1. Does Newell have a successful corporate-level strategy? Provide an explanation and examples *

For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg”> 9-799-139 R E V : J A N U A R Y 3 1 2 0 0 5 C Y N T H I A A . M O N T G O M E R Y Newell Company: Corporate Strategy Among the many acquisitions that CEO John McDonough oversaw for Newell Company during 1998 two exemplify particularly important strategic steps for this broad-range manufacturer of basic home and hardware products. The first was the acquisition of Calphalon a privately held manufacturer of anodized aluminum cookware. Calphalon broadened Newell’s access to the department and specialty store markets and extended the company’s cookware product line to the top of the market. The second was the acquisition of Rubbermaid a manufacturer of plastic consumer and commercial products with revenue of $2.4 billion versus Newell’s $3.2 billion. The new company would be known as NewellRubbermaid and would have a greater global presence and a broader product offering than Newell alone. McDonough viewed these acquisitions as part of the next phase of developing Newell’s strategy making a “course correction ” as he called it. In the face of the increasing market power of Newell’s primary customers the volume retailers McDonough saw a need to develop or buy stronger brands. Both Rubbermaid and Calphalon brought strong brand names to Newell. In addition McDonough felt that the company had to continue to grow. Pointing to research that showed companies with over $10 billion in market capitalization commanded higher price/earnings multiples he believed that it was critical for Newell to reach this level of capitalization. As he said at the 1997 Annual Meeting “We [Newell] are not big enough to get attention.” With the Rubbermaid acquisition Newell’s market value would cross the $10 billion threshold. The Roots of Strategy Edgar A. Newell bought the assets of a bankrupt manufacturer of brass curtain rods in 1902. At the time Americans were just beginning to move out of cities to the first suburbs where people sought homes with extensive windows—both to let light in and to enjoy suburban views. Newell’s product—brass extension curtain rods—met with steadily increasing demand from the start.1 Newell began by selling its product to small hardware stores industrial builders and specialty retailers. As early as 1917 Newell became a regular supplier to the then rapidly growing chain of Woolworth stores gaining national distribution and a solid reputation among national chain stores. In 1921 Leonard Ferguson began his career at Newell achieving the status of full partner and owner in 1937. After receiving his MBA from Stanford in 1950 Leonard’s son Daniel joined the .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.gif”> 1William R. Cuthbert Newell Companies: A Corporate History 1983. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Research Associate Elizabeth J. Gordon prepared this case under the supervision of Professor Cynthia A. Montgomery. HBS cases are developed solely as the basis for class discussion. Cases are not intended to serve as endorsements sources of primary data or illustrations of effective or ineffective management. It is a rewritten version of an earlier case “Newell Company: Acquisition Strategy ” HBS No. 794-066 prepared by Research Assistant Elizabeth Wynne Johnson under the supervision of Professor David J. Collis. Copyright © 1999 President and Fellows of Harvard College. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials call 1-800-545-7685 write Harvard Business School Publishing Boston MA 02163 or go to http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu. No part of this publication may be reproduced stored in a retrieval system used in a spreadsheet or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic mechanical photocopying recording or otherwise—without the permission of Harvard Business School. This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. 799-139 Newell Company: Corporate Strategy company and became CEO in 1965. At that time Newell had revenues of approximately $10 million a limited product range based on curtain rods and no articulated strategy for the future. Dan Ferguson’s first task was to get control of Newell’s drapery rod business. The business had been guided by what was essentially a product-line strategy selling drapery hardware to all channels— including motels department stores and in Europe—but lacking anything to differentiate its product. In an effort to overcome this problem Newell acquired a small window-shade manufacturer in 1966. About this time Dan Ferguson attended a Young Presidents’ Organization meeting where he heard Stanford Professor Bob Katz deliver a speech on strategy. Katz’s ideas resonated but they slipped to the back of Ferguson’s mind until months later when he chanced to meet Katz on a plane. As they talked Ferguson began to develop a “build on what we do best” philosophy.2 Already selling extensively to Woolworth’s and to Kresge (later Kmart) Ferguson foresaw the trend toward consolidation in the retail business and envisioned a role for Newell: “We realized we knew how to make a high-volume/low-cost product and we knew how to relate to and sell to a large retail institution—the large mass retailer.”3 In July of 1967 Ferguson wrote out his strategy for Newell (Exhibit 1) identifying its focus as the market for hardware and do-it-yourself (DIY) products to volume merchandisers. In 1969 the company made its first non-drapery hardware acquisition with Mirra-Cote bath hardware. This added a new product line to the Newell family and opened up a relationship with Zayre a discount retailer that carried Mirra-Cote’s products. In making the acquisition Newell hoped it would be possible to leverage the Zayre relationship to sell other items as well. Newell went public in 1972 diluting what remained of the Newell family ownership. Ferguson recalled the decision to go public as one that had to be made “100 percent ” putting as much stock as possible up for sale to the public. Access to the capital markets permitted Newell to begin aggressively adding new products by acquisition. Newell thrived by following a disciplined and aggressive two-pronged strategy acquiring more than 30 major businesses in the next 20 years (Exhibits 2 and 3). To implement the strategy Newell acquired companies that manufactured low-technology nonseasonal noncyclical nonfashionable products that volume retailers would keep on the shelves year in and year out. Typically these firms were underperforming due to high costs and most had operating margins of less than 10%. After acquisition the companies were put through a process of streamlining focusing on operational efficiency and profitability. This was widely known as “Newellization.” Since the businesses shared a fundamental similarity Newell believed that it could quickly compare their income statements to its own recognize where fundamentals of the cost structures were misaligned and reduce costs accordingly. The aim of these changes was to raise operating margins above the 15% minimum Newell expected from each of its businesses. As Newell assembled a multiproduct offering it originally adhered to a strategy of consolidation and centralization in order to achieve efficiencies. For example the firm had a functional rather than a divisional organization and used a single sales force to sell all of its products. Over time however Newell underwent a major organizational transformation. The system of centralized marketing proved not to be an effective approach to selling a variety of products and the company was reorganized into separate divisions. Each division was individually responsible for .