2024 presentation work Assignment Help

Analysis the current situation of the company 9B14A006 COLE AND PARKER SOCKS THAT START BUSINESSES 2023

Analysis the current situation of the company 9B14A006 COLE AND PARKER: SOCKS THAT START BUSINESSES Amy Shuh wrote this case under the supervision of Elizabeth M.A. Grasby solely to provide material for class discussion. The authors do not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. The authors may have disguised certain names and other identifying information to protect confidentiality. This publication may not be transmitted, photocopied, digitized or otherwise reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the copyright holder. Reproduction of this material is not covered under authorization by any reproduction rights organization. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Ivey Business School, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada, N6G 0N1; (t) 519.661.3208; (e) [email protected] ; www.iveycases.com. Copyright © 2014, Richard Ivey School of Business Foundation Version: 2014-04-17 It was March 2013, and Diana and Jeff House, co-founders of Cole and Parker, had just sat down to review their marketing plan together for the upcoming launch of their new business. Their concept for Cole and Parker was innovative: for every pair of socks the company sold, 1 per cent of its sales would be lent through Kiva,1 an organization that facilitated microfinance lending. Essentially, the sale of each pair of socks would aid entrepreneurs around the world who were starting their own businesses. With this socially responsible business model in mind, Diana and Jeff wondered what marketing decisions would be most effective for the successful launch of their new venture. THE ONE-FOR-ONE BUSINESS MODEL Blake Mycoskie popularized the “one-for-one” business model after founding TOMS Shoes in May 2006. In January 2006, while travelling and volunteering in Argentina, Mycoskie became distraught by the large number of children he noticed who were barefoot and impoverished. He was also intrigued by the style of shoes worn by Argentinean polo players, which were of a simple canvas slip-on style called Alpargatas. With the collaboration of an Argentinean shoe manufacturer, Mycoskie stylized some Alpargatas that he felt would fit with the North American market. At the retail level, for every pair of shoes sold, TOMS would donate another pair to a child in a developing part of the world. As the official Chief Shoe Giver, Mycoskie was not just creating a business; he was creating a movement. “The giving aspect of TOMS makes ours shoes more than a product. They’re part of a story, a movement anyone can join.” 2 TOMS trademarked the term “one-for-one” as a description of its business model.3 The quick success of TOMS was demonstrated through its sales. From its inception to 2010, TOMS had donated one million shoes worldwide. In 2012, it was estimated TOMS sold its two millionth pair of shoes. 1 www.kiva.org, accessed January 28, 2014. 2 Source: Good Works!: Marketing and Corporate Initiatives that Build a Better World, Hessekiel, Kotter and Lee, May 23, 2012. 3 Ibid. 31 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 2 9B14A006 The launch of several socially responsible for-profit businesses emerged from the TOMS’ lead, including the following: Warby Parker, a New York eyewear retailer, made a financial donation for every pair of glasses sold to Restoring Vision. Ten Tree Apparel, a Saskatchewan-based clothier, planted 10 trees for every item sold. WeTopia, a social game on Facebook, turned players’ points into monetary donations for children’s charities. By early 2013, the webpage www.shopwithmeaning.org4 listed several more one-for-one companies, with product offerings that included wine (OneHope), hand soap (Hand for Hand), candles (Candles for a Cause), health bars (Kutoa Bars), pet beds (Alpha Pooch), vitamins (Life Equals), blankets (Blanket America), and toothbrushes (Smile Squared). One-for-one companies were not only providing consumers with an outlet for giving back, but they were also creating sustainable business practices, which, for the most part, enhanced the companies’ profitability. For retail industry analysts, this one-for-one model provided some extremely valuable insight into consumer behaviour. It became obvious that consumers were looking for opportunities to give back through their purchases. In 2008, 80 per cent of 1,000 Americans surveyed said they would choose a brand associated with a good cause over another brand if both were similar in price and quality. Nineteen per cent said they would switch to a more expensive brand for this opportunity.5 According to Statistics Canada, purchases of ethical6 products by Canadian consumers increased from 20 per cent of the population in 2003 to 27 per cent in 2008. Forty-one per cent of people with university degrees had purchased a product for ethical reasons. Those in higher income groups were also more likely to purchase an ethical product; however, those aged 65 years and older were the least likely to purchase an ethical product.7 Challengers of the one-for-one model questioned its sustainability and the impact of the movement. In 2012, Cheryl Davenport of Mission Measurement, a strategic consulting firm, critiqued the one-for-one model: Those helped by TOMS are, in the long-term, no more able to afford shoes or address the real social, economic, and health issues that they face than they were before. Once their free shoes wear out in a couple years, the children will be just as susceptible to the health and economic perils associated with bare feet as they were before.8 4 The webpage’s main goal was to connect consumers with socially responsible companies worldwide. 5 Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704116004575522251507063936.html, accessed January 28, 2014. 6 Products considered “ethical” are those that appeal to consumer beliefs that they can effect positive social and economic change through their consumption choices. 7 www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2011001/article/11399-eng.htm, accessed January 28, 2014. 8 www.ecouterre.com/is-tomss-one-for-one-business-model-doomed-to-fail/, accessed January 28, 2014. 