Business Environments of ALDO and Clarks shoe Companies - Essay Example

This paper illustrates that in 1993 ALDO entered the US market and in the next year it ventured out of North America. Israel was the first country outside North America where ALDO started its business under a franchisee agreement. It set ALDO’s international business model. By 2011 the company has opened more than 1000 stores operating in sixty-five countries across the globe. There are also 160 ALDO Accessories stores operating in nineteen countries. The Clarks was established as a result of an inspirational idea by James Clark.

The company was founded by the joint effort of the brothers, Cyrus and James Clark in 1825 in Somerset village in the United Kingdom. The start was made with “their sheepskin slipper, named the ‘Brown Petersburg’” which was highly successful. In 1842 the monthly sales averaged at one thousand pairs a month. Initially, the entire production was prepared by hand and by the Clark brothers only. With the rise in demand, workers from outside were hired. In 1851 the Clark brothers were awarded “at the Great Exhibition” where the achievements of the British industry were showcased.

In 1863 the factory system was established and thirty years later, in 1883, the first shoe was designed that fit the actual shape of the foot. This remains as the bedrock of reputation of this company. In 1990, the factory location was changed from the UK to Portugal following changes in trade patterns in the world. It was the onset of the company’s decision to move out and operate overseas. Presently Clarks has expanded in “Eastern and Western Europe, North America, India, as well as China”.

The knowledge of the core customer base is essential for any retailer. The decision about the target market is taken on the basis of detailed analysis on the existing client base. Customer satisfaction level and loyalty, loopholes leading to customer dissatisfaction, current taste of the people in general, spending patterns of the people and scope for pulling them towards the particular brand, visions of creating new designs suiting customer preference; all these require in-depth knowledge of the customers or range of customers that a retailer targets for its sale.

Respect for the customers’ preferences is very important.