Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 ...
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Fixtures Delivered ] x
Ordered ]
] = scheduled date x = actual date
In this example, the lease was obtained just in time, and the interior was designed and fixtures ordered in advance of the schedule dates. The fixtures were a little late arriving, however. It is almost time for the first order of merchandise, and this still has to be made. A chart of this type can be used to track overall progress by areas, and kept handy over the office desk, while the sub steps in each area are in turn tracked on area charts.
The Business: Her Place will be a women's daywear boutique located in an urban area. Its target clientele will be middle to upper middle income working women who need attractive but practical clothing that they can wear to work, to dinner with friends, and so forth. Many potential customers work in an appearance conscious and fashion conscious milieu in the entertainment industry, art galleries, other boutiques, design consultancies, to name a few typical examples of businesses which are to be found in the urban neighborhoods which Her Place is intended to serve.
Her Place Philosophy: The following philosophy, based on the proprietor's own experience as a retail clothing customer, is the basic guide to the Her Place approach to its business. "There are a lot of women out there who are tired of clothes that are trendy and immediately outdated, or cutesy but impractical. They are on budgets, and they want clothes they can wear and get use out of. They also want good service not pushy, but there when you need them."
Functional areas: The essense of fashion retailing is merchandise and service. Thus the most important factors for the success of Her Place are its buying strategy and its sales force. These...