32 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 3 9B14A006 COLE AND PARKER The Co-Founders Jeff House graduated from London, Ontario’s Western University in 2007 with an honors bachelor’s degree in health sciences. Upon graduation, House began a career in real estate, successfully transacting $20 million in sales and 120,000 square feet of leasing in his first few years. He launched House Group Inc., an asset management company with several commercial and residential properties in their portfolio. Jeff also offered real estate brokerage and consulting services, with a strategic focus on the development, construction and project management of properties in the city of London, Ontario, Canada. Diana House’s career included that of investor, creator and entrepreneur. After her graduation from Bond University’s Law School in 2009, Diana launched Tiny Devotions (www.tinydevotions.com) an intention based accessory company that became successful through being first to market in North America selling mala beads9. Together, Diana and Jeff established a formidable partnership after connecting over their common interest in the start-up business environment. Most importantly, they both had a passion for entrepreneurialism and wanted to find a sustainable way to support the entrepreneurial efforts of others, both locally and abroad. Microfinance The one-for-one business model intrigued the Cole and Parker co-founders. After a trip to Columbia in 2010 with Opportunity International,10 Jeff saw first-hand the impact of microfinance loans. Microfinance was a financial service wherein loans were extended to entrepreneurs who would otherwise be unable to access the necessary capital to operate and/or launch their businesses. Often, in the poorer developing nations of the world, these small-scale entrepreneurs lacked the assets to secure collateral, as required by banks within their regions. Microfinance organizations would extend these loans – which were deemed “higher risk” by the banks – and, as with any other loan, the loan recipient would be required to pay back the principal amount and interest at a later date. In 2012, the World Bank estimated that about 160 million people in developing nations worldwide were served by microfinance organizations.11 Although credit unions had been around for centuries, the creation of modern microfinance was attributed to a Chittagong University economics professor, Dr. Mohammad Yunus, who began providing small loans to impoverished women in Bangladesh in the 1970s. In 1983, he founded the Grameen Bank, a bank for the poor, which was one of the first global institutions to provide loans not based on collateral, but on “mutual trust, accountability, participation and creativity.”12 Yunus won a Noble Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in this area. Microfinance lending was not just limited to the developing nations of the world. In 2011, it was estimated that one in 12 American households were “unbanked,” meaning they did not have a bank account or access to financial services. In this same year, the average microfinance loan in the United States was $9,732, and in developing nations, it was one-tenth of this amount, $973.13 9 Mala beads are prayer beads commonly used to count mantras. 10 www.opportunity.org, accessed January 28, 2014. 11 http://web.worldbank.org, accessed January 28, 2014. 12 www.grameen-info.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=112, accessed January 28, 2014. 13 www.fdic.gov/householdsurvey/, accessed January 28, 2014. 33 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 4 9B14A006 Many proponents of the concept believed that, by providing the means to create a sustainable source of income, microfinance created an opportunity to lift people out of poverty. Jeff described the concept: “Instead of just charity, where you give a man a fish, you teach the man to fish so he eats for a lifetime.”14 The One-for-Many Business Model Diana and Jeff envisioned Cole and Parker as a socially conscious, technology-driven, lifestyle brand (see Exhibit 1 for the company logo.) The inspiration for the name Cole and Parker originated from the names of jazz musicians John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. Jeff described the link between entrepreneurialism and jazz: “Entrepreneurs have to carve out a bit of their own path, and in jazz, improvisation is a huge part.” After gaining a full understanding of microfinance loans, the co-founders wondered how they could extend the one-for-one concept one step further. Diana and Jeff began brainstorming and thought that donating a product in need was not the hook they were looking for to launch of their new business. Instead, they wanted a more sustainable model. Thus, the one-for-many business model was born, whereby a percentage of top-line sales revenues would be loaned (through a microfinance organization) to give small- scale entrepreneurs the capital needed to sustain a business of their own. Partnership with Kiva Diana and Jeff had many goals for their new business, centred on the one-for-many business model. They would design and develop the product and create the brand story in an effort to drive sales that, in turn, could be turned into microfinance loans. The goal of their new business was not, however, to be a microfinance organization. There were already many existing organizations with great international partnerships that awarded financing to those who needed it the most. The partners thought it would be best for their business to partner with one of these established microfinancing organizations, and after much research, both partners believed that Kiva Microfunds (Kiva) would be the best fit. Through Kiva, Cole and Parker would be responsible for choosing the individual who would receive the loan, and Cole and Parker consumers would have to trust that their purchase would eventually make its way to an appropriate loan with Kiva. Kiva, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2005. Kiva’s co-founders, Matt Flannery and Jessica Jackley, were initially inspired by a presentation in 2003 given by Mohammad Yunus at Stanford University. Kiva’s website (see Exhibit 2) acted as an intermediary, allowing people to make loans, via the Internet, to people and businesses in developing countries. Kiva’s goal was to connect lenders with entrepreneurs on a more human level, and this goal was accomplished through the use of a website that showcased the personal stories of each loan recipient and their needs. By early 2013, Kiva had facilitated $400 billion in loans to one million individuals and/or organizations in 69 countries. Kiva prided itself on its loan repayment rate of over 99 per cent. Kiva loans were facilitated through 203 field partners made up of microfinance organizations, such as social institutions and not-for- profits, worldwide. The field partners were responsible for “screening borrowers, posting loan requests to Kiva, disbursing loans and collecting repayments, and otherwise administering Kiva loans.”15 Upon loan repayment, the field partners would remit the principal of the loan to Kiva, where the lender could choose to re-lend it to another entrepreneur or retract the principal amount from the lending process. 14 Western grad hopes to knock socks off Dragons, The Gazette, April 2, 2013. 15 www.kiva.org, accessed January 28, 2014. 