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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(2,319)
- People (7)
- News (230)
- Research (1,888)
- Events (1)
- Multimedia (5)
- Faculty Publications (1,528)
- December 2003 (Revised April 2004)
- Case
Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats
Investigates how the rise of digital video formats threatens to make videocassette technology obsolete; how this technological substitution might alter the economics and structure of the video rental and retail industries; and how Blockbuster Inc., the industry leader,... View Details
Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Decisions; Technological Innovation; Competition; Change Management; Service Industry; Service Industry
Coughlan, Peter J., and Jenny Illes. "Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats." Harvard Business School Case 704-407, December 2003. (Revised April 2004.)
- December 2017 (Revised May 2018)
- Case
Amazon Buys Whole Foods
By: José B. Alvarez, David Lane and Joni Coughlin
The June 2017 news that e-commerce giant Amazon was paying $13.7 billion for organic supermarket chain Whole Foods precipitated a broad sell-off in the shares of grocery retailers and suppliers. Behind the precipitous declines lay recognition that Amazon’s bold move... View Details
Keywords: Amazon; Whole Foods; Grocery; Grocery Delivery; Mergers & Acquisitions; Business Models; Food Value Chain; Agribusiness; Mergers and Acquisitions; Operations; Competitive Strategy; E-commerce; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Retail Industry; Web Services Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; United States
Alvarez, José B., David Lane, and Joni Coughlin. "Amazon Buys Whole Foods." Harvard Business School Case 518-056, December 2017. (Revised May 2018.)
- October 1997 (Revised June 1998)
- Case
Woolworths South Africa
By: David B. Yoffie and Anthony St. George
Woolworths South Africa is one of the most successful retail chains in the country, modeled on Marks and Spencer of the United Kingdom. This case focuses on the sources of Woolworth's competitive advantage within South Africa and the challenges of growth in the wake of... View Details
Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Growth Management; Global Strategy; Industry Structures; Marketing Strategy; Strategy; Business or Company Management; Retail Industry; South Africa
Yoffie, David B., and Anthony St. George. "Woolworths South Africa." Harvard Business School Case 798-026, October 1997. (Revised June 1998.)
- January 2015 (Revised November 2016)
- Case
La Martina: Leveraging Polo's Luxury Lifestyle
By: Anat Keinan, Maria Fernanda Miguel and Sandrine Crener
Founded in 1984 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, La Martina has grown from a high-end polo equipment company into a global fashion brand with operations in 56 countries. Polo, which is not only a sport but also a way of life, is at the core of the brand DNA. Polo is a... View Details
Keywords: Luxury Brand; Digital Marketing; Premium Brands; Fashion; Leather Goods; Retail; Globalization; Brand Positioning; Brand Extension; Lifestyle Brand; Growth Strategy; Polo; Entrepreneurship; Family Business; Brand Partnerships; Business Model; Product Positioning; Diversification; Luxury; Sports; Brands and Branding; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Buenos Aires
Keinan, Anat, Maria Fernanda Miguel, and Sandrine Crener. "La Martina: Leveraging Polo's Luxury Lifestyle." Harvard Business School Case 515-085, January 2015. (Revised November 2016.)
- April 2017 (Revised November 2017)
- Case
BlackRock (B): Acquire MLIM? (with video links)
In early 2006, BlackRock, Inc. is considering acquiring Merrill Lynch’s asset management business. The asset management industry was in a state of transition. In the prior year, more than 130 mergers and acquisitions had taken place. The proposed deal between BlackRock... View Details
Keywords: Strategy; Competition; Information Technology; Asset Management; Mergers and Acquisitions; Decision Choices and Conditions; United States
Gulati, Ranjay, Jan W. Rivkin, Stuart C. Gilson, and Aldo Sesia. "BlackRock (B): Acquire MLIM? (with video links)." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Case 717-485, April 2017. (Revised November 2017.)
- June 2005
- Background Note
Overview of the Japanese Apparel Market
By: Rajiv Lal and Arar Han
Provides an overview of the Japanese apparel market, which was a 13.1 trillion yen industry in 2003, reflecting 5.5% year-over-year shrinkage since 1997, when retailers logged 17.5 trillion yen in sales. Compared to their global counterparts, Japanese apparel shoppers... View Details
Keywords: Trends; Financial Crisis; Trade; Emerging Markets; Sales; Luxury; Competition; Segmentation; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Asia; China; Japan; Korean Peninsula
Lal, Rajiv, and Arar Han. "Overview of the Japanese Apparel Market." Harvard Business School Background Note 505-068, June 2005.
