Free Essays on Boston

Strategic Management Model – Boston Beer Company The aim of this report is to identify some of the possible strategies that Boston Beer Company could adopt. In order to do so, it is not only necessary to have an understanding of the company itself, but also of the industry in which it operates. Analysis of Brewing Industry With nearly 80 million American beer drinkers, beer has become one of the most popular beverages, second only to water and tea. Each year, the U.S. beverage industry produces and sells more than 2.6 billion cases of beer, or about 193.3 million barrels. Although light beer continued to dominate the market with a 37 percent share, the consumption rate of micro brews or specialty beer also continued to grow in popularity. Standard & Poor’s believes that the U.S. brewing industry in particular will benefit from a favorable pricing environment for beer, improving demographic trends, and rising consumption of premium products. In addition, continued productivity improvements and high industry wide capacity utilization rates should aid profits. Given these factors, we project that operating profits for the domestic brewing industry will advance between 6% and 8% in 2003. This follows a strong performance in 2002, when operating profits for the domestic brewing industry rose more than 10%, by our estimate. Market Segment The craft-brewed beer industry is often divided into four industry segments - microbreweries, regional specialty breweries, contract brewing companies, and brewpubs - which are differentiated by volume of production and distribution channels. The undisputed leader of the microbrew segment has been the Boston Beer Company (BBC) and its product Samuel Adams, the tenth largest beer producer in the country. A long-lost American tradition, the craft-brewed beer industry has enjoyed a comeback in recent years and now is among the fastest growing domestic beverage segments despite national trends ... Free Essays on Boston Free Essays on Boston Strategic Management Model – Boston Beer Company The aim of this report is to identify some of the possible strategies that Boston Beer Company could adopt. In order to do so, it is not only necessary to have an understanding of the company itself, but also of the industry in which it operates. Analysis of Brewing Industry With nearly 80 million American beer drinkers, beer has become one of the most popular beverages, second only to water and tea. Each year, the U.S. beverage industry produces and sells more than 2.6 billion cases of beer, or about 193.3 million barrels. Although light beer continued to dominate the market with a 37 percent share, the consumption rate of micro brews or specialty beer also continued to grow in popularity. Standard & Poor’s believes that the U.S. brewing industry in particular will benefit from a favorable pricing environment for beer, improving demographic trends, and rising consumption of premium products. In addition, continued productivity improvements and high industry wide capacity utilization rates should aid profits. Given these factors, we project that operating profits for the domestic brewing industry will advance between 6% and 8% in 2003. This follows a strong performance in 2002, when operating profits for the domestic brewing industry rose more than 10%, by our estimate. Market Segment The craft-brewed beer industry is often divided into four industry segments - microbreweries, regional specialty breweries, contract brewing companies, and brewpubs - which are differentiated by volume of production and distribution channels. The undisputed leader of the microbrew segment has been the Boston Beer Company (BBC) and its product Samuel Adams, the tenth largest beer producer in the country. A long-lost American tradition, the craft-brewed beer industry has enjoyed a comeback in recent years and now is among the fastest growing domestic beverage segments despite national trends ...

