L.L.Bean Latin America - Teaching Note

L.L.Bean is the world's leading cataloger in the outdoor specialty field. In the 87 years since its founding it has grown from a one-room operation producing and selling a single product, to selling 16,000 different items, with customers in 147 countries around the world. Meeting the needs of customers outside the U.S. entails many difficulties. Key to L.L.Bean's success is its strong culture. The case is intended to provide students with the basic elements of an organization's culture as well as the role it plays in enhancing business success. Moreover, it underlines the business and cultural challenges that the American company faces when considering expanding operations in Latin America. (See case FH-673-E)