.As with any activity, there is competition both directly and indirectly. Direct competition includes people choosing the three types of binding/boot combinations available over what will be offered with the slide-in binding/boot combination. Within the binding/boot market, the major players include (in order of market share): Burton, K2, Airwalk, Ride, Sims, Morrow, Mervin, Salomon, Vans, Lamar, Nitro, Rossignol, Wintersticks, and Oxygen (Sportstyle, 1998).In-direct competition includes people choosing to ski rather than snowboard. In addition, they may choose to participate in other activities such as computers, the Internet, and media entertainment such as television and motion pictures (U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook, 1999). SWOT Analysis:Strengths: Innovative user-friendly differentiated from competitors Will be able to produce cheaper through outsourcing outsourcing different parts will allow an array of networks through providing a superior product, competition may tend to slack off with rising recognition by using the latest technologies in manufacturing the product will be superior Weaknesses: Initially the cost of the product may be high consumers may be skeptical at first of a new product and buy the competing products Being a durable good, the product is susceptible to natural movement of the economic cycle. Specifically targeted to students leaving out a wide range of potential customers.Opportunity: Establish product as first type in market. Exceptional sales lead to profit. Gain new customers for future productsThreats: Product can fail due to low adoption. Costs could be too high for some of the targeted market. Competitors could copy the product quickly enough to gain competitive market share as well as with time, more competitors will enter the market. Any type of ...
