Preview

Urban Outfitters Inc. Case Study

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1669 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Urban Outfitters Inc. Case Study
Throughout history, global commodity chains have been a critical component in fulfilling high consumer demands; these “chains,” either material or representational, has led to increasing concerns on labor rights. A global commodity chain is a series of links that connects the production of raw material to the distributors that eventually are marketed and sold to consumers. This extensive process is a crucial part to the growth of globalization that has allowed for a rapid increase in labor forces in developing countries. However, networks within the chains have been blinded by the high consumer demand and almost disregarded labor standards in order to meet quota at the cheapest cost. As a result, millions of workers struggle to survive through poor working conditions entailing long hours, child labor and little to no pay. An example of this can be seen through the publicly traded American company, Urban Outfitters, Inc, that has recently been a target for debate concerning their association with factories overseas that do not exhibit good labor standards. It has further raised the question as to what policies and consumer choices companies such as Urban Outfitter Inc. can partake in to improve the issue. As the consumer demand began to …show more content…
distributes an array of chic products through its five retail brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropology, Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN. Since the company originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1970, it has grown to operate over 400 various locations worldwide (URBN et. al. 2012, 1). The retail empire is popular amongst a vast amount of ages, ranging from trendy to luxurious, designer products. Although the company has drawn in billions of dollars with its increasing high consumer demand, issues arose in 2009 because firms within the company began denying collective bargaining rights amongst its workers (Beck, et. al. 2005,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Case Study: Jcpenney
    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Case Study: Jcpenney

    Ron Johnson made some bad decisions that caused him to only last as the CEO of JCPenney for seventeen months (Kinicki & Williams, 2013). His bad decisions consisted of misreading what the shoppers wanted, no testing of ideas prior to execution, distancing himself from the essential consumers, misread the JCPenney brand (Tuttle, 2013).…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Urban Outfitters: Company Profile
    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Urban Outfitters: Company Profile

    Urban Outfitters has been a favorite among the teen to early thirties set since their inception in 1970. Today it focuses on all that is hip and trendy without completely breaking the bank. Urban Outfitters also owns the Anthropologie stores which caters to an older and more sophisticated crowd, as well as Free People, an even higher end brand. Urban Outfitters now has over 150+ namesake stores located in the United States and Canada.…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Case Study: Centervale Apparel
    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Case Study: Centervale Apparel

    This paper will serve as a proposal, using a balanced scorecard approach to demonstrate the project’s value to Centervale Apparel, using the given data. This will included a cost-benefit analysis, such as payback period or ROI that relies on tangible measures of organizational value through cost savings, revenue enhancements, or improvements in the speed, quality, or efficiency of key processes that help achieve a competitive advantage. Alternatives will be identified, if any, to the project implementation and provide a justification for each. A completed a risk assessment of all risks associated with implementing the project using an enterprise risk management (ERM) model. This paper will described total cost of ownership and…

    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macy's Case Study
    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macy's Case Study

    The main intention of this program is to generate repeat purchases from customers. In addition, it allows the company to obtain information from clients with the purpose of using that information to send the customers promotions or coupons to generate more repeat purchases. Moreover, the program seeks to develop a need or want over time for its products and services after the consumer benefits from using the initial discounts and offers. So, the company tries to create a purchase behavior from the consumer by increasing purchasing the chances of repeat purchases from customers. As a result, the company expects for consumers to increase their purchasing behaviors toward the company without having to provide any reward, coupons, or promotional…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jcpenney Case Study
    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jcpenney Case Study

    "This is not a turn-around situation," George Bradt, managing director of executive consulting firm PrimeGenesis told us. "This is a 'turn off the lights' situation."…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lululemon: Ethical Business Practices
    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page

    Lululemon: Ethical Business Practices

    It’s clear that Lululemon is reliant on third-parties for the supply and the manufacturing requirements of its athletic apparel. By association, should these companies engage in unethical business practices or skimp on quality guidelines, these acts will reflect poorly on the Lululemon brand (Vallester, Lindgreen, & Maon, 2012). The use of foreign labour and manufacturing resources among multinational enterprises can become complicated, where firms that violate principles of corporate social responsibility experience backlash from consumers often (Nam et al., 2017). These issues are manageable for numerous multinational establishments; however, this is not the circumstance for Lululemon as it has few supplier replacements…

    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Costco External Industry Analysis
    • 1668 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Costco External Industry Analysis

    Recently, manufactures have been under attack for exploiting overseas workers for cheap labor. Companies like Apple and Victoria’s Secret are recent examples of companies that have been criticized for the companies labor activities. According to a story by the New York Times, “Employees work excessive overtime, in some cases seven days a week, and live in crowded dorms. Some say they stand so long that their legs swell until they can hardly walk (par. 8).” Many of the workers are children forced to work in these conditions. In the same article by the New York Times, a former Apple executive said: “most people would still be really disturbed if they saw where their iPhone comes from (par. 26).” As stories like these start to come to light, Costco could begin to face pushback from consumers of these products, many of which Costco sells. Costco can see this as an opportunity to push manufacturers to implement changes in the manufacturing process. Costco may also be threatened because, if manufacturers are forced to change the manufacturing process, it will result in higher prices and sales will plummet. Also consumers may choose not to purchase these products.…

    • 1668 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Phl 320 Sweatshop Labor Research Paper
    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Phl 320 Sweatshop Labor Research Paper

