Shoes for Moos, Inc. Strengths

Shoes for Moos, inc. Strengths Inventory problem solved as the products will be stored at Kaufman Footwear and delivered in batches of 100 products. This is an important strength for the company, because it takes care of additional inventory and stock costs. Basically, in order for such an option to function correctly, the only thing that the company needs to do is properly evaluate the potential future orders so as to ensure that the clients do not have to wait too long for their products to be delivered. Novelty.

This is probably the biggest strength of the company: bringing on the market a very new and innovative product, which hasn't been marketed yet by anybody. The fact that it is an innovative product will increase the chances of a large number of initial clients. Flexibility of the product. The product is flexible enough in its characteristics to ensure that it will not force the company to determine its marketing and sales or distribution policies to fit its needs.

The product can be directly mailed or sold through dealers, marketing and promotion can take a variety of forms, the choices are on the table for the company and are not strained by the product. Weaknesses 1. The price. The price is relatively high, especially since the buyers will perceive this as something that costs as much as a human pair of shoes.

However, one can assume that the fact that the clients are specialists and farmers, who understand the need for such a product, will reduce the impact of this weakness. 2. The high marketing costs. This weaknesses is in fact associated with something we have identified as a strength: the fact that this is a relatively new product means that people need to be made aware of the benefits and advantages of such a product.

Simply delivering the information through flyers may sometimes not be enough and the company may need to follow up with further presentations and explanations to ensure that the message goes through to the customers. 3. The novelty of the idea. While this is also a strength, it is definitely a weakness too. The initial reaction at Kaufman Footwear, where everybody started laughing, could also be the reaction of the market, of the farmers that the company is trying to sell to. Opportunities 1. Relatively large market.

The number of cows in the U.S. And Canada is relatively high, meaning that, at least in the first phases of the business development, the company does not have to worry about running out of clients. 2. Capacity to develop the portfolio of products. The idea of a shoe for cows is just the first product of a portfolio that can be diversified to include other necessary accessories that protect a cow. 3. Presence on the market.

The company can act as market developers and market leaders, while also being trend setters in that they will have the capacity to promote new types of products and ensure that they determine how the market will develop in the future. Threats 1. Risk of other companies buying into the idea. This threat is real because it is difficult to patent this as an invention.

Indeed, most likely this is just considered a simple product on the market and any company can take over the idea, produce at higher quality or at lower prices and acquire some of the market share. 2. Risks related to cows. Any epidemics for cows or related actions, including economic actions, such as a decision for the government to purchase meat from other countries, because it would be cheaper, would affect the company. Alternatives 1. Target all Canadian dairy farmers with direct mail.

Several pros for this type of distribution alternative include the fact that it is relatively cheap compared to other options, that it helps give a personal touch to the relationship with the clients and that the company is able to coordinate activities such as marketing and maintain the company ideas. A disadvantage of such an alternative is that this is an impersonal sale and the potential client may not understand what he is really buying, making the product he receives different that what he thought he would be receiving. 2.

Sell to Veterinarians through distributors if available. The main advantage of such a solution is that veterinarians are the clients most likely to understand the benefits of such a service. The cons of such as solution are the fact that it limits the clients to veterinarians and that the contact with the actual users is too limited, through an excessive extension of the distribution channel. 3. Use distributors that serve farm supply dealers and sell directly to the dealers and price the shoe at $80.

The pros of such a solution include the fact that the company is able to make the biggest margin of all alternative solutions (the company retains only the production costs), but there is also the disadvantage of having to share part of.