- November 1993 (Revised September 1994)
- Case
Food Distribution in Russia: The Harris Group and the LUX Store
By: David E. Bell, Walter J. Salmon and Dinny Starr
Discusses the challenges facing businesses entering the Russian business environment, especially focusing on food retailing and distribution in that country. Highlights one small, entrepreneurial company, The Harris Group, which, with the help of both Russian partners... View Details
Keywords: Business Ventures; Marketing Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Distribution; Partners and Partnerships; Expansion; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Russia
Bell, David E., Walter J. Salmon, and Dinny Starr. "Food Distribution in Russia: The Harris Group and the LUX Store." Harvard Business School Case 594-059, November 1993. (Revised September 1994.)
- October 2009 (Revised June 2011)
- Case
Zappos.com 2009: Clothing, Customer Service, and Company Culture
By: Frances X. Frei, Robin J. Ely and Laura Winig
On July 17, 2009, Zappos.com, a privately held online retailer of shoes, clothing, and other soft line retail categories, learned that Amazon.com, a $19 billion multinational online retailer, had won its board of directors' approval to offer to merge the two companies.... View Details
Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Customer Focus and Relationships; Decision Choices and Conditions; Governing and Advisory Boards; Service Delivery; Organizational Culture; Internet and the Web; Valuation; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry
Frei, Frances X., Robin J. Ely, and Laura Winig. "Zappos.com 2009: Clothing, Customer Service, and Company Culture." Harvard Business School Case 610-015, October 2009. (Revised June 2011.)
- April 1988 (Revised October 1996)
- Case
Home Depot, Inc., The
Home Depot, founded in 1978, pioneered the warehouse retailing concept in the home center industry. The company's niche strategy resulted in rapid growth in sales. By 1986, however, the company began experiencing deteriorating profitability. Students are asked to... View Details
Palepu, Krishna G. "Home Depot, Inc., The." Harvard Business School Case 188-148, April 1988. (Revised October 1996.)
- December 2019
- Case
Walmart Ecommerce (B): Omnichannel Pursuits
By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Karen Elterman
This case is an abridged version (part 2 of 2) of "Walmart's Omnichannel Strategy: Revolution or Miscalculation?" HBS Case No. 720-370. The (B) case describes Walmart’s omnichannel strategy in 2018 as it battled Amazon for online retail market share. Walmart aimed to... View Details
Keywords: Acquisition; Strategy; Internet and the Web; Distribution; Distribution Channels; Competitive Strategy; Retail Industry; Bentonville; Arkansas; United States
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon, and Karen Elterman. "Walmart Ecommerce (B): Omnichannel Pursuits." Harvard Business School Case 720-426, December 2019.
- January 2018 (Revised November 2018)
- Case
Index
By: Jose Alvarez and Julia Kelley
In December 2017, Marc Freed-Finnegan and Jonathan Wall, the co-founders of retail technology company Index, had to discuss the company’s direction as they entered 2018. Five years earlier, Freed-Finnegan and Wall had founded Index after observing the technological... View Details
- March 2002 (Revised October 2005)
- Case
Wal-Mart in 2002
By: David B. Yoffie and Yusi Wang
In its first quarter of 2002, Wal-Mart became the largest company on the globe (by sales) and expanded into Japan. Was the giant retailer unstoppable? This case explores Wal-Mart's top issues in fueling top- and bottom-line growth: diversification into groceries, new... View Details
Keywords: Diversification; Expansion; Multinational Firms and Management; Corporate Strategy; Global Strategy; Retail Industry; Japan; United States
Yoffie, David B., and Yusi Wang. "Wal-Mart in 2002." Harvard Business School Case 702-466, March 2002. (Revised October 2005.)
- June 2022 (Revised August 2022)
- Case
Sustainability Reporting at Dollar Tree, Inc.