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.gif”> 2Personal interview with William Sovey April 23 1993. 3Don Longo “Ferguson Guides Newell to the Top . . . ” Discount Store News vol. 28 no. 18 September 25 1989 p. 82. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 2 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. Newell Company: Corporate Strategy 799-139 manufacturing and marketing but was centrally controlled by corporate-run administrative legal and treasury systems. By 1997 the Newell Company had revenues of $3.23 billion (Exhibit 4). It distributed a variety of consumer products primarily to mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart; office superstores such as Staples; and home centers such as Home Depot. That year Newell’s top 10 customers accounted for approximately 40% of its sales volume (Exhibit 5). Wal-Mart alone represented 15% of total sales. In addition to drapery hardware blinds and shades Newell products included “do-it-yourself” hardware products such as torches and paint brushes; home storage products such as wire shelving; writing instruments and markers; cookware; specialty glass; hair accessories; office storage products; office organization products; and picture frames (Exhibit 6). The company’s results have been impressive: through 1997 Newell had a 10-year average return to investors of 31% versus an 18% yearly average for the S&P 500. The Elements of Strategy Growth by Acquisition Profit growth not sales growth. — Newell Annual Report 1987 CEO John McDonough had the main responsibility for the strategic direction of the company and corporate business development. He looked for acquisitions that would add value to Newell’s already powerful multiproduct offering and make Newell a more important supplier for the world’s largest retailers. From the corporate headquarters—a small farmhouse on the border of Illinois and Wisconsin—McDonough maintained a stringent approach: redirect acquired businesses to focus on their core product and align them with Newell’s systems and processes. Company president and chief operating officer Tom Ferguson (no relation to Dan Ferguson) said “Anyone can talk about acquisitions and write the check but to make it work is a different story.”4 Dan Ferguson who remained on the board of directors after his retirement from active management described the process of integrating new companies in the following terms: “2 2 do not equal 4. If we do this right we get more than 4.” Beginning immediately after a new acquisition “Newellization” usually took place in less than 18 months and often in less than 6 months—typically under the leadership of a president and controller brought in by Newell from elsewhere in the company. In that time three categories of standard Newell systems were introduced: an integrated financial system a sales and order processing system and a flexible manufacturing system. Corporate teams composed of a few company executives were assembled to centralize administration accounting and customer-related financial aspects consolidating the systems into a single corporate computer system in Freeport Illinois. A good example of the Newellization process was the purchase of Anchor Hocking a manufacturer of glassware and cabinet hardware in 1987. Although Anchor Hocking had sales of $757 million in 1986 compared with Newell’s $350 million Newell targeted it for takeover on the basis of its own vastly stronger profit performance. At the time Newell was enjoying an 11% profit margin compared with Anchor’s 0.5% margin. Newell management dismissed high-level Anchor .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.gif”> 4 Company interviews January 7 1999. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 3 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. 799-139 Newell Company: Corporate Strategy executives including the chairman; reduced the total number of employees from 10 400 to about 9 000; and closed one of three glass factories and the company’s 25 retail stores. They also slashed excess inventory and eliminated 40% of Anchor’s glass product lines by year end saving $32.4 million in costs. An additional $12 million was saved by centralizing Anchor Hocking’s administrative financial and computer functions under one roof at Newell’s administrative headquarters in Freeport. Finally Newell reduced the average length of time needed to fill a customer order from 18 to 7 days. Attractive acquisition targets were companies that manufactured brand-name staple products that ranked #1 or #2 in market share. Management believed that such products would have the requisite amount of shelf space to be important to the retailer. As one Newell executive noted “The most important asset in a new acquisition is its shelf space.” The company also acquired small businesses to round out its existing product lines and consolidate industry capacity. The goal however was efficiency rather than pricing power as the most powerful customers could put a competitor back into business as a counterweight to a strong supplier. Market rationalization was also a benefit to Newell because as company president Tom Ferguson noted “Our worst competitor is one who’s sick. That competitor will do anything for cash flow and it will destroy the market.” Newell exited any business it deemed nonstrategic even divesting businesses with healthy profit margins if they were ill-suited to the company’s main focus. Home sewing products for example had seemed to fit Newell criteria. The Wm. E. Wright company a manufacturer of ribbons and home sewing products acquired in 1985 had solid sales and profit performance. But the market for home sewing was moving to small independent retailers and the business dwindled out of mass retail channels. Newell sold Wm. E. Wright in 1989 preferring to focus the company’s resources on businesses that better contributed to Newell by making it “more important to the mass retail customer.” Dan Ferguson explained: “Back when we had four companies adding a new one was a big deal. Now adding one more . . . is not necessarily going to increase our power. We have to look for a company that is powerful enough in itself to add something to the package.”5 Until the early 1990s Newell’s growth strategy was confined almost exclusively to the domestic market. Beginning in 1994 with the acquisition of Corning’s housewares business in Europe the Middle East and Africa the company entered foreign markets. By 1997 non-U.S. sales were 17% of Newell’s total revenue. The following year the company acquired Rotring a German manufacturer of writing instruments; Panex a cookware manufacturer in Brazil; and two European manufacturers of window treatments—Gardinia and Swish. The combination with Rubbermaid would bring international sales to 25% of the total.6 Globalization was part of the company’s vision and Newell was committed to following its customers overseas. In a speech to management 7 McDonough noted that Newell’s customers were becoming global. For example Wal-Mart had acquired 95 stores in Germany which it planned to operate like its U.S. stores. As U.S. retailers became global competitors Newell wanted to be ready to serve them as a global supplier. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.gif”> 5Daniel Ferguson personal interview January 28 1994. 6Robert W. Baird & Co. investor presentation February 1999. 