An Investigation into the factors affecting the supply of Clarkes shoes among

the Stores within the Linstead Town

Name: Abigail Taffe
School: Charlemont High School
Subject: Economics
Centre#:
Territory: Jamaica
Date: January 25, 2013
Candidate#:

Introduction

This S.B.A will explain the most important things about the supply of Clarke shoes by
using charts. This project will state vividly the factors that have been affecting the
supply of Clarke shoes within the Linstead Town along with explanation. Last but not
least, it will provide recommendation as well as suggestion on how the Stores can
increase in sales. Also it will provide you with information that was found during the
research.

I.

Acknowledgement
I would like to thank several people who have helped me in making this School Bass
Assessment a success. Firstly I would like to thank God for providing me with the
strength as well as the knowledge that was needed to complete this S.B.A. Secondly I
would like to show my gratitude to all the respondents for taking time out to complete
the questionnaires that was given. Also I would like to show gratitude to my parents

who supported my financially wise. Finally I would like to thank my teacher Mr. Eric
Dunn for providing me with the necessary resources and guidance in completing this
S.B.A.

II.

Purpose of Investigation
The purposes of the study are:
To vividly state the the quantity of clarkes shoes that suppliers are willing to supply
over a given period of time
To identify the substitute brands of Clarkes and compare the price and the quantity
that suppliers are willing to.
To determine how inflation can affect the supply of Clarks shoes.

To examine the effects that the entrance of a new brand would have on Clarkes
shoes.
To give suggestions on how shoe stores can excel tremendously in supplying
Clarkes shoes.

3. Statement

of Problem

An Investigation into the factors affecting the supply of Clarkes shoes among
the Stores and Wholesales within the Linstead Town

1.

Limitations faced
The following are limitations that were faced:

 Some respondents were dishonest and so give absurd answers.

Some respondents did not understand some of the questions that were given, and
so they did not respond but instead leave the space blank.
There was no set deadline on when the questionnaires were to be handed in and so
there was a delay in there return.
Most website was not clear on the information that was given so it was time
consuming, and I had to try a lot more website.

5.

Research question
1.How much Clarks do the business supply per three months?
2. Can you put in place actions that will improve the supply of
Clarkes?
3. How many times have you tried to improve the sales of Clarkes?

4. Is the supply of Clarkes increasing or decreasing in your

business?
5. How do you benefit from the entrance of the new style of
Clarkes?

2.

Interview questions
1. What do you understand by the term supply?
2. How much Clarkes do the business supply per three months?
3. How does inflation affect the supply of Clarkes in your business?
4. Do you supply the substitute brands of Clarkes?
5. How does the supply of the substitute brands affect the supply of
Clarkes?

22.

Jericho District,
Linstead P.O.,
St. Catherine,
December 16, 2013,
The manager,
Linstead P.O.
St. Catherine.
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am a fifth former currently attending the Charlemont High School. I received your
business name from an advertisement within the Linstead Town and I would appreciate
it if you could meet with me.
This Store has been recognized as one of the best business within the Linstead town
to supply both male and female clothes. I am doing a research on the supply of Clarkes
for my Economics School Based Assessment and so I would like to interview you in
person to get a better concept of the supply of Clarkes, I hope that you can take the time
out and meet with me. I have at least five questions to ask you I promise that I wont
take up much of your time. I appreciate your consideration of my request.
You may contact me using my information below. Thank you so much and I am
looking forward in meeting you.
Yours truly,
Abigail Taffe

Phone: (876)-535-7180
Email:[email protected]
23.

Methodology
The data was collected by using the following sources:
Questionnaires were used to collect information on the regular supply of Clarkesfrom
the employees, supervisors and the sole trader managers of both the Sinclear and
Bashco stores. Questionnaires were used as it can be completed at a time convenient to
the managers and the employees, questionnaires are also very confidential.

The Economics Textbook was used to verify the relevant theory on economics and
supply, also to get a better understanding on supply.

An Interview was held with the managers of both the Bashco and
Sinclear stores that are popular known for selling Clarkes. This was so
as to get information on the supply of Clarkes within their business.

The Internet was used to provide basic information on supply as well as the shoe
Clarks.
The following website was visited:
http://www.clarks.co.uk/helpandinfo/storesinstoreservices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply

4.

Table of Content

Title

Page

Acknowledgement................................................................................................... I
Introduction............................................................................................................. II
Statement of Problem............................................................................................. 1
Research Question...................................................................................................2
Purpose of Investigation........................................................................................ 3
Methodology.......................................................................................................... 4
Limitations faced................................................................................................... 5
Presentation of data.......................................................................................... 6-11
Interpretation and Analysis of Data................................................................ 12-14
Findings............................................................................................................... 15
Recommendation................................................................................................ 16
Appendix........................................................................................................ 17-20
Glossary............................................................................................................. 21
Interview Question..........................................................................................

