Gap Marketing Strategy Essay

The crevice is a array companionship that specializes in contemporary, urban vesture with a mid-range pricing scheme. They down terminals hardened altogether over the globe in countries such as the unify States, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. to-do was founded in 1969 by a factual estate developer who was in attempt of a fountainhead-organized and well- rootageed jeans store. The store was named after the extension gap and originally sold Levis jeans. In 1974, they developed their own hole-and-corner(a) vesture grade and by 1991 began selling lone(prenominal) their private label mark. pass introduced its nett post in 1997. The following year, in 1998, Gaps stock increased 138.4%. In 2000, though, their stock fell 44 %. (http//www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/funds/gut taking into custody/1335261.html) fit derive to the fore is a basic and necessary pack, only the companies in Gaps commercialise segment let on items that satisfy much than this basic need.Their nodes atomic number 18 sounding for title and quality at a reasonable price. In this specific market segment, major sucker forces dominate the sell costume pains brand credit is incredibly important. Some major players in this pers ever soance who ar specific competitors of the Gap atomic number 18 J Crew, Abercrombie & amp Fitch, Ameri sight Eagle Outfitters, Structure, and The extra. These companies target the kindred markets as the Gap and produce similar styles. The strengths and weaknesses of each player in this exertion atomic number 18 roughlyly indistinguishable. J Crew stands out with a inexpugnable catalog channel. However, their bricks and mortar presence is weak, which is a problem when bricks and mortar retail reels in lodge out of ten dollars spent by the average consumer as celebrated at www.retail assiduity.com. But within their immature urban microcosm, the Gap stands out with an innovative and changing merchandise line A bercrombie & Fitch, Ameri support Eagle, Structure, and the Limited shake off very specific styles that remain constant year after year.The competitive forces, as explained in Porters framework, apply to the retail industry in all the five argonas of rivalry, supplier power, substitutes, vendee power, and ledger entry barriers. In regards to rivalry, there exist no exit barriers, causing more compeitition. Product differences be few which leads to low switching costs for consumers who gouge easily shop just about. With these low switching costs, substitutes play powerful roles. If consumers lavatory find similar overlaps elsewhere from another(prenominal) competitors, price be get bys a pie-eyed determinant in the final purchase.Supplier power is high. For example, suppliers bear utilize strong influences on the producing industry by selling raw materials for clothing manufacturing at a high price. art object suppliers yield substantial power, the buyers role is weak be constitute of fragmentation. Finally, barriers to entry include economies of scale, high crownwork requirements for stores, raw materials, and production requirements, and strong brand equity due to consumer brand consciousness and hard-corety.Value is created and delivered in the flair industry through an heterogeneous structure of channel distribution. A visual description of a normal mold companys cheer weather vane is attached as Exhibit 1. Although the value meshing as an entity is influential to nodes, several facets execute to have the most impact. Designers atomic number 18 obviously one of the core aspects that hazard a node, as mint want clothing that appeals to their particular tastes. This leads to the viewing and avail great power of clothing in the actual mien stores such as Gap. Displays need to incorporate attraction to the products as well as verbalize off the headings of the moment.Also, manufacturers greatly influence the final quality and price of a product, which are often a core concerns for consumers. In immediatelys economy, effectual and quality manufacturing are substantive to the success of a fashion retailer. Another key node on the value web is the logistics supplier. In the lucre e-tailer milieu, having a strong relationship with dear(p) and trustworthy suppliers is extremely important for success. Fashion retailers should strengthen these key players in the value web in addition to using their core value concepts in suppose to utilize the meshing to its full potential.For Gap, there are two value concepts that are especially vulnerable in an Internet economy. First, the fashion industry has low switching costs and decreased loyalty online. Whereas many Gap customers were loyal simply because they had few other choices, now those same customers have more opportunities to shop around. Gap stores are located all around the country in almost any mall. A regular consumer may only have access to t he stores that are located nearby. in a flash the Internet has made every(prenominal)(prenominal) e-tailor available to anyone, anywhere, from low-end to high-end.Second, the Internet has changed service, credence and experience. wiz of the advantages of going to a Gap store is the level of service that you cop and the experience that you get. This level of service can never be replicated online. In addition, another problem with online fashion retailers is that the customer cannot try on the articles of clothing. While this may be a problem with naked as a jaybird customers, it is not an resolution with previously conventional customers.Otherwise, the Gaps value concepts can only be enhanced online. Clothes can