L.L. Bean Is An Apparel, Home And Outdoor Equipment Retailer

L.L.Bean is the industry leader in providing to its customers, outdoor equipment and apparel. With growing competition and a stagnant economy, the company must continually work to maintain sales, profits, and customer loyalty. L.L.Bean does this by focusing on the competitive forces prevailing throughout the business environment. These forces include new market entreats, the power of the buyer and the supplier, the growing threat of substitute products, and their competition.

Consumers do, in fact, care about experience. In fact, in many ways the rise of quick-service formats and automated service has actually fuelled a greater desire for good old-fashioned customer service, particularly in face-to-face form.

LL Bean uses low inventory levels and medium-to-low prices in order to generate sales, customers who think North Face, Patagonia or Columbia to be too expensive will go to LL Bean for their slightly lower prices. Their online-presence is also very strong, and they both have good return policies. LL Bean and North Face are similar in their online presence, but where North Face went high quality, LL Bean went lower cost. They are both quick at delivering and both also have great value-added service as their lifetime guarantees are similarly famous.

L.L. Bean is currently in a market where there are few stores that dominate. They face competition from companies such as Columbia, North Face, REI & Timberland. In some cases these companies may offer a wider range of products, more appealing design and higher quality. Where L.L. Bean stands out is there in country manufacturing and Discovery School classes. Not only are they selling outdoor gear they are offering outdoor classes as well. The way I look at it is, they offer a product and a way to test it out at the same time so you know whether you are buying a good quality product. But this however may still not be enough to succeed. Below I have included a list of L.L. Bean’s competitors.

The 2003 Northeast Blackout was a two-day nightmare that spanned from New York to Canada. This incredible event was not due to a storm, but computer and human error; affecting over fifty million people with estimated losses up to ten billion dollars and 11 deaths (Walsh, 2013)! A loss of power turns inconvenience into a life-changing event when food in the refrigerator spoils, public transportation is useless, gas pumps are inoperable, and dark streets increase fear and anxiety. Even though power outages are a fact of life, few economies are equipped or prepared to provide their own power. The current appetite for electricity is pushing decaying electronic grids and antiquated software to limits with no sign of waning (Halsey, 2012). As the demand to produce more power grows, this increases the amount of pollution as well as disasters-massive power outages and catastrophic oil spills. The inefficient methods of fossil fuel production coupled with increased power demands are polluting the air, land, and water; creating unhealthy economies and ecosystems. Harnessing renewable alternative energy from nature is a smarter, dependable, and generous source of power that is non-polluting and will be available when current power sources are unavailable. Solar power is a healthier alternative power choice that supports fluctuating ecosystems, promotes healthy economic

Look it this home. This person is looking for a sustainable way to power their home using solar panels not depending much on non-renewable resources. Hopefully in the future we can reduce our dependency on non-renewable resources like natural gases and oil.

GUARANTEED. PERIOD. One of the simplest of statements is the driving force behind one of the strongest companies in fashion merchandising. Land’s End, a company with an established market for clothing, luggage, and home products, has created an enduring business model built on quality customer service. The company affirms this stance by proclaiming its goal is “to please [their] customers with the highest levels of quality and service in the industry, along with an unequivocal ironclad guarantee.”(Land’s End) With this powerful guarantee, Land’s End has become a market leader in developing customer relationships and fostering business communication as a means to increase sales and market share.

Another top stakeholder within Costco’s organization is its customer clientele. After careful research, the author noted several variables that contributed towards Costco’s highly-rated customer service and satisfaction ratings that speak from sales in addition to positive feedback. The author will briefly dissect this stakeholder group and display, in writing, why this group aids Costco in providing low prices on select items, its continuous service method which has proven, both financially and through praise, to be one of the more successful methods in retail, and to demonstrate why Costco

As the company continues to evolve, it still stays true to its attractive qualities that have earned millions of loyal customers around the world. They have a commitment to quality. By only carrying 4000 stocked units in the warehouse, compared to 30,000 at your local super market, it can carefully choose its products. This insightful selection is based on quality, price, brand and features. Therefore, having the ability to offer the ultimate best value to its members.

One resource that is essential to produce electricity is renewable energy. Providing one’s own energy consists of utilizing solar panels, wind turbines and micro hydroelectricity. Solar panels absorb energy from the Sun to produce solar energy. A great number of people who live off the grid use solar power. Wind turbines generate electrical power from the wind and functions in the reverse manner as a fan does. Micro hydroelectricity is another source of energy, which fascinatingly “uses a source of running water, like a stream, to generate electricity” (Dunn 3). Between all three sources of renewable energy, micro hydroelectricity is the most efficient, reliable and commonly used form.

The mission statement of R. J. B. Industries: “To exceed our customer’s expectations in quality, delivery, and cost through continuous improvement and customer interaction.” (R. J. B Industries, 2008). Unfortunately, this ambitious mission statement does not appear to be reflected in its website.

L.L. Bean offers excellent customer service and high end goods that beat the Bass Pro Shop lines.

For example, Primark is offering to their customers the high quality, at value for money. It is supported by service promised by

During research on this final project, the author found an example of Wal-Mart's communication in backing customer service. A Wal-Mart customer returned a completely thawed turkey including all the fixings for a dinner because her relatives could not make it due to car trouble (Now That's Customer Support, 2006). Wal-Mart returned the customer's money which was $19 plus some change and the customer returned the complete turkey dinner which included two boxes of stuffing, some cranberries, stuff to make pumpkin pies, green beans and a package of rolls (Now That's Customer Support, 2006).

‘To be an integral part of customer lives, by offering them a high quality shopping experience through great products at even better prices.’ (Vision)