Final post

Final post

                In our recent breakout sessions we have looked at the critical success factors that we felt were important to Timberland. We did this using the TOWS (threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths) analysis that we have previously completed. Using this TOWS analysis we looked at how threats and weaknesses could be overcome by the strengths or opportunities available to the company. After these breakout sessions and during our own time we have also put together our infographic. We also completed a peer review form in which we agreed to each person having equal weighting as there was a large contribution to the project from each individual.

                At this point we have completed our infographic and the final action to be completed is making sure our blog is complete. To put together the infographic there was a large amount of work needed. As we had already collected the majority of the information that was needed in previous weeks and put it on our blog, this allowed us to quickly put together the majority of the information and find out what other information we may want or need. To put the infographic together there was a large amount of individual contribution in ways such as typing up information, finding market information, such as value and profit or loss figures, putting a reference list together, putting citations in the text and collating all that information into the infographic. These jobs were all divided between the group, however some decisions about what was to go on the infographic such as logos and information was partially a group contribution as we saw what information was missing from the initial infographic design and worked together to expand our points.

                Now our infographic is complete all that is left to do is make sure that the blog is complete with a final post, get a hard copy and hand in all work and forms, such as our peer review form, for feedback.

Timberlands PEST Analysis

Social Factors:

Corporate Social Responsibility

They have a commitment to corporate social responsibility supporting sustainable business practices. Their past and future is said to be fueled by “a desire to innovate and operate our business in an accountable, responsible and sustainable manner” (Frisk, 2012).

Consumer Attitudes and Opinions

A wide percent of their customers buy for fashion purposes and this could forecast a downfall for the brand. Only time will tell if this social factor will effect Timberlands, a change in fashion could be detrimental for the brand.

The pricing of the footwear leads to some debate as it may be too expensive for buyers but that may add to the fashion statement being made by wearers. Customers who are buying for functional purposes may see the products as overpriced or ‘you get what you pay for’.

Advertising and Publicity

Generally Timberlands advertisements are aimed at male outdoors users with comical slogans and advertisements that entice the viewer. They tend to ignore the quality and price of the product, the actual products don’t seem to be showcased as much as other footwear advertisement.

References:

Frisk, P. (2012) TIMBERLAND RESPONSIBILITY [online]. Available at: http://responsibility.timberland.com/executive-commitment/ [Accessed on 13/02/13].

Competitors

Just a brief look at some more competitors. These two are slightly more specialist in their footwear than some of Timberlands other competitors. From the look of things Timberland sit inbetween brands such as Caterpillar and Wolverine World Wide on the 'Perceptual Maps'.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Company Profile

Wolverine World Wide has the shoes to quiet your barking dogs. The company makes Hush Puppies casual shoes and slippers, as well as boots, sandals, and related apparel and accessories. Its boot lines include Merrell (outdoor), Bates (military), HyTest, and Wolverine (industrial); footwear is made under the Cushe brand and private labels. Wolverine also boasts several licenses from Caterpillar ("CAT"), Harley-Davidson, and Patagonia to make branded footwear. It sells worldwide through department and specialty stores, independent distributors, Internet retailers, and about 90 company-owned retail stores in the US and Canada and a dozen more in the UK. Wolverine maintains nearly 40 consumer-direct Internet sites.

http://www.wolverine.com/US/en/AboutWolverine

Hoover's Inc.. (2013). Wolverine World Wide, Inc.. Available: http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Wolverine_World_Wide_Inc.fb2aabc0642eba47.html. [Last accessed 01st Feb 2013]

 

 

Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc. Company Profile

In an era where the term handmade has become more of a rarity, Red Wing Shoe Company is holding onto tradition by continuing to make its Red Wing-brand work shoes by hand, as it has since 1905. Its US and foreign factories make casual and outdoor shoes, as well as work and steel-toed boots. Its portfolio of brands includes such names as Red Wing, Vasque, Irish Setter, WORX, and Carhartt Footwear. Red Wing Shoe distributes its footwear through some 4,000 retail outlets in the US, as well as growing number of independently-owned Red Wing Shoe Stores in the US. Although it distributes worldwide, the US accounts for the bulk of its sales. The Sweasy family controls the company

http://www.redwingshoes.com/leather-boots

 

Hoover's Inc.. (2013). Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc.. Available: http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Red_Wing_Shoe_Company_Inc.0a04d45456b4cbd4.html. [Last accessed 01st Feb 2013]

 

Also sorry it has taken so long to post, my laptop wouldnt allow it for an unknown reason.

Critical Success factors

Timberland analysis continued

Timberland analysis continued

In our breakout sessions over the past few weeks we have discussed many factors such as Timberland itself and factors that affect the company such as competitors and external factors. We have divided work between group members, with a list of task in mind that we wanted or needed to complete. Up to this point we are all up to date with the work that we wanted to complete and have enough information to continue on to our next planned step, looking at critical success factors of Timberland.

In our last post we had planned that we would carry out a SWOT/TOWS analysis on timberland. As a group we performed this and we each took one area (Threat, Opportunity, weakness and Strength) which we would research in order to compose this analysis together as a group. We also took this approach to a PEST analysis in order to find the external factors that affected the business. Several members of our group have also used a marketing mix analysis, using price, place, promotion and product, in order to analyse competitors to Timberland. Other tasks have been in uploading information to the blog and writing posts. To this point we have all kept to the contract and all given individual contributions to the project. The majority of this analysis we had previously planned however as we were working we found areas which we would like to review more and therefore more analysis came from this.

From this point we intend to look at the critical success factors of Timberland and we will also begin to create an infographic of our work depicting the market audit process performed by our group.

MarketLine (2011), The Timberland company [online], MarketLine [Accessed 16 February 2013].

Macro and Micro Factors

(double click to enlarge)