University of the Philippines Visayas College of Management 2005 27218 JAFFY BRATT R. MANDAWE B.S.

Business Administration (Marketing)

MARYS RICE TRADING I. Introduction Marys Rice Trading is a small family business that engaged in retail and wholesale of rice. Though its services were catered to a wide scope of market such as to other retailers, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and companies that provided rice subsidies, it has no formal organizational structure like most of family business. Recently, big problems were faced by Marys Rice Trading. It has lost its two major corporate accounts, the Happy Foods which would order 1,800 sacks a year and Makati hospital which had been a client for almost 30 years. There were no apparent reasons why they stooped ordering and no specific explanation why they shifted to other rice traders. However, Nicole, the daughter of the owners and currently assisting the business thought that she might have mismanaged the accounts and her failure of submitting her price quotations with rice samples on time. Also, her hectic schedule made it impossible for her to do follow-ups on the problems. II. SWOT Matrix and Analysis
Internal External Opportunities
* outside clients for greater promotional mileage * the booming restaurant and food industry * never-ending demand for rice * government and public institutions intervention like rice subsidies * advent of stiff competition * employees non-conversion of rice subsidies to cash * gain corporate accounts * engage in retailing and wholesaling * get enough experience in handling the business for 30 years MAXIMAX Strategy This is the time where Marys Rice Trading can gain highest turn over ratios. The only way to maintain dominance is to strengthen relationships with its clients. MAXIMIN Strategy Although Marys Rice Trading is threatened by external factors, intensifying the business through proper positioning is a good strategy to combat these threats.

Strengths

Threats

* no formal organizational structure * mismanagement of corporate accounts * managers hectic schedule MINIMAX Strategy A slight downfall will be noticeable in this part. Since external considerations are stable, resetting business goals and policies including proper staffing should be observed. MINIMIN Strategy This turns the major downfall of every business. The only way to survive this is reinvention, meaning shutting down and living again.

Weaknesses

III.

Conclusion Of the strategies presented in the matrix, three out of four conform to the

retention of the business. This only means that since Marys Rice Trading has been already established, just a mere modification will do in order for it to stay alive. IV. Recommendation In any case, when worst comes to worst, the only recommended strategy for the business to endure is reinvention. In this stage of the business process, major upgrades and reformatting are done. It is recommended therefore that Marys Rice Trading will casts all its major seatbacks comparative to external threats so that reinvention can immediately start.