Individual Coursework: Build-A-Bear Workshop
Executive Summary
Within this coursework essay, I hope to address the concepts of marketing and operations management and apply it to the Build-A-Bear case study. I will include an example of a transformation process model and explain how it is relevant to this particular company by including the transforming/transformed inputs, the transformation process, and the outputs. Also, I will identify the unique communication method used between Maxine Clark and her customers. Moreover, I will explain how Build-A-Bear contrasts with traditional toy shops by exploring the different marketing strategies used; specifically customer relationships. Finally, I will evaluate the facets of the Build-A-Bear
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The staff (“the people who operate, maintain, plan and manage the operation” (Slack, 2007) are also transforming resources as they encourage and help the children to produce the end product by assisting with choices and in areas such as the ‘Stitch Me’ section. Finally, the customers are also transforming resources. Not only do they envisage the design of the bear and help to produce their product, but they too are part of the process. The customers are encouraged to have fun and get involved with the operation, this means that the customers leave with a gained experience as well as a product at the end of their transaction.
The transformation process consists of the operations management that occurs during the production of the bear. In Build-A-Bear, the customer has control over the outcome of the product, therefore the design and materials used are unique to every customer who enters the store. Once the customer chooses the materials desired, equipment is used to create/manufacture the bear, communication is apparent throughout the process ensuring the bear is up to the customers’ standard.
The outputs of the process model are the bears and also the Build-A-Bear experience which is “the experience of participating in the creation of personalised entertainment”; this unique selling point helps to differentiate the Build-A-Bear company from other toy manufacturers. The product is known as tangible as it is physically touchable whereas the
The narrative is when a writing is written to tell a story, not a true story though. For example, the magazines have true stories written in them, but the book "we're Going on a Bear Hunt" has a fictional story written in it and this is a narrative. However, Gamble and Yates (2f) argues that narrative stories can be written as fictional and factual. House (2a) defines the book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" as adventures. The story of the book is about four siblings that go out on a journey to search for a bear, and throughout their journey, and they come across a series of obstacles; however they always find a way to overcome them together (2a). The pictures in the book are simple but they still draw the reader's eyes. Some very simple words
In conclusion, this essay has outlined the six key elements of the marketing process: (i) situational analysis; (ii) market research; (iii) establishing marketing objectives; (iv) identifying target markets; (v) developing marketing strategies; and (vi) implementation,
The bear have evolved along time ago and now there is only eight species existing. They evolved from early canids during the late Oligocene and early Miocene, about 25 million years ago. The earliest ancestors where the Dormaalocyon Latouri. An intermediate ancestor was the short faced bear, very similar to the modern day bear. It lived through the pleistocene period. It grew to thirteen feet long and was a herbivore. The ancestors to the modern day bears lived in the same climate and ate the same things. The modern bear contrast from the ancestor because the ancestor was more skinny and was smaller, and it was more cat like. The eight species of bear that still exist. They are the Polar bear, Brown bear, American black bear, Asian
I will approach the process of exploring more technologically advanced and interactive toys within the American Girl core brand by pulling a team of people to complete the strategic planning process (Ferrell & Hartline, 2014). A strategic plan is a roadmap to grow your business (Lavinsky, 2013). The roadmap will detail what it will take the implement the new technology and interactive product (Ferrell & Hartline, 2014). The team will explore the new technologies and understand the current status of interactive toys that the Mattel has had success with and the pain points. This will help the team understand what works and what has not worked. Research and analysis will be performed to understand the new technologically that is available
I. Executive Summary II. Situation Analysis o Market Summary Target Market Demographics Geographic Demographics Behavior Factors Market Needs Market Trends Market Growth o SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats o Competition o Product Offering o Keys to Success o Critical Issues III. Marketing Strategy o Mission o Marketing Objectives o Financial Objectives o Target Markets o Positioning o Strategies o Marketing Mix o Marketing Research o Action Plan IV. Financials o o o V. Controls o o o VI. Summary Implementation Marketing Organization Contingency Planning Breakeven Analysis Sales Forecast Expense Forecast
In this case study, we will be analyzing the current position of how well Kingsford is within the marketplace and determine which of the issues are plausible causes in its drop in revenue. We will be creating a comprehensive strategy as well as a marketing plan to evaluate and adjust the matter at hand. First we will begin with identifying the issues and implementing a method to reemphasize the importance of marketing in the business. The goal is to create a marketing plan that will add value to Kingsford’s market share, sales, and profitability.
Team 2 has researched and completed a comparative analysis of Mattel’s supply chain design and related costs with that of its major competitor Hasbro and the toy industry. What follows, is a brief background of Mattel’s traditional (non-electronic game) sector, its key competitors and Mattel’s use of supply chain management concepts in addressing the competitive landscape to gain a competitive advantage. The global toy and game market grew by 7.2% in 2007 with a value of $106.1 billion and by 2012, is forecasted to have a value of $126.2 billion, an increase of 18.9% over 2007. The toy market is divided into three primary sectors, namely game consoles, game software and traditional toys and games. Traditional toys and
It identifies diverse procedures that lead to client contentment. It is used to depict development opportunities and is based on process modeling, performance measures, and best practice sharing. It helps the companies measure the flow of information and physical goods and consists of three levels, the scope and content of the supply chain ( level 1), the supply chain strategy is configured ( level 2) and aligning available and forecasted resources to meet expected demand (level 3).
Jones Blair Company, JBC, currently faces a unique challenge in which the upper level management must act in order to maintain its profitability. Jones Blair current market position is in the process of being eroded due to the mass merchandising efforts of companies like Kmart and Sears. In developing their strategy forward, Jones must address two key issues to address the problem statement. First, Jones Blair must determine which marketing medium they will use to access their potential customers. Secondly, they must determine the geographic locations in which
Her love for people also transitioned into Build-A-Bear Workshop, where she has ensured that the experience of building a stuffed animal is as interactive as possible.
The children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt utilises the switching between black and white illustrations and full colour effectively. The pages of the story that are in black and white occur when the family meet an obstacle, such as ’long wavy grass’, and once they have overcome said obstacle the illustration returns to colour. It repeats in this manner throughout the picture books entirety. In doing this, the illustrator has emphasised the texts gloominess and foreboding of what the family will have to do (‘we have to go through it’).
Building your own Teddy bear allows you to customize a bear based on an event coming up in someone's life. It doesn't have to be only for children, although, a child would certainly appreciate a Teddy bear.
Build-a-Bear was a company that was inspired by a need to find the unfindable. Maxine Clark saw the need to develop a shop that catered to a need that both children and adults can combine crafting and the love for stuffed animals. “One 10 year old girl was the inspiration for this entire company! Think of the difference you can make!” (BAB)
Acorn Industries, in spite of being a small organization with a single product line had strong technical capabilities, and a compelling marketing division whose core philosophy heavily relied on the importance of Voice of the customer, market research and competitive benchmarking, which was used in creating and submitting contract proposals. During the 1990’s, most companies such as Apple, Nike, McDonalds etc. were substantially dependent on the marketing departments that emphasized on face to face meetings with the customers, and employees pushing their sales numbers to increase revenue and business profits, which is similar to Acorn Industries’
This case study will examine five questions affecting the marketing of Barbie. It will consider the environmental factors affecting Barbie, a SWOT analysis, her position and the implications of it in the BCG Matrix, her target market, and my strategy if I was product manager of the Barbie line.