What makes Hot Topic so successful as a retailer? What makes them so popular with their employees? How can they keep their success going?
-Hot Topic is a successful retailer because they know the demographic they are catering too, which are young people. Hot Topic focuses on music and pop culture areas that are very important to kids today. There will always be a market for young people and plus size women and having products specifically designed for them as opposed to just being an afterthought in other markets. They are popular with their employees because their employees are also their customers. The company caters to all the things that the employees love like music and fashion so their job is most likely similar to play than work. The employees can go to work with other people that share their same interests so they feel like they fit in. In addition, the generous benefits package that they receive is very good for the work they do. Hot Topic has a company business model focuses on keeping in step with mediums and styles that are constantly changing and they do it very well so as long as that continues to be true as well as continued positive business practices they should continue to be successful.
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How does the idea of no walls and no doors in the corporate headquarters encourage the culture Hot Topic is trying to perpetuate? Do you think you would like to work in such an atmosphere?
-The idea of no walls and no doors can be very positive to the culture of Hot Topic. This company hires the same people who are also their customers and promotes from within. Since these people are the same, they develop strong working relationships. These relationships allow them to be approachable and helpful to one another. Walls and doors are constrictive so working in an open space is far more comfortable and aids productivity. From reading of the culture at Hot Topic, I can say that I would very much to work in a corporate environment where