Toys R Us Japan Case Analysis.
SITUATION AND CENTRAL ISSUES.
This case has a generally positive slant in that there it does not describe many
weaknesses and problems present in many others with which students would be
familiar. Toys R Us (TRU) has followed a path of international expansion from the
US via more than 13 countries, starting from Canada in 1984 and entering Japan in
1991. By any standard this is a rapid expansion of markets. This case illustrates
several elements of developing market strategies that have been central to TRU's
observed success in these markets.
First, TRU has developed a strong competitive advantage in its home market that is
based on fulfilling 95% of consumers' needs relating to children. This has been
based around large retail space and counteracting the cyclical nature of toy retailing
which traditionally peaks around the gift giving period during Christmas. Second,
they have succeeded in transferring their retail concept from the US to its newer
markets by modification of the product mix to suit local tastes. Third, they captured
international marketing experience by recruiting executives with international
experience such as Mr. Joseph Baczko who has been able to adapt the strategy and
use a non-standard approach to market entry. His approach has adapted their
successful entry strategy to fit the needs of the country environment. The following
analysis will commence with an analysis of the company and its business and
consider each of the issues raised in the foregoing discussion. This will be followed
by recommendations for future activities.
ISSUE AND PROBLEM ANALYSIS.
The Firm, its Industry and market expansion.
TRU is a company whose operational core is purely in retailing. The company has no
manufacturing capabilities and relies on developing its business strategies of fulfilling
consumer needs with a one-stop-retail environment that fulfils the majority of
consumer's needs. Therefore, the company's market activities are purely in
This case has a generally positive slant in that there it does not describe many
weaknesses and problems present in many others with which students would be
familiar. Toys R Us (TRU) has followed a path of international expansion from the
US via more than 13 countries, starting from Canada in 1984 and entering Japan in
1991. By any standard this is a rapid expansion of markets. This case illustrates
several elements of developing market strategies that have been central to TRU's
observed success in these markets.
First, TRU has developed a strong competitive advantage in its home market that is
based on fulfilling 95% of consumers' needs relating to children. This has been
based around large retail space and counteracting the cyclical nature of toy retailing
which traditionally peaks around the gift giving period during Christmas. Second,
they have succeeded in transferring their retail concept from the US to its newer
markets by modification of the product mix to suit local tastes. Third, they captured
international marketing experience by recruiting executives with international
experience such as Mr. Joseph Baczko who has been able to adapt the strategy and
use a non-standard approach to market entry. His approach has adapted their
successful entry strategy to fit the needs of the country environment. The following
analysis will commence with an analysis of the company and its business and
consider each of the issues raised in the foregoing discussion. This will be followed
by recommendations for future activities.
ISSUE AND PROBLEM ANALYSIS.
The Firm, its Industry and market expansion.
TRU is a company whose operational core is purely in retailing. The company has no
manufacturing capabilities and relies on developing its business strategies of fulfilling
consumer needs with a one-stop-retail environment that fulfils the majority of
consumer's needs. Therefore, the company's market activities are purely in