The fashion retail industry is a very sophisticated, constantly growing sector. It is the second largest industry in the UK. However Studies show that 80% of clothing retailers fail within the first five years (Power home biz).
Consumer taste and preferences relentlessly changes thus organisations have to constantly evaluate the market to ensure the strategies fit with those of environment.
According to Michael Porter, 1980s in order to compete in the market, organisation has to be either a cost leader or a differentiator. He went on further in his value chain analysis model to state that organisations who gain competitive advantage exploit their core competences to create value for both the organisation and the customers.
However, the fashion retail industry encompasses many opportunities for growth as well as many threats that can negatively affect an organisation.
In their quest to gain competitive advantage and grow many organisation adopted different strategies; they are organic growth by reducing the cost in all value chain activities while others has grown through merger, acquisitions and or strategic alliances.
In order to gain an insight into why some organisations remain competitive this project will
Undertake a detailed analysis of two companies within the retail industry by evaluating their past and current corporate strategies using supporting evidence from quantitative and qualitative data.
Identify the ways in which these organisation are gearing up to cope with the current global crisis
Background to models
Every organisation must have strategies. According to an ancient Greek writer Xenophon (Cummings 1993: 134) “strategy is knowing what business you propose to carry out.”(MacMillan and Tampoe, 2000).
There are many academic contributions to strategy, Writers such as Drucker (1995), chandler (1962), Ansoff (1987) and Andrew (1971) has all provided the framework for the classical school approach.
Tom Peters and Robert Waterman developed the McKinsey 7S model in the early 1980s the underlying principle is that there are seven internal characteristics that need to work together in order for the organisation to thrive. This seen as an Out-of-date approach because ignores personality factors Also; it creates structures where people can has limited control over their work situation.
However there are many other frameworks to understanding strategic position such as PEST analysis, Michael Porter five forces or even the BCG Matrix.
According to Mintzberg, Ahlstrand and Lampel (1998) there are 10 school that can be used to understand strategic thought, the first three are design, planning and positioning which is classified as prescriptive on the other hand entrepreneurial, cognitive, learning, power cultural environmental and configuration the classified as the descriptive John and Scholes, (2008).
Methodology
An analysis Asos and New look was done using Secondary data. These companies have adopted unique strategies which enabled them to remain competitive in the airline industry.
However, the secondary sources used were journal articles text books, websites, annual reports, press releases, newspaper clippings and other studies. Secondary analysis was chosen because of time constraints and the kind of information requested, it was impossible to collect it using other research methods.
Secondary data analysis, saved time and money and also information were readily available. Conversely, some data was of questionable accuracy and reliability and furthermore the data was old and did not reflect the changing market conditions.
Overview of New Look and Asos
New Look and Asos are both Public limited companies located in the UK. These organisations operate in the fashion retail industry. However, they have equally enjoyed success but have adopted diverse strategies.
On one side of the continuum is New Look which was established in 1969 in Taunton. Its core target is 9-15 children and 15-35 year old males and females. The company headquarters is located in Weymouth. The company has combined both block and mortar and online services in order to gain competitive edge through the use of low cost strategies. On the other end of the Continuum is Asos which is an online retail store which was established in 2000 with its headquarter in London. It has over 35, 000 branded and own label products available and over 1500 new lines added each week. The organisations core target is 16-34 years old male and female.
Internal analysis of Asos and New Look using Mc Kinsey’s 7s model
According to the learning school successful organisations have unique core competences.
