The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.: Challenges Facing a New CEO
Introduction
Vermont Teddy Bear Company was founded in 1981 by John Sorinto selling handsewn bears out of a pushcart in the streets of Burlington, Vermont. Since this time, the company[s focus has been to design, manufacture, and direct market the best teddy bears made in America using quality American materials and labor.
Until 1994, Vermont Teddy Bear experienced a great deal of success and profitability. Problems arose in 1995. Since 1995, the company has had two CEOs. It changed its name to The Great American Teddy Bear Company and then changed it back to The Vermont Teddy Bear Company when customers got confused. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company had been known for its Bear-Gram delivery service. In 1996, the company decided to shift emphasis away from Bear-Grams to other distribution channels. By 1998, the company decided to renew its emphasis on Bear-Grams.
Close-up of a teddy bear
Teddy bear, born in Germany about 1954
English: Picture of a teddy bear with head turned ...Vermont Teddy had always been proud of the fact that its teddy bears were made in America with American materials and craftsmanship. In 1998, the company changed this philosophy by exploring the offshore sourcing of materials, outfits, and manufacturing in an effort to lower costs.
In October 1997, Elisabeth Robert assumed the title of President and Chief Executive Officer and began to cut costs and position the company for future growth. According to Robert, their competitors were the people who sold chocolates, flowers, and greeting cards. They target the last minute shopper who wants almost instant delivery. Gift purchases accounted for more the 90% of the Company's sales.
External Factors
÷Larger manufacturing facility will enable the company to produce bears in bulk and to enter into larger sales agreements with retail establishments.
÷Bear Grams was the reason the company became successful.
÷The company tried to...
This is a good essay but be careful as some the work is not cited and directly quoted from the textbook.
This paper is filled with orignal thought and should offer help to the research of your paper. However, (although probably a simple oversight) the first few paragraphs are a direct quote without quotations or citations from the textbook (Wheelen & Hunger, 2004) as listed in the reference section of the paper. Knowing this you will avoid the pitfall of failing to properly cite the material in your paper. Further the EFAS and IFAS table were very helpful.
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