7Management meetings February 1999. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 4 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. Newell Company: Corporate Strategy 799-139 Serving the Mass Retailer Beginning in the 1970s the nature of the U.S. retail industry changed with the emergence of large-scale mass retailers whose size gave them considerable power over their suppliers. By 1992 for example three chains controlled roughly 70% of the discount retailer market and by 1997 the same three controlled 80%. At the forefront of this new retail environment was Wal-Mart whose $118 billion in sales was four times as large as Kmart the next largest mass merchandiser and more than twice as large as the largest department store Sears (Exhibit 7).8 Wal-Mart not only had the influence to dictate the kind and quantity of merchandise shipped to its stores it also had considerable leverage over price and scheduling threatening to introduce a competitor to some stores as a way of pressuring suppliers. As a result manufacturers were forced to respond with greater efficiencies in their warehouse and distribution systems paring down inventory and eliminating error. As one small manufacturer put it “They take your guts out.”9 Many mass retailers relied on information technology as the foundation of their business. As one observer noted: “The power retailers have figured out a way of converting raw data into insight.”10 As a supplier Newell had invested heavily in the necessary computer and communications hardware to match its customers’ demands. Newell’s top 20 customers placed 90% of their orders through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) — the company’s sophisticated electronic management system for transmitting purchase orders invoices and payments to and from its retail partners across the country. Orders and data sent from customers to the company’s central computer in Freeport Illinois were processed and then downloaded to all the divisions. The divisions used this data to schedule their own production and deliveries allowing retailers to maintain minimal stock levels in line with actual sales. Said Tom Ferguson: “The company is built on a solid base of performance. By performance I mean shipping goods getting them on the counter and keeping the hooks full. That’s the name of the game.” Generally speaking retailers needed this service on a national basis. As technology improved over time the top three mass merchandisers along with many others began providing Newell with nightly point-of-sale data on every product sold the previous day. These retailers expected suppliers to use this data to plan manufacturing and shipping schedules in order to reduce inventory. By 1998 some began to use a system known as “cross-docking.” This was a means for retailers such as Wal-Mart to eliminate inventory other than at the store level. Suppliers were required to ship to the company’s central warehouse where an automated system distributed the delivery directly from the loading dock to trucks going to the individual stores. This system required on-time delivery of the correct order as there was no inventory buffer with which to complete an order. If the shipment was not on time there was no second chance—the trucks to the stores were gone. Claiming that unfilled orders were lost sales some retailers began charging suppliers the gross profit (or full margin) on missed shipments. Often these charges were deducted from payments automatically and were nonnegotiable. To address these pressures Newell focused each division on a single goal: furnishing product and service to mass retailers. Each division was to place primary emphasis on its own profit performance in the belief that this would force the division to provide superior customer service. In the 1970s the industry average for first-pass line-fill (the measure of stock available when an order was received) was 80%. Newell’s goal at the time was to keep its customers at 95% line-fill and 95% on-time delivery. As improvements later pushed the industry average higher Newell’s standard rose to nearly 100%. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.gif”> 8 “Top 100 Retailers:1-25 ” Chain Store Age State of the Industry Supplement August 1998 p. 3Aff. 9″Clout! More and More Retail Giants Rule the Marketplace ” Business Week December 21 1992 p. 67. 10 Ibid. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 5 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. 799-139 Newell Company: Corporate Strategy Newell vied to be the “no problem” supplier in the industry. As one executive noted a frequently asked question in the industry was “Do you ship as well as Newell?” While the company enjoyed a solid reputation for its service sub-par performance by a newly acquired business could easily damage that reputation. As Dan Ferguson observed “The retailer knows Newell by our worst performer so we can’t afford to have one dog in the show.”11 The key was to get the service level in new acquisitions up to Newell’s standards as quickly as possible; to that end the company was willing to carry larger inventories immediately following an acquisition. Consistent with its high service level Newell’s pricing was not the lowest in the industry. Rather it designed its products to fit a certain price point and then delivered consistently in both product and service quality. In the late 1980s marketing representatives came prepared to show the customer the company’s “report card” on several dimensions of service quality as evidence of a product’s value even if prices reflected an apparent 5% to 10% premium. By 1998 Wal-Mart had developed its own version of the “report card” which it used with all suppliers. Despite its size and the breadth of products it sold to the mass retailers Newell maintained distinct identities across its 21 separate divisions (Exhibit 8). The retailer therefore dealt with separate sales teams for each Newell product-line it carried although Wal-Mart for example may have preferred to deal with a single contact. The Corporate Role Like everything else we do to market to the mass retailer the more they see us as an effective partner the better the edge we have when a certain product comes up for review.12 Newell maintained centralized administration at the corporate level making it clear that basic functions—legal and tax issues benefits EDI credit and collection and financial control systems— would be their responsibility. The corporate charge to the divisions was 2% of sales. Top financial responsibilities were divided between two corporate executives: the Vice President-Finance who focused on outside asset and liability management and the Senior Vice President Corporate Controller who focused on internal operations. Both positions reported directly to the company president who in turn reported to the CEO. Separate divisions reported to group presidents one level below the company president. Acquisitions were pursued at the corporate level on the understanding that the various divisions were not to be distracted from their core function: generating profit. Total corporate staff was 375 with about 360 in the administrative headquarters in Freeport and 15 at the corporate headquarters in Beloit. Most of the top management team had been with the company for more than 15 years. The divisions were to handle design manufacturing marketing sales and service as well as merchandising to the customer. Management stressed the goal of creating lean efficient contributors to the Newell strategy: “If you have an opportunity to make a product line into a profit unit the smaller you can make that unit the more entrepreneurial drive you have.”13 Although Newell encouraged its new businesses to pursue growth Newell would not permit a division to redefine itself. Each business unit adhered to a specific and disciplined strategy with permission to develop .