Diagram (www.mind tools.com)
Qualitative analysis
Structure: The structure of an organisation is important for innovation, expansion and transformation. New Look headed by its Chief Executive Officer Carl Mc Phail since 2008 has continued to prosper by grasping every opportunity and addressing challenges. The structure is one where teamwork is encouraged, and resources are spent developing employees also there is high investment in processes which creates value for stakeholders. As part of their overall objectives, an evaluation was undertaken of the way the company is structured and the difficulties faced consequently organisational functions such as merchandising, design and marketing was moved from its headquarters in Weymouth to London which resulted in increased access to the existing talent pool, this strategy is a shift from centralised decision making process to more decentralised process that enables flexibility. On the other hand Asos is managed by a Board of directors who are responsible making decisions at all levels, they constantly asses progress in order for effective and efficient operations within the workplace. The structure is one where there is a lot of bureaucracy (Max Weber) in the decision making process, hence Asos has adopted the Classical School Approach.
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System: New Look has combined offline and online operations in order to gain competitive advantage. It has utilised its core competences to develop an ecommerce operation which has allowed the company to reach a large audience with no extra cost for marketing. Additionally they provide for customers who need to make immediate purchase, as a result of its efficient stock rotation, with stores receiving fresh stock weekly, this has encouraged shoppers to return frequently. The efficient use of human resources, proper stock management has reduced cost significantly. This has also provided marketing synergies with the international store roll-out to strengthen the brand.
On the other hand Asos has only adopted the online approach to business thus the organisation has the ability to constantly increase its product offerings with no extra cost for promotion and advertising. They have invested in systems to maintain functions for example buying, merchandising and fulfilment. This recently installed warehouse management system at the Hemel Hempstead will sustain the increasing range of merchandise and worldwide expansion, creates an exclusive distribution platform for its brand partners.
Style: New look has a transformational leader who believes in change through communication. Hence in September 2008, a major company communications day was held in London to embrace the growing international status and clearly communicate the strategy and goals. Also a web forum called ‘my Look staff’ was created to allow employees to communicate directly with each other and also tell express their opinion and make suggestions.
On the other hand Asos has a transactional leader who works with the current organisational structure, where by the board make the decisions, which are considered to be more effective by such writer such as Weber.
Staff: New Look has many experienced staff, which are considered stars and a few learner and a few deadwood in order to continuous attract the best employees they have introduced a fair recruitment and induction programme which highlights areas and the job that will give people the best possible start to their career with New Look. Also the company has launched initiatives to develop the learners and retain the star employees these programmes includes leadership training programmes, further management workshops and development of our Staff Council consultations.
On the other hand Asos as an online retailer deals with limited staff in comparison to new look. Similarly they have training programmes that encourages employees to develop.
Skills: New Look through it skills and experience is now producing 71% of its products, an increase from 62% in 2008 which enabled the organisation to continue make further market share gains. With its powerful brand, seasoned management team and dedicated employees, new looks is able to gain competitive advantage. On the hand Asos is heavily dependent on their IT communications hence a failure in these systems could adversely affect the business. To prevent this problem a proactive approach is used to ensure continual integrity and efficiency of its systems.
Shared Values: New Look has a strong culture that encourages employees to be more involved in the decision making process, this enables them to develop their leadership skills. According to Herzberg, it creates motivation that leads to higher productivity and efficiency.
On the other hand Asos retain control through centralised decision making, this type of management speeds up the decision making process but it could act as a de-motivator.
Strategy: New Look has adopted a value-priced strategy which is dress smart for cheap featuring low-priced fashions often imitating the ready to wear designer labels. These items are as much as 10 to 15 percent lower than competitors. Also as part of it expansion strategy, it is constantly relocating from smaller stores in existing markets to larger stores. Alternatively Asos acts an online department store which provides high fashion and own label brands at a lower cost. This strategy has enabled the company to have a large selection of products at no extra cost.
Quantitative Analysis of New look and Asos
Market Share
According to the annual report of 2008-2009, New Look has a market share of 2.99% whereas Asos has a market share of 5.13% this resulted from more user friendly application by Asos such as the 360 degree view and cat walk feature and which makes the website more interesting.
