Strategic Plan for Retail Management and Merchandising Success

This report provides an overview of retail management and merchandising, highlighting the importance of connecting products with customers effectively. It discusses online retail strategies, comparing different websites for car purchases and identifying www.carlist.my as a superior platform due to its extensive features and direct dealer communication. The report also includes a financial analysis of sales scenarios and a strategic plan memo for a bookstore, suggesting operational improvements, book buybacks, and competitor analysis to mitigate losses and enhance revenue. The document emphasizes the need for businesses to adapt to changing market dynamics and customer preferences to maintain a competitive edge, with Desklib offering additional resources for student learning.

Running head: RETAIL MANAGEMENT AND MERCHANDISING
Retail Management and Merchandising
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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RETAIL MANAGEMENT AND MERCHANDISING
Table of Contents
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................3
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................4
Reference List..................................................................................................................................5

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Task 1
In the current economy, the use of internet has increased and human beings have been
making use of the internet in order to purchase various products and accordingly have been
useful in saving time. In this manner, internet is useful for the purchase of a car. The online
websites that offers cars for sell have to be highlighted and thereafter assessment of the websites
have to be done in order to find out which company website offers the best deals for cars and
thereby selection of the suitable website can be used in order to purchase the cars. The choice of
the websites can be done by making use of the smartphone and laptop. The websites that have
been selected for the purchase of the cars are:
www.carlist.my
www.motortrader.com.my
www.oto.my
Each one of the websites that have been selected have the option of registering with the
company so that they would be able to offer the most effective level of services. The websites
have the options of buying new cars, selling of the old cars and even selling of second hand cars.
A header is even present where the news related to any car changes in the prices are highlighted.
A space in the website is even present where the customers can put in the kind of car they desire
like the brand, price range and the model and accordingly all the cars that are falling within that
category are presented to the client thereby eliminating any such cars that are out of their budget
and their choice. Out of the three websites that have been selected www.carlist.my is the most
suitable website as this website provides extensive features and services that reduces the time of
the customers. There are additional features as well where the customers can contact the dealers

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directly through chat and thereby makes the dealings regarding the purchase of the cars more
easier. Each one of the websites have the ability to purchase cars even though they offer the
option of looking into the car themselves directly before undertaking online purchase and
transactions of the same. The process of purchase involves assessing the car and thereafter
making payments through debit and credit cards, online payments through internet banking and
even through online payment sites. The competitors have the advantage of assessing the website
so that the uniqueness of the website can be known and thereby they can make improvements of
themselves as well. The only thing that can be added to the website can be making the website
available in the local language as well so that local residents can understand the features and the
products that are being offered by them.
Task 2
Particulars
Actual
Amount
10%
Higher
Sales
10%
Lower
Sales
Annual Sales A 650000 715000 585000
Gross Margin % B 40% 40% 40%
Gross Margin C=AxB 260000 286000 234000
Fixed Operating Expenses D 180000 180000 180000
Variable Operating
Expenses E=Ax12% 78000 85800 70200
Net Profit F=C-D-E 2000 20200 -16200

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Task 4
To Dolph Drake
From: Malcolm Jones
Date: 03/02/2018
RE: Memo for the development of a strategic plan and the undertaking of the basic steps
Mr Drake,
This memo has been constructed in order to assist in making an idea about the basic steps and
strategies that can be taken with the help of which a strategic plan can be constructed that can be
helpful in mitigating the issues faced with respect to loss and the bookstore is able to attain their
previous position. The strategic plan that can be provided involves the assessing the operational
activities that have been undertaken by the rival bookstores and thereby construct plans and
policies with the help of which they can make improvements in their plans as well. The
bookstore even has to take the initiative of buying backs books from the students of the year end
semester. The bookstore has to locate their business in specific business locations where the
students tend to come even after their college so that they would be able to sell of their books
there and Bulldog bookstore would be able to increase their amount of sales and revenue. The
bookstore needs to assess their operations on a frequent basis and compare their operations with
their competitors in order to have an idea about the improvements that can be undertaken.

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Reference List
Belk, Russell. "You are what you can access: Sharing and collaborative consumption
online." Journal of Business Research 67.8 (2014): 1595-1600.
Muromachi, Y. (2017). Experiences of past school travel modes by university students and their
intention of future car purchase. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 104, 209-
220.