34 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 5 9B14A006 MARKETING DECISIONS The Product The first product Cole and Parker intended to launch was a brightly coloured, high-quality and boldly designed pair of socks (see Exhibit 3 for product example.) Diana and Jeff wanted to create a transitional sock that could be worn with a suit or high-end denim. The co-founders believed the apparel marketplace lacked any sort of sock brand that told a product story. Cole and Parker’s product story would be summarized in the company’s tagline: “Socks that start businesses.” Coincidentally, by late 2012 and early 2013, several media outlets had started to highlight socks as a “go to” apparel trend in menswear. David Coleman of the U.S. New York Times newspaper, proclaimed: Distinctive socks are a clever and easy way to add a little oomph to your look without going overboard. A pair of multicolor Nordic socks is one thing — a bit of style you can flash when sitting down or crossing your legs — while a sweater in the same pattern might represent an unsportsmanlike reindeer overkill.”16 Gabrielle Greco, a senior buyer at Jack-Threads, a members-only menswear website, stated, “Socks have developed into an accessory versus a basic staple, and men want to show them off because they are very well designed.”17 Diana and Jeff wondered whether Cole and Parker should expand into other product lines that would be aligned with their bright, bold and socially responsible brand image. If so, what could these lines be? When would be the right time to expand? The Consumer Given the initial product and the unique business model, the co-founders wondered what consumer group to target. What characteristics would the Cole and Parker customer have? What would be the primary age group? Recently, fashionable and bold socks seemed to have been directed more towards the male consumer, but should Cole and Parker offer a women’s line? Diana and Jeff needed to determine their target market in order to most effectively craft their marketing decisions and the execution of their message. Placement Diana and Jeff wondered what placement strategy would best resonate with their target market and drive the most sales. There were three options for distribution: selling the socks wholesale to retailers, establishing the company’s own “brick and mortar” storefronts and, an e-commerce method of online sales. The partners had several concerns about each distribution strategy. Should they approach the buyers at large department stores in hopes of gaining a large wholesale order? Which retail chains offered the best fit the Cole and Parker brand? Could retailers be persuaded to carry this line? What marketing support 16 www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/fashion/bold-colorful-mens-socks.html?ref=tradingup&_r=0, accessed January 28, 2014. 17 www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/fashion-and-beauty/trend-alert-men-love-colourful-socks-78662.html, accessed January 28, 2014. 35 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 6 9B14A006 would the partners have to provide, and would they still be able to control their brand image? If Cole and Parker built its own brick-and-mortar storefronts to sell the product, it would need the capital and managerial experience necessary to launch its own branded shop. Finally, could the company rely solely on e-commerce to drive sales through a branded webpage? Would customers be willing to pay shipping costs on a small purchase, such as one pair of socks? Price Point Considering their cost to manufacture the socks, the competitive landscape, and the target market’s willingness to pay, Diana and Jeff had to set an appropriate price point for a pair of socks. They wanted to take into consideration the risk of offering a higher price point, since this would mean more money available for loans through Kiva. Diana and Jeff viewed the current non-athletic-sock market18 to be divided amongst three categories: discount, mid-range and luxury socks (see Exhibit 4). The discount-sock market consisted of socks sold in bargain outlet retails in packages of two or more pairs of socks for less than $10 per package. Mid-range socks retailed from $9 to $14 per pair, and were sold in retail outlets such as Mark’s Work Wearhouse and H&M and in department stores, including Hudson’s Bay and Sears. The luxury sock market included brands such as Paul Smith, Robert Graham, and Bugatti, and a pair of socks were priced above $20. These socks could be purchased at high-end retailers such as Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew. MARCH 7, 2013 On a whim, Diana and Jeff had auditioned for the popular Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) television program Dragons’ Den, a reality program where entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists (called the Dragons) who could choose to invest in (or finance) the venture, usually in exchange for an ownership share of the business. On March 7, 2013, Diana and Jeff received a phone call from a Dragons’ Den producer: “Be ready to pitch, on camera, to the Dragons on April 4th [2013]!” The partners were excited by the opportunity to pitch their new business model to the esteemed panel. With just one product and their one-for-many business model, the co-founders had to establish the remaining details of their business plan as soon as possible. Knowing that one of the first questions the toughest Dragon, Kevin O’Leary, a Western alumnus from the Ivey Business School, would ask would be “How many have you sold?” Diana and Jeff wanted to devise their marketing strategy to get as many product orders as possible before the on-air pitch date. With just a month to get everything in order, they knew it was crunch time. 18 Cole and Parker considered athletic socks, those to be worn during physical activities, not in direct competition with its fashion-focused product offering. 36 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 7 9B14A006 EXHIBIT 1: KIVA’S WEBSITE HOMEPAGE Source: www.kiva.org, October 29, 2013. EXHIBIT 2: COMPANY LOGO Source: Company files. 37 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 8 9B14A006 EXHIBIT 3: PRODUCT EXAMPLE The Connector The Closer Source: Company files 38 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 9 9B14A006 EXHIBIT 4: THE NON-ATHLETIC SOCK MARKET TYPES RETAILERS Discount Walmart Target SELLING POINT • V alue • Comfort Source: Walmart Source: Mark’s Work Wearhouse Mid-range Mark’s Work Wearhouse H&M The Bay Sears Luxury Harry Rosen Saks Fifth Avenue Neiman Marcus Robert Graham Paul Smith • Durable • Everydaywear • Bold designs • High quality Source: Robert Graham 39 For use only in the course Marketing Strategy at Acadia University taught by Wenxia Guo from September 03, 2015 to December 19, 2015. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation.

2024 For the Ultimate Professor Assignment Help

Final Project Step Two For this assignment you will clarify your message and expand upon it 2023

Final Project- Step Two For this assignment, you will clarify your message and expand upon it, filling in any gaps that either you or your classmates identified in the discussion forum over the past week. Be sure to incorporate the feedback you received from your classmates and the instructor. Your paper should be at least two pages and include the following elements: A description of your message and discussion of the desired results A description of the intended audience for your message. Be specific and include the appropriate demographic information for your target audience. A description of the typography you plan to use in your message (e.g., this might include the font or typeface you plan to use or the tone you want the type to achieve). Include an explanation for why the typography you chose is appropriate. An explanation of how you plan to utilize visuals to support your message. To provide support for your explanation, be sure to discuss one of the alternatives you considered before settling on your approach. Identify the platform/medium you plan to use to communicate your message (e.g., Word document, PowerPoint presentation, web application). An explanation for the platform or medium you selected. Submit your two-page paper (not including title and reference pages). Your paper must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide, and must cite at least two scholarly sources in addition to the textbook.

2024 Fin mgt discussion week 3 Assignment Help

Examine the concept of time value of money in relation to corporate 2023

Examine the concept of time value of money in relation to corporate managers. Propose two (2) methods in which time value of money can help corporate managers in general. Examine the pros and cons of a sinking fund from the viewpoint of both a firm and its bondholders. Determine the fundamental manner in which this knowledge could be helpful to a financial manager. Provide a rationale for your response.

2024 Discussion 5.2 Assignment Help

In a perfect world capital market how important is a firm s decision to pay 2023

In a “perfect world” capital market, how important is a firm’s decision to pay dividends versus repurchase shares? Under what conditions would you have a tax preference for share repurchase rather than dividends? Would managers acting in the interests of long-term shareholders be more likely to repurchase shares if they believed the stock to be either undervalued or overvalued?

