Publications

20 Jul 2015
Research & Ideas

Globalization Hasn’t Killed the Manufacturing Cluster

began making hiking boots. The cluster later expanded into ski boots and sneakers, and drew investments from major brands like Nordica and Nike. Lead firms started offshoring production to cheaper economies like Romania and China,... View Details

Keywords: by Roberta Holland; Manufacturing; Apparel & Accessories; Fashion

27 Jul 2011
Research & Ideas

Customer Loyalty Programs That Work

president and CEO of grocery chain Stop & Shop. In 2007, certain brands of pet food manufactured in China and sold at several locations were found to be contaminated with melamine. Many pets became sick, and some even died. Through it... View Details

Keywords: by Maggie Starvish; Retail

06 Apr 2016
Research & Ideas

Should Entrepreneurs Pitch Products or Ideas for Products?

reluctant to meet them for fear of more idea-theft suits. Smarter government intervention might loosen these buyer’s participation constraints, Luo says. Related Articles HBS Cases: Branding Yoga Protecting against the Pirates of... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Motion Pictures & Video; Entertainment & Recreation; Banking

28 May 2013
Research & Ideas

Can LEGO Snap Together a Future in Asia?

competitors could only offer three. However, LEGO offers a 30-35 percent margin to retailers, compared to competing brands offering 40-50 percent margins. What if local retailers wanted the higher margins and could care less about... View Details

Keywords: by Kim Girard; Entertainment & Recreation

12 Oct 2011
Research & Ideas

Creating Online Ads We Want to Watch

communicate? How can I get people to change their evaluations of brands and products rather than simply be entertained for 30 seconds?" In collaboration with colleagues at MIT, Teixeira is conducting experiments in which participants view... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Consumer Products

November 2017
Teaching Note

Reinventing Best Buy

By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth

Teaching Note for HBS No. 716-455. On March 1, 2017, Best Buy Company, Inc., North America’s largest retailer of consumer electronics and appliances, announced a third year of comparable-store sales increases and a 20.8% increase in domestic comparable online sales.... View Details

Keywords: Best Buy; Hubert Joly; Renew Blue; Showrooming; Webrooming; E-commerce; E-Commerce Strategy; Online Retail; Multichannel Retailing; Omnichannel; Marketplaces; Turnaround; Consumer Electronics; Consumer Electronics Accessories; Appliances; Stores-within-stores; Store Experience; Store Size; Store Pickup; Store Management; Delivery; Delivery Models; Amazon; Amazon.com; Pricing Strategy; Business Subsidiaries; Business Units; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Model; For-Profit Firms; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customer Satisfaction; Entertainment; Film Entertainment; Games, Gaming, and Gambling; Music Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Theater Entertainment; Price; Profit; Revenue; Geographic Scope; Multinational Firms and Management; Business History; Cost; Selection and Staffing; Reports; Technological Innovation; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Human Capital; Leading Change; Business or Company Management; Goals and Objectives; Growth and Development; Growth and Development Strategy; Management Teams; Brands and Branding; Product Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Demand and Consumers; Media; Distribution; Order Taking and Fulfillment; Distribution Channels; Infrastructure; Product; Service Delivery; Service Operations; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Public Ownership; Problems and Challenges; Programs; Groups and Teams; Sales; Salesforce Management; Strategy; Adaptation; Business Strategy; Competition; Competitive Advantage; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Expansion; Technology; Hardware; Information Technology; Internet; Mobile Technology; Online Technology; Search Technology; Software; Web; Web Sites; Wireless Technology; Resource Allocation; Computer Industry; Electronics Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Information Technology Industry; Retail Industry; Service Industry; Technology Industry; Telecommunications Industry; Video Game Industry; United States; Minnesota; Minneapolis; Saint Paul; St. Paul

