Reference no: EM133298556
Question 1: What do you think are some of the difficulties of adding 25 percent more employees for the holiday season? What kind of planning do you think would be needed?
Some of the difficulties are finding employees and training time. Planning ahead by posting job openings well in advance to make sure that the number of employees needed are filled. I believe overcoming customer demands during holidays can be beneficial for customer and seller.
During holidays like Christmas, everyone is shopping for gifts for their friends and loved ones. So, leaning forward for expected events can alleviate stress or potential problems. According to Allegiancestaffing.com, "When your business is fully staffed during this busy time, you can better meet your customers' needs." (Allegiancestaffing, Oct 17, 2022) Also, last minute preparation could cost a business to pay for items at a higher price and cause unnecessary stress for workers.
Question 2: China effectively shuts down for two weeks each year and celebrates the lunar new year. How does that resemble (or not) peak season in Western countries?
China is somewhat similar to Western countries because the instead taking breaks in small chunks, they shutdown for two whole weeks.
Question 3: The case focuses on U.S. markets. How are European markets affected by holiday shopping?
Everyone loves saving money and capitalize on great sales. According to Euromonitor.com, "European retailers consider Black Friday and Cyber Monday an opportunity to capitalize on the appetite of discount-hunters and expand the period of increased sales preceding Christmas." (Euromonitor, Nov 15, 2018)
Question 4: Have your own shopping habits changed with the ease of online shopping? If so, how? Do you expect them to change when you graduate and have more disposable income?
My shopping habits have drastically changed due to online shopping. I save on gas, deals, and time it takes to drive around town. Instead of driving long distances to certain stores or trying different malls for specific items, I have access to buy most of the items that I am looking for online. This relieves a lot stress during holidays. I don't think my shopping habits will change as much due to the fact that I can find the best deals online. Online shopping exposes to the world wide items, so its easier to compare prices and quality by reading reviews/articles.