Economic Strength and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: Looking Beyond Generalities

Facility location decisions serve an important role in setting up efficient and cost-effective supply chains. While metropolitan areas may appear an obvious choice for many companies, nonmetropolitan areas deserve consideration. In the past, nonmetropolitan areas have been broadly classified as “rural” with reports of economic decline. This research looks beyond the general category of nonmetropolitan by dividing the area into micropolitan statistical areas and non-core statistical areas. The authors use U.S. Census data from the years 2010 to 2016 to analyze changes in population, median household income, retail employment, and retail salaries in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Companies can use this more refined information approach to help identify specific counties outside metropolitan statistical areas that demonstrate growth and may provide suitable facility locations

How Regional Employment in the U.S. Automobile Industry Influences Consumer Ethnocentrism

The past three decades lay witness to major geographical evolution of the automobile industry in the United States. This study analyzes exactly how CETSCALE scores differ among a population that is currently either more or less economically impacted by automobile production and marketing. The analysis presented in this study illustrates a direct correlation between ethnocentric dispositions among consumers and employment opportunities in the automobile sector across U.S. Census Bureau geographical regions and divisions in each region. Comprehensive statistical details are provided that arguably demonstrate a change in what the phrase “Made in America” means, at least where automobile production is concerned

Escape for Boone & Crocket

Eber Crocket is the owner of Boone & Crocket Trapper Supply (B&C). He feels like the environmental forces that are impacting his business are like a trap slowing closing on him. He is considering ideas to improve his store’s profitability. Demand for furs as fashion goods is a multi-million dollar industry. Twenty percent of this demand is met by wild fur which is harvested by trappers. Trapping suppliers serve as the middleman between small individual trappers and auction houses. These auction houses collect the raw fur pelts from trappers and trapping stores and hold them until one of their auctions. Members of the international fashion community are the principle buyers of wild fur. These firms are involved in the tanning, finishing and design work needed to turn a fur pelt into a finished garment. The fur industry is impacted by many environmental forces. Among them, sociocultural, regulatory and economic forces are key. Boone & Crocket Trapping Supply is small family-owned business located in central Minnesota It offers a wide selection of trapping-related goods and services. The majority of B&Cs profits come from the sale of traps, baits and other goods. The remaining profit comes from fur handing and auction fur sales. Your friend Eber wants your perspective on some of the new product and service ideas he is considering to make B&C more profitable. His ideas are to produce trapping baits, expand the condition of furs B&C buys, differentiate the store’s product line, enter the nuisance animal control business, or become involved in trapper’s education