SWOT Matrix Report: Urban Outfitters

“The purpose of a SWOT Matrix Report is to effectively analyze a company’s position in the industry and against their competitors before taking on new business strategies. This assignment was outlined to analyze and evaluate a chosen retailer’s strategies and create a SWOT Matrix outlining the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The company I chose to research was Urban Outfitters. To execute this, I researched the history of Urban Outfitters and then analyzed strategic retail mix elements such as location decisions, customer relationship management, merchandise assortment, pricing strategy, store design, and visual merchandising. Then, I compared Urban Outfitters’ balance sheets and income statements from 2019, 2020, and 2021 to gain an accurate picture of the company’s financial standing. Next, I analyzed the sustainability impacts the company has focused on. Finally, I compiled Urban Outfitters’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to create a SWOT matrix.  

My SWOT matrix report of Urban Outfitters embodies the theme of excellence and empowerment because it has given me an opportunity to deeply analyze a company I could possibly work for. I created this report before I began my internship search, so once I began my search, I knew I wanted to apply for Urban Outfitters’ internship program. I felt confident applying because I knew so much about the company, and I felt a strong connection with the brand’s origins and its ideals. This project led me to carefully consider which companies I wanted to intern or work for because I realized how important it was to me to be involved in a successful, established, and conscious company.”

— Morgan Purdy