Product Leadership and Organizations
Any management student will certainly be interested in knowing what it is that makes organizations like Apple, Sony, Microsoft & Google etc stand apart from the rest and be counted as the market leaders. From an organizational perspective, these companies stand apart from the rest in their approach to product development that enables the organizations […]
A Comparison between Shareholder Ownership and Control
In previous articles, we discussed the roles and responsibilities of the shareholders. In this article, we look at the distinction between shareholder ownership and control and illuminate how this comparison plays out in the corporate world. To start with, many public limited companies have a large body of shareholders who have invested in the company […]
Consumer Behaviour – Meaning, Determinants and its Importance
Companies make investment in understanding consumer behaviour and implementing strategies, which will help them retain customers. Consumers can be categorized as an individual consumer and organizational/industrial consumers. Understanding their behaviour and buying pattern is important in ultimate survival of companies in the market place. Consumer behaviour consists of activities/process followed in making any buying decision […]
Solution Based Approach for Profits and Revenue
Sustaining success in business is a big challenge for organizations. In order to continue to be successful and sustain leadership position, the organizations have got to keep re-inventing their service offer and the value proposition to their customers. This calls for continuous investments into R&D, creating new products and services, increasing the value proposition of […]
How Amazon Can Improve its Corporate Strategy
Drivers of Corporate Strategy Any choice of strategic options must necessarily be in tune with the drivers of corporate strategy. For the purposes of this article, 5 drivers of corporate strategy have been identified. They are: The growth imperative or the need to grow Consistency with the firm’s internal strengths and resources Being geared towards […]
One of the positive effects of the rapid globalization is the increasing awareness amongst people and society about ethical and moral as well as environmental issues.
While political leaders and global organisations as well as scientists are concerned about global warming and loosing energy crises, we see the birth and rapid growth of green earth concept covering all fields of enterprise. The building of awareness and addressing issues and concerns is actively promoted by NGOs and interest groups.
In recent years we have also seen the rise of expectations with reference to social responsibilities of the Corporate and Business Houses. The issues that are socially relevant are not limited to the above issues but extend to other humanitarian and environmental issues as well including animal welfare.
Fashion industry has had to be responsible for ethical issues concerning child labour and working conditions of labour at the Supplier’s end. As principle employers, the International Retailers are held responsible in case where the suppliers default on providing the right working conditions and payments to labour.
In the third world countries and south Asian countries there have been practices of using child labour, discriminating between men and women for wages as well as not providing basic amenities and safety to the labour.
In certain instances the retails like GAP and Nike had to face the wrath for the irregularities found at their supplier sites. With rising public outcry and mounting pressure from the interest groups as well as from authorities, the fashion retailers had to stop procurements from the suppliers and make amendments.
As the awareness groups and animal protection groups are becoming more and more visible as well as aggressive, they are raising voice against use of fur and leather in fashion clothing.
Use of animals for testing in by cosmetic industry as well as use of rabbits farming for wool production and culling of some species for their skin are forcing the fashion industry to abandon such product range and cultivate environment and animal friendly products. The proactive action to move away from such practices and follow ethical fashion is seen to be limited to the big and well known fashion brands and houses alone. The smaller as well as local companies continue to push products for commercial gain.
Fashion houses are also turning to be environmentally conscious and finding suitable environmental friendly dyes and chemicals as well as other ingredients that go into making their products and avoid harmful chemicals. Sometimes the products are slightly priced higher when they are environmentally friendly.
In all cases, the trend that we see is that the awareness of the consumer is increasing and the common man is asking questions to the fashion retailers, thus forcing the retailers to adapt ethical practices in fashion business.
In the coming years, the consumer voice and the activities of the interest groups is expected to get stronger pushing for ethical rules to be brought in place holding the International Retailers responsible to ensure they follow ethical practices as well as ensure their suppliers follow the same.
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International Retail Store Design Principles – The Principle of Totality
February 12, 2025
