The following discussion describes a new inventory system used by J. C. Penney39: In an industry where the goal is rapid turnaround of merchandise, J.C. Penney stores now hold almost no extra inventory of house-brand shirts. Less than a decade ago, Penney would have stored thousands of them in warehouses across the U.S., tying up capital and slowly going out of style. The entire program is designed and operated by TAL Apparel Ltd., a closely held Hong Kong shirt maker. TAL collects point-of-sale data for Penney’s shirts directly from its stores in North America for analysis through a computer model it designed. The Hong Kong company then decides how many shirts to make, and in what styles, colors, and sizes. The manufacturer sends the shirts directly to each Penney store, bypassing the retailer’s warehouses and corporate decision makers. a. Discuss how this case illustrates the concept of the opportunity cost of capital. b. How does this innovation also help in demand management?

Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781305585126
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter14: Firms In Competitive Markets
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 4PA
icon
Related questions
Question

The following discussion describes a new inventory
system used by J. C. Penney39:
In an industry where the goal is rapid turnaround
of merchandise, J.C. Penney stores now hold
almost no extra inventory of house-brand shirts.
Less than a decade ago, Penney would have stored
thousands of them in warehouses across the U.S.,
tying up capital and slowly going out of style.
The entire program is designed and operated by
TAL Apparel Ltd., a closely held Hong Kong shirt
maker. TAL collects point-of-sale data for Penney’s
shirts directly from its stores in North America for
analysis through a computer model it designed.
The Hong Kong company then decides how many
shirts to make, and in what styles, colors, and
sizes. The manufacturer sends the shirts directly
to each Penney store, bypassing the retailer’s
warehouses and corporate decision makers.


a. Discuss how this case illustrates the concept of
the opportunity cost of capital.
b. How does this innovation also help in demand
management?

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Sales
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Economics, 7th Edition (MindTap Cou…
Principles of Economics, 7th Edition (MindTap Cou…
Economics
ISBN:
9781285165875
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337091992
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Economics 2e
Principles of Economics 2e
Economics
ISBN:
9781947172364
Author:
Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro
Publisher:
OpenStax
Survey Of Economics
Survey Of Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337111522
Author:
Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:
Cengage,