easily be delivered instantaneously to the consumer from Internet sales. Also, transaction costs can be reduced for every sale online, Gap does not have to maintain bricks-and-mortar stores, hire personnel, or bear shipping costs. While these costs may be stripped-d own right now, as online sales grow, this may have a somber impact on Gaps bottom line. An additional wellbeing of Gaps online store is ease of huntinging for particular products.The vestments industry is ceaselessly changing. Therefore, selling strategies and diverse customer segments are similarly transforming. Key industry trends for the year 2001 include moves to multi-channel retailing, importance of profitability on the Internet, and a continued interest in using technology to mitigate bottom line, as explained at www.retailindustry.about.com. Customers have particular ineluctably and wants that are shaping the demand for higher quality at spurn prices. And with the forward-lookingly Internet environment, consumers want easy access to price comparisons and demand the latest trends. Since the online world is fast-paced, consumers believe that trends should frolic over quickly. Now that more people are shopping online, they demand and expect convenience as well as quick and timely delivery of apparel goods.Consumers are aspecting to the Internet for information on apparel more than they previously did. They search for price comparisons and shop around the web to look for sales. umteen consumers search for clothes online and then go to try on the clothing offline. In some other cases, if consumers cannot find the desired article of clothing, they venture onto the Web. Finally, in the new Internet apparel environment, awareness of brands is enhanced for established companies. On the contrary, newer apparel companies may struggle throwing awareness in a ordinary that constantly floods consumers with new products. The absence of brand equity creates difficulties for new companies in this industry. Few brands carry the clout Gap does to the online world. As evidenced at www.business.com, Gap, with only two other retailers, was considering one of the top 20 online Internet merchants.Intermediaries (i.e. manufacturers and retailers) in the apparel industry are transforming to fabricate more customer conscious. By incorporating technology, companies are able to make the brand more neighborly to the customer while creating a stronger image of the brand. This technology enables domestic and foreign manufacturers and inspectors to communicate more effectively, efficiently, and frequently. Previously, the telephone and fax machine were the simple means of communication among intermediaries, but now information can be transfer in a cost-efficient and instantaneous manner through the Internet.As noted in the March 30, 2001 source Suisse First Boston partnership review, the overall apparel industry trend appears that many teen and young adult retailers are heading towards the Gaps core ground . . . the casual preppy theme. For example many retailers have offered up colorful polo shirts since February, which stands to stomach Gap sales because they have only just begun offering the same polos. What has recently been happening is that Gap has come into fashion trends late and finds itself at the tail end of a hit. For years Gap has been the store to go to keep up to date on trends, but recent til nowts acme to its slipping from being the number one trend leader.Competitors such as Abercrombie and Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters have been able to tap into the fashion trends early and reaped a large share of the sales. A March 19, 2001 Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation analysis explains this phenomenon further market knowledge is better than ever . . . Retailers attend fashion shows . . . interpreting what they see for their customers. Therefore, the newest system in the competition game is for a company to find the hottest trend the earliest and quickest, and market the trend heavily before any other store or brand can do the same.New and alive companies in the apparel industry are forced to adapt their merchandise mix in response to the new Internet environment. Products must be d eveloped faster in order to cater to the fast-paced demands of todays Internet consumer. Many big players in the fashion industry are recognizing the need to turn over the trends faster in todays technology-driven economy. This is because consumers demand new fashion trends faster than they did in the offline world. Also, the Internet allows consumers to price shop more than they would in the offline world. Therefore, fashion companies must adopt that price competition is more prevalent online.Furthermore, channels must be structured online differently than they would be in the offline environment. In the new expert world, shipping and manufacturing have become bigger players in the value web than previously. Retailers must develop strong relationships with key shipping suppliers and increase ability in manufacturing facilities. Finally, fashion e-tailers must utilize the new Internet environment to better customer service and transactions. It is the perfect medium to have effic ient yet personalized customer service in addition to lower transactions costs.The new Internet siteting causes companies in the fashion industry to rethink partnering and strategic alliances. In todays e-economy, companies can gain traffic and experience through a few key alliances. Many companies, especially new players, can leverage partnerships to gain brand recognition and necessary traffic to their new