Fighting the Big-Box stores :: essays research papers

IntroductionThe Just family has operated our hardw atomic number 18 broth in this community for three generations. Our bloodline has supported all of our family members very well in all of our years in business. We earn belatedly been informed that family unit reposition is planning on opening a new store in our community. The following is our plan of action to catch in business and continue to serve our community.Problem      up-to-the-minutely central office Depot is planning on opening a new store in our community. We foresee this posing a coarse financial affright to our business. Being a small locally owned hardware store, we are not able to obtain huge volume discounts like the walloping box stores. Currently our hours of operation are significantly shorter than Home Depot. Home Depot is a nationally renowned name brand store, which in itself will be a significant hurdle to get the best. Home Depot has a huge advertising budget, which includes NASCAR sponsorships and national television advertisements. The paramount business for us is the competition they will impose relative to our customer base.Current SituationSeymour currently has one other hardware store set in the heart of the city in addition to ours. Both of our businesses birth the same hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm and 8am until noon on Saturday. Our store has sevensome employees currently. Four are very knowledgeable individuals with a total of great hundred years of experience between them. Two other members work temporary throughout the week stocking shelves and cleaning, while the last employee does the paperwork and ordering for the store. A huge percentage of our customers look to us for advice on how to repair their problems. They value our expertness in plumbing, electrical, paint, and personalized customer service. We study we have an advantage in this area. Currently, we dont offer any other services except wait ing on the customers, answering questions, and on a limited basis, selection small orders from a limited supply base.Possible Causes of the Problem     We believe that Home Depots purchasing power could be the biggest publishing facing us. They are a multi-billion dollar industry dispersing products nationwide. The result is providing abase cost product to the customer, while at the same time offering convenient one-stop shopping. Alternative ApproachesAfter doing some sole-searching and conducting some poles within the community, we have come up with some ideas that might help us overcome the competition with Home Depot.