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.gif”> 11Ibid. 12Daniel Ferguson quoted in Holt Hackney “Strategic Alliances ” Financial World October 29 1991 p. 22. 13Mary Ann Bacher “The Newell Force in Housewares ” HFD: The Weekly Home Furnishings Newspaper (5) January 11 1988 p. 1. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 6 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. Newell Company: Corporate Strategy 799-139 but not to expand its core product focus. For example E-Z Paintr made “hand-held paint applicators ” i.e. paint brushes and rollers—not power sprayers or step ladders. Similarly when the Wright Co. had wanted to add knitting patterns to its product line the idea was rejected because patterns did not constitute a “volume staple line.” Representatives from Newell sought to interface with the retail customer at all levels of management. CEO McDonough maintained communication with the top people at Wal-Mart and other major customers as did Tom Ferguson. Two trade relations executives knew all their retail customers’ vice presidents but they never sold Newell’s products; as one executive remarked their job was to sell “Newell.” Vested with the duty to run each entity as an entrepreneurial unit division presidents functioned as their own chief marketing officers. They interfaced directly with their customers and maintained regular contacts with the retail chains’ buyers. The company attached great importance to customer relations frequently inviting buyers for plant visits that in some communities served as an occasion for planned celebrations with local officials in attendance. In addition Newell involved its major customers in a process of shared planning and development. Newell insisted upon holding customers strictly to the terms it laid out. The company’s 2%-30-net-45 payment agreements were not negotiable. Acquired companies often had been allowing major customers to pay on 90-day terms; Newell eliminated this practice immediately which resulted in savings on accounts receivable. Nor did any division president have authorization to allow a cash discount without corporate approval even to his or her largest customers except for preapproved campaigns. To Newell’s executives this “inflexibility” was simply a matter of discipline. The policy defended Newell against the protestations of smaller retailers such as hardware stores who didn’t like to see mass discounters such as Home Depot carrying the same brands for less. Newell also refused to bow to some retailers’ demands that it serve them exclusively. Management incentives both reflected and drove the corporate culture. Salary was based on a uniform system across all divisions rewarding individuals on the basis of their positions and the size of their divisions. Managers received a base salary that was equal to the industry average but could look forward to bonuses ranging from a maximum of 33% for the most junior manager of a division’s 20-person executive team to 100% for division presidents. The bonuses were based on division performance alone and the culture encouraged competition by convening managers for award ceremonies to honor top performers. Stock options an additional form of incentive made available when the company went public were granted according to a formula based on salary and position. Historically the company’s system for evaluating yearly bonuses focused exclusively on pre-tax ROA. The goals were high—beginning at 32.5% pre-tax ROA and reaching the maximum payout at 43.5%— and standard across all divisions. In 1990 Newell altered its bonus structure by adding a bonus for internal growth on top of existing ROA goals. Although in 1989 the company had a banner year in terms of profitability internal growth lagged. Management recognized that over the long run the company needed a more sound balance. One top executive noted: “There are years when you can increase earnings more than you increase sales but you can’t do that year after year.” In 1991 Newell achieved 6% internal growth with new products but maintaining this rate remained a challenge throughout the 1990s. Given the potential for rewards demand for positions at Newell was high. For management-level hires the company sought people who would be motivated by success and a lucrative bonus system. Applicants—mostly mid-level executives from other consumer goods companies—were screened for these particular management traits with a personality test and put through an intensive application process that only 1 in 10 passed. Each newly hired company employee underwent a two day training .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.gif”> 7 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. 799-139 Newell Company: Corporate Strategy program in the Newell corporate culture. The so-called “Newell University” stressed product focus and profit-orientation—the underpinnings of Newellization. Career paths featured frequent transfers and promotions. Among the top 250 managers the yearly transfer rate was above 10% with many moving across five or more divisions in a career. Even division presidents had an average tenure of less than 10 years in any one position—a reflection of the number of acquisitions and the possibility of moving from smaller to larger divisions. Executives generally were responsible for charting their own career paths. Job openings were publicized within the company although corporate HR rarely took a pro-active role in filling them. Instead divisional managers could directly choose from among the candidates. McDonough and Ferguson participated in decisions regarding the top 100 people reaching to one level below division president. Several times a year division leaders convened for presidents’ meetings. These in addition to regular encounters at trade shows kept leadership across divisions apprised as to what was going on elsewhere in the company. Annual management meetings brought together functional VPs for sales and marketing; operations; personnel; accounting and control; and customer service from all 21 divisions. Each group had its own two-day meeting featuring presentations and programs aimed at transferring learning. Corporate purchasing took place under the direction of a liaison from corporate services. The divisions could get together with one another to establish a contract and coordinate purchasing of shared items. However the amount of corporate purchasing was limited. To maintain its profit focus the company adhered to a strict set of monthly financial reviews. These meetings were administered by divisional controllers key members of the management team who also reported directly to the corporate controller as well as to their respective divisional presidents. Newell’s financial control system was tailored to the key success factors of businesses selling low-tech long life-cycle products to mass retailers. The system used variable budgeting that adjusted expense items in line with aggregate sales specifically addressing 30 items. Variances were bracketed and too many variances would lead to a “bracket meeting.” Even if sales were above budget if the flexed cost numbers showed an unfavorable variance intervention would follow. If