Developing Good Business Sense

Developing Good Business Sense
The three companies that I chose to observe were Barnes and Noble, a local Italian restaurant Casa De Pasta, and another local, yet large corporation, Wegmans Food Markets. I chose to do three different natured businesses so it would be easier to separate their specialties and examine the way they operate. While all three companies are well-known, they all function very differently with one important factor in common, the aptitude for their patrons needs and wants are notable especially in an economy where customer service seems to be scarce and nonexistent.
Barnes and Noble is an extremely popular bookstore that carries thousands of titles. Over the course of the last few years, they have continued to rise above their competition, and become the largest book supplier to date. Their Operations and Material Management sector has developed an innovative IT system with flexible assembly that allows mass production at a lower cost. They continually upgrade their storefront to create a better shopping experience for its customers. All locations include a Starbucks Coffee along with couches and sofa chairs placed throughout the store so their clientele can feel relaxed and take as much time as they need during their shopping experience. They have stated that there are some customers who come in and spend hours on end prior to purchase. They thoroughly enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and calm environment. They also adopted new methods to allow for a more organized and controlled way to stock and ship thousands of their products they currently sell. “They use its materials management expertise to keep the books, CDs, and electronics in inventory that most appeal to customers. They take advantage of their vast amount of warehouses to store products. They also offer fast and free delivery when you order $25 or more of eligible items to cut delivery costs” (Jones, 2009). They rely on how quickly it can ship their books and other products to...