El Mawardy Jewelry was an Egyptian jewelry company located in Cairo, Egypt. The company was able to attract many customers and became competitive due to its variety of designs, high quality products and competitive prices. The friendly atmosphere and the customized services provided by the sales people helped the company gain a competitive advantage over its competitors. The Mawardy family was able to build on their success, and opened different stores .....more

Canada is becoming increasingly multi-ethnic and many members of these groups start small retail businesses. This case is an example of one such situation. Princessa sold beauty products to the English speaking black community in Montreal. In 2005 and 2006, sales were flat and, in 2007, sales fell by about 16 per cent. The owner was concerned and wondered what action, if any, he should take. While the issues were clearly marketing oriented, recommendations .....more

Ruffian Kelowna, one of 19 British Columbia Ruffian Apparel locations, is underperforming. Recent management turnover and low unemployment in the region have left Kelowna short-staffed and in need of a new store manager to take over for the interim manager. Both sales and performance results are far below acceptable levels, and the store appears to be floundering. The newly hired B.C. regional manager for Ruffian Apparel is looking into the problem .....more

The case deals with how Shoppers Stop, a home-grown Indian retailer of branded apparel and accessories closely identified with the adult segment of customers for a decade and a half since inception, looked at the growing segment of the youth population. Against the backdrop of an aging demographic, particularly among countries in North America and Europe, India had an advantage of a largely young population. Thirty-five per cent of Indian were under .....more

A German expatriate had moved to China in 2005 to take up a merchandizing position at the Wal-Mart China headquarters in Shenzen. By 2008 he had been promoted to the new position of senior director for sustainability for Wal-Mart China (retail) and Global Procurement. His new position required that he lead the rapidly-approaching inaugural Wal-Mart Sustainability Summit. The senior director must ensure that Wal-Mart China’s five Strategic Value .....more

The experienced entrepreneurial chief executive officer (CEO) of Jadelink International Limited strives to create a modern jewelry brand representing a new perception in jade. The CEO has achieved early success of growing sales rapidly and bringing Jadelink products to Shanghai, the trendiest city in China. But the company wants to expand business to the Asian and international luxury goods markets. This requires intensive capital to continue to .....more

The owner of Mountainarious Sporting Co. has requested a long-term loan to cover construction costs for major alterations to the store's layout. He has also requested an increase in the business's line of credit to fund additional inventory purchases for the increased store space. The loan manager has received the company's financial statements and must decide whether to grant the loan in a short time in order that the renovations may .....more

A professor is shopping for a diamond engagement ring. He finds one with certain specifications for a certain price, and wishes to determine if the price of the diamond is fair. He collects data on the prices and characteristics (cut, colour, clarity and carats) of several hundred diamonds from three Internet wholesalers. This case can be used for linear regression analysis with categorical variables as well as other statistical techniques.

The owner of Runners' Choice, a running specialty store, must determine what changes to make to his marketing strategy in order to differentiate his business from that of his chief competitor, which has a similar name. Students perform a customer analysis, evaluate the existing promotional activities and product offerings of the two similar competing businesses to clearly position Runners' Choice relative to its competition.

The owner and sole proprietor of a small clothing company has to plan a future marketing strategy. The company has not yet generated a profit from the seasonal store operation in Sauble Beach or from annual sales in two London, Ontario fitness clubs. This case will expose students to major marketing decisions involving product, price, promotion and place (distribution). It will also emphasize the importance of a thorough market analysis and corporate .....more