You have been approached by the editor of gentlemen's magazine to carry ot a research study. The magazine has been unsuccessful in atracting shoe manufacturers as advertisers. When the sales force tried to secure advertising from shoe manufacurers, they were told men's cloting stores are small and dying segment of heir business. Since gentlemen's magazine goes chiefly to men's clothing stores, the manfacurers reasoned was that it was, therefore,not a good vehicle fopr their advertising. The editor believes tat a survey(via mail questionaire) of men's clothing stores in the united states will probably show that these stores are important outlets for men's shoes are not declining in importance as soe outlets. He ask ou to develop a proposal for the study and submit it to him. Develop the management-research qestion that will help you to develop a specific proposal.
What are your gross sales and what proportion of that is related to shoes?
Management Research Question: What is the current status and importance of men's clothing stores as outlets for men's shoes in the United States?
To develop a specific proposal for the research study, we need to break down the management research question into several key components:
1. Research Objective: The main objective is to understand the current status and importance of men's clothing stores as outlets for men's shoes in the United States. This will involve determining the perceptions of shoe manufacturers towards these stores and identifying any potential trends or changes in the industry.
2. Target Population: The target population for this study includes men's clothing stores in the United States. It would be essential to define the criteria for selecting the sample, such as the size, location, and type of stores (e.g., independent retailers, chain stores, high-end boutiques).
3. Data Collection Method: The proposed data collection method is a mail questionnaire. This approach allows for a wide reach across various stores and ensures that respondents have time to provide well-thought-out responses. Additionally, it reduces potential biases that might occur during face-to-face interviews.
4. Questionnaire Design: Develop a comprehensive questionnaire that addresses the following aspects:
a. Store Profile: Collect information about the store size, location, customer demographic, and the range of products they offer.
b. Supplier Relationships: Understand the existing relationships between the stores and shoe manufacturers. Are they satisfied with the options available to them?
c. Importance of Shoes: Determine the significance of men's shoes in the stores' overall sales and profitability.
d. Perceptions of Shoe Manufacturers: Assess how shoe manufacturers perceive men's clothing stores as advertising outlets.
e. Trends and Changes: Identify any recent trends or changes in the industry that impact the relevance and importance of men's clothing stores as outlets for men's shoes.
5. Data Analysis: Once the responses are collected, statistical analysis can be employed to identify patterns, trends, and correlations. This may include analyzing the importance of men's shoes in the overall store sales, comparing satisfaction levels between different supplier relationships, and examining perceptions of shoe manufacturers towards men's clothing stores.
6. Reporting and Recommendations: Summarize the research findings, analyze the implications, and provide recommendations to the editor of the Gentlemen's magazine based on the results. The recommendations should focus on strategies to attract shoe manufacturers as advertisers and enhance the relevance of men's clothing stores as advertising outlets.
By addressing these key components, you can submit a comprehensive proposal for the study that outlines the research objective, target population, data collection method, questionnaire design, data analysis plan, and expected reporting and recommendations.