by Li Yuk Fung. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-64). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ii / LIST OF EXHIBITS --- p.iv / PREFACE --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Objectives --- p.1 / Scope of Study --- p.1 / Methodology --- p.2 / Secondary Data Collection --- p.2 / Observations --- p.3 / Primary Data Collection --- p.3 / Literature Review --- p.4 / Limitations --- p.4 / Chapter II. --- THE COMPANY --- p.5 / History and Background --- p.5 / Organizational Structure --- p.6 / Business Strategies --- p.8 / Marketing Mix --- p.8 / Market Segmentation --- p.14 / Competitiveness --- p.17 / Chapter III. --- INDUSTRIAL ANALYSIS --- p.21 / Environmental Analysis --- p.21 / Economic Environment --- p.22 / Socio/Cultural Factors --- p.23 / Demographic Factors --- p.23 / Technological Environment --- p.24 / Legal Environment --- p.24 / Customers --- p.25 / Government Sector --- p.25 / Private Sector --- p.27 / Institutional Sector --- p.28 / Suppliers --- p.30 / Competitors --- p.33 / Entry Barriers --- p.34 / Critical Success Factors for the Industry --- p.34 / Chapter IV. --- SWOT ANALYSIS --- p.35 / Internal Strengths --- p.35 / Internal Weaknesses --- p.37 / Future Opportunities --- p.41 / Environmental Threats --- p.44 / Problem Identifications --- p.45 / Chapter V. --- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.48 / Recommendations --- p.48 / Implications and Evaluations --- p.53 / Conclusions --- p.57 / APPENDIX --- p.58 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.63

Abstract Title: Does the Country of Origin Matter for Sustainable Products? A Comparison of European Sporting Goods Producers Level: Final assignment for Master Degree in Business Administration Author: Edith Anna Voithofer Supervisor: Jonas Kågström, Ph.D. Date: January 24, 2013 Aim of study: The brand name and its country of origin is information that is used from consumers to make purchase decisions. Although existing research discusses several country of origin – aspects from other industries, literature within the sporting goods industry is still spare. Environmental pollution is an important topic nowadays, and the sporting goods industry is trying to include more “green” aspects within their business strategy, or is already quite successful in doing so. To fill the research gap, this thesis focuses on sustainable producers with a very good sustainable reputation in order to analyze the importance of the country of origin effect within the sustainable outdoor industry. Methodology: For this paper a conclusive research design was taken, as it is more formal, and used to test specific relationships. The quantitative research included respondents from two sustainable outdoor brands (originally from Sweden and Germany) who answered an online survey. Basis for the selection process was the independent bluesign® standard, a strong and global sustainability standard. The survey included five constructs to quantify the dimensions of brand equity and overall brand equity. Results: Both respondent groups are similar regarding their demographic data characteristics and their opinion when it comes to the quality of outdoor goods and its brand association. In particular, they seem to feel strongly connected towards the brands; they were proud and very loyal. Nevertheless, differences were identified. Sustainable products seem to be valued higher from Swedish respondents, whereas loyalty seems to be more important for German participants. Contribution of the study: Although existing research discusses several country of origin related aspects from other industries, relevant literature within the sporting goods industry, and here specifically the sustainable outdoor industry is still sparse. These topics are covered in this study. Keywords: Country of origin, Sustainability, Sporting Goods Industry, Outdoor Industry

Title: Employee Engagement - Sporting goods retail stores in Gävle. Level: Second cycle, Final assignment for Master Degree in Business Administration Author: Maria Claudia Sun Han Cordova and Camille Besnault Supervisor: Maria Fregidou-Malama and Pär Vilhelmson Date: 2013 - May   Purpose: This study examines employee engagement. For that matter, we investigate the factors that influence employee engagement in sporting goods retail stores, and the impact of relationships interactions between the team and the manager.   Method: This study was conducted through a deductive approach. The data was collected from two sporting goods retail stores: Stadium and Intersport, located in Gävle, Sweden; through questionnaires for both store’s employees, and face-to-face interviews to the store managers and employees. Finally, data was analyzed with the programs Microsoft Excel and SPSS.   Result  &  Conclusions:  We  found  out  that  sporting  goods  retail  store’s  employees  were mainly motivated by personal factors, job satisfaction factors and intrinsic factors, such as belongingness to the team. It appears that employees give significance importance to the relationship  they  have  with  their  manager  and  coworkers.  We  also  found  out  that  the relationship with the customers has a huge impact on employee engagement. Suggestions for future research: This research was conducted in a geographic area in a specific  country  (Sweden).  Additionally,  it  is  based  on  the  sporting  goods  retail  market. Thus, it could be interesting to extend this research to others sectors and markets, or to do the same research in another country. Contribution  of  the  thesis:  While  theories  about  employee  engagement  consider  the relationship between employees and co-workers, and employees and manager as important for  employee  engagement,  we  empirically  discovered  that  the  relationship  between employees and customers influences employee engagement significantly. Key  words:  Job  satisfaction,  employee  engagement,  sporting  goods  retails,  motivation, relationships.

Thesis(M.I.D.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references (p.89-91).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-66).

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2010. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on May 10, 2010. Major professor: Tom Mase, Ph.D. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering." "March 2010." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-109).

This master thesis is focused on the analysis of consumer behaviour on the sporting goods market, especially cycling and skiing products. I connected and used in practice my long-lasting interest and experience in both those sports with my knowledge of consumer behaviour gained during my university of economics study. In the beginning of the thesis, there is described theory of consumer decision-making and market segmentation. The core part of the thesis is dedicated to analysis of research. Its goals are to gain complete overview about consumer behaviour on sporting goods market and about consumer preferences, to phrase typical consumer behaviour of cyclists and skiers, to compare their behaviour, find their common and different parts and deduce an appropriate recommendation for retailers.

Title: The Proposal for Marketing Communication of "APM Sport" store Goals: The goal is to analyze and evaluate the current marketing comunication of the "APM Sport" store, based on the acquired data and findings and propose a new improved marketing communication of the store. Methods: Methods of both qualitative and quantitative reseach have been employed to assess the marketing communication, specifically an interview with instuctions and analysis of internal documents. Later these methods were suplemented by quantitative research, namely polling of both actual and potential customers. Results: The output of the work is a proposal for the improvement of the marketing communication of "APM Sport" store, including new means of communication and efficiency improvement of the current means. It is particularly the enhancement of the loyalty program, personal sale during the outgoing events and increase of PR cooperation. Newly there is a proposal for communal outdoor events, employment of outdoor advertising and guerilla marketing. Keywors: customer, polling, communication mix, promotion, sporting goods

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-112).