I.EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
A. Societal Environment
1. Economy
- Low-negative growth in economy/financial markets (T)
- Reduced discretionary spending on goods that are, or are perceived to be, luxuries (T)
- Unsettled regional/global conflicts e.g. military and/or terrorist activities (T)
- Weak economic conditions in Japan (T)
- Global competition (T)
- Wholesale market for high quality cut diamonds will provide continuity of supply and pricing (O)
- Soft employment market (T)
- Post September 11th recession/reduced tourism (T)
- Increase in 2-income families (O)
- Number of families w/ household incomes over $100,000 to grow by 20% (O)
- Low cost manufacturing abroad - China, Brazil (O)
- High discretionary income of baby-boomers through credit card use (O)
2. Technology
- Increased availability of Internet (O)
- Increased use of E-Commerce (O)
- New QAD & MFG/PRO software to collect real-time data (O)
2. Political-Legal
- Increase in free trade (O/T)
- China's membership to WTO (O)
- WTO - World Trade Organization (O/T)
- Tax benefits associated w/ ETI (O)
- Government rules/regulations (O/T)
4. Socio- Cultural
- Growth of seniors market-over 80 million baby boomers in U.S (O)
- Baby boomers focused on luxury, travel, and leisure (O)
- Trend young males 18-34 marrying later; participate in bridal/baby registry (O)
- More women entering workforce (O)
- Matures, by 2015, 15% of population (O)
- 60 million Generation Y consumers - bridal market boom (O)
- bridal market boom (O)
- Gen X and Gen Y focus on fashionable, trendy items (O)
- Trend in high-end luxury brands desired by Chinese (O)
- Consumer purchasing power and preferences (O/T)
- Increase or frequency of tourist travel (O)
B. Task Environment
1. Threat of New Entrants: LOW
Market maturity
2.Bargaining Power of Buyers: LOW
Consumers
3. Threat of...