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  • October 2016
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La-Z-Boy (A)

By: Joseph B. Fuller and Natalie Kindred
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:23
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Abstract

Kurt Darrow, CEO of La-Z-Boy furniture, must decide whether to continue an overhaul of the company's strategy in the face of a collapse in demand during the great recession. Having pared back La-Z-Boy's portfolio of brands and manufacturing network, he intends to reposition the company as a branded retailer of furniture and home fashions. Just as management is poised to implement a new strategy that involves a heavy investment in brand advertising, a complete overhaul of the retail organization, and a fundamentally new manufacturing system, the industry experiences a catastrophic downturn. Should he continue to invest in a highly speculative strategy or rein in investment and preserve cash?

Keywords

Retail; Manufacturing; Organizational Transformations; Reorganization; Furniture Industry; Corporate Strategy; Home Fashion; Turnaround; Portfolio Rationalization; Globalization Of Supply Chain; Brand Repositioning; Business Growth and Maturation; Brands and Branding; Competitive Strategy; Vertical Integration; Retail Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Consumer Products Industry; United States

Citation

Fuller, Joseph B., and Natalie Kindred. "La-Z-Boy (A)." Harvard Business School Case 317-034, October 2016.
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About The Author

Joseph B. Fuller

Entrepreneurial Management
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Related Work

    • October 2018 (Revised October 2018)
    • Faculty Research

    La-Z-Boy (A)

    By: Joseph B. Fuller and Julia Kelley
Related Work
  • La-Z-Boy (A) By: Joseph B. Fuller and Julia Kelley
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