Cotswold Outdoor SWOT Analysis, Competitors & USP

Cotswold Outdoor SWOT analysis evaluates the brand by its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats. In SWOT Analysis of Cotswold Outdoor, the strengths and weaknesses are the internal factors whereas opportunities and threats are the external factors.

SWOT Analysis is a proven management framework which enables a brand like Cotswold Outdoor to benchmark its business & performance as compared to the competitors, and make strategic improvements. Cotswold Outdoor is one of the leading brands in the lifestyle and retail sector.

The article below lists the Cotswold Outdoor SWOT, competitors and includes its target market, segmentation, positioning & USP. Let us start the Cotswold Outdoor SWOT Analysis:

SWOT Analysis of Cotswold Outdoor

For Cotswold Outdoor, SWOT analysis can help the brand focus on building upon its strengths and opportunities while addressing its weaknesses as well as threats to improve its market position.

Cotswold Outdoor Strengths

The strengths of Cotswold Outdoor looks at the key aspects of its business which gives it competitive advantage in the market. Some important factors in a brand's strengths include its financial position, experienced workforce, product uniqueness & intangible assets like brand value. Below are the Strengths in the SWOT Analysis of Cotswold Outdoor :

1. Brand Heritage of being a 3 decade old outdoor retailer
2.  Own 70+ stores, making them market leaders in this oligopoly
3. High Profit Margin enables them to diversify into different markets with similar products
4. Recommended retailer for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme

5. Extremely Knowledgeable staff helps serve customers better

6. Partnership with The Scout Association

7.Actively supports  local communities and groups thus establishing good ties with outdoor activity groups

8. Award-winning website and exclusive stockist of many popular products

9. Competitive Pricing (Offers to match prices of any competitor)

Cotswold Outdoor Weaknesses

The weaknesses of a brand are certain aspects of its business which are it can improve to increase its position further. Certain weaknesses can be defined as attributes which the company is lacking or in which the competitors are better. Here are the weaknesses in the Cotswold Outdoor SWOT Analysis:

1. Limited market share and less marketing compared to globa competitors

4.In-store staff requires extensive training and expense and hence attrition can be a problem

Cotswold Outdoor Opportunities

The opportunities for any brand can include areas of improvement to increase its business. A brand's opportunities can lie in geographic expansion, product improvements, better communication etc. Following are the opportunities in Cotswold Outdoor SWOT Analysis:

1. Opportunity to enter outdoor sports market because of similar market with different products
2. Move out of UK into another western country with disposable income and a culture of outdoor activity
3. Go into more personalized service (leverage the trained sales staff)

4. Diversification into outdoor fitness training

5. Develop new innovative products to capture the market

6. Developing a synergy through more partnerships with outdoor groups

7. Build better relationship and loyalty among customers through sponsorships of outdoor sports and events

Cotswold Outdoor Threats

The threats for any business can be factors which can negatively impact its business. Some factors like increased competitor activity, changing government policies, alternate products or services etc. can be threats. The threats in the SWOT Analysis of Cotswold Outdoor are as mentioned:

1. Weather conditions are a direct threat to outdoor retailers with sales being significantly hit in bad weather years
2. Larger and more dominant businesses like Tresspass and  Tog 24 with more stores and longer heritage
3. Growing urbanization is driving down outdoor activity

4. Margin compression from online competitors

5. Declining youth participation in core outdoor activities

6. Economic downturn significantly affects peoples vacation and outdoor activity affecting sales

7. Changing Customer preferences which can be quite unpredictable

Cotswold Outdoor Competitors

There are several brands in the market which are competing for the same set of customers. Below are the top 4 competitors of Cotswold Outdoor:

1.Tresspass
2.Tog 24
3.Go Outdoors

4.Blacks Outdoor Retailer

Hence this concludes the Cotswold Outdoor SWOT analysis.

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About Cotswold Outdoor

Cotswold Outdoor Overview
Parent Company	Lion Adventure Cooperatief UA
Category	Outdoor Clothing and Equipment
Sector	Lifestyle and Retail
Tagline/ Slogan	“Outdoor, Action, Travel”
USP	Over 3 decades of experience in selling outdoor equipment; Expert training to staff; Expert Boot-fitting, Rucksack Fitting
Cotswold Outdoor STP
Segmentation	People doing outdoor leisure/adventure activities
Target Market	Physically Active families, Adventurous People, Holiday Makers, Duke of Edinburgh's Award candidates
Positioning	Price (Competitive Pricing), People – Expert trained staff

 

This article has been researched & authored by the Content & Research Team. It has been reviewed & published by the MBA Skool Team. The content on MBA Skool has been created for educational & academic purpose only.

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