Over the last few years, Costco has seen an exponential increase in the number of new memberships. While the Costco gained 2.3 million memberships in the financial year of 2009. Greater than 4 million customers signed up in the financial year of 2011. The Costco’s membership base saw a rise of 3 million in the financial year of 2012 and another 4.2 million in 2013. The strong exponential growth in the memberships continued in 2014 as well.
In the podcast “Chuck E. Cheese’s: Where a Kid Can Learn Price Theory”, Stephen J. Dubner discusses the current violent outbreaks, along with some possible theories. One of his listeners, Nathan Corroy, a financial adviser in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, mentions that a contributing factor may be the pricing strategy. Right now, all the arcade games at Chuck E. Cheese’s cost one token to play, even though some games last longer than others. Thus, Dubner asks an important question “How does the price of a good or a service effect consumer behavior?” (Dubner).
Introduction The restaurant industry in the United States had annual sales of $ 631.8 billion and employs 12.9 million people in 2012. Even in times of recession there is little evidence that this industry has seen a decline especially in its fast food and quick service segment. But with a depressed economy with no immediate upward trend in the near future, majority of the customers indicated that they would either curtail their spending on eating or best maintain its current level which is certainly going to affect the future of many restaurants in the industry. Chipotle is part of the fast casual segment of the U.S industry with over 1,600 restaurants.
Costco’s business model is centered around offering a smaller range of products at incredibly low prices which attracts the consumer. In order to supplement this lowered profit margin, they require their shoppers, both businesses and individuals, to purchase annual memberships. The membership fee accounts for a majority of the company’s profit. Furthermore, Costco operates its under a wholesale warehouse style which eliminates the need for excess handling and workers in the store. The stores are stocked to carry certain big ticket, ‘limited time offer’ goods so that customers feel the need to take advantage of the deal because it may not be there when they next return.
Key Trends – Globalisation One of the main opportunities Costco has is more global expansion to specific targeted countries. Although operating in many countries, Costco is heavily dependent on the U.S. and Canadian markets. It still has the opportunity to expand into the Asian and Australian markets where it has a limited presence. Costco has the capability to operate about 100 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and about 20 stores in Australia. It currently has 41 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and 6 stores in Australia.
What are the two types of core competencies that drive a firm’s competitive advantage? Which firms demonstrate a clear competitive advantage because of (a) major value-creating skills/core capabilities and/or (b) superior assets or resources? Which firms have demonstrated sustainable sources of competitive advantage? The two core competencies that drive a firm’s competitive advantage are cost leadership and differentiation.
Most executives believe pricing to be a zero-sum game, i.e. price increase shall lower volume of sales thus in turn hurting the margin gain, but the other way round need not necessarily be true. This problem arises owing to the setting of prices based on cost-plus basis rather than a customer value point of view basis. The methods to capture such value are: • Better the understanding of
The pricing strategy or pricing policy is one of the most important managers make for a product as it affects the profitable outcome and competitiveness that a product may make. (Toni, 2017). A business can use a variety of pricing strategies when selling a product or service. The price can be set to maximize profitability for each unit sold or from the market overall. It can also be used to defend an existing market from new entrants, to increase market share within a market or to enter a new market by dropping the price or offering more benefits with the device such as packages.
The companies in today industry serve a huge competitiveness. Current competitors take advantage of the demands from consumers to earn high profit margins. Fendi is known as a rich brand heritage and is the first global group in luxury product. They are widely recognized for its leathers, furs, watches and bags.
Operations Management Group ASSIGNMENT Various Operations of DOMINO’S Submitted To Submitted By Prof. SUNITA GURU Sristhi Roopchandani (151451) Date: 15/12/2015 Suyash Rathi (151452) Sweety Rani (151453) Tahirkhan (151454) Uttkarsh Yadav (151456) Table of contents Serial No.
3.0 Concepts 3.1 Resources and Capabilities In order to achieve and sustain competitive advantage, a business needs both resources and capabilities. Resources are assets that are owned or employed by an organization. The organization utilizes and uses these assets to carry out their business operations. Resources can be grouped either tangible assets or intangible assets.
The value chain analysis indicates the firms that strive to create superior products or services through focused differentiation strategy. To ensure the activities are tailor to the strategy Value Chain is used. How each activity generates value and linked to the strategy in UFS? Table 4: Value Chain Analysis Primary Activities
6.1.2 Price Price is the value or amount that customer pays to buy a product. For instance, for our Star Lab ice cream shop, we need to consider the cost of production of our ice cream, price of our main competitor and our potential customers demographics in order to succeed this competitive market. (C. Breidert, 2007, p.9) 6.1.2.1 Pricing Strategy Pricing strategy that can be used by our company such as penetration pricing, cost-plus pricing, value based pricing and more. But we think that market penetration pricing is the best pricing strategy to be used by our business.
1.2. Product Differentiation This refers to differentiation that aspires to make a product more attractive by contrasting its unique qualities with other competing products (Investopedia, 2015:1), as in the case of Coca-Cola, other soft drink brands. Successfully adopting this strategy would have a company gaining a competitive advantage, as the customer would then view the product as unique or superior. This is what coca cola has managed to do, and has managed to do it on a scale that is globally unique, and globally recognized.
The price strategy which KFC is currently adopting is geographical pricing. It is because the menu prices is set differently in each country. For example, KFC Malaysia snack plate is priced at RM 5.95 while snack plate in Singapore is priced at SGD 6.40. Generally, they use market penetration pricing for new products. KFC sets their price slightly lower as compared to their competitors in order to entice customers away from their competitors.
