1.) What will you say to the owners of the small shops, many of whom helped your firm get started and have always supported your marketing plans? If you are certain that most of these small retailers will not place any orders if they think the big chains will be carrying the same line, will you respond differently? Explain your thinking.

• What will I say to the owners of the small shops, many of whom helped my firm get started and have always supported my marketing plans?

As a sales manager of my firm, I will talk to the owners of the small shops about the issue that big retail chain will be carrying my new line in all its stores. Knowing that these small shops have been one of the reasons why my firm was able to grow and become successful, I would not forget the people who have helped me reach the place where I am now. I will assure them that even though I had some negotiations with a buyer for the big retail chain, there is no deal happened yet so I can still ask for their permission and opinions if that's what will make the threat they feel go away. But then, I have already made a decision which is to accept the deal with the big retail chain as it can lead me to new doors of opportunities. I will explain all of the important details to them on how big retail chain can benefit my firm and as well as their shops. Of course, I do not want to lose my connection and relationship with these small retail shops because even though they may seem like small shops, their combination offered me great benefits of success. But we need to face that this is the reality of doing business, it's about taking risks and being open to improvement and innovations caused by complications or threats. 

If you are certain that most of these small retailers will not place any orders if they think the big chains will be carrying the same line, will you respond differently? Explain your thinking.

If I am certain that most of these small retailers will not place any orders if they think the big chains will be carrying the same line, I would still respond the same way. As a sales manager who does business, it is required that I have firm decisions and that I won't get swayed easily. Of course, I don't want to cut ties with these small retailers since they have been a great help in my firm, but still, I should always be open to new opportunities since these are not always available. My firm would never grow bigger if there is something that always stops me from doing something new. And this should be understood by the small retailers. It is up to them to believe that big chains would not be a threat to them. They just have to implement a new set of strategies which can still attract customers even though they have big chains as rivals. Aside from that, because we have already established a great relationship, I could offer them lines that are only available to small retailers like them which they could use as their advantage to the big retailer chains. As they can see, each one of us can grow and maintain the relationship and connection that our businesses have established since then. But if they are also sure with their decision not to made orders on my firm, I would not force them as I know within myself that I have made the right choice and I have offered them great sets of alternatives. But if they come to change their mind and accept my decision and offer, I would gladly distribute my fashion line to them.