Publications

28 Oct 2019
Research & Ideas

Brick-and-Mortar Stores Are Making a Comeback

While legacy companies like Sears are shuttering their doors, a growing number of online-first companies—from Amazon to Rent the Runway—are opening new storefronts and transforming the shopping experience. Senior Lecturer Jill Avery and Associate Professor Antonio... View Details

Keywords: by Jen McFarland Flint; Retail

11 Dec 2017
News

As the Fed Deliberates, Amazon Is Making Its Job More Difficult

June 2020
Case

What IKEA Do We Want?

By: Juan Alcácer, Cynthia A. Montgomery, Emilie Billaud and Vincent Dessain

In 2018, Swedish furniture maker IKEA was undergoing a significant transformation. Challenged by the rise of online shopping and changing consumer behavior, and mourning the death of its founder, the Company's top executives knew they had to step out of their comfort... View Details

Keywords: Business Strategy; Transformation; Leading Change; Mission and Purpose; Business Model; Emerging Markets; Customer Focus and Relationships; Organizational Culture; Disruption; Consumer Products Industry; Retail Industry; Europe; Netherlands; Sweden; China; India; United States

September 2012 (Revised January 2013)
Case

J.C. Penney's 'Fair and Square' Pricing Strategy

By: Elie Ofek and Jill Avery

As a he gets ready to release 2nd quarter 2012 results, Ron Johnson, the new CEO of department store J.C. Penney, is reconsidering the dramatic changes he initiated for the business model and brand image of his company. A new pricing scheme he put in place in February,... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Consumer Behavior; Management Teams; Business Model; Marketing Strategy; Price; Brands and Branding; Decision Making; Retail Industry; United States

03 Mar 2015
News

How Winter Weather Can Both Save You Money And Stretch Your Pocketbook

July 2022
Teaching Note

Arçelik (A), (B): From a Dealer Network to an Omnichannel Experience

By: Ayelet Israeli, Fares Khrais and Menna Hassan

Arçelik Turkey, the country’s market leader in household appliances, was at an omnichannel crossroads in January 2020. Arçelik was a B2B player utilizing a dealership network with an umbrella of brands and had one of the largest brick-and-mortar store networks in... View Details

15 Jun 2021
Cold Call Podcast

IKEA Navigates the Future While Staying True to its Culture

Keywords: Re: Juan Alcacer & Cynthia A. Montgomery; Retail

01 Aug 2017
News

How Did Independent Bookstores Avoid Going Extinct?

21 Oct 2014
News

Showdown In The Produce Aisle: Whole Foods Vs. Walmart

17 Mar 2022
News

Pandemic’s E-Commerce Surge Proves Less Persistent, More Varied

February 2014 (Revised March 2014)
Case

Red Star Furniture Group Co. Ltd.

By: Krishna G. Palepu and Pedro Nueno

Founded in 1986, Red Star had become the leading department store in China for furniture and home equipment products (bathroom, lamps, textiles complements, etc.). The business model of Red Star was to provide adequate space for vendors (that rented the space) in good... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship In Emerging Markets; Growth Strategy And Execution; Growth and Development Strategy; Retail Industry; China

03 Feb 2017
News

Repairing the Damage: The Effect of Price Knowledge and Gender on Auto Repair Price Quotes

July–August 2017
Article

Why Outlet Stores Exist: Averting Cannibalization in Product Line Extensions

By: Donald Ngwe

Outlet stores are a large and growing component of many firms' retailing strategies, particularly in the fashion industry. Outlet stores offer attractive prices in locations far from central shopping districts. The main perspectives on why outlet stores exist can be... View Details

Keywords: Fashion; Industrial Organization; Outlet Stores; Price Discrimination; Retail; Channel Management; Luxury; Product Marketing; Price; Retail Industry; Fashion Industry

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Profile

Marla Malcolm Beck

ready for prime time when it came to the retail shopping experience. Most people were still on dial-up Internet connections and interminable waits to finish a transaction created a significant barrier. Beck was undaunted. “I... View Details

10 Oct 2011
Research & Ideas

Retailing Revolution: Category Killers on the Brink

productivity would improve—especially as the bricks-and-clicks retail model worked in an increasingly coordinated manner to offer the consumer a seamless shopping experience. The Internet Threat While recent retail sales figures seem to... View Details

Keywords: by Rajiv Lal & Jose B. Alvarez; Retail

18 Nov 2019
Video

Alberto Grimoldi

Alberto Grimold, President of the Argentina-based apparel and footwear company Grimoldi, discusses the challenges of competing with the many companies in the informal economy which pay no tax, and explains how this impacts decisions to compete in channels such as... View Details

11 Feb 2014
First Look

First Look: February 11

http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/14-062_29ad7901-c306-44fa-88df-31e97a17cbbf.pdf BYOB: How Bringing Your Own Shopping Bags Leads to Treating Yourself, and the Environment By: Karmarkar, Uma R., and Bryan Bollinger... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

July 1988 (Revised October 1992)
Exercise

Sellars' Market

By: David E. Bell

A shop owner has limited shelf space for display of impulse purchase products near the cash register. He must select only nine to display. Exercise shows the relevance of opportunity cost or resource pricing. By setting an appropriate charge for the shelf space the... View Details

Keywords: Marketing