Analytical Essay

Briana Leonard

Professor Craven

Writing Workshop

10 April, 2014

Analytical Essay

Operating a business is a challenging task to manage due to the number of factors that have to be taken into consideration. There are bound to be ups and downs due to the fluctuating economy and desires of customers at different points in time. Another factor to take into consideration is competition; something bigger and better could be introduced at any point in time. The difficult issue at hand is keeping up with the industry and its patterns, which requires research and effort. Focusing on one specific business, Sports Authority is an example of a company that is struggling due to specific factors. At this point, they are unable to stay even with their competitors in the sporting goods industry and if a chance is not made, they will soon be looked at as a failing company. The major problems that lie within this business consist of a problematic layout, inadequate quality of goods, and appearing as outdated. Taking these weaknesses into account, Sports Authority needs to compare themselves to more successful companies such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and be willing to come up with a solution to regain success in their industry.

The layout that a store possesses has a considerable effect on the overall success of the business. Most sporting goods stores operate on a system where the shopper goes to the store looking for a specific item. If a customer walks into the shop and is unable to easily locate what they are looking for then they are unlikely to walk out having made a purchase. Sports Authority is at a disadvantage due to the poor layout at which their stores are organized, which does not enhance the shopping experience of their customers. The layout is described as general, consisting of one broad-spectrum area that is not broken up into various sections. The reason that this hinders the success of Sports Authority is because it is outshined by the arrangement of Dick’s....