Competitive Priorities

                            

Flexibility 

Crate & Barrel has a wide variety of products and fabrics for each product. The store does a great job of satisfying the needs of their customers with their custom upholstery program. This program allows Crate & Barrel to fulfil the unique taste and style of every individual customer they deal with. From picking a specific frame for a product, to the actual color of the fabric, Crate & Barrel allows their customers to save time searching for a perfect piece by giving them full control of the design of the furniture.  Also, when products have been damaged, Crate & Barrel puts them on sale. This technique allows for flexibility within the organization when it comes to making money.

Cost

When the Segals (Founders) first founded this company, it was a low investment for them and they made use with whatever they could get their hands on to start the business at a very low cost. And even after the business was off the ground and running, they still prioritized having their products and using things at a low cost yet high enough that they make profit. They get their products from imports from European vendors and how they are able to keep it at low cost is because they sell it straight from the import. They are cutting out the middleman which helps them out in how they decided to run their business. And another way they emphasize cost is that their product was directly from Europe which draws a certain market and demographic and it adds value to what they offer to the public.

Quality

Crate & Barrel is not only focused on the quality of their products, but also on the customer’s overall experience. As soon as you walk in, there are dim lights and soothing music to make the customer feel a very calm and warm atmosphere as they shop. Presentation is a strong focal point for Crate & Barrel and differentiates them from their competitors. The quality of their products is also up to standard as they make sure that their inventory never looks unkempt. Those items that do get minor damages are then placed on sale, away from their display. The quality of Crate & Barrel’s products are more upscale than those at Walmart or Target which is why they may be pricier, yet still more affordable than those from a high end manufacturer. 

Time

Crate & Barrel tends to have their trucks arrive in the morning around 8am. The stock associates then unload the truck which will usually take up to 2 hours depending on how many stock associates there are. After unloading the truck they will then start to assemble all the furniture pieces together, because they all come in separate parts. Stock associates after putting together a complete piece of furniture together will then move it to the sales floor to be seen by customers. This process will usually take the stock associates about 8 hrs to complete the whole load, as well as assisting customers for pickup orders and times. The one thing that Crate & Barrel can use is a better service to let their customers know the exact time of the pickup so they aren’t at the store waiting for the stock associates to become available. Sometimes customers have to wait, because the stock associates are backed up with orders and unloading. Crate & Barrel must alert customers that are picking up if they are running behind and provide a new accurate pickup time for the customer. This can be resolved by making an app for the company so customers can be alerted when they are ready for pick up or hire people specifically for the loading jobs of customers.