FOR MADAM PROFESSOR

The Scenario: Running for Glory (RfG) is a one-site running-centric fitness store in Seattle, WA. Seattle has been a center of running enthusiasts for over 40 years, with many stores catering to a wide variety of customers. However, in the past 20 years, most of the stores have expanded to include other sports and have lost their focus on the running trade. Running for Glory has stayed true to its running history and has developed an extremely loyal, almost fanatical customer base. However, the company has not kept abreast of the advances in technology, so it does not know much about its customers other than what its cash registers tell. It can produce basic sales data from its cash register systems, and it can manage inventory records with the help of its suppliers, but RfG cannot analyze trends in customer demographics, develop strategic plans for expansion, or engage in serious discussion with its suppliers concerning the viability of sourcing new products or eliminating any existing ones.