Zappos Faces Competitive Challenges Essay examples

Zappos is an online shoes retailer that started its business in the year 1999. Later on the company had expanded its business to include the beauty products, clothing and even the housewares within its leading e-commerce website. This case emphasizes on the customer service department of Zappos Company and initially the business focused only on the drop ship method. Later on the company also increased the variety of the products. The company had also created a bricks and mortar storefront to expand the business and increase the sales of the business.

In This case we see the typical problem which affect big Companies : the conflict between old style and new school of thought. We analyze Zara’s information Technology strategies and the diatribe between Salgado, The Head of the Department and Sanchez , his assistant,s concern upgrading the operating system and the implementation of a new IT system to fulfill the needs of a fast growing retail chain. Despite the fact that Zara is over performing in their core business and that they are not showing big problems inside their structure, this shouldn’t be seen as a pretense to dodge updating the Software. Here we

Macy's is one of the premier retailer franchises within the United States. To begin, Macy's Inc. is one of the nation's largest and well known department store chains. Started over 150 years ago, Macy's has continually generated excellent returns for its shareholders and employees. Currently, in the midst of a global recession, Macy's has generated huge profits with same store sales increasing 5.3% year to date. In 2012 same store sales increased 4.6% in the month of February alone (Macy's Inc., 2012). In fact, throughout the duration of 2012, Macy's is projecting even larger profits for its underlying business operations. Even though Macy's has experienced success with both its assortments and brand, its competitors haven't faired so well. Sears, due in part to part to a lackluster holiday season, has been forced to close nearly 120 locations to generate excess liquidity in an effort to shore up its balance sheet (Isadora, 2011).Other competitors who cater specifically to the middle class consumer have also lost significant amounts of market share as consumers trade down due to the economy. Macy's, with its ride array of assortments and products continues to grow as it attempts to capture market share from failing competitors. Macy's is also unique as it operates in a unique market

Zappos has made the online shopping experience very safe and easy. The marketing strategy used by Zappos has to be one of the best one in any market. Zappos took was given to them and turn the focus to the customer experience. The entire idea was to make the shopping experience better so that customers would return. The promotion of a fun and hip culture for the employees is a big reason this strategy is working. Employees are in good moods and so this passes on the customer. The Zappos atmosphere is fun. There are no sales goals for employee because Zappos wants the relationship between the employee and customer to be genuine.

Understanding employee values is extremely important for management as many companies consider employee’s to be their greatest asset. To create value it is important that employees’ values are congruent with organizational values (Pohlman, 1997). Decision makers have to recognize what each employee values and determine ways in which they can be incorporated into the organization to create the most success. Once firms find employees with values congruent to the organization it is a continuous process to ensure employee, customer and the organization’s cultural value remain harmonious. With this continuous

Founded in 1999 by Nick Swinmurn, Zappos.com, initially named ShoeSite.com, has grown from an inventory-less, “drop-ship” shoe sales website that connected customer orders with shoe suppliers to an Internet shoe mega-retailer that recorded a reported $2.1 billion in revenue in

Zappos has tackled some serious challenges, handling them with quickness, strength, and accuracy. The first was the 2008 Layoff. Due to the economic times, Zappos had to lay off 8% of their cherished employees. This was a hard choice as the company treasured every staff member. They were straightforward and open about their financial circumstances and the employees fathomed why they needed to take these actions. Employees who were laid off received six months of COBRA health insurance coverage, paid for by the company. The second ethical challenge was the union with Amazon in 2009. Customers were puzzled on why Zappos had decided to join with Amazon. Instead of leaving their devoted customers speculating, they openly articulated the circumstances. Tony Hsieh shared the motives on why Zappos made this decision, guaranteeing that is was to the advantage of the customers. The existing board of directors did not want the company to focus on their clients but to alter attention entirely to product sales. Hsieh did not want to abandon the customer-centric model that Zappos was originated upon, and decided he must take action. In order to buy out the board, Zappos needed to come together with Amazon, a company that not only accepted but endorsed their value to customers. In the end, Zappos and its customers benefitted from the unification. Soon after, the company faced some of its major challenge concerning technical

Zappos has created a very structural attractive company. There is a lot of room for growth with the recent purchase by Amazon.

Macy's is one of the premier retailer franchises within the United States. To begin, Macy's Inc. is one of the nation's largest and well known department store chains. Started over 150 years ago, Macy's has continually generated excellent returns for its shareholders and employees. Currently, in the midst of a global recession, Macy's has generated huge profits with same store sales increasing 5.3% year to date. In 2012 same store sales increased 4.6% in the month of February alone (Macy's Inc., 2012). In fact, throughout the duration of 2012, Macy's is projecting even larger profits for its underlying business operations. Even though Macy's has experienced success with both its assortments and brand, its competitors haven't faired so well. Sears, due in part to part to a lackluster holiday season, has been forced to close nearly 120 locations to generate excess liquidity in an effort to shore up its balance sheet (Isadora, 2011).Other competitors who cater specifically to the middle class consumer have also lost significant amounts of market share as consumers trade down due to the economy. Macy's, with its ride array of assortments and products continues to grow as it attempts to capture market share from failing competitors. Macy's is also unique as it operates in a unique market demographic. It is upscale, but not to the extent of Saks Fifth Avenue or a Nordstrom. It is also not as low scale as a JC Penny

Zappos started out by selling shoes online to become the world’s largest online retailer of shoes. Subsequently, in their quest to boost sales, they moved beyond footwear to become an E-tailer that sells ‘anything and everything’.

The management team at Zappos must analyze and carefully determine which path will ultimately offer the best growth potential for the company as a whole; whether that is continuing business as usual by remaining independent, or successfully merging with Amazon.com.

Demographic changes (women in the workplace, organizational restructurings, and equal opportunity legislation) will require organizations to review their management practices and develop new and creative approaches to managing people. Changes will increase work performance and customer service.

Company should create linking mechanism across organization boundaries. The only links mentioned in the assigned business news is that Wal-Mart introduced the retraining program called Associates Out in Front. Store managers must meet with 10 associates each week and hear them out. It is described as a way for Wal-Mart to show employees “that we do appreciate you and that we have an ongoing commitment to listening to and addressing your concerns.”

Zappos.com owns a consistent share of shoe buyers’ market and maintain a solid and prominent position in online retailing. Although the numbers suggest that the company serves the US market like no other company, an expansion of its current share should be considered. Even thou the investments that this would require, we agree that Zappos could expand and build a stable source of competitive advantage by producing its own shoes line, followed in the future by it’s own shoe related wear line.

Throughout the past several years, since our companies merged, both organizations have benefitted from each other’s pool of core competencies. As a result, consideration has been made to move the merger further by combining our two web presences. Up until now, we have been able to share each organization’s strengths while keeping each company dynamic separate to allow us both to succeed in terms of what we do best. For example, although Amazon.com is fantastic in its ability to provide vast product lines, speedy delivery, and customer convenience, Zappos.com prides itself on a different approach. Zappos.com prefers to focus upon developing rapport and deep customer