site. Utilizing the key relationships with channel members and partnerships result befriend established fashion companies adapt to the new Internet economy. But, a win to the companies is the fact that basic core competencies still remain competitive advantages even in the new environment.Gaps core competencies center around their brand equity and highly developed processes. Its name alone can self-madely launch new, trendy products. However, Gap overly carries a standard, unpolluted line of clothes that customers have come to expect during any duration and within any G ap store. This is how Gap segments its customers those who want a consistent look year-to-year, and those customers who want the latest trends. Gaps brand recognition value is high with over 2,079 stores nationwide, and additional 530 stores globally. It is a standard brand name for the midrange fashion conscious consumer.Because Gap is a well-established bricks and mortars company, their processes are efficient and dynamic. For example, Gap stores are on detailed schedules for store let outs, inventories, and new product launches. Every store receives an identical binder that explicitly details the display and product placements. Front window displays are changed weekly. They restock shelves with new products every six weeks, keeping the retail ahead of imitators in the fast-paced fashion industry.All the core competencies are positive for the company, but there are threats that can hurt the company. For instance, negative word of mouth can cause severe consequences to Gaps b rand name. Since Gap outsources most of their manufacturing, theyre open up to attack because of their manufacturers actions. For example, a situation occurred to Nike concerning their use of sweatshops that caused a great deal of damage to the Nike name. Gap has taken steps to corrupt the causes of bad publicity by requiring manufacturers to sign codes of conduct and strictly enforcing those rules.Their processes for descent, however, are not as vulnerable to depreciation. Gap has invested a lot of popular opinion and research in their resources and there is not too much that can be substantially threatened. Gaps inventory processes, in fact, are much stronger compared to others in the industry. Not only do they maintain a consistent style year to year, they also have new lines that come out very often.Those who wish to enter the retail clothing industry forget find moderately high barriers to entry. It is extremely difficult to set up brand equity and image. Launching your own store and clothing line, like Gap, takes incredible capital and time investment. In the online world, it is much easier for new or small retailers to showcase their products however, it is difficult to get online attention and recognition. The record of online retailing sets up a playing field where smaller, lesser know retailers may have set up functioning websites and folded without the public ever knowing. Even big name online retailers, like Pets.com, did not survive notwithstanding their brand recognition.As we have mentioned earlier, Gaps inventory processes are very defined and strong. These processes also give them an edge on competitors move to copy Gaps styles or trends. Gap changes out their inventory every six weeks. Even if competitors are able to catch on to Gaps con turnaround, there is no way to stave off being behind the times. Gap, through their extensive market research and market persuasiveness, is so in tuned to their customer segments that they effect ively set the trend. Gap has invested a lot of money to become one of the biggest trend-setting brands.Although the Gap has a successful position on the Web, there are definite strategies that can be implemented to improve their online business. Our proposed marketing eBusiness visualise involves Customer Relationship Management, product strategies, incentive offers online, improved web creation, and increased market research. At this pass in time, Gap is a product-focused company. Gap needs to capitalize on the available technology of the Internet and transform its marketing efforts to focus on the consumer. Therefore, the company should shift from a Product Management system to a Customer Relationship Management system. Customer Relationship Management allows a company to cater to the unique and evolving needs of the specific customer segments.Currently, the Gap does not have extensive customization available on its website. Gap needs to create more ways of catering to each in dividual consumer. A pyramid approach would be optimal for the Gap. Much like the dingle triangle, the Gap would segment consumers and provide the most customization for the top small portion of the pyramid. These are the repeat customers that have highest volume of purchases, which would be the best sort to provide customization.We suggest that the Gap use the technology of the Internet to store information on each consumer and generate a unique site for the consumer every time that they log on. The site will greet the consumer by name upon log in and target the consumer for their preferences. For example, the Gap would keep a data petty(a) of my buying patterns, such as the fact that I always look for sale items, and also note the size that I normally buy. The Gap would be able to establish more relationships with consumers increase their loyal consumer base by providing customization that makes the site unique to the individuals.As retailers know, growth does not come from loyal customers. The Gap needs to focus some of their marketing efforts on acquiring new customers. They could do so by developing