Figure 2 below gives full graphical presentation of the market share of Asos and New Look
Operating Profit
New look’s operation profit decreases significantly from £138.6 million to £138.2 million a decrease of £.4 million this was as a result of increased administrative cost. On the other hand Asos operating profit increased by 100% to £13. 9 million but the operating margins declined from 8.6% in 2007-2008 to 8.4 % in 2008-2009. The 270 basis point gross profit margin decline was offset by an improvement in operating cost ration.
Figure 3 give a graphical explanation of the Operating Profit (millions)
Net profit or Loss
Similarly, New Looks experienced net loss which increased from £ .1m to £.4m a difference in loss by £.3 million. Alternatively Asos achieved a net profit increased of 98% from 5.1 million in 2008 to £10 milion in 2009.
Figure 3 below gives full graphical presentation of Asos and New Look net profit / loss margin in (millions)
Revenues
New Look revenues has increased from 1169.10 million in 2008 to 1332.6 million in 2009 an increase of 2.1milion it was due to an increase in concession whereas Asos revenues increased from £81 million in 2008 to £163.4 million in 2009 a difference of £ 82.4 million
Net cash flow
According to the annual account of 2008-2009 New look net cash flow has increased from £211.6 million in 2008 to 220.7 a difference of £9.1 million in 2009 this was as a result of working capital management, which enabled the company to increase its net cash flow from operating activities. Whereas Asos net cash flow has increased from £8.1m in 2008 to £16.54 in 2009 an increase of 105% in comparison to 2008, this was as result of enhanced product choices coupled with compelling promotions.
Earnings per Share
Asos, earnings per share increased from 6.9% in 2008 to 13.6 in 2009 and increase by 6.7 on the other hand there was no earning per share for new look.
Trade Receivables and Payables
New looks trade payables have increased from to £207.5m in 2008 to £260.8m in 2009 a difference of £53.3 million and similarly its receivables increase from £6.7m to £7.8 million a difference of £1.1million conversely Asos trade payables remained constant at 381 million while trade receivables increase from £0.47miliion to £0.50 million a difference of .3million.
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An assessment of the current Corporate and business strategies of New look and Asos.
Business organisation operates in a very dynamic environment which requires organisation to develop strategies to ensure future success. In order to prevent strategic drift an organisations objectives must be “alignment” with the long term goals furthermore the business strategies and organisation strategies must “fit” with the environment. As a result value would be created for stakeholders.
Objective of New Look
“The goal is to be The Favourite International Fashion Value Group, with a significant presence outside the UK.”
Objective of Asos
“The goal is to be the leading fashion Website in the UK and attract a growing number of overseas markets.”
Joint Ventures
New Look has a product supply joint venture in Turkey and an office in Singapore to co-ordinate the shipment of stock sourced from the Far East this. Similarly Asos joint venture with Crooked Tongue allows them to participate in sales from additional customer segment these joint ventures enables to reduce cost by creating efficiency and increase profitability hence market growth.
IT strategies
Secondly, the investment in IT strategy enables better management of information systems; this in turn reduces cost and increase efficiency. This investment support back office operation such as buying, merchandising and execution. With the unique distribution platform, supersaver option, premium same day delivery including Saturdays and 85 % of traceable orders, all create value for the organisation and customers.
Additionally the installation of the new warehouse management at Hemel Hempstead supported the increased in international expansion, returns option, size range, and the demand for an advance delivery.
Motivational Strategies
In addition, New Look encourages and maintains experienced staff by competitive monetary remuneration and benefit packages, which are linked to the performance of the organisation. An Employee Share Ownership Trust that has been established for the issue of shares to managers, which encourages them in the ownership and success of the organisation. Incentives also include a 50% discount on in-store purchases. Conversely, Asos combines a list of Motivational strategies such as bonuses, performance share option scheme, and share and management incentive plan with these type of encouragement employees are motivated to go the extra mile.
Expansion Strategies
New look and Asos has both expanded into international market, but Asos has used a low cost mode of entry by extending its shipment to 58 different countries through low cost distribution, While New look used the franchising mode of entry, these modes reduce risks.