The Scarlet Letter Questions for Discussion

The Scarlet Letter Questions for Discussion The Scarlet Letter is a seminal work of American literature written by New Englander Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a seamstress newly arrived in the New World from England, whose husband, Roger Chillingworth, is presumed dead. She and local pastor Arthur Dimmesdale have a romantic interlude, and Hester gives birth to their daughter, Pearl. Hester is  convicted of adultery, a serious crime in the time period of the book, and sentenced to wear the scarlet letter A on her clothing for the rest of her life. Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter more than a century after the events in the novel would have occurred, but it is not difficult to discern his contempt for Bostons Puritans and their rigid religious views. Questions for Discussion Consider the following questions as you learn about  The Scarlet Letter.  Whether youre studying for an exam or leading a book club, these discussion questions will strengthen your understanding of the novel. What is significant about the novels title?The Scarlet Letter is considered a romance by many literary scholars. Do you think that is an accurate categorization? Why or why not?Is Hester Prynne an admirable character? Why or why not?How does Hester evolve through the course of the story?How do we learn the true character of Roger Chillingworth? Is he believable as a villain?Is Arthur Dimmesdale an admirable character? How would you describe him and his relationship with Hester?What does Pearl symbolize? How is her name significant?What is the significance of Pearl not recognizing Hester without her scarlet A?What is the moral statement Hawthorne is making throughout The Scarlet Letter?Do you agree with what how Hawthorne interprets the shortcomings of Puritan society?What are some symbols in The Scarlet Letter? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Does the story end the way you expected? Whats significant about the novels ending?Would you consider The Scarlet Letter to be a work of feminist literature? Why or why not?   How essential are the settings, both geographical and temporal, to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else or in any other time period?Does this novel give you a better appreciation for how women were treated in early New England? Does it give you a new perspective on other events from that regions history, such as the Salem Witch Trials?

Field Report on visiting Ryton Garden Organic. sustainability issues Coursework

Field Report on visiting Ryton Garden Organic. sustainability issues - Coursework Example Expanding food markets is necessary for improving the livelihood of small scale farmers looking for ways of sustaining their livelihoods. Organic farming is part of sustainable agriculture that sustains the health of soils, people, and the ecosystem. The ecological processes, biodiversity, and local condition cycles sustain organic farming rather than agricultural inputs that have adverse effects. Organic farming combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the environment and promote good quality of life for participants. Garden organic was founded in the 1950s and is a national organizational for organic farming based in Ryton. The organization provides an organic approach to a sustainable future for the people and the planet through organic farming. Garden organic provides advice to organic farmers such as increasing the natural health of soil, choosing the right plant varieties, and producing a healthy garden through working with nature. The organization also provides fa rmers with guidelines for sustainable and efficient organic farming. Scientific research conducted by the organization aims to develop and improve techniques of organic agriculture and knowledge advancement on organic farming systems. Research also focuses on crop technology, pests, diseases, weeds, economics and markets, and soil dynamics. Garden organic also provides free resources for schools and maintains a Food for Life Partnership network for transforming the food culture into organic farming. Home composting is also promoted by the organization as a means of providing organic manure for farmers (Garden Organic, 2013). The wider society is involved through the international development program aims at promoting organic agriculture in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The program aims at improving the understanding of sustainable agriculture as a way of improving food security. The program conducts research and training on management and provides resources for poor farmers. Netw orks created in the international program organize farmers for capacity building on ecological agriculture. The program also develops organic agriculture for consumption in the domestic market and for export. The international program has been successful through farming networks created in different parts of the world. European organizations provide information and support in technological development for farming organizations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. NGOs, governments and extension workers in the third world have improved organic farming in their constituent countries (Garden Organic, 2013). Garden Organic owns 30 individual gardens that are set in 10 acres of land. The gardens showcase composting, pest and disease control, growing fruits and vegetables, herbs, roses, shrubberies, lawns, and herbaceous plants. The gardens have a conservation area that has native trees and wildflowers. The production method showcased support the organization’s incentive of organic farming. Wildflowers and native trees support environmental conservation. The showcase also incorporates bee farming and living willow structures that complement organic agriculture. Garden organic has expanded its activities beyond the UK into Africa, Asia, and America. Crop farming has surpassed bee keeping and is the main activity for the organization. Crop farming especially vegetable and fruit production has gained popularity over other farming types