20 Nov 2012
First Look

First Look: November 20

structure, explore three alternatives using debt finance, and determine the optimal debt-to-capital ratio. Purchase this case:http://hbr.org/search/913517-PDF-ENG Yum! Brands Jordan Siegel and Christopher PoliquinHarvard Business School... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

May 2022
Supplement

Maestro Pizza (C): Taking the Fight Outside

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Fares Khrais

Maestro pizza opened its first store in 2013 after its founder, Khalid Al Omran, recognized an opportunity in Saudi Arabia to offer high quality pizza at affordable prices. The business grew rapidly and under the radar at first, but soon enough caught the attention of... View Details

14 Nov 2007
First Look

First Look: November 14, 2007

http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=808040 Dove: Evolution of a Brand Harvard Business School Case 508-047 Examines the evolution of Dove from functional brand to a View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

May 2006 (Revised June 2006)
Case

Icebreaker: The China Entry Decision

By: Joseph B. Lassiter III and Dan Heath

Jeremy Moon, CEO of Icebreaker, maker of merino-fiber activewear, thinks about the strengths and weaknesses of staying focused on his rapidly expanding U.S. and European markets vs. broadening his attack to include China. If he enters China, should he continue his... View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Product Positioning; Global Strategy; Expansion; Decision Choices and Conditions; Market Entry and Exit; Marketing Strategy; Apparel and Accessories Industry; China; United States; Europe

January 2003 (Revised February 2003)
Case

Office Depot, Inc.: Business Transformation (A)

By: James L. Heskett, Dan Maher, Daniel F. OBrien, Thomas Watson and Jeffrey F. Rayport

The company's management is considering the possibility of launching a rebranding campaign around the promises "What you need. What you need to know." The questions are whether and when to launch the campaign in view of the large number of training efforts and... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Entrepreneurship; Advertising Campaigns; Brands and Branding; Business Strategy; Technology Adoption; Transformation; Market Timing; Growth and Development; Training; Retail Industry

26 Feb 2013
First Look

First Look: Feb. 26

513-027 In late 2012, Kori Tuggle, director of marketing and business development at Ocean Mist Farms, a California produce company, examines her social media-based marketing program and her attempts to create a brand for a bulk... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

29 Jan 2013
First Look

First Look: Jan. 29

different non-work identity management strategies-namely assenting to, complying with, resisting, or inverting the pressures-and delineate the consequences of these strategies for people and their organizations/occupations. Expected Firm Altruism, Quality Provision,... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

25 Mar 2014
First Look

First Look: March 25

describes the efforts of Beiersdorf, a worldwide leader in the cosmetics and skin care industries, to generate and commercialize new R&D through open innovation using external crowds and "netnographic" analysis. Beiersdorf, best known for its consumer... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

02 Sep 2002
Research & Ideas

Foreign Multinationals in the U.S.: A Rocky Road

currently the world's largest ice cream and tea—and one of the largest home and personal care—companies, with a portfolio of brands including Lux, Dove, Pond's, Calvin Klein, Lipton, Hellmann's, and Ben & Jerry's. Foreign firms during... View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Johnston & Martha Lagace

17 Jun 2002
Research & Ideas

A Litmus Test for Entrepreneurs

years of experience at the likes of Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson, decided to set himself up as Spain's first pizza magnate and founded TelePizza. He believed that customers in Spain—and, indeed, throughout Europe—would respond enthusiastically to a... View Details

Keywords: by Walter Kuemmerle

20 Feb 2001
Research & Ideas

What’s Next for Japan

of the world caught up. The company model was correct but incomplete. It came up short in creating unique market strategy, unique brand images, and unique value propositions. Competition became a zero-sum game. Everybody was imitating... View Details

Keywords: by Hilah Geer

December 2022
Case

The Magic of Marks & Spencer Food

By: David E. Bell, Natalie Kindred and Damien McLoughlin

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Food; Consumer Behavior; Product Development; Competition; Price; Inflation and Deflation; Trends; Growth and Development; Strategy; Retail Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; United Kingdom