Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. Was

Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. was founded in 1974 and is now the leader in the industry. The company produces a wide variety of high quality bikes, both for mountain trips, but also for city roads. They place increased emphasis on the full satisfaction of their customers' needs and all operations are based on the incorporation of the latest technologies.

The company's SWOT could be summarized as follows: Strengths Increased focus on the customers' needs and wants and intense efforts to satisfy these needs Acknowledged brand - the red S, and good reputation Skilled and committed marketing team which knows how to address and serve their customers High quality products which incorporate the latest technologies Wide array of products, including mountain bikes, road bikes, children's bikes and BMX bikes Complementary products, such as helmets or shoes Increased focus on innovation and the integration of novelty elements They operate on international scale onto three continents, 35 countries and through 500 dealers Highly sophisticated website, which once again points out their integration of the technological advancements, and makes them easy to contract from every corner of the world Weaknesses Specialized cannot directly and clearly communicate with the end user, as the intermediaries interfere in the process The company is highly dependent upon the retailers They are highly specialized on mountain bikes, but if they do not place more emphasis on road bikes, they risk becoming a niche industry Opportunities The technological advancements are accessible and Specialized can easily integrate them within their bikes Specialized is the original bike manufacturer and the leader of the industry, being copied by the rest of the players on the market; and this adds value to their products and indirectly advertises them Numerous occasions to speak publicly (such as during TV talk shows) offer Specialized the chance to familiarize the consumers with their products and capture their interest Possibilities to set the basis for strategic partnerships with numerous companies and increase the quality of the final product The numerous social events organized and sponsored by Specialized have helped it maintain its good reputation and have supported the development of communities Threats The manufacturer faces increased competition on the market, moreover when the number of bike producers has reached 20 Specialized's competitors also have easy access to the latest technologies.