The owner of Shirts `N Stuff wants to grow his chain of novelty stores. The alternatives are to set up a series of partially owned stores or to franchise the concept. The owners would like to understand how the partnership and franchise agreements would be designed. Students will evaluate the financial and qualitative implications of setting up partnerships and franchises, understand the importance of carefully evaluating management competencies when .....more

A new marketing advisor at Panmai, a women's weaving co-operative located in Kaset Wisai, Thailand, is trying to formulate a strategic plan for Panmai's future. Specifically, he needs to decide which product/markets and which methods of distribution are appropriate for Panmai, whether Panmai should pursue more foreign sales and how to solve many operational problems existing at the company. Since he will only be at Panmai for two years, any .....more

As Rubenesque, a consignment store specializing in women's plus-size fashions, celebrates its third anniversary, the part owner examines the performance of the business to date. While the business has grown and become profitable, the store is still not achieving its potential. Although it already subscribes to an online coupon service, Rubenesque is in the process of developing its own Web site as a means of reaching a greater client base. As .....more

The owner of Nash Jewellers, a small owner-operated jewellery store, is deciding on building a Web site for his business. Before investing in the Web site he must decide if the site would be used solely as an advertising tool or as a vehicle to sell merchandise. He must also determine what the site would look like, what information it would contain and how it would affect the existing retail store and the business strategy.

Foxy Originals manufactured and distributed its own exclusive line of hand-made necklaces at weekend festivals and to retailers in southern Ontario. They sold the necklaces at the festivals at wholesale prices and a number of their retailers complained. The two young partners of Foxy Originals had to decide whether to continue selling at festivals and to retailers at different prices, or to focus on a single distribution method and pricing strategy. .....more

The proprietor of a retail store has been advised by her lawyer to offer a former employee $5,000 to drop a racial discrimination claim. Should she follow this advice? (A Microsoft Excel model is available for use with this case, product 7A98E027.)

Tyner-Shorten is a small, high-end men's clothing retail store looking to automate its client database in order to market itself more effectively to a growing clientele in a highly competitive market. The owner-managers of the store are looking to acquire a PC-based system. The case considers both the hardware and software decisions. In the case of hardware, the men must decide whether to purchase an integrated, turnkey system or a stand-alone .....more

The president of Harry Rosen Inc., a large chain of men's specialty clothing stores was contemplating the organization's performance over the past few years. There were three issues in particular that the president wanted to analyze. First, he wanted to assess the performance of eleven selected stores to decide if they should all remain in operation. Second, he wondered how successful the expansion of the Hugo Boss line had been and if the .....more

Braemar Apparel Inc., a popular women's clothing chain of 80 stores, was one division of the holding company, Dylex Ltd. Dylex also owned a number of other men's and women's fashion chains, including Harry Rosen, Tip Top Tailors, Big Steel, Suzy Shier and others. Until now, each division had obtained most or all of its information systems resources and support from the central offices of Dylex. Dylex management had decided to change this .....more

Sun Ice is a small manufacturer of ski wear. The company must decide upon a marketing strategy for the eastern Canadian market, including product, price, plate and promotion.