Publications

November 2009
Teaching Note

Eddie Bauer (TN) (A), (B) and (C)

By: Paul M. Healy and Sharon P. Katz

Teaching Note for [110008] [110009], and [110010]. View Details

Keywords: Apparel and Accessories Industry

08 Apr 2019
Sharpening Your Skills

The Life of Luxury and How to Sell It

Helena Rubinstein Used Tall Tales to Turn Cosmetics into a Luxury Brand Using guile, brilliant branding, and more than a few falsehoods, Helena Rubinstein lifted cosmetics from an accessory item for... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Auto; Retail; Fashion

October 2023 (Revised February 2024)
Technical Note

Design and Evaluation of Targeted Interventions

By: Eva Ascarza and Ta-Wei (David) Huang

Targeted interventions serve as a pivotal tool in business strategy, streamlining decisions for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness. This note delves into two central facets of such interventions: first, the design of potent decision guidelines, or targeting... View Details

Keywords: Marketing; Customer Relationship Management; Analysis; Design; Business Strategy; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry

September 2020 (Revised July 2022)
Supplement

Spreadsheet Supplement to Artea (B) and (C)

By: Eva Ascarza and Ayelet Israeli

Spreadsheet Supplement to "Artea (B): Including Customer-level Demographic Data" and "Artea (C): Potential Discrimination through Algorithmic Targeting" View Details

Keywords: Gender; Race; Diversity; Marketing; Customer Relationship Management; Demographics; Prejudice and Bias; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; United States

16 Jun 2020
Research & Ideas

Your Customers Have Changed. Here's How to Engage Them Again.

needs. The velocity or rate of adaption that firms need to adjust to a new directional reality will depend on customer demand. Industries with decreasing customer demand—offline entertainment, hospitality, real estate, View Details

Keywords: by Rohit Deshpandé, Ofer Mintz, and Imran S. Currim; Retail; Service

September 2023
Supplement

Design and Evaluation of Targeted Interventions

By: Eva Ascarza

Targeted interventions serve as a pivotal tool in business strategy, streamlining decisions for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness. This note delves into two central facets of such interventions: first, the design of potent decision guidelines, or targeting... View Details

Keywords: Marketing; Design; Business Strategy; Policy; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry

November 1984 (Revised May 1989)
Case

Wright Line, Inc. (A)

The Wright Line division of Barry Wright sells accessories used to store, protect, and provide access to computer media such as cards, tapes, and diskettes. With the explosive growth in the business computer market and the pronounced trend toward decentralized use, the... View Details

Keywords: Salesforce Management; Product Marketing; Computer Industry

May 1992
Teaching Note

Whistler Corp. (A) and (B), Teaching Note

By: Gary P. Pisano

Teaching Note for (9-690-011) and (9-692-072). View Details

Keywords: Apparel and Accessories Industry; United States

June 2010 (Revised July 2011)
Case

Classic Knitwear and Guardian: A Perfect Fit?

By: John A. Quelch and Patricia Girardi

Classic Knitwear manufactures and distributes casual apparel, either unbranded or under a private-label brand name. Partly because Classic has no brand recognition with consumers, gross margins are low. To improve margins, the company considers partnering via a... View Details

Keywords: Market Research; Forecasting; Consumer Marketing; New Product Marketing; Product Lines; Merchandising; Branding; Demand and Consumers; Partners and Partnerships; Marketing Strategy; Forecasting and Prediction; Product Marketing; Brands and Branding; Product Development; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry

11 Dec 2023
Blog Post

Building Iconic Brands and Brighter Futures: Interview with Glossier CEO, Kyle Leahy

strategy in consumer brands, then moving from a corporate strategy role into a GM role, and athletic apparel into accessories and then beauty.... View Details

May 1994 (Revised July 1994)
Case

International Sourcing in Athletic Footwear: NIKE and Reebok

Nike and Reebok, the two largest athletic footwear companies, look to contractors in Asia to manufacture their shoes. Sourcing from Asia offers advantages of low cost and flexibility, but raises questions about human rights and corporate responsibility. How Nike and... View Details

Keywords: Rights; Multinational Firms and Management; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Apparel and Accessories Industry

30 Apr 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, April 30, 2019

Evidence from the Hospital Industry By: Dafny, Leemore S., Katherine Ho, and Robin S. Lee Abstract—We consider the effect of mergers between firms whose products are not viewed as direct substitutes for the... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

March 1984 (Revised April 1991)
Teaching Note

Petite Playthings, Inc.--1984 (A) and (B), Teaching Note

By: Benson P. Shapiro

Teaching Note for (9-584-080) and (9-584-081). View Details

Keywords: Apparel and Accessories Industry

October 2021
Case

Esquel Group: Turning Crises into Transformation

By: William C. Kirby, Adina Wong, Noah B. Truwit and John McHugh

Focuses on a Hong Kong-based, globally-established textile and apparel manufacturer and its experience in navigating turbulent geopolitical environments. Identifies ways the company has pursued business priorities while upholding its sustainability values. View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Business and Government Relations; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; China; Hong Kong

April 2003 (Revised December 2006)
Case

ZARA: Fast Fashion

By: Pankaj Ghemawat and Jose Luis Nueno

Focuses on Inditex, an apparel retailer from Spain, which has set up an extremely quick response system for its ZARA chain. Instead of predicting months before a season starts what women will want to wear, ZARA observes what's selling and what's not and continuously... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Multinational Firms and Management; Competitive Advantage; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Spain

October 1984
Case

NIKE (F1)

Concerns a specific strategic decision--should the apparel division expand rapidly? The teaching plan would highlight the pros and cons of such a move. View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Cost vs Benefits; Expansion; Business Divisions; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry

Find at Harvard

October 2008
Case

The Talbots, Inc., and Subsidiaries: Accounting for Goodwill

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

In 2006, Talbots, Inc., a specialty women's retailer, purchased a competitor, J. Jill. The transaction created a large goodwill account along with accounts for trademarks and other intangible assets. Using prevailing accounting standards (Statement of Financial... View Details

Keywords: FASB; Intangible Assets; Standards; Financial Statements; Goodwill Accounting; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry