WalMart vs. KMart
Loehrs Communications, Inc. 7 St. Edward Ct. Wilmington, DE 19808 Phone: 302 892 9726 Fax: 302 893 9726 Email: loehrsj@lrc.edu February 11, 2004 Mr. Jeffrey Bleustein Chairman and CEO Harley Davidson Companies, Inc. PO Box 1256 Milwaukee, Wis 90210 Dear Mr. Bleustein: The enclosed corporate Analysis shows many positive attributes of Harley-Davidson as well as recognition of your past success of the organization. The analysis also offers some recommendations from my observation to take advantage of your company’s strengths. The information gathered and analyzed was from your website, newspapers, and periodicals. Thanks for the opportunity to do this research. If you have any questions about this analysis, it would by my pleasure to talk about it with you at your convenience. Sincerely, Jason Loehrs Senior Financial Analyst Loehrs Communications, Inc. Enclosure Jason Loehrs Business Policy Dale King February 11, 2004 Harley Davidson Companies, Inc. Company Introduction Since its creation in 1903, Harley Davidson Inc. has been both a trendsetter, and a dominate figure in the American motorcycle industry. It began in 1903 with the joining of Arthur Davidson and the Harley brothers. Eventually it grew into the most recognizable name in motorcycle; selling anything from bikes, clothes, parts, clocks, tinker toys to Barbie’s. Harley Davidson, Inc. is “Dedicated to creating experiences and developing relationships with all of our stakeholders-customers, employees, investors, suppliers, government’s and society” (harleydavidson.com). Company History 1900’s – In 1903 the company is founded and the first Harley Davidson dealer opens in Chicago, Ill. In 1907 the company is incorporated and employees have grown to 18. 1910’s – The bar and shield logo is introduced and is trademarked one year later. In 1912 Harley’s are exported to Japan, marking the first ever sales outside the US. In 1917 one-third of all Harley’s made are sold to the US military. At the end of WWI it’s said that the US army used 20,000 Harley Davidson motorcycles. 1920’s –In 1920 Harley is the biggest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. 1930’s – Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycles are the only American motorcycle companies to withstand the Great Depression. These two companies will remain the only American manufacturers of Motorcycles until 1953. 1940’s – WWII begins and Military production begins almost entirely over civilian production.