Video case study - the wonder of Wellies
This has to be one of the most uplifting business stories of 2009 so far. Out of Woollies comes….. Wellies. An entrepreneurial store manager sees a viable business in the store she managed for 15 years, recruits her previous staff back and off they go. If ever a business deserved to succeed, its this one.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - supply and demand in action (tea)
A super little video looks at why the price of a cup of tea is rising in the UK.
Download student worksheet (pdf) including video link
Video case study - Living Salads
A terrific three minute video from the Working Lunch team is perfect for the new AQA & Edexcel AS Business units. Andrew Johnson was made redundant, so he set up a business in a sector he knew well and to exploit the fastest-growing part of the salads market. Packed full of relevant material, including:
- Economies of scale + production flexibility allow Living Salads to compete effectively on price
- Investment in production capacity
- Market segmentation, growth and value
- Competing effectively against larger operators
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Download editable (Word) version of worksheet
Video case study - flexible storage is a boom business
This video case study makes a really nice link between choice of business location,, and fixed versus variable costs. Traditonally, businesses have paid for storage space and facilities at their own premises. But for many small businesses, a better option might be to opt for flexible storage hire. For example, ebay or home-based businesses still need storage space, but the entrepreneurs dont want their homes filled up with stocks!
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - Jivana Style finds niche in the greetings card market
A super case study on how redundancy was the spur for a young entrepreneur to set up a successful greetings card business. Great for illustrating the importance of start-ups identifying and exploiting niche market opportunities + the need for persistence in the early days as a business struggles to establish itself.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - Google’s Non-Financial Methods of Motivation
Would you like to work here? I tempted after learning that a rule at Google is that no employee should be more than 100 yards from free food. The slide between floors and down to the canteen looks fun too. This video case study would be a great way of introducing the idea of “non-financial” methods of motivation. Google certainly has some innovative ways of looking after its employees whilst they are in the workplace.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - pricing tactics for lunchtime luxury
What pricing tactics should upmarket restaurants use to encourage demand during the economic downturn? Is a substantial price cut the answer, or are there alternative ways of keeping the restaurants busy during the traditionally busy lunchtime period?
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - LG moves away from mass production
A simply fantastic video clip explains how consumer products giant LG is moving to smarter, more flexible manufacturing processes as part of its strategy to address the substantial downturn in demand for consumer electronics. Great footage of the production process; excellent examples of quality assurance and relevant too for students learning about why reducing stocks (working capital) is important in managing cash flow. High recommended.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - pubs diversify to survive
A super short video from the BBC illustrates how an entrepreneurial new pub owner has found ways to add new revenue streams to a traditional pub that had previously failed. A good example of how the same business can meet the quite different needs of customers. Relevant to for OCR synoptic on diversifying to survive.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - Viability of a Recycling Firm
The market for recycled materials such as steel cans and waste paper has deteriorated recently, causing some in the industry to question the viability of recycling firms. However, this short video demonstrates how an entrepreneurial recycling business in Cheltenham can still earn a decent return by seeking new markets.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - Short-time working
As the economic downturn bites, more and more manufacturers are turning to a shorter working week in order to reduce production capacity and cut operating costs. This video clip explores the reasons why short-time working is proving so popular and why trade unions and employees tend to be supportive of the process given the alternatives. An excellent insight into the practical employment implications of the recession.
Download student worksheet (pdf) including video link
Video Case Study - Quarry’sDispute with Local Stakeholders
An excellent example of how the aims of a business can conflict with elements of the local community. This dispute is on a much smaller scale than the Heathrow 3rd runway, but I suspect passions will be running just as high amongst those concerned. The scenario is simple. A business needs to expand to survive. The problem is that such expansion threatens the natural environment in an area of outstanding beauty.
Download student worksheet (pdf) including video link
Video Case Study - Export Success for Mining Tools Manufacturer
You might think that a UK manufacturing business that specialises in the mining industry would be struggling to survive. But here is an uplifting profile of a business that has successfully exploited export markets to both survive and now prosper. An excellent example of how investing in export markets and specialising in a niche can be a profitable business strategy.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video Case Study - Investment in Cricket Bat Manufacturing
A super short video clip which demonstrates the value added during production by Gunn & Moore - a leading manufacturer of cricket bats. G&M have invested £0.5m in new production technology that is changing the very traditional methods of producing cricket bats. Great for illustrating job and batch production methods, this video also illustrates how technology can transform production processes.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video Case Study - Profitability of Onion Farming
This video clip provides some excellent insights into the problems faced by farmers supplying the major supermarkets. The video tells the story of an long-standing onion farmer whose business is suffering from various factors - including the buying power of supermarkets, the effect of cheap imports and the rising production costs (e.g. energy). A great starting point for a fruitful discussion with students.
