CASE STUDY
DAYTON HUDSON CORPORATION 1998
I. Brief Background
II. Statement of the Problem
Dayton-Hudson Corporation should determine ways of how to make its divisions more cost-effective.
III. Objectives
1. To be able to observe Dayton Hudson's strengths and weaknesses.
2. To site Dayton Hudson's opportunities and threats.
IV. Areas of Consideration
1. In 1891, Hudson's was the largest retailer of men's clothes in America.
2. Merchandise innovations were return privileges and price marketing in place of bargaining.
3. Hudson's bought Marshall Fields Dept. taking on a billion dollar debt in the process.
4. Target's system is "micro marketing".
5. Department Stores use a more conservative promotional strategy.
6. Mervyn's revenues declined 3.2 percent.
7. Credit card transactions were handled by Hudson's wholly owned Retailers National Bank, chartered 1994.
8. Since 1946, Hudson's has contributed 5 percent of its pretax profits for philanthropic purposes.
9. Hudson's primary objective is to maximize share holder value over time.
V. Alternative Courses of Action
? The Hudson Corporation is committed to serving their guests better than their competitors with trend right, high quality merchandise at very competitive prices.
? Provide a low-cost, high quality distributor of merchandise through "boundary less" functioning.
? Dayton Hudson's Mervyn's and Depar ...