How does the woman consumer get affected by the fashion inner store Essay

How does the woman consumer get affected by the fashion inner store environment - Essay Example Women take pride in their ability to shop prudently and well. They are still the primary buyer in the American market place.(41) Unlike their male counterparts, women make purchasing decisions in a more complex, roundabout way. The fashion store’s stand is to help women consumers when they need help, and lay low when they don’t; to let their buying minds complete the sale by giving them space and information to match the beautiful design of the products in the store.(25) Given the above background, let us examine the various factors that affect women consumers in the fashion store’s inner environment. Atmospherics The fashion store’s layout is normally innovative. Victor Gruen is accredited with conceiving an ideal environment for shopping. (Rifkin, 1996, pg 263).(1) Rather than employing straight lines, as would seem the obvious choice, subtle gradients of angling veer women consumers down the pathways, especially in the fast selling items areas. Along with climate control, a lack of clocks, and centrally controlled lighting, the consumer loses all sense of direction, time of day and duration of her stay.

Diagnostic Models Essay Example for Free

Diagnostic Models Essay An organization is an open system that is in constant interaction with its environment, taking in raw materials, people, information, and energy, converting these into products or services, and exporting the latter back into the environment but these organization need to regularly undergo the diagnosis of the current performance of the organization so that interventionists should be able to know whether the organization is performing well or not and what changes has to be incorporated so that the main focus of organization to do excellence fulfilled. But it should be planned, systematic and explicit. Well-done assessments or diagnosis is done on the basis of diagnostic models depending upon which model a company adopts to diagnose. This article revolves around 11 diagnostic models that had been constructed keeping in mind the strategies for organization’s development but these models have limitations too. Models are: {draw:rect} Force Field Analysis (1951) Leavitt’s Model (1965). Likert System Analysis (1967) Open Systems Theory (1966) Weisbord’s Six-Box Model (1976) Congruence Model for Organization Analysis (1977) McKinsey 7S Framework (1981-82) Tichy’s Technical Political Cultural (TPC) Framework (1983) High-Performance Programming (1984) Diagnosing Individual and Group Behavior (1987). The Burke-Litwin Model of Organizational Performance Change Each model is unique in itself but there are issues with these models too i. e.there is more or less variables are missing from every model but B-L model of organization performance change has been conceived on the basis of theoretical and empirical literature on organizational behavior. Moreover this model also covered the variables which other model didn’t cover that means it is self sufficient model for diagnosis purpose. 1. Main issue of this article is that most of the models missed one or more important variables like no feedback loop is there, no consideration of environment, no standardized scale labels , key variables are relatively broad and undefined etc. There is doubt regarding support for the relationships among the variables constructed in model. Moreover model doesn’t address the role of external environment in bringing about the change in any of the variables (Leavitt’s model) There is no illustration to depict the framework (motivation, communication, interaction, decision making, goal setting, control, and performance) of Likert system analysis model which is based on four different types of management systems within organizations. These are Now Likert made the instrument to test the perception of employees based on above mentioned systems but the instrument did not have standardized scale labels such as â€Å"strongly agree,† â€Å"agree,† â€Å"neither agree nor disagree,† â€Å"disagree,† and â€Å"strongly disagree. † Instead, Likert provided customized scale labels for each question and resulted in minimum information. ‘Open system theory’ model overemphasis on variables within the organization and there is absence of any feedback from the environment even though this model assume that organization is dependent on environment. Formal system (policies and procedures the organization to claim) informal system (behaviors of employee which actually occurs) are missing from the six box model which unleashes the fact that this gap make an organization less effective. Also there is discrepancy between what organization is and what should be? TPC Model only highlights the questions regarding the diagnosis of technical, political and cultural components. The resources and outputs(variables) in the ‘Diagnosing Individual and Group Behavior’ model are linked by main line of influence and feedback loops which are not reciprocal and also the extensive usage of these lines make it difficult to understand the relationship between variables. Key variables are relatively broad and undefined (Force field analysis) In many models it is not clearly expressed whether variables are merely correlated or whether a cause and effect relationship between variables is thought to exist. Questions that article tried to answer are. Q1. What is the main purpose to construct the diagnostic models? Q2. What are the scopes of diagnosis and what is the problem related to narrow diagnosis? Q3. How diagnosis can be done in a systematic way? Q4. To what extend does the various mentioned diagnostic models are effective for organization? Q5. Why organization’s diagnosticians should not be rigid regarding adhering to one model (limited variables)? Q6. What are the different types of organizations and how do they function? Q7. What is congruency of model? Q8. What is political, technical and cultural dynamics related to diagnostic model? Q9. How nature of relationships between variables in various model differ? Q10. What are the key features of B-L Model that set it apart from other models? Q11. Why validation of any diagnostic model is vital? What are the procedure to validate a model? Q12. What are the findings of studies done on the variables of B-L diagnostic model? Q13. What is difference between path analysis and structural equation modeling? What are the key features of SEM that make it preferable procedure to validate a diagnostic model? Diagnostic models identify different vital organization’s variable. Variable are correlated i. e they are reciprocal or leave one way impact. Organization’s diagnosticians should not be rigid regarding adhering to one model. Assessment and improvement of organization depends upon the involvement of external environment in any diagnostic model. There is a fit between organization and environment i. e. what is and what should be done in an organization Validity of a diagnostic model is necessary before conceptualizing it along the empirical investigations. {text:list-item} B-L model covered all the variables in form of transformation and transitional along with environment and feedback loop after theoretical and empirical studies which is self sufficient model and keep it apart from other models, to adopt by any organization for diagnosis Key message of this article is that only theoretical and empirical studies are not feasible for conceptualizing any model but also validating it becomes necessary otherwise there could be one or more variables can be  missed out or they may also act as restraining forces in the path of excellence of any organization. According to me B-L model don’t have any loophole in it. There are several key features of B-L Model which set it apart from the other models are : {text:list-item}.