22

Interview Letter..............................................................................................

23

Bibliography....................................................................................................... 24

6.
Figure1.Pie Chart showing the quantity of Clarks and the period it is being
supplied

Supply of Clarks

January- March

70

90

April-June
July- September
October- November
45
60

Quantity of Clarks
supplied
The periodClarks is
being supplied

70

45

60

90

January to
March

April to
June

July to
September

October to
November

Both stores [sinclear and bashco] agreed that a maximum total of 70 Clarks is being
supplied for the first three month. However the largest amount of sale is being done
on the last three month of the year which amounted to 90 Clarks. Also has for the
month of April through to June and July to September, wasthe period that the
average amount of sales was done which amounted to 45 and 60 Clarks.

7.

Figure2.Column showing the entrance of a new style of Clarks

70
60
50
40

April-June
July-September

30
20
10
0

QuantityQuantity
Quantity
45
60

QuantityQuantity
Quantity
55
65

The shoes stores stated that theysupplied from 45 to55 shoes in the month of April to
June and 60 to 65 shoes in the month of July to September. This is due to the entrance
of a new style of Clarks which increased the demand of customers as well as the supply
of the Clarks.

Months

Quantity of clarks

April - June

45-55 clarks shoes

July to-September

60-65 clarks shoes

8.
Figure3.Bar chart showing the substitute brands of Clarks

Substitute Brands of Clarks

50

40
Nike Air
Timberland

50

Adidas

Clarks

30
35

Clarks

Adidas

40
30

Timberland

20
10

Nike Air

0
3500 4500 2500 3500

As the price of one brand rises; consumers are expected to substitute other brands being
that they are imperfect substitutes.This means that the quantity of Clarks will also
change being that the price of most substitute goods are at a higher level. However
most consumers preferred Clarks although the price is higher than the other brands

Substitute Brands

Price of
shoes

Quantity
supplied

Nike Air
Timberland
Adidas

$3000.00
$4500.00
$2500.00

35
40
30

Clarks

$3500.00

50

9.
Figure4.Line chart showing the effect of inflation on the supply of Clarkes

The effect of inflation on Clarkes

90

85

80
70
60
60
50

Percentage change in the supply of clarks

40
30
20
10
0
Before

After

The continuously increased of the price of Clarks, causes the demand of Clarks to
disinflation. This influenced suppliers to supply larger quantity of Clarks than usual as
inflation causes the supply of Clarks to increase rapidly.They improved from supplying
60% of Clarks to 85% due to inflation.

Effect of Inflation

Percentage change in the

supply of clarks

Before
After

60%
85%

10.
Figure5.Bar chart showing the suggestions of employees on how to
increase the supply of Clarks

Employees Suggestions

suggestion #1
suggestion #2
suggestion #3
suggestion #4

Empolyees
0

10

15

20

25

Suggestion of employees

No. of respondents

1. The stores could use sales promotion.

15

2. The stores can use more advertisement.

3. The stores can increase its capacity

towards a change in price.

20

4. No response.

10

11.

Interpretation and Analysis of Data

Figure1

A total of 50 questionnaires were given out to the mangers and employees of both
Bashco and Sinclear stores. Both stores (Sinclear and Bashco) agreed that a maximum
total of 70 Clarkes is being supplied for the first three month as it was the entrance of
the brand Clarkes. However the largest amount of sale was done on the last three month
of the year which amounted to 90 Clarkes, this was so because it was the end of the
year and also it was holiday. The managers stated that customers preferred to purchase
Clarkes as it was comfortable and lasted for a relative long time. As for the month of
April through to June and July to September, was the period that the average amount of
sales was done which amounted to 45 and 60 Clarkes.

Figure2
The entrance of the new style allows the shoe stores to increase in sales as well as the
supply of Clarkes. The shoes stores stated that they supplied from 45 to55 Clarkes in
the month of April to June and 60 to 65 Clarkes in the month of July to September. Also
there was an increased in the demand of Clarks.

12.

Figure3
The substitute brands of Clarkes are at a lower price rate than the price of Clarkes itself.
This however pushed the quantity that the suppliers are willing to supply at an even
higher rate than usual, as consumers still demand a high quantity of Clarkes. Adidas
and Clarkes are imperfect substitutes, but although the price of Adidas is $2500.00
which is at a lower rate than Clarkes which is $3500.00. Consumers still prefer Clarkes
as it has a wide variety of features that Adidas do not have one of which is that it have
cheese bottom. Also Clarkes can withstand hardwearing and it even has better quality
than Adidas. This also increased sales.

