How to Build a Better Shoe Store

Men, women, children—everyone needs shoes, so it’s a shame that so many people see shoe shopping as a hassle, a chore, a necessary evil. After observing how people shop for their shoes, I can see why. The process is clunky, inefficient, and often disappointing.

Hollywood in Black and White

Ask almost anyone and they’ll agree that minorities are underrepresented in Hollywood movies. The data collected for this study confirms this intuition. From a survey of over 1,000 of the top grossing films in the US from 2004-2013, only 15% of films featured nonwhite actors in leading roles.

Fashion Marketing: Does Diversity Reveal Bias?

I will freely admit that I am an avid online shopper. At the forefront of marrying fashion with technology is Nordstrom. My mother and I have been fans for years. We’ve always been amazed by how they manage to solve and even preempt consumer issues. They are proactive, sleek, and smart.

Recently, while browsing their Anniversary Sale, I noticed the almost deliberate diversity of their Women’s Clothing models (‘what is this, a college admissions catalog?’). The first three women on the landing page were all Asian. As an Asian woman myself, I was intrigued to see this. I continued to scroll down and saw glowing African American models as well as the to-be-expected sultry brunettes and ethereal blondes.

The Hottest Runway of 2014: Wall Street

On November 12^th, Michael Kors Holding Limited joined the S&P 500, replacing NYSE Euronext (4). The company’s spectacular growth following its IPO in December 2011 has proved to be more than a fad. The Kors brand has laid claim to the fast-growing and seemingly paradoxical niche of ‘affordable luxury’ as the global economy recovers from the financial crisis. The U.S. premium handbag and women’s accessories market is currently estimated to be $10.3 billion dollars (1), and in China, Bain & Co. estimates luxury goods sales to reach up to $21 billion this year (2). In the last three years alone, Michael Kors has already captured an estimated 16% of the market (1).

How to Raise Prices the Right Way

Speaking of raising prices, here’s a summary of strategies on how companies can cover rising costs by raising prices without losing customers. The full article from professors Kusum L. Ailawadi and Paul W. Farris can be found here.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is trying to boost profitability domestically by raising its prices. It’s focusing on the grocery market, where the volume is high but the margin is low. What are the economics of raising prices, and is this a good idea?

— Marc Cosentino, Case In Point, p. 82-83

Good Luck Leaving Your Wireless Phone Plan

T-Mobile’s latest push to brand itself as the anti-contract wireless provider is a welcome move in a market where confusing and complex two-year contracts are standard practice. However, concerns such as network coverage and speed, data allowance plans, and phone offerings often prevent customers from switching providers. The Wall Street Journal provided the latest update on the state of the industry in its article Good Luck Leaving Your Wireless Phone Plan.

Cracking the Mysteries of the Male Shopper

Read the article from The Wall Street Journal in its entirety here: Cracking the Mysteries of the Male Shopper. My summary and thoughts are below:

In my four semesters of college co-ed life, I have never seen a single one of my male friends go shopping. I’ve often wondered how they manage: fabrics wear thin, styles shift, seasons change. They remain clothed, so I suppose they must do their shopping on the sly–or online.

Barnes & Noble

The story of Barnes and Noble Inc. (BKS) has entered a dark chapter in recent months upon news that the bookseller will discontinue production of its color Nook tablets, a clear defeat for B&N in the tablet arena. William Lynch announced his resignation as CEO following the release of dismal fourth quarter losses (BKS stock took a 17% tumble that day^[1]).

As an avid reader and professed book lover myself, I am not wholly surprised by reports of B&N’s losses. I cannot recall the last time I made a purchase from Barnes and Noble. For me, the only reason to pay the premium for a book from Barnes and Noble is the extreme–and rare–case that I need a physical copy fast. Now that I have an Amazon Prime membership with free two-day shipping, my visits to B&N have become ever more sparse. In fact, to complete my conversion to Amazon, I bought a Kindle as my personal birthday gift last March. The future for Barnes and Noble is bleak, indeed.

Kroger Acquires Harris Teeter

I read news of Kroger’s acquisition of Harris Teeter in the Wall Street Journal a few days ago. Here’s a summary and my take on the article as a resource for potential cases.