    The sweatshops managers refuse to employee unionized labor workers and threaten the current workers by termination if they are known to be socializing with a union representative. As long as the company’s continue to depend on sweatshop products for a larger margin of profit, the sweatshops will continue to operate in their unethical environments. If the governments in the Third World countries do not enforce regulations to improve the unethical and unsafe working conditions of the sweatshops, the conditions will never change for the abused…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Specific Effects of Globalization Throughout Fugitive Denim
    • 2232 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The Specific Effects of Globalization Throughout Fugitive Denim

    Globalization, which is best defined as the expansion of cultural, political, economical and ideological relationships regarding worldwide social exchange and interdependencies, is the underlying motif in Rachel Louise Snyder’s novel, Fugitive Denim (Conley 531). In this work, Snyder uses a theoretical pair of denim jeans to explore the workings of the global market, from the harvesting of the cotton used in making jeans to the fashion design behind the pants seen in stores around the world. Being the beneficiary of inexpensive goods, capitalist nations like the United States and much of the European Union neglect to realize their low-cost end products come about as a result of outsourcing to underdeveloped nations. While this outsourcing benefits the “overdeveloped” nations, it is often at the expense of the underdeveloped nations. In this process, Snyder explores a variety of interrelated social issues, specifically the relationships between inequality, corporations and gender and separately the issues of exploitation, capitalism and consumption.…

    • 2232 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Labor Practices PHL 320
    • 757 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Labor Practices PHL 320

    Most members of society automatically consider sweatshops as an unacceptable source of labor because they are known for subjecting employees to dangerous and unsanitary labor conditions. Research organizations have consistently found that while economists and activists disagree about the costs and benefits of such practices, consumers have a strong preference to purchase products made without sweatshop labor. Mostly because consumers are concerned and often disturbed when labor abuses occur but the demand for products that guarantee favorable working conditions remains low.…

    • 757 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Bloomingdales Case Study
    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Bloomingdales Case Study

    Bloomingdales has been an iconic retailer for the since its inception in 1861. Their recent 100% Bloomingdales campaign is a collaboration between Fashion Directors and 100 designers to provide 1000 exclusive pieces for Bloomindale shoppers. This campaign is incredibly successful in meeting the high standards the brand is famous for while seamlessly integrating into the new omnipresent marketplace that the fashion industry is evolving into. The campaign is fun, targeting a new and younger demographic that translates into multiple platforms and tells the consumer that Bloomingdales is a one stop shop for limited edition high end pieces.…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Cheap Labor Violations
    • 2622 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Cheap Labor Violations

    This paper explores the way in which sweatshops, cheap labor, and violation of workers rights continues to exist throughout the world. Providing inside information that the average individual might not know about the products they purchase and use everyday. This paper touches on what goes on in these sweatshops, which the most common workers are, and what countries are receiving the lowest wages for their work. Some of the most popular companies who have been recognized as abusers of labor laws are addressed, along with an update on how they’ve fared since being accused. As the paper draws to a close different solutions…

    • 2622 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Letter to the Editor About the Industrial Revolution
    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Letter to the Editor About the Industrial Revolution

    Working conditions today are usually good and pretty safe, right? That's what we know, is that all factories are safe, that all of the laws are followed, and that everything is great. Look at what you are wearing today, maybe a jacket mad in the U.S., a t-shirt made in Malaysia, jeans made in Mexico, and socks made in China. To stay competitive, large companies contract out to manufacturers all over the world to buy at the lowest possible costs. This often ends in horrible working conditions for factory workers who make our clothing, both in other countries, and right here in the United States. I thought that the working conditions were perfectly fine here in the U.S. until my eyes were opened by the articles that I read on the internet and in books.…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Sweatshop Issues From Ethical Theories Views
    • 1761 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Sweatshop Issues From Ethical Theories Views

    Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the vast range of goods produced overseas and the often horrifying conditions under which workers labored to produce them. College students, activists, and certain scholars were quick to condemn “Sweatshops” and the multinational companies (MNC’s) that used them. However, this initial moral condemnation was based more on a natural sense of horror than moral reasoning, and critics often demonstrated a lack of sensitivity to both the underlying economic conditions that gave rise to the sweatshop phenomenon and to the beneficial consequences of sweatshops for both their employees and the broader economies in which they functioned. As a result, many economists quickly leapt to the defense of sweatshops. However, currently, all sides to the debate now recognize that sweatshop labor often represents the best option available for desperately poor workers to improve their lives and the lives of their family, and that any attempt to reform sweatshops should be proceed with caution lest the incentives that product this benefit be destroyed. Regardless of much view that sweatshop is the best option, some still argue that sweatshops violates the laws of the countries in which they operate, aside from charging that sweatshops labor, even if mutually beneficial, is nevertheless often or necessarily coercive or exploitative. Sweatshops may also happen to be the best option for the potential workers since they are living in poverty and perhaps unable to adequately provide for themselves and their families, MNC’s provides the worker with just enough money to make the employment offer attractive, and will demand in exchange the worker to work for long hours in dangerous and unpleasant conditions.…

    • 1761 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Opinion on Globalization
    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Opinion on Globalization

    So consumers like me enjoy the endless availability of products worldwide the consequences of this international trade is not simply more products and cheaper prices. If all consumers were aware of how their products were made many of us would object. Corporations continually exploit cheap labour and take advantage of the environment internationally. Wal-Mart for example sells Kathie Lee Gifford’s brand of clothing that was manufactured in Honduras where the women were abused and raped on a regular basis being paid poorly and treated inhumanely. (Bakan, 68) It is only until consumers became aware of these conditions and demanded change by boycotting the company’s products. All too often though consumers do not become aware of these conditions and the situation is not improved.…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics