Question: Please refer to the following case study and answer the question at the end. Eco-Guardian - a small start-up in Toronto is a ...manufacturing and

Please refer to the following case study and

Please refer to the following case study and answer the question at the end. Eco-Guardian - a small start-up in Toronto is a "...manufacturing and distributing company providing ecologically and socially responsible products including multi-purpose shopping bags, industrial bags and single use compostable food packaging items. Eco-Guardian is committed to protecting the environment by reducing our carbon footprint, significantly decreasing waste and mitigating the disposal of hazardous materials (Eco-Guardian.com). Eco-Guardian has grown rapidly during the last 5 years. Canadian Business magazine has ranked Eco- Guardian as the 45th fastest growing company in Greater Toronto Area Eco-Guardian's bagasse-based, bio-degradable table-ware sells at Costco as well as Walmart. Their annual sales are in excess of $15 million and while the margins are 'healthy" they remain low and the company faces constant competitive threat. Barriers to entry are very low. Eco-Guardian depends on high volume and a well maintained supply chain originating in China. Nearly 100% of its products are manufactured in and imported from China. In March 2020, as the pandemic raged in Canada, Eco-Guardian saw an opportunity. Quickly, they obtained MDEL Certification from Health Canada and worked diligently with their Chinese partners to retool and adapt their supply chain for PPE importation from China. By mid-April, Eco-Guardian received its first shipment of medical grade masks and gowns. With massive demand from within Canada, a constant and reliable supply from China and advance orders pouring in, Eco-Guardian did rather well. The President of the company felt that he was making an important social contribution, as well. By early September, as supply and demand started to match, prices fell by as much as 95 %!) And the crisis of PPE shortages was largely over. As Eco-Guardian was just settling back in its regular business, another surprise emerged on October 8, 2020 - with the announcement that Government of Canada intended to ban single-use plastic containers by the end of 2021. This is, of course, is a hugely relevant development for Eco-Guardian. Competitive threats are enormous and in the years to come - Eco-guardian could swim and survive and thrive or simply sink. The above story describes a small, family run operation - facing unprecedented environmental upheavals. QUESTION: Taking on the role of VP- Marketing, advise Eco-Guardian on how to go from a $15 million to a $500 million company? Use your knowledge of marketing in general and branding, consumer behaviour, segmentation and environmental scanning in particular, to make recommendations

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