necessary the budget would be changed and that division would be held strictly to the adjusted level. Newell preferred to commit division heads to a “real budget” using words like “contract” instead of “plan” and “out of control” instead of “variance.” Bracket meetings always took place at headquarters and were administered by senior corporate officers. These executives not only had extensive operating experience they also brought a cross-divisional perspective and a high-level awareness of conditions affecting their customer base. Bracket meetings were not intended to be pleasant for the division presidents but they were aimed at identifying and solving problems. Operating figures were also collected monthly on the premise that “if you want it done you need to measure it.” Newell’s tightly disciplined approach derived from senior management’s conviction that “if each piece is done right the whole will look after itself.” In Dan Ferguson’s words “We’re an operating company not a holding company.” As a consequence corporate management met with divisional managers regularly throughout the year with two meetings devoted to budget setting and at least as many to strategic planning. At least three or four times a year the two sets of managers would meet at either the corporate office or the division’s headquarters to review the monthly results in person. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.gif”> 8 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. Newell Company: Corporate Strategy 799-139 Newell’s Businesses Across all product categories Newell’s businesses used a program-selling approach offering “good ” “better ” and “best” products. The three categories were arranged on displays designed to encourage customers to step up their purchases: within a given display more expensive items were placed at eye-level with less-expensive alternatives situated below (Exhibit 9). In some businesses Newell’s strategy was to increase its market share with high-volume mass retailers by maintaining different brands within the “good better best” categories. Table A lists some of the brand names associated with Newell’s businesses (Exhibit 10). Table A Newell Brands by Category .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.gif”> Category Product Brand Hardware/Home Hardware and Tools Bulldog BernzOmatic Amerock EZ Paintr Furnishings Window Treatments Newell Levolor Kirsch Swish Gardinia Picture Frames Intercraft Decorel Burnes Home Storage Lee Rowan System Works Office Products Office Storage/Organization Rogers Rolodex Eldon Markers/ Writing Instruments Sanford Sharpie Eberhard Faber Berol Rotring Housewares Glassware Anchor Hocking Pyrexa Aluminum Cookware/Bakeware Mirro WearEver Panex Hair Accessories Goody Ace Source: Newell Company. aMarketed in Europe the Middle East and Africa only. Newell used its brands to protect the company’s shelf space at each price point in a given category. In hardware retailers often carried only one brand name of a particular product. EZ Paintr therefore offered one brand of paint brush at three different price points. Product sales were stimulated primarily by local promotions and retailer tie-ins rather than national advertising. In cookware retailers typically offered a broad selection of brands. To meet this need Newell offered Mirro® at the low to middle price point WearEver® at the middle and upper price points and WearEver® Air™ and Concentric Air® as the “best” products. By 1998 Newell was a strong player in each of the categories in which it competed and a market leader in nearly all. As one industry observer said “. . . over the last 10 years [Newell] has emerged as the single most important company in the housewares industry today.”14 Through acquisition consolidation and integration the company had built divisions with economies of scale across a broad range of price points in numerous product offerings. In each Newell had competitive brands with which it could maintain orderly competition within a product category and protect itself from new entrants at both the high and low price points. In the late 1990s Newell began to describe this process as “achieving critical mass.” Newell’s experience in picture frames exemplified reaching “critical mass.” After the purchase of Intercraft and Decorel two of the largest frame manufacturers in the United States the company consolidated and upgraded plants to increase manufacturing efficiency. The picture frame division .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.gif”> 14 Thyra Porter “Newell Follows Wal-Mart Lead ” HFN Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishings Network July 13 1998 p. 48. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.gif”> 9 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. 799-139 Newell Company: Corporate Strategy offered “good ” “better ” and “best” product lines through mass merchandisers and drugstore chains. In 1996 Newell purchased Holson-Burnes (Burnes) the leading manufacturer of high-end branded frames sold through department and specialty stores and discontinued Burnes’s recently introduced line of frames for the mass merchants. As Ferguson explained: “If we push the brand back [to the upscale market] . . . we can manage the new product flow and the evolution of these products into and through the channels.” By 1998 the picture-frames business had reached critical mass and margins were significantly greater than 15%. Newell management believed that several other product categories including paint applicators cookware window treatments and writing instruments were moving toward this goal. Calphalon Established in 1963 as the Commercial Aluminum Cookware Company Calphalon Corporation was a privately held manufacturer of aluminum cookware and related products. The Ohio-based company manufactured high-quality aluminum cookware for the food service industry until 1973 when it abandoned that focus to concentrate on the retail market. In 1997 Calphalon had six main product lines ranging in price from $250 to $500 for a 10-piece set. Sales grew from $6 million in 1982 to $102 million in 1997. Exhibit 11 shows the company’s recent financial performance. Calphalon’s sales process was a pull strategy with selling general and administrative (SG&A) expense averaging about 25% per year. Jeff Cooley the company president described the company’s goal as building a connection with consumers as well as retailers. As he pointed out “Upper-end cookware is bought on emotion. People who are passionate about great food are just as passionate about their cookware.” Cooley described the buying decision as “. . . a very personal response to professional quality standards and brand value—essential elements that become their [the customers’] ‘reason to believe’ that the cookware will deliver the kind of result they demand.” Cooley looked for a partnership with retailers who would add value and assist Calphalon in building its brand equity. Cooley remarked “When I look at a new customer [retailer] I never look at the volume opportunity but at the opportunities the relationship can deliver to the overall objective: to build and support the brand.” Top retail outlets included the major chains of better department stores as well as houseware and cookware specialty stores (Exhibit 12). Generally Calphalon’s products were offered in a “store within a store” format. Chef endorsements cooking classes and book signings were important for Calphalon sales. The company had 250 selling specialists some part-time some full-time who covered major accounts. They