Publications
Publications
- October 2018 (Revised October 2018)
- HBS Case Collection
La-Z-Boy (A)
By: Joseph B. Fuller and Julia Kelley
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? Teaching Note for HBS No. 317-034.
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; Transformation; Retail Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Consumer Products Industry; United States
Citation
Fuller, Joseph B., and Julia Kelley. "La-Z-Boy (A)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 319-048, October 2018. (Revised October 2018.)