Craft Co

ProHub Comment

This is a structured profitability case with a clear financial calculation exercise followed by strategic brainstorming. The case tests the candidate's ability to analyze subscription business economics, understand competitive positioning, and develop growth strategies. The exhibits provide concrete data to support quantitative analysis while the brainstorming sections push candidates to think creatively about revenue and cost levers.

Estimated Time 15 minutes
Difficulty Medium
Source Tuck
50 / 100
Our client, Craft Co., is a subscription service that will send customers kits for adult crafting and DIY projects (e.g., watercolor painting, woodworking). Customers pay a monthly fee based on the number of kits they would like; Craft Co. sends them a box with craft supplies. Craft Co. had grown its customer base rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has seen a dip in recent quarters as new competitors have entered the field. Management is looking to assess the business’s current performance and identify whether it can grow profitably and regain market share in the next ~3-5 years. Our client would like our help in answering two questions: (i) how has Craft Co. performed recently? and (ii) what strategies can it implement to grow profitability and increase share?

Clarifying Information

  1. Craft Co’s products are typically marketed towards young adults ages 18-35
  2. Craft Co. was seen as the first major player in this market, but new competitors began to enter by the end of 2020
  3. There is no specific ROI or objective that our client is aiming to achieve related to this analysis, but they are most interested in short-term strategies in the next 1-3 years as opposed to longer-term opportunities
  4. Craft Co. is currently focused solely on the U.S. market