Burton’s Snowboards began selling from the back of a car. The company’s success is shocking looking at the startup and market that Jake Burton Carpenter entered into. Carpenter had the goal of becoming rich and found a way to do so through hard work, pride, and a couple pieces of wood. The snowboards he made in the beginning were poorly designed and did not sell because he had no interested customers. The industry he was trying to sell in did not yet exist, so he had to make it. Finally finding the right target market and a place to use his products his snowboards began to soar in popularity. Carpenter had to fight to have snowboards allowed on the slopes. Through his determination and early morning snowboarding sessions with his most loyal customers he was able to breakdown the reluctant resorts and hit their slopes. However, once the public sees one company do well they decide its time to join the market. Competition began to pop up, as snowboarding became an international market. Carpenter then had to ensure his spot in the competitive global market by problem solving quicker than his competitors. Today, his business is still the best snowboard company in the market. The main issue facing his company today is not just staying on top, but remaining in business. The popularity of the sport rose so quickly and gained professional status in the nineties, but today the youth are beginning to look towards other equipment. Carpenter has to find a way to ensure that
Now before I jump into this essay, I will first give you a background on the history of the sport. The original concept that the snowboard is based upon is the “snurfer”. Developed on Christmas Day, 1965 by Sherman Poppen in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1968, Tom Sims furthered the sport by developing the very first snowboard. Then in 1977 Jake Burton Carpenter developed the first bindings and changed the sport forever.
We are aiming at understanding how Recreational Equipment INC. (REI) achieved a competitive advantage through their strategies and how they implemented those strategies. REI differs from the other sporting goods stores in their quality product selection, complements, and excellent brand name promotion. These qualities enable REI to sell merchandise at premium price levels (Morse, 2003).
This case study explores different marketing techniques utilized by Prince sports. Research is conducted by utilizing marketing concepts retrieved from various publications as well as Prince sports website. Evolution in technology, joint ventures and adoption of different marketing techniques proved to be successful for Prince sports. There was an evolution of marketing all together at the height of Prince sports success with the introduction and adoption of social media in the marketplace. Prince sports ability to adapt and make changes based on consumer feedback
Mr. Weir must analyze both business and financial risks of adopting level production. As a for profit
Based on The Running Room’s current situation, Cisco considers a number of alternatives to her present marketing strategy. On one hand, she could continue to maintain a broad target market to appeal to both casual athletes--with more fashion-conscious products that aren’t necessarily running shoes--and serious runners, while attempting to tap into the growing market for women’s athletic shoes with expanded product lines for female athletes. This strategy would help her maintain her aging loyal customers, as she could offer athletic shoes that reflect the new exercise programs that they are becoming involved in instead of running. Conversely, she could narrow her target market to just serious runners, by investing in the high-end molded running shoes and the additional training and promotion that would be required to sell them. An analysis of The Running Room’s strengths and weaknesses can help her determine that the second strategy is the most worthwhile to pursue moving forward. As a former nationally-ranked runner herself, and with both a proven track record for catering to serious runners (who make up a majority of her sales) as well as the flexibility to switch product lines fairly easily, Cisco’s business strengths would support a shift to a more serious runner target market with relative
The industry is in the sinking market as sales are declining for the last two years. Gilcrist must avoid re-establishing the company in a sinking market, but to make innovation and change. She should invest her marketing budget into the power boat segment of the industry and expand the company or even move the company to a different location. The challenge for Gilcrist will be to stimulate employee creativity and tolerance for change due to her new directorship as president.
Imagine being at the top of the world, on a bitter cold mountain, over top of an enormous crowd. The lustrous lights are shining below on the massive jump created for the professional snowboard competition that will decide whether you win or lose the competition. I have dreamed of being a professional snowboarder as my dream job ever since I have been introduced into the sport of snowboarding. Being on top of the enormous slope and strapping into my bindings instantly makes me feel relaxed and puts a grin on my face. While gliding down the mountain I become focused and dialed in on my riding. Being a professional snowboarder as an occupation, I would compete in large competitions such as the X- Games or the Olympics to win prizes and gain popularity. The excitement from the crowd and the view from the course would give me goosebumps as I race to the finish. This would give me the rush of happiness and excitement every time I strap into my bindings to compete and make it seem like I would never work a day in my life. Competing in snowboard competitions as a professional snowboarder would be my passion and dream job in life all while traveling and being with friends.
Owen’s initial business model was an online platform where cyclists could find and buy low price bicycles that were made from slightly used quality parts. His employees included, several mechanics, Gary from craigslist to secure wholesale parts, a web designer, two marketing interns, and his wife Lisa who was the bookkeeper. When identifying a problem, Owen initially thought that his main problem was that the cost for a bike was high and better bikes were even more expensive. His target customers were people who knew the quality of the bikes but were cost conscious. The headquarters for Rebicycle was in Industrial part of town with aluminum and vinyl siding and on the inside it felt
Throughout time, the progression and evolution of snowboarding has increased greatly. It has gone from non existence in the late 1970’s, to one of the most watched action sports in a matter of thirty-five years. The upward takeoff and popularity of snowboarding relies on two people, Jake Burton and Shaun White. Jake Burton back in 1977 had the vision for what snowboarding would be, but Shaun White had what it took to manifest that vision. Evidence has shown that time brings change in sports, history has repeated itself with snowboarding, this history reflects the time & changes that has occurred in America.
Burton created and owns the US Open snowboarding championships, in addition to the enormous success in the snowboarding industry; it has the potential to grow beyond the U.S. The possibility to create similar events in Europe, China, Japan and Canada, where the demand for snowboarding is increasing, could benefit Burton. Through development
The database consists of customers that have purchased items with the last 12 months and their demographic information. The use of the catalog, internet, and retail stores has enabled the company to capture customer information, cross-market products, and provide a convenient shopping experience for customers. The company’s customers are primarily females with a passion for the riding sport. The customers are affluent and luxury oriented who tend to choose to buy from the company for the high quality and premier products. The customer base shows high repurchase rates and has been very loyal customers.
The Fit Stop is a new firm that will be opening in the near future. The founder of the business is Susan Superfit. The company’s business objective is to sell all types of training, fitness, conditioning, and exercise equipment to the general public. The Fit Stop plans to specialize in this equipment and provide customers with personalized advice geared to customer needs. The owner, Susan suffered an injury while engaging in sports activities. She came up with the idea for this business during her recovery. She found that while there were plenty of business that sold fitness and conditioning equipment, they lacked in knowledge. They often gave poor advice on how to use the equipment and what was best to purchase
As the hockey skate market matures and becomes more concentrated with a few large competitors (Exhibit 6),
When examining Jeff Hawkins business model during his time as CEO with handspring there was no definitive answer. Hawkins Business model seemed more like a question. “How do you make an exciting product that's pushing the envelope in some ways, but on the other hand is usable and accessible to a very broad populace?”(Barnett, 2000). Hawkins had a business model that relied on strategic partners to perform business tasks such as manufacturing and distribution.
Burton Snowboards not only gives quality goods to the riders, they give services as well. They create a relationship