Gap, Inc. is a leading American specialty apparel retailer based in San Francisco, California. It sells casual apparels, accessories, and other personal care products for men, women, and children. The products of Gap, Inc. include denim, khakis, T-shirts, boxers, casual wear, and others. Currently, the company boasts approximately 150,000 employees and 3,139 stores all around the world. Gap, Inc. sustains a large number of brands, namely Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Forth & Towne, Piperlime, and others. These different companies are bought by the parent company in different times. Started as a general jeans retiling store, Gap, Inc. today has a market value of $13.32 billions. Throughout its history, Gap, Inc. has established itself as a leader in the industry. What began as one brand has grown to include Gap, GapKids, babyGap, GapMaternity and gapbody. Gap has become a cultural icon by offering clothing and accessories rooted in cool, confident and casual style to customers around the world.
The article which title “Gap Goes Global” in 2006 is about Gap, Inc wanted to franchise its business to overseas. It announces a franchise agreement with Dubai-based retailer Al Tayer Group to open Gap and Banana Republic stores in five markets in the Middle East. Besides planning on the Middle East outlets, Gap and Singaporean franchisee F.J. Benjamin expect to open stores in coming months in Singapore and Malaysia. Gap is also wish to follow the example set by other American brands that have successfully expanded in Asia and the Middle East, such as Starbucks. Gap 's current international expansion strategy of working with local franchisees reduces Gap 's financial risks. Using franchisees, Gap is able to sell its brand and its clothing without the headaches of navigating local real estate markets and hiring armies of store-level employees onto its own payroll. All of Gap 's existing overseas stores in Britain, France, and Japan are owned and operated by
References: Masaaki, K., (1999), Gap Inc. Rachel, T., (2006), Gap Tries on European Style, Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2006/gb20060608_179268.htm Louise, L., (2006), Gap Goes Global, Retrieved from www.businessweek.com