1. Explain why Sears or Wal-mart cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image.
The reason why Wal-Mart or Sears cannot effectively create a trendy counterculture image is because they are big retailers. Wal-Mart it operates on a high volume low profit margin which means to mass produce or have your products mass produced for you or at least buy in bulk, that makes it impossible to be either trendy or counterculture. Trendy counterculture is about being different going against the grain. While Sears’s prices are higher they still sell massed produced items which they believe will appeal to the general population. To try to enter into a niche market and attempt to compete with a retailer like Urban Outfitters would be a terrible financial disaster for either Sears or Wal-Mart.
2. Could the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters? Explain your answer.
I do not believe that the big box stores sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters because unlike other retailers Urban Outfitters has a history of a unique shopping experience and targeting the counterculture, Urban Outfitters cater to the those who see them self on the cutting edge of fashion. Forward looking research is important; Urban Outfitters has people (fashion hunters) who prowl the streets for what is hot, or hip in fashion trends in the various communities. There is a wide variety of products made but in a very small quantity. Urban Outfitters have gained success based on having a unique shopping experience for the customer and keeping its products scarce and in demand. Also today all around the USA and beyond, no two Urban Outfitters stores are the same, even with the company’s distinct concepts all the stores are different. This reflects the different taste and preferences in the different Regions, which why big box stores cannot sell merchandise identical to Urban Outfitters.
3. Identify at least three reasons why exclusivity is valuable.
Exclusivity...