3. CASE STUDY

Aesop was established in 1987. It was headquartered in Melbourne, and has offices and stores in many parts of the world. The company offers skin, hair and body care formulations.

Since Aesops inception, it has maintained a fiercely independent approach to product research and development. A sincere interest in intelligent and sustainable design extends to every aspect of Aesops workings. Their team of skilled chemical scientists works out of our Head Office in a utilitarian, custom-built laboratory conceptualizing product ideas, researching blends, and creating prototypes. Aesop investigates widely to source plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients, and use only those with a proven record of safety and efficacy.

They source ingredients from the most reputable suppliers across the globe, then marry contemporary technology with long-established scientific practices.

Their new products only response to genuine needs expressed by clients, and only after extensive research delivers formulations of the highest quality and efficacy.

a)Conduct a SWOT analysis for Aesop in China.

b)What examples have you seen in the case about the companys resources and competencies? Discuss the competitive advantages of Aesop.