Low cost and marketing Strategies
New look and Asos used similar product and marketing strategies by offering emulated cat walk features and similar brands from designer for lower cost. Similarly they have both used designers to market their own labels, but Asos differ from New look slightly because they offer a vast range of high branded products through it strategies alliances. Additionally both organisation offer magazines that provide customer information about the latest trends and fashion; these marketing strategies help the organisation to penetrate the marketing using low cost strategies a term supported by (Ignor Ansoff).
CRM Strategies
Finally both New Look and Asos focus on Customer Relationship Management, through its social networking such as Twitter, Bebo and Facebook, this enabled the organisation to interact with customer to gain comment on their product or service. However, Asos has 24 hours online customer care, which gives the organisation the competitive edge.
SQUARE FEET OF
Plans to cope with the current global crisis
The global economic crisis has forced organisation such as New look and Asos to think outside the box in order to survive. Thus these organisations have developed strategies cope in the current economic crisis.
New Look and Asos will continuously focus on customer satisfaction through improved customer service and providing quality for cheaper prices.
Secondly, New Look and Asos will increase expansion into overseas market. However Asos wishes to maximise efficiency by investing heavily in Management Information Systems and logistics to meet their international expansion strategies. While New Look plans to open new stores in new markets and develop the small stores in the existing market. New Look has now developed a programme to ensure that all the systems are fit for future international expansion. This future operating model will take almost three years to complete, this is expected to offer significant benefits in operating.
Additionally both companies wish to expand their product ranges and further develop their website to create a better customer experience. Additionally, New Look will focus on building its worldwide press coverage and expand celebrity associations.
Conclusion
In conclusion technology has brought many dimensions to the shopping, product are just a
click away, consequently retailers have to be innovative, and constantly monitor the market to identify the trends, fashion and changing consumer taste so that their products could meet the need and wants of the target market. From the analysis above New Look and Asos are two organisations that operate in the retail industry. New look has been successful for the last 40 years because their flexibility, and ability to innovate, they have combined both off line and online operations, through reduced cost, quality and exploitation of resources this has increased profitability. Whereas, Asos is an online retail organisation through the efficient use of Management information systems, its unique core competences and efficient utilisation of human resources has achieved success. However, this organisation has adopted more a classical school approach to management.
According to the “Blue Ocean theory,” organisation has to develop a unique strategy achieve success; this is evident in these organisation analysis of Asos and New Look.
Recommendations
Even though these organisations have experienced high growth there are still there are areas that need addressing:
Asos
Asos should offer incentives not only to senior management as stated but to all members of staff in order to increase motivation which could in turn increase efficiency. Additionally they should adopt a more participative approach in the decision making process.
Asos should carry out research and development activities which may well help the organisation to identify a niche which could create an economic advanatge. Also, the Organisation should be involved in more corporate social responsibilities activities.
Asos should adopt the Boston Matrix Analysis to assess the value of different product categories. It must manage the dogs by removing or cuttings cost and convert question marks and stars into cash cows through promotion, this will increase the overall profitability of the business.
New Look
New Look needs to increase shareholders value, this could be done using Michael Porter Value chain Analysis, this would help the organisation to invest resources on areas that gives the most value and subcontract those that add value which will increase effectiveness
Also New Look should reduce its overhead and administrative cost which is affecting the profitability. In this case the company should focus more on line shopping which reduces operating cost such as administration, salaries and wages etc.
Also New Look should focus on other entry modes into international market that would create profitability with low risk such as exporting, distribution until they have studied the market.
However in order for New look and Asos to develop strategies that satisfies all its stakeholders it should adopt the Balance Score Card model by Norton and Kaplan, this combine both qualitative and quantitative measures, acknowledges the expectations of stakeholders and relate an assessment of performance to choice of strategy Johnson and Scholes (2008).
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