Figure4

The continuously increase of the price of Clarkes, causes the supply of Clarkes to also
increase. This influenced suppliers to supply larger quantity of Clarkes than usual as
inflation causes the supply of Clarkes to increase rapidly. They improved from
supplying 55% of Clarkes to 80% due to inflation. This satisfies the law of supply, and
this help the stores to excel tremendously.
Price

The stores induce

there price from
$3500.00 to
$4000.00 and
increases their
quantity from 55
Clarkes to 85
Clarkes.

$5500.0
0
-------------------------------------$4000.0 --------------------0
S $3500.0
0
$2000.0
0
-

0
90

50

55

60

70

13.

75 85

Quantity

Figure5.

Employees suggested that the best way to improve the supply of Clarkes is by
increasing its capacity towards a change in the price. A manager who has unused
capacity can quickly respond to price changes in his market assuming that variable
factors are readily available, this means that as long as inputs are available a manager
should be able to increase its supply of clarkes if there is an increase in the price. A total
of 20 respondents agreed on this suggestion. However a total of 15 respondents agreed
that the stores could use sales promotion, 10 had no response and 5 others agreed that
the stores can use more advertisement.

14.

Findings
The survey has revealed a number of things some of which are:
The increase of the price of Clarkes, allows the stores of Linstead Town to
supply a lot more Clarkes due to the consumers demand of the shoes.
Most substitute brands of Clarkes was at a lower price rate than Clarkes itself,
this led suppliers to supply more Clarkes than the substitute brands. The stores
were getting much more sales on Clarkes than that of the substitute brands.
The entrance of the new style allows the shoe stores to increase in the sales of
Clarks.
Inflation causes suppliers to supply a larger quantity of Clarkes, as the price of
the shoes was continuously rising.

15.

Recommendations
The following are suggestions on how the stores within Linstead Town can
improve in supplying Clarkes:

The shoes stores should try and decrease the resource prices as to increase in
supply, meaning they should try and decreased in the prices paid to use the
factors of production.
The shoes stores should try at their best ability to increase in the price of their
substitute brands and decrease in the price of their complimentary goods.
They should increase the use of technology in advertising the Clarkes shoes,
as other shoes stores are supplying Clarkes.
Change the price of the Clarkes regularly towards the consumers demand as to
avoid surplus of Clarkes and shortage of Clarkes.
Last but not least I suggest that both stores continue in doing what they are
doing where the supply of Clarkes is concern as they have been improving and
may reach at an even higher profit than where they are now if they continue in
that path way.

16.

Questionnaire
1. How old are you?
25-33

2.

34-39

40-47

48-50

What do you understand by the term supply?

3. Do you supply Clarkes? Yes

No

4. If yes. How much Clarks do you supply per three months?

20-25 Clarkes
26-30 Clarkes
31-38 Clarkes
Above

4. How does inflation affect the supply of Clarkes?

18.

5. What do you understand by the term substitute?

over

6. Do you supply the substitute brandof Clarkes

Yes

No

7. If yes. How much substitute brand do you supply?

1 -2 Substitute brands
3-4 Substitute brands
5-6 Substitute brands
Above

8. What is your business name?

9. Is the supply of Clarkes increasing or decreasing in your business?

Increasing
Decreasing

19.
10.How do you benefit from the entrance of the new style of Clarkes?
Increase in supply
Decrease in supply
Rise in price

Fall in price
Any other please specify
11.Can you put in place actions that will improve the supply of Clarkes? Yes

No

12.If yes, how?

13.How many times have you tried to improve the sales of Clarkes?
Regularly
Rarely
Never

20.

Glossary
Supply- this can be defined as the quantity of a commodity that is offered for sale at a
price over a period of time.

Complimentary good- a compliment is a good which is bought and used with another
good.

Deflation- This is the persistent tendency for general level of price to fall over a period of
time.

Demand- the quantity of something that buyers are willing and able to buy over a period
of time.

Factors of production- This may refer specifically to the primary factors, which
are stocks including land, labor (the ability to work), and capital goods applied to
production.

Substitute goods- are goods which, as a result of changed conditions, may replace each
other in use (or consumption).

Inflation- is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over
a period of time.

Surplus- is when there is an excess supply of a product.

21.

Bibliography
http://www.investopedia.com/university/economics/economics
Oxford Dictionary

Robert, G. Tarry C. Dave R. Karen, Greenwood Cook, Ramsingh Radcliffe

Harvey Economics for CSEC, Cambridge University, 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_

24.