managed events did in-store cooking demonstrations and were responsible for training store personnel to sell Calphalon. On large accounts such as Macy’s Herald Square store in New York Calphalon staff actually worked in the cookware department selling the product. Besides strong private-label competition Calphalon faced All-Clad a manufacturer of very high-end stainless steel cookware and a variety of product lines by Meyer a Hong Kong-based company. All-Clad was a small but significant competitor with strong brand equity and high perceived value in the industry. Unlike All-Clad or Calphalon Meyer sold in both department stores and mass merchandisers and was described by Cooley as a “manufacturing giant with a need for volume.” Cooley observed that Meyer’s pricing while sometimes starting above Calphalon’s always ended up about 20% lower. He believed that Meyer’s costs were 20% to 30% lower than Calphalon’s and attributed this to their offshore manufacturing. In addition Cooley believed that Meyer’s volume business with the mass merchants enabled them to accept a smaller margin on high-end products as did their transfer of profits to Hong Kong where taxes were lower than in the United States. He .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.gif”> 10 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. Newell Company: Corporate Strategy 799-139 noted however that at this time Meyer had poor service levels due in part to their shipping from Asia and thought that this could prevent them from being more successful with some of the mass merchandisers. Over the years Cooley had been approached by several mass merchandisers about creating a product for them and he had resisted. However in 1997 an opportunity arose with Target opening the door to the younger more fashion-oriented market Calphalon had been unable to reach with its current lines and distribution channels. This opportunity was well timed as Calphalon’s competitor Meyer was already testing its Avalon product line for the same demographic. Target focused on a young demographic the 25- to 35-year-old age bracket and positioned itself as the most fashion-oriented hip and upscale of the mass merchandisers. The “Kitchen Essentials by Calphalon” line would be designed by Calphalon manufactured in Indonesia by a contract supplier and introduced into Target stores in early 1999. The line would be the only hard-anodized cookware sold in Target stores and would be displayed in specially designed fixtures exclusive to Calphalon. Target would support “Kitchen Essentials” with space in Target’s circulars as well as prominent positioning in materials for Target’s gift registry program Club Wedd which was expected to have in excess of 400 000 members in 1999. Newell Company acquired Calphalon in the spring of 1998 while the Target product line was being developed. Newell intended to honor the contract with Target but did not plan to sell Calphalon products to other mass merchandisers. Instead it planned to keep the Calphalon product lines in the department and specialty stores and use them to build Newell’s presence in these channels. Newell thought that if Calphalon remained in its current channels WearEver could continue to compete as Newell’s “best” brand in the mass merchandisers. Newell management believed it could bring discipline to many aspects of Calphalon’s business— financial organization and manufacturing—and instill a focus on profitability. In addition McDonough thought the Calphalon organization could share with Newell its expertise in developing pull strategies and building strong connections to the end consumer. Rubbermaid Rubbermaid based in Wooster Ohio was primarily a manufacturer of plastic products for the retail marketplace. Founded in 1930 Rubbermaid’s main product lines included home storage and commercial products and infant/juvenile products through its Little Tikes Century and Graco subsidiaries. Rubbermaid was best known for its success during the period from 1980 to 1991 when Stanley Gault who left G.E. after being passed over for CEO joined Rubbermaid as its chief executive. Gault a native of Wooster brought G.E.’s discipline and methods to Rubbermaid. During his tenure the company experienced average annual profit increases of 14% and share price increases of more than 25%.15 Rubbermaid became known for its brand equity and product innovation. In the late 1980s and early 1990s over 100 products per year were introduced with an expectation that 33% of annual revenue was to come from products introduced in the previous five years. In 1993 according to a survey quoted in Fortune Rubbermaid was the most admired company in America. Wolfgang Schmitt a long time Rubbermaid employee became CEO in 1992. Schmitt’s tenure was less successful than Gault’s and the stock price never again reached its 1992 high of $38. Although revenue grew from $1.8 billion in 1992 to $2.4 billion in 1997 net earnings fell from $164 million ($184 million before accounting change) to $143 million (Exhibit 13). Although Schmitt promoted .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.gif”> 15 Alan Farnham “America’s Most Admired Company ” Fortune February 7 1994 p. 50. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 11 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. 799-139 Newell Company: Corporate Strategy Rubbermaid’s team culture and new product development there were serious problems with management and operations. When resin prices rose in 1995 Rubbermaid was unable to pass along the cost increases to retailers in the form of higher prices. Because major retailers were resistant to increases smaller more efficient competitors captured market share by undercutting Rubbermaid’s prices. When a second restructuring was announced in 1998 after the initial cost-cutting and restructuring in 1995 analysts grumbled that although it was clear that Rubbermaid had reduced costs they wanted to see unit volume growth which would push up profits.16 Customers complained that Rubbermaid could not provide the service that they required. According to a major retailer “They’ve been such lousy shippers. Not on time terrible fill rates and their products cost too much. They show you a new product line and then tell you they can ship only a third of what you want.”17 Prior to Newell’s purchase of Rubbermaid the two companies had been talking for a number of years. In fact The Wall Street Journal reported that they had discussed a merger in the spring of 1997 but the talks had broken down over the issue of who would head the merged companies and where the headquarters would be located.18 When Rubbermaid contacted Newell to say that the company was available McDonough jumped at the opportunity. Within two weeks the companies reached an agreement on Newell’s purchase of Rubbermaid. This was the largest acquisition Newell had ever made. Indeed some industry observers wondered if this target was too big to be “Newellized.” The Wall Street Journal led its article on the deal with this comment: “Newell Co. renowned for squeezing costs out of acquired companies faces a tough test in its proposed $5 billion acquisition of Rubbermaid Inc.”19 John McDonough believed that the purchase of Rubbermaid while large was well within Newell’s capabilities. He commented “Newell’s expertise in integrating acquisitions manufacturing distribution customer relations and customer service gives us confidence that we can reach our goals.” The purchase was a tax-free exchange of 0.7883 shares of Newell stock for each share of Rubbermaid. At Newell’s closing price of $49.063 on the Tuesday before the deal this would have valued Rubbermaid’s shares at 49% over its closing price of $25.875. Immediately after the deal was announced Newell’s shares fell sharply to $43.875 at midday while Rubbermaid’s shares were up 26% at $32.688 (see Exhibit 14 for risk-adjusted returns to stockholders).20 Despite the market’s reaction McDonough felt that in the long run the cost savings and synergy between the companies would make this a good acquisition for Newell. He expected Newell to be able to apply its established process of acquiring streamlining and managing smaller companies to this large one. In addition he believed that Rubbermaid and its brand names enhanced Newell’s opportunities for globalization and internal growth. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.gif”> 16Cathleen Egan “Investors Analysts not Sold on Restructure ” Dow Jones News Service January 21 1998. 17 Geoffry Colvin “From the Most Admired to Just Acquired: How Rubbermaid Managed to Fail ” Fortune November 23 1998 p. 32. 18Joseph Cahill and Timothy Aeppel “Newell Faces a Big Challenge in Rubbermaid Takeover ” The Wall Street Journal November 3 1998 p. B4J. 19Ibid. 20Anonymous “Newell to Buy Rubbermaid for $5.8 Billion Creating Housewares Giant ” Dow Jones Online News October 21 1998. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 12 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. Newell Company: Corporate Strategy 799-139 Exhibit 1 Newell Strategy Statement 1967 July 1 1967 Statement of Newell Companies Newell defines its basic business as that of manufacturing and distributing volume merchandise lines to the volume merchandisers. A combination or package of lines going to the large retailers carries more marketing impact than each line separately and Newell intends to build its growth through performance and the marketing leverage of this package. This package will also have more economic impact on the financial community both for the securing of financing for future expansion and for the establishment of a market for the Companies’ equity securities. Newell is in a financial position to build the desired package. It has a net worth of approximately 10 million dollars with no long term debt and earnings are substantial and growing. Newell management is professional young aggressive and in excellent control of the basic hardware and shade business. We are aware of the tremendous marketing base good will and expertise we have in dealing with large merchandisers and we are dedicated to building growth in earnings for Newell on this solid base. .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.gif”>.0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image013.gif”> Source: Newell Company .0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif”> 13 This document is authorized for use only by Aj Krish in Strategy Summer 2015 for Travis Helm taught by Travis Helm Ohio State University – College of Education and Human Ecology from June 2015 to August 2015. For the exclusive use of A. Krish 2015. 799-139 Newell Company: Corporate Strategy Exhibit 2 Total Newell Strategy Mission Statement Newell is a manufacturer and full-service marketer of consumer products serving the needs of volume purchasers. Basic Strategy Merchandise a multi-product offering of brand-name staple consumer products with an emphasis on excellent customer service in order to achieve maximum results for our stockholders. Financial Objectives 1. Achieve sales and earnings per share growth averaging 15% per year 2. Maintain return on beginning equity at 20% or above 3. Increase our dividend consistent with earnings growth 4. Maintain a prudent degree of leverage { “@context”: “http://schema.org” “@type”: “WebPage” “name”: “Question #00081922: 1. Does Newell have a successful corporate-level strategy? Provide an explanation and examples *” “description”: “Tutorials for Question #00081922 categorized under Business and General Business” “keywords”: “Business General Business question #00081922 tutorial” “relatedLink”: “https://www.homeworkminutes.com/question/view/81922/1-Does-Newell-have-a-successful-corporate-level-strategy-Provide-an-explanation-and-examples” } Tutorials for this Question Available for $28.00 1. Does Newell have a successful corporate-level strategy? Provide an explanation and examples * Tutorial # 00076592 Posted On: 07/12/2015 10:12 AM Posted By: paul911 Questions:4702 Tutorials:4564 Feedback Score: 98% (1679 ratings) Report this Tutorial as Inappropriate Tutorial Preview …January xx 1999 x This document xx authorized for xxx only xx xx Krish xx Strategy Summer xxxx for Travis xxxx taught xx xxxxxx Helm xxxx State University x College of xxxxxxxxx and xxxxx xxxxxxx from xxxx 2015 to xxxxxx 2015 For xxx exclusive xxx xx A xxxxxx 2015 799-139 xxxxxx Company: Corporate xxxxxxxx executives xxxxxxxxx xxx chairman; xxxxxxx the total xxxxxx of employees xxxx 10 400 xx xxxxx 9 000; xxx closed one xx three glass xxxxxxxxx and xxx xxxxxxxxxxx 25 xxxxxx stores They xxxx slashed excess xxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxx xxx of xxxxxxxxxx glass product xxxxx by year xxxx saving xxx x million xx costs An xxxxxxxxxx $12 million xxx saved xx xxxxxxxxxxxx Anchor xxxxxxxxxxx administrative financial xxx computer functions xxxxx one xxxx xx Newell’s xxxxxxxxxxxxxx headquarters in xxxxxxxx Finally Newell xxxxxxx the xxxxxxx xxxxxx of xxxx needed to xxxx a customer xxxxx from xx xx 7 xxxx Attractive acquisition xxxxxxx were companies xxxx manufactured xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx products xxxx ranked #1 xx #2 in xxxxxx share xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx that xxxx products would xxxx the requisite xxxxxx of xxxxx xxxxx to xx important to xxx retailer As xxx Newell xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx “The xxxx important asset xx a new xxxxxxxxxxx is xxx xxxxx space xxx The company xxxx acquired small xxxxxxxxxx to xxxxx xxx its xxxxxxxx product lines xxx consolidate industry xxxxxxxx The xxxxx xxxxxxxx was xxxxxxxxxx rather than xxxxxxx power as xxx most xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx could xxx a competitor xxxx into business xx a xxxxxxxxxxxxx xx a xxxxxx supplier Market xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx was also x benefit xx xxxxxxx because xx company president xxx Ferguson noted xxxxxx worst xxxxxxxxxx xx one xxxxxxx sick That xxxxxxxxxx will do xxxxxxxx for xxxx xxxxx and xx will destroy xxx market ” xxxxxx exited xxx xxxxxxxx it xxxxxx nonstrategic even xxxxxxxxx businesses with xxxxxxx profit xxxxxxx xx they xxxx ill-suited to xxx company’s main xxxxx Home xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx for xxxxxxxx had seemed xx fit Newell xxxxxxxx The xx x Wright xxxxxxxx a manufacturer xx ribbons and xxxx sewing xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx in xxxxx had solid xxxxx and profit xxxxxxxxxxx But xxx xxxxxx for xxxx sewing was xxxxxx to small xxxxxxxxxxx retailers xxx xxx business xxxxxxxx out of xxxx retail channels xxxxxx sold xx x Wright xx 1989 preferring xx focus the xxxxxxxxxxx resources xx xxxxxxxxxx that xxxxxx contributed to xxxxxx by making xx “more xxxxxxxxx xx the xxxx retail customer xxx Dan Ferguson xxxxxxxxxx “Back xxxx xx had xxxx companies adding x new one xxx a xxx xxxx Now xxxxxx one more xx not necessarily xxxxx to xxxxxxxx xxx power xx have to xxxx for a xxxxxxx that xx xxxxxxxx enough xx itself to xxx something to xxx package xxxx xxxxx the xxxxx 1990s Newell’s