Zara Macro Environment Analysis

The economic factor depends on outside control of the business, but it can affect the performance and marketing of the organisation. The main factors which mainly influence the economic balance of an organisation are political, economic, social technological, environmental and legislative factors. On an international front economic aspect is an essential interference in the performance of Tesco. Apart from the political stability of the region, factors also involve acts of legislation and tax rates. It is a major point of concern for the organisation, therefore it is essential to be aware of the changes in the policies.

Costco has very limited emphasis on its stores and the areas it covers. The meticulous decision making influence in its ability to more speedily respond to market conditions. Also maintaining high wage is weakness for Costco for example Costco’s average pay is $18 an hour, 43 percent higher than its competitor, Sam’s club. Opportunities Costco can expand its market in the many regions of the world specially the developing markets of China, Japan, and India. These markets display huge potential for growth of the firm.

Marketing has become one of the most important factors for a company to be able to implement. It could simply make or break the companies’ success. One company that uses marketing in a variety of ways is Vera Bradley. They create, communicate, and deliver value in a very well represented way. Vera Bradley’s mission states is, “To design, manufacture and internationally market a distinctive line of superior quality handbags, travel items, stationery, eyewear and accessories that convey the Vera Bradley image and unique lifestyle.

While micro environment factors, on the other hand, such as competition norms impact the competitive advantage of the firm. Nordstrom can use the country’s economic factor such as growth rate, inflation & industry’s economic indicators such as apparel stores industry growth rate, consumer spending etc. to monitor the growth of not only retail sector but also that of the organization. Economic factors that Nordstrom should consider while conducting PESTLE analysis

Retail positioning aims to provide competitive edge by differentiating the retailer from its competition. This differentiation can be achieved through retail offerings that appeal to, and are easily identifiable to by its target market. This process is done by selecting market segmentations and matching them to the retail offerings as precisely as possible. It is vital to understand the consumers needs and wants in order to make a proper match and be distinguished from other retailers. Nordstrom distinguishes itself from other retailers by positioning itself as an upscale fashion store with outstanding customer service, and its multichannel approach.

Without competition, companies would not have the need to adjust their prices, or improve their products to win over customers, resulting in low quality goods & services with high prices. Competition generally has a positive impact on the consumers, as when companies begin to strive to be the best and most successful in their industry, they utilise marketing strategies to win over customers, these include but are not limited to price, product, promotion and place. Two companies which are continually constructing innovative ideas to come out on top are PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. These two companies hold the majority of the market power in the non-alcoholic beverage industry. They are classified as an oligopoly concentration as the two firms control the vast majority of the market share and therefore requires the two companies to compete on prices as well as non-price related aspects.

Each of their brands offer a different or unique factor that attracts specific consumers and their needs. Rivalry in the department store business is high because of their current competitors and new ones emerging online. A threat of a new entrants is low due to a high amount of investment required. Because Macy’s is just a store that sells various products, the treat of substitute is high because consumers can get the same products elsewhere. Macy’s two main weaknesses include a slow growth on their return on investment and the high volume of employee

Executive Summary The following report was conducted in order to suggest target markets and strategic recommendations based on evaluation of the business environment, market segments and strategy of Tesco Plc and the factors contributing to the company's corporate position in the retail market. Tesco’s size and brand identity are primary contributing factors to their current place in the market and their large customer base. They have faced considerable challenges since the economic recession as the consumer trend has been to look for cheaper alternatives and poor strategic decisions have led to a decrease in profits and slow in growth. Tesco’s brand identity, customer orientation, propensity to innovate and positioning in comparison to competitors

Since both the company’s market share so large, the market is very close to a duopoly (other players having a very small impact on the market). Hence we assume this to be a situation of duopoly. The 2 companies sell products which are very close substitutes and are constantly fighting for greater market share. A person may buy a Coke product instead of a Pepsi one, and vice versa. The objective of both is to maximize their profit.

PESTEL ANALYSIS Pestel is a strategic analysis tool used by organizations to scan the macro-environment in which they operates, helps to identify external factors that can affect the organization's business activities and performance (Gockeln 2014). Macro-environmental factors are those that affect clothing industry and the industry have no control over rather than adapting to it. By so doing, it gives ability to differentiate themselves from potential competitors and sustain performance. Table 2 depicted, (PESTEL) Political, Economic, Social/ Cultural, Technological, Environmental and Legal external factors. Political factors: these are examined from the political stability point of view, which covers government policy intervention in the economy, deregulation, taxation changes, as well as the attitude of political parties on the government policy.