The creation of a roadmap to a strategic plan should be followed up with a scorecard of the business. The scorecard will allow the business to see if the roadmap is work or not and allow some adjustments to the plan where needed. As a small bakery it is important that my strategic plan helps to drive consumers and generate revenue. Small businesses needs to monitor their plan on a daily bases to stay ahead of the competition. Small business will need to think outside of the normal circumstances in marketing their product.
Grocery stores are in competition with smaller markets like Kudlers and Whole Foods. If the brand name grocery stores like Ralphs and Vons did not offer organic and specialty items, the market structure of Kudler Fine Foods would differ. This market structure positively affected Kudler because there was no barrier to entrance within the quality foods market. What negatively affects the company with this market structure is that they are compared to big companies who are able to supply some of these rare items at a more competitive price. One of the marketing strategies that ensure the company of long-term profitability is the personal relationship built with the customer base.
Before moving forward the company’s owner, Kathy Kudler, needs to understand her company fully and have accurate knowledge about the firm’s internal and external environment. Kudler Fine Foods has several directions the organization can choose for long term success. Using a combination the three grand strategies will give Kudler Fine Foods the best opportunity for a successful expansion. Employing this strategy will allow Kudler Fine Foods to provide high quality customer service, specialty products, and focus on a niche market, which the competition cannot offer. In developing this strategy Kudler Fine Foods will be able to gain
Kudler Foods will need to determine which strategic decisions will be useful in the future to improve the business without risk or little risk to the organization. Kudler Foods will need to look at competition and assess what the competition is doing and what Kudler Foods should be doing differently. Kudler Foods will need to actively research and identify opportunities for the organization. A limited numbers of fine food stores exist to compete with Kudler Foods; however, this should not make Kudler foods lazy in following the competition. Kudler Foods should monitor the competition daily to ensure prices are competitive and lowest.
The business current situation and problem continue to get worst. Facing no competitive competition the KFF could be the overall leader in selling gourmet foods. Establishing that kind of success will give the business the abilities of developing their own trademark. Having their own trademark could have geographic and expansion success. Kudler had great vision early on in her business, but her management skills fail to live up to earlier success.
When looking at the bottom line, this practice takes an employee away from working the register or counter as well as increases the costs associated with providing goods for no profit. As a manager, I support Kudler’s practice of offering the samples. I see that it makes the customers happy and our employees get to know members within the community. The event offers more social interaction than a traditional grocery store could offer. Although it may cost most to staff this event, my values and ethics tell me I should concentrate on what is most beneficial to my employees and my customers.
If a customer is not happy with service they received in a store, they are more likely not to return regardless of the quality of the product. Kudler’s objective at this point may be to hold customer service seminars for their employees to increase the level of customer service their clientele are receiving. Giving incentives to employees for great customer service is likely to improve the level of customer service produced by employees towards the clientele thus improving the likelihood of return shoppers. The surveys given to customers reflect on the prices of Kudler’s products as
Research competitors and industry trends to create new ideas and incentives. Compete with competitors – Price matching. With accurate information and efficient communication within the business will ensure business continuance despite possible problems. 4.0 Reports: Identify the types of reports you would be required to review regularly in order to monitor business performance, why is it important to create and use this report and who would the report be written for. 4.1: Performance Report: This report shows how well/poorly a business is doing based on a current revenue, and can identify performance areas that may need improvement.
The fact that people had to repeatedly asked company Q to carry specific product line represents that the company is not in tune with their community and with the needs of their customers. Company Q should develop methods to research what goods are selling better in certain areas compared to what goods and merchandise is selling slower. If company Q can stay ahead of what the customer wants, the customer will feel as if the store is listening to them, knows them, and appreciates them for shopping with them . This problem can be easily remedied simply by conducting formal and informal surveys, placing suggestion box around the store, and simply asking their consumers what products they would like to purchase inside of their store. The sooner that company Q can anticipate and foresee what products are more in demand the sooner the company will be able to create a better profit margin, establish a good working relationship with the customer, and achieve a favorable public and consumer perception.
While theft and low income consumers bring the possibility of providing only moderate revenue gains, if not a loss, operating in impoverished areas can also be a source of growing potential for the business. Many companies advertise philanthropic missions, such as donating to charities every year or helping to provide for the families of their employees. While these are messages that consumers hear, a more powerful message can be the one that the consumers themselves see. Rather than closing down those stores, Company Q should focus on the reasons for the high crime, and offer ways to reduce that crime rate. Offering work programs that help prepare young people for management or skilled positions is a good way to take crime off of the streets while showing to the community that the business cares about the welfare of the population.