Download student worksheeet (pdf) including video link
Video Case Study - Product Life Cycle of the Standard Light Bulb
Here’s a great case study to use as part of teaching the product life cycle. Supermarkets are phasing out sales of the standard 100w light bulb as consumers increasingly switch to energy-efficient lighting. The 2-minute video contains some great shots of flow production back in the 1960’s too - the same production techniques are still in use today (based on my visit to a light bulb factory a few years ago).
Download student worksheet including video link
Video Case Study - Exporters Benefit from a Weaker Pound
This super video clip is an excellent example of how the recent weakness in the Pound can generate sales opportunities for exporters. With a price advantage of around 25-30%, exporters with the right product and a suitable promotional mix can win significant new business during 2009 (we need them to!). A great video too for explaining in simple terms how an exporter can hedge the risk foreign exchange fluctuations. Certainly worth showing to the A2 students…
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video Case Study - Roadside Markets
I wonder whether we might see the emergence of more of these kinds of market as we experience a deep recession. This video clip describes how entrepreneurial stallholders are building a decent retail business in the fruit and vegetable market - by opening a market on the roadside. A good example of local markets in action (AQA Unit 1) and it goes onto explain how the produce & prices on offer are enabling the entrepreneurs to build quite a loyal customer base.
Download student worksheet & video link
Video case study - warehouse expansion for fashionable growth
I was shopping for some Paul Smith merchandise for a certain member of the Riley clain yesterday. And then just today I picked up on this super BBC video clip on the recent expansion by Paul Smith’s business, based in Nottingham. A great example to use when illustrating how production / distribution capacity needs to rise to keep pace with increasing global demand.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - Betterware proves resilient to the recession (again!)
The business news is full of reports on firm’s that are suffering (or worse) during the credit crunch. But as we’ve reported a few times recently (e.g. Poundland), there are many firms that positively thrive when consumers are minded to look for discounted or bargain products. A great example is Betterware - and this short video explains how Betterware has prospered through recessions several times before!
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - falling demand for organic milk means a poor return on investment
This is a great video to use as a way of illustrating how a sudden change in market demand can reduce the returns made on business investments. In this example, many dairy farmers have invested into turning their operations into organic milk production (to win a share of the growing and higher margin organic milk market). However, the credit crunch has led to a sharp fall in demand and the main milk wholesaler (Dairy Crest) has reduced the farmgate price paid to its suppliers.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Video case study - Behind the scenes at a direct marketing gift company
Another cracking short video from the BBC website provides an overview of the planning, marketing and operational processes at one of the UK’s leading gift sellers. Not surprisingly, Christmas is an incredibly busy period, which is where the IT systems and automation come in handy.
Download student worksheet and video link (pdf)
Video case study - demand for real ale bucks the trend
Another good example of a start-up business prospering in its small niche, even when the mass-market is suffering. This video clip looks at how demand for real ale is growing despite the decline in pub trade and the effect of increasing beer taxes.
Download student worksheet & video link
Video case study - A start-up that needs a beancounter
This super little short video from BBC Scotland introduces story of a start-up in Edinburgh that is having to add extra capacity to met increasing demand from its main customer. A sweet story of success amid the prevailing economic gloom
Download student worksheet and video link
Video Case Study - Market Traders face an increase in Fixed Costs
I like this video clip as a way of covering a couple of content areas for the new AQA AS Unit 1:
- Local, physical markets: Doncast market is a great example of the traditional stall traders who make local markets such dynamic places
- Fixed costs - rent is a key fixed cost for a market trader. This is a good way of illustrating how fixed costs DO change
Download student worksheet & video link
Video Case Study - Inside the Pizza Factory
A fantastic video on the BBC site from a couple of weeks back which takes us on a guided tour of the Goodfellas piiza factory in Ireland. This 3-minute clip is superb for illustrating automated production in action and perhaps also for introducing quality control. Just wait till you see how they get the pepperoni onto the pizza.
Download student worksheet & video link
Video Case Study - Christmas Tree Pricing
A nice seasonal touch to this video clip which explains how increased production and buying costs may lead to a substantial increase in christmas tree prices in 2008. Will higher prices encourage consumers to buy an artificial tree, or will they accept the price-rises and stick with the real thing? A great story to introduce costs, revenues and demand
Download student worksheet and video link
Video Case Study - Product Innovation
This clip focuses on some examples of how businesses are responding to the economic downturn by investing in product innovation.
Download worksheet including video link
Browse our collection of video case studies
Video case study - Tourist town reinvents its economy
A nice little case study here about how a popular tourist destination is changing its economic mix - moving away from traditional industries such as tourism and fishing to embrace the digital creative sector.
Download worksheet and video link (pdf)
Browse our collection of video case studies
Video case study - Yorkshire firms battle over trademark
Betty’s - an internationally-recognise brand - is taking on a much smaller business in a dispute over a trademark-protected product name. A great case study for the topic of “protecting a business idea”