xxxxxx strategy was xxxxxxxx almost xxxxxxxxxxx xx the xxxxxxxx market Beginning xx 1994 with xxx acquisition xx xxxxxxxxxxx housewares xxxxxxxx in Europe xxx Middle East xxx Africa xxx xxxxxxx entered xxxxxxx markets By xxxx non-U S xxxxx were xxx xx Newell’s xxxxx revenue The xxxxxxxxx year the xxxxxxx acquired xxxxxxxx x German xxxxxxxxxxxx of writing xxxxxxxxxxxx Panex a xxxxxxxx manufacturer xx xxxxxxx and xxx European manufacturers xx window treatments—Gardinia xxx Swish xxx xxxxxxxxxxx with xxxxxxxxxx would bring xxxxxxxxxxxxx sales to xxx of xxx xxxxx 6 xxxxxxxxxxxxx was part xx the company’s xxxxxxx and xxxxxx xxx committed xx following its xxxxxxxxx overseas In x speech xx xxxxxxxxxxxx McDonough xxxxx that Newell’s xxxxxxxxx were becoming xxxxxx For xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx had xxxxxxxx 95 stores xx Germany which xx planned xx xxxxxxx like xxx U S xxxxxx As U x retailers xxxxxx xxxxxx competitors xxxxxx wanted to xx ready to xxxxx them xx x global xxxxxxxx 5Daniel Ferguson xxxxxxxx interview January xxx 1994 xxxxxxx x Baird xxxxx Co xxxxxxxx presentation February xxxx 7Management xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx 1999 x This document xx authorized for xxx only xx xx Krish xx Strategy Summer xxxx for Travis xxxx taught xx xxxxxx Helm xxxx State University x College of xxxxxxxxx and xxxxx xxxxxxx from xxxx 2015 to xxxxxx 2015 For xxx exclusive xxx xx A xxxxxx 2015 Newell xxxxxxxx Corporate Strategy xxxxxxx Serving xxx xxxx Retailer xxxxxxxxx in the xxxxxx the nature xx the x x retail xxxxxxxx changed with xxx emergence of xxxxxxxxxxx mass xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx size xxxx them considerable xxxxx over their xxxxxxxxx By xxxxx xxx example xxxxx chains controlled xxxxxxx 70% of xxx discount xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx and xx 1997 the xxxx three controlled xxx At xxx xxxxxxxxx of xxxx new retail xxxxxxxxxxx was Wal-Mart xxxxx $118 xxxxxxx xx sales xxx four times xx large as xxxxxx the xxxx xxxxxxx mass xxxxxxxxxxxxx and more xxxx twice as xxxxx as xxx xxxxxxx department xxxxxx Sears (Exhibit xx 8 Wal-Mart xxx only xxx xxx influence xx dictate the xxxx and quantity xx merchandise xxxxxxx xx its xxxxxxx it also xxx considerable leverage xxxx price xxx xxxxxxxxxxx threatening xx introduce a xxxxxxxxxx to some xxxxxx as x xxx of xxxxxxxxxx suppliers As x result manufacturers xxxx forced xx xxxxxxx with xxxxxxx efficiencies in xxxxx warehouse and xxxxxxxxxxxx systems xxxxxx xxxx inventory xxx eliminating error xx one small xxxxxxxxxxxx put xxx xxxxxxx take xxxx guts out xxxx Many mass xxxxxxxxx relied xx xxxxxxxxxxx technology xx the foundation xx their business xx one xxxxxxxx xxxxxx “The xxxxx retailers have xxxxxxx out a xxx of xxxxxxxxxx xxx data xxxx insight ”10 xx a supplier xxxxxx had xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx in xxx necessary computer xxx communications hardware xx match xxx xxxxxxxxxxxx demands xxxxxxxxxx top 20 xxxxxxxxx placed 90% xx their xxxxxx xxxxxxx Electronic xxxx Interchange (EDI) xxx the company’s xxxxxxxxxxxxx electronic xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx for xxxxxxxxxxxx purchase orders xxxxxxxxx and payments xx and xxxx xxx retail xxxxxxxx across the xxxxxxx Orders and xxxx sent xxxx xxxxxxxxx to xxx company’s central xxxxxxxx in Freeport xxxxxxxxx were xxxxxxxxx xxx then xxxxxxxxxx to all xxx divisions The xxxxxxxxx used xxxx xxxx to xxxxxxxx their own xxxxxxxxxx and deliveries xxxxxxxx retailers xx xxxxxxxx minimal xxxxx levels in xxxx with actual xxxxx Said xxx xxxxxxxxx “The xxxxxxx is built xx a solid xxxx of xxxxxxxxxxx xx performance x mean shipping xxxxxx getting them xx the xxxxxxxx xxx keeping xxx hooks full xxxxxxxx the name xx the xxxx xxx Generally xxxxxxxxx retailers needed xxxx service on x national xxxxx xx technology xxxxxxxx over time xxx top three xxxx merchandisers xxxxx xxxx many xxxxxx began providing xxxxxx with nightly xxxxxxxxxxxxx data xx xxxxx product xxxx the previous xxx These retailers xxxxxxxx suppliers xx xxx this xxxx to plan xxxxxxxxxxxxx and shipping xxxxxxxxx in xxxxx xx reduce xxxxxxxxx By 1998 xxxx began to xxx a xxxxxx xxxxx as xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ” This xxx a means xxx retailers xxxx xx Wal-Mart xx eliminate inventory xxxxx than at xxx store xxxxx xxxxxxxxx were xxxxxxxx to ship xx the company’s xxxxxxx warehouse xxxxx xx automated xxxxxx distributed the xxxxxxxx directly from xxx loading xxxx xx trucks xxxxx to the xxxxxxxxxx stores This xxxxxx required xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx of xxx correct order xx there was xx inventory xxxxxx xxxx which xx complete an xxxxx If the xxxxxxxx was xxx xx time xxxxx was no xxxxxx chance—the trucks xx the xxxxxx xxxx gone xxxxxxxx that unfilled xxxxxx were lost xxxxxx some xxxxxxxxx xxxxx charging xxxxxxxxx the gross xxxxxx (or full xxxxxxx on xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx Often xxxxx charges were xxxxxxxx from payments xxxxxxxxxxxxx and xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx To xxxxxxx these pressures xxxxxx focused each xxxxxxxx on x xxxxxx goal: xxxxxxxxxx product and xxxxxxx to mass xxxxxxxxx Each xxxxxxxx xxx to xxxxx primary emphasis xx its own xxxxxx performance xx xxx belief xxxx this would xxxxx the division xx provide xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx service xx the 1970s xxx industry average xxx first-pass xxxxxxxxx xxxx measure xx stock available xxxx an order xxx received) xxx xxx Newell’s xxxx at the xxxx was to xxxx its xxxxxxxxx xx 95% xxxxxxxxx and 95% xxxxxxx delivery As xxxxxxxxxxxx later xxxxxx xxx industry xxxxxxx higher Newell’s xxxxxxxx rose to xxxxxx 100% x xxxxxx 100 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Chain Store xxx State of xxx Industry xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx 1998 x 3Aff 9″Clout! xxxx and More xxxxxx Giants xxxx xxx Marketplace ” xxxxxxxx Week December xxx 1992 p xx 10 xxxx x This xxxxxxxx is authorized xxx use only xx Aj xxxxx xx Strategy xxxxxx 2015 for xxxxxx Helm taught xx Travis xxxxx xxxx State xxxxxxxxxx – College xx Education and xxxxx Ecology xxxx xxxx 2015 xx August 2015 xxx the exclusive xxx of x xxxxxx 2015 xxxxxxx Newell Company: xxxxxxxxx Strategy Newell xxxx to xx xxx “no xxxxxxxxxx supplier in xxx industry As xxx executive xxxxxx x frequently xxxxx question in xxx industry was xxxxx you xxxx xx well xx Newell?” While xxx company enjoyed x solid xxxxxxxxxx xxx its xxxxxxxx sub-par performance xx a newly xxxxxxxx business xxxxx xxxxxx damage xxxx reputation As xxx Ferguson observed xxxxxx retailer xxxxx xxxxxx by xxx worst performer xx we can’t xxxxxx to xxxx xxx dog xx the show xxxxx The key xxx to xxx xxx service xxxxx in new xxxxxxxxxxxx up to xxxxxxxxxx standards xx xxxxxxx as xxxxxxxxx to that xxxx the company xxx willing xx xxxxx larger xxxxxxxxxxx immediately following xx acquisition Consistent xxxx its xxxx xxxxxxx level xxxxxxxxxx pricing was xxx the lowest xx the xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx it xxxxxxxx its products xx fit a xxxxxxx price xxxxx xxx then xxxxxxxxx consistently in xxxx product and xxxxxxx quality xx xxx late xxxxx marketing representatives xxxx prepared to xxxx the xxxxxxxx xxx company’s xxxxxxxxx card” on xxxxxxx dimensions of xxxxxxx quality xx xxxxxxxx of x product’s value xxxx if prices xxxxxxxxx an xxxxxxxx xx to xxx premium By xxxx Wal-Mart had xxxxxxxxx its xxx xxxxxxx of xxx “report card” 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