Kinky Boots Case Study

Register to read the introduction… By having highly trained employees, there was the capability for Kinky Boots to develop. Having loyal employees greatly helped the cause, but also this was a hindrance because they were so used to a certain way of the company being run, that the introduction of the risqué idea of the drag queen boot was not the easiest idea to pass over. In small business, there is always the difficulty of trying to separate personal opinions and feelings. However, having the chops to take the risk in this relatively unexplored specialized market gave the company the opportunity to make a huge profit in an untapped market. There was also the other side of the coin that their unusual battle would not materialize any real revenue because by conventional standards, the idea bordered on bizarre. Also, not every shoe store would carry Kinky Boots, so finding distributers may have also posed a problem, when they were developing the boots. The obscurity of the product added something regardless if you are a buyer or not, the shock value gave and continues to give Kinky Boots a certain appeal that turns into word of mouth, meaning promotion. This is verbalized in the fact that there was a movie made on the story of this company. Of course no matter how unique a product is, there is always …show more content…
However, the feelings and opinions that comprise being a human can be a huge impediment and obstacle to success. In Charlie’s case, there is the obvious conflict because Lola is transgendered and extremely open about his sexual ambiguity. Charlie and the company in totality had to grapple with the idea that they would have to ignore cultural and social norms, for the benefit of the company. But this issue, while being the biggest is not the only one that is going on. There is the ethical issue of Charlie taking care of his father’s loyal employees. When he took over the company, which was in financial disrepair, Charlie had to fire people that had become a family under his father’s direction. Furthermore, like in family business, the idea of changing the family line of work is always a controversial one. For generations, Price & Sons Shoes manufactured classic men’s shoes, not men’s shoes with a twist. Having to transform the image of a family run business always brings up a difficult situation. Additionally, the ethical issue of saving the company due to the family bond is probably the most important issue that Charlie faces. How do you let a company fall to ruin that you have an emotional tie