Assignment Paper

Z​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍​umiez, a publicly traded retailer, is a specialty retailer focusing on the market comprising teens to early 20s who are seeking the action sports or “rider” lifestyle. These sports include snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, BMX, and motocross. The merchandise mix reflects brands which support and are symbols of this lifestyle. Zumiez has been successful in creating a store format that gives the store an independent specialty shop feel, despite the fact that it is a large chain. The company was founded in 1978, and by 2011 had grown to over 400 stores with a presence in 37 states. Zumiez has been growing rapidly over the past five years, opening 233 new stores from 2006 to 2011. In 2011, Zumiez expanded into the Canadian market with the opening of stores in Toronto and Vancouver areas for a total of five Canadian locations. In addition to store expansion, Zumiez has an opportunity to grow its e-commerce sales. Curr​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍​ently e-commerce represents a small portion of Zumiez’s business, especially for a target age range that is more likely to shop online than some others. E-commerce represented 1.7 percent, 2.5 percent, and 4.7 percent of Zumiez’s sales in fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010. Submit a minimum one page paper in MLA format addressing the following questions. 1) Should Zumiez continue to expand in the United States and Canada or now try to enter other foreign countries? What foreign countries might represent viable markets? (Tip: Do internet research regarding the market potential and growth of boarding sports, BMX, and Motocross) 2) Would Zumiez be better off focusing its growth strategy around enhancing its e-tailing venture? 3) Identify an area in the state or country you live in where you would see the potential for opening a Zumiez store. Explain your rationale. I will attach a file with the informati​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍​on needed