Free Essays on Gap Swot Analysis

SWOT Analysis Brand name recognition and equity Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic are three of the most well known brands in retail. The number of stores by location at the end of fiscal 2001 and 200 was 3,079 and 2,848, respectively. Gap is credited with creating the â€Å"casual basics† category of apparel, which includes khakis, t-shirts, button-down shirts, knit tops and other comfortable separates. Gap revolutionized the specialty apparel category and quickly grew to become the industry leader and spawned several imitators. In general, the specialty retail apparel industry is characterized by stores that either sell only clothing or a combination of clothing and personal care items. It is this pinpoint focus on apparel and style products that differentiates the current retail store format from its predecessor, the department store. Prior to the opening of the first enclosed shopping mall in Edina, MD in 1956 most clothes shopping was done primarily in department stores. Despite offering the convenience of being able to shop for multiple purposes under the same roof, such stores by definition lacked any real focus on clothes and thus tended to stock traditional and conservative styles. However, during the 1960’ and beyond as clothing became more associated with self-expression the department store â€Å"look ´ became less appealing. It was during this period that Donald and Doris Fisher opened the first Gap in San Francisco. The subsequent rapid proliferation of Gap retail outlets was an indicator of public’s readiness for alternatives to traditional department store clothes. Several entrepreneurs, including The Limited’s Leslie Wexner, followed the Fishers’ lead. Then, during the explosive growth of mega-malls in the early to mid-1980’s, the concept of this specialty retailer really took off. Retailers realized that they did not have to offer ... Free Essays on Gap Swot Analysis Free Essays on Gap Swot Analysis SWOT Analysis Brand name recognition and equity Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic are three of the most well known brands in retail. The number of stores by location at the end of fiscal 2001 and 200 was 3,079 and 2,848, respectively. Gap is credited with creating the â€Å"casual basics† category of apparel, which includes khakis, t-shirts, button-down shirts, knit tops and other comfortable separates. Gap revolutionized the specialty apparel category and quickly grew to become the industry leader and spawned several imitators. In general, the specialty retail apparel industry is characterized by stores that either sell only clothing or a combination of clothing and personal care items. It is this pinpoint focus on apparel and style products that differentiates the current retail store format from its predecessor, the department store. Prior to the opening of the first enclosed shopping mall in Edina, MD in 1956 most clothes shopping was done primarily in department stores. Despite offering the convenience of being able to shop for multiple purposes under the same roof, such stores by definition lacked any real focus on clothes and thus tended to stock traditional and conservative styles. However, during the 1960’ and beyond as clothing became more associated with self-expression the department store â€Å"look ´ became less appealing. It was during this period that Donald and Doris Fisher opened the first Gap in San Francisco. The subsequent rapid proliferation of Gap retail outlets was an indicator of public’s readiness for alternatives to traditional department store clothes. Several entrepreneurs, including The Limited’s Leslie Wexner, followed the Fishers’ lead. Then, during the explosive growth of mega-malls in the early to mid-1980’s, the concept of this specialty retailer really took off. Retailers realized that they did not have to offer ...