By: Suraj Srinivasan and Li-Kuan Ni
The cases discusses the ESG strategy of Dollar Tree Inc., a U.S. Fortune 500 company in the deep discount retail industry and the and shareholder pressure faced by the company. In 2022, the company faced a shareholder resolution from a renowned shareholder advocacy... View Details
Keywords: ESG; Sustainability; Shareholder Activism; Dollar Tree; Sustainability Reporting; ESG Reporting; Board Of Directors; Shareholder Engagement; GHG; Environmental Accounting; Integrated Corporate Reporting; Trends; Communication; Announcements; Voting; Environmental Management; Climate Change; Environmental Sustainability; Values and Beliefs; Corporate Accountability; Corporate Disclosure; Corporate Governance; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Policy; Reports; Business or Company Management; Risk Management; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Outcome or Result; Strategic Planning; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Situation or Environment; Opportunities; Civil Society or Community; Social Issues; Public Opinion; Strategy; Adaptation; Alignment; Business Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Value Creation; Retail Industry; United States; Virginia
Srinivasan, Suraj, and Li-Kuan Ni. "Sustainability Reporting at Dollar Tree, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 122-044, June 2022. (Revised August 2022.)
- July 1984 (Revised September 1986)
- Case
CML Group, Inc.: Going Public (A)
Describes a series of decisions confronting Charles Leighton, co-founder and chairman of the CML Group. CML is a successful participant in the leisure time industry with two lines of business: specialty retailing and recreational consumer products. The key issues in... View Details
Keywords: Valuation; Going Public; Strategy; Business or Company Management; Cost vs Benefits; SWOT Analysis; Investment Banking; Financing and Loans; Planning; Corporate Finance; Retail Industry; Retail Industry
Sahlman, William A. "CML Group, Inc.: Going Public (A)." Harvard Business School Case 285-003, July 1984. (Revised September 1986.)
- 20 Feb 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Where Should We Build a Mall? The Formation of Market Structure and Its Effect on Sales
- September 1983 (Revised December 1985)
- Case
Dunkin' Donuts (C): Growth Strategy
By: Hirotaka Takeuchi
Dunkin' Donuts franchises and operates retail donut shops for take-home and in-shop consumption. Looks at three growth alternatives: 1) More shops (owned or franchised); 2) A broader product line; and 3) More advertising. Raises important issues related to franchise... View Details
Keywords: Advertising; Growth and Development Strategy; Growth Management; Brands and Branding; Logistics; Franchise Ownership; Relationships; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry
Takeuchi, Hirotaka. "Dunkin' Donuts (C): Growth Strategy." Harvard Business School Case 584-041, September 1983. (Revised December 1985.)
- 09 Aug 2018
- News
Gutenberg’s Revenge
- April 2021 (Revised January 2022)
- Case
SA Taxi: A Vehicle for Empowerment? (A)
By: Nien-he Hsieh, Dilyana Karadzhova Botha and F. Christopher Eaglin
SA Taxi was a vertically integrated business that operated in South Africa’s distinctive taxi industry. Despite being plagued by violence, informal structures, unsafe road practices and lack of government support, the taxi industry had grown to become South Africa’s... View Details
Keywords: Corporate Accountability; Ownership; Ownership Stake; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Equality and Inequality; Race; Situation or Environment; Transportation Industry; South Africa; Africa
Hsieh, Nien-he, Dilyana Karadzhova Botha, and F. Christopher Eaglin. "SA Taxi: A Vehicle for Empowerment? (A)." Harvard Business School Case 321-138, April 2021. (Revised January 2022.)
- April 1993 (Revised January 2011)
- Background Note
Note on Store Location
By: David E. Bell and Jose B. Alvarez
Reviews some basic issues to be considered in selecting a new location for a retail store. View Details
Bell, David E., and Jose B. Alvarez. "Note on Store Location." Harvard Business School Background Note 593-112, April 1993. (Revised January 2011.)
- July 2005 (Revised January 2009)
- Case
Paper and More (A)
Provides a context and exercise for introducing retail inventory management, including cost optimization, service-level criteria, and forecasting in single and multiproduct settings. The owner of a single-location paper and paper products store considers the... View Details
Keywords: Cost Management; Measurement and Metrics; Logistics; Sales; Expansion; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry
Watson, Noel H. "Paper and More (A)." Harvard Business School Case 606-023, July 2005. (Revised January 2009.)