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How Gap Generates Ideas for New Products

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How Gap Generates Ideas for New Products
Introduction
The Gap is a specialty apparel retailer of accessories and personal care product for women, men and children (Gap Inc., 2013). The company has five brands to operate: Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta. The first brand name established is Gap. When the Gap brand was growing in recognition, it increased expectations for continued growth. Unfortunately, the company experienced a series of internal and external economic crises. So, Gap must find the issues where they occurred and identify the way to respond for continued improvement. Generating new ideas for products is more likely the solution to drive the possibility of further growth. Therefore, Gap decided to choose this way to renew its featured products as much as possible.

History
The Gap brand was founded in 1969. Doris and Don Fisher established and opened the first shop near San Francisco State University, selling records, cassette tapes, and Levi 's jeans. Before the Gap was founded, Fisher was unable to find the right jean size for himself. From that situation, he realized and thought that jeans would become popular because the jeans offer an inexpensive and comfortable style (“International Directory of Company Histories,” 2013).
Nowadays, the firm sells a various style clothes for men, women, and children in more than 3,100 stores in the United States, France, Japan, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. There are many franchised locations in 100 other foreign countries and also widely sell via Web sites (“International Directory of Company Histories,” 2013).
Perspectives the Gap used is simpler: clients, creativeness, rights and delivering results. All these are basically attraction for prosperous business (“International Directory of Company Histories,” 2013).

Key Points
After considerable growth, sales declined. To consumers, these three brands have no distinctions. The Gap was no longer seen as a fashion brand. Critics stated that Gap made every bad move a



References: Amazeen, M. (2011). Gap (RED): Social responsibility campaign or Window dressing?. Journal of Business Ethics, 99, 167–182. doi: 10.1007/s10551-010-0647-2 Birnbaum, D. (2012, April 19). Comment: Strategies for success (Part V) – the problem with Gap. Retrieved from http://www.just-style.com/comment/strategies-for-success-part-v-the-problem-with-gap_id114112.aspx Gap Inc. (2013, September 24). Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=GPS Gap is surviving the back-to-school season scare. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.trefis.com/stock/gps/articles/205116/gap-is-surviving-the-back-to-school-season-scare/2013-09-10 Guffey, M.E. & Loewy, D. (2011). Business communication: Process & product 7th edition. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. International directory of company histories. (2013, September 24). Retrieved from http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/the-gap-inc-history/ Product Red. (2013, September 29). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_Red Zmuda, N. (2012, March 12). Mind The Gap: Retailer Fashions Brand Resurgence. Advertising Age. Retrieved from http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/85976001/mind-gap-retailer-fashions-brand-resurgence

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