Publications

08 Apr 2019
Sharpening Your Skills

The Life of Luxury and How to Sell It

lucrative but often confusing dynamics of the luxury market. Harvard Business School researchers have studied the trends to answer a number of questions. Does a prestige brand like Longchamp dilute its aura by selling an affordable... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Auto; Retail; Fashion

Web

Historical Data Visualization - Business History

Median US Home Prices Unadjusted Trends Over Time Managing Distance Merchant Shipping Tonnage Trends Over Time Managing Distance Mobile Phone Subscriptions per 100 People Trends Over Time Corporations Natura Cosméticos Trends Over Time Corporations Pampers View Details

March 2023 (Revised May 2025)
Case

On

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Karolin Frankenberger and Sascha Mader

Founded in 2010, in just one decade, the Swiss company On had established itself as a main player in global sports footwear and apparel. Based on an unconventional strategy which one of the founders labeled as “obsessively distinct,” On grew its sales with a compound... View Details

06 Jan 2014
Research & Ideas

Technology Re-Emergence: Creating New Value for Old Innovations

watchmaking revival began when Nicolas Hayek, a former management consultant, bought up several of the industry's suffering brands and production companies and consolidated them into the Societe Suisse de Microelectronique et d'Horlogerie... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Apparel & Accessories; Technology; Consumer Products

16 Oct 2015
Blog Post

HBS and the Arts

major talent agency with the launch of a new art division. While consulting on the build out of a platform connecting visual artists to licensing and branding opportunities I was able to hone my strategy and marketing skills. I called... View Details

November 2022
Background Note

The Future of E-Commerce: Lessons from the Livestream Wars in China

By: Ayelet Israeli, Jeremy Yang and Billy Chan

This note explores the emerging multi-billion dollar commerce trend of livestream commerce. Livestream commerce is the sale of goods or services directly to consumers via live shows on digital platforms (such as social media or e-commerce platforms). It is a form of... View Details

September 2020
Case

Blackstone: Crocs Investment

By: Victoria Ivashina, John D. Dionne and Terrence Shu

This case follows Prakash Melwani (HBS MBA '86), CIO of Blackstone's Private Equity Group, and his teams’ investment in the footwear company Crocs. Instead of a traditional secondary offering, Crocs opted for a unique deal structure by taking Blackstone's cash in a... View Details

Keywords: Private Investment In Public Equity; PIPE Deal; Investment; Brands and Branding; Strategy

13 Apr 2016
Research & Ideas

Why Your Company Wants to be a 'Cognitive Referent' (Hint: SpaceX)

When Rory M. McDonald was working on his PhD at Stanford University in 2007, it was the heyday of the lean startup in Silicon Valley. “It seemed like pretty much every week there was some new market category being touted as the next big thing,” says McDonald, an... View Details

Keywords: by Roberta Holland; Aerospace; Food & Beverage; Retail

28 Mar 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research, March 28

BATNAs in Negotiation: Common Errors and Three Kinds of 'No' By: Sebenius, James K. Abstract—The best alternative to a negotiated agreement (“BATNA”) concept in negotiation has proven to be immensely useful. In tandem with its value in practice, BATNA has become a... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Research Summary

Energy, IT, real estate, and sustainability

By: Rebecca M. Henderson

Professor Henderson’s current research focuses on the energy, information technology, and real estate sectors and the challenges firms encounter as they attempt to act in more sustainable ways. This work is an outgrowth of her decade-long examination of the... View Details

10 Nov 2015
Blog Post

Using an MBA for a Career Change

is hyped up to be, and Nasty Gal was a hip brand in downtown LA. It felt quite the opposite of my Deloitte days. I liked the work and culture, but wanted a faster pace of work. I wanted to have a lot of clients who would push me and be... View Details

Web

Hiring at HBS: How Summer Interns Make an Impact at Emerson Collective - Recruiting

objectives,” Lichter said. “Examples include the intersection of A.I. and climate tech and sustainable construction.” Past interns have also helped portfolio companies build their go-to-market strategies and develop new brand guidelines.... View Details

14 Sep 2012
Working Paper Summaries

What Do Managers Do? Exploring Persistent Performance Differences among Seemingly Similar Enterprises

An abstract is unavailable at this time. View Details

Keywords: by Robert Gibbons & Rebecca Henderson

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