Coach, Inc is a marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men. The company is engaged in designing, wholesaling and retailing of handbags and accessories. Its product portfolio includes handbags, women’s and men’s accessories, footwear, jewelry, apparels, business cases, eyewear, and related products. Coach is involved in the sale related activities of its merchandise through factory stores and retail stores in the US and Canada. The company also sells its merchandise through freestanding flagship, department store shop-in-shop locations, and retail and factory stores in Japan, Hong Kong and China. It wholesales its merchandise through its distributors in over 20 countries. The company principally operates in the US, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, China and Macau. Coach is headquartered in New York, the US.
INDUSTRY PROFILE
The Apparel and Accessories Industry is very competitive because companies must find a way to constantly year after year capture market share in a market that is constantly changing to fit consumers taste. Many of the company’s that enter this market fail because they come out with a very popular style for their product on year then they rapidly expand only to have their product fall quickly out of style. The ability to keep up with changes in fashion trends and find a niche in the market usually determines which companies can survive in this highly competitive market.
INTRODUCTION
Coach, Inc. is a leading designer, producer and marketer of classic leather goods, accessories and furniture which was a spinoff of Sara Lee in the mid 1980’s These products include handbags, men’s and women’s accessories, business cases, leather outerwear, gloves, scarves, travel accessories, and personal planning products. Coach also sells home and office furniture, footwear and watches with its licensing partners. The products are sold through direct mail catalogs, on-line store, e-commerce websites, 174 retail stores and its 76 factory stores. Coach focuses on continuous improvements and anticipating the needs of consumer’s lifestyles to maintain its stronghold of the market. Key success factors for Coach as a manufacturer include product quality as well as marketing and design. Coach has an exceptionally large and loyal customer base mostly due in part to product quality. Coach takes great pride in using skilled employees, quality natural materials, exceptional leathers, and only the finest hardware. Through the years Coach has earned a reputation for producing a product that is known for its durability, craftsmanship, and incomparable product quality. Coach has become one of the most well recognized brands in the United States and is rapidly gaining recognition internationally, especially in Japan.
PRODUCT LINE OF COMPANY
Coach makes fine leather products. Handbags, purses, and wallets are the original offerings of the company and still account for a substantial amount of revenues. Handbags generated 57 percent of net sales in 2001. Women's accessories, wallets, and belts accounted for 12 percent of sales, while men's accessories were 8 percent. Business cases and computer bags, duffel bags and travel accessories combined posted 10 percent. Other small items such as gloves, scarves, and leather folios accounted for the remaining profits. The next several years will reveal the acceptance of the newly created lifestyles division and its offerings.
COMPETITOR
Coach is the brand which manufactures several ranges of products from high quality leather goods to night ware for women. It also manufactures watches and huge range of gift and accessories article for men as well as women. Coach is the leading market brand and there are strong competitor company of coach such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Fendi, Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Celine, Cartier, Bally, Anya Hind march, and Versace. But considering the segment of the brand, there are few strong competitors which are positioned