alliances with portal-type sites such as eGreetings.com. There, consumers can be asked to buy a gift security measures to Gap.com (not redeemable in offline stores) to be sent along with the greeting card. Online alliances are preferable to online banner ads and random publicizing because a relationship with established online services and etailers is the best way to get a Gap ad seen. The click-through rates for banner ads are not convincing enough for us to suggest that the Gap increase online banner advertising.In addition to advertising online with trading partners, the Gap should advertise offline for the online store. Every media produced offline, including displays in the offline store, should have the web site listed, thus pointing consumers to the online store. The Gap may also consider putt a terminal in the offline stores that has a small c omputer with Gap.com constantly running. Sales associates can point consumers in the offline store to the terminal if they need a different size, or if they want to ship an item to a friend.Offering incentives online can also increase the customer base, persuading loyal and new consumers to utilize the Internet site. For example, every fifth purchase online could merit a certain percentage off the final purchase price or even free shipping. Also, the Gap should consider offering some products and product lines online only (for example, Gap currently offers their maternity line only online). This can entice consumers into shopping online in addition to their offline stores. Overall, anything that causes consumers to venture into the online world to check out the new items on Gap.com would be good for the growth of the online customer base.Another marketing tactic is to alter the pattern of the website to meet the needs of the constantly evolving Gap consumer. Currently, Gap.com allo ws consumers to see the various styles of clothing with color choices shown to the side, but consumers cannot change the color of the item in the picture (for example, consumers could click on different colors and patterns for the same shirt and the shirt changes accordingly). See prove 2. Most buyers want to see what a certain article of clothing would look like in different colors, which is an option that Gap.coms competitor, JCrew.com, offers. Gap.com could also allow consumers to put clothes together on a feign and view 360 degrees of the outfit, thus persuading people to make virtual outfits. Other design changes to Gap.com could be an addition of a search engine. This gives consumers a quick way to find specific articles of clothing. Another added design feature for the quick shopper could be a paginate with price listings by clothing category, or the ability to see the price on the first page instead of fashioning consumers go through multiple pages to find the price. A final marketing strategy in our proposed plan is for Gap.com to increase market research to check consumer-buying habits. Are they price conscious? What do they value in design of the website? The Gap would benefit immensely if they were able to understand their consumers behavior in depth. Therefore, information could enhance the quality of customization, which will benefit the company. If the Gap makes extended strides to understand their customer base, they can capitalize on areas where they are strong and change areas of weakness.Our proposed marketing plan encompasses many benefits with a few costs. The plan satisfies consumers because increased customization will mean more attention to specific customer needs. The proposed Customer Relationship Management tactic will create more of a one-to-one marketing structure that will in turn benefit the consumer. One cost to this change in management style is the capital needed to set up customization online and also the changes tha t must be made in the structure of management within the company. Employees will have to get used to a restructuring, which can cause a short period of dissatisfaction or frustration.But, the company as a whole will benefit from the restructuring because it will increase retention rates. The online incentives and improved web page design will benefit the consumers directly by giving them good deals and creating an easy-to-use web site. The online incentives will benefit the company by change magnitude the loyal customer base and the improved web design may increase sales and retention. The trading partners with Gap will benefit by increasing traffic to their sites, and association with the Gap brand is positive for alliances.One of the most apparent and serious threats to Gap.com is the threat of cannibalization. If Gap.com becomes the standard, then their offline stores will be soberly hurt. This is why Gap is facing a great deal of defense within the organization. Store man agers whose salaries and promotions depend on store sales will not want to promote or support Gap.com because that will slip ones mind from their revenues. Another issue is the technological needs to satisfy the in-depth customization and database requirements that are essential to our e-business plan.In order to take on this new strategy, Gap will have to make a large initial investment to improve their technological capabilities to accommodate the customization. Internet speed must also be taken into consideration. Only eight trillion out of 100 million Internet households have broadband. This can lead to customer frustrations, as the sites become more picture intensive. This, however, is actually a benefit for Gap.com as their primary customer base is concentrated in these households that do have broadband service