Example: Manicurist sells services plus hand lotion or nail polish Example: Salesperson sells leaf blower directs customer to electrical department to purchase a 100 foot extension cord.

International Growth Opportunities Europe China Mexico Latin America Japan Steve Cole/Getty Images

Why Do Category Killers and Supercenters Succeed Globally? Developed operating expenses Scale economies for buying merchandise globally Unique systems and standardization formats that facilitate control over multiple stores Understand that consumers are willing to forego service for lower prices Ryan McVay/Getty Images

Key to Success in Global Retailing Domestic market leadership – strong base Exploiting core competencies – competitive advantage Low cost - Wal-Mart, Carrefour Fashion Reputation - The Gap, Zara, H&M Category dominance – Best Buy, Office Depot Unique Image, Brand – Disney, IKEA, Starbucks Adaptability Global Culture Long-term commitment

Succeeding Internationally Adaptability Global culture Financial resources Global sustainable competitive advantage PhotoLink/Getty Images

International Market Entry Strategies Direct Investment Joint Ventures Strategic Alliances Franchising Lawrence Lawry/Getty Images

Steps in the Strategic Retail Planning Process 1. Define the business mission 2. Conduct a situation audit: Market attractiveness analysis Competitor analysis Self-analysis 3. Identify strategic opportunities 5. Establish specific objectives and allocate resources 7. Evaluate performance and make adjustments 6. Develop a retail mix to implement strategy 4. Evaluate strategic alternatives

Elements in a Market Analysis MARKET FACTORS COMPETITIVE FACTORS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ANALYSIS OF STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES Barriers to entry Bargaining power of vendors Competitive rivalry Threat of superior new formats Technology Economic Regulatory Social Size Growth Seasonality Business cycles Management capabilities Financial resources Locations Operations Merchandise Store Management Customer loyalty

Market Factors Market size – large markets attractive to large retail firms Growing markets – typically more attractive than mature or declining Business cycles – retail markets can be affected by economic conditions – military base towns Seasonality – can be an issue as resources are necessary during peak season only

Questions for Analyzing the Environment New developments or changes -- technologies, regulations, social factors, economic conditions Likelihood changes will occur Key factors determining change Impact of change on retail market firm, competitors

Bargaining Power of Vendors Threat of Substitution Competitive Factors Barriers to Entry Bargaining Power of Vendors Competitive Rivalry Large Customers Threat of Substitution

Competitive Rivalry Large number of competitors all about the same size Slow growth High fixed costs Lack of perceived differences between competing retailers Royalty-Free/CORBIS

Performing a Self-Analysis At what is our company good? In which of these areas is our company better than our competitors? In which of theses areas does out company’s unique capabilities provide a sustainable advantage or a basis for developing one? Stockbyte/Punchstock Images

Strengths and Weaknesses Analysis Management Capability: Capabilities and experience of top management Depth of Management--capabilities of middle management Management’s commitment to firm Financial Resources: Cash flow from existing business Ability to raise debt or equity financing Operations: Overhead cost structure Quality of operating systems Distribution capabilities Management information systems Loss prevention systems Inventory control system Merchandising Capabilities: Knowledge and skills of buyers Relationships with vendors Capabilities in developing private capabilities Store Management Capabilities Management capabilities Quality of sales associates Commitment of sales associates to firm Locations Customers Loyalty of customers

Illustration of the Strategic Retail Planning Process Kelly Bradford – Owner of Gifts To Go Two Store Chain in Chicago Target Market – Upper Income Men and Women Looking for Gifts between $50 and $500 Strong Customer Loyalty Based on Knowing What Customers Want, Providing Good Customer Service Low Turnover Among Associates

Mission Statement for Gifts To Go “The mission of Gifts to Go is to be the leading retailers of higher-priced gifts in the Chicago and provide a stable income of $100,000 per year for the owner.” Define growth opportunities will and won’t consider Indicates objective of company

Situation Analysis of Gifts to Go Market Factors Chicago is an attractive market. (+) Relatively expensive gifts are not affected much by the economy. (+) Gifts are highly seasonal. (-) Competitive Factors Many in area. Primary department stores, craft galleries, catalogs, and Internet retailers (-) Lack of large suppliers, customer (+) Opportunities for differentiation (+) Limited competitive rivalry. (+)

Situation Analysis of Gifts to Go (continued) Environmental Factors Potential Threat - Development of electronic channel by traditional bricks and mortar retailers (-) Strengths and Weaknesses Management Capability – Limited Financial Resources – Good Operations – Poor Merchandise Capabilities – Good Store Management Capabilities – Excellent Locations – Excellent Customer Loyalty – Good Customer Database - Good

Growth Opportunities for Gifts to Go Market Penetration Increase size of present stores Open additional gifts stores in Chicago area Market Expansion Open gift stores outside Chicago area Sell lower priced gifts in present stores Ryan McVay/Getty Images

Growth Opportunities for Gifts to Go (continued) Retail Format Development Sell non-gift merchandise to same customers in present or new stores Sell similar gifts to same customers through an electronic channel Diversification Manufacture craft gifts Open an apparel store targeting teenagers Open a category killer store selling a broader assortment of gifts

Evaluating Growth Opportunities for Gifts to Go Market Attractiveness Market Penetration Increase size of present stores (low) Open additional gifts stores in Chicago area (medium) Market Expansion Open gift stores outside Chicago area – new geographic segment (medium) Sell lower priced gifts in present stores – new benefit segment (medium)

Evaluating Growth Opportunities for Gifts to Go (continued) Market Attractiveness Retail Format Development Sell non-gift merchandise to same customers in present or new stores (High) Sell similar gifts to same customers through an electronic channel (High) Diversification Manufacture craft gifts (High) Open an apparel store targeting teenagers (High) Open a category killer store selling a broader assortment of gifts (High)

Evaluating Growth Opportunities for Gifts to Go Competitive Position Market Penetration Increase size of present stores (High) Open additional gifts stores in Chicago area (Medium) Market Expansion Open gift stores outside Chicago area (Low) Sell lower priced gifts in present stores (low)

Evaluating Growth Opportunities for Gifts to Go (continued) Competitive Position Retail Format Development Sell non-gift merchandise to same customers in present or new stores (Low) Sell similar gifts to same customers through an electronic channel (Medium) Diversification Manufacture craft gifts (Low) Open an apparel store targeting teenagers (Low) Open a category killer store selling a broader assortment of gifts (Low)

Market Attractiveness/Competitive Position Matrix

Steps in Using Market Attractiveness - Competitive Position Matrix Define strategic opportunities Identify market attractiveness and competitive position factors Assign weight based on importance of factors Rate opportunities on market attractiveness and competitive position Calculate scores and evaluate opportunities

Characteristics of International Markets 5-9

Attractiveness Ratings for International Growth Opportunities

Competitive Position in International Growth Opportunities