2024 Week 3 Discussion 2 Leadership Styles Assignment Help

Identify four leadership styles associated with path goal theory Explain each style and relate 2023

Identify four leadership styles associated with path-goal theory. Explain each style and relate it to styles described in other theories. Can leaders exhibit more than one style? Week three lecture Chapter Six Let’s start with Chapter 6, Contingency Theory. According to our text book, “contingency theory is a leader matched theory, which means it tries to match leaders to appropriate situations. It is called contingency because it suggests that a leader’s effectiveness depends on how well the leader’s style fits the context” (Northouse, 2013, p. 123). Another description that might be easier to understand is; “Contingency theories hold that leadership effectiveness is related to the interplay of a leader’s traits or behaviors and situational factors” (Seyranian, 2012, para1). Some may recall Cliff Notes, which basically provides an overview of what a book or topic was about. Similar to what Wikipedia does today, with the exception that Cliff Notes were published, whereas anyone can go online and update Wikipedia. The Cliff Note on Contingency theory is as follows; “Contingency theory proposes that for learning to take place, a stimulus must provide the subject information about the likelihood that certain events will occur” (Cliff Notes, 2013, para1). Now that we have identified what Contingency Theory stands for, let’s dive a little deeper and look at the situational variables that impact this theory. According to our text book, there are three main factors; Leader-member relations, task structure and position power (Northouse, 2013). • Leader member relations is when there is a group of followers that have emotions for their leader (Northouse, 2013). • Task structure is when there is a level of requirements of a task that are clearly provided (2013). • Position power is the level of authority a leader has to either reward or punish followers (2013). Chapter Seven Chapter 7 focused on Path-Goal Theory. This theory is really about how a leader motivates followers to accomplish goals (Northouse, 2013). For those of you that follow the term empowerment, this is a leadership style that is often found. How many of you work with leaders that truly motivate you to want to do your job or want to do it better? How many of you are excited to go to work to see what your leader will challenge you with today? This is what a Path-Goal Leader works to achieve. It is recommended that you review Table 7.1: Path Goal Theory; How it Works in the required text. This table provides a very clear outline of the behaviors of the leader, the characteristics of the subordinates and the task characteristics. Below is a video that does a nice job of illustrating examples of Path-Goal Theory. Path-Goal Theory Case Study-“Three Shifts, Three Supervisors” (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (http://youtu.be/dzVwnPj_na8) Path Goal Theory – Explained (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (http://youtu.be/-Ow0U75uySk) Chapter Eight The final chapter this week was Chapter 8, which focused on Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX). The LMX theory “conceptualizes leadership as a process that is centered on the interactions between leaders and followers” (Northouse, 2013, p. 161). How many of you have interactions with your boss outside of work? How many of you have a good working relationship in that you can approach your boss on just about any subject? The LMX theory is one that brings up a lot of great elements, but it also has another side to it. I would like to share two videos with you that illustrate the LMX theory at work. The first is a cartoon and the second is a fraction of the movie Mona Lisa Smiles. See if you can identify how the leadership is interacting with the followers. Leader Member Exchange Theory (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (http://youtu.be/nXb0LZiPo7E) In and Out 1 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (http://youtu.be/6ocAyCc2enw) Forbes School of Business Faculty References: B2Bwhiteboard (2013, January 3). Path goal theory – explained (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.[Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/-Ow0U75uySk Callanan, B. (2012, December 29). In and out 1 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/6ocAyCc2enw Contingency theory (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(2013). Retrieved from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/psychology/psychology/psychology-learning/contingency-theory Northouse, P. (2013). Leadership theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Seyranian, V. (2012). Contingency theories of leadership. Sage. Retrieved from www.sagepub.com/ Tod a (2013, April 9). Path-goal theory case study – “Three shifts, three supervisors” (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.[Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/dzVwnPj_na8 Villum13. (2012, April 22). Leader member exchange theory (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/nXb0LZiPo7E Required Resource Text Northouse, P. (2013). Leadership theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN: 9781452203409. Recommended Resources Articles It is highly recommended that you read the following articles to gain a better understanding of leadership (Retrieved from the ProQuest database): Tse, H.H.M., & Mitchell, R.J. (2010, March). A theoretical model of transformational leadership and knowledge creation: The role of open-mindedness norms and leader-member exchange. Journal of Management and Organization, 16(1), 83-99. Whitener, J.K. (2007, May). Year of wonders: The wonder of leadership. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 9(2), 214-235.