Is Charles Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood Relevant to the Modern Wor

Is Charles Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood Relevant to the Modern World? A story commonly spread through word of mouth, Charles Perrault wrote an early rendition of Little Red Riding Hood in 1697. Between the late 17th century and today, there have been a few changes in societal norms, customs, and understandings of social values. To summarize, laws based on religion have given way to laws based on science†¦in turn, scientists have taken their newfound social power and discovered ways to destroy all life on Earth†¦following that, humans have practiced leaving the planet, preparing for the inevitable day when our self-created nuclear holocaust gives us no other choice†¦and lastly, various oppressed social groups, recognizing that they would also like a seat on their starship to salvation, have fought for their civil rights and equality through various social reform movements. A side effect, political correctness, is the attempt to rid the English language of any terms, phrases, or expressions that would encourage our society to rema in rooted in its biased theories of the past. Thus, we are now at an age where a maxim is placed upon the empowerment of the individual, no matter who you are or what formerly oppressed group you may represent, with an equally strong maxim placed upon breaking any barriers that block the empowerment of the individual. That’s great†¦but what does it have to do with Little Red Riding Hood? With so much happening in the past four hundred years, stories which may have previously seemed perfect and timeless have perhaps become socially outdated. This could be the case with many fairy tales, and Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood is certainly no exception. In general, his vers... ... has taken the civil rights movements of the 20th century and, perhaps, transformed them into raging individualism. The backwardness is clear: Whether it’s a hunter, woodcutter, or doctor, a person trying to save another’s life is admirable and a Good Samaritan, and most certainly not an oppressive chauvinist worthy of reprimand or lawsuits. Political correctness may have its values; however, for Garner and many other Americans, it represents social movements that have been taken too far. Through satire, Garner displays his yearning for simpler times, when wolves just ate little girls who talked to strangers. Works Cited Perrault, Charles. â€Å"Little Red Riding Hood.† The Classic Fairy Tales. Ed. Maria Tatar. New York: Norton, 1999. 11-13. Garner, James Finn. â€Å"Little Red Riding Hood.† Politically Correct Bedtime Stories. New York: MacMillan, 1994. 1-4.

