Publications

31 Jul 2017
HBS Case

It’s Hard to Fix the Family Business Without Offending the Family

of these businesses is absolutely critical to neighborhood stabilization and development in a way that big-box retailers can’t possibly be,” Schlesinger responds. “And the learning opportunity for students is incredibly rich. This is the... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Food & Beverage

18 Jul 2022
Research & Ideas

After the 'Crypto Crash,' What's Next for Digital Currencies?

And that percolates back to retail investors, as well. But at the same time, the entrepreneurs who are still out there swinging are getting a lot done and creating a lot of value. And remember: not all crypto products are purely... View Details

Keywords: by Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette; Financial Services; Technology

20 Jul 2021
Research & Ideas

Bankruptcy Spells Death for Too Many Businesses

Sears—the most expensive retail bankruptcy in history—as an example of value lost through hasty asset sales. According to Antill’s analysis, creditors would gain a potential 52 cents on each dollar owed when a company is restructured... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne

December 1980 (Revised February 1998)
Case

Burger King Corp.

By: W. Earl Sasser and David C. Rikert

Describes the operating system of a Burger King unit. The case does not have a decision focus; it is designed for use with McDonald's Corp. Students are asked to compare the operating systems of these two fast food hamburger chains. Careful analysis will detect the... View Details

Keywords: Food; System; Operations; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; United States

05 Feb 2019
News

The First Five Years: Karan Shah (MBA 2016)

Professor John Davis is still fresh in my mind and I often use it to reflect on certain decisions.” How do you use what you learned at HBS in your work at MAYU? “My wife is the heart and brains behind MAYU, as she oversees the design, sourcing, manufacturing, public... View Details

October 2017 (Revised November 2017)
Case

Lovepop

By: Robert F. White, Ramana Nanda and Olivia Hull

As they prepare to graduate from Harvard Business School, the co-founders of greeting card company startup Lovepop need capital to cover the company’s operating costs and must choose between two seed financing offers. One offer is from an angel group and the other from... View Details

Keywords: Accelerator; Incubator; Seed Financing; Convertible Debt; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Financing and Loans; Borrowing and Debt; Growth and Development Strategy; Valuation; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Boston; Massachusetts; United States

May 2020 (Revised July 2022)
Case

Brand Storytelling at Shinola

By: Jill Avery, Giana M. Eckhardt and Michael B. Beverland

Detroit, Michigan, aka “The Motor City,” is most known as the birthplace of most of the American classic automotive brands. It is a city filled with the rich history of the industrial age, the pride of American manufacturing, and of the soulful sounds of Motown music.... View Details

Keywords: Marketing; Brands and Branding; Marketing Communications; Advertising; Luxury; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Detroit; United States; North America

September 2020 (Revised February 2021)
Case

Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry: Engaging Clients

By: Ryan W. Buell and Amy Klopfenstein

Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry (ZKFJ) designs custom engagement rings that tell the story of a couple’s relationship. The case describes the company’s process for engaging clients, which has historically been a relatively offline, high-touch experience. Obliged by... View Details

Keywords: Customer Engagement; Service Delivery; Health Pandemics; Internet and the Web; Customer Satisfaction; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Growth and Development; Retail Industry

16 Mar 2020
Research & Ideas

How the Coronavirus Is Already Rewriting the Future of Business

consumer brands that rely on traditional retailing for the bulk of their sales—have already been demonstrably affected. So will industries that revolve around large gatherings, such as many forms of popular entertainment—sports, cinema,... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

Web

Technology & Operations Management Awards & Honors - Faculty & Research

from the Industry Studies Association for "The Impact of Supplier Inventory Service Level on Retailer Demand" ( Manufacturing & Service Operations Management , Fall 2016) with Nathan Craig and Nicole DeHoratius. Feng Zhu : Received a 2016... View Details

14 Feb 2017
Research & Ideas

A Strategy For Steady Leadership in an Unsteady World

are attuned to changes in their markets. Spending time in the marketplace, retail stores, factories, innovation centers, and research labs, or just wandering around offices talking to people is essential. Courage – Now more than ever,... View Details

Keywords: by Bill George

Teaching Interest

Overview

By: Jill J. Avery

Creating Brand Value (MBA elective course)

Overview:

In the consumer/retail space, brands are often companies’ most valuable assets and sources of their sustainable competitive advantage. But, managing brands to achieve their full value potential... View Details

November 2023 (Revised March 2024)
Case

Infarm: Betting the (Indoor) Farm on Food Security

By: Elie Ofek

In the summer of 2023, the co-founders of Infarm, a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) company, were contemplating a major pivot going forward. While Infarm had successfully shown it could grow over 75 products—mainly herbs, leafy greens and mushrooms—in modular... View Details

Keywords: Plant-Based Agribusiness; Business Model; Market Entry and Exit; Science-Based Business; Business Strategy; Transition; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Europe; North America; Toronto; Northeastern United States