Companies squeezed by low-cost competitors might be able to learn something from a Danish maker of upscale wastebaskets and soap dispensers.
A version of this article appeared in the January 2008 issue of Harvard Business Review.
High Margins and the Quest for Aesthetic Coherence
Companies squeezed by low-cost competitors might be able to learn something from a Danish maker of upscale wastebaskets and soap dispensers. As globalization further erodes profits in developed countries, brands whose labor is based in low-cost economies may eventually have an insurmountable advantage over those from the developed world. Consumer product firms in Europe, the […]
Summary.
Reprint: F0801C
The key to selling well-designed, well-crafted products at high margins is the aesthetic coherence of the company and its goods. Embodying that ideal isn’t easy, but it’s possible if you avoid three temptations.
New!
HBR Learning
Marketing Essentials Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Marketing Essentials. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Learn how to communicate with your customers—strategically.
Learn More & See All Courses
New!
HBR Learning
HBR Learning
Marketing Essentials Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Marketing Essentials. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Learn how to communicate with your customers—strategically.