Build-a-Bear

1. Give examples of needs, wants, and demand that Build-A-Bear customers demonstrate, differentiating each of these three concepts. What are the implications of each on Build-A-Bear’s actions? Needs are defined as a basic part of the human makeup. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the need for toys belong to the third level or the social needs for love and belonging level. The primary target market of Build-A-Bear are children. A toy can provide the friend or social belonging a child needs. Build-A-Bear provides for the natural need of a child of a toy. Wants is defined as the form taken by human needs as they are shaped by culture and individual personality. As a child grows, his or her need for toys develops into wants or desires. A child needs a toy but may want a doll, a toy car, or a stuffed animal. This certain want may be influenced by the environment or the people in their surroundings. Build-A-Bear offers stuffed animals that are usually desired by younger children, most especially girls. Furthermore, Build-A-Bear have created a â€Å"want† for toys that are personalized. Demand is defined as a want backed up by buying power of the customers. In the case of Build-A-Bear, the buying power or money is provided by the parents of the children. And since they will be paying for the satisfaction of the â€Å"wants† of their children, customers or parents would want to get the toys, particularly the stuffed animals, with the best benefits. Build-A-Bear increases their toys’ benefits by promising that they would provide more than just a toy but the joyful experience of creating the toy. By offering more than just a toy, they have created a remarkable edge over other toys that would make their products more appealing to buying customers. 2. Detail all facets of Build-A-Bear’s product. What is being exchanged in a Build-A-Bear transaction? A Build-A-Bear Workshop’s primary products are personalized stuffed animals. But they promise to offer more than just a toy since these stuffed animals are created by the customers through different stations positioned in the store. To make the actual stuffed animal, the customers are provided the raw materials and they must then go through the child-friendly stations (Choose Me, Stuff Me, Hear Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Dress Me, and Name Me) in the Build-A-Bear Workshop and do the necessary processes in the stations. Thus, what is actually exchanged is the toy plus the playful experience of creating the toy. From the perspective of a child or even adults, this will be a very unique experience since most of toys currently available in the market are all factory-produced. This unique experience shall become a creative memory and is also an added feature of the said exchange. 3. Which of the five marketing management concepts best describes Build-A-Bear Workshop? The marketing management concept that is best apt for the Build-A-Bear Workshop is the Marketing Concept. The marketing concept is defined as the concept that conducts various researches first regarding the needs, wants and demands of the customers before producing the actual product. The marketing concept also introduces the concept of customer-driving market or offering a new product that the customer may want based on their research and market studies. In the case of Build-A-Bear, the company is a pioneer in their kind of business. Maxine Clark, the owner, has determined that customers need products that are customized or personalized and will give them a sense of creativity and uniqueness. They have created a toy that is more than just a toy. They have integrated a product and service and they are continuously improving their services to offer more to loyal customers. 4. Discuss the value that Build-A-Bear creates for its customers. Customer value is defined as the difference between the values the customer gains from owning and using a product and the costs of obtaining the product. Build-A-Bear not only offers a toy but rather the â€Å"experience of participating in the creation of personalized entertainment†. This experience satisfies the growing demand for products that are inclined towards customization. This is what separates Build-A-Bear Workshop from a regular toy store. This gives them the edge and competitive advantage from all other stuffed animals in the market. 5. Is Build-A-Bear likely to be successful in continuing to build customer relationships? Why or why not? Yes, because as what has been described in the text, the owner of the company is very much customer oriented. As demonstrated by the marketing concept, they look first at what is outside before going in. In her goal of going to 2 to 3 stores per month, the owner can get a personal first-hand experience of getting to know what the customer wants. She keeps their products updated by continuously asking the customers what they want. If the customers knew that the owner is very much concerned with what they want, this can develop their loyalty to the company. Furthermore, products that continuously answer to customer’s desires can also develop customer loyalty and leads to customers buying more from the company. Moreover, they can also share their experience with the company and encourage potential customers to try their products as well. Build-a-Bear 1. Give examples of needs, wants, and demand that Build-A-Bear customers demonstrate, differentiating each of these three concepts. What are the implications of each on Build-A-Bear’s actions? Needs are defined as a basic part of the human makeup. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the need for toys belong to the third level or the social needs for love and belonging level. The primary target market of Build-A-Bear are children. A toy can provide the friend or social belonging a child needs. Build-A-Bear provides for the natural need of a child of a toy. Wants is defined as the form taken by human needs as they are shaped by culture and individual personality. As a child grows, his or her need for toys develops into wants or desires. A child needs a toy but may want a doll, a toy car, or a stuffed animal. This certain want may be influenced by the environment or the people in their surroundings. Build-A-Bear offers stuffed animals that are usually desired by younger children, most especially girls. Furthermore, Build-A-Bear have created a â€Å"want† for toys that are personalized. Demand is defined as a want backed up by buying power of the customers. In the case of Build-A-Bear, the buying power or money is provided by the parents of the children. And since they will be paying for the satisfaction of the â€Å"wants† of their children, customers or parents would want to get the toys, particularly the stuffed animals, with the best benefits. Build-A-Bear increases their toys’ benefits by promising that they would provide more than just a toy but the joyful experience of creating the toy. By offering more than just a toy, they have created a remarkable edge over other toys that would make their products more appealing to buying customers. 2. Detail all facets of Build-A-Bear’s product. What is being exchanged in a Build-A-Bear transaction? A Build-A-Bear Workshop’s primary products are personalized stuffed animals. But they promise to offer more than just a toy since these stuffed animals are created by the customers through different stations positioned in the store. To make the actual stuffed animal, the customers are provided the raw materials and they must then go through the child-friendly stations (Choose Me, Stuff Me, Hear Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Dress Me, and Name Me) in the Build-A-Bear Workshop and do the necessary processes in the stations. Thus, what is actually exchanged is the toy plus the playful experience of creating the toy. From the perspective of a child or even adults, this will be a very unique experience since most of toys currently available in the market are all factory-produced. This unique experience shall become a creative memory and is also an added feature of the said exchange. 3. Which of the five marketing management concepts best describes Build-A-Bear Workshop? The marketing management concept that is best apt for the Build-A-Bear Workshop is the Marketing Concept. The marketing concept is defined as the concept that conducts various researches first regarding the needs, wants and demands of the customers before producing the actual product. The marketing concept also introduces the concept of customer-driving market or offering a new product that the customer may want based on their research and market studies. In the case of Build-A-Bear, the company is a pioneer in their kind of business. Maxine Clark, the owner, has determined that customers need products that are customized or personalized and will give them a sense of creativity and uniqueness. They have created a toy that is more than just a toy. They have integrated a product and service and they are continuously improving their services to offer more to loyal customers. 4. Discuss the value that Build-A-Bear creates for its customers. Customer value is defined as the difference between the values the customer gains from owning and using a product and the costs of obtaining the product. Build-A-Bear not only offers a toy but rather the â€Å"experience of participating in the creation of personalized entertainment†. This experience satisfies the growing demand for products that are inclined towards customization. This is what separates Build-A-Bear Workshop from a regular toy store. This gives them the edge and competitive advantage from all other stuffed animals in the market. 5. Is Build-A-Bear likely to be successful in continuing to build customer relationships? Why or why not? Yes, because as what has been described in the text, the owner of the company is very much customer oriented. As demonstrated by the marketing concept, they look first at what is outside before going in. In her goal of going to 2 to 3 stores per month, the owner can get a personal first-hand experience of getting to know what the customer wants. She keeps their products updated by continuously asking the customers what they want. If the customers knew that the owner is very much concerned with what they want, this can develop their loyalty to the company. Furthermore, products that continuously answer to customer’s desires can also develop customer loyalty and leads to customers buying more from the company. Moreover, they can also share their experience with the company and encourage potential customers to try their products as well. Build-a-Bear 1. Give examples of needs, wants, and demand that Build-A-Bear customers demonstrate, differentiating each of these three concepts. What are the implications of each on Build-A-Bear’s actions? Needs are defined as a basic part of the human makeup. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the need for toys belong to the third level or the social needs for love and belonging level. The primary target market of Build-A-Bear are children. A toy can provide the friend or social belonging a child needs. Build-A-Bear provides for the natural need of a child of a toy. Wants is defined as the form taken by human needs as they are shaped by culture and individual personality. As a child grows, his or her need for toys develops into wants or desires. A child needs a toy but may want a doll, a toy car, or a stuffed animal. This certain want may be influenced by the environment or the people in their surroundings. Build-A-Bear offers stuffed animals that are usually desired by younger children, most especially girls. Furthermore, Build-A-Bear have created a â€Å"want† for toys that are personalized. Demand is defined as a want backed up by buying power of the customers. In the case of Build-A-Bear, the buying power or money is provided by the parents of the children. And since they will be paying for the satisfaction of the â€Å"wants† of their children, customers or parents would want to get the toys, particularly the stuffed animals, with the best benefits. Build-A-Bear increases their toys’ benefits by promising that they would provide more than just a toy but the joyful experience of creating the toy. By offering more than just a toy, they have created a remarkable edge over other toys that would make their products more appealing to buying customers. 2. Detail all facets of Build-A-Bear’s product. What is being exchanged in a Build-A-Bear transaction? A Build-A-Bear Workshop’s primary products are personalized stuffed animals. But they promise to offer more than just a toy since these stuffed animals are created by the customers through different stations positioned in the store. To make the actual stuffed animal, the customers are provided the raw materials and they must then go through the child-friendly stations (Choose Me, Stuff Me, Hear Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Dress Me, and Name Me) in the Build-A-Bear Workshop and do the necessary processes in the stations. Thus, what is actually exchanged is the toy plus the playful experience of creating the toy. From the perspective of a child or even adults, this will be a very unique experience since most of toys currently available in the market are all factory-produced. This unique experience shall become a creative memory and is also an added feature of the said exchange. 3. Which of the five marketing management concepts best describes Build-A-Bear Workshop? The marketing management concept that is best apt for the Build-A-Bear Workshop is the Marketing Concept. The marketing concept is defined as the concept that conducts various researches first regarding the needs, wants and demands of the customers before producing the actual product. The marketing concept also introduces the concept of customer-driving market or offering a new product that the customer may want based on their research and market studies. In the case of Build-A-Bear, the company is a pioneer in their kind of business. Maxine Clark, the owner, has determined that customers need products that are customized or personalized and will give them a sense of creativity and uniqueness. They have created a toy that is more than just a toy. They have integrated a product and service and they are continuously improving their services to offer more to loyal customers. 4. Discuss the value that Build-A-Bear creates for its customers. Customer value is defined as the difference between the values the customer gains from owning and using a product and the costs of obtaining the product. Build-A-Bear not only offers a toy but rather the â€Å"experience of participating in the creation of personalized entertainment†. This experience satisfies the growing demand for products that are inclined towards customization. This is what separates Build-A-Bear Workshop from a regular toy store. This gives them the edge and competitive advantage from all other stuffed animals in the market. 5. Is Build-A-Bear likely to be successful in continuing to build customer relationships? Why or why not? Yes, because as what has been described in the text, the owner of the company is very much customer oriented. As demonstrated by the marketing concept, they look first at what is outside before going in. In her goal of going to 2 to 3 stores per month, the owner can get a personal first-hand experience of getting to know what the customer wants. She keeps their products updated by continuously asking the customers what they want. If the customers knew that the owner is very much concerned with what they want, this can develop their loyalty to the company. Furthermore, products that continuously answer to customer’s desires can also develop customer loyalty and leads to customers buying more from the company. Moreover, they can also share their experience with the company and encourage potential customers to try their products as well.